Media Analysis 15 September 2003

• Rexhepi: No dialogue without the decision of the Kosovo Assembly (Zëri)
  
• Editorial: Strategy for dialogue (Kosova Sot)
  
• PTK feels restricted in negotiations with Monaco Telecom (Koha Ditore)
  
• KEK blames consumers, courts are not deciding cases (Koha Ditore)
  
• Shock absorber factory convinced there is no need for privatization (Koha)

Belgrade Media Update

• No Belgrade dialogue in near future, says Kosovo PM (Beta)
  
• KFOR commander rules out return of Serb troops (B92)
  
• Serbian representatives on participation in Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (I)
  
  Kosovo and Belgrade Headlines

Rexhepi: No dialogue without the decision of the Kosovo Assembly (Zëri)
Zëri carried what it called a 'dramatic interview' with Kosovo Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi, who said, 'A terrible war was been fought here for the independence of Kosovo. That war was not fought to remain under the jurisdiction of Serbia or any kind of other union or something similar. In that case, our backs would be against the wall and we would not have many alternatives….'

Is dialogue with Serbian representatives going to start soon?
Dialogue is one of the standards, but I don't believe that that there is going to be dialogue very soon. Some necessary preparations must be made, the positions and procedures must be known, and so must mediation and the place of the dialogue. Therefore, this requires major preparations. I am not optimistic that dialogue will start soon.

What information do you have on procedures, the meeting place, the agenda…?
Regarding the agenda, we have the same points as the ones that were proposed in Thessaloniki. In fact, we have information that even the Serbian side has agreed on this, even though we had no contact about the four points that were launched by Mr. Steiner in the beginning, as the possible points of eventual dialogue that would have commenced in Thessaloniki. The topics that were mentioned at that time were the issue of returns, missing persons, energy, and transport and communications. We have heard speculations that international entities have agreed with Serbia to include decentralization and security in the agenda, and this is completely unacceptable for us, because these are political issues that are directly linked to the status. Security is in the hands of KFOR and UNMIK; therefore, the question arises of who would implement an eventual agreement. UNMIK has an agreement for cooperation with Serbian security structures.

Do you know where the first meeting will be held, since there have been speculations that it could be Thessaloniki, Vienna, Brussels…?
The initial plans were to hold the first meeting at the Thessaloniki summit, because it was considered to be a suitable place, and then there were ideas about Brussels, because according to the long-term strategy, Kosovo must be a part of Europe and in this context Brussels was believed to be the appropriate place. There were also other proposals to eventually conduct dialogue in Prishtina or Belgrade, but these are only words. However, there are also proposals, maybe due to practical reasons, to hold dialogue in Vienna, where there are daily flights and it is a more neutral place.

You have constantly insisted that the US and EU should play a dominant role in any kind of dialogue and for any kind of agenda. Why you have insisted on this and do you have any information that the US will be involved in dialogue?
We have voiced our desire to have the active role of the US and the European Union if dialogue starts. I am mentioning the US first because in the last decade no conflict or crisis has been resolved without the direct involvement of the US. Therefore, only the active involvement of the US could be a guarantee that talks will be successful and that if an agreement is reached it is going to be implemented. Without the active role of the US, I am skeptical.

But what are you going to do if Washington takes the official position that Mr. Holkeri will mediate in this phase?
It is slightly difficult and highly illogical for the chief administrator, who has the mandate to take care of the progress and vital issues of Kosovo, to also be a mediator with a country that is currently considered a neighboring country, because the sovereignty of the former Yugoslavia was transferred to UNMIK. Therefore, it is highly illogical if [the SRSG] is factually the leader of Kosovo for him to be at the same time a mediator between Kosovo and Serbia, or Kosovo and the Union of Serbia and Montenegro. This is not healthy logic.

Do you think that Washington and Brussels might hesitate to be involved in this phase of dialogue, perhaps because they are not very certain that dialogue can be successful? For example, Solana, who was a supporter of dialogue in Thessaloniki, has made no statement recently?
Yes, I share the same opinion. I said publicly that this is one of the standards and that there is a lack of willingness on both sides, and that there is little chance of success, even more so because of the mentality of the Balkans. And I especially cannot imagine that the Serbian side won't mix politics with concrete issue. Therefore, the beginning could also be the end of talks on concrete issues. Due to the fact that there is no great optimism that this is going to be successful, the super powers may not get involved in this. If there is no willingness, there is no guarantee that this is going to be successful. Therefore, I don't think it is reasonable to insist so much on something, if it is initially prejudged that it is not going to be successful. I have said this publicly and I am reconfirming it once again, that the government will not agree to talks without a political consensus and without the decision of the assembly. If the powerful entities, which can move the process forward, are not involved in this process, I think that we can suffer major internal damages instead of benefiting from dialogue with Serbia.

It is interesting that before the Thessaloniki summit, the Serbian side was afraid to meet with you. Do you believe that there is still a fear amongst Serbs if Americans and Europeans are not involved in dialogue? Do you think that Serbia is working in the direction of blaming Kosovo if dialogue fails?
Let's be honest because there have always been such political tactics and games… It is very likely that they want this to happen, and that is the very essence of this. However, they are playing their game one step at a time, to see if they can have dialogue, which would be perceived that the Union of Serbia and Montenegro is talking to the citizens of Kosovo, which is in their favor and in full accordance with the preamble and constitution of the Union of Serbia and Montenegro. With this they would try to create a political advantage in their country and prove to their citizens that Kosovo is part of the Union and that there are only a few civic problems… This would be same as the policy of Milosevic who used to say, 'I am willing to talk to Albanians, my citizens, because there are only a few problems.' But the issue here is completely different.

You have voiced the same concerns to the western offices and to Mr. Holkeri?
Maybe not to all of them, but I did voice my concerns to several offices. And I did voice them directly to Mr. Holkeri.

You also met with the head of the US Office in Prishtina, Ms. Reis?
Yes, I told her what my opinion about these talks was.

Apart from the international side, we also have the Kosovar side. In the last couple of days, we have witnessed a lack of a common position: whether there should be debates at the assembly, whether the assembly should authorize someone for dialogue, whether all leading entities should accept or refuse dialogue… In this context, Zëri has published an article saying that Mr. Holkeri is going to host a dinner with the leading Kosovar political Quint to find out whether or not there is going to be dialogue. Will the issue of dialogue be addressed first at the assembly, or is everything going to be decided at the dinner, because time is flying and it is known that the Contact Group is meeting on 23 September in New York?
I think that the biggest danger will be if we don't achieve consensus on this major issue. In my opinion, failing to have a united stance among us is much more dangerous than talking to the Serbian side, because, in the end, you can enter talks, and if you don't consider them to be in your interest, you can always withdraw. However, there are various ways of achieving united stances and deciding if there should be talks. The consensus of leaders is one way, but I still think that the best way is to do this is at the assembly and take a definitive position there. We have heard that the administrator will invite us to one of those 'famous' dinners where we would sign a proposal or a declaration. We were invited to a similar event by Mr. Steiner and then it was a generalized statement, according to which we were willing to cooperate with all neighbouring countries, but that statement never mentioned Serbia. First thing the next day, Steiner called for dialogue and began the preparatory process. We have learned our lesson from this and I am not a follower of such things, and if all leaders are going to accept the invitation to this dinner and propose something there, it still must go to the assembly and get its endorsement.

This is the exact reason why we asked about you this. The assembly usually holds sessions on Thursdays, and the Contact Group is going to meet before the Kosovo Assembly. Is it logical to wait, or would it be better if the assembly debated the issue of dialogue this Thursday? If, for example, the Contact Group decides on the date and procedures of dialogue, will it then be more difficult for the Kosovo Assembly to confront the decisions of the Contact Group?
It is true that it is difficult to confront them and we must be very careful in building close cooperation with the international factor, especially with the Contact Group, but if such a proposal falls in opposition to the interests of the people of Kosovo then we must take an appropriate stance. Regardless of this, we must not go to dialogue unprepared and without the legitimacy of the assembly. This is why this is an issue for the assembly. I know that there have been initiatives to discuss the issue of dialogue at the next assembly session; there are also requests to determine the points of interest, which would serve as a basis for talks, and identify areas of interest for Kosovo. We have conceived of some things and I think that it is ready as a concept. However, everything is in the phase of speculations. We must think about the organization of the Coordination Center because these are technical talks. We also have to appoint some people who will then select experts in various fields and I think that if there is an agreement, it should go through the government and the assembly. Nothing can be implemented without the endorsement of the assembly.

However, the experience of the functioning of the assembly leaves little room for hope that there can be a successful debate on the issue of dialogue, if the debate is opened just for the sake of it - without the stance of the government, and without the stance of the main leaders…?
The assembly is the highest body, which makes the essential decisions, because they have been elected by the people and they must make these decisions that are highly sensitive.

But do you think that there should be a process of preparations for such an assembly session?
I believe that this is not the first time this topic is being mentioned; this has been mentioned as a possibility for a year now. Therefore, if an entity has seriously thought of addressing this issue, it had the opportunity to do this in its own political structures and I don't believe that they need a lot of time to present their positions to the assembly.

But now we have the recent Serb political offensive, and then the mentioning of the possibility that the Kosovo Assembly reacted with only one declaration or that the initiative to declare Kosovo an independent country could be launched again. Can such circumstances impede the assembly from having a clear position on the issue of dialogue?
Yes, we have been very restrained toward the Serb constitutional aggression, and sometimes we are really more obedient than others in order not to ruin relations or so that we are not made equal to others in guilt. Logically, this should have been followed by a similar reaction, but my personal opinion is that the Union of Serbia and Montenegro and Kosovo are not perceived according to the same parameters. Usually, the pressure on Kosovo is much higher. Even when the time and place are not right, the actions are equated, and we are told not to take 'biased steps'. In the end, I think that it is up to 120 members of the assembly to decide what the best thing to do is.

What if the Contact Group makes a decision before the assembly makes a declaration?
There are situations when even if a date is determined, be it even at high levels, it is later postponed or modified and it doesn't mean that that is final. Nonetheless, we must go through the procedure that I mentioned.

Is there consensus among all entities that this should go through the assembly. We know that earlier the Assembly Speaker said that dialogue doesn't require the approval of the assembly. Does the government have a consensus on this issue?
Maybe our statement that we, as a government, are making preparations has been misunderstood. This means that if someone from the government is called to participate in the dialogue, he/she shouldn't be unprepared. Therefore, we did everything to be prepared as a government and so that nothing would be postponed as a result of lack of preparations. This is the issue.

We can see that you have a lot of uncertainty. However, if the assembly decides to start dialogue, will you participate in the dialogue?
Then it would be somewhat easier. There would be room for concrete issues and one has greater legitimacy. I am once again emphasizing that I see greater danger in the disunity or lack of internal consensus regarding the issue of dialogue than in the talks because, in the end, they are human beings just like us. Even though they have had a country for more than a hundred years now, many arguments are on our side; therefore, we are not afraid to go to talks. However, we do fear the unresolved status issue and the prejudgments to reintegrate us in areas against our will, and we fear the position of being unequal.

These are concerns that come as result of problems from the international factor and Serbia, but are there concerns of political games that can be played by the Kosovar political factor?
That is very likely, because we are now entering the pre-election phase and there can be political games…

Let's get back to the Serbian constitutional offensive. It has been said that Kosovo will figure as an autonomous unit in the Constitution of Serbia. Do you think that in the meantime, the international community is going to be firm about this issue and that Kosovo mustn't be allowed to figure in there, because this prejudges the final status and is a unilateral action, which is problematic even for the West?
Yes, I think that there should be a firmer position, and such an action by Serbia should not get by without genuine criticism or without a righteous decision that would declare it invalid. Once Resolution 1244 expires, we wouldn't want this constitution to have political or legal consequences. This is the obligation of the international community. If the international community doesn't prevent such things, then it puts us in a 'dead-end situation' and to [have to] mobilize again. Even though we don't like any conflict in any way. However, a terrible war was been fought here for the independence of Kosovo. That war was not fought to remain under the jurisdiction of Serbia or any kind of other union or something similar. In that case, our backs would be against the wall and we would not have many alternatives…

In the last couple of days you have been saying that dialogue with Belgrade is not a priority, because we have the eight standards which we must operationalize and these are much more important for all Kosovar citizens, and not only Albanians, and which must be addressed by the government and UNMIK. You recently sent a project to Mr. Holkeri asking for the acceleration of relations between UNMIK and Kosovar institutions. You also asked for further competencies with the aim of creating new quality of Kosovar institutions. Have you received an answer to these requests?
I think it is quite public that the priorities of the government and Mr. Holkeri's priorities don't match. We have different priorities and we had different expectations from Mr. Holkeri. I expected that we would focus on economic development, opening new jobs, improving the banking system, creating opportunities for loans, therefore on concrete issues, because his background gave us hope of this belief. Whereas now it can be seen that dialogue is Holkeri's top priority. I am emphasizing once again that dialogue is something that Kosovo sees more as part of standards and as an obligation rather than a priority, whereas the transfer process has stalled. We began, we had two meetings of the High Council for the transfer of competencies, and we formed the working groups. When those groups begin, they must work and not face delays, as has been the case so far. Steiner's departure created a vacuum and we rightly expect the transfer of competencies to continue, but in a more efficient way. In my first official meeting with Holkeri, I made the request for the transfer of competencies, for changing Regulation 2001/19. This regulation simply doesn't allow one to act as a minister and as a government. We have asked for the government to be expanded, first with offices this year, and then next year with ministries. I think there is nothing here that would say that we are taking away competencies from UNMIK. After all, this is a joint mission and the areas that we have stressed are joint interests.

Kosovar institutions are most interested in the security issue, because we live here and we suffer the consequences of lack of security. Furthermore, even the 'standards before status' were abstract from the very beginning, because who is going to determine in the end whether or not they have been reached. This is similar to a rubber band which you stretch as much as you need, depending on the time, circumstances and desire… Such standards must be operationalised and time-framed. We can make these assessments together, UNMIK and Kosovar institutions. The US has voiced its willingness to assist in this matter through their Ambassador to the UN Security Council, Richard Williamson. And then even the European Union should participate in these issues in order to make the standards more realistic. Our belief is somewhat different: standards cannot be held hostage to the status, because their development continues even after the resolution of the status, and they are very important for integration in the European Union. But even after integration into the EU, we must work on these standards, because they are for the good of all citizens.

Among other things, the resolution of the status requires a standard to be addressed more fully: the issue of minorities, especially the issue of the Serb minority, which is perceived as one of the preconditions to reaching Kosovo's final status. This is certainly a priority for your government?
You are absolutely right, because the return and integration of minorities is one of the main preconditions that the international community watches the most, depending on the progress that is achieved in this respect. This is one of the highest priorities of the government and it is part of the agreement between the three political entities to form the government. I think that from the beginning we, as a government, and we, as individuals and political entities, concretely the PDK, have done a great job in this respect, and concretely Chairman Thaçi has shown willingness to do everything possible for the needs of Kosovar citizens. We went on visits, we have encouraged them, we have also sent them public invitations, we have allocated funds and encouraged the freedom of movement, and for them to have adequate representation in Kosovar institutions and in employment. All these have been included in the Constitutional Framework, according to the highest standards.

However, we must bear in mind that this is a very difficult process, even more so when the real needs of Serb citizens are politicized and manipulated by Serbian politics. This is the point where the phalanxes will clash, because Serbia is very aware of the fact that if Kosovars achieve results in these areas, the path towards independence is clear. Therefore, their main aim is to stop this process. They go public with enormous figures and they manipulate with the figures that I don't want to speculate on. However, in reality, they want to destabilize Kosovo through their parallel institutions, by impeding integration and in other ways, and thus dim the future of Kosovo's independence.

Even though Kosovo Serbs say that they are represented at the assembly and the government, do you think that open dialogue should be held with Kosovo Serbs?
This is exactly the point that I am making. For me, it would have been completely normal to compile a better strategy and a complete offer with concrete projects. A strategy to encourage them to integrate, first of all, to integrate, to provide security, employment, freedom of movement, and then it would be easier for the others to return. However, if Kosovo Serbs don't integrate and if they continue to live in enclaves, then the others will surely not return. The other issue, the poor economic future, and especially employment, is also important, because we know that Serbs used to have all the privileges. And we know that before, almost every member of a Serb family was employed, and even in such conditions, some didn't see a bright future, especially the new generations. In this phase, it is a bit unrealistic to expect major or rapid success. It is known that there have been very few results in this respect in Croatia, and also in Bosnia… Certain preconditions have been created in Kosovo for this, but in order for it to be successful, the international community must notice the political game of certain structures, especially those that are directly committed, such as the Coordination Center, which impedes rather than assists in these processes.

Editorial: Strategy for dialogue (Kosova Sot)
Kosova Sot commented on the Kosovars' lack of strategy in the upcoming dialogue with Belgrade.

If everything goes according to the plans made by SRSG Harri Holkeri, dialogue could begin right after the Contact Group meeting on New York on September 23. The EC Commissioner for External Affairs, Chris Patten, stated that talks would begin either in mid-October or early-November. However, the date for start of dialogue is near and Kosovars should prepare a strategy ahead of time.

We consider that this is the final moment for all Kosovar entities to understand the seriousness of the talks between Kosovo and Serbia, including the Kosovo Assembly, which should grant the 'visa' for beginning the dialogue. The Kosovars need a strategic document that should make their position clear. We believe that the creator of such a document should be the Kosovo government, but other local institutions should also help compile it.

It is acknowledged that Holkeri will again have meetings with local leaders regarding the dialogue. Such meetings leave bad impressions because our leaders give the impression that they cannot meet together with internationals about a particular issue. So it would be better, although Holkeri would prefer individual meetings, for our leaders to have a joint meeting. We believe that they need to talk about lot of issues concerning the dialogue because some topics are still unclear. It is unknown whether talks will be with Serbia or with Serbia and Montenegro, just as it isn't known what the Kosovar delegation will be because in Kosovo UNMIK is the real leadership. Also the agenda for the talks, the place and the mediation are issues that should be made clear. It seems that such issues do not present a problem for Holkeri. He highlighted that the 'list' of the issues that would be discussed is in his mind. Regarding the location, apart from Brussels, Vienna has been mentioned, while the issue of the mediator is still unclear.
Thaçi: Dialogue on partition from Serbia, not rapprochement (Epoka e Re) Epoka e Re republished an interview that Radio Zëri i Sharrit conducted with the PDK leader, Hashim Thaçi.
Mr. Thaçi can tell our honorable listeners how you would comment on the current situation in Kosovo? Kosovo's current position is very clear. Kosovo institutions, political parties and the entire Kosovo society are determined to implement the necessary priorities of the Western standards in Kosovo, which implies stable and transparent functioning of local institutions, establishing of democracy, creating a united Kosovo without enclaves, and step-by-step to make Kosovo an independent and sovereign state.
Are you satisfied with the work of Kosovo institutions? I am not completely satisfied. However, there has been a progress, the pluralist coalition is functioning and all ethnic communities are represented in the parliament and I believe that significant economic, political and social steps will take place here. There are difficulties as well, such as the teachers' and miners' situation, and we should understand and support them. Especially for miners who still are in strike [the strike has now ended], for whom I believe that we can find room and implement their demands. But we should especially focus on helping the invalids of war and labour and other social categories.
How do you think that the dialogue with Serbia should begin? I think there should be a dialogue on partition from Serbia, and not rapprochement and I believe that here is a mistake that a few of the institutional leaders have made, who have understood this dialogue as a chance to get closer and not to move away from Serbia. At the end of the day, we all know that there should be a dialogue on Kosovo's final status and no force can make our institutions avoid the will of their citizens for Kosovo as an independent state and integrated in Euro-Atlantic structures.
The Albanian activist, Adem Demaci, said few days ago that the current Kosovo politicians who signed the Rambouillet agreement should withdraw from politics? How do you comment on this? Without the Rambouillet agreement, Kosovo would not be free and there would be no partnership with the US and the Western countries. Kosovo would be isolated and the war would go on, while Kosovo would remains without a civilian population, simply it would be a disaster. The Rambouillet agreement was Kosovo's future.
I have one more question Mr. Thaçi. Since the war Kaçanik municipality has been administrated by PDK, which won the majority of votes in the election. However, after the October elections of last year, the municipal administration is not established yet. What is your comment on this and what is your message for the Kaçanik municipal governors who haven't established the local government yet?The same problems are present in other municipalities as well, where PDK won the elections. I believe that with an internal party dialogue, a consensus should be found in order to build democratic and functional institutions for the benefit of our citizens. This responsibility doesn't belong to only one party, but is the responsibility of all political parties that participate in municipal assemblies.
Is it easier for you to be a leader in war or in peace? It was easy to lead in the war and it is easy to work now in peace. The war has its difficulties and obstacles, which cannot even be imagined. There are also difficulties now in the peace, but every challenge can be faced by good will. In this sense, I am optimistic that we will make Kosovo a democratic and independent state, just as we won our freedom.

PTK feels restricted in negotiations with Monaco Telecom (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore carried a report on ongoing negotiations between PTK officials and representatives of Monaco Telecom. The paper says that negotiations started on Tuesday but that no details have been made public.

'Mr. McKinley is pleased to answer your questions about everything about PTK apart from negotiations with Monaco Telecom,' said the KTA spokesperson to a request from Koha Ditore to speak to PTK acting-General Manager Eric McKinley.

Negotiations between Monaco Telecom and PTK regarding extension of the contract for operation in Kosovo have been going on since Tuesday but without any details being made public, even without information for those who represent PTK. According to a reliable source within PTK, the team is comprised of McKinley, Telecom's international director, Tony Hanley, PTK's legal issues manager, Sabahudin Ramaxhiku, and two other KTA officials.

The only thing that McKinley will say is: 'We are doing everything we can to reach the best agreement for our clients.'

The paper said that the chances for a good agreement are slight, because Monaco Telecom is the only choice and PTK has no time to work out a favorable solution. If PTK terminates its contract with Monaco Telecom, the latter will halt all internationals calls by stopping use of its [+377] code.

'PTK leaders should have thought about this issue earlier and not just a month ago,' said an international source close to the negotiations. A bid for a new operator would require at least four to five months, claims the source. Three or four months would be needed for an agreement with other operators on roaming calls, which means seven or eight months time without international calls in Kosovo.

According to Koha Ditore, PTK is forced to negotiate with Monaco Telecom from a very bad position. Neither Telecom director Bedri Rama nor VALA 900 director Afrim Bejtullahu are participating in the negotiations. According to the paper's source inside PTK, invitations were sent to both individuals but they did not participate in the meetings. Rama told Koha Ditore that he had not been informed about these meetings.

He said he knew that there was still no definitive agreement for extending the contract with Monaco Telecom and that negotiations would continue, but not with the same team. 'I think that the PTK team led by the acting-general manager is completely incompetent and illegitimate to lead such negotiations,' Rama was quoted as saying. He did not want to comment on divisions between locals and internationals, and he would not say if he had a proposal of his own.

Sources within PTK claim that the local Telecom director wants to pay Monaco Telecom a certain amount of money but not a percentage. At the beginning, PTK paid Monaco telecom 33% of overall VALA 900 revenues, with the possibility of decreasing the percentage.

Later, after negotiations, 27% of overall revenues were decided on. However, the number of VALA 900 clients has increased from 50,000 to 220,000, which means five times more revenue for Alcatel. In the contract between PTK and Monaco Telecom, a copy of which Koha Ditore has in its possession, it is stated that Monaco Telecom should inform PTK about its roaming revenues every three months. Afterwards PTK is to create the invoices, but the international source confirmed that this hasn't happened for three years. PTK hasn't given evidence for about €30,000,000 in revenues.

Trainings for PTK staff and education of workers to manage VALA 900 equipment were also stipulated in the contract, but only a symbolic number of staff is sent on such trainings. The international source said that PTK did not use the good points of the contract.

KEK blames consumers, courts are not deciding cases (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reported about inefficiency of the courts in resolving KEK cases.

Officials of the Kosovo Power Corporation as saying that they are disappointed with the growing debts and complain that they don't have the support of courts. According to the same officials, thousands of cases against KEK consumers have been lying undecided in municipal courts for four years now.

'Some 10,000 cases have been sent to court from all distributions and they haven't been solved for four years now,' said KEK financial officer Shefki Ahmeti. He added that the cases included stealing electricity, illegal connections, intimidations, etc.

'Consumers give themselves the right to re-connect to power supply network; even more, lots of them do not allow KEK workers to approach the electricity meters,' Ahmeti said, and he added that 'the court must do its job, otherwise we will not succeed in establishing normal circumstances'.

Prishtina Municipal Court chairman Nuhi Uka said that only 290 cases are from KEK. 'KEK should solve problems on its own and not put pressure on the courts,' Uka was quoted as saying. He said the 290 cases he mentioned are related to debts that Serb and Montenegrin citizens owe to KEK.

On the other hand, KEK officials claimed that lots of cases aren't sent to the courts because of negligence. 'Since the war we have had too many cases but there is no resolution, therefore we did not want to load courts,' said Ahmeti.

However, Uka justifies the work of the courts by the lack of judges. 'Just 23 judges work here and this number is too small compared to the cases that we have,' he said, and added, 'With this number of judges, normally there is no efficiency in the work.'

'The majority of the cases belong to public enterprises such as PTK, KEK and the water system,' said Uka, and added that 'public enterprises should deal with such cases because courts have other things to do'. Questioned about whether any KEK case has been resolved so far, he said that 'we have too many cases from KEK and some are in procedure, while some cases are still under investigation for stealing power, impeding KEK workers from performing their duties, etc'.

Uka added that the Municipal Court prioritized these cases and that due process is almost at an end. However, KEK officials say they haven't heard that any of the consumers has been punished for 'stealing power'.

Uka further said that 'we lack judges but the problem of a building should be resolved because we aren't in our own offices. This is the reason why we shouldn't employ new judges [yet]'.

KEK should wait until these conditions are fulfilled, otherwise we cannot be effective in court, he concluded.

Shock absorber factory convinced there is no need for privatization (Koha)
Koha Ditore reported that workers of the shock absorber factory, Amortizatoret, oppose the process of privatization.

Factory officials say Amortizatoret is continuing their battle almost alone against KTA for not selling their enterprise. They claim that according to laws that were promulgated in the 1990s, the enterprise belongs to the workers.

'According to such laws, which are nondiscriminatory, ownership rights belong to the workers,' said general manager Gani Dauti. He mentioned laws promulgated at the time of former Yugoslav premier Ante Markovic, where socially owned enterprises were transferred into shareholding association.

At a meeting organized by enterprise's union, it was said that KTA is following a discriminatory policy. They demanded help from all Kosovo's institutions during this process. 'Workers require protection more than ever before,' union chairman Ramush Berisha was quoted as saying. He added that when Serbian authorities banned them from factory, they hoped to return to their jobs one day. 'By this discriminatory policy that KTA is actually following, workers that are banned from work will remain forever in the streets. This is painful,' he said.

The factory's management is also dissatisfied with reports from some papers about a meeting at which it was said that the enterprise had accused UNMIK Police of occupying its space. Dauti said that nobody has been accused but they have expressed criticism against institutions and UNMIK.

Enterprise officials are determined to demand recognition of workers' rights for compensation for discrimination from 1989-1999. Regulation 2002/12 and documents that KTA sent to the Socially Owned Enterprises are wrong and in opposition to Resolution 1244, Constitutional Framework and nondiscriminatory existing laws, they say. The workers also demand that Regulation 2002/12 be revoked and that the workers' legal ownership of Amortizatoret be recognized.

Belgrade Media Update

No Belgrade dialogue in near future, says Kosovo PM (Beta)
Kosovo Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi said today that he does not believe talks between Belgrade and Pristina would begin soon. Rexhepi told Pristina daily Zëri that the talks required major preparation and he was not optimistic this could be done quickly. 'The dialogue is one of the criteria set by the international community in Kosovo, but I don't believe it will happen in the near future,' said Rexhepi, adding that protocols must be defined so that Pristina knows where the talks will be held and who will mediate them. Regardless of any Contact Group decision, the talks could not begin until the Kosovo Parliament agreed them, said Rexhepi, adding that the issue would not be debated until a consensus had been reached.

KFOR commander rules out return of Serb troops (B92)
The commander of the NATO-led peacekeeping forces in Kosovo said at the weekend that Serb security forces would never return to the province, despite provision for this in UN Security Council Resolution 1244. According to Pristina daily Koha Ditore, Fabio Mini guaranteed that Serbia would never return troops to its southern province. Mini was speaking during a visit to Pec, which he described as an arena for undemocratic events. He described the killers of Serb teenagers in last month's attack at a swimming hole near Gorazdevac as insane, saying they were also prepared to kill Albanian children.

Serbian representatives on participation in Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (I)
For a representative of Kosovo-Metohija Serbs, the idea that he be part of a Pristina team in the future Belgrade-Pristina talks is unacceptable; at least for the time being, Bishop of Raska and Prizren Artemije told the Zvecani Most TV.
'My opinion is that we do not have to be part of that team,' said the Bishop of Raska and Prizren, who deems that Kosovo Serbs cannot be 'at the other end of the table,' because Serbia is not negotiating with Kosovo as someone else's territory, since 'Kosovo is not a state, and our problems are resolved by the republic of Serbia.'

· Main Stories 15 September
· Rexhepi: No dialogue without decision of Kosovo Assembly (Zëri)
· Editorial: Preparing for failure (Zëri)
· Haq: Interested parties can decide on mediators for dialogue (Kosova Sot)
· EU: Kosovo benefits from the 'letter of approval' (Zëri)
· Everyone is preparing for talks (Koha Ditore)
· Thaçi: Dialogue on partition from Serbia, not rapprochement (Epoka e Re)
· Kosumi: Independence must be declared (Epoka e Re)
· Spahija: UNMIK uncommitted to ending extremist activities in N-Mitrovica
· Delay of expert results leaves room for ambiguity (Koha Ditore)
· Palokaj: Testing Kosovo's maturity for state-formation (Koha Ditore)
· Buçpapaj: Mr. Harri Holkeri rightfully refuses the Cyprus Model! (Bota Sot)
· KEK blames consumers, courts are not deciding cases (Koha Ditore)
· Many contradictions, few details on PTK-Monaco Telecom negotiations?

Kosovo Media Highlights

Rexhepi: No dialogue without the decision of the Kosovo Assembly (Zëri)
In an interview for Zëri, Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi was quoted as saying, 'We have voiced our willingness to have the active role of the US and the European Union if dialogue starts. I am mentioning the US first because in the last decade no conflict or crisis has been resolved without the direct involvement of the US. Therefore, only the active involvement of the US could be a guarantee that talks will be successful and that if an agreement is reached it is going to be implemented.'

'It is highly illogical for the chief administrator, who has the mandate to take care of the progress and vital issues of Kosovo, to also be a mediator with a country that is currently considered a neighboring country,' said Rexhepi.

'We have heard that the administrator will invite us to a 'famous dinner' where we would sign a proposal or a declaration. We were invited to a similar event by Mr. Steiner and then it was a generalized statement, according to which we were willing to cooperate with all countries, but that statement never mentioned Serbia. First thing the next day, Steiner called for dialogue and began the preparatory process. We have learned our lesson from this and I am not a follower of such things,' added Rexhepi. [full translation in Media Analysis]

Editorial: Preparing for failure (Zëri)
Zëri runs an opinion piece by the editorial office which says that 'the way things stand right now, the only suspicion regarding the dialogue between Kosovar and Serbian representatives is whether talks will fail without even starting or if they will fail later'. [full translation in Media Analysis]

Haq: Interested parties can decide on mediators for dialogue (Kosova Sot)
Kosova Sot quotes Farhan Haq, spokesman for UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, as saying, 'Legislations adopted by one party, be it in Kosovo or in Serbia and Montenegro have no value regarding the status of Kosovo because Kosovo's status is automatically discussed only by the United Nations Security Council.'

EU: Kosovo benefits from the 'letter of approval' (Zëri)
Zëri claims that Kosovo will win funds equal to other countries of the Western Balkans from the €31.5 million assistance of the European Union.

UNMIK Pillar IV spokeswoman Monique de Groot told Zëri that the part that will belong to Kosovo depends on the capacity and active interest in Kosovo to benefit for programs of assistance.

Everyone is preparing for talks (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore carries the soundbites of leading Serbian officials regarding the upcoming dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade.

Kosovo Serb representative Rada Trajkovic believes that talks between Belgrade and Prishtina are the start of talks on Kosovo's final status.

Koha Ditore also quotes Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Nebojsa Covic as saying that the position of the Serbian state vis-à-vis Kosovo were clearly defined in the declaration that has been adopted at the Serbian Parliament and then in the Parliament of the Union of Serbia and Montenegro.

Epoka e Re claims that Gordana Matkovic, Serbian Minister for Social Issues, will head Belgrade's negotiating team. [more in Media Analysis]

Thaçi: Dialogue on partition from Serbia, not rapprochement (Epoka e Re)
Epoka e Re carries an interview that PDK leader Hashim Thaçi gave to a local radio station in Hani i Elezit, during which he talked about Kosovo's current position and the upcoming dialogue with Serbian representatives.

'There will be no force that will part institutions from the will of Kosovar citizens for an independent country integrated in Euro-Atlantic structures,' Thaçi was quoted as saying. [full translation of the interview in Media Analysis]

Kosumi: Independence must be declared (Epoka e Re)
Epoka e Re quotes Bajram Kosumi, member of the Kosovo Assembly Presidency, as saying that regardless of the statement made by EC Commissioner for External Affairs Chris Patten last week, the Assembly must declare the independence of Kosovo.

The paper notes that during his recent visit to Kosovo, Patten said that parliamentary statements pro and against independence are not valid. 'None of them will have an effect on the final status,' Patten said.

Spahija: UNMIK wasn't committed to ending extremist activities in N Mitrovica
Zëri quotes Faruk Spahija, chairman of Mitrovica Municipal Assembly as saying, 'The extremist individuals, groups, logistics and the center of the Serb parallel administration are known, but so far UNMIK has not shown the willingness and commitment to prevent their illegal activities.'

Delay in expert results leaves room for ambiguity (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports that the families of victims in Dubrava Prison still don't know the real reason of the death of their sons. The paper says that according to official sources the victims lost their lives due to smoke from the fire that was set by the prisoners.

'The autopsy of the corpses has been made but the results have still not been given to the families. This leaves room for ambiguities,' added Koha Ditore.

Palokaj: Testing Kosovo's maturity for state-formation (Koha Ditore)
'To say that one nation is politically mature or immature is a Nazi theory, because Nazism called on the quality of nations. For this reason, one shouldn't accept the theory according to which Kosovars are still too immature to have a state, and Kosovars should also not listen to the excuse according to which four other regional countries would have lost their statehood if standards before status were to be set in place,' writes Augustin Palokaj in an opinion piece for Zëri.

Buçpapaj: Mr. Harri Holkeri rightfully refuses the Cyprus Model! (Bota Sot)
Bota Sot carries an opinion piece by columnist Elida Buçpapaj who writes that 'SRSG Harri Holkeri was right when he said that dialogue between Albanians and Serbs will not be done according to the Cyprus Model'. [full translation in Media Analysis]

KEK blames consumers, courts are not deciding cases (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore quotes officials of the Kosovo Power Corporation as saying that they are disappointed with the growing debts and complain that they don't have the support of courts. According to the same officials, thousands of cases against KEK consumers have been lying unsolved in municipal courts for four years now.

'Some 10,000 cases have been sent to court from all distributions and they haven't been solved for four years now,' said KEK financial officer Shefki Ahmeti. He added that the cases included stealing electricity, illegal connections, intimidations, etc.

Many contradictions, few details on PTK-Monaco Telecom negotiations? (Koha)
Koha Ditore carries a report on the ongoing negotiations between PTK officials and representatives of Monaco Telecom. The paper claims that negotiations started on Tuesday but that no details have been made public.

'If the PTK would decide to cease its contract with Monaco Telecom, the latter could stop all international calls and not give the code for usage,' added Koha Ditore.

Kosovo Press Headlines

Koha Ditore
Front page
· Delay in expert results creates room for lack of clarity [Dubrava incident]
· There was neither attack nor rape
· SBASHK is moral loser in strike
· Serbia and Kosova A supply Kosovo with electricity
· Municipality and public enterprise blame each other for dirt in town

Other headlines
· Everybody prepares for negotiations (2)
· Arifi: Together towards a united Europe (4)
· Vushtri: Hand grenade explosion (5)
· Shock absorber factory convinced there is no need for privatization (6)
· Artificial honey in Kosovo's market (6)
· Air Vardar plane to land on Monday (6)
· PTK feels confined in negotiations with Monaco Telecom (7)
· KEK blames consumers, courts do not resolve cases (7)
· Ferizaj: Visit that increases tensions (8)
· Istog: Inauguration of a bridge (8)
· Mitrovice: Crimes committed by youths are diminishing (8)
· Klina: Confiscation of expired food items (9)
· Prizren: Lots of residents remain without water (9)
· Palokaj: Testing Kosovo's maturity in creating a state (10)
· Tahiri: National interest and national strategy in Kosovo (11)

Zëri
Front page
· Rexhepi: No dialogue without Kosovo Assembly's approval
· EU: Kosovo will benefit just as other regional countries
· Shala: Three mistakes in three/three reductions
· Preparing for failure
· Nesho: Incidents in Kosovo shouldn't harm progress achieved in Kosovo
· War through the eyes of a Serbian woman

Other headlines
· SBASHK: We did not joke with government (2)
· Plan for arresting Çakalla and Breze on Tuesday [Macedonia] (2)
· Macedonian children and parents damage 'ABC House' in Manastir (2)
· KFOR: One dead and one seriously wounded [accidental explosion] (3)
· Mini excludes possibility of involvement of armed group from Kosovo (7)
· LPK presents project for union with Albania (7)
· NATO wants to save peace and stability in the region (7)
· Serbs keep road blocked, thousands of Albanian are isolated (7)
· Inauguration of a bridge (7)
· Teachers' situation is bad, but Kosovo's budget is improving (8)
· UNMIK hasn't shown determination in impeding Serbian extremists (8)
· Erection of statues (8)
· Classes begin in Prizren (8)

Bota Sot
Front page
· Holkeri's statements in Bota Sot and Der Speigel same as UNSC stance
· Eyskens: Kosovo should follow its own way towards Europe
· Bad signals for winter
· European Charter on small enterprises have new members from Kosovo
· Ministry of Transport and Prishtina municipality will create joint project
· Sokoli was always threatened by Serbian police
· Attack against Albanian education in Manastir [Macedonia]

Other headlines
· Who should guarantee implementation of Ohrid Agreement (2)
· Buçpapaj: Holkeri rightfully does not accept Cyprus model (3)
· Buçpapaj: Buckovski is playing with Moisiu (4)
· Bergman: Bridge will assist economic development (4)
· Viti: Italian carabinieri raid houses (5)
· Belated reactions of Municipal presidents towards KTA (6)
· Documents that Serbs took away haven't been returned (6)
· Municipality is searching for new location (7)
· Fejzullahu re-elected union leader [KEK] (7)
· Baleta: Commercialization of spiritual values (9)
· Plan adopted for reform of security authorities [Macedonia] (10)

Kosova Sot
Front page
· Assembly is place where dialogue should be approved
· Haq: Parties may decide on mediator
· Railway is being damaged in Kosovo, UNMIK does nothing
· Serious and complex dialogue
· Today everybody starts school
· Pensioners will protest on Tuesday
· Limaj fund is welcomed by citizens
· Editorial: Strategy for dialogue

Other headlines
· Support for Holkeri and policy 'standards before status' (2)
· German General Kammerhoff to replace General Mini as Com KFOR (4)
· Moisiu: Citizens and internationals will decide about Kosovo's fate (4)
· Batic and Covic happy with Del Ponte's statement (4)
· Market and unemployment will determine the situation (5)
· Challenges of legislative authority (7)
· Ferizaj: People sell water from well as a mineral water (8)
· Reductions during weekend were three hours on and three off (9)
· Right price for Hotel Korzo is €1,7000,000 [workers say] (9)
· Gjilan: Project 'KEK yes' increases revenues by 18.6% (9)
· Arben Xhaferi: Commander Timosi [Macedonia] (10)
· Increase of bread's price will deepen poverty (10)

Epoka e Re
Front page
· Bajram Rexhepi, 'healer' of strikes
· Lipjan: Detainees are from LDK
· Kosovo's government should react [Limaj case]
· Does Rexhep Osmani understand?
· Kosumi: Independence should be declared
· Thaçi: Dialogue for partition from Serbia, not rapprochement
· Violence in Leshan, villagers accuse Plisat [Prishtina basketball fans]

Other headlines
· Edi Rama gets married on election day (2)
· UNSC: Start dialogue with Serbia! (4)
· Moisiu: Kosovars should decide about Kosovo (4)
· Integration on EU open possibility for resolution of Kosovo's status (4)
· Serbian negotiation team leader is Minister of Social Welfare Matkovic (5)
· Haradinaj: Heroes' sacrifice will facilitate our way towards independence (7)
· Inauguration of American school (7)
· KFOR: One dead and one seriously wounded (7)
· General Mini: Increase in forces eliminates groups that harm security (7)
· Gjilan women beat their husbands (8)
· Malisheva: Kilaj: Despite poor budget, we are doing projects (9)
· Assembly should responds to Serbian declaration (9)
· Ferizaj: People sell water from well as a mineral water (9)
· Rubin: Power of revenge (10)

Belgrade Media Highlights

· Holkeri upon departure for New York (Politika/Beta)
· Dejan Sahovic on the SC session (Vecernje Novosti/Tanjug)
· Covic satisfied with UNSC session (Glas/Srna)
· Standards, then status (Politika/Beta)
· Rada Trajkovic for an urgent agreement (Blic/Beta)
· KFOR Swedish soldier dies in explosion (Balkan)
· On the input of KP (Politika)
· Predrag Simic on Belgrade-Pristina talks (Balkan)
· Jorgen Grunet on Kosovo talks (Blic)
· Oliver Ivanovic on UNSC session on Kosovo (Glas)
· Cornerstone placed for new church (Vecernje Novosti)

Holkeri upon departure for New York (Politika/Beta)
Prior to departure for the Contact Group meeting in New York, UNMIK Head Harri Holkeri will call on Kosovo Albanian leaders to sign a letter of agreement for commencing dialogue with Belgrade. Holkeri plans to meet again with Kosovo Albanian leaders towards discussing the dialogue. The goal of the meeting is the resolution of the issue as to who should give the mandate to the Kosovo delegation - the assembly or the three signers of the agreement on building institutions in Kosovo - Rugova, Tachi and Haradinaj.

Dejan Sahovic on the SC session (Vecernje Novosti/Tanjug)
SaM is ready to constructively engage in all discussions that are important for the daily life of all citizens of Kosovo and Metohija regardless of their nationality, SaM Ambassador in the UN Dejan Sahovic said at the SC session devoted to Kosovo. 'We expect that these talks within UNSCR 1244 will help improve the safety situation in the province, step up human and minority rights, thus stimulate the return process of refugees,' stressed the ambassador at the session on Friday, at the same time pointing to the important role that UNMIK Head Harri Holkeri could play, as well as to the support by the EU and the Contact Group. Informing the Council members on the situation in the province, the aide to the UNSG for peace operations Hedi Anabi has confirmed UNMIK's orientation for the principle 'standards before status' and pointed to the importance of establishing a direct dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.

Covic satisfied with UNSC session (Glas/Srna)
Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and the Head of the CCK Nebojsa Covic expects that the first meeting between Belgrade and Pristina will be held following the Contact Group meeting in New York on 23 September. Expressing satisfaction with the results of the UNSC session, Covic told Radio Belgrade that things were getting better and that the SC gave support to the authorities in Belgrade. According to him, the time framework for the first meeting between Pristina and Belgrade is the first half of October or beginning of November. Covic considers the dialogue should commence as soon as possible. 'This is the so-called initial meeting, we will see where it will be, in Brussels, Vienna or some third place,' said Covic.

Standards, then status (Politika/Beta)
Russia supports the efforts towards establishing a direct dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina in order to normalize the situation in Kosovo, where such contacts should refer to 'technical issues of mutual interest and not on the status of the province,' said the first Russian deputy ambassador in the UN Genadii Gatilov. He recalled at the UNSC session that a united approach in resolving the issues of the southern Serbian province was confirmed at the Contact Group meeting, also attended by UNMIK Head Harri Holkeri, RIA Novosti reports. 'I especially underline that a joint opinion on how any discussion on Kosovo's future status in the existing phase would be premature was clearly stated, but also on the non-acceptability of any attempts to prejudge this issue,' he said.

Rada Trajkovic for an urgent agreement (Blic/Beta)
KP AM Rada Trajkovic has stated that the Belgrade-Pristina talks, announced for November, 'she accepts as the beginning of talks on Kosovo's status. 'There is not a single standard that had been set by the international community and that its resolution is not the resolution of Kosovo's status,' Trajkovic told Jagodina Palma Plus TV. Trajkovic stood up for an 'urgent agreement' of the state with the Serbs from Kosovo towards establishing a 'clear Serb position' in the Belgrade-Pristina talks.

KFOR Swedish soldier dies in explosion (Balkan)
One Swedish KFOR member died in Kosovo in an accidental explosion, and another has been wounded, NATO officials in Pristina announced. 'One soldier died on the spot, while the other one, as far as we know, was lightly wounded in an explosion that occurred in the main camp of the Swedish army in Kosovo, Victoria,' a NATO statement says.

On the input of KP (Politika)
Serb Kosovo AM Randjel Nojkic has stated that the existence of KP and its one-and-a-half-year participation in the Kosovo Assembly has not brought any significant success. 'Except for the participation in the work, we haven't achieved anything else in the assembly. We haven't managed to implement any topic into practice, except for beginning it,' said Nojkic. Serbian MP delegated from Kosovo and Metohija Vuko Antonijevic says: 'They haven't done anything specific so far. Nobody has insight into their work. Apart from that, I see no concrete results with the 'blind participants' in the assembly,' says Antonijevic, supporting this story with the fact that 'they haven't managed to do anything for themselves as well because, after two years, they are still traveling to Pristina with heavy escort.' KP caucus whip Dragisa Krstovic is of a completely different opinion, and says that only the participation of Serbs in the Kosovo Assembly is a big success, and adds: 'Time will show whose decision had been more correct, by us who had accepted to be in the assembly, or by those who had boycotted the elections, and continue to boycott our work. We followed the proposal by the top leadership in Belgrade. We have managed to oppose many laws and resolutions during this time. Adem Demaci states that he, just like other Albanians, condemns Serb representatives for 'openly implementing Belgrade's policy in the province.' 'Therefore, they couldn't have had success in the Kosovo Assembly because all of their proposals and suggestions have been opposed by Albanians since they obviously implement the policy of official Belgrade and the former fascist regime,' says Demaci, adding that the input of Serb parliamentarians would be much bigger if they would 'follow the Kosovars' good ear, not only of Serbs but also of Albanians, and if they wouldn't almost always consult with Belgrade.'

Predrag Simic on Belgrade-Pristina talks (Balkan)
According to analyst Predrag Simic, the last SC session and its assessments have not been a spontaneous reaction to the events but are more clearly politically defined and represent a result of an agreement of the forces at the level of the Contact Group in Moscow. However, although the news coming recently from the West can be assessed as more positive, and although the announced Belgrade-Pristina negotiations should be welcomed, Simic stressed that one should be very cautious. 'They are playing on the card of Harri Holkeri and the negotiations at this point. However, nobody has the illusion that this will soon bring optimistic results. Everybody is turned towards the beginning of talks, but one actually sees in them an opportunity for buying time, and it seems we are also expecting this.

Jorgen Grunet on Kosovo talks (Blic)
Jorgen Grunet, the newly appointed special representative of the Council of Europe in SaM, has assessed that Kosovo is the key issue for the stability of the region of South-Eastern Europe, where further stepping up of relations between Belgrade and Tirana is of great importance for its resolution. He stresses that the beginning of negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina under the UN umbrella, because the SC is responsible for them according to UNSCR 1244, is the first step in resolving the Kosovo problem. He added that, contrary to some other countries in the region, the story about 'great Albania' is not being mentioned at all in Albania, as far as he had the opportunity to see during his diplomatic service in Tirana. 'Politicians and citizens are not dealing with that except for a small number of strange people,' said Grunet.

Oliver Ivanovic on UNSC session on Kosovo (Glas)
The UNSC session devoted to Kosovo and Metohija has shown that the international community is slowly changing the stand. It is obvious that the awareness that the situation is not as it had been presented by the previous envoys of the UNSG has matured, member of the Kosovo Assembly Presidency Oliver Ivanovic told Glas. 'I am satisfied with the session and what had been said and concluded there. UNSC members are aware of the existence of terrorism and I believe that UNMIK received instructions. Of course, I don't expect this to be publicized, but I believe they received instructions on how to behave towards terror and violence, all the more since the beginning of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue is awaited,' said Ivanovic.

Cornerstone placed for new church (Vecernje Novosti)
The cornerstone for the construction of the new church of St. Dimitrije in the northern Serb part of the town on the Ibar River has been placed on the foundations of a medieval church. Mitrovica, named after the saint Dimitrije, will build this church because the St. Sava Church remained in the southern Albanian part of the town. Raska-Prizren bishop Artemije placed the cornerstone. 'The greatest works have been created in the most difficult times. By building the new church, we wish to strengthen our roots here for at least the next five centuries. Our sanctuaries are being destroyed by those who don't know that everything holy is eternal, and so this temple will be evidence of our existence, together with our descendants,' said Bishop Artemije.