Media Analysis 29 September 2003

• Busy agenda to postpone talks until 22 October 22? (Zëri)
  
• Demaçi: Assembly and government should resign (Kosova Sot)
  
• Kosumi: UNMIK should end its mission (Epoka e Re)
  
• Palokaj: Who is entitled to assess the security situation in Kosovo? (Koha)
  
• Shala: The assembly's abstention (Zëri)
  
• UNMIK (Kosova Sot)
  
• Lambsdorff: Neither UNMIK nor Government can create new jobs! (Zëri)

Belgrade Media Update

• Rugova steps up demand for Kosovo's independence (Beta)
  
• Belgrade rejects south Serbia Albanians for Kosovo talks (B92)
  
• CoE to discuss Kosovo (Beta)
  

Busy agenda to postpone talks until 22 October 22? (Zëri)
Zëri reported that the date of beginning the technical dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade is still uncertain.

The paper reported that the first meeting between Prishtina and Belgrade could be held on 23 October in Vienna. Due to the very busy agendas of EU and NATO representatives, the first meeting between Prishtina and Belgrade cannot be held before 15 October, while after 15 October many of Kosovar leaders will participate in the ceremony of canonization of Mother Theresa, the paper further quoted 'reliable international sources'.

In SRSG Harri Holkeri's meeting last Thursday with Kosovars leaders, Rugova, Rexhepi, Thaçi and Haradinaj, the SRSG said that he was making efforts to hold the first meeting on 15 October, but for technical reasons the meeting will be postponed until 23 October. He said that Javier Solana, Chris Patten and Lord Robertson would not be able to participate on 15 October due to their busy agendas.

Holkeri told Kosovar politicians that the representatives of the state members of Contact Group will be present at the first meeting, as well as the new Secretary General of NATO, Jap de Hoop Scheffer, while Holkeri will be the 'facilitator' in talks.

The paper further reported that Kosovar politicians are interested in details of the meeting, while Holkeri could not tell them whether talks will be with Serbia and Montenegro representatives or just with representatives of Serbia. 'I cannot determine either side, but I will require Belgrade to send highest political authorities,' Holkeri was quoted as saying.

The Austrian Foreign Ministry, which is hosting this meeting, has given no information about the exact date of the commencement of the dialogue. Its officials preferred to wait until Tuesday to have more details about the meeting, the paper reported.

The Presidency of the Kosovo Assembly will review the written request sent by Kosovo Government on Saturday, regarding the taking a position on technical talks with Serbia. The paper's sources confirmed this information and also said that on Tuesday the Presidency might decide to discuss this issue at the regular session on Thursday.

The Kosovo Government decided on Saturday that technical talks with Belgrade will not begin without a decision by the Kosovo Assembly on this issue. Prime Minister Rexhepi said that the government would not yield to pressure regarding the dialogue and also demanded from assembly to take stance on this issue.

Assembly speaker Nexhat Daci, who has not been in Kosovo for a week, said that he could speak about the dialogue only after he meets with PM Rexhepi and SRSG Harri Holkeri. These meetings could be arranged to be held on Monday or Tuesday. 'The Assembly's political stance, the completion of the necessary competencies for talks, the participation of the Government in the first possible meeting at the highest level and the decision about who will represent the Government will be made by the Government, but the Government will not start talks without the decision of the Assembly and it will not allow any kind of pressure,' Rexhepi was quoted as saying.

Demaçi: Assembly and government should resign (Kosova Sot)
Kosova Sot reported that human rights activist Adem Demaçi has said that neither the Government nor the Assembly has the competencies to do anything, but both take orders from the SRSG.

Local analysts consider the issue of dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade as one of the conditions that Kosovars must meet, while at the same time they say that for dialogue to be successful, provisional institutions should have competencies. Human rights activist Adem Demaçi said that 'table tennis' is being played with Kosovo rather than with its institutions, because the government and the assembly have no competencies except to listen to SRSG Harri Holkeri's order.

'It is already known that the SRSG has complete political authority in Kosovo. Kosovo institutions cannot think about having a dialogue or negotiating with other states. Holkeri has this right and he gives the orders,' he said and stressed as 'useless' the government's efforts to find any kind of support. He added that an unequal dialogue between is designed to connect Kosovo with Serbia in the political and judicial aspects.

On the other hand, the Kosovo Assembly is aware about of its competencies and in order to remain in their seats, they hesitate to adopt an open declaration to say that they have no competencies to do this job or to say that government must go on and talk to Serbian government representatives.

Beginning of dialogue will force Kosovars to inaugurate an inferior cooperation with Serbia, according to Demaçi. He added that the only response that would make sense at this moment to stop this prolonged game is for the assembly and the government to resign and tell the SRSG to have a dialogue with the Serb Coalition Povratak. 'Every effort to find a solution would fail. It would be wise if everybody resigns, so the international community would realize that this parliament and government respect the will of Kosovo people,' Demaçi concluded.

Kosumi: UNMIK should end its mission (Epoka e Re)
Epoka e Re carried an interview with Bajram Kosumi, member of the Kosovo Assembly Presidency and deputy chairman of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo. 'UNMIK is trying to find a new job for itself in Kosovo. I think that instead of dealing with the issue of dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, it would be better if UNMIK and Holkeri would start considering how to end UNMIK's mission in Kosovo,' Kosumi was quoted as saying.

Mr. Kosumi, the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo perceived the start of dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade as an immature step. Can you tell us what the reason for your skepticism is?
There are no changes in the situation in the positive sense, regardless of whether or not we start dialogue with Serbia. Regardless of whether or not we start dialogue with Serbia that is not going to help solve the issue of new jobs, the issue of privatization, security in Kosovo, poverty… therefore, none of the current major problems in Kosovo are not going to be solved, whether or not we enter talks with Serbia. And if none of these issues are going to be solved by this dialogue, then where is the point of it? This means that the start of dialogue is not our priority. But since the international community, UNMIK and Holkeri, backed by some European Union countries, are insisting that the issue of dialogue should start, then I think that we must make some preparations.

In your opinion, when should dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade commence?
First I must say that dialogue should be held between Kosovo and Serbia. The second point is that dialogue should focus on problems between the two countries, such as the issue of cadastral documents that Serbia took away from Kosovo, and the issue of kidnapped persons, etc. Therefore, we must look at this issue from a more open angle. There are certain problems between the two countries and we must prove that we are capable to solve problems that both Serbia, so that we can later ask them to solve that trouble us, such as the issue of missing persons and many other issues. We must be constructive on these issues and prepared to solve these problems. However, the problem in this respect is that whenever technical talks are mentioned, behind them lays the belief that they also imply political issues. If this was only about technical issues, such as the issue of license plates and documents, then what is the Foreign Minister of the Union of Serbia and Montenegro looking for in talks?

Do you think that talks on 'technical issues' are going to be constructive, or if the saying 'technical issues' is only a farce of UNMIK?
Talks with Serbia cannot be constructive for a long period of time, but maybe there are certain results that can be achieved. However, they cannot be constructive if the Serbian delegation includes people such as Nebojsa Covic who generate crimes that take place in Kosovo. I think that there can be no successful talks with Serbia without resolving Kosovo's final status first. We can enter such talks, but then they would be delays and then even fail. Otherwise, there can be successful talks with Serbia only on one issue, and this is the door to future negotiations, negotiations on recognizing the new political reality in Kosovo and the recognition of the state that should be declared by the Kosovo Assembly. With Serbia we cannot reach consensus on the state of Kosovo, therefore, every kind of talks with Serbia is related to this issue. Serbia wants to return Kosovo under its umbrella, and this is related to several issues, including the issue of recognizing Kosovar license plates, and Serbia wont' recognize these plates because it claims that Kosovo is its territory. Therefore, as long as there is no consensus on forming the state of Kosovo and for other problems, I am certain that there can be no consensus on recognizing a completely different political reality. We declare the state of Kosovo, we take this is a fact and we present to Serbia and tell it that this is the state of Kosovo, do you want to accept this reality and recognize this state or do you want to go to war with this country?! Then Serbia would have only two choices, initially it would oppose this and later on it would agree to recognize the new reality.

When talks at an equal level are mentioned, there are two issues, the extreme level and the level of governments. What should be the level of talks with Serbia, the level of experts or the level of prime ministers?
The equal level doesn't imply only the minister and the ministry, because even in lands in Germany have governments and ministries. In my opinion, an equal level is when the government of Kosovo has all the competencies and all the ministries. Only in that situation it would be ready to sit and talk to Serbia as a complete government. This is an equal level. And afterwards talks should follow between experts. The minister doesn't have to talk about the issue of license plates. Expert can do this, and they can harmonize their positions.

Harri Holkeri is going to mediate in dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade. What is your assessment about this?
Harri Holkeri cannot mediate. He cannot even be part of the delegation of Kosovo, or the delegation of Serbia. Harri Holkeri is the administrator of Kosovo, he must be present, but he cannot be part of the delegation. He must protect the interests of Kosovo, because that's why he is here for to protect Kosovo's interest and the interest of the Security Council, and not Serbia's interest. If Holkeri is the chief administrator of Kosovo he cannot be a mediator. If Holkeri doesn't protect Kosovo's interest in the meeting with Serbia, or in meetings with the Security Council or the Contact Group, then he cannot even be the chief administrator of Kosovo.

Who should participate in the Kosovar delegation and who should lead it according to your opinion?
I am a priori against the forming of the delegation. First the Kosovo Assembly must make a decision. The assembly should decide whether political groups support the start of negotiations or if they are against them. If the political groups are against talks then there is no reason for us to talk about delegations, and if they support of the idea of talks, then we must make public the reason for the start of dialogue.

Holkeri said that dialogue would start in a couple of days…
It is true that political groups at the assembly claim that they are against talks under these circumstances and they want new political circumstances. And immediately after the assembly debate, Holkeri said that dialogue would start in a couple of days. This is a bad sign for Kosovo's politics. This means that Kosovo's politics is two-faced, one is what is said at the assembly and which is public, and the other is the politics that is run in desks, lunches and dinners, and which is in opposition with the policy of the assembly. Two-faced policy should not be allowed in Kosovo.

When it comes to sensitive issues such as the eventual talks with Serbia, it seems that the Government and the Assembly have a certain clash and are trying to throw the ball to each other. Prime Minister Rexhepi said he wants the assembly's endorsement for negotiations, whereas assembly officials said that the issue of talks belonged to the executive and that there is no need for voting at the assembly?
The Kosovo Assembly is not an abstract notion; it is comprised by political groups. If political groups send their ministers to talks, then there can be no talks on technical issues. If talks don't imply only technical issues, then the Kosovo Assembly must make a decision. But if talks focus only on technical issues, then the government must decide. But since it is said technical talks and on the other hand this implies political talks and since this issue is problematic, the assembly should discuss this matter and make a public position. It is true that there is a political game in this, and it is part of political relations inside Kosovo. It is genuinely known that those who will be the first to enter talks will be burned cards. Now the political groups believe that the start of negotiations is being imposed on them, therefore, they don't wish to be burned. I think that we must change this kind of policy in Kosovo; this is not the way that politics should be played, because if something is unwanted and is imposed on us why should we agree to be burned? We must look out for own interests. If we believe that talks are not going to be successful, we must search for other ways, and this is the request of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK). If we see that talks are not successful due to numerous reasons and that they are not in our priorities, then we can agree to enter negotiations on technical issues, under the condition of completing the government and forming the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Order, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and some other ministry. Then we would find this satisfactory, it is simple bargaining, because UNMIK is asking us to sit across the table from Covic. We can agree if we win these conditions, otherwise if we don't have faith in these negotiations then why should we talk to Covic, the generator of crimes in the Balkans? However, politicians in Kosovo either don't know how to do this or aren't oriented properly.

Do you think that Kosovo is stuck in a status quo, and if so, what do you think would be a way out of this?
I think that Kosovo is being stalled for one year now. Haekkerup started this, Steiner stalled all the time and led a noisy politics, and Holkeri is trying to find new solutions for UNMIK, which cannot find a decent answer to any of the problems in Kosovo for a year now. Even Kosovar institutions have no answers, because in a way they have no competencies; they have no wings. UNMIK is trying to find a new job for itself in Kosovo. UNMIK and Holkeri are trying to find the role of mediators between Kosovo and Serbia, and it is believed that this will last for years. This is not foreseen by Resolution 1244. They are trying to extend their life in Kosovo for several years.

It is very true that the process in Kosovo has been stalled for a year, and even earlier, and it is very possible that this process will be endangered by major dissatisfactions, lack of development and the high level of poverty. If this happens then it would certainly pose danger even to UNMIK and to the entire process as well. I think that instead of dealing with the issue of dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, it would be better if UNMIK and Holkeri would start considering how to end UNMIK's mission in Kosovo. This would be a wise and honorable thing to do, because otherwise this mission can go the wrong way.

It seems that you are saying that UNMIK should leave Kosovo soon?
Yes. I think that so far UNMIK has been successful, but from now on it faces the risk of entering an unsuccessful and dishonorable pathway. It would be politically wise and honorable for UNMIK to sit down and think how to end its mission here. This means how to transfer all competencies to Kosovar institutions and how to pave way to the solution of Kosovo's final status.

Mr. Kosumi, do you believe that Kosovar institutions have fulfilled their mission so far, or have they completed only one part of their mission?
I think that they have completed only one part of their mission, because my nature is such that I am not satisfied even with my own work. That is why I am not satisfied with the work of others. Kosovar institutions have done their work with partial success. I am not satisfied with the work of the government and the assembly. However, we must take into account two facts. One: the competencies. UNMIK continues to be above Kosovar institutions in every single step, and it constantly makes certain stops saying that that is under its competencies. This is the serious obstacle why Kosovar institutions haven't been able to move ahead. Second: let's take for example the Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning, Ethem Çeku, who went to his office and had nowhere to sit. Therefore, he started from scratch. These two facts point out the difficulties. Another obstacle is our lazy and undemocratic mentality. I am relatively satisfied with the work of the assembly and the government of Kosovo. Whereas, as far as the work of the President of Kosovo, I don't know what he has done, because he never came to the assembly to talk about his work. I know about the work of the President of Kosovo only from what I have read in the papers. Nothing more.

UNMIK seems to accelerating the transfer of competencies. Do you think that it is doing so for the sake of Kosovars, or simply to have certain decorations in a possible dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia?
It is not true that UNMIK is accelerating the transfer of competencies. They are making their own propaganda. Even when Steiner said that he was transferring competencies, he was in fact taking away competencies from the institutions. UNMIK hasn't even transferred competencies envisaged in the Constitutional Framework, and let alone other competencies. UNMIK is making a big mistake, and it is trying to extend its life in Kosovo. It is creating a situation in which there can be clashes between the people of Kosovo and UNMIK. This would be non-glorious for UNMIK.

Mr. Kosumi should we wait for them to give us competencies, or do you know another way of taking them?
The issue of competencies is an issue of relations between Kosovar institutions and UNMIK. This is so in principle, but the weakness of Kosovar politics and one of the principles that I judge our politics in Kosovo for ten years now is exactly this issue. The politics that constantly waits for something to be given to it, and the politics that is capable of creating something. I call the first one an aged politics and an aged political class, and the second one I call new politics and a new political class. No one ever gives you anything in politics. You must create everything in politics by yourself. Normally, some things can be won with the help of others. We have the opportunity to win with the help of others. If Kosovar institutions wait every single day for Holkeri to give them something, then the issue of Kosovo's status will not be solved in another 100 years.

In your opinion, what would be the way to take over competencies?
Kosovar institutions should be more inventive and more determined in their work. They must simply put UNMIK against the wall. If you don't put Holkeri against the wall he is not going to give you, and the same goes for the Security Council.

Do you think that Kosovar institutions should be satisfied with the fact that they are finalizing the first phase as institutions, and that therefore they should only exist and do nothing more?
I think that there is a lack of among Kosovar politicians. Both politicians and institutions realize that the Constitutional Framework has been overcome. Not a single political group in Kosovo is satisfied with the Constitutional Framework, and they all consider it to be something old. The problem is not about recognizing reality, but in the lack of the project how to change this reality. Politicians in Kosovo are not satisfied with the Constitutional Framework, with the current competencies, with UNMIK, etc. but it lacks a project to change the reality. Kosovo's politics lack powerful representatives. The project of the Independence of Kosovo is not moving ahead. Political groups lack a project how to achieve independence. A historical process such as the independence of Kosovo requires powerful representatives, people who reflect union and not division and conflicts.

The initiative of the AAK to declare the independence of Kosovo?
We as a minor political group, in co-governance with the other two groups, have launched this initiative with the sole purpose to tell the LDK and PDK that we can move together. We launched this initiative with the belief that the state of Kosovo should be declared and that the process of implementing it should begin. However, the state of Kosovo cannot be formed with political groups and leaders who remain closed in their offices, but with a public debate. The state of Kosovo can be achieved with the majority of the citizens of Kosovo… I don't believe in secret projects for the independence of Kosovo. They represent lies and are done only for votes.

Do you think that efforts for talks between Kosovo and Serbia have left the impression of tendencies to return Kosovo backwards?
These negotiations, also including the transitional phase and Resolution 1244 are not documents for the state of Kosovo, but are some kind of messages that try the possibility of rapprochement between Belgrade and Prishtina. This is already known. After all, this is the core of diplomacy, try the easiest and if that doesn't work, then try and find alternative routes. This is the aim of the international community. However, the problem of Kosovo's politics is that it is accepting to become an object. This implies delays in the process for 10-15 years. Kosovo's politics should be active and not allow any further tests, because the capability of politics is to find its own place and then make it public. Kosovo is not doing this. An example for this is the fact that UNMIK or Holkeri claim that Kosovo's final status will be determined neither by Belgrade nor Prishtina, but by the Security Council. Something like this is completely undemocratic and illegitimate. It is natural that Belgrade cannot decide about Kosovo's fate, because who gave Belgrade the right to decide about the fate of Kosovar citizens? In my opinion, not even Moscow, London, Bonn and Rome or anyone else can decide about this. I decide for my own fate, because this is my God given right. However, this formula is not being opposed that much. There is another good formula according to which Kosovo's final status cannot be negotiated with Serbia. This is also the formula of the AAK, because we have installed in the political scene and it was supported even by the Kosovo Assembly. If eventually there is going to be a situation where Kosovo will negotiate the final status with Serbia, this will mean going back to war.

Can the current approach of international politics in Kosovo pave way to other more radical factors to emerge in the scene?
If I were in Holkeri's place in a country like Kosovo, I would behave just like him. This is both politics and diplomacy, because Harri Holkeri is no Mother Teresa. Diplomacy is going to look for the easiest solutions, why would Holkeri be interested to make Kosovo a state, why would he be interested in raising the political awareness of the Kosovo government and assembly?

You think that UNMIK is doing its job, and that our institutions are sound asleep?
Yes. UNMIK is doing its job, whereas Kosovar institutions should also do their job. The forming of the state of Kosovo creates difficulties, and UNMIK doesn't want to face difficulties, and even the US, who are our biggest friends don't want to face such a situation. If Kosovar Albanians want to live this life, so be it; if they want to live in the Union of Serbia and Montenegro then so be it. But if Kosovar Albanians want to create the state of Kosovo, then the US will say so be it. Unfortunately, part of our politics believes that the US is going to make Kosovo a country, and that Germany will enable its economic development, but they don't realize that this mentality has been inherited by the previous communist regime. We must do our own homework.

In the last two years we have witnessed a campaign against former members of the Kosovo Liberation Army. What is your comment on this, starting from UNMIK courts and all the way to The Hague tribunal?
This is a result of two factors. First, a result of all countries that make up UNMIK, and part of them don't want to see Kosovo become a country and they are trying to prevent this process by all means. The most efficient way to prevent the state of Kosovo is by blackmailing the KLA. The blood shed for the state of Kosovo is the most powerful argument for the state of Kosovo. Even though the historic, geographic and ethnic argument is in Kosovo's favor, there can be powerful argument than the KLA argument. The blackmailing of this argument is blackmailing the idea for the state of Kosovo.

Do you think that the recent developments surrounding talks with Serbia and about the status of Kosovo will bring us in a situation where the elected representatives of Kosovar institutions will choose to withdraw from their seats?
I think that it would have been cowardice if they withdrew. If these talks are going to fail, it is going to be the responsibility of Kosovar institutions why they allowed to enter such talks. They will not withdraw, but will lose votes.

Palokaj: Who is entitled to assess the security situation in Kosovo? (Koha)
'The very same UNMIK that continues to say that the security situation in Kosovo is much better than in some western countries, continues to send letters to The Hague tribunal demonstrating just the opposite,' wrote Augustin Palokaj in an opinion piece for Koha Ditore.

Is the security situation good or not and who is entitled to make assessments about this? Is it enough for the President of Kosovo to say this, bearing in mind that he has no competencies for the security situation? Should one listen to OSCE reports or the statements of their officials? Is NATO entitled to make such assessments or is this maybe in the reserved competencies of UNMIK? Kosovo's problem seems to rest not only with the fact that everyone can make an assessments but everyone must also be entitled to do whatever he/she pleases. When responsibility is multiplied it in a way goes away and every time that we have something that happens automatically in Kosovo the international community accuses Kosovars 'for not cooperating enough with the international police to reveal crime' and it asks Kosovar leaders to commit more to the fight against crime. At the same time Kosovars claim that they don't have competencies, 'because security issues are in the reserved competencies of UNMIK', and they even criticize the international community that it hasn't done enough in this aspect. This vicious cycle continues to this day and the irony of Kosovo is that both parties can be right.

For example, the NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson is right when he says that organized crime is destroying Kosovo's future, but these words are not convincing when even KFOR soldiers, although from a country that is not a member of NATO, are caught in tobacco smuggling.

The security situation not only in Kosovo but also elsewhere is related to feeling safe. And it is difficult to say how many citizens feel safe in Kosovo when every week there are explosions, murders with political and ethnic backgrounds. UNMIK is still responsible for the police, but it seems that their entire success in Kosovo UNMIK officials compare with Milosevic's era and by telling us that now it is better than it was.

Could it really be any worse than this. UNMIK is behaving hypocritically in its assessments for the security situation, or in Albanian, it is behaving with two faces. When it's need to do that it says that the 'security situation is better than in several western countries' and proves this with statistics, and when it needs something else it presents Kosovo as a place of crime, where no one can control anyone, where witnesses are assassinated, and where there is ethnically motivated violence. The very same UNMIK that continues to say that the security situation in Kosovo is much better than in some western countries continues to send letters to The Hague tribunal demonstrating the opposite and claiming that it cannot justify the provisional freedom on bail of a Kosovar given the grave security situation in Kosovo. In fact, with the excuse of lack of security for witnesses, UNMIK officials are not allowing media to have access to the important part of trials. This was criticized even by the International Federation of Journalists seated in Brussels, and this proves that UNMIK in Kosovo is not building the principles for which it claims that it has come to build in Kosovo. Let us not even mention the boycott that UNMIK Police imposes on journalists by returning segregation to the Kosovar journalist scene, by giving information to some media and by preventing other journalists from attending press briefings in the offices of UNMIK Police.

If they cannot be more successful in the fight against crime in Kosovo, UNMIK officials should at least not try to deceive the public opinion in Kosovo and western politicians by the inaccurate interpretation of criminal statistics. Let them think well before saying something because they must not allow themselves to give two different opinions for one thing.

Shala: The assembly's abstention (Zëri)
Zëri carried an opinion piece by Blerim Shala who commented on the 'indolence of our politicians when it comes to dialogue'.

This is the ideal version of the majority of the important Kosovar politicians: not to be asked at all about the dialogue with representatives of Serbia and Montenegro, so they do not need to say yes or no; it appears that dialogue is imposed on them; if they are forced to enter the dialogue, public opinion should not be preoccupied with that; they shouldn't participate in dialogue, but somebody else, it is better if Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi participates with his ministers. But the reality is completely different from ideals of almost every Kosovar official.

Instead of focusing on something that will really happen - because all the most important western countries that had a primary role in the liberation of Kosovo are agreed on the dialogue and to gain as much as possible from UNMIK, particularly in enforcing government with new competencies, the majority of our politicians entered a game of whom to blame for the start of talks and who will lose or benefit from them.

It is known that our officials do not respect each other, but now it is also known that the level of distrust amongst them is higher. Therefore, this distrust has begun to rule in relations amongst them.

No matter what the topics in the talks that are expected to commence in October are, these talks have the role of preparing all factors for the phase of addressing the final status of Kosovo. For this reason, Kosovar officials must set aside their political games, prepare a genuine session of the Kosovo Assembly and demonstrate a political force and will. The Assembly should decide about the dialogue.

UNMIK (Kosova Sot)
Kosova Sot commented on UNMIK's role in the dialogue and also gave its analysis of why Kosovar institutions aren't equal with their Serb counterparts.

Local institutions are putting pressure on UNMIK, asking that the Kosovo delegation in the Prishtina-Belgrade dialogue should have full competencies. The delay of the transfer of competencies is also delaying the commencement of the dialogue, because the Albanian ministers are not intending to begin the dialogue with Serbs before having competencies on the fields that are to be discussed.

It will not be easy for SRSG Harri Holkeri to decide to transfer these competencies, because he will also be under pressure from Belgrade officials, who do not want to have a dialogue with a government that has competencies. However, in this case the Albanian pressure is legal, while the Serbian pressure has a political background and also is not legitimate. So the SRSG should decide now which party he will support. We should remind Holkeri that when former SRSG Hans Haekkerup drafted the Constitutional Framework, UNMIK had been saying that Kosovars should get the competencies on education, transport, finances, etc. But most of these competencies have not been transferred. The fact that the dialogue has become a question mark cannot be considered as a fault of the Albanian side, but as the inability and clumsiness of UNMIK to transfer competencies. Since the Thessaloniki summit the Kosovar side should have had clear determination on dialogue and not make statements that they support the dialogue without specifying the concrete demands that should be met in order to take part in the dialogue. However, it is a duty of UNMIK and its chief to transfer competencies as soon as possible. There is no more time for promises, but only concrete actions. Otherwise, the dialogue may be considered already failed, unless the government risks remaining in a 'political trap'.

Lambsdorff: Neither UNMIK nor Government can create new jobs! (Zëri)
In an interview for Zëri, UNMIK Pillar IV head, DSRSG Nikolaus Lambsdorff, was quoted as saying, 'We need to create new jobs, and neither Mr. Rexhepi's government nor UNMIK can create new jobs for the time being. What we can do is to create a more suitable environment for investments, and for this we don't need funds. We need a righteous administration and a 'bureaucracy' that helps and doesn't impede. The time has come for UNMIK and the Kosovo Government to cooperate more closely and to solve the major priorities of the country.'
What is your assessment of the current economic developments in Kosovo?
The situation is getting more difficult, but it is not hopeless. I think that the number one problem in Kosovo is the economic situation and the high unemployment rate. We have to create new jobs. Neither Mr. Rexhepi's government nor UNMIK can create new jobs. What we can do, and need to do, is to create a more suitable environment for investments. This is what we can do and should do together.

What is your comment on the obvious delays in development this year, after undeniable developments in the last two to three years?
I agree that since 1999 Kosovo has had undeniable progress. The main part of this development was financed by grants and funds from the international community. But certainly not all of it. As you surely know, many funds came from Albanians living abroad and this is still continuing. It is true that the investments of donors and the diaspora are declining, but there are still funds from donors. We have the European Agency for Reconstruction here, which will continue pouring funds into Kosovo. We have reached a new level that isn't much related to restructuring infrastructure, but with long-term economic development and this turns us back to economic investments. We don't need many funds to create a suitable environment for investments. We need a righteous administration and a 'bureaucracy' that helps and doesn't impede; we need a government that understand and supports this process, not only in the central level in Prishtina, but also in local levels, in municipalities in Kosovo. Like I said before, this is something that we are going to have to do together.

International aid is declining. On the other hand, Kosovo doesn't have its own funds. What is going to happen to Kosovo without funds? What is going to happen to the necessary infrastructure, the public services, and the energy sector…
With declining international aid, the pressure on us grows bigger. We have the Kosovo Consolidated Budget, which is financed by real sources. We have the budget surplus, and this rarely happens in other countries. But now we are in a situation when we must choose where we are going to spend the funds at our disposal. Kosovo cannot hope to have a modern infrastructure throughout the country. And we must all work in order to make Kosovo with its own basic services, such as having electricity round the clock. This means that the main task of UNMIK and the government is to identify the most important priorities for the time being. Things can become more difficult, but I think that we can move forward. I will repeat: UNMIK and the Government must cooperate.

Recently it was announced that Kosovo would benefit with an equal part of funds with other countries of the western Balkans from the €31.5 million aid that the European Union has allocated for these countries. However, Kosovo doesn't benefit from the loans of international financial institutions. How can there be economic development in a country in transition such as Kosovo without foreign loans?
It is difficult for the international community to give loans to countries with unresolved political status. We are currently working for this and we are looking into all possibilities to attract the necessary loans for Kosovo. There is hope that the obstacle of status can be overcome, but we are not expecting any fast effects. This process takes time. A country in transition can certainly be developed with foreign loans. However, loans from foreign countries can surely help such transition. At the same time, even though there is no such risk in Kosovo's case, we must be careful not to fall in any traps, because loans have to be returned someday.

Do you fear a social crisis, which according to analysts and concrete facts is knocking on Kosovo's doors?
You are looking at the situation from a general point of view. Yes, there is danger in some sectors. There are crisis in several parts, such as the mineworkers of Trepça…

You are considered one of people with the most knowledge of the situation in Kosovo, so what do you think is responsible for the loss of pace in the development of Kosovo?
I don't agree with this conclusion. I don't think that economic development is slowing down. Let's be honest, Kosovo's economy began its development after the war and in very difficult conditions. The assessment of visitors that come to Kosovo, amongst which is the EC Commissioner Chris Patten, is that there has been progress in Kosovo. People are maybe impatient and claim that things are going very slowly, but there is progress nonetheless.

Why is there still chaos in the context of competencies of internationals and locals and the consequences of this chaos? Do you agree that there have been delays in the transfer of competencies to locals, and when competencies are going to be more determined are local institutions going to have more responsibilities in the economy sector?
First of all, I don't think that there is chaos in the issue of competencies. And even though it is present from time to time, I think that it is still creative chaos. Responsibilities have been clearly defined in Resolution 1244 and the Constitutional Framework. UNMIK is determined to transfer competencies and authorities. It was always said that this is a process, it is ongoing and it has no end, the end cannot be seen.

Why are there delays in the transfer of competencies?
No, there are no delays; on the contrary there is progress in the transfer of competencies, however, the people don't always see the progress. For example: the manner in which UNMIK and Pillar IV cooperate with government is different from the cooperation of two-three years ago.

Kosovars are already involved in rumors that for the time being the Kosovo Trust Agency has become the government of Kosovo because of its unlimited competencies in the government, administration and management of property in Kosovo. How much truth is there to these rumors when it is known that you are chairman of the KTA Board of Directors?
Like you said, these are rumors. The Kosovo Trust Agency is very important for Kosovo's economic development and as you know the KTA deals with two very important issues: the privatization of socially owned enterprises. And there is no other way to handle socially owned enterprises other than privatization. Everyone agrees with this process, because it is the only way to enter the free market. And this is the reason why privatization has started and it is on a good path. The second issue handled by the KTA is the privatization of public enterprises. Not everything is going perfectly with public enterprises and this must be addressed immediately. Some public enterprises are very profitable and we must make sure that they remain a source of income in Kosovo. Therefore, the KTA is not governing Kosovo. There are both internationals and locals in the KTA board and they work together there.

Belgrade Media Update

Rugova steps up demand for Kosovo's independence (Beta)
Talks between Belgrade and Pristina would be easier had Kosovo first been granted independence, the province's president, Ibrahim Rugova, said in an interview published today. "It would be better if independence were recognized first. It would be far easier for us to launch talks afterwards," Rugova told German daily Süddeutsche Zeitung. Talks between the Serbian and Kosovo authorities are due to begin in mid-October in Vienna. Participants will not discuss the province's final status, but only matters of practical concern for both parties. Rugova claimed in today's interview that there existed "an understanding" within the European Union and the United States for Kosovo's aspiration to independence. "We practically have independence, the only thing we need now is formal recognition," said the president. Kosovo technically remains part of Serbia, but has been governed by a United Nations mission since the end of the war in July 1999.
Rugova repeated a warning that if Kosovo is not granted independence in the near future, "extremist forces will emerge with a call for all Albanians in the Balkans to unite within one state." He first made the statement in an interview with a Czech radio station two weeks ago. The president said that though the regime of Slobodan Milosevic was no longer in power in Belgrade, "the policy of claiming a right to Kosovo remains unchanged."

Belgrade rejects south Serbia Albanians for Kosovo talks (B92)
The ethnic Albanian community in southern Serbia will not be represented in the Belgrade delegation for talks with Pristina, Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Nebojsa Covic said yesterday. "They won't be part of our delegation, at least the way things stand at the moment, but we'll see. We are discussing the problems of Kosovo," Covic, the head of the Belgrade's Coordination Centre for Kosovo, told reporters in the southern Serbian town of Bujanovac.

CoE to discuss Kosovo (Beta)
The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly is to discuss Kosovo during its regular sitting tomorrow. Delegates will also discuss the drafting of a resolution on the human rights situation in the UN-governed province, Assembly president Peter Schieder told a press conference today. CoE Human Rights Commissioner Alvar Gil-Robles will submit a report to the Committee for Legal Issues and Human Rights. A request for a debate on the province was submitted by the head of the Serbia-Montenegro delegation, Dragoljub Micunovic.

Main Stories 29 September
· Mini: Kosovo is in danger from evil-minded individuals (Koha Ditore)
· Busy agenda to postpone talks until 22 October 22? (Zëri)
· Covic: Marovic, Zivkovic to participate in Belgrade delegation (Zëri)
· Svilanovic: Talks to last two to three years (Kosova Sot)
· Stoltenberg believes autonomy is the solution (Koha Ditore)
· EU Ministers to support start of dialogue (Koha Ditore)
· Kosumi: UNMIK should end its mission (Epoka e Re)
· Demaçi: Assembly and Government should resign (Kosova Sot)
· Spahija: There are Bridge Watchers and Status Quo Watchers (Koha Ditore)
· Lamsdorff: Neither UNMIK nor Government can create new jobs! (Zëri)
· Shala: The K-Assembly's abstention (Zëri)
· Palokaj: Who is entitled to assess the security situation in Kosovo? (Koha)

Kosovo Media Highlights

Mini: Kosovo is in danger from evil-minded individuals (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore runs an interview with the outgoing KFOR Commander, General Fabio Mini. '…As long as KFOR is present in Kosovo, be it even in symbolic numbers, there will be no return of Serbian forces here,' Mini was quoted as saying. [extensive coverage in Media Analysis]

Busy agenda to postpone talks until 22 October? (Zëri)
Citing 'reliable' sources, Zëri claims that the first meeting between Prishtina and Belgrade, scheduled for 15 October, will not be held due to the busy agenda of high-ranking EU and NATO representatives.

'After 15 October, many Kosovar leaders will participate in the consecration ceremony of Mother Teresa. Therefore, 23 October is being mentioned as a possible date for talks,' Zëri added.

Covic: Marovic, Zivkovic to participate in Belgrade delegation (Zëri)
Zëri reports that SRSG Harri Holkeri is to meet today with senior leaders in Belgrade, where he is expected to ask for a high level of representation in talks between Prishtina and Belgrade. Holkeri will meet with Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Zivkovic and, according to Serb media, he may also meet with the President of the Union of Serbia and Montenegro, Svetozar Marovic.

Zëri quotes Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Nebojsa Covic as saying that both Marovic and Zivkovic would be members of the delegation for Serbia and Montenegro.

Svilanovic: Talks to last two to three years (Kosova Sot)
Kosova Sot quotes Goran Svilanovic, Foreign Minister of the Union of Serbia and Montenegro, as saying that talks between Prishtina and Belgrade would commence in Vienna by mid-October. 'We are ready to start dialogue with Prishtina. This is a process that is going to last two to three years,' he said.

Stoltenberg believes autonomy is the solution (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports that the former UN Peace Envoy to the former Yugoslavia, Torvald Stoltenberg, will arrive in Kosovo today, after first visiting Belgrade and Skopje.

While in Belgrade, Stoltenberg was quoted as saying, 'I believe that the autonomy of Kosovo is the most realistic solution for the crisis in Kosovo. I think that this is the only realistic solution to avoid conflicts.'

EU Ministers to support start of dialogue (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports that the Foreign Ministers of the European Union will meet in Brussels to discuss a number of topics, including the situation in Western Balkans. According to the paper, the EU ministers are expected to give their full support to the start of dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade.

Kosumi: UNMIK should end its mission (Epoka e Re)
Epoka e Re carries an interview with Bajram Kosumi, member of the Kosovo Assembly Presidency and deputy chairman of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo. 'UNMIK is trying to find a new job for itself in Kosovo. I think that instead of dealing with the issue of dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, it would be better if UNMIK and Holkeri would start considering how to end UNMIK's mission in Kosovo,' Kosumi was quoted as saying. [full translation of the interview in Media Analysis]

Demaçi: Assembly and Government should resign (Kosova Sot)
In an interview for Kosova Sot, human rights activist Adem Demaçi was quoted as saying, 'The only response that would have meaning at this point, and end this prolonged game without a united position, would be for the [Kosovo] ssembly and the government to resign and tell the UNMIK chief to conduct talks with Coalition Povratak.'

'Every effort to find a solution is destined for failure. It would be wise if they all resigned, without any exceptions, so that the international community can see that the assembly and government are subject to the political will of the people and not to some structures that don't recognize the political will of Kosovo,' Demaçi added.

Epoka e Re reports Demaçi as saying that the upcoming talks in Vienna are aimed at 'returning Kosovo under Serbia'.

Spahija: There are Bridge Watchers and Status Quo Watchers (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports that although former SRSG Michael Steiner had issued an administrative order suspending the activity of municipal authorities in northern Mitrovica, Mitrovica MA chairman Faruk Spahija broke this 'embargo' yesterday by crossing the main bridge over the Ibar River and visiting the residents of the Miners Hill neighborhood.

Spahija reportedly told them that he knows that, apart from the Bridge Watchers who act freely make their situation difficult, 'there are also the watchers of the status quo that act within UNMIK and who intentionally postpone the solution of problems'. [more in Media Analysis]

Lambsdorff: Neither UNMIK nor Government can create new jobs! (Zëri)
In an interview for Zëri, UNMIK Pillar IV head, DSRSG Nikolaus Lambsdorff, was quoted as saying, 'We need to create new jobs, and neither Mr. Rexhepi's government nor UNMIK can create new jobs for the time being. What we can do is to create a more suitable environment for investments, and for this we need funds. We need a righteous administration and a 'bureaucracy' that helps and doesn't impede. The time has come for UNMIK and the Kosovo Government to cooperate more closely and to solve the major priorities of the country.' [full translation of the interview in Media Analysis]

Kosova Sot also carries an interview with Lambsdorff. 'I wouldn't say that the economic situation in Kosovo is chaotic. As you know, in 2004 we are going to have elections here, and I hope that this is not going to shift the attention of people from the real issues and problems in Kosovo, such as economic development. I am also certain that UNMIK and local institutions are going to be able to work together. We have a common goal,' he said.

Shala: The assembly's abstention (Zëri)
Zëri carries a front-page editorial by Blerim Shala who writes: 'No matter what the topics in the talks that are expected to commence in October are, these talks have the role of preparing all factors for the phase of addressing the final status of Kosovo. For this reason, Kosovar officials must set aside their political games, prepare a genuine session of the Kosovo Assembly and demonstrate a political force and will. The Assembly should decide about the dialogue.' [full translation in Media Analysis]

Palokaj: Who is entitled to assess the security situation in Kosovo? (Koha Ditore)
'The very same UNMIK that continues to say that the security situation in Kosovo is much better than in some western countries, continues to send letters to The Hague tribunal demonstrating the opposite,' writes Augustin Palokaj in an opinion piece for Koha Ditore. [full translation in Media Analysis]

Kosovo Press Headlines

Koha Ditore
Front page
· Gen. Mini: Kosovo is jeopardized by individuals with evil mind
· Spahija: There are 'Bridge Watchers' and 'Watchers of Status Quo'
· EU Ministers will support dialogue
· Loxhaj Hotel confiscated by communists is privatized by KTA

Other headlines
· EU police replace soldiers [fYROM] (3)
· Stoltenberg thinks that autonomy is solution [former UN Envoy] (3)
· Nixha: there were mistakes on both sides (4)
· Government has no money for increase in salaries (4)
· Privatization process in Macedonia excludes Albanians (5)
· Residents demand opening of cross-border point in Kapi (6)
· University of Prishtina admits students from Presevo Valley (6)
· Integration in NATO and EU determined by regional cooperation (7)
· Agreement for cooperation on security topics (7)
· Police: We don't know who began first (8)
· Angelo Boreli exchanged his son for a TV [Albania] (8)
· Heroes Day in Ferizaj (9)
· Inauguration of road between Zllakuqan and Leskoc cost €160,000 (9)
· Peja was empty town on Sunday (9)
· Palokaj: Who has the right to assess security situation in Kosovo? (10)
· Neudeck: Prague is real capital of Europe (11)

Zëri
Front page
· Might busy agenda postpone talks until after October 22?
· Neither UNMIK nor government can create new jobs!
· Shala: Assembly's abstention
· Covic: Marovic and Zivkovic will be part of Belgrade delegation
· Madeleine Albright on Europe
· Anamorava municipalities [Gjilan region] lead in weapons amnesty

Other headlines
· KPS, amongst biggest achievement in Kosovo (2)
· Boja meets ComKFOR Gen. Mini (2)
· Majko meets Tadic (2)
· Daci: Europe is changing itsview about the Kosovo issue (3)
· Montgomery: US supports moderate leaders (3)
· New crisis at Prishtina's main hospital (6)
· Spahija: 'Status Quo Watchers' operate within UNMIK (7)
· AAK is creating positive image with citizens (7)
· UNMIK facing blackmail from Ivanovic (7)
· Kosovo's right to self-determination is non-negotiable (7)
· Three party leaders call for support of Limaj's fund (8)
· Local government invests €357,000 from its budget (8)

Bota Sot
Front page
· One year after criminal act against Bota Sot
· Robertson, Solana, Scheffer will participate in dialogue on October 14
· Kosovo Assembly to reconfirm support for 1991referendum
· Attack on LDK activist Nazmi Bytyqi
· God will damn us if we sell our houses in northern Mitrovica
· Frischenlager breaks taboo and says Serbs are 6% in Kosovo
· Increase of quality provides possibility for Made in Kosova

Other headlines
· Gjetaj did not agree to talk to people who discriminated against Albanians (2)
· Buçpapaj: International community not prepared to discuss Kosovo issue (4)
· PSHDK is independent political entity (6)
· Budget is increased by €400,000 from property taxes (6)
· Krasniqi says 'stop' to all negative dilemmas (7)
· Moisiu invites Americans to invest in Albania (8)
· Baleta: Kosovo doesn't need adventures of Noli and Enver (9)
· Acceleration of reform is way to Europe [Macedonia] (10)
· Ostreni: Disarmament should have political elements [Macedonia] (11)

Kosova Sot
Front page
· Demaçi: Assembly and Government should resign
· Dialogue at Assembly's doors
· EU to decide today about dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade
· Lambsdorff: I've seen progress in Kosovo, I want it closer to Europe
· Serbia insists on regaining control over airspace
· Editorial: UNMIK

Other headlines
· President of European Parliament to visit Kosovo (2)
· Holkeri: You have my support (2)
· Daci: Changes in favor of Kosovo (2)
· Government asks Assembly for permission on dialogue (2)
· Svilanovic: Talks will last two or three years (3)
· Dialogue to begin on October 14 (4)
· Xhemajli: Union [Kosovo and Albania] presents optimal demand (4)
· Krga: Preparation for dialogue, critical period of security (4)
· Dialogue is not like a debate club at university (5)
· Dialogue will take place in tense atmosphere (5)
· Pro and con on week (6)
· Manufacturers and consumers know each other (8)
· KPC supports infrastructure of all communities (9)
· Spahija: We should show determination to stay on our land (9)
· Car market resembles an exhibition (10)

Epoka e Re
Front page
· Kosumi: UNMIK to finish mission
· When president demands legalization of anarchy
· Big violence in Gjilan: Plisat starts it, Intellectuals finish it [basketball]
· Everybody is ready for talks, K-Albanians still in a mist
· I gave my pension for Limaj

Other headlines
· Albanian President Moisiu meets Albanian community in Detroit (2)
· Demaçi: Aim of talks in Vienna, to put Kosovo under control of Serbia (2)
· Rosin: It is in the Albanians' interest to participate in talks (2)
· Judah: Major things will be done 'behinds the scenes' (2)
· Abramowitz: US role in Kosovo should not be diminished (3)
· Environment is regional challenge and requires regional solution (4)
· Americans reconcile Majko and Tadic (4)
· Kosovar women: Victims of trafficking, not prostitutes (5)
· Riza Halimi is part of crisis that he created (6)
· Holkeri call KPS a success story (6)
· Hysenaj escapes assassination (7)
· Krasniqi: We still need bravery and heroes (7)
· When police attempt to divide Fehmi and Xheva (7)
· Jarvenpaa assures that selling of Albanian property will not happen (10)

Belgrade Media Highlights

· Albanians decide to remove Covic from negotiations (Balkan)
· Dialogue threatens safety (Blic/Beta)
· Kosovo to be given autonomy (Blic/Beta)
· CoE to urgently debate situation in Kosovo (Vecernje Novosti)
· Holkeri on Kosovo (Glas/Tanjug)
· Ambassador Montgomery on events in southern Serbia (Politika/Tanjug)
· Tadic: Dialogue to be seriously prepared for (Glas/Tanjug)
· Zivkovic: We are not renouncing Kosovo (Glas/Srna)
· Holkeri to arrive in Belgrade on Monday (Politika/Tanjug)
· Rosin and Montgomery in southern Serbia (Politika/Beta)
· Covic: Without participation of southern Serbia (Politika/Beta)
· Covic: Belgrade is ready for dialogue (Danas)
· Assassination planned for Covic (Vecernje Novosti)
· Lokwie suppressed truth about Racak (Vecernje Novosti)
· How UNMIK privatizes Serbian companies (Glas)
· Kosovo government rebuttal (Balkan)

Albanians decide to remove Covic from negotiations (Balkan)
At an extraordinary session of the Kosovo Albanian government, it has been concluded to postpone in every possible way the commencement of Pristina-Belgrade talks scheduled for 14 October in Vienna. UNMIK Head Harri Holkeri has planned, apart from highest officials from Pristina and Belgrade, for high international community's officials to also appear at the gathering. However, the Kosovo government has adopted the recommendation of the American-Albanian lobby, and decided to deliver the request to Holkeri and the international community for the talks to be conducted at the level of equal delegations. This implies that talks should be attended by the Serbian president and the Kosovo president, the speakers of the Serbian Parliament and Kosovo Assembly, the foreign ministers and the president of the SaM state union. With the request for parity negotiation at the state level, Kosovo Albanians wish to achieve two goals: the first - to equalize in this way Kosovo with Serbia at the state level, and the second - to remove Covic from the negotiations.

Dialogue threatens safety (Blic/Beta)
The Head of the General Staff of the SaM Army, colonel general Branko Krga, has assessed in Nis that the preparations for commencing the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue is a critical period for safety in the region. "The commencement of the dialogue, in terms of the safety situation, is a critical period since, even in the past, extremists here and in Macedonia had tried with various provocations to gain political points," said Krga.

Kosovo to be given autonomy (Blic/Beta)
The former UN peace mediator for the former FRY Torwald Stoltenberg has stated in Belgrade that the autonomy of Kosovo is the only realistic solution for the Kosovo crisis. "I hope that autonomy is one of the most realistic solution to the crisis. I think this is also the only realistic solution with which conflicts in that region would be avoided," said Stoltenberg following talks with SaM Parliament Speaker Dragoljub Micunovic, stressing that this is his personal stand.

Council of Europe to urgently debate situation in Kosovo (Vecernje Novosti)
The Bureau of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has decided that the situation in Kosovo be urgently included on the agenda of the upcoming fall session of the Parliamentary Assembly in Strasbourg. The debate, according to unofficial announcements, should be held on Thursday, 2 October, the last day of the session in Strasbourg. The Bureau's decision followed after the letter sent by SaM Parliament Speaker Dragoljub Micunovic to the Parliament Assembly President Peter Schieder regarding the situation in Kosovo and the proposal for the MPs in Strasbourg to discuss this.

Holkeri on Kosovo (Glas/Tanjug)
UNMIK Head Harri Holkeri has stated that Kosovo's future lies in a modern, multi-ethnic Europe, and that Kosovo must be an equal member of the European society, but only when the set standards are fulfilled. At the ceremony of awarding diplomas to KPC members of the 26th class, the UNMIK head stressed that, in accordance with this, it was necessary to establish full rule of law, freedom and safety for all citizens.

Ambassador Montgomery on events in southern Serbia (Politika/Tanjug)
The US most harshly condemns the recent attacks of violence in southern Serbia and welcome the firmness of all those who favor a multi-ethnic, democratic society, US Ambassador to SaM William Montgomery said. "We cannot allow extremists to prevail. We welcome the fact that, despite some failures, significant progress has been achieved in southern Serbia," said Montgomery at the session of the Permanent Council of the OSCE in Vienna, as published on the State Department's web site.

Tadic: Dialogue to be seriously prepared (Glas/Tanjug)
The negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina should be prepared in a most serious manner, SaM Defense Minister Boris Tadic said in Ohrid adding that he was convinced that these negotiations would be successful. The preparations for the negotiations should be supported by the EU, the US and NATO, as the key authorities in resolving all political conflicts that the countries of Eastern Europe are facing, said Tadic.

Zivkovic: We are not renouncing Kosovo (Glas/Srna)
Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Zivkovic has told Sofia daily Trud that Belgrade will never renounce Kosovo. "Kosovo is an integral part of Serbia, which is guaranteed by UNSCR 1244 that is also a framework that regulates the situation in Kosovo," said Zivkovic. According to him, Serbia is ready to talks about all problems in Kosovo, but not about the independence of the province.

Holkeri to arrive in Belgrade on Monday (Politika/Tanjug)
UNMIK Head Harri Holkeri will arrive in Belgrade on Monday, the UN Office in Belgrade told Tanjug. KP caucus whip Dragisa Krstovic said that Holkeri would arrive in Belgrade on Monday to call on Serbia-Montenegro President Svetozar Marovic and Serbian Premier Zoran Zivkovic to head a Serbia-Montenegro delegation to the forthcoming talks with Pristina in Vienna on October 14.

Rosin and Montgomery in southern Serbia (Politika/Beta)
The Deputy Secretary of the US State Department for European and Eurasian issues Lawrence Rosin has assessed that it is in the best interest of Kosovo Albanians to take part in the talks on preparing the dialogue with Belgrade towards improving conditions for all people who live in that region. "After three years, when there was violence in this region, I am convinced in the great progress because Serbs and Albanians are working together here on various projects for a better life," Rosin told journalists in Bujanovac. US Ambassador to SaM William Montgomery said at a press conference in front of the "Vrelo" Hotel in the Bujanovac Spa that the US was ready to stay in the region and support the moderate forces in the reconciliation process. "When we arrived, we knew it would be a long and complex process. We will continue, together with the Serbian government, to resolve the problems," said the US Ambassador. US high officials have talked with Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Nebojsa Covic and CCK members about the current political and safety situation in the south of central Serbia and further development programs of the local infrastructure.

Covic: Without participation of southern Serbia (Politika/Beta)
Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Nebojsa Covic has denied that Albanian representatives from southern Serbia will be in the Serbian delegation that will negotiate with Kosovo Albanians on 14 October. During the visit in Bujanovac and the region together with American diplomats, he told journalists that he would not interfere in the KP decision as to who would they delegate to the Serbian negotiating team. He expressed satisfaction that SaM President Svetozar Marovic and Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Zivkovic would be in the state delegation for the upcoming negotiations.

Covic: Belgrade is ready for dialogue (Danas)
The Head of the CCK Nebojsa Covic has stated that "he doesn't know whether the dialogue will really commence on 14 October taking into account the problems faced by the UNMIK head with Pristina representatives." 23 October is being mentioned unofficially in Belgrade as the possible date for commencing talks. "Belgrade is completely ready for dialogue, but, due to the presence of high international representatives, I am worried with the verification of the participants to the dialogue. I wouldn't like, because of Mr. Solana, Robertson, Patten, eminent people from Pristina and Belgrade who will come, to have us read after several months, that there were also those at this first meeting in Vienna who had been accused of war crimes in the ICTY," said Covic.

Assassination planned on Covic (Vecernje Novosti)
It seems Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Nebojsa Covic is a constant target of Albanian terrorists, who were planning again two days ago an assassination on him. Knowing that Covic will travel to Presevo on Friday for talks with the representatives of the local authorities, extremists set up an ambush on the road from Bujanovac towards Presevo. One military patrol, however, found a rocket launcher only two hours before Covic's car arrived. The terrorists planned to hit his car with the launcher.

Lokwie suppressed truth about Racak (Vecernje Novosti)
Does the name Hans Lokwie mean anything to you? Most probably: nothing or so little that it looks like nothing. Well, this Lokwie, during the time when the western powers were preparing their own and world public for a preventive and alleged humanitarian war against our country, and with the manipulation of the "Racak case" - he was the OSCE representative in Kosovo and Metohija. Well, even though he knew all this at the time, or must have known at least following the expertise by Finnish pathologists, only the other day - perhaps to "save his own soul" as well - did he utter: that there was no massacre of Albanians in Racak, that there was no "genocide" nor "humanitarian catastrophe" in our southern Serbian province, and that "systematic, mass expulsion of Kosovo Albanians had commenced only when NATO started the air campaign." All this written in the Berlin "Tagezeitung." He even wrote a book entitled "Guidelines for a war."

How UNMIK privatizes Serbian companies (Glas)
Privatization, as it is being implemented in Kosovo and Metohija, is against all international standards, because it is done to the detriment of the companies, banks and expelled people who have worked in them, says Aleksandar Grkovic, the Chairman of the Association of the Trustees of property and other ownership rights in the province, and former director of "Metalac" from Janjevo. "All the reactions by the institutions from Serbia to UNMIK's privatization were left without an answer. That is why we have formed the Association. The Executive Board of the Association, stemming from world standards and norms, has made up a protection project of property and ownership rights in Kosovo and Metohija. We have precise evidence of the documentation to be collected by those interested. It will be a long and painstaking job, but I believe in good results. UNMIK has predicted a procedure of objections, although, after privatization. That is why it is necessary that all who consider their rights threatened to submit urgently documentation to UNMIK, and us because an answer must be given to such objections. There is a possibility to address a complaint to a special council at the Kosovo Supreme Court, and if the answer is negative, one should complain with the UN and EU institutions," explained Grkovic.

Kosovo government rebuttal (Balkan)
The Kosovo government has denied some Belgrade media reports that ethnic Albanian officials are making the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue conditional on the absence of Serbian Deputy Premier Nebojsa Covic from the Belgrade delegation. Government spokesman Ramadan Avdiju, advisor of Premier Bajram Rexhepi, said that the ministers were waiting for the green light from parliament and the Kosovo premier had earlier said that he and his ministers would choose a team of experts if the Kosovo parliament adopted a platform for talks.