4 September 2002

· SRSG Michael Steiner visits Deçan/i municipality (all dailies)
· EU against Kosovo's inclusion in Serbian-Montenegrin Constitution (Zëri)
· Serb mass returns are not worthy of comment, says UNMIK (Koha)
· Kosovo avoids electric catastrophe: five hours on, one off (Zëri)
· Nowicki: Human rights are violated in Kosovo (Kosova Sot)

Kosovo Media Highlights

SRSG Michael Steiner visits Deçan municipality (all dailies)

All dailies carry reports from SRSG Michael Steiner's visit to Deçan/i municipality yesterday. Koha Ditore quoted Steiner as saying that he doesn't intend to stay in Pristina all the time and that he plans to visit other parts of Kosovo, meet with people and talk about their problems. Koha Ditore reports that during his visit to Deçan, Steiner hugged many people who had turned up to welcome him. "Although he said his visit to Deçan would be a mission of conciliation after the recent protests, during his five-hour stay in Deçan no one even mentioned the arrests to him," added Koha Ditore. Steiner also said that the international administration should accelerate the process of transferring competencies, and that he believes that UNMIK will not be in Kosovo forever. "I have said that until 11 September 2001, people thought we were going to be in Kosovo for generations, and I think that we shouldn't believe such a thing. The international community is looking at other places, therefore we have little time," Steiner was quoted as saying in Zëri.

EU against Kosovo's inclusion in Serbian-Montenegrin Constitution (Zëri)

Zëri reports that the advisors of EU senior official Javier Solana are trying to convince Belgrade that it is still too early to include Kosovo in the constitution of the new Serb-Montenegrin state. EU officials, led by Stefan Lehne, are trying to convince Serb authorities in Belgrade that the sentence of the preamble of the constitution that foresees Kosovo as part of Serbia should be postponed for other times. "We don't have remarks regarding the content, but we don't want to further complicate things with another unnecessary text," say EU diplomats in Brussels.
In another article related to the issue, Zëri quoted Serbian Deputy PM Nebojsa Covic as saying that Kosovo should be defined as part of Serbia. "I am optimistic and believe that we will compile the Constitutional document, which will assure state continuity and the preamble that says that the autonomous provinces of Vojvodina and Kosovo are part of Serbia," Covic told journalists.

Serb mass returns are not worthy of comment, says UNMIK (Koha)

Koha Ditore reports that the representatives of the Kosovo Government and the international administration have expressed skepticism regarding the threats of Kosovo Serbs living in Serbia, that they would block ten boundary crossing points with Kosovo on September 14, in case they are not allowed mass returns. Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi said the issue doesn't worry him, and UNMIK spokesman Christian Lindmeier said the Serb statements are not even worth commenting upon. At the same time, SRSG Steiner also commented on the issue during his visit to Deçan. "We want returns, we want everyone to return, however we don't want mass returns," said Steiner. "Let it be clear to all those who support returns, that we don't want artificial but substantial returns." Zëri also carried the reactions of local and international officials under a headline Solevic's threats don't scare UNMIK and Kosovo Government.

Kosovo avoids electric catastrophe: five hours on, one off (Zëri)

Zëri reports that only the formal endorsement of the government and the signature of SRSG Michael Steiner are expected to rescue the Kosovars from an unavoidable electric catastrophe as a result of fire at Kosovo B power plant. Quoting reliable sources within UNMIK and KEK, Zëri reports that all procedures for importing electricity from Bulgaria have been completed. "Now it is expected that the government and Michael Steiner, who seems to be the initiator of this, to endorse the payment of 16 million euros for the imported electricity," said the source.

Nowicki: Human rights are violated in Kosovo (Kosova Sot)

Kosova Sot carries a report from the meeting between PM Bajram Rexhepi and Kosovo Ombudsperson Marek Antoni Nowicki. During the meeting, Rexhepi said Kosovo's judiciary should be more efficient, while Nowicki claimed that there were numerous cases of human rights violation in Kosovo. "I think that there are a lot of problems surrounding the issue of human rights in Kosovo, some of which we talked about during the meeting. We also tackled on important judicial issues and reiterated the stance of zero tolerance for crime," Nowicki was quoted as saying.

Asked to comment on arrest of former KLA officers, Nowicki said: "It is very early to express my opinion on the arrests of KLA commanders and I can say that we are not completely out of this process."

Epoka e Re reports that Nowicki also met in northern Mitrovica with Vladimir Bozovic, head of the Justice Sector at Kosovo Coordination Center. According to Epoka e Re, Bozovic said he had told Milan Ivanovic not to surrender for the time being, so that he doesn't suffer the experiences of others.

RTK News Headlines

SRSG Michael Steiner visits Decani Municipality

Chief of UNMIK Michael Steiner visited Deçan municipality. Initially he opened the first football match between Deçan and international workers in this municipality. It was the first match played on the new field since 1989. On this occasion Steiner visited traditional Kullas. "I wanted to see what the people feel here, and I think that they are very happy but they need our help to develop the economy and create new jobs", he said. The SRSG also visited the Besa women's center in Deçan and talked about problems that local woman are facing. After that he visited Monastery Deçan where he had a meeting with Father Sava, discussing the return of Serbs who fled after the conflict in 1999.

UK and Austria promise Rugova, Thaci support in economy, privatization

In farewell meetings, President Rugova today thanked the chiefs of the British and Austrian liaison offices, Andrew Lloyd and Peter Krois for their personal contributions to Kosovo. President Rugova was thankful Britain Government, and Ambassador Lloyd, for the contribution given in democratic and economic development of Kosovo. Lloyd said, "We expressed very strong support for the progress in Kosovo. As I am leaving I think there is a strong base for development. We talked about the strengthening of democracy and civil society as well as the strengthening of the economy and the role of privatization, said Lloyd. President Rugova received the Head of Austrian Office Peter Krois, who emphasized that Austria supports work of Kosovo institutions, UNMIK and SRSG Michael Steiner.
"Contacts exist between Economic Chamber of Austria and Kosovo. We are all hoping that with the Trust Agency something new will began which will lead to the right direction" emphasized Krois after meeting with President Rugova. Leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi also welcomed today Peter Krois. "In Kosovo positive steps have been achieved, especially in the improvement of security situation," said Krois. "I am leaving with positive feeling because people who couldn't speak with each other now will find a common language". Thaçi acknowledged the head of the Austrian Office for its contribution in the progress of relations between Kosovo-Austria.

Ombudsman suggestions will be received by Government, Rexhepi

Prime Minister Rexhepi on meeting with the Ombudsperson Marek Antoni Novicki asked he do all that he could to ensure that the judicial process in Kosovo is effective, that procedures are implemented more quickly, and that decisions are made on time. "We will respect the regulations and we are in process of sending in the Parliament laws which were compiled by internationals and Kosovans," he said. They discussed also building institutions for the rule of law and the implementation of a zero tolerance policy for criminals, all of which are important for the protection of human rights.

President and Prime Minister participate in election campaign

The President and Prime Minister have a right to participate in the election campaign, supporting their parties, declared OSCE Mission in Kosovo Spokesperson Sven Lindholm. Meanwhile, OSCE officials, signify, that media that do not observe the election code should expect penalties.

Assembly asks Government to hand over draft laws

The Parliament Presidency is not satisfied with its work and that of the government for passing greatly needed laws for Kosovo. The Presidency got together to see that opportunities for the autumn season would be more fruitful. According to them rapid approval of laws is necessary for general situation in Kosovo. The Assembly Presidency asked the government to hand over all draft laws that have been prepared, to enable Parliament to prepare a schedule for passing bills. "There are serious obstacles in the Parliament work. We requested the speeding up of procedures to hand over the draft laws to Parliament," a member of the Assembly Presidency, Fatmir Sejdiu said. Parliament Presidency member Hydajet Hyseni said that problems that Assembly is facing are numerous, and that this institution is not still self-sufficient. Representative of Serb Coalition "Povratak" Oliver Ivanovic stressed that members of this group in Parliament are ready to accelerate their work in the Assembly. "The Kosovo Government and certain committees have to approve laws in the shortest term possible," he said. Kosovo Assembly Officials announced that the next session would be held on 19 September.

Albanian parties coalesce for elections

The leaders of three Albanian national parties in Montenegro have signed an agreement to run together in the republic's extraordinary parliamentary elections next month. The agreement between the Democratic Union of Albanians, the Democratic Alliance of Albanians and the Party for Democratic Prosperity was signed after long negotiations. The new coalition is to be known as the Democratic Coalition - Albanians. The parties won two seats in the last elections. This is the first time they have gone to the polls together.

KEK Board to Blame for Fire and Energy Crisis, Say Trade Unionists

The internationally-run supervising board of KEK is to blame for the fire at the thermal energy plant, Kosova B and for the current energy situation in Kosovo, said the KEK Independent Trade Union. "Even though declarations of supervisors of the Energy Committee, Michael Steiner, Andy Bearpark and Bajram Rexhepi declared that there will be stabilization in the supply of electricity, those are not coinciding with reality," said president of Trade Unionist Sherif Fejzullahu. Many Kosovo Institutions owe to KEK an amount of around 500 million Euros, at the time when energy expenses of Serbs are not invoiced, it was said.

Kosovo Press Headlines

Koha Ditore

· Serbs mass return…UNMIK doesn't want to comment (1)
· Steiner calm in Deçan: no one even mentioned arrests (1, 2)
· Solana after all will meet with Ahmeti (2)
· Xhaferi left Georgievski and is now closer to opposition (2)
· Termokos promises heating, heating oil still hasn't been ensured (2)
· Government to speed up the approving of laws (3)
· Agreement for cooperation between fYROM and UNMIK Police approved (3)
· Union calls for responsibility for burning of core at Kosova B (3)
· Rexhepi and Balic visit Pristina Medical Center (4)
· 500 enterprises and more than 100,000 employees stared pension savings (5)
· Removed stands are returned (5)
· Heads of Albanian political parties in Montenegro join coalition (5)
· Ivanovic case in competency of Mitrovica District Court (5)
· McCool: It will be very difficult for parties to change their leaders (6)
· We are worried if raids were done according to Serb recommendations (7)
· In two days CFA collected 80,000 euros (7)
· Municipal encourages ethnic dialogue in village Zhegër (7)
· Breast cancer among Kosovar woman consequence of pollution (8)
· One death, silence and puritan morals (8)
· Tax on property is not a fine (9)
· International comment the situation in Viti (9)
· Serbs beat two Albanians in Zubin Potok (9)
· The culmination of new dimension of crime (10)

Economy section

· When the waiter arrives (1)
· Robertson defends customs, doubts of corruption linger (1)
· Fuel smuggling is less by 25%, however this isn't sufficient (1)
· Municipality doesn't know what is being built (2)
· Albania is 22nd on list of corruption (3)
· Prices are inflated, conditions not good (5)
· Tourism 2002: We have turned back to the seaside (5)

Zëri

· Solevic's threats do not scare UNMIK and Kosovo Government (1, 3)
· Kosovo avoids electric catastrophe: Five hours on, one off (1, 2)
· Shala: Solana and Kosovo (1)
· Steiner: The world has changed, we have to hurry up (2)
· OSCE: Political entities and media must respect Code of Conduct (2)
· EU opposes Kosovo inclusion in constitution of Serbia-Montenegro (3)
· Covic insists that Kosovo is defined as part of Serbia (3)
· Serb women presented to Steiner their solution of the Kosovo problem (3)
· Assembly presidency scolds itself and government for working slowly (4)
· President Rugova meets Head of the British Office Andrew Lloyd (4)
· Rexhepi and Novicki agree that Kosovo judiciary should be improved (4)
· Thaçi meets head of the Austrian office Peter Krois (4)
· Rexhepi and Balic visit Pristina Medical Center (4)
· Scandinavian country offers asylum for Kosovar eyewitnesses (5)
· Meta: Ahmeti's arrest would undermine Ohrid Agreement (5)
· Azizi has entered the history books (5)
· Mutivodë border crossing controlled by UNMIK Police (5)
· Macedonian Army calls for but doesn't accept Albanians (6)
· Macedonia approves agreement for cooperation with UNMIK (6)
· Aliti: PPD again joins the government (6)
· Xhaferi breaks up with coalition partner, now near the opposition (6)
· This month building fuel pipes Skopje-Prishtina begins (6)
· More than 660 journalists to follow elections in Macedonia (6)
· Kandic: Kosovo is on its way since June 1999 (7)
· Will Psychology Faculty add 48 more students (8)
· Ombudsperson institution to become at Kosovar level (9)
· Stevo Zigic's trial ends today (9)
· Mitrovica: Serb radical arrested (9)
· A 11 year old girl abducted in Vushtrri (10)
· Albanian political parties in Montenegro join in a coalition (10)

Bota Sot

· Lloyd: We were here to build sustainable democracy (1, 2)
· Steiner: Kosovo should be proud of its optimistic people (1, 3)
· Albanians, politicians, intellectuals of Kosovo weak from sleep (1, 3)
· Tetovo: 22-year-old wounded in the middle of the town (1, 11)
· It is a word that we all utter (1, 6)
· Five indicted for tax evasion (2)
· Admiral Johnson to visit Kosovo on Friday (2)
· Assembly presidency calls government to offer more draft laws (3)
· French Foreign Minister to visit Kosovo (4)
· Electoral campaign to start on 10 September (4)
· Rexhepi calls for independent courts, Novicki for zero tolerance for crime (5)
· Gjakovë is the 13th municipality licensed for property tax (5)
· Mr. Sanc in opposition (5)
· Kllokot KFOR check point will not be removed (6)
· Both Bota Sot and Albanian media are victims of Macedonia government (7)
· Lightning did start the fire at Kosova B, but statements weren't prompt (8)
· Rexhepi and Balic visit Pristina Medical Center (9)
· Candidates who participate in elections must show origin of wealth (9)
· Priority to investments at Student Center (10)
· Macedonian attempt to create turmoil (11)
· Xhaferi leaves Georgievski, closer to opposition (11)

Kosova Sot

· What competencies will municipal administration have after elections? (1, 3)
· Will there be coalitions before the start of elections in Kosovo (1, 5)
· Who can save KEK (1)
· Coordination for quickening the approval of laws (1, 4)
· UNMIK: If Serbs block roads we will undertake measures (1)
· Steiner: No to mass return, but yes to individual ones (2)
· Solana to visit Kosovo (2)
· Admiral Johnson to visit Kosovo on Friday (2)
· French Foreign Minister to meet with Steiner (2)
· New corridor puts Albanians in privileged position in Balkans (3)
· Macedonia: What Albanian political parties have most chances? (4)
· President Rugova meets Andrew Lloyd (4)
· Novicki: Human rights are violated in Kosovo (5)
· What are Kosovo's priorities? (5)
· Will private school diplomas be valid? (6)
· Energy crisis, consequence of bad management (6)
· Will prices in the market rise? (7)
· Ali Ahmeti's party refutes Georgievski's accusations (8)
· Ahmeti: I am not trying to built a political carrier (8)
· Has the smuggling line in Kullë dispersed? (9)
· Macedonia is co-investor for the pipe line to Pristina (11)
· Is Kosovo's economy transforming? (11)

Epoka e Re

· Mavraj: Don't frighten the children (1, 4)
· Assembly, same promises, same people (1, 3)
· Prostitution and drugs are overwhelmingly high in Ferizaj (1, 9)
· Kandic: Law on espionage can violate human rights (1, 6)
· Bozovic is proud that he told Ivanovic not to surrender (2)
· Thaçi meets with head of the Austrian office Peter Krois (2)
· Prime Minister Rexhepi meets Ombudsperson Novicki (2)
· KEK Board is guilty for the fire at Kosova B and the darkness in Kosovo (4)
· This is how Italians raid (5)
· Rugova meets Andrew Lloyd (7)
· Montenegro: Three Albanian political parties form a coalition (7)

24 Orë

· We see that Kosovo's economic revival is a top priority (1)
· Haradinaj, the second-ranking political figure in Kosovo (1)
· Memorial academy of death of Aziz Kelmendi (1)
· All the background on LDK's peaceful politics (1)
· VMRO-DPMNE want Ali Ahmeti to be isolated (2)
· UNMIK Police and KFOR say Serb mass returns will not be allowed (2)
· President, PM and Ministers allowed to run election campaigns (4)
· Kosumi: Remove political anarchy and promulgate laws (4)
· Irresponsibility in KEK causes electric disaster (5)
· De Groot: Power imported from Bulgaria, power cuts continue (5)

Belgrade Media Highlights

Nacional: No surrender, says Milan Ivanovic

"UNMIK Police still has not answered to my conditions to defend myself on bail and to have a fair trial," Milan Ivanovic told Nacional. He expects that Covic-Steiner meeting would lead to a politically correct and rational decision to let him defend himself on bail. Milan Ivanovic described the indictment against him as Michael Steiner's political pressure in order to ethnically cleanse the remaining Serbs in northern Mitrovica. "Serbs will not participate to the upcoming municipal elections if UNMIK continues its attempts to arrest notable Serbs. There is even a possibility that KP would boycott its activities in the Kosovo Assembly," said Milan Ivanovic.

Glas/Beta: Bozovic advised Ivanovic not to surrender

Head of the CCK Judiciary Department, Vladimir Bozovic and Kosovo's Ombudsman Marek Antoni Nowitzki discussed the Milan Ivanovic case. Upon meeting Nowitzki Bozovic told Beta that he has advised Milan Ivanovic not to surrender for the time being, " based on our negative experiences that arrested people often spend two or more years in prison before their acquittal, I think that Ivanovic does not have to go through all that."
Blic/Fonet: Internationals want to abandon Kosovo without even starting their work A member of the SNC Executive Council Marko Jaksic commented SRSG's statement that the time that UNMIK should spend in Kosovo was dramatically cut short: "The UN mission in Kosovo has suffered a downfall, but at the same time international forces want to abandon the province without even starting their work here." He pointed out that UNMIK did nothing to return the Serb IDPs, to ensure security and freedom of movement and to shed some light on the faith of the missing, but attempted to cut all connections between Belgrade and the remaining Serbs and exerted the constant pressure aimed at dismantling all the Serb institutions and structures in Kosovo.

Radio TV B92/Srna: Protest march scheduled for September 21

The Committee for the Return of Expelled Serbs announced that more than a 100,000 IDPs from Kosovo would head for the province on September 21. Protest organiser Miroslav Solevic said that the refugees wanted to return to their homes and workplaces and seek compensation collectively for their destroyed, looted and confiscated property. The protesters will travel from all over Serbia and Montenegro in cars, buses, trucks, tractors and other vehicles. "Once we reach the administrative border we will demand to be allowed into Kosovo. If we do not receive permission we will block ten administrative boundary line crossings," said Solevic.

Tanjug: Protests must not become violent, warns Oliver Ivanovic

Kosovo Assembly Presidency member Oliver Ivanovic said in Pristina on Tuesday, in reaction to the announced massive return of Serbs and a blockade of the administrative border between Serbia proper and Kosovo, that he understands the justified dissatisfaction of the Serb people, but recommends caution in keeping the action from becoming counterproductive. "Demonstrations will exert additional pressure on the international community and the transitional institutions but care must be taken not to overstep the line which separates organized protests from violence," Ivanovic said after a Presidency meeting, and warned that "any act of violence would slow down return" to the province.

Tanjug/Radio Kragujevac: Nothing has changed in Kosovo for the people, says Bishop Artemije

There are still no conditions for the organized return of Serbs to Kosovo, Serbian Orthodox Church Bishop Artemije of Raska and Prizren told Radio Kragujevac 1 on Tuesday. "Even though we have Serbs in Kosovo parliament, even though we have the CCK, our people in institutions of power, it could be said that things have changed, but they have not, when the life of the common man is concerned," the Bishop said in this central Serbian town.

Radio Belgrade 1: KPC officers released from Bondsteel

KFOR released from prison in the US Bondsteel base, near Urosevac, two high officials of the Kosovo Protection Corps, who were arrested the week before for photographing the military facilities of international forces in the vicinity of Gnjilane. The Sixth Zone of the KPC announced that the officers, major Baskim Hamdiju from Gnjilane and Nusah Zubaku from Topanica, had been release due to the lack of evidence, the Albanian ATA newspaper agency reported.