Media Analysis 21 October 2003

Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi to visit London (Koha Ditore)
The Hague raises indictment against four Serb generals (Koha Ditore)
Time of photographing is over (Koha Ditore)
Shala: Once again about privatization (Zëri)
To change history (Kosova Sot)
Disagreements pollute the environment of Ethem Çeku's ministry (Koha Ditore)
Representative of former communist countries in Balkans prevent privatization! (Zëri)
Reductions: Millions of euros don't work for KEK (Koha Ditore)
Jakupi: UNMIK itself will unblock privatization in Kosovo (Kosova Sot)

Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi to visit London (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports that Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi has traveled to London on Monday as a guest of the Government of the United Kingdom; 'however, his visit there doesn't imply that he has been forgiven the position that he took on the issue of dialogue with Belgrade and the meeting in Vienna,' added the paper.

'This visit was planned much earlier, way before any contradiction about dialogue with Belgrade. Now that this contradiction has erupted, we think the best way to voice our opinion is to do it personally,' officials from the Office of the United Kingdom told Koha Ditore.

Zëri quotes PM Rexhepi as saying that with British officials he was going to discuss UNMIK's weaknesses among other things.

Zëri also quoted Rexhepi as saying that the interview that he recently gave to The Observer accusing UNMIK of corruption and tolerating prostitution would be the issue of topics with British officials.

All dailies reported that during his visit to London, Rexhepi would meet British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and the British Minister for Europe Dennis MacShane.

The Hague raises indictment against four Serb generals (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reported that The Hague tribunal has raised an indictment against four Serb generals, former senior officers of the Serbian police and military forces that carried out crimes against Kosovan Albanians in 1999.

Nebojsa Pavkovic, the former chief of the General Staff of the Yugoslav Army, Vladimir Lazarevic, commander of the notorious Prishtina Corps, Sreten Lukic, chief of Serbian Police in Kosovo, and Vlastimir Djordjevic, Deputy Minister of Interior Affairs have been accused for crimes against humanity and the violation of war conducts.

All four high-ranking officers were accused as members of a certain structure that cooperated with other high-ranking officials such as Slobodan Milosevic, Milan Milutinovic, Dragoljub Ojdanic and Nikola Sainovic against the Albanian majority in Kosovo by deporting and killing with the aim of preserving the Serb control over Kosovo.

The indictment charges Generals Pavkovic, Lazarevic, Djordjevic and Lukic for superior commanding responsibility, deporting, mass murder and inhumane acts against Kosovan Albanians.

The indictment, which was unsealed Monday night, also mentions the names of the sites where crimes were committed in Kosovo. The same crimes were mentioned in the indictment against former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, who is already standing trial in The Hague.

Koha Ditore pointed out that the interesting thing is that Pavkovic and several others had held high-ranking posts in the new Serbian Government even after Milosevic was ousted from power. The paper added that in fact there has been some speculation that The Hague tribunal had already prepared the indictment against Pavkovic but that it didn't unseal it because the general had the strong backing of former Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica.

According to Koha Ditore, after the conflict in Kosovo, some of the above mentioned generals were engaged in military operations against Albanians in Presevo Valley, but the indictment accuses them only of crimes committed in Kosovo.

Time of photographing is over (Koha Ditore)

In an opinion piece for Koha Ditore Agron Bajrami asks whether a process is likely to be successful that evolves from a failed meeting?

The controversial meeting of the last week is over, and we are again facing the same problems we had before 14 October, and some more.
Many people called the much-acclaimed meeting in Vienna a failure. And as usual, no one wants to take the blame for it, which implies that all sides in a way share a portion of it.
Anyway, the key sides of the contest, the Kosovan and the Serb ones, show that they haven't learned much from the events that lead to the Vienna failure.

Last week, Vienna was more preoccupied with the victory of Schwarzenegger and with the fact that the Austrian population was getting older (every forth is older than 60) and with the rich cultural life in Vienna starting with a famous exhibition of Albrecht Duerer works in the "Albertina" museum to the music of Strauss and Mozart, and unavoidably to chocolates "Mozart', perfumes "Johan Strauss" and postcards with motifs from the life of the Empress Sissy.
Furthermore, the situation in Iraq, a busy week in the Vatican, and the local politics together with the German and the European ones, always occupy a good deal of attention among ordinary Austrians, thus only experts, that during their career had to do with Serbia, Kosovo or both, were interested in the Kosovan-Serb dialogue in Vienna.
In one way, this is good, since it shows that we are a problem for Vienna and Austria, as much as it is the sea sovereignty contest between Slovenia and Croatia.
But, the meeting of the last week gave a name to our problem: the relations with Serbia.
And this problem needs to be solved sooner or later. And we should know how. And it also takes good will and courage.

Over the next few weeks and months we will see whether lessons have been learned by this mess, at least by the internationals. In the period ahead, the papers in Pristina and Belgrade will cover intensely diplomatic activities and numerous visits, the main topic of which, at least behind closed doors, will be finding a way out of the deadlock created before and after Vienna.
The best way out would probably be, as a western official told us off the record, to create a process likely how to succeed out of this failed meeting in Vienna.
The main complaint coming from the West is that such a thing is difficult to achieve with the same people and the same institutions we have in Pristina and Belgrade, since so far they have not shown skills or good will to have a positive impact on the necessary processes to achieve progress in Kosovo.
In fact, the Kosovan leaders so far have used international contacts only for photographs and for egoistic career promotions, rather than influencing the essential process for everybody in Kosovo. Kosovan reactions have always come late when decisions were taken, after the plane tickets and hotels have already been booked.
Therefore, over the next weeks and months, when important officials visit Kosovo after (or before) visiting Serbia, our elected leaders better open their eyes, ears and mouths, in order to speak out in time, and act with responsibility.
The time of waiting and photographing is over.

Shala: Once again about privatization (Zëri)
Zëri ran an editorial by Blerim Shala who wrote:

When the process of privatization was launched, local representatives of the Kosovo Trust Agency rightfully asked the President of Kosovo, the Prime Minister and the Assembly Speaker to support the start of this process, which was qualified by the UNMIK chief as the top priority in Kosovo for 2003. The leading local authorities voiced their support.

In fact, all three leaders, Rugova, Rexhepi and Daci in their public statements pointed out the start of privatization as one of the biggest achievements lately.

In the two weeks, as we well know, the process of privatization has been blocked after a decision of the head of UNMIK Pillar IV.

Even though the Prime Minister of Kosovo Bajram Rexhepi sent a letter to UNMIK chief Harri Holkeri emphasizing that the privatization could not be blocked in a single day, it is still unclear what will happen in the next meeting of the KTA Board, which is going to be held on Wednesday October 22nd.

We shouldn't waste words about the importance of privatization. If there is no movement in this respect, we could witness the complete downfall of the process of transition, which is already running into numerous obstacles. For this reason, the main Kosovar leaders should once again support privatization and let the chief administrator know that the future developments here are hostages of privatization. There are certain cases when a firm decision must be made and be protected at all costs. We think that for Kosovo and its interests, privatization is one of these cases.

To change history (Kosova Sot)

In an editorial piece Kosova Sot writes how the UN- Mission is trying to do many things in Kosovo.

And one of them is their latest attempt to change the history of Kosovo. This flagrant intrusion in history textbooks is the most absurd action so far. The fear of a possible wrath among Serbs by the historical truths reflected in history books has pushed UNMIK officials to censure textbooks. It is quite obvious that any autocratic authority, especially protectors, try to keep everything that publishes and broadcasts under control. UNMIK since its establishment here has applied a wild censorship against freedom of speech, especially against Albanian press. The media regulations are known to encroach the work of a free press. And now, we have a new order; Kosovans, change your history!
You cannot help calling this UNMIK order scandalous, since there is no scientific basis at all, and it is a political one. The history of a country cannot change, no matter whether its oppressors were Serbs, Turkish, or others.
It is interesting how UNMIK never deals with Serb textbooks, and Serb ultra-nationalist press, but it is always concerned about the Albanians. Despite this censorship, this history full of bloodshed cannot alter or be 'alleviated' for the sake of a multiethnic society.

Disagreements pollute the environment of Ethem Çeku's ministry (Koha Ditore)

Koha Ditore reports that the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, Ruzhdi Sefa has accused Minister Ethem Çeku of physically attacking him after a disagreement between them.

On the other hand, Minister Çeku denied the accusations and said that although they had a verbal conflict, there had been no physical conflict and that the whole thing was a lie.
According to Sefa, Minister Çeku on 10 October threw things at him, and afterwards punched him at his workplace. This happened after a disagreement about the allocation of €15.000 for the purchase of seedlings for the action 'Kosova - shtëpia ime' (Kosovo - my home).
The minister denies this, saying his permanent secretary is lying and is doing this only after he found out that the procedure of his dismission was underway. 'He lacks managing skills, he has failed to meet the requirements, and has hindered the use of the budget of the Ministry', Çeku names as reasons why he should be dismissed.
While Sefa says that Minister Ethem Çeku has often not followed the rules and norms deriving from the administrative directions due to some special and trivial interests.
Ruzhdi Sefa claims that the day he was punched, he happened to have worn clothes resembling the ones of President Rugova, but that was not the reason of the physical attack, like one daily wrote.
The police said Monday they had not been informed of any violent act in the Ministry.

Representative of former communist countries in Balkans prevent privatization! (Zëri)
Quoting reliable sources, Zëri reported that six new officials, who have recently been appointed to the Kosovo Trust Agency (KTA), were the main obstacle for continuing the process of privatization. The staff members are mainly from countries of Southeastern Europe.

Zëri quotes the same sources as saying that there is currently a gap between US representatives and the representatives of Western Europe, who together with locals support the continuing of privatization, whereas the representatives of Southeast European countries, which were previously led by communist regimes, are against the continuing of the process.

The paper further reported that the truth about the suspension of the privatization process should be required amongst the KTA staff that is against this process.

As a result a division at the KTA has been created. On the one hand, there are representatives of the US and other western countries, who together with the locals are strongly determined to continue the privatization process, while on the other hand are the representatives of the South and Eastern European countries (mainly from the former communist countries), who attempt to raise obstacles and cease the privatization process.

As new KTA manager has been appointed Marie Fucci (Italy), while Szaboles Szekers (Hunagry) has been appointed as deputy director of the SOE division, Paul Csiszar (Hungary) has been appointed as director the legal division, Branko Jurisic (Croatia) is head of the complaint unit, Florin Pasnicu (Romania) head of the office for public relations and Dimo Dimov (Bulgaria) is a senior lawyer.

Zëri further reported that the suspension of the third round of privatization has been initiated exactly by the KTA officials that come from the south and Eastern Europe.

One of the prominent personalities for stopping the privatization process as it was acknowledged is the Hungarian lawyer Paul Csiszar who is head of the KTA legal office. Local and the western representatives at the KTA Board meeting noticed very well the opinions of Csiszar at the speech that he delivered at the KTA Board meeting on September 18, copy of which the paper claimed to possess.

This speech it was delivered only a few days before the privatization process was suspended, the paper reported. Zëri claimed that it had spent five weeks to contact Mr. Csiszar, but without success.

The KTA Board will have its meeting tomorrow and according to the information, local members would participate. Tomorrow's meeting is estimated as important because of two issues that are on the agenda: first, UNMIK's decision for blocking the privatization process, and second, the approval of Marie Fucci as KTA manager.

The paper's sources claimed that local board members demand the appointment of Ahmet Shala as the KTA general manger.

Reductions: Millions of euros don't work for KEK (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore claimed that the KTA and the KEK have had opportunity not to allow electricity crisis in Kosovo.

Bad management of the allocated money by the Kosovo budget and the inability to produce power by KEK has returned darkness to Kosovo again, while the supply with the electricity is completely reliant on Serbia.

The KEK supply unit announced on Monday morning that the reduction would be four by two in the favor of darkness as long as B2 is out of service. 'KEK is getting from Serbia 100MG/H and we are attempting to get another contract with them. There is a problem with the electricity supply in the entire region. If we manage to do this, then the situation will be improved,' said KEK spokeswoman Betty Dawson.

The paper reported that money was not the reason for the lack of the electricity. 'We have allocated 20 million euro to KEK on September 15,' said the director for budget in the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Agim Krasniqi. He added that from the allocated money, KEK used only 3.2 million Euro.

Koha Ditore reported that the bids for importing electricity are announced by KTA, which also signs the contracts. On Monday, KTA announced that a few days ago the bid for electricity was announced.

'KTA announced a bid in several papers and websites for importing electricity,' said the KTA office for public relations. The paper concluded that KEK is unprepared for the upcoming winter.

Jakupi: UNMIK itself will unblock privatization in Kosovo (Kosova Sot)
Kosova Sot conducted an interview with the Minister of Trade and Industry Ali Jakupi about the privatization process.

The UN legal office demanded to continue the privatization process, because there is no additional immunity for the KTA personnel and also the KTA is an independent agency. What is your opinion: Is the privatization really ceased by Lambsdorff or by someone else?

I have been personally informed about a charge that is raised against the KTA, while I have no further information, who stopped the privatization, because we haven't had an official information from UNMIK and this is not a good sign.

Do you think that UNMIK is impeding the economical development of Kosovo?

I haven't agreed always with UNMIK's economic policy in Kosovo. I think that locals should have a greater role in the decision-making process and UNMIK should enable that, so it should enable the mutual cooperation. There are other anti-Albanian circles that impede the development of Kosovo, while UNMIK should do more for achieving full success in Kosovo. In order to eliminate this chaos situation, locals must give their opinion.

You have demanded gradual transfer of the competencies. Are you convinced that this would happen this year?

We have demanded and we still demand the transfer of competencies, but it is difficult to know when. I am sure that this year nothing will happen.

· Main Stories 21 October The
· Hague raises indictment against four Serb generals (Koha Ditore)
· Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi to visit London (Koha Ditore)
· Reps of former communist countries in Balkans prevent privatization! (Zëri)
· Shala: Once again about privatization (Zëri)
· Assembly Speaker Daci wants better regulation for privatization (Zëri)
· Jakupi: UNMIK will unblock privatization in Kosovo! (Kosova Sot)
· UNMIK Pillar IV confirms KTA Board meeting for Wednesday (Zëri)
· Belgrade doesn't exclude possibility of military intervention in Kosovo (Koha)
· Agron Bajrami: The time of pictures is over (Koha Ditore)
· Disagreements pollute environment of Ethem Çeku's ministry (Koha)
· Hasani: Nexhat Daci and Ibrahim Rugova to be dismissed after Vienna
· Ali Ahmeti: No other solution for Kosovo but independence (Koha Ditore)
· Conference on human trafficking begins in Prishtina (all dailies)

Kosovo Media Highlights

The Hague raises indictment against four Serb generals (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports that The Hague tribunal has raised an indictment against four Serb generals, former senior officers of Serbian police and military forces that carried out crimes against Kosovar Albanians in 1999.

Nebojsa Pavkovic, the former chief of the General Staff of the Yugoslav Army, Vladimir Lazarevic, commander of the notorious Prishtina Corps, Sreten Lukic, chief of Serbian Police in Kosovo, and Vlastimir Djordjevic, assistant Ministry of Interior Affairs have been accused for crimes against humanity and violation of war conducts.

Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi to visit London (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports that Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi has traveled to London on Monday as a guest of the Government of the United Kingdom; 'however, his visit there doesn't imply that he has been forgiven for the position that he took on the issue of dialogue with Belgrade and the meeting in Vienna,' added the paper.

'This visit was planned much earlier, way before any contradiction about dialogue with Belgrade. Now that this contradiction has erupted, we think the best way to voice our opinion is to do it personally,' officials from the Office of the United Kingdom told Koha Ditore.

Zëri quotes PM Rexhepi as saying that with British officials he was going to discuss UNMIK's weaknesses among other things.

Reps of former communist countries in Balkans prevent privatization! (Zëri)
Quoting reliable sources, Zëri reports that a new staff of six officials that have recently been appointed to the Kosovo Trust Agency (KTA) were the main obstacle for the continuing of the process of privatization. The staff members are mainly from countries of southeastern Europe.

Zëri quotes the same sources as saying that there is currently a gap between US representatives and the representatives of western Europe, who together with locals support the continuing of privatization, whereas the representatives of southeast European countries, which were previously led by communist regimes, are against the continuing of the process.

Shala: Once again about privatization (Zëri)
'We shouldn't waste words about the importance of privatization. If there is no movement in this respect, we could witness the complete downfall of the process of transition, which is already running into numerous obstacles. For this reason, the main Kosovar leaders should once again support privatization and let the chief administrator know that the future developments here are hostages of privatization. There are certain cases when a firm decision must be made and protected at all cost. We think that for Kosovo and its interests, privatization is one of these cases,' writes Blerim Shala in an editorial for Zëri.

Assembly Speaker Daci wants better regulation for privatization (Zëri)
Zëri carries a report from yesterday's meeting between Kosovo Assembly speaker Nexhat Daci and UNMIK Pillar IV head Nikolaus Lambsdorff.

Voicing his full support for the continuing of the process of privatization in Kosovo, assembly speaker Daci said that there should be a better regulation on all the aspects of this process in order to ensure serious buyers, attractive programs and security for workers.

Jakupi: UNMIK will unblock privatization in Kosovo! (Kosova Sot)
In an interview for Kosova Sot, Trade and Industry Minister Ali Jakupi said that UNMIK was going to unblock the process of privatization in Kosovo.

'I was personally informed about a case that was filed against the Kosovo Trust Agency, and I don't have further knowledge about what was done and the reasons why the process of privatization was stopped, because we have received no official information from UNMIK and I think that this is not good, and that it is going to have sensitive consequences,' Jakupi added.

UNMIK Pillar IV confirms KTA Board meeting for Wednesday (Zëri)
Zëri reports that Monique De Groot, spokeswoman for UNMIK Pillar IV told Prishtina-based KosovaLive news agency yesterday that the meeting of the board of the Kosovo Trust Agency was going to be held on Wednesday.

De Groot also voiced her optimism that the process of privatization in Kosovo will resume as soon as possible.

Belgrade doesn't exclude possibility of military intervention in Kosovo (Koha)
Koha Ditore reports that according to a decision adopted by the Supreme Defense Council of Serbia and Montenegro, the military troops of Serbia and Montenegro could be used outside the administrative borders.

Citing reliable sources, Koha Ditore reports that the decision was made while the eyes of the public opinion were turned to the meeting in Vienna.

Disagreements pollute the environment of Ethem Çeku's ministry (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports that the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, Ruzhdi Sefa has accused Minister Ethem Çeku of physically attacking him after a certain disagreement between the two.

On the other hand, Minister Çeku denied the accusations and said that although they had a verbal conflict, there had been no physical conflict and that the whole thing was a lie. [extensive coverage in Media Analysis]

Hasani: Nexhat Daci and Ibrahim Rugova to be dismissed after Vienna (Epoka)
Epoka e Re carries an interview that Nait Hasani, one of the founders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) gave to the Fokus newspaper. 'I trust only those who swear before the grave of Adem Jashari before going to Vienna or before making any other important step,' Hasani was quoted as saying.

Hasani also said that after the meeting in Vienna, Nexhat Daci and Ibrahim Rugova should be dismissed. 'The start of these talks in Vienna can only lead us toward Serbia and integration. This process has been launched by Nexhat Daci and Ibrahim Rugova, on their own,' he added.

Ali Ahmeti: No other solution for Kosovo but independence (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore quotes Ali Ahmeti, leader of the Democratic Union for Integration and the former National Liberation Army (NLA) as saying, 'Kosovo's final status will be of no other nature than independence, because generations have been sacrificed for this. The international community has realized this sacrifice made by our people, therefore, there can be other solution for Kosovo but independence'.

Conference on human trafficking begins in Prishtina (all dailies)
All dailies carry reports from the international conference on human trafficking that began yesterday in Prishtina under the organization of the OSCE and UNMIK and in cooperation with several non-governmental organizations.

The organizers said that the aim of the conference was to compile an all-inclusive plan for the fight against human trafficking in Kosovo.

Kosovo Press Headlines
Koha Ditore
Front page
· The Hague raises charges against four Serbian generals on war crimes
· Disagreements pollute Ministry of Environment
· Surroi: Death of a boxer that did not get away well
· Reductions: Millions of euros don't work for KEK
· Limaj, Balaj and Musliu appear before court this week [The Hague]

Other headlines
· Nine years prison for the Serbian army major (2)
· Belgrade left possibility open to 'intervene' in Kosovo (2)
· Rexhepi to visit London (3)
· Ahmeti: There is no possibility except independence (3)
· Future reporters want to get education legally (4)
· Increase of people trafficking in Kosovo (4)
· Discussion between socialist party on government [Albania] (4)
· Why are so many customs service officers suspended? (5)
· Kuraja: 15 minutes that make my life happier (6)
· Sanctification of Mother Theresa is estimated an historical event (6)
· Mother Theresa's relative confirms her Albanian origin (6)
· Nowicki: Ii is a strange feeling when you are pronounced dead (7)
· Officials dissatisfied with impossibility to register children (8)
· Municipal government starts working (8)
· Municipal board demands to stop taking sand from river (9)
· Bajrami: Time for taking pictures has past (10)

Zëri
Front page
· Representatives of former communist countries impede privatization
· The Hague raises charges against four Serbian generals
· Shala: Once more on privatization
· Daci demands better regulation on privatization
· Supreme defense council of Serbia and Montenegro foresees possibility to intervene in Kosovo
· TMC: Ministry's decision is wrong
· KEK: Darkness in Kosovo for another few days

Other headlines
· Rexhepi will talk to British officials about UNMIK's weaknesses (2)
· Highest officials from The Hague and EU to visit Kosovo (2)
· Baliq: Death of Izetbegovic is loss for Kosovo (2)
· Thaçi: Izetbegovic was a friend of Albanian war (2)
· Kosovo delegation returns from Vatican (2)
· UNMIK Pillar IV confirms Board meeting (3)
· EU rejects Belgrade's proposal for division of Kosovo (4)
· Serbian soldiers that burn Krasniqi family were sentenced to 23 years (4)
· Municipal officials to visit Bosnia (4)
· Ministry should offer alternative when decide to close down an institution (5)
· Kosovo is used as a destination and as a transit in trafficking people (5)
· Yugoslav documents to prove that you are Kosovar (6)
· Ohrid agreement shouldn't fail (6)
· VMRO-DPMN demands dismissal of Polozhani [Macedonia] (7)
· Not the quantity of collected weapons is important but to disarm the citizens mind (7)
· Ahmeti: We can not infringe our national ideals (7)
· Serbs from Grapci and Binca accept to participate at municipal meetings (8)
· Local leaders suspend participation at security meetings (9)

Bota Sot
Front page
· Solana visits Kosovo
· Daci meets UNMIK Pillar IV head
· Belgrade decided to intervene military in Kosovo
· To become more active in fight against trafficking
· Sefa: Minister Çeku attacked me physically
· Ceremonies of sanctification continues
· World Bank assists businesses in Kosovo
· Selmani says that participation of Albanians in health care has increased
· Only by miracle a 17 years old escaped in New York

Other headlines
· Kosovo institutions should have full competences (2)
· Change of KFOR contingents (2)
· Rexhepi visits UK (3)
· Mehmetaj: Stupid and chaos (4)
· Berisha: Answer to Faton Mehmetaj (5)
· Faculty Faik Konica should match few conditions to get license (7)
· Municipal president and government chief to visit Belgium (7)
· Citizens had no right to vote [Albania] (8)
· Zemaj was promoter of every political action (9)
· Citizens are forced to get personal documents in Vranje and Bujanovc (9)
· Media campaign for handing in weapons is increased [Macedonia] (10)

Kosova Sot

Front page
· Belgrade foresees intrusion in Kosovo, KFOR guarantees borders untouchable
· Editorial: To change history
· Parliament not interested in talking about dialogue
· Energy crisis deepens
· UNMIK ignores trafficking victims
· Minister Çeku says his secretary is lying
· Ali Jakupi: UNMIK itself will unblock privatization in Kosovo!
· Albanians to rewrite history, say internationals

Other headlines
· Presevo slides deeper into political crisis (2)
· British diplomats, a special invitation for PM Rexhepi (2)
· Government strengthens in December (3)
· Daci tells Lambsdorff to prepare a better regulation (4)
· UNMIK arrogance incites boycotts in the municipalities (4)
· 23 years imprisonment for 3 soldiers that killed two Albanians in Pristina (4)
· Internationals without consensus about Kosovo (5)
· Hague: Two new charges against Kosovo Albanians (6)
· Status does not stimulate reforms (6)
· Are the decisions of the Ministry subjective (2)
· Unit B2 out of order (6)
· How are Albanian patients treated in the Serb hospital? (7)
· Why many killings remain enigmatic in Kosovo (7)

Epoka e Re
Front page
· 250 suicides, why Albanians are fleeing 'freedom'
· Suspended for corruption - still in leading positions
· Journalism students urge minister to suspend his decision
· Kosovo plagued by dark in its fifth autumn after the war!
· Himara is Drenica
· First meeting after the putsch in Klina
· Nait Hasani: After Vienna; Daci and Rugova to be dismissed
· Ismail Kurteshi: Names of the corrupted are known
· Municipality does not care about martyrs' families

Other headlines
· Big manifestation in remembrance of Arif Vokshi (2)
· "The Economist" - Kosovo still the major problem (3)
· Just a few charges against VJ and MUP generals (3)
· Del Ponte in Pristina tomorrow, Solana on Friday (3)
· Media and political 'neighborhood' (4)
· Ministry of Education turns over the University Statute (4)
· Private schools continue their work (5)
· A piece of American success (6)
· The pride of a small nation (7)

Belgrade Media Highlights

· Georgy Kakuk's interview to Novosti (Vecernje Novosti)
· Supreme Military Court sentenced a Major of the VJ to 9 years for war crimes in Kosovo (Blic/Tanjug)
· Grahovac wants actions in Kosovo (Balkan)
· Analyst Dusan Pavlovic on solution for Kosovo (Vecernje Novosti)
· Del Ponte arrives in Kosovo on Thursday (Danas/Beta)
· Indictments sealed off in The Hague (Politika/Beta)
· Rexhepi travels to Great Britain (Danas/Beta)

Georgy Kakuk's interview to Novosti (Vecernje Novosti)
Truth is the criterion of the world, but is often a relative notion since it is important when, how and to whom it is announced, says Georgy Kakuk, UNMIK's regional spokesman for northern Kosovo and Metohija, on the topic on what can he do from his position for the truth on the position of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija to reach the world today. "Serbs are convinced that the image of them in the world public opinion is changed very slowly. However, the former regime has contributed to that over the past decade and a half. It is also true that Kosovo is not in the center of attention anymore as four years ago, and that the world had it with the problems here. Still, the image of Serbia and the Serbs in the world is being changed, and this is first of all the result of the democratic changes and efforts by the Serbian government on the plane of democratization and in the wish for integration with Europe and the world," says Kakuk.

Northern Mitrovica is the only multi-ethnic region in the province, but Albanian leaders also wish to put this part of the town under their control?

"It is true that Mitrovica is multi-ethnic, but without a multi-ethnic life. People in it live next to each other. While Europe is advocating integration, I can't understand the state of the mind here that continues to be tolerated by precisely this Europe. People cannot live in fearing each other, in hatred, divided in such a small region."

According to UNSCR 1244, Kosovo is an inseparable part of Serbia, while Albanian leaders are doing everything to separate it. Does the world public opinion see that?

"Surely. The world media are aware of the entire present situation, but Kosovo is not so interesting anymore to them, so they now deal with it less."

Since your arrival to the post of UNMIK's regional spokesman, much has changed in the objective and timely informing from northern Kosovo and Metohija, which isn't the case with the informing from other parts of the province?

"All of the media are present in northern Kosovo, which isn't the case with the enclaves. With this I don't wish to justify my colleagues because I was a journalist there prior to my arrival in Kosovo, but it is true that information arrives more slowly because of this than form here, or from Pristina. However, one should say that my colleague from UNMIK was the first to inform the public about the tragedy in Gorazdevac, and enabled all the media to arrive quickly and safely to the scene. It is difficult to inform from Kosovo due to a series of extraordinary circumstances, so certain media often partially react, publishing semi-information that we have to build on later, correct, or even deny."

How do you assess the work of the Serbian and Albanian media?

"I don't make divisions. Both have a lot to learn in order to be closer to the profession."

Your team analyzes the work of all the media. How do you assess the writing of our daily?

"I know that Novosti is the most circulated daily in SaM, so every information in it has special significance. It mostly reports and writes about the situation in the province in a professional way. There are, however, texts that are not professionally most correct, like some that are signed with the daily's initials, as such a text had been several days ago on the possible new war in Kosovo, which, I'm sure, will not be and cannot be. However, I can say with assurance that Novosti doesn't have in its texts an exaggerated national charge, that it is not a nationalist paper. It writes with criteria, most often using sources of information from the spot, and in the case of statements and opinions it tries to hear both sides, which is professional and good," said Kakuk.

Supreme Military Court sentenced a Major of the VJ to 9 years for war crimes in Kosovo (Blic/Tanjug)
The Supreme Military Court has sentenced three members of the former Yugoslav Army (VJ) for killing two Kosovo Albanian civilians in Kosovo in 1999, the President of the Court, Colonel Milorad Vukosav confirmed.Vukosav said that Major Dragisa Petkovic has been sentenced to nine years in prison, whereas the reserve Sergeant Nenad Stamenkovic and the reserve soldier Tomica Jovic both have received a seven years sentence. The three of them killed an elderly Kosovo Albanian couple Feriza and Ruki Krasnici in the village of Gornja Susica in 1999. This is the second legally valid sentence for war crimes committed in Kosovo, said Vukosav, who reminded that Lieutenant Colonel Zlatan Mancic has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for a war crime against civilians in Kosovo.

Grahovac wants actions in Kosovo (Balkan)
The assertion that the recently adopted decision by the Supreme Defense Council on using joint forces of the army and police in southern Serbia is leaving a possibility of an eventual military intervention in Kosovo is only a free analysis and commentary by General Blagoje Grahovac, the advisor to SaM President Svetozar Marovic, it was announced by the cabinet of SaM president. The same source has confirmed that such a decision exists, but has not yet been confirmed with President Marovic's signature, as well as that it is absolutely in accordance with UNSCR 1244. The commentary carried by the Podgorica Vijesti is a complete untruth, an unnamed source close to the Defense Ministry told Balkan. "Such a decision doesn't exist and no one normal would think in such a way," said Balkan's collocutor.

Analyst Dusan Pavlovic on solution for Kosovo (Vecernje Novosti)
The Serbian government, in secrecy, is examining the issue of Kosovo and Metohija's division but it still doesn't have the courage to come out in the public with it, Dusan Pavlovic of the Belgrade Institute for social studies claims for Novosti.

Is division the best solution for a way out of the Kosovo crisis?

"Yes, I think this will most probably happen, but after the elections in Serbia, when the government is established with a four-year mandate. While this government, under the assumption that the mandate lasts for another year, will not dare initiate this issue and resolve in that way."

What do you think, how would this division be performed?

"Probably in a way to have the line of division the Ibar River. The northern part of Kosovo, also including the northern part of Mitrovica, would remain within Serbia, while other parts, including Metohija, would remain under Kosovo."

And what would happen with present Serb enclaves?

"The issue of these Serb enclaves, especially those with Serbian monasteries, would probably be resolved with a special agreement."

Del Ponte arrives in Kosovo on Thursday (Danas/Beta)
ICTY's Chief Prosecutor is to visit Kosovo on Thursday, Pristina daily Zeri reports. Citing sources close to the tribunal, the daily reports that two indictments for crimes committed in Kosovo will be issued by the end of the year.

Indictments sealed off in The Hague (Politika/Beta)
The ICTY has announced the indictments against former Yugoslav Army's Chief of Staff Nebojsa Pavkovic, former commander of Pristina Corps of the Yugoslav Army Vladimir Lazarevic, former Head of the Public Security Service of the Serbian Interior Ministry Vlastimir Djordjevic, and former commander of police forces in Kosovo Sreten Lukic. They have all been charged with perpetrating war crimes in Kosovo and Metohija during the conflicts in 1999.

Rexhepi travels to Great Britain (Danas/Beta)
Kosovo Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi leaves for London where he will meet British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, reports Pristina daily Koha Ditore. It will be the first official visit of the Kosovo prime minister to a EU country, and comes after Rexhepi refused to attend talks with the Belgrade authorities in Vienna on October 14.