CONTENTS
KOUCHNER TRAVELS TO NEW YORK TO ADDRESS UN SECURITY
COUNCIL
KOHA DITORE: PROTEST IS NO JOKE NOW
KOSTUNICA: KOSOVO'S
INDEPENDENCE - TENSIONS TO THE REGION
KOSOVAR LEADERS INVITED TO
DAYTON
LIMANI: HUGE TRADE WITH KOSOVO
KOUCHNER TRAVELS TO NEW YORK TO ADDRESS UN SECURITY COUNCIL
The overall flow of local elections, the issue of missing persons and prisoners, as well as the possibility of extending the mandate at the post of UN Chief Administrator in Kosovo, are some of the topics which Bernard Kouchner is expected to discuss on during his visit to the United Nations Security Council in New York, reported Koha Ditore on page three.
Claire Trevena, spokeswoman for UNMIK said Monday that Kouchner would brief UN SC members on local elections and would talk on the developments during the past months in Kosovo.
Citing sources within the international administration in Kosovo, the paper said that that during his visit to New York, Kosovo's Chief Administrator will find out whether his mandate expires in the end of the year, or will it be extended to May next year, when internationally-organized general elections in Kosovo are expected to take place.
Last week, international officials said that UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is expected to appoint the Norwegian diplomat Knut Vollebaek in the post of UN chief administrator in Kosovo. "However, sources within UNMIK claim that Kouchner's mandate might be extended, bearing in mind that a lot of time would be spent for the inheritor of the post to adapt and gain experience," added the paper.
KOHA DITORE: PROTEST IS NO JOKE NOW
Koha Ditore on page three carried a commentary by the editorial's office in which it was noted:
"A group of young radicals from Podujeva have pre-announced a step which could be very concerning. They said they intend to surround Serb localities and kidnap Serb citizens. By doing so, according to their opinion, they would exchange the kidnapped Serbs with Albanian prisoners who are kept as war hostages in Serbian prisons.
They demand the release of Albanians unjustly kept in prison, but at the same time they are threatening other innocent Kosovar citizens. Serbs who they intend to kidnap are the same way innocent as the Albanian youngsters, whose release Kosovo is demanding.
Around 800 Albanians are still in Serbian prisons and there are some thousand others whose whereabouts is unknown. Change of power in Serbia and Serbia's admittance in international instances gave hope on an amnesty for Albanian prisoners, but such a thing is not happening.
Every achievement for interethnic reconciliation in Kosovo has been shaken.
Whereas, while thousands of Kosovar citizens continue their protest in all of Kosovo demanding the release of prisoners, UNMIK's Chief is preparing to go to New York on Tuesday to discuss the issue of Albanian prisoners in front of the United Nations Security Council.
Yugoslavia is already a member of the UN and OSCE and there can be no more justifications for not having talks with it. It has been recognized by the international community and it is the international community's duty to solve the issue of Albanian prisoners.
The protests, which are ongoing for a week, are addressed to the international community, too. However, they are foreseen to be peaceful. Protests are usually used to withdraw the attention of the public opinion for a certain issue. Belgrade undoubtedly doesnt care for them, whereas the international community in Kosovo is mainly justified with not being able to solve the problem. They were more concerned with the traffic jams, than with the issue of prisoners.
This actually brought to the situation of spirits being radicalized and the endangering of the interethnic reconciliation. It brought to the endangering of Kosovo Albanians and Serbs and everything achieved in Kosovo. The disappointing idea of youngsters from Podujevo proves this. But who is to blame? The Kosovars? The international community? Or Serbia's who wants to see Kosovo's failure by all means?
All those who left this issue unsolved are to blame. Albanian prisoners should be immediately released, for the sake of well-being and reconciliation in Kosovo. For the sake of justice and humankind. For the sake of all investments made in Kosovo. And in Serbia.
This is no joke now".
KOSTUNICA: KOSOVO'S INDEPENDENCE - TENSIONS TO THE REGION
Yugoslav president Vojislav Kostunica assessed that the independence of Kosovo would incite tensions in the entire Balkan and that the return of Serb refugees is one of Belgrade's regimes priorities, reported Koha Ditore on page two referring to an interview Kostunica gave to the German weekly "Der Spiegel".
"A few people say I have ambitions for a Greater Serbia. But, Im for a great democratic solution. We hold referendums in both republics or only in Montenegro. We will respect the decision of the Yugoslav people," said Kostunica, adding that a part of Montenegrin politicians act as if Milosevic was still in power, and that he intends to react aggressively and lead an open dialogue.
According to Kostunica, the independence of Kosovo would cause a chain
reaction in the entire region. "Initially, there must be security in
Kosovo. Then all Serb refugees must return, this is our main goal.
Rugovas victory is a step forward, because Thaçis extremists have been
eliminated. Now, a political solution must be found, a solution which
would assure substantial autonomy for Kosovo Albanians and Serbs," said
Kostunica. ""The independence of Kosovo means not only the end of
Macedonia, but new problems in Bosnia as well. Everyone should know
this".
KOSOVAR LEADERS INVITED TO DAYTON
Koha Ditore carried on page two a report on Kosovar politicians not being invited to the Zagreb Summit and their invitation to the fifth anniversary of the Dayton Peace Accord.
Problems arose again at the last moment because of the "Zagreb Summit" which is called by the EU as the "historic meeting for Balkan's future". The problem was not caused because the French president ignored Kosovo, the problem arose because a modality could not be found as how to assure the presence of the Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic. Regarding Kosovo, France was categorical that it should not be invited, since at the meeting FRY will take as an equal member and "Kosovo is part of it". France insists that Montenegrin President Djukanovic participates only as a member of the Yugoslav delegation led by ever more popular President Vojislav Kostunica. Kostunica will be tomorrow an honorary guest to the EU Parliament in Strasbourg.
France insisting that Montenegrin President Djukanovic to participate at the "Summit" in Zagreb only as a member of the Yugoslav delegation could disturb some of the interior plans that Djukanovic has for Montenegro. For the particular reason Montenegro wants to participate as an equal member. At the same time threats arrived from Belgrade that if Montenegro is invited separately then Kostunica will not go to Zagreb. Reason pending a formula has not been achieved as how to satisfy all the sides.
It would be that Kosovar Albanians feel frustrated because they were not invited to the Zagreb Summit where there would be no talks on Kosovo, there will be talks on integration of the countries in the region to the EU, for what the USA is not very enthusiastic. Furthermore, several diplomatic centers are labeling this "summit" as "France's maneuver to raise her influence in the Balkans and remove the Americans influence there". Some diplomats are saying that since World War II, none of the problems in the Balkans could not be solved nor they will be able to without America's guide. An American diplomat cynically commented the Zagreb Summit, "We could observe the summit however we do not have an ambassador in Zagreb".
New American ambassador to Croatia is the former head of the Prishtina Office, Larry Rosin, and former US ambassador to Croatia, William Montgomery has been appointed as ambassador to Belgrade. France's appetite has risen now after the election crisis, which would eventually decrease US authority in the international arena.
Americans are commemorating Dayton and opening Kosovo's issue even though Europeans tried to arrange even a symbolic meeting before the Zagreb Summit between Kosovar Albanians and the new Belgrade leadership, and to be the first that would arrange a meting between the new Croatian President Stipe Mesic with the Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica. Here the Americans tried to surpass the Europeans by inviting the leaders from the region to the commemoration Kosovo was included here. At the end of the week in Dayton Ohio, fifth anniversary commemorates the end of the bloody war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Its key architect US Ambassador to the UN Richard Holbrooke will be present. At the time, Kosovo was left aside the Dayton Peace Conference, many analysts called this as a fatal mistake of the international community, which lead to another bloody war in Kosovo. Now, five years later Holbrooke invited Kosovar representatives. Except Dr. Ibrahim Rugova and Hashim Thaçi heads of the two main Kosovo political parties, two independent members of the former Rambouillet Conference Veton Surroi and Blerim Shala are invited. Croatian President Mesic, Montenegrin President Djukanovic, and all three members of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidency have confirmed their attendance to the Dayton.
An invitation has been sent to the new Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica who has been a sworn rival of the Dayton Peace Accord however there has been no response from his cabinet. If Kostunica attends then it would be the first time that Kosovar Albanians meet with Vojislav Kostunica and Croatian President Stipe Mesic. Whoever attends from official Belgrade will discuss with Kosovar Albanians since Kosovo will be one of the issues discussed. It is expected that US Secretary of State Madeline Albright will attend this commemoration, however still is not know if any EU officials will participate.
THE HUGE TRADE WITH KOSOVO
Zëri on page three carried a column by Mufail Limani on current Balkan events. Limani wrote:
"Kosovo is paying the price of Serbia's democratization. The intrigue behind the Milosevic's quick and smooth downfall cannot be tied with remaining of Kosovo under Belgrade. This is proven with succeeding steps of a quick and smooth admittance of FRY to the UN and OSCE. Kosovo is part of the tale of the coming Serb elections - the Albanian prisoners cannot be released because of "anti-democratic" reactions of the Serb electorate. Kostunica has to keep the Albanians in prisons to prove his patriotism and this was consequently made legitimate by the international factor, which the price to be paid for Serbia's democratization.
Flora Brovina's trip to Serb jails whom the Serb Secret Service chief accompanied, tales of "brotherhood and unity" of the prisoners, Kosovars relaxing to the day when Serbs would announce amnesty, which on the other hand would be an incredible media capital for the new "Serb democracy", are all parts of the big political mosaic, bits and pieces that are being placed every day.
Naturally, it is about establishing Kosovo's judicial, political and media infrastructure for Kosovo's final status.
Montenegro yesterday removed the "Dinar" and has decided to use the Deutsche Mark instead. This is a strong blow maybe even lethal one for the 74 mosaic. Djukanovic unlike our political leaders is a serious political leader, who knows how to leads his country towards independence, even though he has the Yugoslav army stationed in Podgorica. It is not coincidental that Djukanovic decided to take a step right after FRY was admitted to the UN and OSCE, the removal of the Dinar was an answer to macro-political calculations, where Montenegro and Kosovo have to be sacrificed for the removal of Serbs from Russia and China.
What move did Albanians make?
None at all.
The occasional observer could came to a conclusion that Kosovars either are not aware of the processes that are developing or they have submitted to the new reality that is being created.
In reality, it looks like an electoral campaign at the worst possible time. It has become to important if someone is a member of the LDK or PDK, meanwhile Kosovo's biggest problem continues to remain the definite secession from Belgrade.
The first move by our political parties would a consensus towards the report with foreign administrators. A member of the municipal assembly cannot be expelled by force, if he has not committed an excess or has physically attacked someone there. However there is proof that squabbles between political parties are so deep that if someone is labeled as moderate, more cooperative and less problematic has become now the root of destroying the political opponents from the political scene. The price to be paid for destruction of the inner opponents has become Kosovo itself.
Kosovo is paying the price of Serb democratization, the fabricated dangerous of existing Macedonia, regional Italian-Greek ambitions and in beginning with the paying of the price for the definite victory of one political fraction - continuing efforts to destroy the other, in the end we could disappear from the political map
What will the winner gain?"