Bernard Allen
Ceist:64 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Mitrovica. [8321/00]
Vol. 516 No. 5
64 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Mitrovica. [8321/00]
70 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Kosovo; if he has satisfied himself that UN forces are taking adequate measures to prevent ethnic clashes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8483/00]
162 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he and the international community are satisfied with the progress in Kosovo; the new measures, if any, proposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8614/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 64, 70 and 162 together.
The security situation in Kosovo is a cause for serious concern. There have been a number of incidents resulting in injuries to international, mainly French and Russian, KFOR troops. Nevertheless in the rest of Kosovo, apart from Mitrovica and one or two other areas, the number of ethnic clashes has decreased. This is due in part to the fact that ethnic Serbs and other minorities have either left Kosovo altogether or gathered themselves into well protected ethnic strongholds, and in part due to firm action by KFOR and the UN international police. There is still concern, however, at attacks taking place between ethnic Albanians, as extremists attack supporters of more moderate political leaders. There is also concern about the involvement of former Kosovo Liberation Army fighters in organised crime, including drug smuggling and trafficking in women.
Although still tense, the situation in Mitrovica is under control and some KFOR reinforcements drafted into the city in the wake of recent disturbances have now left. The presence of the international police has been augmented. The town is still divided along ethnic lines, ethnic Serbs in the area north of the River Sitnica and ethnic Albanians to the south. Negotiations are under way with community leaders of both sides with the aim of allowing freedom of movement for ethnic Albanians, addressing the security concerns of the ethnic Serbs, and allowing orderly returns of members of both ethnic communities to their homes. The ultimate aim of the United Nations administration in Kosovo is to create a visibly different administration for Mitrovica, involving a joint municipal government which can serve as an example elsewhere in Kosovo. This success of this political process will depend not only on the international police and KFOR to provide a secure environment, but also on progress in expanding public services and encouraging economic revival.