UNMIK ORC - Kosovo Returns Activities Newsletter No. 39
Week 9 - 16 April 2004
. Prizren
On April 13, the RRU met with the Prizren MR and LCO, CCK and Mr. Sinisa Milosevic (a Serbian construction engineer) in Sredska. The meeting discussed the possibility of Mr. Milosevic's participation in the Municipal Assessment Team. As the Serbian government had formed it's own commission for assessing the damage caused by the March 17-19 pogrom, and since Mr. Milosevic may be asked to work on the Serbian commission, it was agreed that CCK is to consult the commission about Mr. Milosevic's potential involvement in the Municipal Assessment Team before a solid commitment is made. [Mr. Milosevic stressed that an ideal solution would be to harmonize the work of the Municipal Assessment Team and the Serbian government's commission.] It was also agreed that the MR is to consult with senior security and political officials in UNMIK and KFOR to ensure that a security detail or military escort is attached to the Municipal Assessment Team, should Mr. Milosevic participate in the work of the team. The meeting's participants agreed to contact each other as soon as clarification is provided on both issues: 1) the security of the Prizren Municipal Assessment Teams in the field, and 2) the plans of the Serbian government commission.
On Wednesday April 14, the RRU met with HPD. HPD confirmed that a total of 6 illegally occupied properties owned by returnees living in the Zupa Valley had HPCC decisions issued and requested RRU support for locating the claimants in Zupa. The 4 habitable properties belonging to some of the IDPs forced from their homes last month remain under HPD administration. The RRU continues to liaise with the owners of these properties at Camp KFOR. As the IDPs are still in shock at the international security failure, they cannot yet make an informed decision about what they would like to do (or see done) with their property. However, all 4 wanted to see the present condition of their property. The meeting assessed that the RRU would inquire about organizing Go-and-See visits for these 4 persons.
On Friday April 16 Father German of St. Archangels monastery returned to the ruins of the monastery's residential quarters. The containers for accommodation, along with humanitarian assistance brought in by the Serbian Red Cross have arrived. The other six more monks, who are temporarily displaced in Sredska, will join German later. The RRU contacted Father German to ascertain the immediate needs of the monks, but German stressed that he was too busy with the move to meet and discuss coordination of assistance. He informed the RRU that he had everything he needed for now and that he would be in contact via telephone after the move was completed about short-term assistance.