UN plans refugee contingency for Kosovo: report

UN plans refugee contingency for Kosovo: report
Deutsche Presse-Agentur - May 31, 2006, Wednesday

Belgrade - The United Nations has contingency plans for Kosovo's independence and a possible subsequent exodus of Serbs from
the province dominated by Albanians, the Belgrade Politika daily said Wednesday.

Quoting an "internal and confidential" document distributed to UN agencies, the newspaper said that a wave of 70,000 refugees was expected in Serbia and in Montenegro, if Serbs come under attack by extremists after Kosovo gains independence.

The report however adds that contingency planning for various scenarios is "common practice" in major institutions.

Serbia and Kosovo authorities started negotiating the future status of the troubled province earlier this year, under UN auspices in Vienna.

Belgrade insists on retaining sovereignty over Kosovo and offers wide autonomy, while Pristina leaders, representing the vastly dominant Albanian population, want full independence as quickly as possible.