Kosovo: Crafting A Special Status For Northern Kosovo

A piece from 2010 that may be more relevant today as the parties -- especially the US, and the Europeans -- may be more ready to push the parties off dead stopped: https://www.rferl.org/a/Crafting_A_Special_Status_For_Northern_Kosovo/2148191.html

Kosovo: Meeting of the Mitrovica Focus Group, 19 April 2006

This was an attempt to bring together the north Kosovo Serbian community with the Pristina diplomatic community to reengage on practical issues of local concern.  Not all of the internationals felt comfortable doing this on their own.  The Americans did not feel safe even going into the north.  The meeting was held in our UNMIK Mitrovica HQ.  (I did not draft these minutes.) 

UNMIK Participants: Gerard Gallucci, RR Mitrovica; Andrei Efimov, SPA Mitrovica; Detlef Beisiegel, MR Leposavic; Jean-Luc Sintes, MR Zubin Potok; Alex Melbourne, OIC MR Zvecan, michail Krasnoshchekov, PAO/SRSG, Svetlana Pencheva , PED, Mitrovica, LtCol. Noel Joyce, Senior MLO Mitrovica, Lt.Col. LeMarec, KFOR.

Serbian participants: Momir Kaslovic, Head of regional CCK, Srbrolujb Milenkovic, Chairperson of UAM Advisory Board, Dragisa Milovic, MAP Zvecan, Slavisa Ristic, MAP Zubin Potok; Velimir Bojovic, MAP Leposavic

Participants of International Liaison offices: Zoltan Balazs, Deputy Head of Office, Hungary; Ruairi O’Connel, Deputy Head of Mission, Bristish office; Ann-Sofie Nilsson, Head of office, Sweden; Gloria Di Luca, Deputy head of office, Italy; Wim Peeters, Head of Mission, Belgium; Margriet Struijf, Head of Office, Netherland; Sergey Bazdnikin, Head of Chancery, Russuan Federation; Yvana Enzler, Head of Mission, Swiss LO; Wolfgang Koeth, EC Office; T. Kirk McBride, Chief Political and economic Affairs, USA; Heidi Hakone L Barrachina, PO, US Office, Eugen Wollfarth, Head of German LO, Pierri Johan Kuan, Norweegian LO, Rodolphe Richard, Deputy head French LO, Christos Tzavaras, Head of Greek LO, Christian Siegl, Deputy Head of Austrian LO.

The Regional Representative of Mitrovica Mr. Gerard Gallucci welcome international participants at the first part (without locals) of the meeting of the Mitrovica Focus Group (MFG). He said that the MFG is seen as continuation of the initiative “Friends of Mitrovica” that commenced in early 2004. The MFG is a group with focus on Mitrovica region, the stickiest problem of Kosovo and it is good to see international stakeholders with an interest what the international community can do to keep the place calm and peaceful. MFG is not focused specifically on the north. The next meeting hopefully will embrace all six MAPs of the region. The CA in Mitrovica has been developing relationship with the three northern municipalities and UAM and keeping the relationship with Albanian from the south part of the region. CA is seeking to develop relationship of engaging them positively with the International Community and even offer them some solutions related to the every day problems of local communities. The population in the region has problems with insufficient drinking water usage, and K-Serbs and K-Albanians have found it possible to meet and talk to each other to address this issue. We want your engagement and financial support and we are particularly interested in dialogue between northerners and the international community.Our concern is how to hold the north, which we find to work with us. Serbia might advise them to cease cooperation as it happened with Education. We find it important to give the northerners opportunity to be heard, listening has had positive effect, a focus helping them with a practical concern. They have been advice to keep politics to a minimum when coming here. They will be bringing with them a list of priority quick impact projects of most immediate impact. (QIP). The international community is a good listener and a positive partner.

At the second part of the meeting K-Serbs joined it. The RR gives the floor to K-Serbian participants for brief presentations:

Miomir Kasalovic, Head of Regional CCK. He welcomes participants in his name and on behalf of Sanda Raskovic-Ivic. He presented issues in his opinion comprising the biggest burden for the population in Northern Kosovo:

• Internally displaced persons ( IDPs). There is no adequate accommodation for them and we would like to provide such for everyone.
  • Roma IDPs. It’s one of the huge burdens, for which we need to find solution.
• Employment. It is much needed for IDPs, to have jobs and provide incomes for their families. The CCK is doing as much as possible, but its recourses are rather limited.
• Infrastructure. The road network is in worse state than in 1999. Even what we had has been damaged by heavy KFOR vehicles. We want to improve the road network and to have investments in the road infrastructure

These problems are problems of all ethnicities. I am not going to count everything else we miss and need, but let us start from the basic issues.

Dragisa Milovic, MAP, Zvecan. He welcomes participants. He is MAP of a municipality with 17,000 populations. All problems which have been mentioned by Mr. Kasalovic are common for all northern municipalities. For the first time we stay around the table with people who are willing to help us. More attention has been paid until now to the Albanian community.

• Infrastructure. If you have visited northern municipalities you should have seen the condition of roads there. The infrastructure needs to be improved. The municipality has put efforts but its resources are strongly insufficient.

• IDPs. There are 4,000 IDPs for which only the municipality takes care. Not much has been done for providing decent conditions for IDPs. We fully support new UNMIK approach that allows people to choose to live where they feel comfortable.
• Employment. There is 3,000 unemployed in the municipality, many of them former Trepca workers. We see the solution in opening mines and creation of small and medium size enterprises with 10-50 employees. There are good conditions in the municipality for stock breeding, fruit production, and tourism. Municipality Zvecan has prepared projects and can offer solutions for all these.
• Tourism. Favourable conditions for tourism stay with Banjska mineral spa, where 5,000 people were coming yearly for treatment and rehabilitation till 1999
• Sports facilities. There are not such facilities in the northern part of Kosovo and they are much needed especially for the young generations. To keep young people away from drugs we need to offer them employment, jobs and alternative activities.
• Available experts in all fields. We have experts in all fields who are currently unemployed. What is needed -- a little support and chance to do what they can. We have relevant projects and you may wish to look at them.

Salvias Rustic, MAP Cubin Pothook. He thanks for the opportunity to talk to internationals on practical matters without touching upon politics. If we succeed to solve problems of people for their every day life we shall solve also the political problems. I am MAP of North-West municipality, which had just 10,000 populations till 1999, now the number is much bigger due to many Dips that settled there from other places like Croatia and Bosnia. There is one KA village in the municipality Qabra with 1,200 inhabitants. Zubin Potok had its economic development till 1999. It has resources for pure drinking water for half of Kosovo population. It has plans for development of tourism: we have the lake and the mountain Mokra Gora. There is a hydro station and electric energy is produced in the municipality. The problems in Zubin Potok are:

• Unemployed young people-key problem of the municipality. We want Zubuin Potok to get help in opening new jobs.
• We need a Health House (polyclinic) to improve health care and for emergency cases of patients, because the hospital in North Mitrovica is very far.
• Problems with local road infrastructure. There 64 villages in Zubin Potok in the mountains. Their connection with roads is very bad. In past years some roads have been damaged by heavy KFOR vehicles. The state of streets within Zubin Potok is similar and we need to improve this.
• We need 100 accommodations for IDPs and vulnerable families and individuals.

Velimir Bojovic , MAP Leposavic. The problems in my municipality are the same like mentioned by my colleagues. Leposavic has 20,000 inhabitants. There are 3 Albanian villages, factory for small metal parts in Lesak, “ Parva petiletka” factory in Leposavic, and factory “ Hrast”. Trepca is operational only in Leposavic, where there are two mines. In the past there were several thousand workers in Trepca, but today only 520. Problems we are facing in Leposavic:

• Some problems are related to Belgrade’s policy.Raw materials are imported from Serbia and final products are exported back to Serbia, so custom duties are paid twice.
• There are very good resources for cattle breeding, fruit and berry production, people are interested to work in this field. However, there is no equipment for storage and also credits with favourable conditions are needed.
• There are excellent conditions for tourism. Nothing has been yet constructed on the southern part of Kopaonik Mountain and there are 200 days of snow there, favourable for winter sports.
• There is a spa which waters are favourable for skin diseases near Socanica in the village Kievcice, Elernska reka.
• Other needs are new schools, kindergarten and sports facilities. Leposavic has very good achievements in sports and we would like to provide opportunities for our young generations.
• We have completed the Strategic development plan for Leposavic- (the Development Agenda under mitrovica Initiative project).
• Unemployment levels exceed 3,000. there are experts in all fields. We need minimum conditions and credits to generate income.

Srbroljub Milenkovic, UAM. He welcomes participants. What are needed in the north are 200 accommodations and 1,000 jobs. Our share of municipal capital investment is 10,000 only and we cannot do much with it. The northern part of Mitrovica comprises 1/5 and there are approximately 20,000 inhabitants of which 5,000 IDPs from all over Kosovo. The northern part of Mitrovica is highly multiethnic with Albanians, Turks, Bosnjaks and Gorani living there. However, all economy after 1999 has remained in the south. All facilities such as Cultural centre and sports facilities have been built in the south and there is nothing in the north. In the same time we need these strongly. We also need schools, especially secondary, a Trade centre, green market and kiosk market in order to create favourable conditions for trade and create new jobs. We cannot do much because of very limited budget: for capital investments this year we have only 10 000Euro. These all are important for creating working places. We have very good experience with EAR which funded 2 million heating plant located in the north bur providing heating for both parts of Mitrovica. Under existing financial conditions we even cannot order technical design of a project. Just imagine we will spend all our money for design but afterwards fail to generate donors’ support for its realization.

Representative of EU informed the meeting that the Union committed for 2006 10,5 million Euro for Mitrovica and Zvecan and is prepared to provide 7 million Euro for infrastructure projects in Kosovo. He advised MAPs to consider best options to join these projects. However, he reminded that in accordance with EU rules all proposed projects should contribute to EU integration of Kosovo and for multiethnic links.

MAP Zvecan assured that there will be full transparency and control over donated money. He also stressed that infrastructure definitely relates to all communities.

Momir Kasalovic, asked by RR to provide assessment of political situation, said that there are a lot of concerns on K-Serbian side. Regarding security (explosions during last four days), regarding statements about independence of diplomats representing important countries, regarding lack of returns, regarding “double standards” applied by IC for different communities. It is all unacceptable for K-Serbs. However, they are trying their best to maintain contacts with IC in order to decrease tension (the last meeting was with Frank Wisner). Especially good understanding exists on regional level in Mitrovica.

Kosovo: November 23, 2007 Meeting of the Task Force on the Mitrovica Area

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 fourth meeting of the Mitrovica Task Force to continue EU "coordination" with the United Nations. (Note:  Compare the comments on the courthouse and parallel institutions to what actually happened after the unilateral declaration of Kosovo independence in 2008. For example, the courthouse debacle and my congressional testimony from 2011.)

   

November 23, 2006

Minutes of the Task Force on the Mitrovica Area meeting

Participants: Gallucci, Efimov (both UNMIK), Chevrir (UNMIK – CIVPOL), Irvine, Simion (UNMIK - DOJ), Daca, Strohal (both OSCE), Stadler, Boura, Carver (all ICO PT), Denis, Moerman (KFOR), Svensson, Lukits (both EUPT)

TF reviewed the Mitrovica Court and the Mitrovica Detention Center. UNMIK noted the repatriation of prisoners agreement between Serbia and Kosovo and the possibility that Serbia might not continue implementation of it after status. UNMIK – DOJ noted that individuals were transferred in armored personnel carriers to the Detention Center and described times when KFOR had to intercede to ensure that the vehicle (surrounded by hostile crowd) could proceed. UNMIK noted ethnic mix of staff and prisoners and that 4 of the 5 “Category A” prisoners were ethnic Albanians. The TF noted no major ethnicity-related problems among staff members (staff cohesion remained intact even through March 2004 riots). There are no IC prison guards. Prison guards (KCS) are unarmed; a Special Police Unit (SPU) is responsible for perimeter security. KFOR noted its contingency plan for evacuation of the Detention Center personnel and prisoners should situation so warrant and said it could develop similar plans for the Court. They also noted that all the evacuation plans follow the certain priority listings. EUPT noted it had plans for internal security of Detention Center. The TF noted that in the case of the overall K/S boycott of the status settlement, the Serb members of KCS would follow it. If the Court and Detention Center remain in the North as mixed institutions, the challenges for transition would be: security of the facilities and transportation of the local staff.

UNMIK raised a problem of previous lack of 24/7 security at the Mitrovica Regional Court (serious implications for evidence & records). Currently private security firm provides night-time coverage (KPS or other providing day-time coverage). UNMIK noted that UNMIK Criminal Court has no effective “parallel” rival. Parallel civil courts, however, continue to exist. IC/PISG may want to review the salaries policy as a mean of discouraging staff from accepting salaries from Serbia.

Discussion turned to the general issue of parallel structures. UNMIK noted two scenarios: (1) parallel structures openly declare themselves Serbian institutions and (2) parallel structures continue to operate as “open secrets.” In second scenario, best case could be establishing a dialogue between Pristina and local parallel structures. If this is not possible, IC should have dialogue with parallel structures. Establishing contact with these structures’ personnel is critical in eventually obtaining records and convincing personnel to shift to central institutions.

ICO PT reviewed its concept for ICO in Mitrovica (ICOM), plans for staffing and monitoring settlement with possible use of corrective powers. ICO PT emphasized openness to suggestions and criticism and urged formal and informal dialogue with other IC actors. UNMIK stressed ICOM’s role as facilitating settlement implementation. Discussion turned to supporting dialogue between ethnic groups, among Kosovo Serbs, and between Kosovo Serbs and Belgrade. OSCE noted its and various NGO outreach plans in this regard.

TF agreed to review: (1) Mitrovica Hospital, (2) Mitrovica University, (3) financial flows, and potentially also the ICO-OSCE cooperation at its next meeting, Thursday, November 30, at 11:00 a.m. at the ICO PT office in Pristina. TF also agreed to review infrastructure (including utilities) and related economic issues at a meeting on Thursday, December 7, at 11:00 a.m. at the ICO PT office in Pristina. Specific agendas will be distributed ahead of those meetings.

Kosovo: November 2, 2007 Meeting of the Task Force on the Mitrovica Area

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.  In UNMIK Mitrovica's first meetings with the EUPT in Pristina, it was clear that the the EU people believed they were the knights on white horses sent to clean up the mess left by the UN.  They were not much interested in our views and wanted from us only what was necessary to leave the stage for them.  Things didn't work out that way and as of February 2019, both UNMIK and the EU are still there.  Indeed, it was only years later that the EU was allowed to place staff (other than police) in the north.  Here follows the minutes of the first meeting of the Mitrovica Task Force formed to start planning for the establishment of the EU''s International Civilian Office (ICO) that they saw becoming the new boss in Mitrovica.  They proved to be clueless.  (Two more meetings were held and those minutes will follow.)

November 2, 2006

Minutes of the Task Force on the Mitrovica Area meeting

Participants: Gallucci, Efimov (both UNMIK), Daca (OSCE), Carver, Stadler (both ICO PT), Zuccarini (EUPT), Guehenneux, Bruno (KFOR)

Ad 2) The Task Force (TF) agreed on its main goals: to identify and analyze key issues in the region that needed international attention regarding the transition and status periods, and to present policy-makers with options (“TO DO” list) for addressing those issues, namely in 3 areas: 1. list of potential breaches of the status settlement (i. e. parallel structures), 2. list of priorities of implementation of the settlement in the North and 3. tool-box to enforce the implementation (sticks and carrots).

Ad 3) The TF identified and reviewed advantages and disadvantages to locating the International Civilian Office - Mitrovica (ICOM) on either side of the Ibar. Several participants noted the need for access and the value of exposing the two major ethnic groups to each other, which could be more easily achieved by an office in southern Mitrovica. Some participants voiced concern that locating an office in northern Mitrovica could be interpreted as endorsing a partition of Kosovo. Others thought that an office in the northern part sends more proper political message, since the ICOM’s target population would mostly be K/S. The TF agreed that it is difficult to judge the physical security advantages of either location without knowing what the security environment will be under status. It was noted that good coordination with EUPT will be needed when deciding on the physical location of ICOM to plan and deploy ESDP component accordingly.

Ad 4) The TF reviewed possible numbers of ICOM staff members and discussed the option of maintaining ICO personnel in each of the northern municipalities. TF members observed that such a presence could provide the ICO more and better opportunities to intervene in status implementation issues; besides it would actually offer direct help and guidance to K/S locally. Such an ICO presence could also reassure Albanian minorities in those municipalities as well as demonstrate that the ICO would not allow partition of the north from the rest of Kosovo. TF agreed that ICOM would be the only communication link between Pristina and the North. Some participants noted the double standard of maintaining a presence in the northern municipalities while not doing so in the southern ones. The majority of participants supported the option of co-locating one ICO advisor in the OSCE field office in each of the municipalities at least part of every work day with the ICO branch office located in northern Mitrovica.

Ad 5) The TF identified several issues for possible review in future meetings (ranking below does not necessarily correspond to accurate prioritizing):

- property: linked to returns (particularly of K/A to the North), including social housing and rental schemes;

- privatization, with the core case of Trepca, linked to pensions;

- economic decentralization with infrastructure and utilities (electricity, water, phone lines, media transmission);

- economic development and job creation;

- freedom of movement (returns and security issues); transportation; travel documents and licence plates;

- security and the rule of law mission (core case of the Bridge);

- financial transactions and money flows; currency;

- modalities of implementation of the new decentralization: replacing the UAM;

- the university and the hospital: any new arrangements;

- the parallel courts and police;

- future of the KPC (in the North);

- facilitation of inter-ethnic contacts and cooperation;

- public communication strategy and access to the media.

Ad 6) The TF agreed to meet Thursday, November 9, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., in the ICO PT offices in Pristina to discuss security issues.