Kosovo: USAID in the North & More on Customs

I've written here about USAID actions in north Mitrovica to win support from local Serbs, for the efforts of the ICO to create a municipality linked to Pristina instead of Belgrade, by funding projects such as a park. Contrary to the usual procedures for providing assistance, USAID did not seek to coordinate with local authorities – UNMIK or the existing municipal authorities – or with the community at large. Rather it sought a few locals that might accept its money and used some Kosovo Albanian contractors for the actual work. And in the end, who could refuse a park?

The north Mitrovica outreach on behalf of Pristina is apparently only one part of a larger three year project of some $6-7 million plus another one million euros from the Kosovo budget being provided through USAID. The money appears to be part of USAID's Initiating Positive Change (IPC) Program “to increase Kosovo Serb and other minorities’ confidence in their future through tangible results.” IPC provides aid for “infrastructure improvements,” small business and “income generation,” “greater interaction with stakeholders at all levels” and “greater interaction among communities across Kosovo.” The program is meant to support Pristina “in strengthening and maintaining a shared belief in a multi-ethnic Kosovo” and includes support for its Municipal Community Offices “outreach to minority areas.” It is aimed, in other words, at buying support from Kosovo Serbs for intergration into Kosovo institutions.

USAID apparently has put out a tender for NGOs to work in the north as part of its program. The tender – to be closed March 16 – focuses on three specific goals in the north: to increase citizen participation (presumably in Kosovo institutions), to connect the northern Serbs to those in the south and on economic development. The connections between the two Kosovo Serb communities would be meant to bring the northerners into working with the southerners within Kosovo institutions.

Mercy Corps is reportedly preparing to bid for the tender, as are perhaps others. Mercy Corps has done commendable work in Kosovo in assisting the Roma community but efforts to win support for Pristina by helping USAID spend its money in the north would seem more political than humanitarian. However, they may think of it as assisting reconciliation and the US pot of money is a big draw.

Of course, seeking political support for Pristina from the wallet rather than from the barell of a gun is a good thing. And it will be up to the northerners themselves to accept or not. That is, if they and their elected officials are given the chance to be consulted. USAID's decision to act in stealth mode in north Mitrovica raises the question.

On a different matter, and to note a correction to my previous report of KPS/EULEX action to subject the northern Serbs to Kosovo customs: It seems that so far no one has been actually forced to pay fees in south Mitrovica. Rather, importers are being stopped and their documents are being copied and a warning issued that they must register their goods at the customs terminal in south Mitrovica. In at least one case, KPS and EULEX stopped a truck and “escorted” it to the south. Meanwhile, Serbia's Minister for Kosovo, Goran Bogdanović, reportedly said during a visit to the north that EULEX has provided assurances that it has no intention of forcing the local population to pay taxes to Kosovo.  He noted that while Belgrade accepts that Kosovo is a separate customs zone under UNSCR 1244, this does not mean that “Kosovo institutions should impose their will on the residents of northern Kosovo” or that Pristina can “unilaterally collect taxes and charge customs in the north.” According to Bogdanović, customs will be on the agenda for upcoming talks.