DPI - Local Media Monitoring

Media Analysis 3 October 2003

Government will present to assembly request for new ministries (Zëri)
Surroi: Holkeri's first failure (Koha Ditore)
Shala: Mistakes in steps (Zëri)
Editorial: When the EU applies pressure (Kosova Sot)
Ibrahim Rexhepi: Don Quixote (Koha Ditore)
KTA wants to 'burn' 111 million euros in KEK (Koha Ditore)

Belgrade Media Update

Kosovo Serb returns minister joins Pristina delegation (B92)

According to Zëri, the content of the letter however does not leave much hope that there could be a swift and sensitive development in the transfer of competencies.

Holkeri has reportedly voiced his willingness for regular meetings with Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi and has proposed the creating a joint body for consultations between UNMIK and the Kosovo Government, which would include advisors and experts from both sides. 'Therefore, in this letter, the UNMIK chief has not reacted in details to the concrete requests of the government,' added the paper. 'This letter could be a reason for the additional freezing of relations between Holkeri and the government.'

Zëri also added that the government could send the package for additional competencies to the next assembly session on October 9th. 'It can already be imagined that such an act by local institutions would emphasize even more the nature of conflicting relations with UNMIK,' concluded the paper.

Unprepared Kosovans in unprepared dialogue (Zëri)
Zëri weekly newspaper carried a joint interview with Rexhep Hoti, political advisor to Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi and political analyst Baton Haxhiu.

Talks between Prishtina and Belgrade are closer. There is a feeling of confusion in Prishtina about the talks. How do you explain this situation?
Hoti: First I want to say that we cannot say that these are talks between Prishtina and Belgrade, but between Kosovo and the Union of Serbia and Montenegro. This is one of the most current issues and it has been strongly supported by the international community. On the other hand, Kosovan institutions and especially the prime minister have made their position public that there can be no talks without the endorsement of the assembly. This was an unanimous decision of the Kosovo government and the issue is now in the hands of the assembly and she is going to make the political decision of whether there are going to be talks or not. In these sense, it cannot be said that there is confusion.

Haxhiu: There are many explanations regarding the current confusion. But the truth is that Albanians are the same as I have seen them in 1997: without ideas, afraid and with the historical fear from Serbs. They are afraid from Serbs and their politics. Certainly in all this, there is a search for 'the traitor's head' and there are many calculations as to who can be the new traitor that is going to talk to Serbs in Vienna. But for the time being nobody speaks about all these things. On the other hand, the international community is somewhat tired from constantly looking for an exit-strategy from Kosovo. The symbolism of handshakes and formal talks are much more important for them than the consequences that could derive from an unprepared meeting. I have good experiences from the past and I know how our leaders function, and certainly I know how Serb leaders work, but I am also well aware of the international community, which in certain situations is completely irresponsible. Where is the basic problem, according to my opinion? The fight between Albanians and Serbs on who was born in Kosovo first is becoming absurd and a part of the political game. Both countries are represented by politicians of the 19th century. Not for the fact that they still look like that but because the ethnic state is still a priority of the politics of both countries. The current disagreements should certainly be solved with modern standards and not medieval clashes. I am not saying that we must forget everything that has happened here and erase the memory of Albanians every 20 years, but all that has happened must be in the service of overcoming this situation and not for remaining a hostage of the past.

There are numerous accusations against Kosovan politicians and institutions that claim that they are unprepared for these talks. In what context can we talk about such lack of preparedness and are these accusations true?
Hoti: In fact, this is a mixture of two issues: Kosovan institutions, or the government, is already prepared to enter talks on practical issues with Belgrade, but the dialogue as such hasn't been prepared. In the form it has been offered, the dialogue contains two elements that prove that it is unprepared. First, UNMIK hasn't transferred the necessary competencies to Kosovan institutions with which they can enter into an efficient dialogue with Serbia and Montenegro. Second, the Kosovo Assembly hasn't taken a position on this matter. Another issue in this respect is that Serbia has managed to create a legal and political position when it comes to prejudging Kosovo's final status, whereas the international community has reacted only verbally against such steps by Serbia, without doing anything concrete to oppose them. All these things result into damages for the conflict. This has nothing to do with the Kosovan political class, the institutions of Kosovo, not being prepared for dialogue with Serbia. Dialogue itself is unprepared and in this respect it is even more surprising that Mr. Holkeri is not realizing this. There is another element: we cannot enter into a dialogue with Belgrade if the US is not a guarantor on this matter, and so far we know that there is no such guarantee. There is Mr. Solana, but we don't have a serious US representative.

Haxhiu: One cannot accuse the powerless. You cannot ask them to do the impossible. Earlier on, I mentioned problems that make talks difficult. History, the past, lack of vision and courage and the ability to manipulate with major issues make up the specter of our failures. I want to say something: Experience proves that unprepared talks have consequences. I am not saying that there are going to be grave consequences for Kosovo because the war is already over, but there can be complications in the internal political situation because some things are not in the competencies of Kosovans. Thus, issues are divided. First: If Kosovans have no competencies on concrete issues then every meeting should be suspended until the point when Kosovans take over political power. But then there is also another issue: Are Kosovans willing, without the help of the international community, to compile documents of negotiations and offer them to the Serbian side and to the international community. I say no. Second: Responsibilities should be allocated: In areas where they have competencies, Kosovans should say we bear responsibility for this. Only in this way can they avoid speculations, improvisations and political games. We must also know that this is not the time to gain political points from this situation because this is not about the status of Kosovo. My question is: Who are the people that should discuss concrete issues. The leaders? NO! The experts? Who are they? Can they be identified? The advisors of leaders and leaders of institutions! Therefore, who are the people that should go to talks? Who are they?

Many circles have often mentioned that these talks are in fact a political agenda imposed by Belgrade aimed at shadowing the transfer of competencies from UNMIK to Kosovan institutions. How much truth is there to this, or are we dealing with factors that contributed to this situation?
Belgrade was in fact not prepared for talks, but it practically created legal and political premises so that it could justify itself in the internal scene in Serbia. In this respect, Belgrade has a formal advantage; however, Belgrade is poisoning itself by launching such processes which are similar to processes from Milosevic's era, which we all know resulted in horrifying crimes against other nations. They are rebuilding an old mentality and this is much more problematic for the region than whether or not we, the Kosovan institutions, are going to talks, because the independence of Kosovo is a non-negotiable issue and there is nothing to talk to Belgrade about this.

Haxhiu: We must be clear and honest. The transfer of competencies was stopped by the Quint, and therefore even the US. In fact the latter was the most persistent to stop the transfer of competencies. For many reasons. Look at things in the areas where competencies have been transferred. Look at the University, clinics, the healthcare system, the ministry of finance, drugstores and municipalities. Who is right? Who was right? The Quint which stopped the transfer of competencies or the Kosovans who were not capable of leadership? Kosovans would have had competencies if they proved the ability to manage them. But should responsibility be claimed from the Prime Minister?! What in the world can Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi with these party ministers? Nothing! Anyone can block him. At any point. This doesn't mean that Rexhepi is not to blame, but blame first of all falls on those who have left incapable people handling the transfer of power. And things remain silent and unmoved.

Although they haven't started, in your opinion, what is going to be the flow and epilogue of talks?
Hoti: This is a prophetic question. I cannot answer this, but I personally think that the talks that Mr. Holkeri wants to hold by all means, he can hold them elsewhere and without representatives from Kosovo. I think this can happen. If Kosovan institutions don't give a positive answer there are realistic chances that Holkeri will talk without Kosovan representatives, which is legally a direct responsibility of his, but what is clear is that no one except for the people of Kosovo can decide on major issues concerning Kosovo. The logic of preparing dialogue so far leads to a situation where it is doomed for failure, and it is going to fail.

Haxhiu: There is not going to be a flow of talks between Albanians and Serbs, at least not for another year. There are going to be elections in Kosovo and Serbia. There are also going to be elections in the US and in other European countries. Next year is the year of searching dialogue in empty space. 2004 is a year of searching the vote for history. At least this is so for Albanians. 2004 will decide who will negotiate for Kosovo's status, both in Kosovo and in Serbia. We are constantly begging for independence by only addressing the US. But one could ask where is Kosovo in the eyes of the US? Simply said, for the time being, the US doesn't even know where is Kosovo. This means that no one, or only a few, there is interested in Kosovo. The latest example for this is the visit of the former US President. No one apart from Kosovans has reported on Clinton's visit. No one. Some news agency wrote several lines. This certainly doesn't mean that Clinton's visit to Kosovo was not important, but the importance of events in Kosovo is minor. In the meantime, Serbia has got very close to the State Department. The Pentagon knows that it has troops in Bondsteel, whereas the media don't report about us, except for when they mention the equivalence of intervention. This is Kosovo in the eyes of Americans. Let us not forget that the US is going to support us only if we have the support of Europeans, and we are proving to be immature and cynical when we say that we want only the US and not Europe in negotiations with Serbia. We are very small to decide on such issues. We are so small that we cannot even be seen in fact.

Surroi: Holkeri's first failure (Koha Ditore)
In an opinion piece for Koha Ditore, publisher Veton Surroi wrote:

The new chief administrator of Kosovo, Harri Holkeri, marked his first failure yesterday. The Kosovo Assembly didn't give its endorsement to the government for the dialogue on practical issues with Belgrade, even though the chief administrator has already set up the date and place for the first meeting.

The truth is that the assembly session was over without a conclusion and decision, with a typical speech of an assembly speaker that leaves no room for debates and decisions, and the imposition of his personal opinion as the man with the most merits in the assembly. And his opinion was a temporary confusing approach that was related to what Daci had said to a certain interlocutor. This helped to buy a week's time for closed meetings, eventual increased pressure from internationals and for the main institutional leaders not to take over any political responsibility. And this might have even bought some time for 'dialogue on technical issues' to be held at the place and date set up by Holkeri, by thus turning assembly speaker Daci into the only ally in the assembly of the efforts of the chief administrator.

But Holkeri marked his first failure in another sense. In less than two months in Kosovo, he managed to turn almost the entire Albanian political spectrum against him, and by doing something that isn't allowed even in personal relations, let alone in political relations, by hurting the honor of Kosovars.

The presentation of the three Albanian parliamentary groups was a presentation of three people who were insulted by the infantile treatment of the international administrator, and an effort to preserve be it the personal or Kosovar dignity.

Prime Minister Rexhepi and AAK leader Haradinaj were the best indicators of this mood.

In the first week of Holkeri's stay in Kosovo, in late August, the Prime Minister sent him a program for the transfer of competencies from UNMIK to Kosovan institutions which was more or less ignored by the latter [Holkeri] by focusing exclusively on the issue of dialogue with Belgrade. Such a behavior has not only left the Prime Minister without the needed instruments to empower the government, but has also disparaged his personal position. Therefore, it is understandable why the Prime Minister and the Government held the basic position that they are not ready to enter talks, except if advised differently by the assembly.

On the other hand, the AAK leader voiced his anger in a rational category. His party, at the highest decision-making levels reached the decision to oppose the start of negotiations just one day before the assembly session. Along with the insistence that Kosovars should compile the negotiating process and politics in Kosovo, the smallest Albanian political party in the coalition government marked what should have been obvious: Kosovo should enter the negotiating process as a party, and not as a group of political representatives grabbed by the tie and dragged to the table of talks.

Holkeri's first failure goes beyond the issue of talks with Belgrade. Similar to every political mini-crisis in Kosovo it touches the basic issues of functioning, or better to say non-functioning of the governing system in Kosovo.

Within sixty minutes, the time that the assembly speaker allowed for debate, become obvious some of the most serious problems in Kosovo.

Is there consensus among Albanian parties? Is their basic consensus between the governing political parties on the issue of Kosovo Serbs that is their undefined identity both as Kosovar and residents of Serbia? Is there basic consensus between Kosovan institutions and UNMIK about Kosovo's priorities? Can all these issues be hidden with various undemocratic manipulations, among which even that of the assembly speaker?

International circles outside UNMIK, be it in the US or in Europe, have followed the steps regarding dialogue with fear. And even though they said they support Holkeri, they also had their dilemmas of whether or not such an approach can be successful. Now they face an unusual situation: They must support Holkeri by applying pressure on Kosovans although they are aware of the mistakes of the chief administrator of Kosovo. And pressure is already focused in eliminating the assembly as a decision-making center and transfer it to the three Albanian political leaders, in the form of the famous dinners.

However, I believe that even the most attentive international observers will be concerned with yesterday's assembly session. Despite the eternal impression of disorganization that can be left by Kosovar politicians, a basic message was realized yesterday: Kosovans are not against dialogue, they want seriousness in dialogue.

And they have honor.

Shala: Mistakes in steps (Zëri)
Zëri carried an editorial by Blerim Shala on the latest developments surrounding the issue of direct dialogue with Belgrade.

If the question of beginning the talks has been addressed at the Kosovo Assembly, this process cannot be undone. Let us make this even clearer: the Kosovo Assembly is the right place for political decisions to be made by the Kosovar side for dialogue with representatives of Serbia and Montenegro.

We are saying this because we have read a statement made by SRSG Harri Holkeri after meeting with the German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, who said that talks in Vienna would commence regardless of the decision of the Kosovo Assembly. It should be said that this is not the first time that Holkeri has made mistakes in preparing the process of dialogue. During these two months in Kosovo, Holkeri only focused on the issue of dialogue, which is undoubtedly important, but only in the context of the package of famous standards. He gave no signs that the process of the operationalisation and time frame of the standards would be accelerated. In fact, this is the key for developments in Kosovo until 2005, when the chapter on final status is expected to be addressed. If standards are not detailed and if the timeframe is not clarified, then there is nothing out of this, or maybe it would be better to say that the existing problems in Kosovo will only aggravate.

In the end, the UNMIK chief doesn't contribute to overcoming the current complicated situation, by challenging Kosovo Assembly members from Berlin, who think that the next couple of days must be used to create the necessary consensus among Kosovars on the issue of talks. Certainly, the million-dollar question is how is this consensus going to be achieved in a few days when it hasn't been achieved in the last two months.

Editorial: When the EU applies pressure (Kosova Sot)
Kosova Sot commented on the dialogue with Belgrade and pressure that the EU is putting on Kosovar leaders.

Solana's envoy has brought clear messages to Kosovo Albanian politicians.

Even by using the word 'danger', he has conveyed the message of his chief to "scare" the political decision-making centers in Kosovo. Therefore, even though competencies haven't been transferred and Serbian legal acts vis-à-vis Kosovo haven't been opposed, Albanians are forced to sit at the same table as the Serbian officials.

There is no alternative, say the Europeans because it cannot be done differently. Without executive and legislative authority, limited to regional cooperation, isolated in almost every segment of life, our 'doll' institutions should play theater in Vienna. The Europeans who know well the market economy, know that a show always has a price and is unreasonable to give a free show. In this case, the Kosovars as an entity should be part of the show simply for the sake of its international image. However, this show is still under question, since the Assembly has hesitated to support commencement of dialogue in unequal conditions. The Assembly's indecision isn't due to the 'technical issues' but from what is expected to happen later. It might be a coincidence or not, yesterday's statement by the Greek foreign minister Papandreou, who urged that the 'tough issues' should be discussed after the 'technical issues', which does mean that the 'technical issues' are the pretext to go for the status question. Maybe his statement means that the technical issues are an excuse to reach the issue of status. These statements and the increased pressure prove that these talks are not only about technical issues, but about Kosovo's status. If it is so, why do the European go round and round?

Ibrahim Rexhepi: Don Quixote (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore carried an opinion piece by Ibrahim Rexhepi on the privatization process in Kosovo.

Statements that the KTA has no consideration for the workers have become common. This opinion is not related to their work after the war but to the period of 'socialist reconstruction of our country'.

The paper reported that those who believe in this theory talk of property transformation that they did in the last year of the federal socialist state existence [Yugoslavia] in the Balkans. But at the same time they do not say that this transformation was fictitious and they use it as an opportunity to escape the 'special measures' that the then Serbian regime was applying at that time.

The method that the Slovenians used in their privatization is completely different from Kosovars, from the KTA spin-off, Rexhepi said.

In these circumstances, statements that 'factories belongs to the workers' or that the 'workers are shareholders' are an obstacle to the current privatization by the KTA, Rexhepi stressed.

In these circumstances, doubtless we hear a few aggressive voices saying that there is no privatization without the KTA. They justify this on the ground that there is transformation going on in Kosovo, it has international legitimacy and is very transparent, although the chosen model has small benefits. However, the entire Kosovo will benefit if we identify the real owner of the property and if we overcome polemics about property rights here. The property will belong to them who bough it, while the courts solve all eventual problems, Rexhepi commented.

While opponents of this privatization are mainly those who have 'privatized' enterprises that even after four years have not begun manufacturing; they have lost their market and have no chance to change something in their business as long as they feel that the factory belongs to worker-shareholders, who do nothing, Ibrahim Rexhepi said.

There are two examples that show good results if we were acting in any other way.

The first, the tube factory in Ferizaj did not make a noise about transformation, but sent its workers the court decision. It seems funny but the workers were forced to demand the compensation from the special court.

The second, the beer factory in Peja did not agree with the privatization, but they also know that they have no other alternative. They want to purchase the factory. But the miracle is somewhere else. They did not lose time to complain of lack of institutions or the wrong fiscal policy, but in June 1999 they began to produce the beer. Every year they increased their production by 25-30%. Last year they had a turnover of 8.3 million euros, while the average salary is €500, the paper said.

This case proves that you could provide a judicial mechanism to protect workers' rights in enterprises. Or the second case shows that Kosovo has an opportunity to work, manufacture and preserve the enterprises, Rexhepi concluded.

KTA wants to 'burn' 111 million euros in KEK (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reported that the KTA has increased its appetite to get money from the Kosovo budget, although the committee on budget has turned down a request for €130,000,000, while the KTA has sent another request for €156,000,000. Most of this would go to KEK, even though KEK took €102,000,000 from surplus last year and €40,000,00 from this year.

'After the budget committee meeting, we received a new request from the KTA for €156,000,000,' said the budget director in the Ministry of Finance and Economy Agim Krasniqi.

Most of this money will be invested in KEK, airport, Trepca, railway etc.,say KTA officials.

The KTA says that most of this money will be spent for maintenance, purchase of new equipment, investments etc. 'These investments are necessary to provide the Kosovars with basic services which will improve their quality of life and overall economic situation in Kosovo,' said KTA department for public relations.

KTA will invest 20.8 million euro in Kosovo A, general maintenance work and transmitter network; 9 million euros for the electrical network; 27 million euros to provide coal; 29 million euros to improve distribution; and 20 million euros for the planned evacuation and rehabilitation of those living in village Hamidi and to open a new coal mine, Koha Ditore reported.

The KTA first wanted to invest 8 million euros in the airport, but later sought another 6 million euros.

Koha Ditore reported that airport has in its account 12 million euros. The KTA demanded 13.6 million euros for Trepça mines. 'It is strange that the Trepça company management demanded 11.6 million euros, while the KTA demands two more million,' said Mr. Agim Krasniqi.

According to the request sent to the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the KTA wants 2.5 million euros for the railways, 17 million euros for privatization and 14 million euros for water and garbage collection.

'One hundred and thirty million euros are only for KEK, to be invested in combined projects for mines, transmission and distribution. These projects were approved in 2001 and 2002. The money allocated for these projects was used to repair damage caused by the lightening strike in 2002 and in Mirrash incident. Now it needs new funds,' UNMIK pillar IV spokeswoman Monique De Groot said.

The budget director Agim Krasniqi asked how is it possible that different institutions require money from the budget and at the same time don't recognize the government and don't submit reports about their financial situation.

The KTA asked for 2.3 million euros from Kosovo's budget for its administration. The salaries of KTA workers are ten times higher than Kosovo government servants, Koha Ditore said.

The KTA employs only 157 persons, both local and international. The salaries of the KTA workers are mysterious even for the KTA board members.

'We demanded a report about workers, their salaries and KTA finances but we haven't received any information. I know that the KTA is financed by donations and in 2004-2006 will be financed by the Kosovo budget,' said the Minister of Trade and Industry Ali Jakupi.

Union leader Bahri Shabani also said that there is no transparency in the KTA regarding salaries and finances. 'Most of the KTA is funded by the EU and USAID, while a small percentage is covered by the Kosovo budget,' Shabani said.

'As a board we have the right to have a financial report and we have demanded that, but it hasn't come yet,' Shabani concluded.

Belgrade Media Update

Kosovo Serb returns minister joins Pristina delegation (B92)
Milorad Todorovic, the Kosovo minister in charge of repatriation, will represent the Serb minority in the Pristina delegation for talks this month with Belgrade.
The government's Minister-Coordinator for Repatriation was appointed to the Pristina delegation at a meeting of the Kosovo Serb coalition "Return" last night.
Talks on technical matters are due to begin on October 14 in Vienna. Serbian Justice Minister Vladan Batic said last night it was still possible that Kosovo Serbs would be represented in the Belgrade as well. "If the number of delegates and the circumstances allow it, Kosovo Serb representatives may be in that delegation too," said Batic, whose party currently holds the rotating chair of the Return coalition. He reiterated that the position the Belgrade delegation takes to Vienna would be based on the Serbian Parliament's Declaration on Kosovo.

· Main Stories 3 October
· Statements by Kosovar leaders on eve of direct dialogue with Belgrade (Zëri)
· Kosovo Assembly preserves consensus and nothing more (Koha Ditore)
· Rexhepi to ask for signatures of three leaders instead of 'Yes' from assembly
· Government will present to assembly request for new ministries (Zëri)
· EU High Representative Javier Solana writes to Nexhat Daci (all dailies)
· Holkeri: Assembly's endorsement is not needed (Koha Ditore)
· Jakup Krasniqi comments on talks between Prishtina and Belgrade (Epoka)
· Surroi: Holkeri's first failure (Koha Ditore)
· Shala: Mistakes in steps (Zëri)
· Talks are important for the entire region, says Lehne (Koha Ditore)
· Editorial: When the EU applies pressure (Kosova Sot)
· Todorovic will be in the Kosovar delegation (Koha Ditore)
· KTA wants to 'burn' 111 million euros in KEK (Koha Ditore)
· B1 to be reactivated before winter (Zëri)

Kosovo Media Highlights

Statements by Kosovar leaders on eve of direct dialogue with Belgrade (Zëri)
Zëri carries the statements of Kosovar leaders on the issue of upcoming dialogue with Belgrade representatives.

Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi: The Prime Minister and the Government in general are not ready to participate in talks with Belgrade without the endorsement of the assembly and the consensus of the three parliamentary groups. The non-transfer of competencies and the failure of the international community to react to the inclusion Kosovo in the Serbian Constitution make the dialogue almost impossible.

Kosovo Assembly speaker Nexhat Daci: I think that the assembly needs some more time to make this decision in order to preserve the functioning unity of institutions. I am not willing to take over the responsibility to vote for the destruction of what we have built with such tremendous effort.

AAK leader Ramush Haradinaj: Let us fulfill our obligations; let's declare independence in this assembly today, and tomorrow we will escort our delegation to the airport.

Xhavit Haliti, Kosovo Assembly presidency member: I think that the international community, Serbia and us as deputies, should ask to sign a peace agreement between our two countries and ask Serbia to remove its armed forces from the border with Kosovo, because Kosovo does not pose any threat.

Sabri Hamiti, LDK parliamentary group chief: If the dialogue is a so-called standard, then dialogue should also have its own standards. The Government and UNMIK should reach an agreement for the transfer of competencies before the start of dialogue.

Arsim Bajrami, PDK parliamentary group acting chief: Given the fact that this is a very important issue, I think that we should invite Mr. Holkeri and the President of Kosovo here so that a true institutional consensus can be achieved.

Kosovo Assembly preserves consensus and nothing more (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports that the Kosovo Assembly has chosen not to ruin the assembly and government consensus by voting in favor of postponing the decision to authorize the government to enter direct talks with Belgrade.

Koha Ditore quotes Kosovo Assembly speaker Nexhat Daci as saying, 'I think that the assembly needs some more time to make this decision in order to preserve the functioning unity of institutions'.

The paper also quotes Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi as saying, 'We know that if we don't go to Vienna, Kosovo's image is going to be damaged. However, it is always good to assess what is more important: to have a superficially good image, or to go to talks just for the sake of it and without the consensus of the three parliamentary groups'. [more in Media Analysis]

Rexhepi to ask for signatures of three leaders instead of 'Yes' from the assembly
Citing international sources, Koha Ditore reports that the international community has made a proposal to the Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi. The proposal states that if the Kosovo Assembly does not endorse the talks with Belgrade, he should then ask the three main political leaders to sign on this issue.

The same sources told Koha Ditore that Rexhepi has agreed with this proposal.

Government will present to assembly request for new ministries (Zëri)
Citing reliable sources, Zëri claims that SRSG Harri Holkeri has replied to Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi's letter asking to accelerate the transfer of competencies. According to Zëri, the content of the letter however does not leave much hope that there could be a swift and sensitive development in the transfer of competencies. [more in Media Analysis]

EU High Representative Javier Solana writes to Nexhat Daci (all dailies)
All dailies report that EU High Representative Javier Solana has sent a letter to Kosovo Assembly speaker Nexhat Daci saying that dialogue between Belgrade and Prishtina was the only way to resolve Kosovo's final status.

Solana wrote that talks and cooperation, and the building of a functioning democratic and multiethnic society in Kosovo was the only way towards a political and peaceful agreement on final status.

Holkeri: Assembly's endorsement is not needed (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports that after meeting with German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer in Germany, SRSG Harri Holkeri commented on the upcoming talks between Prishtina and Belgrade. The paper claims that Holkeri said that from the legal point of view, the endorsement of the Kosovo Assembly to enter talks was not needed.

Zëri also quotes SRSG Holkeri as saying, 'the assembly's endorsement is not needed.'

Jakup Krasniqi comments on talks between Prishtina and Belgrade (Epoka e Re)
Epoka e Re runs an opinion piece by Jakup Krasniqi, who comments on upcoming talks between Prishtina and Belgrade. 'Talks on this kind of level were held even before, in fact even during the war for the liberation of Kosovo. We all know the results and the consequences of the endless cat and mouse game. Why are we walking along the same pathway that has resulted into numerous consequences and non-curable wounds?' asks Krasniqi.

Surroi: Holkeri's first failure (Koha Ditore)
In an opinion piece for Koha Ditore, publisher Veton Surroi claims that the new chief administrator of Kosovo, Harri Holkeri marked his first failure yesterday. 'The Kosovo Assembly didn't give its endorsement to the government for dialogue on practical issues with Belgrade, even though the chief administrator has already set up the date and place for the first meeting,' Surroi added. [full translation in Media Analysis]

Shala: Mistakes in steps (Zëri)
'If the question of beginning of talks has been addressed at the Kosovo Assembly, this process cannot be undone. Let us make this even more clear the Kosovo Assembly is the right place for political decisions to be made by the Kosovar side for dialogue with representatives of Serbia and Montenegro,' writes Blerim Shala in an editorial for Zëri.

'We are saying this because we have read a statement made by SRSG Harri Holkeri after meeting with the German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, who said that talks in Vienna would commence regardless of the decision of the Kosovo Assembly. This is not the first time that Holkeri has made mistakes in preparing the process of dialogue.' [full translation in Media Analysis]

Talks are important for the entire region, says Lehne (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports that Steffen Lehne, special envoy of EU High Representative Javier Solana met separately with party leaders and high-ranking authorities to convey them the message of EU foreign ministers that the start of talks between Prishtina and Belgrade constitutes a new chapter that leads to the solution of problems.

'Kosovo's image depends much on the start and success of talks with Belgrade,' Lehne was quoted as saying.

Editorial: When the EU applies pressure (Kosova Sot)
'Solana's envoy has brought clear messages to Kosovo Albanian politicians,' says a front-page opinion piece by the editorial section of Kosova Sot.

'Even by using the word 'danger', he has conveyed the message of his chief to "scare" the political decision-making centers in Kosovo. Therefore, even though competencies haven't been transferred and Serbian legal acts vis-à-vis Kosovo haven't been opposed, Albanians are forced to sit at the same table with Serbian officials'. [full translation in Media Analysis]

Todorovic will be in the Kosovar delegation (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports that Coalition Povratak has decided to propose the inter-ministerial coordinator for returns at the Kosovo Government, Milorad Todorovic as the Serb representative in the Kosovo delegation that will enter talks with Belgrade.

On the other hand, senior Serb representative Vladan Batic said that there is a possibility for Kosovo Serbs to be represented in Belgrade's delegation.

KTA wants to 'burn' 111 million euros in KEK (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports that after the budget committee turned down a request for 130 million euros, the Kosovo Trust Agency (KTA) has sent another request for 156 million euros. The KTA claims that 111 million euros would be invested in the Kosovo Power Corporation. [more in Media Analysis]

B1 to be reactivated before winter (Zëri)
Zëri quotes Betty Dawson, official of UNMIK Pillar IV as saying that block B1 would resume producing electricity before winter. 'The contractor Alstom Power is still working in B1 and repairing the control system,' said Dawson, and added that investments were being made by the European Agency for Reconstruction.

Kosovo Press Headlines

Koha Ditore
Front page
· Assembly preserve consensus and nothing more
· KTA demands to 'burn' €111,000,000 in KEK
· Surroi: First failure of Holkeri's
· Holkeri: Assembly's approval is not necessary
· Three persons killed in Gllamnik and one in Strellc
· Rexhepi to demand signature from leaders instead of assembly's approval

Other headlines
· Lehne: Talks are important for the entire region (2)
· Solana and Robertson will be in Vienna in October 14 (2)
· Flour and wheat without custom services duties (2)
· Todorovic will be part of Kosovar delegation (2)
· What did Solana write to Daci? (3)
· Complaints of citizens towards Silkapor company (4)
· Llamkos from Vucitern sold its vacation house in Ulcinj (4)
· Gjakova's economy prepares for tender (4)
· Albanian authorities block FTA and accuses Kosovars (5)
· Strikers accuse, commercialist work, KTA keeps silent (65)
· Robertson: Ohrid agreement is the only way (6)
· Robertson supports dialogue, Ahmeti says that Kosovo's independence will enable stability in Macedonia (6)
· Municipalities reached to return its property (7)
· 60% of houses have no water system in Kosovo (7)
· German problems with refugees (8)
· Four policemen arrested [Presevo Valley] (8)
· Cox: Stability in Kosovo makes a stable region (8)
· Situation is very grave (8)
· Ibrahim Rexhepi: Donkishotism (10)
· Mala: Dialogue with Belgrade (11)

Zëri
Front page
· Postponement of decision saves the LDK, PDK and AAK coalition
· Negotiation for accepting the dialogue
· Shala: Wrong steps
· Solana will visit Kosovo before 14 October
· Holkeri: Dialogue will begin regardless of assembly's decision
· Government will demand new ministries
· Deçan: Former KLA member Avdi Mujaj killed

Other headlines

· Covic: Albanians are staring and demand to raise price of negotiations (2)
· Solana demands from Kosovars to assist Holkeri in starting the dialogue (4)
· Povratak appoints its representatives next week (4)
· Contact Group: Postponing the dialogue makes look institutions unserious (4)
· KTA: KEK needs around €100,000,000 (5)
· Kosovo telephone code will be determined by the new operator (6)
· KEK Block 1 will begin to work before winter (6)
· Haziri: None definition of the municipal properties impeded development (6)
· Agim Çeku meets relatives of missing persons (6)
· Ahmeti to Robertson: Kosovo's independence will not harm Macedonia (7)
· Albanians accuse police [Presevo Valley ] (7)
· Police accuses seven Albanians [Presevo valley] (7)
· 'Reformed' students in half way: with or without diploma (7)

Bota Sot
Front page
· Dialogue' faction deputies, Daci postpones discussions indefinitely
· Bad news from Kosovo, four killed and three wounded
· Rugova meets with Kosovo pharmacists
· Deçan returns to silence, Peja insecure
· Ministry of Public Services prohibits the work of Alfa Market

Other headlines
· 'Dialogue' has other alternatives (2)
· Former KLA member Avdi Mujaj is killed (2)
· Robertson: Implementation of Ohrid agreement is your priority (3)
· Opinion piece by Buçpapaj (4)
· Assets allocated by budget are enough only for the potholes (4)
· Security issue remains a priority (5)
· Government is committed to assist war invalids (5)
· Buçpapaj: Perverse dialogue, because Serbia speaks Milosevic's language (5)
· Operation of bands and instable situation, made to fail weapon amnesty (7)
· Program that supports reforms in municipalities (8)
· PM Rexhepi hopes to achieve institutional consensus till next week (8)
· Baleta: Moisu did not mention Kosovo's independence at UN (9)
· New law about ombudsperson in Macedonia (10)

Kosova Sot
Front page
· DSRSG Brayshaw lifts taxes, bakeries to decrease price
· Crisis explodes in Assembly
· Three persons killed in Gllamnik
· Solana to Daci: Postponing of dialogue is not justified
· In Kosovo nothing moves without US
· Editorial: When EU puts pressure

Other headlines
· Germany supports SRSG Holkeri (3)
· Morina: Talks depend on competencies (3)
· Kosumi: No dialogue with evil (3)
· Kelmendi: Daci did not behave well (3)
· Latifaj: No talks to Belgrade (3)
· Ivanovic blames Albanians (3)
· EU: Solana's envoy send massages to Kosovar politicians (4)
· Slovenia assists 60 war veterans (4)
· Kosovo's independence would make Macedonia stable (4)
· Holkeri's work is criticized (5)
· Nothing new from the dialogue (5)
· Missing persons - most sensitive issue after war (6)
· Block I will produce electricity before the winter (6)
· BPA: No reason not to trust commercial banks in Kosovo (7)
· Teachers' training and its outcome (7)
· Dutch government willing to assist PTK strategic development (8)
· Kosovo new code will be determined by new operator (8)
· Unemployment is challenging government (8)
· Krasniqi: My view about dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade (9)
· Freedom and restriction in Kosovo (9)
· Our politicians are in dead end (9)

Epoka e Re
Front page
· UDB carrying on to kill in Kosovo
· Krasniqi: My view about dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade
· President, minister, inspector… have no license to build
· Holkeri: Talks will begin even without approval of the Kosovo assembly
· What Kosovar leaders should bear in mind

Other headlines
· Parties do not agree, no decision on talks (2)
· Three killed in Gllamnik (2)
· Solana writes to Nexhat Daci (3)
· Thaçi and Haradinaj talk to Ries and Dickinson (3)
· Artists and war veterans support Limaj's fund (4)
· Talks will be held in the historic palace (4)
· Covic: If Albanians are not for dialogue, what do they want? (4)
· Lehne: Postponing of dialogue is very dangerous (5)
· Kammerhof second German as COMKFOR (6)
· Cox: Albania has support of EU for integration (6)
· Twenty years in prison for Kosovars who demanded work in Macedonia (8)
· Pfeiffer: education destroy prejudgments (9)
· Çeman: No dialogue for Kosovo to remain under Serbia (10)
Belgrade Media Highlights

· Holkeri in Berlin (Politika/Beta)
· Dinstbir and Micunovic discuss Kosovo (Danas)
· Solana writes a letter to Daci (Glas/Tanjug)
· Holbrook arrives in Belgrade (Vecernje Novosti)
· Rexhepi: It is hard to squeeze Covic's hand (Blic)
· Kosovo Assembly postponed decision (Balkan)
· Zivkovic: Belgrade not asking for any concessions (Politika/Tanjug)
· ICG report (Politika/Tanjug)

Holkeri in Berlin (Politika/Beta)
The dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina is to begin in Vienna on 14 October, independent of the decision to be issued thereon by the Kosovo Assembly, UNMIK Head Harri Holkeri said in Berlin. Following talks with German Foreign Minister Joschka Fisher, Holkeri told Beta that there was no doubt that negotiations would begin and that that the only remaining issue was the composition of the Pristina delegation. Fisher promised to Holkeri a full support of Germany, adding that for Berlin, Kosovo remains the focus of efforts invested in achieving peace and democracy in the entire region and preventing violence and nationalism, thus paving the way for European integrations. The "standards before status" policy is of vital importance to us, Fischer said.

Dinstbir and Micunovic discuss Kosovo (Danas)
The former rapporteur for human rights in the former Yugoslavia Jirzy Dinstbir, who met with SaM Parliament Speaker Dragoljub Micunovic, has talked about the situation in Kosovo and our country's road to the EU. Following official talks, Dinstbir told journalists that the most important task is to stabilize the political situation in Kosovo and Metohija, and that standards should be first ensured and
then the status of Kosovo should be discussed. "Now we are far from the period when Serbia was considered a country that threatens stability in the Balkans, and since we (the Czech Republic) will soon become an EU member, we will surely lobby for Serbia because we wish to help you to pass this road to the EU faster and more easily, but I must say that democracy is most important and unavoidable on this road," said Dinstbir. Micunovic told journalists that he agreed with the guest on the stands regarding Kosovo, and that he was especially content because Dinstbir was an excellent connoisseur of the situation in Kosovo and Metohija.

Solana writes a letter to Daci (Glas/Tanjug)
The EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Safety Javier Solana has conveyed in the letter to Kosovo Assembly Speaker Nexhad Daci that the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue is the only solution for the final status of the province. Solana considers that only by way of dialogue and cooperation, and after the basis is established for the complete functioning of a democratic and multi-ethnic society, can Kosovo achieve a political peaceful resolution of the final status, Pristina independent Radio TV 21 reports. It is stated in the letter that the EU favors full implementation of UNSCR 1244, and supports the beginning of the direct dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina on the practical issues of mutual importance.

Holbrook arrives in Belgrade (Vecernje Novosti)
Former US special negotiator for the "former Yugoslavia" Richard Holbrook, who was also the US Ambassador to the UN, is supposed to arrive in Belgrade from Sarajevo, accompanied by the former special representative of the UNGS for Kosovo and Metohija Bernard Kouchner and the American expert for the Balkans Jonathan Lewizky. A party is planned for this evening in the residence of the US Ambassador William Montgomery in Dedinje, where the following people had been invited, as Novosti unofficially learns: SPO leader Vuk Draskovic, Ivan Marovic of Otpor, NIN commentator Ljiljana Smajlovic, the former foreign political advisor of the Serbian prime minister Ivan Vejvoda, and analyst Bratislav Grubacic. Aleksa Djilas has also been invited to the party, but our daily learns that he is the only one who has turned down the invitation to have dinner with Holbrook. Holbrook is arriving to the capital at the invitation of Ivan Vejvoda, the chief of the non-government institution "The German Marshal's fund" in Belgrade, who is also his host.

Rexhepi: It is hard to shake Covic's hand (Blic)
With the adopted declarations, the SaM and Serbian Parliaments have performed a constitutional aggression on Kosovo, which violates UNSCR 1244. It is implied that Kosovo institutions will take part in the dialogue, but Nebojsa Covic, known for destructive activities over the past two years, is heading the Serb side. This is why it will be difficult to find an Albanian who will shake his hand in Vienna, said Kosovo Premier Bajram Rexhepi.

Kosovo Assembly postponed decision (Balkan)
The Kosovo Assembly has postponed the passing of the decision on the Belgrade-Pristina negotiations for the following week. However, certain Albanian leaders claim that the Kosovo delegation will not appear in Vienna on 14 October. Therefore, following the visit by several influential international officials, Richard Holbrook's and Bernard Kouchner's arrival in Pristina on Sunday can be very much interpreted as an attempt to have Albanians enter the dialogue. Namely, the dialogue is conditioned with the completion of the government, i.e. with a request for transferring competencies from the UN protectorate to interim institutions, those that are exclusively reserved for the head of the mission according to UNSCR 1244.

Zivkovic: Belgrade not asking for any concessions (Politika/Tanjug)
The start of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue represents a victory of democratic forces in Serbia, Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Zivkovic assessed. He told Deutche Welle Radio that Belgrade officials did not request any concessions in dialogue to begin in mid-October in Vienna, as he deems UNSCR 1244 fully acceptable. According to Zivkovic, UNSCR 1244 imposes an obligation on everyone to ensure the return of IDPs to Kosovo and Metohija and recalled that at a time several hundred thousand Albanians were returned to the province within seven days only and that in the last three years only 1 or 1.5% of Serbs has returned.

ICG report (Politika/Tanjug)
In the latest monthly bulletin of the International Crisis Group (ICG), a non-governmental organization with headquarters in Brussels, the situation in Serbia has been assessed as unchanged and the scheduling of new presidential elections has been emphasized as a significant moment. The situation in Kosovo and Metohija is also unchanged, ICG assesses and warns that the recent murders of, primarily, Serb children in Gorazdevac near Pec, represent yet another proof that the situation is still unstable in the province. At the same time the authors of the analysis point to a considerable contribution by UNMIK Head Harri Holkeri, who prepared the announced dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.