Johan Van Lamoen, Chairman of the Joint Working Group on the Legal Framework (JWG), in his last comments before leaving Kosovo, said that agreements on "99.9%" of issues concerning the legal framework have been reached through "teamwork and consensus."
   
Primary issues still unresolved include the document's title, aspects of a possible presidential institution, and the founding of a 'constitutional court,' or another such body. Remaining work on the document will be made under the chairmanship of UNMIK's Legal Advisor, Alexander Borg-Olivier, as Johan Van Lamoen is returning to the East Timor Mission where he is currently assigned. Kosovar JWG members thanked Mr. Van Lamoen for his "professional and diplomatic" guidance, and promised he would be the Assembly's first guest, as well as that of other institutions he helped to create.
   
While much attention has been focused on unresolved issues, local and international JWG members emphasised that the fundamental elements for provisional self-government in Kosovo had been established. Security Council Resolution 1244 had been strictly adhered to in the document's drafting, members agreed.  JWG Member, Blerim Shala, pointed out that JWG members were not politicians and that many of the outstanding decisions must be made by the SRSG and Kosovo's political leaders.
   
The document includes the responsibilities of the legislative, executive and judicial bodies. Adherence to human rights principles, including the rights of communities and of minorities, are also spelled out in the document, said new Chairman Borg-Olivier.
   
JWG member, Fatmir Sejdiu, confirmed that "a great part of the responsibility will be transferred into Kosovars' hands." At the same time, a section of the document clearly defines the duties to be reserved expressly for the SRSG.  "The real requirements of Kosovars have been included in the document," JWG member, Arsim Bajrami, said.  He also noted that the JWG seeks the support both of political entities and of the people of Kosovo for the document.
   
While the document's title remains at issue, it should not thwart the convening of elections, said Mr Borg-Olivier, who prefers calling it a "comprehensive framework for provisional self-government." When SRSG Haekkerup receives the document, a series of consultations with Kosovo leaders and international actors involved in Kosovo, such as the Contact Group, will begin. In the context of Resolution 1244, the government of Yugoslavia, because of its interest in the matter, will be informed by SRSG on developments, said Mr. Borg-Olivier. Although the representative of Kosovo Serbs joined the group late, his inputs have been taken into account and, when agreed upon, incorporated into the document, the Chairman said.
   
After consultations with all relevant actors, the SRSG will have the final say on the document that will allow Kosovo to create the democratic institutions of self-government that will administer daily life.

Details of Weapons Amnesty Programme Announced

The Weapons Amnesty Programme, a campaign to rid Kosovo of weapons of war in the hands of private citizens, will go into effect on May 1. The Programme marks a chance for Kosovo to move forward and become a civil society, commensurate with European norms, a state of affairs corresponding to the aspirations of the vast majority of Kosovars, said UNMIK Police Commissioner Christopher Albiston.   

The Programme's implementation follows the signing of the Executive Decision on the Weapons Amnesty by SRSG Hans Haekkerup. During the amnesty period, from May 1 until June 3, Kosovo's citizens will have the opportunity to surrender all weapons in their possession without fear of prosecution. Once the amnesty period has expired, possession of weapons in Kosovo will make the holders liable to prosecution and imprisonment for up to 10 years and/or fines up to DM 20,000 under UNMIK Regulation 2001/7 "On the Authorisation of Possession of Weapons in Kosovo."

Commissioner Albiston emphasized that no questions would be asked of people turning in weapons, and that no forensics tests would be carried out on the weapons. "This offer is being made in good faith, and we hope the people of Kosovo will take it up in good faith," said Albiston.

To facilitate the surrendering of weapons, UNMIK Police, together with KFOR, will set up stationary drop-off points in each of Kosovo's five administrative regions. Additionally, mobile teams will be available to pick up weapons that cannot be transported to the drop-off points.

The guidelines for transporting weapons to the collection centres are:

    1. Weapons may be brought on foot, or transported with a private vehicle.
    2. No more than five weapons can be transported by each vehicle.
    3. Only small arms and small-arms ammunition may be transported (no more than 100 rounds).
    4. Travel must be in a direct route from the residence to the collection point.
    5. Transportation may only take place between 8am-6pm.
    6. If stopped for any reason, the operator must immediately declare all weapons being transported to law enforcement officials.
    7. All firearms must be unloaded and dismantled during transport.
    8. Transport of hand grenades, shells, mines and other explosives is prohibited.
     
People in possession of larger calibre weapons or explosives, or those without the capability to transport their weapons, should contact the police to arrange for a pick-up.
     
Since the war many deaths in Kosovo have occurred due to the accidental firing of weapons, or because simple arguments escalated into shootings owing to easy weapons access. The Programme gives residents the chance to make Kosovo safer for their children and to ensure they will not come face to face with the law in the future.

Briefs...

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo is launching a weekly radio programme. The fifteen minute show - "Me ne, pėr ne" (With us, for us) - will feature stories about the OSCE's work in Kosovo, with particular focus on OSCE's promotion of democracy, respect for human rights and support for the rule of law. The programme, co-produced by the OSCE and the Swiss-based NGO, Media Action International (MAI), will be broadcast every Sunday - starting this weekend - on over twenty radio stations in Kosovo.

The Joint Working Group on the Legal Framework is examining the number of seats to be reserved for minorities in the Assembly, the body which will established after Kosovo-wide elections. This provision is to ensure adequate representation for vulnerable minority communities. These "reserved" seats will supplement any seats won by minorities through the ballot box on Election Day.

On 11 April the Kosovo Judicial Institute held a one-day seminar, organized by OSCE, in collaboration with the Council of Europe and the JIAS Department of Judicial Affairs, on alternatives to imprisonment. Its aim was to familiarize local members of the judiciary - including presidents and judges of Kosovo's courts - with alternatives to detention. Proposed changes to the draft Criminal Code of Kosovo on alternative methods of punishment, emphasizing rehabilitation in society, were made. One of the international experts introducing this topic was Sir Graham Smith of HM Inspectorate on Probation from the United Kingdom.

Representatives of the Department of Trade and Industry's (DTI) commercialization, commercial law and private sector development sections attended the Tirana trade fair this week. Simultaneously the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce organized a trade mission to Albania, with the participation of DTI and the USAID Kosovo Business Services programme. A total of 52 Kosovar firms participated in this trade mission.

The European Union pillar is helping support private sector development in several ways. Of seven business centres being established to promote such development, the European Agency for Reconstruction is supporting three such centres. Other measures of EU assistance include support to the trade fair in Tirana, as well as to the Kosovo chamber of commerce that is opening offices in Berlin, Brussels and either Washington or New York.

To help the return of IDPs back to Medvegjė/Medvedja municipality, UNHCR is helping bring together IDPs from Medvegjė/Medvedja and the FRY/Serbian Governments Coordination Body for Southern Serbia.  The first such meeting took place on 11 April in Tupalle village, Medvegjė/Medvedja.  Essential issues related to IDP return were raised, such as security for returnees,  the issue of property damage, and the possibilities of "go and see" visits.

The 14th class of the Kosovo Police Services School had its graduation this past Saturday.  The class had 265 students - 194 Albanians, 37 Serbians, 4 Bosniaks, 10 Gorans, 1 Muslim, 5 Turks and 14 Roma. Fifty-seven women were in the class.

Five representatives of the IMF Monetary and Exchange Affairs Department Advisory Mission visited Kosovo from 2-11 April.  The main purpose of the mission was to advise on further development of the banking and payment system, and to assist the authorities in planning for the future replacement of the deutsche mark currency with the Euro.

The OSCE's Institute for Civil Administration is holding a series of seminars on Contracts and Tenders in Kosovo's municipalities, part of OSCE's pledge to help Kosovo develop a professional civil service. Their purpose is to assist Kosovo's new municipal staff to learn about writing contracts for work programmes.

The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Romanian Minister Mircea Geoana, expressed his shock and dismay at the shooting of a Russian soldier in Kosovo on 11 April. "I am horrified by this cowardly murder of an international peacekeeper. Nothing justifies such an attack against someone who is working in Kosovo as part of a mission to heal the wounds of war," said Mr. Geoana.

A major element in the school system's reform is the proposed new structure based on the "5-4-3 model."  This new structure envisages 9 instead of 8 years of compulsory schooling for everyone, divided into two separate independent levels: a primary level (5 years) and a lower secondary level (4 years).  The 5-4-3 structures will conform to European educational standards and allow the development of specialized school levels resulting in more effective education.

An eight-month environmental media campaign will start on 16 April organized by the Department of Environmental Protection, in cooperation with UNICEF and the NGO Balkan Sunflowers (BSF). Educational information on 16 different environmental issues, including water and energy conservation, deforestation and solid waste reduction and management, will be broadcast on TV and radio. A new message will be introduced every two weeks.

Post and Telecommunications of Kosovo (PTK) has so far delivered 100,000 ID cards through the post offices all over the region. Post offices have also started accepting fees for Travel Document applications.

The draft UNMIK regulation on labour law was finalized. It covers two issues: firstly, basic principles and rights at work, in accordance with ILO's fundamental labour standards; and secondly, essential regulations and terms of employment.

The Department of Judicial Affairs is working with UNMIK Police and the Department of Public Services on validating Serbian license plates issued in enclaves.  The possibility of registering vehicles in the enclaves with KS plates was explored.

With phase one of establishing local self-government now complete as regards structural and procedural implementation, focus is on developing a system of sustainable governance so that those institutions and structures set up at the municipal level can assume policy and decision-making functions.

The Department of Public Services is helping register persons displaced by the fighting in FYROM.  The Central Processing Centre's services have also been offered to provide data entry to create a database of persons displaced due to the fighting. Plans are being finalized for registration of minority groups in Kosovo.