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January 30, 2004
ERP KiM Newsletter
30-01-04b
Serbs reemphasize Serbia-Montenegro
sovereignty in Kosovo
Kosovo Serb
representatives said at a meeting with heads of offices of the US, Great
Britain, Germany, France and Italy in the province, held in Pristina
late on Wednesday, that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of
Serbia-Montenegro must not be jeopardised with the implementation of
standards for Kosovo-Metohija.
Oliver Ivanovic, a
Serb MP in Kosovo Parliament: "Serbs
on their part have sent a clear message that they will not
surrender Kosovo and Metohija and reminded that Resolution 1244 clearly
states that Kosovo and Metohija is an integral part of the territory of
Serbia-Montenegro and the Republic of Serbia".
CONTENTS:
 Radicalization of UNMIK and Albanian behavior in
Kosovo
Serbs have an
answer:
Standards should open the path to democracy and equality, not an
independent Kosovo and Metohija
Serbs
reemphasize Serbia-Montenegro sovereignty in Kosovo
Political
representatives of the Kosovo Serbs emphasized this evening in Pristina
that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia-Montenegro must
not be brought into question by the standards for Kosovo.
Sovereignty of Serbia-Montenegro in Kosovo must
not be questioned
Kosovo
Serb representatives said at a meeting with heads of offices of the US,
Great Britain, Germany, France and Italy in the province, held in
Pristina late on Wednesday, that the sovereignty and territorial
integrity of Serbia-Montenegro must not be jeopardised with the
implementation of standards for Kosovo-Metohija.
Suspected terrorist arrested in Kosovo
United Nations police have arrested a former member of the Kosovo
Liberation Army on suspicion of involvement in terrorist activities.
UNMIK
suspends Lipljan Municipal Council decision
The local United
Nations UNMIK administrator for the Kosovo-Metohija town of Lipljan on
Thursday suspended a local municipal council decision to set up a bus
stop in the Serb part of that town, adopted at the insistence of ethnic
Albanian deputies who have 29 seats in the local parliament, as opposed
to the two seats held by local Serbs.
Russian MP in CEPA on Genocide against Serbs in
Kosovo
The fundamental human rights of Serbs and other non-Albanian
communities in Kosovo-Metohija are being violated to such an extent that
one can speak about a true genocide without any exaggeration, Russian MP
Anatoly Korobeynikov said in a paper for the current winter session of
the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly in Strasbourg.
Flash News from Kosovo and Metohija, January 29,
2004
More News Available on our:
Kosovo Daily News
list (KDN)
KDN
Archive
This newsletter is available on our ERP
KIM Web-site:
http://www.kosovo.net/erpkiminfo.html
Radicalization of Albanian and UNMIK behavior in
Kosovo
Serbs have an
answer:
Standards should open the path to democracy and equality, not an
independent Kosovo and Metohija
TOP
Politika daily,
Belgrade
January 29, 2004
This year will be far more significant for the fate of Kosovo and
Metohija than it was supposed at the end of last year. Albanian
politicians, headed by Kosovo president Ibrahim Rugova, are speeding up
the process of creating an independent Kosovo by frequent activities and
rallies, and Harri Holkeri, the UN secretary general's special
representative for Kosovo and Metohija, is also very active. According
to Oliver Ivanovic, a member of the Kosovo parliamentary presidency,
Holkeri obviously came to Kosovo with a goal but the contours of that
goal are unclear. In this situation, he added, the Serbs will have to
react in a corresponding manner.
"Despite the objective situation in Kosovo and Metohija, the existence
of many unresolved problems, and the fact that democratic standards have
to be met before a discussion regarding the final status of Kosovo and
Metohija can take place, Ibrahim Rugova, in a speech before the Kosovo
parliament entitled "Report on the State in the Country", said that
conditions for an independent Kosovo have been met and the only thing
missing is formal and legal proclamation. On top of that, Kosovo
parliamentary speaker Nexhat Daci violated the rules of procedure
because he refused to allow MPs, Serbs and Albanians alike, to debate
Rugova's report," said Dragisa Krstovic, the Return Coalition (Povratak)
whip in the Kosovo parliament.
No reaction from Harri Holkeri
It comes as no surprise, emphasized Goran Bogdanovic, a minister in the
Kosovo government, that Rugova has chosen this moment to declare that
conditions for creating an independent Kosovo have been met, even though
he knows it's not true. Namely, Rugova promised his people an
independent Kosovo a long time ago. This is an election year in Kosovo
and Metohija, and Rugova must try in every possible way to restore
confidence among his voters who are increasingly turning their backs on
him.
Those who know Ibrahim Rugova well, as well as the real situation in
Kosovo and Metohija, explains Oliver Ivanovic, were not surprised by
Rugova's speech in the Kosovo parliament nor by the fact that he keeps a
flag and other symbols of an independent Kosovo in his presidential
office.
According to an UNMIK decree from 2001, as well as according to the
provisions of the Constitutional Framework, warns minister Bogdanovic,
"symbols of other countries must not be displayed in state and
institutions of special significance but only the flags of UNMIK and the
United Nations". Harri Holkeri, adds Bogdanovic, should have reacted and
warned Ibrahim Rugova about this.
One gets the impression that Serbs have not reacted in an appropriate
and suitable manner, either.
"That's not true," said Oliver Ivanovic categorically. He adds that the
Serbs on their part have sent a clear message that they will not
surrender Kosovo and Metohija and reminded that Resolution 1244 clearly
states that Kosovo and Metohija is an integral part of the territory of
Serbia-Montenegro and the Republic of Serbia.
According to Dragisa Krstovic, Rugova lacked the courage and desire to
present the facts regarding the real situation in Kosovo and Metohija,
which is actually exceptionally difficult. By ignoring the Serbs and
other non-Albanians he has shown that he does not care about democratic
relations and a multiethnic society, and that his only goal is the
creation of an independent Kosovo.
Battle in parliament
Members of the Return Coalition in the Kosovo parliament are waging a
bitter battle, added Krstovic, to prevent the addition of provisions
into an announced set of laws that directly or indirectly blaze the way
to an independent Kosovo. For example, the law of the census has been
returned to the parliament for modification twice. It will be adopted,
said Krstovic, only when the objections of Serb MPs have been taken into
account. The same is expected to occur with the other draft laws in the
Kosovo parliament.
The Serbs are resolute and responsible, claimed Oliver Ivanovic. The
international community and UNMIK received the clear message that they
will not participate in task groups for the implementation of standards
in Kosovo until they receive guarantees that their objections to the
text of the Standards for Kosovo document will be taken into account and
added to the draft text of the Implementation of Standards act.
Unfortunately, neither Harri Holkeri nor the international community
understand, said Goran Bogdanovic, the seriousness of the present
situation in Kosovo and Metohija. Consequently, they are trying to
impose what are unacceptable solutions for the Serbs through unilateral
actions.
Unclear and undefined standards open not just a path but a super highway
to an independent Kosovo, stated Dragisa Krstovic. The Serbs in
provisional institutions do not want to be and will not be "roadside
decorations on that super highway".
The behavior of the Albanians and to some extent UNMIK is increasing
tension and radicalizing the situation in Kosovo and Metohija. But Serbs
have an answer to this, too, emphasized Oliver Ivanovic.
By Stana Ristic
TOP
Serbs reemphasize Serbia-Montenegro sovereignty in Kosovo
Political
representatives of the Kosovo Serbs emphasized this evening in Pristina
that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia-Montenegro must
not be brought into question by the standards for Kosovo.
TOP
Beta News
Agency, Belgrade
January 28, 2004
PRISTINA - Political representatives of the Kosovo Serbs emphasized this
evening in Pristina that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of
Serbia-Montenegro must not be brought into question by the standards for
Kosovo.
Oliver Ivanovic, Dragisa Krstovic, Goran Bogdanovic and Sokol Djordjevic
emphasized this position in a meeting with the heads of mission of the
U.S., Great Britain, German, French and Italian offices in Pristina.
"We do not want to participate in task groups for drafting a plan to
implement these standards because we do not want to serve as
decorations; instead, we want to participate actively and effectively,"
Oliver Ivanovic told Beta news agency after the meeting.
The Serb delegation assessed there was little chance that any of the
standards will be realized with the exception of the standard relating
to dialogue.
"For the beginning of dialogue, we proposed that it be conducted through
task groups in four areas - returns, fate of missing persons, energy and
transportation - as initiated in Vienna last year, or through the Visoka
radna grupa established by the Joint Agreement of 2001," reported
Ivanovic, a member of the Kosovo parliamentary presidency.
In this case, provisional institutions would be included in the UNMIK
delegation and represent the entire scale of transferred and reserved
competencies.
We proposed the deferral of the deadline for assessing the realization
of standards from 2005 to a later date to the diplomats, said Ivanovic.
He stated that the diplomats recommended that it would be best if they
expressed all their critiques and proposals in the task groups for
drafting a plan for the implementation of standards, calling on them to
join in the drafting of that plan.
The Serb political representatives spoke critically regarding the work
of the provisional institutions, pointing out violations of the
Constitutional Framework and the Kosovo parliament's rules of procedure.
TOP
Sovereignty of Serbia-Montenegro in Kosovo
must not be questioned
Kosovo
Serb representatives said at a meeting with heads of offices of the US,
Great Britain, Germany, France and Italy in the province, held in
Pristina late on Wednesday, that the sovereignty and territorial
integrity of Serbia-Montenegro must not be jeopardised with the
implementation of standards for Kosovo-Metohija.
TOP
Seriban
Government
Pristina, Jan 29, 2004
Kosovo Serb representatives said at a meeting with heads of offices of
the US, Great Britain, Germany, France and Italy in the province, held
in Pristina late on Wednesday, that the sovereignty and territorial
integrity of Serbia-Montenegro must not be jeopardised with the
implementation of standards for Kosovo-Metohija.
Member of the Kosovo Assembly Presidency Oliver Ivanovic told the Beta
news agency after the meeting that Kosovo Serbs want to actively partake
in the work of task forces responsible for the implementation of the
standards.
The Kosovo Serb delegation, which also included members of the Coalition
Povratak (Return) in the Kosovo Assembly, Dragisa Krstovic, Goran
Bogdanovic and Sokol Djordjevic, said during the talks with foreign
diplomats that chances are small for any of the standards to be realised,
bar the standard which refers to the establishment of dialogue.
The delegation proposed that the deadline for the evaluation of the
realisation of standards be extended to 2005. It also criticised the
work of interim institutions, laying emphasis on the infractions of the
Constitutional Framework and the Kosovo Assembly's rules of procedure.
TOP
Suspected terrorist arrested
in Kosovo
United Nations police have arrested a former member of the Kosovo
Liberation Army on suspicion of involvement in terrorist activities.
TOP
Beta News
Agency, Belgrade
January 29, 2004
PRISTINA -- Thursday - United Nations police have arrested a former
member of the Kosovo Liberation Army on suspicion of involvement in
terrorist activities.
Joel Singleton, the regional police spokesman in Pec, confirmed the
arrest of Blerim Berisa.
Berisa's brother, Arbnor, said he had been detained on suspicion of
terrorism.
TOP
UNMIK suspends Lipljan
Municipal Council Decision
The local United
Nations UNMIK administrator for the Kosovo-Metohija town of Lipljan on
Thursday suspended a local municipal council decision to set up a bus
stop in the Serb part of that town, adopted at the insistence of ethnic
Albanian deputies who have 29 seats in the local parliament, as opposed
to the two seats held by local Serbs.
TOP
Tanjug News
Agency
Lipljan January 29, 2004|
The local United Nations UNMIK administrator for the Kosovo-Metohija
town of Lipljan on Thursday suspended a local municipal council decision
to set up a bus stop in the Serb part of that town, adopted at the
insistence of ethnic Albanian deputies who have 29 seats in the local
parliament, as opposed to the two seats held by local Serbs.
Following a four-hour debate, the decision was passed by the ethnic
Albanian majority in spite of opposition from council vice-presidents
Borivoje Vignjevic and Momir Cankovic, and their explanation that it
would jeopardize the security of Serbs.
TOP
Russian MP in CEPA on
Genocide aganist Serbs in Kosovo
The
fundamental human rights of Serbs and other non-Albanian communities in
Kosovo-Metohija are being violated to such an extent that one can speak
about a true genocide without any exaggeration, Russian MP Anatoly
Korobeynikov said in a paper for the current winter session of the
Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly in Strasbourg.
TOP
Tanjug News Agency
Strasbourg, January 29, 2004|
The fundamental human rights of Serbs and other non-Albanian communities
in Kosovo-Metohija are being violated to such an extent that one can
speak about a true genocide without any exaggeration, Russian MP Anatoly
Korobeynikov said in a paper for the current winter session of the
Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly in Strasbourg.
Korobeynikov's observations are contained in the paper he has presented
for discussion on the third annual report of the CE Commissioner for
Human Rights Alvaro Gil-Robles, which was held on the first day of the
CEPA session on January 26.
TOP
Flash News from Kosovo and Metohija, January
29, 2004
TOP
I*Net News,
Belgrade
KOSOVO AND METOHIJA NEWS
Thursday 29 January 2004
22:40 The Democratic Union of Albanians criticized the Montenegrin
authorities, claiming that their "slowness in the realizing the
legitimate and democratic requests of ethnic Albanian parties" is
opening the way for "various political intrigues", which are inflicting
damage upon political processes in Montenegro.
21:40 The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly's Committee for
Culture, Science and Education will review a report by the general
rapporteur for cultural heritage Eddie O'Hara on the protection of
cultural heritage in Kosovo-Metohija at a session to be held on March 18
in Paris, sources in the Council of Europe reported. The Committee for
Culture, Science and Education was scheduled to discuss the report at
today's session but the discussion was postponed for March. A seminar on
the human rights situation in Kosovo and Metohija organized by the
Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly's Committee for Legal Issues
and Human Rights is to be held two days before the March session, also
in Paris.
17:40 The UNMIK administrator for Lipljan suspended a decision by the
Lipljan municipal assembly to establish a bus stop in the Serb part of
town, passed on the insistence of ethnic Albanian deputies, who have 29
seats in the local assembly,while the Serbs have two. After four hours
of debate, the decision was passed by an Albanian majority vote despite
the opposition of deputy mayor Borivoje Vinjevic and deputy Momir
Cankovic, and the explanation that this would jeopardize the safety of
Serbs.
11:00 Topics discussed by a delegation of the Serb Return Coalition
(Povratak) with the coordinator of the Stability Pact for Southeastern
Europe Erhard Busek and his deputy Johan Riddell in Pristina included
involving the Serb community in the standards for Kosovo program,
economic development and capital investment in the Kosovo economy.
TOP
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Artemije.
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Copyright 2004, ERP KIM Info-Service
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