CONTENTS:
THE BALKANS TAIWAN
THE IMMORTALITY OF HUMANE AND
PROFESSIONAL TRUTH
KOSOVO HAS RECEIVED A PERFECT TEN
RUGOVA
AND THAÇI INVITED
HAS FRY AND KOSOVO'S FATE BEEN SEALED
BALKAN’S TAIWAN
Koha Ditore on page two carried a report written by the author of “Kosovo: War and Revenge”, Tim Judah concerning Kosovo becoming a Taiwan of the Balkans.
President Kostunica noted that he intends to return Yugoslavia’s sovereignty to Kosovo and LDK chairman Rugova appealed to the world to recognize Kosovo’s independence, but neither of them will realize their statements. Kosovo will remain a Balkan Taiwan. Kosovo’s transformation into a Taiwan means that it will develop self-administrative institutions and will be independent in every aspect, except for name, and citizenship will not be recognized by most other states, just like Taiwan.
Now, after elections, there will be talks regarding the council and government, which depend on the veto of UN administrator in Kosovo, Bernard Kouchner. The more the Albanians take over the governing of everyday life, UN’s administration will become softer. Kosovo will get a “temporary” constitution, which with NATO's insistence will request to refuse the right of announcing independence. But, this statement would be unimportant, just like it was in 1991.
General elections in Kosovo are to be held between spring and winter next year where Serbs who found shelter in Serbia, will participate also. Afterwards, the Kosovar leaders will insists on independence, which the other states will hardly acknowledge, since they have not until now. Therefore, Kosovo will be independent except for the north side and the Serb enclaves, where KFOR will be in charge of security. This will be unacceptable for the Serb authorities, but they will not be able to do anything about it except make possible the return of a few Serb refugees into places where safety is guaranteed.
Even though Kostunica excluded the possibility of Kosovo as independent, he sent a few signals to the west that he will not raise Kosovo’s issue. The reasons are known, Kostunica needs time to consolidate the government and this must wait until the Serbian elections in 23 December. Kosovo’s issue depends on the relations between Serbia and Montenegro, the independence will be hard to achieve but not impossible if there is an agreement for a common state, on the contrary, a post Yugoslavian Serbia governing Kosovo will be unimaginable.
British Foreign Office, USA State Department and Paris Quai d’Orsay have many compromising plans concerning a solution for a state with three republics- Serbia, Kosovo and Montenegro confederations, or something similar. In the meantime, on Rugova’s victory, former KLA is almost lost but still present. Rugova knows that if he accepts the internationals’ request for a confederation with Belgrade, former KLA members will receive more polls in the future elections – or they may see a reason for war. “There will be no relations with Serbia in any kind of confederation, point”, stated former KLA spokesperson, Sejdiu in London.
KFOR Brigadier, Robert Fry has had success in capturing people who cooperated with the mafia in Kosovo. He warns that if Kosovo’s issue cannot be solved carefully, it will be terrible. “The greatest achievement in the last 15 months was KLA demilitarization”, stated Brigadier Fry adding that the greatest risk in the next 12 months is KPC remilitarization. Fry proposes other forms of training for KPC but also punishments relating to KPC faults and a continuous politic for uprooting armed contrabands.
In the meantime Serbia occupies herself with her own internal problems, Kosovo and Montenegro have to do with establishing institutions and with tensions between usual Serbs and Albanians that have to be softened. After Flora Brovina’s release, other Albanians are to be released also, the once important KLA figure, Adem Demaçi’s travel to Serbia was a surprising act. Soothing souls does not have fundamental implications for the future; therefore, Kosovo must decide a few economic relations with Serbia, and Serb refugees to return to their homes. Kosovo will begin normalizing a little, if not entirely. Just like Taiwan once.
THE IMMORTALITY OF HUMANE AND PROFESSIONAL TRUTH
Dita carried on page two a short statement by Stephen Schwartz commemorating a great journalist Antonio Russo.
Every journalist, every friend of the Albanian nation, everyone who loves freedom and respects human rights should bow to the life of Antonio Russo. I herd of him first while he was reporting from inside a train, which was carrying Kosovar Albanians that were deported by the Serbs during NATO campaign.
Six months ago, I did not know that Serbs were looking for him in that train. I heard later on about it from my friend Edi Shyti which new Russo very well. After this, there is hardly any need for words. Every phrase said would be one word too much. Antonio Russo's courage stands as an example for all journalists who understand that truth is more important than all, that truth is sometimes the moral thing to do and as journalist there is sometimes need to take someone's side. Neutrality is and should be known as an unfortunate lie. Objectivity is truthfulness - if evil is included - then it is not neutrality. At this moment when we see the world stoop and support the new regime in Belgrade, we have to go back and look at Antonio Russo's life. I would say for this patriot that he is an immortal hero related to Giuseppse Fanelli a real internationalist, Camillo Berneri and Carlo Tresca victims of the Stalin regime and another Russo who led a team of volunteers during the Spanish civil war.
This time filled with moments full of demoralization and disgust towards western moral there is hardly anything we can add to his story. "Will we ever see a glimpse of his reflection"? After his killing international administration in Kosovo showed its courtesy, where on a document published on 18 October 2000 it is said that Italian journalist Antonio Russo was killed in Chechnya. On the other hand, Prishtina based papers reported about the killing of Radio Radicale's journalist, whose body was found inside an apartment in Chechnya. Russo was well known in Kosovo in view of his objectives: for the reasons that he reported during the war and his close ties with KLA. Many still remember his help while part of Kosovo that were controlled by KLA were under Serb siege. During that year, Antonio Russo was considered from Prishtina's citizens as a characteristic dweller of this town, which always found a reason to meet with people and talk to them. Prishtina's children knew the Italian journalist as the man who took them to the store and bought them hamburgers.
He was the last foreign journalist that left Kosovo during the conflict, and his reports for Radio Radicale left a memorable series for journalism. /The author is the President of the Kosovo Media Institute/
KOSOVO HAS RECEIVED A PERFECT TEN
Zëri carried on page three an evaluation of the west on Kosovo's first democratic and free local elections.
On Friday, UN under-secretary for peace missions in New York briefly informed Security Council about the first elections in Kosovo, which were free and democratic. The meeting was behind closed doors and there was no statement for the media however a sources close to these talks said, "Kosovo has received a perfect ten".
In this style, other international officials described the elections in Kosovo; from UN to EU officials and US, the same were evaluations from world press.
American paper the Wall Street Journal highly praises the elections in Kosovo and evaluate that "unexpectedly the Balkans are normalizing. Two wars have wended and democracy is taking place". This paper opposes presidential candidate George W. Bush on his proposal to withdraw US troops from Kosovo, and warns that NATO troops are still needed in this region until certain future.
In an editorial, the paper recommends a scenario similar to Taiwan. As time passes and economic development of the region, this paper belief is that thirst for independence will decrease in all the parts as they see that there is no danger from each other.
The Washington Post agrees also that NATO troops are an essential part in Kosovo. This paper names three crucial points, for those who opposed NATO bombing of Serbia and proved them wrong. They said that bombing Serbia would not force Milosevic to withdraw from Kosovo, which he did, that bombings would enforce Milosevic position, which as it was seen it did not, and last that western support for the Albanians would bring to power extremists, which did not happen.
"By voting for Dr. Ibrahim Rugova's pacifist line Albanians proved that the critics were wrong in three predictions," writes Washington Post.
The London Times raises a question as to how can the west support Kostunica and Rugova, when "Rugova has still fresh memories of Serb crimes and must support the idea for independence, whereas Kostunica no matter how moderate he is, he could have never been chosen president if he was not a Serb nationalist and devoted in opposing Kosovo's independence". This magazine recommends that UN hold the general elections as soon as possible so there can be no misunderstanding among the Albanians and create frustrations and confusion because there is possibilities fro them to turn to the extremist side.
The only western paper that has openly sided with the idea of independence for Kosovo is the British The Independent.
"The mentioning of independence has been ignored by the democratic international community which saved most of the Albanians from Slobodan Milosevic. A taboo that has to be broken, even though this might not be the ideal moment for Vojislav Kostunica".
French paper Liberation said, "the message behind the elections in Kosovo is very encouraging given that the majority of Kosovo Albanians voted for Rugova and did not choose violence to achieve their aim. Another symmetric elections happened with Kostunica. However, these double elections do not solve any of the problems…because Kostunica refused to recognize elections in Kosovo".
Bernard Kouchner will address on 16 November UN Security Council to
discuss Kosovo elections. It is expected that he will be accompanied by a
group of Albanian
leaders.
RUGOVA AND THAÇI INVITED
Zëri reported on page three on preparations for the fifth anniversary of the Dayton Peace Accord.
Zëri's source said that the fifth anniversary commemoration of the Dayton Peace Accord would be held 16-19 November, that Dr. Ibrahim Rugova, Hashim Thaçi, Blerim Shala and Veton Surroi have been invited to the fifth anniversary of the Dayton Peace Accord.
There will a celebration of the anniversary, however a day will be dedicated to Kosovo and its future status. There are expectations that Kosovar leaders would meet with FRY President Vojislav Kostunica, who has replaced Slobodan Milosevic.
According to some proclamations, Bernard Kouchner, Dr. Ibrahim Rugova and Hashim Thaçi would participate at the EU and Balkans Zagreb Summit on 24 November.
HAS “FRY” AND KOSOVO’S FATE BEEN SEALED?
Koha Ditore on page five carried a report by Besnik Pula based on “FRY” admittance to the UN and the challenges Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia will face.
The Kosovars’ annoyance is increasing. This time the annoyance came by “FRY's" admittance to the UN, which finally acknowledged its legitimacy. Kosovars greatest surprise was that this step was taken by the US delegation in UN, represented by Richard Holbrooke. It was the US who during the entire last decade, refused to acknowledge the “FRY” entity internationally, refused to use the official term “Yugoslavia” but instead “Serbia-Montenegro” was used. The second surprise was that this occurred immediately after Holbrooke’s tour to the Balkans, and after the speculations that USA can be closer to Kosovo’s determination.
Many annalists noted that it was odd for an international legitimacy of an entity that does not posses the internal legitimacy, to be acknowledged. It is obvious that Montenegro refuses to accept Belgrade’s regime in its territory, and disputes the federal order that Milosevic lay with the constitution changed this year. Even more noted is Kosovo’s undetermined position with an unclear status that causes permanent contradictions between the International Administration Mission and the Kosovars.
The news of “FRY's" admittance to the UN came like a cold shower to the Kosovar political leaders. They were left speechless when an International Commission recommended “conditional independence” for Kosovo. The fact that after “FRY’s” admittance to UN, it will join OSCE and Europe’s Council, which are governing Kosovo, and the increase of Belgrade’s influence in these institutions, naturally causes worries among the Albanians leaders, especially since these steps were taken without any conditions, without releasing the Albanian prisoners.
Which are the main reasons that changed the American politic so radically? We have two; the first one is the strengthening of Kostunica’s position and Serbia’s Democratic Opposition, the second one is limiting boundaries in a legal international way. This may have been USA’s wish to finally fulfill its promise for “FRY’s” reintegration in UN after the opposition’s victory.
The weakness of Kostunica’s government, the rebuke of the federal governance of Montenegro, the remaining of Milosevic’s nomenclature, the country being governed by Milosevic’s Socialist Party, according to the American point of view makes necessary the strengthening of Kostunica’s government and former Serb opposition. The grant of the international legitimacy given to “FRY” is also a way of calming down the problems that Montenegro can create by announcing its independence.
It is another issue that UN established ICTY, and each state is obliged to surrender every war criminal to this organization. Apart from this, for “FRY” many international conventions will be obliged, such as releasing the Albanian prisoners from Serb prisons.
Holbrooke himself stated that Kosovo’s independence is not excluded; no one can force a state to remain united without the will of its parts. If the decision falls with an agreement, a peaceful succession between Serbia, Kosovo and Montenegro, no one has, the right to impede it, after “FRY’s” eventual decomposition, the states that come from her will have to apply separately for UN membership.