Daily Media Monitoring Summary: Thursday 6 December, 2001

**DAAN'S TWENTY-TWO DEPUTIES ARE A DESTRUCTIVE UNIT AT KOSOVO PARLIAMENT(1)**SHALA: A CHRONICLE OF AN ANNOUNCED CRISIS (2)** RUGOVA DOESN'T RESPOND TO THAÇI-ORGANIZED ROUNDTABLE - THE TWO LEADERS EXPECTED TO MEET TODAY(3)**ROBERTSON REFUTES THE EXISTENCE OF ALLEGED SERB CONCENTRATION CAMPS IN KOSOVO(4)**HEAD OF THE US OFFICE MENZIES VISITS MITROVICA(5)**HAEKKERUP ASSURES THAT BORDERS WILL NOT BE CHANGED(6)**KFOR PROMISES TO INVESTIGATE EVENTUAL COLLABORATORS WITH SERB EXTREMISTS(7)

(1) Bota Sot on page two carried a column by the editorial's office, which wrote:

The first destruction of Daan's twenty-two deputies appointed by Belgrade was when they asked for the postponement of the inauguration of the Kosovo Parliament. It followed their behavior of several days ago when they refused coming to Prishtina, because their feelings were hurt by UNMIK who allegedly didn't take measures to protect the journalists that followed the deputies. Benefiting from international presence, the twenty-two deputies are by all means trying to improvise everything in order to be in center of attention. What it is of utmost importance is the fact that they are trying to benefit by the number set up by Daan in order to change the flow of the work of the Kosovo Parliament. In this direction, Daan's twenty-two deputies, appointed by Belgrade claiming to represent the Serb minority in Kosovo, will try to make the work of the Parliament non-functional, keeping within Belgrade's strategy. Their role will only be a pretext to close the paths of Kosovo's future, and to open the roads of Serbian rule. In fact neither them nor Belgrade care about the Serbian minority in Kosovo. With such a behavior, the twenty-two deputies will only repeat the criminal behaviors of their predecessors.

(2) Zëri on page one carried a column by its editor-in-chief, Blerim Shala, in which he wrote:

The situation at KEK continues to be grave, with constant power cuts. The unemployment rate in Kosovo is 64 percent. The average salary of police officers, teachers, professors, doctors, customs officers, and KPC members is few hundred Deutsche Marks. The salaries of the abovementioned which should be the pillars of the Kosovar society cannot be raised without a bigger Kosovar budget, and this will depend on the fiscal policy which on the other hand depends on economy, production and investments. On the other hand there can be no genuine investments without the privatization of state and social enterprises. However, the privatization of those enterprises is seen by UNMIK as the initiation of the final status, because Serbia tries to be persistent on state enterprises, which were usurped after the abrogation of Kosovo's autonomy in 1989. Thus, everything is turned backwards and the consequences are the most noticeable among the staff mentioned earlier, who are the crucial pillar of creating a stable society. We cannot expect better education, healthcare, customs services, and better security with the current level of salaries. And we can no longer reminisce the memories of the 90s, to ask for more patience from this crucial class of the Kosovar society. Kosovo's main politicians, who are now entering the final stage of an eventual agreement for the government of coalition, are well aware of this. If we want to be honest, then we must say that even the top western politicians would have great trouble to find a solution to these social and economic problems. Therefore, this should serve as an additional reason to form a strong government in Kosovo.

(3) All daily papers carried reports on the roundtable of Kosovar political parties, organized by PDK leader Hashim Thaçi.
The necessity for the solemn inauguration of the first assembly session, the agreement to reach a formal preliminary agreement, the agreement to establish a commission at the assembly for drafting the regulation on the work of the assembly and the need to continue consultations, as a four point statement that came out of the meeting between political parties, writes, Koha Ditore.

The paper gave the most coverage on the meeting and noted that Democratic League of Kosovo representatives didn't attend. Only the National Movement for the Liberation of Kosovo (LKÇK), and the Kosovo Popular Movement (LPK) didn't agree with the statement to reach a formal preliminary agreement for co-governance.

Koha Ditore and Zëri also reported that the meeting between Rugova and Thaçi would be held today at 1400 hours at UNMIK Headquarters in Prishtina. According to Koha Ditore, there will not be an agreement, however the leaders will define the priorities of an eventual agreement. Sources from both parties told the paper that they plan to attend the meeting with a good will for compromises. Hajredin Kuçi, deputy leader of the Kosovo Democratic Party (PDK), told Zëri that one of the topics that will be discussed during the meeting would be the first session of the Kosovo Parliament. Kuçi said that his party leader would brief Rugova on the conclusions of the roundtable organized yesterday in Prishtina.
 

(4) NATO ambassadors welcomed yesterday Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Nebojsa Covic for his role in convincing Kosovo Serbs to participate in 17 November elections. NATO Secretary General George Robertson said in a press conference that meetings between NATO Council and Nebojsa Covic have become so regular that they are now routine. This proves the good relations between NATO and FRY. He emphasized that the biggest result of this cooperation is the handing over of the Ground Security Zone to the Yugoslav Army, reports Koha Ditore.

Mr. Covic said that he is very satisfied with the support that NATO and the international community has given in implementing the plan for Preshevo valley. He also said that Serb deputies in Kosovo Parliament will have a constructive role in forming democratic institutions in Kosovo.

Asked if he believes that there are secret concentration camps in Kosovo where Serbs are being held as Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica claimed, NATO SG George Robertson denied that there are no such camps and underlined that if President Kostunica has evidence then KFOR commander will conduct an investigation.

(5) The security situation and the economic development in the divided town of Mitrovica were the main topics of a discussion between the Head of the US Office John Menzies and Mitrovica Municipal Assembly.

Municipal Assembly President, Mr. Faruk Spahija informed US Ambassador on the developments and the efforts to normalize ethnic relations and integrate the divided town. A special importance was given to the economic development and the problems regarding Trepça. Mr. Menzies encouraged the municipal leadership to continue fulfilling the current projects and support the future ones that bring integration. Mr.Menzies also met with PDK Chairman Bajram Rexhepi and AAK Chairman Nazmi Fejza. He said that he is in favor of co-governing by a specter of wide coalition not only of the three main political parties but also all others represented in the parliament, including those representing minorities.

(6) UNMIK Chief Administrator Hans Haekkerup has written a letter to Ferizaj Municipal Assembly President Adem Salihaj, regarding an agreement between FYROM and FRY according to which 500 hectares of Viti municipality belongs to Macedonia, reports Zëri. Two months ago the Viti MA reacted in the same fashion after the FYROM and FRY agreement was confirmed by the UNMIK regional administration in this municipality.
 Mr. Haekkerup informs Ferizaj MA that the issue of demarcation between FYROM and FRY is being investigated by UNMIK and that UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has also been informed.

The resolution compels all of the countries according to Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. Thus Kosovo's territory cannot be changed by one country or agreements between countries, including the above-mentioned, until the UN Security Council authorizes the final political solution for Kosovo. No state is authorized to unilaterally sign an agreement with another state to change Kosovo's territory as was in June 1999, concludes Haekkerup's letter.

(7) KFOR spokesperson told Wednesday that they would start investigations on the alleged cooperation of MNBN soldiers and Serb extremists. Mitrovica Municipal Assembly President Faruk Spahija accused French KFOR of being involved in the incident that happened at Kroi i Vitakut when seven Albanian families were attacked, reports Zëri. Spahija accused French peacekeepers of cooperating with Serb extremists and announced that he would inform the French Defense Ministry. The statement was released after the Serb extremists' attacked Albanians who were under KFOR escort going to northern Mitrovica to visit their destroyed homes.

We will conduct our investigation, said MNBN spokesperson Thierri Fusbala. If proven that any of the French soldiers cooperated with the Serbs they will be interrogated and punished. Fusbala said that the barbwire on the bridge over the Ibër River has been removed. This step was undertaken since the security situation both sides of the town of Mitrovica has been very calm for months. This is a step toward normalizing the everyday life in this town and a sign that MNBN is not here to divide the town. However freedom of movement for citizens is not possible yet, because the needed security has not been achieved yet, something that we have been criticized very often. Our aim is to provide security for all of Mitrovica's citizens, said Fusbala.