UN mission to launch new weapons amnesty in Kosovo

The United Nations mission in Kosovo is set to launch a month-long weapons amnesty in September, its third such effort to take out of circulation “the huge quantity of unauthorized weapons” left in the wake of the fighting between ethnic Albanians and Serbs.

The executive decision, signed in the Kosovo capital of Pristina today by Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s Deputy Special Representative for Police and Justice, Jean-Christian Cady, will allow Kosovans to surrender all weapons without fear of prosecution. Persons found in possession of illegal weapons after the amnesty deadline will be liable to prosecution and imprisonment of up to eight years or a fine of up to €7,500 (euros).

“This weapons amnesty programme is part of our continued efforts at taking out of circulation the huge quantity of unauthorized weapons in Kosovo,” Mr. Cady said. “The danger of having illegal weapons at homes is their potential for converting an ordinary domestic or neighbourhood dispute into a tragic saga of violence and death.”

The UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and the international security force (KFOR) will designate at least one stationary weapons collection point in each of the five regions in Kosovo. There will also be mobile weapons collection units that travel to specific locations.

The last such amnesty took place in March 2002.