Media Analysis 30 September 2003

• UNMIK experts and Austrian Govt begin preparations for talks (Zëri)
  
• Daci: Assembly will open door to Government for dialogue (Koha Ditore)
  
• Bajrami: Kosovo's path toward Strasbourg (Koha Ditore)
  
• Shala: Losing patience (Zëri)
  
• When Albanians eat dialogue (Kosova Sot)
  
• Franko Egro: Albanian politics and AKSH (Kosova Sot/Epoka e Re)
  
• MacKinlay: Why do all locals turn their backs on me (Koha Ditore)
  
• Shatri: Assembly will not agree to be a decoration in the EFC (Zëri)

Belgrade Media Update

• Intelligence officers dead in gun rampage (B92/Beta)
  
• Belgrade warns of "dramatic" situation in Kosovo (FoNet)
  
• Belgrade looking to discuss Kosovo returns (B92/Beta)
  
• CoE rules out stance on Kosovo independence (Beta)
  
• Labus advocates Serb entity in Kosovo (Beta)

UNMIK experts and Austrian Govt begin preparations for talks (Zëri)
Zëri reported that on the eve of the start of talks between Prishtina and Belgrade, UNMIK experts and the Austrian government have begun preparations for dialogue.

Citing reliable sources, Zëri reports that the office of SRSG Harri Holkeri has ongoing contact with international entities involved in the process of dialogue. Different sources have mentioned 14 and 23 October as possible dates for the start of talks. 'The date hasn't been determined yet. We are in contact with senior international officers to secure their participation in the meeting in Vienna,' UNMIK spokeswoman Isabella Karlowicz was quoted as saying.

On the other hand, a high-ranking official at the Austrian Foreign Ministry was quoted as saying, 'Technical experts at the Department for Balkans at the Austrian Foreign Ministry met yesterday morning in Vienna with experts from UNMIK to coordinate preparations for dialogue… We are going to have such meetings with UNMIK officials all week.'

'We are very proud that such important meeting for the region will be held in Vienna in the Hofburg Palace,' added the same official.

The same source also claimed that the Austrian government is interested in participating in the first meeting if Holkeri invites them. 'If Mr. Holkeri invites us we will be there,' concluded the source who said that until Friday the exact date of the first meeting in Vienna would not be known.

Daci: Assembly will open door to Government for dialogue (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reported that the response of Kosovo Assembly speaker Nexhat Daci to the Government on the issue of talks with Belgrade is that during the regular session on Thursday the assembly will open its doors to the government for talks with Belgrade.

'If we notice that games are being played with our government, we will insist on an end to talks. Every eventual agreement will be important for Kosovo only when the assembly has analyzed it and decided in the presence of the media,' he added.

Daci said he was going to insist that any eventual agreement be signed by the Kosovo Government and not by UNMIK, and he added that he would claim responsibility from the government for every phase of the dialogue with Belgrade.

Following the same issue, Zëri reported the assembly would give its permission to the government to begin technical talks with Belgrade and that at same time it would reserve the right to verify possible agreements.

Daci claimed that leaders and institutions have the full mandate to adopt a declaration for Kosovo as an independent and sovereign country. He also demanded the empowering of local institutions and government with additional competencies and vowed that Prishtina was willing to talk to Belgrade on practical issues, but not about the prime issues, such as the status of Kosovo.

'I support the demands of the Kosovo government for more competencies in order to participate and sign eventual agreements,' he said. 'If there are no competencies, then nobody could ask for responsibility from the government for the implementation of the achieved agreement.'

'The assembly will open the doors of dialogue to government on Thursday,' Daci said and added that the Kosovo government doesn't need to ask for assembly's stance. However, assembly reserves the right to verify a possible agreement.

Asked if he had been invited to attend the first meeting in Vienna, Daci said that nobody invited him, 'but if my counterparts go then so will I'.

Daci claims he has information that the US will attend talks because without the US, the dialogue is doomed to failure. 'Serbia signed hundreds of agreements before the war with the international community, until the US took the leadership role. Therefore, we are aware that the US is on board regarding these talks and if we notice any changes we will withdraw,' Daci said.

He added that talks are designed to occur in two stages, those for the technical issues with Belgrade and talks with the international community for recognition of the Kosovo's independence.

'There is no talk of dialogue with Serbia regarding the political future, because Kosovo is out of the Serbia and Yugoslavia sovereignty by their war,' Daci said.

All dailies also quote Daci as saying that within this mandate, Kosovar institutions would declare the independence of Kosovo.

Rugova: If independence isn't recognized, extremists will ask for a Greater Albania
Zëri and Koha Ditore carried an interview President Ibrahim Rugova gave to the German newspaper, Suddeutsche Zeitung.

What interests do Kosovar Albanians have in the upcoming talks with Belgrade?
The best thing would be for independence to be recognized. Maybe then it would be easier for us to participate in talks. Since the international community believes that talks on practical issues are valuable, then we will try that first.

You warn about the hesitation to recognize independence?
Yes, if the independence of Kosovo is not recognized soon, extremist forces will come up with the request for all Albanians in the Balkans to unite under one country. This would present a new problem.

During talks in Vienna in mid-October, Kosovar Albanians will nonetheless meet with different Serbs from those who participated in the Rambouillet Conference on the eve of NATO air raids over Yugoslavia.
Kosovo is different from what it was at that time. It is true that different people are in power in Belgrade. However, the requests of that policy have remained the same.

It is supposed that Belgrade wants to sell Kosovo at the highest price. What would this price be?
International aid and integration in Europe. This is a good price, the best one that they can get.

Is the international community building a consensus, which would then serve as a basis to recognize independence?
There is understanding of the will for independence in both the European Union and the United States. This is only a matter of time. We need formal recognition.

There is growing criticism among Albanian politicians vis-à-vis UNMIK. Do you agree with this?
I am self-restrained. This is not a conflict with UNMIK, but rather a conflict of interests, first of all, a more rapid transfer of competencies to Kosovar institutions. We need more rights in the field of economy, step by step, and also in security and foreign affairs.

Your liaison office in Tirana was shut down last year?
Yes, with the excuse that UNMIK has its liaison office there. Whereas we need such offices in Europe and the US. When we did something similar to this, by appointing Bob Dole as Honorary US Ambassador, which we also wanted to do in other European capitals, UNMIK was opposed to this.

Many Kosovar Albanians didn't show understanding when former KLA commanders, Fatmir Limaj and Rrustem Mustafa, were tried at The Hague and before international judges in Kosovo for war crimes.
Kosovo, like all other regional countries, must cooperate with the tribunal.

Bajrami: Kosovo's path toward Strasbourg (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore has an editorial by Agron Bajrami on the upcoming debate by the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly on the situation in Kosovo.

There is no better place to see the European past and future. Referred to as the European capital by its residents, the center of the French province of Alsace, which has changed rulers and administrators for centuries. Many wars were fought to gain control over Strasbourg. Even more losses were measured in victims and destruction. But all the destructions were followed by even greater constructions, regardless of who administrated the city, which was at times autonomous, at times part of Germany and at times part of France.

Today they say it belongs to Europe. To all in Europe.

And even we, Kosovars, are part of Europe, are we not?

The Council of Europe, similar to many other European institutions, is seated in Strasbourg. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe meets four times a year, in the European part of the city. The same scenario takes place this autumn. Deputies from 45 countries come here for one week to discuss the most important issues in Europe. This time, too, similar to the pre-war years, Kosovo is on the agenda. But unlike the pre-war years, this time along it is at the request of Belgrade. And unlike the years of repression, no Kosovar representative is present. None from UNMIK. Not even as an observer or a guest.

In fact, officially, Kosovo is a territory included in the Council of Europe. Through Serbia and Montenegro. Through the deputies sent by Belgrade. And all this is surely in the name of European integration. Without even asking the Kosovars. Because Kosovo is not a country. And all this in Strasbourg justifies the debate on Kosovo without the presence of Kosovars.

And if they want to sit at the Parliamentary Assembly and contribute to the debate on Kosovo, Kosovars must first sit in the Parliament of Belgrade. This is what the Regulation of the Council of Europe says. Because Kosovo is not a country.

If they want to use their rights as Europeans, Kosovars must first go through Belgrade. This is what the regulation says. Because Kosovo is not a country.

If Kosovars want to speak for themselves, to explain the situation and present arguments, they must do so through Belgrade. This is what the regulation says. Kosovo is not a country.

This is the reality and the language spoken in Strasbourg today. This is the language of European voices in Strasbourg today.

Many voices in Strasbourg, not a single voice from Kosovo.

As long as Kosovo is not a country.

The city of streets. This is the meaning of the name, Strasbourg. And walking on Strasbourg streets is similar to walking through European history. Everything reminds you of a defeat or a victory.

In war. In art. In science.

One day Kosovo, too, is going to be seen and recalled in one of the Strasbourg streets. As an all-European defeat or victory. And as ours, too, because even we, Kosovars, are Europe, aren't we?

Shala: Losing patience (Zëri)
In an editorial for Zëri, Blerim Shala claimed that Kosovars are constantly losing patience with the international administration.

There are a number of facts that confirm this conclusion. It is known that after Harri Holkeri's arrival in Kosovo, the Kosovo Government handed over the package of proposals for the acceleration of the process for the transfer of competencies to local institutions. The joint council of UNMIK and the Kosovo Government, which is so important for this process, has not met for months now.

If you recall, earlier this year UNMIK authorities had announced that 2003 would be marked by the transfer of competencies to locals. Members of the Kosovo Government said that they were going to wait another week for a response from Holkeri, and then decide what they will do if the SRSG ignores their requests. Knowing that Holkeri will spend this week, similarly to all the other days since he came to Kosovo, making preparations for dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade, then it would a real surprise if he found time to deal with the problem of competencies.

The Economic and Fiscal Council, also comprised of UNMIK and Kosovar officials, either doesn't function or it doesn't take into account the suggestions and proposals of the Kosovar side. Therefore, it is known that the Prime Minister of Kosovo and also other local representatives have said that they would no longer participate in this council.

Someone rightfully said that Holkeri, unlike his three predecessors, did not get a 'honeymoon' with the Kosovars. It is worth adding that Holkeri is going to have many more problems than Kouchner, Haekkerup and Steiner, if he continues to ignore the patience of local politicians.

When Albanians eat dialogue (Kosova Sot)
Kosova Sot commented on the issue of dialogue and its impact on Kosovar daily life. The paper concludes that unsuccessful dialogue could lead to a 'bad illness'.

In the morning, at lunch and dinner, we will hear news about the dialogue. We will awake with it and we will also sleep with it. This is unavoidable. Dialogue is our daily food. What concerns our ordinary people is the mysterious impact of this product. Is this good for us? The president says that he is not enthusiastic, the assembly speaker has other priorities, the prime minister is ready to try but with the permission of the assembly, party leaders share contradictory stances, while the analysts have begun to suspect the quality of this product. Those whom Albanians trust very much, the Americans, says that dialogue is for the benefit of both sides, while other Contact Group countries insist that 'this food' is significant for the daily lives of Kosovo citizens, and while EU ministers are fully convinced that the dialogue is necessary.

So, the circle is closed. We will carry on getting fed with this product, without knowing the exact meaning of it. We are experienced with such things, which we have eaten for few years, but this time we should go to the end of the dialogue. There is no doubt that Kosovars don't even dare to oppose the international community regarding this issue. Probably, the president together with the prime minister or any of them alone will go in Vienna to taste the dialogue. It is understood that each product has its own risks that may cause troubles in your body, but at the same time it could give you positive effects. One of these positive effects is the photo. One photo, only one photo, while eating dialogues. It is not important how it will be consumed, what is important is the photo. Our new food will remain in our backbone for long time, because we couldn't manage to find other food. It was said that dialogue would last two or three years. If this is the case, we could imagine what the situation is that we will have here. With the other side, we never had a successful dialogue. Therefore, this dialogue, as happened with other products that Albanians consumed, could be unhealthy. It could cause a very bad virus, which could develop into a bad illness.

Franko Egro: Albanian politics and AKSH (Kosova Sot/Epoka e Re)
Kosova Sot and Epoka e Re carried an opinion piece by analyst Franko Egro, who commented on the activities of the Albanian National Army (AKSH).

Egro said that the Albanian National Army is a concern and remains problematic for the future. 'Because if Albanians in all parts of the former Yugoslavia are not satisfied with the political parties or with their leaders, then the AKSH could gain more support,' added Egro.

If there is a hot debate in socio-political and philosophical circles in the world, it is the one that tries to differentiate between terrorism and patriotism. There are so many perspectives, interpretations and points of views that they don't really do anything else apart from adding confusion. And it cannot be any different than when, for example, in the eyes of the Palestinians, the Jihad and Hammas movements are patriotic, whereas Israel and the US consider them terrorists. And there are plenty such examples. It cannot be forgotten that while Albanians in Macedonia welcomed the emergence of the armed resistance, the most influential leaders on the continent labeled it as an 'act of thugs and bandits'. This position changed only after the 'people from the mountains' made public their project and it was assessed as being realistic.

No one disputes the value of the aphorism that the past can help you envision the future. It could be said that this also determines the development of a country. This is happening in Macedonia. The armed incident in the northern area in Karadak has caused tremors. It could be felt not just in the region but also farther afield, since people still remember the events in 2001 in the isolated village of Tanusha, near the border with Kosovo, which served as an overture to the crisis. The images, traces and consequences of the war of two years ago are still so fresh that they cannot be ignored. The AKSH, which claimed responsibility for the attack, is a unit comprised of radical elements, unlike other forces. This is obvious if one compares its aims and objectives. Ali Ahmeti and the NLA relied on a program of defending the rights of Albanians who were discriminated against, but they guaranteed territorial integrity. This was, in fact, the thesis that brought international support.The opposite is happening with the AKSH, which wants to create a United Albania, which would include Kosovo, the northern and western part of Macedonia, the Presevo Valley, the eastern part of Montenegro and certainly Albania. For the time being, it seems that this organization does not pose a serious threat to the escalation of a new conflict, especially now after the victory of the BDI in postwar elections when the Albanian public wants to give time to Ali Ahmeti and the Ohrid Agreement, which was guaranteed by the international community. And there is indeed progress… It seems that tolerance is winning.

But, as everywhere in the Balkans, reality also offers room to both sides of the coin, or to be more precise, to the extreme aspects. Albanians welcome changes and they want them to happen more swiftly. But that is difficult to achieve in a society where the mentality of the past, based on the theory of supremacy and discrimination, still runs deep. And the AKSH is feeding off this, and it is using the integration of former war leaders in the government to present itself as the sole protector of the 'real' interests of Albanians. And this military formation is not standing around doing nothing. The sequential attacks of its units in Presevo, Kosovo and Macedonia have provoked tensions, which were followed with swift reactions: UNMIK declared it a terrorist organization; authorities in Tirana arrested their political leader, Gafurr Adili; Swiss authorities banned him from living in Switzerland even though he had the status of a political refugee, while Serbian authorities claimed that they were not going to show tolerance. However, the concern for its activity has grown, given the fact that its actions can compromise the flow of political developments in the Balkans. They can damage the upcoming Serb-Kosovar dialogue, which already faces problems. The radicalization of society in Macedonia is also a possibility. In the meantime, it is difficult for analysts to assess its true force. Because it is a very secret organization. It is currently limited when it comes to political support. And there are many reasons for this. The first reason is related to the support that the majority of the public internally gave to the former NLA and its position in the latest elections. However, incidents in the northern part of the country have not resulted in visible solidarity with the AKSH.

Nonetheless, this organization is a concern and remains problematic for the future. Because if Albanians in all parts of the former Yugoslavia are not satisfied with the political parties or with their leaders, then the AKSH could gain more support. Analysts don't hesitate to say that there are going to be provocations. A harsh military intervention by Macedonian authorities would lead to growing resistance. Furthermore, if there are civilian victims, the situation will get completely out of hand.

MacKinlay: Why do all locals turn their backs on me (Koha Ditore)
In an interview for Koha Ditore, acting PTK General Director Eric MacKinlay said that it was not easy for him to run the Kosovo Post and Telecom (PTK) in a situation where all local directors have turned their backs on him and when the Ministry of Transport and Communications accuses him of boycotting the government.

MacKinlay reportedly agreed that PTK's position in negotiations with Monaco Telecom could have been better, 'however, he doesn't plan to suffer for it but instead is trying to work out the most suitable agreement for Kosovars'.

'It isn't necessarily said that we will be forever linked with Monaco. We are not signing new contracts with them; we are only extending the current contract until we find the new operator. For another nine months at the most,' MacKinlay said, adding that it would take at least nine months to finalize the tender for the operator. 'If the tender is announced next month, as we have planned, then the operator will be selected next February.'

MacKinlay reportedly refused to say if Avni Krasniqi and Leme Xhema continue to receive their salaries, despite the fact that they have been suspended. 'I refuse to comment on special cases,' MacKinlay was quoted as saying.

Shatri: Assembly will not agree to be a decoration in the EFC (Zëri)
Zëri reported that Kosovo Assembly's representative has withdrawn from the Economic and Fiscal Council.

Zëri quoted Haki Shatri, former assembly representative to the Economic and Fiscal Council as saying that the Kosovo Assembly has not agreed to be part of the EFC, which never considers proposals, suggestions and ideas of the local officials and makes decisions against the interests of Kosovar citizens.

Shatri, who is also chairman of the Assembly Committee on Budget Affairs, said that his withdrawal from the EFC was the final step and a sign of disagreement with decisions that are made against the interests of Kosovar citizens. 'They make decision on behalf of both the EFC and the assembly,' Shatri was quoted as saying.

EU spokeswoman Monique de Groot told the paper that the EFC was never officially informed that the assembly would withdraw. This is the only statement that UNMIK officials have made about the issue. De Groot also said that the assembly was still a member of the council, but Shatri rejected this.

Shatri said that local officials were dissatisfied with the allocation of the budget surplus at the Kosovo Power Corporation (KEK). He claimed that before the allocation of assets, local institutions asked for a report on the investment situation at KEK and a detailed plan on how the assets would be spent. 'By ignoring all these requests, they decided to allocate €17 million to KEK,' he added. He also said that the Secretariat was taking decisions in opposition to the Constitutional Framework. This infringes the Constitutional Framework, according to which the Ministry of Economy and Finances should have such competencies, according to Shatri.

'The Ministry of Economy and Finances just prepares materials for the EFC and the minister (Ali Sadriu) is there only as a decoration, or just as an official who prepares the materials, but the others make decisions,' he said.

By not being able to change something in order to respect local institutions, the assembly withdraws its representative because, 'it is not reasonable to use the name of the assembly as a participant in the council, while they decide without our will'.

The UNMIK legal office justification is that EFC is not determine by the Constitutional Framework and is not within the competency of locals, the paper reported.

The EFC is the highest financial and economic authority in Kosovo It is chaired by internationals, while representative in the assembly and the government are also members of the EFC.

Belgrade Media Update

Intelligence officers dead in gun rampage (B92/Beta)
A Serbian intelligence officer has shot dead four of his colleagues and wounded three others in a gun rampage in the central Serbian town of Nis, police have confirmed. The incident happened at 8.15 this morning in the Nis branch of the Security-Information Agency, which was previously located in the Kosovo capital Pristina. The perpetrator has been named as Vladimir Rovcanin, a security operative who had been active in province. He has been arrested. Eyewitnesses spoke of heavy automatic-rifle fire, before one man jumped out of a window. Rovcanin is then said to have walked out of the building, approached the man lying on the pavement and shot him in the head. The victims have been named as Radoje Novicevic, Momcilo Momcilovic, Tomislav Dragovic and Ana Radulovic, all of whom worked in the Security-information Agency Pristina department. Their injured colleagues are Rade Aksic, Nebojsa Vasic and Slavisa Delikravic. There is little news on their condition. Serbia's police minister blamed the trauma Rovcanin experienced in his work in Kosovo. "The horrible tragedy that has happened to all our colleagues in the Security-Information Agency should be of serious concern to us all", Dusan Mihajlovic told B92. "We as a society are slowly but surely facing the so-called Vietnam Syndrome, i.e. the fact that people who experience such trauma, not only in Kosovo, are now shooting and committing such horrible crimes for seemingly inexplicable reasons".

Belgrade looking to discuss Kosovo returns (B92/Beta)
BELGRADE -- Tuesday - Serbia's prime minister has insisted it is essential the upcoming dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade adequately address the issue of repatriation. "We are ready to make our contribution to this, but also important is the readiness of Kosovo Albanian leaders to do their part, most of all to guarantee the safety of Serbs and other non-Albanians currently living in the province," Zoran Zivkovic told B92 following talks yesterday evening with the head of the UN mission in Kosovo, Harri Holkeri. "There is no problem with the desire of Serbs to return to Kosovo - they want this. The only question is where they return to, in what numbers and when. This depends on the international community and the Albanian side." The prime minister said that Holkeri would continue talks with Kosovo Albanian leaders over the next few days, and then inform the Serbian Government on their outcome. Belgrade will then present its final stance on dialogue with Pristina. Talks are expected to begin in Vienna in mid-October. Holkeri explained yesterday that the first meeting would be brief, and provide both sides the opportunity to present their stands. He reiterated that talks would cover only practical issues - energy, security, traffic, telecommunications and missing persons. Zivkovic confirmed for B92 that Serbs in Kosovo would be represented in the Pristina delegation, but that their interests would be represented by the Belgrade side. Holkeri received the backing of the European Union yesterday, which issued a statement emphasizing the importance of starting talks as soon as possible.

The fifteen foreign ministers backed the proposal to discuss practical issues before any mention of the province's final status. Nebojsa Covic, the head of Belgrade's Coordination Centre for Kosovo, played down expectation ahead of talks. "We'll get together, the dialogue will begin according to procedure, and then a process will begin that won't finish quickly," he told Serbian state television. "It is very important that technical issues are not politicized and that they are not linked to the resolving of Kosovo's final status. There are no negotiations because we have nothing to negotiate about," he said, adding that the talks were an opportunity for both sides to show they are capable of resolving problems through dialogue.
Prime Minister Zivkovic told reporters last night that he inquired about the investigation into the killing of two Serb youths in the Kosovo town of Gorazdevac in August, as well as the murder of a teacher in Gnjilane. The UN governor, he said, said only that the investigations were underway but had failed to produce any concrete results as yet.

CoE rules out stance on Kosovo independence (Beta)
STRASBOURG -- Tuesday - The Council of Europe this morning ruled out taking a stance on Kosovo's final status, ahead of a debate on the situation in the province. Secretary-General Walter Schwimmer told a press conference in Strasbourg that the CoE's stance is in line with United Nations Security Council resolution 1244 under which the province is governed. Schwimmer called for the Human Rights Convention, the Convention on the Protection of National Minorities and the Convention on the Prevention of Torture to be applied and honored in Kosovo. He said he expected the technical negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina "to help this process."

Labus advocates Serb entity in Kosovo (Beta)
BELGRADE -- Tuesday - G17 Plus leader Miroljub Labus has called for the creation of separate entities within Kosovo as the only way to protect the Serb minority. In an interview published in today's edition of the Vienna Standard, Labus, a former Yugoslav deputy prime minister, said that the United Nations mission had failed to provide "a satisfactory level of security", and that decentralization was the only answer. At least seven Serbs have been killed in the UN-governed province since June, including two Serb youths shot dead whilst bathing in the village of Gorazdevac in August. Around 180,000 Serbs fled Kosovo fearing reprisals after the end of the war in July 1999. So far this year just over 1,000 have returned. Labus, whose G17 Plus has become a major rival to the Democratic Party, accused other politicians in Belgrade of toughening their rhetoric on Kosovo in order to win the nationalist vote in November's election for Serbian president.

· Main Stories 30 September
· Daci: Assembly will open door to Government for dialogue (Koha Ditore)
· Holkeri: First meeting will be very brief (Koha Ditore/Zëri)
· Prishtina and Belgrade to meet at highest levels? (Zëri)
· UNMIK experts/Austrian Govt have begun preparations for talks (Zëri)
· Positions of K-Albanian political parties on talks with Belgrade (Koha Ditore)
· Covic: A long process awaits us after technical issues (Koha Ditore)
· Rugova: If independence isn't recognized, extremists will ask for Greater Albania (Zëri)
· Richard Holbrooke to visit Kosovo on Saturday (Zëri)
· CoE Parliamentary Assembly to discuss situation in Kosovo today (Koha)
· Bajrami: Kosovar path toward Strasbourg (Koha Ditore)
· Shala: Losing patience (Zëri)
· MacKinlay: Why all locals turned their backs on me (Koha Ditore)
· Jurgen Mendricki leaves post at Kosovo Trust Agency (Koha Ditore)

Kosovo Media Highlights

Daci: Assembly will open door to Government for dialogue (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports that the response of Kosovo Assembly speaker Nexhat Daci to the Government on the issue of talks with Belgrade is that during the regular session on Thursday the assembly will open its doors to the government for talks with Belgrade. In the meantime, the assembly will play the verification role in this process.

'If we notice that games are being played with our government, we will insist on an end to talks. Every eventual agreement will be important for Kosovo only when the assembly has analyzed it and decided in the presence of the media,' he added.

Daci said he was going to insist that any eventual agreement be signed by the Kosovo Government and not by UNMIK, and he added that he would claim responsibility from the government for every phase of the dialogue with Belgrade.

All dailies also quote Daci as saying that within this mandate Kosovar institutions would declare the independence of Kosovo.

Holkeri: First meeting will be very brief (Koha Ditore/Zëri)
Koha Ditore and Zëri carry reports from SRSG Harri Holkeri's visit to Belgrade yesterday. The papers quote Holkeri as saying that the first meeting between Kosovar and Serbian representatives would be very brief and that it would be an opportunity for both parties to present their positions.

'The meeting will be brief. Both parties will present their positions and I hope that they will focus on practical issues, such as energy, security, communication and missing persons,' Holkeri was quoted as saying.

Epoka e Re, which also carried a report on the visit, claims that Holkeri's role hasn't been clarified even in Belgrade.

Prishtina and Belgrade to meet at highest levels? (Zëri)
Citing senior international and local sources, Zëri reports that at the first meeting with the delegation of the Union of Serbia and Montenegro, the Kosovar delegation will be represented at the highest level.

The same international sources added that President Ibrahim Rugova, Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi, Assembly Speaker Nexhat Daci, representative of non-Serb minorities at the assembly, Nafije Gas, and the SRSG's Coordinator for Returns, Milorad Todorovic, will be travelling to Vienna to attend the first meeting.

UNMIK experts and Austrian Govt have begun preparations for talks (Zëri)
Zëri quotes a high-ranking official of the Austrian Foreign Ministry as saying, 'Technical experts at the Department for Balkans at the Austrian Foreign Ministry met yesterday morning in Vienna with experts of the United Nations Mission in Kosovo to coordinate preparations for dialogue… We are going to have such meetings with UNMIK officials all week.'

Positions of K-Albanian political parties on talks with Belgrade (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore carries a report on the positions of Kosovar Albanian political parties on the issue of upcoming technical talks with Belgrade representatives.

'The lack of competencies is the chorus of the three biggest political parties, LDK, PDK and AAK; while the two minor parties, which also participate in the Kosovo Assembly, claim that dialogue with Belgrade implies putting Kosovo back under Serbia,' Koha Ditore reports.

Covic: A long process awaits us after technical issues (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports that Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Nebojsa Covic rejected the possibility of Albanians from Presevo Valley being members of the Serbian delegation that will meet with Prishtina representatives in Vienna.

'This would only distance us from a solution, but I understand these frustrations, because behind us we have several years in which bad things have happened to both sides,' Covic added.

Rugova: If independence isn't recognized, extremists will ask for Greater Albania
Zëri and Koha Ditore carry an interview that President Ibrahim Rugova gave to the German newspaper, Suddeutsche Zeitung. 'If the independence of Kosovo is not recognized soon, extremist forces will come up with the request for all Albanians in the Balkans to unite under one country. This would present a new problem,' Rugova was quoted as saying.

Richard Holbrooke to visit Kosovo on Saturday (Zëri)
Citing reliable international sources, Zëri claims that former US diplomat Richard Holbrooke and a group of 10 or 12 politicians and analysts will arrive in Kosovo on Saturday. The same sourced told Zëri that during his stay in Prishtina, Holbrooke would meet with several officials; however, no names were mentioned.

CoE Parliamentary Assembly to discuss situation in Kosovo today (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports that with a majority of votes, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has adopted the request of the Belgrade delegation to discuss the overall situation in Kosovo. Koha claims that the debate will last one hour but that it will not be concluded with an official document.

Bajrami: Kosovar path toward Strasbourg (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore has an editorial by Agron Bajrami on the upcoming debate by the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly on the situation in Kosovo.

'Talks are being held again for Kosovo and without the presence of Kosovars,' Bajrami writes. 'In fact, officially, Kosovo is a territory included in the Council of Europe. Through Serbia and Montenegro. Through the deputies sent by Belgrade. And all this surely in the name of European integration. Without even asking the Kosovars. Because Kosovo is not a country. And all this in Strasbourg justifies the debate on Kosovo without the presence of Kosovars'. [full translation in Media Analysis]

Shala: Losing patience (Zëri)
In an editorial for Zëri, Blerim Shala claims that Kosovars are constantly losing their patience with the international administration. 'After Harri Holkeri's arrival in Kosovo, the Kosovo Government handed over the package of proposals for the acceleration of the process for the transfer of competencies to local institutions. The joint council of UNMIK and the Kosovo Government, which is so important for this process, has not met for months now,' Shala writes. 'The Economic and Fiscal Council, also comprised of UNMIK and Kosovar officials, either doesn't function or it doesn't take into account the suggestions and proposals of the Kosovar side. Therefore, it is known that the Prime Minister of Kosovo but also other local representatives have said that they would no longer participate in this council.'

'Someone rightfully said that Holkeri, unlike his three predecessors, did not get a 'honeymoon' with the Kosovars. It is worth adding that Holkeri is going to have many more problems than Kouchner, Haekkerup and Steiner, if he continues to ignore the patience of local politicians,' Shala added.

MacKinlay: Why do all locals turn their backs on me (Koha Ditore)
In an interview for Koha Ditore, acting PTK General Director Eric MacKinlay said that it was not easy for him to run the Kosovo Post and Telecom (PTK) in a situation where all local directors have turned their backs on him and when the Ministry of Transport and Communications accuses him of boycotting the government. [more in Media Analysis]

Jurgen Mendricki leaves Kosovo Trust Agency post (Koha Ditore)
Koha Ditore reports that as of Tuesday the Kosovo Trust Agency will once again be without a general manager because Jurgen Mendricki, who has held this position for six months, is returning to Germany. The paper claims that no official information has been given on the reasons for his departure, but 'when he came to Kosovo, he said that he was not going to stay here for more than six months'.

Kosovo Press Headlines

Koha Ditore
Front page
· Daci: Assembly will open doors of dialogue for government
· Why have all the locals boycotted me [Eric MacKinlay]?
· Regardless of comments, all major parties are for dialogue
· Rugova demands urgent adoption of law on concessions/foreign investments
· Holkeri: First meeting will be very short

Other headlines
· Strasbourg to discuss Kosovo today [Euro Parliament] (3)
· Everybody could benefit from the talks (3)
· Prishtina/Belgrade are invited to meet Thessaloniki summit obligations (4)
· Guardia Di Finanza says investigations at PTK will last a long time (4)
· Rosin: Only dialogue will work (4)
· EU gives green light to mission in Macedonia (4)
· Jurgen Mendricki leaves KTA job (5)
· Municipality and KFOR give priority to infrastructure (6)
· Municipality is talking about major projects (6)
· U. of Tetovo will listen to internationals, but remain in existing premises (7)
· Moisiu: Greece shouldn't infringe Albanians' right (7)
· Family sent him to work, he returned in a coffin [Albania] (8)
· Renovation of Shtime institution [mentally ill] doesn't end mistreatment (8)
· Municipal secretary is brutally beaten (9)
· Bajrami: Kosovar way in Strasbourg (10)
· Mini: Security in Mitrovica has improved (12)

Zëri
Front page
· Daci: Assembly will open doors of dialogue for government, but will not tolerate manipulation
· Parliamentary parties took around €2,000,000 from Kosovo budget
· Shala: Loss of patience
· Holbrook visits Kosovo
· EU supports opening of dialogue in Vienna
· UNMIK/Austrian FM experts begin technical preparations for dialogue
· Rugova: Without independence, extremists will demand Greater Albania

Other headlines
· Holkeri: First meeting will be very short (2)
· Prishtina and Belgrade will meet at highest political levels? (3)
· Mini: Decrease of KFOR troops means we trust residents (4)
· Kox to meet with UNMIK and Kosovo institutional leaders (4)
· Shatri: Assembly will not agree to be decoration for EFC (5)
· Return of electricity reductions: Three hours on and three off (5)
· Kosovo metal workers are dissatisfied with privatization process (6)
· Code of ethics determines behavior of Kosovar judges (6)
· Three houses are raid, three Albanians arrested [Presevo Valley] (6)
· Report from family of the hero, Indrit Cara [Albania] (7)
· Mini: Security situations is improved (8)
· Lipjan: PDK supports judges finding perpetrators (8)
· Haliti: Nobody has the right to sign for less than independence for Kosovo (9)
· PM Rexhepi inaugurates new school (9)

Bota Sot
Front page
· Adoption of two laws is required
· Norwegian Red Cross assists Kosovo
· Who is the new COMKFOR?
· It is mistake if government always demands license from Assembly
· President of the European Parliament to visit Kosovo
· Gen. Mini, a senior NATO officials who fought crime in Kosovo

Other headlines
· Reminiscences of Kouchner, Haekkerup and Steiner (2)
· Canada wants to deepen cooperation with Kosovo (2)
· Daci is optimistic about Kosovo's independence (2)
· Mehmetaj: Intellectuals in Kosovo (3)
· Even exhibition doesn't raise interest in domestic products (5)
· Confirmation of highest EU level participation (5)
· Local institutions should be more present in privatization process (7)
· Judges should be correct in court by applying international standards (7)
· Inauguration of new ambulanta (7)
· Advice for history teachers (8)
· Baleta: Why Albanians aren't prepared for dialogue [Albania] (9)
· EU begins police mission in Macedonia (10)
· Robertson: Articles against NATO are stupidity (11)

Kosova Sot
Front page
· Daci opens door to Rexhepi
· US put pressure on Kosovars for dialogue with Belgrade
· Holkeri: Marovic and Zivkovic will lead Serbian delegation
· Rugova is not enthusiast to talk to Serbia
· Daci and Rexhepi discuss on dialogue
· Albanian policy and AKSH
· Stoltenberg is post-FRY artifact
· Editorial: When Albanians eat dialogue

Other headlines
· EU supports dialogue (2)
· Covic: Presevo Valley Albanians will not participate in dialogue (2)
· President demands adoption of two laws [concessions/foreign investments] (4)
· Daci: KFOR will be in Kosovo for long time (4)
· Kosovo is a regional issue (4)
· New Canadian Liaison office chief to meet with Daci (4)
· Mini: Security situation in Mitrovica has improved (6)
· How to apply code of ethics in judiciary? (6)
· Clear future for developing healthcare in Kosovo (6)
· How long should KTA wait to take decisions? (7)
· Who will head the PTK? (7)
· Rugova Hotel workers suspect manipulations during privatization (8)
· Privatization of enterprises leave directors without money (8)
· Pesticides are key link to having good harvest (8)
· Inspectors' efficiency (9)
· Will classes begin in unlicensed schools? (9)

Epoka e Re
Front page
· Is Prishtina hostage of Sami Hamiti?
· Municipal president seeks school in exchange for weapons
· AKSH doesn't succeed in arousing the passions of Albanians
· Sahatçiu: Privatization process has begun to resemble a circus
· Adem Jashari was disappointed by promises of Bukoshi, Gagica /Çeku
· Moore: Belgrade should know that Kosovo is lost to it
· Egro: Albanian policy and AKSH

Other headlines
· President of European Parliament to visit Kosovo (2)
· Holkeri does not clarify his position even in Belgrade (2)
· Assembly will open doors of dialogue to government on Thursday (3)
· Municipalality secretary is brutally beaten (3)
· Bildt: Entire region should be included in talks (3)
· Rugova says 'yes' to talks if Serbian delegation is chaired by Marovic (4)
· Workers demand return of Leme Xhema (5)
· Conclusion of two international exhibition in Prishtina (5)
· Judges should be correct towards parties in courts (6)
· Albania is a place of white meat [prostitution] (7)
· Bertucchi: Security and freedom of movement have improved [KFOR] (8)
· Women may influence changes in current situation (8)
· Minister of Economy and Finances Ali Sadriu 'escapes' municipal officials (8)

Belgrade Media Highlights

· Holkeri in Belgrade (Danas/Beta)
· EU supports Belgrade-Pristina contacts (Politika/Tanjug)
· Council of Europe discusses Kosovo (Balkan)
· Solana at the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue if it begins on 14 October (Vecernje Novosti/Tanjug)
· Covic to head the Belgrade negotiating team (Glas/Tanjug)
· Daci: We will pronounce independence (Vecernje Novosti/Tanjug)
· Rugova on negotiations with Belgrade (Glas/Beta)
· Rattel took over duty in Kosovo (Glas/Beta)
· Covic's reaction to the news on assassination attempt (Glas/Fonet)

Holkeri in Belgrade (Danas/Beta)
UNMIK Head Harri Holkeri, who has arrived in Belgrade for one more round of talks with the Serbian authorities within the preparations for the beginning of the dialogue on Kosovo, announced for 14 October in Vienna, met immediately upon arrival with the ambassadors of the Contact Group member-countries - the US, Russia, Great Britain, France, Germany and Italy. It is envisaged for the UNMIK head to meet with Nebojsa Covic and Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Zivkovic, but the meetings have not been confirmed until the conclusion of this issue.

EU supports Belgrade-Pristina contacts (Politika/Tanjug)
The EU Council of Ministers has called upon all parties involved in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina to cooperate as per an agreement achieved at the Summit EU-West Balkans in June, emphasizing that the Union will continue to support that process together with international partners. We are fully supporting UNMIK Head Harri Holkeri in his efforts to implement the "standards before status" policy on the basis of UNSCR 1244 on Kosovo -it has been pointed out in the conclusions on West Balkans, which were adopted by the EU Council of Ministers at the beginning of two-day
meeting in Brussels. These conclusions underlined the importance of full implementation of the Action Plan on harmonization of economic systems of SaM member states, as well as coordination of certain remarks of the European Commission - all that in the function of positive conclusions of the Feasibility Study as a basis for negotiations on entering the Agreement on Stabilization and Association of SaM with the EU.

Council of Europe discusses Kosovo (Balkan)
SaM Parliament Speaker Dragoljub Micunovic is traveling to Strasbourg to hold an introductory speech on the situation in Kosovo. He will also call on the MPs of the CoE's Parliamentary Assembly to adopt the recommendations on the human rights situation in Kosovo, proposed by the permanent delegation of the SaM Parliament in the Council of Europe. Following an introductory speech by Micunovic, as announced in Belgrade, the CoE's Parliamentary Assembly is to discuss the situation in Kosovo, after which Micunovic will meet with the CoE's Secretary General Walter Schwimmer. This will be the first time for some topic, at the request of SaM, to be urgently placed on the agenda on the CoE's Parliamentary Assembly.

Solana at the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue if it begins on 14 October (Vecernje Novosti/Tanjug)
The EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Safety Javier Solana will attend the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue if it is held on 14 October, diplomatic sources told Tanjug in Brussels. The same sources state that if the date of this dialogue would be moved for some other day, then Solana's presence would not be certain in that case, due to his over-businesses. The EU foreign ministers have welcomed the beginning of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, and gave full support to UNMIK Head Harri Holkeri.

Covic to head the Belgrade negotiating team (Glas/Tanjug)
Serbian Premier Zoran Zivkovic said that head of the CCK and Serbian Deputy Premier Nebojsa Covic would head the team for talks between Belgrade and Pristina to be held in Vienna on October 14. Zivkovic said that it was the "desire of the international factor" and Belgrade to have a higher level of talks, as a proof that intentions were serious, so that he, as the Serbian premier, but also the premier of Kosovo, would be present at the start of the dialogue.

Daci: We will pronounce independence (Vecernje Novosti/Tanjug)
Pristina will not talk with Belgrade on Kosovo's final status and we will pronounce independence before the end of the mandate of the interim institutions, Kosovo Assembly Speaker Nexhat Daci said in Pristina. Daci told journalists he supported the dialogue with Belgrade, adding that talks should be conducted in two phases. The first phase refers to the practical issues, and the provincial government will present the Kosovo side during the negotiations, said Daci. Daci mentioned UNMIK Head Harri Holkeri should not sign possible agreements with Serbia, but Kosovo Premier Bajram Rexhepi. The Kosovo Assembly Speaker said that Belgrade should be "totally excluded" from the second phase, this being Kosovo's status, stressing that this issue would also be discussed with SC officials.

Rugova on negotiations with Belgrade (Glas/Beta)
Kosovo President Rugova has warned that if Kosovo is not granted independence in the near future, "extremist forces will emerge with a call for all Albanians to unite within one state." Talks between Belgrade and Pristina would be easier had Kosovo first been granted independence, Rugova, said in an interview told German daily Ziedeutsche Zeitung . "It would be better if independence were recognized first. It would be far easier for us to launch talks afterwards," Rugova said. Rugova claimed that there existed "an understanding" within the EU and the US for Kosovo's aspiration to independence. "We practically have independence, the only thing we need now is formal recognition," said the president.

Rattel took over duty in Kosovo (Glas/Beta)
French Brigadier General Bernard Rattel has taken over duty from General Marc Bertuci, and thus became the 14th Commander of KFOR's Multi-National Brigade for northeast. The ceremony of the takeover, which was performed on the main bridge on the Ibar River, was attended by KFOR Commander Fabio Mini, representatives of UNMIK and Kosovo interim institutions and local authorities. General Bertuci has stressed that the responsibility zone of the north-eastern KFOR brigade has two specifics - one, that it is the center of the economy of northern Kosovo, with the industrial complex Trepca, while the other stems from the fact that this region has the largest multi-ethnicity in the province. He said at this gathering that the crime rate in that part of Kosovo was the lowest.

Covic's reaction to the news on assassination attempt (Glas/Fonet)
The Head of the Coordinating Body for southern Serbia Nebojsa Covic has stated that he doesn't believe an assassination on him had been prepared, although he said he found out that the police found a rocket launcher on Friday prior to his departure for Presevo. Covic said he would not pay attention to this, although it was obvious that there were people in the south of Serbia who wished in that way to cause media attention. This is the same as with ANA's graffiti. I simply will not pay attention and the interest will stop, said Covic.