Gerry Reynolds
Ceist:22 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will give an assessment of the current situation in Kosovo. [25483/99]
Written Answers. - Kosovo Recovery.
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:58 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the degree to which the situation in Kosovo has been addressed, with particular reference to the issue of ethnic cleansing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25641/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 22 and 58 together.
Since the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1244 which authorised the deployment of KFOR and the setting up of the United Nations interim administration mission in Kosovo, UNMIK, the situation in the province has radically changed. KFOR has taken over much of the responsibility for security in Kosovo, in conjunction with the international police force, which is directly under UN control. Alongside UNMIK several international organisations have moved into Kosovo. These include the UNHCR to deal with returning refugees, the OSCE, which has been charged with institution building, the Council of Europe which is providing experts in fields such as law, human rights and local democracy, and the EU reconstruction agency. Non-governmental organisations active in Kosovo include Concern and GOAL.
The major immediate concerns for both KFOR and UNMIK have been to stabilise the security situation and to ensure that the Kosovar population are provided with adequate shelter for the coming winter.
Attacks by returning Kosovo Albanian refugees have been mainly directed at the Serbian and Roma communities. These have forced virtually all non-Albanians either to leave Kosovo or to gather in ethnic centres, which are effectively ghettoes. The UNHCR estimates that there are now over 150,000 Kosovo Serbs in Serbia and Montenegro. Recently KFOR has been able to reduce the number of these attacks and there are indications that small numbers of Serbs are returning but relations between ethnic groups are still tense. The main Kosovar Albanian political leaders seem to be conscious of the dangers as they have disassociated themselves from attacks against non-Albanians.
In spite of the difficult security situation, UNMIK and KFOR, together with the other agencies, are working to increase participation by the local communities in governing themselves. A transition council has been set up, and it is intended to turn this into an executive council.
Progress has also been made by the OSCE in setting up so-called political centres with the aim of providing resources to all democratic political parties in Kosovo. A police force is now being trained, and the reform of the legal system is under way with the assistance of the Council of Europe. A start is being made in registering people for elections which are tentatively planned for next year.
The priority in the area of humanitarian assistance is to provide a minimum degree of shelter for the many thousands of Kosovars whose homes were destroyed or seriously damaged during the conflict. A winterization programme is currently being implemented by the UNHCR in co-operation with a number of NGOs the aim of which is to ensure that at least one heated room is available for each family. Communal shelters to accommodate those whose houses were totally destroyed are also being set up.
Although UNMIK and all involved in Kosovo have approached their tasks with imagination, there are many difficulties ahead. First, UNMIK is short of resources to pay the salaries of local functionaries, such as teachers, municipal employees and civil servants. Second, there is a major problem of organised crime. Some of it is being perpetrated by Albanian based gangs specialising in human trafficking, drug smuggling and money laundering. Third, there have been reports of violence between supporters of different political parties within the Albanian community.
Nevertheless, given the very difficult situation which UNMIK and KFOR faced when they first arrived in Kosovo in July last I believe that both can be commended for the progress made to date, but it is also clear that the continued support of the international community for their efforts in terms of both finance and personnel will be required for a long time to come.
As I mentioned, the Council of Europe is playing an important role in the recovery of Kosovo and in my capacity as chairman of the committee of Ministers of the Council, I intend to visit Kosovo early in the new year to see for myself the situation on the ground there.