As war memories fade, the ex-Yugoslav states remember their common language
When commerce beckons, political and linguistic barriers come tumbling down
ANYONE interested in doing business in the region that used to be called Yugoslavia might be tempted not to bother—on the ground that its successor states were all very small, obsessed with minor linguistic and cultural differences, and generally not worth the effort.
A few years ago this might have been true, but now things have changed. Have a browse in a branch of Buybook, a Bosnian bookseller. In one section are shelves of “foreign” titles (by British or French writers, for example), and in another books by “local” authors. But “local” in this case does not mean only Bosnian. It means anyone writing in the language once called Serbo-Croatian—which is spoken, with only small variations, in Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Montenegro.
In business and economics, as well as linguistics and culture, the old Yugoslav space is re-emerging. Damir Uzunovic, the director of Buybook, complains that it is still hard to sell Bosnian books in Serbia; but otherwise the book trade between all the countries which speak nas jezik—our language, as it is sometimes called in a desperate effort to sound neutral—has been flourishing.
After all, together the populations of Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia and Bosnia make up a market of some 16m people. Macedonians and Slovenes, also ex-Yugoslavs, speak different but closely related tongues; if you add them, the number swells to 20m. It grows to 22m if you throw in the Kosovo Albanians—most of whom understand the common Slavic language even if they abhor it. In any case, the simple fact that all members of the quarrelsome ex-Yugoslav family can understand one another (linguistically at least) makes it easy to market products of every kind.
Before the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s the country had plenty of strong brands. When it fell apart those brands lost most of their devotees. Now, partly thanks to the normalisation of relations between the former Yugoslav republics, those familiar labels are surging back. They include everything from Croatian chocolates to Slovene juices to Montenegrin wines.
Some of the change is psychological. A few years ago Croatian radio stations would not play Serbian pop. That taboo has now gone. Radio stations which specialise in “Yu-nostalgia” and festivals celebrating the music that all Yugoslavs once shared have become wildly popular. The best locally produced film about the wars—“Vukovar: The Final Cut”—is a joint Serbian-Croatian production. It tells the story of the devastating siege of the eastern Croatian town in 1991.
The re-emergence of a Yugoslav market in goods and culture has been helped by a fairly general economic recovery. People now have more money to spend, and they are using some of their extra cash to pay for cable-television packages that serve up broadcasts (and advertisements) from across the old country. In recent years Merkator, a Slovene supermarket chain, has made strong advances across the region. Croatia's main petrol company, INA, is also recovering some lost ground outside its home territory.
In diplomacy as well as commerce, the ex-Yugoslav states are getting along better and at last coming to recognise that they have common interests. But that may not suit everybody. Even though Serbia is a long way from joining the European Union, its interpreters had been licking their lips at the thought of thousands of pages of EU rules and regulations needing translation. Imagine their disappointment when the Croats, keen to smooth Serbia's European path, simply sent their Serbian colleagues all the translations they had already made. This left just a little tidying up (and a change of script from Latin to Cyrillic) to be done in order to convert the documents from the Croatian language to the slightly different Serbian.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Kosovo minister says Serbs allowed to use old vehicle plates until end-2006
Excerpt from report in English by independent internet news agency KosovaLive
Prishtina [Pristina], 31 August: Minister of Internal Affairs Fatmir Rexhepi informed Kosovar legislators that Serb residents in northern Kosova [Kosovo] will have the right to use their vehicles with old Kosova's licence plates until the end of 2006,, while starting from January 2007 a law will be adopted that will sanction them.
Minister Rexhepi made these comments at the regular plenary session of the Kosova Assembly, in a response to a question made by member of the parliament from the Democratic League of Kosova (LDK) Ramadan Kelmendi.
Kelmendi asked for an explanation why Serb citizens, respectively those in the north, use Mitrovice [Kosovska Mitrovica] licence plates, or sometimes drive their vehicles with no plates at all, while vehicle with KS [Kosovo] licence plates are stopped and controlled by the police.
"It is not only this segment of life, in other words old licence plates, but the entire mechanism over there functions in parallel with central institutions," Minister Rexhepi said.
As he stated, Kosova Police Service (KSP) in the north of Kosova is also under UNMIK [UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo] reserved competences.
According to him, by a special UNMIK decision, citizens living in the north of Kosova register their licence plates every six months, therefore they have the right of driving their vehicles in "old manner" until the end of 2006.
"Starting from 1 January 2007, the collection of these licence plates will begin, and a decision will be taken in regard to the control, supervision and prevention of their further use in the North," Rexhepi said. [Passage omitted]
Source: KosovaLive website, Pristina, in English 31 Aug 06
a4fbb1d5
Prishtina [Pristina], 31 August: Minister of Internal Affairs Fatmir Rexhepi informed Kosovar legislators that Serb residents in northern Kosova [Kosovo] will have the right to use their vehicles with old Kosova's licence plates until the end of 2006,, while starting from January 2007 a law will be adopted that will sanction them.
Minister Rexhepi made these comments at the regular plenary session of the Kosova Assembly, in a response to a question made by member of the parliament from the Democratic League of Kosova (LDK) Ramadan Kelmendi.
Kelmendi asked for an explanation why Serb citizens, respectively those in the north, use Mitrovice [Kosovska Mitrovica] licence plates, or sometimes drive their vehicles with no plates at all, while vehicle with KS [Kosovo] licence plates are stopped and controlled by the police.
"It is not only this segment of life, in other words old licence plates, but the entire mechanism over there functions in parallel with central institutions," Minister Rexhepi said.
As he stated, Kosova Police Service (KSP) in the north of Kosova is also under UNMIK [UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo] reserved competences.
According to him, by a special UNMIK decision, citizens living in the north of Kosova register their licence plates every six months, therefore they have the right of driving their vehicles in "old manner" until the end of 2006.
"Starting from 1 January 2007, the collection of these licence plates will begin, and a decision will be taken in regard to the control, supervision and prevention of their further use in the North," Rexhepi said. [Passage omitted]
Source: KosovaLive website, Pristina, in English 31 Aug 06
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Kosovo Albanians handed Serb transport test
PRISTINA, Serbia, Aug 31 (Reuters) - The United Nations handed control of bus and train services for Kosovo Serbs to the province's ethnic Albanian leaders on Thursday, in a fresh test of their commitment to minority rights as they bid for independence.
The U.N. mission running Kosovo had been in charge of "humanitarian" bus routes and the "Freedom of Movement Train" that 100,000 Serbs scattered across Kosovo rely on to send children to schools and make shopping trips.
Many Kosovo Serbs, ghettoised since the end of the 1998-99 war and pullout of Serb forces, refuse to venture into urban centres dominated by Kosovo's 90-percent ethnic Albanian majority, where they expect discrimination and fear attack.
But the Albanians, who in 1999 went from persecuted minority within Serbia to lords of their own manor, are under pressure from the West to show they can provide for all Kosovo's citizens as they push for independence this year.
"I sign this Memorandum of Understanding with the confidence that the government of Kosovo will fulfil all its political, administrative and financial commitments to ensure the freedom of movement to all of Kosovo's communities," said U.N. civil administration chief Patricia Waring.
The United Nations has run Kosovo since 1999, when a 78-day NATO bombing campaign drove out Serb forces accused of killing and expelling civilians in a war with Albanian rebels.
The U.N. mission has started downsizing and handing responsibilities to the Kosovo institutions as it prepares to pull out sometime in 2007. With direct talks under way in Vienna, the West wants a decision on "final status" this year.
The multi-ethnic Kosovo Police Service already shoulders most of the responsibility for securing the bus and train services, once the job of the 17,000-strong NATO-led peace force and 3,000 U.N. police officers stationed in Kosovo.
Serbia opposes independence for its southern province, which many Serbs consider the cradle of their nation. Belgrade says the Albanian majority is neither ready nor willing to secure the rights of the remaining Serbs. Around half the Serb population fled a wave of revenge attacks with the end of the war.
U.N. officials say statistics show ethnically-motivated crime is falling. But reports of Serb buses being stoned still surface, and a grenade attack on a Serb cafe on Saturday, which wounded nine people, has only refuelled the mistrust.
The U.N. mission running Kosovo had been in charge of "humanitarian" bus routes and the "Freedom of Movement Train" that 100,000 Serbs scattered across Kosovo rely on to send children to schools and make shopping trips.
Many Kosovo Serbs, ghettoised since the end of the 1998-99 war and pullout of Serb forces, refuse to venture into urban centres dominated by Kosovo's 90-percent ethnic Albanian majority, where they expect discrimination and fear attack.
But the Albanians, who in 1999 went from persecuted minority within Serbia to lords of their own manor, are under pressure from the West to show they can provide for all Kosovo's citizens as they push for independence this year.
"I sign this Memorandum of Understanding with the confidence that the government of Kosovo will fulfil all its political, administrative and financial commitments to ensure the freedom of movement to all of Kosovo's communities," said U.N. civil administration chief Patricia Waring.
The United Nations has run Kosovo since 1999, when a 78-day NATO bombing campaign drove out Serb forces accused of killing and expelling civilians in a war with Albanian rebels.
The U.N. mission has started downsizing and handing responsibilities to the Kosovo institutions as it prepares to pull out sometime in 2007. With direct talks under way in Vienna, the West wants a decision on "final status" this year.
The multi-ethnic Kosovo Police Service already shoulders most of the responsibility for securing the bus and train services, once the job of the 17,000-strong NATO-led peace force and 3,000 U.N. police officers stationed in Kosovo.
Serbia opposes independence for its southern province, which many Serbs consider the cradle of their nation. Belgrade says the Albanian majority is neither ready nor willing to secure the rights of the remaining Serbs. Around half the Serb population fled a wave of revenge attacks with the end of the war.
U.N. officials say statistics show ethnically-motivated crime is falling. But reports of Serb buses being stoned still surface, and a grenade attack on a Serb cafe on Saturday, which wounded nine people, has only refuelled the mistrust.
Albania avoids poll boycott, reaches election deal
TIRANA, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Albania's main parties reached an agreement on the framework of the next local government elections, avoiding the prospect of a boycott and nationwide protests by the opposition, officials said on Thursday.
The main opposition Socialist Party and its allies had threatened to boycott the elections unless voters were listed in a permanent register and the public television board and a media watchdog were balanced to reflect political weight.
Bodyguards had to contain opposition MPs in July when they threatened the speaker and took out their rage on the chamber's furniture, after the ruling Democrats approved a new Central Election Commission member in what they saw as a breach of accords.
The European Union urged both sides to engage in dialogue, reminding politicians they had a duty to step up work on the pre-membership Stabilisation and Association Agreeement (SAA) with the EU.
"Nobody lost from this deal; Albania won," Prime Minister Sali Berisha said after senior politicians signed the accord.
"Our conditions have been met," added opposition Socialist Party leader Edi Rama. The two leaders did not meet.
The deal sets an October 20 deadline to scrap the temporary voter register. The opposition feared a "phantom" army of 130,000 voters could theoretically cast ballots in both their old and new residence areas and tip the scales of the election.
Berisha, who is himself listed in the temporary register, blamed the Socialists for the register's flaws and said his party did not want to deny anybody the right to vote.
Albania has yet to hold an election that is judged to be free and fair, one of the key conditions for its European Union and NATO entry. Last year's general election was assessed as partly free and fair.
The agreed formula focuses on adding new members to the Central Election Commission, the public television board and the media watchdog council, to accommodate the opposition demands.
The two sides had been in a standoff since July, raising the spectre of new upheaval in Albania just as the West is trying to settle the future of the neighbouring U.N.-run Serbian province of Kosovo.
The main opposition Socialist Party and its allies had threatened to boycott the elections unless voters were listed in a permanent register and the public television board and a media watchdog were balanced to reflect political weight.
Bodyguards had to contain opposition MPs in July when they threatened the speaker and took out their rage on the chamber's furniture, after the ruling Democrats approved a new Central Election Commission member in what they saw as a breach of accords.
The European Union urged both sides to engage in dialogue, reminding politicians they had a duty to step up work on the pre-membership Stabilisation and Association Agreeement (SAA) with the EU.
"Nobody lost from this deal; Albania won," Prime Minister Sali Berisha said after senior politicians signed the accord.
"Our conditions have been met," added opposition Socialist Party leader Edi Rama. The two leaders did not meet.
The deal sets an October 20 deadline to scrap the temporary voter register. The opposition feared a "phantom" army of 130,000 voters could theoretically cast ballots in both their old and new residence areas and tip the scales of the election.
Berisha, who is himself listed in the temporary register, blamed the Socialists for the register's flaws and said his party did not want to deny anybody the right to vote.
Albania has yet to hold an election that is judged to be free and fair, one of the key conditions for its European Union and NATO entry. Last year's general election was assessed as partly free and fair.
The agreed formula focuses on adding new members to the Central Election Commission, the public television board and the media watchdog council, to accommodate the opposition demands.
The two sides had been in a standoff since July, raising the spectre of new upheaval in Albania just as the West is trying to settle the future of the neighbouring U.N.-run Serbian province of Kosovo.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Belgrade negotiating team criticizes Kosovo Serb leader Oliver Ivanovic
Members of the Belgrade negotiating team for the Kosovo talks, Leon Kojen and Slobodan Samardzic, have openly criticized Kosovo Serb leader Oliver Ivanovic for allegedly dominating talks with UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari during his recent visit to Kosovo, according to a Serbian newspaper report. Ivanovic told the paper that he had essentially presented the same proposals on decentralization as the Belgrade negotiating team and rejected claims that he was a "loose cannon". The following is the text of the report by Biljana Bakovic entitled "Favouring Oliver" published by the Serbian newspaper Politika on 26 August:
The four-day visit to Serbia's southern province [Kosovo] by Martti Ahtisaari, the UN special envoy for the status of Kosmet [Kosovo-Metohija], has exposed divisions on the Serbian side over the issue of the decentralization of Kosmet. Yesterday [25 August] Leon Kojen and Slobodan Samardzic, members of Belgrade's negotiating team, openly expressed displeasure with Ahtisaari's choice of interlocutor among representatives of the Kosmet Serbs.
They said that Oliver Ivanovic (the head of the Serb List for Kosovo-Metohija, who met with Martti Ahtisaari on Wednesday) is "systematically monopolizing the name and authority of the Serb List for Kosovo-Metohija for his own personal proposals". Moreover, the special envoy and his office, UNOSEK [UN Office of the Special Envoy for Kosovo], "are giving stronger political preference to Oliver Ivanovic and the Serb List, as if Ivanovic has made the only proposal for decentralization," Kojen and Samardzic said, thus confirming that the Serbian side in the critical talks on the southern province is experiencing rifts that others are obviously taking advantage of.
At a news conference held yesterday in the Serbian government building, Samardzic and Kojen were also critical of the fact that while in Kosmet, Ahtisaari spent more time talking about the number of municipalities than about their authorities.
The Serbian negotiators expect UNOSEK to inform them directly of what was offered to the Albanian side and what their response was.
Samardzic said that the mayors of the three Serb municipalities in northern Kosovo "presented their position appropriately and properly, a position that is identical to that of negotiating team." However, he added, in talks with the Serbian side UNOSEK gave priority to the leader of the Serb List for Kosovo-Metohija, who used that opportunity to present his own proposal, which differs from Belgrade's official stance.
Leon Kojen noted that the member of the Serb List on Belgrade's negotiating team is Goran Bogdanovic, who did not support Ivanovic's proposal. "What Oliver Ivanovic is doing, both when he submits proposals to Ahtisaari and when he meets with (Kosovo Prime Minister) Agim Ceku, is political manipulation," said Kojen, recalling that Randjel Nojkic, a member of the Serb List with close ties to Ivanovic, protested about his meeting with Ceku.
The harshness of Kojen's attitude towards Oliver Ivanovic was further evidenced by his observation that he has not seen any reports in the Belgrade media about the Serb List leader visiting any Serb enclave in Kosovo and holding open forums anywhere in the province, nor any reports on him having any contact with the populace that he "ostensibly represents". Kojen went on to say that the proposal for decentralization in Kosovo that was presented as a Serb List document is actually a proposal by Oliver Ivanovic and a small group of people, and for that reason the state negotiating team saw no need to respond and react to that plan.
In a phone interview with Politika, meanwhile, the "censured" Oliver Ivanovic responded that it was precisely because of the egos of allies of the Serbian president and prime minister that the Serb List's plan was not considered by the negotiating team. He also says that there are no major differences between the two Serbian plans for decentralization. "The only difference lies in the supporting arguments, which in our case are much more realistic and more attuned to the people since they came from the people, and thus they are also better received by the international community," he says. He emphasizes that the Serb List is seeking greater authorities for municipalities with a Serb majority than the Serbian negotiating team is. "Second, the Serb List has included Lipljan, the urban part (which with Novo Naselje has more than 1,500 Serbs and, among other things, two 14th century churches), but the Belgrade negotiating team does not include it. The Serb List has included Crkvena Vodica and Janjina Vodica, and our negotiating team has not. We are more demanding, but they are listening to us," says Ivanovic, adding that Goran Bogdanovic who, in his words, was sent to the state negotiating team by the Serb List, "has not succeeded in warning them of the danger of making proposals that will not be accepted most of all by the Serb community itself."
"Goran Bogdanovic is unable to win out on that point. What we are talking about here is something that we gave him to convey to the negotiating team, but he did not manage to push that through. We waited three months to take action, and during that time no one reacted, saying either yes or no," he emphasizes.
He adds that more than 100 ordinary people were consulted when drafting this proposal. "We did not consult any outsiders. And Kojen's statement about disagreement within our ranks is not true. The entire Serb List is absolutely unified on this. We spoke with ordinary farmers. Thus, we did have contact. It is totally ridiculous and utterly unnatural for someone who has never seen Kosovo with his own two eyes, except on the map and on the TV screen, to talk about what should be done and how," Ivanovic says.
Since such actions have led some officials in Belgrade, and some representatives of Kosmet's Serbs, to regard him as a "loose cannon", Ivanovic emphasizes that he is certainly no such thing, since he was elected. "The Serb List is not a negotiator, we set the record straight on that, Ahtisaari told us that and we said the same thing to him. Only the Belgrade negotiating team has legitimacy, but does that mean that all of the rest of us have to remain silent in the meantime? We are here only to try to unblock the process with our initiatives," he emphasizes, but he refuses to comment when asked whether he means to say that Belgrade has blocked the negotiating process.
"The fact that Ahtisaari did not come to Belgrade should ultimately be taken as a warning. Much more important than what we think about ourselves and our actions is what Ahtisaari, the Contact Group and the UN Security Council think about what individuals are doing, especially the heads of the negotiating teams," Ivanovic stresses.
Still, he feels that this "dual-track" approach by the Serbian side does not benefit the Albanian side. "That only leaves a bad impression, I must admit, but it does not serve their purposes, because the Serb List's demands are much greater and much better supported by arguments, and thus much more dangerous too," Ivanovic emphasizes.
However, his remarks about unity within the Serb List are refuted by none other than Goran Bogdanovic, the member of the negotiating team and of the Serb List representing the Democratic Party, who says that at a joint meeting with Ahtisaari he "defended" Belgrade's proposal, while Ivanovic presented a "proposal from individuals in the Serb List".
"It is neither my desire nor my intention to assuage the frustrations of certain people in the Serb List. There is no unity within the Serb List, because when the decentralization plan was discussed, I and several other members of the Serb List were opposed to the Serb List presenting its own plan, in the belief that the proposal by the state team should also be the proposal of the Serb List and of all Serbs, especially those in Kosovo-Metohija. It is a fact that a huge number of Serbs agreed with the state team's proposal, so that for me personally there was no dilemma about which side to stand on," says Bogdanovic in a phone interview with Politika.
Emphasizing that no one has the right to torpedo the work of the state team, he notes that there was no need for individuals from the Serb List to put forward this proposal, because in February, when the talks began, he presented the views of the Serb List to the coordinators of the team, Kojen and Samardzic, and they were all incorporated into the negotiating team's plan. He says that this reflected his good intentions in terms of reaching an agreement within the Serb List on such matters in February, but he stresses that the Serb List did not delegate him to the state team, nor did anyone authorize him to present to the team the proposal that Ivanovic is talking about.
Source: Politika, Belgrade, in Serbian 26 Aug 06 pp 1, 7
The four-day visit to Serbia's southern province [Kosovo] by Martti Ahtisaari, the UN special envoy for the status of Kosmet [Kosovo-Metohija], has exposed divisions on the Serbian side over the issue of the decentralization of Kosmet. Yesterday [25 August] Leon Kojen and Slobodan Samardzic, members of Belgrade's negotiating team, openly expressed displeasure with Ahtisaari's choice of interlocutor among representatives of the Kosmet Serbs.
They said that Oliver Ivanovic (the head of the Serb List for Kosovo-Metohija, who met with Martti Ahtisaari on Wednesday) is "systematically monopolizing the name and authority of the Serb List for Kosovo-Metohija for his own personal proposals". Moreover, the special envoy and his office, UNOSEK [UN Office of the Special Envoy for Kosovo], "are giving stronger political preference to Oliver Ivanovic and the Serb List, as if Ivanovic has made the only proposal for decentralization," Kojen and Samardzic said, thus confirming that the Serbian side in the critical talks on the southern province is experiencing rifts that others are obviously taking advantage of.
At a news conference held yesterday in the Serbian government building, Samardzic and Kojen were also critical of the fact that while in Kosmet, Ahtisaari spent more time talking about the number of municipalities than about their authorities.
The Serbian negotiators expect UNOSEK to inform them directly of what was offered to the Albanian side and what their response was.
Samardzic said that the mayors of the three Serb municipalities in northern Kosovo "presented their position appropriately and properly, a position that is identical to that of negotiating team." However, he added, in talks with the Serbian side UNOSEK gave priority to the leader of the Serb List for Kosovo-Metohija, who used that opportunity to present his own proposal, which differs from Belgrade's official stance.
Leon Kojen noted that the member of the Serb List on Belgrade's negotiating team is Goran Bogdanovic, who did not support Ivanovic's proposal. "What Oliver Ivanovic is doing, both when he submits proposals to Ahtisaari and when he meets with (Kosovo Prime Minister) Agim Ceku, is political manipulation," said Kojen, recalling that Randjel Nojkic, a member of the Serb List with close ties to Ivanovic, protested about his meeting with Ceku.
The harshness of Kojen's attitude towards Oliver Ivanovic was further evidenced by his observation that he has not seen any reports in the Belgrade media about the Serb List leader visiting any Serb enclave in Kosovo and holding open forums anywhere in the province, nor any reports on him having any contact with the populace that he "ostensibly represents". Kojen went on to say that the proposal for decentralization in Kosovo that was presented as a Serb List document is actually a proposal by Oliver Ivanovic and a small group of people, and for that reason the state negotiating team saw no need to respond and react to that plan.
In a phone interview with Politika, meanwhile, the "censured" Oliver Ivanovic responded that it was precisely because of the egos of allies of the Serbian president and prime minister that the Serb List's plan was not considered by the negotiating team. He also says that there are no major differences between the two Serbian plans for decentralization. "The only difference lies in the supporting arguments, which in our case are much more realistic and more attuned to the people since they came from the people, and thus they are also better received by the international community," he says. He emphasizes that the Serb List is seeking greater authorities for municipalities with a Serb majority than the Serbian negotiating team is. "Second, the Serb List has included Lipljan, the urban part (which with Novo Naselje has more than 1,500 Serbs and, among other things, two 14th century churches), but the Belgrade negotiating team does not include it. The Serb List has included Crkvena Vodica and Janjina Vodica, and our negotiating team has not. We are more demanding, but they are listening to us," says Ivanovic, adding that Goran Bogdanovic who, in his words, was sent to the state negotiating team by the Serb List, "has not succeeded in warning them of the danger of making proposals that will not be accepted most of all by the Serb community itself."
"Goran Bogdanovic is unable to win out on that point. What we are talking about here is something that we gave him to convey to the negotiating team, but he did not manage to push that through. We waited three months to take action, and during that time no one reacted, saying either yes or no," he emphasizes.
He adds that more than 100 ordinary people were consulted when drafting this proposal. "We did not consult any outsiders. And Kojen's statement about disagreement within our ranks is not true. The entire Serb List is absolutely unified on this. We spoke with ordinary farmers. Thus, we did have contact. It is totally ridiculous and utterly unnatural for someone who has never seen Kosovo with his own two eyes, except on the map and on the TV screen, to talk about what should be done and how," Ivanovic says.
Since such actions have led some officials in Belgrade, and some representatives of Kosmet's Serbs, to regard him as a "loose cannon", Ivanovic emphasizes that he is certainly no such thing, since he was elected. "The Serb List is not a negotiator, we set the record straight on that, Ahtisaari told us that and we said the same thing to him. Only the Belgrade negotiating team has legitimacy, but does that mean that all of the rest of us have to remain silent in the meantime? We are here only to try to unblock the process with our initiatives," he emphasizes, but he refuses to comment when asked whether he means to say that Belgrade has blocked the negotiating process.
"The fact that Ahtisaari did not come to Belgrade should ultimately be taken as a warning. Much more important than what we think about ourselves and our actions is what Ahtisaari, the Contact Group and the UN Security Council think about what individuals are doing, especially the heads of the negotiating teams," Ivanovic stresses.
Still, he feels that this "dual-track" approach by the Serbian side does not benefit the Albanian side. "That only leaves a bad impression, I must admit, but it does not serve their purposes, because the Serb List's demands are much greater and much better supported by arguments, and thus much more dangerous too," Ivanovic emphasizes.
However, his remarks about unity within the Serb List are refuted by none other than Goran Bogdanovic, the member of the negotiating team and of the Serb List representing the Democratic Party, who says that at a joint meeting with Ahtisaari he "defended" Belgrade's proposal, while Ivanovic presented a "proposal from individuals in the Serb List".
"It is neither my desire nor my intention to assuage the frustrations of certain people in the Serb List. There is no unity within the Serb List, because when the decentralization plan was discussed, I and several other members of the Serb List were opposed to the Serb List presenting its own plan, in the belief that the proposal by the state team should also be the proposal of the Serb List and of all Serbs, especially those in Kosovo-Metohija. It is a fact that a huge number of Serbs agreed with the state team's proposal, so that for me personally there was no dilemma about which side to stand on," says Bogdanovic in a phone interview with Politika.
Emphasizing that no one has the right to torpedo the work of the state team, he notes that there was no need for individuals from the Serb List to put forward this proposal, because in February, when the talks began, he presented the views of the Serb List to the coordinators of the team, Kojen and Samardzic, and they were all incorporated into the negotiating team's plan. He says that this reflected his good intentions in terms of reaching an agreement within the Serb List on such matters in February, but he stresses that the Serb List did not delegate him to the state team, nor did anyone authorize him to present to the team the proposal that Ivanovic is talking about.
Source: Politika, Belgrade, in Serbian 26 Aug 06 pp 1, 7
Report: Kosovo's "fundamental problem" is uncertainty about its future, official says
VIENNA, Austria (AP) - The prime minister of Kosovo said Tuesday that the fundamental problem of the U.N.-administered province in Serbia is the uncertainty about its future, a news report said.
"I'm speaking about ... the approach to the future, about having a country one can recognize as one's own," Prime Minister Agim Ceku said in comments quoted by the Austria Press Agency.
He spoke at a meeting of politicians, academics and others in the Tyrolean town of Alpbach.
The people of Kosovo did not know "in which country they were living", which system of government they will have, who was heading the security forces and who was responsible for their energy supply, Ceku said, according to APA.
Kosovo has been administered by the U.N. since mid-1999 when a NATO air war halted Serb forces' crackdown on independence-seeking ethnic Albanians. U.N. mediators have been trying to narrow differences between the two sides over how Kosovo should be run in the future. But while Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority insists on independence, the Serb minority and Belgrade both want Serbia to retain some control over the province.
Earlier this month, Kosovo Serbs boycotted a round of talks on minority rights in Vienna, saying they would not accept being treated as a minority group, as they considered themselves citizens of Serbia, where they are in the majority.
"I'm speaking about ... the approach to the future, about having a country one can recognize as one's own," Prime Minister Agim Ceku said in comments quoted by the Austria Press Agency.
He spoke at a meeting of politicians, academics and others in the Tyrolean town of Alpbach.
The people of Kosovo did not know "in which country they were living", which system of government they will have, who was heading the security forces and who was responsible for their energy supply, Ceku said, according to APA.
Kosovo has been administered by the U.N. since mid-1999 when a NATO air war halted Serb forces' crackdown on independence-seeking ethnic Albanians. U.N. mediators have been trying to narrow differences between the two sides over how Kosovo should be run in the future. But while Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority insists on independence, the Serb minority and Belgrade both want Serbia to retain some control over the province.
Earlier this month, Kosovo Serbs boycotted a round of talks on minority rights in Vienna, saying they would not accept being treated as a minority group, as they considered themselves citizens of Serbia, where they are in the majority.
Serbia to launch "political offensive" to prove Ahtisaari's bias on Kosovo
Text of report in English by Belgrade-based Radio B92 text website on 29 August
Belgrade, 29 August: [UN special envoy for Kosovo status talks] Martti Ahtisaari's recent comments regarding Kosovo were criticized at yesterday's meeting of [Belgrade's] status negotiation team.
The meeting, attended by Serbian President Boris Tadic, Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, Foreign Affairs Minister Vuk Draskovic, ended with very strong criticism of the UN special envoy for the Kosovo status talks, and with the announcement of a parliamentary meeting for the discussion of the Kosovo situation.
Serbia will not be asking for Ahtisaari to leave the position of the special envoy, but will begin a diplomatic offensive that will try and prove his subjectivity, officials said after a two-hour meeting.
Ahtisaari commented last week that the Serbian people are at fault for the current situation in Kosovo, as they are the historical successors of the [Slobodan] Milosevic regime.
Source: Radio B92 text website, Belgrade, in English 0719 gmt 29 Aug 06
Belgrade, 29 August: [UN special envoy for Kosovo status talks] Martti Ahtisaari's recent comments regarding Kosovo were criticized at yesterday's meeting of [Belgrade's] status negotiation team.
The meeting, attended by Serbian President Boris Tadic, Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, Foreign Affairs Minister Vuk Draskovic, ended with very strong criticism of the UN special envoy for the Kosovo status talks, and with the announcement of a parliamentary meeting for the discussion of the Kosovo situation.
Serbia will not be asking for Ahtisaari to leave the position of the special envoy, but will begin a diplomatic offensive that will try and prove his subjectivity, officials said after a two-hour meeting.
Ahtisaari commented last week that the Serbian people are at fault for the current situation in Kosovo, as they are the historical successors of the [Slobodan] Milosevic regime.
Source: Radio B92 text website, Belgrade, in English 0719 gmt 29 Aug 06
Albanian Speaker says independence "sole solution" for Kosovo'
Text of report in English by Albanian news agency ATA
Tirana, 28 August: Albania has always played a constructive, but not a paternalist role for Kosova [Kosovo], Assembly Chairwoman Jozefina Topalli said at the European Forum "Quest for Certainty and Security", under way in Alpbach [Austria].
Responding to one of the Serbian government representatives about Kosova issue, Topalli said that "during all these years we have supported Kosova's independence as the sole solution to the region's stability, naturally, taking into consideration the respect for the rights of the minorities, decentralization, and the strengthening of the institutions."
"The Albanians, not only geographically but also in their identity and roots, feel European. We are absolutely committed to fulfilling the European aspiration also through the EU support," she said, in relation to Albania's European perspective.
Source: ATA news agency, Tirana, in English 1944 gmt 28 Aug 06
Tirana, 28 August: Albania has always played a constructive, but not a paternalist role for Kosova [Kosovo], Assembly Chairwoman Jozefina Topalli said at the European Forum "Quest for Certainty and Security", under way in Alpbach [Austria].
Responding to one of the Serbian government representatives about Kosova issue, Topalli said that "during all these years we have supported Kosova's independence as the sole solution to the region's stability, naturally, taking into consideration the respect for the rights of the minorities, decentralization, and the strengthening of the institutions."
"The Albanians, not only geographically but also in their identity and roots, feel European. We are absolutely committed to fulfilling the European aspiration also through the EU support," she said, in relation to Albania's European perspective.
Source: ATA news agency, Tirana, in English 1944 gmt 28 Aug 06
Kosovo PM sees new plant as "only alternative" for normal power supply
Text of report in English by independent internet news agency KosovaLive
Prishtina [Pristina], 28 August: Kosova [Kosovo] Prime Minister Agim Ceku said today that construction of Kosova C power plant, which is expected to cost 2bn euros, is the only alternative to create a situation of stable power supply, and also positively influence positively the economic development of Kosova.
In his weekly address to the citizens, Ceku said that four to five years for the construction of this power plant are required, adding that this would be a capital investment that would consequently enable the export of electricity in the region.
"Kosova C would be an exceptional investment, and as such it would encourage potential investors to take Kosova into consideration seriously," the prime minister assessed.
According to Ceku, Kosova cannot expect economic growth if it fails to provide continuous power supply to the industry.
"This project does not offer an immediate or magical solution to the current power supply situation, but marks essential progress towards resolving the problem of electricity in Kosova on a longer run," said Ceku.
Ceku added that until then Kosova will depend on Kosova Energy Corporation's (KEK) ability to maintain its current units in function, and also from Kosova government's ability to import electricity.
"Funds are needed in order to make this possible. These funds are generated by paying the electricity. Currently, only 45 per cent of costumers in Kosova pay [for] electricity. This is unjustifiable. There is no alibi for not paying for serviced provided," said Ceku.
Ceku also said that his government is taking ample measures to preserve a stable power supply.
Source: KosovaLive website, Pristina, in English 28 Aug 06
Prishtina [Pristina], 28 August: Kosova [Kosovo] Prime Minister Agim Ceku said today that construction of Kosova C power plant, which is expected to cost 2bn euros, is the only alternative to create a situation of stable power supply, and also positively influence positively the economic development of Kosova.
In his weekly address to the citizens, Ceku said that four to five years for the construction of this power plant are required, adding that this would be a capital investment that would consequently enable the export of electricity in the region.
"Kosova C would be an exceptional investment, and as such it would encourage potential investors to take Kosova into consideration seriously," the prime minister assessed.
According to Ceku, Kosova cannot expect economic growth if it fails to provide continuous power supply to the industry.
"This project does not offer an immediate or magical solution to the current power supply situation, but marks essential progress towards resolving the problem of electricity in Kosova on a longer run," said Ceku.
Ceku added that until then Kosova will depend on Kosova Energy Corporation's (KEK) ability to maintain its current units in function, and also from Kosova government's ability to import electricity.
"Funds are needed in order to make this possible. These funds are generated by paying the electricity. Currently, only 45 per cent of costumers in Kosova pay [for] electricity. This is unjustifiable. There is no alibi for not paying for serviced provided," said Ceku.
Ceku also said that his government is taking ample measures to preserve a stable power supply.
Source: KosovaLive website, Pristina, in English 28 Aug 06
Serbia's June Foreign Debt Up to $17.27 Bln from $16.97 Bln in May- Table
(c) 2006 SeeNews - South East Europe Newswire. All Rights Reserved. editor@see-news.com.
BELGRADE (Serbia), August 28 (SeeNews) - Serbia's foreign debt rose to $17.27 billion (13.54 billion euro) at the end of June from $16.966 billion a month earlier, preliminary central bank figures showed on Monday.
SERBIA'S FOREIGN DEBT (in billions of U.S. dollars):
....................................................................JUNE'06...........MAY'06.............END'05
TOTAL DEBT.................................................17.27..............16.966...............15.467
International financial institutions................4.969...............5.245..................4.722
--IMF..............................................................0.717.............0.969.................0.866
--IBRD............................................................2.233.............2.303.................2.133
--IDA..............................................................0.514.............0.516.................0.468
--EUROFIMA..................................................0.172...............0.168.................0.161
--IFC..............................................................0.145..............0.075.................0.073
--EIB...............................................................0.384..............0.399................0.326
--European Community...................................0.343..............0.351.................0.324
--EUROFOND...................................................0.032...............0.034................0.022
--EBRD............................................................0.405...............0.411................0.349
Governments...................................................3.059...............3.102................3.680
--Paris Club.....................................................2.303................2.346................2.945
---consolidated debt........................................2.034...............2.072.................2.581
---debt after 20.12.2000..................................0.268...............0.274................0.364
--other governments........................................0.756...............0.757................0.734
London Club-restructured debt.........................1.076..............1.076...............1.076
London Club-non-restructured debt..................0.092..............0.092................0.088
Other creditors...................................................6.268..............5.680...............4.282
Short-term debt.................................................1.700..............1.666.................1.514
Clearing debt......................................................0.106..............0.106................0.106
NOTE: Serbia's end-June foreign debt figure included the $1.143 billion in debt owed by the country's southern province of Kosovo, now a U.N. protectorate.
($= 0.7841 euro)
www.see-news.com
Source: SeeNews (TM/RJ/TD)
BELGRADE (Serbia), August 28 (SeeNews) - Serbia's foreign debt rose to $17.27 billion (13.54 billion euro) at the end of June from $16.966 billion a month earlier, preliminary central bank figures showed on Monday.
SERBIA'S FOREIGN DEBT (in billions of U.S. dollars):
....................................................................JUNE'06...........MAY'06.............END'05
TOTAL DEBT.................................................17.27..............16.966...............15.467
International financial institutions................4.969...............5.245..................4.722
--IMF..............................................................0.717.............0.969.................0.866
--IBRD............................................................2.233.............2.303.................2.133
--IDA..............................................................0.514.............0.516.................0.468
--EUROFIMA..................................................0.172...............0.168.................0.161
--IFC..............................................................0.145..............0.075.................0.073
--EIB...............................................................0.384..............0.399................0.326
--European Community...................................0.343..............0.351.................0.324
--EUROFOND...................................................0.032...............0.034................0.022
--EBRD............................................................0.405...............0.411................0.349
Governments...................................................3.059...............3.102................3.680
--Paris Club.....................................................2.303................2.346................2.945
---consolidated debt........................................2.034...............2.072.................2.581
---debt after 20.12.2000..................................0.268...............0.274................0.364
--other governments........................................0.756...............0.757................0.734
London Club-restructured debt.........................1.076..............1.076...............1.076
London Club-non-restructured debt..................0.092..............0.092................0.088
Other creditors...................................................6.268..............5.680...............4.282
Short-term debt.................................................1.700..............1.666.................1.514
Clearing debt......................................................0.106..............0.106................0.106
NOTE: Serbia's end-June foreign debt figure included the $1.143 billion in debt owed by the country's southern province of Kosovo, now a U.N. protectorate.
($= 0.7841 euro)
www.see-news.com
Source: SeeNews (TM/RJ/TD)
Kosovo premier congratulates Macedonian counterpart on election
Text of report in English by independent internet news agency KosovaLive
Prishtina [Pristina], 28 August: Kosova [Kosovo] Prime Minister Agim Ceku has congratulated today in a telegram his Macedonian counterpart, Nikola Gruevski, on his appointment as Macedonia's prime minister, calling on the strengthening of relations between two governments.
"We view Macedonia's politics and engagement as a positive factor for stability of the region, and on this occasion I want to express the determination of Kosova's government for a close and continuous cooperation, and also for partnership between our two countries," Ceku is quoted stating by the Prime Minister's Office.
"Since the relations between Kosova and Macedonia represent a key for general development of the region, I sincerely expect to meet you in the near future," Prime Minster Agim Ceku stated, after congratulating the newly elected Macedonian Prime Minister on behalf of Kosova's people.
Source: KosovaLive website, Pristina, in English 28 Aug 06
Prishtina [Pristina], 28 August: Kosova [Kosovo] Prime Minister Agim Ceku has congratulated today in a telegram his Macedonian counterpart, Nikola Gruevski, on his appointment as Macedonia's prime minister, calling on the strengthening of relations between two governments.
"We view Macedonia's politics and engagement as a positive factor for stability of the region, and on this occasion I want to express the determination of Kosova's government for a close and continuous cooperation, and also for partnership between our two countries," Ceku is quoted stating by the Prime Minister's Office.
"Since the relations between Kosova and Macedonia represent a key for general development of the region, I sincerely expect to meet you in the near future," Prime Minster Agim Ceku stated, after congratulating the newly elected Macedonian Prime Minister on behalf of Kosova's people.
Source: KosovaLive website, Pristina, in English 28 Aug 06
Envoy to present first draft of Kosovo status package to Contact Group 11 Sep
Text of report by Fatmir Aliu entitled "Status package - on 11 September in Sofia" published by the Kosovo Albanian newspaper Koha Ditore on 25 August
Prishtina [Pristina], 24 August: The increased pressure and the dissatisfaction of both parties with the insufficient results achieved Thursday [24 August] afternoon are taking a different direction as the Kosovars have received clarifications about the future of Kosova [Kosovo], while the internationals received more guarantees of the Kosovars' promises.
Martti Ahtisaari, UN special envoy for Kosova's status, came out of Thursday evening's meeting with the Kosovars pleased with the generosity they showed in the way they envision resolving the technical issues that are being negotiated with official Belgrade (decentralization, the issue of Mitrovice [Kosovska Mitrovica], minority rights, the cultural and religious heritage and the economy).
Satisfied with the promises received and the change of principles that the Kosovars will defend before Belgrade's delegation in Vienna, Martti Ahtisaari unveiled his agenda to the Kosovars.
As Koha Ditore has learned from international sources, after being briefed, [former Finnish] President Ahtisaari said that he is "ready to conclude the draft framework of ideas for resolving the status of Kosova by 7 September".
But before this happens, President Ahtisaari will sit Prishtina and Belgrade around the discussion table once again, during the first week of September, from 4 to 7 September, and will request once again that the negotiating parties argue their positions on decentralization and minority rights.
The international sources further added that the possibility of holding other meetings also on the issues of the economy and cultural heritage is not ruled out. When all this ends, Ahtisaari will meet with the political directors for Southeastern Europe and the Contact Group member states. He has chosen Bulgaria's capital, Sofia, for this purpose - there, on 11 September, together with diplomats from the United States, the Russian Federation, Great Britain, France, Germany and Italy, he will discuss the satisfactory achievements in the negotiation process, also in the presence of Kosova Prime Minister Ceku, and will also examine the "first draft of the package for resolving the status of Kosova".
Western diplomats close to the process said that, "seeing that the Serbians are not ready to move from their position", President Ahtisaari and his deputy Albert Rohan will most likely come out with a mediated proposal that is viewed as reasonable and is believed to be the final epilogue - limited independence. This proposal, they said, is expected to be presented also to the foreign ministers of the Contact Group member states during the Contact Group's ministerial meeting in New York.
As Koha Ditore has learned from its sources, this meeting is expected to be held sometime between 16 and 18 September. Although the exact date of the meeting between President Ahtisaari and the foreign ministers of the Contact Group member states remains uncertain so far, as Koha Ditore has learned from international sources in New York, President Ahtisaari has left this issue open, because he will be staying in the United States until 26 September.
According to Western diplomats, the package of proposals for resolving the status of Kosova will most probably offer the concept of limited independence with limited sovereignty. This means that the international community will remain involved in certain political issues, with a military presence too. This military presence, it is assumed, will remain the same as now or similar.
According to them, Russia's position on this issue remains to be examined, but it is also expected to be neutralized in the process, while London, Paris and Berlin are expected to accept the proposal that will emerge. They said that the United States' readiness to move in this direction is expected to be equally great, if not the greatest of all.
The Kosovar delegation to the talks and the UN special envoy for resolving the status of Kosova have agreed in principle on a number of issues that seemed unachievable a few days ago.
Unlike Wednesday, when President Ahtisaari was very tense and dissatisfied with the results achieved in his first meeting with the Kosovar party, on Thursday he managed to receive the answers and guarantees that the Kosovars are ready to do everything if they win what they are asking for.
At the meeting, which was held behind closed doors, as Koha Ditore has learned from international sources, the Kosovars argued before the international mediators that they will not offer more than 5+1 new municipalities.
As far as the issue of Mitrovice is concerned, they also agreed in principle to provide further details on the proposal for an international supervisory board, which was proposed by the Kosovar side, and to assign duties and the responsibilities to the board. But official Prishtina, as Kosova President Fatmir Sejdiu himself stated, will stick by its position that Mitrovice will remain one city, but with two municipalities.
Regarding other issues, such as the cultural and religious heritage, official Prishtina has agreed to implement the principles of Martti Ahtisaari's office for all those monuments that are of special importance.
"Over the past two days, we have had extremely fruitful and in-depth talks. We have presented the positions that we had with the Vienna delegations on all the issues that we had there. The important thing is that along this road we also want to create a sustainable structure in local government in Kosova, which will be in the citizens' interest. We stick by our position that there will be five new municipalities plus one that will be expanded.
"We have expressed this in a very convincing way and we have argued our position, and I believe there was mutual understanding. Decentralization has not been concluded, but it will end in a few days' time," President Sejdiu stated after a meeting with President Ahtisaari and his teams of experts that lasted several hours.
Source: Koha Ditore, Pristina, in Albanian 25 Aug 06
Prishtina [Pristina], 24 August: The increased pressure and the dissatisfaction of both parties with the insufficient results achieved Thursday [24 August] afternoon are taking a different direction as the Kosovars have received clarifications about the future of Kosova [Kosovo], while the internationals received more guarantees of the Kosovars' promises.
Martti Ahtisaari, UN special envoy for Kosova's status, came out of Thursday evening's meeting with the Kosovars pleased with the generosity they showed in the way they envision resolving the technical issues that are being negotiated with official Belgrade (decentralization, the issue of Mitrovice [Kosovska Mitrovica], minority rights, the cultural and religious heritage and the economy).
Satisfied with the promises received and the change of principles that the Kosovars will defend before Belgrade's delegation in Vienna, Martti Ahtisaari unveiled his agenda to the Kosovars.
As Koha Ditore has learned from international sources, after being briefed, [former Finnish] President Ahtisaari said that he is "ready to conclude the draft framework of ideas for resolving the status of Kosova by 7 September".
But before this happens, President Ahtisaari will sit Prishtina and Belgrade around the discussion table once again, during the first week of September, from 4 to 7 September, and will request once again that the negotiating parties argue their positions on decentralization and minority rights.
The international sources further added that the possibility of holding other meetings also on the issues of the economy and cultural heritage is not ruled out. When all this ends, Ahtisaari will meet with the political directors for Southeastern Europe and the Contact Group member states. He has chosen Bulgaria's capital, Sofia, for this purpose - there, on 11 September, together with diplomats from the United States, the Russian Federation, Great Britain, France, Germany and Italy, he will discuss the satisfactory achievements in the negotiation process, also in the presence of Kosova Prime Minister Ceku, and will also examine the "first draft of the package for resolving the status of Kosova".
Western diplomats close to the process said that, "seeing that the Serbians are not ready to move from their position", President Ahtisaari and his deputy Albert Rohan will most likely come out with a mediated proposal that is viewed as reasonable and is believed to be the final epilogue - limited independence. This proposal, they said, is expected to be presented also to the foreign ministers of the Contact Group member states during the Contact Group's ministerial meeting in New York.
As Koha Ditore has learned from its sources, this meeting is expected to be held sometime between 16 and 18 September. Although the exact date of the meeting between President Ahtisaari and the foreign ministers of the Contact Group member states remains uncertain so far, as Koha Ditore has learned from international sources in New York, President Ahtisaari has left this issue open, because he will be staying in the United States until 26 September.
According to Western diplomats, the package of proposals for resolving the status of Kosova will most probably offer the concept of limited independence with limited sovereignty. This means that the international community will remain involved in certain political issues, with a military presence too. This military presence, it is assumed, will remain the same as now or similar.
According to them, Russia's position on this issue remains to be examined, but it is also expected to be neutralized in the process, while London, Paris and Berlin are expected to accept the proposal that will emerge. They said that the United States' readiness to move in this direction is expected to be equally great, if not the greatest of all.
The Kosovar delegation to the talks and the UN special envoy for resolving the status of Kosova have agreed in principle on a number of issues that seemed unachievable a few days ago.
Unlike Wednesday, when President Ahtisaari was very tense and dissatisfied with the results achieved in his first meeting with the Kosovar party, on Thursday he managed to receive the answers and guarantees that the Kosovars are ready to do everything if they win what they are asking for.
At the meeting, which was held behind closed doors, as Koha Ditore has learned from international sources, the Kosovars argued before the international mediators that they will not offer more than 5+1 new municipalities.
As far as the issue of Mitrovice is concerned, they also agreed in principle to provide further details on the proposal for an international supervisory board, which was proposed by the Kosovar side, and to assign duties and the responsibilities to the board. But official Prishtina, as Kosova President Fatmir Sejdiu himself stated, will stick by its position that Mitrovice will remain one city, but with two municipalities.
Regarding other issues, such as the cultural and religious heritage, official Prishtina has agreed to implement the principles of Martti Ahtisaari's office for all those monuments that are of special importance.
"Over the past two days, we have had extremely fruitful and in-depth talks. We have presented the positions that we had with the Vienna delegations on all the issues that we had there. The important thing is that along this road we also want to create a sustainable structure in local government in Kosova, which will be in the citizens' interest. We stick by our position that there will be five new municipalities plus one that will be expanded.
"We have expressed this in a very convincing way and we have argued our position, and I believe there was mutual understanding. Decentralization has not been concluded, but it will end in a few days' time," President Sejdiu stated after a meeting with President Ahtisaari and his teams of experts that lasted several hours.
Source: Koha Ditore, Pristina, in Albanian 25 Aug 06
Understated envoy offers hope for future of Kosovo
Joachim Rucker, Kofi Annan's new envoy in Kosovo, personifies the United Nations secretary-general's understated approach toward the potentially explosive issue of Serbia's breakaway province.
The German diplomat stands to play a leading role in determining the future of Kosovo, the most volatile Balkan flashpoint following the break-up of the former Yugoslavia. A bomb blast on Saturday heightened the divisions between ethnic Albanians and Serbs as the UN tries to broker a deal expected to give independence to Kosovo and autonomy to its Serb-dominated northern municipalities.
Mr Rucker conspicuously lacks the international stature of his colleague, Martti Ahtisaari, the former Finnish president who is presiding over talks in Vienna between Serbian and Kosovo Albanian leaders.
Until his move to the Balkans in 2001, Mr Rucker spent eight years away from Germany's foreign service as mayor of Sindelfingen, a tidy Stuttgart suburb. But his relative obscurity belies a proven ability on the ground in Kosovo to achieve results.
Mr Ahtisaari's seven-month-old negotiation drive has been bogged down by enmity between pro-independence Kosovo Albanians and Serbs, who oppose such a move. By contrast, Mr Rucker, as the EU appointee in charge of Kosovo's struggling economy, has accelerated a previously moribund privatisation programme and transferred much of the province's economic capacity into local hands, potentially paving the way for independence.
In his first appearances after his appointment was announced in mid-August, Mr Rucker received a warm welcome from pro-independence leaders. Muhamet Hamiti, senior political adviser to Kosovo's President Fatmir Sejdiu, praised the 55-year-old as "someone who has been on the ground, who does not have to start from scratch and who will need no learning period".
Mr Rucker offered further encouragement to leaders in Pristina, the capital of Kosovo, by scolding Sanda Raskovic-Ivic, Serbia's top official for the province. After Ms Raskovic-Ivic floated the idea of partitioning Kosovo along ethnic lines, he shot back in a BBC interview: "We cannot and will not accept partition as an option."
The comments appeared to have forced Belgrade's negotiators back to the drawing board, with Serb officials disowning Ms Raskovic-Ivic's proposal.
Such firm language won points from senior UN officials keen to keep the rival delegations corralled in Mr Ahtisaari's talks. But it may also signal the end of Mr Rucker's honeymoon in Kosovo as a technician who, in tackling privatisation, managed mostly to steer clear of the intrigues over Kosovo's political status.
Mr Rucker's predecessors often suffered awkward moments with Belgrade.
Mr Annan's previous envoy, Danish diplomat Soren Jessen-Petersen, was highly regarded in Pristina but fell out of favour with many in Belgrade for maintaining a close working relationship with Ramush Haradinaj, a former Kosovo prime minister accused of war crimes.
Despite such difficulties, Mr Rucker said he intended to "switch off the lights" when he left Pristina, signalling the end of the UN's administration of Kosovo, now seven years old. To get there will require technical savvy and political muscle.
The German diplomat stands to play a leading role in determining the future of Kosovo, the most volatile Balkan flashpoint following the break-up of the former Yugoslavia. A bomb blast on Saturday heightened the divisions between ethnic Albanians and Serbs as the UN tries to broker a deal expected to give independence to Kosovo and autonomy to its Serb-dominated northern municipalities.
Mr Rucker conspicuously lacks the international stature of his colleague, Martti Ahtisaari, the former Finnish president who is presiding over talks in Vienna between Serbian and Kosovo Albanian leaders.
Until his move to the Balkans in 2001, Mr Rucker spent eight years away from Germany's foreign service as mayor of Sindelfingen, a tidy Stuttgart suburb. But his relative obscurity belies a proven ability on the ground in Kosovo to achieve results.
Mr Ahtisaari's seven-month-old negotiation drive has been bogged down by enmity between pro-independence Kosovo Albanians and Serbs, who oppose such a move. By contrast, Mr Rucker, as the EU appointee in charge of Kosovo's struggling economy, has accelerated a previously moribund privatisation programme and transferred much of the province's economic capacity into local hands, potentially paving the way for independence.
In his first appearances after his appointment was announced in mid-August, Mr Rucker received a warm welcome from pro-independence leaders. Muhamet Hamiti, senior political adviser to Kosovo's President Fatmir Sejdiu, praised the 55-year-old as "someone who has been on the ground, who does not have to start from scratch and who will need no learning period".
Mr Rucker offered further encouragement to leaders in Pristina, the capital of Kosovo, by scolding Sanda Raskovic-Ivic, Serbia's top official for the province. After Ms Raskovic-Ivic floated the idea of partitioning Kosovo along ethnic lines, he shot back in a BBC interview: "We cannot and will not accept partition as an option."
The comments appeared to have forced Belgrade's negotiators back to the drawing board, with Serb officials disowning Ms Raskovic-Ivic's proposal.
Such firm language won points from senior UN officials keen to keep the rival delegations corralled in Mr Ahtisaari's talks. But it may also signal the end of Mr Rucker's honeymoon in Kosovo as a technician who, in tackling privatisation, managed mostly to steer clear of the intrigues over Kosovo's political status.
Mr Rucker's predecessors often suffered awkward moments with Belgrade.
Mr Annan's previous envoy, Danish diplomat Soren Jessen-Petersen, was highly regarded in Pristina but fell out of favour with many in Belgrade for maintaining a close working relationship with Ramush Haradinaj, a former Kosovo prime minister accused of war crimes.
Despite such difficulties, Mr Rucker said he intended to "switch off the lights" when he left Pristina, signalling the end of the UN's administration of Kosovo, now seven years old. To get there will require technical savvy and political muscle.
U.N. official: Serb hard-liners must allow Kosovo integration
BERLIN (AP) - Hard-liners in Serbia are hindering the integration of ethnic Serbs in Kosovo, the province's U.N. administrator said in remarks published Monday.
Involving ethnic Serbs with Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority is among the biggest problems facing the province, Joachim Ruecker said in an interview the Handelsblatt daily.
"More must be done, not only by the Kosovo-Albanians, but also by the Serbian minority," Ruecker was quoted as saying. "The hard-liners in Belgrade must stop hindering the political and economic integration of Kosovo's Serbs."
Ruecker, a German diplomat, also expressed confidence that U.N.-brokered talks on the future status of the province will be completed by the end of the year.
Ethnic Albanians are seeking full independence in the negotiations, while Serbia is offering autonomy for the impoverished province.
Ruecker said concern that a decision could provoke violence was "far-fetched."
"The institutions have stabilized. The political establishment has realized that violence brings nothing. It is more mature than before," he said.
The U.N. has administered Kosovo since mid-1999 when a NATO air war halted Serb forces' crackdown on independence-seeking ethnic Albanians.
Involving ethnic Serbs with Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority is among the biggest problems facing the province, Joachim Ruecker said in an interview the Handelsblatt daily.
"More must be done, not only by the Kosovo-Albanians, but also by the Serbian minority," Ruecker was quoted as saying. "The hard-liners in Belgrade must stop hindering the political and economic integration of Kosovo's Serbs."
Ruecker, a German diplomat, also expressed confidence that U.N.-brokered talks on the future status of the province will be completed by the end of the year.
Ethnic Albanians are seeking full independence in the negotiations, while Serbia is offering autonomy for the impoverished province.
Ruecker said concern that a decision could provoke violence was "far-fetched."
"The institutions have stabilized. The political establishment has realized that violence brings nothing. It is more mature than before," he said.
The U.N. has administered Kosovo since mid-1999 when a NATO air war halted Serb forces' crackdown on independence-seeking ethnic Albanians.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Kosovo TV reports work begun on setting up intelligence service
Text of report by Radio-Television Kosovo TV website on 22 August
Even though there is no official permission to start the forming of a Kosova Intelligence Service the Kosova Prime Minister Agim Ceku has authorized experts to start working on a draft strategy and draft laws on the intelligence service, Kosova government Spokeswoman Ulpiana Lama said. Kosova [Kosovo] will need the final product right after the resolution of the status issue. So far, there has been work on terms of reference, financial implications, staff, time frameworks, and how the transfer of these competencies will be carried out. The work has just started, Lama added.
As in many other areas, the undefined status of Kosova is seen as a real obstacle for the creation of an intelligence service. Recently the government of Kosova received in principle permission from UNMIK to start preparations on drafting a framework for the future intelligence service as part of the Internal Security Sector Review, ISSR official Michael Page said. However, this permission is insufficient for the relevant Kosova authorities to deal with all the preparations to establish institutions of this nature. For the creation of a Kosova intelligence service it is very important that the status of Kosova is resolved as soon as possible and to be clearly known whether Kosova will have this service or not, because until then we cannot work on details, as it is not known what status Kosovo will get, Page added.
Regarding the creation of an embryonic intelligence service in Kosova, Page stressed that it is a complex issue to create a professional, apolitical service which would not serve certain political parties, but would focus on the protection of Kosova. It is very important to hire professional and qualified staff for any future intelligence service. The basic criterion is to follow the law and serve protection of security in Kosova, and not someone's political or party interests, Page said.
Source: RTK TV website, Pristina, in Albanian 1627 gmt 22 Aug 06
Even though there is no official permission to start the forming of a Kosova Intelligence Service the Kosova Prime Minister Agim Ceku has authorized experts to start working on a draft strategy and draft laws on the intelligence service, Kosova government Spokeswoman Ulpiana Lama said. Kosova [Kosovo] will need the final product right after the resolution of the status issue. So far, there has been work on terms of reference, financial implications, staff, time frameworks, and how the transfer of these competencies will be carried out. The work has just started, Lama added.
As in many other areas, the undefined status of Kosova is seen as a real obstacle for the creation of an intelligence service. Recently the government of Kosova received in principle permission from UNMIK to start preparations on drafting a framework for the future intelligence service as part of the Internal Security Sector Review, ISSR official Michael Page said. However, this permission is insufficient for the relevant Kosova authorities to deal with all the preparations to establish institutions of this nature. For the creation of a Kosova intelligence service it is very important that the status of Kosova is resolved as soon as possible and to be clearly known whether Kosova will have this service or not, because until then we cannot work on details, as it is not known what status Kosovo will get, Page added.
Regarding the creation of an embryonic intelligence service in Kosova, Page stressed that it is a complex issue to create a professional, apolitical service which would not serve certain political parties, but would focus on the protection of Kosova. It is very important to hire professional and qualified staff for any future intelligence service. The basic criterion is to follow the law and serve protection of security in Kosova, and not someone's political or party interests, Page said.
Source: RTK TV website, Pristina, in Albanian 1627 gmt 22 Aug 06
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Top UN envoy visits Kosovo for talks on future status
PRISTINA, Serbia, Aug 22, 2006 (AFP) -
Top UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari on Tuesday began a three-day visit here devoted to talks on the future status of the disputed province of Kosovo, in which Belgrade opposes ethnic Albanian demands for independence.
Upon arrival, Ahtisaari met with top representatives of the international community in the province, which has been administered by the United Nations since 1999, after a NATO bombing campaign ended Belgrade's offensive against Kosovo Albanian separatists.
Ethnic tensions remain high as ethnic Albanians, who make up 90 percent of the population of Kosovo, want to break away from Belgrade which considers the province part of the Serbian state.
Ahtisaari's new diplomatic visit to resolve the standoff between Pristina and Belgrade comes after nine rounds of technical talks between the two sides. It is the first visit since frosty high-level talks broke down last month.
The talks between Serbian and Kosovo Albanian leaders, which went on in Vienna for several months, have failed so far to produce a breakthrough on the sensitive issue of the province's future status, as the two sides remained entrenched in their rival positions.
The international community has said it hopes to have a solution on the territory's future status before the end of the year.
During this week's visit Ahtisaari, a former Finnish president, is expected to meet Kosovo Albanian and Serb leaders and to visit on Thursday the troublesome north of the province, where the Serb majority in June declared a state of emergency and broke off relations with Kosovo authorities.
The move was seen as a precursor to a bid to partition the province.
Top UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari on Tuesday began a three-day visit here devoted to talks on the future status of the disputed province of Kosovo, in which Belgrade opposes ethnic Albanian demands for independence.
Upon arrival, Ahtisaari met with top representatives of the international community in the province, which has been administered by the United Nations since 1999, after a NATO bombing campaign ended Belgrade's offensive against Kosovo Albanian separatists.
Ethnic tensions remain high as ethnic Albanians, who make up 90 percent of the population of Kosovo, want to break away from Belgrade which considers the province part of the Serbian state.
Ahtisaari's new diplomatic visit to resolve the standoff between Pristina and Belgrade comes after nine rounds of technical talks between the two sides. It is the first visit since frosty high-level talks broke down last month.
The talks between Serbian and Kosovo Albanian leaders, which went on in Vienna for several months, have failed so far to produce a breakthrough on the sensitive issue of the province's future status, as the two sides remained entrenched in their rival positions.
The international community has said it hopes to have a solution on the territory's future status before the end of the year.
During this week's visit Ahtisaari, a former Finnish president, is expected to meet Kosovo Albanian and Serb leaders and to visit on Thursday the troublesome north of the province, where the Serb majority in June declared a state of emergency and broke off relations with Kosovo authorities.
The move was seen as a precursor to a bid to partition the province.
Kosovo: Officials say spread of meningitis epidemic "under full control"
Text of report in English by independent internet news agency KosovaLive
Prishtina [Pristina], 22 August: The officials of the University Clinical Centre (UCC) and those of the Infective Diseases Clinic said today that the number of patients with meningitis epidemic disease is decreasing, a disease which was spread during summer in Kosova [Kosovo], with 430 persons hospitalized.
These comments were made following a visit by the prime minister of Kosova, Agim Ceku, accompanied by the health minister, Sadik Idriz, and the head of UCC in the Infective Diseases Clinic in order to get informed how the meningitis epidemics was being handled.
Prime Minister Ceku expressed his belief that this epidemic is under full control of the UCC, National Institute for Public Health (IKSHP), Ministry of Health and also the World Health Organization (WHO).
"I was assured by the leaders of the Infective Diseases Clinic and UCC that the situation is under full control. The Infective Diseases Clinic has sufficient capacities in staff and medicaments to handle this disease," said Prime Minister Ceku.
Ceku also said that he was informed by health officials that there are 72 viruses that could cause this disease.
"Samples have been sent to Rome by the WHO, and we are expecting the results, therefore I did not see the situation as worrying," he stated.
Prime Minister Ceku said that more must be done in raising the awareness of the people about this disease, in improving the conditions of the drinking water and in improving the hygiene conditions, adding that the Ministry of Health and UCC has embarked on a meningitis awareness campaign.
He also praised the medical staff of Infective Diseases Clinic and those of UCC for their efforts in dealing with this disease.
Prime Minister Ceku furthermore said that government had provided the required funds asked by the UCC to deal with meningitis, adding that 5,000 euros was given for medicaments and further 5,000 euros for the awareness campaign."
Meanwhile, Muharrem Bajrami, the Head of the Infective Diseases Clinic, said that fortunately they had managed to very successfully deal with this disease.
On the other hand, the chief executive of UCC, Fadil Beka, said that they are in touch with everyone and that they have supplied with drugs the Infective Diseases Clinic when it was necessary.
Source: KosovaLive website, Pristina, in English 22 Aug 06
Prishtina [Pristina], 22 August: The officials of the University Clinical Centre (UCC) and those of the Infective Diseases Clinic said today that the number of patients with meningitis epidemic disease is decreasing, a disease which was spread during summer in Kosova [Kosovo], with 430 persons hospitalized.
These comments were made following a visit by the prime minister of Kosova, Agim Ceku, accompanied by the health minister, Sadik Idriz, and the head of UCC in the Infective Diseases Clinic in order to get informed how the meningitis epidemics was being handled.
Prime Minister Ceku expressed his belief that this epidemic is under full control of the UCC, National Institute for Public Health (IKSHP), Ministry of Health and also the World Health Organization (WHO).
"I was assured by the leaders of the Infective Diseases Clinic and UCC that the situation is under full control. The Infective Diseases Clinic has sufficient capacities in staff and medicaments to handle this disease," said Prime Minister Ceku.
Ceku also said that he was informed by health officials that there are 72 viruses that could cause this disease.
"Samples have been sent to Rome by the WHO, and we are expecting the results, therefore I did not see the situation as worrying," he stated.
Prime Minister Ceku said that more must be done in raising the awareness of the people about this disease, in improving the conditions of the drinking water and in improving the hygiene conditions, adding that the Ministry of Health and UCC has embarked on a meningitis awareness campaign.
He also praised the medical staff of Infective Diseases Clinic and those of UCC for their efforts in dealing with this disease.
Prime Minister Ceku furthermore said that government had provided the required funds asked by the UCC to deal with meningitis, adding that 5,000 euros was given for medicaments and further 5,000 euros for the awareness campaign."
Meanwhile, Muharrem Bajrami, the Head of the Infective Diseases Clinic, said that fortunately they had managed to very successfully deal with this disease.
On the other hand, the chief executive of UCC, Fadil Beka, said that they are in touch with everyone and that they have supplied with drugs the Infective Diseases Clinic when it was necessary.
Source: KosovaLive website, Pristina, in English 22 Aug 06
Monday, August 21, 2006
Kosovo Albanians offer Serbs admin of 24 per cent of territory
Pristina_(dpa) _ The ethnic Albanian side in the talks on the future status of Kosovo is to offer Serbs in Serbia's breakaway province administration of 24 per cent of the territory, Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Lufti Haziri said Monday.
"In effect, 82 per cent of local Serbs in Kosovo administer themselves through the local governance ... while 24 per cent of Kosovo's territory is in their direct administration, which is in disproportion with their ethnic composition," Haziri said.
Ethnic Albanians are the vast majority of Kosovo, forming around 90 per cent of the population of what is formally still Serbia's province, though administered by the UN since 1999.
Talks between delegations from Pristina and Belgrade on the future status of Kosovo, held under UN auspices, were launched in February in Vienna, while the first top-level meeting of the prime ministers and presidents of Kosovo and Serbia took place late in July.
Little progress has been made in bringing the positions of the two negotiating sides closer. While ethnic Albanians insist on full independence for Kosovo, Serbia equally insists on not losing its territory and is offering wide autonomy instead.
UN special envoy for Kosovo Martti Ahtisaari is due to arrive to the province Tuesday for a three-day visit to Pristina.
"In effect, 82 per cent of local Serbs in Kosovo administer themselves through the local governance ... while 24 per cent of Kosovo's territory is in their direct administration, which is in disproportion with their ethnic composition," Haziri said.
Ethnic Albanians are the vast majority of Kosovo, forming around 90 per cent of the population of what is formally still Serbia's province, though administered by the UN since 1999.
Talks between delegations from Pristina and Belgrade on the future status of Kosovo, held under UN auspices, were launched in February in Vienna, while the first top-level meeting of the prime ministers and presidents of Kosovo and Serbia took place late in July.
Little progress has been made in bringing the positions of the two negotiating sides closer. While ethnic Albanians insist on full independence for Kosovo, Serbia equally insists on not losing its territory and is offering wide autonomy instead.
UN special envoy for Kosovo Martti Ahtisaari is due to arrive to the province Tuesday for a three-day visit to Pristina.
Kosovo Premier Ceku calls on Serbs to see their future in Kosovo, not Belgrade
Text of report in English by independent internet news agency KosovaLive
Prishtina [Pristina], 21 August: Prime Minister of Kosova [Kosovo], Agim Ceku, has called once again on the Serbs of Kosova to see their future in Kosova, and promised them an open door for their integration in the institutions of Kosova, adding that Kosova party will have a lot of things to show to [UN] mediator [Martti] Ahtisaari about the Standards application.
The head of the government, in his weekly speech on Radio Kosova, said he was confident about the future of Kosova, calling on the Serbs to recognize the reality and give up Belgrade.
"They do not know what to be oriented to. Their compass is out of order, they do not know if they should be supplied with Kosova or Serbia documents, nor where do they belong to. They do not know which [registration] plate to use in their vehicles, or whether if their vote has any value," said Ceku.
According to Ceku, this is all happening as the consequence of the confusing statements of Belgrade officials, who systematically manipulate with the Serbs of Kosova. So they should urgently recognize and accept the new reality in Kosova created in 1999, as well as seizing the misinformation that creates fright and insecurity.
"As the consequence of all this pressure, Serb habitants feel frustrated and tired. They worry for the independence of Kosova, and are afraid of unknown, of the test of joint life with Albanians," he said, adding: "Majority in Kosova knows that the energy, goodness and insistence win over everything. The patience, determination and firmness evidence good cause and the seriousness of these causes."
In regard to Martti Ahtisaari's visit, Prime Minister Ceku expressed his optimism. "Ahtisaari will come tomorrow to visit Prishtina. We have what to show to him. We have made evident improvement in the standard implementation, the thing that we have promised. The government has taken the responsibility of giving arguments that support Kosova's request for recognizing the independence as soon as possible."
Source: KosovaLive website, Pristina, in English 21 Aug 06
Prishtina [Pristina], 21 August: Prime Minister of Kosova [Kosovo], Agim Ceku, has called once again on the Serbs of Kosova to see their future in Kosova, and promised them an open door for their integration in the institutions of Kosova, adding that Kosova party will have a lot of things to show to [UN] mediator [Martti] Ahtisaari about the Standards application.
The head of the government, in his weekly speech on Radio Kosova, said he was confident about the future of Kosova, calling on the Serbs to recognize the reality and give up Belgrade.
"They do not know what to be oriented to. Their compass is out of order, they do not know if they should be supplied with Kosova or Serbia documents, nor where do they belong to. They do not know which [registration] plate to use in their vehicles, or whether if their vote has any value," said Ceku.
According to Ceku, this is all happening as the consequence of the confusing statements of Belgrade officials, who systematically manipulate with the Serbs of Kosova. So they should urgently recognize and accept the new reality in Kosova created in 1999, as well as seizing the misinformation that creates fright and insecurity.
"As the consequence of all this pressure, Serb habitants feel frustrated and tired. They worry for the independence of Kosova, and are afraid of unknown, of the test of joint life with Albanians," he said, adding: "Majority in Kosova knows that the energy, goodness and insistence win over everything. The patience, determination and firmness evidence good cause and the seriousness of these causes."
In regard to Martti Ahtisaari's visit, Prime Minister Ceku expressed his optimism. "Ahtisaari will come tomorrow to visit Prishtina. We have what to show to him. We have made evident improvement in the standard implementation, the thing that we have promised. The government has taken the responsibility of giving arguments that support Kosova's request for recognizing the independence as soon as possible."
Source: KosovaLive website, Pristina, in English 21 Aug 06
Kosovo Serb leader criticizes Belgrade for taking decentralization "too lightly"
(c) 2006 The British Broadcasting Corporation. All Rights Reserved. No material may be reproduced except with the express permission of The British Broadcasting Corporation.
Text of interview with Oliver Ivanovic, head of the Serb List for Kosovo-Metohija, by Zeljka Jevtic entitled "Belgrade asks us nothing" published by the Serbian newspaper Blic on 20 August
On Sunday I was in Osojani and Gorazdevac. The former is a returnees' village and the latter survived 1999. Osojani is celebrating return, Gorazdevac is commemorating the murder of children who were shot while swimming. Osojani is happy, people are at home and filled with optimism, Gorazdevac is as sad and tragic as it was three years ago. There is no justice as the killers have not been caught. A feeling both share is insecurity, and yet a wish to remain on their land. This is common throughout the Serb community in Kosmet, Oliver Ivanovic, head of the Serb List for Kosovo and Metohija, said in an interview with Blic.
[Jevtic] Are people discussing future status?
[Ivanovic] There are concerned mostly about the different statements of our politicians. Belgrade's concept at the talks is not clear. People here have no clear message on what is expected of us all. They have no idea what is to be done the day after. If there is an alternative strategy, it is not clear and the Serbs do not know about it. Finally, the negotiating team in Belgrade has no direct contact with Serbs in Kosovo. People ask: How are they negotiating on our behalf without asking us what we need? The negotiating team should visit us here and talk to people and get a feeling for our problems.
[Jevtic] And the Albanians?
[Ivanovic] They are completely confident. Increasingly frequent statements by [UN envoy] Martti Ahtisaari are actually criticisms of Belgrade's position, which the Albanians take as praise. On the whole, Albanians deem the presentation of Pristina's team as successful, which puts the poor economic situation into the background, and many differences between the government and opposition are sidelined. A crisis will break out if the talks come to a standstill.
[Jevtic] What is your grudge against the Belgrade negotiating team?
[Ivanovic] Besides what people think, I would add Belgrade taking the question of decentralization too lightly. If we succeed in keeping Kosovo part of Serbia, only decentralization can ensure normal life for Serbs in an Albanian environment. Belgrade is putting emphasis on status, while questions on technical talks that have to do with everyday life are considered less important. That precisely is the basis for Serbs to remain in Kosovo. However status is resolved we must establish relations and be protected through the institutions.
[Box] Ruecker optimistic
[Jevtic] You met the new chief of UNMIK [UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo], Joachim Ruecker. What are his opinions?
[Ivanovic] He told me that Martti Ahtisaari would propose a solution for decentralization in September and conveyed his opinion in principle on status. I doubt it will happen that swiftly, I think the new UNMIK chief is overly optimistic. He said he was the last chief, but the last three shared this belief. Ahtisaari will be here next week so that will be an opportunity to clarify many issues.
[Box] Institutions
[Ivanovic] There is no alternative to the Serb List and no alternative solution until elections. This should be quite clear to everyone who called for early elections.
Source: Blic, Belgrade, in Serbian 20 Aug 06 pp 2-3
Text of interview with Oliver Ivanovic, head of the Serb List for Kosovo-Metohija, by Zeljka Jevtic entitled "Belgrade asks us nothing" published by the Serbian newspaper Blic on 20 August
On Sunday I was in Osojani and Gorazdevac. The former is a returnees' village and the latter survived 1999. Osojani is celebrating return, Gorazdevac is commemorating the murder of children who were shot while swimming. Osojani is happy, people are at home and filled with optimism, Gorazdevac is as sad and tragic as it was three years ago. There is no justice as the killers have not been caught. A feeling both share is insecurity, and yet a wish to remain on their land. This is common throughout the Serb community in Kosmet, Oliver Ivanovic, head of the Serb List for Kosovo and Metohija, said in an interview with Blic.
[Jevtic] Are people discussing future status?
[Ivanovic] There are concerned mostly about the different statements of our politicians. Belgrade's concept at the talks is not clear. People here have no clear message on what is expected of us all. They have no idea what is to be done the day after. If there is an alternative strategy, it is not clear and the Serbs do not know about it. Finally, the negotiating team in Belgrade has no direct contact with Serbs in Kosovo. People ask: How are they negotiating on our behalf without asking us what we need? The negotiating team should visit us here and talk to people and get a feeling for our problems.
[Jevtic] And the Albanians?
[Ivanovic] They are completely confident. Increasingly frequent statements by [UN envoy] Martti Ahtisaari are actually criticisms of Belgrade's position, which the Albanians take as praise. On the whole, Albanians deem the presentation of Pristina's team as successful, which puts the poor economic situation into the background, and many differences between the government and opposition are sidelined. A crisis will break out if the talks come to a standstill.
[Jevtic] What is your grudge against the Belgrade negotiating team?
[Ivanovic] Besides what people think, I would add Belgrade taking the question of decentralization too lightly. If we succeed in keeping Kosovo part of Serbia, only decentralization can ensure normal life for Serbs in an Albanian environment. Belgrade is putting emphasis on status, while questions on technical talks that have to do with everyday life are considered less important. That precisely is the basis for Serbs to remain in Kosovo. However status is resolved we must establish relations and be protected through the institutions.
[Box] Ruecker optimistic
[Jevtic] You met the new chief of UNMIK [UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo], Joachim Ruecker. What are his opinions?
[Ivanovic] He told me that Martti Ahtisaari would propose a solution for decentralization in September and conveyed his opinion in principle on status. I doubt it will happen that swiftly, I think the new UNMIK chief is overly optimistic. He said he was the last chief, but the last three shared this belief. Ahtisaari will be here next week so that will be an opportunity to clarify many issues.
[Box] Institutions
[Ivanovic] There is no alternative to the Serb List and no alternative solution until elections. This should be quite clear to everyone who called for early elections.
Source: Blic, Belgrade, in Serbian 20 Aug 06 pp 2-3
Contact Group alarms Belgrade (Dailies)
Dailies report that according to the Serbian media the Contact Group has sent Serbian leaders a letter saying that the months to come are decisive, therefore they should use them.
Contact Group ‘pulls the ear’ of Belgrade, writes Kosova Sot. According to the paper both sides in Kosovo are expected to show mutual understanding at this sensitive stage of talks, while Belgrade should influence leaders in the north of Kosovo to promote constructive actions and to calm down the situation.
Express on front-page headlined Contact Groups alerts Belgrade and writes that the CG in its letter has also expressed its strong support to UN Status Envoy Martti Ahtisaari and advises both parties to use the upcoming meetings for solving essential issues rather than concentrating on procedural ones. The paper citing Belgrade daily Politka writes that CG has also urged Belgrade to show more flexibility on decentralization and cultural heritage talks as well as to participate in meetings regarding community rights.
Moreover, the paper writes, CG has also called on Kosovo Serbs to join Kosovo institutions as the best way for realizing their interests since any further continuation of boycotting would only harm them.
Contact Group ‘pulls the ear’ of Belgrade, writes Kosova Sot. According to the paper both sides in Kosovo are expected to show mutual understanding at this sensitive stage of talks, while Belgrade should influence leaders in the north of Kosovo to promote constructive actions and to calm down the situation.
Express on front-page headlined Contact Groups alerts Belgrade and writes that the CG in its letter has also expressed its strong support to UN Status Envoy Martti Ahtisaari and advises both parties to use the upcoming meetings for solving essential issues rather than concentrating on procedural ones. The paper citing Belgrade daily Politka writes that CG has also urged Belgrade to show more flexibility on decentralization and cultural heritage talks as well as to participate in meetings regarding community rights.
Moreover, the paper writes, CG has also called on Kosovo Serbs to join Kosovo institutions as the best way for realizing their interests since any further continuation of boycotting would only harm them.
Prime Minister of Kosovo has institutional and party support when talking about army
Koha Ditore lead story reports that the institutional and main party leaders in Kosovo strongly back the stance of Prime Minister Agim Çeku when he says ‘Kosovo will have its army in the future’ following reactions by Serbian officials against it.
Koha Ditore reported on Sunday that the statement of Kosovo Prime Minister Agim Çeku that Kosovo should have its own army has triggered lots of reactions among Serbs.
Kosovo’s army would jeopardize regional stability, said Serbian president Boris Tadic for the Serbian state TV, RTS.
Kosovo Serb leader Oliver Ivanovic has said for B92 that it is an age-long wish of Kosovo Albanians to ensure a better negotiating position through an army which is a symbol of statehood. According to him, an army for Kosovo would create huge tensions in the region and would be a factor of destabilization.
Leon Kojen, coordinator of the Serbian Delegation has said that the ICG has also encouraged these statements. “The position of Belgrade is clear. We are for complete demilitarization of Kosovo,” he said adding that the international troops and also the police would meet the European standards.
These in turn led to backing statements in Kosovo by institutions and the parties.
“Of course that Kosovo should have a military force. Kosovo’s military force will have a stabilizing role in the region, of course not denying the presence of international military force, namely NATO,” the Assembly President Kolë Berisha is quoted as saying. Berisha clarified further that Kosovo military force should be in coordination with the international military force that will still be in Kosovo.
Kosovo army does not in any way pose a threat to peace and stability in the region…on the contrary it is a precondition for long term stability, said LDK spokesperson Lulzim Zeneli, according to the paper.
PDK spokeswoman Vlora Çitaku says that her party considers Kosovo should have its own army, and that this is not to be negotiated. “PDK is for a modern and integrated army that would first be part of partnership and later member of NATO,” she said.
ORA spokesperson Ylli Hoxha also emphasizes the need for Kosovo to have an army. “It is clear that Kosovo once it becomes a state will need its army and we as a political entity will work on it being efficient and also cooperative with Euro-Atlantic structures.” Hoxha further said that it will be an army of peace and not of war.
KPC spokesperson Enver Dugolli has said that the people of Kosovo will decide whether Kosovo needs an army or not.
Koha Ditore reported on Sunday that the statement of Kosovo Prime Minister Agim Çeku that Kosovo should have its own army has triggered lots of reactions among Serbs.
Kosovo’s army would jeopardize regional stability, said Serbian president Boris Tadic for the Serbian state TV, RTS.
Kosovo Serb leader Oliver Ivanovic has said for B92 that it is an age-long wish of Kosovo Albanians to ensure a better negotiating position through an army which is a symbol of statehood. According to him, an army for Kosovo would create huge tensions in the region and would be a factor of destabilization.
Leon Kojen, coordinator of the Serbian Delegation has said that the ICG has also encouraged these statements. “The position of Belgrade is clear. We are for complete demilitarization of Kosovo,” he said adding that the international troops and also the police would meet the European standards.
These in turn led to backing statements in Kosovo by institutions and the parties.
“Of course that Kosovo should have a military force. Kosovo’s military force will have a stabilizing role in the region, of course not denying the presence of international military force, namely NATO,” the Assembly President Kolë Berisha is quoted as saying. Berisha clarified further that Kosovo military force should be in coordination with the international military force that will still be in Kosovo.
Kosovo army does not in any way pose a threat to peace and stability in the region…on the contrary it is a precondition for long term stability, said LDK spokesperson Lulzim Zeneli, according to the paper.
PDK spokeswoman Vlora Çitaku says that her party considers Kosovo should have its own army, and that this is not to be negotiated. “PDK is for a modern and integrated army that would first be part of partnership and later member of NATO,” she said.
ORA spokesperson Ylli Hoxha also emphasizes the need for Kosovo to have an army. “It is clear that Kosovo once it becomes a state will need its army and we as a political entity will work on it being efficient and also cooperative with Euro-Atlantic structures.” Hoxha further said that it will be an army of peace and not of war.
KPC spokesperson Enver Dugolli has said that the people of Kosovo will decide whether Kosovo needs an army or not.
Friday, August 18, 2006
Navigating Kosovo's Future
Copyright 2006 The New York Times Company. All Rights Reserved.
The 1999 war over Kosovo left the former Serbian province in political limbo, postponing the question of possible independence for another day. That day is now at hand, and the main question facing the international community is not whether Kosovo will become independent, but when and how. Status talks are expected to conclude in the next few months, with the United Nations Security Council to rule on the issue by the end of the year.
The original plan was for Kosovo's political leaders to demonstrate their ability to govern responsibly before formal discussions of sovereignty could begin. They haven't really done so, although they have made some grudging moves under international pressure.
Yet as a practical matter, Kosovo's international wardship cannot be extended indefinitely. The most promising way to encourage further progress is by moving ahead to a carefully conditioned form of limited autonomy.
The most critical issue, now as ever, is guaranteeing the rights of the ethnic Serb minority. Any independence arrangement will have to assure minorities a substantial role in government, particularly in sensitive areas like the Justice Ministry.
For the first few years at least, the powers of Kosovo's new government must be strictly limited. An international authority will have to monitor the government's fulfillment of internationally agreed conditions, paying special attention to issues like the rule of law and minority rights. A few thousand NATO-led troops should remain in Kosovo with the power to intervene when necessary to compel compliance.
Most of the countries with troops in Kosovo would prefer to bring them home now. But Kosovo's march toward independence is going to remain difficult and dangerous for years. The need for a continuing armed international presence should be non-negotiable.
The 1999 war over Kosovo left the former Serbian province in political limbo, postponing the question of possible independence for another day. That day is now at hand, and the main question facing the international community is not whether Kosovo will become independent, but when and how. Status talks are expected to conclude in the next few months, with the United Nations Security Council to rule on the issue by the end of the year.
The original plan was for Kosovo's political leaders to demonstrate their ability to govern responsibly before formal discussions of sovereignty could begin. They haven't really done so, although they have made some grudging moves under international pressure.
Yet as a practical matter, Kosovo's international wardship cannot be extended indefinitely. The most promising way to encourage further progress is by moving ahead to a carefully conditioned form of limited autonomy.
The most critical issue, now as ever, is guaranteeing the rights of the ethnic Serb minority. Any independence arrangement will have to assure minorities a substantial role in government, particularly in sensitive areas like the Justice Ministry.
For the first few years at least, the powers of Kosovo's new government must be strictly limited. An international authority will have to monitor the government's fulfillment of internationally agreed conditions, paying special attention to issues like the rule of law and minority rights. A few thousand NATO-led troops should remain in Kosovo with the power to intervene when necessary to compel compliance.
Most of the countries with troops in Kosovo would prefer to bring them home now. But Kosovo's march toward independence is going to remain difficult and dangerous for years. The need for a continuing armed international presence should be non-negotiable.
Premier says Kosovo to have its own army
Text of report in English by Croatian news agency HINA
Pristina, 17 August: Kosovo will have its own army that will evolve from the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC), Kosovo's Premier Agim Ceku, former commander of the KPC and of the now defunct Kosovo Liberation Army, said in Pristina on Thursday [17 August].
Ceku was speaking in response to the statement made on Wednesday by the head of the German office in Pristina, Eugen Wollfarth, that the forming of a Kosovo army would not be among the future priorities of the international community and that Berlin did not support its formation.
Ceku said that security structures for Kosovo would be the subject of talks and that at the request of the Kosovo negotiating team he would be personally involved, together with a group of experts, in preparing a proposal to form a Kosovo army.
The KPC commander, General Sulejman Selimi, said on Thursday that in defining the final status of Kosovo, a military component should also be defined and that Kosovo should be independent and have its own army.
The commander of the NATO-led Kosovo Force (Kfor), General Giuseppe Valotto of Italy, visited the Kosovo Protection Corps earlier on Thursday. He said that Kosovo should have trust in the KPC, which he described as a well-prepared and well-led organization ready to carry out any assignment.
Source: HINA news agency, Zagreb, in English 2105 gmt 17 Aug 06
Pristina, 17 August: Kosovo will have its own army that will evolve from the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC), Kosovo's Premier Agim Ceku, former commander of the KPC and of the now defunct Kosovo Liberation Army, said in Pristina on Thursday [17 August].
Ceku was speaking in response to the statement made on Wednesday by the head of the German office in Pristina, Eugen Wollfarth, that the forming of a Kosovo army would not be among the future priorities of the international community and that Berlin did not support its formation.
Ceku said that security structures for Kosovo would be the subject of talks and that at the request of the Kosovo negotiating team he would be personally involved, together with a group of experts, in preparing a proposal to form a Kosovo army.
The KPC commander, General Sulejman Selimi, said on Thursday that in defining the final status of Kosovo, a military component should also be defined and that Kosovo should be independent and have its own army.
The commander of the NATO-led Kosovo Force (Kfor), General Giuseppe Valotto of Italy, visited the Kosovo Protection Corps earlier on Thursday. He said that Kosovo should have trust in the KPC, which he described as a well-prepared and well-led organization ready to carry out any assignment.
Source: HINA news agency, Zagreb, in English 2105 gmt 17 Aug 06
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Kosovo institutions see progress in return of displaced, freedom of movement
Text of report in English by independent internet news agency KosovaLive
Prishtina [Pristina], 17 August: The Kosova [Kosovo] institutions have evaluated today that there is an evident progress in the implementation of Standard III and IV, which are the freedom of movement and the sustainable return, adding that there is an increase of the returned persons during these last months.
This was announced today in a meeting of the working groups made of the local and international officials for Standard III and IV.
The deputy minister for the local self-administration, Aziz Lila, said that the continuity of construction of the houses, the issue of the return of the displaced persons and the end of the administrative direction for a fair share of the finances are some of the main points of Standard III and IV.
According to Lila, Kline [Klina] is the place with the highest number of the sustainable returnees, followed by Peje [Pec], and so on.
"There is no exact number regarding this issue, since the returns happen every day and constantly," said Lila.
Meanwhile, the director of Office of Communities, Returns and Minority Affairs, Sandra Mitchell, said that they have reached an agreement with the Ministry of Return, in accordance with the Contact Group requests for sharing the grants where it will be included the support for the projects for the return in the neighbourhoods of Abdullahaj in Gjilan [Gnjilane] and Skenderaj [Srbica].
Source: KosovaLive website, Pristina, in English 17 Aug 06
Prishtina [Pristina], 17 August: The Kosova [Kosovo] institutions have evaluated today that there is an evident progress in the implementation of Standard III and IV, which are the freedom of movement and the sustainable return, adding that there is an increase of the returned persons during these last months.
This was announced today in a meeting of the working groups made of the local and international officials for Standard III and IV.
The deputy minister for the local self-administration, Aziz Lila, said that the continuity of construction of the houses, the issue of the return of the displaced persons and the end of the administrative direction for a fair share of the finances are some of the main points of Standard III and IV.
According to Lila, Kline [Klina] is the place with the highest number of the sustainable returnees, followed by Peje [Pec], and so on.
"There is no exact number regarding this issue, since the returns happen every day and constantly," said Lila.
Meanwhile, the director of Office of Communities, Returns and Minority Affairs, Sandra Mitchell, said that they have reached an agreement with the Ministry of Return, in accordance with the Contact Group requests for sharing the grants where it will be included the support for the projects for the return in the neighbourhoods of Abdullahaj in Gjilan [Gnjilane] and Skenderaj [Srbica].
Source: KosovaLive website, Pristina, in English 17 Aug 06
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Statement on Kosovo partition met with mixed reactions by Serbs in Gracanica
Excerpt from report by Belgrade-based B92 TV on 15 August
[Newsreader] While government representatives are ruling out the possibility of Kosovo partition and claim that the statement by [head of the Coordination Centre for Kosovo-Metohija] Sanda Raskovic-Ivic [to this effect] was taken out of context in an interview with the BBC, certain analysts take the view that her statement was not coincidental. According to them, this was done to test the water of domestic and international opinion on the possibility of Kosovo partition.
[Reporter] Sanda Raskovic-Ivic told the BBC that if both sides - Serbs and Albanians - face the fact that it is impossible for them to live together, and if the international community faces that fact as well, then a win-win situation would be a kind of partition. This statement was met by different comments from the locals in Gracanica.
[First citizen] This is not the first time that Sanda Raskovic-Ivic is floating a trial balloon of [Serbian Prime Minister] Vojislav Kostunica. Let's get something straight - the position of the entire government, even opposition - is partition of Kosovo.
[Second citizen] The idea of Kosovo partition is mere provocation. This option does not, in any way, suit us. Maybe it suits that other part of Mitrovica - but for us here absolutely not.
[Third citizen] Maybe this can be a solution for Kosovo, for it to be partitioned. That way it would not be the way we want it, but neither the way they [Albanians] want it.
[Reporter] Analyst Djordje Vukadinovic believes that it is beyond any doubt that official Belgrade remains steadfast in its position of [granting] broad autonomy for Kosovo as part of Serbia. But he also pointed out that the kind of partition that Raskovic-Ivic suggested in the interview, as well as changes to borders, has been discussed in diplomatic circles for some time now.
[Vukadinovic] It seems as though this statement came out to test the water of both international and domestic, that is public opinion in Serbia, and diplomatic circles - to see what the reactions to this idea would be both abroad and in Serbia. As I already said this possibility has been denied for years, and for years it has been emphasized that it is absolutely out of the question. But this does not exclude the possibility that if a compromise is, after all, really sought then this idea will certainly need to have its place [as received].
[Passage omitted: UNMIK chief's position on this]
Source: B92 TV, Belgrade, in Serbian 1400 gmt 15 Aug 06
[Newsreader] While government representatives are ruling out the possibility of Kosovo partition and claim that the statement by [head of the Coordination Centre for Kosovo-Metohija] Sanda Raskovic-Ivic [to this effect] was taken out of context in an interview with the BBC, certain analysts take the view that her statement was not coincidental. According to them, this was done to test the water of domestic and international opinion on the possibility of Kosovo partition.
[Reporter] Sanda Raskovic-Ivic told the BBC that if both sides - Serbs and Albanians - face the fact that it is impossible for them to live together, and if the international community faces that fact as well, then a win-win situation would be a kind of partition. This statement was met by different comments from the locals in Gracanica.
[First citizen] This is not the first time that Sanda Raskovic-Ivic is floating a trial balloon of [Serbian Prime Minister] Vojislav Kostunica. Let's get something straight - the position of the entire government, even opposition - is partition of Kosovo.
[Second citizen] The idea of Kosovo partition is mere provocation. This option does not, in any way, suit us. Maybe it suits that other part of Mitrovica - but for us here absolutely not.
[Third citizen] Maybe this can be a solution for Kosovo, for it to be partitioned. That way it would not be the way we want it, but neither the way they [Albanians] want it.
[Reporter] Analyst Djordje Vukadinovic believes that it is beyond any doubt that official Belgrade remains steadfast in its position of [granting] broad autonomy for Kosovo as part of Serbia. But he also pointed out that the kind of partition that Raskovic-Ivic suggested in the interview, as well as changes to borders, has been discussed in diplomatic circles for some time now.
[Vukadinovic] It seems as though this statement came out to test the water of both international and domestic, that is public opinion in Serbia, and diplomatic circles - to see what the reactions to this idea would be both abroad and in Serbia. As I already said this possibility has been denied for years, and for years it has been emphasized that it is absolutely out of the question. But this does not exclude the possibility that if a compromise is, after all, really sought then this idea will certainly need to have its place [as received].
[Passage omitted: UNMIK chief's position on this]
Source: B92 TV, Belgrade, in Serbian 1400 gmt 15 Aug 06
Serbia should be first to recognize Kosovo, official says
Text of report by Radio-Television Kosovo TV website on 15 August
Serbia should be the first to recognize an independent Kosova [Kosovo], because this would relieve it of the painful problem and open the doors of the international community, said the chairman of Kosova Association for Multi-Ethnic Cooperation NGO and former senior communist party official, Azem Vllasi. According to Vllasi, Serbia would get rid off an old and painful problem. It will not be able to resolve the problem in a favourable way, in a way beneficial to Serbia. Serbia could then enter the European integration much faster, Azem Vllasi assessed.
Source: RTK TV website, Pristina, in Albanian 15 Aug 06
Serbia should be the first to recognize an independent Kosova [Kosovo], because this would relieve it of the painful problem and open the doors of the international community, said the chairman of Kosova Association for Multi-Ethnic Cooperation NGO and former senior communist party official, Azem Vllasi. According to Vllasi, Serbia would get rid off an old and painful problem. It will not be able to resolve the problem in a favourable way, in a way beneficial to Serbia. Serbia could then enter the European integration much faster, Azem Vllasi assessed.
Source: RTK TV website, Pristina, in Albanian 15 Aug 06
US envoy rules out partition of Kosovo
Text of report by Radio-Television Kosovo TV website on 15 August
The international community does not accept partition of Kosova [Kosovo] and I do not understand what Serbs would gain from a divided Kosova, head of the US office in Prishtina [Pristina] Tina Kaidanow has said. Not only me, but all representatives of the Contact Group were clear about this issue. There will be no partition of Kosova. The reason is very simple - this will bring no gain and I think that Kosova Serbs would definitely have no gains from partition, assessed Kaidanow. She also added that issues which would interest her if she were a citizen of Kosova would have to do with everyday life, issues such as healthcare and education of children.
Source: RTK TV website, Pristina, in Albanian 15 Aug 06
The international community does not accept partition of Kosova [Kosovo] and I do not understand what Serbs would gain from a divided Kosova, head of the US office in Prishtina [Pristina] Tina Kaidanow has said. Not only me, but all representatives of the Contact Group were clear about this issue. There will be no partition of Kosova. The reason is very simple - this will bring no gain and I think that Kosova Serbs would definitely have no gains from partition, assessed Kaidanow. She also added that issues which would interest her if she were a citizen of Kosova would have to do with everyday life, issues such as healthcare and education of children.
Source: RTK TV website, Pristina, in Albanian 15 Aug 06
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Source says Serbia considering "ways to implement" partition of Kosovo
Text of report by J. Jevremovic entitled "Trial balloon through Sanda" published by Serbian newspaper Glas javnosti on 15 August
Belgrade: The DSS [Democratic Party of Serbia] has washed its hands of a statement on the partition of Kosmet [Kosovo-Metohija], made by Sanda Raskovic-Ivic, chairwoman of the Coordinating Centre for Kosmet and DSS deputy chairwoman, saying it was misinterpreted. However, Belgrade has been considering for some time the possibility of dividing the territory of its southern province between Kosovo Albanians and Serbia, Glas has learned from a source in the Serbian government.
"Belgrade has been considering ways to implement a partition of Kosmet for a long time, aware that nothing can be achieved by insisting on substantial autonomy. The story is being spread in Kosovo and the population is being unofficially prepared for this possibility," said our source.
However, the statement that Raskovic-Ivic let slip and [Interior] Minister Dragan Jocic denied is a good trial balloon on which neither the president nor prime minister have said anything.
An idea proposed by the late Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, and before him [former Yugoslav President] Dobrica Cosic, was to give the Serbs northern Kosmet - which is 15 per cent of Kosovo's territory - and its southern border would be on the River Ibar. Isolated Serb territories inappropriately referred to as enclaves, populated by a Serb majority - such as Gracanica, Strpce and others, would have special connections with Belgrade, but primarily with the compact territory that would be separated from Kosmet. However, it is impossible to pursue this option during the official talks on Kosmet's future status as the Contact Group is opposed to partitioning the province.
"Though the Contact Group set down the principle that the territory cannot be partitioned, it will be done so that it is not officially divided, though it will be so in reality. Bosnia-Hercegovina is not officially divided, but in real life it is. We would therefore have one Serb entity and a few enclaves," said our collocutor, adding that this could be termed a compromise.
This is not the first time Raskovic-Ivic has made a solo appearance. A scandal broke out in September 2005 when she divulged details of Serbia's plan, which was to be kept secret until the status talks began. Serbian President Boris Tadic had declined to reveal details of the plan to the US administration and was shocked on his way back, when he read in the papers on the plane what he had kept silent about in the United States.
Analyst Slobodan Antonic said it was possible that Belgrade had a reserve plan on the partition of Kosmet, but added that the government had to adhere firmly to autonomy. "Perhaps this is one way of saying Serbia is willing to discuss other options, those that do not imply the independence of Kosmet," Antonic told Glas, saying it was possible that Raskovic-Ivic had become "too relaxed".
Source: Glas javnosti, Belgrade, in Serbian 15 Aug 06 p 2
Belgrade: The DSS [Democratic Party of Serbia] has washed its hands of a statement on the partition of Kosmet [Kosovo-Metohija], made by Sanda Raskovic-Ivic, chairwoman of the Coordinating Centre for Kosmet and DSS deputy chairwoman, saying it was misinterpreted. However, Belgrade has been considering for some time the possibility of dividing the territory of its southern province between Kosovo Albanians and Serbia, Glas has learned from a source in the Serbian government.
"Belgrade has been considering ways to implement a partition of Kosmet for a long time, aware that nothing can be achieved by insisting on substantial autonomy. The story is being spread in Kosovo and the population is being unofficially prepared for this possibility," said our source.
However, the statement that Raskovic-Ivic let slip and [Interior] Minister Dragan Jocic denied is a good trial balloon on which neither the president nor prime minister have said anything.
An idea proposed by the late Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, and before him [former Yugoslav President] Dobrica Cosic, was to give the Serbs northern Kosmet - which is 15 per cent of Kosovo's territory - and its southern border would be on the River Ibar. Isolated Serb territories inappropriately referred to as enclaves, populated by a Serb majority - such as Gracanica, Strpce and others, would have special connections with Belgrade, but primarily with the compact territory that would be separated from Kosmet. However, it is impossible to pursue this option during the official talks on Kosmet's future status as the Contact Group is opposed to partitioning the province.
"Though the Contact Group set down the principle that the territory cannot be partitioned, it will be done so that it is not officially divided, though it will be so in reality. Bosnia-Hercegovina is not officially divided, but in real life it is. We would therefore have one Serb entity and a few enclaves," said our collocutor, adding that this could be termed a compromise.
This is not the first time Raskovic-Ivic has made a solo appearance. A scandal broke out in September 2005 when she divulged details of Serbia's plan, which was to be kept secret until the status talks began. Serbian President Boris Tadic had declined to reveal details of the plan to the US administration and was shocked on his way back, when he read in the papers on the plane what he had kept silent about in the United States.
Analyst Slobodan Antonic said it was possible that Belgrade had a reserve plan on the partition of Kosmet, but added that the government had to adhere firmly to autonomy. "Perhaps this is one way of saying Serbia is willing to discuss other options, those that do not imply the independence of Kosmet," Antonic told Glas, saying it was possible that Raskovic-Ivic had become "too relaxed".
Source: Glas javnosti, Belgrade, in Serbian 15 Aug 06 p 2
Contact Group officials optimistic Kosovo to fulfil Standards
Text of report in English by independent internet news agency KosovaLive
Prishtina [Pristina], 15 August: The representatives of the Contact Group member states in Kosova [Kosovo] expressed today their satisfaction with the work of the Kosova institutions in the fulfilling of Standards, whereas they encouraged Prime Minister Agim Ceku to continue work on those Standards which remain unfulfilled yet.
They made these comments following a joint meeting with Kosova Prime Minister Agim Ceku.
Ceku briefed the Contact Group representatives on the achievements on the fulfilling of Standards, assuring them Kosovar institutions will manage to fulfil all the Standards by October.
Ceku also said that five out of 13 points set by the international community have already been fulfilled, whereas the government is working on the implementation of other points.
The Contact Group representatives voiced their optimism that Kosovar institutions will fulfil all Standards within the given time, including the 13 standards set by the Contact Group.
"On behalf of the Contact Group, I must say that we have all agreed that a lot has been done in the fulfilling of Standards, but we believe that more needs to be done," said Tina Kaidanow, head of the US Office in Prishtina.
She also announced that the Contact Group representatives have encouraged the prime minister to continue work on the fulfilling of other Standards set by the Contact Group.
Prime Minister Agim Ceku also briefed the international representatives on the efforts of trust building between communities and protection of minorities, especially the Serbs.
Source: KosovaLive website, Pristina, in English 15 Aug 06
Prishtina [Pristina], 15 August: The representatives of the Contact Group member states in Kosova [Kosovo] expressed today their satisfaction with the work of the Kosova institutions in the fulfilling of Standards, whereas they encouraged Prime Minister Agim Ceku to continue work on those Standards which remain unfulfilled yet.
They made these comments following a joint meeting with Kosova Prime Minister Agim Ceku.
Ceku briefed the Contact Group representatives on the achievements on the fulfilling of Standards, assuring them Kosovar institutions will manage to fulfil all the Standards by October.
Ceku also said that five out of 13 points set by the international community have already been fulfilled, whereas the government is working on the implementation of other points.
The Contact Group representatives voiced their optimism that Kosovar institutions will fulfil all Standards within the given time, including the 13 standards set by the Contact Group.
"On behalf of the Contact Group, I must say that we have all agreed that a lot has been done in the fulfilling of Standards, but we believe that more needs to be done," said Tina Kaidanow, head of the US Office in Prishtina.
She also announced that the Contact Group representatives have encouraged the prime minister to continue work on the fulfilling of other Standards set by the Contact Group.
Prime Minister Agim Ceku also briefed the international representatives on the efforts of trust building between communities and protection of minorities, especially the Serbs.
Source: KosovaLive website, Pristina, in English 15 Aug 06
New UN chief rules out Kosovo partition
PRISTINA, Serbia, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Kosovo's biggest challenge this year will be keeping Serb minority areas peaceful and staving off any threat of partition, the new United Nations governor for the southern Serbian province said on Tuesday.
Joachim Ruecker, a German diplomat, was confirmed on Monday as the sixth chief of the U.N. Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) in seven years. He expects to be the last, as the West mulls granting Kosovo the independence its Albanian majority demands.
In his first news conference after his appointment was announced on Monday, Ruecker stressed that Belgrade's idea of partitioning the province and annexing the northern, Serb-majority part to Serbia, is out of the question.
"UNMIK and KFOR (the NATO-led Kosovo Force) have increased their presence in the north and I think that was the most important development in recent months," Ruecker said. "We cannot and we do not accept partition as an option."
Kosovo has been under U.N. administration since 1999 following NATO bombing that expelled Serb forces to end what Western powers said was deliberate killing of civilians in fighting an ethnic Albanian rebel insurgency.
About 100,000 Serbs stayed on while up to twice as many fled revenge attacks after the war. Most live in a northern triangle of territory supported and serviced from Belgrade.
Ninety percent of Kosovo's 2 million people are ethnic Albanians. U.N.-brokered talks are under way to determine whether Kosovo will remain part of Serbia, as sought by the government in Belgrade, or becomes independent. The talks, which started in February, are expected to conclude by year-end.
Ruecker, 55, takes up his duties on September 1, replacing Soren Jessen-Petersen of Denmark who resigned in June.
He said his focus would be on building stable institutions, increasing the participation of minorities in political life and promoting economic development.He added that he expected to be Kosovo's last U.N. governor.
"A very important part of the mission's work will now focus on preparing for UNMIK departure and preparing for the handover to the authorities and to the future international mission as defined by the status settlement," Ruecker said.
The European Union is expected to assume a supervisory role if, as expected, Kosovo is granted conditional independence.
Joachim Ruecker, a German diplomat, was confirmed on Monday as the sixth chief of the U.N. Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) in seven years. He expects to be the last, as the West mulls granting Kosovo the independence its Albanian majority demands.
In his first news conference after his appointment was announced on Monday, Ruecker stressed that Belgrade's idea of partitioning the province and annexing the northern, Serb-majority part to Serbia, is out of the question.
"UNMIK and KFOR (the NATO-led Kosovo Force) have increased their presence in the north and I think that was the most important development in recent months," Ruecker said. "We cannot and we do not accept partition as an option."
Kosovo has been under U.N. administration since 1999 following NATO bombing that expelled Serb forces to end what Western powers said was deliberate killing of civilians in fighting an ethnic Albanian rebel insurgency.
About 100,000 Serbs stayed on while up to twice as many fled revenge attacks after the war. Most live in a northern triangle of territory supported and serviced from Belgrade.
Ninety percent of Kosovo's 2 million people are ethnic Albanians. U.N.-brokered talks are under way to determine whether Kosovo will remain part of Serbia, as sought by the government in Belgrade, or becomes independent. The talks, which started in February, are expected to conclude by year-end.
Ruecker, 55, takes up his duties on September 1, replacing Soren Jessen-Petersen of Denmark who resigned in June.
He said his focus would be on building stable institutions, increasing the participation of minorities in political life and promoting economic development.He added that he expected to be Kosovo's last U.N. governor.
"A very important part of the mission's work will now focus on preparing for UNMIK departure and preparing for the handover to the authorities and to the future international mission as defined by the status settlement," Ruecker said.
The European Union is expected to assume a supervisory role if, as expected, Kosovo is granted conditional independence.
New U.N. administrator appeals to ethnic Albanians to help Kosovo's Serbs
PRISTINA, Serbia (AP) - The newly appointed U.N. administrator of Kosovo appealed Tuesday to ethnic Albanians to reach out to the province's Serb minority.
Joachim Ruecker, a German diplomat, was named to the post by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Monday. He pledged to make it his priority to give Kosovo's 2 million people "a clear perspective," and expected to be the last U.N. official running Kosovo.
"Minority communities in Kosovo, especially the Kosovo Serb community, need special reassurances," Ruecker said. "The majority population has an obligation and responsibility to reach out to the minorities more than ever before."
Ruecker has been in Kosovo since 2005, as the top U.N. official in charge of the province's economic development and the privatization of hundreds of socially owned enterprises -- most of which are dilapidated after years of mismanagement and neglect -- in hopes of boosting investment in the impoverished province.
His appointment comes at the most sensitive time for Kosovo.
The province is as divided as ever. Ethnic Albanians and Serbs remain entrenched in opposing positions on the province's future status. It also remains one of the poorest regions in Europe, with an unemployment rate estimated at more than 50 percent.
U.N.-brokered talks on the future status of the province are under way, with former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari seeking to find a solution by the end of the year between ethnic Albanians, who are seeking full independence, and Serbia, which is offering autonomy for the province.
There are fears that tensions will rise between Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority and Serb minority, especially in the northern part of the province where some local Serb leaders have warned of partition if Kosovo gains independence.
Ruecker said he will support efforts to find a solution for Kosovo's status in 2006 and focus on developing stable institutions, securing minority participation and providing a secure environment for economic development.
As the head of the U.N. mission in Kosovo, Ruecker will also oversee the reduction in size of the U.N. mission, which has administered Kosovo since mid-1999 when a NATO air war halted Serb forces' crackdown on independence-seeking ethnic Albanians.
Ruecker said his ambition was to be the last U.N. official running Kosovo and have "a relatively short period of tenure."
"I think it will last until the U.N. mission in Kosovo switches off the lights," he said of his contract.
Joachim Ruecker, a German diplomat, was named to the post by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Monday. He pledged to make it his priority to give Kosovo's 2 million people "a clear perspective," and expected to be the last U.N. official running Kosovo.
"Minority communities in Kosovo, especially the Kosovo Serb community, need special reassurances," Ruecker said. "The majority population has an obligation and responsibility to reach out to the minorities more than ever before."
Ruecker has been in Kosovo since 2005, as the top U.N. official in charge of the province's economic development and the privatization of hundreds of socially owned enterprises -- most of which are dilapidated after years of mismanagement and neglect -- in hopes of boosting investment in the impoverished province.
His appointment comes at the most sensitive time for Kosovo.
The province is as divided as ever. Ethnic Albanians and Serbs remain entrenched in opposing positions on the province's future status. It also remains one of the poorest regions in Europe, with an unemployment rate estimated at more than 50 percent.
U.N.-brokered talks on the future status of the province are under way, with former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari seeking to find a solution by the end of the year between ethnic Albanians, who are seeking full independence, and Serbia, which is offering autonomy for the province.
There are fears that tensions will rise between Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority and Serb minority, especially in the northern part of the province where some local Serb leaders have warned of partition if Kosovo gains independence.
Ruecker said he will support efforts to find a solution for Kosovo's status in 2006 and focus on developing stable institutions, securing minority participation and providing a secure environment for economic development.
As the head of the U.N. mission in Kosovo, Ruecker will also oversee the reduction in size of the U.N. mission, which has administered Kosovo since mid-1999 when a NATO air war halted Serb forces' crackdown on independence-seeking ethnic Albanians.
Ruecker said his ambition was to be the last U.N. official running Kosovo and have "a relatively short period of tenure."
"I think it will last until the U.N. mission in Kosovo switches off the lights," he said of his contract.
Kosovo likely to hold decentralization talks with UN experts this month
Text of report by Radio-Television Kosovo TV website on 14 August
The month of August will be one of the hottest in talks on technical issues for the Kosova [Kosovo] Negotiation Team. The talks will most likely not be with Serbs but with UNOSEK [UN Office of the Special Envoy for Kosovo]. The temperature will rise on 21 and 22 August when two meetings at the level of experts are expected to be held in Pristina.
The first meeting will be on the financing of new municipalities, while the agenda for the second meeting is still unknown. In the coming days experts from UNOSEK will come to Kosova to hold talks on technical issues and will then travel to Belgrade, said Hua Jiang, the spokeswoman for the UN special envoy for Kosova status talks, Martti Ahtisaari, confirming the 21 and 22 August meetings.
She added that no concrete date has been set on when the direct meetings on decentralization and community rights can be held, but there is a possibility that decentralisation talks may be held early next month, said spokeswoman Jiang. A member of the Kosova Negotiation Team said that decentralization, the competencies of municipalities and the rights of minorities will be discussed at these meetings, but they will not be like the meetings in Vienna because no Serb experts will be present. There is only a 2 per cent difference between the position of the Kosova Negotiation Team and UN special envoy for Kosova status talks Martti Ahtisaari's office on the issue of decentralization.
Source: RTK TV website, Pristina, in Albanian 14 Aug 06
The month of August will be one of the hottest in talks on technical issues for the Kosova [Kosovo] Negotiation Team. The talks will most likely not be with Serbs but with UNOSEK [UN Office of the Special Envoy for Kosovo]. The temperature will rise on 21 and 22 August when two meetings at the level of experts are expected to be held in Pristina.
The first meeting will be on the financing of new municipalities, while the agenda for the second meeting is still unknown. In the coming days experts from UNOSEK will come to Kosova to hold talks on technical issues and will then travel to Belgrade, said Hua Jiang, the spokeswoman for the UN special envoy for Kosova status talks, Martti Ahtisaari, confirming the 21 and 22 August meetings.
She added that no concrete date has been set on when the direct meetings on decentralization and community rights can be held, but there is a possibility that decentralisation talks may be held early next month, said spokeswoman Jiang. A member of the Kosova Negotiation Team said that decentralization, the competencies of municipalities and the rights of minorities will be discussed at these meetings, but they will not be like the meetings in Vienna because no Serb experts will be present. There is only a 2 per cent difference between the position of the Kosova Negotiation Team and UN special envoy for Kosova status talks Martti Ahtisaari's office on the issue of decentralization.
Source: RTK TV website, Pristina, in Albanian 14 Aug 06
Monday, August 14, 2006
German diplomat named Kosovo's new UN governor
UNITED NATIONS, Aug 14 (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has chosen veteran German diplomat Joachim Ruecker to be the next U.N. governor of Kosovo, the United Nations announced on Monday.
Ruecker, who now serves as head of economic reconstruction for the U.N. mission in Kosovo, will be the sixth U.N. administrator in seven years for the southern Serbian province. He may be its last as the international community considers granting it independence in a process due to be wrapped up by the end of the year.
Ruecker, 55, will succeed Soren Jessen-Petersen of Denmark, who announced his resignation in June.
"The secretary-general has informed the Security Council of his intention to appoint Ambassador Joachim Ruecker of Germany as his new special representative and head of the U.N. interim administration in Kosovo, known as UNMIK, as of September 1, 2006," said U.N. chief spokesman Stephane Dujarric.
Kosovo has been under U.N. administration since 1999 following NATO bombing that expelled Serb forces to end what Western powers said was repression of civilians in fighting an ethnic Albanian rebel insurgency.
Ninety percent of Kosovo's 2 million people are ethnic Albanians. U.N.-brokered talks are under way to determine whether Kosovo will remain part of Serbia, as sought by the government in Belgrade, or becomes independent, as the vast majority of Kosovo's residents insist.
The talks that are to determine the future status of the province began in February and are expected to continue until the end of the year.
Ruecker has held a variety of posts in Germany's Federal Foreign Office, beginning in 1979. Before going to work for the United Nations, he headed the Foreign Office's Budget and Finance Division in Berlin.
In his work in Kosovo, he has led efforts to revitalize the ravaged economy in the province, where unemployment is 60 percent. U.N. officials in Kosovo said an advantage of his appointment to the top U.N. job was that he could hit the ground running.
Serbian official's remark on Kosovo partition "misinterpreted" - party
Text of report by Belgrade-based B-92 TV on 14 August
[Presenter Zivana Saponja-Ilic] A statement by Sanda Raskovic-Ivic [chairwoman of Coordination Centre for Kosovo-Metohija] that even a partition of Kosovo would be acceptable [for Serbia] if Serbs, [Kosovo] Albanians and the international community come to realize that they cannot live together has provoked stormy reactions both in Belgrade and among the Kosovo Serb representatives.
The Democratic Party of Serbia [DSS], to which Sanda Raskovic-Ivic belongs, is now saying that she did not mean it in the way that it was reported.
[Reporter Milos Milic] A proposal on the partition of Kosovo, which was mooted by President of Coordination Centre Sanda Raskovic-Ivic as her personal view in an interview with the BBC, has forced representatives of the government and the ruling Serbian parties to deny this idea, or rather to claim that it was taken out of context. This is what Sanda Raskovic-Ivic said exactly about the possible partition of Kosovo.
[Sanda Raskovic-Ivic speaking in English in phone interview with the BBC] If both sides - Serbs and Albanians - face the fact that it is impossible for them to live together, and if the international community faces that fact as well, then a win-win situation would be a kind of partition.
[Reporter] In the meantime, the Kosovo Serb representatives have criticized this statement, saying that it was damaging the Serb interests in the province while members of the [Belgrade] negotiating team [in talks with Pristina on decentralization of Kosovo] have declined to comment on the proposal. The DSS, Sanda Draskovic-Ivic's party, today attempted to clarify what exactly she had said.
[DSS's spokesman Andreja Mladenovic] She did not mention [this proposal] in the way it was interpreted by the BBC, she clearly had in mind two kinds of autonomy and partition of these autonomies within the framework which I have just explained, that is Kosovo-Metohija in relation to Serbia as a state.
[Unspecified journalist] So this is not a territorial partition?
[Andrija Mladenovic] There is a document under the name "Declaration of the [Serbian] National Assembly" and there is a platform of the negotiating team, and rest assured that Sanda Raskovic-Ivic is the last person who would give up on, or depart from, these documents and the platform in question.
[Reporter] While some Western analysts, such as [Balkan specialist] Tim Judah, say that the idea of partition is not new, that it has been present in diplomatic circles and that it was not realistic that it would actually happen, domestic pundits have confirmed that Belgrade has a contingency plan [Plan B] for Kosovo, which in practice means that it deviates from the official proposal on autonomy in the framework of Serbia.
The Serbian Radical Party [SRS] official, Aleksandar Vucic, requested that for every change in plans for Kosovo the government should seek the approval of the [National] Assembly. The last proposal, which was passed by parliament in March 2004, as a resolution for talks on the status of Kosovo-Metohija, envisages essential autonomous status [for Kosovo] within Serbia and personal autonomy for Serbs in Kosovo.
Source: B92 TV, Belgrade, in Serbian 1400 gmt 14 Aug 06
[Presenter Zivana Saponja-Ilic] A statement by Sanda Raskovic-Ivic [chairwoman of Coordination Centre for Kosovo-Metohija] that even a partition of Kosovo would be acceptable [for Serbia] if Serbs, [Kosovo] Albanians and the international community come to realize that they cannot live together has provoked stormy reactions both in Belgrade and among the Kosovo Serb representatives.
The Democratic Party of Serbia [DSS], to which Sanda Raskovic-Ivic belongs, is now saying that she did not mean it in the way that it was reported.
[Reporter Milos Milic] A proposal on the partition of Kosovo, which was mooted by President of Coordination Centre Sanda Raskovic-Ivic as her personal view in an interview with the BBC, has forced representatives of the government and the ruling Serbian parties to deny this idea, or rather to claim that it was taken out of context. This is what Sanda Raskovic-Ivic said exactly about the possible partition of Kosovo.
[Sanda Raskovic-Ivic speaking in English in phone interview with the BBC] If both sides - Serbs and Albanians - face the fact that it is impossible for them to live together, and if the international community faces that fact as well, then a win-win situation would be a kind of partition.
[Reporter] In the meantime, the Kosovo Serb representatives have criticized this statement, saying that it was damaging the Serb interests in the province while members of the [Belgrade] negotiating team [in talks with Pristina on decentralization of Kosovo] have declined to comment on the proposal. The DSS, Sanda Draskovic-Ivic's party, today attempted to clarify what exactly she had said.
[DSS's spokesman Andreja Mladenovic] She did not mention [this proposal] in the way it was interpreted by the BBC, she clearly had in mind two kinds of autonomy and partition of these autonomies within the framework which I have just explained, that is Kosovo-Metohija in relation to Serbia as a state.
[Unspecified journalist] So this is not a territorial partition?
[Andrija Mladenovic] There is a document under the name "Declaration of the [Serbian] National Assembly" and there is a platform of the negotiating team, and rest assured that Sanda Raskovic-Ivic is the last person who would give up on, or depart from, these documents and the platform in question.
[Reporter] While some Western analysts, such as [Balkan specialist] Tim Judah, say that the idea of partition is not new, that it has been present in diplomatic circles and that it was not realistic that it would actually happen, domestic pundits have confirmed that Belgrade has a contingency plan [Plan B] for Kosovo, which in practice means that it deviates from the official proposal on autonomy in the framework of Serbia.
The Serbian Radical Party [SRS] official, Aleksandar Vucic, requested that for every change in plans for Kosovo the government should seek the approval of the [National] Assembly. The last proposal, which was passed by parliament in March 2004, as a resolution for talks on the status of Kosovo-Metohija, envisages essential autonomous status [for Kosovo] within Serbia and personal autonomy for Serbs in Kosovo.
Source: B92 TV, Belgrade, in Serbian 1400 gmt 14 Aug 06
NATO commander warn against violence in troubled Kosovo
PRISTINA, Serbia (AP) - A senior NATO official warned Kosovo's extremists Monday not to test the alliance's resolve in keeping control over the province's security.
The 17,000-strong peacekeeping force, known as KFOR, was "trained and prepared to handle disgraceful behavior," said Adm. Harry Ulrich, NATO's commander for southeastern Europe.
Ulrich is visiting the troubled north amid fears that tensions will rise between Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority and Serb minority as U.N.-mediated talks aimed at resolving the province's long-term status continue.
Human rights watchdogs have criticized the alliance's peacekeepers, saying they failed to protect the province's minority Serbs during several days of rioting in March 2004 that plunged the U.N.-run province back into ethnic strife and left 19 dead and thousands displaced.
"I challenge the leaders of Kosovo and the good people of Kosovo not to go down that path," Ulrich said.
He met local Serb and U.N. officials in the ethnically tense town of Kosovska Mitrovica and is scheduled to lunch with the chief U.S. diplomat in Kosovo, Tina Kaidanow.
NATO-led peacekeepers are in the process of reopening a military base in the Serb-dominated north and increasing their presence alongside some 500 U.N. police officers recently deployed there.
The beefed-up security was triggered by calls from Serbian officials to boycott the province's ethnic Albanian-dominated institutions after a series of violent incidents that Serbian officials blamed on ethnic Albanians.
The talks are expected to conclude by year-end, but the two sides remain deeply divided.
Ethnic Albanians insist the province must become independent, while Serbia is offering broad autonomy, but not independence. Some Kosovo Serb leaders have warned of partition of the Serb-dominated north if independence is imposed upon them.
Meanwhile, Portugal's Defense Minister Nuno Severiano Teixeira is also visiting the province, where his country has about 300 soldiers as part of the peacekeeping force.
The 17,000-strong peacekeeping force, known as KFOR, was "trained and prepared to handle disgraceful behavior," said Adm. Harry Ulrich, NATO's commander for southeastern Europe.
Ulrich is visiting the troubled north amid fears that tensions will rise between Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority and Serb minority as U.N.-mediated talks aimed at resolving the province's long-term status continue.
Human rights watchdogs have criticized the alliance's peacekeepers, saying they failed to protect the province's minority Serbs during several days of rioting in March 2004 that plunged the U.N.-run province back into ethnic strife and left 19 dead and thousands displaced.
"I challenge the leaders of Kosovo and the good people of Kosovo not to go down that path," Ulrich said.
He met local Serb and U.N. officials in the ethnically tense town of Kosovska Mitrovica and is scheduled to lunch with the chief U.S. diplomat in Kosovo, Tina Kaidanow.
NATO-led peacekeepers are in the process of reopening a military base in the Serb-dominated north and increasing their presence alongside some 500 U.N. police officers recently deployed there.
The beefed-up security was triggered by calls from Serbian officials to boycott the province's ethnic Albanian-dominated institutions after a series of violent incidents that Serbian officials blamed on ethnic Albanians.
The talks are expected to conclude by year-end, but the two sides remain deeply divided.
Ethnic Albanians insist the province must become independent, while Serbia is offering broad autonomy, but not independence. Some Kosovo Serb leaders have warned of partition of the Serb-dominated north if independence is imposed upon them.
Meanwhile, Portugal's Defense Minister Nuno Severiano Teixeira is also visiting the province, where his country has about 300 soldiers as part of the peacekeeping force.
UN Hands Over Kosovo Airport Security To Local Police
PRISTINA, Serbia (AP)--U.N. authorities handed over control of Kosovo's main airport to the local police force Monday as part of a process of transferring security responsibilities in the province, an official said.
The transition comes as the U.N. mission reduces its presence with the aim of passing some responsibilities to local institutions. Oversight of police and judiciary is expected to be taken up by a European Union-led mission, once a decision on the province's future is reached.
So far Kosovo's 7,000-strong police force has been put in charge of seven border crossings, said police spokesman Veton Elshani.
Kosovo has been administered by the U.N. and controlled by North Atlantic Treaty Organization-led peacekeepers since the alliance's 1999 air-war halted a Serb crackdown on ethnic Albanian separatists.
About 2,000 U.N. police officers are currently deployed in Kosovo. [ 14-08-06 1200GMT ]
The transition comes as the U.N. mission reduces its presence with the aim of passing some responsibilities to local institutions. Oversight of police and judiciary is expected to be taken up by a European Union-led mission, once a decision on the province's future is reached.
So far Kosovo's 7,000-strong police force has been put in charge of seven border crossings, said police spokesman Veton Elshani.
Kosovo has been administered by the U.N. and controlled by North Atlantic Treaty Organization-led peacekeepers since the alliance's 1999 air-war halted a Serb crackdown on ethnic Albanian separatists.
About 2,000 U.N. police officers are currently deployed in Kosovo. [ 14-08-06 1200GMT ]
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Kosovo media say Ahtisaari to present proposal on Kosovo's status in September
PRISTINA, Aug 11 (Hina) - The UN chief negotiator for Kosovo, Martti Ahtisaari, could present his proposal for Kosovo's status as early as September 1, the Albanian-language media in Pristina quoted sources in the UN.
Ahtisaari is expected to present his position on Kosovo's status at a session of the UN Security Council early in September since it is becoming less and less likely that Belgrade and Pristina will reach an agreement on the matter.
According to the Kosovo media, senior UN officials in New York have started adjusting positions of the foreign ministers of the United States, Great Britain, France, Russia and China on outstanding global issues, including Kosovo.
Ahtisaari is expected to present his position on Kosovo's status at a session of the UN Security Council early in September since it is becoming less and less likely that Belgrade and Pristina will reach an agreement on the matter.
According to the Kosovo media, senior UN officials in New York have started adjusting positions of the foreign ministers of the United States, Great Britain, France, Russia and China on outstanding global issues, including Kosovo.
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Over 30 per cent of Serbians see Kosovo independence as "realistic" - poll
Text of report in English by Belgrade-based Radio B92 text website on 9 August
Belgrade, 9 August: Over 30 per cent of Serbians believe the realistic solution to the Kosovo crisis might be the province's independence.
Strategic Marketing director Srdjan Bogosavljevic said two questions were posed in the survey: which is the most desirable, and the most realistic, outcome of the Kosovo crisis. For almost a year the answer to the first question was stable - expressing the view of one quarter of the population - that Kosovo should be a part of Serbia. At the same time, Kosovo's independence is the least favourable solution for the entire population of Serbia.
Bogosavljevic told B92 that when it comes to the realistic outcome, that is, what the citizens expect to actually happen, "almost no one has said they expect a full integration of [Kosovo into Serbia]. At present, 20 per cent believe a partition to be the realistic outcome. Up to 30 per cent subscribed to this view earlier, mostly coinciding with the country's political elite promoting the idea.
"Since February, we have had a large percentage of people who believe Kosovo's independence to be a realistic option. In the past three months, more people believe that Kosovo will break away rather than remain within Serbia. People seem to be reacting to available information. The information they got was that Kosovo is a part of Serbia. For the first time, however, with the Vienna talks in progress, the number of those who believe that Kosovo will become independent is on the rise".
Source: Radio B92 text website, Belgrade, in English 1522 gmt 9 Aug 06
Belgrade, 9 August: Over 30 per cent of Serbians believe the realistic solution to the Kosovo crisis might be the province's independence.
Strategic Marketing director Srdjan Bogosavljevic said two questions were posed in the survey: which is the most desirable, and the most realistic, outcome of the Kosovo crisis. For almost a year the answer to the first question was stable - expressing the view of one quarter of the population - that Kosovo should be a part of Serbia. At the same time, Kosovo's independence is the least favourable solution for the entire population of Serbia.
Bogosavljevic told B92 that when it comes to the realistic outcome, that is, what the citizens expect to actually happen, "almost no one has said they expect a full integration of [Kosovo into Serbia]. At present, 20 per cent believe a partition to be the realistic outcome. Up to 30 per cent subscribed to this view earlier, mostly coinciding with the country's political elite promoting the idea.
"Since February, we have had a large percentage of people who believe Kosovo's independence to be a realistic option. In the past three months, more people believe that Kosovo will break away rather than remain within Serbia. People seem to be reacting to available information. The information they got was that Kosovo is a part of Serbia. For the first time, however, with the Vienna talks in progress, the number of those who believe that Kosovo will become independent is on the rise".
Source: Radio B92 text website, Belgrade, in English 1522 gmt 9 Aug 06
Mitrovica officials welcome Contact Group's statement on northern Kosovo
Text of report by Izedin Krasniqi entitled "Time for concrete steps in north" published by Kosovo Albanian newspaper Koha Ditore on 6 August
Mitrovice [Kosovska Mitrovica], 5 August: A day after the Contact Group's 10 points for resolving the issue of northern Kosova [Kosovo] were made public, local political leaders were requested to take concrete actions to ease tensions, which are also being manifested with the claims that Serbs in the north have started getting armed.
In a press release, the Contact Group members have expressed their concern over the situation in the north, calling on Prishtina [Pristina], Belgrade and the citizens of Kosova to take steps to ensure that northern Kosova remain stable, Kosova's future status notwithstanding. They said that the solution for the town of Mitrovice should also be functional and realistic, and that it should guarantee the rights of all residents.
Commenting on these positions last Saturday [5 August], Mitrovice municipal assembly chairman Mursel Ibrahimi welcomed the Contact Group's views, saying that the municipal assembly has contributed to respecting all communities within its competencies.
He said that the resolution of the issue of Mitrovice, within the Kosova status resolution, should be in the interest of all citizens.
"We support the reform of the local authority in a principled way, but these reforms should be at the service of all citizens," Ibrahimi said, commenting on the Contact Group's statement on decentralization.
However, he argued against the creation of ethnic corridors through decentralization.
"We have to find a solution that will serve the Mitrovice citizens, and not allow the creation of corridors on ethnic grounds, because this is not in the interest of the Serb minority," Ibrahimi said. He added that the team of unity will find solutions for the Serbs' requests.
Oliver Ivanovic, leader of the Serb List for Kosova-Metohija, assessed that there is nothing new in these assessments.
"I do not believe there is anything new in the Contact Group's positions. It has only reiterated its positions of a few months ago and it is only receiving increased attention in the north of Kosova in a sensitive place and at a sensitive time," Ivanovic said.
He expressed hope that economic support would increase, bringing order to the north.
"We hope that economic support will also increase, because so far, this part of Kosova has not had such economic support. I have the impression that we were sanctioned because, being from the north, we have acted in an unacceptable way. I believe that this situation is coming to an end, and with the increase of investments and political engagement, there will be more order in the north and more prospects," Ivanovic said.
Like Ibrahimi, Ivanovic, too, welcomed the Contact Group's positions that encouraged the Serbs to take part in the institutions of Kosova. Ivanovic said that there were no dilemmas as to whether they should be in the institutions.
"As leaders, we have to stand up for the requests of our people and we have to convince them about this, so that we have the majority's support for inclusion in institutions. In order to come closer to this goal, Belgrade's position could help us a lot. Most of the people there understand that non-participation in elections was a mistake and this mistake is still being made by not giving support to the Serb List," Ivanovic said.
Political analyst Nexhmedin Spahiu also assessed these positions as very positive, even though, in his view, they are "belated".
"In fact, these positions were requested by politicians and prominent people in Mitrovice before the start of the status talks."
According to him, the Kosova government and the political class of Kosova should take these positions seriously and do their utmost to fulfil the obligations that stem from them.
"The fact that the Contact Group mentions Belgrade and Prishtina in the same paragraph implies that, in addition to Belgrade, Prishtina is also, to some extent, responsible and to blame for the situation in the north of Kosova and this should be taken seriously," Spahiu said.
Source: Koha Ditore, Pristina, in Albanian 6 Aug 06 p 2
Mitrovice [Kosovska Mitrovica], 5 August: A day after the Contact Group's 10 points for resolving the issue of northern Kosova [Kosovo] were made public, local political leaders were requested to take concrete actions to ease tensions, which are also being manifested with the claims that Serbs in the north have started getting armed.
In a press release, the Contact Group members have expressed their concern over the situation in the north, calling on Prishtina [Pristina], Belgrade and the citizens of Kosova to take steps to ensure that northern Kosova remain stable, Kosova's future status notwithstanding. They said that the solution for the town of Mitrovice should also be functional and realistic, and that it should guarantee the rights of all residents.
Commenting on these positions last Saturday [5 August], Mitrovice municipal assembly chairman Mursel Ibrahimi welcomed the Contact Group's views, saying that the municipal assembly has contributed to respecting all communities within its competencies.
He said that the resolution of the issue of Mitrovice, within the Kosova status resolution, should be in the interest of all citizens.
"We support the reform of the local authority in a principled way, but these reforms should be at the service of all citizens," Ibrahimi said, commenting on the Contact Group's statement on decentralization.
However, he argued against the creation of ethnic corridors through decentralization.
"We have to find a solution that will serve the Mitrovice citizens, and not allow the creation of corridors on ethnic grounds, because this is not in the interest of the Serb minority," Ibrahimi said. He added that the team of unity will find solutions for the Serbs' requests.
Oliver Ivanovic, leader of the Serb List for Kosova-Metohija, assessed that there is nothing new in these assessments.
"I do not believe there is anything new in the Contact Group's positions. It has only reiterated its positions of a few months ago and it is only receiving increased attention in the north of Kosova in a sensitive place and at a sensitive time," Ivanovic said.
He expressed hope that economic support would increase, bringing order to the north.
"We hope that economic support will also increase, because so far, this part of Kosova has not had such economic support. I have the impression that we were sanctioned because, being from the north, we have acted in an unacceptable way. I believe that this situation is coming to an end, and with the increase of investments and political engagement, there will be more order in the north and more prospects," Ivanovic said.
Like Ibrahimi, Ivanovic, too, welcomed the Contact Group's positions that encouraged the Serbs to take part in the institutions of Kosova. Ivanovic said that there were no dilemmas as to whether they should be in the institutions.
"As leaders, we have to stand up for the requests of our people and we have to convince them about this, so that we have the majority's support for inclusion in institutions. In order to come closer to this goal, Belgrade's position could help us a lot. Most of the people there understand that non-participation in elections was a mistake and this mistake is still being made by not giving support to the Serb List," Ivanovic said.
Political analyst Nexhmedin Spahiu also assessed these positions as very positive, even though, in his view, they are "belated".
"In fact, these positions were requested by politicians and prominent people in Mitrovice before the start of the status talks."
According to him, the Kosova government and the political class of Kosova should take these positions seriously and do their utmost to fulfil the obligations that stem from them.
"The fact that the Contact Group mentions Belgrade and Prishtina in the same paragraph implies that, in addition to Belgrade, Prishtina is also, to some extent, responsible and to blame for the situation in the north of Kosova and this should be taken seriously," Spahiu said.
Source: Koha Ditore, Pristina, in Albanian 6 Aug 06 p 2
Future army to derive from Kosovo Protection Corps, says PM Ceku
Excerpt from report by Radio-Television Kosovo TV on 8 August
[Announcer] The Kosova Protection Corps [KPC] is waiting for the forming of the political conditions that will enable it to take on other tasks and fulfil its vision for the future, said Kosova [Kosovo] Prime Minister Agim Ceku in Shiroke. He stressed that Kosova will have its own army which surely will derive from the Kosova Protection Corps.
[Ceku] The Kosova Protection Corps belongs here and there is no doubt that Kosova will have its own army which will derive from the KPC which will see the conclusion of another KPC mission. I have full confidence in the KPC and in the future of the KPC. [Passage omitted]
Source: RTK TV, Pristina, in Albanian 1730 gmt 8 Aug 06
[Announcer] The Kosova Protection Corps [KPC] is waiting for the forming of the political conditions that will enable it to take on other tasks and fulfil its vision for the future, said Kosova [Kosovo] Prime Minister Agim Ceku in Shiroke. He stressed that Kosova will have its own army which surely will derive from the Kosova Protection Corps.
[Ceku] The Kosova Protection Corps belongs here and there is no doubt that Kosova will have its own army which will derive from the KPC which will see the conclusion of another KPC mission. I have full confidence in the KPC and in the future of the KPC. [Passage omitted]
Source: RTK TV, Pristina, in Albanian 1730 gmt 8 Aug 06
Head of Kosovo delegation at Vienna talks says absence of Serbs not damaging
Text of report by Radio-Television Kosovo TV on 8 August
[Announcer] We have live from Vienna the head of the Kosovar delegation, Veton Surroi. How do you evaluate today's talks?
[Veton Surroi] We presented our document, while the Belgrade side tried to change the topic and not discuss the real matter in question. This I believe brought legitimacy to the proposed document tabled by our side and in the upcoming days and weeks we expect that our document will become the basis of the talks.
[Announcer] How did the Serb delegation and international mediators react to the document proposed by the Kosovar side?
[Surroi] The international mediators have had knowledge of this document since April this year, while Belgrade attempted not to discuss the document and tried to minimize the document's provisions on the rights of the Serbs, considering them to be state forming.
[Announcer] The Kosova [Kosovo] Serbs were not present with the Belgrade delegation, does this damage the process?
[Surroi] It does not damage the process, the Kosova Serbs belong with the Kosovar delegation and not with Belgrade.
[Announcer] This was the first meeting on this issue. What will happen next? Will there be other meetings?
[Surroi] It was the first meeting and it is important for the fact that after 20 years we have arrived at a realistic situation to start talks between the Albanian majority and the communities that are minorities. We expect that in the future we will have a meeting with UNOSEK [UN Office of the Special Envoy for Kosovo] experts. These experts will make concrete remarks on our document and we will try to consolidate the document, to make additional proposals if this is needed. Then we will hand this document back to UNOSEK with the request to hand the document to Belgrade, so it can start formally negotiations on this document.
[Announcer] Mr Surroi, thank you for being with us.
Source: RTK TV, Pristina, in Albanian 1730 gmt 8 Aug 06
[Announcer] We have live from Vienna the head of the Kosovar delegation, Veton Surroi. How do you evaluate today's talks?
[Veton Surroi] We presented our document, while the Belgrade side tried to change the topic and not discuss the real matter in question. This I believe brought legitimacy to the proposed document tabled by our side and in the upcoming days and weeks we expect that our document will become the basis of the talks.
[Announcer] How did the Serb delegation and international mediators react to the document proposed by the Kosovar side?
[Surroi] The international mediators have had knowledge of this document since April this year, while Belgrade attempted not to discuss the document and tried to minimize the document's provisions on the rights of the Serbs, considering them to be state forming.
[Announcer] The Kosova [Kosovo] Serbs were not present with the Belgrade delegation, does this damage the process?
[Surroi] It does not damage the process, the Kosova Serbs belong with the Kosovar delegation and not with Belgrade.
[Announcer] This was the first meeting on this issue. What will happen next? Will there be other meetings?
[Surroi] It was the first meeting and it is important for the fact that after 20 years we have arrived at a realistic situation to start talks between the Albanian majority and the communities that are minorities. We expect that in the future we will have a meeting with UNOSEK [UN Office of the Special Envoy for Kosovo] experts. These experts will make concrete remarks on our document and we will try to consolidate the document, to make additional proposals if this is needed. Then we will hand this document back to UNOSEK with the request to hand the document to Belgrade, so it can start formally negotiations on this document.
[Announcer] Mr Surroi, thank you for being with us.
Source: RTK TV, Pristina, in Albanian 1730 gmt 8 Aug 06
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Kosovo Serbs boycott talks on minority protection in Kosovo
VIENNA, Austria (AP) - Kosovo's Serbs have boycotted negotiations on the future of the disputed province, saying they would not accept being treated as a minority group.
A U.N. mediator said Tuesday that Serbian officials from Belgrade who attended the talks and ethnic Albanians remained far apart as they ended their negotiations on protecting the rights of Kosovo's minorities.
The meeting was the first time both sides had put the divisive issue on the agenda during their U.N.-brokered talks on the province's future status. U.N. envoy Bernhard Schlageck said no breakthrough was made.
He said the ethnic Albanian delegation presented concrete proposals on the representation of minorities in the province's institutions, as well as on language rights and freedom of movement, while Belgrade wanted the issue of minorities to be addressed in the final status settlement.
U.N. officials will travel to Pristina and Belgrade to pursue further talks, Schlageck said.
Schlageck said the boycott by Serbs from Kosovo was a mistake. "This decision is a missed opportunity to engage in a process which is of central importance for all of Kosovo's communities, not least the Serbian community."
The issue of minority rights is seen as crucial to resolving Kosovo's status. Though still a part of Serbia, Kosovo has been administered by the United Nations since 1999, when a NATO-led air war ended a Serbian military crackdown on ethnic Albanian separatists.
Ethnic Albanians make up 90 percent of Kosovo's 2 million population, and there are about 100,000 Serbs, mostly living in communities across the province. Another 200,000 Serbs and other minorities -- including Turks, Bosnians and Gypsies -- fled during the 1999 NATO bombardment.
U.N. mediators are pushing the two sides to narrow their differences before tackling the ultimate issue -- whether Kosovo will become independent, as ethnic Albanians insist, or remain a part of Serbia, which Belgrade and the minority Serbs want.
Veton Surroi, an ethnic Albanian leader, said his delegation presented a document which included issues such as minorities' representation in official bodies, use of language and mechanisms designed to prevent minorities being outvoted.
"We believe this is part of our common goal, which is to integrate the identities of communities of Kosovo into a future independent Kosovo," Surroi said.
Kosovo's Serbs "will not accept the status of minority -- this would be a degradation of their status," Serbian envoy Dusan Batakovic said.
Batakovic referred to the ethnic Albanian proposals as "a long list of very good wishes" that cannot be achieved "at least in the next 20 years given the situation on the ground."
Negotiators have failed to reach agreement on most points in discussing how much say Serb-run municipalities should have in Kosovo.
A U.N. mediator said Tuesday that Serbian officials from Belgrade who attended the talks and ethnic Albanians remained far apart as they ended their negotiations on protecting the rights of Kosovo's minorities.
The meeting was the first time both sides had put the divisive issue on the agenda during their U.N.-brokered talks on the province's future status. U.N. envoy Bernhard Schlageck said no breakthrough was made.
He said the ethnic Albanian delegation presented concrete proposals on the representation of minorities in the province's institutions, as well as on language rights and freedom of movement, while Belgrade wanted the issue of minorities to be addressed in the final status settlement.
U.N. officials will travel to Pristina and Belgrade to pursue further talks, Schlageck said.
Schlageck said the boycott by Serbs from Kosovo was a mistake. "This decision is a missed opportunity to engage in a process which is of central importance for all of Kosovo's communities, not least the Serbian community."
The issue of minority rights is seen as crucial to resolving Kosovo's status. Though still a part of Serbia, Kosovo has been administered by the United Nations since 1999, when a NATO-led air war ended a Serbian military crackdown on ethnic Albanian separatists.
Ethnic Albanians make up 90 percent of Kosovo's 2 million population, and there are about 100,000 Serbs, mostly living in communities across the province. Another 200,000 Serbs and other minorities -- including Turks, Bosnians and Gypsies -- fled during the 1999 NATO bombardment.
U.N. mediators are pushing the two sides to narrow their differences before tackling the ultimate issue -- whether Kosovo will become independent, as ethnic Albanians insist, or remain a part of Serbia, which Belgrade and the minority Serbs want.
Veton Surroi, an ethnic Albanian leader, said his delegation presented a document which included issues such as minorities' representation in official bodies, use of language and mechanisms designed to prevent minorities being outvoted.
"We believe this is part of our common goal, which is to integrate the identities of communities of Kosovo into a future independent Kosovo," Surroi said.
Kosovo's Serbs "will not accept the status of minority -- this would be a degradation of their status," Serbian envoy Dusan Batakovic said.
Batakovic referred to the ethnic Albanian proposals as "a long list of very good wishes" that cannot be achieved "at least in the next 20 years given the situation on the ground."
Negotiators have failed to reach agreement on most points in discussing how much say Serb-run municipalities should have in Kosovo.
Head of Kosovo negotiating team accuses Serbia of obstructing devolution talks
Excerpt from report by Radio-Television Kosovo TV on 7 August
[Announcer] We now have Deputy Prime Minister Lutfi Haziri on the line live from Vienna. How did today's talks go?
[Haziri] We discussed the competencies that municipalities will have in the future and border cooperation. We did not discuss the formation of new municipalities or the new ways of working in reforming local government. Our delegation presented the Kosovar officials' stance on the clear competencies the municipalities will have and these competencies will be the same for all municipalities except Mitrovica. This is a specific case and we will discuss this issue in a future meeting. Our stance is very close to UNOSEK's, there are only a few open issues, while Belgrade's stance is very far removed. The Belgrade government still holds the same stance, but they have camouflaged and changed the form, attempting to hide their entire strategy, one that is unacceptable and has been rejected by our side. Belgrade has to understand that this is not the way to help the process and we understand that they are working to obstruct and delay the process. This way of working has been seen as unacceptable. We have retained the same stance as before and we have clear principles for the reform of local government. They address, and recognize, the aspirations of the ethnic communities, and through legal means help them integrate in an independent Kosova where they will be able to have a good life and be equal to all of us. [Passage omitted]
Source: RTK TV, Pristina, in Albanian 1730 gmt 7 Aug 06
[Announcer] We now have Deputy Prime Minister Lutfi Haziri on the line live from Vienna. How did today's talks go?
[Haziri] We discussed the competencies that municipalities will have in the future and border cooperation. We did not discuss the formation of new municipalities or the new ways of working in reforming local government. Our delegation presented the Kosovar officials' stance on the clear competencies the municipalities will have and these competencies will be the same for all municipalities except Mitrovica. This is a specific case and we will discuss this issue in a future meeting. Our stance is very close to UNOSEK's, there are only a few open issues, while Belgrade's stance is very far removed. The Belgrade government still holds the same stance, but they have camouflaged and changed the form, attempting to hide their entire strategy, one that is unacceptable and has been rejected by our side. Belgrade has to understand that this is not the way to help the process and we understand that they are working to obstruct and delay the process. This way of working has been seen as unacceptable. We have retained the same stance as before and we have clear principles for the reform of local government. They address, and recognize, the aspirations of the ethnic communities, and through legal means help them integrate in an independent Kosova where they will be able to have a good life and be equal to all of us. [Passage omitted]
Source: RTK TV, Pristina, in Albanian 1730 gmt 7 Aug 06
Kosovo Serbs boycott Vienna talks
VIENNA, Aug 8, 2006 (AFP) -
Kosovo Serb delegates, in Vienna to discuss the province's future status, boycotted negotiations on the thorny issue of community rights Tuesday, refusing to be branded as a minority and demanding to be treated as equals in the discussions.
The move was not expected to endanger the overall UN-sponsored dialogue on Kosovo but confirmed that talks over technical issues Monday had stalled.
"The Kosovo Serbs are absent for an obvious reason, they don't accept being treated as a minority," Dusan Batakovic, adviser to Serbian President Boris Tadic, told journalists. "They are a constituent nation of Kosovo. ... They feel they cannot be degraded as a minority."
This is the first time in the Vienna negotiations that any party has boycotted a session, but talks between the Serbian and Albanian delegations went ahead Tuesday, with Belgrade showing support for its Pristina counterparts.
"We cannot accept the results of the ethnic cleansing that has happened after June 1999 when more than 60 percent of Kosovo Serbs were expelled" from the province, Batakovic said, adding that his delegation was representing the Kosovo Serbs in their absence.
Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority, which makes up about 90 percent of the province, wants independence but Belgrade and the minority Serb community insist the region is the cradle of Serb nationhood and cannot be given away.
Belgrade is concerned about the fate of ethnic Serbs in the province following any independence agreement and the eventual withdrawal of the United Nations, which has been administering Kosovo a NATO air war drove Serbia's forces from the province in 1999.
Since then some 200,000 Serbs have fled the province fearing attacks from ethnic Albanian hardliners. Those who have remained live in enclaves under heavy protection by NATO.
According to Batakovic, the Kosovo Serb delegation also refused to attend talks Tuesday because it did not wish "to be in the presence of Mr. Fatmir Limaj, who is still accused of war crimes." Limaj, who is part of the delegation from Pristina, was acquitted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) last December.
Before the meeting, chief Albanian negotiator Veton Surroi said he would submit new proposals Tuesday.
"Every citizen is a constituent of the new Kosovo," he said, adding that his delegation was seeking to strike normal "relations between those who are in an ethnic majority and those who are an ethnic minority."
Monday's talks broke down in mutual recrimination with both sides blaming the other, as Serbs and Kosovo Albanians met to discuss technical issues for the first time since frosty high-level talks stalled last month.
Kosovo Serb delegates announced they would shun Tuesday's session, saying "to accept talks on community rights... would mean to accept that we have the status of a minority and it is well known that a people in its own country cannot be a minority."
"The Serbs still insist on two ethnicities," the head of the Albanian delegation, Lufti Haziri, replied, insisting Pristina supported autonomy for minorities.
The West favours independence for Kosovo under certain conditions, but the decision ultimately rests with the United Nations Security Council.
UN Special Envoy for Kosovo Martti Ahtissari is expected to publish a new report in September in New York, his spokeswoman Hua Jiang told AFP.
Kosovo Serb delegates, in Vienna to discuss the province's future status, boycotted negotiations on the thorny issue of community rights Tuesday, refusing to be branded as a minority and demanding to be treated as equals in the discussions.
The move was not expected to endanger the overall UN-sponsored dialogue on Kosovo but confirmed that talks over technical issues Monday had stalled.
"The Kosovo Serbs are absent for an obvious reason, they don't accept being treated as a minority," Dusan Batakovic, adviser to Serbian President Boris Tadic, told journalists. "They are a constituent nation of Kosovo. ... They feel they cannot be degraded as a minority."
This is the first time in the Vienna negotiations that any party has boycotted a session, but talks between the Serbian and Albanian delegations went ahead Tuesday, with Belgrade showing support for its Pristina counterparts.
"We cannot accept the results of the ethnic cleansing that has happened after June 1999 when more than 60 percent of Kosovo Serbs were expelled" from the province, Batakovic said, adding that his delegation was representing the Kosovo Serbs in their absence.
Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority, which makes up about 90 percent of the province, wants independence but Belgrade and the minority Serb community insist the region is the cradle of Serb nationhood and cannot be given away.
Belgrade is concerned about the fate of ethnic Serbs in the province following any independence agreement and the eventual withdrawal of the United Nations, which has been administering Kosovo a NATO air war drove Serbia's forces from the province in 1999.
Since then some 200,000 Serbs have fled the province fearing attacks from ethnic Albanian hardliners. Those who have remained live in enclaves under heavy protection by NATO.
According to Batakovic, the Kosovo Serb delegation also refused to attend talks Tuesday because it did not wish "to be in the presence of Mr. Fatmir Limaj, who is still accused of war crimes." Limaj, who is part of the delegation from Pristina, was acquitted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) last December.
Before the meeting, chief Albanian negotiator Veton Surroi said he would submit new proposals Tuesday.
"Every citizen is a constituent of the new Kosovo," he said, adding that his delegation was seeking to strike normal "relations between those who are in an ethnic majority and those who are an ethnic minority."
Monday's talks broke down in mutual recrimination with both sides blaming the other, as Serbs and Kosovo Albanians met to discuss technical issues for the first time since frosty high-level talks stalled last month.
Kosovo Serb delegates announced they would shun Tuesday's session, saying "to accept talks on community rights... would mean to accept that we have the status of a minority and it is well known that a people in its own country cannot be a minority."
"The Serbs still insist on two ethnicities," the head of the Albanian delegation, Lufti Haziri, replied, insisting Pristina supported autonomy for minorities.
The West favours independence for Kosovo under certain conditions, but the decision ultimately rests with the United Nations Security Council.
UN Special Envoy for Kosovo Martti Ahtissari is expected to publish a new report in September in New York, his spokeswoman Hua Jiang told AFP.
Monday, August 07, 2006
Albania Picks U.S. Bechtel to Build $250 Mln Motorway
TIRANA (Albania), August 7 (SeeNews) - Albania has picked U.S. Bechtel to build a motorway stretch in the north of the country estimated to cost up to $250 million (194.2 million euro), which is part of a transport link to the neighbouring U.N. run province of Kosovo, the Albanian Transport Ministry said on Monday.
"The tender commission recommended to the ministry to start negotiations with Bechtel as the most qualified company. We will decide on the format of the negotiations today (Monday)," the ministry's spokesman Gerti Bogdani told SeeNews.
Bechtel outbid Austrian builder Strabag, Kuwaiti group Al-Kharafi and Croatia's Konstruktor in the international tender that was closed last week.
Strabag placed the second best bid, according to the tender commission.
Bechtel will build a 55-kilometre four-lane highway between Rreshen and Kalimash, divided into three separate stretches, a five-kilometre tunnel and viaducts. The technical projects for each of the three separate sections should be ready in December, March and April respectively, the transport ministry has said earlier.
The construction project is estimated to cost between $200 million and $250 million and to be financed by foreign donors to Albania, the ministry has said.
The Rreshen-Kalimash stretch is part of a key transport corridor between Albania's largest Adriatic port Durres and the administrative centre of neighbouring Kosovo, Pristina.
The project for the Albanian part of the Durres-Pristina motorway envisages construction of 111 kilometres of new roads and repair of 59 kilometres of existing roads. The road construction projects have a total estimated value of 400 million euro and will be financed mainly by foreign donors.
Bechtel ( www.bechtel.com ) is a privately-owned global engineering, construction and project management company. It is headquartered in San Francisco and operates through 40 offices around the world and 40,000 employees. Bechtel reported $18.1 billion in revenue last year and new orders valued at $18.5 billion.
"The tender commission recommended to the ministry to start negotiations with Bechtel as the most qualified company. We will decide on the format of the negotiations today (Monday)," the ministry's spokesman Gerti Bogdani told SeeNews.
Bechtel outbid Austrian builder Strabag, Kuwaiti group Al-Kharafi and Croatia's Konstruktor in the international tender that was closed last week.
Strabag placed the second best bid, according to the tender commission.
Bechtel will build a 55-kilometre four-lane highway between Rreshen and Kalimash, divided into three separate stretches, a five-kilometre tunnel and viaducts. The technical projects for each of the three separate sections should be ready in December, March and April respectively, the transport ministry has said earlier.
The construction project is estimated to cost between $200 million and $250 million and to be financed by foreign donors to Albania, the ministry has said.
The Rreshen-Kalimash stretch is part of a key transport corridor between Albania's largest Adriatic port Durres and the administrative centre of neighbouring Kosovo, Pristina.
The project for the Albanian part of the Durres-Pristina motorway envisages construction of 111 kilometres of new roads and repair of 59 kilometres of existing roads. The road construction projects have a total estimated value of 400 million euro and will be financed mainly by foreign donors.
Bechtel ( www.bechtel.com ) is a privately-owned global engineering, construction and project management company. It is headquartered in San Francisco and operates through 40 offices around the world and 40,000 employees. Bechtel reported $18.1 billion in revenue last year and new orders valued at $18.5 billion.
Vienna: Negotiations on Kosovo's future without progress, Serbs say will boycott second day of talks
ZAGREB/VIENNA, Aug 7 (Hina) - The first day of the eighth round of negotiations on the future of Kosovo ended in in Vienna on Monday evening without a consent on decentralisation and the forming of new predominantly Serb-populated municipalities.
The Serbian delegation said on Monday evening it would boycott the second day of the negotiations in Palais Auersperg, saying that for them it is unacceptable that the UN listed the protection of the rights of the Serb minority on the agenda. Belgrade insists that this issue be discussed at the final phase of the negotiations.
The first day of the negotiations, held under the auspices of the UN, focused on the authority of the new Serbian communities within the southern Serbian province, which has been under administration of the United Nations since 1999.
Administration of the school system, the health system and the social system were also among topics of negotiations, as were
the regulations of filling positions at the police and the courts.
Unfortunately I must say that the delegations of Belgrade and Pristina only confirmed their previous positions, UN mediator Bernhard Schlageck said, adding that some progress in achieving compromise regarding the nomination of municipal police chiefs was made.
The Serbian delegation said on Monday evening it would boycott the second day of the negotiations in Palais Auersperg, saying that for them it is unacceptable that the UN listed the protection of the rights of the Serb minority on the agenda. Belgrade insists that this issue be discussed at the final phase of the negotiations.
The first day of the negotiations, held under the auspices of the UN, focused on the authority of the new Serbian communities within the southern Serbian province, which has been under administration of the United Nations since 1999.
Administration of the school system, the health system and the social system were also among topics of negotiations, as were
the regulations of filling positions at the police and the courts.
Unfortunately I must say that the delegations of Belgrade and Pristina only confirmed their previous positions, UN mediator Bernhard Schlageck said, adding that some progress in achieving compromise regarding the nomination of municipal police chiefs was made.
Serbs, Ethnic Albanians Fail To Agree In Kosovo Govt Talks
VIENNA (AP)--Serbs and Kosovo's ethnic Albanians failed to reach agreement Monday in another round of their yearlong series of U.N.-mediated talks aimed at determining whether the province will become independent.
The talks focused on how much say the Serb-run municipalities in Kosovo would have in education, health care, police and justice, as well as cooperation between them and Serbia.
"To some regret, I have to say that Belgrade and Pristina delegations in a number of areas reaffirmed their positions," said Bernhard Schlageck, a U.N. mediator at the talks.
However, Schlageck said that there was "some movement toward compromise" on the issue of the appointment of police chiefs in municipalities.
"I found it striking that there was some movement to close the gap on that very important issue," he said. "Apart from that, on the major stumbling blocks we made no distinctive progress at all."
Before solving Kosovo's status, U.N. mediators are currently trying to narrow differences between the two sides over how to ensure improved rights for minority Serbs remaining in the province after the war.
The province has been under U.N. control since a NATO air campaign ended the Serb crackdown on ethnic Albanian separatists in 1999.
Ethnic Albanians argue for full independence and Serbia insists on keeping at least some control over the territory. The U.N. hopes to reach a final deal by the end of the year.
Leon Kojen, the leader of the Serbian delegation, said his side won't compromise on "the fundamental questions of education, health care, security, freedom of movement."
"Any attempt by (the ethnic Albanian) leadership or anybody else to deny such fundamental rights ... will be decisively rejected by Belgrade," he said after the meeting.
Kosovo's deputy prime minister, Lutfi Haziri, said deep differences remained. "We have absolutely different positions," Haziri said, accusing Serbia of opting for the division of communities.
Preliminary talks have focused on local government reform and ways to ensure that Serb religious sites are protected. Dozens of Serb Orthodox churches have been vandalized or destroyed by ethnic Albanians since the end of the war.
Ethnic Albanians make up about 90% of Kosovo's population of 2 million. An estimated 100,000 Serbs remain in Kosovo, after about 200,000 Serbs and other minorities fled during and after the war.
The chief U.N. mediator in the talks, Martti Ahtisaari, brought together the presidents and prime ministers of Kosovo and Serbia for the first face-to-face talks on the province's future status several weeks ago, but there was no concrete outcome.
Meanwhile, a London-based organization called Minority Rights Group International released a report Monday saying the treatment of minorities in Kosovo has worsened during the seven years of U.N. administration.
It blamed the U.N. and NATO's peacekeeping force for allowing the segregation of the province's ethnic communities, saying that by focusing on demands of the Serb minority, the international community has largely ignored the plight of groups, including Gypsies, or Roma.
The talks focused on how much say the Serb-run municipalities in Kosovo would have in education, health care, police and justice, as well as cooperation between them and Serbia.
"To some regret, I have to say that Belgrade and Pristina delegations in a number of areas reaffirmed their positions," said Bernhard Schlageck, a U.N. mediator at the talks.
However, Schlageck said that there was "some movement toward compromise" on the issue of the appointment of police chiefs in municipalities.
"I found it striking that there was some movement to close the gap on that very important issue," he said. "Apart from that, on the major stumbling blocks we made no distinctive progress at all."
Before solving Kosovo's status, U.N. mediators are currently trying to narrow differences between the two sides over how to ensure improved rights for minority Serbs remaining in the province after the war.
The province has been under U.N. control since a NATO air campaign ended the Serb crackdown on ethnic Albanian separatists in 1999.
Ethnic Albanians argue for full independence and Serbia insists on keeping at least some control over the territory. The U.N. hopes to reach a final deal by the end of the year.
Leon Kojen, the leader of the Serbian delegation, said his side won't compromise on "the fundamental questions of education, health care, security, freedom of movement."
"Any attempt by (the ethnic Albanian) leadership or anybody else to deny such fundamental rights ... will be decisively rejected by Belgrade," he said after the meeting.
Kosovo's deputy prime minister, Lutfi Haziri, said deep differences remained. "We have absolutely different positions," Haziri said, accusing Serbia of opting for the division of communities.
Preliminary talks have focused on local government reform and ways to ensure that Serb religious sites are protected. Dozens of Serb Orthodox churches have been vandalized or destroyed by ethnic Albanians since the end of the war.
Ethnic Albanians make up about 90% of Kosovo's population of 2 million. An estimated 100,000 Serbs remain in Kosovo, after about 200,000 Serbs and other minorities fled during and after the war.
The chief U.N. mediator in the talks, Martti Ahtisaari, brought together the presidents and prime ministers of Kosovo and Serbia for the first face-to-face talks on the province's future status several weeks ago, but there was no concrete outcome.
Meanwhile, a London-based organization called Minority Rights Group International released a report Monday saying the treatment of minorities in Kosovo has worsened during the seven years of U.N. administration.
It blamed the U.N. and NATO's peacekeeping force for allowing the segregation of the province's ethnic communities, saying that by focusing on demands of the Serb minority, the international community has largely ignored the plight of groups, including Gypsies, or Roma.
Saturday, August 05, 2006
Envoys Urge Serbs, Albanians To Quell N Kosovo Tensions
PRISTINA, Serbia (AP)--International envoys overseeing talks on Kosovo's future Friday urged ethnic Albanians and Serbs to defuse tensions in the province's troubled north.
Diplomats from the so-called "contact group" - the U.S., the U.K., Germany, France, Italy and Russia - expressed concern about the situation in northern Kosovo, a Serb-dominated region in the predominantly ethnic Albanian province.
Local Serbian officials in northern Kosovo recently cut off contact with provincial institutions dominated by the ethnic Albanians following a number of violent incidents they blamed on ethnic Albanians.
Both the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the U.N. increased their presence in the area to quell fears of violence.
International officials fear enmities might flare up between the two communities as talks on the province's future status enter a critical phase.
"Both Belgrade and Pristina should take immediate steps to reduce tensions in northern Kosovo, particularly to encourage responsible leadership and build confidence among communities," the group said in a statement.
Kosovo has been under U.N. administration since 1999, when NATO launched a campaign to stop a Serb crackdown on ethnic Albanians fighting for Kosovo's independence.
Talks to determine Kosovo's future are under way in Austria, with the next round starting Aug. 7.
Ethnic Albanians are pushing for independence, but Serbs want to keep Kosovo - an area Serbs consider their historic heartland - part of Serbia.
The contact group has set guidelines for the talks that reject returning to Belgrade's full control, its partition, or unification with another country in the region. It also has said the solution should be acceptable to Kosovo's people.
Western envoys are aiming for an agreement by the end of the year that at least would ensure the well-being of Kosovo's minorities, particularly Serbs.
U.N. officials recently proposed having a provisional international body supervise the northern Serb sector and integrate it into Kosovo's institutions once the status issue has been resolved.
The group pledged increased international engagement in Kosovo's north and called for the U.N.-run talks to include a solution for the ethnically divided town of Kosovska Mitrovica.
"Solutions need to be found for the city of Mitrovica. New arrangements, now under discussion, should be functional, realistic and guarantee the rights of all residents," the statement said.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
Diplomats from the so-called "contact group" - the U.S., the U.K., Germany, France, Italy and Russia - expressed concern about the situation in northern Kosovo, a Serb-dominated region in the predominantly ethnic Albanian province.
Local Serbian officials in northern Kosovo recently cut off contact with provincial institutions dominated by the ethnic Albanians following a number of violent incidents they blamed on ethnic Albanians.
Both the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the U.N. increased their presence in the area to quell fears of violence.
International officials fear enmities might flare up between the two communities as talks on the province's future status enter a critical phase.
"Both Belgrade and Pristina should take immediate steps to reduce tensions in northern Kosovo, particularly to encourage responsible leadership and build confidence among communities," the group said in a statement.
Kosovo has been under U.N. administration since 1999, when NATO launched a campaign to stop a Serb crackdown on ethnic Albanians fighting for Kosovo's independence.
Talks to determine Kosovo's future are under way in Austria, with the next round starting Aug. 7.
Ethnic Albanians are pushing for independence, but Serbs want to keep Kosovo - an area Serbs consider their historic heartland - part of Serbia.
The contact group has set guidelines for the talks that reject returning to Belgrade's full control, its partition, or unification with another country in the region. It also has said the solution should be acceptable to Kosovo's people.
Western envoys are aiming for an agreement by the end of the year that at least would ensure the well-being of Kosovo's minorities, particularly Serbs.
U.N. officials recently proposed having a provisional international body supervise the northern Serb sector and integrate it into Kosovo's institutions once the status issue has been resolved.
The group pledged increased international engagement in Kosovo's north and called for the U.N.-run talks to include a solution for the ethnically divided town of Kosovska Mitrovica.
"Solutions need to be found for the city of Mitrovica. New arrangements, now under discussion, should be functional, realistic and guarantee the rights of all residents," the statement said.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
Brezovica resort to be privatized despite Serb opposition - UNMIK official
Text of report in English headlined: "Ruecker: Privatization of Brezovica will be done with or without Serb accordance"; carried by independent internet news agency KosovaLive
Prishtina [Pristina], 4 August: The head of UNMIK [UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo] Pillar IV, Joachim Ruecker, said in Strpce to the officials of this municipality and the head of Serbian delegation for economic issues that the privatization of the Brezovica tourist resort will be done even though he faces harsh accusations by the Serbs, who want that this process to be postponed indefinitely.
Ruecker made these comments following his visit to this tourist resort, where he called on the local Serbs to support the privatization process, by adding that this is for the good of this municipality.
Ruecker said that it is not in the interest of the local Serbs that the privatization of this tourist resort be postponed until the status is defined.
"The process of privatization will also be centralized after the defining of the status. Therefore, this means that municipal assemblies will not be in charge of this process," said Ruecker.
For the privatization of Brezovica tourist resort, several well-known companies have shown interest such as those from Austria, Germany, Croatia, Israel, and Serbia.
On the other hand, the head of Municipal Assembly of Strpce, Stanko Jakovljevic, and the head of the Serbian delegation for economic issues, Nenad Popovic, have accused Ruecker, because according to them, he is leading a process bought by "Albanian mafia".
Source: KosovaLive website, Pristina, in English 4 Aug 06
Prishtina [Pristina], 4 August: The head of UNMIK [UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo] Pillar IV, Joachim Ruecker, said in Strpce to the officials of this municipality and the head of Serbian delegation for economic issues that the privatization of the Brezovica tourist resort will be done even though he faces harsh accusations by the Serbs, who want that this process to be postponed indefinitely.
Ruecker made these comments following his visit to this tourist resort, where he called on the local Serbs to support the privatization process, by adding that this is for the good of this municipality.
Ruecker said that it is not in the interest of the local Serbs that the privatization of this tourist resort be postponed until the status is defined.
"The process of privatization will also be centralized after the defining of the status. Therefore, this means that municipal assemblies will not be in charge of this process," said Ruecker.
For the privatization of Brezovica tourist resort, several well-known companies have shown interest such as those from Austria, Germany, Croatia, Israel, and Serbia.
On the other hand, the head of Municipal Assembly of Strpce, Stanko Jakovljevic, and the head of the Serbian delegation for economic issues, Nenad Popovic, have accused Ruecker, because according to them, he is leading a process bought by "Albanian mafia".
Source: KosovaLive website, Pristina, in English 4 Aug 06
Real European problem is not Kosovo but Serbia - Slovene foreign minister
Text of report by Radio-Television Kosovo TV website on 4 August
Slovene Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel has once more expressed his stance that a European perspective would enable Serbia and Kosova [Kosovo] to live together. He said that within the EU it has been possible for old enemies to live together, find the same aims and cooperate without the feeling that they have lost. I have said many times that the real problem is not Kosova but Serbia which has to find an inner balance and take up its real role in the region so that it can act as a true factor for stability said Slovene Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel.
Source: RTK TV website, Pristina, in Albanian 1435 gmt 4 Aug 06
Slovene Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel has once more expressed his stance that a European perspective would enable Serbia and Kosova [Kosovo] to live together. He said that within the EU it has been possible for old enemies to live together, find the same aims and cooperate without the feeling that they have lost. I have said many times that the real problem is not Kosova but Serbia which has to find an inner balance and take up its real role in the region so that it can act as a true factor for stability said Slovene Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel.
Source: RTK TV website, Pristina, in Albanian 1435 gmt 4 Aug 06
Croatian president says Serbia must confront "damaging" past of Milosevic
Excerpt from report by Croatian radio on 5 August
[Newsreader] Today is Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day. Croatia celebrates this in remembrance of 5 August 1995 when the Croatian Army's Operation Storm liberated in just 84 hours the centre of the Greater Serbia uprising, Knin, and virtually one third of Croatian territory which had been occupied for five years. [Passage omitted]
[Reporter Vesna Jasek] The main event was the raising of the state flag on the Knin fortress watched by the heads of state, assembly and government, [President] Stipe Mesic, [Speaker] Vladimir Seks and [Prime Minister] Ivo Sanader, respectively. The historical fort was the place for marking the impeccably conducted Operation Storm which, as President Mesic said, ended the war in this area. Commenting on statements coming from Serbia in the past few days about the character of the military operation, Mesic said that Serbia must confront the past and turn to the future:
[President Stipe Mesic] They have to understand that Slobodan Milosevic's war plan was also damaging for the Serbian people and Serbia. The consequences are still being felt now. Montenegro has gone, you can see that the status of Kosovo is being established and they must take this into account.
[Passage omitted]
Source: Croatian Radio, Zagreb, in Croatian 1000 gmt 5 Aug 06
[Newsreader] Today is Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day. Croatia celebrates this in remembrance of 5 August 1995 when the Croatian Army's Operation Storm liberated in just 84 hours the centre of the Greater Serbia uprising, Knin, and virtually one third of Croatian territory which had been occupied for five years. [Passage omitted]
[Reporter Vesna Jasek] The main event was the raising of the state flag on the Knin fortress watched by the heads of state, assembly and government, [President] Stipe Mesic, [Speaker] Vladimir Seks and [Prime Minister] Ivo Sanader, respectively. The historical fort was the place for marking the impeccably conducted Operation Storm which, as President Mesic said, ended the war in this area. Commenting on statements coming from Serbia in the past few days about the character of the military operation, Mesic said that Serbia must confront the past and turn to the future:
[President Stipe Mesic] They have to understand that Slobodan Milosevic's war plan was also damaging for the Serbian people and Serbia. The consequences are still being felt now. Montenegro has gone, you can see that the status of Kosovo is being established and they must take this into account.
[Passage omitted]
Source: Croatian Radio, Zagreb, in Croatian 1000 gmt 5 Aug 06
Thursday, August 03, 2006
32 enterprises put up for sale in Kosovo's privatization effort
PRISTINA, Serbia (AP) - A privatization agency in Kosovo on Thursday put up for sale patches of agricultural land, a shopping center and administrative buildings throughout the province in an effort to revive its depressed economy.
The Kosovo Trust Agency launched the 18th round of privatization in an effort to sell the companies, which were once owned by their workers and managers under a system set up during communist-era Yugoslavia, a statement said.
The U.N.-run Kosovo Trust Agency, the entity in charge of privatization, hopes to create 39 new companies once the sales are completed. Some of those firms are considered inefficient and dilapidated after years of neglect.
While most of the companies will be sold to the highest bidder, potential buyers for several firms will have to provide an investment plan and social conditions for workers.
The province's privatization agency, responsible for putting the firms on solid legal footing, wants private entrepreneurs to assume the risk of modernizing the industries.
Privatization is among the most sensitive issues in Kosovo, which was placed under U.N. administration in 1999 following NATO air strikes that ended a Serb crackdown on independence-seeking ethnic Albanians.
The process of privatization in Kosovo is complex in part because it is unclear whether the province will become independent or remain linked to Serbia, with Belgrade authorities fiercely opposed to privatizations.
U.N.-brokered talks to resolve the dispute over Kosovo's final status are under way.
The Kosovo Trust Agency launched the 18th round of privatization in an effort to sell the companies, which were once owned by their workers and managers under a system set up during communist-era Yugoslavia, a statement said.
The U.N.-run Kosovo Trust Agency, the entity in charge of privatization, hopes to create 39 new companies once the sales are completed. Some of those firms are considered inefficient and dilapidated after years of neglect.
While most of the companies will be sold to the highest bidder, potential buyers for several firms will have to provide an investment plan and social conditions for workers.
The province's privatization agency, responsible for putting the firms on solid legal footing, wants private entrepreneurs to assume the risk of modernizing the industries.
Privatization is among the most sensitive issues in Kosovo, which was placed under U.N. administration in 1999 following NATO air strikes that ended a Serb crackdown on independence-seeking ethnic Albanians.
The process of privatization in Kosovo is complex in part because it is unclear whether the province will become independent or remain linked to Serbia, with Belgrade authorities fiercely opposed to privatizations.
U.N.-brokered talks to resolve the dispute over Kosovo's final status are under way.
Serbia's police general investigated for wartime killings of 3 Americans
BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) - Serbia's former top police commander is being investigated for his role in the 1999 execution-style slaying of three Albanian-American fighters during the Kosovo conflict, an official said Thursday.
An ongoing investigation into the deaths of brothers Illy, Mehmet and Agron Bytyqi -- three U.S. citizens of Kosovo Albanian origin -- has expanded to include Gen. Vlastimir Djordjevic, who was Serbia's security chief when government forces battled ethnic Albanian separatists in the breakaway Kosovo province, prosecutor's spokesman Bruno Vekaric said.
Djordjevic -- already indicted by the U.N. war crimes tribunal in the Netherlands for his role in the war -- is believed living in Russia where he fled after mass graves were uncovered in 2001 with the bodies of the Bytyqi brothers and hundreds of other ethnic Albanian victims of the conflict.
The Bytyqi brothers were living in New York City and working in a pizza business when they decided to leave the United States to fight alongside Kosovo's ethnic Albanians during Slobodan Milosevic's 1998-99 crackdown on the province.
They joined the so-called Atlantic Brigade, a unit of about 400 Albanian-Americans who fought alongside fellow ethnic Albanians against Serb forces during former President Slobodan Milosevic's crackdown on the province's ethnic Albanian majority.
They were captured by Serbian forces and executed the same year.
The fighting ended when NATO air strikes forced Milosevic to halt his crackdown on the separatists and hand over the province to a U.N. mission and the military alliance.
Vekaric declined to specify Djordjevic's suspected role in the slaying, but said that authorities will likely seek his extradition from Russia.
Another official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the ex-commander is believed to have personally ordered the killings of the "visiting warriors" in a telephone call to a subordinate officer who was in charge of the facility where the Bytyqis were held.
So far, three persons, including a member of an elite police unit, have been detained in the Bytyqi case but no criminal charges have been made. U.S. diplomats have urged Serbian authorities to speed up the process.
Also Thursday, the prosecutors launched criminal proceedings against two ethnic Albanian men who, allegedly as members of then insurgent Kosovo Liberation Army, killed one Serb civilian and looted dozens of Serb homes, stealing cash and jewelry, in southern Kosovo in June 1999.
One of the suspects was recently apprehended during a visit to central Serbia, Vekaric said, without identifying the man.
An ongoing investigation into the deaths of brothers Illy, Mehmet and Agron Bytyqi -- three U.S. citizens of Kosovo Albanian origin -- has expanded to include Gen. Vlastimir Djordjevic, who was Serbia's security chief when government forces battled ethnic Albanian separatists in the breakaway Kosovo province, prosecutor's spokesman Bruno Vekaric said.
Djordjevic -- already indicted by the U.N. war crimes tribunal in the Netherlands for his role in the war -- is believed living in Russia where he fled after mass graves were uncovered in 2001 with the bodies of the Bytyqi brothers and hundreds of other ethnic Albanian victims of the conflict.
The Bytyqi brothers were living in New York City and working in a pizza business when they decided to leave the United States to fight alongside Kosovo's ethnic Albanians during Slobodan Milosevic's 1998-99 crackdown on the province.
They joined the so-called Atlantic Brigade, a unit of about 400 Albanian-Americans who fought alongside fellow ethnic Albanians against Serb forces during former President Slobodan Milosevic's crackdown on the province's ethnic Albanian majority.
They were captured by Serbian forces and executed the same year.
The fighting ended when NATO air strikes forced Milosevic to halt his crackdown on the separatists and hand over the province to a U.N. mission and the military alliance.
Vekaric declined to specify Djordjevic's suspected role in the slaying, but said that authorities will likely seek his extradition from Russia.
Another official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the ex-commander is believed to have personally ordered the killings of the "visiting warriors" in a telephone call to a subordinate officer who was in charge of the facility where the Bytyqis were held.
So far, three persons, including a member of an elite police unit, have been detained in the Bytyqi case but no criminal charges have been made. U.S. diplomats have urged Serbian authorities to speed up the process.
Also Thursday, the prosecutors launched criminal proceedings against two ethnic Albanian men who, allegedly as members of then insurgent Kosovo Liberation Army, killed one Serb civilian and looted dozens of Serb homes, stealing cash and jewelry, in southern Kosovo in June 1999.
One of the suspects was recently apprehended during a visit to central Serbia, Vekaric said, without identifying the man.
US Office offers support to Kosovo Assembly in Standards fulfilment
Text of report by Radio-Television Kosovo TV website on 2 August
Head of the US Office in Prishtina [Pristina] Tina Kaidanow has offered the support of her office to the Kosova [Kosovo] Assembly and all of its institutions in fulfilling the eight Standards set by the international community and the work regarding the status process. After meeting Kosova Prime Minister Agim Ceku, Kaidanow said that there has been progress in Standards fulfilment, but there is still much to be done. PM Ceku thanked Kaidanow for the support of the US government and added that the Kosovar side will continue to work in this direction.
Source: RTK TV website, Pristina, in Albanian 2 Aug 06
Head of the US Office in Prishtina [Pristina] Tina Kaidanow has offered the support of her office to the Kosova [Kosovo] Assembly and all of its institutions in fulfilling the eight Standards set by the international community and the work regarding the status process. After meeting Kosova Prime Minister Agim Ceku, Kaidanow said that there has been progress in Standards fulfilment, but there is still much to be done. PM Ceku thanked Kaidanow for the support of the US government and added that the Kosovar side will continue to work in this direction.
Source: RTK TV website, Pristina, in Albanian 2 Aug 06
Kosovo's independence condition for regional stability, says Albanian PM
Text of report by Radio-Television Kosovo TV website on 2 August
Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha attended the meeting of prime ministers of South East European countries in Salzburg. Discussing Kosova [Kosovo], Prime Minister Berisha said that independence is a condition for peace and stability in the region. Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schlussel and Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader assessed that Kosova's future depends on the results of the negotiations.
Source: RTK TV website, Pristina, in Albanian 2 Aug 06
Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha attended the meeting of prime ministers of South East European countries in Salzburg. Discussing Kosova [Kosovo], Prime Minister Berisha said that independence is a condition for peace and stability in the region. Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schlussel and Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader assessed that Kosova's future depends on the results of the negotiations.
Source: RTK TV website, Pristina, in Albanian 2 Aug 06
Serbia's Ex-Police Commander Probed On 3 Kosovo Killings
BELGRADE (AP)--Serbia's former top police commander is being investigated for his role in the 1999 execution-style slaying of three Albanian-American fighters during the Kosovo conflict, an official said Thursday.
An ongoing investigation into the deaths of brothers Illy, Mehmet and Agron Bytyqi - three U.S. citizens of Kosovo Albanian origin - has expanded to include Gen. Vlastimir Djordjevic, who was Serbia's security chief when government forces battled ethnic Albanian separatists in the breakaway Kosovo province, prosecutor's spokesman Bruno Vekaric said.
Djordjevic - already indicted by the U.N. war crimes tribunal in the Netherlands for his role in the war - is believed living in Russia where he fled after mass graves were uncovered in 2001 with the bodies of the Bytyqi brothers and hundreds of other ethnic Albanian victims of the conflict.
The Bytyqi brothers were living in New York City and working in a pizza business when they decided to leave the U.S. to fight in Kosovo Albanians' 1998- 99 separatist uprising.
They joined the Atlantic Brigade, a unit of about 400 Albanian-Americans who fought alongside fellow ethnic Albanians against Serb forces during former President Slobodan Milosevic's crackdown on the province's ethnic Albanian majority.
They were captured by Serbian forces and executed the same year.
The fighting ended when North Atlantic Treaty Organization air strikes forced then president Slobodan Milosevic to halt his crackdown on the separatists and hand over the province to a U.N. mission and the military alliance.
Vekaric declined to specify Djordjevic's suspected role in the slaying, but said that authorities will likely seek his extradition from Russia.
Another official said the ex-commander is believed to have personally ordered the killings of the "visiting warriors" in a telephone call to a subordinate officer who was in charge of the facility where the Bytyqis were held.
So far, three persons, including a member of an elite police unit, have been detained in the Bytyqi case but no criminal charges have been made. U.S. diplomats have urged Serbian authorities to speed up the process.
An ongoing investigation into the deaths of brothers Illy, Mehmet and Agron Bytyqi - three U.S. citizens of Kosovo Albanian origin - has expanded to include Gen. Vlastimir Djordjevic, who was Serbia's security chief when government forces battled ethnic Albanian separatists in the breakaway Kosovo province, prosecutor's spokesman Bruno Vekaric said.
Djordjevic - already indicted by the U.N. war crimes tribunal in the Netherlands for his role in the war - is believed living in Russia where he fled after mass graves were uncovered in 2001 with the bodies of the Bytyqi brothers and hundreds of other ethnic Albanian victims of the conflict.
The Bytyqi brothers were living in New York City and working in a pizza business when they decided to leave the U.S. to fight in Kosovo Albanians' 1998- 99 separatist uprising.
They joined the Atlantic Brigade, a unit of about 400 Albanian-Americans who fought alongside fellow ethnic Albanians against Serb forces during former President Slobodan Milosevic's crackdown on the province's ethnic Albanian majority.
They were captured by Serbian forces and executed the same year.
The fighting ended when North Atlantic Treaty Organization air strikes forced then president Slobodan Milosevic to halt his crackdown on the separatists and hand over the province to a U.N. mission and the military alliance.
Vekaric declined to specify Djordjevic's suspected role in the slaying, but said that authorities will likely seek his extradition from Russia.
Another official said the ex-commander is believed to have personally ordered the killings of the "visiting warriors" in a telephone call to a subordinate officer who was in charge of the facility where the Bytyqis were held.
So far, three persons, including a member of an elite police unit, have been detained in the Bytyqi case but no criminal charges have been made. U.S. diplomats have urged Serbian authorities to speed up the process.
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Another 20 minority members join the Kosovo Protection Corps (Dailies)
All daily newspapers report that as of Tuesday another 20 minority members that live in Kosovo will be wearing the uniform of the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC). The group of new recruits, which consists of 3 Serbs, 7 Bosniaks, 3 Turks, 2 Ashkali, 2 Croats, an Egyptian and a Roma, raises to 215 the number of minority members of the KPC, or seven percent of the overall number of KPC members.
Koha Ditore quotes KPC Deputy Commander General Rrahman Rama saying the inclusion of another 20 minority members in the KPC is very important for the KPC, for its members and for the people of Kosovo. “The KPC is an institution that enjoys the greatest respect in the country, it is loved without any differences,” Rama added.
The paper quotes another KPC general Sadria Music, who is also a member of minority communities, as saying that they have had difficulties in convincing some community members to join the KPC, most notably the members of the Serb minority. “The biggest problem in this respect is Belgrade’s policy which is a constant impediment to the stabilisation of the situation in Kosovo and the KPC,” Music added.
Zëri in its front-page coverage notes that the KPC is expected to be the nucleus of the future army of Kosovo. The paper also recalls that the International Crisis Group has suggested that the Kosovo should have an army of 3,000 members, but yesterday KPC Deputy Commander Rrahman Rama said that the future army of Kosovo should have a bigger number than that proposed by the ICG. “We think that the number of members of the army of Kosovo should be more than 3,000, not only because we want this but because of the needs and requirements in our country,” Rama was quoted as saying.
Koha Ditore quotes KPC Deputy Commander General Rrahman Rama saying the inclusion of another 20 minority members in the KPC is very important for the KPC, for its members and for the people of Kosovo. “The KPC is an institution that enjoys the greatest respect in the country, it is loved without any differences,” Rama added.
The paper quotes another KPC general Sadria Music, who is also a member of minority communities, as saying that they have had difficulties in convincing some community members to join the KPC, most notably the members of the Serb minority. “The biggest problem in this respect is Belgrade’s policy which is a constant impediment to the stabilisation of the situation in Kosovo and the KPC,” Music added.
Zëri in its front-page coverage notes that the KPC is expected to be the nucleus of the future army of Kosovo. The paper also recalls that the International Crisis Group has suggested that the Kosovo should have an army of 3,000 members, but yesterday KPC Deputy Commander Rrahman Rama said that the future army of Kosovo should have a bigger number than that proposed by the ICG. “We think that the number of members of the army of Kosovo should be more than 3,000, not only because we want this but because of the needs and requirements in our country,” Rama was quoted as saying.
Editorial: How the West shift from “conditional independence” to “limited sovereignty” for Kosovo (Zëri)
A very important conceptual change in the approach of the international community vis-à-vis the process for resolving Kosovo’s status has to a certain extent remained unnoticed and consequently bypassed by the Kosovar factor. This is about the shift, definitively a silent one, from the concept “conditional independence” for Kosovo as a solution for Kosovo’s status to that of “limited sovereignty.”
The differences between these two concepts are huge.
“Conditional independence” launched in 2000 by the Goldstone Commission and presented again by the Amato Commission in 2005, despite many sustainable details, created a huge complication for the process of recognising the state of Kosovo. Certainly, as far as the time aspect was concerned Goldstone’s proposal was logical, because it called for the international presence in Kosovo, which was established by UNSC Resolution 1244, to be used for transforming Kosovo into a state. Vice versa, the offer of the Balkans Commission last year was late and insufficient for all stakeholders in the process of resolving the status of Kosovo.
The model “conditional independence” suffered the fatal blow in January and February this year, while Martti Ahtisaari’s Mission had started to take on its shape. Ahtisaari himself said he was against this model in the first talks when possible options for Kosovo’s status were being analysed. And it was Ambassador Frank Wisner, the US Envoy for Kosovo’s status, that announced “the death” of this solution, during his first visit to Pristina and Belgrade in early February immediately after the meeting of the Contact Group in London on 31st January. Wisner said openly, even before the Serbian media in Belgrade, that a country either is or is not a state and that there could not be something called “conditional independence”.
“Limited sovereignty” is the concept that has won the large support of capitals of Western countries of the Contact Group, because it merges the will of the people of Kosovo for independence with the will of the international community to play a new role in transforming Kosovo into a stable and functioning state that contributes to regional stability.
In fact Kosovars with an absolute percentage view the independence of Kosovo as a joint mission or project of Kosovo, the US, the EU and NATO; therefore, there is an authentic mood in Pristina to assume the responsibilities and limitations that derive from this instalment in this phase, the process of Kosovo’s inclusion in Euro-Atlantic integrations. Such limitations are not specific only for Kosovo, but for all other countries that are part of NATO and the European Union. Kosovo’s specifics are related to the role that NATO, the US and major European countries have had in the liberation of Kosovo, in its reconstruction after 1999, and with the role they are expected to have from now on. Certainly it remains to be seen in the talks that are expected to be held from now on between Kosovo’s negotiating authorities, UNOSEK, the US and the EU on how to organise the international civil and military presence in Kosovo. But there is no doubt that Kosovars are fully supportive in continuing and intensifying the partnership with the US, EU and NATO in the building of the state of Kosovo.
The differences between these two concepts are huge.
“Conditional independence” launched in 2000 by the Goldstone Commission and presented again by the Amato Commission in 2005, despite many sustainable details, created a huge complication for the process of recognising the state of Kosovo. Certainly, as far as the time aspect was concerned Goldstone’s proposal was logical, because it called for the international presence in Kosovo, which was established by UNSC Resolution 1244, to be used for transforming Kosovo into a state. Vice versa, the offer of the Balkans Commission last year was late and insufficient for all stakeholders in the process of resolving the status of Kosovo.
The model “conditional independence” suffered the fatal blow in January and February this year, while Martti Ahtisaari’s Mission had started to take on its shape. Ahtisaari himself said he was against this model in the first talks when possible options for Kosovo’s status were being analysed. And it was Ambassador Frank Wisner, the US Envoy for Kosovo’s status, that announced “the death” of this solution, during his first visit to Pristina and Belgrade in early February immediately after the meeting of the Contact Group in London on 31st January. Wisner said openly, even before the Serbian media in Belgrade, that a country either is or is not a state and that there could not be something called “conditional independence”.
“Limited sovereignty” is the concept that has won the large support of capitals of Western countries of the Contact Group, because it merges the will of the people of Kosovo for independence with the will of the international community to play a new role in transforming Kosovo into a stable and functioning state that contributes to regional stability.
In fact Kosovars with an absolute percentage view the independence of Kosovo as a joint mission or project of Kosovo, the US, the EU and NATO; therefore, there is an authentic mood in Pristina to assume the responsibilities and limitations that derive from this instalment in this phase, the process of Kosovo’s inclusion in Euro-Atlantic integrations. Such limitations are not specific only for Kosovo, but for all other countries that are part of NATO and the European Union. Kosovo’s specifics are related to the role that NATO, the US and major European countries have had in the liberation of Kosovo, in its reconstruction after 1999, and with the role they are expected to have from now on. Certainly it remains to be seen in the talks that are expected to be held from now on between Kosovo’s negotiating authorities, UNOSEK, the US and the EU on how to organise the international civil and military presence in Kosovo. But there is no doubt that Kosovars are fully supportive in continuing and intensifying the partnership with the US, EU and NATO in the building of the state of Kosovo.
Kosovo Serb leaders condemn UNMIK idea of setting up protectorate in north
Text of report by Serbia-Montenegrin radio Kontakt Plus on 2 August
[Announcer] Representatives of the Serb National Council [SNV] for Northern Kosmet [Kosovo-Metohija] and the Association of Serb Municipalities and Communities of Kosovo-Metohija today sharply criticized the work of deputy UNMIK [UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo] chief Steven Schook, especially his position that northern Kosovo should be placed under international protectorate. The chairman of the Serb National Council, Milan Ivanovic, told a news conference in Kosovska Mitrovica that UNMIK's initiative to place northern Kosovo under an international protectorate would not be implemented, because neither Kosovo Serb political representatives nor officials in Belgrade would accept it.
[Ivanovic] In this way they are trying to define institutions elected in a legitimate manner as institutions of minor importance, and they are trying to give those institutions their tutors, [make them] a protectorate, and annul the will of the people expressed in local municipal elections three years ago. This is an attempt to create a protectorate within a protectorate or in a figurative sense, this is an attempt to place the Serbs from northern Kosovo-Metohija into the solitary cell of a prison.
[Announcer] At the same news conference, the chairman of the Association of Serb Municipalities and Communities of Kosovo-Metohija, Marko Jaksic, said that the announcement that northern Kosovo should be placed under a protectorate was an attempt to forcibly integrate Serbs into Kosovo institutions.
Source: Kontakt Plus, Kosovska Mitrovica, in Serbian 1400 gmt 2 Aug 06
[Announcer] Representatives of the Serb National Council [SNV] for Northern Kosmet [Kosovo-Metohija] and the Association of Serb Municipalities and Communities of Kosovo-Metohija today sharply criticized the work of deputy UNMIK [UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo] chief Steven Schook, especially his position that northern Kosovo should be placed under international protectorate. The chairman of the Serb National Council, Milan Ivanovic, told a news conference in Kosovska Mitrovica that UNMIK's initiative to place northern Kosovo under an international protectorate would not be implemented, because neither Kosovo Serb political representatives nor officials in Belgrade would accept it.
[Ivanovic] In this way they are trying to define institutions elected in a legitimate manner as institutions of minor importance, and they are trying to give those institutions their tutors, [make them] a protectorate, and annul the will of the people expressed in local municipal elections three years ago. This is an attempt to create a protectorate within a protectorate or in a figurative sense, this is an attempt to place the Serbs from northern Kosovo-Metohija into the solitary cell of a prison.
[Announcer] At the same news conference, the chairman of the Association of Serb Municipalities and Communities of Kosovo-Metohija, Marko Jaksic, said that the announcement that northern Kosovo should be placed under a protectorate was an attempt to forcibly integrate Serbs into Kosovo institutions.
Source: Kontakt Plus, Kosovska Mitrovica, in Serbian 1400 gmt 2 Aug 06
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Analysis: Kosovo's anxious wait
Tensions are rising in Kosovo as a decision on its long-term future nears.
The international community says it wants the Serbs and ethnic Albanians to reach an agreement by the end of the year.
Otherwise, a settlement may have to be imposed.
In the divided city of Mitrovica people seem a long way from agreement.
Hardship
At 0900 the men are sitting outside the bars drinking beer and rakia. With sky-high unemployment, there is not much to do apart from think of the future and gaze at the bridge separating the two halves of the city.
The portakabin shops which line the street add to the pervading sense of the temporary. Patrolling international police and K-For troops seem to outnumber the locals.
Welcome to north Mitrovica, the last Serb urban area in Kosovo. It is tense, depressing and the people are scared about the future.
On the pavement, Dragoljub Mitrovic, 37, is trying to sell a heap of cheese in a blue bucket.
He has travelled from his home village, through an Albanian area, to try and make some money to feed his wife and two children.
"All Serbs, including me, live in constant fear. The UN brings us here on special buses. If Kosovo becomes independent, I'll pack my things and leave and try to get asylum elsewhere. There'd be no life for me here. I'd look for democracy in Europe."
Technically, Kosovo remains a part of Serbia. But in reality it has been run by the United Nations since the end of the war in 1999.
'Troublemakers'
In March 2004, violence exploded across Kosovo in anti-Serb riots, as Albanian mobs attacked Serb communities and burned down churches. In all, 19 people died. The violence began in Mitrovica.
The vast majority of Kosovo's people are Albanians who want independence. Serbs want anything but that.
Oliver Ivanovic, 52, is a leading Serb politician, a member of the Kosovo parliament and regarded as a moderate.
"We have been living in this hotspot since 1999, all the time living under some tension, all the time attacked by Albanians in the south and all the time coming under pressure from the international community.
"Sometimes we are under the impression internationals are not happy that we stay here. We are the troublemakers. And this does not help our relations with them," he says.
Independence drive
Pass the French troops stationed on the bridge over the River Ibar, that separates the Serb north from the Albanian south, and you enter a different world.
The place is humming: crowded, colourful, energetic. There is a sense of expectation.
Edmond Jolla, 32, is Albanian and the owner of the upmarket restaurant Ex.
"Everyone is expecting independence. In terms of my business, independence would enable me to invest for the future. Everyone will live better. I have two flats in north Mitrovica and when we get independence I hope to get them back. The war is finished," he tells me.
Drive 45 minutes south and you arrive at the air-conditioned, spankingly clean New Government Buildings in the capital, Pristina.
The former Albanian guerrilla leader-turned-prime minister, Agim Ceku, is sharp-suited and smiling when I arrive.
He tells me the government will accept nothing less than independence - and partition is out of the question.
"We are expecting full independence. We are sure it will be for the benefit of the region and for local Serbs. We are making a lot of commitments to them. They will benefit from positive discrimination. And Serbia will be free. They will have no enemies around, they will have no need to pay a lot of money to fund power structures and no reason to have large security forces."
Back in Mitrovica, it is no secret that both communities are well-armed and ready for a worst-case scenario.
"I will do whatever is in my capacity, physically and intellectually, to defend our right to live in peace and dignity and to live freely in our state. I, like most Serbs, will not accept being moved from one state to another," says Milan Ivanovic, one of north Mitrovica's most popular politicians.
Extra police
K-For recently reopened its base north of Mitrovica and close to the border with Serbia proper. Extra UN police have been deployed in the region. All in case it all goes wrong.
An old man, carrying a bag of shopping and wearing a traditional Serbian shaikatcha cap, sits in a bus shelter on the main street in north Mitrovica.
Behind him, pasted on the shelter, are black death notices of people who have died, of natural causes, during the past few days.
The people of north Mitrovica are waiting for something to happen. And whatever is going to happen, they believe, is not going to be good.
In Mitrovica, the River Ibar separates the Serb north from the Albanian south; Mitrovica's River Ibar separates the Serb north from the Albanian south; Local Serbs come from rural areas to earn a living
The international community says it wants the Serbs and ethnic Albanians to reach an agreement by the end of the year.
Otherwise, a settlement may have to be imposed.
In the divided city of Mitrovica people seem a long way from agreement.
Hardship
At 0900 the men are sitting outside the bars drinking beer and rakia. With sky-high unemployment, there is not much to do apart from think of the future and gaze at the bridge separating the two halves of the city.
The portakabin shops which line the street add to the pervading sense of the temporary. Patrolling international police and K-For troops seem to outnumber the locals.
Welcome to north Mitrovica, the last Serb urban area in Kosovo. It is tense, depressing and the people are scared about the future.
On the pavement, Dragoljub Mitrovic, 37, is trying to sell a heap of cheese in a blue bucket.
He has travelled from his home village, through an Albanian area, to try and make some money to feed his wife and two children.
"All Serbs, including me, live in constant fear. The UN brings us here on special buses. If Kosovo becomes independent, I'll pack my things and leave and try to get asylum elsewhere. There'd be no life for me here. I'd look for democracy in Europe."
Technically, Kosovo remains a part of Serbia. But in reality it has been run by the United Nations since the end of the war in 1999.
'Troublemakers'
In March 2004, violence exploded across Kosovo in anti-Serb riots, as Albanian mobs attacked Serb communities and burned down churches. In all, 19 people died. The violence began in Mitrovica.
The vast majority of Kosovo's people are Albanians who want independence. Serbs want anything but that.
Oliver Ivanovic, 52, is a leading Serb politician, a member of the Kosovo parliament and regarded as a moderate.
"We have been living in this hotspot since 1999, all the time living under some tension, all the time attacked by Albanians in the south and all the time coming under pressure from the international community.
"Sometimes we are under the impression internationals are not happy that we stay here. We are the troublemakers. And this does not help our relations with them," he says.
Independence drive
Pass the French troops stationed on the bridge over the River Ibar, that separates the Serb north from the Albanian south, and you enter a different world.
The place is humming: crowded, colourful, energetic. There is a sense of expectation.
Edmond Jolla, 32, is Albanian and the owner of the upmarket restaurant Ex.
"Everyone is expecting independence. In terms of my business, independence would enable me to invest for the future. Everyone will live better. I have two flats in north Mitrovica and when we get independence I hope to get them back. The war is finished," he tells me.
Drive 45 minutes south and you arrive at the air-conditioned, spankingly clean New Government Buildings in the capital, Pristina.
The former Albanian guerrilla leader-turned-prime minister, Agim Ceku, is sharp-suited and smiling when I arrive.
He tells me the government will accept nothing less than independence - and partition is out of the question.
"We are expecting full independence. We are sure it will be for the benefit of the region and for local Serbs. We are making a lot of commitments to them. They will benefit from positive discrimination. And Serbia will be free. They will have no enemies around, they will have no need to pay a lot of money to fund power structures and no reason to have large security forces."
Back in Mitrovica, it is no secret that both communities are well-armed and ready for a worst-case scenario.
"I will do whatever is in my capacity, physically and intellectually, to defend our right to live in peace and dignity and to live freely in our state. I, like most Serbs, will not accept being moved from one state to another," says Milan Ivanovic, one of north Mitrovica's most popular politicians.
Extra police
K-For recently reopened its base north of Mitrovica and close to the border with Serbia proper. Extra UN police have been deployed in the region. All in case it all goes wrong.
An old man, carrying a bag of shopping and wearing a traditional Serbian shaikatcha cap, sits in a bus shelter on the main street in north Mitrovica.
Behind him, pasted on the shelter, are black death notices of people who have died, of natural causes, during the past few days.
The people of north Mitrovica are waiting for something to happen. And whatever is going to happen, they believe, is not going to be good.
In Mitrovica, the River Ibar separates the Serb north from the Albanian south; Mitrovica's River Ibar separates the Serb north from the Albanian south; Local Serbs come from rural areas to earn a living
5 of 13 priority points of the Contact Group implemented (
Zëri reports that the central institutions of Kosovo, the Government and Assembly, have so far implemented at least five out of 13 points for the implementation of standards that were laid out as priority by the Contact Group.
Kosovo Government’s Coordinator for Standards Avni Arifi told the paper that currently the Fund for Minority Media is concluding, namely it has been distributed to all beneficiaries, the Independent Media Commission has been completed with the Assembly appointing the fifth member, the director of the Anti-Corruption Agency has been elected, funds for returns have been allocated to the institutions responsible for returns, and the Law on the Official Usage of Languages and the Law on Religious Freedoms have been adopted.
Arifi added that “there are two issues left that the Assembly must do, namely the second reading of the Law on Cultural Heritage and its approval, and the amendment of the Law on Public Procurement. We believe this will be finished in the first assembly session after the holidays.”
Arifi also told the paper that as for the project for rebuilding the March 2004 damages, the Kosovo Protection Corps has conducted all the necessary analysis “and we expect this program to be finished as soon as possible”.
Kosovo Government’s Coordinator for Standards Avni Arifi told the paper that currently the Fund for Minority Media is concluding, namely it has been distributed to all beneficiaries, the Independent Media Commission has been completed with the Assembly appointing the fifth member, the director of the Anti-Corruption Agency has been elected, funds for returns have been allocated to the institutions responsible for returns, and the Law on the Official Usage of Languages and the Law on Religious Freedoms have been adopted.
Arifi added that “there are two issues left that the Assembly must do, namely the second reading of the Law on Cultural Heritage and its approval, and the amendment of the Law on Public Procurement. We believe this will be finished in the first assembly session after the holidays.”
Arifi also told the paper that as for the project for rebuilding the March 2004 damages, the Kosovo Protection Corps has conducted all the necessary analysis “and we expect this program to be finished as soon as possible”.
Çeku: Kosovo ready to be independent
In his weekly speech on Radio Kosova, which was covered by the daily papers, Kosovo PM Ceku talked about status negotiations as well as about challenges that await Kosovo in this process. In this aspect, Ceku said that Kosovo cannot follow an isolationist policy.
“We are unfolding in front of the civilized world our vision for Kosovo’s state. We are showing that we can assume responsibilities that belong to us. We are convincing them that Kosovo is an independent, democratic, normal, functioning, multiethnic and with a perspective to develop,” said Çeku in his weekly radio address, dailies report.
Definition of the status will give a new momentum to economic development in Kosovo. “Clarity and political stability generate economic development,” Çeku said. The status will have two immediate effects; organizing a big donors conference and Kosovo will have the right to get loans from international financing institutions.
The PM appreciated that both the Government and opposition representatives are together participating in Vienna talks and said that in this way they have legitimized the name of ‘team of unity’.
Çeku said further that Kosovo has potential to develop and that there is obvious interest among foreign investors to come here in Kosovo, and this will directly create job opportunities and will indirectly help the entire economy.
However, the PM further said, there are no illusions that things will straighten up overnight and that whoever says that it is using ‘demagogy’. He called on the people of Kosovo for mature and responsible behavior while facing challenges after the status has been solved.
“It is important to be psychologically prepared for the difficulties that will ensue following the solution of the status. Challenges of growth require mature and responsible behavior. We are all supposed to follow this logic,” Çeku said.
“We are unfolding in front of the civilized world our vision for Kosovo’s state. We are showing that we can assume responsibilities that belong to us. We are convincing them that Kosovo is an independent, democratic, normal, functioning, multiethnic and with a perspective to develop,” said Çeku in his weekly radio address, dailies report.
Definition of the status will give a new momentum to economic development in Kosovo. “Clarity and political stability generate economic development,” Çeku said. The status will have two immediate effects; organizing a big donors conference and Kosovo will have the right to get loans from international financing institutions.
The PM appreciated that both the Government and opposition representatives are together participating in Vienna talks and said that in this way they have legitimized the name of ‘team of unity’.
Çeku said further that Kosovo has potential to develop and that there is obvious interest among foreign investors to come here in Kosovo, and this will directly create job opportunities and will indirectly help the entire economy.
However, the PM further said, there are no illusions that things will straighten up overnight and that whoever says that it is using ‘demagogy’. He called on the people of Kosovo for mature and responsible behavior while facing challenges after the status has been solved.
“It is important to be psychologically prepared for the difficulties that will ensue following the solution of the status. Challenges of growth require mature and responsible behavior. We are all supposed to follow this logic,” Çeku said.
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