The United Nations in Kosovo to supply heat and electricity through winter.
SEPTEMBER 17 -- The United Nations in Kosovo has finalized arrangements to maintain the supply of heat and electricity to the territory throughout the winter, the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) said today.

Under a deal agreed to Wednesday by UNMIK, the KFOR international security force, international donors and Kosovar energy experts, a consortium of British energy companies, known as British Trade International, will oversee the running and repair of Kosovo's energy sector throughout the winter.

Production will resume at local coalmines, to feed the two power stations in Kosovo. While KFOR, working with local staff, has restored both plants to some degree, both require additional repair and renovation.

In addition to managing those repairs, British Trade International will supervise restoration of the three major transmission lines in the territory. The district heating plant in Pristina will also be repaired and supplied with fuel.

International staff will work closely with Kosovar staff at the power stations and, ultimately, will turn over operations to local management. A supervisory board comprised of representatives of UNMIK and major international donors, will oversee the work of local managers.

Kouchner discusses UN Kosovo operation with Russian Foreign Minister.
SEPTEMBER 16 -- Dr. Bernard Kouchner, chief of the United Nations in Kosovo, on Wednesday met with Russian Federation Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov in Moscow to discuss UN efforts to establish a multi-ethnic, democratic system in the territory.

During a two and a half hour meeting, Dr. Kouchner and Foreign Minister Ivanov reviewed the protection of ethnic groups in Kosovo, particularly Serbs, and the need to speed up the process of reconciliation, according to a statement released Thursday by the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).

During the meeting, in which the Russian Foreign Minister reiterated his support for UNMIK, issues of sovereignty and demilitarization in Kosovo were also considered.

Speaking to the press following the talks, Dr. Kouchner said the security and protection of all minorities in Kosovo were his constant preoccupation. In meetings last week in New York, he had urged the international community to double the proposed capacity of the UN international civilian police force in Kosovo to 6,000. Currently there are 1,200 UN police deployed in Kosovo.

Responding to a question on the demilitarization of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), due to be completed 19 September, Dr. Kouchner said he hoped by that date "no one will be wearing uniforms or bearing arms other than KFOR and the UN international police" in Kosovo.

While the KFOR international security force is responsible for KLA demobilization, UNMIK would participate in efforts to transform the KLA into a civilian defence corps to help with reconstruction and respond to emergencies, he said.

UN begins recruiting for new Kosovo Corps.
SEPTEMBER 15 -- The United Nations in Kosovo has begun the process of recruiting former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) combatants and others in the territory to join a new civilian emergency and humanitarian force.

The new force - which will be known as the "Kosovo Corps" - would be mobilized throughout Kosovo to help with reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts, and to respond to natural disasters and other emergencies, UN spokeswoman Daniela Rozgonova told a press conference today in Kosovo's capital, Pristina.

The UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), in collaboration with the KFOR international security force and the Kosovo Liberation Army, was establishing and would oversee the activities of the Corps, expected to number 5,000, Ms. Rozgonova said.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) will begin screening applicants and registering potential candidates for the Kosovo Corps next week.

Also speaking at today's press briefing in Pristina, KFOR spokesman Major Ole Irgens said that the Kosovo Corps would not be an army or a defense force, nor would it play a role in law enforcement.

The UN Security Council had established KFOR as the one legal security presence in Kosovo; any other security presence is illegal, Major Irgens said.

Kosovo public service television to begin broadcasts.
SEPTEMBER 15 -- The new Kosovo public service television will broadcast from the capital, Pristina, on Sunday, for the first time since the end of NATO bombing in June, the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) said today.

Radio-Television Kosovo (RTK), operated by both Serbs and Albanians, will start by broadcasting, via satellite, two hours of programming every evening, between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., UNMIK spokeswoman Daniela Rozgonova said.

RTK will air programmes produced by Kosovars on conditions in the area, as well as spots from UNMIK-TV about the work of the international community in Kosovo.

In addition to providing essential information to people throughout the territory, RTK will aim to lay a foundation for sustainable public service programming catering to the needs and expectations of the entire population.

Local staff will be trained in the use of modern broadcasting techniques, so that they can, in the long run, replace the international experts now assisting with the station's set up.

UN appoints judges to Kosovo supreme court.
SEPTEMBER 15 -- Dr. Bernard Kouchner, head of the United Nations Kosovo operation, has appointed five judges to sit on the territory's supreme court, the UN said today.

The court - known formally as the Ad Hoc Court of Final Appeal - holds jurisdiction over all other courts in the territory, and will play an important role in judging criminal cases, including appeals of rulings from the district courts, a UN spokeswoman told the press in Kosovo.

Dr. Kouchner, speaking to the judges as they took their oath of office Tuesday evening, said Kosovo's future judiciary would be bound by universally recognized legal standards, and should remain open and impartial towards every citizen in Kosovo.

"Your appointment comes at a time when Kosovo's judiciary faces its most difficult challenge - the transformation to a democratic and multi-ethnic judiciary," he said.

However, in announcing the most recent appointments to Kosovo's judiciary, the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) said that there had been no Serb candidates for those positions.

Of the 52 judges and prosecutors appointed by UNMIK, as interim administrator of Kosovo, seven are Serb.

Also on Tuesday evening, Dr. Kouchner appointed two prosecutors to the Ad Hoc Office of the Public Prosecutor.

UN refugee agency urges heightened attention to continuing violence against minorities in Kosovo.
SEPTEMBER 14 -- With violent attacks against minorities in Kosovo continuing regularly, the UN refugee agency is urging greater international and local response to those security concerns, an agency spokesman said today.

"We are calling for more outspoken attention to this matter, not only by the international community, but by local leaders at all levels" spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Kris Janowski, told a press conference in Geneva.

The message that violence was unacceptable must reach people at the community level, he said.

Meanwhile, with cold months nearing, UNHCR's winterization programme is well underway, in an attempt to ensure that each family has one weatherproof room prepared.

Already, a great many Kosovars living in the mountainous regions are feeling the autumn nip, Mr. Janowski reported.

UNHCR and partner organizations have distributed nearly 8,000 shelter kits, roofing kits and other materials to aid Kosovars who are "working feverishly to rebuild their homes", he said.

UNHCR is also providing 15,000 all-weather tents with stoves, plus 20,000 tents to provide shelter to those whose homes will not be rebuilt by winter. The agency has already distributed 800,000 blankets and more than 300 hectares of plastic.

UN police in Kosovo expand policing duties beyond capital.
SEPTEMBER 13 -- The United Nations police in Kosovo today took over responsibility for maintaining law and order in the entire Pristina area, a UN spokeswoman said. UN officers have been policing the city of Pristina for several weeks.

More than 500 UN international civilian police deployed to four sub-stations throughout the Pristina region - one of five provincial areas in Kosovo - and are now providing 24-hour policing services, Daniela Rozgonova told the press in Pristina city.

"The sub-stations are located in each major area of the Pristina region and are currently staffed with 60 to 90 officers each," she said.

To enhance security throughout the Pristina region, the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) has set up an around-the-clock emergency hot-line for civilians to report incidents directly to UN civilian police. The lines are staffed by dispatchers who speak both Serbian and Albanian.

Also, to address increasing traffic safety concern in areas of the capital, UNMIK police are now directing traffic and responding to accident reports.

Meanwhile, UNMIK reported today that 17 minority recruits, including six Serbs, have joined the first class of 200 trainees for an indigenous police force which began course work early last week.

"After various talks between the Organizations for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Police School Director Steve Bennett and the minority students and community leaders, some students came back to classes," Ms. Rozgonova said.

The OSCE, which is charged with carrying out UNMIK's institution building activities, runs the Kosovo Police Service School.