08 December 2002, Sunday Edition

CONTENTS

· SRSG Steiner to brief Powell and UN on situation in Kosovo (dailies)
· Albanians fear Belgrade, says Rada Trajkovic (Koha Ditore)
· Surroi: Birth of a state that isn't (Koha Ditore)
· Spahija says 2003 will be year of IDP returns (Koha Ditore)
· 'Bridge Watchers' attack Albanian couple in Mitrovica (Koha /Bota Sot)
· With or without his appearance in court, trial of M. Almer will be held (Koha)
· KPC should become multiethnic, and also fully depoliticized (Bota Sot)
· Serb Government says UNMIK doesn't consider its remarks (Koha Ditore)
· 16 Serbs ask 3.2 million euro compensation from UNMIK (Koha Ditore)

SRSG Steiner to brief Powell and UN on the situation in Kosovo (dailies)

Koha Ditore and Bota Sot report that SRSG Michael Steiner departed for the US on Saturday where he will meet with senior officials of the US Administration in Washington and of the United Nations in New York.

According to Koha Ditore, UNMIK has confirmed that SRSG Steiner will meet with US Secretary of State Colin Powell on Monday to brief Powell on the current situation in Kosovo and the region. Steiner will also go to New York where he will meet with UN officials and brief them on the general situation in Kosovo.

The SRSG reportedly returns to Kosovo on Wednesday.

Albanians fear Belgrade, says Rada Trajkovic (Koha Ditore)

Koha Ditore reports that Coalition Povratak chief Rada Trajkovic has told the Vojvodina newspaper Gradjanski List that there are not even the minimal conditions for starting the dialogue on Kosovo's status. 'Even those few Kosovar Albanians who are aware of the reality and the need of talking to official Belgrade are not willing to have a dialogue, because they are under pressure from extremist Albanians,' she said.

Trajkovic also reportedly said that Kosovar Albanians were avoiding dialogue because they 'fear the reality'. 'They are aware of the fact that Serbs must put the final signature. For the sake of their peace, they still don't want to publicly accept this, but this fear is making them ignore the dialogue,' she added.

Surroi: The birth of a non-existent country (Koha Ditore)

Koha Ditore carries a commentary by publisher Veton Surroi, in which he comments on the endorsement on 'the fourth experiment to unite Serbia and Montenegro, without the name of Yugoslavia'.

'Why then all this media fuss about the Constitutional Charter? Because of some marketing interests and conceptual turning points. From the marketing aspect, the European Union, as godfather to the new union between Serbia and Montenegro, can claim that it has prevented the further disintegration of Yugoslavia, by preserving some kind of a state union, instead of war between republics, as has been the case during the last decade. From the conceptual aspect, everyone can claim that they have bought three years of undetermined governance since they don't have a better solution. Montenegro lacked the critical majority for independence, not to mention Serbia; whereas the independence of Montenegro, in the opinion of Brussels and many world capitols would accelerate the ambitions of Kosovars for independence although they haven't shown no important results during the period of self-government,' wrote Surroi. 'As for Kosovo and the will of its citizens, any form of co-existence that will be chosen by Serbs and Montenegrins cannot be imposed upon the Kosovars. Furthermore, the last century has proved that experiments in creating a complicated state which fail to respect the interests of those who make that state, end up as failed experiments. In fact even the case of Milosevic's Yugoslavia, which was created by the Serbs and Montenegrins.'

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Spahija says 2003 will be year of IDP returns (Koha Ditore)

Koha Ditore reports that Mitrovica Municipal Assembly Chairman Faruk Spahija has told the citizens of northern Mitrovica that the year 2003 would be the year of the return of IDPs in both parts of the town. Spahija made these comments during a visit that he paid to the northern part of town, respectively the Miners' Hill neighborhood and the Bosniak Neighborhood.

Spahija also reportedly said that he was optimistic about the freedom of movement from the northern part to the south and vice versa and promised that no interethnic violence would be allowed. 'Violence will not be tolerated. The situation in Mitrovica will not be changed through violence,' Spahija was cited as saying.

'Bridge Watchers' attack an Albanian couple (Koha Ditore/Bota Sot)

Quoting sources from northern Mitrovica, Koha Ditore and Bota Sot report that the Bridge Watchers have attacked an Albanian couple on Friday night near the main bridge that divides the town of Mitrovica.

Sources say that the couple suffered bodily injuries, but that they were saved from the worst when nearby citizens saw the attack and immediately called police and KFOR.

'This is the ninth time within two weeks, that Bridge Watchers are beating Albanians, since UNMIK chief Michael Steiner signed the administrative directive according to which all parallel structures are dissolved and UNMIK expands its authority,' added Koha Ditore.

With or without his appearance in court, trial of M. Almer will be held (Koha)

Quoting information published from the Austrian daily paper, Salzburger Nachrichten, Koha Ditore reports that the trial of the Austrian policeman that served in Kosovo with UNMIK, Martin A., will be held in Kosovo.

Quoting international officials from the justice system in Kosovo, Koha Ditore also reports that even if Austrian authorities fail to hand Almer over, the trial will be held in abstentia.

The paper says that the Martin A. case caused numerous debates and aggravated relations between the UN in New York and Prishtina and official Vienna last February. Martin A. is accused of maltreating and abusing a Kosovar Albanian during his service as a police officer in Kosovo. In his report to UN HQ in New York regarding this case, SRSG Michael Steiner reportedly stated that Martin A. had forced the prisoner to dig his own grave.

Koha Ditore reports that Martin A. was later arrested by UNMIK Police; however, the Austrian Foreign Ministry intervened and Almer was 'withdrawn' from Kosovo for 'health reasons'. The paper also claims that, at that time, SRSG Steiner had written in his report to New York that 'there is no doubt that his escape was effected with the intervention and assistance of Austrian officials'.

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KPC should become multiethnic, and also fully depoliticized (Bota Sot)

Bota Sot carries a commentary by the editorial's office which comments on the recent press conference by SRSG Michael Steiner and KPC Commander Agim Çeku, during which Steiner said the KPC should become multiethnic.

'Kosovo surely thinks that Steiner and UN's demand for the KPC to become multiethnic should be fulfilled without any delay… However, in order for it to become the hope of the sovereignty of the State of Kosovo, the KPC should fulfill the demands of its own citizens and be fully depoliticized by giving up on all the things that were imposed upon the command of the corps by extreme leftist parties,' the commentary adds.

Serb Government says UNMIK doesn't consider its remarks (Koha Ditore)

Under a subheader, UNMIK and the Serbian Government have permanent contacts regarding privatization in Kosovo, Koha Ditore reports that Serbian Minister for Economy and Privatization Aleksandar Vlahovic told Belgrade-based Radio B92 that he was not satisfied with the cooperation with UNMIK on privatization in Kosovo. He added that Belgrade authorities are not interested who will buy the companies in Kosovo. 'We want the funds created by privatization to be used for covering the demands of loaners which have debts, so that we don't need to have obligations of paying back those debts,' he said.

16 Serbs ask 3.2 million euros compensation from UNMIK (Koha Ditore)

Based on information broadcast by Belgrade-based Beta news agency, Koha Ditore reports that Kosovo Serbs, who have spent altogether 320 months in UNMIK prisons in Kosovo, will ask a compensation of 3.2 million euros from the international administration because they think they were unrightfully detained in prison.

Koha Ditore reports that lawyers of the Kosovo Coordination Center have assessed that, since the former 20 prisoners have been proven innocent, the procedure for compensation has legal grounds in Yugoslav law and under UN SC Resolution 1244.

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RTK News Headlines
(19:30 edition)

North Mitrovica Bridgewatchers Assault K-Albanian Couple

Report focuses on the information on the incident that was reported from the northern part of Mitrovica, in which two members of the "Bridgewatchers gang" assaulted two Albanians from Mitrovica who were entering their flat in the northern part of the city.

According to RTK, Mitrovica mayor Faruk Spahija was visiting the neighborhood at the time of the incident. Report notes that the assault occurred as the couple were returning from a medical visit to the southern part of the city. They were reported as suffering light injuries in the assault.

Presevo Valley Albanian Leaders call for Participation in Serbia's Presidential Elections

The major party with Albanian supporters from southern Serbia has vowed participation in the elections that will mark the second attempt to elect the new Serbian president.

The Party for Democratic Action, led by Riza Halimi, supports Albanians' going to the polls, in contrast to the Movement for Democratic Progress and the Albanian Party for Democratic Union, which call upon the Presevo Valley population not to take part in the elections.

Povratak's Minister Has 'No Problems' With Govt. Although Forestry Law is 'Unacceptable'

Goran Bogdanovic, Kosovo Govt Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, reportedly stated that, in contrast to the rest of the Kosovo Serb Coalition Povratak deputies at the Kosovo Assembly, he doesn't have e problem with the government.

Bogdanovic was quoted as saying that 'he is not neglected nor ignored by the prime minister', and that all his 'demands are usually respected'.

However, Bogdanovic was reported to have said the forestry law that was passed by the Assembly was 'unacceptable. At the session at which the law was approved, the draft proposal was presented by the PM Rexhepi on the minister's behalf.

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Serbia and Montenegro Agree on the Constitutional Chart

Report focuses on the conclusion of the drafting the new constitutional chart between Serbia and Montenegro, which was adopted unanimously by the commission, comprised of representatives from both former FRY republics.

According to the commission, institutions of the new state system must be established by January 31, 2003. The constitutional charter must also meet the approval of the MP's of both countries before it can go into force.

The new state is to be called 'Serbia and Montenegro'.

Kosovo Press Headlines
Koha Ditore
Front page
· The Kosovar flag: who designs it, when and who approves it?
· With or without his appearance in court, trial of M. Almer will be held
· Surroi: Birth of a state that isn't
· B2 was not activated, Kosovo has no electricity 12 hours a day
· Even lower temperatures expected in Kosovo as of Sunday
· A union of equal states

Other headlines
· Struck: Aim of my visit - upclose information on tasks of German soldiers (2)
· Albanians fear Belgrade, says Rada Trajkovic (2)
· Nano invites Djindjic to visit Tirana (2)
· Steiner to brief Powell and the UN on the situation in Kosovo (3)
· 16 Serbs ask 3.2 million euros compensation from UNMIK (3)
· 'A toy' that caused two deaths and three wounding (5)
· What is the international formula for Kosovo (5)
· Albanian couple physically mistreated by 'Bridge Watchers' (6)
· PM Crvenkovski receives ultimatum for 'Semsova' case (6)
· Armed incident in Tetovo (6)
· Serb Govt says UNMIK doesn't consider its remarks (7)
· Spahija says 2003 will be year of IDP returns (8)
· A couple wounded in their garden during the holiday of Bajram (9)
· Kosovars, the interests of coming generations are protected today (10)
· Talks with Belgrade, nonetheless necessary (11)

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Bota Sot

Front page
· If we want a state, we must have the signs that identify it
· Steiner to meet with US Secretary of State Colin Powell
· There will be no appointments or elections only for the northern part
· Bridge Watchers attack Albanian couple
· I don't want to believe they are dead; my sons are alive somewhere in Serbia!
· Struck: KFOR will be here, until Kosovo can stand on its feet

Other headlines
· KPC should become multiethnic, and also depoliticized (2)
· COMKFOR Fabio Mini meets German Defense Minister Peter Struck (2)
· Decentralization should be done in accordance with European standards (3)
· Kosovo Assembly must address the issue of the abducted (6)

Belgrade Media Highlights
[No report today.]