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CONTENTS: 4 Oct 2001 THE INDEPENDENCE OF KOSOVO
The 17 November elections in Kosovo are very important, as the citizens of Kosovo will elect the first democratic assembly, which will appoint Kosovo's government and president, reported Zëri on page one. This is the second time that the Kosovars have the right and freedom to vote in the elections. Last year we were all focused on the act of voting and not on the results of the voting. The local institutions were established after the 28 October municipal elections. The fact that Kosovo was able to hold calm electoral campaign and local elections without any problems is considered to be one of the greatest achievement of Kosovo and UNMIK in the post-war period. The local elections demonstrated the Kosovars' will to reach democracy. This year, the elections have a far greater importance. With these elections, we will enter the second stage of solving the Kosovo issue with the target of the establishment of a democratic government at all levels. The success is a condition which will open for us the issue of Kosovo's final status. If we do not succeed in these elections, the best thing that can happen to us is that the issue of the final status will be postponed. The worst would be if Kosovo looses its historic chance to have democracy. Kosovo is now entering the critical stage where we should express our political potential to built democracy, contribute to the stability of the region and peace in South-Eastern Europe. The general elections will take place based on the Constitutional Framework, which was approved in May by UNMIK Administrator Hans Haekkerup. This constitution has its limits and flaws, which are inevitable if you consider the UN's role in establishing the international administration and Kosovo's institutions. However, we can politically overcome these limits. Kosovo will gain political strength. Entering the next stage with an assembly and a government of some limited legalistic capacity will bring new political quality, which the Kosovars should use properly in order to strengthen the political position of Kosovo. Above all, Kosovo's assembly and government should create new political identity for Kosovo, and that is how the country can move forward and reach independence. The political logic of announcing independence, or legitimizing independence in the assembly or through a referendum, is dominant. Now we have to support the logic of creating democracy and apply it in all fields of the society. Once we turn independence into a done deed, the West will acknowledge and accept it. There is nothing secret, clandestine or surprising about our desire of independence. Our political parties, regardless of the number of members they have, are united in the issue of Kosovo's independence. The pre-electoral programs of the LDK, PDK and AAK are very similar. But the main political consensus did not produce institutional cooperation among these parties. We are only half way there. We cannot reach our target through several individuals or parties. In this game, we will either win or loose. If we truly want to reach independence, then all of our best men should cooperate and focus on Kosovo's assembly and government. Due to this, the November elections can write new history in Kosovo.
Zëri on page seven carried a column on the elections in Kosovo and the Serb hesitation to participate. On Tuesday the DOS Chairmanship (a group of Serbian political parties within the government) held a debate on the general elections in Kosovo, which are to take place on 17 November, and the possibility for the Serb participation. Following the meeting, Serb Minister of Justice Vladan Batic informed that no final decision was made regarding the Serbs' eventual participation in the future parliamentary elections in Kosovo. "We will see what happens after the talks with UNMIK Administrator Hans Haekkerup. We will see if he guarantees the Serb community's security and if several competencies (dealing with the police, courts, education and health), will be given to the Serbs." President of the so-called Yugoslav Coordinating Center for Kosovo Nebojsa Covic reported on the meeting that he held with Haekkerup. According to Covic, the issues discussed included the missing Serbs, the kidnapped and the detainees, the Serb return in Osojane and other issues that deal with the problems of the Serb community in Kosovo. Covic stressed that Haekkerup mentioned the issue of the Albanian
prisoners held in Serb prisons and stressed the fact that the Serb
authorities have made a "great deal of progress in this direction because
they have released about 1700 prisoners." "Slowly. There is no need for us to hurry. These are very important decisions, which we will make in cooperation with the DOS and the state's institutions because the participation is not a political problem, it is a problem of the state, and it must be treated as such," stated Covic in reply to the journalists question whether the Serb participation in the elections is a done deal. Just before the meeting took place, dozens of relatives of the "missing and kidnapped" Serbs gathered in front of the building where the meeting was taking place and protested with the request that the Serbs boycott the future elections in Kosovo unless the conditions for their participation are fulfilled. "The Kosovo Serbs cannot participate in the elections unless light is shed on the fate of the missing and the kidnapped," said to the journalists the Coordinator of the Association for the Missing Serbs Sima Spasic. According to him, the return of the displaced into Kosovo has not been enabled. The protesters held posters and appealed for the release of their relatives and made a lot of accusations. They especially accused Covic by calling him a traitor, "who is selling the interests of the Serbs." The Serb media continues speculating about "Osama Bin Laden's supporters in Kosovo," and the relations in between this terrorist organization and several former KLA soldiers who are now politicians in Kosovo. The short text with a map of Kosovo reports on the NLA, KLA, UCPMB and many other Albanian groups, parties and entities being implicated with the events that took place in the USA.
UNMIK Administrator Hans Haekkerup refused Belgrade's conditions for the participation of the Serbs community in the general elections in Kosovo, reported Zëri on page two. Following the meeting he held with the Serb representative Nebojsa Covic, Haekkerup said that the UN Security Council sent a clear message as far as Belgrade's requests are concerned. The Serbian authorities have constantly requested the international administration in Kosovo to increase the security measures for the minorities. They requested this before they made a decision regarding the participation or non-participation of the Kosovo Serbs in the general elections, which are to take place on 17 November. According to Haekkerup, the UN Security Council supported Covic's role in Kosovo but they rejected the requests.
European Union high officials will remain in the Balkans for two days in order to encourage the necessary political and security developments and urge the process of inter-ethnic coexistence in Macedonia and in Kosovo, reported Zëri on page two. Javier Solana and Christopher Patten will demand the Macedonian parliament to endorse the third and the last part of the constitutional changes. According to international diplomats, the visit of Solana and Patten in Skopje is one of the most important ones since the beginning of the process on 13th of August in Ohrid, when the Albanian and Macedonian political parties agreed to a set of constitutional changes in order to improve the position of the Albanian community in Macedonia. Last day's obstruction by the Macedonian radical side for constitutional changes caused some concern for the EU representatives, who are reiterating their pressure on the radical Macedonians to accept the political reconciliation of the Albanian and Macedonian political parties. If not, there will be no aid from EU to Macedonia. EU officials said that the Macedonian side would be reminded that the EU's financial aid for the reconstruction of Macedonia depends on the constitutional changes, which should be endorsed in the parliament. "Commissioner Patten will focus on supporting the reconstruction, which depends on the implementation of the political agreement", said EU officials. During the month of October, the World Bank has planned a donor's conference for reconstruction of Macedonia, which is closely related to the necessary constitutional changes. On Friday Solana and Patten will visit Prishtina and discuss the probability of the Kosovo Serbs not taking part in the elections. This is the European Union's main concern before the November elections. An EU official said that the Kosovo Serbs have agreed to participate in the November elections. However, continuous appeals from the Serb political parties and radical Serbs against the Serb participation in the elections are of key influence to their decision. According to them, the purpose of Solana and Patten's visit is to convince the Serbs to participate in the elections and integrate in Kosovo's institutions.
"The AAK is looking into the future. With us leading, Kosovo's population has a secure and bright future ahead," stated one of Kosovo's main three political parties AAK Chairman Ramush Haradinaj, reported Zëri on page two. The AAK marked the beginning of the electoral campaign for the November elections in a ceremony that took place in the hall of the ABC cinema in Prishtina. "We are building Kosovo's democracy every day" "Everlasting glory for all those who fought for freedom, freedom of the hostages and strength for those who are waiting for their loved ones to return. We want to thank our friends who are here today with us for their contribution and support as we climbed the steps to be here today," began Haradinaj his speech for the participants of the ceremony. "Our long journey is approaching another great autumn. November 17th will be the day when Kosovo's population will in freedom elect Kosovo's Parliament, which will lead Kosovo towards peace, stability, developed economy, democracy, independence and integration in European and Atlantic structures." "We are building Kosovo's democracy every day. We do not only talk about the democracy and independence, but we do something to build it," stressed AAK Deputy Chairman Bajram Kosumi, by revealing several parts of the long program the AAK is presenting order to win as much places in Kosovo's assembly as possible. "AAK's electoral program is another great and convincing argument regarding the AAK being fully aware of how to lead Kosovo during the next three years. The AAK also knows how to build a stable and democratic government, how to develop our economy and how to build a democratic state," stressed Kosumi. While mentioning the conditions for Kosovo's improvement, including the establishment of a stable government, a parliament that will compile good laws for the citizens, the establishment of a government that will apply these laws properly, Kosumi stressed that law and order and political agreement are the means with which AAK would be able to build stable and democratic government. AAK and Central Electoral member Ruzhdi Sefa introduced one hundred names of the candidates that will run for deputies. "I appeal for you to vote for the AAK not because Ramush Haradinaj is its chairman but because the AAK is determined to turn its objectives into reality," stressed Kosovo's former political leader Mahmut Bakalli, in his first engagement in politics after twenty years. "It is an honor for me to be an AAK member." The AAK Advisor Ismije Beshiri read a letter written by the Head of the OSCE Daan Everts regarding AAK's first electoral meeting. "Kosovo is entering a new chapter in its new history. For the first time in history, Kosovo will establish an administration, which is acknowledged by the international community, meaning that the powers will transfer from UNMIK to the Kosovar population," was Everts' message. He congratulated them on an "honorable campaign, good results and above all, a good and fair campaign for all political parties." During the next several days, the AAK leaders will visit the electorates in various cities and locations of Kosovo. According to AAK member Ruzhdi Sefa, the AAK has divided the campaign into three stages. The first stage includes the closed meetings and acquaintances with the candidates in the electorate. The second stage includes the elaboration on the details of the electoral program. The third stage includes open meetings with the citizens.
"Tomorrow begins today" is the new slogan of the PDK, which began its electoral campaign yesterday, reported Zëri on page five. PDK Chairman Hashim Thaçi began his new political "war" in Kosovo in a black suit and red tie, thus representing the Albanian flag and mentioning the KLA and Kosovo's independence. The PDK officially opened the election campaign for this year's general elections and Thaçi announced the candidates that will run for deputies in Kosovo's future parliament. Thaçi appealed to Kosovars to vote for him and appealed for a democratic and calm electoral campaign. "Let this electoral campaign be undisputed, comprehensive, useful, inter-party and inter-ethnical. Let this campaign be for Kosovo's true freedom", stressed Thaçi. Two years have passed since Thaçi took off his KLA uniform. Yesterday he reminded the present people that these elections are coming after KLA and international community brought freedom to Kosovo. "Yesterday we were our country's liberators. Today we have to build democratic Kosovo. The PDK will participate in the elections with the slogan to reconstruct Kosovo's institutions. The PDK will enter the elections with a clear political platform and with the offer to govern with all other political entities, which sincerely work for Kosovo's independence and democracy. "PDK will offer a different profile, clever professionals who will rebuild democratic and independent Kosovo. Therefore I ask all Kosovars to vote for PDK and its candidates, because this would be the best solution and the right investment for them and Kosovo", stressed Thaçi. Thaçi said that he does not promise the impossible, he promises that his party's projects will turn into reality through the challenges that Kosovo is facing. "We have to cooperate. The leaders will show the way and the citizens will decide. The time has come to make some changes. PDK has changed. Kosovar society has changed. Our party is moving in the right direction. We will work to respect the territorial integrity of Kosovo, free movement for all Kosovars and administrative integration for all of Kosovo. Human rights and freedom is guaranteed for all Kosovars regardless of the ethnic background or religion. Our targets are very clear. We will achieve our targets by cooperating with the local factor and the international community", stated Thaçi. Although Head of the OSCE Daan Everts could not participate in the meeting due to several obligations, he welcomed the PDK meeting. Everts wrote that Kosovo is entering in a new historic chapter and that the competencies will go from UNMIK officials to the Kosovars. "I am convinced that you and your political parties are ready to face this challenge", said Everts and asked everyone to contribute to politically tolerant atmosphere, thus showing to the international community that Kosovo can reach the highest international standards. |