Developments today, 25 August 2000, Updated
5:00 p.m. EST
Civilian administration
Operation to crackdown on crime nets 10 Kosovo Albanians: A large-scale operation to crack down on crime in Kosovo has led to the arrest of 10 Kosovo Albanians for taking part in a criminal association and for illegal possession of weapons, UNMIK reported today. The cordon and search operation, known as "Operation Ghibli", was the culmination of a long-term investigation carried out by the international peacekeeping force, KFOR, which targeted a criminal gang involved in smuggling, extortion and at least three homicides in the area of Djeneral Jankovic and Urosevac, south of Pristina.
KFOR spokesman Major Scott Slaten said four other Albanians were reported to the local prosecutor for taking part in a criminal association.
Regulation setting up Department of Youth is signed: The regulation which establishes the Department of Youth has been signed, UNMIK spokeswoman Claire Trevena said today. The department has already started operating and is working on what it hopes will be an annual Youth Week, 1-7 October. "It's theme for this year will be Tolerance, No Violence and it is looking for suggestions from young people about what they want to see happening during that week, " Ms. Trevena said.
Democracy and institution building
Deadline for confirming voters' register: The deadline for CAC -- which stands for Confirmation, Addition and Challenges on the voters' register -- is 30 August, OSCE spokesman Roland Bless said today. The aim of the CAC is to have a complete and correct voter's list in order to make counting and polling a smooth operation on election date. So far up to 4,000 Kosovars have gone to check their data. "The CAC-period is an optional venue for voters to participate - it is not mandatory, and not going to a CAC-centre for confirmation does not, of course, exclude anyone from having the right of vote," Mr. Bless said.
Mr. Bless also said that the Central Elections Commission (CEC) meets today to finalize rules on polling and counting -- the last piece of legislative work that is needed for the elections preparation. The CEC will also discuss, and probably, decide up on the implementing guidelines for media access. "They have put out rough guidelines already, whereby parties cannot place paid advertising in the broadcast media, they can do so in the print media. So all these procedures are going to be detailed and then finalized, " Mr. Bless said.
Reconstruction
Pristina restricts use of drinking water: The municipality of Pristina has passed an emergency regulation to restrict the use of drinking water until mid September following the breakdown of one of the pumps at Kosovo's main pumping station, UNMIK spokeswoman Claire Trevena said today.
The pump has been flown to Germany for repairs but it is not expected back until after 3-4 weeks. The pump is one of the three 20 year-old pumps at the pumping station, "in need of serious repair due to years of consistent neglect", explained EU spokesman Mike Todd.
Due to the strain caused by having only two pumps, the second pump is now showing signs that it will break down, probably in the next few weeks, Mr. Todd said. Whether it breaks down or not, this pump will be sent for repairs as soon as the first pump returns from Germany. "Likewise, upon its return the third pump will be sent for repairs. Each pump takes six weeks to repair," Mr. Todd said.
The German government has officially announced that it would fund the development of a new pump, but it will take at least six months for a new pump to be put in place, he added.
Humanitarian affairs
Mandatory returns of Kosovars from Western Europe increases: The rate of mandatory returns of Kosovo refugees from Western Europe and other countries has increased, getting close to 500 per week, UNHCR today. UNHCR spokeswoman Maki Shinohara said over 6,000 people have been forcibly returned since February, in addition to more than 61,000 refugees who returned voluntarily from Europe and other countries. Altogether, more than 882,000 refugees have now returned to Kosovo since June 1999.
For further information, contact the Spokesman's Office: tel (212) 963-7161/2; fax (212) 963-7055.