UNMIK on AIR

27^th January 2004

Funds for returns process

(By Gezim Kasapolli)

In 1999, the conflict in Kosovo resulted in some 1 million people fleeing from their homes and towns. The NATO led* bombing campaign in March of 1999, sent a message to Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic and his regime that the world will not tolerate this mass exodus of civilian population. After 78 days of air strikes, Milosevic’s forces were pushed out of Kosovo, setting the stage for the return of the displaced people to their homes. However, the return of Kosovo Albanians did not contribute to creating a secure environment for other ethnic communities inside Kosovo. Serbs and Romas, intimidated by the possibility of Albanian reprisals, fled their homes, starting another era in a long history of ethnic conflicts in Balkans.

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In over the 4 years of UN administration in Kosovo, the international community has tried to create the conditions, or at least facilitate, the return of minorities to their homes and properties. But, mediating between the Serbian and Albanian communities has proven to be more of a challenge.

Since the establishment of the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government, funds now have been earmarked in Kosovo’s Consolidated Budget to facilitate this latest round of returns.

Lutfi Haziri the president of Municipal Assemblies of Kosovo says that up until recently there was no right approach to the issue. However, Haziri says he is optimistic about new programs, which are incorporating a cross section of Kosovo society.

Lutfi Haziri: An ad-hoc working group has been established on central level, which is led by Mrs. Peggy Hicks. This group consists of all interested parties including the representatives of minorities, institutions and municipalities. This is the best way and it was proved to be the best way. Practically, all the people who are dealing directly with this issue are involved and they are establishing the priorities for financing municipal projects according to the requests made by municipal assemblies. I hope that we will continue to work this way and that we will make this a very efficient instrument.

Ilir Deda, the political advisor to the Prime minister of Kosovo, says Kosovo’s government is also getting more involved in the returns process.

Ilir Deda: Of course, the return does not depend on the government solely. This depends on the international community, donations and Belgrade. The government has repeated more then once the stance that Belgrade in a way is not interested for the returns to happen, while on the other hand the government of Kosovo is very interested.

The return of displaced persons is one of the Standards the international community has outlined for Kosovo and last year, Kosovo’s government dedicated approximately 7 million euros for the process of returns out of the 2002 Kosovo Consolidated Budget surplus. In October of 2003, the UN Office of Returns and Communities or ORC, earmarked 2 million euros of the total budget available to Municipalities in Kosovo to submit returns-related project proposals which would contribute to a tolerant multi-ethnic environment. Grants ranged from 10,000- 200,000 euros.

The grants would be used to build infrastructure projects like sewage and road improvements, supporting civil and public services, and promote the sustainablility of minority communities and their members.

As the president of Municipal Assemblies of Kosovo, Lufti Haziri sat on the Review Committee with representatives of the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government, UNMIK, ethnic groups and the Kosovo government to jointly select the winning projects. Haziri is not only the president of the municipalities but also the President of Gjilani municipality.

Lutfi Haziri: We intend to encourage the displaced people from Gjilan who are living as refugees outside of Kosovo and those internally displaced by reconstructing their homes, improving the infrastructure, and above all by developing the local economy that would ensure creating jobs that would offer them more security and desire to come back.

By the November deadline, some 160 projects were submitted for review by the multi-ethnic review committee. Of the 160 proposals, 39 projects were awarded to 21 municipalities. The other five million euros dedicated to returns projects are already being used to fund multi-sectoral returns projects, covering not only housing reconstruction, but infrastructure rehabilitation, income generation and also inter-community dialogue activities.

According to the political advisor to the Prime minister of Kosovo, Ilir Deda.

Ilir Deda: As an example I can mention the village Babjak in Ferizaj municipality where the process of reconstructing the houses and infrastructure is being financed by the fund allocated from the Kosovo’s budget. Naturally, this fund is not used only for facilitating the return of Serb community but for all of those who want to return to their homes.

One of the major obstacles for majority population to accept massive return of Serbs to Kosovo is the fear that there will be more division between ethnic groups. Lutfi Haziri indicates it is a step in the right direction to incorporate a plurality of ethnic groups in the returns process.

Lutfi Haziri: The right way of spending these funds is through municipal assemblies or through municipalities that can study all the circumstances and through concrete proposals help in successful execution of this process.

10,5 million have already been allocated for returns in 2004 out of the Kosovo Consolidated Budget.

And this is all for this edition of UNMIK on air. Thanks for listening and stay tuned for more.