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CONTENTS: 15 NOV. 2001 A REPLY TO PARALLELISM
Zëri on page five carried a comment by Ramadan Qehaja on the Common Document. "Kosovo Albanians have never opposed to the necessity of the Serb participation in the general elections. Even their political leaders during their election campaigns stressed the importance of including Kosovo Serbs in the November elections. Haekkerup's efforts in convincing Serbs to participate in the elections were seen as important in the process of normalizing life in Kosovo. However, when Haekkerup began making concessions damaging Kosovo Albanians - just to make it more comfortable and appealing for the Serbs to participate in the elections - the reasonable and inevitable concern of the Albanians arose. We could not have expected a good document given the fact that it was signed in the absence of the Albanians, who did not even know its contents. While UN Security Council Resolution 1244 defines Kosovo as an entity within Yugoslavia, according to the Common Document, the Republic of Serbia carries some part of the responsibility for the security, defense and freedom of movement. Although Haekkerup insists that parallel structures will not be established in Kosovo, he agreed to co-govern Kosovo with the Coordinating Committee for Kosovo, which is a parallel Serb institution. The document confirms the establishment of a high working group, whose aim is supposed to be good relations with Kosovo's self-governing institutions. This is another parallelism in Kosovo's self-governance. Regardless of the fact that UNMIK Police and KPS are supposed to provide security along the border checkpoints between Kosovo and Serbia, approving the cooperation between UNMIK and 'FRY' shows that Serb security carries some part of responsibility along these areas. According to the document, "Serb KPS officers will work in areas where Serbs are a majority." This worsens the national divisions and strengthens Serb enclaves. It is a bit difficult to understand Haekkerup's 'motives' in signing the Common Document with Belgrade behind the backs of the Albanians. He cannot say that he did this because the Albanians are not very united during negotiations, as there have never been any problems of cooperation with them. We will see how the document will be implemented without the support of 90% of the population." HAEKKERUP: I AM PLEASED THAT I MANAGED TO CONVINCE THE COMMUNITIES Zëri on pages two, three and four carried a special edition on Kosovo elections, praising Kosovo people and their leaders for a well-conducted election campaign. Pleased that he managed to assure the participation of all communities in the general elections in Kosovo, UNMIK Administrator Hans Haekkerup send a message to the Kosovars. "The only way to proceed forward is to participate in the elections and not to have any violence." After intense two months work and with the help of the Common Document, Haekkerup managed to convince Kosovo Serbs to participate in the elections. "The purpose of all this is for Kosovo to proceed forward and only Kosovo Serb participation in establishing the structures of the new reality, made this possible," stated Haekkerup. According to him, electing representatives of Kosovo's future parliament will make it possible for him to transfer part of the government to the leaders of the future institutions. "We believe that the process should proceed. Serb participation in the elections and in the interim self-governing institutions is important. These institutions will be instruments to bring Albanians and Serbs together. This is the only way the situation in Kosovo can be changed," stated Haekkerup. "Kosovo population has great wish of independence and we, Americans, fully understand this. Nevertheless, it is not the time for us to face this issue. The international community and you have worked very hard to bring Kosovo where it is today. We are working towards implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and this mechanism will bring Kosovo toward determining its final status. The time will come when Kosovo's final status will be determined through a process that will consider the 'peoples' will'," stressed Head of US Office John Menzies. "It will not be enough for a politician to deal with symbolic issues such as flags, announcement of celebration days, building statues or other issues that have very little to do with the challenges that Kosovo and its people are facing nowadays. When you go to vote on Saturday, ask yourself whether your elected politicians and parties have the characteristics, which are required to govern Kosovo with responsibility and make life for you and your children better," stressed Menzies. "The assembly and the government, which you will elect, will be the voice to the world of what kind of a society Kosovo is. The government will show the world whether Kosovo is capable to lead and accomplish all its tasks or only several of them. It will show the world whether Kosovars are serious enough to be part of the West and Europe and have a society, in which 'western standards of democracy' are rules and not only exceptions. In other words, the government is your future and the elections are your chance to determine how your future will be. In the name of President Bush and the United States of America, I wish you to have a calm and successful elections," said Menzies. "It would be great for parties in the assembly to contribute in establishing democratic institutions, in which all Kosovar communities would live in peace and not in fear. All they have to do is build trust within these institutions in order for the citizens to truly believe that these bodies serve for the needs of all in Kosovo. Thereafter, the negotiations regarding Kosovo's final status can finally begin," stressed Head of OSCE Daan Everts. "I do not believe that the document that assured Serb participation in the elections clashes with UN Security Council Resolution 1244. The Common Document is based on Resolution 1244. The document is nothing new, it only confirms that UNMIK is dealing with the problems of Kosovo Serbs," stated Everts. "The elections are very important because they are Kosovo's first free and democratic general elections. Firstly, I would want all Kosovars to participate in them. I have a message for Kosovo's women, who are very active in politics and will present an adequate percentage in the assembly. I appeal to the women of Kosovo to come and vote," said Everts. Zëri quoted COMKFOR Gen. Marcel Valentin saying, "I want to assure you that the KFOR troops are here to protect you and make it possible for you to vote without having any fear. The soldiers will provide security for all, however it is the task of the Kosovars and their leaders to make it safe for the people to vote." He reminded Kosovars that the international community invested a great deal for holding safe elections in Kosovo. "Therefore, it is up to you, Kosovars, to prove that you are capable of voting democratically to bring Kosovo forward." On Saturday Kosovars will elect their first democratic parliament that is acknowledged by the international community. As far as Head of British Office Andrew Lloyd is concerned, this is an 'emotional moment for Kosovo.' He pointed out that this fact proves that the region is going towards the values of democracy. "I am pleased that Kosovo is a part of this democracy now. I believe that the nine ministries will be sufficient enough for Kosovars to show that they are capable of governing. The people know what to expect from the ministers," stressed Lloyd. "Extremism should be pursued and the main task of Kosovo's government after the elections is to prevent extremism, which can only damages Kosovo. Kosovars should know that Belgrade's main criminal is in the Hague," said Lloyd. He wished calm elections for Kosovars and their leaders, who according to him, 'are entering a new stage of mending their place through democratic institutions. This is an exceptional accomplishment of these people. However, I want to remind Kosovars to be realistic and eliminate symbolism. Kosovo's final status comes after the democratization and improvement of the lives of people," said Lloyd for Zëri. Zëri quoted Head of German Office Michael Schmunk in another article titled "do not look back, start working and go toward the future." "Kosovo's new government and parliament needs the most intelligent heads and best mangers, who would give their utmost and work to the best of their abilities with creativity and loyalty. While the posts are being divided, you should not look at the people as parties, you should look at the quality and integrity of the people. You should find a good formula to co-exist with Serbs, Romas, Ashkalis, Bosnians, Montenegrins and Macedonians. Believe me, such a thing is indeed possible. We, Germans, had to take the same step after 1945; we began the process of reconciliation with Jews, Romas, Polish, French and many others. The best part was that we wanted reconciliation because we understood that there was no other way to gain part in Europe. This is so because the 'components' of Europe are democracy, tolerance, respect for those who think differently and are different," stated Schmunk. "Kosovo's parliament will be the best way to respect pluralism, which is a sign of democracy. The establishment of the institutions will contribute to the stabilization of Kosovo. Due to this, the task of the elected authorities is to make courageous decisions and prove their capacities for solving many difficult problems, which Kosovo and its citizens are facing today," Zëri quoted Head of French Office Bernar Garanshe. REGULATION SIGNED BY HAEKKERUP IS A CHALLENGE FOR KOSOVO'S PARLIAMENT Several regulations approved by UNMIK could have waited for after establishing Kosovo's Parliament, one of those regulations was on issuing driving licenses, reported Bota Sot page four. When the Kosovo Parliament is formed, many regulations regarding Kosovo will be signed and approved by UNMIK Chief Administrator Hans Haekkerup. The regulation on using symbols-flags in public buildings and several other regulations will not be decided by the members of the parliament because by then they will have Haekkerup's signature. The last regulation signed by Haekkerup on issuing driving licensees could have waited until the parliament was formed, as the issuing of driving licenses will be in March next year. UNMIK Administration is in a hurry to approve so many regulations before the forming of Kosovo's Parliament, as in such a way they do not leave many competencies to the parliament. These acts exclude Kosovo's new parliament from some powers determined by the Constitutional Framework. Many fields in which previously UNMIK decided in accordance with IAC might become an obstacle for the future parliament, because deputies might not accept them as such. It is believed that the elected members of the parliament might turn down the Haekkerup-Covic document and other documents. According to a high party official there should be no problems between elected local representatives and internationals because the latter ones should respect the democratic decision brought by Kosovo's Parliament. However, there could be hesitations by the internationals to transfer powers for self-administration, because, as the UN document stands, there could be different interpretations and thus internationals will be determined to leave as many competencies for themselves and as less as possible for the elected parliamentary members. Member of the LDK Chairmanship and candidate for the parliament Professor Dr. Alush Gashi believes that the elected members of the parliament will request substantial powers and will try to argue that there are conditions for taking more powers. According to Gashi, the internationals will strive to keep as many posts as possible, even in the places where they are not expected, as the case with directors and deputy directors in different ministries. "I do not know how long will the 'honeymoon' between the international and locals last or maybe there will be no 'honeymoon' at all," said Professor Dr. Alush Gashi. Nevertheless, with the elected members, things will be better and easier. Kosovo's Parliament will be able to approve new regulations, however, there is very slim chance that they will be able to discuss the ones already approved, because UNMIK officials have determined some fields, which according to them are not in the power of the future Kosovo Parliament. The fact that UNMIK is in a hurry to approve as many regulations as possible before the parliament is formed by UNMIK is explained by the fact that UNMIK has the power that Kosovo parliament will never have. With the formation of the parliament there will be frictions and conflicts between the internationals and member of the parliament, because the latter ones will surely try to cancel some UNMIK regulations, which have not gone through parliamentary procedure in Kosovo's Parliament. Meanwhile, UNMIK continues to repeat that the only powers that the elected members will have are the essential issues for development and self-governing of Kosovo. The highest international authority in Kosovo even after the elections will be UNMIK Chief Administrator Hans Haekkerup, who made clear that any effort by the delegates to oppose UN Security Council Resolution 1244 will be revoked by him. Therefore, the future Kosovo Parliament will have hot debates and clashes with UNMIK in approving new regulations and canceling of the old ones. ELECTION CAMPAIGN ROUNDUP Bota Sot carried on page three a report on LDK rally in Prishtina, which closes the election campaign. LDK held the closing rally at the Prishtina Stadium. LDK Chairman Dr. Ibrahim Rugova addressed the citizens for the last time during this extensive election campaign: LDK Secretary General Nekibe Kelmendi said: "I have the honor to call to the stage the man that held the flag high, the man that fed our movement with the idea of peace and freedom, our leader Dr. Ibrahim Rugova". "I greet Prishtina, the capital of Kosovo, from the bottom of my heart. I am proud to be in Prishtina with the people to celebrate this important event in our history, general elections which will be held this Saturday. God bless you all, for your political maturity during the campaign. I call on all Kosovars to participate massively in the first free and democratic election in Kosovo". Kosova Sot carried on page four and five a roundup of PDK rallies throughout Kosovo. In Gjilanë PDK held their closing rally. PDK Chairman Hashim Thaçi addressed the electorate: "PDK is the guarantee that peace, order and democracy will prevail in Kosovo". PDK presidential candidate Flora Brovina addressed the electorate in Dardanë: "PDK is determined to bring peace, order, freedom, employment and economic growth in Kosovo, therefore your vote for PDK is respect for the past and determination for the future of Kosovo". Koha Ditore carried on page four of the special election's edition a report on the AAK closing rally in Pejë. "The Alliance has emphasized that we are in the phase of implementing Kosovo's statehood. We know very well that there is only one way for implementing our objectives, democratic deeds, pluralistic competition and may the best one win," said AAK Chairman Ramush Haradinaj.
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