KOSOVO Background In 1998, a small-scale ethnic Albanian insurgency in the formerly autonomous Serbian province of Kosovo provoked a Serbian counterinsurgency campaign that resulted in massacres and massive expulsions of ethnic Albanians living in Kosovo by Yugoslavian forces and Serb paramilitaries. The Milosevic government's rejection of a proposed international settlement led to NATO's bombing of Serbia in the spring of 1999 and to the eventual withdrawal of Serbian military and police forces from Kosovo in June 1999. UNSC Resolution 1244 in June 1999 authorized the stationing of a NATO-led force (KFOR) in Kosovo to provide a safe and secure environment for the region's ethnic communities, created a UN Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) to foster self-governing institutions, and reserved the issue of Kosovo's final status for an unspecified date in the future. In 2001, UNMIK promulgated a constitutional framework that allowed Kosovo to establish institutions of self-government and led to Kosovo's first parliamentary election. -- From the CIA World Factbook Kosovo has one of the most under-developed economies in Europe, with a per capita income estimated at €1,565 [$2035] (2004). Despite substantial development subsidies from all Yugoslav republics, Kosovo was the poorest province of Yugoslavia. Additionally, over the course of the 1990s a blend of poor economic policies, international sanctions, poor external commerce and ethnic conflict severely damaged the economy. Kosovo's economy remains weak. After a jump in 2000 and 2001 GDP growth was negative in 2002 and 2003 and is expected to be around 3 percent 2004-2005, with domestic sources of growth unable to compensate for the declining foreign assistance. Inflation is low, while the budget posted a deficit for the first time in 2004. Kosovo has high external deficits. -- From Wikipedia Currently Kosovo is under the control of the United Nations. This is primarily a peace keeping force in place to ensure domestic peace until there can be a resolution to the question as to their whether they will be granted independence from Serbia. This prolonged situation has resulted in high unemployment and frustration for many people. Needs We have been working with a local pediatric doctor in the city of Prizren to assist us in developing a long range plan for future projects in Kosovo, and to build a new pediatric clinic. Many of the familes this physician works with have lost their men in the war. Our focus will be in assisting the local government to rebuild within communities the infrastructure and services which was destroyed. Belarus Ghana Kosovo Myanmar Vietnam