SRSG Hans Haekkerup and Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) President Vojislav Kostunica met in Belgrade to discuss cooperation between the Yugoslav government and UNMIK. A breakthrough agreement was made to involve Kosovo Serbs in the drafting of the legal framework for Kosovo.

President Kostunica said that Belgrade was "ready to join in the creation of a temporary constitutional arrangement for Kosovo before the elections." The Joint Working Group on the Legal Framework, comprised of Kosovar and international experts, has been meeting for the past month to draft the legal framework document. Until now, the seat assigned to a Kosovo Serb in the working group has remained vacant since the resignation of the last Kosovo Serb member. The SRSG noted the opinion of Mr. Kostunica that the representatives of the Kosovo Serbs in the Joint Working Group should have the opportunity to get legal advice when needed.
 
SRSG Haekkerup said that he had clarified to President Kostunica that "the framework will remain within Resolution 1244 and will not touch upon the issue of a final status for Kosovo." The SRSG also said he would undertake consultations with local, as well as international partners, before finalizing the legal framework through normal procedures in the Interim Administrative Council.

The issues of detainees, missing people and returnees were also important topics of discussion at the meeting. The SRSG expressed his appreciation for past progress made concerning an amnesty law, but pointed out that the cases of the "Gjakova/Djakovica group," and others remaining in detention on similar charges, must be resolved. President Kostunica gave his assurance that these cases would soon be solved.

Serbian family members outside the Yugoslav Presidential Palace, demanding information about their missing family members in Kosovo, served as a reminder that the missing are still an issue for both ethnic groups. The SRSG pointed out that UNMIK is committed to using whatever resources can be brought to bear to resolve the cases of the total of over 3,000 still missing from all communities.

Both the SRSG and President Kostunica agreed that the return of displaced persons and refugees to Kosovo and their participation in political life is essential for the future of the province. The return of the more than 200,000 Serbians and other non-Albanians from Kosovo is crucially important "in normalizing life in the province," said President Kostunica.
 
SRSG Haekkerup underlined UNMIK's commitment to supporting the return of displaced persons and refugees, but added that the foremost priority was the security of the returnees.There are a few areas where returns may be possible. 

 

Foreign officials reject violence as tool for change

NATO Secretary-General Lord Robertson, together with representatives of the 19 countries comprising the North Atlantic Council (NAC), visited Kosovo this week to meet with SRSG Hans Haekkerup and Kosovar leaders.   At the Interim Administrative Council meeting ( IAC)  on April 4 NAC members were adamant in their condemnation of violent means to effect change in the Balkans. Lord Robertson declared the path of violence to be a dead end, culminating only in further tumult, misery and death.
 
The fighting may have subsided in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), but the international community's view of Kosovar Albanians has been tarnished by the actions of the past months. The United States Ambassador to the NAC, Alexander Vershbow, spoke bluntly to the Interim Administrative Council (IAC) members: no parallel existed between the experiences of the Albanians in Kosovo over the past decade and those undergone  in FYROM. Donors will pose the question: "Why spend money on people who refuse to play by democratic rules?" he said. Speaking directly to the IAC Kosovar Albanian members, Vershbow hammered home his point: "The choice is yours...Don't blow it."
 
Lord Robertson agreed that the situation for minority Albanians in FYROM was "a million miles away from Milosevic's Kosovo." NATO intervened to save Kosovo and its people, to build democracy and a multiethnic society, Robertson emphasized. "We will continue to fight on exactly the same basis when a small country is put under threat by a bunch of armed gangsters," he said, likening the National Liberation Army (NLA) fighters to Milosevic's "thugs." Lord Robertson emphasized that the Kosovar leadership needed to demonstrate its bellwether attributes by ensuring the men of violence were marginalized and banished from the political process.

German Foreign Minister, Joschka Fischer, delivered the same message when he met with Kosovar Albanian leaders on 6 April. "No problem here in the region can be resolved through the use of force, by extremism or nationalism," he said. Mr. Fischer said all leaders in the region must demonstrate a commitment to European principles. For the region to move towards the future in step with Europe, leaders have to demonstrate that issues such as human rights, as well as security and guaranteed rights of minorities, can be settled in a peaceful and democratic manner, he said.  
  
While a debate rages over the degree of Kosovar Albanian involvement in the group  calling itself the NLA,  clearly the level of violence in Kosovo has not improved.  The SRSG said that developments in FYROM and the Presevo Valley, as well as the frustrations of those Kosovars aspiring to independence, were impacting negatively on the security situation within Kosovo.
 
Lord Robertson invited SRSG Haekkerup and a delegation representing all Kosovo communities to Brussels for further discussions.

Briefs . . . .

The second edition of the book on Missing Persons-listing some 3,525 names that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) received from the families of all Kosovo's communities until 31 March 2001-will be launched during press conferences to be held on 10 April in Pristina (at 11a.m. at ABC Cinema) and in Belgrade. The purpose of this 200-page document is to continue gathering information about missing persons from the public, the authorities, and those who took part in the hostilities. It is also a reminder that thousands of families are still living in anguish, waiting for news. On this occasion, the ICRC wishes to renew its appeal to all relevant authorities to take action  to provide answers and support to missing persons' families.

The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development has categorically denied reports, printed in Kosovo's newspapers, that a case of mad cow disease (BSE) had been found in Klinė/Klina. An investigation by the Department's Division of Animal Production and Health revealed that absolutely no basis existed for such reports. No cases of the disease have been reported in Kosovo, the Balkans, or indeed in Eastern Europe. The Department has also denied press reports that one cow was vaccinated against BSE, as there is no existing vaccine against the disease. In addition, it has stressed that such reports could greatly damage Kosovo's economy, besides creating unnecessary concern amongst the local population.

The OSCE has expressed concern over an increasing number of reports of harassment of journalists in Kosovo. It said it closely monitored all such cases, and that it was not acceptable for any individual or party to harass journalists. As Kosovo heads towards elections, mechanisms are in place that can be used to act against parties which try to influence the media. "We are committed to building a free and democratic media," the OSCE said. "This means respecting the right of journalists to carry out their work without political or other pressures being placed upon them." The OSCE runs a journalist protection programme. If any journalist is being harassed, he or she should contact Willem Houwen at the OSCE (500 162) on extension 339.

Deputy SRSG, Ambassador Daan Everts on 6 April hosted a seminar on electoral systems and voter registration in Leposaviq/Leposavic for Kosovo's Serb community, which was similar to other such meetings held across Kosovo over the past weeks. At these gatherings, political and civil leaders are learning about how electoral systems are chosen and work. The OSCE hopes that the Serb community will fully participate in the elections planned for later this year.

To mark International Roma Day this past Sunday, the OSCE sponsored various events in different parts of Kosovo. Dance and music groups from Prizren, Gjilan/Gnjilane and Podujevė/Podujevo performed at the Cultural House in Prizren. Events and festivities to celebrate this day-the event's 30th anniversary-also took place in Pejė/Pec.

To contribute to a cleaner environment, the Zvecan lead smelter, part of the Trepca complex, has started recasting about 400 tons of metallic lead. The processing of the scrap lead removes some of the waste presently scattered around the Zvecan site. The melting process will not cause any new environmental problems, since the lead currently being melted and recast has already been through the primary lead smelting stages, thereby producing far less pollution. The money generated from selling the recast lead will be invested into Trepca repairs.

UNMIK Railways of Kosovo has been accepted for membership in the Comité International de Transport (CIT). The CIT is a non-profit, international organization based in Berne, Switzerland, whose mission is to ensure a uniform legal regime in international passenger and freight rail traffic and to develop cooperation between its members, as well as represent their interests. UNMIK Railways' acceptance as a member of the CIT is a significant step towards reaching its larger goal of opening up rail traffic across Kosovo's borders. Being under the CIT umbrella will help UNMIK Railways to reach agreements with Macedonian and Yugoslav Railways to begin cross border freight traffic.

A press briefing on corporate governance of socially-owned enterprises was held on 6 April in Pristina by the Department of Trade and Industry, in cooperation with the Department of Local Administration. Specifically, the briefing focused on the selection process of such enterprises' managing directors.