CONTENTS

WHY ASHDOWN COULD BE SUITABLE FOR AMERICANS IN KOSOVO
VJ ARMY OFFICERS ADMIT COMMITTING ETHNIC CLEANSING IN KOSOVO
FRENCH PRESIDENT CHIRAC TO VISIT KOSOVO
VEDRINE: AFTER RUGOVA'S VICTORY, I'M NOT CONCERNED FOR KOSOVO
SHALA: TANKS AND NEGOTIATIONS

WHY ASHDOWN COULD BE SUITABLE FOR AMERICANS IN KOSOVO

Last year, when Paddy Ashdown's name was mentioned for UN Chief Administrator in Kosovo, official Washington expressed reserve and instead backed  Bernard Kouchner to take the role of the arbiter of the international community.

At that time Washington backed Kouchner for two reasons: when NATO troops entered Kosovo, they were led by another Englishman, Michael Jackson. Therefore, there was no way for Englishmen to have the leading posts in NATO and UNMIK. Second, Ashdown was known to be a supporter of Kosovo's independence and that would confront then-American policy, which then preached "substantial autonomy" for Kosovo. However, a year after, things have changed, reported Zėri on page four.

According to the paper, unlike a year ago, Americans now think that Kosovo's independence is not impossible and that Ashdown is the only serious candidate for the time being. Ashdown said he is willing to replace Kouchner and Kouchner told journalists Thursday in New York that Ashdown was the first person he would recommend for the job. Nevertheless, the final decision is to be made by UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan.

Last week, the U.S. ambassador at the UN, Richard Holbrooke tried to convince Kouchner not to leave Kosovo. During the meeting of the UN Security Council, Holbrooke several times noticed Kouchner alluding that "this might be the last time he addresses the UN SC".

"We need your leadership," Holbrooke told Kouchner in front of the council, while also praising him for the excellent work he had done in Kosovo. At the same time, Holbrooke told the Security Council that in case Kouchner leaves they would hopefully find a person of his caliber to take over the post of the international administrator in Kosovo.

Kouchner, known for his humane acts and as the founder of Medecins Sans Frontier is disappointed, the paper reported, at the Security Council for not giving him the post of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, which was instead given to former Dutch prime minister Ruud Lubbers.

Furthermore, the paper said that Ashdown in Kosovo would play the role of mediator between London and Washington, two friendly capitols, which however came up with opposite stances when it came to Kosovo: the U.S. supported the possibility of Kosovo's independence, while England had a more emphasized stance among Europeans that the aforementioned American idea would have tragic consequences for the Balkans.

"It is expected that once in Kosovo, Ashdown would request the explanation of Resolution 1244 which is full of "holes" and can be interpreted in various ways. He could also use the rapprochement of the west with Kostunica's government and the unity of Albanians for independence, to convince the Security Council to reconsider Kosovo's status," concluded the paper. 

VJ ARMY OFFICERS ADMIT COMMITTING ETHNIC CLEANSING IN KOSOVO

Citing a report released by the Human Right Fund seated in Belgrade, Koha Ditore on page three said that during the trial of three members of Yugoslav Army (VJ) charged for the murder of an Albanian couple, Lt. Colonel Ljubisa Micic verified that crimes were committed against Albanian civilians in the villages of Shushicė e Epėrme and Shajkovac.

During the trial Micic said that captain Dragan Petrovic ordered Nenad Stamenkovic and Tomica Jovic to kill the elderly couple Krasniqi because they refused to obey his order to abandon the village. Micic disputed statements made by the accused Stamenkovic and Jovic that they admitted the killing of the Krasniqi couple to bring harm to captain Petrovic. "I tried to reveal as to what happened and who committed those killings, because I thought that if acted quickly then I could save the army from chaos and stop things like that to happen. I have done this to save the army," said Lt. Col. Micic during the trial.

One of the witnesses of the Krasniqi killings, Dragan Grujic, confirmed that he was a member of the unit that took part in "burning of the bodies". "The bodies were partially burned and we only finished the job," said Grujic. He denied his statement to the investigative judge that he saw Stamenkovic and Jovic kill the elderly couple Krasniqi ordered by Petrovic.

The report released by Humanitarian Law Fund said that this was the first case in which a court in Serbia co-operates with UNMIK in shedding light upon war crimes.

FRENCH PRESIDENT CHIRAC TO VISIT KOSOVO

French president Jacques Chirac informed UN Chief Administrator in Kosovo Bernard Kouchner that he would visit Kosovo on 25th November, reported Koha Ditore on page three. After a one-hour meeting with Chirac last Saturday, Kouchner said that the French president would visit KFOR French soldiers in Mitrovica.

According to Catherine Colona, spokeswoman for Chirac's cabinet, the President thanked Kouchner and praised him for his contribution in implementing the UN Security Council Resolution 1244. She also added that French president and Kouchner discussed possibilities in establishing a dialogue between UNMIK and Belgrade especially needed in issues of the missing, prisoners and refugees.

Kouchner said that he would meet with Chirac on 24 November at the Zagreb Summit and is very pleased that he will greet him the next day in Pristina.

VEDRINE: AFTER RUGOVA'S VICTORY, I'M NOT CONCERNED FOR KOSOVO

French Foreign Minister, Huber Vedrine, said that the new Yugoslavia will respect its obligations and will put before the court former president Milosevic, but by following its priorities, reported Zėri on page three referring to an interview that the French official gave to "Marian".

"During my contacts with president Kostunica and leaders of now former opposition, I was told that they want Milosevic to answer for his deeds. However that has to be done in Serbia," said Vedrine adding that he is convinced that the new Yugoslavia will respect its obligations, but its rhythm and priority must be respected.

Vedrine said that following Rugova's victory in Kosovo local elections, he is no longer concerned about Kosovo’s fate. "We have engaged ourselves in the Balkans for a long-lasting process. Changes in Belgrade and the victory of Rugova’s friends in Kosovo, bring back chances for our goals to become reality".

 
*****

Annex: Transcript of a column by Blerim Shala, Zėri, p.1

FOR TANKS AND NEGOTIATIONS

Many politicians and western diplomats have confirmed that democratization of Kosovo, Serbia and Montenegro is a condition without which the negotiations for Kosovo’s final status cannot be opened. Nevertheless, the elections are only the first step that should make possible democratization in the region. The other crucial elements are mentioned very little or not at all, and without them the stabilization and reconciliation of the situation in this part of the Balkans cannot even be dreamt of. This way, Serbia continues to be a military force, and its advantage causes disfavors for Kosovo and Montenegro. There is no doubt about it: while Serbia has thousands of military tanks and a frightening military potential, it cannot be talked at all about creating suitable circumstances for solving Kosovo’s issue.

There cannot be any successful negotiations for Kosovo’s future as long as Serbia has as many tanks as Kosovo has police officers.
 
Therefore, during the next period, which should be measured by months, not years, Serbia should noticeably reduce its military and police arsenal because it is known that during the past few years the Serb regime transformed its police into a kind of a paramilitary army. Only then can serious processes for Kosovo’s status be initiated.