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UNMIK again blocks medicines for Serbs
26 March 2008 | 16:56 | Source: Tanjug
PRIŠTINA -- A shipment of medical supplied destined for healthcare
institutions in the Kosovo Serb enclaves has been confiscated.
After similar incidents three weeks ago, several days ago new supplies, sent
to Lipljan, were held at the UNMIK customs terminal in the southern part of
Kosovska Mitrovica, UNMIK Customs spokesman Adriatik Stavileci confirmed for
Tanjug Wednesday.
The shipment includes medicines worth RSD 1.7mn, which were to cover the
needs of the medical centers in Dobrotin and Gušterica in the Lipljan
municipality, Caglavica-based KIM radio reported.
Stavileci told Tanjug that the reason for this is that the medicines lack
"valid documentation – an import certificate issued by the Kosovo Drug
Agency".
He underscored that the confiscated medicines and a sanitary vehicle will
only be released if the Kosovo health ministry approves it.
Director of the Medical Center in Gracanica Rada Trajkovic said that "the
essence of this act is to impose pressure on sick people in the enclaves,
because this is the second time that UNMIK customs service does not allow a
shipment of medicines to reach their destination."
"This pressure destabilizes Serbs, Roma, Gorani, Croats, and even Albanians
who are treated at our institutions," said Trajkovic, adding that this is
"yet another attempt to cause a humanitarian disaster."
On March 3, UNMIK customs confiscated a shipment of medicines, medical
equipment and sanitary material sent to medical institutions in central
Kosovo. The shipment reached its destination after ten days with the
mediation of the World Health Organization, WHO.
UNMIK Spokesperson Methild Heneke said in Priština today that the shipment,
seized by UNMIK, will be detained until a permit is obtained from the Kosovo
Drug Agency.
"UNMIK is again helping with this case, as it has done on previous
occasions. The problem is not with UNMIK, but with the importers. Imports of
medicines must be licensed through the Kosovo organ in charge of medicines,"
Heneke told a news conference.
"The latest shipment from Serbia had a license and the civilian
administration department helped to secure that license, maintaining the
connection between the partners," the spokeswoman said.
Heneke reiterated that future shipments will also be stopped unless they
contain a license from the Kosovo Drug Agency.
Serbian News Network - SNN
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