Page:Report on the Elections of the Kosovo Assembly 23 October 2004 Cgbur 11 74 E public.pdf/5

 i. Much of the usual work of a Congress delegation, in observing an election, e. g. discussions with political representatives and electoral bodies had thus been done earlier by the main Council of Europe mission, which also helped to organise the on the spot arrangements for the Congress delegation, such as cars, drivers, interpretation, accommodation, itinerary advice, security and logistic support.

j. Following its arrival in Pristina, the delegation was briefed by the Core Team and relevant LTOs and deployed to different parts of Kosovo as follows:–

Pristina–Günther KRUG and Richard HARTLEY

Prizren–Mohammad NAZIR and Christine BELENESI

Peja–Wim VAN GELDER and Gellert SZABO

Mitrovica–Louis ROPPE and Alan CHENARD

Gjilane–John BIGGS and Joseph BORG

Upon arrival members of each team had the opportunity to take part in meetings with representatives of political entities and local electoral bodies, organised by respective LTOs.

2. POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT AND BACKGROUND

a. Major disturbances 17-18 March and the aftermath

Following the major disturbances of mid-March of this year, (which left 20 dead, more than 950 injured, more than 4 100 persons displaced, an estimated total of 935 houses, apartments and public buildings–including a number of churches, deliberately damaged or destroyed) the security situation throughout Kosovo was gradually improving before the elections.

Some progress to repair the material damages has been achieved. A sum of 4.5 million Euros had been earmarked for reconstruction.

However, as the UN Secretary General noted in his report of 30 July 2004 to the UN Security Council, in relation to the March riots, “The already limited trust between communities was gravely shaken” and many of the root causes, which gave rise to the March events, were largely still present.

b. The economic and social background

There is evident discontent with the socio-economic situation, which affects all communities living in Kosovo. Unemployment is high and growing (60% to 70% according to recent estimates); the prospects for economic development are limited, with little inward investment. The process of the privatisation of property has been ruptured on several occasions.

Inevitably, this situation generates widespread frustration, a potential source of instability.