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Prishtina, 13 August 2007 – The Kosovar newspaper “Kosova Sot” carried an interview with Paul Acda, Head of UNMIK Pillar IV.
“As we can all see, there has been economic growth and substantial improvement during these few years. When I first came here in 2000, the greatest part of the infrastructure was damaged and destroyed by the Serb forces. At the time, you could not make a single phone call from one place to the other. The markets were destroyed, fiscal policies and economic policies were lacking, and hundreds of thousands of people returned but had no place to call home as their houses were totally destroyed. If we compare that time with the time we are living in today, we now have a modern market economy, safe fiscal policies and good budget revenues. The Kosovo Government and UNMIK have signed a free trade agreement with various partners. We have independent regulators and privatization, which most probably during the last few years has generated improvement.
“Concerning the issue of skiing resort Brezovica, we have held several discussions with the community there and they do seem positive. At the beginning of the status talks, we were asked to delay the process. We have once again asked New York whether we should proceed with the matter and we are currently waiting for a reply. The community there is aware that the best hope for Brezovica lies in its privatization. As we are entering the winter season, privatization has been delayed. However, we have requested that the SRSG ask for a reply on the matter from New York and we are currently waiting for this reply. We will once again have to return to the issue of politics and security. Nonetheless, I hope that we will obtain an answer from New York by the end of the month. The possibilities for a better situation for the community there following privatization are much better.
“Brezovica will not be privatized during the winter season because it takes time to conclude the entire process, including here the tender process. It is well known that this is a long and quite complex process. But, nonetheless, I am quite optimistic,” stated Head of UNMIK Pillar IV, Paul Acda.
ECIKS