Regional Weekly Update - ORC nedeljnik
11 -17 September - PRISHTINË/PRISTINA
• Some IDPs from Obiliq/Obilic Municipality wish to sell their properties, while some displaced from Lipjan/Lipljan municipality want to return to Mostina village. • The road access and traffic issue through Miradi e Epërme/Gornnje Dobrevo and Batushë/Batuse will be resolved between Albanian and Serb village leader through mediation. |
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On 13 and 14 September, DRC organized a 'Go and See' visit (GSV) for 9 IDPs originally from Obiliq/Obilic municipality who are currently displaced in Serbia . Nine heads of family came to visit their properties and graveyards. Kosovo-Albanian families that have been living in these houses for almost five years currently occupy most of their houses. Some of the visitors have clearly expressed their wish to sell their properties; all of them are very concerned about the security situation, their freedom of movement and the lack of employment possibilities. On the second day of the visit, the IDPs took part in a de-briefing with municipal authorities. Another two GSVs took place in the Lipjan/Lipljan municipality. The first visit took place in Mostina village on 14 September.The GOAL representative informed the IDPs about their project. Regarding the public utilities connection, the representative explained that if GOAL reconstructed their houses, the houses would be connected to the electricity, water and sewage system. The GOAL representative also explained that housing reconstruction would not begin until the IDPs returned to the municipality. The IDPs expressed their willingness to return to their place of origin. They visited their properties and met with their neighbours. The IDPs met also with the D/Municipal Assembly President (DMAP) who welcomed them. The s econd GSV for 2 IDPs took place on 16 September. One IDP is originally from Mostina, while the other is from Hallaçi i Vogël/Mali Alas ; both are currently displaced in FYROM. The Mostina IDP visited his property and house that was burned on March 17 and has already been reconstructed. However, some of the works remain uncompleted. The IDP from Hallaçi i Vogël/Mali Alas didn't visit his property because another GSV for IDPs from the same village will take place on 21 September. At a meeting with the DMAP, the Mostina IDP inquired as to whether the government would complete his house, and whether it be possible for an NGO to reconstruct another house for his 3 brothers and their families on his large property. The DMAP stated that the municipality would be satisfied if the IDPs could get the houses reconstructed by NGOs.
A dialogue meeting was held on 16 September in Fushë Kosovë/Kosovo Polje, sponsored by the British Cooperation Office (DFID). The local participation was presented by the village leaders of Bresje and Kuzmin , the head of MCO, ADMAP, the municipal Public Information Officer (Albanian), the local KPS commander and the municipal Director of Health (Serb). The DFID project was explained to the local participants and a short presentation was given on mediation and negotiation as a means to resolve local differences. In turn, the local Serb leaders expressed their opinions and grievances. It was agreed to move on with this initiative by holding a joint meeting with the Albanian village leader and using the identified grievances as a basis for mediation. The issue of road access and traffic through Miradi e Epërme/Gornje Dobrevo and Batushë/Batuse was identified as one of the problems that could be solved through mediation. It was agreed to hold on 23 September a mediation session between Albanian and Serb village leaders in the presence of police representatives and aimed at resolving this issue.
The majority of the municipalities in Prishtinë/Pristina Region have finalised the assessment of the secondary buildings and a list of all potential start-up kit beneficiaries according to the request received from Minister Brajshori. Caglavica residents (whose houses were recently completed) should be the first ones in Prishtinë/Pristina Region to have received the start-up kit.
Contact: Francesca Massanello, phone: (038)504-604/ ext. 3947, e-mail: massanello@un.org