Arms, What to Do Without It?

AIM Pristina, May 4, 2001

The question is how much arms could the Kosovars have. It is believed that the quantity is quite significant just like in any other society in which the war has just ended. However, Kosovo and the entire region are still restless. Therefore, the demilitarisation of Kosovo aimed at clearing it of excessive weaponry is not progressing "normally" as it should in a typical post-war society. During its transformation in autumn 1999, the KLA (Kosovo Liberation Army) surrendered over 13 thousand pieces of various arms to the KFOR forces. That is negligible in comparison with the quantities that KFOR and UNMIK police had confiscated during previous two years. The citizens voluntarily handed in a very small quantity of weapons. It is assumed that much more arms are still in the possession of Kosovars than the quantity of handed in or confiscated weapons till now. There is little chance that the situation with the collection of weapons from the population will improve because even after the end of war the illegal trade in arms continued in these parts, including Kosovo.

It seems that these extraordinary development in Kosovo and around it give additional reasons for the intensification of demilitarisation measures. It is believed that they were taken into account when the UNMIK decided to introduce a programme of amnesty for the surrender of unlicensed arms. According to the Decree 2001/7 which is already in force, all those who are in possession of unlicensed arms may be punished up to 10 years in prison of fined up to DM 20 thousand. Wanting to facilitate the demilitarisation, the control of crime and to create the safest possible environment for the population the amnesty programme, which was launched as of May 1 envisages the postponement of the implementation of the Decree for June 12, when all those who are in possession of unlicensed arms can hand them in without any legal consequences. On that occasion no information will be asked about the origin of arms, nor the person handing them in. The surrender of arms will be organised at special points in all five regional police centres. Mobile police units will be also organised on the ground for these purposes.

It has been specified that automatic guns, machine-guns, revolvers, grenades and all other sorts of arms must be surrendered, including all types of ammunition. The only exception are hunting and recreation weapons.

It is generally thought that such an amnesty programme should be supported because it is in direct interest of both the population and Kosovo at large. Nevertheless, it seems that neither internal nor external circumstances allow a "normal" pace of the control of arms in the hands of the Kosovo population. There are many factors which are hampering the demilitarisation process. It is not only the question of the Albanian and Balkan customs to have at least one piece of arms in their homes, nor of the fact that until now the people have voluntarily surrendered a negligible quantity or arms, but rather of a number of topical factors which keep the militarism alive and thus frustrate all efforts and results of the authorities at collecting arms from the citizens.

It is common knowledge that the Balkan peoples have waged many wars and that even after horrible conflicts from the previous decade they did not succeed in regulating their mutual relations. Moreover, the South of the Balkans marked the turn of the century with a series of armed conflicts (Macedonia), true, of restricted character, but threatening to spread to the entire region. The official Skoplje is accusing Kosovo of no less than aggression, being on the other hand the largest arms buyer in the region. Despite the cease-fire and talks, it seems that there is no chance for accelerated demilitarisation of the Valley of Presevo. According to local analysts, as far as arms possession and distribution is concerned, the Serbian factor is still a major source of the militarisation of the region.

In the last couple of years the greatest militarisation in the region was that in Kosovo (the Serbs and then the Albanians). It can be assumed that Kosovo has remained a region whose inhabitants are still very motivated to possess arms. Apart from the inherited mentality, a significant motive for arms flow is great internal insecurity, organised cri e and great concern of both the Albanians and Serbs alike over the future of Kosovo. After great initial optimism which was felt after the arrival of the KFOR forces, the Albanians have become convinced that their freedom is not guaranteed yet and that all problems that have caused the war have not been resolved. They see their freedom in Kosovo's independence, while the Serbs connect it with the return of Kosovo under Serbia's rule.

This is why Kosovo is still an interesting region for illegal arms trade. It goes without saying that arm dealers outside the region take advantage of this fact so that is another factor of militarisation. When arms possession and trade in Kosovo and among the Albanians is mentioned, it is usually implied that they come from Albania. The arms that KFOR and UNMIK have collected and confiscated show that suppliers are all arms producing countries of the region, which want to make profits or have a surplus of arms they no longer need. Many other arms producers, both from the Balkans and beyond, are equally present here. >From this point of view, the Southern Balkans can serve as the most representative world exhibition of classical arms that the producers have stopped manufacturing long ago.

AIM Pristina

Fehim REXHEPI