UN police, KFOR troops in Kosovo disperse Serb protest in Mitrovica.
DECEMBER 17 -- UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) police and Kosovo Force (KFOR) troops yesterday dispersed a crowd of 500 Serbs in the northern part of Mitrovica demonstrating in front of an office belonging to a Kosovo Albanian political leader.The disturbances occurred outside the newly opened offices of the Albanian Republican Party. One shot was fired and UNMIK and KFOR forces detained a suspect who was found to be in possession of a hand grenade, an UNMIK official said in Pristina today. The crowd then turned violent and two UNMIK officers were injured.
After continued protests, UNMIK and KFOR succeeded in dispersing the crowd. KFOR spokesman Major Roland Lavoie said the international force had intensified patrolling in the area.
In other incidents overnight three houses were attacked with hand grenades in northern Mitrovica. The owner of one of the houses was badly injured. In Kosovo Polje, unknown persons set a Serb house on fire but caused only moderate damage.
On Thursday, UNMIK police and KFOR searched a house 20 kilometres east of Pristina and confiscated "an impressive amount of weapons", Major Lavoie said. The weapons included two rocket-propelled grenade launchers, one hand grenade, several landmines, one AK-47, several airguns, rounds of ammunition, two protective ensembles against chemical agents, two radio sets, and some unknown drugs. The owner of the house, an Albanian, was arrested.
Local political leaders to share the administration of Kosovo with the UN.
DECEMBER 15 -- Three Kosovo Albanian political leaders today signed a landmark agreement to share the provisional management of Kosovo with the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) until elections next year.The Head of the UNMIK, Dr. Bernard Kouchner, who under the agreement retains executive and legislative authority, witnessed and accepted the agreement on the establishment of a Kosovo-UNMIK Joint Interim Administrative Structure (JIAS).
"This is a major breakthrough, an historic moment for Kosovo," said Dr. Kouchner at a press briefing following the signing. "It is the biggest step yet in our mission to establish substantial autonomy, then after elections, self-government for Kosovo," he said, stressing the mandate given him by the Security Council and the Secretary General.
The agreement sets up 14 joint Administrative Departments, each to be co-headed by a representative of UNMIK and Kosovo. The agreement also establishes an Interim Administrative Council, which will define the policies the departments will follow and recommend new regulations or amendments to current law.
Signatories of the agreement were Mr. Hashim Thaci of the PPDK (Peoples Democratic Party of Kosovo), Mr. Ibrahim Rugova of the LDK (Democratic League of Kosovo) and Mr. Rexhep Qosja of the LBD (United Democratic Movement). A fourth member of the Council will be a Kosovo Serb, who has not yet been named.
The Council will consist of eight members -- the three Kosovo Albanian political leaders and the as-yet-unnamed Kosovo Serb, plus four UNMIK members and one observer for each side. It will meet at least once a week and arrive at decisions by consensus or by a majority vote. In the event of a deadlock, the Head of UNMIK will make the final decision. The Council will be co-chaired by the Principal Deputy Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. James Covey, and a Kosovo member, who will rotate every two months.
Noting that the work of UNMIK had been hampered by the activities of parallel structures in Kosovo, Dr. Kouchner said the new structure would involve the people of the province directly in their own affairs. Parallel structures will be transformed or integrated into the new JIAS by 31 January, with representatives of political forces in Kosovo sharing provisional administration with UNMIK.
The Kosovo Transitional Council, which has been the highest level advisory body of Kosovo representatives to UNMIK, will maintain its consultative role.
UNMIK marks six months of achievement in Kosovo.
DECEMBER 13 -- The UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) today marked its first six months in Kosovo with speeches on the achievements of the mission at a press conference held in Pristina.Deputy Secretary-General Louise Frechette said UNMIK was one of the most complex missions ever undertaken by the UN and what has been accomplished over the last six months was "a great deal for this time period."
"Not to say that there isn't still a lot to be done, but compared with six months ago, all the parts of UNMIK have quite a bit to show for their efforts," she said.
The Head of the UNMIK, Dr. Bernard Kouchner outlined the achievements made by UNMIK in a territory ravaged by war. Among the achievements, he said, was the fact that 86 per cent of Kosovo's children are now in school and all hospitals and basic health services are functioning. Other achievements include rehabilitation of the infrastructure and public services.
Dr. Kouchner said 12,000 houses were damaged or destroyed by war, however, everyone will be sheltered for the winter.
UNMIK has passed 24 regulations and has administrators in all five regions and 29 municipalities, who work closely with their Kosovar counterparts. Multi-party municipal councils are being formed, he said.
The Kosovo Force (KFOR) Commander General Klaus Reinhardt said the demilitarization of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) was completed on 20 September. KLA has been transformed into the Kosovo Protection Corps, a civilian organization that is rebuilding damaged infrastructure and participating in disaster relief.
In its attempt to make Kosovo safe, General Reinhardt said, KFOR is conducting more than 100 patrols in each brigade every day. "Three out of four soldiers are permanently out patrolling, running checkpoints and helping the population," General Reinhardt said.
He said KFOR has built or repaired 200 kilometres of roads and six bridges among other projects. In addition, KFOR experts have inspected and cleared mines and other devices from 1,700 kilometres of roads, nearly 1,200 schools and 16,000 houses and public buildings.
(For the full text of Dr. Kouchner's remarks click here)
