CONTENTS

· MILOSEVIC PLANNED A BRUTAL ATTACK ON KOSOVO
· GENERAL ELECTIONS IN KOSOVO - IN SPRING 2001?
· KOUCHNER: "HASTY POSITIVE REACTIONS TOWARDS KOSTUNICA"
· CABIGIOSU COOPERATION BETWEEN "YUGOSLAV" ARMY AND KFOR
· CARLA DEL PONTE INVITES KOSTUNICA FOR MEETING

MILOSEVIC PLANNED A BRUTAL ATTACK ON KOSOVO

Koha Ditore carried on page two a comment by Richard Holbrook published in "The Wall Street Journal" about the current developments in the Balkans.

Holbrook explains several events that took place before NATO intervention, adding that USA has to remain their engagement in the Balkans if they want to realize their objectives.

Five years earlier when the war in Bosnia was at its peak, President Clinton asked me to head the talks that after 21 days of intensive discussions ended the war. Three years later in 1998, I returned to Belgrade. This time to convey NATO's message that the Alliance will not stay aside while Albanians that led from their homes into the freezing mountains, describes those days for the "Wall Street Journal".

"Those eleven day talks brought to a standstill the fighting, which saved thousands of Albanian lives" writes Holbrook and ads that when the October agreement was not respected by Milosevic I sent him the Alliance's final ultimatum.
"This happened only 30 hours before NATO started the air campaign which lasted for 78 days" writes Holbrook.         
 
In conflict situations diplomats meet with persons, who have very different points of view, and who are very good at camouflaging it. This makes hardships inn their work. While our working group held talks with Milosevic none of us believed that he had sole responsibility for the entire things that happened in then region. The event that demasked him happened just before NATO air strikes started, writes Holbrook.

"Calmly and with a very soft voice he told me during one of the talks that he could solve the Kosovo issues in one week, if he deiced not to respect the October agreement" recollects those days Holbrook.
Until then, it was the strongest statement that I had heard. It was clear that Milosevic was planning a brutal attack on Kosovo, said Holbrook.
  
"Many things happened during that time. They happened after Balkans leaders changed. These events mark a success for American foreign policy, but the success is not full because there are several things that were not finished. Out task has not finished yet. The accused for war crimes Radovan Karadjic, Ratko Mladic and Slobodan Milosevic should face the Hague Tribunal for war crimes. There is good news in the Balkans a reason to hope but hope is not everything. There is need for time, recourses, and American guidance " said Holbrook.   

GENERAL ELECTIONS IN KOSOVO - IN SPRING 2001

Zëri carried on page three a column by Adrian Bardhi about what has to be done to have general elections in Kosovo.

Western diplomatic sources in Prishtina confirmed for Zëri that issue for approving of transitional a legal frame for Kosovo, and organizing of general elections in spring 2001 are seriously being considered in western capitals. Under pressure by the events in Belgrade, all Albanian political leaders demanded publicly and in confidential meetings with international officials that after local elections 28 October the process of a provisional constitution is speeded up and general elections are held in spring 2001. One western diplomat said, "These demands by Albanian politicians are realistic. Few months ago western circles disused if there is need for general elections next year. Later reconciliation came that these elections should be held in 2001 but not until late summer or early fall. However, these calculations were made before the changes in Serbia. Now, it has become clear to all of us that these elections have to be held as soon as possible, so Kosovars can create a legitimate central government and if the need comes they would take full responsibility in the eventual negotiations concerning Kosovo's final status. In this contests demand made by Albanian political leaders is very right, especially now when UNMIK, OSCE, and Kosovars have a good experience in organizing elections" said this western diplomat.

It looks like there are political and technical obstacles, which could hinder general elections in spring next year. First, if during local elections and the period after the elections there are grave incidents, then those who are doubtful of political changes in Kosovo become stronger. Second, an understanding has to be achieved at Contact Group in support of a legal frame for Kosovo and holding of elections according to the timetable proposed by Kosovar politicians. Third, there is need for political pragmatism to surpass eventual technical obstacles mostly concerning voter's lists. OSCE has planned that all Kosovars abroad are included for general elections, which consequently was not possible for local elections. Something like these needs time and if it is insisted in completion of voter's lists then it is almost impossible that general elections can be held in spring next year. To say it simply, elections could be held in spring if current voter's lists are used. 

KOUCHNER: “HASTY IN REACTION WITH KOSTUNICA’S ELECTION”

Koha Ditore on page three reported about Kouchner's opening of the electoral center for the medias stating that the internationals have been hasty to react positively about Kostunica’s election. He added that the “FRY” president, Kostunica, disappointed him, since in the beginning he stated that there was nothing wrong with the elections in Kosovo.

CABIGIOSU COOPERATION BETWEEN “YUGOSLAV” ARMY AND KFOR

Koha Ditore on page two wrote a report based on the Serbian news agency FoNet, where in a published report a statement by the Serb National Council (SNV) has been made, stating that COMKFOR Gen. Carlo Cabigiosu and SNV representatives, lead by bishop Artemije agreed that there are true conditions of cooperation between KFOR, UN and Yugoslavia since democratic authorities exist in Yugoslavia.

The paper reputes that in the first meeting SNV has informed COMKFOR Gen. Carlo Cabigiosu about the problems the Serbs have to deal with and KFOR’s importance for the safety and improvement of their conditions. FoNet adds that they have had good cooperating relations with the up-to date COMKFOR, Gen. Juan Ortuno.

According to this agency, at this meeting they discussed the development of better transportation and communication, especially the railway between Fushë Kosovo and Mitrovica in the direction of Lipjan and Gracanica. Also that the road Gracanica-Prishtina-Podujevë be declared a “blue road” that would be safe for all passengers, concludes the FoNet.

CARLA DEL PONTE INVITES KOSTUNICA FOR A MEETING

Koha Ditore on page one reported about the ICTY prosecutor, Carla Del Ponte making efforts to solve the current problem of delivering Milosevic to Hague.  In the Partnership Council meeting with headquarters in NATO, Del Ponte reported that she has sent a proposal invitation for a meeting with the new Yugoslavian president, Kostunica and she still has not received an answer.

 Del Ponte didn’t give any information about the developments in the meeting, she also pointed out that the politicians consider the delivering of Milosevic to Hague as a problem than can be solved eventually, meanwhile for ICTY this is a problem that cannot wait, this also indicates that Kostunica must decide whether he’ll cooperate with ICTY.

Responding to the requests of Milosevic being judged in Belgrade, the paper quoted ICTY spokesman, Jim Landeyl saying that nothing can prevent the legal bodies from raising an indictment against the aversions on the elections or any other illegal act, but he also added that such an indictment would have no legal effects for the indictment by Hague.

The paper ends the report by quoting Landeyl: “This indictment remains and the people in Tribunal are positive that Milosevic and other suspects will be sent to Hague and will answer”. At this point, nothing can change, even if Milosevic had been accused for war crimes in Serbia. ICTY can do its duty as formulated by UN Security Council; however, according to its regulations the Tribunal can demand doing any of the phases to intervene by national Court.