Head of UN mission in Kosovo appeals to Security Council for more funding.
NOVEMBER 5 -- Head of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) today appealed to the Security Council for more funding for the administration of the province, warning that without money stability could not be achieved.

Briefing the press after his address to the Security Council in New York, Dr. Kouchner said he needed an additional $25 million before December this year to pay salaries for Kosovars working in public administration and a further $110 million for next year.

"Without this money it is impossible to convince the people not to go back to the black market or to the Mafia", he said.

Dr. Kouchner said the appeal for more money was his main message to the Security Council and it was "very well perceived." All members of the Security Council, including China and the Russian Federation, "supported our efforts" in Kosovo, he said.

Dr. Kouchner said "the spirit of revenge is very high in Kosovo" and security could not be achieved without resolving the issue of missing persons, estimated at between 3,000 and 6,000.

He noted the successes achieved by UNMIK, including the opening of virtually all the schools in Kosovo last Monday. "Ninety percent of all schoolchildren and teachers are working," he said.

Another achievement, he said, was securing peace in certain areas, including the area controlled by the American force, where 700 Serbs have returned.

UN agricultural agency completes major project to help farmers in Kosovo.
NOVEMBER 4 -- The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported today an early completion of a major project to assist farmers in Kosovo.

The Rome-based agency said today that the $6.7 million project to supply seeds and fertilizers to help farmers restart agriculture in Kosovo had been completed ahead of the coming winter. Some 14,500 metric tonnes of winter wheat seeds and 9,000 tons of fertilizers have been handed out to more than 70,000 farming families.

"The distribution of seeds is the first step for farmers and their families in Kosovo to become self-sufficient again. This will finally start to reduce the dependence on external aid," said Daniele Donati, FAO Emergency Coordinator for the Balkans."

FAO said strengthening agriculture is one of the best options for a quick recovery in rural areas of Kosovo. "We expect the number of farmers in need to be reduced by half to 35,000 in a year's time," said Donati.

FAO will establish a laboratory for seed quality control and plans a vaccination campaign in order to reduce and limit further losses of livestock. In addition, the agency will start a programme to renovate and repair agricultural machinery in Kosovo and has launched an emergency appeal for $25 million. More than 50 percent of the tractors in the province were stolen or destroyed during war.

Situation of ethnic minorities in Kosovo remains extremely precarious, report says.
NOVEMBER 3 -- A report, which has just been completed, says the situation of ethnic minorities in Kosovo remains extremely precarious.

The report, the third review carried out by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in the territory notes that while the number of violent incidents has declined, there is a climate of violence and impunity as well as widespread discrimination, harassment, and intimidation against non-Albanians.

Deputy Special Representative for Humanitarian Affairs (UNHCR), Mr. Dennis McNamara expressed serious concern about the situation and renewed calls on Kosovo's leaders to improve the security situation and to speak out against the violence.

The report, however, pointed out that KFOR, the international peacekeeping force, has deployed troops which are playing a preventive role and giving rural minorities more confidence. Other methods aimed at increasing security and access to humanitarian aid, health care and education are being pursued, including the startup of UNHCR inter-regional bus lines. The UN Civil Administration has also deployed Civil Affairs Minority Officers in selected communities to improve security and facilitate contact among the various actors.

Mr. McNamara chaired the Ad-Hoc Taskforce on Minorities which produced the report, undertaken as part of a joint UNHCR-OSCE monitoring and reporting initiative.

"This report is a disheartening account of ethnic violence continuing to take place against ethnic minorities everyday", said Mr. Daan Everts, the Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, in a statement read by the Head of OSCE Human Rights Section, Sandra Mitchel, in Pristina today.

"The situation calls for a massive, joint, Kosovo-wide effort by the international community and Kosovo's leaders to end this cycle of violence," Mr. Everts added.

"The international community intervened in Kosovo to protect human rights and not to pave the way for a new wave of ethnic harassment and violence."

The Kosovo Transition Council at its meeting today strongly condemned Monday's brutal attack on Kosovo Serb leader, Mr. Momcilo Trajkovic, who was shot and wounded by unknown assailants.

Unknown suspects killed a male Serb and a 70-year-old Serb woman on Monday and Tuesday, deputy UNMIK spokeswoman Daniela Rozgonova reported today.

Kouchner and European Foreign Ministers meet to discuss funding for the rehabilitation of Kosovo.
NOVEMBER 3 -- Head of the UN Interim Administration in Kosovo (UNMIK), Dr Bernard Kouchner met today in Strasbourg with the foreign ministers of the member states of the Council of Europe to discuss funding for the rehabilitation of Kosovo.

A pledging conference for Kosovo is scheduled for 17 November in Brussels and UNMIK is preparing a detailed document on funding needs.

Meanwhile, UNMIK and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Mission in Kosovo officials expressed concern that violence against members of the minority communities in Kosovo might affect donor sympathies.

A report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the OSCE made public today notes that the overall situation of ethnic minorities in Kosovo remains extremely precarious.

The violence "jeopardizes the international standing and reputation of Kosovo" and "is likely to affect door sympathies and support at a time when important donor meetings are coming up", said Sandra Mitchell, Head of OSCE Human Rights Section, in a statement today.

The negative reports "certainly do not help" or "inspire confidence for future investments by governments or private institutions", said Daniela Rozgonova, deputy UNMIK spokeswoman.

UN condemns attack on Kosovo Serb leader.
NOVEMBER 1 -- The head of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), Dr Bernard Kouchner, today condemned the attack Sunday night on Mr. Momcilo Trajkovic, the President of the Serb Resistance Movement and member of the Kosovo Transitional Council.

Mr. Trajkovic was shot at 2.30 a.m. in his home by unknown assailants but was not seriously injured.

"To terrify and attack minorities and their leaders to the point of an exodus will leave Kosovo a morally weak and internationally scorned place," Dr. Kouchner warned.

"Kosovo will risk losing assistance and respect from the outside world. I ask all the people of Kosovo to end these ruthless attacks now."

"Mr. Trajkovic is one of our most important allies in our efforts to build a tolerant and multi-ethnic Kosovo," said Dr. Kouchner. Mr Trajkovic had worked not only at great personal risk, but also at great political risk to ensure that the Serb minority has a secure and vital place in Kosovo and, more importantly, to ensure that Serbs and Albanians can find a way to live together, he said.

UNMIK police investigating the attack are searching for two Albanian suspects.

In other incidents yesterday, a Serb couple were injured when a grenade was thrown at their house in Zubin Potok, Mitrovica, and the car of a former Kosovo Liberation Army leader, Ishmet Tara, was damaged by a grenade in Orahovac.