November 17, 1999 (9:15 a.m. EST)

No. 249

NEW KOSOVO INITIATIVES UNVEILED AT

PRISTINA OFFICE OPENING

Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy and Minister for International Co-operation Maria Minna today announced $3.7 million for new initiatives in Kosovo in the areas of civil administration, reintegration of former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) combatants into society, demining, independent media, and helping to facilitate the movement of humanitarian aid.

The announcement was made as Minister Axworthy inaugurated the new Canadian Office in Pristina, which will supervise the disbursement, and ensure the effectiveness, of commitments announced today and those already ongoing in Kosovo.

An initial contribution of $2 million from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) will be made to the Kosovo Consolidated Budget, administered by the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). The major categories of expenditures in the budget are education and health, transfers for social assistance, and civil administration (including police and justice). CIDA also intends to provide UNMIK with $1 million to purchase fuel for the district heating system in Pristina. Customers include some 12 000 apartments as well as hospitals, schools and administrative buildings.

The International Organization for Migration will receive $150 000 to facilitate the reintegration of former KLA combatants into society. The contribution will support psycho-social counselling.

"As underlined recently by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the international community has a common interest in ensuring that former KLA combatants reintegrate into society as peaceful, law-abiding and productive citizens," said Mr. Axworthy. "Failure to pay attention to their special circumstances could have a destabilizing effect on an already fragile foundation for peace."

"Today's announcement will help improve the lives of Kosovar children, women and men," said Minister Minna. "We will improve the delivery of humanitarian aid and social services to make sure, for example, that people have heat throughout the winter."

In concert with steps to be taken by the Government of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), $300 000 has been committed to expanding the Blace border crossing between Kosovo and FYROM, where the majority of humanitarian and reconstruction cargo enters Kosovo. A plan has been devised to establish a special truck compound for cargo vehicles crossing into Kosovo, where they can be quickly cleared by FYROM authorities.

In response to a request made by the UN Mine Action Co-ordination Centre, the ministers also announced the extension of the work of two Canadian demining teams until December 10. The Canadian International Demining Centre and Wolf's Flat Ordnance Disposal Corp. have cleared 46 schools to date, allowing over 1000 children to safely return to classes. In addition, the International Demining Alliance of Canada has enabled many families to return to their homes. They have also cleared the routes to community wells, power stations and farm complexes.

Finally, $25 000 was committed to Koha Ditore, an independent Albanian-language newspaper in Kosovo, for the purchase of a power generator and two computers. During the recent crisis, Koha was the only paper in the region that continued to promote political, inter-ethnic and inter-religious co-operation in Kosovo without compromising its professional standards.

These projects are part of the $100 million package for Kosovar and Balkan rehabilitation, announced by the Government of Canada on November 1. The initiatives announced today will be funded by CIDA.

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For further information, media representatives may contact:

Debora Brown

Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs

(613) 995-1851

Media Relations Office

Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

(613) 995-1874

Robin Walsh

Office of the Minister for International Co-operation

(819) 953-3160

Media Relations Office

Canadian International Development Agency

(819) 953-6534