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CONTENTS: 4 Nov. 2001 WHAT MADE BELGRADE CALL FOR SERB PARTICIPATION IN THE
ELECTIONS
Although the Albanian and Serb political leaders expressed their reserves regarding the talks that took place in Belgrade, the leading entities in Prishtina welcomed Belgrade's decision to call for Serb participation in the November elections, reported Koha Ditore on page one and three. The representatives of the main three Albanian political entities said that UNMIK representatives did not provide them the details of the talks between UNMIK Administrator Hans Haekkerup and Yugoslav President Kostunica. "There are rumors regarding Haekkerup and Kostunica having agreed to three protocols on several issues. But we have not been officially informed on this, therefore I cannot comment on anything except the fact that we do support and welcome Serb participation in the elections," stated LDK senior official Nekibe Kelmendi. "As a party, we will not come out with a stance due to the fact that we have not been informed on the details of the talks. We are not talking only about Serb participation in the elections, but on several other issues, regarding which the Albanian political factor was not consulted at all," stressed PDK Secretary for Public Relations Fatmir Limaj. Even AAK Chairman Ramush Haradinaj pointed out that he does not posses a copy of the document, which Haekkerup brought to Belgrade. However, he believes that UNMIK will discuss the document with the Albanian side during the next several days. According to various unofficial sources, during the joint meetings with Belgrade, the Serb side requested to establish a joint group to supervise the implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and make sure that the bodies, which result from the general elections will not change the content of the resolution nor influence Kosovo's status. Serbs also requested to institutionalize their enclaves in Kosovo. According to the paper's sources, these three requests have remained open issues. Nonetheless, UNMIK did not provide any information on the talks in Belgrade, however UNMIK Spokesman Simon Hasselock pointed out that the document was not signed and the talks will continue. President of the Coordinating Council for Kosovo Nebojsa Covic informed the Belgrade based B-92 that the talks in which he took place were very difficult. However, according to him, 90% of the points have been approved. "We still have to agree upon the issue of Serbs representing the police and court, especially in places where Serbs are a majority. I believe that we will agree on this issue by Monday with the help of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan," stressed Covic. According to the Belgrade based Beta, Kosovo Serb participation in the elections remains an unclear issue although Belgrade gave the green light. The representatives of all Kosovo Serb political parties will meet on Monday in Gracanica decide whether Kosovo Serb will participate. Regardless of the confusion regarding the talks in Belgrade and Serb participation in the general elections, all international and local institutions welcomed Kostunica's appeal for Serbs to participate. "We are very satisfied with Kostunica's call for participation. This is an important encouragement for Kosovo Serbs," stressed Head of OSCE Daan Everts. EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security Javier Solana is very satisfied that Kostunica made the right decision, because according to him, "this is the best way to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1244." "Every man has the right to vote and the fact that all communities will have the possibility to vote in freedom, is a great step forward," stressed Chief of the Monitoring Mission of the Elections Owen Masters.
Representatives of the Political Committee for Defending Northern Kosovo (PCDNK) and Serb National Council (SNC) of this region announced that regardless of the agreement that took place between UNMIK Administrator Hans Haekkerup and Belgrade government, the leaders of Northern Kosovo will not participate in the November elections, reported Koha Ditore on page three. "The agreement that was reached in Belgrade is only a call of the Belgrade officials for Kosovo Serb participation in the general elections. However, the final decision is up to those who have remained in Kosovo or have fled to Serbia and Montenegro," stressed Coordinator of the PCDNK and SNC Chairman Ivanovic. According to him, the agreement is only the result of great pressure that was applied upon the Belgrade authorities by the international community. "UNMIK promised a cultural autonomy more than it promised security conditions for Kosovo Serbs. UNMIK did this by not guaranteeing that Albanians will not be a majority in the parliament and that they will not establish the independent state of Kosovo. Ivanovic also pointed out that there is no freedom of movement for Kosovo Serbs. "How can we vote, if we do not feel free to move and act as we please? PCDNK and SNC representatives will not run for deputies as a part of the "Povratak" coalition due to the fact that a majority of them are a deputies in the Serb and Yugoslav Parliament," stressed Ivanovic for Koha Ditore. He criticized the representatives of this coalition and said that a majority of them represent UNMIK more than they represent the Serb community. "After all we have gone through, we are organizing the free elections in Kosovo. We must remember all those who sacrificed their lives and made it possible for us to hold these elections without the presence of the Serb military and police," stressed PDK Chairman Hashim Thaçi during a public debate that took place in Prizren, reported Koha Ditore on page seven. "These are the first consequences of what has taken place on 15 May," stressed Thaçi in reply to a question regarding the talks that UNMIK Administrator Hans Haekkerup and Yugoslav President Kostunica have been holding in Belgrade. In reply to the question of why Serbs have such so many places in Kosovo's Parliament, PDK Deputy Chairman Arsim Bajrami said, "this is exactly why the PDK refused to sign the Constitutional Framework." "We have not been consulted about this resolution, but we have been consulted about the Constitutional Framework, which we refused. With a intelligent policy and the awareness that we cannot announce independence by making statements, the PDK will get engaged in creating conditions that make it possible to turn Kosovo into a state. Thereafter, we will hold a dialogue with the international community in order for these states to acknowledge the independence of Kosovo," stressed Bajrami regarding the issue of what must be done in order to eliminate the consequences of the UN Security Council Resolution 1244. Regarding the statement of Head of OSCE Daan Everts, in which he praises LDK Chairman Ibrahim Rugova, PDK official Hajredin Kuçi, stressed, "Everts is just a human being and he can make mistakes. We are great, therefore we forgive him." "The national objective of the LDK and the objective of all other
political parties is for Kosovo's independence to be acknowledged as soon
as possible. Thus, the independence of Kosovo would stabilize many
things," stressed LDK Chairman Ibrahim Rugova for Koha Ditore on page
six. |