27 November 2002, Wednesday Edition

CONTENTS

· The border issue takes Steiner to Skopje (Koha Ditore)
· Solana: Intervention in Mitrovica, important step toward normalization (Koha)
· Ilir Meta: Albania is satisfied with Steiner's Mitrovica initiative (Epoka e Re)
· Provocations should be confronted with maturity (Zëri)
· Spahiu: Was Mitrovica finally divided on Monday? (Koha Ditore)
· We have laid the foundation for an independent Kosovo (24 Orë)
· Çeku: KPC is capable of greater tasks and competencies (24 Orë)
· Covic is "Kosovo's evil", says Momcilo Trajkovic (Srna/Gradjanski List)
· Education and healthcare in northern Mitrovica soon to come under UNMIK authority, says UNMIK (Beta/UNMIK Radio)
· Mortal remains of eight Kosovo Albanians repatriated (RTS/AP)

The border issue takes Steiner to Skopje (Koha Ditore)

Koha Ditore reports that UNMIK chief Michael Steiner and the Macedonian PM Branko Crvenkovski are to meet for the first time in Skopje on Wednesday.

The office of the Macedonian PM said that Steiner and Crvenkovski would talk about the opening of two new border crossing points between Macedonia and the 'Federal Republic of Yugoslavia' [quotes provided by the paper] on the segment with Kosovo.

The decision was taken by the Macedonian Government on Monday. Government spokesman Saso Colakovski reportedly said Tuesday that the partners of the ruling LSDM-BDI coalition should be consulted on the border issue.

Koha Ditore adds that the decision was in fact made by the previous government, led by Lubce Georgievski, and that the new government claims it will respect the decision made last August. "The final preparations are being made to implement the decision which was made several months ago…[but] UNMIK is only interested on the talks between Macedonia and FRY on the opening of the new border crossing points," said Colakovski.

Koha Ditore also reports that the meeting between Steiner and Crvenkovski was supposed to take place early last month, but the Macedonian PM refused the meeting, saying that he was too busy and that he would meet with Steiner in December.

Steiner will reportedly meet with Deputy Prime Minister Musa Xhaferri and Foreign Minister Ilinka Mitreva.

Solana: Intervention in Mitrovica, important step toward normalization (Koha)

Koha Ditore reports that the events in northern Mitrovica have caused positive reactions in Brussels. EU diplomacy chief Javier Solana said he was satisfied with the developments in the northern part of Mitrovica.

"I would like to express my satisfaction over the encouraging developments in northern Mitrovica," said Solana. "The expansion of the direct administrative authority of UNMIK in northern Mitrovica is an important step toward the normalization of the situation in Kosovo."

Solana also praised SRSG Michael Steiner for the efforts to achieve such results. "I believe that the latest developments in Mitrovica are proof of the commitment of all communities to intensify their efforts in building a democratic and multiethnic Kosovo in which everyone will live in peace and security," he concluded.

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Ilir Meta: Albania, satisfied with Steiner's initiative for Mitrovica (Epoka e Re)

Albanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ilir Meta, was quoted as saying on Tuesday in Belgrade that 'Albania values chief administrator Steiner's initiative for unification of the divided Mitrovica and all the reforms that would create better conditions for co existence'.

Albania supports Steiner's stance that first should come standards, building of joint democratic institutions and better cooperation between Serbs and Albanians, according to Meta, who spoke after meeting with the 'Yugoslav' diplomacy chief, Goran Svilanovic, reports Epoka e Re.

'Kosovo's future in a united Europe cannot be achieved without achievement of these standards' Meta was quoted as saying.

Svilanovic said there is an urge for strengthening democratic institutions that came out of last year's parliamentary elections in Kosovo in order to decentralize Kosovo. 'Yugoslavia's' stance is that before the solution of Kosovo's final status, the problem of IDPs, the safety situation for all communities and the return of property,' he was quoted as saying in Epoka e Re. 'We are not satisfied with the process of returns,' he concluded.

Provocations should be confronted with maturity (Zëri)

Zëri carries an editorial by Blerim Shala who says that it would be a dangerous illusion to think that SRSG Steiner's plans would not encounter provocations and resistance. But Shala thinks Albanian politicians should convince themselves and others that maturity would be the best response to these provocations.

We all know that solution of the Mitrovica problem has a great importance in preparing the process of Kosovo's final status. A divided Mitrovica, as it was before 25 November, was the start point of the option of territorial division of Kosovo. This kind of Mitrovica was to serve as the Serbian regime's main argument that Albanians and Serbs cannot live together in the same city and that it is an illusion to expect them to be together throughout Kosovo and in its central government. Povratak's games at the Kosovo Assembly tend to strengthen exactly this stance.

In this context, Steiner's timing for action with a gradual approach to the critical phase by initiating the process, which would conclude Kosovo's final status, was just right. Thus, next year will be determinant for Mitrovica and Kosovo. It would be a dangerous illusion to think that there will be no tough provocations and resistance to Steiner's plans. His, UNMIK's and Kosovo's success creates real and tangible advantages to strengthen Kosovo's position. A measurement of success would be co-existence in Mitrovica, but also in the Assembly and the Kosovo government. Albanian politicians here in Prishtina and in Mitrovica should convince themselves and us that that political maturity is the only way to go at a time when there are continuous innovations in a policy of provocation from Serbian officials.

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Spahiu: Was Mitrovica finally divided on Monday? (Koha Ditore)

Koha Ditore carries a commentary by Nexhmedin Spahiu, a political analyst and director of the Radio and Television of Mitrovica, who comments on the recent events in Mitrovica. Spahiu wrote:

Last night I received hundreds of phone calls from various countries of the world congratulating me on the 'unification' of Mitrovica. The first one to give the news on this event were Sulejman Gashi and Avni Spahiu who had arrived in Mitrovica to do a live show on the 'unification' of Mitrovica.

A few minutes later came Faruk Spahija and Mursel Ibrahim, the chairman and deputy chairman of the Mitrovica Municipal Assembly, which were informed that 'Mitrovica had been united'. Syla showed them a document which I didn't get to see because it was still sanctioned.

The fact that the chairman and the deputy chairman of Mitrovica MA were learning from RTK that Mitrovica was being 'united' made me suspicious of everything that was being called 'the unification of Mitrovica'. I ran over to an international friend of mine who told me that 'Steiner had eaten Faruk Spahija's chocolates of Ramadan'. (This is an ironic reference to a habit among Albanians here in Mitrovica who play cards during the month of Ramadan with chocolates). He showed me a copy of the document signed by Steiner (already been made public in northern Mitrovica) that stated that UNMIK was taking over competencies in northern Mitrovica, which according to Regulation 2000/45 had been given to municipalities two years ago. The decision was to enter force on the very same day, 25 November 2002. I went and told MA deputy chairman Mursel Ibrahimi that Steiner's order was in fact legalizing the division of Mitrovica. Until now, the Municipal Assembly in Mitrovica only had formal competencies over the northern part, never exercised during its two-year mandate. And now it didn't even formally have those competencies. It was impossible to talk to Faruk Spahija because he had mixed feelings. He was dancing with joy because he still though that his 'city was being united', but on the other hand he was sad because Steiner hadn't informed him in time about this 'joy'.

In the meantime, the municipal leaders were invited to a dinner with Steiner in a restaurant in southern Mitrovica where they would be briefed that on 'how to unite Mitrovica, they (the Municipal Assembly) would temporarily give up on competencies in the north.'

In paper, the municipality of Mitrovica remains undivided. A linking bridge will be the municipal administrator who is the only body who will have competencies in both parts of the town. The UNMIK Administration in southern Mitrovica will be led by the Mitrovica municipal administrator, its municipal assembly, as in other municipalities in Kosovo, while northern Mitrovica will be led by the deputy municipal administrator of Mitrovica and the administration that will be built by him and which will have a staff similar to the municipality in southern Mitrovica.

At night, through Zvecan-based TV Most, which rebroadcasts the programming of Radio Television of Serbia and for which Simon Haselock works to get grants of hundreds of thousands of euros, the citizens of Mitrovica had the opportunity to listen to the Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Nebojsa Covic promising the workers of the parallel municipality that they would be employed by UNMIK in the same jobs. Of course, the outrage of the citizens of Mitrovica reached a boiling point when the Radio Television of Mitrovica broadcast the directive of Mr. Michael Steiner. The majority of citizens were surprised by the insufficient reporting of RTK. To make matters worse, while numerous journalists were waiting for Steiner at the restaurant, along came hundreds of young Albanians who had not been properly informed about whether Mitrovica was being 'united' or 'divided', but they were curious to see Steiner and the people from the capitol. All of a sudden, numerous police officers and UNMIK Police special units (which are usually used against violent demonstrations) headed for the restaurant where Steiner was supposed to show up. Surely, such a situation is the best reflection of relations between Kosovars and UNMIK.

What has to be said in this case is the fact that now UNMIK and official Belgrade have marked a victory that is being celebrated by Kosovars, thanks to insufficient reports from RTK. Now northern Mitrovica is a municipality the same way that Kosovo is a state.

Whenever the status of Kosovo will be discussed, the same arguments that Albanians will emphasize for Kosovo as an independent state, the same arguments will automatically go for northern Mitrovica as a municipality. In this way, official Belgrade is one step closer to the possibility of dividing Kosovo.

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We have laid the foundation for an independent Kosovo (24 Orë)

24 Orë carries an interview with Ramush Haradinaj, leader of AAK political party on behalf of 28 November, Flag Day:

The last century was closed with great movements for freedom and national independence by our people. How do you characterize these?
The last twenty years of struggles for freedom might have been only a continuation of earlier struggles. The Albanian people, anywhere in its territories at certain moments and circumstances, have reconfirmed the determination to be free and independent. Recent developments that proceeded especially after the liberating war proved the will for freedom. The determination of the Albanian people to be free is consequent upon this and, as such, it will triumph.

Our long struggles for freedom were crowned with Kosovo's Liberation Army, how do you see post war processes in Kosovo?
We are aware that Albanian's struggles for freedom date from very early. These struggles have never stopped. Albanians have developed many wars for freedom and independence and they have also achieved many victories throughout which the Albanian nation was built and has survived. Thank to those struggles, we are here today. Thus, we are in the free Kosovo that we earned and Albanians are gradually realizing their national and civil goals.

We are facing many challenges in Kosovo. Are you satisfied with achievements so far?
In general, the developments were characterized by great difficulties, injustices in certain periods, but we can say that a huge return has come, or a miracle as we say. Finally, Albanians were on the right side and were understood rightly by the civilized nations, Super Powers, and especially by NATO and the US. Therefore, the achievement in Kosovo is great. But we consider that this is only the foundation of what we ought to build in Kosovo. We cannot say that we are completely satisfied, but we cannot negate what has been achieved in Kosovo and among Albanians in general.

Kosovo is under international administration. Some processes, especially the arrests, are in contradiction to the war values. How do you see post-war processes in Kosovo?
Our struggles to be free resulted the great victory: the birth of the KLA and the war for freedom, lead by our glorious army. This was a fair war, a war that achieved concrete results for our aims. It is true that we achieved our victory against Serb forces together with the international community, NATO forces, with the advanced international nations (US and European countries). The building of peace, as a joint challenge, usually is a period when second or third interests come on to the scene. This can create unclear circumstances or even unwanted actions, despite everything that happened in Kosovo, actions like arrests happen as well. Nevertheless, we think that the state that would be appreciated by Kosovo citizens, Kosovo's nation, is gradually being built in Kosovo. We understand these arrests as contradictions and conflicts of interests that certain circles within international community and also in neighboring countries have. The happy fact is that Kosovo's population, no the matter entity, is united in the aim for independence. Therefore, we can also consider these as the price of freedom, the price of independence and challenges, which we as a nation have to go through in building our state.

In this context, the issue of Kosovo's status is no doubt present. What are your thoughts after the important meetings in Luzerne [and] Washington ?
I have expressed my gratitude to Mr Kassof for the meetings that he has continuously organized for taboo issues, for the issues that somehow have been not considered for discussions, such as the Albanian issue in the Balkans and the Albanians' relations with their neighbors. I think that the Luzerne conference was fruitful because once again the determinations of Albanians in Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Presevo were reconfirmed… The Kosovar population, leaders and institutions have once again found a way to express their position of Kosovo's independence. I also sent a letter to Bugajski in which I expressed my gratitude for the conference in Washington, which I also consider to be very fruitful. I think that the results achieved are due to the efforts that some of Kosovo's friends, in this case Bugajski, and then the attempts of Albanian-American lobby, the league lead by ex-congressman DioGuardi and his wife Shirley, and the work that many other Congressmen and Senators, such as Gilman, Tom Lantos, Eliot Engel, Bob Dole and many of our compatriots who live in US. Thus they make possible concrete events of international importance where to some extent the necessity for a solution to Kosovo's problem, Kosovo's final status, is being discussed. The help that Senator Biden, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the US Senate, has given and is continuing to give also should not be forgotten. All these events help our issue to remain current. Their engagement makes our request for independence not a taboo.

What is your message on this great national holiday?
November 28 is a great date for Albanians to remember all the efforts, challenges and failures in achieving freedom. These days, Albanians feel stronger, united, and with more faith in our aspirations. On this occasion, I congratulate all the Albanians on Flag Day, Independence Day, Day of the Unification, and I wish Albanians to be united in our efforts for freedom. In order to achieve our aims, I wish that Albanians remain united around our legendary hero, Adem Jashari, and around KLA commanders, the same as we gathered and united around Skënderbeu and Ismail Qemaili. We have managed for the Albanian nation not to be forgotten. This time our friends and Super Powers didn't forget it. We pray that God will also be closer to our nation and bless our nation to achieve its freedom and rights. To be equal with everyone else.

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Çeku: KPC as the force of Kosovo is capable to take on tasks and bigger competencies (24 Orë)

24 Orë carries an interview with General Agim Çeku, commander of the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC).

Asked whether the arrests of senior KPC officers have reflected on the KPC, Çeku replied: 'The arrests have had a negative impact in the image of the KPC and have left huge gaps in the internal organization, because many of them are key officers in the KPC. We have reacted publicly against these arrests and we have opposed the accusations of war crimes, which are unacceptable and tendentious.

General Çeku how satisfied are you with the achievements and the professionalism of the KPC?
Bearing in mind the conditions and the circumstances in which the KPC is working, I can say I am satisfied with the achievements and the professional level of the KPC. There has been noticeable progress in the internal organization, increasing the level of discipline, increasing the operational capabilities, etc.

The KPC has best proved its operational capabilities with the successful intervention of the earthquake in Gjilan, at Kosovo B, the assistance that the KPC gave to the Dukagjin in the floods, the operations for isolating chemical material at the Battery Factory in Mitrovica, etc. All these successes have led to a situation in which polls have qualified the KPC as the most reliable institution in Kosovo.

The level of professionalism was boosted by various trainings both in the country and abroad, and I would emphasize the training of our officers in at the Marshall center-the most famous military school in Europe, the training in US at the University of Indiana, training of personnel, in logistics, training in military schools in France and others. During this period, a new experience for the KPC was the deployment of our units in Turkey and South Africa, where our members demonstrated a high level of professionalism and came back with great experience. Also during this year, a KPC team participated in an international competition in Czechoslovakia and represented KPC and Kosovo with dignity.

The biggest achievement of the year is undoubtedly the successful roundup of the process of restructuring, with which KPC crowned its three-year efforts to advance its infrastructure.

In order to clarify what the KPC gained through restructuring I will mention some of the achievements: the forming of new units, such as, Training and Doctrine Command, the Logistics Command, units of the Inspectorate of Order in the defense zones and in the Kosovo Guard, the Inspectorate Battalion within the General Staff, mine removal units, the formation of the chain of command for non-commissioned officers (NCOs).

COMKFOR Fabio Mini said that the KPC trainings were very successful. Do you think that now, after a three-year period, the KPC has crossed the key road and can take on more competences?
With the successful finalization of the 'Eagle 5'exercise, the KPC passed a very important test and practically proved that it has the capabilities foreseen in the 1999 Agreement and also proved that it can take on new duties, even more complicated tasks and bigger competencies.

COMKFOR Fabio Mini and other KFOR generals gave an excellent assessment of the exercise, and they followed it upclose during [all] four days.

Since we have moved on to a very important phase, I expect that next year we will be offered more advanced training of a different nature, surely more challenging and attractive to our members, in which KFOR would have the main word. We also expect that next year we will take on bigger tasks and responsibilities.

General Çeku, what are the possibilities for KPC to participate in international peacekeeping missions?
Humanitarian missions outside Kosovo are more realistic, because with our work we have proved that we are willing to take on such responsibilities.

We have made our offer to participate with our troops in Afghanistan and this offer remains open. Recently, we have also expressed our willingness to help Italy in dealing with the consequences of the recent earthquake. We have also expressed willingness to go to Spain to help with the oil tanker that sank recently and this offer is still open. Our willingness to help Italy was highly appreciated by COMKFOR General Mini who thanked the KPC for their solidarity. Since the situation there has improved and the Italian authorities managed to overcome this accident, there was no need for our troops to go to Italy, although they were on the short list of the countries that offered assistance to Italy.

We are willing to offer our assistance in any mission and we expect that we will be given the opportunity to show our virtues outside Kosovo. Kosovo appreciates the assistance that it has been given by the international community and now we want to prove that we can also help the international community.

[At this point in the text, a question appears to have been omitted.] The majority of our members have perceived these accusations as a tendency to equate the crimes committed by the Serb police and army in Kosovo with the righteous fight of the KLA.

We made our remarks about the delays in the trials, the indefinite extension of the detention of our officers, which was often done through executive order that is a serious violation of human rights. There were cases when our members were held in detention for over a year and were then released as innocent without receiving compensation for the moral damage inflicted upon them and the KPC as an institution. Until now, the judiciary could not prove the guilt of any member of the KPC.

General Çeku, what is the impact of dissolving the reserve formation? And what is concretely happening with the KPC reserve troops?
One of the biggest challenges the KPC faced this year was the firm request of the international community for the activation of reserve troops of the KPC, foreseen by the Agreement for the Transformation of KLA into KPC and UNMIK Regulation 1999/8. This was a standard that we had to fulfill if we wanted to maintain international support.

Although it was a painful process, we were forced to fulfill that standard in order not to lose international support, without which it would be difficult for us to finalize our goals; and in the end, we made this sacrifice for the sake of this goal. However, this is not about the disbanding of the reserve formation of the KPC, as you formulated your question. The KPC hasn't dissolved, it has created an active reserve formation, which comprises part of the KPC and will be activated whenever KPC needs it.

During these months, we have tried to find jobs for the members of the KPC who are in the active reserve. Nearly 50 percent of them now have jobs.

Recently, a project proposal for transformation of the KPC was published by the US Institute for Peace. How do you assess this project and where does it put the KPC?
The fact itself that the National Security Council has engaged the US Institute to compile a project proposal for the transformation of the KPC proves that the US Administration has reached the conclusion that the KPC must be a security force and not be treated simply as a civil force. The positive side of this project proposal is that it launches the debate for the future of the KPC, which was absent until now. The other positive part of this project is the formation of the Kosovo Council for Defense and Security and the Office of Exercise Coordination with NATO.

However, the greatest part of this project proposal is not in accordance with the reality of the KPC and Kosovo and doesn't pave the way to a clear perspective of our future.

Initially, in the project the KPC is treated like part of the problem and not part of the solution of the problem, which is completely unacceptable. In this context, the KPC is wrongly perceived as the main obstacle to implementation of Resolution 1244. The project doesn't assess the commitment and the three year's work in the reconstruction of Kosovo and our contribution to the stability of Kosovo and the region.

Therefore, based on these prejudgments, the US Institute for Peace has offered a biased and unrighteous solution for the KPC, which for us is unacceptable because it doesn't meet our aspirations and the aspirations of the people of Kosovo.

As such, we believe that this project is unacceptable for the US administration, which must engage another institute to compile an acceptable project or take into consideration our project for the transformation of the KPC, which has been handed over to the US administration and which is more favorable both for us and the international community.

The international administration says that the future of the KPC is linked to the solution of Kosovo's status. Is this true?
Since Kosovo is being developed as an international entity, there is a need for an institution that will be able to protect sovereignty and democratic institutions and which would assure the right of self-determination in accordance with the UN Charter for Human Rights. The gradual reduction of KFOR troops in Kosovo sends a clear message to the people of Kosovo that, in future, they will need to enhance their ability to defend themselves or at least to participate in a defense coalition against any danger that might be posed to the people of Kosovo.

We believe that Kosovo will be allowed to contribute in the stability of the region, in partnership with NATO and its neighbors, by creating its own defense force, which should be created during the transition phase when competencies are being transferred from UNMIK into the hands of the Kosovo Government.

It is certain that whatever the future status of Kosovo will be, the final form will be Kosovo's integration into the international community and the integration of its defense force into NATO structures. This thing can be achieved gradually. Decisions on this process have been made by the Agreement for Demilitarization and Transformation of KLA on 21 June 1999.

All these arguments show that Kosovo should start building its own force.

The KPC is more visited by internationals than by the senior representative of Kosovo institutions. What is your comment?
It is true that the KPC is visited by numerous personalities of the international community, both military and political, and this is a positive fact that shows the importance of the KPC in developments in Kosovo. At the same time, we have very good relations with all institutions in Kosovo and their representatives. We have had numerous meetings with the leaders of local institutions and we have encountered full support for the vision of the KPC.

However, it is known that according to the Constitutional Framework, the KPC has to remain outside the competencies of Kosovar institutions and now falls within the reserved competencies of the SRSG; therefore, the local institutions have many limitations in helping the KPC.

What preparations has KPC made for the November holidays?
Prior to the establishment of Kosovo institutions, the KPC was the only institution, it carried the burden of organizing the main celebrations for the most important events of our history. Unlike in previous years, this year we have not planned a solemn, or any other central, celebration, because this now falls within the competencies of Kosovo institutions.

What is your message for the November holidays?
I have the pleasure to send a message to all Kosovar citizens through your paper. By honoring this historical date, by honoring the flag, we honor all the efforts of the generations for freedom; we honor the glorious fight of the KLA and all martyrs.

First of all, I would like to congratulate the families of the missing which now more than ever feel the absence of their most loved ones. I send a special message to the fellow combatants and officers of the KPC who are in prison and who are with dignity protecting their personality, the purity and the glorious name of the KLA.

Even though 90 years after of the independence of the Albanian state, Albanians still haven't realized their aspirations, I am certain that Albanians have finally found their path and are walking with firm steps toward all national and European integrations, to become part of the democratic world where they belong.

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Belgrade Media Update

Covic is 'Kosovo's evil', says Momcilo Trajkovic (Srna/Gradjanski List)

SPOT's leader Momcilo Trajkovic called on both the federal and republican parliaments to express their opinion on Nebojsa Covic's moves that have brought the Serbian state policy regarding Kosovo and Metohija to stalemate. "Some moves are made, like the last one regarding taking control over the northern Mitrovica administration, and his participation in reaching compromises without any compensation for the Serb community's interests in Kosovo and Metohija," Trajkovic told the Novi Sad-based daily, Gradjanski list. Trajkovic called Covic "Kosovo's evil", adding that the policy of a narrow group of people, instead of state policy, was being implemented in Kosovo.

Education and healthcare in northern Mitrovica soon to come under UNMIK authority, says UNMIK (Beta/UNMIK Radio)

UNMIK spokesman Simon Haselock said that healthcare and education "parallel structures" in the northern part of Kosovska Mitrovica must disappear in the near future. "As far as education and healthcare are concerned, we clearly said that the parallel structure must cease to exist," Haselock told UNMIK Radio. "Some things will happen quickly, some slowly, but in a certain moment, not in the distant future, we shall be in control of all functions on the northern bank of the river," he said.

Mortal remains of eight Kosovo Albanians repatriated (RTS/AP)

The bodies of eight Kosovo Albanians killed during the conflict in Kosovo and Metohija, whose mortal remains were exhumed in Petrovo Selo near Kladovo, were repatriated to the province, UNMIK spokesman Andrea Angeli said.

He said the remains, identified by the relatives who recognized their clothes and other details, had been transferred yesterday. Angeli speculated that they were the victims of the conflict in the village of Izbica, in the central part of Kosovo. AP reported that Angeli said the remains would be handed over to the families as soon as possible.

Besides these eight Albanians, 72 more bodies have been exhumed in Petrovo Selo, explained Angeli, adding that their identification was expected.