Noting that while most residents abhorred the violence, the report says they remained unwilling to cooperate with UNMIK in tackling the causes and perpetrators. "It is imperative", the report stresses, that Kosovo's leaders "speak out against the violence and call for an end to the climate of impunity that allows criminals to operate freely."

At the same time, the Secretary General's report records that UNMIK had made considerable progress-despite political, security and economic challenges. The emergency phase was largely over, and emphasis was now given to capacity-building. This included the elaboration of the legal framework for provisional self-government institutions, consultations with representatives of all communities, development of municipal administration and strengthening of a revenue-generating commercial economy.

On security issues, the SRSG report highlights Mitrovica as an area of grave concern. The pattern of threats and violence that re-emerged in December, with both communities having been at fault, required both UNMIK and KFOR to push harder for a solution, the Security Councilis told.

Following negotiations with the international community, Kosovo Albanian leaders had sign a joint declaration and a plan of action. This included a call for an increased security presence, a larger "zone of confidence" and the freedom of movement for all citizens.

Meanwhile, the SRSG was continuing discussions aimed at reaching an agreement with Kosovo Serb leaders. But the Secretary-General's report also condemns the serious acts of violence and intimidation against Kosovo Serbs. Those acts had also impeded the integration of Kosovo Serbs into the interim administrative structures, his report notes.

The Joint Working Group on the Legal Framework has moved into substantive work, its chairman, Johan van Lamoen reports. The Group, which is currently drafting the preamble to the document is focusing on the areas in which powers will be transferred to institutions of provisional self-government. Earlier in the week, at a joint meeting of the Group with the Interim Administrative Council, SRSG Hans Haekkerup requested that a debate on the title of the document be set aside so that the Group could deal with the technical issues. The SRSG noted that the draft framework document would in any case be put before IAC-before he himself made any final decisions.

Pristina Airport will service at least six new destinations this summer. Additional routes are also being planned for the future. When the summer schedule opens on 24 March, travellers will be able to fly to Istanbul, London, Milan, Rome and Sofia-with Paris and Copenhagen in the pipeline. These destinations will be served by twelve commercial airlines making up to ten departures daily. In a little less than one year, Pristina Airport has doubled the number of passengers from even the highest pre-war levels.

There has been some progress in helping people find jobs, an analysis of the performance of the employment offices for February 2001 shows. In Mitrovica, the employment office assisted 246 unemployed persons to find jobs, representing 15.3 per cent of the total number of those locally registered as unemployed. In Pristina, 40 persons, or 2 per cent of those registered, were assisted. In Ferizaj/Urosevac and Gjakovë/Dakovica, 21 and 38 persons representing 4.3 and 8.2 per cent, respectively, were assisted.

Four private companies (three Kosovo Albanian and one Serb) have presented proposals to collect metal scrap originating at the Trepça Complex. As a further step in the same direction, a Lithuanian Engineering Ecology Association will visit Mitrovica to assess the possibility of undertaking clean-up activities and to propose methods of reducing soil contamination with heavy metals in and around the Trepça facilities.

A combination of an anti-drugs enforcement initiative, an extensive education programme and community policing are paying off in the Gjilan/Gnjilane region. Some 29 arrests there since a dedicated drug squad (composed entirely of KPS officers) was formed reflect the KPS's local street knowledge and the impact of an education programme that reached more than 2,000 12 to 16 year-olds. Police sources also note the feasibility of effective partnerships between the KPS, international police and the local population in community policy, as well as the positive outcome of giving the KPS freedom and responsibility to address problems in their own communities.

The Department of Sports is planning an international marathon in Pristina on 8 April in collaboration with the Athletic Federation of Kosovo. Although organized mainly through sponsorship, the Department will meet shortfalls in donor contributions. A total of DM 25,000 in prize money will be given under three categories of competitors: men, women and veterans. The entire prize money is being donated by Micro Enterprise Bank, Pristina

Senior Kosovar staff from the central JIAS departments have received diplomas after taking part in their first training course at the Institute of Civil Administration. They currently work in the Departments of Reconstruction, Public Services, Youth, and Labour and Employment. The training-which covered economics, public finance and management, human resources, and conflict resolution-presented the participants with new ideas, theories and ways of approaching their work. Participants examined modern approaches to managing Kosovo's public sector, concentrating on leadership, communication and motivation skills.