-Caveat Lector-
"The UN's view of the KLA is at odds with that of US secretary Mme
Albright."
UN Threatens KLA Mayors With Removal
By EDITH M. LEDERER
.c The Associated Press
UNITED NATIONS (AP) - Kosovo Liberation Army fighters who have taken charge
of towns and cities will be removed from power unless they are committed to a
democratic, multiethnic society, the former top U.N. administrator in Kosovo
said Friday.
U.N. Undersecretary-General Sergio Vieira de Mello said the fact that members
of the KLA moved in to fill a power vacuum in Kosovo after NATO troops
occupied the province seven weeks ago shouldn't be viewed ``as a purely
negative development.''
His view of the KLA is somewhat at odds with that of U.S. Secretary of State
Madeleine Albright. During a visit to Kosovo on Thursday, she expressed the
administration's concern that the KLA is basically filling the power vacuum
in the southern Serb province, according to U.S. officials.
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan sent Vieira de Mello to take charge of the
initial U.N. civilian operation in Kosovo. He left Pristina just over a week
ago, following Annan's appointment of Bernard Kouchner as his top
representative in Kosovo, and has returned to his post as U.N. humanitarian
chief.
Vieira de Mello stressed that the purpose of the U.N. deployment in Kosovo is
to promote self-government and autonomy, which will require people who are
not only competent but committed to an inclusive, democratic, multiethnic way
of life.
``We will have to determine on a case-by-case basis who are these
self-appointed mayors, whether indeed they have been appointed by the KLA,
and how exactly they are performing their functions,'' he told a news
conference.
``If we reach the conclusion that they are indeed running the affairs of
municipalities in accordance to what we think are inclusive, and democratic
principles, they will be co-opted,'' he said. But they will have to work
under strict U.N. supervision.
What happens if U.N. officials determine these self-appointed mayors aren't
doing a good job?
``You sack them - absolutely,'' Vieira de Mello said.
Do you use force if necessary?
``Absolutely. And you may rest assured that Bernard Kouchner will not
hesitate one second in doing that.''
The KLA has signed an undertaking with the NATO-led Kosovo Force known as
KFOR to demilitarize and transform itself - a pledge U.N. officials are
watching carefully.
``The test will be in the coming weeks whether the KLA indeed converts
itself, metamorphoses itself, into a political party that will function on
the basis of democratic principles,'' Vieira de Mello said.
He said the KLA is possibly the main player in Kosovo, but there are other
ethnic Albanian political forces that the United Nations is trying to
encourage to play a role - especially Ibrahim Rugova who returned from exile
for the second time on Friday.
The Kosovo Transitional Council, which will be the province's supreme
political body, ``cannot function properly without him,'' Vieira de Mello
said.
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