F A Q :
Frequently Asked
Questions
Home ( Updated 29 Oct 2002 )
Asking yourself "What is a ...?" or "How do I...?" This is the place to find the answers.
- What is the UNMIK Police mandate?
- What is the strength of international police? How many countries participate?
- What are the requirements for becoming an officer?
- What is the structure of the department?
- Who pays the officer’s salary?
- How long do officers serve in Kosovo?
- What are the duties of Special Police Units?
- How did we get our nickname "Coca Cola"?
- What kind of health problems do officers face?
- What type of work schedule do UNMIK Police officers have?
- Whose side are we on?
- New Arrivals Questions
- How much money should I bring with me?
- While at the induction training center are you housed and fed?
- What items should I bring with me?
- Should I bring my own laptop computer, GPS or digital camera?
- Will I have access to the Internet and E-mail?
- Will I be able to call home?
- Will I have access to military PXs or commissaries?
- What is the weather like?
- What is the mail service like?
- How easy is to travel outside the mission area?
- How do officers spend their CTO?
- Are there banks available?
- What should I know about the country?
- How do you cope with the language barriers?
- What should I expect to pay in rent and is housing readily available?
What is the UNMIK Police mandate?
The basis for the deployment of the international police force in Kosovo is resolution # 1244 of the UN Security Council issued in 1999.The two main goals of the UNMIK police are to provide temporary law enforcement, and to develop a professional and impartial Kosovo Police Service, trained in democratic police work. During the last phase of UNMIK Police mission, all police duties should be handed over to local police ( KPS ) and international officers will support and monitor their activity.
What is the strength of international police? Haw many countries participate?
As of 9 Jun 2000 there were 3686 armed international police in Kosovo. Of these, 710 are in Pristina, 558 in Mitrovica, 246 in Pec, 388 in Prizren, and 391 in Gnjilane.UNMIK has also deployed 205 border police to perform duties along international border.
47 countries have sent their officers to serve with UNMIK police.
What are the requirements for becoming an officer?
Each country has different criteria for selecting an officer for a United Nations mission. An officer must meet those requirements. Once selected he must demonstrate a proficiency with a handgun, pass a driving test, and complete an English language test with a minimum proficiency level of 70 percent. These tests are administered by the Induction Training Center Staff of UNMIK Police.In addition to these tests, officers attend the in country training facility for one week and receive training in many areas such as mine awareness, map reading, human rights, and others.
What is the structure of the department?
The UNMIK police force is commanded by a Police Commissioner. He exercises all operational, technical and disciplinary authority over all police personnel. He reports to the Special Representative of the Secretary General.The UNMIK police is made up of three sections:
- CIVPOL - regular policing and criminal investigation
- Special Police Units
- Border PoliceThe mission area is divided into five regions. The UNMIK Police headquarters are in Pristina. There are also five regional headquarters in Pristina, Pec, Gnjilane, Prizren and Mitrovica. The regional HQ supervise police stations located in their area of responsibility. The border police is stationed at border crossings and the airport
Who pays the officer’s salary?
Officers receive an MSA (Mission Subsistence Allowance) from the United Nations. This allowance is to defray the cost of room and board and other personal items needed by the officer during his stay in the mission area. The officer receives $95.00 a day (US Currency) for the first month in the mission and $75.00 per day each month after that. MSA is paid in the German Deutsche Mark.Salary would be paid by the home country of the officer and differs widely from country to country.
How long do officers serve in Kosovo?
Officers may serve for a six, nine or twelve month period. The UN condition to employ international police is that all of them should come to the mission voluntarily. There are no obstacles in case the officer decide to finish earlier because of serious reason (ex. family problem).The home country usually dictates the length of their assignment.
What are the duties of Special Police Units?
UNMIK Special Police Units carry out public order functions, such as crowd control and area security. The special police units also provide support for UNMIK civilian police and protect UNMIK installations. As of 8 Jun 2000 there are five SPUs consisting of 601 officers from India, Jordan and Pakistan.
How did we get our nickname "Coca Cola"?
No one is quite sure exactly who coined the phrase but one look at the vehicles we drive will be your first guess. The United Nations Mission in Kosovo is supplied with Toyota 4 x 4 vehicles. These vehicles are used widely throughout the mission. The vehicles driven by civilian staff are white in color and bear UN designations on their sides. The police vehicles were painted a distinctive red and white color to make them stand out and be highly visible for everyone. Because of the color scheme used, which loosely resembles the coloring of a Coca Cola drink can, the name was born and has become part of the unique language that seems to go along with missions. Not only have the local population added this slang to their vocabulary, so also have the UNMIK Police officers. Hence the name, "Coca Cola".
What kind of health problems do officers face?
Although living conditions have greatly improved since the beginning of the mission in June of 1999, officers must still be careful when it comes to their personal health. The largest danger for officers as well as the local population continues to be water borne contaminants. Because of the often spotty nature of electrical power, water pressure fluctuates greatly, especially in the larger towns. This results in water lying stagnant in the lines or the lines being empty which allows for faster bacterial growth. Most officer use bottled water for cooking and drinking and if local water is used for these purposes, it must always be boiled before it can be considered safe.
What type of work schedule do UNMIK Police officers have?
Like police officers in many countries, UNMIK Police officers are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Currently in the Kosovo mission, officers work an 8-hour shift but are expected to work longer shifts if the mission requires it. Officers normally work 30 consecutive days and then receive 6 days of CTO (Compensatory Time Off) leave. In addition to this time off, officers accumulate 1.5 annual leave days per each calendar month. Annual leave would then amount to 18 days over a yearlong mission. Officers may combine CTO days and Leave days but can never take more than 18 consecutive days leave at any one time. Over a yearlong mission, this formula works out to approximately 9 leaves. Both leave and CTO time are considered privileges and can be denied if mission requirements dictate. If an officer must miss a scheduled workday, due to sickness etc., any days worked prior to this day are lost and the officer must start again to accumulate his 30 consecutive workdays.
Whose side are we on?
UNMIK Police officers often find themselves caught in the middle of ethnic violence. They do not have the luxury of choosing sides. They cannot pick one ethnic group above the other. They cannot choose which individual they will or will not protect. They have only one mission, to protect the rights of all citizens of Kosovo regardless of their ethnic or religious background. Because of this mandate, officers often find themselves the focal point of anger and frustration. It is a unique situation, which often leaves the officer feeling at a loss to explain or understand. In the same town, in the same village, an officer might find himself wading into a crowd to rescue a Serb from a group of angry Albanians and the next day, plunging into another angry crowd to pull an Albanian from the clutches of angry Serbs. This means that on any given day he will be hailed as a savior or a villain depending on whose eyes he is seen through. It is not the officers' duty to judge. He must deal with what is before him and if he sees violence being perpetrated against an individual, it is his sworn duty to protect that individual regardless of his own personal feelings. All officers arriving in the mission are briefed on the background history of the province. They learn that they are entering a conflict that has been going on for decades, if not centuries. They know the injustices that have been perpetrated against one ethnic group by another. With this knowledge they are able to understand the basic hatred they must deal with but this can never completely prepare them for the reality of an angry mob that can turn on them in an instant. UNMIK Police officers face this unique challenge every day in Kosovo. Hopefully, in time, the citizens will come to understand that old hatreds must end and life must move forward. Until that day comes, the officers will continue to do their job of law enforcement, with impartiality and fairness, regardless of race, religion or gender.
How much money should I bring with me?
The United Nations advances an officer $1,000 USD (United States Dollars) during their first days in the mission area. This advance is then deducted from the officer's first month MSA (Mission Subsistence Allowance) payment that is usually paid during the last week of the calendar month. Many nations also advance a portion of an officer's salary prior to their arrival in the mission area but this varies widely from nation to nation and an officer should check with his home country about this. Currently the United Nations makes payments in the German Deutsche Mark (DM), which it has adopted as the official currency for the interim administration. Currently the exchange rate is 1 USD=2.1 DM. MSA is accrued at the rate of 95 USD a day for the first month in mission and 75 USD per day thereafter. Officers may collect the entire amount of their MSA in cash or can choose a portion in cash and the rest in the form or a check or have the rest wired directly to a bank in their home country.
While at the induction training center are you housed and fed?
Officers arriving in the mission undergo approximately seven days of training at the Induction Center. Officers are presently housed in area hotels during their training period. Officers must pay for their own room and board during this time. The average cost of a room is between 40 and 60 DM a day, depending on the number of people in a room. Breakfast is included in this price. The officers pay for their own meals. The average cost of a meal in area restaurants is 10 to 20 DM per meal.
What items should I bring with me?
Most essential items are readily available in shops and stores in Kosovo at this time. Items such as toiletries, over the counter medications, food and clothing, batteries, film, electrical appliances etc. are easily purchased. It is recommended that officers who are on prescription medications bring along a six-month supply of such medicine. This will allow you to find a source in Kosovo or arrange for a new supply from home. If you are more comfortable with a particular brand of over the counter medication for colds, upset stomachs or other problems you might encounter here, you should consider bringing your own as the name brands you are familiar with might not be available. Officers should also bring a small flashlight suitable for off duty use as power failures are frequent. A money belt and/or a passport holder that can be worn around the neck are also useful items to consider. Officers should also consider making up a small evacuation bag containing essential items such as toiletries, food, water and a change of clothing. This is recommended in case an emergency evacuation was required at short notice.
Should I bring my own laptop computer, GPS or digital camera?
The voltage in Kosovo is 220 volts DC. Officers bringing any equipment requiring electrical power should keep this in mind and might need to purchase a voltage regulator or converter before their equipment would be compatible with available electrical power. A GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) receiver is a nice item to have as most directions are given by grid references. The basic map used in Kosovo by KFOR and UNMIK Police is a UTM GRID/WGS 84 DATUM map. The decision to bring personal items must always be decided by the individual. There is always the chance of theft and the UN does lot cover loss of personal items. Also, if for some reason, officers had to evacuate the mission area in an emergency situation, you are limited to a single small bag with a weight limit of 15 kilos.
Will I have access to the Internet and E-mail?
There are several Internet cafes in Pristina and the larger towns. Individual Internet access at your living quarters is possible but the expense can be high. The UN has computers available in most UN buildings in the regional cities, Pristina, Gnjilane, Prizren, Mitrovica and Pec. These computers are available to everyone but the waiting line can be long and you are limited to 15-minute sessions. Some UNMIK Police buildings have Internet access. Use of the Internet in these buildings is restricted to personnel requiring it for duty purposes. Personal use is restricted to off duty hours or at the discretion of the chief of section.
Will I be able to call home?
Telephone communications have improved greatly since the beginning of the mission. Currently two companies provide cellular telephone networks, GSM-Vala900 (Alcatel as the supplier) and Mobtel. Cellular phone communications is possible but coverage can be a problem, especially in the mountain regions. It is recommended that you delay a decision on the purchase of a cellular phone until you know where you will be stationed and the available coverage. The UN allows the use of phones for personal calls. Officers must acquire a pin number for the UN communications office in their region. Cost of personal calls is deducted from an officer's MSA payment. The local landline telephone service is not always reliable. Local calls are easier to make that long distance calls. An officer might consider the use of a telephone calling card. Although it might not be useful in Kosovo, it would be nice to have when you are on leave and in other countries.
Will I have access to military PXs or commissaries?
Many of the military units in Kosovo have these facilities available for their soldiers. Use of these facilities by UN employees and UNMIK Police is a privilege and not a right. Each individual army unit controls access to their facilities and some have an open door policy while others limit access. Many are open to UNMIK Police officers. Some require registration and the issuance of Identification cards.
What is the weather like?
Expect a wide range of temperatures. Last winter temperatures reached as low as -29 Celsius and this summer temperatures as high as 41 Celsius have been recorded. (To convert Celsius to Fahrenheit - multiply the Celsius reading by 9, divide by 5 and add 32). Good winter clothing is essential. You will experience snowfalls and icy conditions through most of the months of December, January and February.
What is the mail service like?
The UN Administration has begun to revitalize the postal service. Currently local and international mail routes are being established. The UN also provides mail service for members of the mission. The size and quantity of packages are restricted and certain items are restricted. No alcohol, tobacco, firearms, ammunition or pornography may be shipped through the United Nations system. Many Police contingents also provide mail service for their officers. Check with your contingent on this matter. The individual military units control access to military post offices and restrictions and requirements vary greatly. It is best to check with the military unit in your area when you arrive.
How easy is to travel outside the mission area?
Travel has improved greatly since the beginning of the mission. The airport in Pristina has commercial flights to many larger cities in Europe. Many officers also use the airport in Skopje, Macedonia. Trains are available to some cities from Skopje. There are also bus connections in Pristina and Skopje for many countries.
How do officers spend their CTO?
Many officers choose to leave the mission area on their time off. Travel in Europe can be both rewarding and interesting. Many officers travel back to their home countries for visits and other officers arrange to meet their families in various countries.
Are there banks available?
There are local banks available and there are also Western Union offices in some of the larger cities. Many police contingents make arrangements for their officers to receive or wire money home.
What should I know about the country?
Any officer preparing for the mission should try to learn as much about the culture and history of Kosovo before they arrive. Having a good knowledge of the past and recent history of the province will be helpful to officers when they begin to perform their duties. The history and culture of the Balkans is diverse and interesting. Any knowledge you acquire before arrival will only make you a better officer. It would also be helpful to know a few basic words in both the Albanian and Serbian language.
How do you cope with the language barriers?
All International officers working in the mission are required to speak English. This is also the standard for United Nations employees. Officers usually work in two man teams. Now that the Kosovo Police Service has more officers trained and on the street, a routine patrol would consist of four persons. These four are made up of two International officers, a KPS (Kosovo Police Service) officer and a Language Assistant. The UN has hired many local residents as Language Assistants. These language assistants must be tested in English and demonstrate their proficiency. They speak either Albanian or Serbian. Many are able to speak both languages. The Language Assistant's duties are to interpret for the International officers. KPS officers are not required to speak English so many times the Language Assistants must also serve as an interpreter between the UNMIK Police officer and the KPS officer. Language Assistants must be at least 18 years old. A great many of these Language Assistants are female.
What should I expect to pay in rent and is housing readily available?
Housing is still readily available in the mission area. Officers live in apartments and houses and many rent rooms with local families or one floor of a home. The cost of housing varies across the province. You should expect to pay higher rents in some of the larger cities and towns where there is more competition for available housing. The cost of housing is between 400 to 1000 DM a month. This is usually a per person price. Negotiations between landlords and tenants is normal and many officer make arrangements to have cleaning and laundry included in the rent. Utilities can be included in the total rent or paid separately. New officers should have a good agreement with their landlord and an understanding of what is included in the rent to avoid problems. All officers are responsible for their own housing and personal needs.
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