UNMIK swore in 137 judges, prosecutors and lay judges on 24 January, in response to the urgent need for judicial services.

The officials, including representatives of the Supreme Court of Kosovo, the High Court of Minor Offences and other lower courts, will serve in the Pristina region. They have been appointed for one year, effective from 1 January 2000.

"The opening and strengthening of the judiciary brings about a new democratic era, in which all Kosovo citizens stand to realize and enjoy their maximum rights to life, liberty, property and freedom," Pristina. s Regional Administrator, Mr. Enrique Aguilar, told the jurists at a ceremony at UNMIK Headquarters. He added that he was confident the appointments would help uproot crime and foster multi-ethnic coexistence and a culture of tolerance.

The judiciary officials agreed to carry out their functions in an independent and impartial manner, while upholding the law and acting in accordance with the highest standards of professionalism.

In another ceremony, on 26 January, the first 34 tax inspectors in post-conflict Kosovo were sworn in after graduating from a one-week training programme. The inspectors were selected from more than 700 applicants from around Kosovo. The Head of the European Union in Kosovo, Mr. Joly Dixon, told the new tax inspectors that their task would be extremely difficult as they would have to work hard to change the mentality of the people.

The first task for the new tax inspectors will be to educate owners of large establishments with respect to their tax obligations. The tax on hotels and restaurants with gross revenues of more than 15,000 deutsche mark per month goes into effect on 1 February.

Briefs . . . .

Police tires slashed: UNMIK on 28 January announced its concern about the slashing of tires of 16 UNMIK Police vehicles in northern Mitrovica the night before. Most of the cars were parked in front of the city. s UNMIK Police station.

Social assistance to be paid: During the last week of February, UNMIK will begin the second round of social assistance payments to vulnerable groups. Elderly persons, families with one parent and families with disabled persons are eligible for the emergency money.

Vineyard revival: Beginning in mid-February, a project for the revival of Kosovo. s vineyards is expected to both stimulate the agriculture sector and improve employment trends in rural areas. The European Union, which is making available 400,000 deutsche mark, announced the initiative to vintners on 27 January. The first step of the project will entail pruning neglected vineyards and will provide up to 600 workers with six weeks of employment. Until 1990, the Kosovo vineyards counted about 100,000 hectares; less than 6,000 hectares are currently in cultivation.

Bank crackdown: As of 15 February, UNMIK will require unlicensed financial institutions to cease claiming to be banks and to stop taking deposits and making loans.

Power update: Preliminary estimates indicate that it may take two months to repair Unit 2 of power station Kosovo B, which suffered a fire two weeks ago. The disbursement of stipends to power sector workers is to begin this week.

Kouchner visits Japan

The Head of UNMIK, Dr. Bernard Kouchner, will be in Japan from 31 January until 5 February to talk about funding needed for the Kosovo budget. Dr. Kouchner will meet with Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, Foreign Minister Yohei Kono and other political leaders. En route to Japan, Dr. Kouchner stopped in Brussels, where he met with the President of the European Commission, Mr. Romano Prodhi, and the European Union Commissioner for External Affairs, Mr. Christopher Patten, to discuss the Kosovo budget and fundraising.

In Japan, he is scheduled to visit the United Nations University and give a lecture at the Japanese Institute of Foreign Affairs.

Expanded KTC to be inaugurated

The newly expanded Kosovo Transitional Council (KTC) will be inaugurated on 9 February, UNMIK announced on 26 January. The KTC is the highest level political consultative group to the UN mission.

Meanwhile, the proposed list of new candidates is being discussed by the KTC. The body, likened to an "interim parliament" by the Head of UNMIK, Dr. Kouchner, is going to expand its membership to include more minority representatives, political parties and members of Kosovo. s civil society.

Dr. Kouchner on 26 January told members of the KTC that the body will also serve as the popular "consciousness" of Kosovo, with the ability to take initiatives to be enacted by the Joint Interim Administrative Structure (JIAS). The KTC will be able to propose alternative solutions to those of the Interim Administrative Council (IAC), with which it may disagree.

The JIAS and the IAC were launched on 15 December to allow the people of Kosovo to share administrative power with UNMIK.

Kouchner meets leaders in Orahovac

The Head of UNMIK, Dr. Kouchner, met with local Albanian and Serb leaders in Orahovac on 24 January to reassure them that steps were being taken to normalize and improve life in Kosovo.

"Kosovo is for all the communities living here. They must all enjoy a future of freedom and a good life," said Dr. Kouchner, who was accompanied by KFOR Commander General Klaus Reinhardt, Bishop Artemije and Mr. Momcilo Trajkovoic.

Dr. Kouchner also visited Velika Hoca, where Serb leaders briefed him about their security concerns and the need for improving basic services, including utilities, water, health care and education.

He discussed with Albanian leaders ways of revitalizing the economy, improving utilities and reconstructing houses, 20 per cent of which were destroyed in the war.

Orahovac has a population of 65,000, made up of 97 per cent Albanians and 3 per cent Serbs and Roma.

More department co-heads named

The Interim Administrative Council (IAC) on 25 January named co-heads for three more administrative departments in Kosovo.

The three co-heads are Dr. Pleurat Sejdiu, a medical doctor and member of the PPDK (Democratic Party of Kosovo) for the Department of Health and Social Security; Mr. Hydajet Hyseni of the LBD (United Democratic League) for the Department of Non-residents. affairs; and Mr. Gjergi Rapi, a sociologist from the LBD, for the Department of Utilities.

The co-heads will share the responsibility of running the departments with counterparts appointed by UNMIK under the new Joint Interim Administrative Structure, which allows citizens of Kosovo to share responsibility with the UN mission in governing the territory until elections are held.

The IAC also decided today that all co-heads for the 19 administrative departments so far agreed upon should be named by the end of this month, when at least four departments will be fully operational. These are Education and Science; Health and Social Security; Local Administration; and Budget and Finance.

At its regular meeting, the IAC also finalized the list of the expanded Kosovo Transitional Council, which will be made public once all the candidates have been notified.

Serbs to consider joining IAC

The Head of UNMIK, Dr. Kouchner, announced on 25 January that members of the Serb National Council told him they planned on joining the Interim Administrative Council (IAC) within two weeks.

He said the Serbs had indicated a wish to vote on the subject of joining the IAC in a meeting in Gracanica the day before. The vote did not take place since representatives of the Serb community from Mitrovica had been unable to attend due to heavy snowfall.

One of the seats in the IAC is reserved for a Serb, who has yet to be named. Dr. Kouchner reiterated UNMIK. s invitation to the Serbs to co-head two administrative departments of the Joint Interim Administrative Structure and participate in other aspects of the provisional administration.

What's on in the regions

Mitrovica

For the first time since the conflict ended last year, Radio Mitrovica, the only Albanian-language radio station in Mitrovica, invited a Serb artist for an interview. During the 45-minute interview, on 18 January, the artist discussed her work in Mitrovica and issues related to friendship, tolerance and goodwill. The interview was conducted in Serbian by the radio presenter, who himself translated it live into Albanian.

In other developments, international donors have agreed to grant 1.5 million deutsche mark to repair the main bridge over River Ibar. The bridge, which has been the focus of violent demonstrations, was built in 1973 and repairs were interrupted by the war. The work will involve filling up the cracks, treating corrosion, leveling and waterproofing the surface. Handrails and pavements for pedestrians will be built on either side of the bridge and electrical lighting equipment will also be installed.

Pristina

UNMIK Police and the Kosovo Police Service are requesting organizers of major events or demonstration within the city of Pristina to give them three days. notice. The objective is to allow the police to provide a safe environment for all partcipants as well as the population. Permission must be obtained to hold major events, such as basketball and football matches, music concerts or street performances.

Prizren

In conformity with the Kosovo Joint Administrative Structure, an administrative board for the municipality of Dragash was formed on 26 January for a period of 90 days. Twelve members of the administrative board were inducted in the presence of the Deputy Municipal Administrator of Prizren, Mr. Mark Baskin. Three of Prizren. s five municipalities now have administrative boards: Dragash, Suhareka and Prizren.

Pec

Four UNMIK Police officers were hospitalized after they inhaled smoke while fighting a fire in one of the biggest apartment buildings in Pec on 24 January. UNMIK Police, helped by the people of the 12-storey "Solitaire" building, helped extinguish the fire, which began in a flat on the eighth floor around 7.30 p.m. The police guided 25 people who had been trapped on the upper floors to safety.

Gnjilane

The Municipal Council of Novo Brdo, which is among the first councils in Kosovo, was inaugurated on 27 January. During the ceremony, four Albanians and four Serbs signed their letters of appointment, thus joining the Council. Efforts are being made to recruit a woman from the Serbian community to the Council. One Serb woman had indicated interest in becoming a member; she declined to join, however, citing professional commitments as Director of the Serbian Primary School in Precovce. The new Council is to hold its first meeting on 3 February.

Although the electricity supply to Novo Brdo has improved, areas such as Tulare, Klobucar and Jacenovic were without power for about a week due to damaged distribution lines in the area.

UNMIK Police Facts*

Authorized strength: 3,155 Deployed: 1,970

Pristina: 599 Main Headquarters: 208

Pec: 101 Border police: 201

Prizren: 311 Training staff: 32

Mitrovica: 258 Kosovo Police Service: 73

Gnjilane: 181 At training centre: 8**