Declaration from Humanitarian Round Table regarding Kosovar and Egyptian communities

Declaration from Humanitarian Round Table
Pristina, 12 April 2000

All participants agree that Kosovar Roma, Ashkalija and Egyptian communities want and should remain in Kosovo as an integral part of Kosovo society and institutions.

The Kosovar Albanian leadership welcomes the Kosovar Roma, Ashkalija and Egyptian communities as part of the new Kosovo. It is of the utmost importance to create necessary conditions to allow the Kosovar Roma, Ashkalija and Egyptian to live in peace in Kosovo and to enable the return of all Kosovar Roma, Ashkalija and Egyptian refugees and displaced persons.

All participants denounce crimes against humanity that were committed during the war in Kosovo and agree that the individual members of these communities who committed crimes during the war should be held legally responsible and properly punished but that whole communities should not be held collectively responsible for the crimes of these individuals.

The participants condemn all acts of violence and harassment as they only further divide communities in Kosovo and delay the real beginning of the healing process.

The Kosovar Roma, Ashkalija and Egyptian leadership will work with and support the Kosovar Albanian leadership in rebuilding a united Kosovo, where all communities can safely and freely reside and are appropriately represented.

The Kosovar Albanian leadership agrees to work hand-in-hand with these communities so they may equally benefit from education, health and social services in Kosovo and from humanitarian assistance where needed. Towards this purpose, it has been agreed that the Kosovar Albanian leadership will visit some of the Kosovar Roma, Ashkalija and Egyptian communities as soon as possible to understand better some of their needs.

All participants agree to continue this humanitarian dialogue, facilitated by UNHCR and UNMIK, on a regular basis, as well as supporting local initiatives to help achieve these goals at the community level.

All participants of the Round Table have agreed to draft a platform for joint action to solve the problems of the Kosovar Roma, Ashkalija and Egyptian, which would be offered to the JIAC for approval.