Kosovo Transitional Council
# Kosovo Transitional Council

The Kosovo Transitional Council, (Albanian: Këshilli Tranzitor i Kosovës, Serbian: Прелазни савет Косово, Prelazni savet Kosovo), was an advisory body that existed in Kosovo between July 1999 and November 2001 during the period that the United Nations was directly responsible for the governance of Kosovo. The council was replaced by the Assembly of Kosovo following elections held in November 2001.

## First transitional council (July 1999 to January 2000)

A twelve member transitional council was formed on 16 July 1999. Chaired by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, the council was the described as being the highest political consultative body within the United Nations administration. Its purpose was to offer the main political parties and ethnic communities in Kosovo an opportunity for direct input into the decision-making process of UNMIK. The first meeting of the council was at the former MUP headquarters in Pristina and subsequent meetings were held at UNMIK headquarters.

### Membership

The membership of the first transitional council was as follows:

| Name | Role |
| - | - |
| Bernard Kouchner | Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Kosovo Ex-officio chairman of the council |
| Ibrahim Rugova | Representative of the Democratic League of Kosovo (Albanian) |
| Vacant | Representative of the Democratic League of Kosovo (Albanian) |
| Hashim Thaçi | Representative of the Kosovo Liberation Army (Albanian) |
| Xhavit Haliti | Representative of the Kosovo Liberation Army (Albanian) |
| Rexhep Qosja | Representative of the United Democratic Movement (Albanian) |
| Mehmet Hajrizi | Representative of the United Democratic Movement (Albanian) |
| Veton Surroi | Independent representative of the Albanian community |
| Blerim Shala | Independent representative of the Albanian community |
| Bishop Artemije | Representative of the Serbian Orthodox Church (Serb) |
| Momcilo Trajkovic | Representative of the Serbian Resistance Movement (Serb) |
| Numan Balic | Representative of the Party of Democratic Action (Bosniak) |
| Sezair Shaipi | Representative of Turkish People's Party (Turk) |
| Mike Jackson Klaus Reinhardt | Commander of the Kosovo Force Observer |

## Second transitional council (January 2000 to November 2001)

In January 2000, Joint Interim Administrative Structure was established. The membership of the transitional council was expanded to 35 and it assumed the role of a deliberative assembly. A transitional cabinet, known as the Interim Administrative Council, with eight members, four of which were appointed by UNMIK and four by political parties represented in the transitional council was also established at this time.

### Structure

The council had 36 members and would meet on a weekly basis. It had four committees, each made up of 15 members; Tolerance and Protection of Local Communities, Detainees and Missing Persons, Economic Affairs and Education.

### Membership

The membership of the second transitional council was as follows:

**Members of the Interim Administrative Council**

* Hashim Thaçi - Democratic Party of Kosovo
* Ibrahim Rugova - Democratic League of Kosovo
* Rexhep Qosja - United Democratic Movement
* Rada Trajković - Serbian National Council of Kosovo and Metohija

**Representatives of ethnic Albanian political parties**

* Kole Berisha - Democratic League of Kosovo
* Gjergj Dedaj - Liberal Party of Kosovo
* Feti Grapci - Republican Party of Kosovo
* Fatmir Limaj - Democratic Party of Kosovo
* Vacant - National Movement for Liberation of Kosovo
* Januz Salihaj - Parliamentary Party of Kosovo
* Mehmet Hajrizi - United Democratic Movement
* Nazmi Halimi - Albanian Christian Democratic Party of Kosovo
* Lazer Krasniqi - Albanian Christian Democratic Party of Kosovo
* Kaqusha Jashari - Social Democratic Party of Kosovo
* Luleta Pula-Beriqi - Social Democratic Party of Kosovo

**Representatives of ethnic minority communities**

* Randjel Nojkic - SNC Serbian National Council of Kosovo and Metohija (Serb)
* Dragan Velic - SNC Serbian National Council of Kosovo and Metohija (Serb)
* Vacant - Serbian National Council - Mitrovica (Serb)
* Numan Balic - Party of Democratic Action (Kosovo) (Bosniac)
* Asim Puljic - Zaman NGO (Bosniac)
* Sezair Shaipi - Turkish People's Party (Turk)
* Vacant - Additional Turkish representative (Turk)
* Hadji Zulfi Mergja - Roma community leader (Roma)

**Representatives of religious communities**

* Rexhep Boja - Muslim community
* Bishop Mark Sopi - Roman Catholic Church
* Father Sava Janjic - Serbian Orthodox Church

**Representatives of civil society**

* Shukrie Rexha - Association of Political Prisoners
* Iak Mita - Mother Teresa Society
* Hajrullahu Gorani - Association of Trade Unions
* Pajazit Nushi - Council for the Defence of Human Rights and Freedoms
* Sevdije Ahmeti - Centre for the Protection of Women and Children
* Blerim Shala - Zeri newspaper (representing publishers)
* Sonja Nikolic - Civic House/Radio Contact
* Feriz Krasniqi - Former Rector of Pristina University
* Ylber Hysa - Kosova Action for Civic Initiatives
* Ismail Kastrati - Kosovo Chamber of Commerce and Industry
