Media Analysis 15 October 2003

• Reactions after the Vienna meeting (Koha Ditore)
  
• Palokaj: Covic and Belgrade benefit from Holkeri's mistake (Koha Ditore)
  
• US representative Larry Rossin unsatisfied with Kosovan politicians (Zëri)
  
• Editorial: American anger (Kosova Sot)
  
• Protests in Pristina against dialogue (all dailies)
  
• Shala: Turning to reality (Zëri)
  
• Dialogue on practical issues between Pristina and Belgrade commences (Koha Ditore)
  
• All the credit is not Serbia's (Koha Ditore)
  
• Ibrahim Rexhepi: Why should we cheat the investors (Koha Ditore)
  
• Step of UNMIK arbitrary and against the interest of the people (Koha Ditore)
  

Reactions after the Vienna meeting (Koha Ditore)

Koha Ditore carried reactions from Albania, Presevo Valley, the Serb National Council in Kosovo and the coverage of international media on the first meeting in Vienna between Prishtina and Belgrade.

The paper reported that the Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a press release saying that Albania welcomes the start of dialogue between Serbs and Kosovans in Vienna.

'It is a positive fact that talks have started. Now both parties are facing each other and they can openly discuss their concerns,' noted the press release.

Koha Ditore quoted Riza Halimi, the leader of the Democratic Action Party and Presevo Mayor, as saying that the dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade was also important for Presevo Valley.

Halimi said that the beginning of talks should focus on several issues, including higher education, which must by all means involve Albanians from Presevo Valley.

Halimi also added that initially it was sufficient that Kosovo President Ibrahim Rugova was the head of the Albanian delegation.

On the other hand, the Serb National Council (SNC) has distanced itself from every position or decision that the members of the Kosovan delegation would make in Vienna.

A press release issued by the SNC noted: 'Since this is a monoethnic delegation, comprised only by Kosovar Albanians, it cannot represent the other ethnic communities in Kosovo and Metohija, especially not the Serbs, and in fact not even all the political parties of Kosovar Albanians. For this reason, the talks in Vienna can be perceived only as dialogue between the legitimate representatives of the Republic of Serbia with the representatives of the Albanian nationality, and in no way with the legitimate representatives of all citizens of Kosovo and Metohija'.

The Serb National Council also said that the decision of Kosovo Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi not to attend the talks, and the refusal of the Kosovo Assembly to support dialogue with Belgrade show that an important part of Kosovar Albanians does not support dialogue as a way to solve problems in Kosovo.

Koha Ditore claimed that international media didn't give the expected coverage to the meeting in Vienna, but that nonetheless the first meeting between Serbs and Albania was reported in many media.

News agencies, which reported the most on the event, pointed out the fact that the meeting was held without the presence of key figures such as Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi.

According to Koha Ditore, international media focused on the fact that none of the two parties really wanted the meeting to take place, and that not even the people are having major expectations from this meeting because the issue of final status was excluded from the daily agenda.

Palokaj: Covic and Belgrade benefit from Holkeri's mistake (Koha Ditore)
'At the request of President Rugova, SRSG Holkeri excluded Milorad Todorovic from the Kosovan delegation. Belgrade benefited from Holkeri's mistake,' writes columnist Augustin Palokaj in Koha Ditore.

When one has high expectations regarding a certain event, then one can be easily disappointed; but you don't expect much from a certain event and still get disappointed, because if offers less than what you have expected, then the disappointment is even more concerning.

This is what happened with the start of dialogue in Vienna, which as a test proved more negative than positive things both for international politics in Kosovo and the internal political scene in Kosovo.

High-ranking international representatives that attended the beginning of dialogue in Vienna were the same ones that gave a less important look to this event. Their speech had concrete content and messages. Everything else was improvisation, and as a matter of fact poor improvisation. We have said before that no one is going to assess the importance of this meeting based on what happened, but based on the perceptions in Kosovo, Serbia and the international political arena about this meeting.

This perception is going to be a priori the basis of positions. The a priori position of the international community is that 'this meeting has marked a historic event and a turning point in the Balkans'; while the position of Kosovans and Serbs is that 'this meeting was simply a symbolic event but we didn't have any major expectations'. But little from what was expected and predicted actually took place in Vienna.

There were no pictures of the historic handshake of Kosovan and Serbian leaders. The most positive version that the international community had predicted for this meeting was to have two key pictures, one where President Rugova would shake hands with the President of the Union of Serbia and Montenegro Marovic, and another picture where Kosovo Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi would shake hands with his Serbian counterpart Zoran Zivkovic. There were no such pictures. So far, the international community didn't allow any Kosovan delegation to attend a meeting without having at least a Serb representative with them. The international community swore in the name of 'multiethnic delegations from Kosovo' and they wanted to have this kind of a representation in Vienna, but they failed in this, too. And all these can be called only 'symbolic issues', but in the end even Holkeri had to admit that this was only a 'symbolic' meeting.

Based on the rare reports of the TV stations, because the eyes of the world were nonetheless turned elsewhere and not as Holkeri said towards Kosovo, it could be clearly seen that Belgrade and Pristina hadn't honestly agreed to enter the dialogue, and Rugova and Daci and Covic and Zivkovic gave the impression that they were forced to attend the meeting. In fact, the two leaders of the LDK, who came to Vienna allegedly in the name of Kosovan institutions, publicly said that 'we are coming here not to give room to the international community to criticize Kosovo for refusing to talk to its neighbors'.

The one who has most responsibilities and the one who has worked the most is the one who is mainly responsible. Therefore, the blame for these failures should be addressed to Kosovo chief administrator Harri Holkeri who has clearly lost his orientation in Kosovo.

At the request of President Rugova, SRSG Holkeri excluded Todorovic from the Kosovan delegation. Belgrade benefited from Holkeri's mistake. Covic got the necessary ammo to criticize both Albanians and the international community for lack of willingness to protect the rights of Serbs and that therefore Belgrade must speak in their name. Belgrade chose the path of being asked by the European Union and not by Holkeri, and in the end went to Vienna by bringing the start of dialogue to the level of the Government of the Republic of Serbia - LDK. This enabled the Serbian Prime Minister to refer to the Vienna meeting as a 'meeting between Serbia and the representatives of the Albanian community from Kosovo and Metohija'. This used to happen in Milosevic's time, with the only difference that instead of high-ranking international officials there were representatives of Saint Egidio.

UNMIK's confusion went so far that its representatives in Kosovo started declaring that 'President Rugova represents and symbolizes a multiethnic Kosovo and all political options'. This is so ridiculous that Serbs can rightfully say that 'Rugova doesn't represent the option of the division of Kosovo' or 'for its return under Serbia'.

Holkeri began this whole thing wrongly. The result of his work was bringing this meeting on the eve of collapse, because he lacked the power to rescue the meeting, therefore, he was forced to ask the EU to force Belgrade to go to Vienna. Belgrade, not even caring about Holkeri, the same way it didn't care about Steiner and Kouchner, gave ground to the request of the EU and from this Belgrade can have certain beneficences. Holkeri did everything to ensure the presence of Prime Minister Rexhepi in this meeting, but when he failed to do this, he started saying that this was not so important, because the meeting is allegedly only symbolic and the government can be later involved in technical talks. But as it always happens in political courtesy, everyone thanked Holkeri for 'the success in preparing dialogue', even though most of them had a different opinion about this whole thing. Nonetheless, it was a good thing that this meeting took place. Everyone is going to learn their lessons from this.

There are reasons to fear that after this meeting, which proved that Kosovo couldn't have a consensual and multiethnic delegation, the division of Kosovo is closer than never before. Belgrade is already searching for excuses for the implementation of such a strategy and Holkeri gave them an additional argument by excluding Todorovic from the Kosovan delegation. This episode would have been much easier if the meeting had started in Thessaloniki where the Kosovan delegation was completed, the President, the Prime Minister and Todorovic. This meeting could have both positive and negative effects, because everything depends on the developments that will follow. Maybe in the end it is also going to give a lesson to the international community that it must solve first the issue of status and then move on to dialogue. We don't even to talk about the political maturity of Kosovan leaders in Vienna, and about the one of those that stayed in Pristina. Maybe the best thing to do is give up on the expectations that they are going to change. However, everything could have been different if this was prepared better and more honestly by all parties.

US representative Larry Rossin unsatisfied with Kosovan politicians (Zëri)
Zëri quoted the high-ranking US representative Larry Rossin as saying, 'I am referring to some Kosovan political leaders who disappointed us with their unconstructive positions, their political poses and their position full of prejudgments and lacking dignity.'

Rossin also told Zëri that he was relatively encouraged by the beginning of talks between Pristina and Belgrade. 'Certainly, every party voiced their own positions and political perceptions in their opening statements, but these are technical talks and what was really needed in this case was to give a political stimulation to experts who are going to continue the technical talks,' he added.

Rossin reiterated that these were not talks on Kosovo's final status but talks on technical issues. 'There will be a special process on the final status when the time comes,' concluded Rossin.

Editorial: American anger (Kosova Sot)
Kosovo Sot in a front-page editorial commented on the disappointment of the Americans with the Albanians, expressed by the senior American diplomat Larry Rosin in Vienna.

Rejection by some Albanian politicians to go to Vienna is considered a mistake by an American official who was present in the talks in Vienna. After this reaction from Rossin, it is necessary to review our decision that caused such a reaction from the world superpower. Every Kosovo politician knows very well that independence is impossible without the US support.

Protests in Pristina against dialogue (all dailies)
Koha Ditore carries a report from the protest that was held yesterday on Mother Theresa Street in Pristina, with thousands of people participating. The Popular Movement of Kosovo (LPK) organized the protest, which aimed to oppose the start of direct talks between Pristina and Belgrade in Vienna.

Koha Ditore quotes Sadik Halitjaha, chairman of the associations deriving from the former Kosovo Liberation Army, as saying that if Rugova betrays the national aspirations of Albanians, Holkeri must give him political asylum.
According to Koha Ditore, protesters chanted "No Talks Without Independence", "Holkeri do not speak in our name", "Stop double standards", "Independence, Union Kosova-Albania" etc.

Bota Sot columnist Bardhyl Ajeti writes that 'dozens of protesters' protested yesterday in Pristina against the independence of Kosovo.

'The protest that was held Tuesday in Pristina once again shows the small number of those who are against the state institutions of Kosovo, and those who organize these protests remove their masks and show their anti-institutional faces' Ajeti added.

Zëri quotes the head of LPK Emrush Xhemajli as saying that 'there is a new peaceful resistance emerging against the return of Serbia and against all those who work to the disadvantage of Kosovo'. Nait Hasani, a former prisoner, said that those who trample on martyr's blood would bear historical responsibility.

The head of LPK appreciated the decision of the PM and all those who refused to take part in talks with Belgrade. LPK officials said that they sent a letter to SG Kofi Annan and EU High Representative Javier Solana saying that they were putting enormous pressure on Kosovo institutions to accept agreements that are in the opposition to the interests of people of Kosovo for independence, and that any tendency to bring Kosovo under Serbian rule would mean recycling the conflict. They also asked for recognition of Kosovo's independence.

Shala: Turning to reality (Zëri)
In a front-page editorial in Zëri, Blerim Shala wrote:

Two Kosovar officials and two officials from Serbia surrounded by a huge number of western officials and dozens of media cameras. This was how the Vienna meeting began on October 14th.

The Austrian Prime Minister Wolfgang Schuessel talked about the doors of the historic room, as if he wanted to warn against the possibility that these four politicians would avoid their obligation and not participate in the start of dialogue.

However, the meeting began and ended, as it was imagined by Holkeri and the other organizers. Kosovar officials and officials from Serbia basically said what they say everyday in Pristina and Belgrade. I cannot find common points in their approach. Regardless of the opinion of western diplomats, Kosovo and Serbia were never more distant from each other, and it can be seen as never before that their rapprochement can be done only in the principle of good neighborly relations between two countries. We are certain that the dialogue of the coming months will verify and strengthen the historic and political perspective of this principle. After all, there is no Albanian in Kosovo who is not capable of sacrificing everything for the final secession from Serbia and for Kosovo's independence.

On the other hand, after the meeting in Vienna, we hope that UNMIK chief Harri Holkeri will return to the difficult tasks of administering Kosovo and improve relations between UNMIK and the local authorities. Holkeri by now has surely realized the limitations of talks between Prishtina and Belgrade. However, it is easier for him if he deals with the numerous problems in Kosovo.

Dialogue on practical issues between Pristina and Belgrade commences (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore quotes SRSG Harri Holkeri as saying that the result of the first official meeting in Vienna between Kosovan and Belgrade representatives was the agreement to form working groups, which by the end of November will focus on solving practical problems.

Paper further quoted the EU High Representative for Security and Foreign Policy Javier Solana as saying that 'this dialogue is not related to the status issue, because such an issue is not on the agenda. He added that it was difficult for both sides to sit together. 'Considering the tense political situation, I welcome the presence of the President Ibrahim Rugova, assembly speaker Nexhat Daci, while I express my regret about the fact that others did not come,' Solana was quoted as saying.

'Dialogue is not something to volunteer for but is part of the fundamental policy 'standards before status' and what is more important is that dialogue is an essential part of European standards, as well as it is part of the European integration,' he said.

'Those people who declared themselves towards the European integration, should also be committed to talk to their neighbors, regardless of the status issue. Progress towards EU is not possible without dialogue,' Solana said.

'Talks between Belgrade and Pristina should become routine and also will be evidence of the progress towards normalization in the Balkans and would also create the room for discussing main political issues,' Solana stressed.

'Kosovo is in the heart of the Balkans, not only in a geographical sense but also in the sense of security and politics. Developments in Kosovo may have implications in neighboring countries as well as and for the entire region. Kosovo presents challenges that cannot be faced by neither side alone; neither by Kosovars, Serbs, nor by the international community alone. Cooperation between everybody could avoid the risk of instability and this is the only way to help Kosovo's people to build a democratic and multiethnic society, which will then join other parts of the region on their way towards Europe,' Javier Solana concluded.

Paper reported that SRSG Holkeri announced establishment of the working groups that would start working at the beginning of November. Questioned by Koha Ditore whether there was a handshake between Serbs and Albanians, after a silent moment Holkeri said that 'the delegations were in the same room' but there wasn't a handshake.

Serbian officials did not hesitate to put Albanians in a position of blackmailers towards the international community. Serbian prime minister Zivkovic said that the quality of the meeting consisted in that the Serbian officials met with Albanian representatives, even though there was not a direct dialogue regarding problems in Kosovo.

Zivkovic and his deputy Covic said that the meeting in Vienna does not represent the beginning of the dialogue because Kosovo's delegation wasn't multiethnic.

Kosovo president Ibrahim Rugova appealed again to the US and EU to recognize independence of Kosovo. In a press conference he said that 'once the US and EU recognize our independence, the UN would do the same thing'. He assessed that regarding the issue of Kosovo, Belgrade's government currently was not at all distinct from Milosevic'. He also added that dialogue is important for Kosovo and the entire region.

Rugova said again that recognition of Kosovo's independence will stop maneuvers around Kosovo and at the same time would halt return to the past.

Kosovo assembly speaker Nexhat Daci while referring to himself and Rugova said that 'the first' and 'the second' came to Vienna. He called himself a person who didn't make mistakes. Daci assessed that Kosovo's independence was an irreversible process.

He added that Serbia was keeping Kosovo hostage, while at the same time Kosovo could do the same thing to Serbia. He highlighted that Kosovo residents were ready to pay 'every democratic price for independence'.

Koha Ditore carries the full statements by President Ibrahim Rugova and Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Nebojsa Covic.

Bota Sot quotes President Rugova as saying, 'The formal recognition of Kosovo's independence would accelerate the processes and bring stability to this part of Europe'.

All the credit is not Serbia's (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore commented on the privatization process and the reasons for its stoppage. 'It is a public secret that Serbia will get 80% of the assets that will be created from the purchase of the SOEs,' the paper wrote.

Although after the halt in the privatization process the Serbian government quickly took credit for this decision, there is no indication that this vital process for Kosovo's future was stopped because of Serbia. The privatization process has been postponed because of the lack of understanding of the regulations by the internationals and due to their fear.

The UN has acknowledged through a letter that an international case has been filed against the KTA by individuals against the commercialization of the wood factory in Peja.

The Serbian pressure against the KTA was not directed to stopping the privatization process, but they wanted to halt privatization of the big enterprises through the spin off method and also wanted to delay privatization of the enterprises that were in the Serbian enclaves.

The privatization process in Serbia is continuing, and in the last three transactions they attracted strategic investments and also collected lots of money.

Simply because they doesn't want competition, Belgrade will try to stop the sale under special conditions of factories such as the beer factory in Peja.

In order to keep political pressure in Kosovo by supporting the Serbian minority, Serbia on one side insists on the SOEs located in the Serbian enclaves not being sold, on the other hand it has created an emergency fund to assist local Serbs to buy these SOEs. So far, only two companies, which are located in the enclaves where the Serbs live, have been put up for bidding. Fist Company is Mladost that has been bought by Albanians and Trojka Motel, which was included in the third privatization round that has currently been cancelled.

In fact, Belgrade has few reasons to be against the sale of the enterprises. Serbia is complaining continuously about €1 billion that were taken by Kosovo's 'largest companies'.

It is an open secret that Serbia will get 80% of the assets created from the sale of the SOEs, Koha Ditore reported. At the same time UNMIK has taken no step without consulting Serbia. Even more, before being adopted by the Kosovo government, the KTA regulation had been analyzed first by the Belgrade government and later SRSG Michael Steiner signed it.

Although Serbia has put pressure recently, the Serbian impact in halting the privatization process has been minimal because the pressure was there even before. The process was halted by UNMIK, particularly Pillar IV. The reason for halting the process is banal: lack of immunity, even though the UN says that KTA officials have the same immunity as every other government institution in the world.

If the international staff still hesitate to sign contracts, the best solution would be to make a Kosovar the KTA general manager. Therefore the person in charge of all contracts would be a Kosovar. There are a lot of locals who would do this job with pleasure and will not fear from anybody even from the 'forces of space', Serbia.

Ibrahim Rexhepi: Why should we cheat the investors (Koha Ditore)

Ibrahim Rexhepi, an economic columnist in Koha Ditore writes that our Diaspora in New York was told the best words about Kosovo and its economy, but there was no one to show them how to overcome obstacles and blackmailing from Serbia

A group of Kosovar business people and governmental officials is returning to Pristina from New York through Vienna. And exactly at the airport of that city they could be getting briefed on how the dialogue Kosovo-Serbia is going. They do not need the answer that much now, because they would have needed it at least one week before. And on this important issue, and concerning the economic perspective for investors and governments they did not get an answer even during their second time in New York at their meeting with potential investors from the Diaspora, as the organizer calls it.
In the records of the Ministry of Culture, Department of Non-residential Affairs, New York was set as the sixth meeting with investors from the Diaspora. Only those that participated in those meetings can talk about their effects, since they are not obvious. In truth, there cannot be positive effects, for only words and promises were offered to those interested in investing, and nothing concrete.
They could not even offer an answer as to what was going to happen between Kosovo and Serbia regarding very practical and technical issues that are mainly linked to economic relations.
The first question: What is happening with privatization?
It is a problem that might not be a topic in the discussions following Vienna, but undoubtedly it touches the fundamental relations between Kosovo and Serbia. It has always been said that privatization of socially owned property is a good chance for foreign investors, it is a big chance to attract fresh capital. The first rounds did not prove these expectations to be vain. But now the process is frozen and everything is put in question. Again, Serbia and its claims for 'historical rights' over Kosovo assets become a problem, including complaints that have frightened KTA officials a lot. A concrete problem, very difficult, and with no answer so far. Therefore, the failure of transforming property, i.e. privatization, will not only deepen economic and social problems, but will also represent a new big disappointment in the processes underway in Kosovo.
The second question: Serbia has a beneficial status in the Kosovo market.
It is a fact that damages market relations and competition, since Serbia can export goods to here without a problem (even smuggles them in), while goods from other countries are paying custom taxes. Based on criteria applied, Kosovo belongs to the Serbian market, since goods coming from there are charged only with VAT, but they do not pay other custom duties. On the other hand, any attempt from the few local producers to export anything to this neighboring country, is doomed to be nipped in the bud due to blackmailing and administrative obstacles they have to undergo.
The third question: Transport, a problem that complicates economic relations of Kosovo not only with Serbia.
Let's first deal with telecommunication, which due to Serbian obstacles is very expensive. Furthermore, the road traffic is only one-way, since Kosovar vehicles cannot travel Serbian roads as they do not have valid 'licenses and documentation'. This pushes transporters of passengers and goods to register their vehicles somewhere else, and whenever they pass through Serbia they pay transit taxes. Kosovo is not linked to the international railway network either since the railway 'breakdown' in Leshak. This is imposed by Serbia. They even ask for Kosovo railways to be within the Serbian railway system like in Milosevic' times.
These circumstances strangle the perspectives. And the whole thing gives only one answer: only an economically independent Kosovo can free itself from blockages and blackmail of Serbia.
This should be the slogan in all meetings, starting from Vienna to those 6 famous meetings with potential investors in the Diaspora. At least, those interested in investing here should be told clearly what Kosovo offers in this foggy environment.

Step of UNMIK arbitrary and against the interest of the people (Koha Ditore)

Upon UNMIK's decision the works in the Trade center in Malisevo have been suspended. 'Intervening to suspend the work, when that was not even part of the contract, is scandalous. To cooperate with such a representative from UNMIK administration that works against the interest of the people in the municipality, means putting our determination and our moral, national and institutional objectives in question' said the mayor of Malisevo, Gani Krasniqi.

The decision by the UNMIK administration in Malisevo, signed by its representative Jarosllav Rabantek, was carried out early Tuesday, escorted by special units of UNMIK Police. 'We appreciate the work of UNMIK in Kosovo, but unfortunately within this structure there are people that work against the interest of the people of Kosovo, and the case of the UNMIK representative in Malisevo illustrates that' says Gani Krasniqi, adding that 'the trade center serves development of the municipality, and although it followed all legal procedures the work was suspended by UNMIK' says the angry Mr Krasniqi.
'There are many illegal buildings in the municipality, and UNMIK has not done anything about that, though it was asked to' the pape

Main Stories 15 October
· Dialogue on practical issues bet Pristina and Belgrade commences (Koha)
· Kosovo's status emerges in first plan in dialogue bet Pristina and Belgrade
· Daci: Kosovo's independence has no alternative (Zëri)
· EU Commissioner Patten says he's satisfied with beginning of talks (Zëri)
· Rugova, Rexhepi and Daci return from Vienna (Koha Ditore)
· What does the Govt expect from Holkeri to be included in talks? (Zëri)
· US representative Larry Rossin unsatisfied with K-politicians (Zëri)
· Shala: Turning to reality (Zëri)
· Palokaj: Covic and Belgrade benefit from Holkeri's mistake (Koha Ditore)
· Buzuku: Vienna conference ends without good news (Koha Ditore)
· If Rugova betrays national aspirations, Holkeri should give him political asylum (Koha Ditore)
· Bardhyl Ajeti: The protest of fists (Bota Sot)
· UNMIK doesn't respect UN and keeps privatization blocked (Koha Ditore)

Kosovo Media Highlights

Dialogue on practical issues bet Pristina and Belgrade commences (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore quotes SRSG Harri Holkeri as saying that the result of the first official meeting in Vienna between Kosovan representatives and representatives from Belgrade was the agreement to form working groups, which by the end of November will focus on solving practical problems.

Koha Ditore carries the full statements by President Ibrahim Rugova and Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Nebojsa Covic.

Bota Sot quotes President Rugova as saying, 'The formal recognition of Kosovo's independence would accelerate processes and bring stability in this part of Europe'.

Kosovo's status emerges in first plan in dialogue bet Pristina and Belgrade (Zëri)
Zëri claims that the issue of status and the opposition to the future of Kosovo were the two topics that prevailed in the first official meeting between leaders from Prishtina and Belgrade in Vienna.

Zëri reports that the meeting concluded that by the end of this month technical working groups would be formed and continue the process of talks. These groups are going to focus on finding solutions for these areas: communication, energy, IDP returns and missing persons.

Daci: Kosovo's independence has no alternative (Zëri)
Zëri quotes Kosovo Assembly speaker Nexhat Daci as saying that the independence of Kosovo was an irreversible process. 'I say with full responsibility that Kosovo and Kosovars are willing to pay any price for this,' Daci added.

'The independence of Kosovo has no alternative, and the sooner Serbia and the international community realize this the better, and Serbia shouldn't keep Kosovo a hostage and block its path toward integration in Europe,' said Daci.

EU Commissioner Patten says he's satisfied with beginning of talks (Zëri)
Zëri reports that EU Commissioner Chris Patten said he was satisfied with the beginning of talks but also added that he didn't have any spectacular expectations from the meeting.

'Let's be realistic. The fact is that this meeting took place. Did we have any spectacular expectations? No. They were in the same room and started to talk,' Patten added.

Rugova, Rexhepi and Daci return from Vienna (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports that upon their return from Vienna President Ibrahim Rugova and SRSG Harri Holkeri said that the Vienna meeting was very important and that it leads processes forward, whereas Assembly Speaker Nexhat Daci didn't talk to the media.

SRSG Holkeri said that the Vienna meeting marked the beginning of dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade on practical issues. 'The Vienna meeting has major importance for Kosovo, otherwise the status quo here will continue,' Holkeri was quoted as saying.

President Rugova talked about the success and importance of the meeting in Vienna and added, 'I can simply tell you that today was a successful day for Kosovo, it was a good day that leads us toward independence'.

What does the Govt expect from Holkeri to be included in talks? (Zëri)
Zëri quotes reliable sources as saying that Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi will ask SRSG Harri Holkeri to adopt a new approach in order to create room for the government to be included in the working groups. [more in Media Analysis]

US representative Larry Rossin unsatisfied with Kosovar politicians (Zëri)
Zëri quotes US high-ranking representative Larry Rossin as saying, 'I am referring to some Kosovar political leaders who disappointed us with their unconstructive positions, their political poses and their position full of prejudgments and without dignity.' [more in Media Analysis]

Shala: Turning to reality (Zëri)
In a front-page editorial in Zëri, Blerim Shala writes, 'After the meeting in Vienna, we hope that UNMIK chief Harri Holkeri will return to the difficult tasks of administering Kosovo and improving relations between UNMIK and the local authorities. Holkeri by now has surely realized the limitations of talks between Prishtina and Belgrade. However, it is easier for him if he deals with the numerous problems in Kosovo'. [full translation in Media Analysis]

Palokaj: Covic and Belgrade benefit from Holkeri's mistake (Koha Ditore)
'On the request by President Rugova, SRSG Holkeri excluded Todorovic from the Kosovan delegation. Belgrade benefited from Holkeri's mistake,' writes columnist Augustin Palokaj in Koha Ditore. [full translation in Media Analysis]

Buzuku: Vienna conference ends without good news (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore runs an opinion piece by Rifat Buzuku, who writes, 'While Albanians and Serbs remain in their unchanged positions, the international community has made the first step in the long process of resolving Kosovo's final status'.

If Rugova betrays national aspirations, Holkeri should give him political asylum (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore carries a report from the protest that was held yesterday in Mother Teresa Street in Prishtina. The protest was organized by the Popular Movement of Kosovo (LPK) and it was aimed at opposing the start of direct talks between Prishtina and Belgrade in Vienna.

Koha Ditore quotes Sadik Halitjaha, chairman of the associations deriving from the former Kosovo Liberation Army, as saying that if Rugova betrays the national aspirations of Albanians, Holkeri must give him political asylum. [more in Media Analysis]

Bardhyl Ajeti: The protest of fists (Bota Sot)
Bota Sot columnist Bardhyl Ajeti writes that 'dozens of protesters' protested yesterday in Prishtina against the independence of Kosovo.

'The protest that was held Tuesday in Prishtina once again proves the few numbers of those who are against the state institutions of Kosovo, and those who organize these protests remove their masks and show their anti-institutional opinions,' Ajeti added.

UNMIK doesn't respect UN and keeps privatization blocked (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports that UNMIK is still asking for immunity for the officials of the Kosovo Trust Agency and thus keeping the process of privatization blocked.

Koha reports that even though the Legal Office of the United Nations advised UNMIK last week to continue the process of privatization and stop asking for immunity for KTA officials, UNMIK Pillar IV and KTA are claiming that they don't know when the third round of privatization will take place.

The paper quotes Monique de Groot, spokeswoman for European Union Pillar in UNMIK as saying that one should wait for the UN to provide immunity to KTA officials during the process of privatization.
Kosovo Press Headlines
Koha Ditore
Front page
· Rugova demands independence, Zivkovic says there was no dialogue, Holkeri says better this one than nothing
· 'First', 'second' and Holkeri return home
· If Rugova betrays our aspirations, Holkeri must provide him political asylum
· UNMIK doesn't respect UN, continues to block privatization
· Termokos same as KEK: pay for results
· ODIHR: There were problems with poll lists [Albania]

Other headlines
· Speech of Kosovo president Rugova in Vienna (4)
· Speech of Serbian deputy prime minister Covic in Vienna (5)
· Albania assesses beginning of the dialogue (4)
· Halimi assesses as important talks between Prishtina and Belgrade (4)
· Serbian Council doesn't agree with Kosovo delegation stance (4)
· Foreign media on dialogue (4)
· Prishtina hospital will implement two projects with budget surplus (6)
· International community show two alternatives to students [Macedonia] (7)
· Ahmeti: Legalization of University is impeded seriously (7)
· Municipality: UNMIK's decision arbitrary and against interest of citizens (9)
· Kaçanik gets its municipal government (9)
· Ferizaj: Third stage of accelerated education (9)
· Palokaj: From Holkeri's mistakes benefits Covic and Belgrade (19)

Economy Section
· Rexhepi: Why we will cheat investors?
· All credits don't belong to Serbia?
· Serbia flood Kosovo with goods and stop exports of Kosovars
· KEK has political problems with Serbia
Zëri
Front page
· Kosovo status appears at first plan, at the beginning of the dialogue
· What does Kosovo government expect to be included in practical issues?
· Shala: Return towards reality
· Rossin is disappointed with Kosovar politicians
· Protest in Prishtina against talks with Belgrade
· Albright: The US forced Russia to give up demand that Serbian forces should remain in Kosovo

Other headlines
· Rugova: This is a day for the benefit of Kosovo's independence (2)
· Daci: Kosovo's independence has no alternative (2)
· Patten is satisfied with dialogue (2)
· Meeting without dialogue (4)
· Nano: historical step for cooperation between Kosovo and Serbia (4)
· Macedonia welcomes start of the talks (4)
· Kosovo begins peaceful protest against return of Serbia (4)
· Rexhepi: Prishtina hospital is epicenter of Kosovo's medicine (5)
· Ministry of Health appoints director of Prishtina hospital (5)
· Brovina: Missing persons are not a technical issue (5)
· Police: We haven't arrested Covic assassin (5)
· Macedonia and Montenegro plan a corridor across Kosovo (6)
· Colonel Ahmeti returns to position of adviser (6)
· Witnesses says they are under pressure to testify against Musliu (6)
· Hauben: Drugs smuggling and money laundering (8)
· UNMIK stops work of shopping center (8)
· LKÇK: Talks for technical issues are talks for substantial autonomy (9)

Bota Sot
Front page
· Rugova: Formal recognition of independence will calm this part of Europe
· Rugova demands recognition of independence
· Rugova's speech at Vienna meeting
· Rugova: It was a good day in support of independence
· Kosovo's independence will halt Belgrade's aspirations for control over Kosovo
· Busek: talks in Vienna, historical opportunity for Kosovo and the region

Other headlines
· In Vienna appears democratic identity of Kosovo's state (2)
· Kosovo's institutions will have this year €81 million (2)
· Buçpapaj: International community is hostage to Serbia's terrorism (4)
· Solana: We will not talk about status, because it is not the right time (5)
· Buçpapaj: Hundreds of thousands unemployed Kosovo youths could support American army? Yesssssss! (5)
· Ajeti: Fist protest (6)
· By American support was refurbished school (6)
· Media training for the KPS spokespersons (6)
· Why the right wing won more municipalities then socialists? [Albania] (8)
· UNMIK authorities have stopped work of shopping center (9)
· UNMIK Police in Peja hold press conference (9)
· Missing persons must be found (9)
· BDI and LSDM support weapons amnesty [Macedonia] (10)
Kosova Sot
Front page
· Rugova asks for independence in Vienna
· Editorial: American anger
· After Vienna, a political storm
· LPK expresses its revolt in Pristina
· US disappointed with Albanians
· Dialogue helps the issue of the missing
· Why talks in Vienna?
· Limaj, Balaj, Musliu in a preparatory session

Other headlines
· Rugova and Daci: Independence is irreversible (2)
· Holkeri: Kosovo broke the status-quo (2)
· Why Kosovo holds the key to the future of Balkans (4)
· Solana: I am very happy that talks started (5)
· Can there be premature elections (5)
· Montgomery: US will continue commitment to Balkans (5)
· EU regrets incomplete delegations (5)
· Çeku meets the British (5)
· Kosovar pupils lack proper textbooks (6)
· Mid October, Pristina Hospital with a new manager (6)
· Why Harri Holkeri does not annul Serbian laws in Kosovo? (7)
· Lack of legislation 'stimulates' economic crime in Kosovo (7)
· Infrastructure no longer a priority (8)
· We will continue financing irrigation projects (8)
· World Bank finances 10 agricultural projects (8)
· Why has the cost of transport services increased (8)
· Rugova: Kosovo has made huge progress in all walks of life (9)
· Berisha, the only spoiler of elections (9)

Epoka e Re
Front page
· Rugova Daci, Zivkovic, Covic and Lajic on one side, the intl. on the other
· Serb security services all over Kosovo
· 'Times': Rexhepi's refusal a blow to the talks
· 'Rugova down' chanted protesters

Other headlines
· A performance that worried Kosovo (2)
· A political initiative leading to division of Kosovo (3)
· Vienna lesson and Esad syndrome (4)
· Albanians, still with no joint platform on their status (4)
· US left us under UNMIK's mercy (5)
· Prime Minister Rexhepi supported for his dignified stance (6)
· Rexhepi: The missing cannot be qualified as a technical issue (6)
· Rexhepi: Not a word about Vienna meeting (6)
· Macedonia and Montenegro ask for a transport corridor through Kosovo (6)
· Serb intelligence offered me 50, 000 Euros, says Ramadan Zymeri (7)
· Peja leads with crime rate; 26 killed in 8 months (8)
· Good days for independence of Kosovo (8)
· Kostunica: Autonomy for Kosovo (8)

Belgrade Media Highlights

· Schuessel opened Vienna gathering (Glas)
· Working groups to be formed (Politika/Beta)
· Solana: Beginning of dialogue - step towards greater stability of Balkans (Politika/Tanjug)
· There was no dialogue in Vienna, said Zivkovic (Politika/Tanjug)
· Covic: Dialogue lost expected significance over Pristina's decision (Vecernje Novosti)
· The Belgrade-Pristina Talks in Vienna Ended (Beta )
· Avdiu: Rugova is not a symbol of Kosovo people (Balkan)
· Rugova advocates independent Kosovo (Blic)
· World agencies on Pristina-Belgrade dialogue (Danas/Beta)
· SNC on Albanian stands (Vecernje Novosti)
· Kostunica against Kosovo's independence (Danas/Beta)

Schuessel opened Vienna gathering (Glas)
Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel has opened the gathering that had been organized in the Vienna Hofburg Palace, where several historical decisions had been made in the past. He expressed hope that the Serbian and Albanian sides will continue the dialogue. Recalling the recent exchange of apologies between SaM President Svetozar Marovic and his Croatian counterpart Stjepan Mesic, Schuessel expressed expectations that the participants of the talks would also be ready to exchange apologies.

Working groups to be formed (Politika/Beta)
Belgrade and Pristina have agreed to form working groups next month to discuss four issues of practical concern to both sides, UNMIK Head Harri Holkeri said. Harri Holkeri said that participants had agreed on how the groups would approach their tasks and would submit their reports to him personally. The working groups will address four issues: traffic, transport, the fate of the missing and the return of IDPs.

Solana: Beginning of dialogue - step towards greater stability of Balkans (Politika/Tanjug)
The High Representative of the EU for foreign policy and security Javier Solana has assessed in Vienna that the beginning of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue "represents significant progress towards greater stability in the Balkans." In the speech at Austrian government headquarters, he stressed that the course of events in Kosovo and Metohija "could have significant influence on the neighboring states," because that province is "the heart of the Balkan region - not only geographically, but also politically and security-wise." The EU High Representative has especially looked back at the hesitations by Kosovo Albanian leaders to take part in the dialogue, stressing "it hadn't been easy for the two sides to meet." "Over the past several days, especially in Pristina, it has been turbulent: it is clear there are still hesitations to enter into talks with former enemies, but also wrong conclusions - that Pristina could somehow continue to isolate itself from any kind of contacts with Belgrade," assessed Solana.

There was no dialogue in Vienna, said Zivkovic (Politika/Tanjug)
Speaking at a press conference upon the meeting in Vienna, Serbian PM Zoran Zivkovic assessed that there was no direct dialogue between Serbs and Albanians in the Austrian capital, and that the only nature of the meeting was having both the Serb and the Kosovo Albanian leaders sitting at the same table. Zivkovic said that he received no answer to his question as to what would be the international community's dynamics in implementing provisions of Resolution 1244 regarding the IDP returns to Kosovo. According to him, this problem along with issues of property rights and freedom of movement are above all other issues in Kosovo. Zivkovic reminded that way back in the year 2000 he had offered Ibrahim Rugova the opening of a dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, but Rugova rejected it, as well as tens of similar invitations that were extended since then. "While Slobodan Milosevic was in power Rugova talked with him, and today he does not want to talk with the Belgrade authorities," Serbian PM noted. Zivkovic expressed his dissatisfaction with Milorad Todorovic's absence, assessing this as yet another bad sign that there would be no change in the international community's policy in Kosovo. "However, we are still hoping that Harri Holkeri will succeed in surpassing the bad performance of the previous SRSGs and will be the first one to start
fully implementing Resolution 1244," stressed Zivkovic. Asked why SaM President Svetozar Marovic and the Minister for Human and Ethnic Minority Rights Rasim Ljajic did not attend the meeting, Zivkovic answered that the delegation was reduced in order to save some taxpayers money as there were no differences between Serbia and the State Union on the Kosovo issue. Commenting on the objections that the Serbian parallel institutions still exist in Kosovo, Zivkovic stressed that he heard no objections coming from the international community regarding that, because the Common Document envisaged financing education and healthcare in the Serb enclaves in Kosovo.

Covic: Dialogue lost expected significance over Pristina's decision (Vecernje Novosti)
Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and the Head of the CCK Nebojsa Covic in Vienna accused Pristina officials for, instead of using the Vienna meeting for the dialogue on the burning live problems, continuing to equip Kosovo and Metohija with state attributes. With a series of immature decisions by the Pristina authorities, today's dialogue has lost the expected significance, assessed Covic in the speech at the beginning of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue in Austria's capital. Covic, who is in Vienna representing official Belgrade together with Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Zivkovic, has asked why Serb and Turkish representatives were removed from the Pristina delegation. "Why was this ethnic cleansing performed and how do people, who are presently governing over Kosovo, think to create a multi-ethnic society if they aren't able, if they can't, if they don't wish to be in a multi-ethnic composition at a public place," asked Covic. Namely, as UNMIK Head Harri Holkeri earlier announced, the co-minister for returns in the Kosovo government Milorad Todorovic and health minister Resmija Mandiu didn't travel to Vienna since the majority of the government, whose members, including Premier Bajram Rexhepi, oppose the talks. "If the international community really wishes a multi-ethnic Kosovo and Metohija - it must ensure multi-ethnic talks on the creation of such a society," stressed Covic. The Serbian Deputy Prime Minister explained that he said all of this because "we didn't come to Vienna to take pictures and say phrases, but to talk and make agreements."

The Belgrade-Pristina Talks in Vienna Ended (Beta )
The first meeting of the Belgrade and Pristina delegations ended today afternoon in Vienna. The event is assessed as the first step towards further negotiations that are to contribute to calming down tensions in the region. Serbian PM Zoran Zivkovic expressed "disappointment with the international community" over a small number of Serb returnees to Kosovo during the past four years. At a press conference after the meeting, yet, Zivkovic said that the nature of the meeting was marked by the fact that Serbia's officials had met with ethnic Albanian representatives, although a direct dialogue on concrete problems in Kosovo had not taken place. Zivkovic and Coordination Center for Kosovo (CCK) Head Nebojsa Covic said that today's gathering in Vienna did not represent the beginning of a
dialogue because the Kosovo delegation was not multiethnic. "It is important to learn to listen to each other", said Covic, and stressed that no government in the world had been fully formed by making deals over higher authorization for itself. Kosovo President Ibrahim Rugova advocated an independent Kosovo, integrated into the EU, and expressed the hope that Serbia would apologize, as he said, for massacres committed during the war in Kosovo. He said that by starting the dialogue, the Kosovo authorities "want to commence a process of positive good neighbourly relations with Serbia, as they already have with other neighbours". EU HR For Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana said at the meeting that Kosovo was the heart of the Balkans, not only geographically, but also in
political and security terms." The developments in Kosovo can have huge consequences to neighboring states and today's event represents a significant progress towards a greater stability of the Balkan region", said Solana. UNMIK SRSG Harri Holkeri explained that they had agreed to form working groups in November to seek solutions in four spheres: traffic, energy, refugee return and the fate of missing persons.

Avdiu: Rugova is not a symbol of Kosovo people (Balkan)
Mr. Daci doesn't represent the Kosovo Assembly in Vienna because such a decision in that body has not been brought until, according to the constitutional framework, the president of Kosovo has the right to represent him at international gatherings, Ramadan Avdiu, aide to Premier Bajram Rexhepi, told Balkan. He refused at the last moment to travel to Austria's capital. Asked who was actually represented by the Kosovo delegation in Vienna, Avdiu said: "Rugova is not a symbol of the people from Kosovo. They are high officials in their party. The decision was supposed to be brought by the Kosovo institutions that have representatives of several parties."

Rugova advocates independent Kosovo (Blic)
Kosovo President Ibrahim Rugova and Kosovo Assembly Speaker Nexhat Daci have accused Belgrade for parallel structures of authorities in Kosovo, adding that Kosovo institutions do not have an approach to one-third of the province's territory. Rugova advocated an independent Kosovo, integrated into the EU, and expressed hope that Serbia would apologize, as he said, for massacres committed during the war in Kosovo. Stating how progress had been achieved in the return of Serb refugees, Rugova added: "Hundreds of thousands of Albanians are still in Europe and the US, and will remain there until the social-economic situation in Kosovo enables their return.

World agencies on Pristina-Belgrade dialogue (Danas/Beta)
Reuters states that the goal of the talks in Vienna has been to urge apologies, adding that the West hopes the first direct contact of the two sides since the end of war will contribute towards alleviating the tension. European officials consider the three-hour meeting in Vienna a historical, first step and a sign of progress, stressing that it is a success for the two sides' representatives to meet at all in the same room. Serbian and Albanian Kosovo leaders didn't wish to shake hands at the beginning of talks, while they held separate press conferences afterwards, states Reuters. AP states that the beginning of the Vienna talks mostly have a symbolic importance. But, even though they didn't discuss the issue of the province's future status, the talks are important because they gathered former irreconcilable enemies, AP states.

SNC on Albanian stands (Vecernje Novosti)
The SNC for Kosovo and Metohija has stated that it distances itself in advance from any stand or decision presented by Kosovo delegation members at the Vienna negotiations.Since at issue is a monoethnic delegation, consisting solely of Kosovo Albanians, it cannot represent other national communities in the Province, particularly not Kosovo Serbs, and not even all Kosovo Albanians parties, the statement points out. Therefore, the talks in Vienna can be only viewed as dialogue between legitimate Serbian representatives, who are supported by the Serbian Parliament and SaM Parliament, and representatives of some of its citizens of Albanian nationality, who are in no way legitimate representatives of all Kosovo and Metohija citizens, SNC assessed.

Kostunica against Kosovo's independence (Danas/Beta)
DSS leader and former Yugoslav president Vojislav Kostunica considers that the solution of Kosovo should be found in a solution that excludes new change of borders. In an interview to Vienna daily Standard, Kostunica stressed that one cannot speak about peace, human rights and stability in Kosovo until the issue of the return of IDPs and refugees was resolved. "Less than one percent of the refugees and expelled Serbs have returned to Kosovo so far. Except for individual municipalities in northern Kosovo, Serbs live in that province like in a ghetto," he said. According to Kostunica, Serbia has so far done a lot towards normalizing the situation in Kosovo. He recalled that Belgrade signed the agreement with UNMIK that regulates mutual relations. Kostunica also pointed out that the Serbian authorities tried to stimulate the remaining Serbs in Kosovo to take part in the local and parliamentary elections, to recognize Kosovo institutions and to be represented by them. "I cannot imagine an independent Kosovo, because the Balkans would look completely different. Kosovo cannot be viewed in an isolated way, and a change of status would have consequences on neighboring Macedonia," he said. "The issue of Kosovo's status should be resolved through institutional changes within the existing borders. The region of western Balkans should be attached to the EU, which will make the border issue an unimportant one," assessed DSS leader. In the meantime, considers Kostunica, one should reach an unconventional, institutional agreement, as it had been done in B-H and Macedonia.