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28 December 2002
CONTENTS
· Rexhepi:
Next year we'll be closer to our ideal - independence
· Rugova: Independence
would accelerate fulfillment of standards
· Meta stimulates
Kosovar-Serb dialogue, advises Rexhepi to visit Belgrade
· Agreement
between Serb entities expected to be signed in Gracanica
· KA protests
in New York, asks for Framework to be reinterpreted
· Mitrovica
MA members want Steiner to attend extraordinary session
· Are there
plans to attack Dubrava Prison and release the Dukagjini Group?
· Covic: Artificial
solution of status leads toward destabilization
· Haselock:
Allow UNMIK to transfer more competencies to K-institutions
· Three die
in traffic accident in Prishtina-Peja road (all dailies)
Kosovo Media Highlights
Rexhepi: Next year we'll be closer to our ideal - independence
(Zëri)
Zëri carries a report on the cocktail party between Prime Minister
Bajram Rexhepi and Kosovar journalists on the eve of the New Year. Rexhepi
reportedly said that the objectives of the Kosovo Government for the year
2002 were almost fully achieved. 'I can say it was a medium success,'
said Rexhepi, adding that he personally had no more expectations for 2002.
Rexhepi also praised the media for performing on a higher level in comparison
to the media in neighboring countries.
Talking about the upcoming year of 2003, Rexhepi was cited as saying, 'Together, with the contribution of the institutions, the media and the citizens, I hope we will be closer to our ideal, which is independence.'
Rugova: Independence would accelerate
fulfillment of standards (Kosova Sot)
Kosova Sot carries an interview that Kosovo President Ibrahim Rugova gave
to Prishtina-based RTV 21. Rugova said that first the status of Kosovo,
independence in his words, should be determined, and that then standards
presented by the international community can be fulfilled. He also said
that independence would accelerate the fulfillment of these standards.
Meta stimulates Kosovar-Serb dialogue,
advises Rexhepi to visit Belgrade (Koha)
Koha Ditore carries a report from the TV debate between a Tirana-based
TV station Klan and the Prishtina-based Kohavision. According to the daily
newspaper, the message coming from the Kosovar side is that Albania should
be careful when it talks to Belgrade about Kosovo without consulting Kosovar
institutions.
Koha Ditore also reports that while Prishtina perceives relations between Tirana and Belgrade with a critical eye, Albania insists to continue with this trend, and in fact advises Kosovo to start dialogue with Serbia and advises Kosovar officials not to hesitate to travel to Belgrade for meetings.
Ylber Hysa, director of the Kosovo Action for Civic Initiatives, reportedly said that the Albanian Foreign Minister Ilir Meta has asked Kosovo Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi to visit Belgrade. Meta didn't deny such information and added that the dialogue should start between Prishtina and Belgrade at least on practical issues.
Agreement between Serb entities
expected to be signed in Gracanica (Zëri)
Citing information broadcast by Prishtina-based KosovaLive news agency,
Zëri reports that Momcilo Trajkovic, leader of the Serb Resistance
Movement from Kosovo, said that an agreement would be signed today in
Gracanica by all political organizations of the Serb community in Kosovo.
The agreement would be joined by all parties and civic initiatives which
participated in the October local elections, except for Coalition Povratak.
'The essence is to gather all political forces and not only in Kosovo, but also in Serbia and Montenegro,' said Trajkovic, adding that the final constitution of the coalition would take place in January in Belgrade.
Kosovo Assembly protests in NY,
asks for Framework to be reinterpreted (Koha)
Koha Ditore reports that the Kosovo Assembly has sent a letter of protest
to the UN Legal Office in New York and to Secretary General Kofi Annan
complaining about the ignorance of UNMIK during the approval of the budget
for 2003.
According to the daily newspaper, if the remarks sent to the UN are approved, then the Kosovo Assembly is willing to face the hasty procedure of approving the budget in accordance with the Constitutional Framework.
Mitrovica MA members want Steiner
to attend an extraordinary session (Koha)
Koha Ditore reports that the Mitrovica Municipal Assembly has debated
on the administrative guidelines to implement responsibilities and administrative
authority of UNMIK in northern Mitrovica signed by SRSG Michael Steiner;
however, the assembly made no decision and reportedly postponed the debate
for an extraordinary session in which it would confirm the participation
of the SRSG.
Koha Ditore also reports that the Mitrovica MA had remarks on UNMIK's lack of transparency for the steps that are being made in northern Mitrovica.
Are there plans to attack Dubrava Prison and release the Dukagjini Group?
In an article announced on the front-page of Bota Sot, Bajrush Morina
quotes a source within the Dubrava Prison as saying that a senior party
official in Kosovo [no name provided] has asked some Albanians who work
as prison guards to gather information on the exact location of the Dukagjini
Group, and the correct spatial plan of Dubrava Prison.
Bota Sot claims that the persons who could execute the eventual attack on Dubrava Prison and possibly try to free the members of the Dukagjini Group could be members of the Albanian Secret Service.
Covic: Artificial solution of
status leads toward destabilization (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports that Nebojsa Covic, head of the Coordination Center
for Kosovo, said Friday that the demands for the fast solution of Kosovo's
status were 'classical politicization' and added that a fast solution
for this issue would lead to destabilization.
Koha Ditore also quotes Dusan Janjic, coordinator of the Forum for Ethnic Relations, as saying, 'It is high time for Belgrade to start seriously working on a strategy for talks regarding the status of Kosovo.'
Haselock: Allow UNMIK to transfer
more competencies to K-institutions (Koha)
Koha Ditore carries a commentary by UNMIK Department of Public Information
Director Simon Haselock. 'The entire stance of the international community
has been reemphasized by the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and the Security
Council: Standards before status,' writes Haselock.
Three die in traffic accident
in Prishtina-Peja road (all dailies)
All dailies carry reports from the traffic accident that took place in
a place called Kroni i Mbretit, on the Prishtina-Peja road. Three persons
died and several were wounded after two cars crashed with each other and
were then hit by a bus.
Kosovo Press Headlines
Koha Ditore
Front page
· Meta stimulates Kosovar-Serb dialogue, advises Rexhepi to visit
Belgrade
· Kosovo Assembly protests in NY, asks for reinterpretation of
Framework
· Mitrovica MA members want Steiner to attend extraordinary session
· Macedonia to build fences along the border in spring
· Lives of witnesses against loan sharks in Prizren still in danger
Other headlines
· Families of missing persons will protest on New Year's Eve (2)
· Xhaferi: Without Ali Ahmeti, it was absurd to meet with the President
(2)
· Rexhepi: At least you are not limited by the Constitutional Framework
(3)
· Covic: Artificial solution of status leads toward destabilization
(5)
· Three die in traffic accident (5)
· Malaj: Privatization, challenge for 2003 (6)
· Adem Zekaj is buried (7)
· Haselock: Allow UNMIK to transfer more competencies to K-institutions
(11)
Zëri
Front page
· Kosovar leaders celebrate at home, leaders in Albania in hotels
· Shala: What is happening in Macedonia
· Three die in traffic accident
· Explosion in Peja could be carelessness with hand grenade, says
KFOR
· Higher prices overshadow strengthening of the euro
· Xhaferi: BDI must take over responsibility for Ohrid Agreement
· Another Swiss airliner wants to land in Prishtina
Other headlines
· Teacher Adem Zekaj has been buried (2)
· You must be determined for the future of your children (2)
· Next year we'll be closer to our ideal which is independence,
says Rexhepi (3)
· Covic says hastiness to solve Kosovo status increases instability
(3)
Bota Sot
Front page
· Are there plans to attack Dubrava Prison and free Dukagjini Group?
· Albania is determined to respect the will of Kosovar Albanians
· Three dead and several wounded in traffic accident
· Why Ekrem Lluka removed Dukagjini signs from the usurped gas
stations?
· Xhavit Haliti and his servants in Kosovo and Diaspora threaten
again
· Adem was a man of sacrifice and courage
Other headlines
· Kosovo media perform at higher level than media in neighboring
countries (3)
· Shaban Dragaj has been released (5)
· Why Kosovo must be an independent country (5)
· 2003 will be a year of great turning points for the Kosovo police
(6)
· Mitrovica MA members want Steiner to justify the undertaken measures
(7)
Kosova Sot
Front page
· Who controls the market of oil products in Kosovo?
· Three persons die in traffic accident
· Rugova: Independence would accelerate fulfillment of standards
· Rexhepi: With common engagement, Kosovo would be closer to independence
· Forming of Kosovo institutions - the most important event
· Government to meet on 5th January, Assembly on 9th January
Other headlines
· Kosovars should not lose hope for the future, says Nowizki (2)
· Explosion might have been accidental (2)
· A University of special importance for Kosovo (4)
· UNMIK shows no transparency for power expansion in the north
(4)
· Pensioners again threaten to take on the streets (8)
· Why no institutional support for persons with limited physical
abilities? (8)
· EU will intensify cooperation with Kosovo (9)
Epoka e Re
Front page
· KFOR doesn't think like LDK
· AKSH announces a 'hot spring' in the region
· A prisoner died in prison from injuries
· Assembly can declare independence, but it would automatically
annulled
· Krasniqi: What did 2002 bring us
· IWPR: 'Hiding' committed crimes in Kosovo
Other headlines
· 2003, more difficult than 2002, says PM Rexhepi (2)
· Thaçi offers support for American University in Kosovo
(2)
· Kosovo, not with Albania, but independent (3)
· China is interested in opening its office in Prishtina (3)
· John Rogers knocked down the Municipal Assembly (3)
· Hasty resolution of Kosovo status might lead to destabilization,
says Covic (4)
24 Orë
Front page
· Great challenges in achieving the independence of Kosovo
· Four years in prison for freedom fighters, brothers Adnan and
Avni Hyseni
· Main objectives were fulfilled, says Minister Çeku
· Outrage of citizens in Dukagjin reaches boiling point
· Idriz Balaj: Sentencing of liberators incites new treason
· National Albanian Army threatens with all-Albanian rebellion!
Other headlines
· Thaçi meets with director of American University in Kosovo
(2)
· Nowizki: Kosovars, don't lose hope for the future of your children
(2)
· How will northern Mitrovica be administrated (8)
· Demands to release Shaban Dragaj (8)
Belgrade Media Highlights
· Covic at the debate "Kosovo and Metohija and Minorities"
(Blic/Tanjug)
· Dusan Janjic at the debate "Kosovo and Metohija and Minorities"
(Vecernje Novosti)
· Strategy of preserving Serbia's cultural heritage in Kosovo and
Metohija (Danas)
· Call for UNMIK to intervene (Politika/Beta)
· Milan Ivanovic on Kosovo's status (Glas)
· Dobricanin: All exhumations - next year (Nacional)
· Detention to murder suspects prolonged (Danas/Beta)
Covic at the debate "Kosovo and Metohija and Minorities"
(Blic/Tanjug)
The Head of the CCK Nebojsa Covic said on Friday that the hasty rumours
about the status of Kosovo and Metohija would, probably, result in further
political instability. Speaking at the debate dubbed "Kosovo and
Metohija and Minorities" and held in the organization of the Centre
for Promotional Activities, Covic described as "classic political
manoeuvring" rumours about the speedy resolution of the status of
Kosovo and Metohija adding that the province had a status regulated by
UNSCR 1244, which is a set of standards to be fulfilled.
Dusan Janjic at the debate "Kosovo and Metohija and Minorities"
(Vecernje Novosti)
Commenting on Djindjic's stand on accelerating the resolution of Kosovo's
status, the Coordinator of the Forum for Ethnic Relations Dusan Janjic
has said SRSG Michael Steiner has a similar stand. It is time for Belgrade
to coordinate a negotiating strategy for Kosovo's status, says Janjic.
But if this issue were forced, then it would be dangerous. He warned Steiner
was already implementing the plan on conditional independence of Kosovo
and favoured the demands by the majority, that is Albanians.
Strategy of preserving Serbia's cultural heritage in Kosovo and Metohija
(Danas)
"We expect in the following year a larger return of Serb IDPs. CCK's
decentralization project has been ready since 30 June this year. It was
submitted to the SC and it worked on with the Council of Europe and UNMIK.
Our offices in Kosovo and Metohija have been ready to open since June,
but this doesn't only depend from us," said the Head of the CCK and
Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Nebojsa Covic at a press conference at the
Serbian government where they presented the project entitled "The
Strategy of Preserving Serbia's Cultural Heritage in Kosovo and Metohija."
"There can be no survival and return of Kosovo Serbs without the
protection of Serbia's cultural heritage in Kosovo and Metohija. The cultural
heritage of Kosovo and Metohija, as an inseparable part of the European
heritage, cannot be integrated into Europe below the standards it recognizes
itself," these are the main postulates of the project of Strategy
adopted by this institution on 11 November, while the government should
examine it in the course of February next year.
Call for UNMIK to intervene (Politika/Beta)
The representatives of the Belgrade authorities and Kosovo Serbs have
assessed that Kosovo Premier Bajram Rexhepi's statement that he expects
this province's independence next year does not contribute to the calming
of the situation in this part of Serbia and Yugoslavia. The Head of the
CCK Nebojsa Covic and member of the Kosovo Assembly Presidency Oliver
Ivanovic said that the international community, i.e. UNMIK, which should
act preventatively, was now on the move. Covic told Beta that UNMIK officials
must react, adding that Rexhepi's "expectation" next year was
not New Year's greetings but a consequence of further divisions, non-tolerance
and hatred.
Milan Ivanovic on Kosovo's status (Glas)
SNC leader for northern Kosovo Milan Ivanovic is warning that all provisional
institutions that had been created are leading to an independent Kosovo,
and conveys the stand of the Kosovo Serbs that they don't want to live
in some quasi-state, but their, so he favours decentralization as the
condition for the survival of Serbs in this region. "Essential decentralization
in all spheres is necessary, from education and judiciary, and not denying
us the guaranteed right to self-defense. It is also necessary for all
decisions passed between UNMIK and the Belgrade authorities to be also
decided by us from Kosovo. So far, a series of agreements have been signed
to the detriment of Serbs, prior to all those on judiciary, KPS and northern
Mitrovica," said Ivanovic.
Dobricanin: All exhumations - next year (Nacional)
The head of CCK exhumation office Slavisa Dobricanin said that UNMIK officials
had announced that all those killed in the province are to be exhumed
during 2003. According to Dobricanin, this process will last four or five
months. He also added that during the month of December, an autopsy of
69 bodies was performed, found near Prizren and Djakovica, but their identities
have still not been announced.
Detention to murder suspects prolonged (Danas/Beta)
The District Court in Gnjilane has prolonged custody to two Kosovo Albanians,
who were under suspicion for the brutal murder of Trajan Trifunovic, a
Serb from the village of Crnica near Gnjilane, UNMIK Spokesperson Andrea
Angeli said. According to Agnelli, custody was extended due to the continuation
of investigation against the arrested Albanians, whose names were not
announced due to the fact that there was not an indictment raised against
them.