Civil Protection causes conflicting perceptions of Serbian and Albanian communities

{image1}

Belgrade Centre for Security Policy (BCSP), Kosovar Center for Security Studies (KCSS) and Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM) held the joint regional conference “Civil Protection and Regional Emergency Management” in Prishtina on 29 April 2015. The event was a launch of the new publication written by BCSP and monitored by KCSS entitled:  “The future of Civil Protection in North Kosovo“.

At the first panel on the future of civil protection (CP) units in North Kosovo, authors of the paper, BSCP researchers Maja Bjelos and Isidora Stakic presented the findings of their research on this topic, which they conducted in Prishtina and northern Kosovo municipalities during February and March 2015. The research presented the discourse of recent months which resulted in the dissolution of this formation.

CP units, as one of the last parallel Serbian structures in Kosovo, are to be integrated into Kosovo’s institutional system in accordance with the Agreement on Civil Protection that was reached between Belgrade and Prishtina. BCSP researchers discussed the potential challenges in the implementation of the Agreement. The process is marked by a total lack of transparency by governments of Kosovo and Serbia, but also the EU institutions.

{image2}The future of a number of CP members is still unknown

The research has found that the Agreement reached reflects the commitment of the government to integrate the 483 CP members at Kosovo public institutions, but it is still not clear where and how most of them will be deployed.

While the arrangement of a small part of their fire units and the correctional service is clear, there are uncertainties associated with their integration in other public institutions.

It is not known what are the financial capacities of the Government to integrate these members. Further, there is no clarity whether these members undergo any training program with the aim to increase knowledge of legislation and policies of the Government of Kosovo.

In addition, lacking a plan for the reintegration of the remaining members (268) to civilian life or business, based on similar models in the past. The lack of a reintegration plan may have social security responses by dissatisfied groups.

The research team has provided a range of recommendations and alternatives for faster and better implementation of the Agreement on CP. One of the main recommendations for the Kosovo Government is that emergency response system in North Kosovo needs to be significantly strengthened in order to adequately meet human security needs of Serbian minority.

The Deputy of Prime Minister of Kosovo and the Minister for Dialogue Edita Tahiri joined the panel and gave the official perspective of the Kosovo Government on the issue of Civil Protection units in North Kosovo. She pointed out the willingness of Prishtina to integrate members of the former Serbian parallel institutions and stressed the importance of cooperation of Serbian side in this process.

{image3}Political situation impedes regional cooperation

At the second panel with the title “Emergency Management and Potentials for Regional Cooperation”, KCSS Researcher Sofije Kryeziu and IDM Researcher Foto Duro discussed the main achievements, gaps and challenges in the area of emergency management in Albania and Kosovo, the state of play in the emergency management cooperation between the two, as well as the potentials for broadening regional security cooperation in this area.

Kryeziu emphasized that the cooperation in the emergency management between Kosovo and Albania is good, whereas in the case of Kosovo and Serbia, although there are common interests on issues related to disaster and emergency management, the complexity of the political situation makes cooperation difficult. Duro highlighted the need to take measures to prevent major losses by increasing awareness of citizens in education institutions on how to protect themselves in case of any disaster.