07 November 2002

CONTENTS

Rexhepi: No concrete figures were mentioned at donors meeting (Koha)

Koha Ditore carries an interview with Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi about the donors meeting.

You came to Brussels to the donors meeting with many hopes. You heard the donors. Do you think you managed to achieve your goal in this meeting?
We came here with limited optimism because we had heard the message that this was not a conference for getting funds. Based on what we have heard, we return with even greater optimism than what we expected. Though it was not a conference for getting promises for funds, we witnessed the willingness of the donors and the international community to continue with their assistance to Kosovo. There was full agreement at the meeting that joint work should continue and that no one wants to remain halfway down the road. In fact some countries, even though this was not the point of the meeting, mentioned clear figures and said they were willing to help the projects which we presented. There was a clear willingness and understanding for our needs. The donors also agreed with our strategies and priorities which we have identified for the medium term..

This is in a way the first test for the Kosovo Government in front of such a huge number of donors. Do you think you have managed to have a joint stance and acceptable demands?
We all had one line, the officials of the government, the representatives of various communities and UNMIK. This was very important and it was highly appreciated by the participants at the donors meeting, the World Bank and the European Commission, and by the representatives of various countries. We witnessed full agreement for projects, the fiscal policy and we didn't run into any kind of opposition regarding these issues. Therefore, I think that the donors were satisfied with our joint appearance with UNMIK.

You had asked for the right to have access to international loans. You mentioned this in your speech. However, it was clearly said that the unresolved status remains a legal obstacle in this respect. Do you think there can be a formula for this and are you disappointed that the goal of opening the doors to loans hasn't been achieved?
In a way we were told that the status is an obstacle for taking loans. This was made clear by the representative of the European Commission; however, there are a lot of channels for this. We also have the problem of loans that the former Yugoslavia has taken from the World Bank, and which it said it took on behalf of Kosovo. I have clearly said that Kosovo takes over its own obligations, we want to make the required calculations, see who owes what, and review the issue of succession in which Kosovo has not participated, solve the issue of war damages that Serbia has inflicted upon Kosovo, and if it comes out that we do have international debts we are willing to take over our part of the share. Despite the obstacles, I think there are ways of having access to loans. This issue is a process that we are developing in various contacts with creditors.

However, the majority of loans are given only to countries. What path or what channel have you tried to find as a solution?
There should be a middle path. The World Bank cannot give us favorable loans, but what is of utmost importance is the fact that the World Bank can encourage others who give international loans. So it is possible to get access to loans without waiting for a solution to Kosovo's final status. We have for example Taiwan or Hong Kong that have this possibility, even though they are not internationally recognized countries. We can find a similar path for Kosovo. Nonetheless, we have to be realistic and admit that except for the status, a condition for issuing loans is the guarantee and capability to pay them back. In the current economic situation in Kosovo, we are not capable of taking big loans. Maybe not even more than 20U$ million, but we hope that with economic development in the future we will be able to fulfill these conditions.

Almost the entire government of Kosovo was at the meeting with the European Commission. What was the nature and the result of this meeting?
It was a seminar in the true meaning of the word. We were given detailed information on the functioning of the European Union, its standards and conditions for integration. During the seminar, we exchanged opinions on how Kosovo can be integrated in Europe and the process of Stabilization and Association. It was said that several channels have been opened through the European Agency for Reconstruction, and then through technical assistance, assistance for Kosovo's judiciary, and the work of UNMIK Pillar Four.

The status is an obstacle in this respect. You, Mr. Steiner and EU chiefs say that Kosovo will be integrated in Europe. The process is designed only for states. Therefore, legally, Kosovo cannot enter negotiations for the Agreement for Stabilization and Association. Did you talk about finding a formula for this?
During the meeting, there was mention of forming a joint working group of the government and UNMIK. The European Commission would also have a working group and there would be regular meetings. Their duty would be to identify the fields of technical assistance, and especially assistance in adopting laws in accordance with EU standards. Therefore, I can say that technically the work on the Stabilization and Association between Kosovo and EU has already started, whereas politically it is impossible for the time being. This is a process that has several obstacles but also has technical possibilities through which Kosovo can prepare and one day be ready for integration into the EU.

UNMIK has its representative in Belgrade's negotiating team with EU, although as a monitor. Do you mind the fact that the government has been ignored and do you think it is possible to be included in EU negotiations with Belgrade?
We were offered the possibility to enter that delegation, but we categorically refused it. UNMIK has its representative in that team and we are informed on his work through our cooperation with UNMIK. We in Kosovo can work within existing structures and prepare Kosovo for integration into the EU. In this respect, we have a strategy similar to the status, therefore first standards and then integration.

You successfully avoided mentioning the status issue at the donors meeting and instead you focused on concrete issues. However, the status issue is emerging as an obstacle for implementing practical goals. Do you think that this will create the need to solve the status much sooner than the international community planned?
I think that all these issues will channel and stabilize the process and bring us closer to the point of solving the status. We have Steiner's 'standards before status', which we all support and which is also fully supported by the international community. Our stance is that we must fulfill these standards, but the standards must also be optimal and not ask Kosovo to fulfill standards that developed countries cannot fulfill in 20 years. I am optimistic and I hope that we will fulfill standards which are in accordance with European democratic principles and that we will find the proper solution for Kosovo's status. I also said this in Brussels. Therefore, we have a strategy that has already started being implemented.

Although it was not a topic of the donors meeting, you warned about the constitutional preamble of Serbia and Montenegro. What was your goal by making that warning?
As for the stances of Belgrade and Podgorica, I can say that that doesn't worry us. They are used to changing their constitutions every three months. The problem rests on the fact that the international community should be clear on this issue, because if EU supports such a formulation in the preamble and recognize that constitution, then there will be problems and we will be in a difficult position. From this position, we will be forced to change our strategy and to undertake radical stances, one of which would be to declare the independence of Kosovo even though at this point we weren't planning to do such a thing.

What would be achieved with such an act? Could it aggravate relations between the Kosovars and the international community, especially at a point when they are truly good and constructive?
I said in Brussels that we don't want to ruin the strategy which are conducting. Therefore, we are cooperating with international structures in fulfilling the standards, but in case there is radicalization of our strategy it will be the fault of the international community because it will do so only if it accepts Belgrade's formulations. We are not the ones who started this problem, therefore we hope that the international community will have a clear stance and will reject the formulation of Serbian and Montenegrin commissions. The international community has numerous reasons to reject this because the formulation 'Kosovo is part of Serbia' is against the current situation in Kosovo and the UNSC Resolution 1244. This is why others, and not us, can ruin these good relations.

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Rexhepi: What happened in Brussels (Koha Ditore)

Koha Ditore caries a commentary by Ibrahim Rexhepi on the Brussels Donors Conference, which according to Rexhepi was not a donors conference. He explains:

First Tuesday in November was not the day when a donor's conference on Kosovo was held. It was not the day when the third donor's conference was held. It was only a technical meeting of those who have given aid to Kosovo in the last three years. It was mostly a debate on the current achievements.

If we have to stress the most characteristic moment of the Brussels meeting it would be: The first presentation of the Kosovo Government before such a structure, the clarifying of Kosovo's financial needs for the next three years and 'statements' by 39 donor countries and most relevant financial institutions that "we will not forget Kosovo".

However, we should not identify the donor's meeting as a "Donor's Meeting" in Switzerland, Germany, USA that were organized by Department for Residential Issues in the Kosovo Government.

There were only two conferences
Right after the war, donors promised 2.3 billion euros for rebuilding Kosovo. By the end of 2001, 1.6 billion were spent. UNMIK Pillar IV officials believe that by the end of this year all the promised funds will be spent. All the funds have been contracted that means the projects are in the phase of being fulfilled.

Most of the funds went to public services, with 28 per cent going in to building the institutions and the rebuilding housing.

The biggest share of the donations was on the shoulders of the EU with 1.3 billion and USA with 300 million euros. In this list are different state governments and international financial institutions.

We do not believe that the donor's list will change in any major way, because in Brussels donors from 39 countries met on Tuesday. They did not talk about money nor did they promise anything. They realized that Kosovo needs 500 million euros and they said, "This issue will be on our minds". They found out that for next year Kosovo needs 200 million euros.

Meanwhile, the World Bank has said Kosovo will need 810 million euros during 2003-2005. It is felt that donors would give about 440 million euros. The financial gap again is very big, it will be 85 million euros next year, 105 million in 2004 and 120 million in 2005.

Meanwhile, the funds that were mentioned but not promised in Brussels on Tuesday must have its own dynamics of arriving. Next year we expect investments for public rebuilding to be 175 million euros, in 2004 it will be 150 million and in 2005, 125 million euros. We should not forget that the budget needs 50 million euros from the donors.

Complicated techniques
The past three years have proven some very complicated techniques for withdrawing funds. Donors never say: "Here are the funds, spend them as you wish". Most of the time they tie them with projects, completing which takes very long time. There were discrepancies between the promised amount, the ones contracted and the ones given. Everything can be explained as dragging from Brussels (Donor's Conference) to Kosovo where they should be fulfilled. The reports prove that by the end of 2001 1.3 billion euros was spent while the bulk of the funds that will be given by the end of this year will enclose the 2.3 billion euros that were promised.

If everything went with precision it cannot be said that the donors will fulfill all the financial needs that Kosovo has. Even if 500 million euros arrived, Kosovars would have to find other sources to fulfill their needs. It is even worse when we know that in Brussels there was no donors conference and no one was obliged to pay to Kosovo.

In fact, they spoke more about the achievements in Kosovo even though the situation is very hard they spoke with admiration about the needs of Kosovo. Donors did not fully close the door on Kosovo, however the needs that were identified are much less than before and on the issue of paying, they said, "we will see".

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Shala: Political maturity facing provocations (Zëri)

Zëri carries a column by editor Blerim Shala, regarding the recent events surrounding the preamble of the Constitutional Charter of the Union of Serbia and Montenegro. Shala wrote:

It has been said before that Kosovo's final status will among other things be the result of a race between Kosovo and Serbia in democracy, in the contribution for regional stability and in the image in the international position.

If Kosovo fulfills the well-known duties and obligations, Serbia cannot do a single thing to deny us independence. Therefore, it should be no surprise that Belgrade has such a destructive policy towards Kosovo, and not only towards it. Organized crime is nowhere as rooted as in Serbia. The official Belgrade still hasn't established full cooperation with The Hague Tribunal. One of the war criminals from Bosnia, General Mladic, is hiding in Serbia. Recently it has been found out that Serbia is involved in selling arms to Iraq, a country which according to the US is the 'core of evil'. In the end, the Serb regime provoked Kosovo and the international community, by trying to prejudge Kosovo's final status, a thing which is violative of UNSC Resolution 1244.

Such acts by Serbia prove the continuation of a policy which produces regional and international problems, and thus Belgrade's international position, as British Foreign Minister Jack Straw said, is turning backwards.

In this context of Serb provocations, Kosovo should come up with a mature and decisive policy. It seems that this is not so difficult, because UNMIK chief Michael Steiner has rightfully and clearly articulated the concerns of the Kosovars before the top politicians of the European Union.

EU and Solana will ask Belgrade to review preamble for Kosovo? (Zëri)

During an interview with Zëri, sources from the cabinet of senior EU official Javier Solana refused to talk about the content of the meeting between Solana and UNMIK chief administrator Michael Steiner. "Strangely, this time they think a lot before speaking, and not like before when they rushed to make statements such as 'Kosovo and 1244 do not depend on texts and documents compiled by Belgrade and Podgorica'. It seems that the EU will be forced to ask Belgrade to review the preamble that mentions Kosovo," added Zëri.

The EU was called to act more maturely, after Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi's statement to the EU that if this preamble is accepted it will force Kosovo Assembly to declare independence. It has been evaluated that this "sharp' note by Kosovo Government in Brussels to the Commission of Europe has "woken up" the EU "which has been deaf and dumb" to Serbia preparing such documents determining Kosovo's political fate.

Senior EU official Javier Solana who is determined to turn the Balkans into a peaceful and normal region and give it perspective and chance to integrate in the EU has been caught by surprise by this new Balkan's preamble. Political tensions caused in Brussels and Pristina by the Serbian-Montenegro Constitutional Charter seems will force Solana and the EU to put pressure on Serb politicians to review this preamble.

Quoting sources from Brussels, Zëri reports that during the dinner with Solana, Steiner reiterated that Solana and EU should ask the Serbian authorities to remove the preamble or to reformulate it in full accordance with UNSC Resolution 1244.

"Steiner again revealed the task that Kosovo must fulfill (standards before status) and for this he received Solana's full backing," said Stefasn Lehne, Solana's expert on the Balkans trying to change the subject. "What is important is that Kosovo will continue with UN Security Resolution 1244," was the statement mostly repeated by Solana's people. Officials refused to say whether the preamble is acceptable to the EU and if it goes against Resolution 1244.

At the same time other sources repeated to Zëri earlier statements by the EU and Solana that several months ago DOS accepted Covic's idea for this preamble, which was evaluated by the EU as damaging and "unnecessary for the moment". "It is not our fault if this preamble is Covic's project and not ours," EU sources said trying to take the blame away from themselves.

An explanation might come today after Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic meets with Senior EU official Javier Solana and EU Commissioner Christopher Patten in Brussels. Djindjic will today officially meet Stability Pact Coordinator Erhard Busek.

Lehne said that Solana is planning a visit to Belgrade but he refused to predict if this visit will come before or after the Serb-Montenegro Constitution Charter goes to the Parliaments of Serbia and Montenegro.

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Assembly groups compile resolution, UNMIK asks for maturity (Zëri)

Zëri reports that the three biggest Albanian groups in the Kosovo Assembly met yesterday and compiled the draft of the resolution that would declare the preamble of the constitutional charter null and void on Kosovo. Zëri also reports that after SRSG Michael Steiner's return from Brussels yesterday, UNMIK officials have talked with the representatives of the three main political parties about the resolution

Further Zëri quotes Assembly chairman Daci as saying that he supports Kosovo's PM stance and if the constitutional preamble doesn't change, Kosovo can proclaim its independence. "I am fully convinced that international community will not accept that preamble and that its contents are not related to the documents of international community," Daci was quoted as saying in Zëri. He further said that it is well known that "I always support Kosovo's government and that I will always be behind Kosovo's institutions".

PDK Arsim Bajrami said yesterday that after the meeting of the working group, PDK deputies, no matter what is UNMIK's objections to the preamble, will insist that the Assembly comes out with a resolution to express its clear stance on the preamble.

The chief of AAK assembly group, Bujar Dugolli said that AAK deputies will support the resolution no matter the EU and UNMIK announcements that S+M preamble will not have any judicial value on Kosovo's final status. "We expected EU and Security Council to object; however, as one of the entities that have submitted the text to the assembly, we will not give up our intention and we expect it to be approved" Dugolli told Zëri adding that "this is a response and preventive measures to show that Kosovo's path for the future will not pass through Belgrade and Podgorica, but towards its independence and European integration".

Kosovo Academy of Sciences and Arts rebound on S+M Union constitutional preamble (Koha Ditore)

Koha Ditore reports that Kosovo Academy of Sciences and Arts [ASHAK] has released a communiqué as objection to S+M constitutional charter preamble.

Presidency of Kosovo Academy of Sciences and Arts considers unacceptable and harmful S+M Union interference on the political processes and further developments on its status. S+M Union preamble of constitutional charter where Kosovo is included as part of Serbia is an unacceptable aggression against not only Kosovo but also international community.

Stressing that Kosovo is temporarily governed by the UN Security Council Resolution 1244, ASHAK says that S+M preamble violates resolution 1244 which has left the issue of Kosovo's status open for later, when different factors would be considered, among which first of all will be the will of Kosovo's population. ASHAK expresses its conviction that only Kosovo and its population can decide the future of Kosovo.

ASHAK requests from temporary institutions of Kosovo's Government to react adequately and to prevent any possible legalization of this document, which would allow this artificially created state to enter EU. The same communiqué asks international institutions to correctly asses the new created reality in Kosovo and based on that to create space and possibilities for development of the new political processes in Kosovo, which would enable execution of the right to self-determination of its population, says the ASHAK communiqué.

Arbër Xhaferri: Serbia to forget Kosovo (24 Orë)

PDSH president in Macedonia, Arbër Xhaferi rejected the inclusion of Kosovo in the preamble of new S+M Union constitution. According to Xhaferi, Yugoslav president Kostunica, Montenegrin president Djukanovic and Serbia's PM Djindjic should definitely forget Kosovo. "They have much work to do to fulfill democratic standards in Sandjak, Presevo Valley and Ulcin. Kosovo's status cannot be decided in Belgrade or through preambles. It is being determined in Kosovo where all Albanian political factors are building real democratic institutions, and guaranteeing freedom and rights for all ethnical minorities with the help of the international community".

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Regional Update

Macedonia

NATO waits for an official request from Skopje

NATO officials in Skopje said Wednesday that they are waiting for a clear stance by the Macedonian authorities on the continuation of Amber Fox mandate which is to expire on 15 December, repots Koha Ditore.

"We expect the government and the President to clearly show what is their position regarding the NATO military presence in Macedonia after 15 December," said NATO spokesperson Major Antonio Sgoba.

After President Boris Trajkovski met with Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski, Minister of Interior Hari Kostov and Minister of Defense Vlado Buckovski, it was said this issue was not discussed in detail. "There is a great chance that NATO troops will remain after 15 December, however the stance of the new government is expected first. First evaluations are that Macedonia needs to have international troops for another six months," said Minister Buckovski.

NATO officials are certain that they will positively respond to the call by Macedonian government to continue its military presence in Macedonia.