UN and people of Kosovo must work to break "spirit of revenge" -- Kouchner.
SEPTEMBER 10 -- The United Nations in Kosovo was succeeding in reducing crime and establishing a civil administration in the territory, but with the wounds of recent suffering still fresh, it would take time to build a multi-ethnic Kosovo, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Kosovo said today.

Dr. Bernard Kouchner, who had earlier briefed the Security Council on recent efforts of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), told the press in New York that it would take years for the UN and the people of Kosovo to break the "spirit of revenge" that was still being fuelled by discoveries of mass graves and repetitive violence against minorities.

Nonetheless, Dr. Kouchner said, the efforts of UNMIK to stabilize Kosovo and establish a functioning civil administration were moving very quickly. The UN had been able to bring all major political groups together in the Kosovo Transitional Council, which was now meeting on a regular basis.

To address the vital concern of security for minorities, UNMIK was developing a new initiative to protect Serbs by placing UN police and civil affairs officers in Serb communities. The some 97,000 Serbs estimated to remain in Kosovo must be made to feel safe in their environment and the 130,00 Kosovo Serbs who were now refugees in Serbia must, someday, be made to feel safe to return, he said.

"We must get more UN staff to be close to the people in the villages, not only in the capital," Mr. Kouchner said. The presence of UN staff, explaining the goals of UNMIK directly to the people would support the development of a democratic process in Kosovo, and facilitate the holding of local elections as soon as early spring, he said.

Already the level of crime, particularly arson, in Kosovo was decreasing due to active policing by UN international civilian police, he said. There were now more than 1,000 UN police in Kosovo, with some 450 officers patrolling Kosovo's capital, Pristina.

Sharp drop in food production in Kosovo brings nutritional and economic tolls, UN food agencies report.
SEPTEMBER 10 -- The rural population of Kosovo faces serious nutritional and economic consequences in coming months, since recent conflict and mass displacement have caused a sharp drop in local food production, United Nations food agencies said Friday.

In a joint statement released in Rome, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) say that Kosovo's agricultural and livestock output will fall this year by an estimated 65 per cent.

FAO and WFP report that Kosovo's wheat production this year, forecast at 113,000 tons, will meet only 30 per cent of its requirements. Also, Kosovo's cattle have been reduced by half and the small stock by roughly 25 per cent.

Even with 143,000 tons of emergency food aid planned for this year, Kosovo will still face an uncovered food import gap of 85,000 tons, the agencies say.

The already greatly disrupted local economy will be adversely affected by a reduction in income from agricultural activities. The rural population, which before hostilities derived 60 per cent of its incomes from the sale of agricultural products, will now be left heavily reliant on remittances from abroad, the UN agencies said.

The agencies also warn that future harvests of maize may prove difficult, due to the persistent civil unrest and the recent exodus of a large part of the rural Serb population.

UN and Kosovars begin consultations on legal framework for territory's economy.
SEPTEMBER 10 -- United Nations and Kosovar financial experts have begun consultations on drafting a legal framework for Kosovo's economy, a UN spokeswoman said today.

Holding its first meeting on Thursday in Kosovo's capital, Pristina, the Kosovo Economic Policy Advisory Board established working groups that will consider the financial sector, financial policy, economic enterprises and property, Daniela Rozgonova told the press in Pristina.

The Advisory Board was established earlier in the week by the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) to recommend economic legislation that will form the legal base of Kosovo's economy once signed into law by UNMIK chief, Dr. Bernard Kouchner.

"The Advisory Board will guide UNMIK on building the Kosovo economy so that ultimately UNMIK can transfer a functioning system to meet Kosovo's requirements," Ms. Rozgonova said.

The Board, which includes local experts in economic and financial affairs, met under the co-chairmanship of Arji Begu, an eminent Kosovar economist, and an UNMIK representative for economic reconstruction.

Secretary-General meets with his Special Representative for Kosovo.
SEPTEMBER 9 -- The Secretary-General's Special Representative for Kosovo, Dr. Bernard Kouchner, has arrived in New York to meet with the Secretary-General and brief the UN Security Council.

At 10:30 a.m. today, Dr. Kouchner met with Secretary-General Kofi Annan to discuss the latest progress in Kosovo.

Tomorrow, Dr. Kouchner is expected to brief the Security Council on the work of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) since his appointment in early July.

Dr. Kouchner, as senior administrator in Kosovo, has been overseeing UN efforts to re-establish civil structures in the territory, while striving to reduce tensions and return stability to the area.

"Return Festival" to celebrate rebirth of Kosovo's artistic life.
SEPTEMBER 9 -- In celebration of the restoration of Kosovo's cultural and artistic life, an international festival of music and theatre will be held over the weekend in Kosovo's capital, Pristina, and in Skopje, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said today.

Vanessa Redgrave will host "The Return Festival" which will open in Skopje, the capital of The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, on Friday evening and continue in Pristina on Saturday and Sunday, under the auspices of UNICEF and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

"We are not only celebrating the return of the province's artists and performers, but are also promoting the return of tolerance and respect among the different communities," Ms. Redgrave said.

Ms. Redgrave will open the Festival at Skopje's Universal Hall, where the composer Philip Glass will perform.

On Saturday, the Festival will open in Pristina at the National Theatre, with music, dance and theatre performances. Kosovar jazz musicians will join international artists for a jazz "extravaganza" on Saturday evening. The Festival will close on Sunday night with a gala performance by international musicians.

The Festival will help to reinvigorate Kosovo's talented, but long-neglected artistic scene, UNICEF said. Plans already exist to rehabilitate Pristina's Dodona Theatre, and to build a new acting studio.

UN chief in Kosovo invites students to help build democratic, multi-ethnic society.
SEPTEMBER 8 -- The goal of the United Nations in Kosovo is to build a new, democratic and multi-ethnic society with active involvement and participation of all its younger generation, the head of the UN mission in the province told a group of Kosovar university students.

In a keynote address at the University of Pristina on Tuesday evening, Dr. Bernard Kouchner also appealed for a halt to ethnic violence, in particular acts committed against elderly Serbs. Dr. Kouchner said all political parties should work together towards holding free and fair elections in the territory, stressing that any rift in Kosovo would be a victory for Slobodan Milosevic.

During a lively two-hour question-and-answer session that followed, Dr. Kouchner told the students that the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) planned to suspend all discriminatory laws in Kosovo. To a question on the future of the University of Pristina, he said that the University would be open to all students in the territory, regardless of ethnic background.

On the subject of Mitrovica, a town with large Albanian and Serb populations that has been the site of ethnic tensions and violence, Dr. Kouchner emphasized that the city would not be divided along ethnic lines. To a question on whether there would be a Kosovo army, Dr. Kouchner said that there would be a civilian force similar to the National Guard.

Dr. Kouchner was joined in the debate by the leader of the Albanian LBD (United Democratic Movement) Rexhep Qosja and the political leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) Bardhyl Mahmuti.

Amid nagging security concerns, Kosovo Transitional Council decides to set up joint body with UN and KFOR to stem violence.
SEPTEMBER 8 -- Leaders of Kosovo's political groups, meeting today in the United Nations-supervised Kosovo Transitional Council, agreed to form a joint committee involving the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), the KFOR security force and representatives of Kosovo national communities.

Each member of the Council, which acts as forum for major political parties and ethnic groups and is the highest consultative body under UNMIK, was asked to nominate one representative to the new security structure.

Meeting for the fifth time under the chairmanship of UNMIK chief Dr. Bernard Kouchner, the Council noted that while recent moves by the UN and KFOR had led to some improvement, the security environment remained a cause of serious concern, particularly after last week's spate of assaults and murders. In his statement after the meeting, Dr. Kouchner said it was a "good" session that took place in a positive atmosphere and covered a wide range of issues, including the economy, customs, budget and the question of the detainees and the missing persons.

During the meeting, Dr. Kouchner reviewed recent UNMIK actions to revive the Kosovo economy, drawing particular attention to latest regulations adopted by UNMIK, as interim administrator, to restore the customs service in the territory and to legalize the use of all foreign currencies in Kosovo.

During a discussion of the Council's working methods, Dr. Kouchner reiterated his offer to fundamentally reform the Council -- which currently provides input into UNMIK decision-making process -- to give it a truly executive role. Council members, in turn, agreed to the idea of quickly expanding the scope of the body's work. The Council also agreed to soon hold the inaugural meeting of its Sub-Commission on Prisoners and Detainees, to address the situation of Kosovo prisoners still being detained in Serbia.

United Nations to register Kosovars as first step to holding elections.
SEPTEMBER 8 -- The United Nations will begin registering all people of Kosovo on 1 October, as a first step towards holding elections next year, a UN spokeswoman said today.

Speaking to the press in Kosovo's capital, Pristina, Daniela Rozgonova said the registration would also include Kosovar Albanians who had gone abroad after 1989 and Serbs who had recently left the territory.

The UN will open offices around Kosovo to verify individual's identity and it is expected the first identification cards will be issued by the end of October, Ms. Rozgonova said. Working with local volunteers, the UN will strive to register people in all parts of Kosovo, with an emphasis on reaching those in remote areas.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights calls on Kosovars to end violence against minorities.
SEPTEMBER 7 -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, today called on the people of Kosovo to end violent attacks against minorities and asked the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) to cooperate with the UN in investigating such crimes.

In issuing a 25-page report on the human rights situation in Kosovo, Ms. Robinson also stressed the importance of investigating crimes committed by the Serbian forces during the conflict in Kosovo and of bringing the perpetrators to justice. To that end, she urged States to provide support and resources for the work of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia.

The High Commissioner's report details the human rights abuses which caused the exodus of more than 1 million ethnic Albanians from Kosovo following the start of NATO bombing in March. An estimated 10,000 Kosovo Albanians died during the period of the NATO campaign and several thousand more are still missing.

In reference to individuals from Kosovo still being detained in Serbia, Ms. Robinson called on the Serbian Government to specify the charges against them and to guarantee their families access to them.

The report also examines in detail human rights violations against minorities in Kosovo since the mass repatriation of Albanians after 10 June, including murder, eviction, rape and kidnapping.

In an effort to create a safe and secure environment for all Kosovars, the High Commissioner also urged the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) to completely demilitarize and disarm the KLA. She said the rapid deployment of UNMIK civilian police was a key step to guaranteeing law and order, and to creating stability.

More than 1,000 United Nations civilian police in Kosovo.
SEPTEMBER 7 -- The United Nations now has 1,024 international civilian police helping maintain law and order in Kosovo, including 175 officers from the United States.

There are already 479 UN civilian officers patrolling Kosovo's capital, Pristina, where the UN Interim Administration in Kosovo (UNMIK) has assumed law enforcement powers, a UN spokeswoman said in Kosovo on Monday.

Outside the capital, UNMIK civilian officers are conducting patrols alongside the international security force, KFOR. Forty-nine UN officers have been deployed to enhance stability in Mitrovica; 35 officers are in Prizren; another 35 are in Gnjilane; and 26 in Pec. There are 78 UN police manning four border crossings into Kosovo.

In addition to helping reduce crime, UNMIK police are also working to lessen the danger to the public due to a recent high number of bombs and explosions, UN spokeswoman Daniela Rozgonova said.

In the last week alone, two people have been killed and eight others injured by explosions, she said. UNMIK police are now investigating those cases.

In a related development, the first group of 200 local police recruits began training at the new UN-supervised Kosovo Police Service School on Tuesday morning.

The premier class is being trained by international police instructors at the School, operated by the Organization of Security and Cooperation In Europe (OSCE).

Following the course instruction, each Kosovar officer will participate in 19 weeks of field training, under the supervision of UNMIK international civilian police.

International personnel will monitor the behaviour of newly formed Kosovo police force throughout the term of UNMIK.

United Nations restarts childhood immunization programme in Kosovo.
SEPTEMBER 7 -- The United Nations has restarted a childhood immunization programme in Kosovo. The conflict disrupted the original programme in March 1998 and immunization rates in the territory have now dropped to among the lowest in Europe.

The plan, launched on Monday by the head of the UN in Kosovo Dr. Bernard Kouchner, will cover 240,000 children throughout Kosovo, in an attempt to reverse the trend which has left only 53 per cent of children in the area receiving regular vaccinations.

The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) are leading the effort, in cooperation with the Kosovo Central Institute of Public Health, to inoculate Kosovo's youth against tuberculosis, diptheria, tetanus, measles, mumps and others diseases.

UNICEF is already distributing a six-month supply of vaccines needed for routine immunization of children under five, along with new cold-chain equipment needed to implement the project.

UN partner organizations, including Medecins du Monde, Medecins Sans Frontiers, Save the Children and International Mercy Corps, are helping to execute the programme.

United Nations in Kosovo forms advisory board to help craft economic legislation.
SEPTEMBER 7 -- The United Nations in Kosovo, working to build a fully functioning economy in the territory, has formed a new board to help it craft financial legislation.

The Kosovo Economic Policy Advisory Board, which is composed of both local and international experts, will review and recommend economic legislation that will form the legal basis for Kosovo's economy once signed into law by Dr. Bernard Kouchner, who runs the UN Interim Administration in Kosovo (UNMIK).

The Economic Advisory Board was established Monday by Dr. Kouchner and will work in cooperation with the Kosovo Transitional Council, the highest political body in Kosovo.

Joly Dixon, UN Deputy Special Representative in charge of economic reconstruction, will co-chair the Board along with Arji Begu, a distinguished local expert in economic and financial affairs.

Other Kosovar members are Zeki Bejtullahu, Adem Grabovci, Sabri Kadriu, Musa Limani, Isa Mustafa, Muhamed Mustafa, Nazim Mustafa and Riza Sapunxhiu.