In a move aimed at improving the security situation in Mitrovica, UNMIK and KFOR on 15 March began establishing a "confidence zone". Encompassing the eastern and wetsern bridges and the stretch of the Ibar River between them, the zone is to serve as a buffer between the northern and southern parts of the ethnically divided city and to provide freedom of movement and security to the all its residents.

As they were setting up the zone, however, KFOR soldiers were met by Serb protesters, who were dispersed with teargas, an UNMIK spokeswoman announced on 15 March. Four people were slightly injured and two UNMIK Police vehicles were damaged. The situation was subsequently brought under control.

The spokeswoman also said that the Head of UNMIK, Dr. Bernard Kouchner, had held "productive meetings" with Serb and Albanian community leaders in Mitrovica, Mr. Oliver Ivanovic and Mr. Bajram Rexhepi, to discuss the confidence zone.

On the same day, the Kosovo Transitional Council (KTC) expressed "deep concern" over the continuing difficult security situation affecting all people in Kosovo, particularly members of minority communities.

"We reaffirm our commitment that all citizens and communities in Kosovo shall enjoy equal rights," the KTC said in a statement issued after its regular meeting on 15 March.

It called on all citizens in Kosovo to interact in a peaceful and tolerant manner. In reaffirming the right of all people to return to their homes, the KTC called on the international community and political leaders in Kosovo to facilitate the return of Albanians, Serbs and members of other minority communities to their homes.

The Council also urgently called on Serb leaders to take their seats in the Joint Interim Administrative Structure so as to work together with representatives of other communities.

Secretary-General worried about developments in Kosovo

Expressing concern about the latest developments in Kosovo, the UN Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, on 17 March said the UN was doing its best to try to bring the situation under control.

Speaking at a press conference in Paris as he concluded his visit to France, Mr. Annan said there was no doubt that there had been "provocations and provocative attempts", particularly in the Presevo area in southern Serbia, near the eastern border with Kosovo. "It is clear that it is the Albanians who are now doing the most of this provocation," he added.

According to UNMIK, the situation in Presevo is a repercussion of the violence which first erupted in early February in Mitrovica. Members of the former Kosovo Liberation Army, or a new group that has emerged, are now fighting Serbian military and police in Presevo, forcing Albanian villagers to flee into Kosovo.

KFOR Spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Henning Philipp told the press in Pristina on 17 March that the situation in Presevo was calm following a major success in the search for arms in eastern Kosovo, which resulted in the confiscation of many weapons and the detention of several people. "I think it was a major setback for those guys who have been and still are trying to export violence from Kosovo to Serbia," he said.

What’s on in the regions

Prizren

The UN High Commissioner for Refugess has received a grant of more than 1 million dollars to develop the Kosovo Women Initiative, which entails language and sewing courses for women.

In Prizren 78 women, including 13 Roma, signed up for language courses that began in November 1999 and will end in early May. Although 11 women have since dropped out to get married and for other reasons, the remaining women are expected to take the next, more advanced course after 6 May. In Dragash sewing and language courses that began on 1 March have drawn Goran and Albanian women.

Pec

A garbage collection campaign targeted Istok town on 14 March. School children, the local population, the Kosovo Protection Corps, KFOR and a municipal utilities and reconstruction company, Standart, joined forces in cleaning the town.

Three construction tool kits were distributed at the Gorrakov Technical School on 15 March. The beneficiaries are Standart, Cooperative and the Division of Reconstruction of the Technical School.

Gnjilane

A series of attacks against Serbs last week prompted another exodus from villages in the region. UNMIK is maintaining close watch over the village of Bostane in the municipality of Novo Brdo and the village of Gornje Makresh in Gnjilane.

The roadblock on the road to Strepce was removed last week. More than 70 Albanians had erected the roadblock, which prevented the regular movement of a convoy of Serbs on 14 March.

Mitrovica

Two non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are improving living conditions in Vucitrn. One NGO, Kinderberg, has donated an ambulance to UNMIK and Vucitrn’s Health House. Another NGO, the Swedish Rescue Agency, has been awarded a contract to renovate the Partizani Sports Hall.

Pristina

The Head of UNMIK, Dr. Kouchner, attended the inauguration ceremony of the Gracanica Surgical Clinic on 18 March. The emergency facility is run by Médecins du Monde and funded by the Greek Government and UNMIK. It was set up in response to a request from the Serb community in Gracanica and as part of the Agenda for Coexistence, which aims to provide minority communities with access to essential services.

Briefs . . . .

Electoral regulation approved: A regulation that will govern the Central Election Commission has been approved. The independent Commission is to conduct elections in Kosovo, supervising all aspects of the electoral process to ensure that elections will be free and fair. It will be made up of nine members and three international election experts, to be named by the Head of UNMIK, Dr. Kouchner. The Commission will be chaired by the head of UNMIK’s Institution Building pillar, Mr. Daan Everts.

Political parties to be registered: To be recognized as legal entities and participate in the electoral process, political parties are required to register with UNMIK. Registered parties will be able to consider seats on various political bodies. Parties must submit statutes of their political objectives, which must reflect a commitment to democratic principles, the protection of human rights and tolerance for all ethnic groups.

IAC calls for fair coverage: The Interim Administrative Council (IAC) on 14 March called for fair coverage of the upcoming campaign for municipal elections and a well-informed electorate. During its regular meeting, the IAC discussed the role of the media in the upcoming local elections.

Co-head for Sport named: The Interim Administrative Council named Mr. Zenun Pajaziti of the LBD (United Democratic Movement) as the co-head for the Administrative Department of Sport.

Kouchner denies allegations: The Head of UNMIK, Dr. Kouchner, expressed his outrage at the local Albanian newspaper Koha Ditore over an article published on 12 March, which contained allegations against the former UNMIK Regional Administrator for Mitrovica, Mr. Mario Morcone. Dr. Kouchner said the story was "completely untrue", and added that Mr. Morcone, who was replaced by General William Nash of the Untied States, was not only "not corrupt, but he did a very good job". He demanded an apology, saying the allegation was an insult to UNMIK.

Civil registration to be launched before elections

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the UN Civil Administration are to launch civil registration later this month, UNMIK announced on 13 March.

A civil registry will enable UNMIK to provide public services to all residents and to build an accurate voter registration list for local elections to be held in fall.

Registration will take place during the spring and summer at 400 locations across Kosovo. Everyone over the age of 16 is required to register.

The head of UNMIK’s Civil Administration pillar, Mr. Tom Koenigs, said at a press briefing that UNMIK intended to register all those who rightfully belong to Kosovo, regardless of their ethnicity. "UNMIK wants to exclude those who have entered Kosovo illegally and do not belong to this territory," he added.

To be listed as a resident of Kosovo and receive an identity card, applicants must meet one of the following four criteria: they must be born in Kosovo or have one parent born in Kosovo; or they must prove that they lived in Kosovo for a continuous period of five years; or they must prove that they were removed by force from Kosovo; or they are dependent children of adults who qualify and are in full-time attendance at a recognized educational institution.

According to the registration rules, people not living in Kosovo can register to vote, but they must show that they resided in Kosovo on or before 1 January 1998. They must also prove their identity and residency through documentation.

New postage stamps issued

In a significant step towards restoring communications within Kosovo, UNMIK on 14 March issued a set of five postage stamps designed around the theme "Peace in Kosovo".

With the launch of the new stamp series, mail service inside Kosovo will begin last week and international service should be available by mid-May, UNMIK Spokeswoman Ms Susan Manuel said.

UNMIK has opened 80 of 130 Kosovo post offices, employing 700 staff, with funding from the European Agency for Reconstruction. The agency will also donate 60 vehicles to the Kosovo postal service in late April.

All five subjects of the UNMIK stamps, designed by Kosovo artist Mr. Shyqri Nimani, represent aspects of the cultural and historical heritage of Kosovo. The 1 deutsche mark stamp depicts a silver statue in Prizren of Mother Theresa, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, who was an ethnic Albanian. The 2 deutsche mark stamp features a photo collage in the shape of the map of Kosovo; its images reflect destruction, reconstruction, industrial wealth, natural beauty and cultural heritage.

Susan Manuel said the launch of the stamps was also an event for stamp collectors. First-day covers went on sale on 17 March in six post offices in Pristina and in Ferizai, Prizren, Djakova, Pec, Mitrovica and Gjnilane. Outside Kosovo, collectors may order them from the UN Postal Administration in New York, Geneva or Vienna, or through their local stamp dealers.

UNMIK accepts Amnesty findings on Mitrovica

Both UNMIK and KFOR on 15 March said they accepted the critical findings of an Amnesty International report on the handling of the recent violence in Mitrovica.

UNMIK Spokeswoman Ms Susan Manuel told the press in Pristina that "things have changed" since the night of violence on 3 February, when UNMIK started increasing the number of UNMIK Police, which had "now doubled to more than 560". By late March, UNMIK would have two special police units from Pakistan and Jordan in Mitrovica, each with at least 100 officers trained in riot control and other specialized police work. She added that in February KFOR had played the roles of "police, correctional officers, lawyers".

UNMIK had promptly brought in an international judiciary after the February violence, continued Ms Manuel. "There was virtually no judiciary in Mitrovica at the time. We’ve since gotten one international judge and one international prosecutor and there will be more coming."

In addition, UNMIK was about to introduce an ombudsman office that would assist people who have claims or allegations of human rights violations, she said.

KFOR Spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Henning Philipp said, "We have nothing to hide and that’s the reason we gave the representatives of Amnesty International free access to the detention facility. We are now looking into the findings and if we find out that mistakes were really made by soldiers involved, then we will take appropriate measures so that they cannot be repeated."

UNMIK Police Facts*

Authorized strength: 4,718 Deployed: 2,571

Pristina: 627 Main Headquarters: 260

Prizren: 289 Border police: 192

Pec: 121 Training staff: 37

Mitrovica: 510 Kosovo Police Service: 342

Gnjilane: 316 At the training centre: 101**