CONTENTS:
OWEN: TIME TO RE-DETERMINE BORDERS AND KOSOVO'S
INDEPENDENCE
FOUR KOSOVARS KILLED
EVERTS: PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN
KOSOVO TO HOLD NEXT YEAR
WHO IS JUSTIFYING THE CRIMINALS
ALBANIAN
PRISONERS WITHOUT FOOD FOR THREE DAYS
OWEN: TIME TO RE-DETERMINE BORDERS AND KOSOVO'S INDEPENDENCE
Koha Ditore carried on page two a message from former peace negotiator for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lord David Owen on Balkan stability.
Lord Owen said that stability of the Balkans depends on
re-determination of some of the borders. He added that international
community has to start talks to determine Kosovo's status, which would
lead to independence as soon as possible. Owen said that he is deeply
concerned that EU and US enthusiasm is diminishing regarding Kosovo's
independence. He said that this tendency should stop. Owen noted that US
is much closer than the EU to the idea of giving independence to Kosovo.
He calls the Europeans to be less rigid on the issue of changing borders
of the former Yugoslavia. He said that EU wants to postpone the
talks on Kosovo 's status. However, US wants these negotiations to
start relatively soon.
"I have been sympathizing with the US
position for a very long time. I think that what Kosovars have been
through makes independence something that has to be faced, even if you
think or not that they key is independence. Next we will face another
issue: which would be the alternative of not giving independence?" said
Lord Owen.
According to Owen, an alternative to not giving
independence to Kosovo acknowledges continues instability in the region.
If NATO remains in Kosovo for a very long time, then eventually it will
become an occupational force for Kosovars and "it will become an aim of
attacks," said Owen. Extremist leaders that created the problems in the
Balkans are gone. This is a good moment that new leaders in the region and
the international community start negotiations for changing of borders
said Owen. However, governments have to realize that Kosovo should not be
given independence under isolation. This has to happen in the contest of
full Balkan governing.
"We should be ready to discuss at least
some territorial changes of the existing borders. Something very important
and rational would be to allow that some aggressive person in Bosnia and
Herzegovina, the so-called Pale Serbs in simple terms secede and join
Serbia," said Owen.
In other words, Lord Owen said that Serb nation
would not accept the loss of Kosovo if they do not get a part of Serb
Republic. Owen said that Kosovo's independence is inevitable. History has
proven that people that are determined to achieve independence will fight
for it and in the end they will win.
FOUR KOSOVARS KILLED
Koha Ditore carried on page two the killing of four male Kosovars at
the village Dashevc on Thursday.
UNMIK police spokesperson Derek
Chappell said on Thursday that the victims were killed during the night
and their bodies were found 8:45 by UNMIK police stationed in
Skenderaj. The victims were members of the Hashkali minority and
they were from 16 to 42 years old. A neighbor told us that the victims
were Agron, Ibush, Istref and Hajzer Goxhufi who after war lived in Fushë
Kosovë. Meanwhile, UNMIK administration confirmed that the victims are
Hajzer and Ibush Ahmeti, Istref Bajrami and Agron Mehmeti. Chappell said
that these persons returned to the Dashevc village with the help of UNHCR.
No one has been arrested for these killings, Chappell added that
UNMIK police continued all during the day investigations. UNMIK
spokeswoman Susan Manuel said that the four victims were shot by firearms,
three of them on the forehead. These Roma came back to the village only
three days ago and they we living in tents.
Chappell said, "I want
all the people of Kosovo to condemn this horrible act of violence," said
UNMIK spokesperson Derek Chappell and added, "Think what image this sends
to the world for Kosovo".
SRSG Bernard Kouchner strongly condemned
the killing of four Hashkali in the village Dashevc. "The news of this
cold blooded killing of four Hashkali, who just returned to their home
which they left during the war is very disturbing," said Bernard Kouchner.
Whoever killed these men, only 48 hours after their return wants to
destroy everything that ahs been done last year and a half and especially
last few weeks. "I understand that these men were welcomed by their
Albanian neighbors. What a tragedy for the community. What tragedy for
Kosovo," said SRSG Bernard Kouchner. "This is a contemptible crime. It is
an attack on the Hashkali community but on all of Kosovo," said Kouchner.
We will do all we can to find the perpetrators. However, the damage, which
has been done to the seeds of democracy, which took root last month, may
be immeasurable. "My deepest condolences go out to their families. I will
join them in mourning for their loved ones at this dark moment for
Kosovo," concluded SRSG Bernard Kouchner.
EVERTS: PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN KOSOVO TO HOLD NEXT YEAR
Zëri carried on page three a report ion OSCE Head Daan Everts comments regarding the changes in Belgrade and local elections in Kosovo.
"Local municipal elections in Kosovo were the best held elections
ever in a post conflict region," stated for the press in Vienna OSCE Head
for Kosovo Daan Everts, and added that these elections will enter the
history annals. In a communiqué released by OSCE, Everts noted that
massive turn out by the Kosovars for the elections, their patience in
waiting to vote the people of Kosovo have proved that they are clearly for
democracy.
Elaborating on pre-election mood in Kosovo
Everts said, "Ever since the changes in Belgrade there is clear movement
by Serbs that now want to have an active dialog with UNMIK, and on the
Albanian side we clearly see who is dominant voice. The climate in whole
for dialog has changed". Everts said that Serb community has positively
expressed their wish to participate in the new voters registration, and
added that elections would be held in the three Serb municipalities,
Leposavic, Zubin Potok and Zvecan. "I have talked to Serb leaders in
Kosovo and they expressed themselves positively on the issue of
registration and requested to start Serb registration, hence they could be
a part of the process. They want willingly to choose their council
members, and not to be appointed," said Everts. Ambassador Everts said
that parliamentary election could be held in the first six months on the
coming year. "Albanian leaders insisted that parliamentary elections are
held as soon as possible, given the fact that they showed a high level of
democracy during local lections. This is in agreement with UN Security
Council Resolution 1244, which insists on self-governing institutions and
substantial autonomy. I await that in the next six months parliamentary
elections will be held in Kosovo," said Everts and added that OSCE Mission
in Kosovo will help in implementing results of local elections.
Serb news agency "Beta" reported that Ambassador Everts said, "Kosovo's independence for the moment cannot be considered as an option and they (Albanians) will abandon their demand for independence if an economic independence and autonomy like Taiwan's is offered". According to this agency, Ambassador Everts said that the situation in Kosovo is better by the day and very soon, we will hear Serbian to be spoken on the streets of Prishtina.
WHO IS JUSTIFYING THE CRIMINALS?
Kosovo is fed up with murder and blood. Unfortunately, they are occurring constantly. Just yesterday, five dead were announced. Because they were not Albanian, the Albanians were blamed for these acts. As the history tells, one group kills another always for nationalist and revenge motives.
The anniversary of one of the most inhumane wars, Kosovo’s was celebrated on 12 June. This war’s greatest victims were the Albanians. Today is 3 November; it is the third day of protests against 820 Albanians being held in Serb prisons and of requests to clarify the fate of more than three thousand missing persons, for whom only Serb assassins have any know about. Their relatives tell painful tales that put curses, do not let the past be forgotten. We will never know the full stories of the terror and crimes. They have been buried together with the victims. Their living perpetrators, in Serbia are now quiet.
Many say that the war cannot end until the wounds are open. For the politicians, it is not over because their motives are not eliminated. The Albanians feel free for now, but they see their freedom as temporary.
The freedom for all times goes together with the independence. Kosovo’s independence opponents are making efforts to put various kinds of obstacles in the Kosovo’s path of independence. No methods are saved; they have never missed fiction or fantasy. Even though the perpetrators of many killings after the war have not been identified, the Albanians who may have revenge motives are blamed. The similarity of the deed with the actual deed is hard to differ.
Unfortunately, it is very difficult to place blame on the other side. Without regarding the truth, this is how the monstrous killers of thousands of Albanian civilians and diggers of massive graves are justified.
ALBANIAN PRISONERS WITHOUT FOOD FOR THREE DAYS
All daily papers continued their extensive coverage on protests rallies for the release of Albanian prisoners held hostage in Serb prisons, where a great rebellion is on rampage. The protests demand the immediate release of all Albanian prisoners and for that purpose the newly released from Serb prison, Flora Brovina went back to Serb prisons to assure of their well being.
Koha Ditore on page three carried a report concerning the prisoners’ rebellion in Serbia.
The Kosovar doctor, Flora Brovina entered the Serb prison in Nish, where the prisoners have been protesting for several days by requesting amnesty and improvement of living conditions. She did this by taking full responsibility for herself and did not accept for journalists to join her.
Gradimir Nalic from Yugoslav Human Rights Committee stated that Brovina came to the Nis prison on Kostunica’s “approval”. A few days ago, Kostunica approved the amnesty of Brovina, who was in Pozarevc and was sentenced to 12 years of imprisonment she was accused for terrorism. Brovina informed journalists that she has visited Serbs and Albanians in the prison of Nis, and is convinced that the conditions are very hard, as the Belgrade based “Beta” informed.
“The Albanian prisoners are living in very hard conditions; they are isolated in two floors, there are 146 persons in the first floor, 155 on the second. Four of them are seriously ill and urgently need serious treatment”, stated Brovina adding that they want to be held away from the protests and that the Serb prisoners are taking good care of them, but they request to be transferred from their pavilion because “they do not have enough air”.
Father Sava Janjic and Natasha Kandic stayed during the whole night in the Nis prison. Kandic has sent 200 kg of bread to the Albanian prisoners who have not eaten for three days, but prison warden, Miodrag Djordjevic has accused her of encouraging the prisoners on uprising. The Belgrade daily “Glas Javnosti” has speculated that former president Slobodan Milosevic’s Secret Service has organized the “spontaneous” turmoil.
“The uprising was organized by the head of Security, through the prison wardens and their people so all documentation for the abuse of prisoners, and companies which worked for the prisons were destroyed. This was the first reason, the second one was to prove that the new government is incapable of undertaking further steps”, claimed a close source to the Serb Justice Ministry.
“The prisoners’ deeds are normal and logical, when you release Flora Brovina and other sentenced for political or financial reasons, you should wait for other prisoners’ rebellion and their request for amnesty” stated Serb Socialist Party (SPS) official, Ivica Dacic to the Associated Press. In the meantime Beta informed that Secret Service chief, Radomir Markovic visited the Nis prison, “We all have the same task to help improve this situation “, stated Markovic for the journalists, who has met representatives of the Yugoslav government, and one Serb minister.
Justice Ministry negotiators agreed to fulfill the prisoners’ main requests in exchange for the gradual normality in prisons. A few prisoners oppose such a step by saying that members of Milosevic’s regime should be punished. “We are guilty, but we are small fish in comparing to the real criminals and Mafiosi who stole all over the nation”, stated a Serb prisoner.
The turmoil that left behind a murdered person, presents a new
challenge for Kostunica before the December elections in Serbia.
Kostunica’s administration should allow a release a few frustrations that
accumulated for the last 13 years during Milosevic’s regime, without
letting the country slide toward anarchy, reported Associated Press.