http://www.ptd.net/webnews/wed/db/Qgermany-kosovo.RFf3_ClG.html Kosovo PM pledges to fight organized crime -He noted that Kosovo had become a region of transit for the international traffic in women, many sold as prostitutes after being offered legitimate jobs in the West.... -"Our cooperation with the German government is very good, as well as with Mr Steiner," Rexhepi said. Steiner is German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's former foreign policy advisor. "We have a common strategy for the future of Kosovo," he added. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------- BERLIN, July 16 (AFP) - Kosovo Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi on Tuesday pledged to do more to fight organized crime and sex slavery in the province, after a meeting with German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer. Rexhepi said he and Michael Steiner, the leader of the UN mission in Kosovo, were agreed on a policy of "no tolerance" in terms of crime and corruption. He noted that Kosovo had become a region of transit for the international traffic in women, many sold as prostitutes after being offered legitimate jobs in the West, and that he was looking at ways to solve the problem. He thanked Germany for its strong support of the province and asked Fischer to ensure the country's continued economic backing. "Our cooperation with the German government is very good, as well as with Mr Steiner," Rexhepi said. Steiner is German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's former foreign policy advisor. "We have a common strategy for the future of Kosovo," he added. He added that he was also pleased with the German contribution to NATO's multinational peacekeeping force in Kosovo, KFOR. Some 4,700 German soldiers are stationed in Kosovo but Defense Minister Rudolf Scharping announced last month that Germany was considering cutting its troop levels in the Balkans by about 1,000 soldiers. Kosovo came under UN and NATO control in June 1999 after the alliance's 78-long day bombing campaign to stop a crackdown on ethnic Albanians in the province by then Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic. Serbian News Network - SNN [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.antic.org/
