OSCE Kosovo Mission to continue monitoring communities' rights
PRIZREN, 13 February 2007 - The OSCE Mission to Kosovo will continue to ensure that all communities in Kosovo enjoy equal human rights and fundamental freedoms without discrimination, Ambassador Werner Wnendt, the Head of the Mission, said today during a visit to Prizren and Strpce/Shetrpce in southern Kosovo.
Ambassador Wnendt stressed the importance of culture and education to support the coexistence and integration of all communities as he took part in a ceremony to hand over more than 2,000 books in Bosnian/Serbian to the Prizren City Library.
"This donation is a good example of co-operation between the OSCE and municipal institutions to create sustainable conditions for a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-lingual Kosovo," he said.
The OSCE Mission book donation project aims to give people access educational and literature books in their mother tongue, not only in Prizren but also in rural areas.
Ambassador Wnendt called on municipal representatives to meet the Fair Share Financing quota - which guarantees that public money is used in a way that supports non-majority community needs - in providing services that benefit all inhabitants.
He also emphasized the Mission's role regarding Urban Regulatory Plans, which ensure a balance between the use of property and the development public infrastructure.
"The OSCE is monitoring how the institutions promote the protection of cultural and environment heritage and how property rights are respected," he said.
Illegal constructions in the ski resort of Brezovica/Brezovice were discussed at a meeting held in Strpce/Shterpce, where Ambassador Wnendt said that the OSCE is committed to offering expert advice on good governance and human rights issues.
"The OSCE will also continue to assess the humanitarian bus transportation for minority communities," he said.
The OSCE Mission in Kosovo is the Organization's largest field operation. Last year, the Mission deployed teams in all Kosovo municipalities.