KOSOVO: AT DONOR URGING, UNMIK COMMITS TO CLOSING

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PRISTINA 000594

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/SCE, EUR/ACE, DRL, PRM, SCRS, NSC FOR BRAUN,
USUN FOR DREW SCHUFLETOWSKI, USOSCE FOR STEVE STEGER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/31/2017
TAGS: PREF PGOV EAID KCRS YI KV UNMIK SENV PHUM
SUBJECT: KOSOVO: AT DONOR URGING, UNMIK COMMITS TO CLOSING
LEAD-CONTAMINATED ROMA CAMP


Classified By: COM Tina S. Kaidanow for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: UNMIK committed to closing the Cesmin Lug
Roma camp, which CDC has consistently maintained is unsafe
for human habitation. In a July 23 meeting with UN, USOP and
donor representatives, PDSRSG Schook gave the instruction
that alternative sites be found for the current Cesmin Lug
residents, and then the camp be emptied. Preferably this
would be done through an awareness campaign, but it might
require the cessation of services to the camp and -- in
extremis -- forced eviction. UNMIK's senior official for
northern Kosovo opposed closure, arguing that the Roma should
be allowed to remain in their homes and that any eviction of
Roma would lead to Albanians pressing property claims in
northern Kosovo. We said that the USOP position reflected
the CDC's report, particularly the conclusion that any
additional U.S. assistance to support the continued existence
of Cesmin Lug would be unacceptable and even immoral given
the serious health risks posed to inhabitants of the camp.
End summary.


2. (SBU) At USOP suggestion, PDSRSG Schook called a meeting
on July 23 to review issues related to displaced Roma in
northern Mitrovica. In attendance were UNMIK's Regional
Representative for Mitrovica Gerard Gallucci, director of
UNMIK's Department of Civil Administration Anil Vasisht, head
of UNMIK's local governance unit Leonid Markaryan, and UNMIK
emergency planning officer Neville Fouche. DPO, USAID
Program Officer and POL/ECON Officer represented USOP.


3. (C) After consulting with CDC, we turned over a draft
copy of its recent report on Cesmin Lug, one of the two camps
currently housing displaced Roma, and seriously contaminated
by lead. Based on CDC's findings, USOP advocated the closure
of Cesmin Lug and the relocation to the inhabitants to
Osterode, a site just across the street that CDC believes is
far safer. Fouche said that there is room in Osterode for
the inhabitants of Cesmin Lug, but noted that some 80 new
residents have moved in since space was vacated by Roma
moving to the Mahala.


4. (C) UNMIK's Regional Representative for Mitrovica Gerard
Gallucci opposed the closure of Cesmin Lug. He said that his
fear was a precedent could be set by evicting the Roma,
claiming that it could lead to Albanians demanding that the
authorities use eviction as a means of resolving property
disputes in the north. Schook said that an eviction based on
a compelling public health concern was different from similar
steps taken as a result of a property ownership suit.
Gallucci also maintained that it would be immoral to evict
Roma from their homes, adding that all of the Mitrovica area
was lead-contaminated.


5. (C) Schook noted that UNMIK's efforts would be undermined
if more Roma back-filled vacated residences in Cesmin Lug.
Fouche said it would be preferable to move the community en
masse, razing the camp immediately afterwards. Schook agreed
that that was a preferable solution. He maintained that the
UN should make an effort to prepare new space for the group
in either Osterode, the Roma Mahalla, or elsewhere. If that
is done (in consultation with the UN's Office of Legal
Affairs),he asserted, the closure of the camp should proceed
in one of three ways. The preferable option would be to
provide an alternative and thorough education, obtaining the
buy-in of the residents to depart. If that fails, the
remaining UN services to the camp should be terminated.
Gallucci insisted that he would do this only on written
instructions from the PDSRSG. Finally, although forced
eviction is not a desired means to close the camp, Schook,
asserted, it needs to remain as an option of last resort.


6. (C) USOP representatives agreed with Schook's roadmap for
closing the camp. Based on CDC's conclusion that the
provision of further aid to Cesmin Lug would pose serious
health risks to inhabitants and could even be considered
"immoral," DPO noted that USOP would oppose any new

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assistance to support the continued existence of the camp.
He added that we would also carefully examine any assistance
whose unintended consequence was the encouragement of
residents to remain in Cesmin Lug. DPO promised that USOP
would work with UNMIK's public affairs section to ensure that
the message gets out that this is above all a critical public
health issue. Like the UN, we have no desire to forcibly
evict the Roma from the camp. However, that might prove to
be the best -- and necessary -- way to address this issue
years after it should have been resolved.


8. (C) Comment: Our policy will remain to push for the
early and permanent closure of Cesmin Lug. Fouche later told
us that it could take 40 days to acheive this objective. We
will follow developments in and continue to urge UNMIK to
take resolute action. Based on UNMIK's plan forward, we will
make further assessments about the most advantageous use of
our assistance funds on behalf of the Roma community.
KAIDANOW