Media Analysis 13 October 2003

• Vienna without the Prime Minister, the President represents Kosovo (Koha)
  
• Vienna is a photo opportunity for Kosovars, not for internationals (Koha)
  
• Dialogue to begin even without approval of Kosovo's assembly (Epoka E Re)
  
• Surroi : The seriousness of the circus (Koha Ditore)
  
• Palokaj: Bajram Rexhepi wants too much - Kosovans cannot reach consensus
  
• Shala: Continuity as politics (Zëri)
  
• Demaçi: The political day is dawning (Epoka e Re)
  
• The OSCE has changed the course of action, it gives priority to 'multi' projects (Epoka e Re)
  
• Citizens: Serbia should apologize first (Epoka e Re)

Vienna without the Prime Minister, the President represents Kosovo (Koha)

Koha Ditore reported that the epilogue of the political marathon on the talks between Kosovo and Serbia is that the talks are going to start on October 14th in Vienna, and that the Kosovan delegation will include SRSG Harri Holkeri, President Ibrahim Rugova, Assembly Speaker Nexhat Daci and the Coordinator for Returns Milorad Todorovic. The Kosovan Health Minister was also invited to attend the first meeting, but her participation is uncertain due to private reasons.

On the other hand, Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi sent a public message to the citizens of Kosovo on Sunday saying that he was not going to Vienna to meet with the Belgrade representatives, 'because this is neither the right time nor manner'.

'We express our deep regret that the Prime Minister has decided not to go to Vienna. As you know our governments are strongly committed that dialogue should start now. This was the unique stance of Quint since the beginning. This is the reason why we all will be represented in Vienna,' said the press release issued by the US Liaison Office in Prishtina on behalf of the Quint.

The paper further reported that the Prime Minister made it clear through a TV address that he will not go to Vienna. 'I will not go to the meeting that is organized by UNMIK in Vienna,' Rexhepi was quoted as saying.

'The whole international community has worked tirelessly to support President Ibrahim Rugova and other Kosovo leaders who wish to give the people of Kosovo the chance to be represented on a broad basis at the opening of direct talks between Pristina and Belgrade in Vienna on Tuesday,' said a statement issued by SRSG Holkeri after Rexhepi's decision.

'After intensive consultations, Kosovo President Ibrahim Rugova and the Assembly Speaker Nexhat Daci decided to participate in the Vienna talks,' said the press release issued by the Kosovo President's office.

Vienna is a photo opportunity for Kosovars, not for internationals (Koha)
Koha Ditore conducted an interview with the head of Italian Liaison Office in Prishtina Pasqual Salzano regarding upcoming dialogue in Vienna and the privatization process.

What will happen if Kosovo's delegation goes to Vienna and what will happen if it doesn't go?
Vienna talks are a great opportunity that is offered to Kosovars. It is important that talks are not only held but are also constructive. It is true that the Kosovo delegation has unclarity, but it is also clear that they will participate in the talks and what is important is that Kosovars participation is confirmed. There are some radical elements that have put unacceptable conditions for the moment. However, this would not harm beginning of the talks in Vienna. I have to repeat that participation of the Kosovar delegation is an advantage for Kosovars and not for the international community and it is not a favor that is done to the international community. This is in the interest of Kosovo.

Few days ago we have seen a statement from Brussels, where EU announced consequences for Kosovo if Kosovars do not go to Vienna. Could you explain to us what consequences are being talked about?
Consequences of non-participation in dialogue are already overcome. Non-participation does mean that Kosovars do not understand the importance of this dialogue and also conveys to the international community a message of political immaturity. If the international community assesses that Kosovo is politically immature, this would be damaging for Kosovo and will have great consequences. This is an opportunity for the Kosovar politicians to prove their maturity before the international community and it is very important for Kosovo. It is clear that the way towards Europe is based on political maturity.

Along with political maturity, what is the practical requirement of EU for talks in region?
Some voices have said that this dialogue serves as a photo opportunity for the international community. This is not true. The reality is that this is an opportunity for Kosovars. It does not mean that dialogue on practical issues will provide the solution for all problems in Kosovo. But what is of great importance is the opinion that is generated in capitals that have impact in the Balkans. It is necessary to send a positive signal. This is the most significant need for Kosovo and the Kosovar politicians. Kosovo shouldn't send only negative signals. Now is the opportunity to send a positive signal that would be heard across the world.

Is a Kosovo delegation that includes only the President and the Assembly Speaker but not the Prime Minister valid for the EU?
Holkeri has already sent invitations and you know that Quint had constructive talks with the local politicians and we also believe that participation would be from the highest level. If there are radical elements that do not support this important dialogue that is regrettable. However one thing should be clear, by acting in this way you will harm Kosovo. Recently prominent personalities such as the former US President Clinton, former Ambassador Holbrooke and former reputable SRSG Kouchner had visited Kosovo. These personalities had a fundamental role in Kosovo. They had the opportunity to talk openly. These personalities that you consider friends, expressed themselves openly and gave clear messages. They said that Vienna talks might create advantages for Kosovo. This is a message that we are transmitting to Kosovo. I believe that this is the biggest guarantee for participation in the dialogue. The worst thing for a friend is when you betray the confidence. It would be very hard and meaningless if Kosovo's people betray these persons that it considers as its friends.

According to your information from the meetings that you had recently, what are the reasons that PDK and AAK aren't participating in the dialogue?
This is a question that you should address to them. From my point of view it is incomprehensible that Kosovar leaders who have Kosovo's welfare in their hearts do not understand or appear not to understand how important and significant is this opportunity that the international community is offering to Kosovo.

Some of the comments that arose from politicians and analysts in the media are that dialogue is not prepared very well and it might prejudge Kosovo's status? Is there a place for these statements?
They are absolutely false. Talks in Vienna are focused on technical issues of mutual interests. There is absolutely no connection with the final status. The international community will determine the final status of Kosovo at an appropriate time. Actually Resolution 1244 is the only effective document on Kosovo. Guarantees that Vienna talks will not impact on the final status are given by the EU, our American friends, the Contact Group and NATO, so I do not know what else you need.

What will happen after October 14?
On October 14 the dialogue will begin, then there will be a need to form technical working groups. It would be a low profile technical task that would deal with eventual agreements on communication, energy and missing persons. However, it is important to give an important message to the world on October 14.

We had news that on Friday in Gjakova Airport had landed the first civil aeroplane Boeing 737. How does Italy see the future of this airport?
Gjakova Airport makes Italian aeronautics proud. It is an airport that is built completely by the Italian military aeronautics. Currently we are trying to extend the flying field and we are in close contact with the Ministry of Communication and Transport as well as with UNMIK in order to solve problems of property ownership around the airport. So, Gjakova airport will be functional for both military and civilian flights. This will be a very important factor for Kosovo's economic development because during the winter Prishtina airport is very often closed as a result of fog. When the right time comes, Italy is ready to gift Kosovo one of the most significant premises of the infrastructure. Not without reason is the name of the airport 'Amico' which in Albanian means friend. This is evidence of friendship between Kosovo and Italy. The time planned for transforming it into a civil airport is very short. It is clear that the airport is under the Italian KFOR command. It is understandable that that will happen at the time when military presence will be reduced but it is tough to start even now with a combination of military and civil airplanes landing. It is important that we build the airport with the aim to give Kosovo a proper infrastructure.

The privatization process is stopped after concerns for immunity from responsible authorities. Did you speak to the new KTA managing director Maria Fucci and what is your opinion about this problem?
I am aware that the KTA head now is a competent woman, Maria Fucci. I would like to stress that government does not appoint her. Mrs. Fucci is appointed in that post because of her great experience in the Balkans and in Europe. Privatization process, for us, is a significant element of economic development. We are aware of the legal problems that came up and also of the charges that have been made at international courts. We repeat again our belief that we have in Mr. Lambsdorf and we also understand that there are some problems that should be solved. We will work concretely to solve these problems for the benefit of everybody.

Dialogue to begin even without approval of Kosovo's assembly (Epoka E Re)
Epoka e Re carried a report from Radio Free Europe where an anonymous senior US State Department official supports upcoming dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade.

A senior US State Department official said that talks between Prishtina and Belgrade would begin on October 14, even though Kosovo Assembly did not approve it. Questioned by Radio Free Europe whether talks will be postponed because Kosovo Assembly hasn't approved the dialogue, a senior unnamed US official said that 'disapproval by the Kosovo Assembly does not negate the possibility of participation of Kosovo's government members in Vienna talks'.

'Talks will begin at the fixed date, October 14,' the source was quoted as saying. 'It is in the interest of Kosovo to participate in the upcoming dialogue. We appeal to Prishtina and Belgrade to show full and effective participation in the upcoming dialogue,' the US State Department official concluded.

Surroi : The seriousness of the circus (Koha Ditore)

'I think that Dr Rugova's personal decision to go to Vienna was right. The preparations for negotiations between Pristina and Belgrade were so unserious that it suits a person like him to attend them' writes publisher Veton Surroi in a commentary for Koha Ditore.

1. The participants of the latest meeting of the chief administrator Holkeri, representatives of the Quint in Kosovo and the other political Quint in Kosovo (the President, the PM, the Assembly Speaker, and heads of two Albanian governmental parties) did not leave an impression other than a comical scene that was performed five consecutive times during this meeting. Kosovo's administrator, Holkeri, had decided that it was the day for a decision on starting negotiations in Vienna and that all Albanians were to declare their position on this. From the beginning, he banged the table and asked who was 'pro' and before he finished his sentence, Dr. Rugova, as the President of a part in Kosovo and as head of LDK, said he was 'pro'.
This scene, full of contradictions, was repeated five times.
The fact that Rugova declared 'pro' almost every hour to go to Vienna this Tuesday did not surprise me much. In the past years I have seen and heard Dr Rugova do these gestures without consulting anybody, without being adequately briefed on what it was about, and not bothering about the consequences such a gesture may have for Kosovo.
At the end of the day his calculations have been simpler than the complicated analysis made out in the media over the last few days. Dr Rugova would calculate his personal position in that respect. When Ambassador Holbrooke convinced him to go and meet Milosevic for the first time, he promised Rugova that in two weeks time he was going to meet with Clinton. Rugova pondered and decided that it was important for him to have a personal meeting with Clinton. When Shainovic, the Serbian deputy prime minister told him during the bombing that he was to meet Milosevic again, he decided that it was for his own personal and physical good to do it. Even now, when the representatives of the Quint told him to go to Vienna, they used a simple trick. They told him he was going there as the President of Kosovo, and that this would legitimize his position in front of the Serbs. For Dr Rugova it was not important that he was elected President based on a party consensus in the parliament and that the same parliament could not declare over the last two months what to do with this dialogue, and that at least two of the partners of this coalition have serious reservations concerning preparations for foreseen negotiations in Vienna. For him it was important to get photographed in Vienna as the President of Kosovo.
With this we can deduce the entire political philosophy of Dr Rugova: it is form that is important, photographs. Content has never been important for him, or how the preparations were done, topic of discussion, positive or negative consequences for Kosovo.

2. Dr. Rugova's personal decision to go to Vienna seems proper to me. Preparations for negotiations between Pristina and Belgrade were so unserious that it suits a person like him to take part.
But, the problem is deeper than the lack of seriousness so far regarding the negotiations circus.
The main problem that arose over the second week of October stretches in three fields. The first has to do with negotiations themselves. This way of preparation has shown lack of seriousness, while only pressure on Kosovans to take part has shown seriousness. The ploy to divide institutions has also been tried (convincing the President and the Parliamentary Speaker), and not respecting the principal position of the Prime Minister of Kosovo. The Prime Minister, realizing he was the last to take the burden of negotiations, asked for political consensus among governmental parties. Instead of compromise he was offered different forms of international pressure and local obstacles.
At the end of the day the seriousness of the negotiations will be proportional to the effort we invest in them.
Second, it has to do with relations between UNMIK and Kosovo. Instead of a dialogue about priorities and how to push forward the building process in Kosovo, UNMIK has continued with the ways inherited from Haekkerup, to impose priorities by UNMIK or rather by its head. In the end, UNMIK will realize it should listen to what Kosovans have to say.

The third has to do with Kosovans, themselves. The effort for negotiations now has revealed the well-known situation of the lack of consensus among Albanians for everything but independence. However, even the process of independence is a technique, not only a form; thus we see that there is a lack of consensus even for reaching independence. Over the last two months, our political parties swear on institutions, but the biggest two have marginalized them, or have tried to devalue the two basic institutions of Kosovo: the Parliament and the Government, which was established by the same Parliament.

3. There can be a positive result in all this writhe. The first is that there will be a more serious investment than hitherto.
The international community, no matter what happens in Vienna, can learn a lesson that there is a need for a more serious political investment in Kosovo, in the relations created in Kosovo. When Kosovans say they want more competencies, it is not that they are envious; it is because they are needy. And, when they say they want serious mediation in the talks, it is not because they want to get photographed with officials higher than the chief administrator, but because they trust NATO, the US, and the EU more than UNMIK.
Kosovans can learn another lesson, which is not to wait until the last day to show what they want and how to achieve it. Of course, everything can count; at least if articulated through consensus in the institutions built with that much pain.
4. Day in day out friends of Kosovo and the others have tried to formulate a simple sentence about the answer of Kosovans on negotiations with Belgrade. Some have said, "Kosovans are not ready", some that "Kosovans are afraid" some that "Kosovans do not want to meet with Serbs".
It seems to me that over the last few weeks a deeper message has evolved; yes to negotiations, but more serious negotiations than the ones prepared so far.

Palokaj: Bajram Rexhepi wants too much - Kosovans cannot reach consensus
In an opinion piece for Koha Ditore, columnist Augustin Palokaj writes, 'No one in Vienna wanted to imagine the Vienna meeting without Prime Minister Rexhepi who is undoubtedly considered not only as the most pragmatic politician but also as the only politician of this kind in Kosovo. But maybe his burning desire to see Albanians united has turned the Prime Minister into a victim of the party turmoil in Kosovo'.

Maybe things will change by the time this article goes out in print, but for the time being, the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Bajram Rexhepi, and the leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj, can count on aggravating relations with representatives of the international community because of the hesitation, that is the full opposition to dialogue in Vienna. While the AAK leader has remained true to the opposition of dialogue, the Prime Minister of Kosovo seems to have fallen victim to his own desire to see Albanians united on such an important issue and asked for a consensus in the assembly. When he didn't receive such support from the assembly, he said that he was remaining faithful to his position that without the blessing of the assembly he wouldn't go to Vienna.

No one in Vienna wanted to imagine the Vienna meeting without Prime Minister Rexhepi, who is undoubtedly considered not only as the most pragmatic politician but also as the only politician of this kind in Kosovo. But maybe his burning desire to see Albanians united has turned the Prime Minister into a victim of the party turmoil in Kosovo. His absence in Vienna is going to prove something that will be more striking than the beginning of dialogue. It is going to prove that Kosovo has no government, because the ministers are going to attend a meeting that won't be attended by the prime minister, it is also going to prove that Kosovo doesn't have an assembly, because the assembly speaker continues to follow his philosophy 'I am the assembly' and it is also going to prove that Kosovans are not perceiving the dialogue seriously, with what the international community is going to further delay the process of resolving Kosovo's final status.

The Prime Minister was wrong when he thought that Kosovan institutions are serious.

Facing problems in the government, where ministers protect the policy of their own political parties and not the government, the Prime Minister of Kosovo, who controls no ministry, sought to find support for going to Vienna with a wrong address, the Kosovo Assembly, which should be the collective representation of the people of Kosovo. He even wanted support for the dialogue to be given to him as a consensus. But in this respect, Mr. Bajram Rexhepi had overestimated the assembly, by believing that it is serious. It could even be politically naïve to seek consensus in an assembly where two Albanian political parties haven't voted for the assembly speaker and Mr. Daci had to be elected with the votes of his political party and the Serb Coalition Povratak, who were allowed by Covic to vote for Daci. Afterwards, the assembly speaker played lottery with the assembly members in his effort to elect Mr. Rugova as President of Kosovo without a preliminary agreement between the three main Kosovan political parties and at a time when Covic allowed Serbs to vote for Rugova. If Covic hadn't done this, Rugova would have been appointed president earlier in the same manner that Daci was appointed speaker of the assembly, because the votes of the LDK and Coalition Povratak would have proven to be sufficient.

Seeking consensus on such an important issue in such an assembly, without ensuring the support of all political parties, is political naivety by the prime minister who was motivated by the noble wish for unity in difficult times. But now even if the Prime Minister goes to Vienna only with the approval of the PDK, then he is going to be there a representative of a political party and not a representative of the government, and this will humiliate Kosovan institutions even more.

The President attend all meetings, except for meetings with other Albanians

It seems that the only Albanian political party that will send its representatives to the dialogue with Serbs in Vienna, if Rexhepi doesn't agree to go there as a representative of the PDK, will be the biggest party, the LDK. The latter will be represented by Ibrahim Rugova and Nexhat Daci, even though the latter is said to represent Kosovan institutions. The LDK has once again played a wise, although hypocritical game. They always told international representatives that they were going to attend the dialogue and that they considered it as important, whereas they didn't talk much about the issue of dialogue in public, except for some assembly members who weren't even clear whether or not they supported the dialogue. This party hasn't allowed its assembly members to be seen on TV while voting in support of talks with Serbs.

Now officials from the presidential office are saying that Mr. Rugova has competencies to decide to go to Vienna. Rugova was elected to his office by the Kosovo Assembly, which means that he must answer to it, the same way the Prime Minister was elected by this institution and then asked for its support. But President Rugova proved that he has much more experience than Mr. Rexhepi, and Rugova's experience has taught him that he doesn't have to ask anyone for anything and that he can decide about everything himself, be it for his political party or for Kosovo. His political experience taught Mr. Rugova to attend every meeting, be it even with Milosevic, Milutinovic and Sainovic, and be it even with representatives from Russia and the US. We have learned from Rugova's experience that attends all kinds of meetings without slightest hesitation except for meetings with other Albanian leaders in Prishtina or Tirana. Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi lacks such an experience as President Rugova.

Dialogue can and will start even without the prime minister

The start of dialogue in Vienna is going to be symbolic. It was clearly said that this is going to happen regardless of the composition of the delegation of Kosovans. Therefore, dialogue is going to start even in the absence of the Prime Minister of Kosovo, and who can be more suitable for such historic and symbolic events than President Rugova. The international community in Vienna doesn't plan to concretely open talks on technical issues but simply hold speeches, have lunch together, and the President of Kosovo has good experience in these things. LDK media will give plenty of coverage to the pictures of the president and Daci with international leaders, Solana, Lord Robertson and Chancellor Schuessel and might ignore the pictures taken with leaders from Belgrade. Daci and Rugova will leave the impression that they went to attend the meeting 'because of our American and European allies' and to talk to Serbs.

But all diplomats who will be focused on solving real issues will be well aware of the fact that they will find it difficult to do that without the prime minister.

The prime minister is the only politician from the 'provisional institutions of Kosovo' who realizes the meaning of 'technical issues' or the meaning of the 'Process of Stabilization and Association'.

Even EU leaders know that Rexhepi understand this and wants to continue the process in a technical way without political implications, because delays in technical issues are more difficult to be compensated than political delays. Even if dialogue in Vienna starts without Prime Minister Rexhepi, the EU will think of him for the rest of the process, because the plan is to create expert teams after the first meeting in Vienna and then continue the dialogue on the level of experts. If they decide not to punish Prime Minister Rexhepi so harshly then they will still think about him in the context of continuing the institution building in Kosovo. Officials in Brussels are already saying that they are going to do a careful evaluation of the Kosovan debate regarding dialogue with Serbs in order to identify what in the international community are called 'bad boys'. For the time being they are saying that 'those who are against dialogue are alone because the international community, including all the friends of Kosovans, have recommended dialogue'; therefore, those who are against dialogue 'are against the whole world'. But in the end everyone will bear responsibility for his actions and Kosovo will suffer the consequences of lack of leadership. We are still going to have to wait for 'unity' among Kosovan leaders, or even search the word in dictionaries and books. United in Vienna are going to be only two delegations, the delegation from Belgrade and the delegation of the international community.

Shala: Continuity as politics (Zëri)
Zëri carries a front-page editorial by Blerim Shala who claims that the 'current regime in Belgrade is fully backing the results of the previous regime.'

The developments surrounding the privatization of socially owned enterprises in Kosovo and the blocking of this initiative by the Serbian regime, have again actualized the relations between the current and the previous regime in Serbia, with the latter being linked with the name (and deed) of Slobodan Milosevic. It is known that the current Serbian regime is claiming that it has nothing in common with the regime that was responsible for the four big wars. Therefore, the basic principle of the post-Milosevic regime was that of full discontinuity with his actions.

However, this principle doesn't stand when it comes to Kosovo. There is no discontinuity here. And this is not our belief; it is the reality. Even though Serbian officials have sometimes claimed that in 1989 Serbia had forcibly abrogated Kosovo's constitutional status and thus gave an international dimension to the problem of Kosovo.

The current government in Serbia recognizes as legal the actions of Milosevic's regime that forcibly and against the will of Kosovans changed the character of Kosovan institutions, including socially owned enterprises. It is clearly known with what laws and under what circumstances Serbia annexed socially owned enterprises in Kosovo. But the fact is that the current regime fully recognizes the results of the previous regime. The current regime in Belgrade also thinks that the legal position from the 90's should serve as a starting point for the process of privatization in Kosovo. Such a behavior by the current Serbian officials, in reality makes them jointly guilty for the actions of the previous regime and at the same time responsible for new tensions in relations, which according to westerners should enter the phase of mutual tolerance.

Demaçi: The political day is dawning (Epoka e Re)

In an opinion piece for Epoka e Re, the human rights activist Adem Demaçi, wrote that 'the major runners in the Kosovan political marathon got tired and surrendered in the drowning storm'. These are Mr. Rugova and Mr. Thaçi. In the political arena we have a new feeling emerging, a new dynamic political force, more and more imposing and obvious; the political figure of Mr. Ramush Haradinaj and his party, the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo.

In times of political crisis societies divide in two major parts: the submissive one, which sooner or later, slowly or quickly, will drown; and the other part that can push the processes forward toward completion.

Two from our 'marathon runners in Kosovan politics' got tired and surrendered in the drowning storm. These are Mr. Rugova and Mr. Thaçi. They are two out of four Kosovans that signed the Rambouillet-Paris (dis)agreement in March 1999. The above mentioned, will conclude Rambouillet-Paris act with Vienna. With the act of Rambouillet-Paris, Mr. Rugova, Mr. Thaçi, Mr. Qosja and Mr. Surroi, with their signatures, declared the liberation war as a civil war and accepted the colonizer Serbia, and its terrorist, neo-fascist, and criminal regime as their state by recognizing its sovereignty over Kosovo.

The second act, the one of Vienna, on 14 October, will be the act of reconciliation with the current regime in Belgrade, which has not shown any essential change regarding Kosovo from the regime of Milosevic. The second act of Vienna will be the act of reconciling the killer with the rebels, the ruler with the ruled, colonizers with colonized, oppressors with freedom lovers. After the second act, relations between Kosovo and Serbia will be treated by Serbia and the world not as politically complicated, but as simple technical relations. This is the interest and the wish of world strategists, to re-colonize Kosovo by Serbia. This is the wish of the hegemonic regime in Serbia, to re-colonize Kosovo with the support and facilitation of the international factors.

This would happen if there weren't for the omnipotent laws of nature and life, which consistently break barriers and obstacles of all racketeers and defrauders of the world, and which inevitably lead to freedom, independence, equality and happiness.

In the current political environment in Kosovo, we have a new feeling emerging, and a dynamic political force. Mr. Haradinaj and his party the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo. They will soon free their party from those few members that fear political storms, and will soon find a common language with other small parties in Kosovo. After this the Alliance will extend with new members coming from both 'big' parties, which after strokes by the new reality to emerge soon, it will disentangle and fall apart. The Alliance if it can stay on course, right after the 14 of October, 2003, will become a political pivot, around which the youth of Kosovo and the majority of Kosovo people gather.

The OSCE has changed the course of action, it gives priority to 'multi' projects (Epoka e Re)

Epoka e Re carries an article about the Center for democracy in Peja, which according to the paper consists of many 'dead' associations. Since the beginning in the post-war Peja there have been more than 100 NGOs created. They together with the internationals drafted voluminous projects and indulged in a lot of money. To justify that money, they organized a seminar or an excursion and everything finished with that. These associations have started to 'die out'

After the OSCE officials had agreed to rent the house of a Roma for their offices, they had changed their mind. They did not move into that house, but started to prepare half of the Shopping Mall to declare it a Center for Democracy. Many Peja citizen, took the opportunity and did not wait for offices to be allocated, they broke the doors, changed the locks, and put the names of their associations on their doors. First they needed to look as serious as possible in the eyes of foreign donors in Peja, who came in the name of developing civic society. A part of these internationals knowing the love of Pejans for money, they soon got adopted to the new environment. They wrote long and impressive projects together with the heads of associations and 'snatched' money from donors. To give the impression that the maximum was being done, the internationals and locals together organized seminars with ridiculous topics or an excursion to clean sewage channels from sticks, papers, and bottles. Afterwards, they organized lunches and dinners to celebrate successful completion of projects, and it was in these parties, in these luxurious hotels, that the first sparks of love often started between our girls and boys from all around the world. These romances continued until tearful breaks, with babies thrown in containers, or under the trees in the park. However, even this did not last forever. The OSCE and the internationals in general have changed the course of action. In order for them to help or finance a project, it has to have the first word 'multi'. Many of the associations could not keep the pace with this new competition, since there are not that many Serbs or Romas in Peja, that would be enough for those 'associations', therefore many of them have started to 'die out' together with many other offices in the Center for Democracy. The loss of fraud market for a part of the associations has left their representatives without money, even to pay the debt for electricity. This has irritated the "Power Distribution" in Peja, which rightfully cut off the center for democracy from the power network. In this environment, a small number of honest associations can hardly survive. One of them is the "Association of the Families of Martyrs". This office has also remained in the dark. So have some media representatives. The OSCE that has an office in the 'Center for Democracy' does not care about this situation. They have an extremely big generator, which they use any time they need; let the others do whatever they please.
'OSCE wants multinational projects'. Some of the youngsters have noticed this and have come up with some projects for reconciliation. OSCE adores these people and sends them from Kastrat (Gorazhdec) to Brezovica, even in Ohrid, where they had a wonderful time with their Serb, Roma and Macedonian peers. They also wrote a booklet in three languages; "We are working for reconciliation and eradication of hatred", they say proudly.

Citizens: Serbia should apologize first (Epoka e Re)

Epoka e Re conducted an opinion poll among citizens on whether our politicians should participate in the dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade and sought the people's comments on the disagreements between them. Most of the citizens said that Serbia should first apologize for the crimes committed in Kosovo and only then talk about dialogue.

Coal-miner Shaip Latifi said that our politicians should participate in the talks, but they shouldn't go there unprepared. While commenting on disagreements between our politicians he said that 'it resembles a children's game'.

Arban Alia senior technician of electricity said that Serbs shouldn't put conditions for talks. 'First they should apologize for the historical crimes that they committed against Albanians,' he said.

'Disagreements are not because of the principles, because all political parties operate within Resolution 1244; they are UNMIK tools; UNMIK paid them, UNMIK grew them, UNMIK fed them. Their disagreements are just personal matters of their ego, ambition, career or position,' he was quoted as saying.

Naim Berisha said that Serbia must first apologize for what they did in Kosovo and only after that should our politicians begin talks.

· Main Stories 13 October
· Vienna without the Prime Minister, the President represents Kosovo (Koha)
· Prishtina goes to dialogue with uncompleted delegation (Zëri)
· Rugova and Daci decide to participate in Vienna meeting (Zëri)
· SRSG Holkeri confirms Rugova and Daci's participation in Vienna (Zëri)
· Government on the eve of dissolution (Epoka e Re)
· Quint: Our governments want dialogue to start now (Zëri)
· Thaçi: The position of Prime Minister Rexhepi is personal (Zëri)
· Salzano: Vienna is a photo-op for Kosovars, not for internationals (Koha)
· Zivkovic: Talks in Vienna - a victory of the Serbian side (Epoka e Re)
· Surroi: The seriousness of the circus (Koha Ditore)
· Shala: Continuity as politics (Zëri)
· Palokaj: Bajram Rexhepi wants too much - Kosovars cannot reach consensus
· Holbrooke: Serbs are facing a historic crossroads (Epoka e Re)

Kosovo Media Highlights

Vienna without the Prime Minister, the President represents Kosovo (Koha)
Koha Ditore reports that the epilogue of the political marathon on the talks between Kosovo and Serbia is that the talks are going to start on October 14th in Vienna, and that the Kosovar delegation will include SRSG Harri Holkeri, President Ibrahim Rugova, Assembly Speaker Nexhat Daci and the Coordinator for Returns Milorad Todorovic. The Kosovar Health Minister was also invited to attend the first meeting, but her participation is uncertain due to private reasons.

On the other hand, Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi sent a public message to the citizens of Kosovo on Sunday saying that he was not going to Vienna to meet with the Belgrade representatives, 'because this is neither the right time nor manner'.

Prishtina goes to the dialogue with uncomplete delegation (Zëri)
Zëri reports that an uncomplete Kosovar delegation is going to travel to Vienna to mark the start of dialogue with Belgrade representatives. The Kosovar delegation will be uncomplete, because Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi has definitively decided not to go to Vienna. 'Talks will happen, but only when Kosovars decide,' Rexhepi was quoted as saying.

Rugova and Daci decide to participate in Vienna meeting (Zëri)
Zëri reports that the office of the President of Kosovo has issued a statement saying that after intensive consultations President Ibrahim Rugova and Assembly Speaker Nexhat Daci have decided to participate in the meeting in Vienna on Tuesday.

SRSG Holkeri confirms Rugova and Daci's participation in Vienna (Zëri)
Zëri also reports that SRSG Harri Holkeri confirmed that President Rugova and Assembly Speaker Daci would represent Kosovans in the first meeting between Prishtina and Belgrade in Vienna.

'Since it was seen that it was impossible to include the representatives of the government in the Kosovan delegation, Kosovo is going to be represented by the President of Kosovo who is a symbol of the unity of a multiethnic Kosovo,' Holkeri was quoted as saying.

Government on the eve of dissolution (Epoka e Re)
Epoka e Re claims that the decision of Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi not to go to Vienna and the on the other hand the decision made by Rugova and Daci to attend the meeting have definitively led to the downfall of principles of the fragile coalition government. 'Now the dissolution of the government is a realistic possibility,' added the newspaper.

Quint: Our governments want dialogue to start now (Zëri)
Zëri reports that the representatives of Quint countries have issued a joint statement voiced their regret over the decision made by Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi not to attend the Vienna meeting. The Quint representatives have also voiced their position that dialogue should start now.

Thaçi: The position of Prime Minister Rexhepi is personal (Zëri)
Hashim Thaçi, leader of the Kosovo Democratic Party (PDK) told Zëri that there were a number of meetings between Quint representatives and local leaders, which focused on the Kosovan representation at the Vienna meeting.

Commenting on PM Rexhepi's decision not to attend the Vienna meeting, Thaçi was quoted as saying, 'Prime Minister Rexhepi's position is quite personal'.

Salzano: Vienna is a photo-op for Kosovars, not for internationals (Koha)
In an interview for Koha Ditore, Pasquale Salzano, the head of the Italian Office in Prishtina, said that the Vienna meeting should be held because of the value that it brings to Kosovo and not as an honor to the international community.

'There are certain radical elements that have set up unacceptable conditions. However, this doesn't damage the start of talks in Vienna,' Salzano was quoted as saying.

Zivkovic: Talks in Vienna - a victory of the Serbian side (Epoka e Re)
Epoka e Re reports that Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Zivkovic said on Sunday that upcoming dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade was a victory for the Serbian side, and he also added that these talks would be a good opportunity for the Albanian side to take over its share of responsibility for the situation in Kosovo.

Surroi: The seriousness of the circus (Koha Ditore)
'I think that Dr. Rugova's personal decision to go to Vienna was right. The preparations for negotiations between Prishtina and Belgrade were so unserious that it suits a person like him to attend them,' writes publisher Veton Surroi in a commentary for Koha Ditore. [full translation in Media Analysis]

Shala: Continuity as politics (Zëri)
Zëri carries a front-page editorial by Blerim Shala who claims that the 'current regime in Belgrade is fully backing the results of the previous regime. The current regime in Belgrade also thinks that the legal position from the 90's should serve as a starting point for the process of privatization in Kosovo. Such a behavior by the current Serbian officials, in reality makes them co-guilty for the actions of the previous regime and at the same time responsible for new tensions in relations, which according to westerns should enter the phase of mutual tolerance'. [full translation in Media Analysis]

Palokaj: Bajram Rexhepi wants too much - Kosovars cannot reach consensus
In an opinion piece for Koha Ditore, columnist Augustin Palokaj writes, 'No one in Vienna wanted to imagine the Vienna meeting without Prime Minister Rexhepi who is undoubtedly considered not only as the most pragmatic politician but also as the only politician of this kind in Kosovo. But maybe his burning desire to see Albanians united has turned the Prime Minister into a victim of the party turmoil in Kosovo'. [full translation in Media Analysis]

Holbrooke: Serbs are facing a historic crossroads (Epoka e Re)
Epoka e Re quotes the former US Ambassador to the United Nations, Richard Holbrooke, as saying that Kosovar Albanians must guarantee the rights of minorities in Kosovo if they want to fulfill their aspirations for independence.

'Serbs are facing a historic crossroads. They have to choose between Kosovo and Europe. Because if they choose Kosovo, they are going to lose both. They know well that Milosevic has lost Kosovo,' Holbrooke added.

Kosovo Press Headlines
Koha Ditore
Front page
· Vienna to take place without prime minister, Kosovo is represented by president
· Vienna is opportunity to take photo of Kosovans and not internationals
· Surroi: Serious circus
· New dangers for the legalization of Tetovo University [Macedonia]
· 'Monsters' with two wheels have radar

Other headlines
· We will discuss mutual issues (2)
· Election go without problems (4)
· Anger extends strike for three months (5)
· 'Vision Computers' will demand its right through the court (5)
· Interview with Svetlana Gjorgjevic (6)
· New goods from Prishtina car market (7)
· Teacher is arrested for pedophilia (8)
· Gjakova: Talks should be prepared well and with participation of experts (8)
· German paper Bild assists Kosovan children (9)
· Mitrovica municipality analyzes method to put conditions (9)
· Palokaj: Rexhepi demands too much, Kosovans cannot reach consensus (10)

Zëri
Front page
· Prishtina begins dialogue with Belgrade with incomplete delegation
· Quint: Our governments are strongly for beginning the dialogue
· Shala: Continuity as a policy
· Dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade will be announced by Schuessel
· Albright: The Contact Group was not the adequate institution against Milosevic
· Why do banks and pension trust keep hundreds of millions out of Kosovo?

Other headlines
· Message from New York: If you want profits, invest in Kosovo (2)
· Vienna will happen, say western diplomats in Prishtina (2)
· Rugova and Daci have decided to participate in Vienna meeting (3)
· Holkeri confirms that Kosovo will be represented by Rugova and Daci (3)
· Thaçi: Rexhepi's stance is completely personal (3)
· Albania held local elections yesterday (4)
· Kostov: Cakallla and Breza will be brought before justice [Macedonia] (4)
· BDI demands to precise army competencies [Macedonia] (4)
· Only few people obey new business working hours (7)
· Why does nobody care about 47 persons in Nis? (7)
· Jezerci residents do not want to change the name of their village (8)
· Road Gjilan-Zheger-Kumanove is priority for the municipality (8)
· Peja will have boulevard on both side of the river (9)
· AAK has aid that will be not servicing everybody (9)

Bota Sot
Front page
· Rexhepi: I will not go to Vienna on October 14
· Quint countries express deep regret with Rexhepi's stance
· If you want profit, invest in Kosovo, say officials of US mission in Kosovo
· 40 exhumes bodies will be handed in
· Capitalism in Kosovo should have Kosovo's state seal
· Speech of US congressman Tom Lantos
· Who will win the elections in Albania?

Other headlines
· Kosovo assembly should equip the delegation of Kosovo with proper tools (2)
· Beqiri: Capital is changing its view (3)
· Buçpapaj: Illusions of Covic who wants to make alliance with Americans (3)
· Enough coal, but not electricity? (4)
· Ferizi: How was Qosja terrified? (4)
· Kosovo imports about 40 % of food products (5)
· Bytyçi: Good-will advices of American friends (6)
· 763 missing persons (6)
· Municipality has not access in overseeing Serbian education process (7)
· Kelmendi: Weak characters of political elements in Kosovo (7)
· Real test for institutions [Albania] (8)
· Medics are against political solutions (9)
· Changes of law on statehood are favorable for Albanians [Macedonia] (10)

Kosova Sot
Front page
· Prime Minister says 'no' to Vienna
· Is coalition in crisis?
· List of topics for discussion starts with transport and energy
· Moore: A big chess game in Balkans
· Political leaders on institutions
· Rugova and Daci inform Holkeri about their going to Vienna
· Narcotics come to Kosovo mainly from Macedonia
· Who is keeping some processes hostage in Kosovo
· Irons for smugglers and Custom officials

Other headlines
· Albania: Elections did not pass without incidents (2)
· Zivkovic: Dialogue a victory for the Serbian side (2)
· US: Talks to start regardless of the composition of Kosovo delegation (2)
· UNIKOMB against Prishtina Belgrade dialogue (4)
· Hand over of dead bodies at Merdare (4)
· Policy of 'higher' calculations detrimental to Kosovo (5)
· Serwer and Hunter: Kosovo status could be discussed around 2005/ 2006 (5)
· Demaçi: The political day is dawning (5)

Epoka e Re
Front page
· Government one step closer to dissolution
· Rugova and Daci with this behavior abandoned the Government!
· AAK happy with Rexhepi's refusal
· Kosovo treated as an aggressor, Serbia as a victim
· You do not cry for the brave, you sing for them, says Avni's father

Other headlines

· Solana appreciates sending of Serbian troops to Afghanistan (3)
· Holbrooke: Serbians facing a historical crossroad (3)
· Citizens: Serbia should have apologized first (4)
· UNMIK proposes theses for talks with Belgrade (5)
· EU: The important thing is to start the dialogue (5)
· Zivkovic: Talks in Vienna a victory for the Serbian side (5)
· "Scotsman" Old rivalries threaten talks for Kosovo (5)
· Elections in Albanian peaceful (6)
· If we could bring New York to Pristina (6)

Belgrade Media Highlights

· State Department on Kosovo (Politika/Tanjug)
· Holbrook and Couchner on Kosovo (Blic)
· Kosovo delegation known (Balkan)
· NATO to remain in Kosovo (Vecernje Novosti/Tanjug)
· Goran Bogdanovic on privatization (Glas)

· Upon Vienna talks (Vecernje Novosti)
· Zivkovic: Talks in Vienna are victory of Serb side (Balkan)
· Solana: Both sides should avoid tensions prior to talks (Blic)
· Covic's report on return of refugees (Vecernje Novosti/Tanjug)
· Dragoljub Micunovic on dialogue with Pristina (Glas/Srna)
· Belgrade-Pristina talks commence on Tuesday (Danas/Beta/Fonet)
· Ranko Krivokapic: 2005 - decisive year (Glas/Srna)
· Rexhepi not to go to Vienna (Politika/Beta)
· White Book on Albanian terrorism by Serbian government (Politika)
· German radio on Kosovo IDPs (Politika/Tanjug)

State Department on Kosovo (Politika/Tanjug)
A high official of the State Department has stated that the Belgrade-Pristina talks will commence as scheduled, on 14 October, regardless of the fact that the Kosovo Assembly had not given accord for the dialogue in Vienna. "Talks will begin as scheduled, on 14 October," he said. "It is in Kosovo's interest to take part in the upcoming dialogue. We call on Belgrade and Pristina to show full and constructive participation in the upcoming dialogue," a high official of the State Department told Radio Free Europe.

Holbrook and Couchner on Kosovo (Blic)
Serbia cannot have Kosovo and enter the EU at the same time, stated former US ambassador at the UN Richard Holbrook and former UNMIK head Bernard Couchner. Serbs must start facing the reality. Not many of them dare to publicly say that, but they know that Kosovo is lost. They are actually waiting for the world - the UN and the US - to end the job that commenced with the war in 1999, it is stated in their joint editorial published by the Wall Street Journal.

Kosovo delegation known (Balkan)
Kosovo President Ibrahim Rugova, Premier Bajram Rexhepi and Assembly Speaker Nexhad Daci will represent the Kosovo Albanian community. The co-minister for returns in the Kosovo government Milorad Todorovic will represent the Serb community, and the health minister Resmije Mandiu will represent the Turkish community in the delegation. Albanian sources state that PDK AMs had given a green light at a session behind closed doors to Premier Rexhepi to go to Vienna, by which Hashim Thaci's party has practically supported the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue.

NATO to remain in Kosovo (Vecernje Novosti/Tanjug)
NATO Supreme Commander, US General James Jones, has stated that SFOR could withdraw from B-H in the following 12-18 months, because it is estimated that B-H could be sufficiently stable by then. The reduction of the number of US soldiers in the Balkans, AP states, is the priority of US Defense Minister Donald Ramsfeld, who wishes this way to alleviate the pressure on its forces that are engaged in Afghanistan and Iraq. General Jones has assessed that the issue of Kosovo and Metohija is a more difficult problem and that NATO forces will have to stay there longer. According to Jones, a larger part of NATO forces will withdraw from Macedonia by the end of the year, where the EU took over the peace mission in March.

Goran Bogdanovic on privatization (Glas)
Goran Bogdanovic, Agriculture Minister in the Kosovo government, states that the Kosovo Trust Agency has sold 22 companies, and not only two, in the course of two tenders, as the CCK's economic department announced this week. According to him, Albanians who bought these companies had already paid for them, so it is difficult to expect that their selling will be annulled. As reasons for the decision by the EU and UNMIK to temporarily abolish the privatization of socially owned and public companies in Kosovo and Metohija, Bogdanovic states the stipulations from UNSCR 1244, according to which UNMIK has only the right to administer, but not to dispose with the property in this region of Serbia. "Apart from that, the privatization concept implemented by UNMIK has not respected the economic PRINCIPLES that property that is being sold also has a PASSIVE. Trustees, usually companies and entrepreneurs from Serbia, have been omitted, so only a separated part of the company, without loans, is being sold according to this model, says Bogdanovic, who adds that the UN decision as to what should be further done is now awaited.

Upon Vienna talks (Vecernje Novosti)
The fact that UNMIK Head Harri Holkeri has also been the target of the most extreme of the Albanians speaks about the atmosphere among them upon the negotiations scheduled for 14 October. As Novosti learns, his cabinet in Pristina received an anonymous message on 9 October: that he will regret for coming at all to Kosovo if he is not "cooperative towards Albanians." The same day, at 3:30 p.m., his armored car was stoned, while a car from his escort was attacked in Pristina, when one Italian was wounded.

Zivkovic: Talks in Vienna are victory of Serb side (Balkan)
Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Zivkovic has assessed that the upcoming Belgrade-Pristina dialogue represents a "victory of the Serb side" and expects these talks to be an opportunity for the Albanian side to take on part of its responsibility for the situation in Kosovo. "I expect the meeting, which is a victory of the Serb side since we had been offering talks for three years now, to also be an opportunity for a chance to the Albanian delegation to take on its part of both political and practical responsibility," Zivkovic told journalists in Nis. The premier stated that the Serbian delegation for talks in Vienna on 14 October was completed, but that he didn't wish to announce the names.

Solana: Both sides should avoid tensions prior to talks (Blic)
The High Representative of the EU has warned that, prior to the beginning of the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue, "both sides should cautiously work so as to avoid tensions." "I am convinced that both sides will respect their own obligations, turn the page and begin with the creation of new ties. Any holding would mean postponement of finding solutions for the concrete problem of common people, and I think that politicians should be aware of the consequences of their deeds," Solana told Dan. "Kosovo will either way be part of Europe. In order for this to happen, the situation must improve and I am convinced that this will happen," he added.

Covic's report on return of refugees (Vecernje Novosti/Tanjug)
Over the past two years, only 484 refugees returned into the Kosovo and Metohija villages of Grabac, Bica, Osojane, Belo Polje, Musnikovo, Novaci and Sredska and that is due to the increased fear that Serbs experience because of UNMIK and KFOR lack of readiness to protect them efficiently, notes a report written by the Head of the CCK Nebojsa Covic. Returnees had been given aid for the construction of houses and the infrastructure, then help in cattle, agricultural technology, fresh food, equipping schools, ambulances, health means and the university, as well as for other living needs, it is stressed in Covic's report on the work of the CCK over the past two years that has been published in the latest issue of the journal International Affairs.

Dragoljub Micunovic on dialogue with Pristina (Glas/Srna)
SaM Parliament Speaker Dragoljub Micunovic has assessed that the talks in Vienna on Kosovo and Metohija will be "long and difficult" because there exist "many factors and lobbies that are included in this." "We must be united, and there must not be party competition. We must have complete trust in our state representatives that they will represent the interests of our state and all the people in Kosovo, and to be ready for very long talks, without the right to a mistake," Micunovic said in an interview for Podgorica Pobjeda.

Belgrade-Pristina talks commence on Tuesday (Danas/Beta/Fonet)
Beta's collocutor has stated that the gathering in Vienna is envisaged to commence before noon, while UNMIK Head Harri Holkeri will be the presiding. Following the welcome address, four working groups will be formed for the resolution of the problems of the return of IDPs, shedding light of the missing, energy and transport. The presiding of each of the working groups will be an UNMIK official. None of the solutions to the issues dealt by the members of the working groups will be possible to bring without the accord of both sides. If some of the sides don't agree, then the problem will be transferred to the members of the plenary body in the dialogue. No solution will be valid without the approval of UNMIK Head Harri Holkeri, while the information on the course of the dialogue or the reached solution will also not be available for the public without his permission.

Ranko Krivokapic: 2005 - decisive year (Glas/Srna)
Belgrade-Pristina talks are a start, but 2005 will be the decisive year for Kosovo, the speaker of the Montenegrin parliament said. Ranko Krivokapic told Podgorica's Pobjeda that next week's meeting between the authorities in Belgrade and Pristina represent the start of a "long path" to resolving the practical problems facing Kosovo's people. But 2005, after elections in the US and Serbia, will decide the future of the province, he added.

Rexhepi not to go to Vienna (Politika/Beta)
Kosovo Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi will not attend talks between Pristina and Belgrade due to begin on Tuesday, Pristina daily Koha Ditore reports. "I won't be going to Vienna, definitely not", Rexhepi is quoted as saying at a ceremony to mark the fourth anniversary of the founding of PDK, the second largest party in the province. Koha Ditore writes that there was an uneasy atmosphere at the session of the PDK.

White Book on Albanian terrorism by Serbian government (Politika)

Albanian terrorism in Kosovo and Metohija, as well as in the municipalities of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja, is linked to various forms of organized crime, and represents constant danger for the safety of citizens, but also endangers stability not only in our country, but also in the neighboring. The goals of those carrying out terrorist activities and violence are legalization of criminal activities and fortune, acquired this way by individuals and groups. The achievement of the stated goals should also lead to the creation of a Great Albania or Great Kosovo. These facts have been stated in the just published White Book by the Serbian government, entitled "Albanian terrorism and organized crime in Kosovo and Metohija."

German radio on Kosovo IDPs (Politika/Tanjug)
The return of IDPs to Kosovo and the security of Serbs are the key issues discussed in the meetings of the Serbs with representatives of the international community in the country and abroad, reports German radio Deutche Welle, concluding that the return of IDPs is not going according to plan but is rather symbolic, centering on a few village communities, while no one is returning to the cities. Of the 218,000 Serb IDPs from Kosovo not even one percent has returned, even though the figures of the UNHCR say that more than 4,130 Serbs have returned. The German radio quoted the CCK as reporting that only about a thousand Serbs have returned.