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May 16,
2003
ERP KIM Newsletter
16-05-03
CONTENTS:
KOSOVO ALBANIAN "LIBERATION
WAR" RECOGNIZED BY PARLIAMENT
SNC: KOSOVO PARLIAMENT
RESOLUTION LEGALIZES CRIMES COMITTED BY ALBANIAN EXTREMISTS
CHIEF OF UNMIK ISSUES DECLARATION ON KOSOVO PARLIAMENT
RESOLUTION
POVRATAK COALITION CONDEMNS KOSOVO ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION
COVIC
CONDEMNS KOSOVO PROTECTION CORPS AND UNMIK
COVIC CLAIMS INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT ON KOSOVO
SERBIAN PREMIER AND KOSOVO OMBUDSMAN AGREE THAT HUMAN RIGHTS
IN KOSOVO SHOULD BE PROMOTED
GREGORY COPLEY: SERBIA IS COMING AGAIN INTO THE US FOCUS OF
INTEREST
MARTIN DICKINSON: SERBIA HAS VALID ARGUEMENTS AGAINST
PRIVATIZATION IN KOSOVO
More News
Available on our:
KOSOVO DAILY
NEWS LIST (KDN)
KDN Archive
This newsletter is available on our
ERP KIM Web-site:
/erpkiminfo.html
KOSOVO
ALBANIAN "LIBERATION WAR" RECOGNIZED BY PARLIAMENT
According to the document, the Kosovo people's liberation struggle has
been deemed a political fight in all its phases and forms, beginning with
peaceful resistance and culminating in armed conflict carried out by the
Kosovo Liberation Army.
TOP
SRNA NEWS
AGENCY
May 15,
2003
PRISTINA -- Thursday – The Kosovo Parliament has today ratified a
resolution formally recognising the Kosovo people's liberation war for
freedom and independence.
According to the document, the Kosovo people's liberation struggle has
been deemed a political fight in all its phases and forms, beginning with
peaceful resistance and culminating in armed conflict carried out by the
Kosovo Liberation Army.
The resolution recognises the enormous contribution of the international
community and also assesses that the fight to free Kosovo from Serb rule
and establish a contemporary democratic society was a just conflict.
Before Kosovo-Serb MPs walked out of the session in protest, Return
Coalition caucus chief Dragisa Mrstovic said that Serbs could not accept
that those who caused so much harm to the Kosovo-Serb people could be
proclaimed liberators.
Krstovic said that the document would only have negative consequences for
the future of Kosovo and that the resolution equated to an open message to
displaced Serbs that their return to homes in Kosovo was not wanted and
that coexistence would be impossible.
==============================
RADIO YUGOSLAVIA REPORT:
In the
absence of Serb MPs, the Kosovo Assembly has unanimously enacted the
Resolution on the Recognition of the Liberation War for Freedom and
Independence of the Kosovo People. This document justifies every, and not
only armed resistance of Albanians aimed at Kosovo's independence and it
is the international community, i.e. NATO, that is stated as the key
factor.
Serb POVRATAK coalition MPs left the session, after the head of the MP
club, Dragisa Krstovic, had made a speech, as they believe that the
enactment of the resolution represents the abuse of the Assembly as a
provisional institution of self-government. This resolution sends a
message to displaced Serbs that their return to Kosmet is undesirable and
that life together is impossible, Krstovic said and announced that Serb
MPs would demand the reaction of UNMIK head Michael Steiner. Following the
enactment of the resolution, Serb MPs returned to the parliament in order
to participate in discussion on other issues.
TOP
SNC
KIM: KOSOVO PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION LEGALIZES CRIMES COMITTED BY ALBANIAN
EXTREMISTS
The Serb people in Kosovo
and Metohija is prepared to support the development of democracy in the
Province; however, their vision of democracy and Europe does not include
the terrorist Adem Jashari, KLA bands and "Kalashnikov law" but modern
concepts of a civil society, the equality of all citizens, democracy and
rights that must not depend on ethnic or religious affiliation.
TOP
ERP KIM
Info Service
May 16, 2003
PRESS RELEASE
SERB NATIONAL COUNCIL OF KOSOVO AND METOHIJA
GRACANICA
Yesterday's declaration, adopted by a part of the Kosovo and Metohija
Parliament, on the so-called "KLA war of liberation" represents a big step
backward in the process of interethnic reconciliation and the building of
a multiethnic and democratic society in Kosovo and Metohija.
1. The resolution talks about "the values of the war of liberation in
Kosovo" waged by the KLA, calling them "the values of all people in Kosovo
and the values accepted by the international factor". This statement
blatantly falsifies reality and seeks to justify the crimes committed
against civilians of various ethnicities. Each and every day new
information is becoming available clearly demonstrating that the battle
waged by the KLA was not one of liberation, primarily due to the fact that
it brought no liberty to the non-Albanian population (especially the
Serbs) but new persecution and terror. During and after 1999 KLA
extremists committed numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity, and
played the chief role in the expulsion of the non-Albanian population,
kidnapping, looting and arson, as well as other criminal acts. Supporting
these notorious acts as a war of liberation represents open support for
terrorism and crime as methods of achieving political goals.
2. It is absolutely incorrect that "the values of the war of liberation"
conducted by the KLA are supported by the international factor, which
officially intervened in Kosovo and Metohija not only to help the
Albanians, but to protect other communities as well, to ensure the rule of
law and order regardless of ethnic origin. Although this goal has not been
met in the past four years, NATO and the West can never stand behind the
crimes committed by the KLA and the reign of terror established by former
members of this organization after the war.
The very fact that many
former KLA commanders are either in prison, suspended or placed on the
black EU/US list additionally shows that KLA was not an organization
fighting a just cause.
3. Behind the concept of an independent Kosovo supported by the
aforementioned resolution lies the concept of the ethnically cleansed
Albanian state where there will be no room for the non-Albanian
population, especially the Serbs. This fact has confirmed many times
during the past four years, as Serbs, Roma and Goranis were exposed to
blatant human rights violations, violence and terrorist attacks. Albanian
political leaders as a rule chose to disregard these attacks or even
openly praised and planned them. That is why the concept of an independent
Kosovo is unacceptable to Kosovo-Metohija Serbs, who wish to live in the
democratic and sovereign Republic of Serbia, of which Kosovo and Metohija
is an integral and inalienable part.
4. The Kosovo Parliament resolution does not mention the crimes committed
during and after the war, not only against non-Albanians but also against
Kosovo Albanians who disagreed with the reign of violence by their
compatriots. These victims, whose total number probably exceeds the number
of victims of war-time conflict, are the surest proof that the war waged
by the KLA and affiliated gangs and organizations was not a war of
liberation but essentially a terrorist battle whose goal was and remains
to ethnically cleanse Kosovo and Metohija of its non-Albanian population
and disobedient Albanians, and thus force the international community to
recognize this monstrous, quasi-official creation as an already
accomplished fact.
Therefore, the Serb National Council of Kosovo and Metohija most
strongly condemns this resolution seeking to legitimize the reign of
terror and crime, and seriously abuses the Kosovo Parliament for purposes
of forcible and extremist secessionism. The ratification of this
resolution in fact represents open support for terrorism and violence, and
represents encouragement for terrorist acts in areas comprising the
Province of Kosovo and Metohija. This resolution also confirms the sad
fact that the majority of Kosovo Albanians possesses anachronistic and
aggressive concepts of society based on violence, and absence of law and
democratic traditions. Instead of leading their compatriots in the
direction of Europe, Albanian leaders are turning to the past, to a
mythology of blood and revenge, which will necessarily lead to new
conflicts and antagonisms.
The Serb people in Kosovo and Metohija is prepared to support the
development of democracy in the Province; however, their vision of
democracy and Europe does not include the terrorist Adem Jashari, KLA
bands and "Kalashnikov law" but modern concepts of a civil society, the
equality of all citizens, democracy and rights that must not depend on
ethnic or religious affiliation.
GRACANICA, May 16, 2003
TOP
CHIEF OF
UNMIK, MICHAEL STEINER, ISSUES DECLARATION ON KOSOVO ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION
Recognizing the sacrifices of Kosovo's people is therefore right and
proper. It is, however, equally critical to recognize that Kosovo's future
peace and prosperity depends on upholding the principle that was trampled
on during the 1990's, that is, respect for the rights and interests of all
Kosovo's communities. Failure to understand this lesson of history causes
the International Community to question whether Kosovo's leaders have
learned the lessons of that conflict.
TOP
UNMIK
May 15, 2003
PRISTINA - SRSG Michael Steiner today a Declaration on the Kosovo Assembly
resolution on war values. The Declaration is attached:
Declaration of the SRSG Michael
Steiner
on the Assembly Resolution on war values
As I said in my 7 May message to the leaders of the major parties in the
Assembly, the International Community intervened in Kosovo in 1999 because
of the widespread violations of fundamental human rights, particularly the
denial of the rights of Kosovo's majority community. We are fully aware
that repression in Kosovo gave rise to its people's struggle for justice.
Recognizing the sacrifices of Kosovo's people is therefore right and
proper. It is, however, equally critical to recognize that Kosovo's future
peace and prosperity depends on upholding the principle that was trampled
on during the 1990's, that is, respect for the rights and interests of all
Kosovo's communities. Failure to understand this lesson of history causes
the International Community to question whether Kosovo's leaders have
learned the lessons of that conflict.
Therefore, the International Community expects the Assembly to act in a
manner that builds into the future and does not drag Kosovo into the past.
Instead, the resolution adopted today is divisive and is against the
reconciliatory spirit enshrined in Security Council Resolution 1244 and
the Constitutional Framework. Already, it has had a divisive effect within
the Assembly.
I have talked to NATO Secretary-General Lord Robertson, the EU's High
Representative, Javier Solana, Stability Pact Coordinator Erhard Busek,
the Chairman of the EU Committee on Foreign Affairs Elmar Brok, and
international representatives in Pristina. They all share this assessment.
Following these talks, I have to announce that the hosts of the three
forthcoming international meetings
–of the NATO Council on 21 May in Brussels,
–of the Stability Pact Parliamentary Conference on 21, 22 May in Brussels,
–of the EU/NATO/OSCE/Stability Pact Regional Conference in Ohrid on 22, 23
May
under these circumstances no longer consider it appropriate that the
Provisional Institutions (President, Assembly and the Government
respectively) are represented in the UNMIK delegations to these meetings.
Pristina, 15 May 2003
Michael Steiner
Special Representative of the Secretary-General
TOP
POVRATAK
COALITION CONDEMNS KOSOVO ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION
the
Declaration is to stop many processes that have been initiated and is to
devaluate the little that has been achieved in Kosmet in the direction of
stabilization, the relief of tension and the creation of conditions for a
peaceful life and safety
TOP
RADIO
YUGOSLAVIA
May 15, 2003
Members of the Serb POVRATAK coalition in the Kosmet Assembly believe that
the adoption of the Declaration on the Recognition of the Liberation War
of the Kosovo People is to obstruct dialogue between Albanian political
representatives and the Serb coalition.
The head of
the POVRATAK MP group, Dragisa Krstovic, reminded that the dialogue had
been announced immediately before the enactment of the disputed document.
The Declaration is to stop many processes that have been initiated and is
to devaluate the little that has been achieved in Kosmet in the direction
of stabilization, the relief of tension and the creation of conditions for
a peaceful life and safety, Krstovic said.
The
enactment of the resolution has also been condemned by other state
officials, political parties, organizations and institutions.
TOP
COVIC CONDEMNS KOSOVO PROTECTION CORPS AND UNMIK
TOP
BETA NEWS
AGENCY
May 15, 2003
VIENNA -- Thursday – Deputy Serbian Prime Minister Nebojsa Covic has today
told the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna that the Kosovo Protection Corps
protects the outlawed Albanian National Army.
Assessing that their unethical activities make it impossible to continue
plans to transform the Protection Corps into Kosovo's defence force, Covic
insisted that the ANA is dependent on the Corps.
He claimed: "Kosovo's Protection Corps pull out Albanian National Army
members from areas after terrorist attacks".
UNMIK Chief Michael Steiner branded the ANA as a terrorist organisation
recently, warning that anyone associated with it was engaged in criminal
activities.
UNMIK in fear
Covic also assessed that UNMIK and the international community were afraid
of the Albanian community and the possibility that their strong anti-Serb
sentiment will turn them against UNMIK superintendents.
He continued: "I often wonder why UNMIK behaves the way it does regarding
many crucial issues. I think it is a significant consequence of the strong
anti-Serb sentiment in Pristina, which naturally grew out of the events of
the late nineties.
"How should Kosovo Serbs feel if the international community and KFOR are
afraid to take necessary steps because of the possible violent reaction of
Albanians?" he asked.
Covic explained: "Young democracy in Serbia needs a partnership-like
attitude from the international community and there is one in every
aspect, except when it comes to Kosovo. I think we have shown in southern
Serbia that we can solve the crucial problem of the area and
constructively achieve inter-ethnic reconciliation".
Covic, head of the Coordination Centre for Kosovo and Southern Serbia,
also expressed concern over UNMIK's policy of transferring authority to
Kosovo's temporary, mono-ethnic institutions, which he said presupposes a
final independent status for Kosovo.
"You take our property, but we pay your debt"
In a scathing attack on UNMIK governor Michael Steiner, Covic said: "Very
few of the projects and promises made by the UN Secretary-General's
Special Envoy for Kosovo have been fulfilled. UNMIK treats Belgrade as if
Milosevic were still in power.
"Serbian property is given away to Albanians in the presence of
international observers. Serbian Government property and Serbia's
companies are being privatized without any consultation with us."
He pleaded to the OSCE representatives: "Please, bear in mind that Serbia
is currently paying interest rates to international financial institutions
for Kosovo's $1.5 billion debt, yet UNMIK refuses to even talk about
taking responsibility for this difficult burden".
Seeking a way forward, he said: "I search a way out of this, and
reconciliation, through talks, but not talks about the final solution for
Kosovo. Rather talks should discuss ethical questions which hinder
relations between the two ethnic communities".
In a guarded remark about the refusal of UNMIK to transfer violent
militant Albanian Shefqet Musliu, Covic insisted that criminals could not
be allowed to hide behind national flags and manipulate decisions with
patriotic and nationalist feelings.
====================================
REPORT BY RADIO YUGOSLAVIA, May 15
The Kosovo
Protection Corps is protecting the illegal Albanian National Army, Serbian
Deputy Prime Minister Nebojsa Covic, who is also head of the state
Coordination Centre for Kosmet, assessed in Vienna. In his address to the
OSCE Permanent Council, Covic emphasized that therefore that unit should
not be transformed into defence forces.
According to Covic, UNMIK and the international community fear the
possibility of anti-Serbian mood of Albanians to be turned against them.
Covic said he was concerned over the fact that UNMIK is transferring
authority to undemocratic, monoethnical institutions, whereby, according
to him the final solution for the Province is prejudged and tension
between Belgrade and Pristina is increased. Not much has been achieved of
all the projects and promises by UNMIK head Michael Steiner, which is
proved by the fact that there is no safety for non-Albanians in Kosmet,
Covic said.
He laid special emphasis on Michael Steiner's regulation on privatization
by which, as he specified, Serbian private and state property is presented
to Albanians without any consultations with Belgrade. Covic appealed to
the OSCE Permanent Council to invest more effort in the return of
refugees, the freedom of movement and the solving of the problem of
missing persons, as those are key issues for the building of trust and
multi-ethnic society.
TOP
COVIC CLAIMS INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT ON KOSOVO
TOP
B92, May
15, 2003
VIENNA -- Thursday – Nebojsa Covic said a short time ago that he had
received support from the OSCE for a new approach to the problems of
Kosovo.
Covic, who heads Belgrade's Kosovo Coordination Centre, addressed the
European security organisation's Permanent Council in Vienna this morning.
He told media later that he had emerged from the meeting with the sense
that Serbia and the international community would be partners in dealing
with the Kosovo problem.
"In many other areas and problems the international community has helped
the new democratic government in Belgrade a great deal, but where Kosovo
is concerned it has been as though the former regime were still in power,"
said Covic.
He said that the Serbian government would ask for an analysis of the
performance of UN governor Michael Steiner, adding that the head of the UN
administration in the province should not be able to pursue his own
personal policies.
"It's a good thing that UNMIK has branded the Albanian National Army a
terrorist organisation, but more explicit messages are needed, such as
mayors being told clearly that they will lose their posts if they fail to
support multiethnicity," said Covic.
TOP
SERBIAN PREMIER AND KOSOVO OMBUDSMAN AGREE THAT IT IS NECESSARY TO PROMOTE
HUMAN RIGHTS IN KOSOVO
TOP
Radio
Yugoslavia
May 15, 2003
Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Zivkovic and International Ombudsman for
Kosmet Marek Novicky assessed in Belgrade that it was necessary to
strengthen the activity of all international and local institutions, with
a view to the promotion and protection of human rights and the
accessibility of institutions for all Kosmet people. As announced from the
Government, during talks it was agreed that the honouring of human rights
in Kosmet is at a very low level, for which reason the Serbian prime
minister emphasized the necessity of the further engagement of the
institution of ombudsman in the Province.
TOP
CHIEF EDITOR OF "DEFENSE AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS" SAYS TAHT SERBIA IS COMING
INTO TO FOCUS OF US INTERESTS
TOP
INET,
May 15, 2003
The Balkans,
and especially Serbia, are again coming into the focus of American
interest, with Belgrade as the main hub, Gregory Copley, the chief editor
of "Defence and Foreign Affairs" magazine, a specialized publication for
senior global officials, said in an interview for the Belgrade daily
"Vecernje Novosti". Copley claims that negotiations are underway regarding
the stationing of U.S. troops in the Balkans, including Serbia.
"Negotiations are in progress. If you consider that between 20,000 and
40,000 troops and officers and their families are to be mobilized, then it
is clear that there will be a number of military bases. In Serbia
discussions involve one base near Kosovo and another near the Danube.
There
will be others, as well, in Bulgaria and Romania. These will not be
military bases for peacekeepers but normal rotation bases. It is possible
that the Albanians will also try to secure a U.S. presence in their ports,
which would be logical. The recent visit of U.S. state secretary Colin
Powell to Belgrade was hardly coincidental. It represents network
building," said Copley, who assessed that the U.S. is already in the
process of deciding to have Kosovo remain a part of Serbia.
TOP
MARTIN
DICKINSON: SERBIA HAS VALID ARGUMENTS AGAINST PRIVATIZATION PROCESS IN
KOSOVO
TOP
Radio Yugoslavia
May 15, 2003
Martin
Dickson, professor of international law at Cambridge University, said on
the occasion of a dispute between Belgrade and UNMIK Head Michael Steiner
regarding privatization in Kosovo that Serbia is in possession of valid
arguments on the basis of which it can present the issue before the UN
Security Council. Dickson told Radio BBC that the problem lies in item 6
of the 1999 Regulation, according to which the UN special representative
has the right to manage all the movable and real property of Yugoslavia
and Serbia in Kosovo. The essential question is, therefore, whether the
lease of property for the period of 99 years is regarded as property
management or misappropriation, Dickson emphasized and concluded that from
the legal point of view, it is misappropriation that is at issue here.
TOP
ERP KIM
Info-Service is the official Information Service of the Serbian Orthodox
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Bishop Artemije.
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