04 November 2002

CONTENTS

· OSCE announces final results of 26 October local elections (all dailies)
· New constitution of a dead state includes Kosovo in its preamble (Koha/Zëri)
· Main political parties: A Serb-Montenegrin act of provocation (Zëri)
· Prime Minister to talk about economy, Steiner about IDPs (Koha Ditore)
· Kosovo has bigger problems than decentralization (Zëri)
· SRSG Steiner writes to CoE Secretary General Walter Schwimmer (Epoka)

OSCE announces final results of 26 October local elections (all dailies)

All dailies report that the OSCE mission in Kosovo has announced the final results of 26 October municipal elections. Koha Ditore reports that in over a half of 30 Kosovo municipalities there will be a need for co-governing coalitions and that the other municipalities are divided between LDK and PDK. Ibrahim Rugova-led LDK has won a majority of votes in 11 municipalities, while PDK led by Hashim Thaçi has won a sufficient majority in four municipalities.

SRSG Michael Steiner said the elections were successful. "Now you must implement the election results in various municipalities [papers noted that he used the Serb word for municipalities] …I call this success, because we have put in place legitimate structures, and all communities are represented with their leaders in this institution. This is progress and each person can feel safe in his home in Kosovo." He also claimed these elections, except for the northern part of Mitrovica, were not boycotted by anyone. Asked who would be the interlocutor in northern Mitrovica, Steiner did not clarify but said, "we have a problem with legitimacy, but we will deal with it."

On the issue, Epoka e Re's front-page headline said A drastic fall of LDK has been confirmed.

Koha Ditore quotes Oliver Ivanovic, Kosovo Assembly Presidency member, that the delays in announcing the election results have created conditions for eventual manipulation of votes in municipalities where Serbs won the majority of votes, first of all in Novo Brdo and Strpce.

New constitution of a dead state includes Kosovo in its preamble (Koha/Zëri)

Koha Ditore claims that the Kosovo has been included in the Constitutional Charter of the Union between Serbia and Montenegro as an autonomous province within Serbia. Ferhat Dinosha, an Albanian deputy at the Montenegrin Parliament, disputed the work of the Montenegrin republican commission working on the Constitutional Charter and resigned from it. "I said that this is a violation of UNSC Resolution 1244, which perceives Kosovo differently, and I also said that Kosovo's status cannot be determined without Kosovar representatives and that it would be better if we leave this issue for future times," Dinosha was quoted as saying.

Koha Ditore quotes UNMIK spokeswoman Susan Manuel as saying, "UNSC Resolution 1244 still remains the overriding official document here… Talks have not yet begun that will determine Kosovo's final status."

Main political parties: A Serb-Montenegrin act of provocation (Zëri)

Zëri carries the reactions of the main political parties in Kosovo toward the preamble of the Constitutional Charter of Yugoslavia in which Kosovo is mentioned as part of Serbia. LDK, PDK and AAK have reacted harshly by regarding this as an act of provocation that can have consequences. At the same time, they said they expect UNMIK, the international community and Kosovo institutions to react as swiftly as possible and in the best adequate manner.

Prime Minister to talk about economy, Steiner about IDPs (Koha Ditore)

Koha Ditore reports that Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi's next stop after the G8 Summit in Canada will be the Donors Conference in Brussels. Rexhepi, together with Minister Ali Sadrija, SRSG Michael Steiner and numerous local and international advisors will unfold issues that concern Kosovo at the Brussels meeting. "This is an opportunity for the Kosovo government to be in direct contact with the European Commission, and thus find a way to launch the process of stabilization and association," said Rexhepi. He also added that the priorities of the Kosovo Government for the donors conference are education, healthcare, electricity, telecommunications and efficient public administration.

"We have harmonized our stances. Mr. Steiner will present a part of the priorities, such as the issue of returns. I will also tackle on a part of this problem, and various other issues. This is a joint project of Kosovo institutions and the international community, respectively UNMIK," Rexhepi was cited as saying.

Kosovo has bigger problems than decentralization (Zëri)

Zëri carries a commentary by the editorial office headlined Kosovo has bigger problems than decentralization. "Decentralization has without merits become the main problem in present-day Kosovo. We have numerous arguments about this from the Kosovar reality". The commentary however added that "if bearing in mind the main concerns of the local and international political leadership in Kosovo, it can be concluded that decentralization is the most urgent problem in Kosovo"

SRSG Steiner writes to CoE Secretary General Walter Schwimmer (Epoka e Re)

Epoka e Re reports that Kosovo chief administrator Michael Steiner has asked the Council of Europe to launch a mission for compiling a plan on the decentralization of power in Kosovo. "This mission must consult local experts from all communities for the achievement of this goal," said Steiner. "Kosovo is ready to walk toward Europe. The main goal of decentralization in Kosovo is to strengthen democracy and to bring the government closer to the people."

RTK News Headlines
(19:30 edition)

SRSG Steiner Confirms Elections Final Results, Notes "Indirect Boycott" in North Mitrovica
Report focuses on the OSCE final report on local elections results, which were confirmed and signed by SRSG Steiner Sunday.

SRSG Steiner was quoting as praising the electoral process, stating that "at some point everyone participated", noting that there was an "indirect boycott" of the elections in north Mitrovica.

Steiner was also said to have requested from the Council of Europe the drafting of a decentralization plan that would be compliant with European models of contemporary administration.

PM Rexhepi Heads for Donors Conference
Report focuses on the Donors Conference for Kosovo in Brussels organized by the World Bank, which will be attended by Kosovo PM Bajram Rexhepi and UNMIK's Pillar IV Head, Andy Bearpark.

Soundbites: Rexhepi, on the priorities that should be addressed to the donors community regarding further assistance to Kosovo.

Report concludes with the information that the Brussels conference may come up with some 500 mil. Euros of assistance for Kosovo.

Relatives of the Missing Announce Strike Starting on Nov. 5th
Report focuses on the strike announced by the organization of the relatives of the missing Albanians seated in Djakova. The strike will be held in Prishtina, in front of tha national theatre, at the same day with the start of the donors conference on Kosovo.

Soundbites: Ferdeze Efendija, on the strike that has been announced due to the Brussels donors conference, which focuses on aid to Kosovo and the return of non-Albanians, namely Serbs to Kosovo - but not on the efforts to resolve the issue of the missing Albanians. According to Efendija, "the first ones to return should be the missing".

(Break I, end of top-news)

COMKFOR Mini Addresses to UNMIK and Italian Govt. the KPC's Offer for Help in Earthquake Hit South
Report focuses on the statement by KPC's commander Agim Ceku sent to COMKFOR Mini regarding the readiness of the organization to help in the efforts to overcome the consequences of the earthquake that hit the south of Italy last week.

COMKFOR Mini was said to have addressed the offer by the KPC to UNMIK and the Italian Govt., praising the KPC and General Ceku for their solidarity.
Soundbites: Anthony Adams, KFOR: "KPC is been trained by KFOR in many fields. It has proven that it is able not only to protect the Kosovo population but also to assist in the times of need in any of the areas in the region".
Kosovo Press Headlines
Koha Ditore

Front page
· Pejë and Prizren municipalities still with uncertain government
· New constitution of a dead state includes Kosovo in its preamble
· PM speaks about economy while Steiner speaks about the displaced
· Ferat Dinosha resigns from Constitutional Commission
· USIP: Macedonia still has not come out of the troubles

Other headlines
· Steiner: Now you have to apply results in different Kosovo municipalities (3)
· OSCE proud that 28% of the deputies are women (3)
· Ivanovic: There is a possibility for manipulating Serb votes (3)
· Alexis Brouhns lobbies for Macedonia to enter EU (4)
· Skopje: PDK General Secretary Xhevat Ademi arrested (4)
· 17 scholarships for students from Presevo Valley (5)
· Will Raif Vllasi's case be re-tried and who will gain from it (5)
· NATO institute in Potsdam Germany before closing (5)
· Palokaj: Balkan dependency on donations which are a form of charity (6)
· Tiranë: Starting in December free trade with Bulgaria (6)
· Gjilanë: LDK forms government alone, Lutfi Haziri president (7)
· Ferizaj: LDK still has the majority (7)
· PDK will determine the winner in Deçan (7)
· Çeku: This road marks friendship between KFOR and local population (8)
· Thaçi promises Drenas youth to be more involved in the government (8)
· Neudeck: Stupid nationalism (10)

Zëri

Front page
· Final results: LDK-45.12%, PDK-29.10%, AAK-8.55%…
· Kosovo has greater problems than decentralization
· Shala: Political black market
· Rexhepi calls international monetary institutions to give loans to Kosovo
· Dinosha resigns, Serb-Montenegro constitution says Kosovo is part of Serbia
· This is Serb-Montenegro provocation, say LDK, PDK and AAK
· Kadare: Hard for a nation to move forward if it doesn't know its flaws

Other headlines
· KPC offers aid for San Guiliano di Puglia hit by earthquake (2)
· Macedonian Police arrested PDK general secretary Xhevat Ademi (2)
· Cutiliero met with Oliver Ivanovic (2)
· Kosovo decentralization plan to be formed by Council of Europe (3)
· Sallahu: Kuvet's kidnappers are still threatening me (5)
· JTI: We never took part in illegal cigarette smuggling (5)
· Driving schools to revive their licenses (5)
· Macedonia is staring to be formed as multiethnic state (6)
· A macabre killing in Tetovo (6)
· Should Rerouting 1244 be changed to open final solution (7)
· War made me work all day for 5 euros (7)
· Thaci: PDK came stronger from these elections (8)
· Gen Mini: This population has to be thankful to Italian soldiers (8)
· Gen. Mini visits Deçan Monastery (8)
· Belgrade lawyers request that Raif Vllasi's killer is released (8)
· Osmani: The strike was political (8)
· Who will form a coalition in Prizren (9)
· Klinë: The first toward coalition hasn't been made yet (9)
· Skenderaj: PDK will govern alone (9)
· I am satisfied that we could solve problems where we had competencies (10)
· Straw in Belgrade to settle the score with Kostunica (11)

Bota Sot

Front page
· Steiner: People want a democratic Kosovo where everyone will be safe
· Bota Sot the paper that is leading in democratic processes
· USA waits for the forming of multiethnic in institutions Macedonia
· Collaborators will give up their souls, but not SHISH
· Police arrested PDK general Secretary Xhevat Ademi
· Kosovo democracy knows how to value the hero's blood
· BDI joined the government to implement Ohrid Agreement

Other headlines
· Who won in different municipalities (2)
· Pejë: LDK and PSHDK achieved an agreement for coalition (3)
· We demand light to be shed for our loved ones (3)
· Bytyçi family be strong because your Ukë is the pride of Kosovo (3)
· PPD and PDK and governmental parties criticize boycotting of parliament (3)
· Belgium has aided Kosovo with 2 million euros (4)
· Problems in education were inherited (4)
· Mini: The people will be proud of the work you have done (5)
· Skopje wants NATO troops to remain after 15 December (5)
· Census in Macedonia a Pandora's box (7)
· Albanians can(not) co-govern in Ulcinj (7)
· For whom will the bells toll? (9)

Kosova Sot

Front page
· Idea for co governance fails, entities prefer coalitions
· Kosovo's political scene starts to change
· Northern borderline, gate for smuggling
· Why does Steiner discuss decentralization issue in Belgrade?
· These are the final results of municipal elections 2002
· All unsatisfied, Balli Kombëtar the most
· Dinosha: This is why I resigned from the constitutional commission
· Alarming: Are Kosovars in danger from AIDS?

Other headlines
· Entire government cabinet in seminar organized by EU (2)
· Final elections results made public (2)
· British foreign minister Jack Straw visits Pristina on Wednesday (2)
· Gjakova: Aqif Shehu the only candidate for municipal assembly (4)
· KPC offers help for the territories hit by earthquake in Italy (4)
· PDK ready for co governance (4)
· Steiner on the plan for decentralization (8)
· Future of Balkans towards EU (10)
· Macedonia: PDK Secretary arrested (10)
· Registration even out Macedonia (10)
· Min. Pollozhani: We'll find strength to overcome problems in education (10)
· Macedonia: USA salutes election of new government (10)
· Trajkovski: Proposals to be formulated in Skopje and not in Bruseles (10)
· Albania cannot enter Europe with its old policy (10)
· In ten years Greece will have two million Albanians (10)
· Tirana prosecutor starts legal procedure on Fatos Klosi (10)
· Power Union doesn't accept dismissal of four thousand workers (11)
· What is the speed of drafting new laws?
· Finance minister: we are ready to offer new projects to donors (11)

Epoka e Re

Front page
· LDK's drastic failure confirmed
· AAK to lead one municipality

Other headlines
· 2002 elections also OK (2)
· LDK, from 700,000 to 320,000 votes, in 2004 week opposition (4)
· A different campaign (5)
· PDK accepts results and is ready for co governance (5)
· British Foreign Minister Straw to visit Kosovo (5)
· Roy Dickenson's interview for KosovaLive (6)
· "Dukagjini group" to face law on 7 November (6)
· Steiner asks CoE for a plan on decentralization (7)
· Vllasi: Retrial would enlighten many issues (7)
· Rexhepi congratulates Crvenkovski and inclusion of BDI in government (7)
· A killing that served inter Albanian hatred (8)
· Students buy exams for 100 euro (9)
· War memory (10)

24 Orë

Front page
· Highly valued election, passing over of competencies requires maturity
· Moore: Kosovo Serbs chose isolation
· Doctor Hazrolli, healed war wounds in the mountains
· Foreign minister Straw visits Kosovo on Wednesday
· Victory fever has passed, AAK and PDK can create municipal governance
· Major aim: fulfillment of the right of Albanian nation on self-determination
· Bonino: Time has come for skilful solutions for Balkans

Other headlines
· Kosovar leaders agree on decentralization plan drafted by CoE experts (2)
· Rexhepi: I salute inclusion of BDI (2)
· We will not accept dismissal of 4,000 workers from KEK (2)
· Election results in 30 Kosovo municipalities (4)
· Ajvazi: Serb Challenges (5)
· Profiting from family tragedies (6)
· Today great KPC training " Eagle 5" begins (7)
· Decentralization, copy of Covic's plan (7)
· Berisha nephew worked on Ataturk's monument (8)
· The first Austro-Kosovar health care symposium (8)
· How long will anxieties of the families of the missing last? (9)
· Macedonia: PDK Ademi arrested (9)

Belgrade Media Highlights

Sunday, 3 November 2002
· Steiner meets Kostunica (Politika/Beta)
· Meeting between UNMIK head and Kosovo leaders (Politika/Beta)
· Oliver Ivanovic on post-election state-of-affairs in Kosovo (Politika)
· Meeting between Covic and Cutigliero (Vecernje Novosti/Beta)
· Serbs united for the first time (Glas)
· Return of Serbs to nine municipalities at 24 locations (Blic)

Monday, 4 November 2002
· OSCE-authority in five municipalities goes to Serbs ( Politika/Beta )
· Cutigliero dissatisfied (Politika/Tanjug)
· Bozidar Stojanovic acquitted (Glas/Tanjug)
· Rada Trajkovic on Kosovo's future (Vecernje Novosti)
· Dinosha: Kosovo cannot be in the preamble (Politika/Tanjug)
· Radosavljevic: Socialists in DA to be blamed for failure (Blic)
· Group of Serbs attacked UN Police (Nacional)

Sunday, 3 November 2002

Steiner meets Kostunica (Politika/Beta)
UNMIK Head Michael Steiner talked with Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica on "filling the vacuum" in performing local authority in northern Kosovska Mitrovica following last week's municipal elections in Kosovo, UNMIK told Beta. Following the meeting in Belgrade, Steiner returned to Kosovo, but neither UNMIK nor the Yugoslav president's cabinet has officially issued an announcement on the talks.

Meeting between UNMIK head and Kosovo leaders (Politika/Beta)
Past municipal elections and the forthcoming decentralization were discussed at talks in Pristina attended by UNMIK Head Michael Steiner, leaders of top Kosovo institutions and Kosovo political party leaders. "We had a very constructive meeting on how to head forward. We have once again agreed that Kosovo should be a real democratic multi-ethnic society. We agreed for all communities in Kosovo to work within Kosovo institutions," Steiner told journalists following the working dinner that he organized.

Oliver Ivanovic on post-election state-of-affairs in Kosovo (Politika)
"The relatively low turnout of Serbs at the elections is the consequence of their dissatisfaction with the position of the Serb community in Kosovo, first of all with unsafe conditions and the fact that the return process of IDPs has not even commenced. SRSG Michael Steiner had conditioned with his statements pending the elections the implementation of decentralization in Kosovo with a high Serb turnout, having a counter-effect on voter turnout. One should not neglect the behavior of Serb political leaders, who have until the very elections sent unclear, even contradictory, "signals" to voters," member of the Kosovo Assembly Presidency and the CCK Oliver Ivanovic told Politika. Serbs won majority in four municipalities. They will not be in a position, as before, to silently observe what are the Albanian majority and UNMIK doing. Serbs can now decide and actively contribute towards stepping-up the state-of-affairs in Kosovo.

Meeting between Covic and Cutigliero (Vecernje Novosti/Beta)
The Head of the CCK Nebojsa Covic has talked in Belgrade with the UN special representative for human rights Jose Cutigliero about the situation in the province and the problem of the return of IDPs to Kosovo. Covic acquainted Cutigliero with the results of last week's Kosovo local elections, cooperation between Belgrade and UNMIK, and absence of safety in the province, the CCK announced. Cutigliero "showed full understanding for the grave situation of the IDPs and stressed the importance of their return for normalizing the state-of-affairs in the region," the announcement said.

Serbs united for the first time (Glas)
The main reason for the boycott is UNMIK's unclear announcement of decentralization that was the Serb condition for taking part in the elections. By boycotting the municipal elections, as member of SNC for northern Kosovo Marko Jaksic says, Serbs had actually organized a plebiscite for forming the municipality of northern Kosovska Mitrovica. "Turnout at the local elections before decentralization and the forming of the municipality of northern Kosovska Mitrovica are performed would mean recognition of Albanian authority, their expansion to the northern part of the town and throwing into the Ibar River the three-and-a-half-year-long struggle of Serbs for survival in this region. Aware of how serious the situation is, Serbs homogenized and this boycott is the crown of the Serb struggle for northern Mitrovica and Kosovo," said Jaksic.

Return of Serbs to nine municipalities at 24 locations (Blic)
According to UNMIK's conceptual document "The Right to a Sustainable Return", there are projects of the plans for the return of Serbs and other communities in this and the following years, marked as crucial for the return of Serbs. The plan states that organized return of IDPs is the basis for the process of a realistic return to Kosovo and Metohija, according to which the right to their home is the basic human right. Invested money and accomplished effects of the return process are in great incongruity and the accomplished output of the return is only symbolic. According to UNMIK's return plan, a far greater return of Serb IDPs is expected next year, taking into account the 24 marked locations for return to nine municipalities of the province. Return plans will be recorded in other villages of the municipalities through the so-called "go and see" visits.

Monday, 4 November 2002

OSCE-authority in five municipalities goes to Serbs ( Politika/Beta )
According to the final results of the local elections in Kosovo and Metohija announced by the OSCE representatives in Pristina, Serbs have gained power in 5 municipalities - Zubin Potok, Zvecane, Leposavic, Strbac and Novo Brdo and will in these areas be able to elect a president from their own ranks. From 1 million 350 thousand voters, including 109 thousand temporarily displaced persons in Serbia and Montenegro, on October 26 some 711 thousand 205 had voted, i.e. 53.86 percent, according to the OSCE spokesman Sam Linholm.

Cutigliero dissatisfied (Politika/Tanjug)
Human rights in Kosovo-Metohija have not changed for the better, and I am especially unhappy with the feeble return of the Serbs, the special UN envoy for human rights Jose Cutigliero said, following talks with Oliver Ivanovic, member of the Kosovo Assembly Presidency. Ivanovic expressed dissatisfaction with the fact that there light has not been shed still on the destinies of the 1 thousand 300 kidnapped and missing Serbs, as well as the fact that none of the Albanian terrorists, who were members of the terrorist KLA group during the war, were indicted by the ICTY. I am expecting that Cutigliero will document the real situation in Kosovo and Metohija in his report, as the Council of Europe does, or the ombudsman of Kosovo, Marek Anthony Novicki, Ivanovic said, adding that certain reports from Kosovo were fabricated, not reflecting the accurate state of affairs, and especially the difficult position of the Serbs.

Bozidar Stojanovic acquitted (Glas/Tanjug)
The International Trial Chamber of the District Court in Gnjilane has released Serb Bozidar Stojanovic from Kosovska Vitina, in southeast Kosovo, for killing an Albanian, as was confirmed by Stojanovic's lawyer Zivojin Jokanovic, who said that Stojanovic, after 38 months of prison, had been released. The releasing verdict was brought after a retrial, following the revoking of the first verdict by the Supreme Court of Kosovo, which was 16 years of imprisonment for murder, a verdict brought by a one-national Albanian Trial Chamber for alleged nationalistic hatred.

Rada Trajkovic on Kosovo's future (Vecernje Novosti)
After summing up the election results, SNC's for northern and central Kosovo are unanimous in the assessment that the political option, favoring Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia and Kosovo's institutional ties with Serbia, had won, it was stated following a joint meeting of the SNC's for northern and central Kosovo held in Zvecan. "Regarding the passing of the Constitutional Charter, we have decided that both Serbian councils address state bodies and demand not to pass the Constitutional Charter without mentioning of Kosovo and Metohija as an integral part of Serbia and Montenegro. This way, UNSCR 1244 will be affirmed without prejudicing the future status of the province that can only be changed through negotiations and not by any power center imposing or by force," KP caucus whip Rada Trajkovic said.

Dinosha: Kosovo cannot be in the preamble (Politika/Tanjug)
A member of the Constitutional Commission from the Democratic Union of Albanians Ferhat Dinosha resigned his membership in the Commission, due to the fact that the preamble of the Constitutional Charter contains a provision that defines Serbia as a state with two autonomous provinces - Kosovo and Metohija and Vojvodina. Dinosha told journalists that this was a direct assault on UNSCR 1244, regarding the presence of the international community in Kosovo, as well as the legitimate and legal representatives of Kosovo authorities, without whose presence we cannot speak about the status of Kosovo, as he said. According to Dinosha, the Constitutional Commission was not meant to define the status of Kosovo, but to regulate the relations between Montenegro and Serbia.

Radosavljevic: Socialists in DA to be blamed for failure (Blic)
"The main culprit for KP's failure at the local elections in Kosovo is DA and its leader Nebojsa Covic. I am very competent to speak about this because I am also member of the KP Presidency, counting 12 members. Covic blackmailed us by asking that his DA receive 40% of the candidates on board lists, since, otherwise, he threatened individually to take part in the elections. Signatures that had been collected through the KP coordinator and head of the district were being submitted to DA that also holds the seal of KP. ND, DHSS, DS and SD and their candidates, over the outvoting of DA, were not able to put up their candidacies. What is defeating is that Covic proposed as DA candidates on KP lists people of the former regime, mostly socialists and julists, and this is why we experienced failure at the elections," member of the KP Presidency Nenad Radosavljevic (ND), who is also the coordinator for the return of IDPs in Michael Steiner's cabinet, told Blic.

Group of Serbs attacked UN Police (Nacional)
A group of 20 Serbs from the village of Priluzje near Vucitrn attacked UNMIK's police patrol and seriously injured one policeman, and lightly injuring several others. UNMIK announced that the incident occurred when policemen asked the owner of one of the restaurants in Priluzje to close down after midnight, which he refused, after which a group of Serbs physically attacked the policemen. Two main attackers are on the run and they are searched after, UNMIK announced.