UNMIK ON AIR

Implementation Plan “Standards for Kosovo”

2 of April 2004

(Valon A. Syla)

Slug: Kosovo Standards implementation plan has finally been launched.

Kosovo is still recovering from the violence of the pasts weeks, rebuilding of burnt houses and reparation of damaged orthodox churches is set by UNMIK and PSIG to be a priority; But, as SRSG Harri Holkeri pointed out during the launching of the Kosovo Standards Implementation Plan on Wednesday, the biggest challenge for Kosovan institutions today is convincing those chased out of their houses that they will be safe and able to return to their homes

Harri Holkeri: “The violence has underlined the need for clear policy to make Kosovo a better place for everyone: safe, stable and prosperous. This goal is what the Kosovo Standards Implementation Plan is all about. It is a detailed policy plan to turn the goal of the standards, launched by the PM and me last December, into reality. It is like a government program. The plan lists policies in all the eight standards, policies which have deadlines, with clear responsibilities assigned. The plan states clearly what the policy is, who is responsible to undertake it and when this must happen.”

After months of work group meetings and high level brainstorming, UNMIK has drafted an implementation plan setting down clearly the competencies and responsibilities of the PSIG. With this plan, Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi says he sees UNMIK as a very close partner in fulfilling the Kosovo standards.

Bajram Rexhepi: “The work on drafting this Plan is the product of the partnership between the Government and UNMIK. Although, this partnership should continue beyond. The biggest challenge today is the fulfilling of standards which should be achieved in authentic cooperation and based on equilibrium of competencies between UNMIK and local government.”

According to PM Rexhepi the plan for fulfilling standards, drafted by UNMIK and the PSIG, may change in the future due to the impact of the latest clash of 17 and 18 March; Ilir Dedaj the Prime Ministers liaison coordinator with UNMIK agrees and added that two of the standards have already suffered a great deal of damage

Ilir Dedaj: “The return of displaced persons and the freedom of movement have received the biggest damage. Now all the work towards these issues has changed. I would like to add that before the events of the 17 and 18 of March, in some municipalities a favorable climate was present for returns, and achievement had been made on freedom of movement. But all of this is lost. I’m not sure that the plan of 8000 displaced persons returning this year, will achieve success.”

Meanwhile many Kosovan Serbs have lost their confidence on the idea of Standards for Kosovo. Still PM Bajram Rexhepi calls all K-Serbs to join the implementation of the Standards for Kosovo.

Bajram Rexhepi: “The standards for Kosovo in essence are for the good of all the citizens of Kosovo, and especially for Kosovan Serbs. And I am saying publicly that the standards are designed to respect maximally the rights of all the Serbian community in Kosovo. Maybe 50 percent of all of the standards aims is to achieve that. And if Serbs don’t use this chance now, they will only create obstacles for themselves.”

The plan to achieve the standards by mid 2005 is perceived as very difficult if not impossible by students, journalists and intellectuals around Kosovo, especially after the latest violent incidents.

Artan Mustafa is a Kosovan journalist; he is not very optimistic when it comes to the standards

Artan Mustafa: “I think that Project Standards for Kosovo is a political project that aims to extend the time of negotiations for the Kosovo’s final status, because there are still big divergences between Albanians and Serbs in Kosovo, and on the other hand the international community is still not ready to tackle with this issue. In my opinion standards are the road to escape from the status quo, which I see as quiet ambitious. My prejudgment for the year 2005 is that many of the standards will not be fulfilled, but a positive evaluation can be expected.”

The implementation of the Standards for Kosovo has then begun; “Rule of Law” is still a reserved competency of UNMIK and the other 7 standards are now shared between UNMIK and the PISG. According to SRSG Holkeri the 8 standards are the only way for Kosovo to reach prosperity.

SRSG Harri Holkeri: “The international community has made clear that the standards are more important than ever. The standards are not an obstacle to Kosovo’s progress; they are a tool for Kosovo’s progress. The Kosovo described in the standards is one that every good person in Kosovo must want – a peaceful, law-abiding place, where everyone is protected and safe, with incorrupt and effective institutions, a place on its way to meet the standards of the European family.”

And the European family will surely have its eyes on Kosovo to make sure the process of implementation is carried out successfully and in a peaceful atmosphere.

And that’s all from UNMIK on Air, Thanks for listening, goodbye.