UNMIK/PR/1564
PRISTINA – Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Kosovo (SRSG) Søren Jessen-Petersen, on the request of Prime Minister Agim Çeku, today decided to assign the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC) a major role in completing the reconstruction work in Svinjarë/Svinjare and in utilizing the KPC’s humanitarian and public services to help resolve other pending claims relating to the March 2004 Reconstruction throughout Kosovo.
“I have decided to engage the KPC in assisting the implementation of these priority standards,” the SRSG said, “Completing the reconstruction from March 2004 and settling all pending claims in this respect are key responsibilities that confront the PISG today. I congratulate the Prime Minister on his commitment to this task. KPC will have our whole hearted support in the fulfilment of this humanitarian endeavour.”
In this new assignment, the KPC will assist in planning, organizing and finishing the reconstruction and repair needs in Svinjarë/Svinjare, including both primary and secondary buildings, that relate to the 2004 March events and which are recorded by UNMIK or the Provisional Institutions of Self Government (PISG).
A number of beneficiaries have filed complaints with UNMIK regarding the quality of work for primary structures as well as claims related to damaged property not included in the Reconstruction Program or regarding non-receipt of start-up assistance. Relying on findings and recommendations of UNMIK and UNDP in the investigations of all claims, the KPC will assist in assessments and corrective construction.
A Task Force including the Office of the Prime Minister, UNMIK, UNDP and Office of the KPC Coordinator will provide KPC with guidance on technical specifications, procurement, site management and quality control.
“There are few other agencies that could better respond to the challenges involved than the KPC,” the SRSG said, “Having seen the KPC perform over the past two years, particularly its work for the minorities and returnees that has been so widely appreciated, I have no doubt that the Corps will once again deliver on this important public responsibility.”
A core mandate of the KPC is to ‘contribute to rebuilding infrastructure and communities’ and one of its Priority Standards is to ‘solicit support from the Kosovo Serb and other ethnic minority communities through implementation of minority infrastructure projects’. The KPC has implemented reconstruction and humanitarian projects for all communities throughout Kosovo. Such projects have included rubble-clearing, road-building, constructing fire-stations, delivering medical assistance, snow-clearing, and monitoring reconstructed properties until returnees have been ready to move in.