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Guides index

INCORE guide to Internet sources on Security in Divided Societies - Balkans
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Version 1/02 (May 2002)

Contents

Inclusion in this guide does not imply an endorsement by INCORE of the views expressed in any of these sources.

Prime sources (A select list drawn from the categories below)

News Sources
Institutions
Non Governmental Organisations

Prime sources

This list does not imply a recommendation of the sources or an endorsement of the views expressed in any of these sources. It is a select list drawn from the other categories in this document.

  • South Eastern Europe Regional Documentation Network (SEEDON)
    The Documentation Network/Virtual Library is an excellent resource. Searchable by country, the site has links, articles, and data ranging from official reports to statistics to media resources and internet links. The vast majority of information on this site is directly related to security matters. For example, “Political Independence and Neutrality of the Police” by Budimir Babovic [Official Documents- Police and Non-Military Security Forces] and Macedonian Army Command and Control Structure [Facts, Figures and Statistics]. Some material is only available by cite; most is linked to its home institution at the very least. The site is searchable by topic and by details.

  • Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights. “A Fragile Peace: Laying the Foundations for Justice in Kosovo.” October 1999. – Section IV Policing – Key report detailing problems of integration and corruption in the new Kosovo police force; also provides recommendations for reform.

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News Sources

  • European Security Journal
    Table of Contents and Abstracts available on-line. ESJ looks at security in general, but also contains material relevant to internal conflict. Example: “Civil-Military Cooperation In Complex Emergencies: Finding Ways To Make It Work” by Joëlle Jenny and “The Russian Security Council” by Carolina Vendil, both in Vol. 10, No. 2.

  • The International Journal of Albanian Studies
    This site contains only Vol. 1, No. 1 (1997) and Vol. 2, No. 1 (1998), select articles are available on-line. A particular article of interest, though not available on-line, is “Police Reform in Post-Communist Albania: A Failed Experience?” – Arianat Koci; Vol. 2, No. 1, Spring 1998.

  • Valasek, Tomas. “Security Forces Key to Yugoslavia’s Future as Violence Erupts.” Center for Defense Information, October 5, 2000. http://www.cdi.org/issues/Europe/serbiaforces.html


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Institutions

  • United Nations Peacekeeping Operations
    See Monitoring/Patrolling and Civilian Police (both under Introduction), and “Training and Evaluation” pages for the UN’s role in internal security reform. Reports also useful for individual cases.

    Also- Completed Missions – Completed missions in Europe, includes FRY, Croatia and Macedonia.

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Non Governmental Organisations

  • South Eastern Europe Regional Documentation Network (SEEDON)
    The Documentation Network/Virtual Library is an excellent resource. Searchable by country, the site has links, articles, and data ranging from official reports to statistics to media resources and internet links. The vast majority of information on this site is directly related to security matters. For example, “Political Independence and Neutrality of the Police” by Budimir Babovic [Official Documents- Police and Non-Military Security Forces] and Macedonian Army Command and Control Structure [Facts, Figures and Statistics]. Some material is only available by cite; most is linked to its home institution at the very least. The site is searchable by topic and by details.

  • Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe
    The Stability Pact was established to stabilize South Eastern Europe, and has produced reports of particular relevance to security reform. See Working Table III, Sub-Table II for issues specific to police reform. Reports within Working Table III, Sub-Tables I and II deal with a variety of issues that deeply divided societies must deal with in reforming security forces, such as corruption and drug trafficking.

  • Humanitarian Law Centre
    HLC reviews many aspects of the conflict in the former Yugoslavia. Articles are available in full-text on-line. Some areas of interest can be found under Civil Remedies (articles relating to compensation for security forces’ actions, punishments, accountability issues), war crimes trials; Minorities (some articles focus on abuse and use of force by security forces, abuse/harassment by police, etc.); Resistance (information on arrests/re-arrests of resistance workers, police harassment of resistance advocates, etc.); Torture; Other (reports of police inaction, security forces’ violations, failures to comply, etc.)

  • Institute for War and Peace Reporting
    While this site focuses on the media, its one of its primary areas of work is the Balkans. Crisis reports are available on-line, and many articles concerning security concerns and reforms will be of interest.
    "Partnership for Peace and New Dimensions of Albania's Security Posture" – Center for Army Lessons Learned (CALL) -[Search site for title] – Interesting perspectives on Albania’s security situation.

  • Transitions Online
    This site covers many topics related to the Balkans, including news and current events. Of particular relevance is the “Balkan Reconstruction Report.”

Kosovo

  • Kosovo Police Service- see UNMIK
    A good site to become familiar with the KPS. Diagrams the organizational cooperation involved, briefly explains recruit requirements, outlines training program, and gives statistics on each class, including a breakdown of number of Serbs, Albanians, minorities, and women.

  • UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo
    News and developments in UNMIK’s history; while not security specific, developments and reports on security are posted here along with other issues facing the transitional administration. This site is, at time of posting, listed under Current Operations- in time it may be moved to Completed Missions.

  • KFOR
    For a NATO perspective on KFOR operations, this site is useful; the Objectives/Mission page is helpful as a guide to the goals of KFOR and what actions this entailed.

  • Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights. “A Fragile Peace: Laying the Foundations for Justice in Kosovo.” October 1999. – Section IV Policing – Key report detailing problems of integration and corruption in the new Kosovo police force; also provides recommendations for reform.

  • Amnesty International
    Amnesty International has researched human rights violations in Kosovo and produced a large number of reports. A review of the reports available is useful; some reports that may be particularly useful include:
    - “Kosovo: Essential Safeguards for an Agreement- Recommendations for Security Forces” AI Index EUR70/008/1999, Date 2 Dec. 1999
    - “A Human Rights Crisis in Kosovo: Ljubenic and Poklek: Extrajudicial executions, excessive use of force and ‘disappearances’” – especially relevant are the recommendations.


Bosnia

  • UN Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina
    A required site for understanding the UN Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Statements, speeches and reports are included. News of interest- “Police down-sizing part of UNMIBH's work to create ‘A Police Force Fit for Europe’.” 27 February, 2002. News and Developments Archives available on-line.

  • UN Peacekeeping Operations- UNMIBH
    At time of posting, listed under Current Operations. In time, this site may move to Completed Operations. A good overview of the UN Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including news and developments, facts and figures, mandate, and documents.
    • - International Police Task Force, UN Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina– The IPTF site describes the goals and mission of the force in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the training practices used and reforms. The site also lists the composition, by country, of the police monitors.

      - UNMIBH IPTF Training Academy – Criteria for applicants, cadet statistics (including numbers by ethnic group and gender) and training descriptions are provided.

      - Security Council Resolution 1088 authorizing IPTF (par. 27) – www.unmibh.org/news/resolutions/1088.htm
  • SFOR (Stabilization Force) - NATO – Of particular interest is the Mission Statement, Fact Sheets, SFOR History and BiH Today.

  • OSCE Mission
    See Security Co-operation: Includes relevant documents, responsibilities, goals and objectives, and confidence-building measures to ensure state sovereignty and security. OSCE is operating in co-operation with SFOR and OHR (Office of the High Representative).

  • Office of the High Representative – Military Cell/Defence and Security Policy - – Brief overview of the OHR’s role in internal security stabilization.

  • Human Rights Watch "Beyond Restraint: Politics and the Policing Agenda of the UN IPTF"


Croatia

  • UNCIVPOL support group: UNPSG
    A useful outline of UNCIVPOL’s role in Croatia. Highlights problems and recommended reforms in the Croatian police service, such as integration and responses to ethnic incidents; provides links to relevant documents.

  • UN Mission of Observers (UNMOP)
    Including Background, Recent Developments, and Mission Profile of the Observers in Croatia.

  • UN Transitional Administration (UNTAES)
    Profile, Chronology, and Recent Developments (useful for understanding the final security aspects of UNTAES) give a general idea of this UN completed mission.

  • OSCE
    Overview and Fact Sheets contain useful information.

  • Military site
    Brief descriptions of the branches of the military and police service.

Macedonia

  • Currently, no specific site for Macedonian security forces, military or police, exist(the exception is the Ministry of Defence site provided below). However, there are several sources providing relevant material.
  • News Articles
    - “Macedonia Implements Police Plan” – November 8, 2001
    - “Police Abuse Against Albanians Continues in Macedonia” – August 22, 2001
    - “Police Violence in Macedonia”- HRW report found on www.nyu.edu/globalbeat/kosovo/HRW0498.html

  • UN Preventive Deployment Force (UNPREDEP)
    Background information includes mission objectives and the history of the first UN Preventive Deployment Force, Military Aspects, and Profile.

  • Ministry of Defence
    Interesting site; Publications include Modern Macedonian Journal (Theoretical Journal) with many articles relevant to internal security; Articles for 2000 and 2001 available full text. News dating from 1998 to present, speeches and press statements are also included. Must-see pages include Defence Law and Defence Strategy; other useful pages are the White Paper and Basic Fact Sheet. The Army has many useful links- see Military Education. Also provides links to Defense Departments and Militaries world-wide.

  • State Statistical Office
    Site under construction at time of posting.

  • OSCE
    Includes updates on affairs in Macedonia; past press releases are searchable. Noteworthy news: “Multi-ethnic police training course in former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia welcomes its first intake” (14 February 2002).

  • NATO – Operation Essential Harvest – – An overview of NATO’s Macedonian operation includes press conferences by date, press releases, speeches and chronology. Of particular interest is the Fact Sheet, notably the section on Military Measures.

  • The Macedonian Question: Reform or Rebellion? – International Crisis Group
    Report on the increase of violence by Macedonian Albanians and recommendations to integrate minorities into FRYOM. Note recommendations 1 and 8, proposing international backing of security forces and discouraging the depletion/disengagement of the Kosovo Protection Force.

  • Human Rights Watch “Macedonia: Crimes Against Civilians: Abuses by Macedonian Forces in Ljubsten. August 10-12, 2001”

  • Institute for War and Peace Reporting
    While focusing on media in societies in conflict, IWPR is also conducting a project specific to Macedonia that includes issues relevant to the security situation and steps being taken to overcome these challenges. The project is in its early stages, but contains useful information when looking at Macedonia.

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