PRISTINA, Sept 29 (Hina) - At least 460 police officers and a third of all the employees with the UN civilian mission will leave Kosovo during 2003, the Pristina-based daily "Koha Ditore" reported on Sunday.
PRISTINA, Sept 29 (Hina) - At least 460 police officers and a third
of all the employees with the UN civilian mission will leave Kosovo
during 2003, the Pristina-based daily "Koha Ditore" reported on
Sunday. #L#
The daily cited sources from the UN mission (UNMIK) as saying that
at least 150 translators and another 150 local employees will be
laid off.
According to the same source, the current number of employees in the
offices for refuge returns and for missing people will remain at the
same level.
Everyday a number of Kosovo police officers is growing and it is
natural that there will be cuts in the number of international
police officers in Kosovo, a spokesman for the UN police, Bary
Fletcher, was quoted by "Koha Ditore" as saying.
The number of the international Kosovo Force troops fell from
40,000 in 2001 to 30,000 this year, the KFOR commander Marcel
Valentin said.
Further reduction is being mulled in line with the gradual
normalisation of the situation in Kosovo, he added.
(hina) ms