Kosovo: November 16, 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 third meeting of the Mitrovica Task Force to continue EU "coordination" with the United Nations. (Note: HPD refers to the Housing and Property Directorate and handled KPA issues in Mitrovica.)

 

November 16, 2006

Minutes of the Task Force on the Mitrovica Area meeting (3)

Participants: Gallucci, Efimov (both UNMIK), Butchart Livingston (OSCE), Boura, Carver, Stadler (all ICO PT), Zuccarini (EUPT), Guehenneux, Denis (KFOR), Urny (UN Police)

Guests: Nunan (HPD Mitrovica), Rolando (DOJ), Oliver (UNMIK)

UNMIK noted the large potential problem of 6 – 7.000 K/A wanting/trying to return to N. Mitrovica and also assessed that there will be likely about 2.000 K/A living in the north once the settlement, with potential adjustments of municipal boundaries, is implemented. A very close link to the property issue was noted. Several participants stressed that K/S living in the north would conversely not return/move to the south after settlement implementation.

KPA outlined the Administration and Repossession property programs. So far, there have been 1250 claims by K/A for their properties in the north, whereas one fifth of those are destroyed houses. KPA stressed that its policy is to avoid evicting IDPs and ensuring that no one is rendered homeless as a result of eviction. The CCK agreed to evictions as long as people were not put out on the streets.

UNMIK and KPA emphasized that the stock of housing is not sustainable given the demand for repossession, particularly in light of further sales of property ethnic Albanians claim. High prices (under market conditions) of such properties were noted. A few ways of helping prevent this phenomenon from becoming a major problem are: (1) to promote a few returns of ethnic Albanians to the north (ex. Doctors’ Valley); (2) to create a plan for gradual addressing this issue over time (1 year and beyond); and (3) to fund an international housing agency/program from the donors’ conference to help provide additional housing. All those should be accompanied with effective dialogue and explanations to both sides: K/A and K/S. CCK’s efforts to add to the housing stock should not be prevented. KPA also outlined its rental and social housing scheme, noting that rents for properties in northern Mitrovica were necessarily below market value and should remain so in any similar future program. Security assurances, linked to the repossession of property and potential returns, should be addressed accordingly.

Participants noted the need to address housing for the Roma community. While UNDP is to cover the Roma Mahala project (in cooperation with the municipality), the Osterode camp, currently managed by UNMIK DCA, will need to be taken over (future local municipality issue?, with ensured funding?).

Participants noted problems with cadastral records and the insufficient capacity to adjudicate property claims.

There has been no privatization in the North, where the Trepca complex remains the main issue. UNMIK, as the protector of Trepca against creditors, turned reluctant to prolong such approach which causes unrest among K/A and K/S. Participants noted the lack of clarity regarding ownership, PISG’s determination to decide about the administration of the complex and whether Trepca would be liquidated (Supreme Court to handle the case!).

Related issues that will need to be addressed (preferably by the Kosovo Government) include:

• Pensions for Trepca workers – who pays them (PISG, CCK?),
• necessity of maintaining the pension and salary system,
• dealing with the claims for unpaid salaries / pensions (cca. 18.000 claims at municipal courts),
• Similar complaints from elsewhere, f. ex. dismissed workers in Obiliq/c,
• Discriminatory provisions for participation in privatization for K/S workers (in 3 last years almost no K/S allowed to work),
• Access to the courts to file in complaints.

The TF will meet November 23 at 11:00 a.m. at the ICO PT Office in Pristina* to discuss (1) Penal Management in the north; (2) the ICO PT’s concept of the ICO and its mission in the region, including regarding (a) the functioning of municipalities and (b) Issues that the Joint Board could address, inter alia, to foster inter-ethnic cooperation.

* The venue of the next meeting has been changed meanwhile; the next meeting on 23 Nov will take place in Mitrovica.

Kosovo: March 2007 -- property Issues in Bosniak Mahalla

On March 16, 2007, I had to call upon our police to stop illegal construction by a local Serb in Bosniak Mahalla,  I don't remember the details but  the person involved must have been trying to build a large dwelling in a mixed area which the local Albanians and/or others found threatening as well as illegal.  (Legality was not a leading motif in the Mahalla.) Below is the complaint from the CCK (I don't speak Serbian and cannot remember what it said) and my reply.

On March 28, I sent this report to HQ:  

Re following Police report of last night:
"On Tuesday 27th of March 2007 at approx. 19.45 hrs, an Unidentified Explosive Device exploded at the junction of "Oslobodena Str.' and "Nemanjina Str." in Little Bosnia - Mitrovica North.

Consequences: 03 individual cars slightly damages by parts of the explosive device. No people injured. "

This was apparently a "black grenade" (i.e., a fairly small device) and may have been thrown by a disgruntled young Albanian who had previously in the evening had a altercation with civpol on north side of Bridge. He reportedly threatened the police with further action. Police are still investigating but everyone at the scene -- Albanians and Serbs -- remained calm and apparently already attributed the attack to this "crazy Albanian" and not to inter-ethnic tensions. Nevertheless, police (including UNMIK-P) increased patrols in other mixed areas of north Mitrovica. UNMIK also informed CCK and Mitrovica CEO to assure that things were under control. We also drank tea with mixed group of locals at a small cafe at the scene. Everyone there was calm, including one of the damaged car owners.

Comment: The north shore and especially Bosniak Mahalla remains tense but there have been no more indications of conflict over ongoing construction. However, it is vital that UNMIK-P Enhancement Force be kept at full strength (at least 130) over the next months. We are in deep trouble if we lose control during any reaction to almost certain continued acts of isolated violence.

I should add that while I was drinking tea and smoking a cigar the owner gave me -- everyone was quite uncomfortable with my not smoking -- I heard the men joking in a mix of Serbian and Albanian.  Not many places this happens in public in Kosovo.  I joined in with the little common language we had and we all laughed in agreement that Kosovo is a crazy place and Bosniak Mahalla the craziest of all.  When I got home and was reading in bed, I heard a prolonged burst of automatic weapon fire plus the firing of a pistol.  Jumped out of bed and opened by door to the balcony.  Scared a poor fellow across the street taking a piss.  But I guess it was nothing.  Took my heart a little time to slow down enough to permit sleep.