Steiner exceeding authority

Steiner exceeding authority, claims Covic
Beta - April 6, 2003

BELGRADE -- Saturday – The head of Belgrade’s Kosovo Coordination Centre said yesterday that Kosovo governor Michael Steiner’s claim of UN Security Council support for the transfer of authority to the temporary institutions of the province by the end of the year was untrue.

“This is not correct and not true,” said Nebojsa Covic, describing Steiner’s statement as his own free interpretation.

“The Security Council is not opposed to the transfer of these powers, but what is important is when this should happen and in what ambience,” he told media in response to Steiner’s claims at a press conference in Belgrade.

“if Steiner continues to be stubborn, which he is, then before he leaves Kosovo he will achieve his goal of throwing Serbs out of the Kosovo institution.

“Thus he will show that he does not want a multiethnic society and institutions, despite his mouth being full of multiethnicity.

“Who has he agreed with about this? He should explain this to us rather than saying one thing and doing another,” said Covic, adding that Belgrade had reliable information that Steiner was working on establishing ministries of foreign affairs, police and justice.

“By doing this, he added, “he is working seriously on creating an independent Kosovo”.