17 February 2003, Monday Edition

CONTENTS

Steiner confidentially meets Serb PM Djindjic (Zëri)

Zëri's diplomatic sources in Belgrade have informed that UNMIK chief administrator Michael Steiner had a closed meeting in Belgrade with Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic. The meeting was before Steiner went to New York where he reported on the current situation in Kosovo.

Sources inform that Steiner asked Djindjic why he started with such sturdiness to discuss the Kosovo problem and why does he insist to open talks this year on Kosovo's final status.

In the meeting with Steiner, Djindjic has repeated his stance which is more or less known to Kosovar public. Serb Prime Minister is convinced that Serbian politics should remove Kosovo from the agenda, because on the contrary Serbia will remain Kosovo's hostage. Steiner notified him that UNMIK and main western countries oppose Djindjic's approach.

The source said that Steiner and Djindjic are old acquaintances therefore Steiner believes that he will understand the background of the actions of the Serb politician, who in the last two months managed to take the 'helm' of the Serb policy toward Kosovo. This was done by fully removing Vojislav Kostunica the Yugoslav President, from current politics and marginalizing his deputy Nebojsa Covic coordinator for Kosovo.

Western sources evaluate that Djindjic will act according to the space he will have for maneuvering and manipulating. It is true that Djindjic in contacts with western diplomats in essence has said that he isn't interested in Kosovo and that his new policy is among others a consequence of the fact that Serb nationalism is still string in Serbia.

There are expected elections in Serbia this year, and Djindjic is counting that his preoccupation with Kosovo would bring him new votes, mostly from Kostunica voters or maybe even Seselj who is soon to go to the Hague to answer war crime charges.

UNMIK gives way to Nexhat Daci (Koha Ditore)

Koha Ditore carries an article that says that in the attempt to avoid confrontation with Kosovo institutions, UNMIK considers that it is better not to react to the aims announced by Kosovo Assembly, including Nexhat Daci's most recent announcement that Assembly can decide not to send laws to the SRSG for approval.

'If UNMIK continues not to sign bills, Assembly will not send any law for signature' said Daci on Friday evening on a TV interview.

UNMIK spokesperson Simon Haselock said on Sunday that laws could become laws only after they are signed by SRSG. 'Laws have worldwide validity only if they are made based on Constitutional Framework' he was quoted as saying in Koha Ditore. He at the same time refused existence of confrontation between UNMIK and institutions dealing with this issue. 'As far as I know there are only two laws that are stopped, because they are returned to the Assembly' reminded Haselock, adding that in the meantime UNMIK is decisive to speed up the process of transferring competencies.

Haselock confirmed that Kosovo Assembly still hasn't handed over the new Regulation of work to UNMIK, which also has to be signed by SRSG. Despite this both UNMIK and OSCE have so far given way to Assembly.

OSCE spokesperson Sven Lindholm said that monitor Rebecca Kilhefner is monitoring violations in Assembly work even with the old regulation, but with the new one as well, which OSCE hasn't still received officially. OSCE officials also clarify that it belongs to Nexhat Daci to make public the reports of the monitor which are first given to Steiner and then to Daci; however Daci hasn't given public attention to any of the reports until now.

Daci's announcement opposing UNMIK made on Friday is the second of this nature. Some time ago Daci had criticized Steiner in an interview for Radio Free Europe, saying that he has misunderstood Kosovar hospitality.

Unofficially in UNMIK this announcement was considered as Daci's personal movement aiming to increase his importance.

In the beginning of last year, Daci was the only elected Kosovar official, and thus he had become the main figure on Kosovar political scene. He lost this role as PM and president gradually more support.

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Covic: In one year Steiner hasn't achieved any results (Koha Ditore)

Serb Deputy Prime Minister Nebojsa Covic in an interview for Serb TV station Galaksija 32 evaluated that after one year in Kosovo, UNMIK chief administrator Michael Steiner 'only had good advertising, but he didn't have success or any results'. Covic added, 'I support the staring of talks between Albanian and Serbs, between Prishtina and Belgrade,' however the main issue remains, 'when will 230,000 displaced Serbs return to Kosovo,' reports Koha Ditore.

'During this year Steiner had very good advertising, gave good speeches and promises, but Steiner hasn't fulfilled any of the things he has said,' said Covic. 'Steiner has declared each year as the year of return of displaced persons to Kosovo, but return doesn't happen. He also tells that security and freedom of movement is better, these are false and inaccurate reports that go to UN headquarters in New York,' said Covic.

Covic stressed that after a year as SRSG 'didn't have nay success, he didn't have any results,' but he at least expects that Steiner will respect what he has signed and the agreements they have reached.

'I am not frustrated that KFOR troops have reduced their number in Kosovo' and evaluated that with this step KFOR and NATO are changing their concept. 'KFOR came to Kosovo with the aim to protect this territory from Yugoslav forces and Serb and Montenegro police. But we aren't' enemies, now KFOR has a new inner enemy, there are terrorists, extremists and they have to face ethnic cleansing of Serbs and other non-Albanian communities,' said Covic.

He added, 'that nothing is functioning in Kosovo, there is no economy and that crime reigns. Thaçi controls the petrol business, Haradinaj cigarettes while Çeku bars and hotels, and asks are these economic foundations upon which Europe is forming a multiethnic Kosovo'.

'If Serbs are abducted or kidnapped in Kosovo, this will have a harsh counter answer by the Serbs. You will pay for this dearly,' warned Covic. 'Enough with human right fairy tales, enough with excessive use of violence, we will never destroy a village, we will never attack civilians, but we will not allow to attack us,' said Covic.

What does Djindjic want as compensation for Kosovo's independence? (Kosova Sot)

Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic's proposal for the need for the start of talks between Belgrade and Prishtina on defining Kosovo's status wasn't taken seriously in different western capitals, while in Kosovo they were qualified as tendentious and effort to gain from the created situation, while USA and the allies are combating world terrorism, reports Kosova Sot.

'Djindjic's statement that he wants to have direct talks with PDK chairman Hashim Thaçi is indicative, because someone in the morning in Serbia wants to arrest Mr. Thaçi and in the afternoon they want to have talks with, which in a way resembles a game,' said PDK General Secretary Jakup Krasniqi.

'We aim to form of a new reality in Kosovo in which the will of the majority will be respected but also the minorities will be respected, and from this reality we can have direct contacts with neighbors, in this case even with Serbia, with Mr. Djindjic and other Serbian officials," said AAK chairman Ramush Haradinaj.

Several days ago Belgrade analyst Dusan Janjic said that there are two options regarding Kosovo, while in an interview for Radio Free Europe he evaluated that there are two sides, one believes that Kosovo is lost because Milosevic lost the war and the fact that international forces helped the Albanians and that now time has come to give up on Kosovo, but to take as much as possible from Kosovo's current territory, as they say to save as many Serbs that is possible.

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Shala: The list of political aspirations (Zëri)

Zëri carried a commentary by editor in chief Blerim Shala who says that If Serbia's aspirations are to become part of Europe, then they have to respect the will of Kosovo's population; and if Kosovo Albanians want to become an independent state and integrate in Europe, they have to respect minority rights especially the rights of the Serbs. Shala writes:

Imagine this situation: westerners give a white paper to Kosovo Albanian main politicians and to Serbia's main politicians where they are supposed to write what are their main aspirations for the next years. We can suppose that some ninety percent of the list would be identical. Some might here have doubts on the sincerity of Serb officials when they write that they want Serbia to be part of European Union, NATO pact, to be democratic state, to respect human rights, etc. But if we are sincere, there are no other possibilities for solution here. Kosovo, Serbia, Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro, all the countries of the region certainly have to engage in western integrating processes, because it is ten years since west has come in Balkans to make peace in this part of Europe, which has always been trouble source for Europe. Thus that imaginative list of Kosovo and Serbia on aims, requests and wishes would match in general. Contradiction would occur on the status of Kosovo. In all other issues Serb politicians would be looking towards future, but when the issue of rapport with the Albanians and Kosovo is concerned, they would prefer recovery of past models of subordination and control over Kosovo.

It is known that one cannot at the same time go ahead and backwards. If Serbian regime really aims to become part of Europe, they cannot do this by opposing the will of Kosovo's population. In our case, if we want to become an independent state and part of Europe, we will certainly not achieve this without respecting the rights of the minorities, especially the Serb ones.

Skopje accepts any kind of status for Kosovo that brings stability (Zëri)

Western diplomatic sources in Prishtina and Skopje close to UNMIK told Zëri that one of the main interests of the Macedonian government and Prime Minister Crvenkovski whose primary partner is Ali Ahmeti and BDI is stabilizing relations between Macedonia and Kosovo.

In this context western diplomats stress that official Skopje for the first time didn't openly opposed Kosovo's independence, something that was constantly done no matter who was in power. Macedonian politicians have always tied Kosovo's independence as the biggest source of destabilization in the region and danger to Macedonia's future. New government in Macedonia stresses that it is important for Macedonia that Kosovo is stable no mater what the status, as long as it guarantees it, this will be welcomed in Macedonia.

Skopje believes that for the moment it isn't the time to solve Kosovo status. According to western diplomats official Skopje sees as problematic Djindjic's latest initiative that Kosovo's status should be solved this year. Macedonian officials are the only one in the region that criticized inclusion of Kosovo in the Serb-Montenegro Constitutional Preamble. This criticism is tied with Skopje's interests not to provoke the situation in Kosovo and the region. They believe that Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic's ideas have lately been the source of problems in Kosovo and outside of it.

Western diplomatic sources told Zëri that stabilization of Kosovo and the region among others implies good relations between Macedonia government and the one in Kosovo within UNMIK policy.

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Nowicki to visit refugees in Montenegro (Dailies)

Kosovo Ombudsperson Marek Antoni Nowicki today will eave for a three day visit to Montenegro, where he will visit refugee centers and talk to Montenegrin authorities, report all dailies.

Nowicki will visit town of Berane where refugees are located and meet with local officials afterward he will visit Podgorica. During his second day he will visit Sutomore, Bari and Ulqin where he will meet with refugees in different camps and talk to authorities there about the situation of the refugees.

On his third day Nowicki will visit refugee camp 'Konik' in Podgorica and meet with refugee commissioner in the Montenegro Justice Ministry.

The suspect for physical attack of judge Çetta arrested (Bota Sot)

Based on unofficial sources Bota Sot reports that yesterday the police in Prizren arrested a suspect for physical attack of president of Prizren District Court, Engjëll Çetta. Based on the same sources this daily reports that the suspect had court and police treatments before, and that he is known for robbery.

AKSH takes over responsibility for the attack in Struga, three Albanians arrested (Koha Ditore)

Koha Ditore reports that through a communiqué that carries number 21, AKSH takes over responsibility for the attack in Struga on Friday evening. The communiqué says that AKSH division 'Skënderbeu' lead by Drin Drini did the attack.

The communiqué gives as argumentation that "Slavo-Macedonian through courts unjustly is sentencing and imprisoning tens of Albanians for the only 'fault' of being Albanian and because they ask to be free in their territories'. The communiqué adds that the city that has the most political trial cases against Albanians is Struga.

'Based on this fact, AKSH division 'Skënderbeu' planed, organized and executed a political-military action. This unit managed to completely blow and destroy the court building '. Based on the communiqué, it was planed not to have victims, says Koha Ditore.

The article reports that police arrested three Albanians as suspects for the incident. Koha Ditore quotes the father of Naser Skenderi, one of the three arrested as saying that the police took his son from the hospital where he was staying for 12 days.

Koha Ditore reports that police suspects that the motive of the explosion is related with the arrest of Dilaver Bojku - Leka last week. Leka is from Veleshta - Struga, owner of 'Bern' hotel, known as 'king' of prostitution and human trafficking, reports this daily.

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Prishtinian Srdjan Leaves the Town Where He Feels a Stranger (Kosova Live)

One of the last remaining Serbs in the Prishtina neighborhood of Dardania has decided to leave Kosova once and for all. After seeing twelve of his friends from his 1979 generation leave Prishtina over the last three years, he too is leaving Kosova because he says the place has changed so much that he now feels like a stranger to Prishtina.
Due to problems in the Prishtina hospital at the time of his birth, Srdjan was born in Skopje. He has been living in Prishtina for the past 20 years, where he completed his elementary and high school education. In 1997 he began working for TVP (Prishtina Television), which was turned into a Serbian state media, and seven days after NATO troops entered Kosova, Srdjan fled to Serbia.
"I returned to Prishtina in October 2000. I was not employed and an Albanian had occupied my apartment. I filed a complaint with HABITAT, but they did not resolve the problem. While HABITAT was reviewing my complaint, I sold my apartment to an Albanian. The price was €600 per square meter, and he also paid a certain amount of money to the person who had occupied the apartment so he would release it," he said.
During this time, Slavkovic was living in Gracanica, in a rented house. In December he was hired by a Serb radio station and later by UNMIK TV, where he worked until a few days ago, when he decided to leave Kosova on his own will.
He said that in Kosova he walked freely, but he thinks that his appearance, which the Albanians considered foreign or international, helped him a lot. "First of all, the reason why I am leaving Kosova is that Prishtina is no longer the place it used to be. I no longer feel that Prishtina is my hometown; instead I feel like a stranger. And second, even if I were an Albanian, I do not think there is a perspective for a normal life here," said Srdjan.
He also said "there is a huge difference between the citizens and villagers in Prishtina". "I have a feeling that the international community and Kosova institutions have created an artificial life and society and my hometown has changed forever," he said.
Seeing what the Serb police did in Kosova, Srdjan says he knew there would be a time for revenge. He also said that he knew on June 21, 1999, when he left Kosova, he would never again return to the town and life he had left.
"Now I am going to Belgrade and my first aim is to relax and rehabilitate. I have no special plans, but I know that once I go there I will work in the media in some capacity," said Srdjan.
Being aware that many of the same conditions await him in Serbia, he hopes for more electricity and less mud, although he is going to miss the good UNMIK salary.
In Belgrade Srdjan will join eight of his friends who were born in Prishtina, and who never returned to Kosova after they left in June 1999, and who do not plan to ever come back. He stressed this as one of the main reasons he decided to leave Kosova.
If Kosova was administered by Serbia, Srdjan says maybe he would not leave and maybe his hometown would not have changed into what it is now.
Homesick for the old Prishtina, times when he used to have fun with his friends on Dardinia street, Srdjan does not mention his Albanian friends of his age, who experienced this time very differently from him because they were not allowed to move freely about neighborhoods as he was.
According to Srdjan, the Albanian majority are the ones who will decide on the Serbs' return to Kosova. But, "Kosova does not offer that much to Serb 'citizens', only to Serb 'villagers' who own land and can work it".
According to him, the return is also possible for the Serbs who live in collective centers in Serbia and who have not resolved their residence problems.
Although he participated in the elections and wishes that remaining Serbs would be represented in the new institutions of Kosova, Srdjan does not see Kosova even close to being an independent administration, and mentions the fact that made an impression on him when he had traveled to Macedonia.
"At the border crossing point at Hani I Elezit, the temporary UNMIK competent bodies didn't even stamp my FRY passport," said Srdjan.
The Prishtinian, who is soon to leave the town where he was born and grew up, believes that Kosova would make progress if "both sides" would forgive the mistakes that were made. "The Albanians and Serbs should work together, given whether they work in an independent Kosova, in a state that would be part of any 'union' , or integrated into the European Union," he said.

Asked why then is he leaving Kosova, Srdjan answers that he thinks he has only one life to live and that he has spent enough of it in Kosova.

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