CONTENTS

ASSOCIATED PRESS BACK UP REPORT ON KOSOVO AS A THIRD REPUBLIC
O'BRIEN: FROM NOW ON, EVERYTHING DEPENDS ON KOSOVARS
KOSTUNICA PREPARES GROUND FOR OVERALL AMNESTY
ITALIAN JOURNALIST ANTONIO RUSSO KILLED IN CHECHNYA
TWO PROSECUTORS RESIGN AFTER RECEIVING DEATH THREATS
SERB LAWYER JOKANOVIC PRAISES KOSOVAR JUDICIARY
HAVE REXHEP LUCI'S MURDERERS BEEN FOUND?
TREPÇA MINING COMPLEX IN THE CROSSROADS OF TRANSFORMATION
SHALA: WHEN WILL GENERAL ELECTIONS BE HELD

ASSOCIATED PRESS BACK UP REPORT ON KOSOVO AS A THIRD REPUBLIC

Two members of the U.S. Congress have warned the White House not to help Serbia without conditions. Legislators Mitch Mcanell and Patrick Lihey proposed that the further assistance from financial institutions including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund is to be conditioned with the will of the new government in Belgrade to hand over Serb war criminals, reported Zëri on pages one and three.

The proposal of two American legislators follows the statement of the Yugoslav president Vojislav Kostunica saying that he does not intend to handover to The Hague his main opponent and chief war criminal Slobodan Milosevic. Until now, western government officials did not comment a lot on Kostunica's statement fearing that they would cause problems for the newly-elect president.

According to the report, both men criticized the U.S. administration and the European Union for not insisting that the assistance for Serbia to be conditioned with the handover of war criminals. They also said that Albanians, Montenegrins, and Macedonians have every reason to be concerned for the fate of any agreement with Belgrade for as long as Milosevic is around.

Citing unofficial sources, the paper added saying that the U.S. for some time now are committed in compiling a plan-project which would determine the status of each unit within Yugoslavia.

On Monday, the Associated Press quoted anonymous diplomats as saying that the U.S. wants Kosovo to be a Yugoslav third republic along with Serbia and Montenegro, however the American ambassador in Hungary Nick Hill refuted the information. The AP report came from Podgorica, where James O'Brien U.S. State Department special envoy was meeting Montenegrin leaders. According to Hill, O'Brien never said that Kosovo must remain a third republic within Yugoslavia.

The editor of AP in Vienna, who preferred to remain anonymous, told the paper that the agency believes the U.S. has such a plan for Kosovo and at the same time agreed with ambassador Hill who said that O'Brien was not the source of the report. "But, people around him in the deep background were," added the news agency.

Asked why Hill rushed to refute the report, the AP editor said that the U.S. does not want to give the impression of carrying out pressure upon Kostunica at this moment. He also said that the agency would publish the refute of the report had the U.S. State Department and O'Brien reacted in the inaccuracy of the article. "Until now they have not reacted, therefore we back up the report," the editor added.

O'BRIEN: FROM NOW ON EVERYTHING DEPENDS ON KOSOVAR MATURITY
 
Koha Ditore on page twelve carried an interview with James O'Brien, U.S. President Bill Clinton's special advisor on Balkan issues. 

This is not your first visit to Kosovo, but for a lot of reasons this visit is very unusual. You arrived here from Serbia - Belgrade, where you talks with the new political leaders of the country. What is the current situation, concerning the changes?

President Clinton and Secretary Albright asked me to go to Belgrade to send their message for what everything that happened. I think that a big step forward has been made, for the entire region. For the first time in history the entire region all its leaders democratic are sworn to democracy. This opens wide possibilities for all the people here. Today we can focus on improving economy and democracy. The best wat to do this is if we concentrate towards European integration. This is a chance offered to everyone in the region.  

However, a long way awaits the Serb regime...

They have to work towards consolidating democracy. There are many things to be done. Due to this, I think that all should help, because the return of forces of hatred and self-isolation would be a defeat for the hopes of all the people in the region.

Changes in Serbia have brought up several concerns within Kosovo. According to our opinion, these concerns are more political than security issues. Most of Kosovars were stunned by the fact that independence issue somehow slipped away. This must be a paradox way of thinking. Is there any truth in this? 

No, I am glad that you asked this question. Here, the position of the U.S. remains unchanged: We think that Kosovo going towards implies the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution. This implies the existence of self-governance in Kosovo and in the end finding a solution to the final status of Kosovo. We have been with the people of Kosovo and will remain here for along time. 
 
My discussion with President Kostunica was very interesting. First thing he said was that UN Security Council Resolution 1244 should be implemented and have democracy all over the region, and now is not the time to raise the question of Kosovo's status. I fully agree with his statement. He is concerned about some humanitarian issues, he wishes that all Kosovar Serbs that fled Kosovo return then this should be made possible for them. This would be a sign of Kosovars maturity to enable all those that want to return and live here, provide them with security, normal life and freedom of movement. This remains our highest priority. We also talked about the tragedy of Albanians kept in Serbian prisons. Belgrade should take steps in releasing the arrested and this was noted as a very important issue for the international community.

Until now, we have heard only hesitating statement for the release of the prisoners…

This is related to the first question. Currently Kostunica is concerned with consolidating the government. 

He controls only the presidency, and not all of Serbia.

Yes, he controls the federal presidency however they still do not have a government while Serb institutions are still out of his control. They are trying to find the best form to govern. He clearly understands the importance of releasing these people. He explained that he comprehends this as basic human rights issue and as such, he will solve it.

We can see that relations between Montenegro and Serbia have changed. Some positions of the international community and especially the EU are little concerning for the Kosovars.

In which aspect?  

… for example: President Djukanovic was praised for not participating in federal elections. Three days after Kostunica won the international community saw him as politically stubborn for not participating in the same elections. What is your position towards tendencies for continuation for political secession? 

This opinion is understandable with some groups in Montenegro. I do not know if majority of Montenegrins want to secede, especially president Djukanovic. I paid him a visit and he is rehabilitating after his traffic accident.

Then it was really a traffic accident.

We discussed this issue, for me it was important to meet with him after my meeting in Belgrade. I wanted to reassure him as to how important were our relationship with Montenegro. Our aim is to talk to different sides in the region for determining final status. There is clear objective as how to improve the standard of living, which is the backbone of democracy.

Let us speculate here. What if Montenegro decided to leave the federacy? What if Serbia recognizes the result of a referendum in Montenegro? This would surely change UN Security Council Resolution 1244, which is tied to the existing federacy.

First, we have to see what will come from joint discussions. According to international law, if countries decide to part in a peaceful way then this has to be respected. I made this clear to Kostunica and Djukanovic. The U.S. has an interest in the region, so they want to see democracy and prosperity. Whatever the inner changes we will respect them.

 On your visit to Prishtina, you met with Kosovar politicians. What do you think of them today?

I think that everyone is impressed with the energy and creativity of the Kosovars. This reflects on the politicians. I am impressed how the electoral race is being conducted - naturally excluding some incidents. Everything went very easily.

It is not very bad for a first time.

By no means, we have here local elections that have an impact on the every day life of the people. I think these merits go to the political leaders, which collectively kept the people concentrated tom this issue. What is more important that political leadership should continue towards implementation of a new local government, which is prerequisite for general elections.
 
We have started a real political race.
 
Indeed, you have.         

KOSTUNICA PREPARES GROUND FOR OVERALL AMNESTY

International pressure upon the new "democratic" (quotes provided by the paper, our remark) government in Belgrade for the release of all political prisoners seems to have given the first results, reported Zëri on page two.

Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica called for a meeting the leaders of the Yugoslav Committee of Jurists for Human Rights, Biljana Kovacevic and Gradimir Nalic. The meeting reportedly discussed the possibility of releasing all political prisoners held in Serbia.

Kovacevic told the paper that Kostunica expressed willingness to undertake such a step, but that he is seeking a form of legal realization since he does not have the legal competencies for overall amnesty. Kostunica had requested the compiling of an act for the amnesty of all political prisoners in Yugoslavia. This act, as Kovacevic noted, would include all Albanians who are currently detained in Serbian prisons.

Kostunica told the two officials of the non-governmental organization to compile the draft law on overall amnesty which would later be endorsed by the new Yugoslav parliament, as the first legal act of the new government. Kovacevic said that the text of the draft law would be ready by Friday when it will be presented for endorsement to Kostunica's cabinet and the federal parliament. However, according to Kostunica's opinion the endorsement of the act should be preceded by a powerful media campaign that would prepare the people of Serbia, which would on the contrary accuse Kostunica for national treason. 

ITALIAN JOURNALIST ANTONIO RUSSO KILLED IN CHECHNYA

Koha Ditore on pages one and two carried a report on the murder of Antonio Russo, a journalist of the Italian radio "Radio Radicale", whose body was found dead in an apartment in Chechnya.

Russo was well known in Kosovo for his objective reports during the conflict and for his close ties with the members of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), many of who still remember the help Russo offered them when certain KLA-controlled areas were surrounded by Serb forces.  

"For a year, Antonio Russo was considered by Prishtina residents as the characteristic resident of the town, who always used the opportunity to meet and talk to people. The children of Prishtina remember Antonio when he gathered them in groups in front of stores and bought them hamburgers. He was the last foreign journalist to leave Kosovo, whereas for his reports for 'Radio Radicale' during the war he received a series of awards for journalism," concluded the paper.

TWO PROSECUTORS RESIGN AFTER RECEIVING DEATH THREATS

According to an UNMIK official working on judicial matters, 25 persons suspicious of having committed criminal acts were arrested during the past week, reported Kosova Sot on page three referring to information broadcast by Prishtina-based "Kosovalive" news agency.

According to the official, Kosovo Chief Administrator Bernard Kouchner will order for these persons to be kept in detention, since the prosecutors are going to have a difficult time dealing with the case given the fact that they have become subject of threats.

Due to this, added the paper, within 30 days two prosecutors resigned in Prishtina. Unknown persons threatened with death an Albanian prosecutor, Pjetër Rrapi, by telling him: "do you realize who you have arrested?". According to the paper, the threats were made through phone.

"Another case is the resignation of prosecutor Drita Hajdar-Peci. She also received threats and therefore handed over her resignation," concluded the report. 
 
SERB LAWYER JOKANOVIC PRAISES KOSOVAR JUDICIAL SYSTEM
   
Koha Ditore carried on page five a report from a trial at Prishtina District Court, during which the court released Slobodan Joksimovic accused for murder attempt.

According to the indictment on 9 July 1999 around 1400 hours, in Radevë near Lipjan, Joksimovic attempted murder on Ismail Bajrami from the window of his house window with an AK-47 assault rifle. Afterwards, the accused and three other men went and beat Bajrami up and Joksimovic stabbed him two times in the hand.

On the other hand, Joksimovic reportedly denied doing such a thing and added: "I have never done what I have been accused of and I would never do it because I have children and the plaintiff could be my child". 

The decision to release Joksimovic came after the closing statement by the prosecutor Drita Hajdari-Peci who was quoted as saying, "I withdraw my indictment because there is not proof that the accused carried out the act".

Satisfied with the court's decision, the defendant lawyer Zivadin Jokanovic had words of praise for the court, the prosecutor's office and especially prosecutor Drita Hajdari-Peci. "During my 29 years of work, very rare and almost never have I seen the representative of the prosecutor's office to be so fair. I highly praise the work of District Prosecutor's Office and of deputy prosecutor Drita Hajdari - Peci and I am glad that the courts have started leading fair trials," Jokanovic was reported to have said.

HAVE REXHEP LUCI'S MURDERERS BEEN FOUND?
 
Several suspects on the murder of Rexhep Luci, a Prishtina architect, are behind bars, informed Marc Simpson the investigator of the case, explaining further on that since the beginning of the investigation a large number of people were arrested and valuable information on the case was collected, reported Koha Ditore on page two.

"It is expected that within two weeks we are going to have the murderers," Simpson told the paper with optimism. Referring to the joint operation of KFOR and UNMIK Police on Saturday which resulted with 25 persons arrested, Simpson was quoted as saying, "some of the 25 persons who were arrested during the Saturday operation are still being kept in detention, whereas the others were released after being questioned".    

TREPÇA MINING COMPLEX IN THE CROSSROADS OF TRANSFORMATION

"Trepça is alive, it exists. Someone who is not a professional can make a tour and see a bunch of metals, but in fact it has valuable minerals and some of its parts are in a quite good condition, including here the refinery. The biggest problem is the ecological aspect," said Bernard Salome, the UNMIK official in charge of issues related to the Trepça mining complex, reported Koha Ditore on pages one and two.

According to Salome, who calls himself the architect of the new Trepça, the international consortium, which was created after UNMIK took over the Zvecan Smelter, is now working on the technical, financial and environmental aspect. "We are assessing the technical abilities, and the amount of investments that have to be made in each sector," said Salome.

Salome said that the ecological part is divided in two sectors: the assessment of the pollution scale and the possibility to produce without polluting the environment.

Elaborating on claims by local experts that the mining complex will never again have the shine it had during the years of former Yugoslavia, when it was rated among the top of European metallurgies, Salome said it is too early to respond to that but added that the complex would not be run as during the soviet time. "It must be modern, efficient, to have better maintenance, and from this aspect it will not be as before. But we still do not have the answer," he added.

Commenting on possibilities for export or import, Salome pointed out that they plan for minerals, which were previously extracted in Serbia and Montenegro, to be melted here in Kosovo.

The number of employees and their ethnic percentage in the mining complex caused harsh debates during the past weeks. Albanian mineworkers also opposed an agreement signed between the ITT Consortium and Serb miners, claiming that the number of Serb workers and the percentage is not in accordance with the ethnic structure of the town and the number of mineworkers until the late 80s. Due to this, the Independent Trade Union of Kosovo Miners threatened to break all relations with the international consortium.

However, according to Salome the abovementioned disagreements have been overcome and the cooperation between UNMIK, the consortium, and Albanian and Serb miners is absolutely excellent. "This is the best example of cooperation and this is proved by the fact that you cannot find any critical articles against UNMIK in the papers," he said.

In closing, Salome was quoted as saying, "Trepça is unique, and Albanians, internationals and Serbs work together, without any kind of division. Everyone will work together, but for the time being due to safety reasons we cannot have Albanians and Serbs working together in one unit, but as a company Trepça is one".      

SHALA: WHEN WILL GENERAL ELECTIONS BE HELD
 
Is it possible that the general elections in Kosovo will be held in the spring of next year, the way all Albanian political parties insist? The answer to this question is yes. Of course, if you ask UNMIK and OSCE officials, they will find a thousand and one excuses why elections will not be held on time, which is being requested from the Albanians. The political problems that have to do with the decision making bodies of OSCE and elsewhere will line up in a row, and in the end, the real and speculative problems will be mentioned and examined thoroughly and maybe even be confirmed.

The Kosovars, both ordinary citizens and politicians have a long experience of understanding how the international bodies function. Then, the Kosovars and internationals have a good experience in the process of organizing the local elections.

The voters’ list may be completed without a particular problem. Also, in the meantime, the legal frame for the Kosovar regime, which is going to take the form of an interim constitution, can be prepared.

So in general, it is clear that the elections in Kosovo will be held in the spring of next year. Finally, without them there can be no talk about a democratic regime in Kosovo, the establishment of which is UNMIK's main goal.