Written question asked by Lord Hylton (Crossbench), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Triesman (Labour) on Wednesday, 22 March 2006.

Kosovo

Question: How much progress has been made in developing civilian control over police, prison services and the Kosovo Protection Corps; and whether the United Nations Mission in Kosovo has now established effective Ministries of the Interior and of Justice.

Answer: The United Nations interim administration mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) has transferred all 33 Kosovo police stations and five out of six regional stations to Kosovo Police Service (KPS) control. Detention centres have been handed over to the Kosovo Correctional Service and two prisons have also been transferred to Kosovar management. The Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC) is a civilian emergency organisation tasked with providing humanitarian assistance to all communities of Kosovo. On 24 January 2006, UNMIK passed a regulation allowing the KPC to expand its humanitarian role in Kosovo and to professionalise and modernise through approved educational courses.In December 2005, UNMIK passed a regulation establishing new Ministries of Justice and the Interior. Ministers have now been appointed. The next stage is to give these Ministers legal, technical, financial and administrative responsibilities in relation to police and justice.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 4638; 680 c58WA
Session: 2005-06
Subjects: Administration of justice Humanitarian aid Police Prisons Peacekeeping operations Politics and government Kosovo Detention centres UNMIK
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk