04 October 2002

CONTENTS

America and Europe support Steiner's plan (Dailies)

The Kosovo media reported that Steiner's seven-point plan, presented as the new UNMIK strategy for the unification of Mitrovica and the integration of the Serbian community into Kosovo civic life, was immediately supported by western capitals.

US State Department spokesperson Philip Reeker expressed full support for the plan: "Steiner undertook an important step toward healing one of the most serious Kosovo wounds that remained after war," Reeker was quoted as saying in Koha Ditore. "America appeals to Kosovo Serbs for full participation in Kosovo democratic institutions and in municipal elections on 26 October," he further stated.

NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson said that with the international community's full support, Kosovo Serbs would achieve further progress toward resolving issues of basic importance. Robertson also appealed to the Serbian community to participate in the municipal elections and to use this opportunity to ensure a better position for themselves. "These proposals offer a special chance to achieve sustainable day-to-day improvement of the Serbian community," he said, adding that Steiner's plan is visionary and turned towards future.

British Foreign Minister Denis MacShane welcomed the SRSG's plan for Mitrovica: "A successful future for Mitrovica is a key to rebuilding a functional multiethnic community in Kosovo. It is on Mitrovica people now to chose." He appealed to the people of the divided city to participate in 26 October elections because "as Steiner says, the solution now is between stagnation and a better future".

Zëri reported on the SRSG's meeting at UNMIK HQ with Nebojsha Covic yesterday: "We talked about the plan and I am pleased to say that that I received a positive response." Steiner also told journalists about the support the plan received from Washington, London, Brussels, Berlin and Belgrade.

Most of the Steiner-Covic meeting was devoted to the issue of IDP returns, says Zëri. Steiner said that the director of UNMIK's Office for Returns and Minorities, Peggy Hicks, had explained, in broad outline, "the philosophy and concept of the international community for returns and UNMIK's approach on both the central administrative level and the regional level".

According to Zëri, Steiner was pleased that Covic accepted that the situation for returns has improved considerably. But he said that those who oppose his plan for Mitrovica not only oppose his work in Kosovo, they oppose the entire international community.

Epoka e Re writes that PDK party leader Hashim Thaçi also supports the plan.

Top

Institutional leaders respond to the Mitrovica plan (Koha)

Koha Ditore reports that the central institutions and the main political entities have had varying reactions to SRSG Michael Steiner's seven-point plan for Mitrovica.

Koha Ditore reports that the Assembly Presidency hasn't yet commented on the plan, but government officials noted that Steiner's plan includes some points from an earlier plan proposed by Prime Minister Rexhepi. "It is Mr. Steiner's plan," was the only thing that the presidency spokesman, Muhamet Hamiti, reportedly said on the issue.

Rexhep Hoti, advisor to PM Rexhepi, said Steiner's plan was positive. "The government welcomes Mr. Steiner's plan and has trust in it… In principle, we support the plan but it also needs a procedural timeline… The government must keep its eyes wide open and not allow enclavization and parallelisms," he said.

LDK spokesman Lulzim Zeneli told Koha Ditore that his party supports every effort to find a solution for the Mitrovica problem. "We think this is a more concrete plan from the international community for solving the Mitrovica problem. Now we expect concrete results," he said.

PDK leader Hashim Thaçi said in a statement that his party fully supports the plan. Thaçi regards it as "an important step toward overcoming the situation in Mitrovica" and he added, "We are willing to cooperate with UNMIK in implementing this plan."

PDK member Hajredin Kuçi said Steiner's plan is a "concrete step" but it fails to address freedom of movement and a bigger role for locals. "[It] was not compiled by locals and it lacks the basic right of freedom of movement," he said, and added that the "imposed co-governance" was not founded in democratic negotiations and developments.

Kuçi also said that Steiner's plan was only an initial step and that the UNMIK chief wanted to make himself attractive by announcing the plan. "Mr. Steiner was careful with the Serb minority and instead of imposing a solution…he wanted to develop an attraction," he added.

Serb political leader Rada Trajkovic, chief of the Povratak Coalition parliamentary group, called the Mitrovica plan "political marketing". Serbian media quote Trajkovic as saying that Steiner was ignoring elected Serb representatives.

Marko Jaksic, member of the chairmanship of the Serb National Council, said there was no reason whatsoever for Serbs to have faith in Steiner's strategy. Jaksic said that the plan presents only prejudgments and conditions. "The establishment of the Kosovo Trust Agency in northern Mitrovica is the biggest paradox of this plan. Steiner wants to steal away Serbia's wealth right in front of the eyes of the international community," Jaksic was quoted as saying.

Top

Another assembly session with no result (Koha Ditore)

Insulted by the negligence of the UNMIK administration and local institutions in Kosovo, the assembly members have called on government officials to have more respect for the "highest lawmaking institution". At Thursday's assembly session, the bill on foreign trade could not be heard because the minister wasn't present. So the assembly called all officials to be present at the next session and to report on current events, reports Koha Ditore.

Kosovo Assembly deputies have called Steiner to give more details on the Mitrovica plan and to allow the assembly to debate it. They also called on the prime minister to present his plan for the solving the issue of teachers' salaries.

"The assembly should be the most trusted institution in society and the place where decisions are made," said Kosovo Assembly President Nexhat Daci. "We will send written invitations to institutional leaders and we will send a special invitation to SRSG Steiner to be present at one of the assembly sessions to report on the political, financial and security situation in Kosovo," he said.

"The fact that Kosovo Assembly deputies learned about Steiner's plan for Mitrovica from the media is very irresponsible," said PDK deputy Arsim Bajrami. He proposed that Steiner present the plan at the next assembly session and then start a debate. "I know that some of these issues are reserved powers; however, the resolution and the Constitutional Framework oblige him to fulfill his responsibilities for governing Kosovo together with his Kosovar partners," said Bajrami.

The assembly supported the teachers' strike and teachers' demands and called on Education Minister Osmani and Prime Minister Rexhepi to come up with a project solve the salary issue by 1 November.

Deputies voted to start the procedure for forming a Media Committee and Daci called on all parliamentary groups to appoint their representatives to this committee.

Weather and politics (Zëri)

Zëri carries an editorial by Blerim Shala who speaks about the strange government-assembly rapport where increase of teachers' salaries is concerned. He says that a consensus exists only that the strike is justified. Shala says that the same happens where Steiner's newest plan for Mitrovica is concerned.

The tale is old, but the lesson eternal. When an African president had to face the request of financial minister to change his economic policies, which were leading the country towards an abyss, he replied to the minister: What are you waiting for? Print money and distribute it to population. This way they will have as much money as they want and they will be satisfied.

Of course, we cannot apply this politician's "theory" in Kosovo. Kosovo euros are printed in Germany. But the words that were heard the past two days from the Kosovo political scene resemble the remark about printing valuable bank notes without backing.

It is only clear to a few people who is competent to do what where education is concerned. Who makes policy here, who leads the ministry, what is the prime minister's relationship with his ministers, the government's relationship with the assembly, and the government's with political entities. First, it was said that there was no money to increase teachers' salaries, then that there is money from last year's budget surplus, but that some of this money was given to KEK, which should now return several millions euros to enable a ten percent increase in salaries. When these issues are discussed at the Kosovo Assembly, there is a consensus only that the strike is justified; they even mention the date (1 November) when the salary increases should take effect, etc, etc.

Approximately the same situation exists in the government-assembly-political entity relationship where Michael Steiner's newest plan for Mitrovica is concerned. Maybe the weather is to blame; it was really strange this year.

Top

Contradictory reactions to proposal to transfer KTA seat to Mitrovica (Koha)

Koha Ditore reports that the proposal to transfer the seat of the Kosovo Trust Agency from Prishtina to Mitrovica, as part of a plan announced by UNMIK chief Michael Steiner to attract the Serb minority to participate in the upcoming local elections, has caused contradictory reactions.

Koha Ditore reports that while the proposal has been supported by the KTA, UNMIK Pillar IV and local authorities in Mitrovica, it is opposed by Kosovar economic institutions. Mustafë Ibrahimi, deputy chairman of the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce, was quoted as saying, "The transfer of the KTA seat has no positive economic meaning. It is only a farce which aims to fulfill someone's fancies."

KTA spokeswoman Sarah Howell said that the agency fully supports the proposal. "KTA believes that the decentralization of UNMIK activities will help the equalize distribution of welfare throughout Kosovo. This will help stimulate the economy and will support economic development and prosperity in Kosovo," she said.

UNMIK Pillar IV spokeswoman Monique De Groot was quoted as saying, "We think that the transfer of the KTA seat to Mitrovica is a step forward in creating a sustainable economy in Kosovo." She added that the transfer of the KTA would support the integration of all communities in the economic development of Kosovo.

Mustafa Pllana, deputy chairman of the Mitrovica Municipal Assembly, said that the establishment of KTA in Mitrovica would promote a stable situation that would pave way for foreign investments. He further said that the sixth point of Steiner's plan, a donor conference for Mitrovica, would be positive and very valuable for the town.

KEK: Disconnections to start within 10 days (Zëri)

Disconnection of electricity based on SRSG's executive order for those with outstanding debts owed to KEK will start within ten days. UNMIK officials say that debtors have to be notified 10 days before they are disconnected by KEK, reports Zëri.
"KEK has a list of big debtors and we will start disconnecting them within ten days," said an UNMIK official. The paper says this marks the start of the "lost cause that KEK was fighting with Kosovo consumers" now that KEK has the legal means to enforce the payment for electricity consumed. According to KEK, there are between 3,500 and 4,000 consumers owing KEK; the exact number isn't known because of illegal connections.
UNMIK officials understand that for some Kosovar families life was very difficult over the past three years; thus some families were unable to pay for electricity. If a family receives social assistance, they will be exempt from paying electricity bills, while families with very low salaries, such as teachers, will have two to three years to pay off their debts.
Before a consumer is disconnected from the electricity net, he has to receive a written warning from KEK. After that, the consumer will have 60 days to pay off the debt. KFOR, UNMIK Police and KPS will be responsible for successfully fulfilling Steiner's orders so that KEK officials can reach Serb enclaves that, until now, have been off limits.

Regional Update

Macedonia

Albanian spoken in parliament, Ahmeti didn't participate
The Macedonian Parliament that resulted from the 15 September elections met yesterday for the first time. Even though there was some apprehension that incidents might occur, the first session went very quietly, report all dailies.

The first small incident occurred when PDSH deputy Iljaz Halimi asked why three BDI leaders, Ali Ahmeti, Gëzim Ostreni and Fazli Veliu, were not ensured participation in the parliament. The next incident happened when BDI deputy Agron Buxhaku asked the president of the parliament, Stojan Andonov, why there was no simultaneous translation. He replied that this was not provided for because this was only to be a session where the parliament would be constituted. Buxhaku then said that the three BDI leaders were not present because they were busy and with this explanation this issue was closed.

Top

Solana calls Trajkovski to implement Ohrid Agreement
Zëri reports that a letter from senior EU official Javier Solana addressed to Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski reminds Trajkovski that he is responsible for appointing the prime minister. "You, as president, have they key role at this time of transition. I encourage you to use all of your authority to ensure a peaceful transition and a good start for the new government," Solana writes.