The Findings of the Danish Kosova Committee Travelling through Kosova
July 17 - 24, 1999The need for fast reconstruction assistance
The international society has granted huge amounts of resources for the reconstruction of Kosova, but the delays of payments create serious problems. Between 5-600.000 persons risk to meet the severe Kosova winter without a roof over their heads.
The population has a strong spirit of reconstruction, an optimism due to the freedom obtained after a decade of oppression. Even in the most destroyed areas the people return to their homes and begin the clearing of their property and the reconstruction of their homes.
A fast and solid support for the reconstruction which may protect the population against the coming winter will be one of the best investments of the world society. The need for longterm investment will thereby be less than previously considered.The parallel society
Since Serbia in 1989 in violation of the Yugoslav constitution of 1974 abolished the autonomy of Kosova, The population of Kosova under Ibrahim Rugova's leadership have developed a parallel society. In spite of the resistance of the Serbian authorities the population of Kosova succeded in holding a parliamentary and presidential election in 1992. The parliament set up a number of committees which developed social institutions such as educational systems, health service and university. The parliament of Kosova has developed ties with several Western parliaments and the European Parliament.
On March 22, 1998 parliamentary and presidential elections were held again. 85% of the registered electors participated in the election. Three districts in the Drenica area were prevented from participating because of Serbian attacks, and some parties could not participate because of lack of signatures. 13 of the parliament's 130 seats reserved for Montenegrins and Serbs were not filled.
Parliament held two meetings during which a number of committees were set up.
The still more intense expulsion of Kosova's citizens has destroyed the parallel society, but the parliament elected in 1998 should be re-established.
After the liberation of Kosova the summoning of the parliament elected in 1998 is being prepared.
The Kosova Committee recommend that, until a new parliamentary election can take place, this elected assembly during the reconstruction of the Kosova society should be given great weight as an advisory organ.The population of Kosova as participants in the reconstruction of the society
KLA (UCK) is at present the only Kosova-Albanian organisation which functions and has been given a certain advisory function. KLA is expected to develop a party for the future election, and a number of future ministers have already been nominated.
At present a political dispute has arisen because the United Nations' highest administrator in Kosova, Kouchner, is composing an advisory organ in which KLA, LDK, LPD and the so called independents should have two representatives, whereas no representatives have been considered of the parliament elected 1998 or the other parties, the Social Democrats, the Christian Democratic and the Liberal party.
The newly appointed administrator of Pejë (Pec), Le Roy, apparently has another attitude to the establishment of an advisory organ for his administrative area. First he plans to hold a number of informative conversations to assist his evaluation of the various political forces and personalities. Then he intends to handpick the members of an advisory organ.Local elections
As a parliamentary election is not expected to take place in the near future, and as the participation of the population in solving the many urgent local problems is very desirable in order to develop an effectively functioning democracy, local elections of advisory organs should be prepared in the near future. At elections of advisory local councils it can be expected that concrete local problems concerning the reconstruction will be the main issues rather than party-political ideologies. The Danish practice according to which local elections will be held independently of parliamentary elections rest on the same considerations, that party-political ideologies should not overshadow local issues.
Such local advisory councils may be valuable advisers for the many international and national relief organizations respecting local issues such as establishment of schools, hospitals and other social institutions, distribution of relief, reconstruction of houses, bridges, roads etc. First of all the establishment of such councils would give the population a possibility to develop a democracy directed towards the concrete problems of their daily lives. Ethnic minorities, especially the Serbs, would in certain localities obtain possibilities to develop useful co-operation with their Albanian fellow citizens.
As both external and internal Kosova-Abanian refugees tend to return to their neighbourhoods, the locally elected councils will be well suited to advise international organisations about local conditions.Means of communication
The destruction of means of communication in Kosova has made the basis of rumours and myths. Therefore it is important to develop free means of communication in order to uphold the law and order and to reconstruct the civil society and democracy.
The establishment of law and order
The building of a peaceful democratic society for the whole of Kosova's population need a fast establishment of a police force.
The Danish police officer, Sten Frederiksen, who has been appointed head of police in Kosova by the United Nations, has obtained rich experiences during his leadership of the police in Bosnia and Hercegovina. Sten Frederiksen should be strongly supported especially financially in order that an efficient police force may be established as soon as possible.
There is furthermore a great need for registration of persons and real property for instance in order to prevent unauthorized occupation of vacant property.The areas controlled by Serbs
In Mitrovica in the northernmost Kosova great areas are inhabited mainly by Serbs. According to LDK in Mitrovica 21.000 Albanians have been prevented by Serbian paramilitary forces (in civilian clothes) to return to their homes in those part of the town and other areas which are controlled by the Serbs.
Serbian families living in the Albanian part of the town are being protected by the French troops, whereas the Albanian families living in the Serbian part of the town, where they are subject of harassment, are not protected.
The Serbian motives are not only wishes to create a pure Serbian area, but also the wish to secure for the Serbs the richest area of mineral resources.
The protection of northernmost Kosova has been left to the French KFOR forces. The French forces have not assisted the 21.000 Albanians to return to their homes in the areas dominated by the Serbs.
The French military leader has closed a big very valuable mining field at the town Trepca. According to rumours this step serves the purpose of protecting especially French and Greek vested interests in the mining company formely owned by Serbia. LDK is of the opinion that the Serbs try to establish a de facto transfer of the mining areas. The Serbs who live in the ethnic mixed areas have offered Albanians living in areas dominated by Serbs to "swap houses".
As soon as possible it should be examined whether the French administration favours Serbian and foreign capital interests in the northenmost Kosova and thereby violate United Nations' resolutions and the Kumanovo peace agreement concluded by NATO and the Yugoslav army.Copenhagen July 26, 1999
Hanne Severinsen, MP - Chairman
Erik Siesby - Vicechairman
Riza Nikqi - Secretary
senden