Statement by Polish Delegation

Poland for Kosovo

Since the end of the Kosovo conflict in June 1999, Poland has deepened its engagement in the international community's efforts to bring peace, democratic stability and the rule of law in the Balkans.

In Kosovo, one of our primary contribution has become the presence of a military contingent in the peacekeeping operation KFOR and the participation of policemen in the police forces within UNMiK. Nowadays we have in the province:

• 600 soldiers of POLUKRBAT (KFOR);

• 10 police experts and a special police unit of 115 policemen (UNMiK).

Military and police presence forms part of a wider international engagement in conflict prevention, crisis management and post conflict reconstruction of Kosovo. Another example of our commitment to democracy and human rights in Kosovo is

• the activity of the Ombudsman in Kosovo, Mr Marek A. Nowicki from Poland.

Recognizing the importance of the Ombudsman's mission, Poland grants financial assistance for the work of his Office.

We believe that the experience gained by Poland after 1989 in regard to political and economic transformation can offer useful guidelines to South-East Europe, including Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Kosovo.

In recent years, Polish non-governmental organizations participated in the assistance projects for the Balkan region, especially in the fields of developing democratic institutions, the promotion of good governance and laying down solid foundations to build a civic society. These projects included:

• training of the representatives of local communities in Kacanik and Strpce (within this project a centre for local activity has been set up in Kacanik, various courses were organised: computer and Internet skills, English, needlwork);

• reconstruction and extension of the medical centre in Drajkovce;

• organization of a medical unit in Rastavica and training for local medical staff;

• training for young leaders on local government reform;

• workshops for local journalists;

• providing volunteer support to reconstruction and development activities in Kosovo within the framework of UNDP programmes.

A number of new projects of non-governmental organizations, co-financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland, are under preparation, among them:

• training for 25 women - leaders of non-governmental organizations from Kosovo.

Moreover, thanks to financial assistance from international donors

• several dozens of children from Kosovo will soon undergo heart-surgery operations in Polish hospitals.