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November 22, 2004

ERP KiM Newsletter 22-11-04

Thousands protest against Kosovo war crimes trial

A Kosovo Albanian man protests in front of a picture of Fatmir Limaj, one of three former guerrilla fighters standing trial for war crimes. More than 10,000 ethnic Albanians braved the winter cold to protest in Pristina November 22, 2004, against the trial of the three men, regarded as heroes in the United Nations run province. Limaj, Haradin Bala and Isak Musliu are the first ex-rebels to stand trial at the U.N. war crimes tribunal in The Hague, accused of abducting and murdering suspected collaborators and Serb civilians during the 1998-99 war.  REUTERS/Hazir Reka
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/041122/ids_photos_wl/r1917094751.jpg

A Kosovo Albanian man protests in front of a picture of Fatmir Limaj, one of three former guerrilla fighters standing trial for war crimes. More than 10,000 ethnic Albanians braved the winter cold to protest in Pristina November 22, 2004, against the trial of the three men, regarded as heroes in the United Nations-run province. Limaj, Haradin Bala and Isak Musliu are the first ex-rebels to stand trial at the U.N. war crimes tribunal in The Hague, accused of abducting and murdering suspected collaborators and Serb civilians during the 1998-99 war. REUTERS/Hazir RekaPRISTINA, Serbia and Montenegro, Nov 22 (Reuters) - More than 10,000 ethnic Albanians protested in the Kosovo capital on Monday against the war crimes trial of three former guerrilla fighters, regarded as heroes in the United Nations-run province.

Waving banners and Albanian flags, they braved the cold to demonstrate against the trial, which began last week at the United Nations war crimes tribunal in The Hague.

Kosovo's 90-percent Albanian majority sees the 1998-99-guerrilla war as one of liberation from Serb forces.

Anger at the U.N.-sponsored trial has coincided with rising bitterness against Kosovo's U.N. administration, which remains in control five years after a war, which Albanians believed, would lead swiftly to independence. 

"If this continues we will find other ways to prevent the dignity and blood of the martyrs from being trampled on,'' Sherif Krasniqi, a member of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) veterans group which organised the protest, told the crowd.

Fatmir Limaj, Haradin Bala and Isak Musliu are the first ex-KLA members to stand trial in The Hague, accused of abducting and murdering suspected collaborators and Serb civilians.

The protesters, many of them students, filled a snow-covered square in front of Pristina university. 

"Stop violating KLA values,'' read one banner. Another said the province's U.N. administration was "Serbia's servant.''

The demonstration was a show of strength ahead of another KLA war crimes indictment that U.N. prosecutors say they will issue by the end of this year.

Media reports say it could name former rebel leader Ramush Haradinaj, a potential prime minister in a coalition taking shape after elections last month.

Western powers intervened in 1999 to expel Serb forces accused of ruthless disregard for civilians in fighting the KLA.

The province formally remains part of Serbia. Albanians demand independence, while Serb leaders say this is impossible.

Widespread dissatisfaction with the continuing limbo and lack of jobs erupted in March this year in two days of Albanian riots against Serbs and other minorities, in which 19 people were killed and thousands left homeless.

The West says it wants to launch "final status'' negotiations next year, provided Kosovo leaders make sufficient progress on democracy and the rule of law. But a U.N. report has warned that pressure for independence is so great a decision can no longer be safely postponed.

 

Podnaslov / Subtitle: PROTEST ALBANACAMesto / Place: PRISTINADrzava / State: SRBIJA I CRNA GORAIzvor / Source: BETAPHOTOAutor / Author: ARMIPotpis / Signature: AV
ALBANIAN PROTESTS IN PRISTINA
A person in UCK/KLA uniform and chains stands on a platform in front of Philological faculty in Pristina downtown during the protests against war-crimes trial against representatives of the Kosovo Liberation Army at the Hague Tribunal (BETAPHOTO/ARMI/AV)
Podnaslov / Subtitle: PROTEST ALBANACAMesto / Place: PRISTINADrzava / State: SRBIJA I CRNA GORAIzvor / Source: BETAPHOTOAutor / Author: ARMIPotpis / Signature: AV
Podnaslov / Subtitle: PROTEST ALBANACAMesto / Place: PRISTINADrzava / State: SRBIJA I CRNA GORAIzvor / Source: BETAPHOTOAutor / Author: ARMIPotpis / Signature: AV
 


Protests Held In Pristina

Pristina, 22 Nov (B92)  – Tens of thousands of Albanians gathered in Pristina to protest the war crimes trial being led agains

Protests held in Pristina

Beta News Agency

PRISTINA -- Monday - Several tens of thousands of Albanians gathered in Pristina to protest the war crimes trial being led against three former members of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) by The Hague Tribunal.

The protest, which was organized by a KLA veterans group, saw signs that accused UNMIK of helping Serbia and photographs of the three alleged war criminals, Fatmir Limaj, Haradin Bala and Isak Musliu.

A person dressed in a KLA uniform adorned with chains, stood in front of the city university, which according to the organizers of the protest, symbolizes that the trials are a harsh blow to the importance of the KLA’s fight in 1998 and 1999 in Kosovo
“We will not allow Hague prosecution which uses different machinations and underestimations in leading political processes as an attempts to tarnish our fight for freedom, which was paid with the blood of many fallen fighters and Albanian civilians,” stated Sherif Krasniqi, a representative of one of the veteran’s societies. “I do not agree in proclaiming Fatmir Limaj guilty just so that criminal fights of Serbia be equalized with the freedom fight in Kosovo.” added Krasniqi.


The New York Times On The Web

THE NEW YORK TIMES, Monday, November 22, 2004

Ex-Guerrilla Is Put Forward for Kosovo Prime Minister

By NICHOLAS WOOD

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia, Nov. 18 - A former ethnic Albanian guerrilla commander widely believed to be under investigation for war crimes is being put forward to become prime minister of Kosovo, a prospect that is causing alarm among international officials in the province.

The Alliance for the Future of Kosova, the political party led by Ramush Haradinaj, a senior member of the now dispersed Kosovo Liberation Army, confirmed Wednesday that it was planning to form a new government with the region's largest political grouping, the Democratic League of Kosovo.

The party's support for the new administration is conditional on Mr. Haradinaj becoming prime minister.

The agreement between the parties follows parliamentary elections in October in which the Democratic League of Kosovo won 47 seats in the 120-member assembly, 14 short of a majority.

It was believed that two other smaller parties would join the coalition.

It was unclear on Thursday if the former rebel leader would be given the position as negotiations between the parties continued. Western diplomats, however, expressed concern about the impact of Mr. Haradinaj's appointment on the already deeply strained ethnic relations in the province.

More than 4,000 people were forced from their homes and 19 were killed when ethnic Albanian mobs attacked Serbs and other minorities in March.

The same officials also said the appointment could delay moves toward resolving the future status of the province, that is, whether it becomes an independent state or remains a part of Serbia.

Mr. Haradinaj is widely acknowledged by local news media and Western officials to be under investigation by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia over killings of Serbs and Albanians in western Kosovo in the conflict between the K.L.A. and Serbian security forces from 1997 to 1999.

Last week, he was questioned for two days by investigators from the tribunal in Pristina.

A spokeswomen for the European Union's chief foreign policy envoy, Javier Solana, said it was essential that the parliament appoint a prime minister who could work with the international community and help bring about negotiations on Kosovo's future.

"The key thing is that government appoints a prime minister who ensures that
the policy of standards moves forward," said Cristina Gallach, the spokeswoman.

Despite Mr. Haradinaj's relatively successful transition from guerrilla commander to politician - his party won 8.4 percent of the vote in the recent elections - he has continued to court controversy since the war.

In 2000, he received a black eye in a fistfight with a Russian soldier deployed with the United Nations.

Later that year, he was wounded by a grenade in a dispute with a rival family in western Kosovo, and was flown to an American army base in Germany for treatment.

The chief of the United Nations mission, Soren Jessen-Petersen, held separate meetings on Thursday evening with the leaders of Kosovo's four largest political parties, including Mr. Haradinaj.

Criticism of the war crimes tribunal in The Hague has mounted among ethnic Albanians. The trial of three former members of the K.L.A. began Tuesday in the Hague for their role in the imprisonment, torture and killing of 11 Serbs and Albanians during the war.

A statement by the departing government said the trial was not based on "facts and arguments, rather on political declarations with the intention of making the fight of the liberation army seem equal to the genocidal fight of the Serbian state."

Were Mr. Haradinaj to succeed in becoming prime minister, analysts in Pristina say the division between the international community and Albanian politicians over the tribunal in The Hague would become sharper.

"It would raise the stakes considerably," said Alex Andersen, the director of the Kosovo offices of the International Crisis Group. "It is widely assumed he would be extradited. A lot of people see this as Ramush's bid to save himself."


Koha Ditore: Two Ministries For Serbs

Pristina, 22 Nov (Danas) – Democratic Union of Kosovo and the Alliance for the future of Kosovo had an agreement for dividing of the departments in the future Kosovo government. According to this agreement the representatives of the Serbian minority would get two departments, if they decide to participate in the Kosovo Government. Sources of the Pristina daily newspaper Koha Ditore, say that AZBK whose leader is Ramush Haradinaj will keep the position of Prime Minister. Until now he was the only candidate whose name was mentioned for this position. Alliance should take control over four departments, including two that they have until now. Ibrahim Rugova’s DSK would have the position of the President of Kosovo and the President of the Parliament, position of deputy of the Parliament and six ministries. One department will come under the non-Serbian minorities, quotes Koha Ditore. According to its sources it is most possible that tomorrow will be announced all other models of cooperation between DSK and AZBK.

This newspaper sources quoted that the chances for Kosovo Parliament to have a constitutive session as it was announced for 24th of November are not big, because all needed preparations are not done yet. In meantime, Turkish People Party of Kosovo and Goran’s party Vakat supported the coalition of DSK and AZBK and announced that their six representatives will establish the representatives group under the name Six plus.

The time limit for the constitution session of the new Kosovo Assembly is one month from the official announcement of the elections results, held on 23rd of October.

First on the list with 47 representatives positions is DSK, second is Hashim Thaci’s Democrats party with 30 positions, and the third one is AZBK with nine mandates. Seven representatives are from the Civic initiative Ora, and 20 seats are reserved for the minority ethnic communities, nine of which will belong to the Serbs. (Beta)


Mafia Wants Premier Seat


Pristina, 22 Nov (Vecernje Novosti) – Ibrahim Rugova, the Kosovo president was conditioned into proposing Ramush Haradinaj, for new premier, to make things simpler this is what the Albanian mafia which holds everything in its hands, wanted. Former KLA commander became chief of the biggest part of the mafia, which in Kosmet is stronger than all the politicians and parties.

This is what Albanian sources from Pec claim for “Novosti” and transfer the opinion of a large number of its fellow citizens, in whose opinion even Ekrem Luka, managed to become a “strong businessmen” thanks to his ties with Haradinaj. Allegedly he has been giving Haradinaj larger sums of money as part of a racketeering scheme. Idrizi Brothers also from Metohija, hold the lines of the larger food and oil smuggling. 
  
Haradinaj also controls tens of other larger smuggling channels, which are additionally protected by his men. There are also indications that he has also founded “strong ties” with controversial businessmen Bexhet Pacoli who organizes and controls the work of tens of thousands of his county fellowmen who work abroad without any papers. Those people have earlier also provided funds for “independent Kosovo”. Part of this cake still goes in to the hands of Haradinaj, claims the “Novosti” source in Pec.


Solana Opposes Haradinaj's Election For Kosovo Premier

Brussels, Nov 22 (Tanjug) - EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security Javier Solana said in Brussels on Monday that Ramush Haradinaj, whom Kosovo's provisional President Ibrahim Rugova had nominated for the office of Kosovo premier, had already been interrogated by the Hague-based war crimes tribunal (ICTY) and that most likely, he would not be the best solution for the implementation of standards for Kosovo.

Speaking at a news conference within the EU ministerial meeting, Solana said that the future Kosovo premier should continue with the implementation of standards in the province.


Severe power blackouts in Kosovo follow major plant breakdown

PRISTINA, Serbia-Montenegro (AP) _ The breakdown of a major power plant outside the capital of Kosovo left the province without electricity for long periods Monday, a company official said.

With temperatures below freezing, the province experienced severe power outages overnight and throughout the morning as authorities worked to supply hospitals and other key institutions, said Paloke Berisha, a spokesman for the Kosovo Energy Company, known as KEK.

Kosovo has two main power plants, both old and dilapidated, just outside the capital. They are prone to breakdowns that cause regular power cuts, despite the investment of hundreds of millions of dollars (euros) in them.

Berisha said a technical failure at the coal-fired plant caused the latest breakdown and that engineers were working to restore power.

The low temperatures have pushed demand to over 700 megawatts, Berisha said. The supply now, from one of the plants and from imported power, is less than half the electricity required.

Kosovo has been under U.N. administration since June 1999, when a NATO air war pushed Serb forces out of the ethnic-Albanian majority province.


Serb official claims Al-Qa'idah bases exist in Kosovo

BETA News Agency, Belgrade

Beograd, November 22 - Rada Trajkovic, and official of the [Kosovo Serb] Return coalition, is claiming that there are several identified bases of the international terrorist organization Al-Qa'idah in Kosovo.

Rada Trajkovic told the weekend issue of the Novi Sad Gradjanski List that Al-Qa'idah bases were to be found in Bajgora, Suva Reka, the village of Zur, and in the vicinity of US Kfor [Kosovo Force] members "somewhere in the

(Kosovo) Morava River basin area".

"The international community is absolutely aware where these camps are. I believe that their number is not in the thousands, but certainly in the hundreds," Rada Trajkovic claims.


Ryzhkov: NATO, Not Milosevic Guilty in Kosovo

Emma Thomasson

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - NATO's bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999 was an act of aggression rather than an attempt to save ethnic Albanians in Kosovo, former Soviet Prime Minister Nikolai Ryzhkov told Slobodan Milosevic's war crimes trial Monday.

Ryzhkov was the first high profile witness to testify for Milosevic since the former Yugoslav president won back the right to lead his own defense earlier this month.

Ryzhkov, like dozens of other witnesses, had initially refused to testify after the court appointed two lawyers in September to defend the former Serb strongman to prevent his ill health causing more delays to the already marathon trial.

Soviet prime minister from 1985 to 1990, Ryzhkov was chairman of a Russian parliamentary commission on Yugoslavia from 1999 to 2003 and visited Serbia shortly after NATO's 11-week bombing campaign started in March 1999.

"It was simply an aggression against a sovereign country," Ryzhkov said in a webcast of a hearing at the U.N. tribunal.

"It was a case of inflicting punishment against a country because it opposed certain aims and aspirations in Kosovo," he said. "It was a case of intimidation of one nation, carried out not to protect the Albanian population in Kosovo."

Milosevic is charged with genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo in the 1990s.

Prosecutors have accused Serb forces under his control of causing a mass exodus of ethnic Albanians from Kosovo in 1999. After a Serb crackdown in the province amid fighting with the separatist Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), NATO launched air strikes that eventually forced Milosevic to withdraw his troops.

"TERROR AGAINST SERBS"

Milosevic has accused the tribunal of bias against him and the Serb people, saying it is designed to cover up NATO war crimes in Kosovo. He has refused to enter a plea to the charges and pleas of not guilty were entered on his behalf.

Ryzhkov said funding for the KLA -- which he called a "terrorist organization" -- came from Europe and the Middle East, while he accused Germany of supplying their weapons.

"The main reason for the mass fleeing of people was the aggression of NATO,"

he said, adding 250,000 Serbs also fled.

"The true ethnic cleansing took place in Kosovo only after the international forces appeared there which made it possible for the Albanians to do things which they were doing, terror against the Serbs," he said.

Prosecutor Geoffrey Nice repeatedly interrupted Milosevic to complain that he was not sticking to the rules of the court, including failing to provide copies of documents he used to support his case and asking leading questions of the witness.

Presiding Judge Patrick Robinson said he could not continue to "bend the rules" for Milosevic.

"You must organize your examination in chief. You cannot expect to come into court and proceed in this way," he said.

Milosevic, a Belgrade law school graduate, wants to call more than 1,000 witnesses in his defense case including British Prime Minister Tony Blair and former U.S. President Bill Clinton, who he accuses of supporting KLA "terrorists."


Belgrade Media Update, November 22, 2004

French President Jacques Chirac, right, shakes hands with Serbia and Montenegro President Svetozar Marovic upon his arrival at the Elysee Palace, Monday, Nov. 22, 2004, in Paris. Marovic, on a three-day official visit to France, was to share a working lunch Monday with Chirac to discuss bilateral relations, the cooperation with the International Criminal tribunal for former Yugoslavia, and Kosovo related issues. Republican Guards stand at left. (AP Photo/Laurent Rebours)
PRESIDENT OF SERBIA-MONTENEGRO IN PARIS
French President Jacques Chirac, right, shakes hands with Serbia and Montenegro President Svetozar Marovic upon his arrival at the Elysee Palace, Monday, Nov. 22, 2004, in Paris. Marovic, on a three-day official visit to France, was to share a working lunch Monday with Chirac to discuss bilateral relations, the cooperation with the International Criminal tribunal for former Yugoslavia, and Kosovo related issues. Republican Guards stand at left. (AP Photo/Laurent Rebours)

Haradinaj Not Confirmed as Future Kosovo Premier
Commenting on the agreement reached by the Ibrahim Rugova-led Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) and the Ramush Haradinaj-led Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) to form the new Kosovo Government, the EU High Representative Javier Solana stated that the process of forming the Kosovo Government was only beginning and the proposition that Haradinaj takes the post of prime minister is not the only possibility. He added that the possible appointment of the leader of the AAK was only one of the options, Beta reported. As for the Serbia & Montenegro (SCG) Foreign Ministry, it assessed the same day that the international community’s pledge for a multi-ethnic Kosovo and the return of expelled Serbs is inconceivable with the decision that Haradinaj becomes prime minister, since the ICTY is conducting an investigation against him due to war crimes committed against Serbs. The statement from the Ministry expressed expectations that UNMIK chief Sřren Jessen-Petersen will order Kosovo President Ibrahim Rugova to appoint a prime minister worthy of that function and the obligations it implies, Tanjug reported. The Chairman of the SCG Parliament Committee for Kosovo, Veljko Odalovic, stated yesterday that possible support by the international community for appointing Haradinaj as the Kosovo Premier “would be a bad message about the province's future,” and added that such an appointment “would put an end to Serbian-Albanian talks on the Kosovo problem because Haradinaj is undoubtedly responsible for at least one war crime committed during the fighting in Kosovo in 1998 and 1999, and that is the massacre of 40 or so Serbs and Albanians in the village of Glodjane and near Lake Radonjic,” Beta reported a Palma Plus TV news item.

The LDK and AAK are said to have reached an agreement on the distribution of ministries in the future Kosovo Government, according to which Serbs would get two ministries if they decide to participate in the government. They have agreed that the post of premier would belong to the AAK, whose leader Ramush Haradinaj has so far been mentioned as the only candidate for the post, together with four ministries, including the two it has already held so far. The LDK, apart from the posts of Kosovo President and assembly speaker, would also get six ministries and the vice premier's post. Finally one ministry would go to non-Serb minorities, Beta reported quoting Koha Ditore.

Conference of Religious leaders for peace and tolerance

Podnaslov / Subtitle: PREDSTAVNICI HRISCANSKIH CRKAVA POZVALI NA MIR I SARADNJUMesto / Place: SUBOTICADrzava / State: SRBIJA I CRNA GORAIzvor / Source: BETAPHOTOAutor / Author: DRAGAN GOJICPotpis / Signature: AV
Representavies of Christian Churches called for peace and cooperation
Patriarch Pavle and Roman Catholic Archbishop of Belgrade Stanislav Hocevar participated in the Conference on the role of churches in religious, cultural and international cooperation on the way towards European integrations in the Town Hall of Subotica today. Patriarch Pavle and Metropolitan Hocevar called for peace and cooperation among churches in the country and abroad. (BETA PHOTO, Dragan Gojic)

Annan Opposes Earlier Consideration of Kosovo’s Final Status
UN


Kofi Annan cautious towards Kosovo final status

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has rejected the proposition that he should decide sooner on the future status of Kosovo, and conveyed in a letter to the Security Council that he was sticking with the position that the issue should be considered in mid-2005. He further considers that that the local authorities in Kosovo must make substantial headway in the direction of attaining standards set by the United Nations in order for Kosovo’s status to be considered, RTS reported based on a Reuters news item.

Berlin Denies it Knew of March Violence Beforehand
The German Government denied on Saturday the ZDF television’s claim, qualified by its spokesperson Bella Anda as “untrue and unfounded,” that the German BND intelligence service had been aware that violence was being prepared against Kosovo Serbs three weeks before it escalated in March of this year, Srna reported. The media claimed that the BND had transcripts of telephone conversations between Islamic extremist Samedin Xhezairi, known as Hoxha, in which reference had been made to preparations for violence against Serbs. The latter is also quoted by Vienna’s Die Presse newspaper on Saturday as saying that the March protests by Kosovo Albanians had long been in preparation, and that he had been constantly warning that “the situation in Kosovo might become radicalized and that it would only take one spark to set off an explosion,” before they actually took place. Xhezairi, who was a commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK), claims however that he was not directly involved in the preparation of the March events, and denied having contacts with the Al Qaeda terrorist network. He refused to either confirm or deny that he worked for the German intelligence service BND, for which Die Presse claims he got fired on 4 March this year. The Munich paper Fokus revealed in its latest issue that one of the authors of the ZDF reports has been until recently engaged in Kosovo as a Bundeswehr intelligence officer, Politika reported.

Rada Trajkovic, an official of the Serb Coalition Povratak, claimed this weekend that there are several known Al Qaeda international terrorist camps in Kosovo located in Bajgora, Suva Reka, the village of Zur, and “somewhere in Kosovsko Pomoravlje” in the vicinity of US KFOR soldiers, and asserted that “the international community absolutely knows where these camps are,” Beta reported, citing a Gradjanski List news item.

Rugova forced to coalition with Haradinaj (Vecernje Novosti)
Kosovo President Ibrahim Rugova has been conditioned to propose Ramush Haradinaj for the new premier, because this is simply what the Albanian mafia wants that is holding everything in its hands. The former KLA commander has become the boss of the largest part of the mafia that is stronger from all politicians and parties in Kosovo. This claims for Novosti an Albanian source from Pec who is conveying the opinion of a large number of fellow-nationals, according to which even Ekrem Lluka managed to become a “strong businessman” thanks to his connection with Haradinaj. He is, allegedly, giving large sums of money to Haradinaj to the name of racketeering. The Idrizi brothers are holding the large smuggling with food products, oil, and derivatives.

Odalovic: Support to Haradinaj bad message (Politika/Beta)
The Chairman of the SCG Parliament Committee for Kosovo Veljko Odalovic has stated that possible support by the international community for appointing Ramush Haradinaj as the Kosovo premier will be a “bad message for the future of the province.” Along with the assessment that the appointment of the AAK leader to that post would “put an end to Serb-Albanian talks on the Kosovo problem,” he said that Haradinaj is “undoubtedly responsible for at least one war crime during the conflict in Kosovo in 1998 and 1999, and this is the massacre of some 40 Serbs and Albanians in the village of Glodjane and near Lake Radonjic.”

Serbs to receive two ministries (Glas)
LDK and AAK have agreed on the distribution of ministries in the future Kosovo government, on the basis of which representatives of the Serb minority would have two ministries if they decide to participate in the authorities in Kosovo.

Kosovo Serbs demand taking away deputy mandate to Djogovic (Blic)
Kosovo Serbs have asked DSS to take away the deputy mandate from Dragisa Djogovic for numerous abuses, claims this parties’ leadership. “Only when he received the information that DSS is thinking of taking away his mandate due to demands by Kosovo Serbs, Djogovic launched a campaign of leaving the party and going to DS,” states DSS. According to documentation Blic received, Kosovo Serbs accuse Djogovic, among other things, of receiving three wages at the same time as the deputy in the past mandate from January to April 2002. Dragisa Djogovic rejected all accusations, asserting to Blic that “the Serbian Government and DSS covered crime in Kosovska Mitrovica, whose main sponsor was Marko Jaksic.”

Lieven on Kosovo (Danas/FoNet)
British political analyst Anatol Lieven, an associate of the Carnegie Foundation, told the Voice of America that he doesn’t see how a conflict could be avoided in the Balkans if Kosovo Albanians demand independence and if they are not ready for the division of Kosovo. “If Kosovo Albanians demand independence, opposed by the EU for the time being, and if they are not ready for the division of Kosovo, I don’t see how a conflict can be avoided. At issue is direct opposing of territorial demands,” said Lieven. He assessed it was totally unrealistic to demand from Kosovo Albanians to stay in some sort of union with Serbia, but that it is equally unrealistic to believe that the Serb minority would be safe in an independent Kosovo. “If they cannot live together, then it is better to separate,” said Lieven.

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