18 October 2002 Friday Edition

CONTENTS

Kolasinac: Kostunica and Covic shouldn't decide on Kosovo's future (Koha)

Koha Ditore carries an interview with the only Serb advisor at the Rahovec/Orahovac Municipal Assembly, Slavisa Kolasinac, who calls on his fellow Serbs to participate in the upcoming Kosovo municipal elections. "The politicians in Belgrade are the same ones since the last elections in Kosovo, and we should look at what they have done to help us when they suggest that we boycott the elections," says Kolasinac, who was appointed by former SRSG Bernard Kouchner two years ago.

"Since the first day I started working as municipal advisor, I stressed that participating in forming Kosovo institutions is the best solution to overcome the problems," he said and added that his approach was disliked by some Serbs, especially leaders in Serbia and those in the Kosovo government.

"While I was in America with my Albanian and Serb colleagues who were representing Kosovo municipalities, Coalition Povratak removed me from the Citizens' Initiative list and so I was not able to run in these elections. I have full support from my fellow countrymen in Orahovac, and will continue to work in this direction, so that all the problems that the Serb population has should be solved through local and central government and I will wait for the next elections," he said.

Kolasinac, who is a lawyer with three daughters, said, "If Serbs boycott the elections, then we will loose the most because we will not have our representatives in local government where most of the problems that Serbs have should be solved," and added that Kosovo Serbs should understand that they are the ones who can decide for their own future and this cannot be done by Belgrade. "Leaders in Belgrade are divided on whether Kosovo Serbs should or shouldn't participate in local elections. However, Kosovo Serbs must understand once and for all that Belgrade leaders always misuse them," he said.

Kolasinac stressed that he is satisfied with the cooperation at Municipal Assembly with his Albanian colleagues. "I believe that Orahovac should be an example for Kosovo. If someone makes a decision that elections should be boycotted, then I believe that Orahovac Serbs won't obey. Serbs that are far away cannot help us here. We alone can solve our problems," he said.

Kolasinac also said that he shared the opinion of Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, and added that Vojislav Kostunica and Nebojsa Covic couldn't speak in the name of Kosovo Serbs "because they are the ones that started the war and now they cannot be the people who bring peace and stability". "I am close to Djindjic, since his options rely on democratic criteria for solving problems through dialogue, and I believe the time will come to talk with Albanian representatives without the presence of the international mediator, Steiner," he said.

Before the war, close to 3,000 Serbs used to live in the town; now there are just over 300. But during the summer and winter seasons there are close to 1,000. Kolasinac is convinced that the issue of security and IDP's can be achieved as "heads cool and neighbors start helping one other and not expect that someone else will come and reconcile them". He added that freedom of movement for Serbs has improved for the good in these two years. Regarding unemployment, Serb youth are in the same situation as Albanians. Kolasinac is less satisfied with UNMIK than with Albanians. He stressed that international officials often block initiatives that have the aim of bringing the communities together in Orahovac. "They have their reasons, because if we reconcile, then administrators wont be able to receive wages 10 times bigger than the local representatives," he said, convinced that internationals want to drag things out so they can receive their salaries.

According to Kolasinac, Serb coffee bars and all others in town close down at 23:00 on order of KPS. "This is a very good decision because the KPS is looking out for the well being of the citizens," he said, and added that the population is more satisfied with KPS than with UNMIK Police. KPS in Rahovec/Orahovac has only one Serb member.

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Surroi: Serbs don't have a phone number (Koha Ditore)

Koha Ditore carries a commentary by publisher Veton Surroi who argues that Serb participation in the institutional life of Kosovo shouldn't be sought in Belgrade but in democracy. Surroi wrote:

1. When asked about US-European relations, the veteran of US diplomacy, Henry Kissinger, asked where he could find Europe in the phone book so that he could address the issue.

It seems that the same analogy can be used for Steiner's recent visit to Belgrade. In the search of a Serb 'yes', Steiner could very easily conclude that no one could spell 'yes' (or the eventual 'no'). The moment he arrived in Belgrade, Kostunica was the main candidate for the leader of Serbs, and the prime minister's post was held by Zoran Djindjic, whose candidate (Labus) had won the support of a quarter of the Serb electorate. Steiner's usual interlocutor, Nebojsa Covic, held his usual position; he cannot fill a single bus with the members of his party but, at the same time, he could run for prime minister in the event of Kostunica's victory.

2. Serbia and the Serb electorate in the Balkans are perplexed by the circumstances of an unfinished war. NATO's military victory against Milosevic was not followed by a process of de-Nazification, just as the Dayton Agreement allowed Serb chauvinists to legitimately participate in the elections in Bosnia. The recent elections in Serbia and Bosnia proved that the electorate has considerable respect for the forces of Serb fascism, whereas pro-European forces are isolated. The Serb electorate in Kosovo gave its support to Seselj's fascism, perhaps not due to ideological affinity (although this factor shouldn't be excluded) but more as a vote of protest against the Povratak Coalition.

As an electoral body, Serbs in the Balkans know more or less what they don't want, but don't have a clear idea of what they want and with which political forces they want to achieve those goals.

The logical question that we have asked for quite sometime now as to why Belgrade should be consulted about the behavior of Kosovo Serbs, now takes on another dimension: who in Belgrade is responsible for the behavior of Kosovo Serbs?

3. For Kosovo Serbs, 26 October elections are the first democratic elections. The number of Serb seats in Kosovo institutions was decided in the previous elections, both municipal and parliamentary. During the municipal elections, then-chief administrator Kouchner decided which Serbs would be appointed to the municipal assemblies. During the general elections, it was more or less Belgrade who decided on the list of Serb candidates for the Kosovo Assembly.

The challenge that Kosovo Serbs might have to face is that they could find themselves in a situation where there is no single center that will decide who will be elected. Therefore, Covic and the Povratak Coalition are worried that the rules of the game are changing. Through these elections, Kosovo Serbs can decide not only whether or not to participate freely but also to elect their own representatives without any dictate from UNMIK or Belgrade.

In this respect, the issue of Serb participation in the elections is more a wish of certain Belgrade circles to be negotiating factors in Kosovo, rather than a need of Kosovo Serbs; and some Kosovo Serb leaders are realizing this in their municipalities and are even stating that it is in the interest of Kosovo Serbs to participate in the elections.

However, this context goes beyond Kosovo. The same way, in which democratic elections proved that there are differences in the Serb electorate in the Balkans and that there is no ruling force that could present a clear vision to solve problems, the eventual democratic elections in Kosovo could also show that the Serb electorate in Kosovo lacks a clear vision.

4. Certain Serb political circles in Kosovo, which constantly consult Belgrade, could very easily decide that Kosovo Serbs must participate in municipalities where they are a majority. This decision will, in fact, show the wish to create 'Serb municipalities' through the elections, that is, to set the territorial borders of the Serb community.

In the eyes of the ordinary citizen, this can only be Serb cantonization or enclavization. And this means that the municipal elections are perceived not as an opportunity to solve municipal problems but as a negotiating position for status, where Serbs would enter with democratically elected institutions.

It doesn't take the brain of a genius to realize that the entire mess surrounding the negotiations for participation is not about issues that are worrisome for the Serb community in Kosovo, but about the wish to maintain Belgrade's right to participate in resolving issues in Kosovo.

5. As we do every year, we are again writing about Serbs and their negotiations with UNMIK. Albanian members of the Kosovo Assembly, the Government and political parties don't talk about these problems. Until now, there hasn't been an initiative or a vision of how to treat the real problems of Kosovo Serbs. By keeping silent, Albanians seem to be trying to say that UNMIK and Belgrade should deal with the Serb issue and that Albanians shouldn't interfere. The same thing has been said by everyone in Belgrade who wanted to have control over the issue of Kosovo Serbs.

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Shala: Useless conditions (Zëri)

Zëri carries an editorial by Blerim Shala who says that Steiner's talks with Belgrade officials brought a denouement that doesn't support the hopes of Kosovo Serb politicians. He says that just ten days before the elections, Serbs condition their participation in the elections on the hope of convincing UNMIK to consider their version of decentralization for Kosovo.

Ten days before the local elections, Kosovo Serb politicians continue to hope that by placing conditions their participation in the elections they will gain an offer from UNMIK to consider Belgrade's plan for decentralization of government in Kosovo. As we know, this plan would leave Kosovo without authentic governance at all levels. Local elections with Serb decentralization would be a recipe for Kosovo disintegration.

Steiner's talks with senior Belgrade politicians over the past two days haven't led to an outcome that would support the hopes of Kosovo Serb politicians. Based on the way things are occurring, this time Kosovo Serbs will decide what will be done. Official Belgrade doesn't know what to do with Kosovo Serbs, despite the fact that it differs little from the previous regime and that it rejects UNMIK and the Kosovo government. The Serbian presidential elections, which were also organized in Kosovo, surprised official Belgrade by the merely symbolic participation of Serbs in these elections and, secondly, by the great popularity of the radical Seselj. These elections proved that the majority of Kosovo Serbs continue to refuse to accept Kosovo reality and give the impression that official Belgrade is not as radical in its policy towards Kosovo as might be expected.

It remains to be seen in the next few days what will be the final decision of Kosovo Serb politicians.

Strikers call Rexhepi to raise the question of missing at G-8 meeting (Dailies)

Dozens of mothers, sisters and other family members of thousands of missing have started a 24-hour hunger strike in Kosovo. They are convinced that there can be no freedom "while people are on the streets looking for their missing," report all dailies.

Nysrete Kumnova, head of the NGO, "Mother's Cries" explained that the hunger strike was intentionally organized on the same day the G8 are meeting in Canada. The strikes call on Prime Minister Rexhepi to "raise his voice" during the conference in Canada on the issue of the kidnapped Kosovars. "We also repeat our call to the Kosovo Assembly, the Government and UNMIK to end this Kosovar drama," she said.

Head of the KMDLNJ, Pajazit Nushi, believes that some of the missing are still alive. "They are being kept for some purposes of the Serb state, which is capable of using such methods. Some of the loved ones demand to know where their graves are so they can mourn them but the majority cannot accept this as true," he said.

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Why doesn't Steiner decree higher education law? (Dailies)

Koha Ditore, Kosova Sot and Epoka e re carry articles on the education bill.
Koha Ditore says that the Kosovo Assembly discussed the education bill at yesterday's meeting, and deputies expressed their concern that the bill had not been signed into law, even though it was approved more than a month ago. KA Deputy Arsim Bajrami reportedly said, "We, as an assembly, should defend our authority and stress the importance of our work in order for our laws not to end up filed in drawers."

Minister of Education, Rexhep Osmani, reportedly said that he has information that this bill hadn't yet reached the SRSG's office and so he hadn't reviewed it. Osmani said they have completed their duties and this is an issue for the KA now. He said that delay of the law causes numerous problems to the Ministry.

Assembly speaker Daci expressed his concern and was quoted as saying, "I have asked for a copy of the document to be sent, and the secretary informed me of the date and the minute it reached SRSG's office." He said the bill was sent on time to the chief administrator's office, but that, as UNMIK international officials already announced, the law for higher education will not be applicable until the "University of Northern Mitrovica" is legalized.

Kosova Sot quotes Bajrami as saying that "the education law is under the full competency of Kosovo's self-governing institutions" and that "if the chief administrator hasn't vetoed the bill within eight days, the law can be published in the official gazette". "This is a serious challenge to Kosovo's institutions…" he said.

Epoka e Re also reports on the discussions at yesterday's Assembly session in an article is entitled, Deputies don't know whether Steiner will feel like signing laws. This daily quotes Bajrami as saying that "Silence signifies approval".

KEK general debt reduced by three million euros (Zëri)

KEK authorities have made the decision to undertake measures towards the ten biggest debtors in each municipality as a start of its disconnection programme. These debtors are obliged, within ten days of receiving notification, to sign contracts for payment of debts, or they will be disconnected from the power supply. In Prishtina municipality alone, 40 teams have been mobilized to deal with the "disobedient", as was the case with the OSCE mission, says Zëri. The general debt to KEK has dropped from 108 million to 105 million euro.

Zëri says that implementation of the chief administrator's orders regarding the power supply has begun. One KEK cashier told Zëri that bill payment has increased by ten percent. This daily says that the SRSG's executive disconnection order has had a psychological effect on citizens and raised the awareness that electricity consumed has to be paid for.

"OSCE didn't pay its bills," a cashier at the KEK distribution center was quoted as saying. Director of Distribution Shemsedin Klaiqi said, "Now that we have Steiner's orders, we have more authority and this encourages us to make no exceptions, even where the OSCE is concerned."

Zeri reports that OSCE reacted strongly yesterday to being cut off from the power supply at some of its premises. OSCE spokesperson Poul Schmidt was quoted as saying, "Disconnection from the power supply is ungrounded and illegal. OSCE didn't receive official notification of this decision." He says OSCE has paid all the bills submitted to them, and asked KEK to give evidence if this were not so. "We participated on drafting the regulation for this issue and we honestly want all the bills to be paid, according to the law," he said.

Klaiqi said that many debtors bowed to Steiner's decision, and came to sign their new contracts, which allow consumers to make separate payments. He said that these contracts enable those consumers who haven't paid their debts for 36 months, to pay over the next 36 next months, in addition to paying each present month.

Klaiqi said that if the contract weren't respected, then the consumers would be cut off. Reconnection of power supply costs 100 euros, and if consumers connect illegally they will no longer be KEK consumers, and they would have to go through a long procedure and requirements to become consumers again. He also added that debts to KEK have been reduced by three million euro.

Any person that possesses documentation proving they are "social cases" will be released from the previous debts but "competent bodies" must deal with this problem in future, according to Klaiqi. "Somebody has to pay for the electricity consumed," he said, and added that since he took over his duties, debts to KEK have been reduced by nine percent. Nevertheless, Ali Hamiti and Josef Reider have decided that Klaiqi is no longer to be the KEK distribution chief and have nominated Fatime Ahmeti, who was successful on organizing debt collection of in Gjilan/Gnjilane.

Zëri says that the KEK Supervisory Board has replaced five other managers, but each of them will have an international supervisor so the locals are deputy managers.

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Students demand cheaper semester tuition, or they will strike (Zëri)

Zëri reports that at a meeting with Education Minister Rexhep Osmani, the Independent Union of Prishtina University Students (UPSUP) asked for tuition costs for each semester to remain the same as last year. UPSUP representatives have reportedly briefed Osmani on students' concerns regarding this issue.

"We have asked the ministry not to make changes this year, and I can say that we have reached an agreement on this issue," said UPSUP leader Gani Morina. "What worries us most is the fact that only three years after the conflict in Kosovo, the authorities are openly saying that students who don't have money should remain on the streets," he said.

Zëri reports that Morina told Osmani that if students are forced to pay higher tuitions and fees, they are prepared to boycott.

Osmani's advisor, Rexhep Gjergji, said students had been informed that the ministry would issue an administrative guideline, including a reference to costs. He said it would be in no one's interest if students boycotted classes.

Koha Ditore quotes Musli Bajraktari, a senior official for financial affairs at UP, as saying, "The time of studying without paying is over; therefore, we ask the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to endorse a proposal."

Kosovo Campaign Coverage

The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK)
Dailies report on LDK rallies in Prishtinë/Pristina and Rogana/Dardanë/Kamenica. Ismet Beqiri the leader on LDK list for Prishtina told supporters, "We are convinced that we are the best." Koha Ditore reports that Rugova was presented to the electorate as "Kosovo's triple president". Rugova told his supporters that in four years Prishtina will be a modern city. "God bless Prishtina, God bless Kosovo," he was quoted as saying in Koha Ditore.

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The same daily carries a report that Bill Clinton's portrait is being used in the LDK election campaign.

Zëri reports that LDK launched its program in Rogana. LDK branch president Shaip Surdulli told the supporters that the best progress could be achieved with LDK.

Kosovo Democratic Party (PDK)
Dailies report on PDK election rallies in Lypjan/Lipljane, Doganaj-Kaçanik/Kacanik, Sharr and Klina. Thaçi was quoted as saying, "The youth is PDK's power and Kosovo's hope." Zëri reports that PDK met with pensioners in Malishevë/Malishevo. The PDK candidate for Klina, Gani Veseli, said, "Our promise, devotion."

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Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK)
Zëri reports that AAK has closed its campaign in Klina. Ramush Haradinaj promised supporters "no untouchable officials who complete routine works in municipal offices". AAK rallies in Burim/Istok and Prishtinë/Pristina were also noted.

Regional update

Macedonia

BDI accepts four ministries, LSDM won't give up Foreign Ministry
According to a BDI source, BDI will contribute four ministers to the new government, the Ministries of Justice, Transport and Communications, Education and Healthcare. By end of the week, the new government in Macedonia is expected to be formed, report all dailies.

EU gives Albania 44.9 million euro aid
The Albanian Government and the EU in Tiranë have signed a financial agreement that will bring 44.9 million euro aid to Albania. The funds are to be used to finance projects in justice, interior matters, administrative capacity, and economic and social development, reports Zëri.

Belgrade Media Update

Yugoslav MoFA sent demarche to the UNSC (Radio TV B92/Beta)
The Yugoslav Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a demarche to the UN Security Council against the opening of two border crossings between the FRY and Albania, within the province of Kosovo and Metohija. The FRY Ambassador to UN, Dejan Sahovic, told to the UNSC's Chairman that such a procedure contradicted the UNSCR 1244. It was stressed that it particularly contradicts UNSCR 1244 due to the fact that the decision on the opening of the border crossing was passed without any prior agreement with the Yugoslav Government. Two crossings, Orcusa and Kukes, on the "Albanian-Yugoslav border" were opened yesterday, according to Radio TV B92/Beta.

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Decision to be made tomorrow, says Milan Ivanovic (Beta)
President of the SNC of northern Kosovo Milan Ivanovic announced today that the final decision on Serb participation in the municipal elections would be made on Saturday. He announced that the decision would be made at a meeting of "all Serb political representatives in Kosovo", which is scheduled for tomorrow at noon in the northern part of Kosovska Mitrovica. Ivanovic points out that there are still three options in the game: the first one is that Serbs will boycott the entire elections; the second is a selective participation in five municipalities with Serb majorities; and the third is a request for a six-month postponement of the elections in order to enable the international administration to "approach a real decentralization." He says that if such decentralization is not implemented, then there remains a possibility for Serbs to organize their own parallel elections. He added that if a decision not to participate in the elections were taken, all Serb candidates would withdraw their candidacies.