CONTENTS

· BELGRADE TESTS KFOR
· THAÇI: THIS IS HOW I SEE KOSOVO (III)
· DIENSTBIER DELIVERS REPORT ON KOSOVO
· KADARE: DIENSTBIER IS A SERVANT OF SERBIA AND RUSSIA
· NEVERTHELESS, XHAVIT HASANI IS IN MACEDONIA
· HASHIM THAÇI’S SKIN
 

BELGRADE TESTS KFOR

KFOR has protested the violation of the security zone by a Yugoslav Army tank and armoured vehicle on the night of 25 March east of Podujeva, reported Zëri on page one. The protest was expressed verbally by the Chief of the Joint Commission for Implementation of the Kumanovo agreement, German General Van Zenden, in the meeting with his counterpart.

KFOR spokesman Philip Anido told the paper that if there would be any violation of the security zone, KFOR would use their right to go and investigate as they in fact did, adding that the incident in eastern Podujeva was more serious than previous ones. “We saw people who possibly may have been in Yugoslav special police uniforms, and warplanes which quickly entered and exited the security zone,” said Anido. As for the reason for these incidents, Anido said that maybe Serbs were testing their reaction, adding that a few days earlier, in the zone where the incident happened, all border crossing points had been closed.

The paper reported that after the UK patrol saw the “Yugoslav Army” tank and armored vehicle inside the security zone, a Joint Commission for Implementation of the Kumanovo agreement was dispatched to investigate the report, trying to see if there were any tank tracks and taking pictures. The Commission, headed by General Van Zenden,  spoke to Yugoslav authorities at the border and checked the field, but no official conclusion has been presented yet.

Citing a British officer at the KFOR center in Pristina, the paper reported that the British patrol had noted the tank and armored vehicle, and the procedure in these cases is to report, while a decision on further action should be made by higher levels, such as  General Reinhardt or the NATO Council. The paper added that despite the fact that Serbs denied the report, British troops are determined to continue to observe the security zone and report any Yugoslav troops or vehicles seen.

THAÇI: THIS IS HOW I SEE KOSOVO (III)

Koha Ditore on page 11 carried the third and last part of the interview with Hashim Thaçi, chairman of the Kosovo Democratic Progress Party (PPDK) and co-chairman of the Kosovo Interim Administrative Council (IAC). The interview was introduced as a "presentation of Thaçi's positions on all problems in Kosovo".

Commenting on the paper's comment that the IAC is not finding an adequate formula to realize a "collective calm" in Kosovo, Thaçi said that regardless of the positive work done by the IAC, it could have done a better job, which would be better appreciated  in Kosovo. "IAC did what it could and it should have done at the moment, but the issue is how respected are its decisions by the structures it leads. There are a lot of examples, such as coming up with a strategy to solve the Mitrovica problem: the strategy was compiled and adopted, but it is stuck when it came to becoming operational. The strategy on forming the Kosovo police: that strategy has remained or didn't start at all, and so far  we have only two generations of Kosovo police, whom still are not given the needed responsibility. The lack of complete control of the IAC over the institutions it oversees has been reflected very negatively in domestic and international public opinion. The most flagrant case is the issuing of the latest report on the KPC by UNMIK, while Mr. Kouchner says that he was not aware of such report. I raised the question at the IAC - of who could have compiled that report, which structures. Are they structures which are anti-Albanian, structures that came here with the intention of compromising the KPC, to compromise the Kosovo Albanians in the eyes of the world? Then the question is raised as to who is going to hold those responsible who launched such slander and misinformation. Nevertheless, even Mr. Rubin said that the situation in Kosovo is not as bad as presented in the foreign media," said Thaçi.

Thaçi also rejected paper's claim that some KPC commanders have a "sophisticated control" of the situation, especially of the economic one, saying that he didn't believe that any KPC commander controls economic crime in Kosovo. However he reiterated that the possibility was not excluded that individuals who are temporarily in the KPC use its authority for personal benefits. "I agree that such a thing has influenced very negatively the  creation of opinions on the KPC. In some Kosovo municipalities, in which the Kosovo Interim Government did not control certain structures, some bad things have happened, of which UNMIK is fully aware. Those who have "declared" certain Kosovo territories as their estates cannot avoid the responsibility. We know who they are. The time of myths has ended. Kosovo's democratic perspective cannot be built by people with feudal or communist mentalities," said Thaçi.

Asked why the needed consensus of the Albanian political parties on the major issues had not been reached and whether this influenced suspicions of the international community of the government he led after the war, Thaçi said that the international community was not suspicious of the Kosovo Interim Government, since it was formed with its knowledge and approval. He added that political consensus was needed and that there was agreement on this in Lansdown, but that the other side interrupted the contacts and consequently the participation in the KIG. "All the institutions in Kosovo were dissolved because of the lack of unity of the political factor. The KIG was integrated into  the joint structures. This lack of unity was reflected also as a justifiable action to escape responsibility with an unbearable easiness, by creating a 'hostile' atmosphere and basis for accusations and intrigues by others, leaving space for misunderstandings by the internationals, who often create their convictions based on inter-Albanian accusations. Escaping responsibility and taking the position of an indifferent observer, without helping the situation at all, doesn't help Kosovo. A unique position helps Kosovo," said Thaçi.

Thaçi also said that 13 political parties were represented in the KIG, which represented in this way a consensus of the majority of political forces in Kosovo. He suggested that the paper uncover the backgrounds of those who impeded the consensus at the most decisive moments for Kosovo and present the damages they have caused. "Therefore, the responsibility for the fact that the Albanian political factor is not united lies with those who signed the agreement, but didn't comply with it, be it those from  political groups or independents," stressed Thaçi.

As for dissolution of the institutions, Thaçi said that he was responsible for the ex-KIG, with which he said he was in continuous contact and which were cooperating with the international administration. He added that he had requested UNMIK to build joint structures and avoid functioning as separate entities. Thaçi pointed out that UNMIK was having big weaknesses and mistakes in the period when it was not able to understand fully the situation, so some internationals found a completely different reality in Kosovo from what they were expecting.

Commenting on the bodies represented by Rugova and Bukoshi, Thaçi said that their dissolution happened declaratively, but leaving it unclear as to what has happened with "the Bukoshi Fund, Achen Fund, the Ministry of Defence and the LDK police".

Responding to the paper's remark that no one was holding Rugova responsible and that both responsibility and criticisms of the international community were directed at him and his "government", Thaçi said that he had never escaped responsibility, which had increased over time and was carried out according to possibilities and conditions. "Responsibility is not a sin, on the contrary, failing to fulfill the responsibilities of leaders is a sin," concluded Thaçi.  

DIENSTBIER DELIVERS HIS REPORT ON KOSOVO

Jiri Dienstbier, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights for former Yugoslavia, has officially accused the disbanded Kosovo Liberation Army of ethnically cleansing Kosovo and working for the creation of Greater Albania, reported Zëri on page six. "What the KLA is doing in Kosovo has nothing to do with retaliation for what Serb authorities did. It is about the realization of a plan of ethnic cleansing, for destabilization of the entire region and creation of a Great Albania," said Dienstbier in a press briefing in Geneva.

In the report that he delivered to the UN Commission for Human Rights Wednesday, Dienstbier said that KFOR and UNMIK had reached none of their objectives in Kosovo. "The only existing administration is the KLA which leads in different ways. One of those is the transfer of KLA fighters to the Kosovo Protection Corps under the auspices of UNMIK, and the other is to turn Kosovo into a European base for heroin," said Dienstbier, adding that five tons of heroin per month go through Kosovo heading for Western Europe. He also said that there were no functioning courts and an insufficient number of international police officers, but that all KLA members who applied for the KPC were given uniforms automatically.

According to Dienstbier, NATO SACEUR General Wesley Clark blames the UN for the situation in Kosovo, while the UN is saying that there would be a completely different situation in Kosovo if NATO hadn't officially recognized the KLA.

The UN Special Rapporteur also said that it would be a big mistake if Kosovo would become independent, adding that already it is ethnically cleansed. Dienstbier warned the West not to support Hashim Thaçi and his associates, saying that in Kosovo there were enough normal and clever people who are against extremist solutions.

According to Dienstbier, the only way to solve the Kosovo problem is to respect the UN Security Council resolution 1244. He also accused NATO of bombing innocent people and destroying industry, which was not producing weapons. Dienstbier evaluated that the embargo on the FRY and the situation in Kosovo act in favor of Milosevic, who closes down radio stations and represses people.

KADARE: DIENSTBIER IS A SERVANT OF SERBIA AND RUSSIA

Bota Sot carried a statement by the most prominent Albanian novelist, Ismail Kadare, who reacted to the latest report on Kosovo by Dienstbier. "There is a possibility that there are Albanians in Kosovo who because of mutual spite, keep quiet on the servant of Milosevic, who is damaging Kosovo a lot with his thoughtless statements, by sowing fear among Europeans that the Albanians are allegedly intending to create a Great Albania," said Kadare. "This man, with his thoughtless positions and unfounded accusations, biased and pro-Serb, is dangerous not only for Kosovo and Albanians, but also for peace as an inciter of new conflicts in region".

According to Kadare, this rapporteur who unfortunately is a UN rapporteur who has taken on the role of the police, denouncing Albanian families who were killed. "I have evidence of this, and Albanian intellectuals and leaders in Kosovo are informed on this and I don't know why are they silent, why they are not saying it publicly. Dienstbier is the person who pointed the finger at Albanian families to be massacred, such as Jashari, Muçolli etc. He has the blood of Albanian children on his conscience," said Kadare. He added that he had already made public these accusations in Le Monde and the Czech paper Lidovne Novini. "Therefore, he is a servant, a puppy of Belgrade and Moscow, and he must be unmercifully denounced because of his tendentious statements which don’t contribute to peace in region," concluded Kadare.
 
NEVERTHELESS, XHAVIT HASANI IS IN MACEDONIA

A senior official of the Macedonian police who preferred to remain unidentified told Koha Ditore Thursday that the Macedonian Police never had Xhavit Hasani in their hands. According to the paper, this statement resolved the dilemma as to whether there had been an extradition of Xhavit Hasani from Kosovo to Macedonia. The paper added that the Macedonian police source stressed that it was not possible for a person like Xhavit Hasani, for which Macedonia had issued an international arrest warrant, to have been in Macedonian police hands and then turned back.

The paper noted that even today’s Skopje-based Dnevnik came out with the conclusion that Hasani was not brought to Skopje, saying that if this had happened, the persons who had transported him to one of the investigation prisons would have seen him. On the other hand, the KFOR liaison officers in Skopje reportedly told the paper that the case was in competency of KFOR in Kosovo.

The paper also referred to reports by other Macedonian media that Hasani had been brought to Skopje few days ago and then, because of unknown circumstances, had been re-extradited from Macedonia to Kosovo.

According to the Macedonian police, only the Minister of Justice had the right to make the request to KFOR for Xhavit Hasani's extradition, but the paper added that Minister Xhevdet Nasufi could not be reached by journalists and did not deny or affirm the signing of the request for Hasani’s extradition. Referring to a local jurist, the paper said that on the other hand, regardless of the good collaboration between them, Macedonia and KFOR had no right to get involved in extradition proceedings since they are not subject to the norms of international law.

It was also said that the Skopje-based Albanian language daily Fakti added to the confusion, saying that Hasani was in “Shutka” investigation prison in Skopje waiting for a sentence. Fakti was citing unidentified official sources.

This claim was backed by unidentified "well-informed" Albanian sources in Pristina, who told Koha Ditore that Hasani was in Macedonia, under a “special treatment”, and that his release could be expected within the next ten days. It was also noted that different sources in Pristina said that SRSG Bernard Kouchner himself, unofficially and without notice, went to Skopje to correct the judicial mistake that caused the extradition.

An anonymous Albanian source in Pristina told the paper that Macedonia had first sent an international arrest warrant for Hasani, accusing him of two murders and nine murder attempts. After the extradition that sources claim was signed by Kouchner, Macedonia confirmed that it had only a charge of one murder attempt.

The report concluded that Kosovo and Macedonia had not yet signed an extradition treaty, since Kosovo was not a country. Therefore, Albanian sources consider that the IAC and especially Kouchner had violated judicial procedure by extraditing  Hasani.

HASHIM THAÇI’S SKIN

Zëri on page seven carried a column by Shkëlzen Maliqi, headlined "Hashim Thaçi's Skin (2)", focused on Thaçi's role in the latest developments in the Preseva valley and the possible implications for him after reports on the failure of the agreement on UÇPMB dissolution. Maliqi wrote an analysis with the same headline in February 1999 in Zëri, on  Thaçi's role in the Rambouillet Conference. This time, inter alia Maliqi wrote:

"Hashim Thaçi now is in fact in the same position that he was during the Rambouillet Conference, when he was between two fires, under heavy pressure by the Americans who insisted on signing the agreement, and under pressure from the radical part of KLA that was not satisfied with the compromise of the agreement, especially the part that foresaw the dissolution of KLA. However, in this case Thaçi is not the one to decide on UÇPMB's dissolution, but only a mediator, whereas UÇPMB leaders are in Thaçi’s former position. The fact that Thaçi has may be no influence on the UÇPMB radicals should not be taken automatically as something that proves his weakness, but on the contrary, it shows the profile of those who now do not understand reality and want to repeat with force and without hope the same scenario of intervention in Albanians’ favor.

The problem of radical forces, in the Rambouillet case as well as now in eastern Kosovo, is that they ignore the reality of geo-strategic relations and the possibilities of great powers acting on their own even if they are facing a wall of refusals. The transformation of UÇPMB into a political force under American supervision is in fact a form of legalization of the demands of eastern Kosovo's population and not a surrender  to Serb forces. It is clear that Serbia aims at ethnic cleansing this sensitive Albanian “pocket” in eastern Kosovo. Even the sentencing of Riza Halimi, PVD chairman, despite the fact that he belongs to the moderate forces of this region, shows that the Serb regime continues the policy of inciting of Albanian radicalism, in order to justify the actions against guerrillas, something which in fact would end up with the expulsion of civilians and cleansing of the area from Albanians.

Thaçi has taken the heavy responsibility of being a guarantor in a situation when the Albanian “besa” (Albanian word of honor, our remark) does not exist anymore and when some forces do not comply either with KLA transformation process or with foreign allies.  Thaçi may be in danger of losing his prestige and credibility with the Americans, but then comes the question of a other leaders’ responsibilities, who respond to the crisis like   ostriches and seem to enjoy Thaçi’s possible fall. Meanwhile, all the entities should understand that what Thaçi is doing is not only his personal problem, but also an issue of general interest, and they will not profit at all if Thaçi loses". 

* Prepared by UNMIK Division of Public Information