CONTENTS:
DEMAÇI: PRESEVO
ALBANIANS' NEGOTIATING POSITION:
SELF-DETERMINATION
DO WHAT YOU DO, HOWEVER LEAVE THE FIELD TO ME
SHALA: WINTER SLEEP IN KOSOVAR POLITICS
KOUCHNER REQUESTS A
REFERENDUM FOR KOSOVO'S STATUS
SERBIA PLACED CUSTOMS BETWEEN
KOSOVO AND MONTENEGRO
DEMAÇI: PRESEVO
Koha Ditore carried a comment by Adem Demaçi on page three in which he noted:
Presevo at this historic moment has turned into a three dimensional picture. On the one side are the Albanians, on the second is the new Belgrade regime and on the other side is the international community.
The mirror does not lie. It shows what we are and not what we would like to be. Our capacity for knowledge is limited. We have low national, political, civil and human consciousness. Our ability to organize is disastrous.
These lines that I write are for all Albanians as a nation wherever we are. This also concerns our brethren under Serb oppression in the Presevo region.
The Serb oppression and violence against the Albanians has made them look death in the eyes and defend themselves. However, political aims cannot be achieved only with bravery and courage. In politics, as bravery and courage are important, it is also important to orient your ability according to time and space. I am not sure that our brethren in uniform are not orienting accordingly at this time when there are so many unexpected turns and changes.
The mirror of life tells the truth about Serbia also. The new Serb regime is trying to further isolate Albanians who are already very isolated from the world and us. Kostunica and Djindjic are trying to push the Albanians into "thin ice" and making a mistake once again for another ethnic cleansing of Albanian lands. I wonder if the Albanians have noticed the trap.
On the other side, the world is allowing the post-Milosevic Serbia so much tolerance that it could prove fatal. I wonder if the Albanians truly comprehend all the games that are being played. I wonder if the Albanians are prepared enough to participate in the games, which can be fatal for our present and the future.
ALBANIANS' NEGOTIATING POSITION: SELF-DETERMINATION
The Serb government and the Albanian factor cannot reach an agreement on a peaceful process of solving the armed conflict going on for a year now, reported Zëri on page one and four.
The Serb government has published its plan for a political solution of the conflict, which is to be solved in three stages, including the "participation incorporation in public life, police and municipal administration, where they are in a majority". The Albanian side has rejected this plan.
The main reason for not accepting this plan was the feeling against the final results. The Serb plan foresees a solution within the FRY constitutional framework, while the Albanians want the talks to begin without any pre-conditions.
On the other hand, the Presevo valley Albanian politicians, including UÇPMB, are still preparing their platform, which was supposed to be published last week but was delayed for several days. According to the Albanians, they have engaged experts from the judicial, economic and political scientific fields.
"We are working hard to prepare a platform and it will be made public with the complete delegation", stated chairman of Democratic Act Party (PVD), Riza Halimi, who stressed that the experts were from Presevo and Bujanovac with Kosovar experts also giving suggestions. As far as the platform is concerned, Halimi confirmed the political will of the Albanian population in the referendum of 1992 when they massively voted to "separate from Serbia with the right to unite with Kosovo".
According to Halimi, the issue of this referendum has revived misconceptions, created by the Serbs who tell the internationals that the Albanians want "a change in the borders of Balkan". "We are working for our own rights", stressed Halimi, adding that the Albanians are for self-determination.
"I could not read the Serb plan for solving the conflict, however from what I have heard, this plan is negative because it does not foresee any kind of special status or autonomy for the Albanians", stated Halimi.
According to Jonuz Musliu, President of Municipal Council for Presevo,
Medvedja and Bujanovac, "Our work hqs been delayed due to the fact that we
do not have a proper text of the Serb plan. Nevertheless, we are working
intensely and our goal is to lead the process forward", stated
Musliu.
Musliu stressed that he had no knowledge if the
international factor, which has the role of a mediator, is preparing a
negotiating platform, which would include demands from both sides, because
the Serb and Albanian positions are very divergent.
The Serbs insist on guarantees of state sovereignty and talks within the current Serb constitutional framework, while the preliminary declarations of the four Albanian entities talk of the Albanian platform being the referendum of March 1992.
Commenting on NATO's refusal to Serbia regarding "the narrowing of the five-kilometer security zone" Zeqirja Fazliu chairman of PBDSH called it "a proper step of the alliance". He said that it was logical because otherwise the tensions would increase. "The conflict would escalate, neither the population nor the two sides in the conflict would be at ease because the armed groups would spread to other, which are not yet affected by the conflict", remarked Fazliu by alluding to the possibility of armed persons operating inside cities. "Simply put, the armed people would rule".
DO WHAT YOU DO, HOWEVER LEAVE THE FIELD TO ME
What lies behind the Serb plan for solving the crisis in Presevo valley reported Zëri on page two?
Both the Serb governments (Yugoslav government continues to functions as a individual subject, it continues to functions without Montenegrin representatives) have revealed their plan to solve the crisis in Presevo valley, which in fact they caused. In the plan they speak of a dialogue and peaceful means of finding a solution, however the plan does not seem to promise such a solution. Albanians from Presevo valley, who have been invited to discuss the plan, can hardly commit themselves to start talks. It is not only the terminology that is unacceptable, but it is the hidden part under which they want to get things back to the pre-war situation. However, everything has changed since then.
These two governments have also released a letter, written to the international community even though they refuse to accept mediation by it. It calls on the international community to support the plan with suggestions. "With decisions, positions, communiqués or other acts (possibly a resolution) of the competent groups of the international community:
- To support FRY and Serbia's sovereignty and territorial integrity in
the municipalities of Presevo, Medvedja and Bujanovc and emphasize that
the solution of the crisis is possible only within FRY and Serbia.
- To
condemn Albanian separatism in any shape or form and emphasize that the
idea of autonomy, special status and changing of borders, has no sound
basis and is unacceptable and unreasonable.
- To condemn and isolate
the extremists and condemn terrorism.
- To support the signing of the
agreement.
- To use their influence in selecting Albanian
representatives for the talks.
- To support financially the
economic and social development of the region.
- To support the right
of Yugoslav and Serb security forces to fight terrorism.
- To prevent
the entry of terrorists, weapons and military equipment.
- To remove
or at least to narrow the ground security zone or allow security forces to
enter and remain in the zone.
In their call directed to the Albanians for dialogue they asked for "undertaking measures in stopping all acts of terrorism" and show their readiness "that military and police remain in their positions until the end of the dialogue". It urged "Albanian extremists to disband their organization, to hand over their weapons, after which the special forces will be withdraw from the region and freedom of movement will be ensured for all citizens. All extremists who did not commit criminal acts will get amnesty ".
The Albanian side received a proposal for the "dialogue to take place in the municipal buildings in Presevo or Bujanovc. It would start right after the members of the teams have been harmonized, the place and the time of the dialogue".
Annex five of the proposed Serb agreement says that after its signing sign the implementation of the agreement "will be guaranteed by the international community under the supervision of the UN". It then mentions joint aims for solving of the crisis: "implementing law and order, respecting FRY and Serbia's sovereignty in that part of the territory, ensuring personal security and that of the property security" to be achieved by "disbanding the extremists groups" and forming a "multi-ethnic and multi-religious society".
The Serb proposal emphasizes, "the Albanian community will give its demands for autonomy, special status or changing of borders of Serbia in the respected municipalities" and that the "Albanian community accepts that the solution of the crisis will be within the constitutional framework of the Republic of Serbia".
Another annex says: "Strengthening of peace and security in the region will be achieved after full demilitarization and disbanding of organized extremists armed groups and withdrawal of special security forces which have been engaged because of the extraordinary situation (Annex 5b) under this timetable:
Within the first two months ten per cent and within four months hundred per cent. Integration of Albanians in the political and economic system will flow according to this timetable. Within the first two months ten per cent and it will fully finish within 24 months. Five per cent economic development is expected to start within the first two months and finish within 36 months after the signing of the agreement.
The Serb proposal has several details, which are unacceptable, behind which lie some traps and if they are not seen in time it can cost the Albanians dearly. The dialogue with Serbs in solving the crisis is unavoidable. However, it has to be held without pre-conditions. The Serb side has again not shown that it has distanced itself from the legacy of the old political mentality.
SHALA: WINTER SLEEP IN KOSOVAR POLITICS
Zëri on page one carried a column by its editor-in-chief Blerim Shala commenting on the inactivity in the Kosovar political scene.
We need your positive pressure, ideas and suggestions. I sometimes think that you are asleep, whereas your future is a question mark. The words of a high diplomat stationed in Prishtina disclose the little work done to find a solution to the Kosovo issue.
If we consider the events in IAC, KTC and in the Kosovar political scene in general, in the weeks after New Year, we would be astonished with the complete political passivity there.
Very little noise was been made in the first days of January regarding the judicial framework and parliamentary elections, which should take place as soon as possible. There was some discussion with the new UNMIK chief Hans Haekkerup and that was it.
Afterwards winter sleep set in on the Kosovar politics. this passivity cannot be justified. As for the general elections are concerned, there can be various political accounts. However, if our political leaders do not wake up, we will all receive the bill of failure.
If we compare the Kosovar dynamics with the Montenegro, its leadership is attempting to create critical mass in Montenegro for the success of the referendum and thwart the evident international resistance for the independence of Montenegro. It looks as if everything is being decided for our own good and it is a matter of days for Kosovo's independence to be announced.
Since it's often used as an alibi in Kosovo, we may say that the political responsibility does not come with elections and the citizens' votes only. The passivity of the last weeks proves our clear irresponsibility.
KOUCHNER REQUESTS A REFERENDUM FOR KOSOVO'S STATUS
"Implementing peace is not a soldiers' duty. However, only soldiers can do it", stated the former UN Secretary Dag Hamarskjold many years ago, reported Zëri on page three.
This is still relevant. The peacekeeping missions have increased during the last few years. The best example is Kosovo. At a meeting representatives of the UN, NATO, the European Union and humanitarian organization discussed the issue of peacekeepers involvement in the crisis regions of the world.
The former administrator in Kosovo and the new French Health Minister Bernard Kouchner remarked that the international community lacks experience of "creating nations". This was felt at the beginning of "our engagement in Kosovo", he said. He admitted that without the engagement of KFOR peacekeeping troops, many civilian tasks would not have been accomplished. In this he mentioned the shelter provided to thousands of refugees and enforcing law and order.
Kouchner appealed to the western states not to underestimate the danger in the Balkans. He said that new tension would be inevitable without KFOR's presence and without clearly making a political decision regarding Kosovo's status. Kouchner pleaded for an immediate referendum on the status of Kosovo.
As chief administrator in Kosovo, Bernard Kouchner had dealt with this subject. Kouchner's hands during his term were tied by the UN in New York.
According to General Klaus Reinhardt, who commanded KFOR for 6 months, the priority task of the soldiers is to fight not to provide humanitarian tasks or police service.
To solve the conflict in the Presevo valley, Kouchner suggessted a dialogue between the civilian and military side. Reinhardt praised the Scandinavian system, where the officers took special courses for preparing for peacekeeping missions.
The meeting also discussed the UN's weak role in the crisis regions. It was said that the UN mandates in the past were unclear, for example Resolution 1244 for Kosovo, which was a compromise between the world powers.
Therefore, the UN missions were often doomed to fail. The tragedy of
the six security zones in Bosnia and Herzegovina was mentioned. The UN
Secretary Kofi Annan had himself admitted the failure in Srebrenica, where
the Serb military massacred or killedf 11,000 Bosnians.
SERBIA
PLACES CUSTOMS POST BETWEEN KOSOVO AND MONTENEGRO
Customs checkpoints have been placed to prevent illegal trade, reported Zëri on page three.
The Federal Customs Directorate (SUC) has decided to put up checkpoints at borders with Montenegro and Kosovo to prevent "illegal trade", according to a SUC statement. These checkpoints will collect customs duties and the merchandise will be assessed at the nearest customs office, with adequate assistance of the customs office, said the SUC statement, signed by Director of the Customs Vladan Begovic. He said that all the goods that come from Montenegro or Kosovo and do not have proper customs documents in agreement will automatically have federal law on foreign trade applied to them.
"For the merchandise that comes from foreign countries and its final destination is Kosovo, the customs office in Serbia will apply the appropriate taxes and customs duties, as per the existing laws. For the goods for UNMIK and KFOR, the same laws will be applied though the customs tariffs for these will not have to be paid if they have the necessary documentation," said the SUC statement. The merchandise dedicated for export out of FRY from Serbia through Kosovo or Montenegro will have to be assessed in the customs offices in Serbia.
The communiqué said that these checkpoints will start working from
midnight of 12 February.