CONTENTS:
ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT IS FOR A DEMOCRATIC
KOSOVO
AFTER GENERAL ELECTIONS KOSOVO'S STATUS TO BE DISCUSSED
RELATIVE PEACE
CABIGIOSU: GENERAL ELECTIONS ARE SIGNIFICANT
FOR KOSOVARS
TWO ARRESTED IN SUSPICION OF MURDERING SKENDER
GASHI
1974
BELGRADE REQUESTS A UN SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING ALBANIAN
GOVERNMENT IS FOR A DEMOCRATIC KOSOVO
Albanian Prime Minister Ilir Meta finished his visit to Kosovo with a press conference carried Zëri on page three.
Albanian Prime Minister Ilir Meta after finishing all of his planned visits returned last night for Albania, convinced as he said that a democratic Kosovo, which was a remote dream only two years ago, has started to form. "I have touched it today and I sure that Kosovo will continue to rise," said before the journalists closing a very intensive day in his first visit to Kosovo.
Even though the Serb representative Rada Trajkovic did not see, it fit for Albanian Prime Minister Meta's visit tom Kosovo, his message to political leaders and his meeting with members of the Kosovo Transitional Council was not opposed by any of the participants. "Maybe there was some small misunderstanding with the representative of the Serb minority, however I think that I was clear and all accepted my message".
Albanian PM did not make clear for journalists what is the position of the Albanian government regarding Kosovo's final status. He said, "The position of the Albanian government is clear - we are for a democratic Kosovo and for a status that the people of Kosovo would decide".
Ilir Meta emphasized that only the people of Kosovo have the right to decide for their own future. He refuted the possibility that neighboring countries can do that, something that was proposed by Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica.
Normalization of the relations between Albania and Serbia Meta sees in the future developments of Serbia. He added that democratization of the regional states is for the good of the whole region. "This is especially important for the long-awaited democratization of Belgrade," and added that is a step for the good of jis country, Kosovo and Presevo valley.
Albanian PM has emphasized in all of his meetings that Albania is for bigger cooperation between Kosovo and Albania.
AFTER GENERAL ELECTIONS KOSOVO'S STATUS TO BE DISCUSSED
Koha Ditore carried a debate organized by radio Voice of America on the current situation in the Balkans after the changes in Belgrade.
Voice of America organized in Washington a debate regarding the current situation in the Balkans after the changes in Belgrade. There were present journalists and experts among others, counselor to the US President on Balkan issues James O'Brien and Yugoslav Foreign Minister Goran Svilanovic.
According to Voice of America, O'Brien was asked to comment the proposal for the revising of the Kumanovo Military Technical agreement and Dr. Ibrahim Rugova's refusal to meet with Vojislav Kostunica.
"I believe that at this moment we should not initiate new negotiations, concerning the Kumanovo agreement or Kosovo's final status. Regarding Rugova's reaction I believe his answer to the offer emphasized that the moment is not right yet," said Clinton's counselor.
According to him, the core of Rugova's responsibility is that he realizes that he does not have legitimacy to represent Kosovo. Even though his party did very well at local elections, he stressed that those were only local elections. There (Kosovo) still no one has real power or democratic mandate to speak for Kosovo. Meanwhile I think that there are some realistic signs of initiating consultations between UN, Kosovar Albanian and the newly elected officials in Belgrade," evaluated O'Brien. He thinks that "it is clear to everyone that these people live close to each other and they have to begin talks for issue that concern them". He added that this would happen when the right time comes. O'Brien repeated that US wants to hold general elections in Kosovo "sooner then later".
He evaluated that only political leader who are elected in democratic elections can participate in negotiation concerning Kosovo's final status. Local elections were held in October, general elections are expected to be held in spring of next year, most surely in April, and the final status would come "the moment after this," said O'Brien. "This is a productive way that opens the doors to creating e acceptable democracy in the region". He also added that rebel activities by the Albanians in the security zone between Kosovo and Serbia present the biggest danger for Kosovo's democratic development.
RELATIVE PEACE
Zëri carried on page four a report on the current events in the troubled Presevo valley.
There is relative peace in Bujanovc after last few days fighting between UÇPMB and Serb forces. The tensions, which almost broke into a whole scale war, have been considerably lowered by frequent visits by international organizations and especially the EU monitors even though some statements by warmonger's within the Serb government that visited Bujanovc. "Djindjic's statement should be understood more as an attempt to raise his low political rating then a call to start a war". "We do not have the financial means to wage a war," said Lilana Nedelkovic Chief of Kostunica's cabinet during her visit to Bujanovc. Yugoslav Foreign Minister said in a TV show, "Albanians are a nation that have many friends worldwide, and using force would be more damaging then ever". Yesterday Erik Moris special UNHCR envoy visited Presevo. They met with Riza Halimi Chairman of the PVD (Party for Democratic Activity) and President of the Presevo municipality and discussed the humanitarian and security issue in the Presevo valley. He informed the guests that the Albanian population fled because of mounting Serb police and military forces and the possibility of an armed conflict in which the civilian population would suffer the most.
After this meeting the UNHCR members visited the villages Osllar, Nesalc and Letovic all in the Bujanovc municipality in which more than 90% of the population has fled.
CABIGIOSU: GENERAL ELECTIONS ARE SIGNIFICANT FOR KOSOVARS
Zëri carried on page two a statement by COMKFOR Gen. Carlo Cabigiosu regarding the Serb elections and Presevo valley.
COMKFOR Gen. Carlo Cabigiosu confirmed yesterday for Zëri that 23 December Serb parliamentary elections will be held in Serb enclaves in Kosovo. "We will provide security and I wish that every thing will be conducted peacefully and without incidents. We are getting ready," said Gen. Cabigiosu and added that Albanians will have their own elections next year. He said that this "is not an issue and these elections are not relevant for Kosovars," said Cabigiosu. "For Kosovars are significant only Kosovo elections," added COMKFOR Gen. Carlo Cabigiosu.
He said that there was "always a possibility" for holding of Serb elections in Kosovo and the only issue was to minimize the effect. However, UNMIK decided on this issue said the general.
UNMIK spokeswoman Clair Trevena said yesterday at the press briefing there is still no decisive agreement and that UNMIK is still discussing this issue. "There are many questions to answer, therefore it took so long (making of the decision)". Trevena added that UNMIK is discussion this issue with many "players". Trevena did not comment would UNMIK be in a difficult position if these elections were held in Kosovo meanwhile only COMKFOR Gen. Carlo Cabigiosu asked that these elections be held peacefully.
COMKFOR Gen. Carlo Cabigiosu said that KFOR is an able organization however it is a "foreign one" and added that we can be fully effective only if we have the support of the local population. He said that the situation in the Presevo valley has been discussed with Albanian political leaders so they could convince the people of the Presevo valley that the problem "will be solved very soon by the new Belgrade regime". "There are very good signs EU monitors are in the zone, UNHCR officials are there and yesterday for the first time there was a meeting between Yugoslav Minister for Minorities that came from Belgrade and Albanian representatives of the Presevo valley. We suggested the Belgrade authorities thorough the joint KFOR and FRY commission if there were international monitors the Albanian s could have their representative to discuss the problems," said COMKFOR Gen. Carlo Cabigiosu adding that the cease fire would last forever.
"People listen to us" answering the question if he made any suggestion either to Kosovars or Albanians in the Presevo valley. "Negative consequences have been stopped. My suggestion to the people of the Presevo valley is to trust political discussions," said COMKFOR Gen. Carlo Cabigiosu
TWO ARRESTED IN SUSPICION OF MURDERING SKENDER GASHI
KFOR spokesman Peter Wizniak informed the balance of weapons confiscated by KFOR during the period of August 15th until December 3rd, reported Koha Ditore on page seven.
During this time 101 automatic weapons, 80 pistols, 17,500 cartridges and 71 hand grenades have been confiscated. Wisniak adds that in the hands of the population is a great amount of weapons held illegally. International police spokesman Alexander Miron informed of 65 crimes committed last week, as one of them he specified two murder attempts and a kidnapping, whereas 95 accidents have occurred in traffic, where 85 drivers have been caught without a driving license.
On December 4th, weapons have been found during a weapon search in the villages of Sopniq and Nashpalle of Rahovac and two persons have been arrested in suspicion of murdering former KPC member Skender Gashi. OSCE representative informed that on December 13th a seminar for municipal assembly advisors in Prizren would be held, where they will be trained on advisor tasks, concluded Koha Ditore.
1974
Zëri on page one carried a column by Mufail Limani commenting the Serb elections in Kosovo and its consequences.
No matter what we say, it seems as though the Serb federal elections and the republican ones as well, will be held in Kosovo. It is expected that all of KFOR and UNMIK request that there be no incidents during the elections "in the name of Kosovo's future". However is there someone who does not know that the elections themselves are the hardest "incident" which might of occurred against Kosovo's future.
The "incident's" first victim will be UNMIK and KFOR 's moral authority in the after war Kosovo where internationals operated, the authority that was stronger than the mandate of the Resolution 1244 earned with the bombing of Serb targets and with bringing an end to genocide and ethnic cleansing.
What is now being placed in Kosovo is the 1974 autonomy infrastructure. The main motives of the Serb "democratic" military offensive, which are supported by many European centers, are to turn the west against Kosovo. Obviously, the turn "against" the west would retroactively justify west's change of Kosovo's present direction. The worst reaction would be searching the guilt among us. We know the story about what can "destabilize" Kosovo's independence.
However, what could be stable in the Balkans when Kosovo itself is not stable? Nothing.
BELGRADE REQUESTS A UN SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING
The Yugoslav authorities have requested the UN Security Council to urgently discuss the situation in the south of Serbia, "international forces in Kosovo to fulfill their duties and to influence the Albanian armed forces to withdraw from the demilitarized zone along the administrative boarder between Serbia and Kosovo" adding that the Resolution 1244 and Kumanova Technical Agreement have been seriously oppressed, reported Zëri on page four.
The Yugoslav government has been engaged in searching for a peaceful solution and for creating urgent conditions for the population's safe return into their homes. "The correction of Kumanovo's Technical Agreement, which defines the forces' systemization in the zone demilitarized with Kosovo, is necessary," stressed General Momcilo Perisic, now president of Security and Defense Committee of the Yugoslav Parliament during his visit to Presevo valley, requesting a greater engagement of KFOR troops in respecting Resolution 1244 and "to expel armed Albanians from that zone".
In the federal authorities drafts, in the reports of Foreign Ministers' and Minister of Federal Police have pointed out 'the possibility of FRY requesting correction of the agreement has been mentioned', stated Yugoslav Foreign Minister Goran Svilanovic, adding that this was not put into the government's conclusions and that this is not a common stance for such a thing at the moment".