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CONTENTS: 14 October 2001 ELECTION CAMPAIGN ROUNDUP
Koha Ditore on page four reported the opening rally of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo in Podujeva. Along with the other candidates of the Alliance, the party leader Ramush Haradinaj entered the hall filled with sympathizers of his party. "We had a long journey to get here. You have the proof. Many of your sons sacrificed their lives for this day. Everyone deserves merit but the national martyrs are the ones that deserve it the most," said Haradinaj. Haradinaj promised peace and stability in Kosovo, safety for its citizens and economic stability. Bajram Kosumi, deputy chairman of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, emphasized that the party was committed to improving the status of the Kosovo citizens. "The Alliance is prepared to find solutions for the every day problems of Kosovo citizens. We are prepared to undertake reforms," he added. On the same page, the paper also carried a report on an incident that took place in Hani i Elezit, where a recently built house of a AAK leader was destroyed in an explosion early Friday. "I don't have bad relations with anyone in Hani i Elezit. But you can see that the house has been damaged beyond repair," said Nazmi Suma, AAK the leader. On page five, the paper reported the election campaign of the Kosovo Democratic Party (PDK) in Mitrovica. "The citizens of Mitrovica were told by PDK leaders to think wisely before voting as to who can unite their divided town. The same leaders told Mitrovica citizens that after the 17th November, they will be the only ones who could unite the divided town," noted the paper. Addressing the crowd, Fatmir Limaj, PDK Secretary for Public Relations, said "before casting your votes, you should at least vote as citizens of this town and as Mitrovica citizens you should vote for those you think can unite Mitrovica. And if you vote as Mitrovica citizens, I am convinced that your vote will go to the PDK." Bota Sot on page seven carried a commentary by Bardhyl Ajeti titled "Why doesn't Hashim Thaçi tell his electorate who murdered Xhemajl Mustafa, Enver Maloku ?". Ajeti wrote: "In an election rally held on Friday in Prishtina, the Kosovo Democratic Party (PDK) said that Flora Brovina will be the party's candidate for the Kosovo President. Hashim Thaçi announced this during the meeting of PDK candidates for Prishtina municipality. Once again, the PDK leader promised his members and electorate victory in the 17 November general elections, though this is only a wish of the PDK leader because he knows for himself that he will lose to the LDK led by the leader of Kosovar Albanians and the LDK leader, Ibrahim Rugova. Therefore, being aware of the fact that his party could not do more in the last local elections, Thaçi has decided to pitch Flora Brovina for the post of President of Kosovo. That way he is trying to avoid his and his party's big defeat in 17 November elections." "On the other hand, Hashim Thaçi still doesn't tell the membership who murdered Xhemajl Mustafa. Thaçi said several times "I know who killed Xhemajl Mustafa". Therefore, if he knows the murderer, why doesn't Hashim Thaçi make public the name of the perpetrator on the eve of the general elections. Kosovar Albanians know that Xhemajl Mustafa, Enver Maloku, Ahmet Krasniqi, Ismet Rraci, Shaban Manaj, Haki Ymeri were killed by criminals who do not wish good for the Albanian nation." "We hope that during one of the future election rallies of the PDK, Hashim Thaçi will make public the name of the person who killed the advisor for information to Ibrahim Rugova, and one of the most renowned Kosovar publishers journalist and intellectual, Xhemajl Mustafa."
The decision of the Serbian Government to "temporarily" transfer the "Serb" Prishtina University in northern Kosovo benefits only the United Nations Mission in Kosovo and the Serbian Ministry of Education and Science, reported Koha Ditore on page one. This effort to coordinate between UNMIK and the Serbian Government has caused irritation not only among Kosovar Albanians, but also among Serb students who have to resume their university studies in northern Mitrovica from 15 October. The Serbian Government, even after the departure of the Serb academic staff from Prishtina University in June 1999, continues to use the term Prishtina University for the university of the Serb minority in Kosovo. Prishtina University, seated in the Kosovar capital, has been recognized by the European Conference of Chancellors. The paper noted that though they have fled Kosovo, the Serbs were still continuing with their parallel structures in the educational system. This can be seen on the web site of the so-called 'Prishtina Serb University', which until now was located in Krusevac. According to Michael Daxner, the international administrator for education in Kosovo, the leaders of the abovementioned "university" in Krusevac are liars. On the other hand, the Serb students say they don't want to return to the "occupied land", as they refer to Kosovo. Over 100 Serbs of the "Serb" Prishtina University in Krusevac protested Saturday against the decision of the Belgrade Government. As a sign of protest, they blocked the Nis-Skopje highway. The paper also carried the reactions of Kosovar political parties on this matter. Officials of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) said that there should be no parallel structures in education. Kolë Berisha, LDK deputy leader, opposed the opening of a parallel university for the Serb minority. "We disagree with the opening of a Serb university. However, the Serbs should have the right to have education in their language," said Berisha. He added that the university education of the Serbs should be in Prishtina University. The Kosovo Democratic Party (PDK) reacted harshly on this issue and condemned the attempt to install parallel institutions in the education sector in Kosovo. "After official announcements by UNMIK for the opening of the Serb parallel university in Mitrovica, the PDK firmly opposes the move to create parallel public institutions in the university education sector and believes that such an act is in violation of Resolution 1244 and UNMIK's mandate," a press release signed by its chairman Hashim Thaçi said. Jonuz Salihaj, an official of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), said that it is no news if the Serbs start with parallel structures in the education system. "I have tried to contact several Serbs involved in education but I have faced opposition," Salihaj told the paper.
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