Kosovo Meeting Minutes

9/12/03

1.  Homestay proposal (Michael DuVall)

  1. Proposal seems good and supportable
  2. Arben’s family possible host?
  3. We will consider fundraising opportunities

2.  Lignite project

  1. Quantity of lignite in Kosovo is high, but quality is rather low.
  2. Low quality of the lignite suspected have negative effects on the local power plants. Thus, the interest to sell the lignite rather than use it in local power plants
  3. not cost-effective to enrich the lignite.
  4. Transportation of lignite to other countries
  5. Serbia is not practical option
  6. Albania would receptive, but there is no railroad link b/t Albania and Kosovo
  7. Other markets for lignite?
  8. Possible domestic/household users instead of power plants.
  9. International Management Group study
  10. Specific research on Kosovo lignite reserves and power resources
  11. Pre-war, Kosovo was exporting ~40% of power capacity
  12. Nuclear power plant in Kosovo?
  13. Politically not feasible – W. European concerns that would impact Kosovo entry into EU
  14. Practically feasible, but would require significant capital investment
  15. Investment formula
  16. €/BTU = function of:
  17. caloric value/ton
  18. quantity available
  19. moisture content
  20. ft3 overburden/ton
  21. investment for mine
  22. how to process?
  23. shipment cost/transmission loss/BTU mile
  24. Considerations:
  25. where is the lignite located?
  26. Geographic
  27. geologic
  28. what/where are the markets?
  29. residual value of consumed lignite?
  30. Lignite subgroup to develop this formula and determine values; refine above formula for next week. Develop plan/formulate questions to fill in the gaps.
  31. civil engineering partners as information resource

3.  Translation website

  1. Tim, et al have prepared preliminary project outline
  2. Website mock-up prepared
  3. Services:
  4. Albanian to/from various languages: English, German, French, etc.
  5. links directly to specific translator bio, cost information
  6. Considerations/tasks:
  7. Naming, trademark registration
  8. Translator database compilation
  9. Finalizing website design
  10. Albanian version of website
  11. Online payment issues

4.  Tourism project

  1. Target market
  2. 40-60 yrso; educational interest
  3. upcoming tasks:
  4. lodging options o/s Pristina
  5. transportation inter/intra
  6. operator insurance and organizer liability
  7. set-up company as an LLC?
  8. Advertising/market

5.  Compendium

  1. Begin scanning this week (Tim has about 1/3 complete)
  2. Other volumes of Compendium
  3. We have volumes 1-3 (complete)
  4. Work with Tim, Jill, Rob
  5. Make information available immediately
  6. Later sub-project: ABA/CEELI CD-ROM: reformat and post online

6.  Website maintenance

  1. Sponsors: Sun, ABA/CEELI, Soros/Open Society Institute, Oracle
  2. Fundraising levels for future donors – (Cat)

7.  IPRO liaisons = Tim, Aroon

  1. Divide responsibilities between

8.  Applicable law project – start with property law focus (extract from available resources)

  1. Organize project with Kate, Steve, Jill
  2. Find what is moving through Kosovo assembly currently

9.  Kosovo trips (Oct/Nov, Jan):

  1. Recommended ten days (at least 7 days in-country)
  2. School subsidized = airfare & possible lodging expenses

For next week:

·  Detailed focus on tourism project

·  Status report on lignite project

·  Quick status report on other projects