In April 2007, the EU began to ready for assuming its role in a "post-independent" Kosovo and sent its EU Planning Team (EUPT) to begin coordinating with UNMIK on its plans to take our place. Here
follows the minutes of the fifth meeting of the Mitrovica Task Force
to continue EU "coordination" with the United Nations. I don't seem to have any record of follow up meetings, if any occurred. But I do have a copy of the OSCE report (a 62 page document) and it can be found here.
Minutes of the Task Force on the Mitrovica Area meeting
30 November 2007
Paricipants:
Gallucci, Efimov (both UNMIK), Santillan-Luzuriaga, Butchart
Livingson, Strohal (all OSCE), Stadler, Boura, Battista, Carver (all
ICO PT), Guehenneux, (KFOR), Zuuccarini (EUPT), Thornton (US Office)
OSCE
Preview of Report on Parallel Structures: observed the
difficulty in obtaining accurate information from such structures.
Noted that approximately 50 individuals serve as “bridge watchers,”
who can be reinforced by another 50-250 people at any time. Also
noted the dilemma of double jeopardy given the parallel courts and
the questionable validity of documents issued by such courts.
Financial
Flows: UNMIK estimated that 85 million euros in dinars come
across the administrative border from Serbia to finance salaries,
pensions, and parallel institutions in the north. Any clampdown on
transfers would have to cover the entire border, not just the gates.
If the IC were to seize cash transfers, it would have to consider
having a distribution network established to allocate the funds to
legitimate recipients. Otherwise, potential for unrest (fueled by
hard-line propaganda) would increase. Worth exploring a dialogue
with Belgrade on how the boycott of PISG is working.
Hospital:
Run under Serbia’s Ministry of Health; likely no K/A’s on staff;
has refused funding from Pristina; no formal professional ties with
K/A medical personnel; not secure for K/A’s to travel to hospital
although a few cases of emergency treatment of K/A’s are known;
likewise for IC personnel; IC should consider ensuring that medical
imports from Serbia are exempted from taxes at border.
University:
New rector told UNMIK he is open to dialogue; rector does not
appear to be working toward accreditation of diplomas; university
budget approx. 12 million euros (no financial links to Pristina);
serves 5,000-8,000 students, including in K/S enclaves south of the
Ibar (many of these students study in the enclaves and travel to
Mitrovica just for exams); university leadership refers to
institution as “University of Pristina in Mitrovica” (consensus
was that this should be acceptable and downplayed as an issue); some
ethnic Albanians from Montenegro enrolled; encourage European
Commission to find ways to link the Mitrovica and Pristina
universities via Brussels (possible if election of rector of
Mitrovica U. meets Bologna standards). OSCE noted that legitimate
election of rector only requirement for accreditation. UNMIK will
raise informally with Mitrovica U. issue of Bosniaks with PISG
diplomas seeking enrollment in Mitrovica U.
General
Conclusion: Attempts to dismantle parallel institutions in the early
stages of settlement implementation could prove counterproductive.
Next
meeting: Thursday, 7 December, 11:00 a.m., ICO PT Office, Pristina
