UNMIK/PR/1666
Today at the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC) Barracks in Llukar/Lukare, UNMIK’s Office of the KPC Coordinator (OKPCC) and the KPC marked UN International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, organized by OKPCC’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Management Section, with presentations, a static display of KPC demining equipment and mine risk education materials, and a practical display of mine clearance activities before invited guests and representatives of the media.
The new KPC Coordinator, Maj.-Gen. Matthew Sykes, and the KPC Commander, Lieut.-Gen. Sylejman Selimi, gave presentations on the successful and courageous work of the KPC deminers in making Kosovo a safer place for everyone, future plans, and on the need to remain vigilant regarding mine risk and supportive of mine action efforts.
Gen. Sykes, who has been the KPC Coordinator for a little over a week, took the opportunity to say how excited and enthusiastic he is to be given this honour at such an historic moment for Kosovo and the KPC and to confirm his intention to do all that he can to assist the KPC in what is likely to be a very challenging year. “I am certain the KPC will be able to meet the challenges ahead, with the necessary support of the Kosovo authorities and of the International Community,” Gen. Sykes said. He also said that he has been impressed by what he has seen of the KPC thus far and, in particular, the invaluable civil emergency capabilities the KPC has developed for all the people of Kosovo. “Today we are drawing attention to one very important aspect of the KPC’s capability, demining; a capability that will certainly be required in Kosovo’s new Security Force in the future,” he said.
The purpose of the site visit was to highlight the continued threat that exists globally and in Kosovo from mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO). The persistent nature of that threat was unfortunately illustrated at this location on Monday when a device exploded during a clearance operation by the KPC, injuring Sgt. Flamur Lashari, who is thankfully expected to make a full recovery. Significant progress has been made since the end of the conflict in 1999 by the KPC, with support from KFOR and international NGOs, to clear Kosovo of mines and UXO. Vital work has also been done in the field of public information and mine risk education to reduce the risks to everyone in Kosovo. Nonetheless, more work is required and the plan for the OKPCC is to continue to build the capacity of the KPC further so that it will be in a position to take on full responsibility for mine action by the end of this year.
Since June 2006 the EOD Management Section in the OKPCC has been successfully operated and entirely staffed by Kosovans. Last year both the UN Mine Action Service and the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining conducted independent assessments of the situation in Kosovo and each concluded that there is sufficient capability within KPC and the OKPCC EOD Management Section to become fully responsible for all mine and UXO clearance by 2007.
General Sykes thanked those who have supported Mine Action in Kosovo, including the US, the UK, the Netherlands and the European Commission and requested continued support ‘to enable the KPC to continue their excellent work’.
General Selimi highlighted the work and capacity of the KPC deminers and thanked them for their vital work and for the support of others to facilitate such work.
