ICG - DAYTON MODEL IS NOT APPLICABLE IN KOSOVO

SARAJEVO, May 18 (Hina) - The presence of the international community in Kosovo, following the completion of the ongoing military operations, should be in line with a model which would be much more effective than the one applied in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the International Crisis Group (ICG) assessed in a study published in Sarajevo on Tuesday. Analysing the possible forms of organisation of implementation and control mechanisms, which have to be established in Kosovo as a precondition for any form of peaceful solution, this reputable non- government organisation suggests that some kind of international government with all executive authorities be established in the province. This should be a government with a single leadership, a clear chain- of-command and hierarchy, the ICG said suggesting the establishment of direct protectorate, supported by strong military forces. According to the study, problems in implementing the Dayton agreement in Bosnia-Herzegovina were in most cases the result of the fact that there were separate mechanisms of implementation of its military and political part, as well as that the powers of different organisations involved in the implementation process often overlapped. Albanian refugees could face similar problems like the ones in Bosnia, where major obstacles to the return of refugees are being created by local authorities, so that in case of Kosovo all important powers in that area should be exercised by the international community. The ICG also said the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) could be the best substitute for the Serbian authorities, police and army, which have to withdraw from the province, but only on condition it proved that it was ready to embrace the standards of western democracy. The ICG study also proposes that the elections in Kosovo be postponed until favourable conditions are created in the field. (hina) rml