Media Analysis 8 October 2003

• Forum 2015 offers recommendations for talks with Belgrade (Koha Ditore)
  
• Surroi: The 'k' game with Kosovo (Koha Ditore)
  
• Shala: The clearness of Tuesday October 7th (Zëri)
  
• Naser Miftari: Circus in open air (Koha Ditore)
  
• Editorial: How can we speak to the Serbs Mr. Holkeri? (Kosova Sot)
  
• Dugolli: Daci has blocked the declaration on independence (Epoka e Re)
  
• Ali Ahmeti: First consensus, then talks (Zëri)
  
• Govt and political parties in Albania welcome start of dialogue (Koha)
  
• An international indictment against KTA, stops privatization process (Koha)
  
• Rexhepi: Suspension of privatization process will cause catastrophic consequences (Zëri)
  
• Editorial: Imposing inferiority (Zëri)
  
• Editorial: Privatization process in knock-down (Koha Ditore)
  
• Ibrahim Rexhepi: Serbia as an economic problem for Kosovo (Koha Ditore)
  
• Ethnic tensions are a consequence of provocations by Serb extremists (Zëri)

Belgrade Update

• Hofburg Palace venue for Vienna dialogue (Beta)
  
• EU suspends Kosovo privatization (SRNA)
  
• Haradinaj offers flowers for independence (FoNet)

Forum 2015 offers recommendations for talks with Belgrade (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore carried a report from yesterday's round table where the upcoming dialogue was discussed and its principles set.

The Forum 2015, a coalition of three think tanks, organized a round table, which discussed the platform for the talks between Albanians and Serbs. Most of the participants in this debate were in favor of the dialogue but not on October 14.

The participants included Veton Surroi, Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi, AAK leader Ramush Haradinaj, and Minister for Public Services Jakup Krasniqi.

Veton Surroi who analyzed SRSG's approach for initiating the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia opened the debate.

'SRSG wants to talk about four topics in Vienna: electricity, transport, missing persons and returns. The main problem is that such proposal lacks structure of dispute,' Surroi said and asked 'how are these topics related to each other, what are they part of? Why have these four and not another four, eight or three?'

He also said that the form of the negotiations proposed by SRSG Holkeri has its weaknesses. First, the double role of Holkeri, as SRSG and mediator. 'Holkeri is this dictating the failure of negotiations because formally it is necessary to stress who is the negotiator and who is the mediator,' Surroi said.

PM Rexhepi said that these meetings were supposed to be held earlier. 'We have discussed such topics earlier and we did not want to discuss it publicly because we did not want to create an impression that the government is eager to have the dialogue,' Rexhepi said and also criticized the SRSG.

'First, he is supposed to consult with local institutions and later to talk to the internationals,' he said and again repeated that the government will not begin talks without the assembly's approval.

The chairman of AAK Ramush Haradinaj said that Holkeri's project on dialogue is useless. He added that the project is being, sort of improvised, starting with the composition of the delegation to the selection of the topics to Holkeri's statement that there is no need for the Assembly's approval.

The minister for Public Services Jakup Krasniqi said that it is not true that Kosovars were against the dialogue but conditions for it aren't premature.

The forum prepared a set of recommendation on the dialogue.

Recommendations for platform for talks with Belgrade

A. Kosovo and Serbia agree to open the dialogue with international mediation (the US, the EU and NATO). In Kosovo, the Assembly should authorize the government to create a negotiating team with a basic negotiation platform. The government tells the mediator about its willingness, the date and the place of negotiations.
B. Kosovo and Serbia agree in the first meeting on the principles to be followed.
C. Kosovo and Serbia agree to create a negotiations commissions after accepting the basic principles in order to treat particular aspects of the principles. It would have three main groups:

1. The first would discuss the issue of consequences of the war that derive from the suspension of the legal system in Kosovo and the war against citizens.
2. The second group would deal with technical issues and seek to harmonize practical problems that exist between Kosovo and Serbia and which are issues of mutual interest.
3. The third group will deal with the lifting obstacles that will enable Euro-Atlantic integration of Kosovo and Serbia without prejudging Kosovo's final status.

The principles:
1. Kosovo and Serbia, without prejudging Kosovo's status, aim to join Euro-Atlantic integration process and seek their future within EU and NATO.
2. Kosovo and Serbia, without prejudging the status, are committed not using any violence for resolving the issue of status. The issue of Kosovo's status is not a military issue but a political one, which should have place for the expression of the democratic will of Kosovo's citizens.
3. Kosovo and Serbia, without prejudging the status, recognize mutual interest in their territories. The development of relations between both sides means they have a right to be interested in issues of mutual concern such as the culture heritage, use of the language and the minorities.
4. Kosovo and Serbia while resolving the mutual issues recognize UN documents regarding Kosovo and its territorial integrity. Whatever the status, it should be based on the rule of law in all of Kosovo.
5. Kosovo and Serbia express their willingness, while seeking to resolve for the future the issue of final status and relations after the resolution of the final status, to discuss past as well as current issues.

a. Both sides understand that issues that are related to the past are related to the war (attempted genocide) against Kosovo and its citizens.
b. Both sides are aware about the problems in mutual relations, between Kosovo that is administered by UNMIK and the provisional self-government institutions on the one hand, and Serbia on the other hand. These issues could be resolved without determining Kosovo's permanent status.
c. Both sides recognize problems that impede their integration in EU and NATO.

6. Kosovo and Serbia agrees that the mediation by the US, EU and NATO is necessary to discuss all open issues between the two sides and also invite them to facilitate this process. With this approach Kosovo will have an option for the negotiation process. This offer would imply, above all, Kosovo's equality in the process, beginning of the political initiative and protection of Kosovo's interest in the international community.

Surroi: The 'k' game with Kosovo (Koha Ditore)
In an editorial for Koha Ditore, publisher Veton Surroi wrote that yesterday Kosovars faced the fact that the UN in New York has decided to stop the process of privatization in Kosovo, while on the other hand, the Kosovo Assembly presidency spent 37 minutes of debating on what should be discussed at the next assembly session.

A graffiti was written on one of the walls in Pristina as a message for Kosovo politicians after the arrival of NATO troops in Kosovo in 1999. The message, created in the darkness of the lack of electricity and civil insecurity, was 'Don't b… with Kosovo'.

The reference to the male genitalia in this graffiti showed the seriousness of the whole issue.

The words were direct and one couldn't help but recall them yesterday while two parallel events were taking place. On the one hand, the UN was blocking the process of privatization, while on the other hand, there were efforts to reach an agreement on the start of dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade in Vienna on October 14th.

In both cases, Kosovars had neither started nor ended the process, and they were also not consulted on their beginning and the ending. In both cases, Kosovars were marked as the last figures in the game, those who would be informed on what was going to happen, with or without their approval.

Two actions or figures have turned into the metaphors of these developments in Kosovo.

Yesterday, Kosovars faced the fact that the UN in New York had decided to stop the process of privatization in Kosovo, while the Kosovo Assembly presidency spent 37 minutes debating on what should be discussed at the next assembly session.

There are two figures behind these actions, chief administrator Holkeri and assembly speaker Daci. The first one is trying to launch negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina next week, by referring to himself as chief administrator, mediator and participant. Yesterday, in a political maneuver that was aimed at avoiding the Kosovo Assembly, Holkeri sent a letter to the three Albanian party leaders asking them to appoint a government minister each as member of the negotiating delegation, and by declaring himself as the chairperson of the first meeting. He would also avoid the Government and Assembly of Kosovo.

The second one, assembly speaker Daci, allowed his colleagues 37 minutes of his autocratic time to discuss what should be debated in the next assembly session. In the meantime, he also said that if his counterpart from Belgrade goes to Vienna next week, he is also willing to do the same.

Holkeri and Daci publicly agree on one thing: they don't want the Kosovo Assembly to make a declaration on negotiations in Vienna on October 14th.

While all this mess of upcoming negotiations was taking place here, a directive came from New York on the privatization of socially owned enterprises in Kosovo, immediately after complaints from Belgrade.

With this, four years after the building of a political, legal and economic system in Kosovo, its fourth version has just been registered.

In the beginning, the UN said that it was the administrator of all public wealth, underneath and above the ground of Kosovo. At the same it also said that all laws that were applied until 1989 in Kosovo were still applicable, those that don't have elements of ethnic discrimination, thus recognizing the basis of a self-governing socialist system in property issues.

Then after one year they realized that they could launch another process, the process of commercialization with which the UN could give enterprises on some sort of rent to those it thought could handle them.

Then they would appoint a system of privatization with which properties could be sold, in a clean manner through tenders but the funds wouldn't go to Kosovo.

And as of yesterday, we have another system that has stopped privatization and Kosovo lacks a law that would determine how to administrate property that is not private. In 2003, Kosovo is the only country in the world that has self-governing socialism as a legal basis, despite the fact that it has died a long time ago.

What else connects Holkeri and Daci to these developments?

Holkeri is going to be presented as the man who, regardless of all the weaknesses in his negotiating process, has managed to launch negotiations, in fact even at a time when after four years of government by the United Nations there are four economic models for Kosovo.

Daci will be presented as the man who speaks in the name of the Kosovo Assembly, regardless of the opinion of the institutions that he technically leads.

What they both have in common is the graffiti from 1999.

Shala: The clearness of Tuesday October 7th (Zëri)
In a front-page editorial for Zëri, Blerim Shala wrote that Tuesday October 7th is going to be remembered as the day when everyone realized the seriousness of the crisis in the international and local administrations.

Furthermore, it would be an illusion to think that this crisis can be overcome. Simply put, neither UNMIK nor the local authorities have the power to stop the downhill slide and get the whole process back on track.

Among local officials the mess surfaced as a result of the problem over the talks with Serbia and Montenegro. Our leading politicians didn't have identical positions for even two days. They said that the Kosovo Assembly should make the decision on the dialogue; they also said that the decision could be made by the three main leaders; they said that they would go to Vienna if UNMIK gives four additional ministries to the government; they said that the government should prepare the package and then the assembly must support the government and then this issue was removed from the agenda of the upcoming assembly session, and so on and so son.

I guess we're doing quite well, when the majority of our politicians were waiting for Richard Holbrooke to bring us a new offer of dialogue with Belgrade.

Among the internationals, whose responsibility is much bigger, cases such as the KTA and parallel structures, which came up following the decision to stop the process of privatization and the OSCE report, show that UNMIK is having major problems with itself. If privatization doesn't resume and if the parallel structures are still allowed to function, despite the fact that the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan asks for their dissolution in every periodic report, the idea of standards before status is over. Certainly in that case, the cards for Kosovo's final status would be opened.

Naser Miftari: Circus in open air (Koha Ditore)
In an opinion piece for Koha Ditore, Naser Miftari wrote that despite various offers over the last few days, 'ours' needed to find some 'excellent camouflage'! Somebody is for sure spying on Albanians for Holkeri and is letting him know we are not serious, otherwise he could not have found out.

How Harri Holkeri found out that Albanians are first rate clowns just a few weeks after his arrival in Kosovo remains an "enigma"!
I do not think he has seen Albanians in Finland, be it gigolos, clowns etc. Usually 'ours' know only how to play with 'stick boxes'. It is also unlikely for Nordic people to have a circus because it seems to me they rarely smile. Generally they seem cold.
I do not think he understood this, because some officials here insist on not going to Vienna unprepared, and what they imply with 'unprepared' is not to go there without securing visas, plane tickets and booking of hotels in Vienna, because the internationals take care of the rest.

I also do not think he has found out from coffee breaks in the Assembly when Albanians and Serbs get to understand each other very well, and when they address 'the nation' they pretend they badly hate each-other and express themselves against each other.
I also do not think he has found out from the Parliamentary Speaker when in the middle of discussing 'very important' issues he says, let us drop it, it is not that important, it is important for me not to be late for Sarajevo, since some good people have invited me there.

I also do not think that he has found out from the President, who thank God, together with his family members, starts to learn the "Geography of the country" after the arrival of KFOR helicopters. Neither has he found out from the fact that he engraves military medals without having an army! And for sure he has not found out from the fact that when Vienna is mentioned, the boss of "Pear Land" and jam says that this has to do with lower levels, while in the meantime he gives "New York Times" the idea to offer police officers for Iraq, Afghanistan, and Liberia, not mentioning that there are not enough police officers even for the nearest police station. At the end of the day, it does not matter, the Serbs are offering them, we should do the same! If we are to take a closer look at it, Rugova does not even want this police force for his personal security.

For sure, Holkeri has not found out from the fact that when Albanians say we want a Foreign Ministry if we are to go to Vienna, they mean a liaison office with UNMIK. And in the end, how can this old Finish man understand the brain of 'ours', when they think outside. 'Outside' here means from going to live somewhere in the West to going to toilet, and is also used for many other stories; Out!

I also do not think that the old man and the world understand us when we say we will declare peace to Serbia, when we never officially declared war to them, since the president of the 'Pear Land' did not deign it necessary.

Despite various offers over the last few days the 'ours' needed to find some 'excellent camouflage'! Somebody is for sure spying Albanians to Holkeri and is letting him know we are not serious, otherwise he could not have found out.

Editorial: How can we speak to the Serbs Mr. Holkeri? (Kosova Sot)
Kosova Sot commented on the start of the dialogue and gave reasons why these talks must be postponed.

Serbia has stopped the privatization process in Kosovo and caused difficult circumstances for the country. Serbia is continuing to destabilize Kosovo. Serbia has caused unseen tragedy in Kosovo. Serbia is keeping the records of thousands of missing innocent Albanians.

Considering these facts, how can we talk to Serbs Mr. Holkeri, how can you hope to find a common language with the Belgrade political establishment? After the scandal of the privatization process, which is key to economic development, it would be good if you postpone the dialogue.

Your first attempt Mr. Holkeri has failed, although you wanted to bring together in one place the Albanians and the Serbs. Even if you convince any of our leaders, the dialogue will fail again.

Dugolli: Daci has blocked the declaration on independence (Epoka e Re)
Epoka e Re conducted an interview with the AAK parliamentary group chief in Kosovo's assembly Bujar Dugolli about recent developments in Kosovo.

How do you comment Daci's statements who said that independence would be declared within this mandate, while on the other hand he is a real obstacle for that.
If declaring of independence remains for the end of the Kosovo Assembly's mandate, then it is not a healthy aim to strengthen Kosovo, but it is an aim for strengthening his position or that of a party. I think this issue should not be connected with the end of the mandate, because we are late in this aspect. Our obligation is to declare the will of Kosovo people during our mandate, because they gave us their vote and we cannot accept any process until this has been done. For the locals, declaring of the people's will is a condition for moving to other processes. There may be chaos and conflict or declaration of the independence, but those who are impeding this, they do not have any convincing justification, but they can have political or individual one. I have asked the Assembly speaker to state publicly which are the elements that are impeding declaration of Kosovo independence and who are those leaders or individuals. The public should have it clear who is impeding this. The AAK, LDK, PDK and other minorities except Povratak support it, then, who are those people that are impeding this, is it the President, Assembly speaker, PM or leaders of political parties

Will dialogue happen on October 14?
We think that for October 14 nobody in Kosovo is asked, Holkeri lost time and energy by requiring the international support for beginning of the talks and did not get support of the locals. Simply October 14 is set up because Serbia and the international community has accepted, but without support of the locals. I think that dialogue shouldn't happen on October 14.

What are the consequences if the dialogue fails because of the Albanians?
There could not be consequences as somebody is saying. I believe that for this failure UNMIK should be blamed, because it hasn't matched its obligation from the Resolution 1244, as it is the transfer of competencies, because we have required it in continually. We expect from the west to respect will of our people and not to be forced by violence or pressure to take decisions against our will. They could take somebody and send somewhere, but this will have no effects as did not have agreements that were reached by Rugova and Milosevic.

Begin of the talk without recognizing the will of the people and without international guarantees for the transfer of competencies is legalization of the Serbian sovereignty, because acceptance of such dialogue is bad for Kosovo. We welcome statement of Prime Minister Rexhepi who said that Government would not begin the dialogue without Assembly's approval and consensus amongst government partners. He showed maturity, because he doesn't accept to begin dialogue without consensus. This consensus couldn't happen without the transfer of competencies and independence declaration…

To begin a process when you aren't equal, it means that you took obligation to have partial solutions, which are against Albanians aspiration and which harm interest of the Albanians. We aren't able to accept this solution and everybody should be careful.

Ali Ahmeti: First consensus, then talks (Zëri)
Zëri quoted Ali Ahmeti, the leader of the Democratic Union for Integration (BDI) and the former head of the now-disbanded National Liberation Army in Macedonia, as saying that political parties and public personalities in Kosovo should first reach internal consensus and then enter talks with Serbian authorities.

During an interview for BBC, Ahmeti advised Kosovar representatives not to fear talks with the Serbian delegation, 'because they are going to negotiations to protect the determination of the majority for independence'.

Ahmeti also said that the position of the Macedonian Government was that it is in Macedonia's interest to have stability in Kosovo.

Govt and political parties in Albania welcome start of dialogue (Koha)
Koha Ditore reported that the government and political parties in Albania have welcomed the start of dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade, and they have also asked Kosovar political entities to find a common language during talks in Vienna.

The Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a press release on the start of dialogue and said that the upcoming talks would enable the addressing of a series of concrete problems of mutual interest for both parties. 'The start of dialogue is the only alternative to fulfill the Kosovar future toward Europe and European institutions,' it was added.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs voiced its belief that the Kosovar political entities should be united in their stands for the upcoming dialogue, to prove that they can move ahead as serious partners and concretize the beginning of dialogue.

An international indictment against KTA, stops privatization process (Koha)
Koha Ditore reported that an international indictment against the Kosovo Trust Agency (KTA) has forced UNMIK to make a damaging decision for the future of Kosovo, by temporarily suspending the fragile process of privatization in Kosovo.

UNMIK Pillar IV spokeswoman Monique De Groot said that the decision was made to annul the third round of privatization, until the KTA is strengthened with more legal competencies from the United Nations.

Although two privatization rounds have happened, the reason why UNMIK sought 'to clarify the KTA legal status' was because of possible international cases against the KTA, she said.

'We sought in the regulation for the KTA officials to legal immunity,' De Groot said.

The privatization agencies in the world have immunity in order to perform their job, Koha Ditore reported. 'The KTA's immunity should derive from Resolution 1244, which had authorized UNMIK to do economic development work in Kosovo, which is what the KTA does,' De Groot said.

Kosovo Prime Minister Rexhepi was angry at UNMIK's decision and told reporters that the suspension of the privatization process was the main topic during his meeting with SRSG Holkeri.

'I have written to Mr. Lambsdorff that we do not accept halting the privatization process,' Rexhepi said.

'I think that the decision to cancel the bid has been taken out of fear that Serbia will file cases again the KTA,' said the Minister of Industry and Trade Ali Jakupi.

The KTA officials were told not to comment on the decision of UNMIK Pillar IV. However, a high international KTA official told Koha Ditore that the decision is very bad for Kosovo and its future and the entire KTA does not agree with it.

'Serbia and a few UNMIK lawyers who seem to be stimulated by Serbia are trying to stop the privatization process in Kosovo,' said the chairman of the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce.

The decision for stopping temporarily the privatization process was taken on Tuesday by UNMIK Pillar IV chief Nikolaus Lambsdorff, the paper reported.

On the same issue, Koha Ditore quoted UNMIK Police spokesperson Derek Chappell as saying that 'UNMIK staff in Kosovo has immunity but this doesn't mean that they are protected from the legal prosecution if there is a suspicion of wrongdoing'.

Zëri claims that UNMIK has decided to block the process of privatization, without considering the Kosovo Trust Agency.

Rexhepi: Suspension of privatization process will cause catastrophic consequences (Zëri)
Zëri reported that Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi wrote a letter to UNMIK Pillar IV Head Nikolaus Lambsdorff yesterday after the suspension of the process of privatization in Kosovo. In his letter, which is fully published in Zëri, PM Rexhepi voiced the concern and the firm opposition of his government toward 'the biased action by UNMIK'.

Dear Mr. Lambsdorff

We write to you today to express our immediate and urgent concern regarding your plans to suspend the Kosovo Trust Agency's Privatization Process.

It is our understanding that late this afternoon you transmitted a letter directing the management of the Kosovo Trust Agency to withdraw the Third Wave of Privatization Tenders.

We wish to signal our strongest possible objection.

The privatization process has been launched successfully and has garnered enormous support across the whole of Kosovo, including the private sector, public bodies and the press. The momentum that has build, coupled with this general goodwill, has enabled the KTA to put into practice the fundamental principle of "preserving and enhancing the value" of the SOE's in its trust. The Kosovo Trust Agency has already collected almost 20 Million Euros in payments and therefore it has nearly 4 Million euro waiting for distribution to the workers of these SOE's.

Your current proposal to cancel the Third Wave of Privatization Tenders, which was launched on September 1-th, will do massive and irreparable harm to this exceptionally successful programme.

Our concerns center on four areas:

Ø Investor confidence
Ø The support of perception of the media
Ø The support and confidence of the workers of the SOE's
Ø The support and confidence of the PISG, and people of Kosovo

We will address these concerns individually:

Investor confidence is critical to the success of Privatization in Kosovo. Due to the unusual legal status of Kosovo, the KTA Privatization Department has placed and extraordinary effort into reassuring and managing the concerns of those investors who have expressed interest in purchasing SOE's here in Kosovo.

The decision to cancel the Third Wave of Tenders will have a catastrophic effect on this investor confidence. By admitting that there are flaws so serious that the entire process must be completely halted, you will throw into doubt any possibility that the Kosovo Trust Agency, and by extension the EU /Pillar IV, can actually manage the Privatization Process.

The media is a critical participant in this process. The Kosovo Trust Agency and the PISG has worked relentlessly to engage a Privatization Process, which is completely transparent and fair. The Media of Kosovo have, until recently, been generally supportive of the Privatization Process. Your decision to cancel the Third Wave of Tenders will shatter any confidence the Media has in the stability and integrity of the process, the consequence of which will be at least, poor public relations for EU/Pillar 4 and will probably be more terrible that we all care to imagine.

The Kosovo Trust Agency was originally created, with a strong support of PISG and other Kosovar institutions, "to preserve and enhance the value of the SOE's". No one is more affected by this obligation, than the workers of the SOE are themselves.

The current average price that each SOE has commanded is just under 1 Million Euros. Since the workers of the SOE's receive 20% of the total purchase price of the SOE, they are entitled, in the case of and SOE, which sells for 1 Million Euros, to divide 200,000 Euros among themselves.

Your decision to cancel the Third Wave of Tenders will, as stated above, have a crippling affect on investor confidence. This will in turn drive down the future price of any SOE which will be tendered - thus costing the workers of the SOEs a significant amount of the 20% share -value they would otherwise enjoy.

Furthermore, by needlessly postponing the effective dates on which privatization can take place, you will be further delaying the infusions of new capital and talent, which are critical to reviving the economy of Kosovo. Equally important, it will act as a brake to the immediate and essential need that we all perceive, that of getting our young population into employment for the good of the Kosovan economy.

Finally, in taking this decision, you are putting at risk the trust of the PISG and the people of the Kosovo in the ability of UNMIK, EU/Pillar IV, and the Kosovo Trust Agency, to successfully complete this difficult task. The first two waves of privatization succeeded by any measure; now is the time to press forward and build on these successes, not withdraw the Third Wave of Tenders in the face of some ill-defined legal anxieties.

It is possible that improvements can be made to the regulations, which govern Privatization in Kosovo; however, suspending the process now would be a terrible dereliction of your duty to the people of Kosovo. This step, which you propose, is also legally risky because you and the Kosovo Trust Agency will be failing in your obligation for "preservation and enhancement" on behalf of claimants.

We welcome proposals for improvements of the KTA regulations. However, we strongly believe that you should also consider that the arguments proposed to date are not grounds for concern with respect to the ongoing privatization initiative, and certainly not grounds for stalling any of the process.

Sincerely,
Dr. Bajram Rexhepi
Prime Minister

Editorial: Imposing inferiority (Zëri)
'Regardless of the fact that UNMIK authorities are trying to convince us that dialogue with Serbia is not directly linked to the issue of competencies and privatization, the news of the blocking of the process of privatization and the obvious clumsiness in addressing the issue of competencies is going to have major consequences for Kosovars,' wrote an opinion piece by Zëri's editorial office.

UNMIK officials couldn't have picked a worse day to announce the blocking of the process of privatization in Kosovo. At a time when the international administration and Kosovar officials are trying to harmonize their stands on the start of the dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade, the Kosovar public opinion is told that privatization in Kosovo has been stopped after pressure from Belgrade. Thus, a completely practical and neutral description shows that the two leading processes in Kosovo in 2003, the process of privatization and the transfer of competencies, have completely stalled at a time when the issue of dialogue with Serbia must be move forward.

Regardless of the fact that UNMIK authorities are trying to convince us that dialogue with Serbia is not directly linked to the issue of competencies and privatization, the news of the blocking of the process of privatization and the obvious clumsiness in addressing the issue of competencies is going to have major consequences for Kosovars.

A considerate observer of political developments in the last weeks could have spotted a joint name for all the concerns of Kosovar politicians: they want to be treated as an equal partner in upcoming talks, which should commence in Vienna on October 14th. In fact, all the requests of Kosovar officials have strengthened Kosovo's position to reach the level of equality with Serbia and Montenegro. The problems with competencies are a reflection of this approach of the Kosovar side. Now when UNMIK officials have announced that the third round of privatization has been delayed, Kosovar officials will only strengthen the feeling of inferiority to the Serbian Government and ignorance of UNMIK. Even those Albanian politicians who are trying to combine the start of dialogue with increased cooperation with UNMIK are now going to think that this approach is fruitless.

If this situation is not overcome in the next couple of days, blocking privatization will be a fatal blow to the concept of standards before status, which continues to the a dominant theme in the international administration. Furthermore, it will damages the already problematic relations between UNMIK and the Kosovo Government.

Editorial: Privatization process in knock-down (Koha Ditore)
'Only Harri Holkeri can save the privatization process by applying pressure on the Legal Office of the United Nations, and by eliminating the concerns of the leaders of Pillar IV and the Kosovo Trust Agency,' wrote an opinion piece by Koha Ditore's editorial office.

There are numerous cases when someone has measles in childhood. This happened to the Kosovo Trust Agency and the process of privatization in Kosovo. And it happened exactly when it was supposed to finalize the third round of privatization, when it had to show its maturity, it then found out that it hadn't passed the disease that could stop its growth. It seems that it hasn't been vaccinated.

After four enterprises had been vaccinated, and 15 others were in the phase of signing contracts, people from the international managing staff of the Kosovo Trust Agency remembered that they don't have immunity. In fact, all statements point to the fact that they don't lack legal immunity, but that they are very afraid. They want guarantees that they are going to have immunity against every court even after their mandate in Kosovo. It seems that leading officials from UNMIK Pillar IV, and the Kosovo Trust Agency, have been scared by intimidations and challenges from Serbia. In fact, there is even mention of an indictment against those who have privatized the socially owned enterprises in Kosovo.

Nikolaus Lambsdorff, head of the EU Pillar in Kosovo, has signed the first four contracts with the winning bidders of the socially owned enterprises. It is exactly Lambsdorff who is now stopping the process of privatization, although it has been three weeks since then. The last manager of the Kosovo Trust Agency, Jurgen Mendricki has fled Kosovo, but he never told the real reasons for his departure. But in fact he had refused to sign the contracts for selling the enterprises, although that was in his competencies. He found an excuse on the issue of lack of immunity and added that 'he didn't want to spend his entire life in courts'.

Although the lack of immunity is being mentioned a lot, the staff members of UNMIK Pillar IV and the Kosovo Trust Agency insist that such a guarantee should also be given in the KTA Regulation and not only in UNMIK documents.

But this is not a new problem. This was known ever since the possibility of privatizing socially owned enterprises in Kosovo was mentioned.

The process of privatization in Kosovo doesn't date from the amendment of the KTA Regulation, or from July 1st last year when the agency started working. The debates date earlier. However, no one has mentioned the issue of immunity for people who would lead a miracle in Kosovo, as Andy Bearpark used to refer to the process of privatization.

The blocking of this process is happening at a very delicate moment. First and foremost, when there is an overall good mood and consensus for privatization in Kosovo; when offers were growing and when it was finally believed that it would be known who would own factories in Kosovo. We should also not forget about October 14th, the date of the start of talks between Pristina and Belgrade. In fact, the blocking the process of privatization is being seen as pressure on the Kosovar side to sit at the table of negotiations.

At this point, all speculations are possible.

However, the economy of Kosovo is going to suffer most from the hesitation of those who once swore on the process of privatization and who spent a lot of funds from Kosovo's budget to promote this process in the world. The image of Kosovo's economy is going to undergo major changes. A country which once called investors to bring their capitol here and which spoke of numerous guarantees 'because UNMIK and KFOR are here', Kosovo now seems a very unsafe place after the latest actions of UNMIK Pillar IV and the KTA. All the promises were not honest and were useless.

The feeling of hesitation has even caught up with those who have bought the enterprises and are making efforts to activate them. They have every reason to be concerned, because they have done everything in accordance with the legal framework which is now doubted by KTA officials. They might find a ray of hope by thinking that this is pressure by the international staff at Pillar IV and KTA to get bigger legal beneficences. And now SRSG Harri Holkeri must show his commitment for this issue, in order to rescue the whole process. He should speak to the legal office of the United Nations about this issue to remove all doubts as soon as possible, save UNMIK's image and also remove all doubts about Kosovo's economic future.

Otherwise, the KTA has been knocked down and time is flying away. If the referee counts to ten, then the process of privatization is going to suffer a knockout.

Kosovo once again enters the mist of insecurity for all processes, not only the economic ones.

Ibrahim Rexhepi: Serbia as an economic problem for Kosovo (Koha Ditore)
'Why is Serbia always presented as an economic problem for Kosovo? Or is it possible to marginalize it while building the economic system in Kosovo,' asked columnist Ibrahim Rexhepi.

When we talk about electricity, Serbia is a problem. The same happens when we talk about telecommunication, transport, and license plates, even about bread. Why is Serbia presented as an economic problem for Kosovo? Or rather is it possible to marginalize it while building the economy and the market.

The problem can also be put in a different way; can the economy be built outside the political climate? The Kosovo case proves how closely economy is linked to politics.

First case: KTA has started the process of privatizing SOEs. Although there are remarks by Kosovars, yet it is Serbia that contests it in the strongest terms. The closer 14 October, the higher the pressure.

Second case: The telecommunication market is scattered, although there is a company that should have the monopoly in this market, since we have the law which is not being applied, and we have the respective ministry which can have a limited impact in this field. Several operators act illegally and they do not stand in anybody's way, while the entry code number is still 381, and it is the only way for international communication. Still, this figure defines the status of telephone market. We need to dial this number even when we try to talk with the north of Kosovo, and with the Serb enclaves, which use another telephone company.

Third case; the Kosovars pay the highest cost for transport of any kind. They have not many choices if they want to travel or to transport goods. For passenger transport we have the airport of Pristina and for transport of goods we have the foreign road transporters. Serbia does not recognize Kosovo license plates, and was not in good mood to sign the memorandum to recognize the Kosovar "green card". This is a political issue, is the answer from the Serbian side. The same conclusion might be drawn about railways, which are not being used even four years after the war. Trains cannot leave Kosovo. The railways are not detached but again we have a political problem.

Fourth case; More than one third of the imported goods are coming from Serbia. Due to the way banks in the region correspond with each other, it is clear payments are done in cash. The payment system does not function since Kosovo does not have its 'swift code'. If somebody wants to bypass this code, then the commercial banks need to use various banks in Europe to make payment in Belgrade. It's a long way that costs money.

There are many other cases that illustrate how political relations affect the life of ordinary people. In Vienna everything can be ready to lay on the table and to talk about practical issues between Kosovo and Serbia. But, even these 'practical issues' are unlikely to break the political framework. Everything is related to status and competencies. It is not just about the political status of Kosovo. If we want to further elaborate it, then the status of PTK to control the whole telecommunications market in Kosovo can become a problem, or the status of railways, in order for Kosovo to link up not only with Serbia and Macedonia but also with the regions further afar.

Eventually, everything is connected to UNMIK, which has not moved things forward. After several years, the head of Pillar 4, the first economy man, notices that public enterprises have an undefined and an unclear status. This means that enterprises cannot be equal partners even for simple commercial transactions, let alone for higher issues like property or the movement of people and goods.

I do not want to go into prejudging the course of talks in Vienna or the way they will end, however, even for practical issues, Kosovars are deprived of competencies. They are aware that there is an economic connection between Kosovo and Serbia dating back decades. Its complete blockage is almost impossible, but its redefinition is necessary. Even companies need to talk as equal partners, let alone negotiations between higher levels.

Ethnic tensions are a consequence of provocations by Serb extremists (Zëri)
Zëri reported on the meeting between Faruk Spahija, the mayor of Mitrovica, and representative of the Council of 'Miners' Hill' in the northern part of Mitrovica. The Council asked for reconstruction of Albanian houses, suspension of the construction of the Serb Orthodox church in northern part of the town, which has no proper license issued by the competent bodies, suspension of selling of Albanian houses, which were bought with the money of Coordination Center for Kosovo, and opening of a corridor for free movement from the northern to the southern part and the other way round.

The mayor was briefed about the current situation in this neighborhood where there are still high ethnic tensions, which according to the Council is the consequence of provocations by Serb extremists, who are reconstructing houses bought from Albanians with the money of the Serbian Government through the Coordination Center for Kosovo. The four requests will be presented to the representatives of UNMIK, UNMIK Police and KFOR in a meeting expected to take place soon in the municipal offices of UNMIK in Northern Mitrovica. Municipal Administrator in Mitrovica, Mina Jarvenpaa, will head the meeting. The Council also appealed to donors for helping reconstruction of Albanian houses in this neighborhood, of families that were forced out by Serb extremists in this part of the town, as their return to their houses would stabilize the situation and would put an end to selling of the Albanian houses.

Belgrade Update

Hofburg Palace venue for Vienna dialogue (Beta)
The long-awaited dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina is scheduled to begin in the Austrian Government headquarters in the Hofburg Palace next week, the Austrian Foreign Ministry said today. The complex was also the venue for negotiations on the succession of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Beta agency reports this morning that Kosovo governor Harri Holkeri has insisted on the venue and on an oval table, in order to give the impression that the negotiations are a meeting of two states.

EU suspends Kosovo privatization (SRNA)
The European Union office in Pristina has suspended the privatization of state and public companies in the province because the necessary documentation is not available. Privatization in Kosovo has been under the control of the Kosovo Trust Agency. The EU mission said today that it would advise the agency that both the EU and the Serbian Privatization Ministry do not regard it as authorized to conduct the privatization of state and public companies. A Serb representative in the agency, Kosovo MP Goran Bogdanovic, told the media that the EU decision does not apply to privatization in general but only to the sale of eighteen priority companies. "The important thing is that the EU has realized that UNMIK, that is the Agency, has exceeded its authority because, under Resolution 1244, the peacekeeping mission in Kosovo is authorized only to govern, not to dispose of state and public property," said Bogdanovic.

Haradinaj offers flowers for independence (FoNet)
Former Kosovo Liberation Army commander Ramush Haradinaj said today that all Kosovo Albanians could give Serbia in return for their independence is flowers. Haradinaj, who now leads the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, one of the three main political parties in Serbia's southern province, said he did not believe there would be any further war or conflict in the region. "I hope that the day will soon come when we Kosovo Albanians will be able to take flowers to the border and say goodbye to everything which happened in the past, and that Serbs too will bring flowers and so the new reality may begin," he told media.

"Those flowers would mark the end of something and would at the same time be a new beginning. If the Serbian people had proper information on what's happening here, many of them would be trying to help Kosovo become independent.," he added. Haradinaj said he did not see the future of Kosovo in the context of an ethnic Albanian state. "We are thinking of a Kosovo within the existing borders," he said, emphasizing that Kosovo had neither the potential nor the time to invest in the "Greater Albania" project. "I think that this is something idealistic, not rational, not necessary and not possible," said Haradinaj. "Given that we are in the 21st century, that in twenty years time Kosovo, Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, Albanian and all other small countries will be in Europe, that the borders will be open, that we'll have a free passage of goods, we have neither the potential nor the time to invest in a Greater Albania.

"It's true that there is still some fear of Serbs. Their freedom of movement is not at the level it should be but things have improved. I understand that this is not what it should be but I think we're on the right track," he said. Haradinaj said that he supported the planned dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, but believed that it should be postponed until the Kosovo Government is fully established so that Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi is able to negotiate on all issues. "Resolution 1244 is the basis for the building of a new Kosovo," said Haradinaj, adding that Kosovo's political leaders knew how to build the province's future because they had the political support of a majority of the population.

· Main Stories 8 October
· Invitations are sent, no one says 'Yes' (Koha Ditore)
· Daci goes to Vienna, if his counterpart from Serbia is invited (Zëri)
· For the assembly the issue of dialogue 'is over' (Koha Ditore)
· Forum 2015 offers recommendations for talks with Belgrade (Koha Ditore)
· Surroi: The 'k' game with Kosovo (Koha Ditore)
· Shala: The clearness of Tuesday October 7th (Zëri)
· Editorial: Imposing inferiority (Zëri)
· Buzuku: Kosovo isn't in a position to say no to talks in Vienna (Koha)
· Tirana offers experts to Prishtina for talks with Belgrade (Koha Ditore)
· Bildt: Kosovo's status should be solved as soon as possible (Zëri)
· Bishop Artemije: Kosovo Serbs should be in Serbia's delegation (Zëri)
· OSCE recommends tolerance toward parallel structures in Kosovo! (Zëri)
· An international indictment against KTA, stops privatization process (Koha)
· Without considering KTA, UNMIK blocks privatization in Kosovo (Zëri)
· Rexhepi: Suspension of privatization will cause disastrous effects (Zëri)
· Editorial: Privatization process in knock-down (Koha Ditore)

Kosovo Media Highlights

Invitations are sent, no one says 'Yes' (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports that Kosovo chief administrator Harri Holkeri has formally invited leaders from Prishtina and Belgrade to attend the meeting in Vienna on October 14th.

Koha Ditore reports that while Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi conditions participation in Vienna with the authorization of the Kosovo Assembly, on the other hand, assembly speaker Nexhat Daci conditions participation with the presence of his counterpart from the Union of Serbia and Montenegro or from Serbia.

'AAK leader Ramush Haradinaj has said 'no' to talks, and PDK leader Thaçi is waiting for a decision by his party mechanisms and the Kosovo Assembly,' Koha Ditore added.

Daci goes to Vienna, if his counterpart from Serbia is invited (Zëri)
Citing reliable sources, Zëri claims that Kosovo Assembly speaker Nexhat Daci has received an invitation from SRSG Harri Holkeri to participate in the Vienna meeting on October 14th.

The same sources said that Daci would go to Vienna only if his counterpart from Serbia or from the Parliament of the Union of Serbia and Montenegro is invited there.

For the assembly the issue of dialogue 'is over' (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports that during yesterday's meeting the presidency of the Kosovo Assembly hasn't made a decision on a possible debate or voting process regarding the upcoming dialogue with Belgrade.

'Only one week before the eventual meeting in Vienna, the member of the assembly presidency, Hydajet Hyseni said that the issue of dialogue was closed without any conclusions,' added Koha Ditore.

Forum 2015 offers recommendations for talks with Belgrade (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports that Forum 2015 has organized a roundtable in Prishtina yesterday, during which it offered the first version of the basis of platform for upcoming talks with Belgrade.

Koha Ditore claims that the majority of participants at the roundtable supported the idea of dialogue, but not on October 14th, mainly due to the a project not well prepared by Kosovo chief administrator Harri Holkeri and the lack of competencies. [extensive coverage in Media Analysis]

Surroi: The 'k' game with Kosovo (Koha Ditore)
In an editorial for Koha Ditore, publisher Veton Surroi writes that yesterday Kosovars faced the fact that the United Nations in New York has decided to stop the process of privatization in Kosovo, while on the other hand, the Kosovo Assembly presidency spent 37 minutes of debating on what should be discussed at the next assembly session.

'There are two figures behind these actions, chief administrator Holkeri and assembly speaker Daci. The first one is trying to launch negotiations between Belgrade and Prishtina next week, by referring to himself as chief administrator, mediator and participant… The second one, assembly speaker Daci allowed his colleagues 37 minutes of his autocratic time to discuss on what should be debated at the next assembly session. In the meantime, he also said that if his counterpart from Belgrade goes to Vienna next week, then he is also willing to do the same. Holkeri and Daci publicly agree on one thing: they don't want the Kosovo Assembly to make a declaration on negotiations in Vienna on October 14th,' writes Surroi. [full translation in Media Analysis]

Shala: The clearness of Tuesday October 7th (Zëri)
In a front-page editorial for Zëri, Blerim Shala writes that Tuesday October 7th is going to be remembered as the day when everyone realized the seriousness of the crisis in the international and local administration.

'Furthermore, it would be illusionary to think that this crisis can be overcome. Simply put, neither UNMIK nor local authorities have the power to stop the downhill slide and get the whole process back on track,' Shala added. [full translation in Medai Analysis]

Editorial: Imposing inferiority (Zëri)
'Regardless of the fact that UNMIK authorities are trying to convince us that dialogue with Serbia is not directly linked to the issue of competencies and privatization, the news of the blocking of the process of privatization and the obvious clumsiness in addressing the issue of competencies are going to leave major consequences among Kosovars,' writes an opinion piece by Zëri's editorial office. [full translation in Media Analysis]

Buzuku: Kosovo is in no position to say no to talks in Vienna (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore runs an opinion piece by Rifat Buzuku who claims that the Kosovo Assembly should not be involved in 'yes' and 'no' games, but start thinking about who is going to represent Kosovo and what are they going to represent in talks.

Buzuku also claims that Kosovo is in no position to say no to upcoming talks in Vienna. [more in Media Analysis]

Quint says dialogue is a unique chance for a positive image of Kosovo (all dailies)
All dailies report that Lord Robertson, Javier Solana, Chris Patten and representatives of US are going to participate in the first meeting in Vienna on October 14th.

All dailies also report that the offices of the Quint in Kosovo issued yesterday a joint declaration in which they said that the start of dialogue was a clear signal for the European future of Kosovo.

EU: Failure of talks endangers Kosovo's progress toward EU (Zëri)
Zëri carries a statement issued by of the presidency of the European Union on the start of dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. 'The direct dialogue is a necessary element of the strategy of the international community "standards before status" based on the UN Security Council Resolution 1244,' read the statement.

Tirana offers experts to Prishtina for talks with Belgrade (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports that the message from the official Tirana on the eve of direct talks with Belgrade is that Kosovo has Tirana's full institutional support for the start of talks in Vienna.

The message was conveyed by the chief of the Albanian Liaison Office in Prishtina, Bashkim Rama, during a meeting he had with Kosovo Assembly speaker Nexhat Daci.

Ramush Tahiri, political advisor to assembly speaker Daci, said after the meeting that Albania has offered Kosovo experts and advisors in various fields so that Kosovar representatives make a good presentation in Vienna.

Bildt: Kosovo's status should be solved as soon as possible (Zëri)
Zëri reports that during an interview for BBC, the UN Special Envoy for the Balkans Karl Bildt said that despite the progress achieved in the region, regional countries should work a lot to join Western Europe.

Bildt also said that the status of Kosovo should be solved as soon as possible, 'because Kosovo, just like other countries, is part of the region'.

Bishop Artemije: Kosovo Serbs should be in Serbia's delegation (Zëri)
Zëri quotes Bishop Artemije as saying that Kosovo Serbs do not wish to be members of the delegation from Prishtina in upcoming talks in Vienna. 'The representatives of Kosovo Serbs should be together with their state because they cannot sit at the opposite side of the table,' he added.

An international indictment against KTA, stops privatization process (Koha)
Koha Ditore reports that an international indictment against the Kosovo Trust Agency (KTA) has forced UNMIK to make a damaging decision for the future of Kosovo, by temporarily suspending the fragile process of privatization in Kosovo.

UNMIK Pillar IV spokeswoman Monique De Groot said that the decision was made to annul the third round of privatization, until the KTA is strengthened with more legal competencies from the United Nations.

Zëri claims that UNMIK has decided to block the process of privatization, without considering the Kosovo Trust Agency.

Rexhepi: Suspension of privatization will cause disastrous effects (Zëri)
Zëri reports that Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi wrote a letter to UNMIK Pillar IV Head Nikolaus Lambsdorff yesterday after the suspension of the process of privatization in Kosovo. In his letter, PM Rexhepi voiced the concern and the firm opposition of his government toward 'the biased action by UNMIK'.

'Your current proposal to annul the third round of privatization will cause massive and irreparable damage to this successful program. The decision to annul the third round is going to have disastrous effects in the trust of investors,' wrote Rexhepi. [more in Media Analysis]

Editorial: Privatization process in knock-down (Koha Ditore)
'Only Harri Holkeri can save the privatization process by applying pressure on the Legal Office of the United Nations, and by eliminating the fear among the leaders of Pillar IV and the Kosovo Trust Agency,' writes an opinion piece by Koha Ditore's editorial office. [full translation in Media Analysis]

Who refuses dialogue kicks a big opportunity for Kosovo (Zëri)
Zëri carries a declaration issued by the head of German Office in Pristina, Peter Rondorf, in which he urges Kosovars for direct participation in the dialogue. Dialogue is the door to the shortest way toward a positive future for Kosovo, and whoever hits this kicks this door damages Kosovo.

Assembly removes talks with Belgrade from the agenda
Zëri informs that the Assembly puts only some draft laws in the agenda for the next session, and that the decision was taken yesterday by the Assembly Chairmanship, although the last session had not brought a concrete decision on the dialogue with Belgrade.

Kosovo Press Headlines
Koha Ditore
Front page
· Invitations were sent, nobody says 'yes'
· International charges against KTA stop privatization process in Kosovo
· Surroi: Game 'k' with Kosovo
· The issue of dialogue 'is over' for the assembly
· Tirana offers experts to Prishtina regarding dialogue

Other headlines
· Kosovo's progress towards Europe is jeopardized (2)
· Cooperation with neighbours enables integration in Europe (2)
· Rondorf: Rejection of dialogue will have consequences (2)
· Hajdaraga: Kosovo should have unique stance (3)
· Forum 2015 offers principles/recommendations for talks with Belgrade (4)
· The KTA demands more immunity than UNMIK (5)
· PTK paid more for diesel than the market price (5)
· Privatization in knock-down (5)
· What wealth does Kosovo have? (6)
· Meeting between Nano and Rexhepi is confirmed (6)
· Three methods to eliminate parallel structures in Kosovo (6)
· Who works with the new business roster? (7)
· UNMIK: Beggars issue must be regulated by municipalities (7)
· Austrian policeman is sentenced with three years in absence (7)
· Sentenced with two years for sexual abuse (8)
· Local leaders work in improving interethnic relations (9)
· Director accuses workers for corruption (9)
· Gjakovë: Municipality demands efficiency in recording properties (9)
· Miftari: Circus in open air (10)
· Buzuku: Kosovo is not in position to say 'no' to talks (10)

Economy section
· Rexhepi: Serbia as economic problem in Kosovo
· Privatization is on halt, purchaser enter the factories
· Energoinvest begins work, workers do not give up from Montazhi
· There is no work for all employees

Zëri
Front page
· Logic and science fantasy: Dialogue does (not) start in Vienna
· UNMIK by ignoring KTA halts temporary privatization in Kosovo
· Shala: Awareness on October 7
· Assembly doesn't put on agenda the issue of dialogue
· OSCE recommends tolerance towards parallel structures
· Limaj fund collected €250,000
Other headlines
· Quint: Dialogue is opportunity for positive image of Kosovo (2)
· EU: failure of dialogue jeopardizes further progress in Kosovo (2)
· German diplomat Rondorf calls Kosovans to participate in dialogue (2)
· Procedural issues delay PM's plan in assembly (2)
· Holkeri invites Kosovo's and Serbian leaders to Vienna (3)
· Editorial: Impose of inferiority (3)
· Nano to visit Kosovo for the first time (3)
· Daci goes to Vienna if his counterpart from Serbia is invited (3)
· Reiter: Kosovo's independence is inevitable (4)
· Trajkovic wants Serbs in both delegations (4)
· Artemije: Kosovo Serbs should be in Serbia's delegation (4)
· Bildt: Kosovo's status should be solved very soon (4)
· Daci: If leaders agree, assembly will approve agreement with acclamation (4)
· Rexhepi: Suspension of privatization process will cause catastrophic consequences (5)
· World Bank allocates $4,5 million for improving education (6)
· Xhemajli: Kosovo's independence is not questionable, we fought and we are able to fight again (6)
· Ostreni: Illegal weapons aren't a guarantee for implementation of the Ohrid agreement [Macedonia] (7)
· Massari and Covic do not find solution for problems in Presevo Valley (7)
· Ali Ahmeti: First consensus then talks (7)
· Albanians demand intervention of UNMIK Pillar II chief Bastagli (9)
· Cernica residents shouldn't become hostage of the incidents (9)
· Higher tensions a result of Serbian provocations (9)

Bota Sot
Front page
· Prime minister receives invitation for meeting in Vienna
· OSCE: Parallel structures continue to work
· Reiter: Kosovo's independence is inevitable
· Priorities for assembly are laws
· A suicide and two stabled
· Martin Almer is sentenced with three years in absence, while Thaçi and Ulluri with six moths prison

Other headlines
· Time until Vienna talks (2)
· SRSG formally invites entities to begin dialogue (2)
· EU want to change finances in Kosovo (3)
· KFOR exercise (3)
· Buçpapaj: Muslim from South and Eastern Europe, are civilized and clever then their enemies, are US allies (4)
· Buçpapaj: If Bush recognizes Kosovo's independence, Iraqis would believe that Kosovo is good model for their future (5)
· Kelmendi: Political hypocrisy and calculations with national issue (5)
· Ajeti: Monument of B. Kastrati will shine on Kosovo and freedom of speech (6)
· If we want serious talk, presence of the US and EU is necessary (6)
· World Bank allocates $4,5 million for educational development (6)
· System with open list would force parties to propose good candidates (7)
· Peja will be priority for presidency (7)
· Privatization process is stopped in Kosovo (8)
· Baleta: Greece is beating and killing not police (9)
· New party in Macedonia (11)

Kosova Sot
Front page
· Editorial: How can we talk to Serbs, Mr. Holkeri?
· Scandal: Serbia stops Kosovo's development
· Rugova, Daci, Rexhepi get the invitations
· Parliament lets Rexhepi down
· Europeans take the Union Albania-Kosovo seriously
· We cannot talk to Serbia without a status
· $ 4 million for Kosovar education
· EU, ultimatum to Kosovars for dialogue
· Kolë Berisha: Vienna meeting is going to happen
· 7000 employees flood the Government

Other headlines
· Rexhepi: I do not go to Vienna without Assembly's consent (2)
· Albania willing to offer help in talks (2)
· A new KFOR exercise (2)
· Rondorf calls for participation in the dialogue (2)
· Parallel structures damage rule of law in Kosovo (2)
· Dialogue leads to status (3)
· Dedaj: Pro talks with Serbs (4)
· Marovic expects a lot from the first meeting with Albanians (4)
· Trajkovic: From benchmarks slowly to status (4)
· Demaçi: Two sides of Kosovar politics (5)
· Minister Çeku sets up Kosovo Agency for Environment Protection (6)
· UN toward failure in Kosovar economy (7)
· There is legal ground, but no permission (7)
· Pollin: I notice a higher level of tolerance in Mitrovica (9)
· Suicides a postwar phenomenon

Epoka e Re
Front page
· Rugova in Vienna faces his "counterpart" Marovic
· Dugolli: Daci too has blocked the declaration on independence
· Assembly silent about dialogue
· Pressure from Belgrade blocks privatization in Kosovo
· Families of martyrs support Limaj's fund
· Limaj's fund far from necessary amount
· Testimony coming from beyond Atlantic and mass graves in Batajnica

Other headlines
· Haradinaj says NO to dialogue, Thaçi waits for Assembly decision (2)
· EU: Refusing talks endangers Kosovo's path to EU (3)
· Daci: Let the leaders agree on dialogue (3)
· Quint: Dialogue a clear sign of European perspective for Kosovo (3)
· What's the point in talking without finding the missing? (5)
· Idajet Beqiri wanted in 281 states (5)
· Former UNMIK policeman Almer sentenced to 3 years (5)
· A new positive reality created in Kosovo Public Administration (6)
· Bildt: Kosovo status to be solved as soon as possible (7)
· Kammerhoff: Stable Kosovo contributes to stability in Europe (8)
· Gligorov: Independence of Kosovo would inflame the Balkans (8)
· Small prices the SOE get sold a concern for workers (9)
· Modern beggars (10)

Belgrade Media Highlights

· Holkeri officially invited Belgrade and Pristina to Vienna (Danas)
· Rosin to head the American delegation at talks in Vienna (Balkan)
· EU blocks selling of companies in Kosovo (Vecernje Novosti/Tanjug)
· Warning by Kiro Gligorov (Glas/Beta)
· Decision by Kosovo Assembly Presidency (Politika/Beta)
· Trajkovic on dialogue with Albanians (Glas/Fonet)
· Albanians give 1000 euros for SaM passport (Blic)
· Haradinaj's interview to Novosti (Vecernje Novosti)
· CCK's announcement (Politika/Tanjug)
· Book "Djindjic on Kosovo" presented (Danas/Beta)

Holkeri officially invited Belgrade and Pristina to Vienna (Danas)
UNMIK Head Harri Holkeri has sent official invitations to Kosovo Albanian leaders and to Serbia and Montenegro officials for participation in the initiation of the direct dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina on practical issues, due on 14 October in Vienna. Holkeri called on Contact Group members to take part in the dialogue, it is said in UNMIK's statement. NATO Secretary General George Robertson, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Javier Solana and OSCE Chair Jaap de Hoop Scheffer confirmed that they would attend the initiation of the dialogue in Vienna.

Rosin to head the American delegation at talks in Vienna (Balkan)
Lawrence Rosin, deputy assistant state secretary for European and Eurasian affairs, will head the US delegation in the Belgrade-Pristina talks to be held in Vienna on October 14. The delegation will include US Ambassador to Serbia and Montenegro William Montgomery and head of the US Office in Pristina Marcie Reese, it was announced from the US Embassy in Belgrade. The US welcomes the announced beginning of the direct dialogue between the authorities in Belgrade and Pristina as an important step on the road that is defined by UNSCR 1244. This dialogue will include talks on practical issues of mutual importance, such as power supply and transport and the issue of missing and displaced persons, it is said in the statement.

EU blocks selling of companies in Kosovo (Vecernje Novosti/Tanjug)
The initiated process of the privatization of socially owned companies in Kosovo and Metohija will be suspended until further notice, EU representative Monique de Groot said in Pristina, the Zvecane Most television reports. Privatization in Kosovo and Metohija is stopped due to legal problems, which have not been recorded in other regions undergoing transition, de Groot stated. Oliver Ivanovic said on the occasion that, in his opinion, all the privatization processes in the province must be re-inspected, as UNMIK had had the ownership of Kosovo companies changed without authorization.

Warning by Kiro Gligorov (Glas/Beta)
Former Macedonian president Kiro Gligorov has assessed that Belgrade can't accept independence of Kosovo because the "entire Balkans would be in flames." Gligorov told the Warsaw Zhechpospolitu that the idea of a "great Albania" is still very dangerous for the Balkan countries. He also stated that Pristina doesn't accept the existing border between Macedonia and Kosovo, and that "Albanian expansion" continues to threaten Balkan countries. According to him, "the appetites of Albanian extremists" encompass not only western Macedonia and southern Serbia, but northwestern Greece as well.

Decision by Kosovo Assembly Presidency (Politika/Beta)
Kosovo AMs have again failed to schedule a debate on the prospect of talks between Belgrade and Pristina. Kosovo Albanian leaders had previously said they would only attend talks on October 14 with the consent of the assembly. But Assembly Presidency member Hidajet Hiseni confirmed that the issue would not be on the agenda of Thursday's session as earlier expected. Hiseni said the decision on whether to participate in talks would be made by leaders of the province's ethnic Albanian parties.

Trajkovic on dialogue with Albanians (Glas/Fonet)
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. "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.

Albanians give 1000 euros for SaM passport (Blic)
The most wanted goods in Kosovo and Metohija are birth certificates, citizenship certificates, IDs and passports. Despite constant insisting of Kosovo Albanian leaders that nothing connects them with SaM, many simple people wait in front of the doors of the Interior Ministry in Kosovo and central Serbia with the intention of obtaining Serbian documents because those are the only papers that Europe accepts, the head of the Interior Ministry in Gracanica Sinisa Popovic said. All of the Kosovo government members, hidden from the public, took Serbian ID cards and Yugoslav passports. According to official data, over the past three years since the arrival of the UN mission, the Serbian police had issued around 200.000 passports and around 350,000 IDs to Albanians from Kosovo and other regions . "From mid 1999 until the end of 2001, in the Serbian Interior Ministry in the building of the Yugoslav Committee for Kosovo and Metohija in Pristina, Albanians were issued more than 80.000 passports and around 100.000 IDs. This was a period when, according to the instructions by the Interior Ministry, any kind of document with a photo was enough for Albanians to receive a passport. Confirmation that Yugoslav IDs and passports are the most wanted goods in Kosovo and Metohija is that dozens of Albanians, mostly former state security employees, have opened agencies for mediating in obtaining documents throughout Kosovo municipalities.

Haradinaj's interview to Novosti (Vecernje Novosti)
"We support the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue," AAK leader Ramush Haradinaj told Novosti. "However, we advocate that previously Harri Holkeri and Premier Bajram Rexhepi complete the Kosovo government and form ministries that are missing so that we would be ready to negotiate about everything."

You favor an independent Kosovo that is, according to UNSCR 1244 and the Kumanovo Agreement, an integral part of Serbia and Montenegro.

"UNSCR 1244 is the basis for building a new Kosovo. Great progress has been achieved in Kosovo, and that is the basis for a democratic society. We have arguments for Kosovo's future because we have the political will of the majority of the Kosovo people."

On the basis of what do you assert that progress has been achieved when Serbs are killed and expelled on a daily basis?

"It is true that there still exists fear with the Serbs. Freedom of movement has not achieved the level it should, but there is improvement. I understand that this is not what it should be, but I think we are on the right road."

Do you think a new Serbian-Albanian war is possible?

"I think there is no more war and conflict in the region… If you ask me what can we do for Serbia or what can we give the Serbs for recognizing independence of Kosovo, I would say flowers."

Do you know that UNMIK has a reliable study on organized crime where your clan is also mentioned, for which it is said, among other things, it expelled Serbs, looted property, dealt with inter-ethnic intimidation?

"I don't believe UNMIK has such information."

In your book "The Story about War and Freedom" you state: We have constantly attacked Serb forces. At any place. Day and night. Without hiding. We killed Serb policemen everyday…"

"That was my job as the soldier of KLA that I was creating. Not only did I fight, but I learned others to be ready and efficient."

CCK's announcement (Politika/Tanjug)
A more significant process of the return of Serbs, Romany and Ashkalis to Kosovo and Metohija has finally commenced, but, next year, we expect the realization of plans for the return of Serbs not only to all rural regions, but also to towns, said the head of the CCK's sector for returns Vladimir Cucic. "During the time of Steiner, return occurred only in two settlements in Kosovo, and now we have the return to 16 settlements over the past two months. The return process has finally commenced and we expect that more significant results will be next year since we don't see anyone who could stop such activity," Cucic said at CCK's press conference. He stressed the important role of UNMIK and cooperation of its offices for returns in Pristina and Belgrade, as well as other international organizations and some western governments, thanks to whose efforts 400 premises for returnees are either reconstructed or constructed in 12 settlements in Kosovo and Metohija.

Book "Djindjic on Kosovo" presented (Danas/Beta)
The Citizen Association "Cer" has presented the book "Zoran Djindjic on Kosovo" with the political strategy, texts and interviews by the late premier about the resolution of the crisis in the province. The Raska-Prizren bishop said that Serbs from Kosovo should be part of the Belgrade delegation in talks on Kosovo. He added that this was the wish of Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic.