4 March
Members of the Kosovo
Assembly elected a president and prime minister, following last week's
agreement between political parties on the formation of a government
and a power-sharing scheme. Ibrahim Rugova, head of the Democratic League
of Kosovo (LDK) was elected president, and Dr Bajram Rexhepi of the
Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) was elected prime minister. The agreement
on power-sharing, and the vote in the Assembly, brought to an end the
political deadlock which followed the 17 November general elections.
The Assembly meeting, which also approved the new ministers, was the
continuation of the inaugural session held on 10 December. The new ministers
are: Ali Sadriu (LDK - Finance and Economy), Rexhep Omani (LDK - Education,
Science and Technology), Behxhet Brajshori (LDK - Culture, Youth and
Sports), Zef Morina (PShDK-LDK - Transport and Communications), Ali
Jakupi (PDK - Trade and Industry), Jakup Krasniqi (PDK - Public Services),
Ethem Ceku (AAK - Environment and Spatial Planning), Ahmet Yusuf (AAK
- Labour and Social Welfare), and Numan Balic (Vatan - Health). Coalition
Povratak still has to identify its nominee for the ministry of Agriculture,
Forestry and Rural Development.
6 March
SRSG Michael Steiner
held his first meeting with Nebojsa Covic, deputy prime
minister and president of the FRY/Serbia Co-ordinating Committee for
Kosovo. Mr Steiner said later that the meeting was open and frank, and
was about establishing the ground rules for future co-operation. Mr
Steiner said that "the rules of the game are very clear ... I will
not mix in Belgrade affairs and Belgrade will not mix in Pristina's
affairs."
7 March
SRSG Michael Steiner visited Madrid and urged the European Union
leadership to support the newly-formed provisional institutions of self-government
in Kosovo. Spain currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU.
Spain's foreign minister Josep Pique, who heads the EU Council of Foreign
Ministers, welcomed the election of a president and government for Kosovo
and said the EU would continue to support UNMIK's priorities, including
economic development, the fight against crime and the creation of a
fair and safe society.
UNMIK and KFOR announced that a one-month weapons amnesty would
begin on 15 March. Possession of weapons without a Weapons Authorisation
Card is illegal under UNMIK Regulation 2001/7. This is the second UNMIK/KFOR
weapons amnesty. People who surrender weapons are not required to give
any information about the weapons or personal information about themselves.
8 March
International Women's
Day was marked by an evening of art and music at the National Theatre
in Pristina. Speaking at the event, SRSG Michael Steiner said that although
Kosovo has many accomplished women playing leading roles, there is still
a long way to go. There were many talented and experienced women in
the Assembly, Mr Steiner said, but not one woman minister. Laying the
foundations for enduring peace could only be achieved through the full
participation and empowerment of Kosovo's women, he said
The new government
endorsed the UNMIK/KFOR weapons amnesty programme. In its first press
release, the government said it was committed to promoting the safety
and security of all people of Kosovo, regardless of their ethnicity.
SRSG also issued a statement in support of the amnesty. "Kosovo
is not at war anymore. So you don't need weapons; they are simply dangerous,"
he said.
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