UNMIK/PR/430

PRESS RELEASE - 24 November 2000

Applications Invited from Minority Candidates for KPC

PRISTINA---The JIAS Department of Civil Security and Emergency Preparedness has invited applications from members of non-Albanian minority communities for appointment to the Kosovo Protection Corps.

The eligible candidates should have a secondary school diploma, should be able to speak Albanian, should be from 18 to 45 years of age, should have no criminal record and should have been in Kosovo not less than three years.

The application forms and admission requirements for KPC membership are available at offices of the UNMIK Deputy Regional Administrators, the local community officers and the KPC RTGs.

The KPC was established a year ago as a civilian governmental emergency rescue agency of Kosovo. It will have 3000 active members.

The Department of Civil Security and Emergency Preparedness has been
mandated to develop the KPC civilian organizational structure, management and administration, develop its professional capabilities as a civil governmental organization for emergency response, contribute in humanitarian relief actions as well as reconstruction and rebuilding of civilian society, improve diversity of KPC membership and define and communicate a KPC public image.

The KPC must reflect the multi-ethnic character of the Kosovo society and therefore, in the first stage 10 per cent of its posts have been allocated to minority representatives.

The department has formulated a plan of action for minority involvement in the KPC and a Kosovo-wide campaign to attract minority members was launched recently. The campaign also seeks to disseminate information about the KPC among the minorities.