CONTENTS:
KOUCHNER: UNMIK IS NOT ORGANIZING SERB ELECTIONS IN
KOSOVO
ALBRIGHT: GENERAL ELECTIONS IN KOSOVO TO BE HELD IN
SUMMER
THE DANE THAT WILL LEAD UN MISSION IN KOSOVO
KOSOVO WILL MISS
MRS. ALBRIGHT
THE RELEASE OF ALL ALBANIANS IS REQUESTED FROM
KOSTUNICA
WE HAVE BEEN AND WILL ALWAYS BE HERE TO HELP
EVERYONE
KOSOVO'S SUPREME COURT INAUGURATED
KOUCHNER: UNMIK IS NOT ORGANIZING SERB ELECTIONS IN KOSOVO
UNMIK Chief Administrator Bernard Kouchner and COMKFOR Gen. Carlo Cabigiosu inaugurate Kosovo's railways reported Zëri on page two.
UNMIK Chief Administrator Bernard Kouchner said that 23 December Serb elections UNMIK will not organize them however it was understood that they will be held in Kosovo. "We are not responsible for Serb elections. We do not organize Serb elections. If Serbs want to organize and hold elections with their own funds as the previous elections, we will ensure the security of each Serb and Albanian as we have been doing every day. It is nothing to worry and Albanian political leaders are in accordance that this is not our worry," said Kouchner while he and COMKFOR Gen. Carlo Cabigiosu were inaugurating the railway lines repaired by three international companies.
UN Chief Administrator Bernard Kouchner and COMKFOR Gen. Carlo Cabigiosu also talked about the newly President elect George W. Bush. "US participation in the civil mission is so high so important and they are so determined that I cannot see to withdraw anything. Of course that this is an European problem and we can surpass this problem," said Kouchner.
"The engagement of US soldiers in Kosovo is a very important participation that cannot be undermined. I believe that were statement during the electorate race which are a part of the game that candidates use," said Cabigiosu, and added that the new administration will take a decision concerning Kosovo based on facts. He also emphasized that general elections are expected to be held in the near future to "form institutions for a substantial autonomy".
ALBRIGHT: GENERAL ELECTIONS IN KOSOVO TO BE HELD IN SUMMER
Zëri carried on page on report from the Foreign Minister NATO Summit in Brussels.
Current US administration that will leave the White House for the newly elected President George W. Bush in contrary to EU countries is in favor of Kosovo having its own institutions and their stated their position yesterday in Brussels during the last NATO Foreign Ministers meeting to be held this year.
US Secretary of State Madeline Albright has requested the holding of general elections in Kosovo as the next step of building democratic institutions by the international community in Kosovo. She recollected the well-organized local elections and called the UN Mission in Kosovo to continue their efforts in holding general elections and forming of central institutions in Kosovo. According to Mrs. Albright, these elections should be held in summer.
"We request from UNMIK to continue their consultations on forming new democratic institutions for self administrating government and afterwards to approve the needed regulations," said Albright and added, "General elections are to determine as who is going to lead these institutions and they should be held as soon as possible certainly next summer. We have to keep up the step". According to US Secretary of State Albright implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1244 is supported by KFOR and international community's aspiration is a Kosovo in which different ethnic groups can live together in peace and democracy.
Bill Clinton's Administration favors the holding of the general elections and they declared on Monday for the need of an international conference for finding a political solution for Kosovo's status. The Europeans have answered the US position expressed on Monday by US Ambassador to the UN Richard Holbrooke negatively. French Foreign Ministry has opposed this US proposal.
"Albright has called the FRY authorities to release all Albanian prisoners that are being held in Serb jails and shed light on all the missing in the region," she also added that it is the right of every individual to return to their homes in Kosovo.
The international community has condemned the tensions in Presevo valley unlike during Milosevic's regime they blame UÇPMB forces. "We join Kostunica in condemning the violence caused by armed extremists in Presevo valley," said Albright and added that problems in this region should not be underestimated or get out of control. "We request that all sides to show restrain and support KFOR in their efforts in to prevent new incidents," said Albright.
THE DANE THAT WILL LEAD UN MISSION IN KOSOVO
A portrait of the new UN Chief Administrator for Kosovo Hans Haekkerup who will take the post from Bernard Kouchner in mid January reported Zëri on page five.
For UNMIK this will a change of styles, because comparing the exploding Frenchman who after 18 months wants to leave the post tailored made for him, and his Danish successor cannot even be imagined. He (Haekkerup) is the quiet type he relies on negotiations and a net of good contacts. Even though his reserved personality he ahs achieved to be the minister with the longest term and most popular politician in Denmark and very respectable world politician. Therefore, EU countries were supportive of Haekkerup's candidature.
The 55 year-old Haekkerup comes from a political family. His father was Foreign Minister and his mother a member of the parliament. He attended a military academy and in 1979 became member of the parliament. During the 80's, the social democrats were showing their distance towards NATO Haekkerup was on the other side. He was all for the Alliance and has several friends among the American defense ministers. His contacts in USA could be very helpful especially now when he will have to find a way to withdraw funds from the new administration.
After the social democrats came back to power in 1993, Haekkerup became defense minister. He succeeded to pass a defense doctrine, which manages international crisis as Denmark's most important tasks. Danish soldiers were active in the Balkans among the first missions there, another Haekkerup's success is the forming of the German-Danish-Polish corps and the forming of the Shirbig brigade a international fire fighting troop for the UN. They are based at the small Danish town of Hovelte and currently they are on duty in Africa. During the preparations in forming the Shirbig brigade Haekkerup met with then UN under-secretary Kofi Annan. They continued to have a very good relationship, which ended with his appointment to UNMIK chief.
In the last twenty years this is the most important post for Denmark and fir Haekkerup a farewell to Danish politics. Haekkerup said that he wants to remain for a long time in Kosovo. The fact that he is moving to the Balkans with his wife and his infant child shows that he is serious, people well informed on Kosovo question if Haekkerup is aware of the post which demands a 20 hour a day engagement in very often inhumane conditions.
KOSOVO WILL MISS MRS. ALBRIGHT
Zëri on page one carried a column by its publisher Blerim Shala, in which he commented on US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright's efforts solving the Kosovo issue.
"Europe will miss Clinton", said Christopher Paten European Commissioner for Foreign Policy. The statement follows Clinton's departure from the American and world political scene, in our case, in this part of Europe called the Balkans, can be enforced with the words "Kosovo will miss Albright".
In one of the key moments for solving Kosovo's issue, Albright whose diplomacy was always lead with political and moral principles, which made America, what it is today, will turn to her colleagues in the Contact Group with the message: "do you think you are in Munich…" alluding to the giving away to western countries to Hitler in 1936. Between the fear of repeating Munich and the Vietnam syndrome, Albright was convinced in the winter of 1998 that America and the west must save a nation from a regime, even if that meant a military intervention, which occurred in spring.
In her last diplomatic tour to Europe as US Secretary of State, Albright gave many suggestions and messages, the realization of which will help the Balkans to stabilize. One of them was addressed to the holding of general elections in Kosovo, because thereafter a fruitful process can be initiated for solving Kosovo's issue. As usually, Albright knew what must happen in Kosovo. Kosovo will miss Albright the most.
THE RELEASE OF ALL ALBANIANS IS REQUESTED FROM KOSTUNICA
The European parliament came out with a resolution which requests the release of hundreds of Albanian prisoners, imprisoned last year by Milosevic's regime by the new FRY authorities and delivered to UNMIK authorities in Kosovo, reported Zëri on page two.
According to the European Parliament, Kostunica's credibility before the European Union will weaken if the new government continues keeping the Albanians in imprisonment. "The European Parliament requests from Kostunica to do everything for the release of all political prisoners arrested by Milosevic's regime, which are still held in Serb prisons" it was said in the joint resolution of all political groups in the European Parliament, approved yesterday in Strasburg, France.
WE HAVE BEEN AND WILL ALWAYS BE HERE TO HELP EVERYONE
"The fact that we still have twenty two million refuges in one hundred and twenty various countries of the world does not let us truly celebrate…" stated Sadako Ogata head of the UNHCR commemorating the fiftieth anniversary in Geneva, reported Zëri on page two.
In Prishtina UNHCR commemorated the fiftieth anniversary with traditional Roma dance and music in the presence of UNHCR staff and the "guests of honor", UN Chief Administrator in Kosovo Bernard Kouchner and LDK Chairman Ibrahim Rugova. "We have been and will always be here to help everyone who has been forced to abandon their homes. We will continue to defend the right to return for all communities in Kosovo. We have been proving this by defending the right of all people forced to abandon Presevo valley", stated Eric Morrison UNHCR representative for Kosovo. Morrison told the story of how this organization was established fifty years ago. Due to the belief that there would be no more refugee waves, this commissariat was at first established for only three years, however later it was understood that there are so many people in the world who need help.
"Success" was the word with which Kouchner and Rugova addressed the local and international UNHCR staff, Kouchner also mentioned Kosovo's need for UNHCR for a longer period of time. On the other side, Rugova called UNHCR a sacred organization due to its great work for the peoples' return to their homes. "I wish this organization has as less work as possible", stated Dr. Rugova with humor.
KOSOVO'S SUPREME COURT INAUGURATED
Zëri on page three carried a report on the inauguration of Kosovo's Supreme Court with Rexhep Haxhimusa as its president.
Haxhimusa stated that the judges will respect the international and local laws and he particularly evaluated the work of UN Administrator in Kosovo Bernard Kouchner in consolidating the Kosovar judicial system.
"This is a very important institution, which shows the highest point of the judicial system. We must only recall how it was eighteen months ago it was impossible to even imagine the inauguration of Kosovo's Supreme Court. This has never before happened so quickly in a peacekeeping mission, and the image of Kosovo's judicial system is not at all perfect from outside… you must work on it.
The co-head of the Department of Justice Nekibe Kelmendi gave Kouchner an Albanian traditional handmade carpet and told him that every time he sees it, it will remind him of the Kosovo he has helped so much. In response, Kouchner asked if it was a magic carpet he could step on and fly over to Kosovo for a visit.