Containing violence now "primary challenge"

Containing violence and defusing potential flashpoints of inter-ethnic tension: these are the primary challenges for the international peacekeeping force in Kosovo, said United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan on 23 August. In his latest report to the Security Council, covering developments in Kosovo from 23 June to 22 July 2000, he also warned that problems were likely to be exacerbated by the increasing number of returning refugees and by growing tension from political rivalry in the run-up to the municipal elections scheduled for 28 October.
   
The situation in Kosovo is already tense, with violence continuing against all groups, particularly Serbs and Roma, says the report. There have been many attempted illegal boundary crossings, thwarted by KFOR's control of Kosovo's internal boundaries, external borders and recognized crossings. There have also been reports of paramilitary activities being conducted by the "Liberation Army of Presevo, Medvedja and Bujanovac" in and around Dobrosin, including mortar and small arms attacks, against elements of the Serbian Ministry of the Interior Police, causing some casualties. In addition, the frequency of weapons violations and incidents involving threatening behaviour remain at a significant level, the report says.
   
On 24 August, Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Hédi Annabi told the Security Council that UNMIK was readjusting its policy priorities in response to the violence, which was directed particularly against members of the Kosovo Democratic League (LDK).
   
"UNMIK will closely monitor all aspects of the electoral process and will use every means at its disposal to deter and punish acts of violence," Annabi said, adding that the Mission would continue its work aimed at improving the material and security conditions of Kosovo's ethnic minorities.
   
While some 90 per cent of Kosovo's Albanians participated in the registration process, widespread intimidation by hard-line Serb elements had managed to dissuade the vast majority of Kosovo Serbs from taking part, Annabi said. Kosovo Turkish participation had also been limited, due to ongoing divisions within the Turkish communities over the status of the Turkish language.
   
Following Annabi's briefing, Council members expressed divergent views on the elections. Ambassador Sergey Lavrov of the Russian Federation noted that the international presence had been unable to end armed provocation in the territory, and pushing ahead with the elections regardless of the ongoing situation was, in his view, unwise. James B. Cunningham of the United States said implementing the Council's mandate on Kosovo would take time and patience, and the elections would mark an important step in the transitional administration process.
   
The Head of UNMIK, Dr. Bernard Kouchner, is expected to deliver his own report to the Security Council on the Mission's activities in September

Two new JIAS departments

Two new JIAS departments-the Department of Youth and Department of Public Utilities-have been officially established and corresponding regulations issued.
   
The Department of Youth, co-headed by Driton Lajci (PDK) and Bernardo Cocco (UNMIK), is responsible for the overall management of all matters concerning youth in Kosovo. These include programmes addressing specific youth groups, such as those who are out of school, illiterates, unemployed, returning refugees, and others. It will also work in the fields of education, job training, health, juvenile justice, sports and recreation, regional and international exchange programmes, and for the promotion of youth and human rights. The Department's mandate also includes promoting formation of youth clubs, groups and associations throughout Kosovo.
   
The Youth Department, which is already active, will organize a Youth Week, from 1 to 7 October 2000, under the theme "Tolerance, No Violence". With more than half of Kosovo's population below the age of 25, young people are considered a major force in the creation of post-war civil society.
   
The second body-Department of Public Utilities-will be in charge of the management oversight and regulation of all public utilities in Kosovo. These include natural gas supply, transmission and use for public utilities purposes; electric power, heat, water supply and distribution, and sewage and solid waste collection and treatment. Its co-heads are Gjergj Rrapi (LBD) and Joan Pearce (UNMIK).

Involuntary refugees return

The rate of mandatory returns of Kosovo refugees and displaced persons from Western Europe and other countries is approaching 500 per week, according to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Over 6,000 people have been forcibly returned since February. This is in addition to the more than 61,000 refugees who returned voluntarily from European and other countries. Altogether, more than 882,000 refugees have now returned to Kosovo since June, UNHCR reported.
   
"UNHCR does not oppose the mandatory returns, if their needs for continued protection have been appropriately assessed and as long as the returns are done in a humane manner," the High Commissioner's spokeswoman, Maki Shinohara, told the press in Pristina on 23 August. "We are concerned, however, about the return of minorities to Kosovo, as well as those who do not originate from Kosovo. Many Albanians are from southern Serbia, for example. They cannot return to their home villages and will only add to those who are still displaced inside Kosovo."
   
She said UNHCR had so far assisted some 80 Romas to return to their homes from the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. This was a concrete follow-up to the Platform of Action for Roma, Egyptians and Ashkalija agreed by the Albanian leaders in April 2000. Also related to the Platform of Action, a second visit of the Albanian leaders to Roma communities is planned in the coming weeks.

Water crisis

The Pristina Municipality has adopted an emergency regulation to restrict the use of drinking water. From 24 August to 15 September, drinking water may not be used to water sidewalks, streets or stairs, or to wash cars at any time of the day. Watering of plants, grass or trees is prohibited between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Municipal inspectors will fine anyone found doing so DM 50.
 
The restrictions are in response to major water supply shortages stemming from water pump repairs. Kosovo's main pumping station disposes of three 20-year-old pumps. One of them ceased functioning in the middle of August and was sent to Germany for repairs. It is not expected back before 3-4 weeks.
 
However, due to the strain caused by having only two pumps, the second pump may break down in the next few weeks. Whether it happens or not, as soon as the first pump returns from Germany, this pump will be sent for repairs. Likewise, upon its return, the third pump will also be sent.
 
On 24 August, the German Government officially announced that it would fund the installation of a new pump. But this is not a simple process: according to the Department of Utilities, it will take at least six weeks for a new pump to be in place and operational.

Identification of exhumed bodies

Forensic experts are identifying the remains of 176 bodies exhumed from unmarked graves in Dragodan cemetery in Pristina earlier this summer. The Victims Recovery and Identification Commission and the OSCE have positively identified 44 of the remains.
 
Most of these are known or believed to be Kosovar Albanians, but there may be remains of Serbs or other minorities among those found. Most of the bodies had been buried before and during the 1999 conflict by the Pristina mortuary company attached to Pristina hospital. A few bodies were buried there after the conflict ended. Contrary to some newspapers' stories, there is no new gravesite at Dragodan. The exhumations will continue.

Polio vaccination campaign

Kosovo's Institute of Public Health, supported by UNICEF, WHO, UNMIK, KFOR and a number of NGOs, is launching a polio vaccination campaign in six Kosovo municipalities that are known to have an immunization coverage below 65 per cent. These are: Pristinė/Pristina; Gjilan/Gnjilane; Pejė/Pec; Mitrovicė/Mitrovica; Shtime/Shtimlje; and Podujevė/Podujevo.
   
The aim is to vaccinate those most susceptible to polio, starting with two-month-old babies to children up to five years of age-a target group of almost 90,000, or approximately 13 per cent of the population in these municipaities. About 1,000 health workers organized in some 240 immunization teams will perform vaccinations in two stages: from 14 to 17 September, when the first dose will be administered, and from 19 to 22 October for the second, final dose.

Briefs . . .

Immunities: A regulation on privileges and immunities of UNMIK and KFOR and their personnel, signed by SRSG Bernard Kouchner on 18 August, stipulates that UNMIK, KFOR, their property, funds and assets are immune from any legal process. It also exempts UNMIK and KFOR personnel from any form of arrest or detention. If erroneously detained, they have to be immediately turned over to UNMIK or KFOR authorities. These organizations' personnel, including their locally recruited staff, are also immune from legal process in respect of words spoken or written and all acts performed by them in their official capacity.

Kouchner's third meeting with residents: The Head of UNMIK, Dr. Bernard Kouchner, will hold a third Town Hall meeting, this time in Ferizaj/Urosevac. The meeting, in which he will be joined by Javier Solana, the European Union's High Representative of the Common Foreign and Security Policy, will take place on 30 August.

The Ombudsperson for Kosovo, Polish lawyer Marek Antoni Nowicki, paid his first working visit to Kosovo recently. His job is to investigate and mediate complaints from individuals, groups and organizations about any abuses of power by the Interim Civil Administration or any other central or local institution. Nowicki has a long record of human rights activism. He co-founded the Helsinki Watch Committee for Poland during martial law and served as president of the Executive Commitee of the International Helsinki Federation of Human Rights in Vienna.

Human trafficking: Dr. Helga Konrad, Co-ordinator of the Balkan Stability Pact Task Force on Trafficking in Human Beings, visited Kosovo past week on a fact-finding mission. Human trafficking in the area of the OSCE countries-often described as a modern-day form of slavery-involves some 200,000 females each year.

Kosovo's children: The Working Group for the Protection of Children Without Parental Care met rexently at the Child Protection Fund (CPF) and shared lists of orphaned children with Centres for Social Work. So far, 1,210 children without both parents have been registered by the CPF, of which 661 live alone or with insufficient care of an adult person.

Senior staff in the Pristina Municipality are currently undergoing a four-week pilot course on law, economy, public finance, human resources management and conflict resolution. The course inaugurates the new facilities of the Institute for Civil Administration. The same programme started in Zvecan on 29 August. Since December 1999, the OSCE-run institute has offered 40 seminars to some 800 municipal staff.

Mother Theresa Art Exhibition: An exhibition of artwork depicting Mother Theresa and exemplifying her legacy of peace, tolerance and understanding opens at the Kosovo Art Gallery in Pristina on 29 August. Sponsored by the UN Development Programme, the exhibition will later be seen at the Mitrovica Cultural Centre.

Pristina Airport has reached its full capacity. During July, a total of 284 commercial flights carried 58,482 passengers and 1,122 tonnes of baggage. Meanwhile, plans for the development and modernization of the airport are progressing.

Postal news: Some 11,000 letters from Kosovo to the rest of the world were registered by the International Mail Service as of the end of July. Preparations commenced to enable the Money Order Service to start on 1 October 2000, including methods of operation, forms and setting up a processing and control centre in Kosovo.