UNMIK ORC - Kosovo Returns Activities Newsletter No. 40
Week 17 - 23 April 2004
• Pejë/Pec
The MR hosted a meeting on April 22 nd , with IOM, Bergamo per il Kosovo, THW, KFOR and RRU in order to evaluate the situation in Sigë/Siga, Brestovik and Ljevosa / Levoshe (SBL) , and to agree, in the wake of the mid-March events, on the most sensible course of action in order to keep the project on track. KFOR and the Police indicated that they could only provide random, coordinated and daily patrolling in the return areas, and no static check or observation points. The group agreed that, under the current circumstances, a recommendation could be made to the ORC that the project should continue unhindered. This should be done in particular by initiating some community development projects to be undertaken Bergamo per il Kosovo and reconstructing a house for temporary accommodation in each locality. IOM indicated that they would send a letter to the ORC on this matter.
RRU attended the reception and re-inauguration of the Bellopojë/Belo Polje community center organized by Italian KFOR on April 21 st , to welcome the newly displaced/returnees. The community centre, destroyed during the March 17 th events, was reconstructed by Italian KFOR and furnished by UNHCR and DRC. The event, attended by representatives from the NGO community, UNHCR and UNMIK, also included a religious ceremony performed on the doorstep of the community centre.
• Istok/Istog
The RRU and European Perspective met with the Municipal Assembly President of Istog/k on April 20 th to discuss on how best to proceed on the question of the concept paper prepared by European Perspective for returns to Belo Polje/Belo Polje, Dragoljevac/Dragolec, Gurrakoc/Ðurakovac (Blagaca settlement), and Istog/k town (Lug neighborhood). Given the current circumstances, the President cautioned returns to new locations such as Gurrakoc/Djurakovac or Istog/k town, but advised to focus the efforts on creating an environment conducive to returns. The President however noted that the process should continue in easier areas and areas where advanced work has been done (e.g. Kos/h).
The President emphasized that the opposition needed to be engaged and kept aware of the process, and stressed that UNMIK should perform a mediatory role in engaging all the political parties as not to expose any one particular party in an election year. He emphasized the importance of institutional involvement before engaging the receiving community.
With regard to other return locations, the RRU has recommended that the GAR projects implemented by DRC continue as planned in the locations of Llukavc i Thatë/Suvi Lukavac , Kosh/Kos and Dubravë/a. It is encouraging to note that the March 17 th events did not bring about serious problems in the concerned areas, and that municipal support to returns and community stabilization activities has not wavered in the wake of the recent events.
The RRU also met with UNDP, and reiterated the strong hope that the GAR project for the Dubravë/a road materialize in the very near future, as this project was expected to have a positive impact on the local returns environment. The UNDP explained to the municipality additional technical aspects that needed to be improved out prior to having the project come to fruition.
• Klinë/a
CARE delivered fertilizer to Binxhë/Biça and Grapc/ Grabac on April 20 th . This intervention was planned under the START II project as part of a dialogue initiative reached with representatives of Binxhë/Biça, Grapc/Grabac and Shtupel on March 15 th .
• RRRF
A meeting was held in Istog/k on April 20 th regarding the implementation of the third component of the RRRF project: Community Development-Voucher Scheme. The meeting was attended by the Directors of Health and Education, RRRF Regional Officer, MCO representatives, and UNDP. The participants agreed to create a committee, that would also include the LCO and a RRU representative, which would be responsible for selecting the health and school facilities, as well as items from a catalogue of health and school equipments. Suffice it to note that Istog/k is one of five municipalities in Kosovo to have been selected as pilot.