(16/12/05) International Crisis Group over Kosovo 8/2005

• 2006-01-11
• Europa in de wereld

UN Special Envoy Kai Eide held high-level meetings with all sides, stated major problems as decentralisation, freedom of movement and refugee repatriation. Contact Group warned PM Kosumi insufficient progress made in letter 22 July. UNMIK chief Soren Jessen-Petersen gave 5 decentralisation pilot projects go-ahead, presented Kosumi with plan for transfer of authority of police and judiciary, announced security review. Kosovo’s Serb leaders decided to continue 16-month boycott of Kosovo’s institutions. Mitrovica bridge formally opened 24 hours per day for traffic; UNMIK police clashed with Serbs near it 24 July. 3 coordinated explosions shook Pristina 2 July, 1 at UNMIK headquarters.

“Kosovars concerned new ministries may be politicised”, IWPR, 27 July 2005.

“UN seeks to leave Kosovo, but a deal is elusive”, International Herald Tribune, 26 July 2005.

For background see Crisis Group Europe Report N°163, Kosovo after Haradinaj, 26 May 2005