Blic, Belgrade, Yugoslavia
October 24, 2000

According to the accusation, Daan Everts, head of the OSCE mission in
Kosovo,
on the impossibility of normal life for Serbs

Situation is unacceptable

PRISTINA - The UNHCR and OSCE mission have put together the sixth report
on the status of minority communities in Kosovo relating primarily to
security.

"I am not satisfied with its content. The situation in the field is
unacceptable. Even though there have been positive steps forward in the
past, Kosovo is at a critical moment. The elections scheduled for
October 28 and their implementation will represent the first significant
pulling back of the international community and the handing over of
numerous functions to new local organs. The newly elected organs must
create conditions for the return of expelled persons, not only advocate
the respect for rights of the remaining members of national minorities.
The end goal is the respect for human rights of all citizens," said the
head of the OSCE mission, Daan Everts, in Pristina yesterday.

He emphasized that the problems of returns and the issue of ownership,
that is, the lack of a mechanism for protection of property, were key
issue for the majority of the residents of Kosovo. At the same time, he
said that minorities, primarily Serbs, are continuing to move out of
urban centers because of attacks and murders which continue to be an
everyday reality. "If the security situation does not improve,
minorities will not be able to participate in economic and social trends
and will depend solely on humanitarian aid and consequently will soon
move out as well," reiterated Everts.

"In Pristina there are still 600 Serbs living in one area and a few
families spread out throughout the city. They have no freedom of
movement. Even though there are cases of returns, on the average, one
Serb family per week moves out. Only during the past month, 15 Serb
families moved out of the suburb of Suncani Breg," advised Everts,
adding that a large number of Serbs wants to leave Pristina and are just
waiting to sell their apartments.

N. Z.

Translated by S. Lazovic (Oct. 24, 2000)