Demilitarization Statement (Konculj Agreement)

Country/entity
Serbia
Yugoslavia (former)
Presevo Valley
Region
Europe and Eurasia
Agreement name
Demilitarization Statement (Konculj Agreement)
Date
20 May 2001
Agreement status
Unilateral document
Interim arrangement
Yes
Agreement/conflict level
Intrastate/intrastate conflict
Stage
Ceasefire/related
Conflict nature
Government/territory
Peace process
Presevo Valley process
Parties
For the Liberation Army of Presevo, Medveda and Bujanovac, Shefqet Musliu, Commander
Third parties
Witnessed, Shawn F. Sullivan, NATO Head of Office in the FRY
Description
This agreement provides for the full demilitarization, demobilization and disarmament of the the Liberation Army of Presevo, Medveda and Bujanovac (UCPMB). It also calls for integration of ethnic Albanians into governmental, civic, economic and police structures, and support from the international community to implement the so-called Covic Plan. NATO representative Shawn F. Sullivan witnessed the agreement as a broker of the talks in absence of direct communication between the UCPMB and the FRY government.


Groups

Children/youth

No specific mention.

Disabled persons

No specific mention.

Elderly/age

No specific mention.

Migrant workers

No specific mention.

Racial/ethnic/national group
Groups→Racial/ethnic/national group→Rhetorical
Page 1,
...Maintaining that the ethnic Albanian residents of Presevo, Medveda and Bujanovac municipalities have endured years of discrimination and persecution from previous Governments of Serbia and the FRY, Reconfirming that the reasons why we were forced to take up arms included our maltreatment by previous Yugoslav authorities, our removal from government institutions and marginalization from daily civilian life in the municipalities of Presevo, Medveda and Bujanovac, and the denial of our basic human rights including cultural, national, social, political and economic rights, Calling upon the Serbian and FRY Governments to correct the policies of the Milosevic regime and integrate ethnic Albanians and all ethnic minorities into governmental, civic and economic structures...

Page 1,
...Highlighting the importance of maintaining the linkage between ethnic Albanian families and friends living in Kosova and the municipalities of Presevo, Medveda and Bujanovac and the need to maintain cross boundary freedom of movement for all individuals, Asking that the Serbian Joint Security Forces treat ethnic Albanians with dignity and respect and refrain from taking homes and personal property...

Page 1,
...Acknowledging that the Liberation Army of Presevo, Medveda and Bujanovac has succeeded in drawing international attention to the plight of ethnic Albanians in the municipalities of Presevo, Medveda and Bujanovac and that the time has come to lay down our weapons and seek change through political means...

Page 1,
...Seeks to fight for the rights of ethnic Albanians through the political process and with the assistance of the international community and representatives of the new Serbian and FRY governments...

Page 1-2,
Calls upon the international community and the Serbian and FRY Governments to keep its commitments to the ethnic Albanian community in the municipalities of Presevo, Medveda and Bujanovac, as detailed in the Serbian Program for the Solution of the Crisis in Southern Serbia and as outlined in statements made by OSCE, NATO, EU, UNHCR and the rest of the international community, to facilitate our integration into civil life...

Page 1,
...Seeks the establishment of a truly multi-ethnic police force to guarantee the safety of ethnic Albanians...
Religious groups

No specific mention.

Indigenous people

No specific mention.

Other groups

No specific mention.

Refugees/displaced persons

No specific mention.

Social class

No specific mention.


Gender

Women, girls and gender

No specific mention.

Men and boys

No specific mention.

LGBTI

No specific mention.

Family

No specific mention.


State definition

Nature of state (general)

No specific mention.

State configuration

No specific mention.

Self determination

No specific mention.

Referendum

No specific mention.

State symbols

No specific mention.

Independence/secession

No specific mention.

Accession/unification

No specific mention.

Border delimitation

No specific mention.

Cross-border provision
Page 1,
...Highlighting the importance of maintaining the linkage between ethnic Albanian families and friends living in Kosova and the municipalities of Presevo, Medveda and Bujanovac and the need to maintain cross boundary freedom of movement for all individuals...

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed)

No specific mention.

Elections

No specific mention.

Electoral commission

No specific mention.

Political parties reform

No specific mention.

Civil society
Page 1-2,
...Calls upon the international community and the Serbian and FRY Governments to keep its commitments to the ethnic Albanian community in the municipalities of Presevo, Medveda and Bujanovac, as detailed in the Serbian Program for the Solution of the Crisis in Southern Serbia and as outlined in statements made by OSCE, NATO, EU, UNHCR and the rest of the international community, to facilitate our integration into civil life...
Traditional/religious leaders

No specific mention.

Public administration

No specific mention.

Constitution

No specific mention.


Power sharing

Political power sharing

No specific mention.

Territorial power sharing

No specific mention.

Economic power sharing

No specific mention.

Military power sharing

No specific mention.


Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general
Page 1,
...Reconfirming that the reasons why we were forced to take up arms included our maltreatment by previous Yugoslav authorities, our removal from government institutions and marginalization from daily civilian life in the municipalities of Presevo, Medveda and Bujanovac, and the denial of our basic human rights including cultural, national, social, political and economic rights...
Bill of rights/similar

No specific mention.

Treaty incorporation

No specific mention.

Civil and political rights

No specific mention.

Socio-economic rights

No specific mention.


Rights related issues

Citizenship

No specific mention.

Democracy

No specific mention.

Detention procedures

No specific mention.

Media and communication

No specific mention.

Mobility/access
Page 1,
...Highlighting the importance of maintaining the linkage between ethnic Albanian families and friends living in Kosova and the municipalities of Presevo, Medveda and Bujanovac and the need to maintain cross boundary freedom of movement for all individuals...
Protection measures

No specific mention.

Other

No specific mention.


Rights institutions

NHRI

No specific mention.

Regional or international human rights institutions

No specific mention.


Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law

No specific mention.

State of emergency provisions

No specific mention.

Judiciary and courts

No specific mention.

Prisons and detention

No specific mention.

Traditional Laws

No specific mention.


Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction

No specific mention.

National economic plan

No specific mention.

Natural resources

No specific mention.

International funds

No specific mention.

Business

No specific mention.

Taxation

No specific mention.

Banks

No specific mention.


Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights

No specific mention.

Pastoralist/nomadism rights

No specific mention.

Cultural heritage

No specific mention.

Environment

No specific mention.

Water or riparian rights or access

No specific mention.


Security sector

Security Guarantees
Page 1,
Recognizing that the current security situation and general environment in the Presevo, Medveda and Bujnovac municipalities is unstable and an obstacle to peace and stability in the region...

Page 1,
...Asking that the Serbian Joint Security Forces treat ethnic Albanians with dignity and respect and refrain from taking homes and personal property...

Page 1,
...The Liberation Army of Presevo, Medveda and Bujanovac hereby,...Guarantees a safe and peaceful entry into Sector B for the Serbian Joint Security Forces...
Ceasefire
Security sector→Ceasefire→Ceasefire provision
[Summary] The agreement is a unilateral ceasefire by Liberation Army of Presevo, Medveda and Bujanovac, which commits to demobilize.

Page 1,
...The Liberation Army of Presevo, Medveda and Bujanovac hereby, Commits itself to fully demilitarize, demobilize, disarm and disband with the assistance of the international community, according to the following timetable: Zone B South May 22, Zone B Center May 30, Zone B North is not the control of the UCPMB...
Police
Page 1,
...Seeks the establishment of a truly multi-ethnic police force to guarantee the safety of ethnic Albanians...
Armed forces

No specific mention.

DDR
Security sector→DDR→Demilitarisation provisions
Page 1,
...The Liberation Army of Presevo, Medveda and Bujanovac hereby, Commits itself to fully demilitarize, demobilize, disarm and disband with the assistance of the international community, according to the following timetable: Zone B South May 22, Zone B Center May 30, Zone B North is not the control of the UCPMB...

Page 1-2,
...Calls upon the international community and the Serbian and FRY Governments to keep its commitments to the ethnic Albanian community in the municipalities of Presevo, Medveda and Bujanovac, as detailed in the Serbian Program for the Solution of the Crisis in Southern Serbia and as outlined in statements made by OSCE, NATO, EU, UNHCR and the rest of the international community, to facilitate our integration into civil life...

Page 2,
...Requests that the Serbian and FRY governments honor its proposed amnesty program that extends to all UCPMB members who voluntarily lay down their weapons and cease their activities...

Page 2,
...Asks KFOR to make itself available to receive UCMPB weapons and uniforms for destruction at the key boundary checkpoints, Requests NATO representatives and the EUMM assist, monitor and verify our demilitarization process.
Intelligence services

No specific mention.

Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces
Page 1,
...Acknowledging that the Liberation Army of Presevo, Medveda and Bujanovac has succeeded in drawing international attention to the plight of ethnic Albanians in the municipalities of Presevo, Medveda and Bujanovac and that the time has come to lay down our weapons and seek change through political means...

Page 2,
...Requests that the Serbian and FRY governments honor its proposed amnesty program that extends to all UCPMB members who voluntarily lay down their weapons and cease their activities...

Page 2,
...Asks KFOR to make itself available to receive UCMPB weapons and uniforms for destruction at the key boundary checkpoints...
Withdrawal of foreign forces

No specific mention.

Corruption

No specific mention.

Crime/organised crime

No specific mention.

Drugs

No specific mention.

Terrorism

No specific mention.


Transitional justice

Transitional justice general
Page 1,
...Calling upon the Serbian and FRY Governments to correct the policies of the Milosevic regime and integrate ethnic Albanians and all ethnic minorities into governmental, civic and economic structures...
Amnesty/pardon
Transitional justice→Amnesty/pardon→Amnesty/pardon proper
Page 2,
...Requests that the Serbian and FRY governments honor its proposed amnesty program that extends to all UCPMB members who voluntarily lay down their weapons and cease their activities...
Courts

No specific mention.

Mechanism

No specific mention.

Prisoner release

No specific mention.

Vetting

No specific mention.

Victims

No specific mention.

Missing persons

No specific mention.

Reparations

No specific mention.

Reconciliation

No specific mention.


Implementation

UN signatory

No specific mention.

Other international signatory
Witnessed, Shawn F. Sullivan, NATO Head of Office in the FRY
Referendum for agreement

No specific mention.

International mission/force/similar

No specific mention.

Enforcement mechanism
Page 2,
...Asks KFOR to make itself available to receive UCMPB weapons and uniforms for destruction at the key boundary checkpoints, Requests NATO representatives and the EUMM assist, monitor and verify our demilitarization process.
Related cases

No specific mention.

Source
Originally obtained in hard copy, text on file with author.

DEMILITARIZATION STATEMENT

Recognizing that the current security situation and general environment in the Presevo, Medveda and Bujnovac municipalities is unstable and an obstacle to peace and stability in the region,

Maintaining that the ethnic Albanian residents of Presevo, Medveda and Bujanovac municipalities have endured years of discrimination and persecution from previous Governments of Serbia and the FRY,

Reconfirming that the reasons why we were forced to take up arms included our maltreatment by previous Yugoslav authorities, our removal from government institutions and marginalization from daily civilian life in the municipalities of Presevo, Medveda and Bujanovac, and the denial of our basic human rights including cultural, national, social, political and economic rights,

Calling upon the Serbian and FRY Governments to correct the policies of the Milosevic regime and integrate ethnic Albanians and all ethnic minorities into governmental, civic and economic structures,

Highlighting the importance of maintaining the linkage between ethnic Albanian families and friends living in Kosova and the municipalities of Presevo, Medveda and Bujanovac and the need to maintain cross boundary freedom of movement for all individuals,

Asking that the Serbian Joint Security Forces treat ethnic Albanians with dignity and respect and refrain from taking homes and personal property,

Noting the efforts if the international community, specifically Mssrs.

Pieter Feith, Shawn Sullivan and Wayne Porter, to facilitate a peaceful resolution to the crisis,

Acknowledging that the Liberation Army of Presevo, Medveda and Bujanovac has succeeded in drawing international attention to the plight of ethnic Albanians in the municipalities of Presevo, Medveda and Bujanovac and that the time has come to lay down our weapons and seek change through political means,

The Liberation Army of Presevo, Medveda and Bujanovac hereby,

Commits itself to fully demilitarize, demobilize, disarm and disband with the assistance of the international community, according to the following timetable:

Zone B South May 22, Zone B Center May 30, Zone B North is not the control of the UCPMB,

Seeks to fight for the rights of ethnic Albanians through the political process and with the assistance of the international community and representatives of the new Serbian and FRY governments,

Guarantees a safe and peaceful entry into Sector B for the Serbian Joint Security Forces,

Calls upon the international community and the Serbian and FRY Governments to keep its commitments to the ethnic Albanian community in the municipalities of Presevo, Medveda and Bujanovac, as detailed in the Serbian Program for the Solution of the Crisis in Southern Serbia and as outlined in statements made by OSCE, NATO, EU, UNHCR and the rest of the international community, to facilitate our integration into civil life,

Requests that the Serbian and FRY governments honor its proposed amnesty program that extends to all UCPMB members who voluntarily lay down their weapons and cease their activities,

Seeks the establishment of a truly multi-ethnic police force to guarantee the safety of ethnic Albanians,

Asks KFOR to make itself available to receive UCMPB weapons and uniforms for destruction at the key boundary checkpoints,

Requests NATO representatives and the EUMM assist, monitor and verify our demilitarization process.

For the Liberation Army of Presevo, Medveda and Bujanovac,

Shefqet Musliu, Commander

Koncjul, 20 May 2001

Witnessed,

Shawn F. Sullivan

NATO Head of Office in the FRY