11 October 2002 Friday Edition

CONTENTS

Aliu: Milan Ivanovic, the scandal of UNMIK's judiciary (Koha Ditore)

Koha Ditore carries a commentary by Lundrim Aliu subtitled, Why does UNMIK cheat the Kosovars. Aliu wrote:

In his superficial statement regarding Milan Ivanovic, the justice chief in Kosovo, Clint Williamson, emphasized that justice was functioning in Kosovo. Mr. Williamson made a hasty move by making such a statement because he clearly knows that the decision of his department on the Ivanovic case can make people believe that justice is being ridiculed in Kosovo.

Milan Ivanovic handed himself in, was questioned, charged with 'leading a violent demonstration' and then released on bail. The date of his trial hasn't been set. All this happened in less than 24 hours. Williamson never said whether this was a record time for the judicial system in Kosovo, or even farther a field.

Milan Ivanovic is the same person who until recently was wanted for wounding UN police officers, and special police units were engaged to arrest him in August.

Mr. Williamson's effort to reassure people on a functioning judicial system in Kosovo was further dimmed by Serbian media who knew even before the end of the questioning that Ivanovic would be released on bail on the very same day and that his indictment would be reduced.

Mr. Williamson's boss, UNMIK chief Michael Steiner, is either accidentally or intentionally out of Kosovo. He has sent a letter from the west in which he welcomes Ivanovic's surrender but at the same time he doesn't mention the implementation of justice. At the same time, the 'coordinator' for Kosovo, Nebojsa Covic, together with the Kosovo chief administrator, has assured Serb public opinion that everything would be OK with Ivanovic.

Even more concerning than Mr. Williamson's effort to reassure us of a functioning judiciary in Kosovo was the ease of executing the political agreement surrounding Ivanovic.

UNMIK, including chief Michael Steiner, either believe that Kosovars are too naïve or they think they can try to achieve their goals without taking into account the concerns and opinions of the majority of Kosovars.

It is clear that Serb participation in the 26 October elections is important for the international community, which is trying to create multiethnic institutions in Kosovo. However, at a time when we are aiming to stabilize the country, it is painful to see anyone play around with Kosovo justice and, furthermore, to accept a behind-the-scenes agreement with Belgrade.

The Ivanovic case can make one suspect other eventual compromises between Steiner and Belgrade on the issue of decentralization, Mitrovica and northern Kosovo, or even on the benchmarks that lead to the status.

From the Ivanovic case, we are left to hope that Steiner or some other UNMIK official will not justify the agreement with Belgrade by saying that the 10,000 euros Kosovo got from Ivanovic's bail will be used as aid for teachers on strike.

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Judging justice (Zëri)

Zëri carries an editorial commentary on events surrounding the Ivanovic case.

The case of Milan Ivanovic, chairman of the 'National Political Council for northern Kosovo', has been so politicized during the past two months that now, after he was enabled to defend himself in freedom, it is impossible to avoid the political scheme of losers and winners. Therefore, it comes out that the biggest loser in this respect is UNMIK chief Michael Steiner, and the biggest winners are Nebojsa Covic and the Serb regime.

The official line of Steiner and UNMIK regarding this case, and also other cases where the UNMIK judicial system worked on the cases of important Kosovar personalities, is: Steiner and UNMIK don't have the right to interfere in the work of the court. Regardless of the political consequences, which are almost inevitable when it comes to the legal prosecution of important personalities, Steiner and UNMIK will fully support the court's decision. No one can be above the law. This was the stance that Steiner took in front of Covic during their recent meetings, when the latter persistently asked Steiner to intervene so that they could first reduce the indictment against Ivanovic and then allow him to defend himself in freedom. However, on 9 October, the investigative judge in Mitrovica made a decision which pleased the demands of Covic and the Serb regime: Ivanovic is no longer accused of attempted murder of international police officers, but of organizing violent demonstration in Mitrovica on 8 April. Furthermore, he has also been allowed to defend himself in freedom, even though this case fails to meet three important criteria for allowing someone to defend himself in freedom. First, if proven guilty on the current charges, Ivanovic could be sentenced to ten years in prison, which is a very high punishment to allow one to defend himself in freedom. Second, one is allowed to defend himself in freedom if he/she has no chance of flight. Ivanovic has already escaped justice and he could do this again, because it is no problem for him to move from Kosovo to Serbia. Third, a person is not allowed to defend himself in freedom if he can influence the testimonies of the witnesses who participated in the problematic events.

The witnesses who could testify against Ivanovic are Serb citizens who have participated in violent demonstrations. Now it can be supposed that Ivanovic and the Serb regime will 'disable' the appearance of a witness who could testify against Ivanovic.

The conclusion in this respect leaves no room for doubt: the decision of the investigative judge is not legally founded and is influenced by the political events of the last weeks. Furthermore, this decision undermines the first charge of the international prosecutor - attempted murder. It might be said that such things happen in most democratic countries, but the damage in this case is huge. Ivanovic is not an ordinary person; his importance among Kosovo Serbs is well known, and if there was no sufficient proof to charge him on attempted murder, then the international prosecutor should never have launched the procedure with such an indictment.

Bearing in mind with whom they were dealing, the international system of justice in Kosovo was sure that it had sufficient proof to prosecute Ivanovic when they ordered his arrest. Now it comes out that that was not the case. Or, could it be that this system was influenced, in one way or another, to make the final and problematic decision.

We can also leave open the possibility that everything could have been a coincidence, or that we are dealing with a genuinely functioning judiciary. However, we don't believe that there are people who doubt the political consequences of this case.

However, if we give it more thought, we would say that Covic and Ivanovic would not show up in the Mitrovica Court if they hadn't previously known the denouement of Ivanovic's questioning or the denouement of his statement to the investigative judge. If Ivanovic had been arrested, Covic wouldn't be able to go back to Belgrade. And in that case it would have been be impossible to have Serb participation in 26 October local elections.

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Buçpapaj: Mr. Steiner, there is no southern and northern Mitrovica; there is only one Mitrovica (Bota Sot)

Bota Sot carries a commentary by Elida Buçpapaj who tackles UNMIK chief Michael Steiner's seven-point plan on Mitrovica. Buçpapaj wrote:

A year ago, Haekkerup and Covic signed the notorious agreement according to which Haekkerup would try to convince the Serbs to participate in 17 November 2001 elections by giving them 10 seats in the Kosovo Assembly, seats which were forcefully taken away from the Albanian electorate, Albanian political parties and the biggest party, LDK.

As a consequence of these anti-democratic maneuvers deriving from the Haekkerup-Covic agreement, the post-election period was characterized by an institutional vacuum. After the shameful agreement with Covic, and bearing in mind that he had carried out his anti-Albanian mission, Haekkerup resigned. Almost a year after the notorious agreement of stealing votes, Michael Steiner invited the heads of Kosovar media and, for publicity goals, announced that the time had come to seal Mitrovica's fate through Michael Steiner's "Seven-point Plan"!

Due to the fact that Mitrovica represents an Achilles' Heel, "Steiner's Plan" caused curiosity. Furthermore, Michael Steiner tried to turn the "Seven-point Plan" into some kind of an agreement with Covic, which in its content is strangely similar to, and coincides with, the Haekkerup-Covic agreement:

1) Both the Haekkerup-Covic agreement, which aimed to steal the free vote of Albanians, and Steiner's "Seven-point Plan" were announced on the eve of elections. This time of the year is not quite appropriate to announce a peace plan, be it even a "Seven-point Plan". In order for it to be serious, Steiner should have announced the plan before or after the elections, and not during the election campaign. However, similar to Haekkerup, Steiner announced his "Seven-point Plan" on the eve of the elections in order to caress the Serbs, despite the fact that two weeks ago Serbs voted in support of the ultranationalist Vojislav Seselj.
2) The "Seven-point Plan" is in opposition to the basic democratic principles, because Steiner has excluded the Albanian factor in Kosovo and the Kosovar institutions. Before announcing and then sanctioning his exclusive plan, Steiner should have discussed it with the legitimate institutions of Kosovo. By not discussing the "Seven-point Plan" with the Assembly, Government and President, Steiner deprives these institutions of their legitimate right.
3) When he announced his "Seven-point Plan", Steiner also came up with the thesis that "Who doesn't accept the 'Seven-point Plan' is against the UN'. This doesn't sound good because it seems as if Steiner tells Albanians that they should by all means accept "The Plan" or else they will be considered anti-UN!!! And the poor Albanians are caught in a cross-fire: on one side, the flames of the "Seven-point Plan" and, on the other, the flames of not accepting Steiner's "Seven-point Plan" and being regarded as anti-UN. In order not to be called anti-UN, they have no other choice but to unconditionally accept "The Plan", which will clearly lead to the final division of Mitrovica.
4) In order to prove that Steiner and his "Seven-point Plan" pose danger for the final division of Mitrovica, I will make a flash analysis on the first point of the plan, which follows: "No incursion. To the people living in the North, I give my solemn guarantee that there will be no incursion from the South. I don't believe an incursion is likely. But we would prevent it in any case. UNMIK Police and KFOR shall watch the bridge". Through the first point, Steiner promises the Serbs who have usurped northern Mitrovica that he will not allow the return of Albanians who in fact are the legitimate residents of that part town and have not been allowed to return to their homes by the Bridge Watchers for three and a half years. Therefore, Steiner explicitly guarantees that he is not going to allow a single Albanian to return to northern Mitrovica.
5) In the vocabulary he used to compile the "Seven-point Plan", Steiner uses names that never existed on a political or a physical map of Kosovo…such as 'Northern Mitrovica' and 'Southern Mitrovica'. These names are illegitimate, because Steiner doesn't have the legal right to make changes in the map and borders of Kosovo.
6) The famous British historian Noel Malcolm has provided scientific arguments that the interests of the ultranationalist Serbs in a Greater Serbia, which includes the interests of the criminal Milosevic, were focused on the richest mineral areas, respectively northern Mitrovica, which as an integral part of Kosovo is very necessary for the independent state.
7) In his "Seven-point Plan", Michael Steiner doesn't mention the word integration, the integration of Serbs in Kosovo. Because only the integration of Serbs as citizens with equal rights could form a foundation for the peace, stability and future of Kosovo. As a conclusion, the Albanian factor which makes up 95 percent of Kosovo's population, and which has been living in these lands for thousands of years and is represented in the legitimate institutions of Kosovo, should react with dignity to Michael Steiner's "Seven-point Plan".

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Shkëlzen Maliqi: Belgrade surrenders? (Java Weekly)

Java Weekly ran a commentary by Shkëlzen Maliqi on Milan Ivanovic's case. Maliqi asks whether Ivanovic's surrender has anything to do with the announcement of SRGS Michael Steiner's seven-point plan and UNMIK, or is it just a coincidence?

Five months ago, Serb extremists in northern Mitrovica used force and threw a hand grenade at a crowd of people, thus injuring 20. An arrest warrant was issued and the suspicions were thrown directly at Milan Ivanovic. Being on the run, Milanovic escaped to Serbia, where he felt safe for a certain period of time and had the support of Serbian authorities. However, according to sources, it is known that Ivanovic was accompanied by Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Nebojsa Covic.

The handover of the suspect takes place at a delicate time in relations between UNMIK and Serbian authorities.

SRSG Michael Steiner, who received full support from the UN, Washington and Brussels, claims that his plan is non-negotiable. Serb leaders such as Oliver Ivanovic have regard the plan as a point blank offer: take it or face the consequences. They think that the plan provided by SRSG Michael Steiner is a total loss for them.

SRSG Michael Steiner doesn't even take into consideration Covic's attempt to change the plan. In this respect, it makes one wonder what kind of message Belgrade is trying to send by handing in Milan Ivanovic? Is this the first gesture that proves that Serbia agrees with Steiner's plan?

Suppose that Belgrade really advises Kosovo Serbs that they shouldn't have any more illusions about supreme authority in Kosovo.

However, the fact that Ivanovic is handed over at the second round of the Serbian presidential elections, where it is expected that Vojislav Kostunica will be triumphant, shows also the proportion of internal conflict between pro-western and anti-western political groups in Serbia.

The latest developments, of course, cause confusion and indignation among Kosovo Serbs. However, Deputy PM Djindjic expects full support of a more modern, and more realistic, minority among Serbs in Kosovo.

It will be seen after local elections in Kosovo whether the Serbian government made a strategic and a long-term decision about Kosovo, or if they are only playing at manipulating tactics with short-term usefulness.

Damages and calculations (Zëri)

Zëri carries an editorial by Blerim Shala who speaks about three major events in Kosovo in the last 24 hours. Speaking about Ivanovic's release on bail and Saramati's release from prison, Shala says that UNMIK administration's most evident failure is the judiciary. Shala further says that scenes where Albanian citizens in Peja confront KFOR soldiers and UNMIK police are harmful for Kosovo's democratic development and image.

Three events within 24 Kosovar hours prove that there is much to be done for Kosovar society to be truly stable. First, the leader of northern Serbs, Milan Ivanovic, with the decision of the investigating judge, will defend himself on bail. We all know what happened since the judicial procedure against Ivanovic was initiated. Heavy accusations that remain the same even after the decision of investigating judge are in disproportion to the release on bail of this politician.

Second, a KPC official, Ruzhdi Saramati, with the decision of Kosovo Supreme Court was released from jail after a year and a half of imprisonment. Saramati is not the first case to prove the mistakes of the Kosovar judiciary. People were kept for months and years in prison on serious charges finally to be released as not guilty. We are far away, too far, from establishing an authentic judiciary. In fact, this is one of the most evident failures of UNMIK administration in Kosovo.

The third event has to do with the serious incident that happened in Peja this Thursday. Sequences of open confrontation of Albanian citizens with KFOR soldiers and UNMIK policemen, no matter the context, are serious and unacceptable for all of us. They say that after an incident happens, one can find many ways of how it could be avoided.

No doubt these sequences are harmful for Kosovo, for developing democracy in Kosovo, for our image.

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Rexhepi: Kosovo will be an independent state of all citizens not only of Albanians (Epoka a Re)

Epoka e Re carries an interview that PM Rexhepi gave to Radio Blue Sky on Thursday. He considers that the SRSG's Plan for Mitrovica is a compromise that "in a way pleases the needs of all citizens" of the city.

"Of course, each side would like to change it more or less, but I think that this is the only optimal strategy which would please the needs of Mitrovica citizens" Rexhepi told Radio Blue Sky. Rexhepi reportedly said that the Kosovo government, within its competencies, would work on implementation of this plan.

Asked whether the Kosovo government should participate in all Steiner-Covic meetings, Rexhepi said that they participate as observers. He said that their presence is not obligatory, but he added that if there were talks about concrete issues that are for the good of both Kosovo and Serbia, Kosovo government officials would continue to participate in them, even after the elections in Serbia and Kosovo.

The prime minister also responded to announcements by Kosovo Serb representatives that there aren't even minimal conditions for Serbs to participate in elections, and that Serb politicians have been marginalized in Kosovo institutions. "I think it is the contrary, because before every election, some politicians of the Serb community in Kosovo and Serbia make speculations and set preconditions for participation. As a reward for this, they gained unrealistic benefits in the past and the same is happening on the verge of local elections." Rexhepi considered that Serbs should participate, and elect their best representatives, in order to "together create better conditions for all Kosovo citizens, especially in Mitrovica".

Asked about Serb discontent regarding IDP return to Kosovo, Rexhepi said that he is also not satisfied with the progress achieved: "We would like to speed up this process, but there are many problems that make the return process difficult." He also added that Kosovo government accepted some joint criteria with UN High Commissioner for refugees (UNHCR) and municipal associations according to which "everyone should return voluntarily to his birthplace". He also stressed that there is a better climate for IDP returns in Kosovo now. "After the war, in southern Mitrovica and in Prishtina, one wouldn't dare to speak in Serbian, while now this can be done freely." He said that since this process started, it would improve each day. "As you know, it is a small number, but Serbs live in Pristina and some other cities…and I hope that in the near future, all Kosovo citizens will live freely," PM was quoted as saying in Epoka e Re.

On a journalist's comment that many Kosovo citizens already consider Kosovo independent, PM Rexhepi said that Kosovo will be an independent state of all its citizens, not only of Albanians. "Right after independence, we will be ready to start economic and other integrations, borders would be symbolic and there will be freedom of movement," said Rexhepi. He then said that like other countries in the region, Kosovo would also like to be part of the EU; however, he said that before this, it would be more important to establish good relations with the countries in the region.

"Kosovo's independence will not be so painful and it should be achieved. I think that within the next two or three years, Kosovo's final political status should be determined," he said, and added that this would be done under international supervision and the US would have the leading role.

"Kosovo's neighboring states should participate in the conference on Kosovo's status but they will not have the right to block talks," Rexhepi was quoted as saying.

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Dailies on Ivanovic's release

Express procedure enables Ivanovic to be released on bail (Koha Ditore)

On Wednesday at 8:30 Milan Ivanovic was before a judge, on Thursday at 8:30 back to work. Less than 24 hours ago, Milan Ivanovic was regarded as a dangerous extremist who had attempted to murder international police officers. He showed up at the police station, was questioned by the investigative judge, and then indicted on reduced charges. Koha Ditore says, "he was allowed to protect himself in freedom and returned to his work place in a parallel institution in the north".

Meanwhile, UNMIK officials have welcomed Ivanovic's surrender, stressing that he finally recognized this court. Clint Williamson, chief of UNMIK's justice division, says Ivanovic has been charged with the serious crime of leading violent demonstrations. "If he is found guilty, he could be sentenced to ten years in prison," he said, claiming that during the session, evidence was presented that led to changes in the indictment. He further said that this was proof that the legal system in Kosovo is functioning.

"UNMIK spokeswoman Susan Manuel has positively evaluated Covic's 'engagement' in convincing Ivanovic to undertake this step," according to Koha Ditore.

Kapllan Baruti, President of the Mitrovica District Court, said that he has received all the information on this case from the media. "The procedure is in the hands of international judges. No one has consulted me prior to the questioning or when the decision was made to release him," he said.

Defense attorney Toma Fila produced six tapes that prove Ivanovic's innocence. According to Covic, five foreign TV stations secured five tapes and one came from a military source. Neither UNMIK nor MNBN officials could confirm or deny that a tape was secured from a military source, or if was done by MNBN.

Ivanovic humiliates UNMIK's judiciary (Zëri)

International justice in Kosovo has reduced the charges against Milan Ivanovic by allowing him to defend himself in freedom. "Has justice won in Kosovo, or is this another victory of the Serbian deputy PM Nebojsa Covic in the series of Belgrade's conditions toward UNMIK?" asks Zëri. The paper suggests that by handing over Milan Ivanovic, UNMIK's most wanted, to judicial officials, then waiting for 12 hours until he was released, Covic has managed to humiliate the UNMIK judiciary in Kosovo.

Faruk Spahija, chairman of the Mitrovica Municipal Assembly, told Zëri that he was personally surprised by the court's decision to release Ivanovic on bail. "I think this dims the commitment to integrate the town and this is a hasty step. Maybe all the things that were said about Ivanovic were hasty. This is another proof that the majority of people who work in the judicial bodies favor the Serbs," said Spahija.

Halit Barani, head of the KLMDNJ for Mitrovica said, "The reducing of charges by the international investigative judge shows that some international judges and prosecutors very often favor the Serbs that have constantly used violence on Albanians and non-Serbs. It is known that the basis for the indictment was video tapes [showing] UNMIK Police wounded. The prosecutor said they had sufficient evidence on this incident," said Berani.

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UNMIK denies possibility of an agreement for Ivanovic's surrender (Bota Sot)

UNMIK Spokeswoman Susan Manuel denied the possibility of an agreement regarding Ivanovic's surrender. She stressed that a normal judicial process will be undertaken. "Milan Ivanovic was released on bail, however the indictment was not dropped," said Manuel.

Admonitions proved: Serb extremist Ivanovic released on bail (Kosova Sot)

"International investigative judge reduced the charges against Milan Ivanovic, instead of indicting him of attempted murder they were lessened to inciting a riot," said defense lawyer Toma Fila. He told journalists that after the investigative judge was convinced that Ivanovic was not guilty of throwing the bomb, the indictment for murder was dropped. According to Kosovo Penal Law, Ivanovic could have been sentenced to between 10 and 40 years of imprisonment, a law which we do not recognize, said Fila, as reported in Kosova Sot.

Two UNMIK justices in Kosovo (Epoka e Re)

Epoka e Re suggests that UNMIK is under the influence of the accused Milan Ivanovic, who in turn is executing Kosovo justice. Since UNMIK came to Kosovo, it has had two very devoted justices and one very precise policy: the policy of two justices. One justice for Albanians and one justice for Serbs. The latter, justice for Serbs, is so strange, so distorted, so inhumane, so absurd that it is not being applied anywhere else in the world, not even in Serbia.

Serb grenade launcher Ivanovic "to start work normally", say internationals (24 Orë)

After a farce of a trial, an international investigative judge releases Serb extremist Milan Ivanovic, reports 24 Orë. Serb Deputy Prime Minister Nebojsa Covic waited until Ivanovic was released and expressed his gratification that Ivanovic had been released.

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With 44 euros the teachers' strike seems endless (Koha Ditore)

"We need a solution and not aid," said SBASHK President Agim Hyseni. The offer made to SBASHK shows the stance that government has taken toward teachers in Kosovo. If we want European standards in our education system then we should also have the same standards in management and financing, this cannot be achieve with the current standards which are under all Balkan standards," told Hyseni Koha Ditore.

SBASHK: The strike continues (Koha Ditore)

The government's offer to improve teachers' situation is unclear, undefined and undetermined, were the first reaction by the teachers on the proposal that government would ensure 5 million euro aid, reports Koha Ditore.

"This day ten of teachers' strike and until now all the efforts by governmental officials to solve the problem have failed," said Isuf Zeneli SBASHK Permanent Secretary. "We support the government's proposal and we want to more toward a solution, however we have first to negotiate with the government and afterward sit down and discuss this with school directors to see if the perusal is acceptable". He added, "The 5 million Euro aid should be taken seriously and it should be taken as a staring point for improving teacher salaries. We understand that this is only a proposal made by the government which has to be approved by Central Fiscal Council".

"The teachers have started the strike and they will end it, when they demands are fulfilled. This strike has a social character and not political, and there is no apparent reason to politicize this issue. Institutions that are incapable of solving this issue are trying to divide the strikers," said Zeneli.


Kosovo Election Campaign Coverage

Koha Ditore carries an article entitled Gracanica policemen and doctors refuse to vote, which reports that according to the OSCE program for early voting, 75 Serb members of KTS and workers of Gracanica Hospital were to vote on Thursday. But at his time they have all decided to boycott the elections.

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The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK)
Bota Sot reports about LDK rallies in Prizren region. This daily reports about LDK successful campaign and says that the concrete successes of this entity are the pillars on which the citizens' trust is based. Reporting about LDK rally in Gjilan/Gnjilane, Bota Sot says that LDK is convinced of victory.

"The LDK program for these elections is the citizens' program for a better and richer Kosovo, and it derives from last year's national plan," LDK leader Ibrahim Rugova was quoted as saying at the rally in Prishtina/Pristina.

Epoka e Re reports on the campaign in Peja/Pec with an article entitled LDK makes promises and more promises. Member of LDK Central Government Faruk Spahija was quoted as saying, "You should have the courage to push forward the achieved successes which were result of your vote." Peja/Pec mayor Ali Lajçi was quoted as saying, "The project for Serb return was compiled by the Belgrade regime and Covic; therefore it is unacceptable for us," and he added that individual returns are possible and equal for all citizens.

Koha Ditore reports on LDK election campaign in Kaçanik/Kacanik, saying that "the election campaign in this region is going OK". In the Has villages of Prizren region, LDK has promised to continue with the projects that have already been started.

Kosova Democratic Party (PDK)
Dailies report on PDK rallies in Llausha/Drenica. "The fact that we are not having today's rally in a tent, speaks to the fact that we have done a good job," Ramadan Gashi told supporters, reports Koha Ditore.

At the press conference in Malisheva/Malisevo, the PDK spokesperson said that by giving different numbers of completed projects at TV stations, LDK is campaigning for PDK, reports Koha Ditore.

Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK)
Bota Sot reports that at the AAK election rally in Malishevë/Malishevo, party leader Naim Maloku said, "We don't have time to waste and deal with ourselves."
24 Orë reports that AAK leader Ramush Haradinaj said to supporters at a rally in Peja/Pec, "Only those entities that have an inner dynamic rhythm can face the rhythm and requests of our youth."

24 Orë reports that during yesterday's meeting with healthcare workers in Pristina, AAK candidate Jonuz Salihaj said, "In two years, healthcare should not be suffering from the present total ignorance." The same daily reports that AAK is increasing its campaign activity in Drenas/Glogovac.

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Two UNMIK Policemen injured in clashes with Albanians (Radio TV B92)
Two UNMIK Policemen were slightly injured in Pec on Thursday in clashes between a group of Albanians and UNMIK Police, UNMIK spokesperson Andrea Angeli confirmed to Radio TV B92. He pointed out that a group of Serbs from Osojane was transferred to Pec in order to open bank accounts for receiving pensions. "Upon their arrival, a small group of Albanians gathered in front of the Banking and Payment building in Pec. They started to shout at the Serbs. However, the Serbs safely entered the building. Since the number of protesters had risen from 300 to 700, we called a special police unit to our aid. At one point, members of the international police force and KFOR's Spanish and Italian contingent were attacked with Molotov cocktails and stones. The clashes lasted for 2 hours. At this point we have a confirmation that two UNMIK Policemen were slightly injured. One UNMIK vehicle and a bus that drove the Serbs to Pec were damaged. No Serbs were injured," he said.

Angeli added that an investigation was still ongoing, but there was no information that anyone had been arrested. "This is, by all means, regretful, as the group of Serbs consisted of elderly people who just wanted to open accounts for receiving pensions. This is really regretful," he concluded.

The Eparchy of Raska and Prizren condemned the attack in Pec (BETA)
The Eparchy of Raska and Prizren and the SNC of Kosovo and Metohija most harshly condemned the attack by more than 600 Albanians pelting stones and Molotov cocktails at a bus, which was transferring elderly Serbs from the village of Osojane to Pec to open accounts for receiving pensions. "The last in a series of attacks on both the Serb citizens and the international forces clearly indicates that after three years there is still no security and freedom of movement for the Serb population living in Kosovo. Only two months ago Albanians attacked Serbs and KFOR's soldiers with firearms in the village of Gorazdevac, giving an alarming signal to the international community that its policy regarding Albanian extremism in the southern Serbian province should be urgently changed. It is absolutely immoral to insist on Serb integration in the Kosovo institutions, while ethnic discrimination and violence against Serbs dominate in the province," said the statement.

Covic condemned attack in Pec most harshly (Tanjug)
The attack by 600 bullies on 50 elderly people is "an excellent" message for the repatriation of Serbs and non-Albanians to Kosovo, in terms of security, freedom of movement and guarantees for a normal life, and "an excellent" message to Serbs to turn out for the local elections, Covic told Tanjug. "This is more of a political scandal than the one made with the attempted arrest of Mr. Milan Ivanovic," he said. "Do we want to continue operating as ostriches by pushing our heads in the sand, by taking pictures and showing advertisements and some great plans, or do we want to realistically resolve problems that are present on a daily basis in Kosovo and Metohija," Covic asked.

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