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14 December 2002, Saturday Edition
CONTENTS
· 32
wounded in car bomb explosion the day before visit of UNSC delegation
(All dailies)
· University
in Mitrovica receives accreditation from SRSG Steiner (All)
· Budget for
2003 - 464 million euros (All)
· Dole: I am
honored to represent the people of Kosovo in Washington (All)
· UNSC delegation
today arrives in Kosovo (All)
· Process of
returns not as advanced as it should be (Dailies)
RTK News Headlines
· 32
injured in Car Bomb Explosion in Prishtina; PM Rexhepi brands incident
as 'Terrorist Attack'
· SRSG
Steiner signs regulation on Mitrovica University
· 1,070
Kosovo Albanian Corpses Found in Serbia to be brought to Kosovo by March,
2003
· Kosovo Albanian
victims' clothing on display in Rahovec
· ICG makes
public its report on returns
· Economic
and Fiscal Council reveals 2003 Kosovo Budget
· 15 UN SC
Ambassadors to visit Kosovo on Saturday
Kosovo Media Highlights
32 wounded in car bomb explosion the day before visit
of UNSC delegation (All dailies)
A car bomb exploded on Bill Clinton Boulevard in Prishtina at 21:30 Friday
night. Some 32 people were injured in the explosion, which demolished
three cars and several shops in the area, according to reports. Koha Ditore
reports that, according to eyewitnesses, the explosion was very powerful.
Police gathered them together in one place for questioning. The bomb was
reportedly placed in an Audi parked against the curb. After midnight,
the emergency center in Prishtina announced that only seven of the injured
were kept in hospital for further treatment and the others were being
released.
'We have no information from the police as to who could have committed this terrorist act that brings no good to Kosovo. We can imagine who wants to destabilize Kosovo. This happens before important visits,' Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi was quoted as saying.
'In cases such as this, statements are sometimes unnecessary. This is a tragic act, but… luckily there are no dead. We condemn this act because it brings no good to Kosovo and they mostly happen before an important visit. We hope the injured will recover as soon as possible and we pray to God things like this don't happen anymore,' said President of Prishtina Municipal Assembly Ismet Beqiri was quoted in Zëri and Kosova Sot.
'We don't have the reason and the motive for this explosion; we don't have any suspects,' said UNMIK Police spokesperson Barry Fletcher, and added, 'All the information we have is that the explosion happened inside a car'.
University in Mitrovica receives
accredits from Steiner (Dailies)
UNMIK chief administrator Michael Steiner signed a 'temporary decree'
giving accreditation to the Serb university in Mitrovica Friday, said
university head Gojko Savic. However, UNMIK says this is not an accreditation
but only an extension of the license, report all dailies.
Koha Ditore says the university, located on the north side of Mitrovica
town, should be accredited by a Kosovo Accrediting Agency, but one still
hasn't been formed as. This procedure is foreseen in the higher education
law, which also still hasn't received the green light from Steiner. The
University in Mitrovica will continue to offer tuition to all Slavic speaking
Kosovars who want a university diploma from a Kosovo University, said
an UNMIK spokesperson, adding that SRSG Steiner extended the license and
the university is under UNMIK control. 'The law on higher education was
returned to the Kosovo Assembly. They have to decide,' he said.
'We were informed that we have been accredited as a university because
we have fulfilled all the necessary criteria,' Dean Savic said Friday
for Koha Ditore. 'Nothing is out of the ordinary, even though the higher
education law still isn't applicable, this happened because, according
to that law, Serbs were discriminated against,' he said, and added, 'We
are open for cooperation with everyone, because Kosovo is ruled by UNMIK.'
Budget for 2003 - 464 million
euros (Dailies)
The Economic and Fiscal Council (FEC) approved the Kosovo Consolidated
Budget for 2003 and postponed the shut down of Central Fiscal Authority
on Friday. The budget for 2003 is projected to be 464 million euros. The
KCB is expected to be approved by UNMIK chief administrator Michael Steiner;
however, Prime Minister Rexhepi and Minister of Finance and Economy Ali
Sadirja believe that the Kosovo Assembly should have its say, according
to reports in all the papers.
Dole: I am honored to represent the people of Kosovo in
Washington (Dailies)
All dailies carried a Voice of America interview with former US Senator
Bob Dole, who is being referred to in the local press as Kosovo's 'Ambassador'
to Washington.
VOA asked: Kosovo President Ibrahim Rugova appointed you honorary representative to the USA. UNMIK reacted stressing that President Rugova doesn't have the competencies to make such a decision. Can you clarify your current position?
Senator Dole: This title has not important for me. Dr. Rugova and I have been good friends for a long time. I have been engaged in some of the problems in Kosovo for the past 13 years. In a way, I have been an unofficial representative since I left Congress in 1996. Thus I don't have a problem with how my post will to be labeled. I am a friend of Kosovo and its people. We are very honored to have the opportunity to represent not only the president but also the people of Kosovo and other senior officials, such as the prime minister and the president of the Kosovo Assembly in Washington.
UNSC delegation today arrives
in Kosovo (Dailies)
Ambassadors representing UN member countries on the Security Council arrive
in Prishtina today for a three-day visit to Kosovo, report all dailies.
The UN SC will meet with UNMIK chief administrator Michael Steiner, COMKFOR
Gen. Fabio Mini as well as senior local and international officials during
their tour of the region. The Ambassadors represent the US, Great Britain,
France, China, Russia, Norway, Bulgaria, Mauritius, Mexico, Cameroon,
Columbia, Guinea, Ireland, Singapore and Syria.
After Prishtina, the UN SC delegation goes to Belgrade on Monday.
ICG: Process of returns not as
advanced as it should be (Dailies)
The International Crisis Group office in Prishtina made public its latest
report on Friday. ICG evaluates that the progress of returning refugees
is in different stages in the three Balkan entities, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Croatia and Kosovo, depending on economic developments in the post-war
situation in these regions, report all dailies.
According to the ICG director in Prishtina, Valerie Percival, the returns process in Kosovo isn't as advanced as it should be, especially for Serbs and non-Albanian minorities. Freedom of movement, possibilities for housing, the right to own land, the right to employment are some of the obstacles, according to ICG, that are dragging out the process.
Kosovo's unresolved final status and the politicizing of the return of Serbs has a great influence on the actual process of returns, but the return should not be conditioned in any way to Kosovo's unresolved status, says the ICG report.
According to the report, UNMIK Office of Return and Communities has developed a new strategy to coordinate all the projects for return of non-Albanian minorities to Kosovo.
RTK News Headlines
32 injured in Car Bomb Explosion
in Prishtina; PM Rexhepi brands incident as 'Terrorist Attack'
Virtually the entire late night newscast on RTK was focused on the explosion
that occurred around 22:00 in the Dardania neighbourhood in Prishtina.
The report included extensive film footage and information from scene
of the incident, the number of wounded and their identities, along with
soundbites from KFOR troops, KPS and medical staff at Prishtina Hospital.
Soundbites were also taken from Kosovo PM Rexhepi and the Mayor of Prishtina Ismet Beqiri, who condemned the incident. Rexhepi noted that 'it was a terrorist attack perpetrated by those who want to harm Kosovo and its people, and we all can imagine who could that be.…'
SRSG Steiner signs regulation
on Mitrovica University
Short presenter's intro explains the signing of a 'temporary decree' by
which the so-called 'North Mitrovica University' will be called Mitrovica
University until August 2003.
1,070 Kosovo Albanian Corpses
Found in Serbia to be brought to Kosovo by March, 2003
Presenter's intro focuses on the information that 1,070 bodies have been
found in mass gravesites in Serbia. They are believed to be the remains
of Kosovo Albanians killed during the war in Kosovo in 1999. Based on
available information, the remains are expected to be transported to Kosovo
by March 2003.
Kosovo Albanian victims' clothing
on display in Rahovec
Short report focuses on the exhibition of clothing and other belongings
from bodies found in three mass grave sites in Kosovo, believed to be
Kosovo Albanians from Mitrovica municipality and surrounding areas, killed
during the war in 1999.
The exhibition was held at the Forensic Institute premises, where some 60 bodies await identification. Report also noted that some 600 corpses exhumed in Batajnica near Belgrade in Serbia few months ago are assumed to have been Kosovo Albanians coming from the region of Gjakovë and village of Meja. The remains are expected to be returned to Kosovo early next year.
ICG makes public its report on
returns
Report focuses on the launching of report by the International Crisis
Group, which is critical of the strategy for IDP returns to the post-war
environment in Kosovo.
Report notes that according to the ICG, the planned strategy for returns remains short of successful perspective and long-term sustainability. The director of the ICG Prishtina office, Val Percival, was quoted as saying that IDPs return may occur as individual attempts, but not as collective engagement.
Economic and Fiscal Council reveals
2003 Kosovo Budget
Report focuses on the meeting held by the Economic and Fiscal Council,
which finalized the amount of the Kosovo Consolidated Budget for the year
2003. According to representatives of certain ministries within the Kosovo
Government, many departments have held back from accomplishing a number
of projects in efforts to assist in creating a stronger and a viable budget.
Trade and Industry Minister Ali Sadrija was quoted as saying that the EFC proposed the compilation of a regulation, which would enable this institution to be the leading body in defining financial priorities between local and international actors in Kosovo. According to the report, such a proposal was submitted earlier in the year but was rejected by international community representatives.
15 UN SC Ambassadors to visit
Kosovo on Saturday
Report focuses on the visit by UN SC Ambassadors to Kosovo on Saturday.
The delegation of 15 are expected to meet with representatives of Kosovo
institutions and the international administration. They will also visit
towns such Gjilanë/Gnjilane and Mitrovica and the Kosovo Police School
in Vushtrri/Vucitrn.
Kosovo Press Headlines
Koha Ditore
Front page
· 32 wounded in explosion, a day before visit of UNSC delegation
· After expansion, Balkan countries are offered a European perspective
· Loan shark affair in Prizren reaches its peak - one killed and
one wounded
· Dole: I am honored to represent Kosovo in Washington
· Serbia/Montenegro/FYROM recognize local insurance company, Kosova
Plus
· University in Mitrovica receives accreditation from Steiner
Other headlines
· Kelmendi: Big visits, big explosions (2)
· UNSC delegation today arrives in Kosovo (2)
· Ilir Meta to visit Kosovo on Wednesday (2)
· Covic to visit Tiranë on Sunday (2)
· The war on Kosovo budget, internationals win it (3)
· Prosecutors want accused held in detention until decision is
made valid (4)
· Leaders of four political parties in Macedonia to meet on 26
December (4)
· Aid for Kosovar children in Bosnia (5)
· Isolated villages left to the mercy of robbers from other side
of border (5)
· Process of return is not as advanced as it should be (6)
· Police seek falsifiers of insurance policies (6)
· Coal prevents B2 from producing 300 Megawatts (7)
· Half of the population is poor, 57% unemployed (7)
· Commercial banks will apply together (7)
· Possibilities of cooperation in the textile businesses (7)
· Exhibition reveals the missing (8)
· Detention continued for Kolasinac (8)
· Dubrava Prison: Prisoners in ward two are protesting (9)
· Bugajski: Disagreements Serbia-Montenegro (10)
· Bajrami: Challenges of UN Security Resolution 1244 (11)
Zëri
Front page
· Kosovo final status awaits US presidential elections in 2004
· Powerful car bomb explosion leaves 33 wounded and material damage
· Shala: Politics and statistics
· Dole: Whatever my title, I will work for the good of the people
of Kosovo
· ICG: Kosovo final status hinders the process of return
· Steiner returns higher education bill to the Assembly
· Amber Fox to be replaced by Harmony of the Alliance
· Covic is worried about 'Çeku's long barrels'
Other headlines
· UN SC Ambassadors from 15 countries arrive in Kosovo today (3)
· Family members identify loved ones with the help of their clothing
(4)
· Prosecutor Kamudoni delivers closing statement (4)
· Council of Europe highly evaluates 26 October elections in Kosovo
(4)
· 30 judges and prosecutors who did not participate in discriminatory
acts were sworn in before PDSRSG Brayshaw (5)
· Budget for next year 464 million euros, CFA survives (5)
· K-Govt calls for explanation on status of Dardania Bank and 3%
funds (5)
· Nano and Crvenkovski compile joint plans for joining NATO (6)
· Covic to meet with Moisiu, Nano and Meta today (6)
· Kosovo lawyers visited Hague court (6)
· Presevo Serbs do not participate in Municipal Assembly session
(6)
· Minister Osmani: Serb University in Mitrovica is holding higher
education in Kosovo hostage (7)
· Thaçi meets with head of Albanian Office in Prishtina,
Bashkim Rama (7)
· Prizren: One killed and one wounded (9)
· Dubrava Prison: Prisoners protest against inhumane conditions
(9)
· Frank Wiegand suspends cooperation with media (10)
· Families of missing went to Rahovec for identification (10)
Bota Sot
Front page
· Car bomb injures 29 people, 7 critical
· Dole: I am honored to represent the people of Kosovo in Washington
· Rufi Osmani: The truth about 9 July I could print only in Bota
Sot
· The day that divided an era
· When victims keep quiet, the executioners wash their hands
· Black Eagles mistreated and arrested victims illegally
· Are prosecutors that worked for Serb military courts returning
Other headlines
· Lindmeier: Copenhagen Conference very important for Kosovo economy
(2)
· Joint KFOR-KPS operations seeking smugglers (2)
· Detention continued for the accused, Kolasinac (3)
· Prizren: Vullnet Luboteni killed, Masar Kukësi wounded (3)
· Vocniak: People's welcome has remained the same (3)
· WHO responds positively to Minister Selmani, to shed light on
Kumanovo poisoning (5)
· UN SC to visit Prishtina Municipal Assembly (5)
· Dole: Yes, I am Kosovo representative in Washington (7)
· Mass graves with individuals killed in Kosovo exist mostly in
Serbia (8)
· ICG: Minorities returns cannot happen without accepting new Kosovo
reality
· Pejë: Two arrested for falsifying insurance policies (8)
· New horizons of cooperation between Kosovo and Bosnia (9)
· Tiranë: Albanians celebrate the birthday of pluralism (9)
Kosova Sot
Front page
· Terrorist act that shook Prishtina
· Dole: I am honored to represent Kosovo in Washington
· Why ICG report criticizes President Rugova
· Rahovec: Within two hours, ten victims identified
· Why Kosovo youth still want to go abroad
· Prosecutor calls for the accused to be convicted
Other headlines
· Prishtina is waiting for an answer from EU (3)
· Unresolved Kosovo status negatively affects process of return
(4)
· What are Prishtina Municipal Government priorities? (5)
· Prizren: One killed and one wounded (6)
· OSCE satisfied with EU report on October elections (6)
· Thaçi meets with head of the Albanian Office in Prishtina
(5)
· Kosovo, a transit route for white slavery trafficking in the
Balkans (7)
· How was Minister Osmani informed about accreditation of Mitrovica
University (8)
· Bridge Watchers continue with violence (8)
· Not all teachers received their 44 euros (9)
· Next year the budget will be 464.1 million euros (11)
Epoka e Re
Front page
· Car bomb - 32 wounded
· Hoxhaj: Prime Minister's statement - pressures international
community
· Prizren: Vullnet Luboteni killed, Masar Kukësi wounded
· Kosovar TV stations: Many things lacking, little bravery
· Prosecutor did not say anything new
Other headlines
· Rahovec: In three hours, loved ones identified belongings of
10 victims (2)
· Thaçi meets with Head of Albanian Office in Prishtina
(2)
· ICG: Return has been politicized, praise for PM Rexhepi (4)
· Jovic and Besovic released from detention (5)
· A robber dressed as police officer stole 45,000 euros (5)
· Education Ministry hands the money to the teachers (6)
· Nebojsa Covic to visit Tiranë on Sunday (5)
· Only two bills signed: Who as at fault, Assembly or Steiner?
(7)
· Mavraj: UNMIK makes eyewitness who neutralized Stankovic's testimony
cry (9)
· Kosovo Budget for 2003 - 464.1 million euros (10)
24 Orë
Front page
· Powerful explosion in Prishtina, more than 30 wounded
· Prosecutor Kamudoni selects eyewitnesses according to political
criteria
· Albanian nation is a unit not a mosaic
· The song never died in Prekaz
· Challenges of a one-year-old assembly
· Will Seselj's project be approved?
· Rahovec: Tears and screams filled the hall
· Prosecutor desecrates the holy prosecution
Other headlines
· Haradinaj meets with Gen. Jonathan Show (2)
· A terrorist act against human lives (2)
· ICG: Belgrade is manipulating the return (4)
· UN Ambassadors to visit Kosovo (4)
· Budget for 2003 - 464.1 million euros (4)
Belgrade Media Highlights
· UN SC delegation to visit Kosovo (Politika/Tanjug)
· Highest grade for a multiethnic police project (Politika/Tanjug)
· KPC to remain what it is, says Beardsley (Nacional)
· ICG on Kosovo (Danas/Beta)
· Zavales doubtful about returns (Beta)
· Trajkovic, Jaksic and Hajiu on Kosovo's status (Blic/Fonet)
· Veselin Besovic released on bail, pending trial (Nacional/Beta)
UNSC delegation to visit Kosovo (Politika/Tanjug)
A UN Security Council delegation is to pay a four-day visit to Yugoslavia,
with the aim of composing a report on the situation in Kosovo. The delegation,
consisting of representatives of all the Security Council member-states
and headed by Norwegian diplomat Ole Peter Colby, is to have talks in
Pristina with top representatives of the Kosovo leadership and international
organizations in the province, including UNMIK Head Michael Steiner. On
Sunday, members of the delegation are to visit Kosovska Mitrovica, where
they are to see representatives of Kosovo Serbs and on Monday and Tuesday
will have talks with the top federal and republican officials in Belgrade,
including Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica and Yugoslav Foreign Minister
Goran Svilanovic.
Highest grade for a multiethnic police project
(Politika/Tanjug)
Yugoslav Deputy Interior Minister Mica Markovic, who is also a member
of the Coordination Body for Southern Serbia, said in Bujanovac on Friday
that Europe has given the highest grade to the project for a multiethnic
police force in this specific area, three south Serbian municipalities,
which was developed in cooperation with the OSCE. Assistant Police Administration
Head at the Interior Ministry, Colonel Milos Vojinovic told a meeting
of the consultative forum of the local policing project that the project
aims to establish a partnership between the citizens and the police and
have a preventive effect on all illegal activities within the local community.
KPC to remain what it is, says Beardsley (Nacional)
As far UNMIK is concerned, there is no change in the KPC mandate and it
remains a civilian formation for urgent interventions in cases of natural
disasters, UNMIK's spokeswoman Eleanor Beardsley said on Friday. She reacted
to information published in Belgrade media that the Head of CCK Nebojsa
Covic got possession of a document confirming that KPC was to be transformed
into Kosovo's Defense Forces. Beardsley said that Covic's document could
probably be a report by the US Institute for Peace, adding that this was
not a secret document at all. 'This institute is an independent NGO and
its views in no way reflect US or UNMIK policy. UNMIK has not changed
its stand regarding KPC, which is to say, a civilian formation for urgent
interventions in cases of natural disasters,' she said.
ICG on Kosovo (Danas/Beta)
The International Crisis Group has published a report in which it criticizes
UNMIK due to the politicization of the return of the displaced to Kosovo,
assessing that the issue of the final status of the province has additionally
complicated and politicized the return of Serbs. The Kosovo president,
Ibrahim Rugova, is also criticized in the report for not working on the
return of displaced people. The ICG criticized UNMIK because it forgets
about the risk that comes with the return of IDPs if conditions for this
had not been previously created. Criticism has also been leveled at the
leadership in Belgrade for, as it is claimed, wanting to use the issue
for a division of Kosovo.
Zavales doubtful about returns (Beta)
John Zavales, fellow of the Washington based Western Policy Institute,
assessed upon visiting Kosovo that the number of returnees would not be
significantly increased due to the security conditions. 'There are numerous
obstacles for safe returns of IDPs. The most obvious are constant attacks
on churches, monasteries and homes of ethnic minorities in Kosovo,' he
told the Voice of America.
Trajkovic, Jaksic and Hajiu on Kosovo's status
(Blic/Fonet)
KP caucus whip Rada Trajkovic has told Fonet that neither Serbs nor Albanians
nor the international community are ready for talks on Kosovo's status,
as well as that such talks would now legalize the principle of ethnic
cleansing. The international community must find an answer to Albanian
extremism, stressed Trajkovic and assessed that talks on Kosovo's status
'would now legalize human rights violations and the existence of undemocratic
institutions.' Member of the SNC for northern Kosovo and DSS official
Marko Jaksic has stated it is too early to commence any kind of dialogue
between Belgrade and Pristina. Jaksic assessed talks could not begin until
'Serbs live difficult lives in Kosovo, while their human rights were endangered,
while there was no freedom of movement, that there would be no return
of Serbs until houses and mosques are built and everything needed by the
civilized world.' Pristina publisher Baton Hajiu rejected the possibility
of any kind of talks commencing between Serbs and Albanians. 'Both sides
are hostages of the past, especially Albanians who presently do not have
the vision or a perspective to talk with Serbs,' said Hajiu. He assessed
that the existing conflict 'between two illusions,' Serb and Albanian,
prevent the dialogue to commence. The Serbs illusion is to return the
army and police to Kosovo, and the Albanian illusion is that they wish
Kosovo's independence right away, said Hajiu and added time was needed
for convincing both sides to give up their illusions.
Veselin Besovic released on bail pending trial
(Nacional/Beta)
Veselin Besovic from the village of Gorazdevac, who was accused of war
crimes by the District Court in Pec, was released on bail pending trial,
said his lawyer Zivojin Jokanovic. Besovic had spent 27 months in detention.
The court's ruling was based on a motion filed by Besovic's
defense that has submitted the Serbian and Yugoslav Governments guarantees
for his release.