29 October 2002

CONTENTS

Police in Prishtina exchange information with other capitals in the region (Zëri)

One of UNMIK's main priorities is the fight against organized crime. A destabilized Balkans gives renegade groups the possibility of operating in the region and considerable growth has been marked in organized crime in the region during the past few years, say UNMIK officials. Zëri carried an article based on an interview with head of UNMIK Pillar II Jean Christian Cady, who spoke about cooperation that Kosovo police are developing with neighboring countries.

"Organized crime doesn't recognize borders, so we must defeat this problem," said Jean Christian Cady, head of the UNMIK Justice Pillar. It is Cady's judgment that the fight against organized crime must be better organized. "We must enhance cooperation with all the neighboring countries. For this reason, in May we signed an agreement with Serbia on police cooperation, and another with Albania. We have an agreement ready for Macedonia, but we are waiting for the new government to be formed in Skopje. We have also started negotiations with Montenegro, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Romania," he said. The aim of these agreements is to stop arms trafficking and to prevent Kosovo from becoming a transit region for illegal arms trafficking.

Cady says the second priority is fighting trafficking in drugs and human beings, especially women forced into prostitution and children forced to beg in the streets, and also the cooperation against cigarette smugglers. "We now have contact offices in all the capitals where we have signed MoUs; and we can exchange information on crime statistics, bank accounts and files of those that are suspected of being part of criminal activities," he explained, and added that this is the only way of operating, given that Kosovo isn't a state, but it acts under UN SC Resolution 1244.

Cady said that very soon Kosovo would reach an agreement with INTERPOL for identification of persons wanted by Kosovo Police who have sought refuge in other countries, and vice-versa. Cady stressed that with the aid of INTERPOL an international arrest warrant could be issued for wanted criminals.

He believes that cooperation with countries in the region in fighting this phenomenon isn't difficult to achieve. "It is in the interests of every country to exchange or ensure information on organized crime," he said and added that "organized crime and trafficking of all kinds damage the image of the country in question, which directly affects corruption in the country". Cady stressed that during talks with officials of neighboring countries he did not have any difficulties in reaching an agreement.

Cady explained that these agreements don't aim for joint police actions, but only exchange of information. UNMIK and KFOR are responsible for law, order and security in Kosovo; they arrest people within the territory of Kosovo or during illegal attempts to cross the borders. During a ministerial meeting in Belgrade, UNMIK chief administrator Michael Steiner mentioned the possibility of forming BALKANPOL. Regarding this issue, Cady stressed that this initiative would use international norms. Given that Kosovo is often blamed by neighboring countries as a place of trafficking and transit, regional cooperation on fighting organized crime has exactly this aim. He says that neighboring countries shouldn't blame Kosovo for their problems; but, on the other hand, Kosovo must institute the rule of law and show it is interested in fighting these phenomena.

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Killing should be perceived as an isolated case, say Brussels officials (Koha)

Koha Ditore carries the reactions of NATO and EU officials regarding the recent murder of an LDK activist in Suhareka/Suva Reka. A NATO official expressed his regret over the killing of Ukë Bytyçi, but also added that the murder should be perceived as an isolated case.

EU officials reportedly share the same opinion. "We express our deepest regret for the killing in Suhareka, and we also send our condolences to the families of the victims. However, we think that is an isolated case that shouldn't dim the election process which in general was peaceful, tolerant and positive."

A NATO official told Koha Ditore that Kosovo has now entered a stage of calm, which is a result of the work of the international community and local leaders. "Nonetheless, we must be cautious so that incidents such as the one in Suhareka are not repeated and ruin the impression of a peaceful environment," added the official.

Increase of necessity for co-governance (Zëri)

Zëri carries an editorial by Bardh Hamzaj who says that it is obvious that municipalities will be represented by a wider variety of entities this time but only co-governance by all entities will bring positive results in the next four years.

Even though the 26 October local elections results are not definite. Probably, in the end, many of the political entities in Kosovo municipal assemblies will be strengthened. Thus, fewer municipalities will be dominated by only one party, and an agreement between two or more entities will be necessary to govern in more MAs.

Without debating whether it is better to have a government with a strong opposition, or a government of wider participation of entities, we think that Kosovo still needs a consensual leadership.

Kosovo municipality officials, be they young or old, will meet with a lot of work awaiting completion, work that really requires the support of the local citizenry in order to succeed. Logically, this support would be stronger if every level of the population felt included in municipal government. Announcements in support of this idea have come from the three political entities that gained the majority of the votes and promised during the election campaign that they would give priority to co-governance no matter what the election results. Respect of these statements would facilitate consolidation of local government; it would avoid wasting time in negotiations and debates that sometimes seem endless.

Finally, the citizens' vote itself clearly signalled the mood for participation in a wider spectrum of entities in the four-year mandate of Kosovo municipalities.

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Small Parties: Optimism is the last thing that dies off (Koha Ditore)

Koha Ditore carries an article on the fate of smaller Kosovo Albanian political parties in the wake of preliminary election results. Koha suggests that despite the apparent outcome the smaller parties are still optimistic.

According to the OSCE, a political party needs to win a minimum of two percent of the vote for representation at the municipal assembly. Parties that won less than one percent cannot have their officials appointed to Kosovo municipal assemblies. "This means that in the coming four years, the smaller political parties will not be part of the political game and will be excluded from decision making institutions. Nonetheless, the smaller parties will tend to remain on the scene and the first response of most of their leaders is that 'we will survive'" according to Koha Ditore.

Gjergj Dedaj, chairman of the Kosovo Liberal Party, said there were three factors that influenced his party's loss on 26 October: "a weak financial situation, discrimination by the public television broadcaster, and the way the OSCE ranked PLK".

Dedaj added that he was "extremely dissatisfied" with the work done by party members. "The members of the chairmanship haven't worked at all…didn't show up for work weeks on end. Everything done was based on my personal work and the party was financed by my family. I will fight for the survival of the PLK, with or without me. If there were a candidate that would ensure the continuing work of the party, I would withdraw. PLK must survive, because it is the only party which is a member of the European Parliament and its dissolution would be a disappointment to people in higher circles," he said.

Dedaj said that staff changes, such as chairmanship members, would take place in his party in the coming weeks.

Asked about the failure of municipal elections, Kaqusha Jashari, leader of the Social Democratic Party (PSDK) was quoted as saying, "The time for the Social Democrats still hasn't come." She said PSDK, formed ten years ago, went through difficult times and due to intraparty problems, it wasn't engaged with the electorate for long enough.

Daut Maloku, chairman of the Kosovo Party of Greens (PGJK), told Koha Ditore that his party wouldn't be dissolved. He said the environment and the number of voters motivated them to carry on working. He said main factors in their loss at the polls were their weak financial situation and the low public consciousness of the PGJK profile.

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Salihaj and Luci to become deputies, Limaj refuses (Koha Ditore)

Koha Ditore asked the candidates for Prishtina municipal president what are they going to do now that they lost the elections.

Ismet Beqiri, the LDK candidate for Prishtina Municipal Assembly President, says he will be happy if he is elected for one reason. In future, Fatmir Limaj, the PDK candidate, won't be there to make his days a nightmare, but the others will be. Limaj, who seems tired compared to Ismet Beqiri, said that he would not participate in the new Prishtina MA because "this assembly will not have the space needed for the vision that I have expressed during the campaign. We didn't win the necessary votes to create the space to manage and govern, as I would have wanted," said Limaj.

Before the election, Limaj said the salary that Kosovo Assembly speaker Nexhat Daci receives is the "easiest money he earned in his life" but Limaj won't take steps to work any harder in the future and "will continue to live as I do now". "I will take my salary, just as Daci receives his," he said. He said PDK hoped for more, but he congratulated LDK in their victory.

Jonuz Salihaj, head of the AAK list for Prishtina, is angry with voters for not voting on Saturday. Based on pre-election polls, around 35% of the voters decided ahead of election day whom they were going to vote for. Salihaj led the AAK list for Prishtina. He said that AAK's aim was to raise the percentage of voter turnout, but that just the opposite happened, the percentage dropped; and the main reason was the low turn out of voters on election day. He says that everyone lost in a way, but especially AAK, which was the third-ranked political party. "I cannot understand how the electorate decided to vote for the ones that managed the municipality as they have done it until now…because Prishtina needs changes," he said.

Salihaj says a coalition will be formed and AAK will remain a constructive opposition. "We will raise our voice against everything that happened in Prishtina municipality; AAK has facts and numbers," he said. He congratulated LDK on their victory, while warning that "the governing will remain the same as it was the past two years". "I do not plan to take any of the directorates…I will remain only a deputy and will continue to work in education," he said.

Lumturije Luci, head of the PRek list, says that they are very satisfied with the votes that Bukoshi's party won. "There is no reason for dissatisfaction…for pessimism; however, this tells us that we have to work very hard," she said. "Rest assured that all PReK members in municipal assemblies will be a constructive and transparent opposition," she said.

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Konkordia Consortium preparing for investment and privatization (Koha)

Ten Kosovar companies have joined their assets and formed a consortium, called Konkordia, with the aim of supporting projects for investment and privatization in Kosovo, reports Koha Ditore.

Eight of the companies are founders of the Prishtina Credit Bank and they are supporting their projects with 10 million euros. "The idea to form a consortium came after a visit to Paris to one of the most successful companies Bood-Allen & Hamilton at the Car Fair in Paris. We witnessed that major world companies present their products in the market jointly so they can be more successful," said Konkordia president Besim Hasani, and he added, "If Kosovo companies don't band together, they will not be successful in the international market."

"The aim of the consortium is to increase our assets," said Hasani. The ten companies in Consortium Konkordia are: Besa Kola, EuroKos, Agd, Vllezërit e Bashkuar, Kastrati, Bastrade, Meridian, EkoKos, Zeka and Roberti. Their first step was to buy 15% of the shares of the Swiss-Kosovar company, Egibau. Hasani says the aim of the consortium aim is to support the privatization process in Kosovo and to cooperate closely with the Kosovo Trust Agency (KTA).

Two solutions for 30 million euros of the Islamic Bank (Koha Ditore)

Koha Ditore reports that the recent offer of the Islamic Bank for Reconstruction of a 30 million euro loan, has forced local and international authorities to find the best legal ways to accept this and the other possible loans in the future.

The Ministry of Finance and Economy, together with the EU pillar, are looking into two possibilities to overcome the impediment to loans created by Kosovo's undetermined political status of.

MFE senior advisor Nijazi Selmani told Koha Ditore that the ministry and EU Pillar IV were looking into the possibility of creating a Kosovo Development Fund or an investment bank in Kosovo. "We are thinking of creating a fund for economic development, which would be a guarantee for taking loans. We are also having ongoing discussions with UNMIK and BPK [Banking and Payment Authority] about opening an investment bank," he added.

EU pillar spokeswoman Monique De Groot was quoted as saying, "One of the possibilities we are considering is an investment fund for loans and for other possible financial institutions." Selmani says the bank would be an independent institution but would closely cooperate with the government. De Groot says it wouldn't be an independent banking institution, but a special fund. "BPK is the institution which will monitor the fund," she added.

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Regional Update

Ahmeti will not go to vote for Crvenkovski's cabinet (Koha Ditore)

It is presumed that BDI leader Ali Ahmeti won't appear at the meeting of Macedonian Parliament on Thursday, when the cabinet of the new government is to be discussed and where his party representatives will participate, says Koha Ditore.

Koha Ditore says Ahmeti will wait to appear because of the current tense situation in the country and the fragile security, and also because internationals consider that "the time for a normal political dialogue with Macedonians hasn't arrived yet". This logic imposes on Ahmeti the "role of grey eminence" as also happened with Arben Xhaferi, who was a random guest of the parliament.

Crvenkovski warns Xhaferi to be more careful on Macedonia (Zëri)

LSDM spokesperson Jani Makraduli says analogies between Macedonia and Kosovo aren't allowed, as PDSH did in a press release, in which it disagreed with Steiner's plan on ethnic minority rights in Kosovo, reports Zëri. Macedonian politicians should be concerned with developments in Macedonia and having autonomy on decision-making, Makraduli was quoted in Zëri.

International monitors will monitor the entire registration process (Zëri)

Around 45 international monitors will observe from close up the work of 9,000 census takers and 800 instructors who will complete registration of population and property, says Zëri.

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Police in Macedonia asks for Interpol and UNMIK help (Zëri)

Macedonian Ministry of Internal Affairs has already identified four Albanians involved in the murder of a young Macedonian killed in Tetovo. One of the suspects, Xhemaludin Nuhiu, aka Commander Xhimi, came out publicly and claimed to have an alibi. The MIA says these persons are not in Macedonian territory and that they will ask help from Interpol and UNMIK to arrest them.