Pristina, 13 August 1999 (RFE/RL) - The United Nations today
announced new regulations for Kosovo to stop ethnic violence and reduce tensions between Albanians and peacekeepers in the province. The regulations, issued by chief UN administrator Bernard Kouchner,
allow peacekeepers and international police to detain or expel those who threaten public order in the region. Suspected troublemakers may be held for up to 12 hours and in extreme circumstances such people may be removed beyond Kosovo's borders. The annoucement comes one day after a Russian peacekeeper was shot in the shoulder in the town of
Gnjilane.
Albanian moderate leader Ibrahim Rugova today assured the
international community that his party, the Democratic League of Kosovo, would work with the United Nations as well as with Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK) leader Hashim Thaci.
Rugova also urged the international community to take a more active role in the creation of an international police force in order to rein in the UCK. Thaci today said the UCK will eventually be split into a political party, a police force, and a military defense force.
Both Thaci and Rugova are scheduled to meet Albanian Prime Minister Pandeli Majko who arrived in Kosovo today. Majko will also ask an ethnic Albanian family to allow their daughter to marry Majko's 25-year-old brother, who met the girl in a refugee camp in Albania.
Rugova also urged the international community to take a more active role in the creation of an international police force in order to rein in the UCK. Thaci today said the UCK will eventually be split into a political party, a police force, and a military defense force.
Both Thaci and Rugova are scheduled to meet Albanian Prime Minister Pandeli Majko who arrived in Kosovo today. Majko will also ask an ethnic Albanian family to allow their daughter to marry Majko's 25-year-old brother, who met the girl in a refugee camp in Albania.