H. Res. 451

In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

October 10, 2000.

Whereas on June 10, 1999, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) military air operation in the former

Yugoslavia victoriously concluded with the withdrawal of

all Serbian police, paramilitary, and military forces from

Kosova;

Whereas after the NATO victory, the international community mobilized assistance that helped feed and house

more than 1,000,000 Kosova refugees before the first

post-war winter;

Whereas nearly 1,000,000 refugees and hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons attempted to return

to their homes in Kosova in the belief that a peaceful,

stable, and just society would be created through their

diligent efforts, supported by the international community;

Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244

(June 10, 1999) established the United Nations Mission

in Kosovo (UNMIK) as the sole administration of the

province until such time as its political status is decided;

Whereas some 2,000 citizens were illegally detained and kidnapped to Serbia by Serbian forces as they withdrew
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from Kosova in violation of the Geneva Conventions and

international humanitarian law;

Whereas an additional 5,000 Kosova citizens are believed to

be detained in Serbian prisons;

Whereas the international mission in Kosova successfully negotiated an agreement with the Kosovo Liberation Army

(KLA) to disband and publicly hand over its weapons;

Whereas hundreds of Kosova Albanian citizens have been prevented from returning to their homes in the divided city

of Mitrovice by Serb Kosova citizens who are believed to

be assisted by Serb paramilitaries who have illegally reentered Kosova;

Whereas although the initiation of the recent operation between the NATO-led peacekeeping force in Kosova

(KFOR) and UNMIK to confirm international authority

throughout northern Kosova is welcomed, KFOR and

UNMIK must fully implement their plan and take appropriate action to ensure that all residents are able to return to their homes;

Whereas the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) have set the

date for local municipal elections in Kosova for October

28, 2000;

Whereas the assertion of authority over the Trepca mining

complex by UNMIK is welcomed and an assessment of

its environmental hazards and financial viability should

proceed as quickly as possible in order to maximize employment for Kosovar citizens;

Whereas although daily life in Kosova in the summer of 2000

is significantly improved in comparison to the violence,

devastation, and chaos that plagued the region during
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armed conflict in 1999, more must be done to develop a

self-sustaining economy that discourages the rise of

criminal elements;

Whereas, in view of the disproportionate share of the military

costs borne by the United States during the NATO operation, the European Union has agreed that it will undertake the major share of the costs for economic reconstruction in Kosova;

Whereas the European Commission and the World Bank

have estimated the costs for the reconstruction of Kosova

over the next 4 to 5 years at $2,300,000,000, with nearly

half that amount available to be spent by the end of

2001; and

Whereas the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2000 (as enacted by

section 1000(a)(2) of Public Law 106–113) capped

United States pledges of assistance for Kosova at the

subsequent Kosova donors conference at 15 percent of

the total resources pledged by all donors: Now, therefore,

be it

Resolved, That—

(1) the European Union should continue to bear the

primary responsibility and costs for the economic reconstruction of Kosova, and take all necessary steps to ensure that its future budgets provide the required resources in a timely fashion;

(2) the administration of all baseline services such

as police, sanitation, water, telecommunications, and
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electrical supply should be put into the hands of the people of Kosova at the earliest possible date;

(3) the strategy for economic reconstruction in

Kosova should be focused on utilizing private investment

and empowerment of the people of Kosova to take

charge of their livelihoods;

(4) the United States Government should make it

a priority to promote noncorrupt government and business practices in Kosova by providing judicial training

and technical advice and assistance to police, border police, and customs officers;

(5) the United Nations Security Council should demand the immediate and unconditional return of all

Kosova prisoners from Serbia;

(6) the international peacekeeping force in

Mitrovice should take immediate measures to ensure

that all the residents are able to return in security to

their homes;

(7) all the citizens of Kosova should avail themselves of the opportunity to democratically express their

political preferences by participating in the elections on

October 28, 2000;

(8) the resolve of the international community to

work towards lasting peace, stability, and justice in
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Kosova will not be deterred by Slobodan Milosevic’s

provocations within the region; and

(9) all citizens of Kosova should adhere to the principles enunciated by community leaders at the Airlie

House declaration of July 23, 2000, where all parties

agreed to a rigorous Campaign Against Violence, representation of all citizens in municipal councils, surrendering of illegal weapons, a commitment to counter

Slobodan Milosevic’s influence in Kosova, and to dissolve

any other illegitimate governing and security structures.

Attest:

Clerk.