UNMIK ORC - Kosovo Returns Activities Newsletter No. 39
Week 9 - 16 April 2004
Regional Developments
The last instructions from the so-called 'Braishori Commission' (including a form to be used for the damage assessment) have made clear the need to include Kosovo-Serb community representatives and UNMIK technical advise (through NGOs) in the damage assessment exercise. In general, while in most municipalities (Prishtinë/Pristina, Fushë Kosove/Kosovo Polje, Shtime/Stimlje, Podujevë/Podujevo) the assessments were completed, in Obiliq/Obilic and Lipjan/Lipljan assessments teams were re-formed in order to include Kosovo-Serb representatives and NGO staff members, to make sure that there is general agreement on the damage assessment performed.
The mechanism for compensation/replacement of movable property (furniture, TVs and other utensils) is still to be decided upon.
RRCU met with DRC on April 9 to update the NGO about the situation in the region after the March 17/19 events. The discussion focused specifically on the damage assessment done in every municipality in order to reconstruct the damage/burnt properties. DRC confirmed its availability in supporting the process.
RRCU is following up on the status of requests for medication submitted to the Ministry of Health. In this regard, RRCU has collected and distributed medication to the Gracanice/Gracanica LCO Assistant.
. Fushë Kosovë/Kosovo Polje
On April 9, the SRSG visited the RAE community in the municipality. At the municipal building, he was introduced to the Municipal Assembly President (MAP), Mr. Zogaj, and 6 other leading members of the Assembly. MAP stressed that this was a great sign of support for the work of the Municipality. He explained that the latest events were the work of a "handful of vandals" and that out of fire, quite often there comes possibilities of new birth.
The Ashkali representative then highlighted the fact that the Ashakali in Fushë Kosove/Kosovo Polje were the most integrated minority community in Kosovo. The representative of the Roma community pointed out to the SRSG that in his criticism of the latest events, he must not only refer to Serbs, but other minorities as well, including the Roma. The Serb member indicated that his community was in fear and shock after the recent events. He supported the need to make efforts for people to return to reconstructed homes but was pessimistic in tone. The SRSG thanked the President and responded to the Roma speaker by stating that he never forgets the other non-Serb minorities of Kosovo. He reiterated UNMIK's commitment to standards and the right of all Kosovo residents to live in security. The SRSG then proceeded to visit an Ashkali family whose home was burned on March 17, walked through the Roma and Ashkali neighbourhood, and finally visited the Selman Riza School, where a short greeting program had been organized by the teachers of a mixed class of K-Albanian, Roma and Ashkali children.
RRCU attended a meeting with the HMCO and UNHCR FO PR on the needs of IDPs in the municipality. The HMCO stressed the need to assist IDPs that are slowly returning to Bresje area and to include MCO in the humanitarian assistance distribution in order to fortify its role before the Kosovo-Serb community. RRCU also met with the Uglar/Ugljare school Director in order to verify the needs of the school in terms of containers and school supplies in relation to the demand posed by IDPs children in the village that are attending the school there. RRCU is following up on these requests with ORC and UNICEF/UNHCR.
. Prishtinë/Pristina
RRCU and UNHCR representatives met on April 9 with the Health House Director in Ulpiana to discuss provision of health care to the Kosovo Serb lady who has returned last week to her apartment in Dardania. The HH Director assured the RRCU and UNHCR representatives on provision of equal treatment to the returnee. RRCU has also met with KEK officials several times during the reporting period to discuss the reconnection of the Kosovo Serb returnee to the electricity mains. After lots of persuasion KEK has agreed to reconnect the returnee and exempt her from any previous bills run by the illegal occupier.
RRCU was approached with the request to provide assistance in identifying YU building residents in order to provide access for the contractor to inspect locked apartments, which might have been damaged during the recent March 17/19 events. Two Kosovo Serbs YU residents will act as contact persons between the contractor and other residents.
. Obiliq/Obilic
RRCU attended a meeting at the Plementina MCO office on April 9 with the presence of GOAL and the Additional Vice-President (ADMAP). GOAL presented a draft plan for the installation of the containers needed to host 24 IDPs families that are interested to go back to Obiliq/Obilic town while their flats ('school centre' area) are rebuilt. There is a need for 33 containers. There was a commitment by the Kosovo-Serb ADMAP that 48 families will return to Obilic in both the renovated building and the containers.
During the week, the MCRO office in Obiliq/c distributed 7 UNMIK ID cards and processed 4 applications for lost/damaged cards for IDPs in Plemetine/a village. The Ministry of Health successfully distributed the medicine requested by Plemetine/a Ambulanta.
. Lipjan/Lipljan
On April 13 the RRCU has contacted OXFAM (SDC Implementing Partner) regarding Janjevë/Janjevo water project. OXFAM has installed the electric meter few days ago, however there was a technical problem with the transformer, which the contractor promised to repair. OXFAM team will go today to inspect the transformer and to start testing the water pumps. The RRCU will be in continuous contacts with OXFAM and will follow up on the progress.
. Shtime/Stimlje
DRC showed also interest in assessing the condition for re-starting the work on Kosovo-Serb return to Muzeqinë/Muzicane, in Shtime/Stimlje municipality. RRCU advised DRC to contact CARE in order to verify this latter's availability in doing inter-ethnic dialogue assessment in this location. DRC also agreed to contact the municipality to discuss with them the feasibility of this attempt.