CONTENTS

KOSTUNICA ACKNOWLEDGES GENOCIDE IN KOSOVO
HOMBACH: WE WILL NOT DECREASE PROJECTS ON KOSOVO
CEN DESKU: I GAVE A STATEMENT TO UNMIK POLICE
ROCHAN: KOSOVO SERBS DECIDED TO LIMIT THEIR OWN RIGHTS
SHALA: HOLBROOKE IN PRISHTINA

KOSTUNICA ACKNOWLEDGES GENOCIDE IN KOSOVO

Newly-installed Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica admitted for the first time that Yugoslav forces committed genocide in Kosovo, and said he was ready to take his share of responsibilities for the crimes committed by his predecessor Slobodan Milosevic, reported Koha Ditore on page five referring to an interview Kostunica gave for the American network CBS. 

During the interview, Kostunica was asked if he has doubts that Yugoslav police and army are guilty for the genocide in Kosovo, to which he responded, "these are crimes and the people that were killed are victims". He also added that the other side has also committed many crimes and that Serbs were killed as well. "I am willing to accept the guilt for all those killed in Kosovo, and for everything that happened there.

Kostunica also said that the Yugoslav Army should return to Kosovo when the situation allows this, be it even as a symbolic gesture".

On the other hand, during an interview for the Macedonian TV station "Telma", Kostunica said that the UN Security Council Resolution 1244 ensures the presence of Yugoslav forces in Kosovo. "This is only a symbolic presence of the army and one day when the situation allows this, the issue of return will be on the agenda", said Kostunica.

However, he admitted that this would not happen in the near future. "I have no doubt that the situation will not change until the end of this year and the Yugoslav army will not be able to return to Kosovo," concluded Kostunica.
 
HOMBACH: WE WILL NOT DECREASE PROJECTS ON KOSOVO

The most important message Bernard Kouchner got from the 30-minute meeting with Bodo Hombach, the coordinator of the Stability Pact for Balkans, was that the projects of the pact on Kosovo will continue and others will be developed, reported Koha Ditore on page two.

Adding to the issue, the paper said that this message comes at a time when Kosovo is still in fever and fear from the decrease of assistance for Kosovo given the changes in Belgrade regime.

Kouchner said that the projects on Kosovo are continuing and that not all are going to Belgrade. "It is very important for me to talk to Hombach, because we found out we still have friends. All of them are not hurrying to go to Belgrade. All projects are not only coming, but we are also working on new ones," he added.

On the other hand, Hombach reportedly gave powerful comments after the meeting. "The Stability Pact will not leave Kosovo behind, it will strengthen its projects here. The role of neighbors for both the FRY and Kosovo is of utmost importance and we will have to increase our cooperation. This is very important for Kosovo as well, so that it cooperates with its neighbors," Hombach was quoted as saying.

CEN DESKU: I GAVE A STATEMENT TO UNMIK POLICE

Koha Ditore on page five carried a report from the press briefing of LDK official in Malisheva Cen Desku, who was accused of giving a statement to international police in which he accused former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army of having committed war crimes against Serb civilians.

Desku did not refute the part of his statement where he said that KLA soldiers arrested him. "With the request of UNMIK police I gave a statement to them," said Desku adding that he does not remember the exact date when he made the statement.

Desku also didn’t remember his whereabouts on 18 October of this year, when he reportedly made the statement against the Kosovo Liberation Army. "I stated that on 30 October 1998, four KLA soldiers arrested me, and their leader presented himself first as Ibrahim Gashi, then as Sabit Geci, and after being released I found out he was Hashim Thaçi," he said.

Noting that he decided to forget what had happened with the KLA arresting him, Desku was also quoted as saying, "the same day I was released from prison I congratulated the holiday of 28 October to KLA fighters and in the presence of Sean Burns, U.S. diplomat, I said that the arrest was a misunderstanding between the KLA and the LDK, which in fact have the same goal the independence of Kosovo".

Commenting on the part of the statement of Desku's alleged accusations against KLA leaders regarding the Kleçka massacre, Desku refuted them as completely untrue. "I never gave statement against Jakup Krasniqi, Bislim Zyrapi, or Gani Krasniqi. In the end, I am not even interested in the fate of Serbs… Given the election campaign I am not surprised by article in the press, which addresses a number of accusations against me".

According to Desku, the published facsimile was fake. Neither my birthplace nor my date of birth is correct. It is neither my signature," he explained. Asked who could be the forger of the facsimile, Desku said it could be UNMIK but that Albanians could have done it as well and added: "if it is a forgery by UNMIK, this is a tendency to incite parricide between Albanians, and if it was done by an Albanian then he is the killer". 

ROCHAN: KOSOVO SERBS HAVE DECIDED TO LIMIT THEIR OWN RIGHTS

Referring to information by Belgrade-based Beta news agency, Koha Ditore on page two reported that Albert Rochan, secretary general of the Austrian Foreign Ministry, said the international community expresses concern over the fact that Kosovo local elections will be held without the participation of Kosovo Serbs.

"We tried to convince Serbs that it is in their best interest to participate in these elections," explained Rochan.

In a statement to the Austrian news agency "APA", Rochan emphasized that given the fact that Serbs decided to limit their own rights the future of Kosovo will be decided without their participation. According to hi opinion, the concern of Serbs regarding the security situation is understandable and added that another factor influenced the Serb decision. Adding to that issue, he said that pensions, salaries and public services in Serb enclaves come from Belgrade, and that during registration the influence of the former Yugoslav President Milosevic on Kosovo Serbs was very big. "Belgrade made clear its positions according to which Serbs should boycott these elections", said Rochan.

The Austrian diplomat expressed fear that come election day violent acts could take place. "There will be no attacks against minorities, however there is opposition among Albanians," said Rohan adding that this is related to incorrect prognosis on political parties derived from the Kosovo Liberation Army. "I expect that Dr. Ibrahim Rugova's party will win. However election results will be very different, because there are many elements and local groups that play a major role," he concluded.

SHALA: HOLBROOKE IN PRISHTINA

Zëri on page one carried a column by its publisher Blerim Shala, in which he commented on the visit of Richard Holbrooke and Bodo Hombach in Kosovo. Shala wrote:

"The U.S. ambassador at the United Nations, Richard Holbrooke’s arrival in Kosovo a few days before the local elections has a very significant importance. Holbrooke is known as a diplomat that wishes concrete accomplishments in each of his initiations or visits in one place. In Kosovo’s case, these efforts probably have to do with the elections of 28 October".

"The American military and political investment in Kosovo has been so immense in the last years, that the success and failure of the elections in Kosovo, is also success or failure for the U.S. From Holbrooke’s public messages it is obvious that the official Washington acknowledges the Kosovars’ concerns and pre-occupations, which insist on the dynamism of the democratization process in Kosovo".

"Holbrooke supported clearly the idea that the general elections in Kosovo should be held the sooner, without which authentic government cannot be created. Without such a government, without the legitimating of the Kosovo political leadership, the process of finding Kosovo’s final status cannot be initiated".
    
"Yesterday, the Coordinator of the Stability Pact, Bodo Hombach was in Prishtina. Even if these two visits are coincident, they confirm the West’s occupation with Kosovo to the highest level. This is a good message for the Kosovars in the last week before the local elections".