BONNSTIL - AN AMERICAN OASIS IN KOSOVO
AIM Pristina, November 30, 1999
The Americans are building a large military base with an enormous airport. For weeks and months now, Kosovo and partly the world, have been abuzz with rumours about civil-engineering works that have started in mid this summer at a plateau in the south-eastern part of Kosovo. This location is near the village of Sojevo, some 3-4 kilometres from Urosevac on the road to Gnjilane. Among these speculations the most frequently mentioned was a story about the construction of a mammoth-size military airport which, if necessary, could even replace the one in Aviano, Italy. The story that went around was that the interest of the West and NATO was shifting further to the East, former satellite countries and territories of former Soviet Union, towards Near and Middle East. In the public eye such speculations seem and sound very intriguing and evoke associations.
But they yet have to be confirmed. The only thing one can see there is this huge muddy building site where people are working and building round the clock. Currently, they are working on a 4.5 km long and 4 km wide strip. However, according to official data, the entire facility, or camp Bonnstil as the Americans call it, should cover the area of 755 acres, i.e. over 305 hectares.
Only experts can evaluate the military importance of this area, i.e. what this American military camp can mean for Kosovo and this part of the Balkans. Even laymen could tell you that no one invests so much money in a facility to be used only by some 5 thousand American soldiers and the American control sector in Kosovo, as the Americans claim to be the case. At this moment, the view from the camp itself does not lead to such a conclusion. The installed equipment and materiel mostly include military "Havis" jeeps and tents, as well as a great quantity of satellite communication equipment. Those who had a chance to visit the camp several times could tell you that people living there have no problem communicating with the States, but cannot establish contacts with Kosovo. One could see an occasional tank, but, naturally, a great number of soldiers. The guards, as well as those on watchtowers were armed.
According to what we could see it was obvious that all stories about an airport are unfounded. There were nearly 30 military helicopters on the heliport, including several of the "Apache" type and a number with Red Cross signs. There was enough space for an even greater number of such aircraft. Captain Patrick Sweeney, who is in charge of the press, told us that the people have probably confused the heliport with the airport and that is how the rumour about military airport started. It is all easy to see. Airplanes cannot take off from nor land here and there are no overflights in these parts. "Had there been any, everyone would have seen that we had no secrets", explained the American officer.
Most of the activities are organised under tents. Judging by their intensity and the pace of the works it could be concluded that the planned target of accommodating all soldiers in prefabricated houses, which the Americans call SEA Huts, has not been achieved yet. The plan is to put up 160 of such houses for soldiers and 26 for officers and non-commissioned officers, with all the accompanying infrastructure and facilities, including services. Green areas have also been envisaged, as well as recreational grounds, cultural centre, work-out gyms and even a small hospital for soldiers. Civilians will be allowed to use it in case of emergency or medical analyses for which the most sophisticated medical equipment is required. The construction of a large storehouse for all types of ammunition is underway and probably much more than could meet the eye.
The prison will be isolated in several tents surrounded by barbed wire. The number of inmates changes daily, told us Captain Sweeney, but they usually number some hundred inmates accused of all kinds of crimes, from grave crimes to traffic offences. He explained how judges from Pristina come here for the purpose of investigation and how they cannot wait to get rid of this kind of obligation. Nearby, also surrounded with barbed wire was a kind of dump with wreckages of some 30 tanks and other armoured carriers and heavy vehicles which once belonged to the Serbian army and police. Sweeney told us that several weeks ago, in agreement with Belgrade, these wrecks were loaded onto trucks and handed over at the North Kosovo border.
While we were leaving we had the impression that this was a huge construction site in a forming stage. Nothing looked finished. The facilities we have mentioned, as well as 24 administrative and other official premises, yet have to be built. Until now, including the costs for a small local camp in Gnjilane, over USD 300 million have been already invested. About 5 thousand locals are engaged on different tasks. Inside this base, the Americans should live as if they were in the States. Question is whether something like that is possible since, after all, this is Kosovo. Captain Sweeney told us that he comes from North Carolina, that his family lives in Chicago. Smiling he also told us that his wife is momentarily in Germany, while he is stationed in Kosovo...
AIM Pristina
Fehim REXHEPI
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