20 October 2003 Afternoon Edition

Kosovo News

· Three former army soldiers sentenced for Kosovo war crimes (AP)
· Human trafficking rings also smuggling weapons (AP)
· Mission Sisyphus (FAZ)

Regional News

· Micunovic kicks off campaign (Beta)
· Micunovic says he will run for president (B92)
· Tomic named as presidential candidate No. 4 (Beta)
· Ex-president to be buried alongside Bosnian Muslim fighters Wednesday (AP)
· Late prime minister's bodyguard questions official version of events (AP)

Three former army soldiers sentenced for Kosovo war crimes

BELGRADE, Serbia-Montenegro (AP) _ Three former Yugoslav army soldiers were convicted Monday for war crimes in Kosovo in 1999 and sentenced to seven to nine years in prison, the supreme military court said.
Maj. Dragisa Petkovic received nine years, while two reserve army soldiers, Nenad Stamenkovic and Tomica Jovic, were sentenced to seven years in prison for killing two ethnic Albanian civilians during the war in the Serbian province.
The court said it found that the three had killed an elderly ethnic Albanian couple in a village near Kosovo's capital, Pristina. No other details or motives were released.
The trial was the second before a military court for atrocities by Serb-led forces during the war against ethnic Albanian separatists. NATO eventually intervened with airstrikes to stop the crackdown, which left up to 10,000 ethnic Albanians dead or missing.
A year ago, a military court convicted four soldiers of war crimes in the deaths of two ethnic Albanians and sentenced them to up to seven years in prison.
The NATO airstrikes eventually forced then-President Slobodan Milosevic to pull his forces from Kosovo, which since 1999 has been run by the United Nations and NATO-led peacekeepers.
Milosevic is on trial before the U.N. tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands, for genocide and crimes against humanity his forces committed in Kosovo and elsewhere in the Balkans in the 1990s wars.

Human trafficking rings also smuggling weapons, weapons, drugs, official says

By FISNIK ABRASHI

PRISTINA, Serbia-Montenegro (AP) _ Human trafficking rings also are involved in smuggling weapons and drugs across the Balkans, experts said as a three-day conference on the problem opened Monday.
``We know that in southeastern Europe, these criminal enterprises are linked with other criminal activities,'' said Helga Konrad, chairwoman of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe's task force on human trafficking.
``We know that drug trafficking and the trafficking in weapons (use) the same channels,'' she told the conference organized by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
Despite the worldwide attention that the problem is receiving, traffickers are getting more sophisticated and brutal in their dealings and their activities are going deeper underground, Konrad said.
Most victims of trafficking in Kosovo and elsewhere in the Balkans are aged 18-24 and come mainly from economically depressed countries such as Moldova and Ukraine, according to statistics presented at the conference.
The overwhelming majority of victims are young women and children forced into prostitution, experts said.
Besim Beqaj, an adviser to Kosovo's prime minister, said that most victims use the southern Serbian province as a transit point before being sent to Western Europe.
Because the problem is not confined to Kosovo, solving it will require regional information gathering and sharing, Beqaj said.
Kosovo has been administered by the United Nations since June 1999, following a NATO air campaign aimed at stopping the crackdown of Serb forces on independence-minded ethnic Albanians.

Mission Sisyphus

Die Staatengemeinschaft hat ein Konzept für das Kosovo - realistisch ist es aber nicht

Von Michael Martens - FAZ

Und nun? Ratlos wirken viele Beteiligte nach den ersten Nachkriegsgesprächen zwischen Serben und Kosovaren am vergangenen Dienstag im Wiener Bundeskanzleramt. Dort sollte der Dialog zwischen den Regierungen Belgrads und Prishtinas beginnen. Notwendig sind solche Gespräche, denn spätestens seit dem Luftkrieg der Nato um das Kosovo im Jahr 1999 hat man nur noch übereinander geredet - und das meist nicht freundlich. Doch die kosovoalbanische Führung will nicht reden. Sie sorgt sich nur um die Frage, wann das Kosovo die staatliche Unabhängigkeit von Serbien erlangt. Schon jetzt gehört die Provinz nur noch formal (und auf der Wetterkarte des serbischen Fernsehens) zu Belgrad. Für die albanische Bevölkerungsmehrheit im Kosovo ist die ungeklärte Statusfrage ihrer Heimat das größte Übel. In der Tat ist der völkerrechtliche Schwebezustand hinderlich für die Entwicklung des Kosovos, wo fast sechzig Prozent der Bevölkerung keine regelmäßige Arbeit haben. Die führenden kosovoalbanischen Politiker machen es sich selbst und ihren Wählern aber zu einfach, wenn sie behaupten, nur die ungeklärte Zukunft des Kosovos halte die dringend benötigten ausländischen Investoren davon ab, ins Land zu kommen. Staaten wie Moldova oder Tadschikistan haben einen eindeutigen Status. Verlockend für ausländisches Kapital sind sie deshalb noch lange nicht. Warum solte das Kosovo als souveräner Staat - seine Bevölkerungszahl entspräche etwa dem des Großraums von Hamburg -, plötzlich attraktiv werden für Investoren?

Direkte Kontakte und normale nachbarschaftliche Beziehungen zwischen den Serben und "ihren" Albanern im Kosovo sind dennoch nötig und in
beiderseitigem Interesse. Sie sind auch Teil der Hausaufgaben, die der
Übergangsregierung des Kosovos von ihren internationalen Aufsehern
aufgegeben wurden. Erst nach deren Erledigung, so die offizielle Linie der Staatengemeinschaft in ihrem Protektorat, könne über den endgültigen Status der Provinz gesprochen werden. Doch wenn in Wien der Ton für die Zukunft gesetzt wurde, ist auch von den kommenden Begegnungen der ehemaligen Kriegsgegner nicht viel zu erwarten. In Österreich fand bestenfalls ein Monolog beider Parteien statt: Ibrahim Rugova, der Präsident des Kosovos, forderte wie seit Jahren die Unabhängigkeit. Die serbische Regierung schloß das wie stets kategorisch aus, denn für Belgrad ist das Kosovo nur eine abtrünnige Provinz. Der UN-Verwalter des Kosovos, Harri Holkeri, hatte sich
vorgenommen, den politischen Autismus auf beiden Seiten aufzubrechen. Damit mußte der Finne scheitern. Auch die seit diesem Sommer von ihm geleitete UN-Mission im Kosovo ist trotz unübersehbarer Fortschritte ihrer eigentlichen Aufgabe kaum nähergekommen. Die größte UN-Mission der Welt soll sich selbst überflüssig machen. Bisher ist es ihr aber nur gelungen, den Konflikt einzufrieren. Doch es ist sehr teuer und aufwendig, die Spannungen im Kosovo am Gefrierpunkt zu halten. Und vor allem: Es führt zu nichts. Die Unmik hat acht Standards vorgegeben, die erfüllt sein müssen, bevor die politische Zukunft des Kosovos festgelegt werden kann. Doch einige dieser Vorgaben verwandelten die UN-Verwaltung in eine Sisyphus-Mission, wollte man auf ihnen beharren. So die Forderung, die noch etwa 100000 Angehörigen der serbischen Minderheit müßten im Kosovo in Frieden leben und die Flüchtlinge zurückkehren können. Bisher haben radikale Albaner durch Anschläge und Überfälle dafür gesorgt, daß sich die Serben außerhalb des kompakt von ihnen besiedelten Nordkosovo nicht sicher fühlen können. Eine Wende zur Normalität ist nicht abzusehen. So stellt das Kosovo einige europäische Gewißheiten in Frage. Die reichlich selbstzufriedene Überzeugung zum Beispiel, daß sich automatisch alles zum Besseren wende, wenn sich erst "die Staatengemeinschaft" eines Problems annehme. Womöglich wird die Zeit kommen, da über derzeit offiziell noch kategorisch ausgeschlossene Lösungsvorschläge des kosovarischen Dilemmas nicht nur hinter verschlossenen Türen diskutiert werden wird. Dazu gehört die - mit vielen Mängeln behaftete - Überlegung, das Kosovo in ein - kleineres -, zu Serbien gehörendes Gebiet im Norden und einen selbständigen albanischen Rest zu teilen. Diplomaten und Politiker der Europäischen Union weisen diesen Vorschlag, der aus Belgrad schon mehrmals kam, entschieden zurück: Zynisch sei eine solche Idee und eine Bankrotterklärung europäischer Balkan-Politik obendrein, sagen sie. Das stimmt, doch wäre es nicht die erste Bankrotterklärung Europas auf dem Balkan - aber vielleicht die erste, die zum Frieden führte.

Micunovic kicks off campaign (Beta)
BELGRADE -- Monday - Dragoljub Micunovic today submitted his candidacy for Serbian president, allaying any fears among the governing coalition that he might be about to quit the race.

In a show of public unity, Micunovic handed over his application at the Republic Election Commission flanked by the prime minister and a string of cabinet ministers, including Deputy PM Miodrag Isakov who had been tipped as a possible replacement.

Reports last week suggested the Democratic Centre leader was dissatisfied with the behaviour of some of his coalition allies and was considering quitting the election.

Declining to answer questions from journalists outside the Election Commission, Micunovic shouted to them: "We'll win!"

A number of parties have announced they will boycott the ballot on November 16. They include the Democratic Party of Serbia and G17 Plus, led by the two strongest contenders in last year's failed elections, Vojislav Kostunica and Miroljub Labus.

Micunovic says he will run for president (B92)
BELGRADE -- Monday - Dragoljub Micunovic has confirmed he will stand as the governing coalition's candidate for Serbian president, quashing rumors that he was about to pull out.

The Democratic Centre leader told B92 he would submit his candidacy to the Republic Election Commission with over 20,000 signatures of support.

Reports had suggested Micunovic was considering pulling out of the race over concerns at the situation in the DOS coalition.

He insisted today that he would not have put himself forward if he had not been confident of winning. The vote or Serbian president is scheduled for November 16.

Tomic named as presidential candidate No. 4 (Beta)
BELGRADE -- Monday - Socialist People's Party member Dragan S. Tomic has been accepted as a candidate for next month's Serbian presidential election.

The Socialist People's Party was formed after a faction of Slobodan Milosevic's Socialist Party of Serbia split from the main party.

Tomic becomes the fourth candidate on the ballot paper, behind New Serbia leader Velimir Ilic, Rural Party leader Marijan Risticevic and Radical Party deputy leader Tomislav Nikolic.

They will be joined by the governing coalition's candidate, Dragoljub Micunovic, who submitted his candidacy to the Republic Election Commission at midday.

The Election Commission said today it had issued instructions to Serbia's broadcast monitoring body, the Broadcast Council, regarding fair coverage of the election campaign. The election will take place on November 16.

Ex-president to be buried alongside Bosnian Muslim fighters Wednesday

By ALEXANDAR S. DRAGICEVIC

SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) _ Former President Alija Izetbegovic will be laid to rest Wednesday in a Sarajevo cemetery alongside Muslim soldiers who died in Bosnia's 1992-95 war, officials announced Monday.
Izetbegovic, who led Bosnia's Muslims through the war for independence from Yugoslavia, died Sunday in a Sarajevo hospital of heart failure. He was 78.
The flag in front of the Bosnian presidency was lowered to half-mast and a book for condolences was opened at the headquarters of the Muslim Party for Democratic Action, which Izetbegovic founded and led for years.
Dragan Covic, chairman of Bosnia's multiethnic presidency, said Monday that Izetbegovic's casket would be displayed in the hall of the presidency on Wednesday to give citizens a chance to pay tribute.
Books of condolences also were opened in Bosnian embassies worldwide. In accordance with his wishes, Izetbegovic will be laid to rest at Sarajevo's Kovaci cemetery, where Bosnian Muslim soldiers who died during the war are buried.
The low-key Izetbegovic was a father figure to many Muslims for a decade.
Initially, Izetbegovic won a reputation as a moderate by steering Bosnia-Herzegovina on a neutral course as the feud between Serbia and Croatia tore the Yugoslav federation apart in 1991.
But after the republics of Slovenia, Croatia and Macedonia declared independence, Izetbegovic finally supported the idea of an independent Bosnia.
That infuriated Bosnia's Serbs, one-third of the republic's people, who wanted to remain within a Serb-dominated Yugoslavia. After Muslims and Croats voted for independence on Feb. 29, 1992, Serb rebels _ led by then-President Slobodan Milosevic _ began fighting for Bosnian territory.
The bloodshed engulfed Bosnia, pitting neighbor against neighbor in a 3{ year war that left 260,000 people dead or missing and 2.5 million refugees, who fled or were evicted in ethnic purges.
The fighting ended after the United States led NATO to bomb Bosnian Serb positions in 1995 and then brokered a peace agreement in Dayton, Ohio.
The deal conceived present-day Bosnia: an independent country divided in two ethnic mini-states, a Serb republic and a Muslim-Croat federation, run by a three-person collective presidency.
``President Izetbegovic will be remembered as a pivotal figure in the history of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He played an essential part in preserving the unity of this country,'' the U.S. Embassy said in a statement Monday.
Izetbegovic was credited with creating an independent country and not allowing parts of it to join Serbia or Croatia _ something the Bosnian Serbs have never forgiven him.
Covic, a Bosnian Croat, said Monday that there would be no national day of mourning.
``We were not able to reach a consensus on it and it wouldn't make sense to decide something that wouldn't be implemented in the whole country,'' said Covic, who chairs a three-member presidency consisting of a Serb, a Muslim and a Croat.
Izetbegovic was the first Muslim representative in the new government, stepping down in 2000 after a decade of leadership.

Late prime minister's bodyguard questions official version of events

By JOVANA GEC

BELGRADE, Serbia-Montenegro (AP) _ Seven months after Serbia's reformist prime minister was assassinated, his chief bodyguard is questioning the official version of events and suggesting there may have been a cover-up.
Milan Veruovic, Zoran Djindjic's chief of security wounded when a sniper fatally shot Djindjic in March, claimed in an interview aired Monday on B-92 radio that the investigation was inconclusive and flawed.
``I remember everything that happened that day very well,'' said Veruovic, who has undergone surgery four times since the attack. ``But I am left now with some major doubts.''
Police have said that an underworld clan linked to hard-liners in the police forces was behind the attack on Djindjic. The prime minister, investigators said, was killed by a member of a special police unit who fired two shots from an open window.
A special prosecutor's office cracking down on organized crime has indicted more than 40 people _ mostly suspected criminals but also some members of the special police _ in connection with Djindjic's assassination. A trial is expected later this year.
The authorities have said that the premier's assassination was part of a wider plot to unseat Serbia's first democratic government since World War II and bring back to power hard-liners loyal to former President Slobodan Milosevic.
But months after the killing, some key suspects still remain at large, including the alleged organizer, former paramilitary commander Milorad Lukovic, and some of his aides. Other prominent suspects have been released from prison to await trial.
Veruovic also questioned why investigators did not seriously consider accounts offered by him and other bodyguards that three _ not two _ shots were fired and that there may have been a second assassin whose bullet actually killed the prime minister.
``I heard a muffled shot as we approached the door ... then he fell, then there was another big bang and then I fell, and then one more bang,'' Veruovic said. ``We all agree that three shots were fired.''
A reconstruction of the attack was never done, ``and that is always a first step in an investigation,'' Veruovic said. It took four months for investigators to question him, he added.
Authorities did not immediately react Monday to the claims by Veruovic, who also questioned how Djindjic's killers could have escaped a police dragnet set up shortly after the assassination.
``I don't think it was a criminal gang'' that killed Djindjic, Veruovic said. ``The motive was in his political work and his idea about Serbia.''