UN RADIO IN KOSOVO
WEEK IN REVIEW
By Zoran CULAFIC
Hello and welcome to Week in
Review for April 15, 2005 from the studios of UN Radio in Kosovo….
This week the Contact Group meet
leaders in Belgrade and Pristina, with this meeting, many things were clarified.
Previously there had been intensive
diplomatic activities of the various Contact Group representatives in Pristina
and Belgrade. These discussion lead to the situation this week where the main
topic on the agenda is the implementation of standards in Kosovo, especially in
light of the upcoming technical assessment on the level of development of the democratic
processes.
All Pristina daily papers had
extensive coverage of the Contact Group activities, many putting as a their headline
that the borders of Kosovo must remain unchanged in any scenario of the future
status of Kosovo.
Pristina press covered the meeting of the CG officials with all the Kosovar leaders and
points out that apart from guaranteeing that the borders will remain unchanged,
the Contact Group officials confirmed that Kosovo: will not return to the situation before March 1999, that there
will be no unilateral solution, and that the international community will not
accept any solution that comes as a result of use of force.
The last guarantee, according to
Pristina press, is that there will be no unification whatsoever of Kosovo with
any neighbouring country as a result of the status talks.
‘The resolution of final status
will lead to a strengthened security and stability in the region, and this also
implies that there won’t be a biased solution and no solution through the use
of force shall be accepted. This means that the current territory of Kosovo
will remain unchanged, there will be no partition and no new union after the
status.’, Pristina press was quoting Michael Scheffer, political director of
German Foreign Ministry.
An interesting detail, Pristina
press points out that Contact Group member, the Russian diplomat Vladimir Cizov has told officials in
Belgrade that the independence of Kosovo is one of the options for final
status, while at the same time Russian diplomats also told Kosovo Albanian
politicians stated that they should understand that independence is not the
only option on the table.
Comments were made also in the Pristina
press was also that International Commission for the Balkans is drafting a
report on the future of the region in Europe
The document proposes that during
the first two stages Kosovo should gain independence from Serbia in 2005-2006,
and it should be recognized as an independent entity. However it will not enjoy
complete sovereignty, as human rights and the protection of minorities will
remain reserved powers for the international community.
The commission foresees that
during the third stage Kosovo will be recognized as a candidate for EU membership.
And the fourth stage would result in complete sovereignty.
In the meanwhile, the joint stance
of all senior Belgrade officials was announced on the status of Kosovo, which
is, according to them, will be - ‘more than autonomy, less than independence’.
Belgrade senior officials have
transmitted this message to the Contact Group representatives in meetings held
this week in Belgrade.
Western diplomatic offices in
Pristina expect, according to Pristina Daily Zeri, concrete action from Kosumi
government on local government reform.
According to the timeline for the
development of decentralization pilot projects, the new municipalities were
supposed to have started in March but due to the indictment of Ramush Haradinaj
and re-organisation of K-Government -
international representatives in Kosovo have so far shown understanding
for the delays. This however is about to change, Zëri writes.
The paper claims that Western
offices now expect concrete action from PM Bajram Kosumi and his cabinet. However
In his public statements, Kosumi has never mentioned local government reform
but has focused instead on Standards and dialogue with Belgrade.
Pristina press writes also that
during their regular meeting last week the
SRSG Søren Jessen-Petersen asked Prime Minister Bajram Kosumi to ensure
that the Contact Group officials leave Kosovo with the impression that the
decentralization of power is a top priority for him and his Government.
In other news
On a recommendation from Kosovo
Government, the committee for the defence of Ramush Haradinaj has been set up
and has held its first meeting. The office will work under Haradinaj’s
directions while Michael O’Reily has been appointed co-ordinator.
Pristina daily Express reports that Kosovo President Ibrahim Rugova and Parliamentary Speaker
Nexhat Daci have sent a letter to the chief of the Hague Tribunal, Theodor
Meron, in their letter offer guarantees to allow for the release of former
Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj to defend himself in freedom. The letter was
sent through Haradinaj’s defense coordinator, Michael O’Riley.
And Finally
Kilian Kleinschmidt, acting chief of the UNMIK Office for the IDPs said that the initiative
to sign a joint protocol of work with Montenegro is supported by the Kosovo
government and that concrete results could follow.
‘The visit gives a strong message
that Kosovo is ready for cooperation with its neighbors and that it is willing
to accept all those who want to come back’, Kleinschmidt says.
That’s all this week fom the
Studio of UNMIK radio.
Thanks for listening
Good day