UNMIK/PR/1426
PRISTINA – SRSG Søren Jessen-Petersen and KFOR Commander Lt. Gen. Giuseppe Valotto this morning co-chaired the bi-monthly meeting of the Kosovo Protection Corps Development Group (KPCDG) at UNMIK headquarters. Participants at the meeting included Prime Minister Bajram Kosumi, KPC Co-ordinator Maj. Gen. Jamie Balfour, KPC Commander Lt. Gen. Agim Çeku, representatives of the Quintet, the Dutch Liaison Office and the European Union.
All participants acknowledged the progress that the KPC has made since the last KPCDG meeting and expressed enormous appreciation for the KPC’s contribution to the political process in Kosovo. They also congratulated the KPC on its continued implementation of Standard 8 and on its expressed intention to continue implementing it into and throughout prospective status talks.
The KPCDG praised in particular the efforts by the KPC to recruit, retain and support ethnic minorities, which is a Standard 8 Priority and one of its biggest challenges. In the last 2 months, there have been significant results with an increasing number of ethnic minorities, including Kosovo Serbs, being recruited, expressing an interest in joining the KPC or requesting the KPC’s assistance in reconstruction or humanitarian projects.
The implementation of civil reconstruction and humanitarian projects throughout Kosovo for all communities was particularly commended, and participants stressed the positive impact that such projects have on reconciliation, freedom of movement and return of displaced persons. A key initiative that the KPC is currently engaged in is the Return to the Roma Mahala project. The KPC, with KFOR support, is clearing the rubble of the destroyed properties. The SRSG urged the international community and the PISG to further engage the KPC in such projects.
The meeting also recognised the further development of the KPC’s training capacity, including the establishment of the Officer Career course and the launch of the KPC’s University Scholarship scheme which are major steps forward in the KPC’s long-term professionalisation.
The KPC was also praised for a continued improvement in disciplinary trends and for the revision of the KPC Disciplinary Code which brings it into line with modern European human rights legislation and is expected to be adopted shortly.
The meeting reiterated the need for financial support from donors for mission-essential equipment, infra-structure and specialised training so that the KPC can effectively implement its mandated tasks and continue to professionalise.