OSCE Mission and Kosovo Ministry condemn attack on municipal officials

PRISTINA, 10 February 2006 - The PISG Ministry of Environment of Spatial Planning (MESP) and the OSCE Mission issued the following statement following the recent attack on two municipal construction inspectors in Kline/Klina municipality.

"MESP and the OSCE Mission strongly condemn the attacks on these officials. Apart from constituting a criminal act, it hinders the standards implementation process and the establishment of a system based on the rule of law.

"The Government of Kosovo and the international community will continue to make every effort possible to move forward in the establishment of a functional local government. Illegal occupation of property and the construction of buildings without permission or on someone else's land will not be tolerated.

"The current framework allows for the resolution of disputes through democratic means based in the judicial system. No one should be above the law. The municipal administrations of Kosovo are undertaking an enormous effort to ensure sustainable urban development and local and international counterparts will support them to make sure they succeed in implementing the law free from undue pressure."