05 October 2002 Saturday Edition

CONTENTS

· President Rugova supports Steiner's plan (All dailies)
· Covic asks to "negotiate" on seven-points plan, Steiner refuses (Koha Ditore)
· Surroi: Effect of Assembly threat (Koha Ditore)

President Rugova supports Steiner's plan (All dailies)

All dailies report on the support of president Rugova and Albania's Foreign Ministry for SRSG's seven-point plan for Mitrovica. In a communiqué released on Friday, President Rugova said that he strongly supports Steiner's plan for Mitrovica, which would integrate the city and would create better living conditions for Mitrovica's citizens. President Rugova was reported as saying that "together with UNMIK, KFOR and Mitrovica's authoritiories and citizens we will work to execute the points of this plan, which is a benefit for the entire Kosovo".

Albania salutes SRSG Michael Steiner for his efforts to end up ethnic divisions in Kosovo and especially in Mitrovica, report the dailies. "We are convinced that the seven-point plan presented by Mr. Steiner aims at the establishment of joint self-governing institutions which would serve to strengthen the interethnic relations and to consolidate the European democratic standards and also Kosovo's economical development". The Albanian Foreign Ministry appealed to all sides in Kosovo to coordinate their actions and to rush towards a successful implementation of this plan in order to integrate Mitrovica's citizens in the new Kosovo reality.

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Covic asks to "negotiate" on seven-points plan, Steiner refuses (Koha Ditore)

Sources affirm that Steiner's plan for Mitrovica wasn't accepted well by Serbia's delegate Covic, at the meeting with Kosovo chief administrator on Thursday afternoon.
Speaking under the condition to remain anonymous, a Koha Ditore source said that Covic who arrived three hours late at the meeting, wasn't completely against the seven-point plan, but he said that its content "should be negotiated", in order for "this plan to be acceptable for Belgrade".

The same source says that UNMIK's number one reminded Serbia's Deputy Prime Minister that based on Resolution 1244, the highest authority in administering Kosovo territory, is he -thus Steiner- and that the presented plan is not a base for negotiations.
Covic asks for "mercy" for Milan Ivanovic, Steiner remains "stonehearted"

Our source also confirms that not only Steiner's plan made public this week, was discussed at the meeting. Covic complained to Steiner that the persecution of Ivanovic from Kosovo's judicial institutions "is causing problems" and that he "only threw stones". We learned that Kosovo's chief administrator refused any idea to soften UNMIK's approach to such cases, saying with irony: What were we supposed to do? Welcome his act? and then the UNMIK chief called Ivanovic a criminal, says Koha Ditore.

Further, Covic complained that the stopping of Serbian ultranationalist radical Seselj's electoral campaign in Kosovo, "helped radicals to gain votes" in Serbia and he asked the UNMIK chief to allow the second round of Serbia's presidential electoral campaign to take place in Kosovo. Steiner didn't have a positive response to this neither. Our source says that number one international in Kosovo was too firm on his statements.

"Steiner is playing with a wrong card" says Oliver Ivanovic

Oliver Ivanovic, member of Kosovo Assembly presidency and member of Covic's party at the same time, confirmed Serbia's reserved attitude on Steiner's plan.

"First of all, I think that the plan is coming too late, three weeks before the elections, which is not a coincidence, and which means that we were brought in front of a final act and our decision is "take it or leave it", which is not good, Ivanovic was quoted as saying for radio BBC in Serbian.

Ivanovic also complained about decentralization, predicted by Steiner, saying that Covic's Coordinating Centre has a much clearer vision about reorganizing local self-governing, in his plan for Mitrovica.

Ivanovic thinks that the establishment of more municipalities in big cities should happen "before the elections and not after".
Ivanovic said that he welcomes Steiner's announcement for a conference of donators for Mitrovica city, but said that Serbs want this to happen before the elections.

"I think that Mr. Steiner is playing with the wrong card, calculating on the principal that Serbs participated previous Kosovar elections, and he thinks that this will also happen this time with pressure from Belgrade." Ivanovic said that this time he hopes that Belgrade will support their statements, says Koha Ditore.

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Surroi: Effect of Assembly threat (Koha Ditore)

While Assembly chairman Daci a day before yesterday was threatening with his finger that Kosovo Assembly should be taken seriously, and that not only Assembly members should be protected but also that Assembly institution and its decisions should be respected, he was making a basic political mistake. Respect for democratic institutions simply cannot be forced. Then the second part of the threat that proceeds with the word "or" in the context "Either we will be respected, or…" according to Daci's words meant that otherwise the Assembly will take things on its hands. For an Assembly, which since its constitution barely succeeded to pass two laws (one of them even still in discussion), to threaten that it will take the work in its own hands may entertain, but not threaten anyone. This even happened the same day when another law that was supposed to urgently be approved had to be postponed because the Minister responsible wasn't present.

This is nothing new in Kosovar political life. It happened many times in the nineties, when the activity of Kosovar political parties was mainly concentrated on "harsh protests" in written and press conferences against Serbian oppression.

2. The effect of an Assembly word was valued yesterday by Kosovo's teachers, who even though the Assembly promised to raise their salaries from the 1 November, continue their strike.
From the teachers' perspective, the Assembly's promise doesn't express anything more but its good will. And, the teachers are right. The Assembly didn't approve the budget, that is being spent this year, and has no idea what next year's budget is going to be. The entire functioning of public incomes and its distribution is out of public supervision - out of that of the Assembly. And it is also out of basic prerogative of defining posts in government.

3.The fourth day of teachers' strike brought up two new problems in our social life: The first, obviously, is distrust in the new democratic institutions. In the past months and years, Kosovo's citizens had based their trust on a simple patriotism: the institutions are ours, we have elected them ourselves and we will necessarily trust them. Now, in the first serious confrontation of interests in the society, the strike, the institutions seem more or less irrelevant. The immediate consequences of this mistrust can be reflected not further than on local elections, and an increase in the number of abstentions. And, this is not new, it happened in all post-communist societies, but the exclusiveness of Kosovo is that it is happening faster and under some special circumstances. Under international administration.

The second problem brought up due to the teachers' strike is Kosovo's constructive crisis. Its economy hasn't changed; the political life is going through childhood diseases, while there is no clear vision of the construction of economical and political life. Teachers - although maybe only slightly - brought up the center of the problem when they ask for equal treatment with the other public enterprises. What they don't know, is that different from education, public enterprises are anything but public and are closer to feudal property. How to build democracy and democratic functioning in a society, which combines feudalism and socialist self-governing in public properties, with the public incomes designated under an emergency vision, and not a vision of an increasing society.

4.Teachers will not solve structural problems, and they cannot expect this to happen and them to remain with the same salaries; however with a four day strike they have shaken a society in self-pleasure who thinks that things are going well. For the teachers and their "clients", and this means for the majority of the population, it is obvious that they aren't.

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Kosovo Press Headlines

Koha Ditore

Front page
· Life in Kosovo with a teachers salary
· Covic asks to negotiate on seven points, Steiner refuses
· Effect of Assembly threat
· Maceodonia: Albanians remain with previous posts
· Process of exhumation and identification of Jasharaj martyrs completed

Other headlines
· Rugova supports Steiner's plan (2)
· Albania appeals on fast and successful fulfillment of seven points (2)
· Minister Osmani in America: We are working on raising teachers' salaries (3)
· NATO ready to prolong its mandate in Macedonia (4)
· New KFOR commander, Italian general Mini promises support for UNMIK and Kosovo leaders (5)
· Students complain to prime minister on their conditions (5)
· How do NGOs affect public policies (5)
· Three Police operations against trafficking within one month (6)
· Albanian minister Rama: We are not responsible for Kosovars' crimes (6)
· New concrete plans on Montenegro-Albania cooperation (6)
· Two new border crossings at Kosovo-Albania border (6)
· Is Serbia a barrier for approval of electricity power law? (7)
· Will the issue of 24 hours water supply remain only a dream? (7)
· NBC peacekeepers inform on reduction of BRITFOR troops (8)
· Disagreements on property tax (8)
· Only one third of businesses have applied for licensing (8)
· Syla: Rush to announce big news (10)
· Germany 12 years without borders (10)
· New inclinations and old challenges on the war against drugs (11)
· Rexhepi: I dint come to Kaçanik for campaign (12)
· Live Latino American music in Prishtina center (12)
· Hyseni: We will make changes that lead us towards progress (13)
· LDK continues to ask for votes on Rugova's behalf (13)
· AAK tends to win four seats at local assembly (13)
· LDK launches election campaign in Gllogovc (14)
· AAK presented its program for the capital (15)
· Povratak coalition disqualified from electoral competition in Dragash (15)

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Zëri

· From November Leme Xhema's salary equal to teachers'?
· Shala: Weekend rests
· General Mini: Kosovo future the most challenging aim of world democracies
· President Rugova strongly supports Steiner's plan
· Teachers: We will not stop the strike if salaries aren't raised
· KFOR hands over to UNMIK Police Nevzat Halili and Ismet Kryeziu
· Exhumation of Jasharaj bodies ends
· Registration payments at University will be reduced (2)
· From Monday: How did I get to know Adem Jashari (2)
· Today, joint group for teachers salaries starts work (2)
· G-8 supports UNMIK struggles for foreign loans (4)
· Kosovo and Nederland Assemblies start first cooperation (4)
· Power situation in Kosovo worsening (4)
· BDI and coalition "Together for Macedonia" seek common interests (5)
· Ahmeti and Xhaferi suddenly meet in Tetovo (5)
· 50,000 lotto US visas don't belong to Kosovars (5)
· Jashari used to say "I am getting tired of words" (6)
· Rexhepi: I am surprised with the achievements in Kaçanik (7)
· US Office representative meets with Podujeva mayor (7)
· The truth on murder of Vlora Bërbati (7)
· Kosovo ombudsperson discusses problems with Dardhishta dwellers (7)
· Number of British soldiers in Podujeva reduces (7)
· Haradinaj: Kosovo political leaders to talk only about independence option (8)
· LDK in Peja: Population has understood that voting is a national interest (8)
· Kosumi: With our candidates municipality funds will not have surplus (8)
· Sharr: Povratak coalition disqualified because of false signatures (9)
· Hyseni: PDK, completely pro-American (9)
· AAK ignores requests of KLA associations (9)

Bota Sot

Front page
· Steiner: Respect for general Valentin's work, support for general Mini
· Rugova strongly supports Mr. Steiner's plan for Mitrovica
· Ex-NLA challenge Macedonian institutions
· Kosovo institutions ask for more information on Steiner's plan
· Baraybar: If there are still alive people among missing we will find them
· Albanian Hollywood star Luan Bexheti for Bota Sot
· Another session for Egyptian policeman at Peja court
· Organizers of clandestine emigration reappear, Kosovo is being emptied

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Other headlines
· Remember, Mitrovica is one and it can never become two (2)
· General workers social situation to be discussed (2)
· Steiner: Those who are against plan, oppose UN Organization (3)
· Daci meets with a delegation of Nederland's Parliament (3)
· Exhumation of bodies in Prekaz ends (3)
· Examination of 28 bodies fount in a Gjakova village starts (3)
· Mantovano in Tirana proposed joint patrols on the war against drugs (3)
· NATO and EU towards a closer cooperation (4)
· UNMIK Police: Two teenage girls were not raped (4)
· OSCE: Candidates for municipal advisors should be more transparent (5)
· LDK in Peja has strong capacities for next municipal Assembly (5)
· Police catches the second suspect for rape (5)
· Ukaj: reunion of Mitrovica requires a serious political plan (6)
· Politicizing of November 1997 protests (6)
· A difficult situation for those that have too many electrical equipments (8)
· Sign the political contract, vote for LDK (9)
· PM meets with a Norwegian delegation and UP representatives (9)
· Registration of Macedonian population to be monitored by internationals (11)
· Start LSDM-BDI talks on establishment of government (11)
· Teachers: We feel ignored and humiliated by the society (12)

Epoka e Re

Kosova Sot

Front page
· Will Kosovo have 30 mini republics?
· Valentin: Some leaders still put their own interests before Kosovo's
· Ramiz Heta new chief at Directory for Cadastre and Geodesy
· Players caught, bosses dance
· Who is giving wrong information about US visas?
· Teachers still insist on their demands
· Some in symposiums, the others in private businesses, patients in corridors

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Other headlines
· Exhumation of martyrs in Prekaz completed (4)
· President Rugova supports plan for Mitrovica (4)
· Albania welcomes Steiner's plan (4)
· Daci meets with an Assembly delegation from Nederland (4)
· Rexhepi thanks Norwegian government (4)
· Where will lectures for Mitrovica students take place? (4)
· Rexhepi inaugurates fire rescue building in Kaçanik (4)
· Why don't Serbs pay for electricity? (5)
· When will licensing of driving schools start? (6)
· What is the reson that keeps Education Minister in USA? (7)
· LDK in Gllogovc: Citizens should massively participate in elections (8)
· PDK: Corruption and unemployment worry (8)
· Povratak disqualified in Dragash (8)
· AAK: Veterans to be treated as a special category: "National Pensioners" (9)
· VATAN aims more seats in assembly (9)
· Activity of Turk Democratic Party intensified (9)
· How present is child delinquency in Kosovo? (10)
· Will Kosava Petrol be privatized? (11)

24 Orë

Front page
· General Mini: Your past cannot be forgotten, your future our common aim
· Haradinaj: Every political personality to work for Kosovo independence
· Exhumation in Prekaz completed
· Strikers: We want guaranties that our salaries will be raised
· AAK: You disserve national pensions

Other headlines
· Official Tirana supports Steiner's seven point plan for Mitrovica (2)
· Rexhepi: Old equipment at students' canteen dangerous and epidemics (2)
· Daci meets Nederland Assembly members (3)
· Rexhepi thanks Norwegian government for support (3)
· Krasniqi: Fist phase of campaign, productive

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Belgrade Media Highlights

Politika: "Container" closed down
Following one-month-long activities, from 31 August until 4 October, the Mobile Cultural Container in southern Kosovska Mitrovica has officially been closed down. Achin Koh, the Director of the Mobile Cultural Container with the OSCE department for the freedom of the media, told a press conference that "during the one-month work, extraordinary successes have been reported." However, "a shadow has fallen on the results through the rape case that is only indirectly connected to the Mobile Cultural Container."

Politika: Both sides dissatisfied with Steiner's plan
SRSG's intention "to introduce some order" would not have been perhaps surprising if, firstly, it wasn't coming on the eve of the elections in Kosovo and Metohija. But, what is even more suspicious is Steiner's proposal for the coalition agreement between Albanian and Serb leaders to be reached only following the mentioned elections in Kosovo? In any way, Steiner's plan "in seven points" has not been approved by either the Serb or the Albanian community in Kosovo and Metohija. The daily Zeri quoted one of PDK AMs Arsim Bajrami as saying that "it is not serious for AMs to hear about the plan through the media." According to Kosovo AM Oliver Ivanovic, the manner and time in which SRSG Steiner offered this plan obviously say that he does not wish in any case to confront Albanian leaders in Kosovo."

Danas: Jaksic: Kosovo Serbs decide themselves
Member of the executive board of the SNC for northern Kosovo, Marko Jaksic, told Danas that Kosovo Serbs will decide themselves about Steiner's plan. "We appreciate Nebojsa Covic's work, but, since at issue is our own skin, Kosovo Serbs will most probably decide themselves whether they are to accept Steiner's plan that is not bad, but does not give any guarantees to the Serb community in Kosovo. All that is pretty blurry, full of nice stories, yet, if accepted, it would be actually destroying our three-year struggle for the survival of Serbs in northern Mitrovica. Serbs do not trust Steiner, especially after UNMIK's false indictment against doctor Milan Ivanovic, the head of our negotiating team," said Marko Jaksic.

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Vecernje Novosti: Oliver Ivanovic on Steiner's plan
Member of the Kosovo Assembly Presidency Oliver Ivanovic considers that Steiner's proposals came suddenly, "overnight", so the Serbs were not left with much time to examine them or to give amendments. "It seems to me that this plan is some sort of compromise between Albanian politicians who are attacking northern Mitrovica, and satisfying minimal Serb demands. Steiner rightly speaks of the economic backwardness of northern Mitrovica, but he and his predecessors are to blame for not investing in this town, but, instead, exerted on it political and every other pressure, said Ivanovic.

Glas/Fonet: Fabio Mini takes over command
Italian General Fabio Mini has taken over the command of KFOR from his predecessor French General Marcel Valentin at a ceremony in Pristina attended by NATO top officials and Kosovo government representatives.

Blic/Beta: Marko Jaksic, SNC for northern Kosovo
"Whatever the decision is, it must be joint," Marko Jaksic told Beta. Commenting SRSG Michael Steiner's plan for Kosovska Mitrovica, Jaksic said that Serbs "had seen nothing" from economic relieves, and that the decentralization proposed by Steiner "envisaged municipalities to remain within present borders. "We have arrived to a position over the past nine months, during Steiner's work - Serbs do not believe Steiner at all," said Jaksic, and added that "a large number of citizens of Kosovska Mitrovica considered that Mr.Steiner had arrested more people than returning them" to Kosovo. Asked whether a compromise was possible regarding the acceptance of Steiner's plan, he said Steiner had not spoken with a single official representative of Kosovo Serbs.

Nacional: Vuko Antonijevic: Reactions to Steiner's plan
"There are points in the agreement that the Serb side would also wish to be implemented. However, none of UNMIK's promises get implemented. The problem is not in signing, but first of all in implementing. Over the past several days, Serbs are not only having bad times, but some of the safety measures they had have been denied," Antonijevic said.

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