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Updated: 2 December 1999 NATO Fact Sheets

NATO Fact
Sheets

2 Dec. 1999

Fact Sheet

Kosovo

  • Only six months ago:
    • 850,000 refugees were out of Kosovo;
    • 550,000 internally displaced persons;
    • homes and villages burned;
    • identity cards and records destroyed;
    • an environment of total violence.

  • Today, after KFOR and UNMIK deployment:
    • over 810,000 refugees returned (430,000 from Albania, 217,000 from FYROM , 11,000 from BiH, almost 55,000 from third countries outside the region);
    • hostilities ended, FRY military and special police force fully withdrawn;
    • UCK demilitarized;
    • KFOR has a robust presence throughout Kosovo;
    • murder rate reduced from 190 per 100,000 of population in June to 25 in October. Lower than in some of the world's major cities. November showed a slight increase, but the overall trend is toward a much greater level of security than at the outset of the KFOR deployment.

  • Humanitarian situation considerably improved:
    • winterisation about 70% complete. Will still need a concerted effort by IC this first winter;
    • World Food Programme providing aid to 650,000 Kosovars;
    • UNHCR and other agencies providing more than 75,000 shelter kits to benefit 387,000 people;
    • 544 schools de-mined or cleared of UXO; vast majority of 1,000 schools reopened in October, with some 300,000 children being taught in their own language at public schools.
    • by beginning of November, 7,408 bomblets, 6,130 anti-personnel mines 3,481 anti-tank mines cleared;
    • the first power plant in Kosovo opened; the amount of electricity generated by Kosovo for the last few years will almost triple;
    • central heating in Pristina started operating, pumping heating to hospitals, schools and homes. It will keep 400,000 residents of Pristina warm this winter and will reduce the demand in the city on electrical power by 40%.

  • Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC) implementation started:
    • multi-ethnic body with 3,000 active and 2,000 reserve members: efforts are currently underway to fill the 10% of positions which have been set aside for minority representation;
    • civilian emergency tasks: disaster response, search and rescue, humanitarian assistance capacity, assistance in de-mining, infrastructure rebuilding; no law enforcement role;
    • under the authority of SRSG Kouchner, day to day supervision by KFOR;
    • some Provisional KPC members been working on projects on infrastructure repair, environmental clean up, winterisation;
    • swift action is being taken against any inappropriate activities by KPC members;
    • final selection process started - strict, individual vetting of all candidates, SRSG has final authority over selection, appointment and dismissal of KPC members;
    • progress may be hampered if lack of funding for training and operation of the KPC persists.

  • Economic situation:
    • pledges of more than $ 1 billion for programmes through the end of 2000 made at the Second Kosovo Donors' Conference held in Brussels on 17th November;
    • the first bank about to open;
    • more resources still needed.
  • Recognize difficult law and order problem:
    • 50% of KFOR manpower now involved in protection of minorities, a top priority which is appreciated by moderate Serbs;
    • permanent KFOR presence in many Serb towns, villages, neighbourhoods and even individual houses. Patrimonial sites guarded 24 hrs a day;
    • individual Serbs escorted on daily business, including shopping;
    • some Kosovar Serbs have returned as conditions for them better than in Serbia;
    • currently, KFOR estimates the Serb community in Kosovo to number between 90,000 and 100,000. [UNHCR estimates the Serb population at 40-50,000; figures will gain clarity once UNMIK concludes registration of the population.]

  • UNMIK progress:
    • 1,800 civil police deployed so far. 60% of the province has local police presence. UN CIVPOL taken over responsibility for law and order in Pristina and Prizren regions;
    • the goal is 5,000 UN CIVPOL. KFOR will have to continue law and order role for the foreseeable future;
    • the first multi-ethnic class of the OSCE-run Kosovo Police Academy graduated and formed the core of the local, multi-ethnic Kosovo Police Service. Second class started with total of 175 students (134 Albanian, 30 Serb, 11 other);
    • the Kosovo Transitional Council meets weekly, but with incomplete attendance. UNMIK is seeking to create a new "Provisional Administration Council", comprising key local leaders, including minority representatives, and education, health, public works. Implementation is still in preliminary stages.
    • UNMIK now present in all 29 municipalities of Kosovo;
    • UNMIK has begun to license all automobiles and issue interim license plates;
    • UNMIK and OSCE are cooperating in the establishment of a central elections commission.
    • Judicial officers are being appointed by UNMIK based on the principle of multi-ethnicity to courts which serve in Pristina, Prizren and other districts. Considerable difficulties, however, remain.

  • War crimes investigations underway:
    • ICTY received reports of more than 11,000 bodies and 529 grave sites. So far work completed in 195 grave sites, more than 2,000 bodies exhumed. The remaining 334 sites will be investigated and exhumed as soon as weather conditions permit next Spring. Investigators have found evidence that, in some cases, bodies were removed from mass grave sites before the arrival of international teams.
    • Several suspects of serious violations of international humanitarian law under custody. UNMIK processing their cases, with the assistance of ICTY.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

  • All ethnic groups demonstrated remarkable political stability during the air campaign.
  • In view of progress reached, SFOR is restructuring, allowing for a one third reduction in the overall number of troops in BiH. (from 30,000 to 20,000).
  • An estimated 80,000 mostly spontaneous returns so far in 1999, notwithstanding air campaign and disappointing donor response.
  • The Tri-Presidency, in a Declaration issued in New York on 15 November, agreed on measures for the full implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement, including the creation of a multi-ethnic State Border Service, provision of adequate resources to Central State Institutions, establishment of a Joint Commission to speed up returns, creation of a single national passport and an intensified fight against corruption.
  • The Stability Pact Summit was organised successfully in Sarajevo last July, with considerable support from SFOR. BiH leaders worked together to make this event a success and will co-chair the Stability Pact's working table on security issues.
  • BiH leaders have agreed to reduce the size of their armed forces and defence budgets by 15% and to develop a common security policy.
  • SFOR assisted in the transfer to The Hague of 23 of the 32 war crimes suspects currently in ICTY custody, including five this year. The most recent arrest took place on 25 October.
  • Military de-mining continues to progress under the supervision of SFOR. In 1998 some 100,00 square meters were cleared; to date in 1999 more than 600,000 meters have been cleared. Armed Forces representing the three entities are working together through the Bosnia-Herzegovina Mine Action Centre.
  • Major security incidents in BiH reduced from 14 per month in April 1999, to 1 in October 1999.
  • Operation "Westar" conducted by SFOR on 14 October 1999 in Mostar provided important evidence on organized crime operations in the region.
  • SFOR and top military officials from each of the two Bosnian entities have agreed plans for the disbanding of all military units in Brcko prior to 31 December 1999, and the subsequent destruction under SFOR control of all of the weapons systems in Brcko.
  • The transition to a multi-ethnic police force in Brcko proceeds smoothly and without incident. It is to be composed of 230 officers: 120 Serbs, 90 Bosniacs and 20 Croats.
  • Standing Committee on Military Matters (SCMM) Secretariat established. Significant common institution in the defence field, possible nucleus for future joint staff or defence ministry.
  • Almost 200 military officers and defence officials who have participated in NATO's Security Cooperation attended a one-day Alumni Reunion in Sarajevo in October.
  • A comprehensive Security Cooperation Programme between NATO and Bosnia and Herzegovina is planned for 2000.

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