Military Depots by Its Civilian Population in 1997
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1EII Note to the Secretary-General SEP ? 2 J999 i »UU? LJ GRAMSH PILOT PROJECT IN ALBANIA 1. At the invitation of the Government of Albania and the UNDP Resident Representative in Tirana, I visited Albania from 16 to 18 September to participate in a public ceremony to mark the successful completion of the first phase of the Gramsh Pilot Project. The ceremony was attended by President Meidani. The project implemented through UNDP, resulted from my evaluation of the situation in June 1998 at your request after you were approached by President Meidani for United Nations assistance in collecting weapons removed from its military depots by its civilian population in 1997. 2. By offering community based developmental incentives as a reward for voluntary weapons surrender in the district of Gramsh, close to 6,000 weapons and about 100,000 tons of ammunition were collected in addition to over 4,000 retrieved earlier by the Albanian Government. No homicides have been reported in the district since the project was launched and the rate of crime has fallen. Construction of roads connecting remote areas, building foot bridges, providing telecommunication facilities, and lighting the town streets are among the incentives given for weapons surrender. A national public awareness campaign has also been launched in anticipation of the expansion of the "weapons for development" programme to cover all of Albania. 3. During my visit, I had meetings with President Rexhep Meidani, Prime Minister Pandeli Majko and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Paskal Milo, all of whom support the expansion of the pilot project to other parts of Albania. I took the opportunity to drive home the importance of a clearer demonstration of the government's intention to destroy more than symbolic numbers of collected weapons. 4. It is my understanding that at the forthcoming elections for party congresses, Sali Berisha is likely to be replaced, raising expectations of less adversarial politics. Already there is a noticeable improvement hi the law and order situation. 5. I would support the expansion of the pilot project to other parts of Albania and will be approaching the donor community for a swjft response m order to keep up the momentum. I have receivedlhe fullest cooperation from UNDP in the implementation of this project both in New York and hi Tirana. Jayantha Dhanapala 21 Septe cc: Mr. Mark Malloch Brown Mr. Kieran Prendergast Mi fro UNITED NATIONS NATIONS UNIES TIONS. N.Y. 1OOI7 .TIONS NCWYORK REFERENCE; 9 September 1999 Dear Mr. Malloch Brown, Subject: SkyLink By letter dated 27 May 1998,1 wrote to your predecessor to inform him that the Secretariat had decided to remove SkyLink Aviation, Inc. ("SkyLink") from the UN Supplier Roster, effective immediately, for a period of one year (until 27 May 1999), after which time SkyLink would have the right to reapply for registration and to resume participation in UN procurement activities, provided it was otherwise qualified as an eligible vendor at that time. I informed him that this decision applied to any affiliate of SkyLink's, to Messrs. Walter Arbib, Jan Ottens and Surjit Babra, and to any company owned, controlled or represented by any of these individuals. I also informed him that, in taking this decision, the UN maintained the option to modify it at any time, including the possibility of shortening or extending the period of time indicated above, should new developments so warrant. Finally, in view of the fact that this action was related to the integrity of the UN's procurement process and to the safety of its air operations, I requested that he take appropriate measures to conform the procurement activities of his own Office to the Secretariat's decision. I now wish to inform you that, on 9 July 1999, an international arbitral tribunal handed down a decision in connection with the commercial disputes between the UN and SkyLink. A summary of the Tribunal's findings as well as the dispositive portion of its final award, which, dismissed all of SkyLink's claims, is attached for your review and reference. Mr. Mark Malloch Brown Administrator United Nations Development Programme New York UNITED NATIONS NATIONS UNIES Subsequently, on 2 August 1999, SkyLink submitted an application for reinstatement to the UN Supplier Roster. Its application is currently being reviewed by the Procurement Division in the normal course, as would an application from any other vendor. As soon as this process has been completed, you will be informed of its decision . In the meantime, should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Andrew Toh, Chief of the Procurement Division, at (212) 963-6225. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated. Yours sincerely,.