BELGRADE OFFICIALS TO ANNOUNCE THEIR VISITS TO KOSOVO IN ADVANCE

BELGRADE, Aug 1 (Hina) - UN Mission to Kosovo (UNMIK) head, Hans Haekkerup, said in an interview to the Radio Belgrade on Wednesday that he introduced a rule of announcement of Belgrade officials' visits to Kosovo before they enter the area. They should announce their visit for their security reasons. Haekkerup, explaining the recent instruction to Serbian and Yugoslavian officials, stressed the UNMIK simply did not want anyone to be killed. Following the instruction, Serbian and Yugoslavian officials are obliged to announce their journey to Kosovo 96 hour in advance. Responding to objections from Belgrade that "it is easier to go to Washington than to Pristina", Haekkerup said that in Pristina, as against in Washington, security threat was, at their misfortune, far greater. Asked about the destiny of 1,300 missing Serbs whose families are constantly protesting, Haekkerup, expressing understanding for their fear, said he believed that a majority of these people were killed. It is very important to find out the real truth about them in order to find out what happened to them and who should be held responsible for murders, Haekkerup said. He reminded on still unknown destinies of 3,500 missing persons, of whom the majority is Albanian. Haekkerup blamed the followers of Slobodan Milosevic's policy for Kosovo Serbs' position. He said the international administration in Kosovo would like to make it possible for all the residents to enjoy the freedom of movement, but the guilt for the fact that it was not still possible lies upon those who committed crimes in the past during Milosevic's rule. Commenting on an announcement that the Serbs will boycott the general elections in Kosovo scheduled for November 17, he said it would be a failure for Serbs. If the Serbs think they can build a special state within Kosovo or if they are waiting for the old regime to return to Kosovo, then the reconciliation would not happen, Haekkerup said. (hina) np ms