Media Analysis 12 September 2003

• Patten: Statements pro and against independence have no impact on final status
  
• Editorial: Patten's messages and remarks (Kosova Sot)
  
• Daniel Serwer: US must be at the table of talks (Koha Ditore)
  
• Hoti: Dialogue with Belgrade cannot be mentioned for the time being (Koha)
  
• Editorial: Internationals don't trust the Kosovo Government (Bota Sot)
  
• Shala: Common and particular future (Zëri)
  
• DSRSG Francesco Bastagli visits Klina municipality (Koha Ditore)
  
• Armed attack against KPS investigator in Prishtina, a civilian killed (dailies)
  
• Eqrem Kryeziu demands dismantling of KLA statues (Epoka e Re, pp.5,6)
  
• Ibrahim Rexhepi: Government suffers from anemia (Koha Ditore)

Belgrade Media Update

• Pristina dialogue decision on September 23 (B92)
  
• Belgrade-Pristina dialogue at end of October, beginning of November (Tanjug)
  
• Dialogue to bring change in Serb-ethnic Albanian relations, Kostunica (Tanjug)
  
• DSS leader conferred with EU external affairs commissioner (Tanjug)

Patten: Statements pro and against independence have no impact on final status

All dailies gave extensive coverage of the speech that EC Commissioner for External Relations delivered at Kosovo Assembly.

Statements for or against Kosovo's independence have no impact on the issue of final status, although the time for status hasn't come yet and it cannot be postponed indefinitely, EC Commissioner for External Relations Chris Patten said on Thursday before Kosovo deputies.

In a long address, Patten said that Belgrade and Prishtina should halt biased decisions that increase tensions in the region. At the same time, he called on Kosovar leaders and representatives of the people to show maturity and not to avoid the dialogue.

'Parliamentary statements against independence are not useful, as neither would be statements for independence,' he said, adding that 'neither will have impact on the final status'.

The same message will go also to the address of Serbian officials, Patten stressed. His long speech included advice on final status issue. He made it clear to deputies, the president, prime minister and government ministers that Kosovo's final status could be discussed now, but neither can it be postponed indefinitely, although he said he understands Kosovars' concern regarding this issue.

'What everybody knows is that your future is in Europe,' Patten said. It is the priority of UNMIK and Kosovo's institutions to dialogue with Belgrade, because such talks would include topics that impact the everyday life of the citizens,' he said.

'You aren't alone in this dialogue. UNMIK will be at your side during the whole process,' said Patten. Beginning the dialogue will send a positive signal to the international community and will show that Kosovar leaders are able to take charge of this responsibility and also to manage it,' said the EC Commissioner.

'This will be clear evidence, when we say that Kosovo is in road towards Europe, it is not only because of its geographic and political position, but because of your maturity to talk with those with whom you have disagreements,' Patten stressed, and he said that the role of deputies and the Kosovo Assembly is vital to achieve a European future for Kosovo.

'You are representatives chosen in a democratic way and it is your responsibility to send Kosovo towards democracy, stabilization and modernization,' he said. 'You are here to work for the welfare of all Kosovo's people, regardless of their ethnicity or political regards. We will not be surprised if you make noise sometimes. As everybody knows, noise in an assembly is the sound of freedom,' he said. 'In this case, we cannot say, as you can hear in Kosovo, that the US supports Kosovo, while the EU supports Serbia,' he said, and added that the common aim of EU and US is to start the dialogue as soon as possible and to produce positive results for the people.

He also mentioned positive developments regarding security and IDPs but also the horrific event of the killing of the children in Gorazhdec. 'The violence which Kosovo is facing cannot guarantee peaceful coexistence and will have consequences for the entire region,' Patten concluded.

Editorial: Patten's messages and remarks (Kosova Sot)
Kosova Sot carried an editorial about the visit that EC Commissioner for External Relations Chris Patten paid to Kosovo yesterday and issue of possible dialogue with Belgrade.

Amongst the prime topics that EC Commissioner Chris Patten discussed with local institutions yesterday was the beginning of dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade on technical issue of the mutual interest as soon as possible. Patten said that dialogue should be a priority for both UNMIK and Kosovo's institutions, because dialogue will consider issues that impact everyday life.

Patten's messages on dialogue and his comments about a halt to provocative statements seem to represent a kind of pressure for commencement of the talks. Kosovars were never against talks, but experiences with Belgrade show that pressure for starting talks is aimed at postponing discussion of final issues. In this sense, the Kosovars' ongoing demand for the direct involvement of US should be understood.

Reliable sources confirmed for Kosova Sot that talks will begin very soon and will last a long time, with the only aim being to postpone as long as possible talks on final status. It seems that all calculations regarding the issue of the mediator go in that direction. It is not unusual for it to be said that Holkeri could be mediator, even though it is in opposition to Resolution 1244. By keeping the EU and US in the background as observers it could prolong as far as possible talks on practical issues.

There could also be dilemmas about the level of the talks and that issue should be discussed. Kosovo's institutions must have a clear picture of whom they will talk with, Serbia or Serbia and Montenegro, as Prime Minister Rexhepi commented yesterday.

Of the topics that have been made public so far and which will be included in talks, it seems that over 80% are UNMIK reserved competencies. Therefore, Kosovars will be only decoration in the talks unless UNMIK transfers the competencies. Why UNMIK hasn't transferred the competencies to Kosovar authorities is a separate issue. But the risk exists that Kosovars might talk about something that is somebody else's competency, but they cannot not be decoration in talks that are imposed by the international community.

Daniel Serwer: US must be at the table of talks (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore quoted Daniel Serwer, director for Balkans at the US Institute for Peace as saying, 'The US must be at the table of talks between Prishtina and Belgrade.'

Serwer also said that his perspective doesn't imply that other parties must be excluded from the table of talks, and he added that history has shown that the joint efforts of the US and the European Union have produced results.

Serwer said that the UN Security Council could also be indirectly included in talks since the start of dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade is one of the eight standards. However, Serwer also added that Kosovars are right when they say that Holkeri must choose between being chief administrator or mediator in talks between Prishtina and Belgrade.

Serwer also claimed that the upcoming talks will be especially complicated, because there is only one decision-making center in Belgrade, whereas in Prishtina the competencies are divided between UNMIK and the provisional institutions of self-government.

Another ambiguity, according to Serwer, is the fact that it is still not known who the third party in the negotiations will be. 'The other difficult issues in negotiations will be those related to the final status, because both parties must be careful not to make any prejudgments,' said Serwer.

Serwer, who was holding a meeting with journalists at the OSCE in Prishtina, said that in the long-term talks between Prishtina and Belgrade could not fail because so many interests are at stake. He said that the parties should not go to talks only because of the will of the international community 'but there must also be a hope that something can be benefited by in those talks'. He added that the US talks to its biggest enemies when it comes to shedding light on the fate of its missing soldiers.

Zëri quotes Serwer as saying, 'If UNMIK wants to be the mediator in talks, it must transfer to local institutions more competencies on issues that are going to be discussed. The Kosovar side cannot be expected to discuss telecommunications, while UNMIK has all the responsibilities on this matter. If they don't want to transfer more competencies, then they must be together with the Kosovar delegation.'

Hoti: Dialogue with Belgrade cannot be mentioned for the time being (Koha)
Koha Ditore carried interview that Prishtina based TV station KTV conducted with Rexhep Hoti, adviser to Kosovo Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi.

'There can be no dialogue without the operationalisation of standards first. We have agreed with UNMIK to operationalise the standards, and this also includes the standard that refers to dialogue, and then to move on to priorities,' Rexhep Hoti, adviser to Prime Minister Rexhepi, was quoted as saying.

In an interview given to Prishtina-based TV station KTV, he said that 'according to all predictions, dialogue is the last standard that should be implemented' and there are other standards that are more vital.

'In this sense, we should have clear competencies, the Assembly should speak, even the people by a referendum should say whether or not they are for dialogue with Belgrade,' Hoti said, and added that 'dialogue with Belgrade cannot even be mentioned for the time being'.

'If someone thinks that we should talk to Belgrade, then he should provide the necessary conditions for dialogue, to give competencies to our institutions and to assure them of a legal way for equality between the parties,' said Hoti, and added that first the recent Serbian documents on Kosovo should be revoked. 'We will not allow such things to happen,' he said.

'The issue of dialogue is very far away and it won't begin because dialogue with Serbia should be understood as dialogue on the final status. Everything else is only concealment,' he said.

In the political sense, everything is clear now, Hoti added. 'Without the presence of USA, there won't be talks, because we have had bad experiences with them [Serbia and Montenegro] and we will not take any further responsibility,' he said.

Regarding location of the dialogue with Belgrade, Hoti said that Thessaloniki is not a suitable place. 'It requires a neutral place, like Vienna, but there is enough time because dialogue is long time away,' Hoti concluded.

Editorial: Internationals don't trust the Kosovo Government (Bota Sot)
Bota Sot ran an op-ed on the recent request of the Kosovo Government for the transfer of competencies in the area of security.

Although this government was promised that it would get more competencies in all areas, including security, during the latest meeting of the government, it was concluded that nothing has been done on this matter. 'This process seems to have been stopped by powerful reactions coming from Belgrade, which sees this as a step towards the independence of Kosovo,' was the conclusion of the government.

It is easy for anyone to conclude that even four to five years after the liberation of Kosovo and two to three years after the forming of the government, internationals still have no trust in the central state institutions of Kosovo, meaning they don't trust Kosovo.

While it has made righteous conclusions in its latest session on security in Kosovo and it has made the request for more competencies in the field of security, and it knows what the answer from the internationals will be, it would be good for the government to conclude that internationals don't trust the government. And based on this conclusion, it should then ask itself, and no one else: Why?

Shala: Common and particular future (Zëri)
Today Blerim Shala wrote in an editorial for Zëri, 'Surely Kosovo will be part of the European Union. 'Only' two things are unclear: when Kosovo will achieve this aim; and if it will be as an independent country or if it will join the EU as a part of another state.'

No matter what the status of Kosovo will be, its future is in Europe.

You must surely have read or heard this statement many times from senior officials of the European Union. They who know that the main statement of Kosovars, apart from the independence of Kosovo, is for integration in the European Union and NATO righteously believe that their position will be in accordance with the aims of Kosovars. However, in reality this sentence has no meaning. For this reason, no one can oppose it, not even Belgrade who protests even when it comes to the license plates for Kosovar vehicles.

Kosovo will surely be part of the European Union. Only two things are unclear here: when Kosovo will achieve this aim, and if it will be as an independent country or if it will join the EU as part of another state. If the current situation continues, or Kosovo's current status, not only will we be unable to start a fruitful process with Brussels, but all countries in the region will be hostage to Kosovo and its undetermined relations with Serbia and Montenegro. Therefore, the certain European future turns out to be a bit problematic until the resolution of Kosovo's status and the final status of the Union of Serbia and Montenegro. Until these two processes are resolved, Western European politicians can repeat their messages for the future of Kosovo and Serbia and Montenegro, but in the meantime problems around here will only grow bigger, because there can be no stability in the region, in Kosovo and in Serbia and Montenegro, without knowing what their specific future is going to be, which would then lead to a common future in the European Union.

DSRSG Francesco Bastagli visits Klina municipality (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore carried a report on DSRSG Francesco Bastagli's visit to Klina municipality.

During a meeting with members of the municipal administration on Thursday, the head of UNMIK Pillar II, DSRSG Francesco Bastagli, was quoted as saying, 'I didn't know that no enterprises had been privatized in Klina municipality. As soon as I return to Prishtina, I will see to it that this municipality is included in the privatization process.'

Klina chief executive Refki Krasniqi briefed Bastagli on developments in the municipality and on the organization of the municipal administration. Krasniqi said that 200 non-Serb families live in the municipality and that they are involved in democratic developments. 'We are willing and able to secure such a thing for Serbs, but it seems that they are hesitating to use municipal services,' Krasniqi explained.

He also said that the privatization process had not started in the municipality. 'Even though we have our remarks, the process is very much needed,' he added.

Bastagli was reportedly satisfied with the achievements and the policies led by municipal authorities. 'The issue of equal financing for all minorities shows that you support the idea of a multiethnic Kosovo, which is, at the same time, the aim of the international community,' said Bastagli, adding that 'compared to the situation in other municipalities, you have a brilliant vision'.

Armed attack against KPS investigator in Prishtina, a civilian killed (dailies)
All dailies reported on the armed attack against a KPS investigator, Fadil Syleviq, in Prishtina on Wednesday night. A civilian who was riding in the car with the KPS investigator was killed during the attack.

Koha Ditore quoted a reliable source as saying that the target of the attack was the KPS officer, and that his fellow passenger, Agim Makolli, 'was at the wrong place at the wrong time.'

Koha Ditore claims that before the war Syleviq was a member of the Serb security service and later joined the KLA in the Llap Operational Zone.

Koha also claims that Syleviq testified at the Llap Group trial and that for some time he has been working in KPS Unit for Cold Crimes. A source from the unit told the paper that Syleviq worked on resolving the so-called 'political' cases and that he was involved in special investigations, such as the murder of Xhemajl Mustafa, Rexhep Luci, Ismet Rraci and other killings.

According to Koha Ditore, Makolli and Syleviq were out for a walk in Prishtina center. On their way home, Makolli was driving, and Syleviq was on the passenger seat.

The ambush was set up at the entrance of the Matiçani neighborhood (Sunny Hill) and the attackers fired shots from the left side of the vehicle. According to reports, no witnesses were able to see the faces of the attackers. 'We only heard gunshots, but we didn't see anyone,' said the owner of a nearby store.

Citing its sources, Koha claimed that Makolli used to be a member of President Ibrahim Rugova's security staff but this has been denied by the president's office.

In closing, Koha Ditore noted that initially Syleviq had nothing against giving an interview to the paper, but later he told the source that his international superior officer had told him not to have any contact with the media.

Eqrem Kryeziu demands dismantling of KLA statues (Epoka e Re, pp.5,6)
Bad news was given to the KLA Veterans' Association by ComKFOR Fabio Mini in a meeting that was held on Wednesday at the KFOR camp in Prizren. Gen. Mini told the veterans that the president of Prizren Municipality, Eqrem Kryeziu, was attempting to convince internationals to take measures to move to another location the statues of our heroes, Ismet Jashari-Kumanova and Xhevat Berisha. This information given by Mini was published on Thursday in a conference in Prishtina, held by the KLA Veterans' Association.

'Removal of the statues of our heroes could only happen if Eqrem Kryeziu walked over our dead bodies,' said chairman of the veterans of war in Prizren, Zafir Berisha, who acknowledged to Mr. Kryeziu that despite the killings of Commandant Kumanova, Xhevat, Adem, Zahir, Hamza, etc, all of Kosovo's boys have not been killed.

'We will protect the status of our heroes even with our lives, if needs be,' said Zafir Berisha.

Berisha called Kryeziu a person who did not like the KLA, and he mentioned an interview given to Koha Ditore in which Kryeziu called KLA soldiers miserable people who went into the mountains because they didn't have anything better to do.

He added that Kryeziu does not like to see the statues in [Prizren] town because of his personal anger with Xhevat. They used to be friends but they were divided when Xhevat joined the KLA, while Kryeziu stayed at home and, at the same time, accused the KLA soldiers as being miserable.

'Removal of the statues is a continuation of the ignoring of former KLA soldiers,' said Berisha, who also also swore that he would not allow KLA values to be kicked around.

He mentioned pro-Slav elements who always supported the enemy and made accusations against soldiers who are still alive, such as Remi, Dauti, Fatmir Limaj, and so on.

Regarding this issue, [KLA] veterans sent a letter to Kosovar institutions and demanded that they stop Eqrem Kryeziu from doing this.

In the letter, that they sent to the Kosovo Assembly, the government and the political parties, they informed these institutions about Eqrem Kryeziu's activities.

'We demand that you use your authority over Eqrem Kryeziu and not allow him to insult our highest feelings of respect, which the veterans and the citizens of Prizren have for the KLA's glorious war,' stated the letter, which also mentioned the possibility of increase in tensions in the situation in Prizren, for which they [the veterans] stressed they would not bear responsibility.

'Think about the 1,200 soldiers that Commandant Kumanova was in charge of, think about those that Xhevat Berisha was in charge of, and imagine how these soldiers will feel when the statues of their commanders are down,' said Sadik Halitjaha, chairman of the KLA Veterans' Association.

'This is an action which Eqrem Kryeziu can only imagine. Therefore, we demand for [the statues] to stay where they are and for them to be protected in the near future, because if they continue in the same manner others statues will also go down, for example, the one of Skenderbeu. And then where will our history and our biography be?' asked Halitjaha.

He added that in the meeting with Gen. Mini he found support for the veterans to participate in the government by forming a department to determine the memorials in Kosovo's municipalities.

'Gen. Mini's support is welcome for the protection of the KLA soldiers and war, but it is strange that our war values are not supported by anti-nationals, like Eqrem Kryeziu, who attempted not to allow the building of statues of our heroes,' Halitjaha highlighted.

The statues of Ismet Jashari and Xhevat Berisha were erected in Prizren on 10 June this year on the 125th anniversary of the Albanian Prizren League. The inauguration was on 12 June on the occasion of Prizren's Liberty Day and the celebrations of the Albanian Prizren League.

Ibrahim Rexhepi: Government suffers from anemia (Koha Ditore)
'The lack of competencies should not stop Bajram Rexhepi's Cabinet from identifying their knowledge and capability for crisis management. At least to prove that it knows how to do this,' writes columnist Ibrahim Rexhepi in an opinion piece for Koha Ditore.

If Rexhep Hoti had told the miners that the Kosovo Government has decided to give them 210 euros each and every month, they would have stopped their strike on Wednesday. The teachers would have also done this if the minimum of their demands had been fulfilled. Such solutions, although minor, would increase the power and authority of Bajram Rexhepi's government cabinet. But they have neither the ability nor the willingness to do this. And that is why they keep on repeating the same sentence: We have no competencies.

There is a lot of truth to this. This is said even in the Constitutional Framework, which was signed before the forming of the government. The prime minister and the other ministers knew this even before they joined the Cabinet.

But it seems that only the people, that is, the electorate, were not aware of this. They live under the illusion that they have a Presidency, an Assembly and a Government. 'This is the state and the power,' they dreamed.

But even at rallies, Kosovar leaders filled the ears of the electorate with numerous promises. At that time they forgot that UNMIK had the final say and that the Constitutional Framework allows them only a small area where they can play their game.

When the situation that started in early September began, their incompetence was noticed. Or maybe it is better to say that Kosovar structures realized that they were in a stalemate position from the very beginning.

But in the September chaos, the Presidency is keeping quiet, as if nothing is really happening. At least it doesn't look like it reads the newspapers or that it is informed about what is going on in Kosovo.

The Kosovo Assembly only speaks words of support and concern. But it doesn't say what laws it plans to promulgate in order to find solutions for such situations.

On the other hand, the government doesn't offer anything stable for Trepça and the miners. It cannot convince the teachers whether they have the right to make their demands or not.

However, in all this chaos, there are some leaders and envoys of political parties who know how to pour fuel on the fire. They often do this during rallies, not caring much about the fact that their words are only pouring fuel on the fire.

We also should not exclude the fact that solutions should be sought within the competencies and that the teams led by Rugova, Daci and Rexhepi cannot do anything more. However, no one prevents them from showing their knowledge, that is, the ability to manage a crisis. They should make it clear that if they had the competencies they would have implemented certain solutions. Solutions that could be implemented in the current poverty and with the current budget.

For example - how to activate Trepça. Just by telling the miners, here you go, the doors are open and you can go to work? Without a doubt. Trepça needs a lot more before it takes out the first tons of minerals and metal.

Or will the current serious electricity crisis be solved just by blaming UNMIK and the KEK managers? Say, for example, that none of them have their current positions. What then? There were no answers even from those who claim they could do more.

What will happen with Vala 900 and the contract with Monaco Telecom? The truth is that KTA officials won't allow government structures or PTK local managers to be involved in this matter. But the other truth is that the government, that is, the competent ministry, has no alternative for the fate of the mobile telephony or for Kosovo's international code.

The forming of the Kosovar airline has proved that an uncontrolled enthusiasm can lead to anarchy. The signing of the contract has been postponed for quite sometime now, in fact, even by violating the rules of the tender, but all this without a clear logic. The documents should have been verified before the winning bidder was announced.

Simply put, the Kosovo Government is suffering from anemia. It lacks reasonable ideas and ambitions, despite the fact that current circumstances don't allow for their implementation.

On the other hand, a whole army of people has been employed in local institutions. A lot of funds have been spent on facilities and techniques. And even on training. In fact, even before sitting in front of their computers, some people had to be trained in typing courses.

A lot of people are employed, but they are not skilled enough for the present demands. But even those who only talk about competencies and claim that they don't lack knowledge should at least offer studies and projects for issues that require solutions.

Whereas, the Presidency, Assembly and Government are acting like social institutions, as places when one can find a job in the fastest and easiest way.

Belgrade Media Update

Pristina dialogue decision on September 23 (B92)
The time and place for the beginning of dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina will be set at the next meeting of the Contact Group on September 23, UNMIK chief Harri Holkeri told Kosovo Serb political leaders in Pristina yesterday. The leader of the Serb delegation, which met Holkeri yesterday, Dragisa Krstovic, told B92 that there was a plan for the first meeting between the Belgrade authorities and the temporary Kosovo government would be held abroad. Subsequent meetings would take place in Belgrade and Pristina alternately. Krstovic said that the Kosovo Serb leaders had not yet responded to Holkeri's request that the Kosovo Serbs be included in the Pristina delegation for the meetings. "That's his position and his opinion, and we will make our response known in the next few days," said Krstovic. "This is a delicate issue, but one on which me must make a decision," he added.

Belgrade-Pristina dialogue at end of October, beginning of November (Tanjug)
Serbian Deputy Premier and head of the Kosovo-Metohija coordination centre, Nebojsa Covic, said on Friday that a Belgrade-Pristina dialogue could be opened in the second half of October, or at the beginning of November. Following his Belgrade meeting with EU External Affairs Commissioner Chris Patten, Covic told the press that the dialogue should be well prepared, and announced that corresponding consultations should be held in New York "round September 25", at the level of the Contact Group.

Dialogue to bring change in Serb-ethnic Albanian relations, Kostunica (Tanjug)
A Belgrade-Pristina dialogue would gradually bring about a change in Serb - ethnic Albanian relations, Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) leader Vojislav Kostunica said, following his late Thursday meeting with EU External Affairs Commissioner Chris Patten in Belgrade. Kostunica said he and Patten had discussed the situation in Kosovo and ways of improving the state of human rights in the region, including an opening of a Belgrade-Pristina dialogue on everyday, vital issues.

DSS leader conferred with EU external affairs commissioner (Tanjug)
Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) leader Vojislav Kostunica and EU External Affairs Commissioner Chris Patten in Belgrade late on Thursday advocated a soonest possible opening of direct Belgrade-Pristina talks on all technical issues the resolution of which could have an influence on improving the life of the people. This, along with a fulfillment of all demands of Resolution 1244 that refer to the return of refugees, respect of human rights and security for all, would bring to a normalization of the situation in Kosovo, the two ranking officials concluded.