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CONTENTS: 23 October 2001 ELECTION CAMPAIGN ROUNDUP
Koha Ditore on page six carried a report from the campaign rally of the Democratic League of Kosovo held in Podujeva. Kolė Berisha, deputy leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), who was accompanied by UNMIK Police bodyguards, was the senior most party leader at its campaign rally in Podujeva. "We have come here not to make pre-election propaganda because the best propaganda is your work and sacrifices," said Berisha. The paper noted that Berisha also commented on the party's program and explained why the voters should vote for the LDK on 17 November. "We promise only what we can fulfill. We hold our heads high in front of you because everything that we promised at the beginning of our movement is a reality today," he added. Sabri Hamiti, the party candidate from Podujeva, told the audience that "the policy of the Democratic League of Kosovo is to elect the government through free vote. The criminal activity these days seeks to impede these developments. Throughout Kosovo there is talk of threats, even of mercenaries. Only a central authority can prevent crimes and bring the perpetrators to justice." Zėri on page seven also carried a report on LDK's promotional rally in Podujeva titled "Sabri Hamiti: Freedom in Kosovo cannot be created by raping and murdering Albanians." Quoting leading officials of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Koha Ditore on page seven noted that the reforms would be carried out by local experts and teachers. "The AAK has continued its election campaign with a debate on education and presented its program to resolve problems in this area," noted the paper. Jonuz Salihaj, a member of the party's chairmanship, said "without changing the material status of the teachers there can be no motivation. We cannot motivate people with the current salaries. We must find resources." Salihaj also pointed out the necessity for reforms but added "the reforms carried out without the teachers." Bajram Kosumi, deputy leader of the party, said that through investments in education, modern experts could be trained. On the same page, the paper carried another report on the AAK campaign. Titled "Haradinaj plans to visit Brezovica and Shtėrpce", the paper reported on the press briefing of the AAK branch in Ferizaj. In the press briefing, Baton Beqa, spokesman of AAK in Ferizaj, condemned the recent incident in Skėnderaj and demanded from the competent bodies to investigate it and find the perpetrators. "The specialty of the press briefing," added the paper, "was the fact that Gashi (AAK leader in Ferizaj, our remark) announced the possibility of the expansion of the Alliance's campaign in the Shtėrpce municipality." According to the paper, Gashi said, "Ramush Haradinaj is planning to visit Brezovica and Shtėrpce because we don't recognize the enclavization of Kosovo." Zėri on page one carried a column by its editor-in-chief, Blerim Shala, titled "UNMIK's campaign." Shala wrote: "The election campaign of Kosovar political parties is accompanied by UNMIK's campaign to convince the Serb regime in Belgrade for the Kosovo Serbs to participate in the 17 November parliamentarian elections." "UNMIK Chief Hans Haekkerup is rightly trying to encourage Kosovo Serbs to take part in the elections. It has been said several times that the democratic institutions in Kosovo should comprised of representatives of all Kosovo citizens and that these institutions should be legitimate throughout the territory of Kosovo." "However, Haekkerup's style of trying to convince Serb leaders has remained mostly unknown to the Kosovar opinion. Which is why there is so much speculation and rumors attached to it." "Based on the public statements and demands by Nebojsa Covic, Belgrade's coordinator for Kosovo, the eventual agreement for the participation in the elections can be reached only if UNMIK would make concessions which would cause further problems for the Albanians. The Albanian political parties think that the offer made by them and UNMIK in the Constitutional Framework, when it comes to minority rights, is very generous and offers huge possibilities for Serbs and other minorities in Kosovo. This, in fact, is even concluded by UNMIK's representatives. Now if UNMIK takes another step forward in trying to encourage the Serbs to participate in the elections, then we can really expect new political problems in Kosovo." Under the subtitle "The participation of Serbs in the elections is still unclear", Koha Ditore on page eight reported that Vladan Batic, one of the leaders of the ruling coalition in Serbia, said Monday that the leaders of the Democratic Opposition of Serbia would decide on the participation of Serbs in the upcoming Kosovo general elections, after the meeting between Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica and UNMIK Chief Hans Haekkerup. "We will wait after the meeting between Kostunica and Haekkerup because we assess that Kostunica is the most competent person to decide on the participation in the elections. We must listen to his opinion and this would surely be the joint stance of the parties in the coalition," Batic said.
Referring to information broadcast by Kosovo Information Center, Koha Ditore on page six reported that Ibrahim Rugova, leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo, during his visit to Sweden, met Foreign Minister Anna Lindth and Defence Minister Bjorn Van Sidou. During the meeting with Lindth, Rugova talked about the current situation in Kosovo, the ongoing campaign for 17 November general elections, for the future of Kosovo and other matters. "The recognition of Kosovo's independence by the international community would calm the situation in Kosovo and would bring stability," Rugova said.
UNMIK Administrator Hans Haekkerup will hand Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica a 25-page document, which contains all of the international community's activities in improving the living conditions of Kosovo Serbs, reported Zėri on page one and three. Haekkerup's meeting with Kostunica, which is expected to take place this Wednesday is supposed to end the waiting, speculation and pre-conditions regarding Serb participation in the general elections. According to the Belgrade government, the Serb community in Kosovo will participate in the elections if their "urgent" conditions are fulfilled. But, apparently, there will not be enough time to fulfill the conditions, which include Serb returns to Kosovo, information on missing Serbs, amnesty for Serb prisoners in Kosovo, possibility for Serbs to get higher education in their native language, establishment of hospitals in Serb areas, freedom of speech, movement, employment and access to public services. "If nothing radical happens, I am afraid that the international appeals for Serb participation in the elections in Kosovo are useless," stressed Kostunica in a letter to US President Bush. Kostunica's comments were seen as very negative and pointing out that the administration in Kosovo had failed. "I feel that something is going to happen this week because Kostunica's letter addressed to Bush was very negative and the deadline for a response on the elections is nearing its end. But I think that once Haekkerup shows Kostunica the program, his response for the elections will be positive," stressed Manuel. The main point in Haekkerup's program is the progress expected in the political life of the Serbs and Kosovo's future administration. "There are several possibilities for Serbs to be more active. We believe that they will win 25 seats in parliament, which is a large number in comparison with the percentage of population they represent. Serb participation in the government, parliament and public services will improve their lives, which is our target," stressed Manuel, adding that Kosovo Serbs have been "discriminated" against. "The public services in Kosovo have discriminated against them and I was concerned about this. Serbs did not have land lines or mobile phones, which is seen only in enclaves," stressed Manuel. According to the Constitutional Framework, the Serb minority can count on 25 seats in the parliamentary elections and the additional 10 set-aside seats. This would make them the second force in Kosovo's highest body. However, the Serb media showed the confusion in Belgrade regarding Serb participation in the elections. Several media organizations believe that the right thing to do is participate, while others support the boycott of the elections. Meanwhile, UNMIK had gone too far by putting its last suggestion in the letter, which the internationals see as a document while others consider as a plan, program or guarantee to convince Serbs to participate in the elections. "Haekkerup requested all UNMIK's departments to write what they have been doing for Kosovo Serbs," stressed Manuel. According to her, this includes the Serbs' status in UNMIK and in areas such as health, education, security, justice, the missing, the returns, etc. "The response of the Serb authorities regarding Serb participation in the elections has been very negative due to the poor conditions, which is a fact. Now we want to show these authorities how much we are doing to improve the current situation and the living conditions of Kosovo Serbs," stated Manuel. While Kostunica was writing a letter to Bush, Haekkerup took the initiative and decided to show him the 25-page document. "There is nothing dramatic in this document," stressed Manuel in an attempt to calm the panic over Kosovo possibly losing some of its territorial interests. "According to the Constitutional Framework, Kosovo's Assembly will remain Kosovo's Assembly. Nothing will change here. Serbs were concerned about the fact that the Constitutional Framework does not mention Yugoslavia. However, the framework is based on Resolution 1244, which acknowledges the sovereignty of Yugoslavia and nothing has changed in this aspect," stated Manuel. "UNMIK's stance is that Northern Kosovo is part of Kosovo. Haekkerup's main aim in his meetings with Serb officials is to extend the authority of UNMIK in Northern Kosovo. We will not give up until we reach this target and there will be no separation of the territory." Manuel mentioned UNMIK's will to separate the Serb University from the Prishtina University. "Serbs will have high level of education, but their program will be in accordance with the Education Department," stressed Manuel. "We will in no way make any attempt to share the administration in Northern Mitrovica. Haekkerup wants to achieve as much as possible before the general elections," stressed Manuel and rejected the possibility of the document, which will be given to Kostunica, resulting in any changes in the judiciary. "Covic agreed to send 20 defense attorney to Kosovo for the imprisoned Serbs, which is a good thing and we do need this." According to her, the attorneys will not change the system, UNMIK will not pay them, their clients will. According to Manuel, the only change that will take place in the future is the increase of the number of international prosecutors and judges from 15-17 to 32-33. According to Manuel, the conditions of the Serb authorities for Serb participation in the elections are tasks in which the international community is engaged. The only issue upon which one cannot negotiate is the amnesty of Serb prisoners. These people will get a fair trial and get justice in accordance with international standards. She said that whether the Serbs decide to participate in the elections
or not, the international community will continue working on the Serb
return, better security for them, finding information about the missing
from both sides, better conditions for employment, health and
education. Meanwhile Covic told Serb paper Blic that he believes a final decision on the Serb participation in the elections will be made by the end of the week. Haekkerup's last meeting with Covic can be considered to be the international community's last attempt to convince Belgrade to encourage Kosovo Serbs to participate in Kosovo's legal institutions, a process that should begin with the Serb participation in the elections.
Sources from Northern Kosovo said that despite disagreements, the Serb University in Northern Mitrovica opened on Monday. UNMIK Spokesman in Mitrovica Gyorgy Kakuk said that no one from UNMIK Administration participated in the inauguration of the university. According to him, it was not possible for them to participate because UNMIK does not acknowledge the faculties of the new university unless an agreement is reached between UNMIK and the Serb government, reported Koha Ditore on page three. "I think you know what the UNMIK Administration and the responsibilities regarding such institutions mean," stressed Kakuk, adding, "this university will not be called Prishtina University. It will have another name. UNMIK will control the university and it will not be part of any parallel system," stated Kakuk. According to Koha Ditore sources, Regional Administrator Angus Ramsey and other UNMIK officials participated in the ceremony that marked the beginning of the academic year.
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