CONTENTS

PALOKAJ: KOSOVO IN THE INTERNATIONAL ARENA - A NEW REALITY
SHALA: KOSOVO'S FATE
KLINAKU: IS IT TRUE WHAT KOUCHNER SAYS THAT UNMIK IS DOING EVERYTHING FOR RELEASE OF PRISONERS?

PALOKAJ: KOSOVO IN THE INTERNATIONAL ARENA - A NEW REALITY

Koha Ditore on page ten carried a commentary by Augustin Palokaj, in which he wrote on the current position of Kosovo following changes in Belgrade. Palokaj noted:

"Maybe I should have started this text with a sentence in English - "Wishful thinking" which presents things pleasant to our ear. Such a text could have been written like this:

"The independence of Kosovo on top of the agenda of the international community. Noticing that the current Belgrade regime is no better than the previous one, the international community is turning its back on it. President Rugova is on an official visit to the U.S. where he was welcomed by the highest authorities which expressed the full support of the U.S. administration for the necessary recognition of Kosovo's independence as the only solution to the future status. The Stability Pact, as the most ambitious project for building future in the Balkans, would soon even formally accept Kosovo in its framework. European Union, amazed with the high level of political culture shown by Kosovars during elections, promised to increase finances for project of Kosovo's economic renewal and at the same time it does not exclude the possibility of Kosovo's independence. The branch of MLN in Gopingen, Germany, and the collegiums of PIM branches in Arau, Switzerland, sent a telegram to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, in which they demand the immediate recognition of Kosovo's independence. A similar telegram was sent to the French president Jacques Chirac from the Albanian Association in San Francisco. Considering these requests, the highest UN and EU officials expressed willingness to undertake measures in order to punish Serb criminals and to set up diplomatic relationships with Kosovo".

Someone might consider the above-written part as cynical; someone might consider it ironic or even ridiculous. What can be simply said for these sentences is that they are not realistic, but one might run into these words in the coming weeks, months or even years in Kosovo media by quoting leaders of political parties, chairmen of branches in and out of the country and by pleasing themselves. Such a dictionary which is a good inspiration to write Albanian songs and not only texts in papers, is not so unknown to the people of Kosovo because our memory is fresh when in the prewar period we believed that the issue of Kosovo is on top of the international agenda since 1990. But as from that time until 1997 the most famous international organization that mentioned Kosovo was Saint Egidio, whereas the others completely ignored it.

In western media and diplomatic circles, Kosovo is mentioned only within the humanitarian aspect, whereas the international community underlines the return of Serb refugees as priority. During the past days, the only news that made it to the outside world from Kosovo is the murder of four Ashkalis, whereas no agency and let alone EU or other organizations were concerned on the protests demanding the release of Albanian prisoners.

At the same time, after changes Belgrade has become an equal partner in almost all organizations, starting from the UN and the OSCE, whereas the possibility is not excluded for the FRY to be invited in the Partnership for Peace at NATO.

In order to be admitted in the UN and OSCE, Belgrade had to ask for admittance. The moment Belgrade did so, OSCE held an extraordinary meeting only after 12 hours and admitted FRY as an equal member. And while the leaders of Albanian political parties visit their branches in villages of the U.S., Germany and Switzerland, believing that in that way they are advancing the issue of Kosovo's independence, Belgrade diplomats hold regular meetings with their homologues in UN, EU, OSCE and the Council of Europe, with even the right of vote when it comes to making decisions on Kosovo.

This is the new reality of Kosovo's position in the international arena.

Someone might say that this returned Kosovo to the position it had in the beginning of the 90s, but I think those who say that during these days Belgrade had the position as in 1918, due to the European caressing. It not only joined the Stability Pact with an amazing speed, but the conference of the Pact is being held these days in Belgrade.

The fact that Kosovo is not being mentioned in western media is no tragedy whatsoever. On the contrary, it has a positive side and can be a sign of normality. Media are used to dealing with problems and Kosovo is no longer one. But it is tragic when Kosovo is not invited to participate in the Zagreb Summit, the most important meeting for the future of Balkans ever held by the European Union.
It is a bigger tragedy when the leaders of Kosovo Albanians do not see this tragedy as such. The renowned international commission on Kosovo, which has compiled the most detail report with which it proposes conditional independence, it underlined the failure to include Kosovo in the Dayton Conference as the biggest mistake of the international community.

Members of the same commission warned that leaving Kosovo out of the Zagreb Summit would have later consequences for the region.

Instead of agreeing the aforementioned fact with their heads bowed down, leaders of Kosovo political parties should find a new acting strategy. In fact, this is also their duty because let asides all other things we will not forgive them for not mentioning during their pre-election programs the integration of Kosovo in European developments. And Kosovo is not integrated in Europe through speeches in Albanian clubs in European centers.

The biggest obligation for this undoubtedly lies upon the LDK, the party which convincingly won the support of the Kosovar people. It should not only continue celebrating the victory in elections, but take over the union of Kosovar political forces, including parties that have a smaller number of votes but which cannot be ignored when it comes to making decisions for the future of Kosovo.

Instead of acting as if the non-invitation of Kosovar leaders in Zagreb Summit is no problem, Kosovar leaders should gather and compile a joint memorandum which would be read by Bernard Kouchner, in case of their absence there.

Those who know that the chances for uniting Kosovar political parties are minimal should also know that there are no longer western friends such as Madeleine Albright and James Rubin which would unite Albanians as they had done before Rambouillet. One of the highest EU officials several times repeated that he had never understood the fact that Albanians could not unite even during the war, and the same one makes an example out of Serbs saying that "unlike you, there joined together against Milosevic".

Kosovo has no tool to draw the international attention. There will never again be open repression or genocide against Albanians, there will never again be a war which could mobilize the entire world as in 1998. We are not going to be able to draw the international attention by mentioning names such as Mother Teresa, Ilyrs or Scanderbeg.

What should be done now is a joint political platform for the future of Kosovo in the region and Europe.

Albanians should do this because on the contrary the independence of Kosovo will really depend on the good will of Belgrade. Dr. Ibrahim Rugova called on Belgrade to prove its democratic will by recognizing the independence of Kosovo.

If there are a lot of reasons point at the international chief administrator of Kosovo, Bernard Kouchner, for establishing administration in Kosovo, one thing should be acknowledged to Kouchner. Until now, he excellently represented Kosovo in the international arena. In Brussels, Luxembourg, Paris and New York, he always found words to describe without prejudices what was happening in Kosovo, in fact even by confronting the most primitive and sometimes racist critics against Albanians, such as those by Jiri Dienstbir. Nevertheless, it must be understood that now Bernard Kouchner represents the international community in Kosovo and not the other way around. The same as Daan Everts represents OSCE in Kosovo and not the other way around. Both of them are in a position to carry out in Kosovo decisions made by organizations, in which FRY is an equal member.

For a long time to come, Kosovo's fate will depend on the international community, but the political intentions of the international community and Albanians are on the right track.

Kosovar political parties are determined to head towards the independence of Kosovo, or at least they say so, whereas the international community is evermore determined to unable this.

This is another fact that in Kosovo conditions should be created in order to establish a legitimate local body which would awake and notice that time is on Kosovo's side. Regardless of how good Kouchner is, he will not request the independence of Kosovo neither in the Zagreb Summit nor anywhere else because that is not his duty, even though he said that "never in his life had he met with an Albanian that does not support the independence of Kosovo".

The time has come when Kosovo Albanians can no longer play the victim's role to attract western sympathies, the time has come for them to awake. If they truly demand Kosovo's independence then they should formally do so, in order to leave a trace somewhere. Their requests for independence in Albanian rallies and in the cafés of Albanian diaspora in the west are more similar to the joke when a man prays to God for five years to win the lottery, and in fact he never bought and filled out a ticket.

The European Union never received a formal request from Kosovo to recognize its independence, regardless of the fact that it would be turned down.

Kosovo is in a new reality, in new regional European but also global circumstances. In case Kosovo falls to sleep again, then it will find itself in a position in Europe, which its people will not like.

SHALA: KOSOVO'S FATE

Zëri on page one carried a column by its publisher Blerim Shala commenting on the constitution of municipal assemblies. Shala wrote:

"Ceremonies on 11 November for constituting Municipal Councils, which derived from 28 October elections did not go as planned. It was planned to be the first ceremony of its kind in Kosovo 's history and in the process of creating democratic government, however it came with disorder. The reason for all these problems was the lack of presence of the Albanian National flag at the halls where swearing-in for Municipal Assemblies was to take place".

"In Prishtina, with Chief UN Administrator Bernard Kouchner's intervention this obstacle was surpassed by bringing of the Albanian, Turkish and Bosniac flags. The swearing-in was done afterwards. However, this compromise did not happen all over Kosovo: In some municipalities' members of the PDK and AAK protested by abandoning the halls, and insisting on the presence of the national flag".

"This problem could have been surpassed with "Prishtina's recipe" inaugurated by Kouchner. However, a bitter taste and some not so good lessons came out of the experience on Saturday 11 November".

"Time and words do not have to be spent to tell of the importance of the national flag for Kosovar Albanians. Tom many sufferings, prosecutions and people's fates are tied for the right of usage of the national flag. To this we have to add that the long Kosovar history of fighting for the flag, it should not become a tool used by any political party. The national flag should not come in between us, to be used by anyone for personal interests. The flag should join not divide our political leaders. There can be no compromise, games or politics with this issue. God help Kosovo if on this issue there is no consensus".

"Let us return to the Saturday searing-in ceremony, issue of usage of the national flag during the swearing-in ceremony sprung up the serious disagreements among Kosovar politicians of the three main political parties (LDK, PDK and AAK) and between Albanians and UNMIK administration. This time pre-election experience was not used where political parties were unique in their position and the compromise achieved with UNMIK and OSCE for the usage of lags in voting stations. Here we cannot ask questions of this type: Was UNMIK administration warned by Albanian leader that the swearing-in ceremony could be problematic in there is no national flag present? Were there any talks about the ceremonies by the main political parties a day or two before they actually were to be held? Were there any efforts made to arrange a meeting with Albanian political leader and Bernard Kouchner? Did only Kouchner think that there could be problems if the flags were not present? Saturday actions in fact offer us answers to all these questions".

"The days before and after the elections, we heard many promises by political leaders for cooperation and coordination. Saturday's reality brutally rebukes all these promises. A meeting could have been arranged on Thursday or Friday     between leaders of the three political parties and Bernard Kouchner where an agreement could have been achieved. Kosovar opinion awaited that LDK, PDK and AAK on the highest level would coordinate and come out with a joints statement after FRY's admittance to the UN and OSCE, events that disturb the people of Kosovo. We heard many patriotic statements however we did not see any coordination or strategy by Kosovar political parties, when now Belgrade is promptly using the change in power and ousting of Milosevic".

"Kosovo's fate cannot be a hostage to contradictions, impatience and disagreements of our political parties".

KLINAKU: IS IT TRUE WHAT KOUCHNER SAYS THAT UNMIK IS DOING EVERYTHING FOR THE RELEASE OF PRISONERS

Koha Ditore carried on page ten a comment by Shukri Klinaku on the ongoing protest for the release of Albanian prisoners from Serb jails.

I think that we all have to realize that those responsible for solving this problem are not accomplishing their obligations. To find those responsible we have to put aside our affectionate feelings towards the foreigners, political and other feelings that could bring us to incorrect evaluations.
 
I consider that protests would be stronger if the voice of IAC members would be heard. Their engagement should not end with statements. They have a capacity to do more. The essence of the problem lies behind the fact that Albanian members that sit in the IAC have never placed this issue as a priority.

We should not forget that main responsibility for not solving this issue is the international community. More precisely, UNMIK founders the UN and OSCE. Therefore, UNMIK is the closest organization to us responsible for this issue.

Kouchner is constantly stating that he is doing everything possible to solve this problem. This is not true. It is not true that Bernard Kouchner and Daan Everts are doing everything possible. However, they are working against this issue. If it is not so, they should have declared themselves against unconditional admittance of FRY to the UN and OSCE. Kouchner and Everts knew very well that at the same time thousands of Albanian mothers are protesting on the cold pavements all over Kosovo, they went to Vienna to give their contribution to FRY's admittance to the OSCE. These two cannot say that it was not our fault. Until they state differently, this is your politics gentlemen.

Consequently, only few days ago Serbia received considerably aid in medicine and fuel from the internationals.

Dear protestors let us separate the ones responsible and orient our protest against them. Let us not allow those responsible to excuse themselves for not meeting their obligations. Before these person bearing responsibility come to our protest, they should finish their obligation that they undertook or resign. Otherwise, the protest loses meaning. 
 
Dear protestor, I know that you would do anything to contribute to the issue you are protesting for. Your perspective of this problem is that your loved ones are in far worse position than you are. Even though not all at the same time and in a mutual voice, I can clearly say that, all are trying to contribute to this very important issue for our peace. Knowing that direct reason for this protest were the rebellions in Serb prisons where Albanian prisoners were in clear danger from other inmates, I consider the fact that the fate of Albanian prisoners is not in the hands of rebelled Serb prisoners the protest should end. On the contrary, the continuing of the protest would have to reconsider protestors' demands and to whom those demands are addressed. For demands, they can be this or that however the demands have to be addressed to UNMIK and governments that formed it. In agreement to this UNMIK personnel (Kouchner and Ms. Andreoti) should not be allowed to come to the protests without favorable results for us that would bring the resolving of this issue. The protest should bring about concrete engagement by UNMIK and governments that formed it in releasing the imprisoned and finding the missing. I tell you this because of two other facts: your deteriorating health and disbelieve that the imprisoned will be released during our protest. Moreover the demand and the address for all those we consider "missing" should be changed. The best solution would be that our judicial experts formulate an exact durable demand, and decide the address. To sent it and wait (15-30) days for a reply. After this, the demand should be backed up by strong protests until a reply is received from the noted organizations, and not with Kouchner and his deputy at the protests.