27 December 2002

CONTENTS

Kosovo Serb leaders dissatisfied with Belgrade's support (Zëri)

Zëri reports that representatives of Kosovo Serbs have asked for more robust support from Belgrade in order to implement their goals in Kosovo.

Zëri claims that Serb leaders have once again shown little interest in working within Kosovo institutions; therefore, they said, they were in favor of more powerful involvement by Belgrade and have asked Belgrade authorities to come out with a strategy on improving the situation of the Serb minority. 'This is the reason why we have addressed the Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica and Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic and other Yugoslav officials,' said Bishop Artemije.

Artemije also reportedly said that he was not satisfied with the meeting with senior Belgrade authorities, 'because the meeting had not resulted in concrete decisions'. Artemije also said he expects the support of the international community to solve the problems of Kosovo Serbs, mainly for security issues and respect for human rights.

In the meantime, Milan Ivanovic, leader of the Serb National Council, claimed that there was no progress in Kosovo and he also added that the life of Serbs in Kosovo is getting more difficult everyday. Ivanovic blamed Belgrade authorities for not cooperating with Kosovo Serbs in cases of achieving and signing agreements with UNMIK officials. 'Forming Kosovo institutions is a step toward forming an independent Kosovo,' said Ivanovic.

Commenting on the talks with the Belgrade leadership, Ivanovic said that Djindjic was pragmatic, Kostunica was responsible and serious whereas Covic was a winter idyll.

Coalition Povratak chief Rada Trajkovic said that in the new constitution of Serbia, Kosovo should be included as an integral part. Trajkovic also said that the boycotting of the Kosovo Assembly would continue until Steiner found an adequate solution for the requests of Serb representatives.

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Shala: The continuation of a problematic policy (Zëri)

Zëri carries a column by editor Blerim Shala on the recent meeting between Kosovo Serb leaders and Belgrade authorities. Shala writes:

At least for the moment, they have replaced frustrations with confusion, while messages that they have received from Belgrade are nothing but preparations for open confrontation with UNMIK and Albanian politicians.

It seems that everything starts backwards, like the Kosovo Serbs themselves who continue to believe that Belgrade can and wants to turn Kosovo's reality backwards. These politicians are convinced that UNMIK doesn't want to defend their particular interests - the first of which is opening the path for Kosovo to again be controlled by Serbia - and are now trying to encourage Serbia to insist more on support of these interests. Belgrade certainly doesn't need such encouragement. As many times before, it appears that Kosovo Serb politicians don't understand that their and Kosovo Serbs' vital interest is to build joint institutions with Albanians. It is nonsense that they don't want to contribute to strengthening central and local government, because only in this way can Kosovo's situation be substantively stabilized.

Government is made to change the situation, to improve the situation and not to block progress. Functional government normalizes conditions.

But reports following the meeting between Kosovo Serb politicians and Serbian officials do not promise anything good. There are references to the creation of a separate Kosovo Serb authority through some national councils. Thus, Belgrade is supporting ideas that favor obstruction toward UNMIK and the Kosovar authorities, writes Shala.

Braum: Kosovo remains a priority issue for Washington (Koha Ditore)

Koha Ditore reports that Donald Braum, Deputy Director for the issue of Kosovo at the US State Department, said that progress was made in Kosovo but that there are still issues that must be worked on.

Asked by the Voice of America to comment on Kosovo's final status, Braum said: 'For the time being, we (the US) are not focused on this issue. For the time being, we are interested in standards and basic approaches so that Kosovo can move ahead fast, regardless of the final status… I think there is constant progress since June 1999. Surely there are things to be worked on, such as the rule of law, strengthening the police force, the judiciary, the fight against organized crime.'

Braum stressed the necessity of achieving greater progress in the return of IDPs to Kosovo. 'The number of returns is much smaller than what we hoped. With our help and the help of the international community it is possible to achieve progress in this respect in spring. The return of a bigger number of IDPs is one of the main issues we will focus on.'

'We must also find a way to integrate Kosovo in the regional economic system. These are very important issues for next year,' said Braum. 'Kosovo still remains a high priority for Washington because the main tasks there have not been finished. The fight against terrorism will not affect this.'

Koha Ditore also quoted Braum as saying that the constitutional charter of Serbia and Montenegro doesn't determine the status of Kosovo. 'The Security Council Resolution 1244 is important for Kosovo and no bilateral or multilateral agreement will affect it. It is a standard for Kosovo,' concluded Braum.

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Serbia and Montenegro - independent, Kosovo - independent (Kosova Sot)

How will the Balkans look in the near future depends less on the Balkan nations than on outside forces, according to Kosova Sot. The Washington-based Institute for Strategic Studies, one of the strongest US non-governmental think tanks, and ex-leading analyst Zbignyev Brezinski have compiled present borders. ISS analyst Janusz Bugajski, considered by many to be the successor of the legendary Brezinski, talks about whether the Serbia-Montenegro Union will survive, what will happen with Bosnia and what if Albanians dominate Macedonia.

Do you think that the creation of new states is possible in this area?
I think it is. To be more precise, three states. Serbia should definitely stand up and develop a supra-ethnic identity, the absence of which has caused conflicts with its neighbors. Montenegro should continue to safeguard its statehood and not to get involved any more in permanent conflicts in some experimental union. Kosovo also can either be independent or to fight perpetually with Serbia. These three states would have the greatest chances to survive and the region would be more stabile than with any kind of Yugoslavia.

What would happen if Kosovo gained independence?

Kosovo is not connected with Bosnia and the international community will not allow the collapse of Bosnia. No matter what happens in Bosnia, Kosovo cannot remain a hostage of this double position. If Serbia wants more uncertainty and instability on its borders, if it wants to perpetuate its poverty and estrangement from Europe and NATO, then let it continue with its ambiguous attitude towards Bosnia's sovereignty and integrity. Unfortunately, Yugoslav President Kostunica's policies and announcements have prevented Serbia from securing a place in Europe.

What is the US's stance on borders?

In principal the US is against ethnically-based borders. On the other hand, many countries in Europe have precisely ethnic borders, which have been legitimized over the course of many years. For example, Poland, Hungary, Slovenia and other countries are ethnically homogenous, don't endanger any national minorities and no one considers them to be source of regional destabilization.

In the long-term perspective, how does Washington envisage resolving the Albanian issue in the Balkans, considering the events in Macedonia, Kosovo and Serbia?

Kosovo's independence will be accepted, through some solution. Macedonia can exist as a multiethnic state in which Albanians would have the responsibility to protect the country through Ohrid and other agreements. The Presevo valley will continue to be part of Serbia.

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Ibrahim Rexhepi: Dinosaurs: reality or fantasy (Koha Ditore)

Koha Ditore carries a commentary by its economy analyst, Ibrahim Rexhepi, who claims that dinosaurs should not be mentioned when one talks about the economy of Kosovo. The entire text of Rexhepi's commentary appeared as follows:

It has become monotonous to focus on pre-historical developments in the beginning of the 21st century. The same goes for the story about Trepça, which is perceived as a dinosaur especially by the internationals. But regardless of the funds that were invested there, the engagements of various teams and consortiums, the assessments are the same. This was reiterated by Mr. Steiner, at a time when Kosovars should receive greetings for New Year holidays. In fact, he only forgot to mention a belief that can be easily noticed in his words: It is not worth dealing with Trepça. Another fact creates an even a bigger dilemma: more than 12 million euros will be poured into Trepça from next year's budget. There are only a few people who know anything more about these funds or the effects they will have. Maybe that is the price for conserving the 'fossils' of the dinosaur. Or it could happen that 12 million euros is the price of the 'food' it will eat. These are questions that must be considered by President Rugova, Assembly Speaker Daci, Prime Minister Rexhepi and other ministers and assembly members.

Only Mr. Steiner, and maybe also Andy Bearpark, knows the ultimate truth. One day it will become public. But, in fact, it is a little bit paradoxical to talk about a dinosaur and to invest 12 million euros in it.

The international chief of Trepça, Patrick Goorman, said that five million euros are enough to start production in the mining complex.

In fact, as a whole, Trepça is not a dinosaur. Through amputation, which today is called 'spin-off', it has good chances of looking like a creature of this century, a worthy potential that can create money. Whereas, comparing Trepça to pre-historical creatures can be done depending on the angle of perspective. Those who focus on its socialist provenance have a right to make such comparisons: it was said before that Trepça is in the interest of all Yugoslavia. And then those who took into account technology: no investments were made there for over half a century. In this time, its equipment has grown old and the world technology has advanced.

However, from the perspective of potential reserves and prices, Trepça doesn't deserve to be labelled a dinosaur. It is newer and more powerful. But, it is true that it needs funds, investments, research and the activation of its mines. The activation of mines and the selling of unprocessed coal recalls the time when the mining complex was exploited. If it's used the same way, the capital produced in the mines would be sent somewhere else. Kosovo will only win some salaries for mineworkers and some low taxes in the name of exploiting minerals.

To be honest, Kosovo is not interested in such an approach toward Trepça. It is better if it remains as it is and to bear the label of a dinosaur, and be reactivated later on. As a whole, or as an embryo of a new creature yet to be.

What can Kosovo lose if the mining is not activated? Very little. In fact, the difference from the current situation would be negligible. A step toward progress might be made once property issues are clarified. Then we might even be able to attract investors.

However, no investor will show interest as long as it retains the label of dinosaur. If it is really so, then it is more logical for investors to pour their funds into a museum or projects for researching prehistory.

Serious and professional work is required to achieve correct assessments. Anyone's beliefs can be damaging, regardless of their perspective.

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