DETAJE FREE OF CHARGE OF FREE DNewsletter publishedE by TheT OrganizationA For Security andIL Co-operationS in Europe (OSCE) Mission in Kosovo D E T VolumeA 3, L No. J4I - June, 2003 Health problem finds the right cure The joint efforts of village activists, municipal assembly and the OSCE Mission resulted in the construction of an ambulanta in the village of Livoç i epërm/Gornji Livoč . Text and photo: Mevlyde Salihu activists, municipal assembly in Gjilan/Gnjilane and OSCE, The village of Livoç i epërm/ that the OSCE Mission is very we are very close to having a Gornji Livoč is located in the happy with the project and with functioning health house here,” western part of Gjilan/Gnjilane. the way things have developed. said Mr. Kurteshi. Mr. Osmani A mixed population of Kosovo “The ambulanta will serve both from the municipal assembly Albanians and Kosovo Serbs, the Albanian and Serb commu- thinks that the local residents approximately 3500 inhabit- nity. We think it is a very good did a tremendous job. “They ants, live there. For the moment, project that will help people overcame barriers and divi- villagers lack medical services. to have a much better health sions. The Albanian and the But this severe health problem assistance than they had until Serb community agreed that is about to be cured. now,” says Ms. Ansede. the priority was solving the problem of health assistance in Some time ago, activists of the Aside for providing with medi- cal services, the ambulanta will their village,” Osmani added. village approached the Gjilan/ also increase the number of The commitment of villagers Gnjilane municipal assembly employees in the village. Doc- paid off. They have a reason and asked for help in building a tors will most probably co- to be happy, and they are. health house. They found sup- me from Gjilan/Gnjilane, since Mr. Halim Ramadani, a young port. Mr. Fadil Osmani, Direc- there are no graduate physi- man from Livoç i epërm/Gornji tor of projects in the municipal cians in Livoc, but nurses will Livoč, said that they are very assembly, got in touch with the be preferably hired from the glad as they see constructors OSCE OfÞ ce in Gjilan/Gnjilane village. So far, inhabitants had setting up the roof of the ambu- and, in co-operation with its to travel to Gjilan/Gnjilane to lanta. staff, began to work on this get medical treatment. This The practice shows that when issue. They prepared a project, will not be necessary when the people agree between them- the OSCE OfÞ ce approved it ambulanta will become opera- selves, solutions come quick. and found the money, and the tional. Although building the ambu- construction work soon started. The representative of the vil- lanta took approximately one Now, the ambulanta is almost lage, Mr. Ramadan Kurteshi, year, the result is impressive. completed and the inaugura- says this is a project of capital At least for the 3,500 inhabit- tion is expected sometime in importance for Livoç i epërm/ ants of Livoç i epërm/Gornji Li- September. Gornji Livoč. “We were a vil- voč, who in the near future will Ms. Lola Ansede, from the lage with completely under- not have to travel to the nearest OSCE Democratisation Depart- developed infrastructure. Now, city - which is not very close - ment in Gjilan/Gnjilane, says with the hard work of village to get medical treatment. Workers building the roof of the Ambulanta INTHIS ISSUE A successful return It took several attempts before 100 Kosovo Albanians could return A daunting task Page 3 to their homes in Gornja Bitinja/Biti e Epërme. Text: Mustafa Skenderi Around 100 Kosovo Albanians from Gornja Bitinja/Biti e Epër- Gornja Bitinja/Biti e Epërme, a In the meantime, the OSCE OfÞ - me, escorted by 20 KFOR and Dancing for village in municipality of Štrpce/ ce in Štrpce/Shtrpcë, in co-oper- UNHCR vehicles, tried to enter Shtrpcë, was inhabited before ation with UNMIK, KFOR and the village again on 22 May. reconciliation Page 4 1999 with Kosovo Serbs and UNHCR, has started a public About 100 Kosovo Serbs bloc- Albanians. Most of the Kosovo awareness campaign and public ked the entrance to the village. Albanians from this village have debates, aiming to promote and During the day talks started been displaced in Ferizaj/Uro- clarify the right to return. “It between Kosovo Serb and Koso- Interview: Mr. Lutfi Haziri, ševac and surrounding villages is an undeniable right for every vo Albanian political leaders on during the past four years. After community to return to its orig- one hand and the inhabitants of President of the AKM Page 5 the improvement of security sit- inal place”, says Mr. Horst both communities on the other, uation, Kosovo Albanian villag- Denecke, Head of OfÞ ce. but without results. It has been ers on 27 February sent to the “In regard to return itself”, agreed to continue the meeting international community and to says Mrs. Spomenka Kojadino- Restoring on 23 May when a Þ nal agree- municipal structures a request vic, a member of the Municipal good relations Page 5 to return to their own homes. Working Group, “we had no ment was reached and Kosovo The Þ rst spontaneous return of direct involvement on return Albanians entered the village Ko-sovo Albanians in the village of Kosovo Albanians to Gornja without KFOR or police escort. Gornja Bitinja/Biti e Epërme oc- Bitinja/Biti e Epërme. Our role International humanitarian or- Lessons about curred on 9 May. A number of was to make a picture of the ganisations like the American Kosovo Serb inhabitants of the place where they return, and Refugees Committee and UNH- education Page 6 village blocked the entrance in this community to make a con- CR are helping these people to sign of protest. After negotia- tact with another community, accommodate for the time being. tions, an agreement was reached to talk with each other, so that The day when we visited the Page 6 that the Albanians should be se- this return can be of beneÞ t for returnees, they were collecting An issue of equality at they would try again to return Kosovo Serbs as well, in order details about materials needed to their homes on 22 May. to straighten out relations”. for reconstruction of houses. 2 DETAILSDETAJEDETALJI EDITORIAL There are many other cases with similar legal problems. Yes, the current report shows that OSCE is here to help progress has been made, but there are still obstacles. Among the many: with property rights · The lack of property records; A confusing and contradictory legal frame- · work; In June 2003, the OSCE Mission in Kosovo The failure of some municipal governments to published a very extensive report on property · follow expropriation procedures; rights. We launched the report at a building Illegal construction and inconsistent practices site with an extraordinary story of an unfinished · around Kosovo in dealing with the issue; building, like so many other finished or unfinished buildings in Kosovo. The inefficiency of courts in dealing with prop- · erty disputes; and, Ambassador Pascal Fieschi, The land belonged to a resident of Kosovo in the Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo mid 80s. It was expropriated by the municipality, · The insufficient protection of minority and but the municipality did not follow procedures and returnee property rights. the land was returned to the rightful owner. We should also note a few areas were progress In 1988 the owner sold his land. After the conß ict has been made: the owner started to build, but did not apply for and economic restructuring process currently a construction permit. In 2001, the municipality The settling of property claims submitted to the under way in Kosovo. · Housing and Property Directorate improved, in ordered him to stop the construction. The owner As the transfer of competencies continues, we particular in 2003; then made a request to legalize the construction, look to provisional institutions to take up their which he is allowed to do. However, ownership of The inter - agency coordination improved, responsibilities in the area of property rights. It is land could not be determined and the construction · especially through the Advisory Board on Com- not an easy task and it will not become any easier could not be legalized by the municipality. munities Working Group on Property Rights; in the coming years. But helping all the people of Kosovo to have clarity on their rights and their The case is still pending with the owner seeking The Special Chamber of the Supreme Court of homes is an important part of building a stable and confirmation of his property rights in court, but · Kosovo on Kosovo Trust Agency Related Mat- peaceful future for Kosovo. it is hard to tell the outcome because of the lack ters was recently established. It will deal with of documentation. disputes and claims related to the privatization As always, OSCE will be here to help. “We are offering technical assistance to the institutions in applying the laws” DETAJE - says Mr. Haki Demolli, Director of the Kosovo Law Centre - DETAILS Interviewer: Edita Buçaj the reforms have already been and secure a better working applied and now the model place, and some of them, upon Details: Being an independent of studies in the Law Faculty their return have been and body from the OSCE and with is in line with the “Bologna are directly involved in imple- DETALJI a local director, what are the scheme.” In addition, during menting different KLC proj- challenges that the Kosovo ects. Rruga Beogradi 32 38000 Pristina the academic year 2003/2004, Tel.