05 December 2002, Thursday Edition

CONTENTS

· Joe Trutschler hands himself in to German Prosecutor's office (Koha)
· Haselock: Kostunica's claims are absurd (Koha Ditore)
· Ambassadors accredited in Belgrade visit Kosovo (Koha Ditore)
· Resolution asked on Mitrovica (Koha Ditore)
· Kosovo Assembly endorses two laws (Koha Ditore)
· Messages from leading Kosovo officials on Bajram (Koha Ditore)
· Interview with Rexhep Boja, head of Islamic Community in Kosovo (Koha)

Joe Trutschler hands himself over to German prosecutor's office (Koha Ditore)

Quoting 'well-informed' sources, Koha Ditore reports that Joe Trutschler, former chairman of Kosovo Power Corporation Supervisory Board, has handed himself over to the Prosecutor's office in the German city of Bochum. Trutschler is accused of 'misusing and stealing' EU funds dedicated for KEK.

'Trutschler was hiding in Spain but it seems that he was not so fond of exile so he handed himself in. It is still unclear what the points of the indictment against Trutschler are and it is also unclear whether he will be defended in freedom. However, the fact that he handed himself over to the prosecutor's office in the company of his lawyer says that Trutschler will probably be allowed to defend himself in freedom,' added Koha Ditore.

In addition, the daily newspaper provides background on the fraudulent activity and the investigations conducted by the EU Anti-corruption Office - OLAF.

Haselock: Kostunica's claims are absurd (Koha Ditore)

Referring to information broadcast by Belgrade-based Beta news agency, Koha Ditore reports that UNMIK spokesman Simon Haselock said that the claims of Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica that UNMIK chief Michael Steiner was trying to launch talks on Kosovo's final status 'are plainly absurd'. 'We don't understand what President Kostunica is talking about. Michael Steiner invented 'standards before status'. This has consistently been his mantra: first standards, then status. As standards have not yet been achieved, it is clearly not yet time to take up status. This has always been the SRSG's line everywhere, in Kosovo, in Belgrade and in Berlin and New York… In this Michael Steiner is fully supported by the UN SG and the Security Council as well as the donor community… Implying that Mr. Steiner has tried to launch talks final status question is plainly absurd. It's turning his mantra of 'standards before status' upside down. We can only wonder about the motives for trying to confuse the public on this sensitive issue,' said Haselock.

Ambassadors accredited in Belgrade visit Kosovo (Koha Ditore)

Under the headline, Peace and tolerance asked from Kosovo, Koha Ditore carries a report from the visit of EU Ambassadors accredited in Belgrade and their meeting with SRSG Michael Steiner.

Koha Ditore quotes the British Ambassador Charles Crawford as saying that Kosovar Albanians and Serbs need a historical process in the democratic context and that they must decide what their path in the future will be. He also said that the only things that are asked of Kosovo are peace and tolerance. 'We had a briefing with UNMIK and SRSG Michael Steiner on the flow of work here and events in Kosovo in general,' Crawford added.

Asked how he sees the process in Kosovo toward final status, Danish Ambassador Ruben Madsen was quoted as saying, 'This issue is not on our agenda'.

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Resolution asked for Mitrovica (Koha Ditore)

Koha Ditore reports that Kosovo Assembly member Ramadan Kelmendi, who is from Mitrovica town, sent a letter to Kosovo institutions on Tuesday, asking for the ethnic structure of the population in northern Mitrovica to be respected, as it was before the conflict in Kosovo.

'The administrative directive suspends the competencies of the Mitrovica Municipal Assembly, deriving from the October elections, and the creation of be it even an interim administration or municipalities on an ethnic basis is unacceptable and in opposition to the principles of a multiethnic Kosovo,' Kelmendi wrote.

Kosovo Assembly endorses two laws (Koha Ditore)

Koha Ditore reports that the Kosovo Assembly has in principle endorsed the forestry law, despite the fact that it has been assessed as one of the weakest laws compiled by the Kosovo Government.

Koha Ditore also reports that Assembly members have responded to their harshest critics on the draft-law and Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi, who presented the bill before the Assembly members, said that it was necessary for Kosovo.

Messages by Kosovo leading officials on Bajram (Koha Ditore)

Koha Ditore carries the messages of leading local and international officials on the holiday of Bajram. Report includes messages from Head of Islamic Community Rexhep Boja, SRSG Michael Steiner, President Rugova, PM Bajram Rexhepi, Assembly speaker Nexhat Daci, US Head of Office Reno Harnish, AAK leader Ramush Haradinaj, PDK leader Hashim Thaçi.

Interview with Rexhep Boja, head of Islamic Community in Kosovo (Koha)

In an interview for Koha Ditore, Rexhep Boja, the head of the Islamic Community in Kosovo, said that the IC feels ignored by UNMIK administrators. 'While the Serb Bishop Artemije has been visited dozens of times, no chief administrator who came to Kosovo has found the time to visit the seat of the Islamic Community,' he said.

RTK News Headlines

Messages for peace and love between people on the holiday of Bajram

RTK leads the evening news with the message of Rexhep Boja, the head of the Islamic Community of Kosovo, congratulating Bajram to all Muslim believers in Kosovo and calling for peace and tolerance between people.
Soundbites from Boja.

RTK reports that leaders of Kosovo institutions, heads of main political parties, SRSG Michael Steiner, US Head of Office Reno Harnish, German Office Head Peter Rondorf have also congratulated all Muslim believers on Bajram. Mark Sopi, leader of the Catholic Community of Kosovo has sent a message of congratulation to the Islamic Community.

Rugova: Let us hope to God that we will celebrate the next Bajram with the formal recognition of the independence of Kosovo, which would bring stability to the citizens of Kosovo.

SRSG Steiner: The Month of Ramadan is a special period for Muslim believers during which prayers and solidarity bring internal peace. Today I congratulate all Muslim believers on the finalization of the month of Ramadan and the holiday of Bajram. At the same time I express my deepest wishes for peace in your hearts and families and for peace within and between communities that comprise the wealthy cultural mosaic of Kosovo.

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Joe Trutschler suspected of stealing 4.5 million euros has been arrested in Spain

RTK correspondent from Brussels reports that Joe Trutschler, the main suspect for the 4.5 million euro fraud at the Kosovo Power Corporation (KEK) has been arrested this afternoon in Spain.

Sources from the German prosecutor's office have confirmed to RTK that Joe Trutschler who worked as an UNMIK official for Pillar IV voluntarily surrendered to the authorities in the company of his lawyer. 'Since April last year... Trutschler was a target of investigations of German authorities... Several months ago, an indictment was raised against Trutschler for corruption and an arrest warrant had been issued...' reported RTK.

The same sources confirm for RTK that Trutschler is currently in detention.

Kosovo Assembly endorses two bills

Report begins by saying that Serb representatives have again failed to participate in the session of the Kosovo Assembly, 'whereas Minister Goran Bogdanovic who should have presented the Law on Forests. Instead, Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi presented the draft-law and it was endorsed in principle... after the second reviewing the draft-law on telecommunication was also endorsed.'

Soundbites by PM Rexhepi presenting the draft-law before assembly members.
Soundbites by LDK representative Edita Tahiri calling on appointing a Supervisory Board that would 'at least prevent the phenomenon of corruption'.
AAK representative Bujar Dugolli was quoted as saying that he was not sure how practical it was to include the President in the appointment of supervisory boards.
The Budget Commission has turned down requests for appointing a Supervisory Board that would include envoys of the Kosovo President.

Government holds regular meeting

Report notes that in the regular meeting the Kosovo Government has tackled on the electricity situation in Kosovo and announced that it would present three bills to the Assembly. UNMIK Pillar IV Head Andy Bearpark briefed the Government on the electricity situation.

Ramadan Avdiu, advisor to PM Rexhepi, said after the meeting that the power situation would improve in the coming days when the second block of Kosovo B power plant is expected to be up and running.

SRSG Steiner meets with EU Ambassadors

Report starts by saying that SRSG Michael Steiner met in UNMIK HQ in Prishtina with the ambassadors of EU countries in Belgrade. RTK cites Danish Ambassador to Belgrade, Ruben Madsen, as saying that the meeting didn't have a political character. Quoting participants, RTK reports that the meeting didn't tackle on concrete issues, but included exchange of information on the activities of UNMIK.

RTK quotes British Ambassador to Belgrade Charles Crawford as saying that the meeting also tackled on the standards put forward by the international community, which should be fulfilled in Kosovo prior to the dialogue on the final status.

Crawford: I think there is a feeling that some sort of dialogue should start. In the beginning, we must start from small and practical issues in order to establish mutual trust. This is after all the orientation of the EU.

Exclusive interview with NATO SG George Robertson
One day prior to his visit to Kosovo, NATO SG George Robertson gave an interview for RTK saying that NATO would remain committed in Kosovo.

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Murder in Gracanica

Quoting information provided by UNMIK Police, RTK reports that last night's murder in Gracanica was a 'settling of scores'.
Soundbites from an UNMIK Police officer saying that the murder was not ethnically motivated.

Police also refuted information on the demolition of Serb graves in Fushë Kosovë on Flag Day.
Soundbites from UNMIK Police's Al Garcia saying that police had found out that nothing in fact happened in Fushë Kosovë/Kosovo Polje.
Soundbites from KPS Spokeswoman Sadrie Kamberi

Other stories

· 90th anniversary of the Albanian Army
Kosovo Press Headlines
Koha Ditore

Front page
· Joe Trutschler hands himself over to German prosecutor's office
· Logic 'better a weaker law than no law at all' prevails at the Assembly
· Haselock: Kostunica's claims are absurd
· Boja: Spread love not hatred and we will all win
· What is the meaning of religion for us?

Other headlines
· Messages by international and local leaders on Bajram (2)
· Govt strengthens compiling of draft-law on budget (3)
· 'Peace and tolerance' asked in Kosovo (3)
· [fYROM] Ostreni shows up at Parliament, Ahmeti still doesn't feel safe (4)
· Another bomb explosion in Struga (4)
· One killed and another wounded in Gracanica (4)
· Kosovar drivers' licenses to be printed in Kosovo (5)
· Police says no arrests involving Public Housing Enterprise scandal (5)
· LPD against, PVD supports Albanians voting for Serb pres elections (5)
· More than 100,000 people steal from Kosovo's budget (7)
· Albania will give electricity to Kosovo (7)
· Serbs take over leadership of Novobrdo Municipal Assembly (9)
· Serb refugees will have institutional support, says Nowicki (9)
· Resolution asked for Mitrovica (9)
· Bildt: A new NATO (11)
Belgrade Media Highlights

Thursday, 05 December 2002

· Steiner receives Belgrade diplomatic corps (Radio TV B92/Beta)
· Standards before status, reiterates Haselock (Glas)
· Milan Ivanovic calls on Serbs to vote at Serbian presidential elections (Politika)
· KP boycotts the Kosovo Assembly session (Danas)
· Showdown in Gracanica (Glas)
· Next Bairam to be celebrated in independent Kosovo, says Rugova (Radio Belgrade 1/Tanjug)

Steiner receives Belgrade diplomatic corps (Radio TV B92/Beta)
The Chief of UNMIK Michael Steiner met EU countries ambassadors to Yugoslavia to discuss the situation in Kosovo. The meeting, held in Pristina, focused on the conditions needed to begin dialogue on the final status of Serbia's southern province. British Ambassador Charles Crawford said after the meeting that discussions could begin on practical issues but that the time was still not ripe for a final resolution. Pristina's RTV 21 quoted a source within the UN administration in the province as saying that the repatriation of Serbs was the issue of greatest interest to certain European countries. The same source said that reduction and transformation of the KPC was one of the most complex conditions for beginning dialogue on the final status of the province.

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Standards before status, reiterates Haselock (Glas)
UNMIK's spokesman Simon Haselock said that Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica's assertion that the Chief of UNMIK Michael Steiner was trying to initiate talks on the final status of Kosovo, was "simply absurd." "We do not understand what is President Kostunica talking about. Michael Steiner is the one who has defined "standards before status" concept, and it has become his mantra that certain standards should be reached before we address the status issue," said Haselock. "Since these standards have not been achieved yet, it is quite clear that this is not the time to address the status," stressed Haselock, adding that Steiner has the full support of Kofi Annan, the UNSC, as well as the community of international donors.

Milan Ivanovic calls on Serbs to vote at Serbian presidential elections (Politika)
The President of the Serbian National Council for Northern Kosovo and Metohija, Milan Ivanovic, on Wednesday called on the Kosovo Serbs to vote at the December 8 presidential elections saying that the success of the elections is important for the stabilization of the situation in Serbia and the province. Ivanovic says that SNC will not back any of the three candidates, underscoring that support to one of them would result in divisions within the Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija. Ivanovic announced that SNC and other relevant political Kosovo Serb representatives would demand a meeting with the Belgrade authorities upon the elections, in order to agree on a unified strategy. "We should eliminate something that we have had so far, a praxis that the destiny of the Serb community is decided by the Belgrade authorities, without the Kosovo Serb leaders participation," concluded Ivanovic.

KP boycotts the Kosovo Assembly session (Danas)
KP AMs are still boycotting the work of the Kosovo Assembly, KP caucus whip Rada Trajkovic told Beta. She said that KP would not return there, even though OMIK has appointed an international monitor to supervise the work of the Assembly. Trajkovic said that the appointment of OMIK's monitor essentially did not mean anything for KP, as their AMs have not been acquainted with the mechanism of monitor's work. "We need a mechanism for our protection, this monitoring means nothing us…As long as we do not know, which are the methods of intervention between the monitor and Michael Steiner, we will not return to the Assembly," said Trajkovic, adding that KP AMs would possibly make a decision to withdraw their ministers from the Kosovo government, as well as their representatives in all other institutions.

Showdown in Gracanica (Glas)
An unidentified attacker killed a Kosovo Serb, Radojica Milovanovic and wounded another one, Zoran Zivic, in Gracanica near Pristina on Tuesday night. Doctors from "Simonida" hospital in Gracanica first said that Milovanovic was a KPS officer, but this was denied later on, when it was learned that Milovanovic's brother was a member of KPS.

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Next Bairam to be celebrated in independent Kosovo, says Rugova (Radio Belgrade 1/Tanjug)
Kosovo President Ibrahim Rugova said in Pristina on Wednesday that he hopes the citizens of Kosovo would celebrate the next Bairam in an independent Kosovo. PDK leader Hashim Thaci has sent an identical message calling on ethnic Albanian unity.