Severe punishments for weapons possession

A new weapons regulation has been introduced to take out of circulation the huge quantity of weaponry left in Kosovo since the conflict almost two years ago. Violators of the new regulation may be convicted to imprisonment for as long as ten years and fined up to 20,000 DM.
  
Before these penalties are introduced, however, there will be an amnesty period. Kosovars in possession of weapons will have the chance to turn in their weapons with no questions asked. Police Commissioner Christopher Albiston called on Kosovars to take that opportunity to move beyond being a post-war armed society and become a more European civil society.  "This is a chance to move yourself out of jeopardy with the law," he said.

An information campaign is being launched with details as to how to go about turning in weapons, but it is already known that the full weapons amnesty will be proclaimed for the period 30 April to 4 June  2001. In the absence of an UNMIK Police- or KFOR weapon authorization card (WAC), possession thereafter of a weapon will make a person liable to arrest, trial and prosecution with the exception of holding defined hunting and recreational weapons such as bolt action rifles and shotguns.  Weapons are defined in the regulation as any instruments designed or useable for inflicting harm, and includes all kinds of guns, grenades and rockets, blank firing and replica weapons as well as daggers.
  
Essentially, the regulation will focus on establishing a new weapons authorization system to be operated solely by UNMIK Police. This replaces weapons authorization previously administered by KFOR. But the new law also bestows arrest and confiscation powers on Kosovo's law enforcement authorities (KFOR, UNMIK Police and the Kosovo Police Service) and  confers strong sentencing  options on the courts.
   
A key aim of the regulation is to put a stop to the common carriage of guns in Kosovo's post-conflict environment. "Above all we have to get the guns off the streets" says the regulations designer.

The law will recognize-in line with comparable legislation elsewhere in Europe-that vulnerable people, especially prominent political figures must continue to enjoy a certain measure of protection that includes permission for them or their bodyguards to carry certain weapons. But, in future, the authorities plan to come down heavily on unauthorized possession. "The idea that you can pack a handgun the way you carry a mobile phone when you go out with your friends is definitely out," say the UNMIK officials behind the draft law.
  
The need for tough regulation is clearly evident, UNMIK will explain to the IAC, in the continuing high levels of weapons-related crime. Polices files show that the 40-plus recorded weapon incidents in the first week of February is typical for Kosovo. It is highly untypical for the part of Europe to which most Kosovars would like free access.
  
Three quarters of the reports that week concerned serious threats in the form of explosions, undetonated ordnance, armed robbery or intimidation. In the same period, there were 20 incidents of illegal possession of  guns, ammunition and other explosives-three quarters of them either being carried personally or found in vehicle searches.
   
The regulation enjoins UNMIK Police to issue WACs only to a very limited number of vulnerable people (and their registered bodyguards), namely those assessed by a police-run Threat Assessment Committee as being eligible by virtue of risks or threats to them.
   
From 5 June, WACs will be valid, unless revoked, for periods of up to one year, whereupon they may be renewed.
  
From that date it will be a criminal offence to own control, possess, use, brandish a weapon without being in possession of a WAC, to direct an accomplice to commit such an offence, or (if a WAC holder) not to notify UNMIK Police of any change of weapon ownership, possession or control.

Donors discuss reconstruction and development

Donors from around the world are in Pristina to discuss their funding of Kosovo's budget. Their principle focus is projects organized by the Central Fiscal Authority and the Department of Reconstruction into a series of programmes applicable to each JIAS department and spending agency.
  
At the opening on Sunday, however, Therese Sobieski of the European Commission spoke for many donors, warning that the majority of Kosovars could lose out because of the work of a minority of extremists, as "violence will only lead to withdrawal of support." Nevertheless, she applauded the enthusiastic support of the majority of Kosovars in rebuilding Kosovo but acknowledged that there are still great needs in terms of assistance from donors.
  
For the World Bank, Christiaan Poortman said that, after the first two Kosovo donor conferences in Brussels, holding this one in Pristina reflected the progress made in rebuilding. But, he also felt that the violence had come at a crucial time for Kosovo's future, with the emergency stage over and the focus needing to shift to development issues.
   
Speaking for UNMIK, Andy Bearpark agreed that much  had been achieved in improving the overall situation. While he was happy that 70 per cent of Kosovo's budget would be met from internal revenues this year, he nevertheless called on donors to maintain their level of support to help ensure that sustainable economic development can become reality. He identified capacity building as a main priority for preparing for the time when internationals would leave.
  
The CFA announced plans to decrease Kosovo's dependence on donors. Introduction of Value Added Tax in July and several other taxes would further bolster Kosovo's current budget. Without donor assistance, however, the investment budget would be far from capable of meeting Kosovo's needs.

Briefs . . . .

The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure has received a donation of four locomotive engines from the Norwegian Railways and the Foreign Ministry of Norway. The four 1,800 horsepower engines will provide the backbone for the future of passenger and freight rail traffic in Kosovo, bringing the total number of locomotives in the territory up to 10. Currently, the railway operates two freight lines (one north-south and one east-west) and one passenger line. The development of commercial freight traffic is a priority for the recovery of Kosovo's economy. In addition, transporting freight by rail will provide a more environmentally friendly means of transportation than trucks and trailers. The locomotives were fully serviced before arrival and are each guaranteed 60,000 kilometres before requiring any maintenance. The DM 3.5 million package will also provide for spare parts and technical assistance for local mechanics, engineers, drivers. All training will be completed, and locomotives operational by the end of March 2001.

Sample surveys of businesses in the Municipalities of Mitrovicė/Mitrovica, Vushtrri/Vucitrn and Skenderaj/Srbica show that trading is by far the most popular sector of activity (59.3%), followed by services (33.8%), industry (5.6%) and agriculture (1.3%). More than 77 per cent of the microenterprises have less than two years of activity, and 72.5 per cent of them are family-based. A typical microenterprise has three workers, including the owner. More than 7 per cent of the workers and 34.4 per cent of the entrepreneurs need training, notably in business and sales techniques, computers, hotel management and car mechanics.

A Department of Physiotherapy is being set up at the Faculty of Medicine of the Pristina University with the support of the International Centre for the Advancement of Community-Based Rehabilitation of Queens University, Ontario, Canada. The new Department will offer a modern three-year BA programme of study conforming to the European Credit Transfer System and enroll 30 students per year. There will, be in-service training as well. This new structure will ensure that demand is met locally for the services of physiotherapists in Kosovo.

Municipalities will be responsible for clinical and public health activities starting from 1 March and July 2001, respectively, according to agreements between the Department of Local Administration and the Department of Health and Social Welfare. Under phased hand-over arrangements for primary health care to the municipalities, international medical staff will progressively relinquish their managerial role and become advisors to the local health care managers. Weekly meetings have already been held with the newly appointed municipal health directors and directors of health care facilities to guide the process of hand-over.

A high rate of respiratory tract infections in the Municipality of Obiliq/Obilic in 2000 has been reported by the Institute of Public Health. The rate is three times higher than that in Decan/Decani and Istog/Istok, which is attributed to the air pollution caused by the power plant.

There are no confirmed cases of BSE, Mad Cow Disease , in Kosovo, the Department of Agriculture reported, having surveyed both private and former state and public sector farms. A regulation on importation of live animals requires an import license and a valid veterinarian certificate that the animal came from BSE-free herds and farms, the Department says. It has also banned animal feed which contains any bone or animal parts.

As promised, UNMIK has started the second phase of the ID Cards distribution in Kosovo, which is much larger than the first one that began in December last year. During this phase, some 400,000 ID Cards will be distributed between now and May to those who registered last summer, after which the remaining 600,000 cards will be produced for distribution. The daily production target at present is 4,500 and is expected to rise to 11,000 by 5 March. The cards are being distributed through the PTK's network of Post Offices in Kosovo, involving 83 offices, where the printed cards should be delivered. However, people first may wish to check lists at their respective registration sites to find out whether his/her card is ready. The importance of holding the ID Card can hardly be overemphasized. The information gathered during the civil registration and in applying for the cards will form the civil registry to be used for almost everything in the future, like travel documents and a comprehensive voters' list for general elections. Only with an ID Card, can a person apply for a Travel Document.
 
UNMIK Police Commissioner Christopher Albiston has outlined plans to design a structure for supervising officers and station commanders. The Commissioner's vision is that the Kosovo Police Service (KPS) will develop into an effective police force for all people in Kosovo, who in turn must have confidence in the ability of the KPS to uphold the rule of law without ethnic bias. Reintegration of KPS officers in Leposaviq/Leposavic, following the disturbances there in December 2000, continues successfully, with officers now patrolling streets together with UNMIK Police.

The OSCE, with the assistance of a DM 220,000 grant from the Government of Switzerland, will soon open a community centre in Mitrovicė/Mitrovica . Aiming to be a place which will be a focus for community initiatives, it will be the first such centre that the OSCE will have opened for Kosovo's Serb community in the north of the ethnically-divided town. Community centres are already operating in Leposaviq/Leposavic and Shtėrpcė/Strpce. Such centres are a vital part of the OSCE's work in assisting the development of a civil society.

A workshop on property issues will be held in Pristina on 27 February. It is being organized by jointly by the OSCE's Kosovo Judicial Institute, the Department of Judicial Affairs and the Housing and Property Directorate. Issues to be discussed include property claims and the jurisdiction of the Directorate and the courts.

Local human rights and legal aid providing NGOs will take part in a workshop to be held in Pristina on 28 February and 1 March. Organized by the Ombudsperson's Institution, the OSCE's Ombudsperson Support Section and the OSCE's Human Rights Division, the event will review various human rights issues, including how to submit a complaint to the Ombudsperson's Institution. Similar workshops will be held in Kosovo's other regions during the next month.

The Office of Temporary Media Commissioner is conducting the second and, for the moment, the last round of licensing for local and low-power stations. Concurrently, it is receiving for the first time a number of applications for minority stations and will continue to receive them until 28 February 2001.