04 September 2003

CONTENTS

· KTA privatizes another 21 socially owned enterprises in Kosovo (all dailies)
· Negotiations between Prishtina and Belgrade have already started (Koha)
· Holkeri says he supports ‘standards before status’ policy (Koha Ditore)
· Before meeting Contact Group, Holkeri to meet Igor Ivanov (Koha Ditore)
· Govt: Contact Group shouldn’t prejudge decisions against Kosovo’s aims
· Does the Contact Group have a plan for Kosovo? (Zëri)
· Will Kosovo Assembly refute Serbia’s declaration for Kosovo (?) (Zëri)
· Marovic: Dialogue with Kosovar authorities must start immediately (Koha)
· Zivkovic: Kosovo Govt and Alb terrorists are harmonizing their stances
· Thaçi: Holkeri has a realistic picture about Kosovo (Koha Ditore)
· Bukoshi: Mitrovica is the shame of internationals (Zëri)
· ICG: UNMIK and local institutions share same fate (Zëri)
· Demaçi and Klina Mayor visit Serbs in Binxhe (Koha Ditore)
· Ylber Hysa: The political game of catch me if you can (Koha Ditore)
· Shala: Peace and problems (Zëri)
· ORC Director Peggy Hicks sends letter to Kosova Sot editor

Kosovo Media Highlights

KTA privatizes another 21 socially owned enterprises in Kosovo (all dailies)
All dailies carry reports from the second round of the ongoing process privatization in Kosovo, which took place last night at UN HQ in Pristina. Koha Ditore reports that 180 investors came forward to bid for 21 socially owned enterprises. According to the Kosovo Trust Agency, all the factories together stand to bring in a sum of 24.5 million euros.
Zëri reports that the biggest competition was over the Prishtina-based Plastika Factory, which was sold at the highest price of €2,875,000.

Epoka e Re quotes Ahmet Shala, deputy director of the Kosovo Trust Agency, as saying that the announcement of the winners of the tenders is an important step toward the revival of Kosovar economy. (more in Media Analysis)

Negotiations between Prishtina and Belgrade have already started (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore quotes an unnamed senior UNMIK official as saying that the announced negotiations between Kosovar and Serbian representatives have started, but in an indirect manner.

‘Negotiations have already started through some people who have met separately with the two parties,’ the unnamed official was cited as saying. [full translation in Media Analysis]

Holkeri says he supports ‘standards before status’ policy (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports that during an interview for the Austrian APA news agency, SRSG Harri Holkeri said that he would like to continue the policy of his German predecessor, Michael Steiner, which envisages the fulfillment of certain standards before making the final decision about Kosovo’s status.

Before meeting Contact Group, Holkeri to meet Igor Ivanov (Koha Ditore)
The chairman of the Coordination Council for Kosovo, Nebojsa Covic, met at Surcin Airport with new UNMIK chief Harri Holkeri, who then flew to Moscow to attend the meeting of the Contact Group regarding Kosovo, Koha Ditore reported.

The paper reports that prior to meeting with the Contact Group, Holkeri will meet with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov.

Zëri quotes UNMIK spokeswoman Izabella Karlowicz as saying, ‘SRSG Harri Holkeri had a brief meeting with Covic in Belgrade Airport. They have discussed the security situation in Kosovo and the practical issues related to the start of dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade.’

‘When, how and where this dialogue will begin I still don’t know,’ SRSG Holkeri is quoted as saying in Zëri. [further coverage in Media Analysis]

Govt: Contact Group shouldn’t prejudge decisions against Kosovo’s aims (Koha)
Koha Ditore reports that Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi and his government have called on the Contact Group not to fall for provocations by taking a decision that would be in opposition to the will of the people of Kosovo.

Does the Contact Group have a plan for Kosovo? (Zëri)
Citing western diplomatic sources in Prishtina, Zëri reports that the Contact Group will focus on proposals that SRSG Holkeri is expected to present. The same sources claimed that these proposals would not only focus on the start of talks between Kosovar and Serbian representatives, but also on issues related to Holkeri’s mandate as SRSG in Kosovo.

Western diplomatic sources also told Zëri that the Serbian regime still holds the position that Holkeri and UNMIK cannot be the mediators of dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade, because, according to Serbian officials, Holkeri cannot be neutral in this dialogue.

The same sources say that the Contact Group still has no clear plan for Kosovo.

Will Kosovo Assembly refute Serbia’s declaration for Kosovo (?) (Zëri)
Zëri quotes members of the Kosovo Assembly as saying that today the Kosovo Assembly will provide an ‘adequate response’ to the Declaration on Kosovo and Metohija adopted by the Serbian Parliament.

Marovic: Dialogue with Kosovar authorities must start immediately (Koha)
Koha Ditore quotes the President of the Union of Serbia and Montenegro, Svetozar Marovic, as saying that dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade should start immediately under the patronage of the international community.

‘We are ready for dialogue without ultimatum for partiality, under mediation of the international community, UN, EU, US, Russia and all those who trust us and want Kosovo to become a region of European stability, peace and progress,’ he added.

Zivkovic: Kosovo Govt and Albanian terrorists harmonizing their stances (Zëri)
Zëri reports that, commenting on the demands made by Prime Minister Rexhepi for more competencies for Kosovar institutions, Serbian PM Zivkovic said that this was about ‘harmonized actions between the Government of Kosovo and ethnic Albanian terrorists who are murdering Serbs.’

Thaçi: Holkeri has a realistic picture about Kosovo (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore carries a report from the meeting between PDK leader Hashim Thaçi and Marcie Ries, head of the US Office in Prishtina.

‘We will be committed to an undivided Kosovo, without enclaves, a country where its citizens can have freedom of movement throughout its territory,’ Thaçi was quoted as saying after the meeting.

Commenting on the upcoming meeting of the Contact Group, Thaçi said that SRSG Harri Holkeri has created a realistic picture about the political and security situation in Kosovo, ‘therefore, he will speak clearly in the meeting of the Contact Group.’

Bukoshi: Mitrovica is the shame of internationals (Zëri)
Zëri reports that during a visit to the municipality of Kamenica, PReK political party leader Bujar Bukoshi criticized the international administration for its failure in Mitrovica and added that Mitrovica was the ‘shame of internationals’.

Commenting on the rights of minorities in Kosovo, Bukoshi criticized Albanians ‘for killing elderly Serbs in their apartments, which was caused indignation among internationals and has hampered the process of Kosovo’s independence’.

ICG: UNMIK and local institutions share same fate (Zëri)
Zëri reports that the International Crisis Group (ICG) has issued its latest report on Kosovo, titled ‘It takes two to tango: Agenda for the new SRSG in Kosovo.’

‘Holkeri has a unique opportunity to learn from the mistakes that were made during the previous administration of UNMIK, and now he can refresh relations with local institutions and make sure that every disagreement will lead to the identification and solution of problems and not increasing tensions. On the other hand, Kosovar officials must understand that cooperation with UNMIK is in their direct interest,’ noted the ICG report.

Demaçi and Klina Mayor visit Serbs in Binxhe (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports that human rights activist Adem Demaçi and Klina Mayor Ramë Manaj have visited Serb residents of the Binxhe village near Klina. ‘We wish well for Kosovo and we are in favor of integration in democratic developments in Kosovo,’ said the Serb villagers.

Demaçi was quoted as saying, ‘Our wish is for you to stay here together with us, and we should not needlessly politicize things.’ [more in Media Analysis]

Ylber Hysa: The political game of catch me if you can (Koha Ditore)
‘Twelve years have passed since Kosovars have declared their will for the final status. Belgrade has continued to play the game of ‘catch me if you can’ for over a decade, by reaching the highest point with the biased declaration of Kosovo as part of Serbia at a time when not even a single Serb soldier controls Kosovo,’ writes Ylber Hysa, director of the Kosovo Action for Civic Initiatives (KACI), in an opinion piece for Koha Ditore.

Shala: Peace and problems (Zëri)
In a front-page editorial for Zëri, Blerim Shala comments on the ongoing developments in neighboring Macedonia. ‘Avoiding armed conflicts in Macedonia is Skopje’s supreme interest, and to that effect the interest of the entire region. One shouldn’t be a genius and have plenty of information to conclude who could benefit again from armed conflicts in Macedonia. This should be taken into account by all those involved in politics in Macedonia and in Kosovo,’ he added.

ORC Director Peggy Hicks sends letter to Kosova Sot editor
Kosova Sot carries a response that UNMIK ORC Director Peggy Hicks sent to the paper’s editor. ‘Your article entitled, UNMIK hides trips to Serbia, of 21 August 2003, does a significant disservice to your readers by containing gross factual errors. Indeed, the report misses the mark by so far, we believe the only way to fully correct it would be to withdraw it entirely, as it was clearly not researched in accordance with the journalistic standards that this paper seeks to respect. Failing that, we take this opportunity to correct the record concerning your allegations of secret trips. What your reporter mistook for secret is in fact a well-publicised and absolutely transparent part of the return of displaced people to Kosovo. Overall, the returns process is fully described in the Manual for Sustainable Returns, a public document that has been distributed throughout Kosovo, in English, Albanian and Serbian, to municipalities, NGOs, international organizations and displaced person associations. In fact, the Manual was launched at a press conference last May which summaries were distributed and full copies available for the press,’ wrote Hicks.

Kosovo Press Headlines
Koha Ditore
Front page
· Negotiation between Belgrade and Prishtina have already started
· Too many offers, enterprises were sold cheaper
· Surroi: Albanian fevers
· Continuing efforts for peaceful solution [Macedonia]
· Government offers maximum, strikers want more money

Other headlines
· Holkeri meets [Russian FM] Ivanov before meeting with Contact Group (2)
· Holkeri approves standards before status (2)
· Assembly resolution is an absolute decision [Albania] (2)
· Marovic: Dialogue with Kosovars should begin straightaway (2)
· Serbia and Montenegro Parliament discuss Kosovo (2)
· Government: Contact Group will not prejudge decision on Kosovo (3)
· Thaçi: Holkeri has clear picture of Kosovo (3)
· Albanian deputies hand over demands of former NLA members [fYROM] (4)
· NATO welcomes maturity of Macedonian authorities (4)
· Klina: We wish Kosovo all the best (4)
· Coal miners: We will shake Kosovo, government and UNMIK (5)
· In northern Kosovo deadline for number plates is postponed (6)
· BSPK announces general strike (6)
· Special government team to investigate the bid [police cars] (7)
· Serbs threaten to protect themselves (7)
· Pejë: Education officials say education improving, union says the opposite (8)
· PM Rexhepi: We are proud to remember our heroes (8)
· Mrs. Zenuni is not allowed to return to work (9)
· 672 IDPs are returned to the eastern sector (9)
· Kelmendi: Mirela-Albania 1:0 (10)
· Hysa: The political game of ‘catch me if you can’ (11)

Zëri
Front page
· Govt tells Contact Group not to take decision against will of Kosovo’s people
· ICG: Fate of UNMIK and local institution is the same
· Shala: Peace and problems
· Does Contact group have a plan for Kosovo?
· Macedonian forces withdraw from Vaksince
· Government support Ministry of Education, strike continues in some areas
· Kosovo Assembly will revoke Serbian resolution today (?)
· Zivkovic: Kosovo government and terrorists are harmonizing their activities

Other headlines
· UNMIK does not expect surprises from the Contact Group (2)
· Thaçi hopes that Holkeri will present clear picture of Kosovo (2)
· Short meeting between Holkeri and Covic in Belgrade (2)
· Holkeri to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Ivanov (2)
· Holkeri: I still don’t know how dialogue will begin (3)
· Government investigates a bid for KPS cars (3)
· Massari: Political process has no alternative [southern Serbia] (4)
· Investigations continue, no arrests (5)
· Demaçi tells Serbs in Bingja that future is in Kosovo (5)
· Plastika company is sold €2,875.000 (5)
· New security measures over the Iber bridge (5)
· Tensions in Skopje, result of non-implementation of Ohrid agreement (6)
· Police deny claims of clashes between armed groups [Macedonia] (6)
· Belgrade sends protest to Tirana (6)
· KFOR: Calm situation on border between Kosovo and Macedonia (6)
· Shabani advises strikers to be ‘careful’ (7)
· Austria and Kosovo preparing memorandum on investments (7)
· Greeks are interested in investments in Kosovo (7)
· AAK leader meets with Austrian Liaison Office chief Vogl in Kosovo (7)
· Nowicki in good condition (7)
· Blue driving licenses could be exchange with UNMIK driving licenses (7)
· Inauguration of multiethnic schools (7)
· Last year €16,000,000 was required, this year €31,000,000 is needed (9)
· Bukoshi: Mitrovica is internationals’ shame (12)
· Kosovo government addresses miners’ strike with KTA (12)

Bota Sot
Front page
· Kosovo Government addresses Contact Group
· Kosovo’s independence is closer than Belgrade’s aims
· Austria and Kosovo preparing memorandum to guarantee investments
· FYROM want war, they don’t want peace with Albanians
· Wrong mathematics and Nano’s wrong geopolitics
· Eighteen enterprises were sold for €25,000,000
· Unfinished idea for memorial to Ahmet Krasniqi and Tahir Zemaj

Other headlines
· When UNMIK attacks image of Kosovo, doesn’t care about its own image (2)
· Serbs don’t want KS number plates, UNMIK doesn’t apply the law (2)
· Withdrawal of the special police begins (Macedonia) (2)
· Kosovo govt supports Education Ministry/invites teachers to start work (3)
· Kosovo government says to coal miners, ‘we can do nothing’ (3)
· Nothing new with investigations in Peja (4)
· Buçpapaj: Crime is challenging Albanian prosecutor (5)
· Tribune: Missing persons are Kosovo’s wounds (5)
· Richard Mey refused Milosevic’s demand (5)
· Implementation of FTA is postponed until end of September (7)
· American assistance build new schools (7)
· Union demands consideration from Kosovo institutions (8)
· Police action has no ethnic aim [Macedonia] (10)
· Year 2001 cannot be repeated [Macedonia] (10)

Kosova Sot
Front page
· Plastika obtains the highest price
· Dialogue cannot be imagined without international mediation
· Who is playing with teachers’ dignity?
· Macedonian Prime Minister did not meet Albanian deputies
· Government: UNSC to revoke Serbian declaration on Kosovo
· What did Holkeri and Covic discuss?
· Editorial: Government’s concerns

Other headlines
· Not to ignore will of Kosovo’s citizens (2)
· Interest in cooperation with Austria (4)
· Thaçi: Holkeri will speak clearly in meeting of Contact Group (4)
· Holkeri wants to carry on with standards before status (4)
· Haradinaj meets with Austrian diplomat Vogl in Kosovo (4)
· UNMIK expects Kosovo govt to compile strategy to implement standards (5)
· UNMIK rebuttal (6)
· Strike will not be halted (6)
· Bid for police cars will be investigated (7)
· Workers’ situation is grave (7)
· Raiffesien Bank improves its image (8)
· Mitrovica 2003 exhibition begins (8)
· Kosovo Red Cross assists coal miners (8)
· Deadline is postpone [car number plates] (9)
· Nowicki will return to work (9)
· Blue driving licenses will be replaced with UNMIK driving licenses (9)
· American assistance builds school in Mogille (9)

Epoka e Re
Front page
· Krasniqi suspected in bids for [KPS] cars
· Bread will be expensive
· 180 offers for 21 enterprises
· Government: No money/ Teachers: No classes
· Threats from Minister of Education Osmani to teachers
· Experts: Formula for resolving the crisis
· Grave economic situation in Skenderaj
· KTA will apply rules strictly
· Gorazhdec crime in ‘glass palace’ [UN building]

Other headlines
· Mushkolaj: How much is your salary, Mr. Minister? (3)
· Thaçi and Ries talk about strengthening institutions (4)
· Russia begin offensive on Kosovo (4)
· Holkeri: We don’t know when, how or where will dialogue begin (5)
· Rexhepi: Contact Group should not take decision against Kosovo (5)
· Demaçi: Your future is in Kosovo (6)
· Vogl: Kosovars are able to lead their country (7)
· Nowicki is transferred to Poland (7)
· Belgrade: Tirana is interfering in our internal affairs (7)
· Edi Rama’s speech [Albania] (9)
· Government rejects demands of former NLA members [Macedonia] (9)
· Chinterlan: We hope that situation in Cernica will not escalate (18)

Belgrade Media Highlights

· Holkeri on the dialogue (Glas/Beta/APA)
· Covic meets Holkeri (Blic)
· Zivkovic accuses Kosovo government and terrorists of concerted action (Vecernje Novosti/Tanjug)
· Marovic and Bush to meet in New York (Glas/Frankfurtske Vesti/ Srna)
· SaM Parliament discusses Kosovo (Balkan/Beta)
· Maurizio Massari visited Serbia’s south (Politika)
· KFOR removes checkpoints from bridge (Glas/Tanjug)
· Vehicle registration in Pristina (Danas/Fonet)
· KP held a meeting in Gracanica (Danas)
· Rexhepi’s new proposal (Vecernje Novosti/Tanjug)

Holkeri on the dialogue (Glas/Beta/APA)
UNMIK Head Harri Holkeri has said that he plans to continue the policies of his predecessor, Michael Steiner. This, he said, included insisting on meeting certain criteria before considering the final status of the province. Holkeri told Austrian APA agency that Steiner’s “Standards before status” policy was still effective, adding that the future of Kosovo should, however, be on the agenda of the planned direct dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. “When, how and where this dialogue will begin I still don’t know,” said the new governor. He described the agenda for discussions as still unclear because Albanian politicians were primarily interested in the issue of independence while Serb wanted to discuss the lack of security and the problem of refugees.

Covic meets Holkeri (Blic)
The Head of the CCK Nebojsa Covic has met with UNMIK Head Harri Holkeri at the Belgrade airport, who later on traveled to Moscow for the Contact Group meeting devoted to Kosovo. Covic voiced expectation that the goal of the Contact Group meeting was to establish “certain rules and to approach the commencement of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue.”

Zivkovic accuses Kosovo government and terrorists of concerted action (Vecernje Novosti/Tanjug)
Commenting demands by Kosovo Premier Bajram Rexhepi for more powers for the Kosovo institutions and the setting up of new ministries, Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Zivkovic has said that in question are "concerted actions by the Kosovo government and ethnic Albanian terrorists who are murdering the Serbs". Zivkovic told Tanjug's Pristina correspondent that he expects UNMIK Head Harri Holkeri to view the situation realistically and to react accordingly. Zivkovic set out it is clear that the temporary institutions in Kosovo and Metohija do not want to adhere to UNSCR 1244, because everything they are demanding is impossible and inadmissible according to this Resolution.

Marovic and Bush to meet in New York (Glas/Frankfurtske Vesti/ Srna)
The state delegation of SaM, headed by President Svetozar Marovic, will be in New York from 21 until 25 September where it will take part in the work of the 58th UN General Assembly. Marovic will speak at the general session of the UN General Assembly on 23 September, while a meeting with US President George Bush is also expected. Diplomatic consultations are being conducted about this face-to-face meeting, the Frankfurt based Vesti reports. The SaM President should also take part in the gathering of the Balkan leaders to be organized by the Columbia University in New York. SaM Foreign Minister Goran Svilanovic will hold a lecture at the Columbia University and should also meet with representatives of the American Jewish Committee in New York.

SaM Parliament discusses Kosovo (Balkan/Beta)
MPs of the Serbia and Montenegro Parliament will discuss at today’s session the situation in Kosovo and Metohija with a proposal of conclusions on solving problems in the southern Serbian province. The governing DOS coalition has proposed a declaration to be adopted, which will be identical to the one recently adopted by the Parliament of Serbia. The Democratic Party of Serbia and the Serbian Radical party have submitted their own proposals on the Kosovo declaration. DOS caucus whip Toplica Djordjevic told Beta that the only item on the agenda will be the “debate on the situation in Kosovo.”

Maurizio Massari visited Serbia’s south (Politika)
The Head of the OSCE Mission in SaM, Ambassador Maurizio Massari, has visited Bujanovac and Presevo. He met with SaM Minister for Human and Minority Rights Rasim Ljajic at the OSCE office in Bujanovac, while OSCE Coordinator for Serbia’s south Martin Brooks and the Head of the Coordinating Body for the municipalities of Bujanovac, Presevo and Medvedja Mica Markovic also attended the talks. “We have talked about the latest events in Serbia’s south. There is a high degree of accordance regarding all issues. We have agreed to continue with the partnership directed at stepping up and normalizing the state-of-affairs in this part of Serbia. We have jointly concluded that Serbia’s south and Kosovo are completely separate topics that are to be resolved in a completely separate way, Ljajic stressed and added that all those who wished to link the two resolutions would not receive any support from the international community. Ambassador Massari has reiterated that the OSCE is completely engaged in Serbia’s south. “The OSCE, together with the Serbian government, is dedicated to the creation of multi-ethnic stability in this region. I don’t wish to hide our concern over the latest incidents. However, they will not turn us away from our dedication to democracy, tolerance and multi-ethnic society,” said the head of the OSCE Mission

KFOR removes checkpoints from bridge (Glas/Tanjug)
KFOR checkpoints set up at both ends of the bridge on the Ibar River in Mitrovica have been removed so that only a patrol of the French contingent within KFOR is on the bridge. The patrol, however, is not controlling civilians crossing from the southern into the northern part of town and vice versa and on the bridge there are no UNMIK policemen, who on the previous day were in the vicinity of the main bridge on the Ibar River.

Vehicle registration in Pristina (Danas/Fonet)
UNMIK regional spokesperson in Mitrovica Tracy Baker has stated that the deadline for registering traffic vehicles has been prolonged. She confirmed that vehicle owners who were presently living in SaM but have vehicles with old license plates of the towns in Kosovo, if they wished to drive in the province, would be able to register them until the end of September.

KP held a meeting in Gracanica (Danas)
It has been decided at a KP meeting in Gracanica that Serb AMs take part at the first session of the provisional Kosovo Assembly following the summer break. Rada Trajkovic is also to return to the Kosovo Assembly, since she froze her AM status at the beginning of March over increasing violence against Kosovo Serbs.

Rexhepi’s new proposal (Vecernje Novosti/Tanjug)
The Kosovo government debated Premier Bajram Rexhepi's Action Plan, with the ethnic Albanian ministers adopting in a majority vote his initiative that the provincial government is vested with new powers, to be transferred from UNMIK to the transitional institutions. Also accepted was Rexhepi's proposal for the formation of five new ministries: defense, foreign affairs, interior affairs, justice and energy.