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LOCAL MEDIA REPORT: 27 Nov. 2001 WHAT SHOULD KOSOVO'S PARLIAMENT AND GOVERNMENT DO?
On the plan of privatization it is foreseen that FRY legislation is consulted. The document, "Explanations on the subject of implementing and identifying the needs" foresees that an office will be opened in Belgrade and the process of the demands will be considered that has begun after the notices are published in official gazettes both in Kosovo and Yugoslavia. These documents imply that UNMIK has given up on Regulation 1999/24 that excluded the discriminating laws applied in Kosovo after 22 March 1989. Taking these documents in consideration, Belgrade in its expanding ambitions has started to send bills to UNMIK for water, electricity and usage of roads and ask for a share of what it has forcefully grabbed several times. It is evident that Serb employees will have the right to share joint property according to the proposed criteria, however they cannot be included for the transformations that came after 1989 that were done without the participation of the Albanians. It would be normal if UNMIK and Kosovars presented bills to Belgrade for the damages and destructions caused before and during the war and only then could Serbia ask for implementation of the procedural rights. Sustaining the viewpoints that were made, it can be seen that Kosovo's Parliament in cooperation with UNMIK should take steps in advancing and rehabilitating Kosovo's economy. To complete the mosaic of the economic system, the new legislation needs positive changes in the fiscal policy, (payment of taxes, and import duties). Loans for small and medium enterprises should be made through the competition of banks and especially by including world-renowned banks. This policy would bring loans into a normal relation between the bank and the enterprises. The forming of an environment that would create the chances for the Kosovar businesses to be equal with the ones in the region should be one of the priorities. Kosovar business should be excluded from the limitations on them, such as visas to travel abroad and traveling with "KS" license plates. Liberalization of borders and forming of duty-free zones and industrial zones which would have reasonable prices for the Small and Medium Kosovar Enterprises. If we want to create free market economy, it is essential that we create normal preconditions for Kosovar businesses -- toward competition without discrimination and obstacles. To revitalize public property and reconstruct it there is need for financial means, which we do not have. Therefore we need foreign investment, joint venture sor bringing financial capital from Albanians living abroad. This can be done only if obstacles are not formed as to how the shares would be divided and the right to manage. We have to leave open the possibility for foreign investors to invest 50 + 1 % and have in their hands the right to manage. Another issue that should be looked into during privatization is the pension funds. 500 TRAVEL DOCUMENTS READY, OFFICIALS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND Bota Sot reported on the negligence of the UNMIK authorities in Viti Municipality. For the negligence of the office for UNMIK civil administration office in Viti we have written before hoping that someone would look into the lack of work in this office. But the complaints that citizens have made against UNMIK official Christopher Onaga Aria did not reach anyone. Aria continues with his old habits. The last incident happened when around 30 citizens waited for him to come and hand them their travel documents. Adifete Avdyli from the village Ballanca came to take her travel document, which has been ready since June, however because of the negligence of this UNMIK official she has not been able to collect it yet. While Mr. Aria was on his annual leave in his home Uganda, he was replaced by Mrs. Christina and things were going very well. Now that he has returned, old practices also returned to this UNMIK office. NEGOTIATIONS FOR BUILDING CO-GOVERNMENT ARE BEING PREPARED Kosovars have come to the conclusion that the future government of Kosovo must be built based on a coalition of co-governance. Local analysts confirmed that international mediation among political parties and their leaders is required in order to achieve co-governance. Head of the US Office in Prishtina John Menzies joined the efforts of uniting the stances of the political parties in establishing a co-governing system, reported Zëri on page three. According to the paper's sources, Menzies met PDK Chairman Hashim Thaçi. "Topics of discussion were the latest developments in Kosovo following the general elections." LDK sources stayed away from the media and did not confirm or deny LDK Chairman Ibrahim Rugova's meeting Menzies. As far as the AAK is concerned, due to objective reasons, it was not possible for AAK Chairman Ramush Haradinaj to meet Menzies. However, sources within the AAK confirmed that the meeting would take place as soon as possible. European Union High Official for Foreign Policy and Security Javier Solana, who has the talent to apply positive influence upon the Albanian leaders, is expected to visit Kosovo. According to sources, another issue that requires talk is cooperation between the ministries led by Albanians and ministries led by Serbs. According to sources, these international officials will make it clear to Serb representatives that they do not have the right to choose who will enter the government and who will not. Nevertheless, the regular IAC meeting, in which UNMIK Administrator Hans Haekkerup will meet the Albanian and Serb representatives, is supposed to take place. Although, the establishment of the government following the elections in Kosovo is an issue that concerns the political parties, the SRSG can use his authority to help bring the process of negotiations to the table. However, according to UNMIK Spokeswoman Susan Manuel, "the establishment of the coalition is an issue of the political parties and has nothing to do with Haekkerup and the international administration." According to her, a meeting between the SRSG and the Albanians will not take place because it is not on Haekkerup's agenda. However, Manuel cannot predict the future. The stances of the Albanian political parties are well known now. The PDK and AAK declared that they support co-governance and are waiting for the LDK to declare the same. Meanwhile, the Albanian political party, which won a majority of the votes, did not make any statement regarding the way it plans to establish Kosovo's government following the announcement of the general elections. Although the LDK is now convinced that it cannot be the only entity governing, it has not shown any signs of willingness regarding the two ways of co-governance, one of which is to enter a coalition with the other two Albanian parties (PDK and AAK) and the other is to enter a coalition with the other parties of the parliament. Based on the LDK Deputy Chairman Kolë Berisha's statement given to the news agency QIK, the LDK has not yet made any plans regarding the establishment of institutions. "I respect the freedom of press. However, with a clear conscience I say that we have never discussed the names of those who will run for specific posts. Personally, I would like to keep the position of a constructive deputy in the parliament of Kosovo," QIK quoted Berisha, reported Zëri. Hans Haekkerup announced that the first session of the Kosovo Parliament would be held on 10th December, hoping that by that time a required coalition to vote the Kosovo President and Government would be put in place, despite the fact that UNMIK was technically prepared to hold the meeting on the 30th of November, reported Koha Ditore on page two. Referring to a statement made by UNMIK Spokeswoman Susan Manuel, the paper added that the postponement was made due to the fact that "the parties were not ready." However, even two weeks prior to Haekkerup's announced date, there is no progress in the talks between the three main Kosovar Albanian political parties. The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) has made no serious remarks on the election results, however it hesitated to undertake serious engagement in joint negotiations with the Kosovo Democratic Party (PDK) and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK). Last week, a senior official of the Alliance held to separate meetings with both a PDK and an LDK senior representative, however there was no agreement, and the officials only presented the stances of their parties. In fact, despite the Alliance's efforts, the meetings were not resumed. The Democratic League of Kosovo still holds its position for Ibrahim Rugova for Kosovo President; the Kosovo Democratic Party insists on removing Rugova from the game, while the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo holds the position of a necessary party, furthermore, the LDK and the PDK, as well as the internationals should be thankful to the Alliance. On the same page, the paper carried a statement by Kolë Berisha, LDK deputy chairman, in which he refuted information broadcast yesterday by the media that the LDK has reserved the post of Parliament President for Berisha. In addition, he was also quoted as saying, "I respect the freedom of press, but I declare with full responsibility that no names were mentioned in the talks. I am personally interested in holding the position of a constructive member in the Parliament of Kosovo." SERB MONITOR STEALS THE LAPTOP IN THE VOTING CENTER The mystery regarding the theft of the laptop in the voting center in Mazgit was solved three days following the general elections in Kosovo. It turned out that a Serb political representative and monitor of the parliamentary elections for displaced Serbs attempted to steal a laptop, which was a possession of the OSCE. However, an OSCE employee prevented the man from actually carrying out the deed. OSCE Spokeswoman Claire Trevena did not deny or confirm the case. However, she pointed out that the police are dealing with this case and investigating the matter further. According to the paper, the man will be charged for violation of penal law, article 134.
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