Media Analysis 7 October 2003

• Pristina closer to Vienna, composition of delegation still unknown (Zëri)
  
• Belgrade is interested only in the first meeting in Vienna, nothing more (Zëri)
  
• Koha Ditore interview with former SRSG Bernard Kouchner (Koha Ditore)
  
• Shala: Reducing blame (Zëri)
  
• Bajrami: Honest messages must not be ignored (Koha Ditore)
  
• Editorial: A chaotic eve of dialogue (Kosova Sot)
  
• Rugova's offer, refused by the Americans, was unknown for KPS (Koha)
  
• Krasniqi: Are usurpations a Kosovar phenomenon? (Epoka e Re)
  
• Johnson: If KTA gives up on privatization, UN leaves its mandate (Zëri)

Belgrade Update

• Status talks 'inevitable' in Vienna (SRNA)

Pristina closer to Vienna, composition of delegation still unknown (Zëri)
Zëri claims that despite its unclear composition, the Kosovan delegation will participate in the Vienna meeting on October 14th.

Citing sources close to political centres in Prishtina, Zëri reports that there was an informal meeting yesterday with between Assembly Speaker Nexhat Daci, Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi, PDK leader Hashim Thaçi and AAK leader Ramush Haradinaj on the issue of dialogue.

In the meantime, the Kosovo Government held an urgent session yesterday that included discussions on a document by Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi for the completion and functioning of the local government, which the Prime Minister is expected to present to the assembly on Thursday.

The Kosovo delegation, though with unclear composition yet, is likely to take part in Vienna meeting on 14 October. Citing sources close to the main political centers, Zëri claims there was an informal meeting held yesterday with Parliamentary Speaker Nexhat Daci, PM Bajram Rexhepi, the head of PDK Hashim Thaçi, and the head of AAK Ramush Haradinaj. The topic of discussion was the dialogue and the possibility for a delegation from Kosovo, with still an unknown composition, to go to Vienna, and mark the beginning of contacts with Belgrade. This meeting, that looked rather spontaneous, happened after the ceremony in the Pristina MA, where higher international diplomats Richard Holbrooke and Bernard Kouchner urged the Kosovan leadership to go to Vienna and start the dialogue with Belgrade, which is considered of high priority by the international community. In fact, the meeting did not aim at reaching a concrete decision, but impressions from these sources show that there are new tones and flexibility among Kosovans.

International sources inform that Harri Holkeri has agreed for Kosovans to be represented there even with a mixed delegation from institutional leaders and leaders of political parties.
Afterwards, there was another meeting yesterday, with Rexhepi, Thaçi, and Haradinaj taking part, where, according to the same sources, the topic of discussion was again dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade.

In the meantime, the Assembly Chairmanship, which meets today, will not put the declaration of the Assembly on technical talks on the agenda, sources from this institution inform.

Asking for compromise among the three main parties who signed the agreement to form the Government seems impossible at a time when the three major political parties LDK, PDK, and AAK have different stances on this dialogue. According to these sources, it is easy to ask the Assembly to vote, but it seems impossible to ask for consensus.

Instead of proceeding from where the last session ended, which is the Assembly declaration, well-informed sources say that the Assembly will discuss two new proposals, one coming from the Government, the other from PDK.

The first proposal was presented to the Assembly Presidency by the Government of Kosovo, after an urgent meeting held yesterday. This meeting was held behind closed doors, but, according to sources that participated in the meeting, the Government request has to do with the document of the PM asking for completion and better functioning of the Kosovo Government, which he had prior sent to the UNMIK chief, and for which he had not got an answer. This document with a supplementary paper, where the request of the Government is justified, asks for approval by the Assembly, and according to Zëri sources, it will be sent to the chief administrator and representatives of the Quint in Pristina. Always according to the sources within the meeting, it is said that the PM got the support of the Government in principle, though some ministers asked for clarification of the procedure. Also, it is said that Rexhepi will in the meantime review the procedural way of presenting this to the Assembly on the plenary session to be held on Thursday.

The request to adopt this document in the Assembly was launched in the last session by Ramush Haradinaj, and that after adoption of the PM's plan by the Assembly, it is going to be sent again to Harri Holkeri.

A quicker transfer of competencies to the local Government is foreseen in this plan as well as the opening of political offices for reserved powers, which would later turn into ministries of the local Government.

The second request that will be presented to the Assembly on Thursday, according to the same sources, has to do with the topic proposed long ago by PDK to declare the Serbian Constitution on Kosovo null and void. After the adoption, the same request will be presented to the highest international bodies, which will be asked to recognize that the Serbian Constitution has no legal and political effects on Kosovo and its future.

The adoption of these two documents by the Assembly, according to local sources, is a harmonized stance and there is a silent consensus among the main political parties. This, according to them, means that they have a common stance more or less before going to the first meeting in Vienna.

Concerning the composition of the delegation, it has remained to be decided in the next few days. The proposed variation with a composition from institutions would mean Ibrahim Rugova, Bajram Rexhepi, Nexhat Daci, Nafie Gashi and Milorad Todorovic. While if a mixed delegation is proposed, Hashim Thaçi, the head of PDK, would also be part of it, while it is not clear if Ramush Haradinaj would go to Vienna after the decision by the National Council of AAK. Among variations mentioned yesterday, it was implied that Kosovans can also go there in the level of party leaders; Rugova, Thaçi, and Haradinaj. Yet, the final decision remains to be made during the week.

International diplomats in Pristina have helped the whole process, especially the head of the US Mission Marcy Ries, who yesterday met some of the local leaders, and the chief administrator Harri Holkeri.

Belgrade is interested only in the first meeting in Vienna, nothing more (Zëri)
Zëri quoted western diplomatic sources as saying that there is a huge difference in the opinion of Serbian and Kosovan representatives about the chances for a successful first meeting in Vienna and the whole process of discussing concrete issues.

The sources told Zëri that Serbian officials believe that they must fully agree to attend the first meeting with Kosovan representatives, because the Serbian Government could benefit from cooperating with UNMIK and the west. 'Therefore, Belgrade is going to try and capitalize its willingness as much as possible in the presence of high-ranking western officials. But this is all that Belgrade is expecting from this process,' added the sources.

Zëri claims that if the process of talks is held according to the plan compiled by the SRSG Harri Holkeri it can be very problematic for Belgrade. It is already known that Belgrade is not willing to accept Kosovan license plates, ID cards, travel documents that were issued in Kosovo after the conflict.

'If it is going to take months to get Belgrade's approval for issues which can be solved in several hours, then the process of solving concrete issues is futureless. On the other hand, when it is known that the Serbian Government is facing a major crisis, which might be solved with premature parliamentary elections, it could be calculated that Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Nebojsa Covic will be very careful in heading this process in the name of the Serbian regime. There will be numerous delays, postponements and obstacles in the approach of Covic and the Serbian regime,' it was added.

The sources also told Zëri that the situation among Kosovan politicians is on the other hand completely different. 'The main problem in the eyes of Albanian politicians is the first meeting that will be held in Vienna. There is reasonable fear among Albanians that this meeting could have consequences in the functioning of the coalition government, but Albanian officials must nonetheless assess the damage to Kosovo's international image if they refuse to go to Vienna. As for the process of talks on practical issues, the Kosovan side could have certain advantages because Serbia would be obliged to recognize the elements of Kosovo's new identity, or it is going to be blamed for the failure of the process,' concluded the sources.

Holbrooke and Kouchner give speeches at Prishtina Municipal Assembly (Koha)
Koha Ditore reported that former US Ambassador Richard Holbrooke and former SRSG Bernard Kouchner gave speeches at the municipal assembly in Prishtina yesterday.

Holbrooke and Kouchner advised Kosovan politicians to attend talks in Vienna, 'because the beginning of talks with Belgrade doesn't present any danger for Kosovans'. 'On the contrary, there is going to be danger if Kosovans don't participate,' said Holbrooke and Kouchner.

'If Kosovan leaders don't go, this is going to be a serious mistake and an easy international triumph for Belgrade,' Holbrooke was quoted as saying. He assessed that although Kosovo's status is not on the table, these talks are related to the status and this is beginning of the solving process, while at the same time he asked the Kosovan politicians 'how you couldn't go?'

'We know that a debate is going on in the assembly whether to participate in the dialogue or not, how to do that and on what basis. This is a good debate and this is democracy. You should decide about yourself. Let me address you as your friend, because there is nothing dangerous if you go to Vienna. There is no danger, but it is dangerous is if you don't go,' Holbrooke was quoted as saying.

By suggesting the Kosovan politicians not to loose this opportunity he said that 'if Prishtina doesn't go to Vienna, you will send a signal that Kosovo is not ready to get engaged in issues that are very important'. He also encouraged political leaders to support participation of the high delegation.

Regarding the issue of the final status, Holbrooke said that we are aware of the aspirations of the majority of Kosovo's people. He also said that in Belgrade it is understood that Milosevic has lost Kosovo.

'Very few people can say that in Belgrade publicly, but its position has started to change,' and added that more Serbs are looking towards Brussels. The American ambassador said that Serbs have two major concerns and those are 'legitimate concerns'. He was talking about Serb security, including protection of the historic monuments and the right of refuges to return.

'I will repeat again that these concerns are legitimate concerns. Kosovo cannot achieve its aspiration if those problems remain unsolved,' he said.

He mentioned the killing of two children in Gorazhdevac and said that such crimes could jeopardize Kosovo's aspiration. 'Please do not allow these acts. Approach reconciliation, judge it and find the perpetrators. Tell to the world that people who do these things should be punished,' he said.

He added that in Kosovo it would need an international presence even after the resolution of the final status, therefore Albanians should protect their neighbors, the Serbs. Kosovo has still unsolved problems. Crime and corruption are still serious problems, the economy is in a bad position and the international community hasn't fully implement Resolution 1244, but responsibilities should be transferred into the hands of Kosovans and UNMIK should do more in this direction.

Commenting the possibility of withdrawing American troops, the American ambassador said it would be a serious mistake if our troops withdrew from Kosovo before the resolution of the final status. This would send a wrong message to Afghanistan and Iraq that 'Americans never finish their work'.

On the other hand, the former SRSG Bernard Kouchner while 'congratulating Kosovans for the new democracy' said that 'on our trip we discovered and also found lots of differences. He sent a message across that Kosovo shouldn't be allowed to become a dangerous place in Europe. He also mentioned only few issues that he hopes to be resolved such is the transfer of competencies, higher unemployment and lack of investments.

Kouchner said that the position of Serbs is very grave. He said that the killing of children in Gorazhdevac influenced the opinion on Kosovo the world in a bad manner. 'Organized crime is a real danger for Kosovo. Ethnic crimes are very dangerous for your humanity. Do not allow this to happen again. Do not allow every killing to be covered by silence. Make demonstrations in the street as we did before. Protect the monuments and assists the police to find the perpetrators. My dear friends, these innocent families aren't your enemies. Your real enemies are killers. You cannot build the new society on violence,' Kouchner was quoted as saying.

'It would be a tragic mistake if Kosovo is not represented in talks in Vienna,' said Kouchner.

Kosova Sot quotes Holbrooke as saying, 'Even though the status is not on the table, these talks are related to the status. This is the beginning of a process'.

Koha Ditore interview with former SRSG Bernard Kouchner (Koha Ditore)
In an interview for Koha Ditore, the former SRSG Bernard Kouchner was quoted as saying, 'The problem is that the European Union should not say 'there can be no border changes'. This is not in accordance with reality'.

Following is the translation of the interview in its entirety.

How much has Kosovo developed four years after the start of the UN administration, your administration?
You are technically doing better, economically you are somewhat better, I am not so sure; you are very slow politically and I think that a new period is starting with peaceful talks or the talks in Vienna and with the new perspective for your future in the region due to the will of all nations to join the European Union. However, the people have not changed. Kosovans are still difficult people, but I know that there have been important changes. In Belgrade I met very nice people; the democratic life was far away from that during Milosevic's time. I was happy to have had the opportunity to meet important people there, the president of the federation, and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Defence, very nice and open people.

When you say that we are slow in the political aspect, can you tell us something more about what you mean?
Yes. You, the civil society, not the politicians, do not count that someone is going to come from the UN building in New York, you are very slow. I know that it is difficult to build a new model of tolerance and to have contacts with the truth and also real talks with the Serb community in Kosovo. I know that you are under pressure and that their lives are difficult and the enclaves are less guarded by the army and more open; however, this is not enough. You must prove the world that you have a new model of tolerance in the new Kosovo.

Should there be talks in Vienna?
I think that talks in Vienna are going to take place. I don't know if this idea is going to win unanimously or only the majority in the assembly, but even if it's only the majority, talks in Vienna are a necessary step to start talks with Belgrade authorities, even with this unclear agenda and in a way with lack of preparedness from the Kosovan side. This is an important momentum.

Kosovo's final status hasn't been resolved yet. There is a feeling that this is impeding economic development and political stability. What is your opinion about this?
You must tell your people in the next three years that you are going to have final status. However, the issue of standards is also very important. Allow me to say that people in UNMIK, who are my people too, people at the European Union, but also the Americans, my best friend Holbrooke is not part of this package, are very slow. They want to postpone the problem of final status. This is madness, it is going to catch up on you. I don't know what is going to be the final status, and neither do you. We will see. However, the European Union should not say 'there can be no border changes'. This is not the reality. Otherwise, while we were in Belgrade I noticed that people there realize that if they want to join the EU, they must choose between the past and the future, between the EU and Kosovo, between the EU and Montenegro. We will see. There are no prejudgments on the status. I saw that there is willingness in Belgrade for this, but don't expect politicians to make any powerful statement before the elections.

You have met several politicians in Belgrade. What is your impression on eve of talks in Vienna?
They are very open and democratic people. I am very pleased to have had the opportunity to met Kostunica again. He is certainly a radical nationalist, but he is in favor of the rule of law. He is a democrat. This is something completely different. Last time I met with Mr. Milosevic. And believe me when we wanted to exchange prisoners and when we were welcomed by the leaders of the previous regime it was very different. My feeling was that despite the economic difficulties in Serbia, it is a big country, a big nation, which wants to move forward toward the future and show its intelligence and dynamism. Just like you. You know sometimes you are very much like the Serbs, but this is not an insult, not at all.

You have sent a powerful message to the leaders, you said that they weren't doing enough to protect the Serb community…
Yes, at the same time I was very shocked by the news coming from Gorazdevac. The killing of young Serbs was a shame for me; it went straight to my heart. This was unacceptable and unimaginable. I also know that on the other hand the crime rate is declining, but I cannot understand. Was it a political signal for Holkeri's arrival? Nonetheless, it was horrible. What do those people think, that they are going to get independence by killing young Serbs? No, on the contrary, this is going to have its counter-effects. I don't blame only the leaders and politicians, I also blame my people and the European Union. We were too afraid from the perspective of changes. But keep in mind that I am not talking about your future. This is up to you. Autonomy, alliances, independence, these depend on you. However, the problem was solved by Vaclav Havel when the Czechs split from the Slovaks, and that was very wise. Could this have been possible if they were members of the European Union? It is madness to say that we want to preserve the borders. Yes, I have much respect for the borders, but even more respect for human beings. Therefore, we must be more inventive, all of us together, not only the leaders.

You have met with the new SRSG. What is your impression of him, bearing in mind that among Kosovans you are the most popular SRSG?
He is very wise, dignifying and intelligent. We had very honest discussions, although it is quite difficult to imagine such a discussion with my successor. We talked about talks in Vienna and he told us that he wasn't doing this for his career, and that he took on the job when his friend, Kofi Annan, had asked him to…

Do you have any other comment about Kosovans?
Yes, I am very happy to be here again. Kosovo is part of my life, part of my life as a human rights activist. I was never happier than during the time I lived in Kosovo, because when I woke up in the morning I was happy, because a day earlier I did all I could do to calm the situation and prepare it for the future. However, I want to tell you something else. It is difficult for me to be here and not remember my close friends, Sergio De Mello, Nadia Younes, Fiona Watson, Jean Selim Kaanan, who died in the UN building in Baghdad. They were the most committed people I have ever met. They died as Kosovans and UN volunteers for the very same reason in Baghdad. When I entered the offices today (the building of the assembly and the government which was once the headquarters of UNMIK), and on the left part of the corridor was Nadia Younes' office, on the right side Fiona Watson, and Jean Selim Kaanan was in the end. Therefore, it was very heartbreaking and difficult for me. Thank you.

Shala: Reducing blame (Zëri)
In a front-page editorial for Zëri, Blerim Shala wrote:

Slobodan Milosevic's regime in Serbia was ousted three years ago. This regime was replaced in the same way it was installed: with much noise, voting and the agreement of all Serb political, military and spiritual entities.

However, the responsibility for the evil committed by this regime, which until 1999 had the support of the absolute majority in Serbia, fell only on the shoulders of Milosevic and a group of politicians and military officers around him.

The regime that was installed in Serbia after October 5th hasn't managed to achieve essential reforms in the society that had been promised in October 2000. This regime hasn't even tried to initiate the confrontation of the Serb opinion with crimes committed in Bosnia, Croatia and Kosovo. Milosevic's extradition to The Hague was perceived as the beginning and end of the blame for crime; and cooperation with The Hague tribunal was perceived as some kind of an exchange of criminals that should be sent there in return for material and political beneficences from the west. The lack of willingness in Serbia to deal with the past and the partnership with the structures of the former regime was paid with an expensive price: the strengthening of organized crime that led all the way to the assassination of the Serbian Prime Minister.

Almost all these positions are comprising parts of the ruling opinion in Belgrade. Many people there believe that the Serb society has failed in implementing political and economic reforms. Only some governmental officials are still able to say that in the last three years hopes and promises were kept. Several officials of the European Union in Brussels share their opinion. We all know why.

Bajrami: Honest messages must not be ignored (Koha Ditore)
'If we are waiting for Madeleine Albright and Wesley Clark to come to Kosovo and tell us the same words as Bill Clinton, Richard Holbrooke or even Bernard Kouchner, we are in an even worse position than we have thought,' wrote Agron Bajrami in an editorial for Koha Ditore.

There have been several high-ranking visits in Kosovo recently. And the messages that the guest friends have conveyed had the same burden of seriousness as the name of the visitors - starting with former US President Bill Clinton and all the way to the former US chief diplomat for the Balkans, Richard Holbrooke, and the former French chief administrator of Kosovo, Bernard Kouchner.

What the bulldozer-diplomat, Holbrooke, and the dearest chief administrator Kouchner had to say was nothing new to us. We have heard that so many times. But there is a certain difference between the numerous messengers that are going to come here these days and tell us things we already know.

While so far most messages came from UN and EU officials and diplomats who are active on the issues of Kosovo and the Balkans - for whom bringing messages to Kosovo is part of the job they are paid for - Holbrooke and Kouchner, much like Clinton, came here to tell us what they told us exclusively as friends interested in the wellbeing of Kosovo.

And this difference between messages coming from Clinton, Holbrooke and Kouchner and for example messages coming from Chris Patten or letters coming from Javier Solana should finally convince the leaders and the public opinion in Kosovo to change their approach of ignoring messages coming from friends.

And when it comes to messages their essence cannot be clearer: the future must not be a hostage of the past.

Therefore it is time, our friends tell us, to change our path. Not for the sake of the daily politics, or international pressure, but for our own sake. For the sake of Kosovo's future. Or as Holbrooke said openly: Protect remaining Serbs, if you want to win independence.

When I heard this sentence by Holbrooke I personally remembered Kosovo in 1998. At the same time I also remembered a Kosovan saying: Who doesn't listen to his mother, will have to listen to his stepmother.

In the language of daily politics, this would be translated as following: if today we don't listen to our friends who once protected Kosovo, tomorrow no one will listen to us… except Belgrade.

From the time of war, there are four American names that Kosovo will remember for eternity: Clinton, Albright, Clark and Holbrooke.

And two of them came and told us to our faces: you are free - start acting as such.

If we are going to wait for the other two to come and tell us the same thing, we're in an even worse position than we have thought.

Editorial: A chaotic eve of dialogue (Kosova Sot)
Kosova Sot commented on the position of the Albanians in the upcoming dialogue with Serbs and why this dialogue in essence is a dialogue about Kosovo's final status.

Serbs have increased provocations on the eve of the dialogue, diplomats and other personalities have increased the pressure on Kosovans; the lack of consensus is going deeper instead of diminishing, while the lack of clarity in the media is multiplied. Dialogue is killed by numerous mysteries that come from outside and inside Kosovo.

The paper concludes the editorial saying that 'it is good if SRSG Harri Holkeri and his staff travel to Vienna and to see how 'easy' it is to talk to 'Covic'.

Rugova's offer, refused by the Americans, was unknown for KPS (Koha)
Koha Ditore reported that Kosovo President Ibrahim Rugova made an offer to the US for sending members of the Kosovo Police Service in peacekeeping missions in Iraq, Afghanistan or elsewhere in the world.

Rugova made the offer after meeting former US Presidential Envoy for the Balkans, Richard Holbrooke, and the information was made public by Elaine Sciolino, a journalist of The New York Times. According to Sciolino, this was the third time that Rugova was making such an offer.

'I don't have any soldiers, but nonetheless I have offered policemen for Iraq, Afghanistan or some other place. We have a good police force,' Rugova was quoted as saying. On the other hand, The New York Times quoted an unnamed US official as saying, 'The administration was grateful for this offer, but it said that it was not needed. Mr. Rugova received an answer from US Assistant Secretary of State Elizabeth Jones who said that the only thing that could help in the fight against terrorism was the building of a democratic and stable Kosovo'.

Koha Ditore also quoted KPS spokesman Refki Morina as saying that President Rugova made the offer without previously consulting the high-ranking officers of the Kosovo Police Service.

'We have received no official information or had any consultations with the Presidency of Kosovo for the KPS to take part in peacekeeping operations,' said Morina. 'The Kosovar police is willing to offer its assistance to the international community, but this must be decided and assessed by our institutions and the international community'.

Krasniqi: Are usurpations a Kosovar phenomenon? (Epoka e Re)
Epoka e Re carried an opinion piece by Jakup Krasniqi, the Minister of Public Services, who wrote:

After the liberation war in Kosovo, a lot has been said and written about the usurpation of shops and flats. No matter who the usurpers were, no matter their reasons, and calculations, everything was ascribed to the KLA. Many interests were interwoven: family and personal needs, clan and mafia calculations and interests. But there was one that was the most organized and that had a primary goal; to denigrate the Kosovo Liberation Army, our national value.

In this respect the success was complete. This special war, very denigrating for KLA, was also helped by irresponsible people from its ranks. They were a very small number, and they helped a lot the drafters of the planned and projected strategy in anti-Albanian centers of information, that aimed at denigrating KLA and snatching from its hands the future of Kosovo; an independent and sovereign state. This policy, that is very obvious, was helped and nourished a lot by those who never agreed with the war, by those who declared the saboteur commanders of Kosovo Liberation Army as heroes, by those who never said a word of appreciation for real fighters, who were shot and jailed after the war, and who created the new reality.

Even after four years, the phenomenon of usurpation has not only not decreased but on the contrary it has pervaded other vital walks of life, and it is only after four years that the real usurpers of institutional and material fields can be seen. After four years, in Pristina, the capital city of Kosovo, the usurpations and other deformations of economic, financial and public fields are asked to be legitimized. Then, who are the usurpers after the Liberation War? It is good that, at least after four years, we are in a position to see and know the real usurpers of freedom, independence and democracy.

When I conceived writing the article, I did not think to focus on material usurpations after the war by poor and rich people, by various speculators and hoodlums, but on usurpations of institutions, of the will of the people, for the usurpation of our joint future. This usurpation is deeper and more general than the first, these are double usurpations, which were started by the internationals and were deepened by locals. They remain usurped by UNMIK for four years now: economic development, budget, finances, customs, public and social enterprises, judicial system, security, including the future.

My intention now is to tackle the usurpation of institutions by the locals. This is a very frequent phenomenon in all fields of political and public life here. I will start with political parties that are the embryo of the institutional life, where we have the biggest usurpations, where the crime starts.

The largest party in power even after two years has not made its decision-making bodies functional, though we have had two elections. So, one can ask who is making decisions in the name of the decision-making bodies of LDK? Which is the decision-making clan? It is known that where institutions do not rule, the mafia does. Is this happening in Kosovo? Who is nourishing this form of ruling? Many other parties cannot brag they are functioning any better, that they have made the decision-making bodies functional and that they have internal democracy.

Are the internationals nourishing, and to what extent, the primitive and medieval autocracy in the Balkans? My conviction is that they are nourishing a lot this vicious phenomenon. I can understand them; they want to "solve" the old problems in the Balkans fast, simply talking to the leader or leaders that are content with a carrot. The easiest way is to consult those who imitate the kings and their autocratic life of the Egyptian Pharaohs in a place where 50 % of the population lives in extreme poverty. This phenomenon penetrates from parties to institutions. This acting philosophy is nourished by the experience of the mighty administrators of UNMIK, which are above any law or legal regulation. The Finish chief administrator Mr. Holkeri is making this philosophy reach the peak. The 'experts' that have come here to teach us democracy do not apply the democracy we read and learned from the books written by authors of Western Democracy.

Usurpation of the will of the people

In the institutional life of Kosovo there are many usurpations. The biggest usurper in the institutional and democratic life is the head of the Kosovo Assembly. The way he behaves in the parliament cannot be seen in any of the parliamentary democratic practices. Something similar could have happened in the communist practice, where the secretary of the committee could do whatever pleased him and whenever it pleased him. The Assembly speaker cannot convince himself that he is like any other member of the parliament with the only advantage he is to lead the Assembly sessions. No, he cannot agree with the real duty he has. He acts as if he were the father of the nation. He cannot understand that the head of the parliament is just a speaker of the parliament, and as such, and from that position, he cannot be a charismatic political personality. The Chairman of the Assembly of Kosovo, using the machinery of the votes directed by the night bars, has usurped the will and determination of the people of Kosovo. With the autocracy of a medieval tyrant he has turned the Assembly members into modern robots, to vote for demagogy and not for a wide and responsible debate of giving ideas and making important decisions for the country. In the parliaments of democratic countries, assembly members strive for more room to debate, where they would express their human, intellectual and professional values, where they would give ideas and solutions for building up the country, for development and for building institutional and democratic life. "The Chairman" of the Kosovo Assembly prorogated the last session in the name of creating a consensus among parliamentary groups. In fact, there was consensus in the parliament about not going to talks for as long as the PISG are in this inferior position. The Assembly Chief was in search of consensus for starting the dialogue. Our parliamentary speaker cannot wait to go to Belgrade and speak the language he is very fluent in. If he had asked with the same commitment for the consensus to declare independence for the state of Kosovo in the Assembly of Kosovo, this would have happened by now.

There are usurpations in the Government as well, though there is another phenomenon here, the biggest usurpers are the ministers. The PM has usurped only statements in the name of the Government or hiring advisors. The regulation 2001/19 has usurped all the power from the Government and the Prime Minister. The issues of special national importance are not decided in the Government, but in the ministries, where local and tribal interests are decided. Therefore, the ministers are the usurpers of that little executive the Government of Kosovo has.
This can best be seen at the Ministry of Economy and Finances, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MASHT), the Ministry of Transport and Telecommunication (MTTK), etc. It would be of interest to snatch competences from UNMIK with the same persistence and commitment.

Similarly, the presidency has been usurped of everything but the strong element of being part of Kosovo's statehood. The President, which has usurped all bodies of his party, and who has become the party himself, has usurped the presidential palace (with undefined property), to receive everybody that passes by, and to distribute crystal stones, for which the Crystal Museum in Mitrovica is in dire need. The President has also usurped the field of spatial and urban planning in the Kosovo's capital, Pristina. The President paid a visit to the municipality to legitimize illegal (wild) buildings and usurpations and create new spaces for corruption constructions.

The logic of usurping authorities has penetrated the local level, too. Even in this case they enjoy the support or silence of the UNMIK representatives, who have not transferred their authorities to the central level (the Government of Kosovo). So, we have the phenomenon of meetings not being held in some Municipal Assemblies, even after four or five months, like in Prizren, Podujeva, etc. Thus, the obligations of the MA are usurped by the head of the Municipality and by the one party Executive. These usurpations mean creation of room for misuse and other usurpations in the municipal administration. Let us be straight, the usurpation of institutions with this determination is not done only for political charisma, there is something more personal. Let us leave the opinion to judge it.

Thus, the phenomenon of usurpations has pervaded the whole Kosovan society without difficulty, even the seventh power: the public media. The address of their usurpers is a bit more vague. They are all "independent", but they do not mention that they are independent only in their relation with the local institutions and the national interest, or even with donors? It would be of interest if the seventh power saved itself from the usurpers. The usurpers of institutions would then fear from the opinion created by print and broadcast media. Has UNMIK usurped RTK or has the Media Commission done it?

Has at least the Kosovan family been 'spared'?

Johnson: If KTA gives up on privatization, UN leaves its mandate (Zëri)
Zëri claims that certain international lawyers currently working in Kosovo have raised the issue of the legal immunity of board members of the Kosovo Trust Agency (KTA).

'The legal issues are very confusing. I am not a lawyer but I am saying what I understand and this is my personal opinion,' said privatization director John Johnson. 'The KTA regulation and all legal packages on privatization are compiled and adopted by the UN,' he said and added that people who compiled this regulation believe that cases against the KTA from outside Kosovo are not possible.

'It is very clear that the KTA together with UNMIK is responsible for economic development in Kosovo. If we delay or halt the process of privatization, then this means that the United Nations is not fulfilling its own mandate,' Johnson said and clarified again that this is his personal view.

'It is very clear that the KTA is responsible for privatizing socially owned enterprises which have closed down or are in decline. We have lots of investors who are interested in investing huge amounts of money, bringing in new management and are also willing to open new markets,' he said.

Zëri reportedly said that the KTA has no dilemma whether or not the privatization process should continue. 'We are used to moving with all the possible speed and the same thing will be in the future,' Johnson concluded.

Following the issue of privatization Koha Ditore reported that privatization process is facing delay because of the Serbia's broad campaign against the KTA. The paper cited its reliable source from the KTA Board as saying that the Serbian government is threatening to accuse the KTA in the international court if the privatization process continues.

UNMIK Pillar IV chief Lambsdorff stressed before the KTA Board, Serbia's government demand to change the KTA regulation because 'the legal owner of all socially owned enterprises is the Serbian government'.

Koha Ditore reported that all documents on privatization as well as the operational policies and regulation on land management before approval by SRSG Harri Holkeri have been sent to Belgrade to be approved by the Serbian government.

On the other hand, the work of the KTA seems to be blocked, the paper further reported. After the former KTA chief Jurgen Mendricki left, there has been no person who will sign the privatization contracts. Moreover, Mendricki left the position because he did not want to sign the contacts. He opposed signing contracts without legal immunity.

'I do not want to lose my money in the court,' he was reported to have said.

Belgrade Update

Status talks 'inevitable' in Vienna (SRNA)
It will be impossible to avoid discussion of Kosovo's final status at this month's dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina in Vienna, the chairman of the Serbian Parliament's Kosovo Committee, Momcilo Trajkovic, said today. "Is it possible to discuss technical issues such as electricity supply or vehicle registration plates without discussing the status of Kosovo" There are no discussions of technical issues in Kosovo which are not at the same time profoundly political," he told Novi Sad daily Gradjanski list. Trajkovic also expressed concern that he has still not been informed as to who will be part of the Belgrade delegation for the talks, adding that he believes Kosovo's senior Serbian Orthodox Church cleric, Bishop Artemije, should be among the negotiators.