30/04/2015
Kosovar Center for Security Studies (KCSS), Belgrade Center for Security Policy (BCSP), and Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM) have held the joint regional conference "Security Research Forum: Prishtina – Belgrade - Tirana.”
At the conference was launched the new publication written by BCSP and monitored by KCSS entitled: “The future of Civil Protection in North Kosovo”.
The process of dissolution of "Civil Protection" in the north, interlocks in its self a total lack of transparency by the Government of Kosovo, Government of Serbia and EU institutions.
The research presented in concise form and control support "civil defense" by the Government of Serbia and the discourse of recent months which resulted in the dissolution of this formation. However, the initial deadline show for the delay in the implementation of this agreement.
Research has identified a personnel of 751 members of formation "Civil Protection" main part of which was overcrowded during the past two years. Although, research has found that the agreement reached reflects the commitment of the Government to integrate the 483 members at Kosovo public institutions and it is still not clear where and how they will be deployed most of them.
While the arrangement of a small part of their fire units and the correctional service is clear, on the other hand there are uncertainties associated with their system 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 Republic 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 also identified that the agreement to dissolve the formation "Civil Protection" selectively affects only four municipalities in the north, while it remains unclear what will happen with about 200 other members of this formation to continue to be paid and work in central and eastern areas of Kosovo inhabited by Serbs.
The research team has provided a range of recommendations and alternatives for faster and better implementation of the agreement on "Civil Protection".
The second panel presented the preliminary findings of two research papers (IDM and KCSS) on Emergency Management and Potential Cooperation between Kosovo, Albania and Serbia. Their presentation was focused on the achievements, shortcomings and challenges in emergency management in the three states and the level of their cooperation.
Researchers from both organizations emphasized that the Disasters and Emergency Management is one of the areas that necessarily requires the establishment of partnerships between countries, in order to reduce potential disasters and manage them effectively.
Researcher from IDM, Foto Duro emphasized that Albania’s average annual losses from natural disasters count for about 2.5% of its GDP. He highlighted the need to be taken measures to prevent major losses by increasing awareness of citizens in education institutions on how to protect themselves in case of any disaster.
KCSS researcher, Sofije Kryeziu emphasized that despite numerous challenges and problems that the fire departments face, they enjoy the trust of the citizens of Kosovo. From the results of the Kosovo Security Barometer (KSB) of the years 2012, 2013 and 2014 firefighters are evaluated among the most trusted security institutions. In the past three years, the average of respondents who trust these units is about 65%.
The cooperation in the emergency management between Kosovo and Albania is good, whereas in the case of Kosovo and Serbia, although, both countries have common interests on issues related to disaster and emergency management, the complexity of the political situation makes cooperation difficult. She emphasized that the cooperation in the area of disaster and emergency management will provide a mutual benefit for Albania, Kosovo and Serbia within their own territories and for their own people.
The conference was attended by numerous of participants, among them, the Minister for Dialogue in the Government of Kosovo, Mrs. Edita Tahiri, who provided a brief presentation about the dialogue, as well as representatives from Embassies, Agency for Emergency Management, representatives of civil societies, the media as well as a number of students.
KCSS publication on "Disaster Management and Emergency in Albania, Serbia and Kosovo and the potential for cooperation" will be launched soon at the KCSS website.
