CONTENTS

HALF A COMPROMISE- MAIN PROBLEMS REMAIN FOR THE FUTURE
UÇPMB CONTROL THE VILLAGE OF BUKOC IN PRESEVO
MOSQUE RELIES ON HAEKKERUP
BELGRADE WILL NOT HAVE A WORD IN KOSOVO’S INDEPENDENCE

HALF A COMPROMISE- MAIN PROBLEMS REMAIN FOR THE FUTURE

Even in the third day of the Nice Summit, the heads of the European Union state members in the first plenary session did not agree even with the last suggestion of the French presidency for achieving a compromise, reported Koha Ditore on page three.

The French president Jacque Chirac has had bilateral meetings with all delegations one at a time, and has heard their suggestions, afterwards the French EU presidency revealed a draft document which was a combination of all individual suggestions and has requested the support of all state members for this document.

In this document, as a compromise was suggested that the problem of EU’s to be solved in stages, so the greatest states- Germany, France, Great Britain and Italy to let go of the right of having two commissioners in order for the smaller states to be able to have a member in the commission each. This way, until 2007 the Commission would have 27 Commissioners, whereas from 2010 the number would decrease to 20, however a rotation system would be applied so every state member would have a commissioner.

France let go of the veto right in a few issues of Foreign Trade, however not in trade with cultural wealth, which did not seem enough to Germany, who did not let go of the right in decisions regarding emigration issues. The suggestion was rebuked by Great Britain as well, because its representatives made it clear that it has no right to let go of the veto right in decisions regarding taxes, social security, defense and foreign policy. Regarding the tax policies, Great Britain was supported by states such as Sweden, Ireland and Luxemburg.

Because agreement was not achieved in the first session, now a new round of bilateral talks has begun in order to make a compromise. However, even if compromise is achieved, whenever that happens, it is now almost clear that the “Nice agreement” will be half in reforms. It will consist of minimal reforms because the state members cannot let go of their state rights.

During Sunday, the main obstacle in making a compromise was the number each state has to have in the European Union Council. France’s suggestion, which will most probably be approved in the end, foresees that the greatest states- Germany, Italy, France and Britain- will have thirty votes each, which means that Germany’s suggestion to have votes corresponding with the number of residents has been rebuked. According to the suggestion, Spain will have 28, Poland 26, Rumania 12, Holland and Belgium etc. would have 10 each, and the small states such as Luxemburg would have 3 votes.

Germany has requested a new conference, where the agreement which is awaited to be approved in Nice to change, a conference which also considers the fact that greater states must have more votes. Although it has much increasing support from other delegations, this request did not come into the suggestion- document of Nice.

UÇPMB CONTROL THE VILLAGE OF BUKOC IN PRESEVO

UÇPMB police sources have informed of UÇPMB forces expelling the Serb ones, which have mistreated and stolen from the residents of this municipality, reported Kosova Sot on page two.

According to these forces, UÇPMB 113th Brigade- “Sabri Fejzullahu” came to the residents’ help while they were making resistance against the Serb forces with the weapons they had. This Brigade helped the villagers expel the Serb forces, which left behind material damage, however there is no information regarding to loss of people. The sources agree of there being no villagers or UÇPMB members murdered or wounded, adding that the Serb police and paramilitary forces dislocated in the boarder zone between Kosovo and Presevo valley have mistreated several residents of Bukoc on Friday as well.

The provocations of the Serb police seriously endanger the achieved ceasefire and they impede the process of solving the political problems in Presevo valley, UÇPMB sources stressed that even the international factor is convinced of these provocations; even though the Serb side give verbal statements for finding a political solution for Presevo valley, they do not respect the agreements.

MOSQUE RELY ON HAEKKERUP

Koha Ditore carried a report based on the Russian news agency Intrefex regarding the words of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs that Russia hopes that the new chief of UN mission in Kosovo Hans Haekkerup will lead “a balanced, neutral and objective politic”.

The Danish minister was appointed successor of Bernard Kouchner in the post of UNMIK leader, whose activities Russia has criticized several times. A Russian official expressed his hope that Haekkerup “different from Bernard Kouchner” will engage himself in “ applying Resolution 1244, not impeding it”, also “to prevent every act that can ruin the integrity of the Yugoslav territory”.

BELGRADE WILL NOT HAVE A WORD IN KOSOVO’S INDEPENDENCE

Kosova sot on page four reported on an interview given to the weekly “Der Spiegel” by LDK chairman Ibrahim Rugova where he stated “We can have talks with Kostunica only in another level: as two independent states”.

LDK chairman Ibrahim Rugova stated that the talks between Prishtina and Belgrade regarding Kosovo’s status at this point seemed illogic and unnecessary, that is why he has refused the invitation of Yugoslav president Vojislav Kostunica. Rugova stated that the independence of Kosovo is not an issue that cannot be discussed; no one will request the Serbs opinion or ask for Belgrade’s approval regarding the independence of Kosovo, adding that the Serbs will be forced to accept the decisions of the European Union.

Kosovar Serbs will have equal rights with the Albanians, even though for now the only solution, which guarantees their security, is the Serb enclaves. Considering that the Albanians’ indignity and everything that has been done to them a year and a half after the end of the war is still immense.

“A long time must pass, until we are capable of guaranteeing the Kosovar Serbs full freedom, movement and circulation”, cited Rugova for “Der Spiegel”. He has also expressed his belief that this is the reason why the international forces must remain in Kosovo forever. For the security of the region in general, Rugova is for NATO’s everlasting settlement in Kosovo, the presence of which is necessary for stability in the Balkans.
“NATO is our private army”, stated Rugova for the paper broadcasted by Deutche Welle.