October 28, 2004

ERP KiM Newsletter 28-10-04

Serbian president warns against independence for Kosovo

Berlin (dpa) - Serbian President Boris Tadic warned Wednesday against allowing Kosovo to become independent and instead called for granting it ``maximum autonomy'' as part of Serbia-Montenegro.

Tadic, who met with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, said any one-sided decisions in Kosovo would undermine Serbia's fragile democracy.

``The independence of Kosovo would be dangerous for the stability of the region,'' said Tadic who said he had expressed this view to Schroeder and met no opposition.
Granting independence to Kosovo would lead to the ethnic cleansing of the remaining Serbs in the province, he warned.

Tadic said Serbs and Albanians had to find way to live either together or at least side by side in Kosovo.

``The way to overcome this dramatic situation is decentralization ... and a maximum autonomy,'' Tadic said.

But he declined to give any details on how Kosovo autonomy should function or what level of autonomy Serbia could accept.

Asked if partitioning Kosovo into its ethnic Albanian and Serb sections was an option, he said: ``I think this is unacceptable for a European country.''

Status talks on Kosovo's future are supposed to begin next year. The United Nations officially recognises Kosovo as being part of Serbia-Montenegro.

Kosovo has been ruled by the U.N. since the 1999 NATO-led war forced out the Serbian-dominated armed forces.

Tens of thousands of Serbs subsequently fled Kosovo and ethnic Albanian mobs rioted in March burning Serb homes and religious sites leaving 19 dead and nearly a thousand injured.

Ethnic Albanians currently make up about 90 per cent of Kosovo's 2 million people.

Tadic wants to visit Kosovo

(B92/Beta)

BERLIN -- Wednesday – In Berlin today, Serbian President Boris Tadic asked for help from international institutions to enable him to safely make a visit to Kosovo.

Tadic said that he has been advised not to go to Kosovo under regular circumstances because of security reasons.

Tadic said that as Serbian president demands that the international institutions make it possible for him to visit Kosovo and to talk with Serbs, who are completely disoriented, about what they need to do next and what the legitimate interests of the nation are.

Tadic, who was giving a lecture in Berlin entitled “Serbia – A National and International Political Perspective” organized by the Fridrich Ebert Foundation, said that “the situation of Serbs in Kosovo is so complicated that they do not faith in anyone, except maybe the Serbian Orthodox Church.” adding that participation in the elections was miniscule because he does not have enough influence in Kosovo.

Tadic also said that he knows that the entire Albanian community is not made up of extremists and added that “the Albanian side also has to show confidence in Serbs and in Serbia.”

He said that “there needs to be a two-sided process of communication” and that “even the Albanian public does not see anything besides the demand for independence.”

The Serbian president commented that this call for independence by Albanian officials in Kosovo “is one-sided and not founded on principles of international law, or on the security interests of the region.”

Tadic said he would not except the possibility of Kosovo becoming independent and warned that such a move would mean destabilization for the entire region.

“I do not see why Serbia would not become a member of the EU and fight for its legitimate national interests in Kosovo, naturally, under the complete realization that the Albanian side wants to protect its legitimate interests as well.” Tadic said.

Earlier today, Tadic met with German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.

According to Tadic, Schroeder said that Kosovo independence is absolutely unacceptable, and that a solution should be found that would satisfy all parties.

 
OSCE Shares Minorities Mandates

Belgrade, 27 Oct (Danas) – The verification of the mandates does not depend of elected representatives, but from UNMIK and OSCE – said Oliver Ivanovic, the leader of the Serbian list for KIM. According to the election results for the new Kosovo Parliament nine from ten minorities mandates embarked for the Kosovo Serbs belongs to this list. Tenth mandate, if Kosovo Serbs will use theirs rights for guaranteed minorities mandates, will be taken by Slavisa Petkovic’s  Initiative, who is ready to enter the parliament.

 By Ivanovic’s statement, although, the participants from the List will not make a step by itself, everything will depend of Serbian Government.

  “It looks to me though, even if the Government called for boycott, and intensively worked against the elections, in the same time it does not have prepared next move. Now it does start thinking about our next move and move of Serbian in the territory of Kosovo and Metohija. I am afraid that we are getting closer to the opening of the question about the final status, which was quickened by boycotting the elections, but the Government is not ready to take this responsibility. From all the political figures on the Serbian political stage, one is sure, only Boris Tadic will be on his position when this question will be open. The attendance of rest of them is under the question mark” stated Ivanovic for B 92.

Boycott Of Elections Consequence Of UNMIK's Unsuccessful Policy, Covic

Belgrade, 27 Oct (Tanjug) - The boycott of elections by Kosovo Serbs is not a consequence of the invitation of the authorities in Belgrade and the Serbian Orthodox Church not to go to the polls but the failure of the UNMIK mission and of the international community to establish in Kosovo and Metohija a truly multiethnic society, assessed on Wednesday Coordination Centre President Nebojsa Covic.

"The statement made by UN High Representative (Sřren Jessen) Petersen directly accusing Belgrade and the Serbian Orthodox Church of undermining the idea of a multiethnic society in Kosovo and Metohija is incorrect, sanctimonious and a consequence of an arrogant position in relation to Belgrade," Covic said at a news conference at the Federation Palace.

Serbs Should Not Enter Kosovo Parliament, Covic

Belgrade, 27 Oct (Tanjug) - Kosovo-Metohija Coordination Center head Nebojsa Covic said Wednesday that Serbs elected at the Kosovo elections "via the biggest electoral boycott in the past 20 years," should not enter the provincial parliament because they are not legitimate.

"I believe it is very important that those who were elected by such a small number of votes, should not agree to enter parliament out of two reasons. Firstly, they have no legitimacy and they will be unable to represent anyone, apart from themselves. Secondly, Petersen cannot be allowed to once again oust Belgrade from the dialogue or reduce it to playing a secondary role, all based on a couple of Serbs whom he will place in parliament," Covic stated.

Parliament Vice –President And Two Ministries Seats


Prishtina, 27 Oct (Vecernje Novosti) – While the representatives of the Coalition for Kosovo and Metohija have still not decided what to do, the Citizens Initiative of Slavisa Petkovic has decided that it wants to participate in the Kosovo parliament. On Tuesday, for the first time Albanians leaders and UNMIK representatives have pointed out it would be good for the legitimacy of the Kosovo parliament if in parallel with the Albanians there were representatives of other ethnic groups who just as the Serbs have been guaranteed 10 seats.

On Tuesday, most of the Albanian electronic media relay stance of UNMIK representative Jeff Bieley, who stated, “Kosovo parliament will have legitimacy even without the Serbs”.
“Serbian boycott cannot bring in doubt the work of the parliament. Having in mind the Serbian representatives, in our opinion they have been legally elected, categorically points out Bieley.

Media also relayed the statement of Mohamed Hamiti, spokesperson of Rugova’s DSK, who says that after the forming of parliament, Kosovo governing institutions will have entire legitimacy.

“When the Serbs are at stake, in parallel with the ten guaranteed seats in parliament, they will also have two ministry seat in the Kosovo government,” stated Hamiti.
There were also announcements that one or two Serbs might get positions as parliament vice-presidents.

Almost all Albanian media accuses the Belgrade government, and the Serbian Orthodox Church, over the not participating of the Serbs in the elections. Not even one of those sources points out to the reasons behind the unbearable position of the Serbs in the province, and the true reason why 99,9 percent of them boycotted the elections.

Resignation Of President Of Strpce Municipal Assembly

Belgrade, 27 Oct (Politika) – Insignificant turnout of Serbs from Strpce municipality has deeply reassured me that the citizens are not keen to the type of political battle to which I am truly dedicated, stated on Tuesday, Sladjan Ilic, president of the Strpce municipal assembly, during the submitting of his resignation to this position.

As a parliamentary candidate of the Serbian list for Kosovo and Metohija, he called for participation in the elections, but out of the couple of thousand registered voters, on Saturday, in Strpce, only more then 20 of them voted.

“I tried to show to our lethargic and intimidated citizens that fighting thru the institutions is our only option in reinforcing the Belgrade position in the negotiations with the international factor, stated Ilic in his announcement sent to “Danas”. Ilic also pointed out, “he was left with no option but to hand over his position to someone who will oblige to the will of the people and be able to fight in the manner which is unacceptable for me”.

 Ilic was named president of the Strpce municipal assembly after the Kosovo local elections, which took place in 2002.

Belgrade Media Update, October 28

Sřren Jessen-Petersen meets Kosovo Albanian leaders (RSCG)
UNMIK Head Sřren Jessen Petersen had talks in Pristina with leaders of the main Albanian parties, granted voters’ confidence at the parliamentary elections. UNMIK stated that Jessen-Petersen called upon all sides to respect the results of the elections, which Kosovo politicians accepted. The UNMIK head expressed hope that the agreement on the constitution of the new government would be reached soon. During this week Jessen-Petersen will also meet with representatives of other political parties, including minorities.
 
Boris Tadic meets Schroeder (Tanjug)
Serbian President Boris Tadic has stated in Berlin that Germany is the strategic partner of Serbia in Europe, and that the SCG cannot resolve the economic future without the assistance from Berlin. After talks with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, Tadic stated that he had explained the policy of Serbia and the State Union regarding Kosovo and the cooperation with The Hague Tribunal. I said that independence of Kosovo was absolutely unacceptable and that it would destabilize the entire region, stated the Serbian president. According to him, Schroeder has shown understanding for that position, as well as for the proposition that mixed group of German and Serbian experts be included in search of the final solution of Kosovo.
 
Covic on Kosovo elections (RTS)
The low turnout of Serbs at the Kosovo elections is not a result of the call of some Belgrade officials and the Serbian Orthodox Church for a boycott, but of the failure of UNMIK and the international community to establish a true multiethnic society in the province, the Head of the CCK Nebojsa Covic assessed. He told a press conference that not turning out for the elections represented for Serbs the only way to draw attention to their unsustainable position and to point out that institutions in Kosovo are just a pale façade of democracy and multi-ethnicity. Covic assessed that the Serbs elected at the elections should not enter the provincial assembly, as they have no legitimacy.
 
OSCE encourages Serbs (RSCG)
The OSCE wishes to encourage the Serb community in Kosovo to accept the participation in the work of provincial institutions, stated the OSCE Chairman, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Pasi. According to him, that is the generally accepted democratic way for ethnic communities to protect their national interests. Pasi assessed that the recent elections in Kosovo represented an important step toward the consolidation of the situation in the province, especially in the field of democracy and the rule of law.
 
EU called Belgrade to play a constructive role in Kosovo (RTS/AFP)
The EU has expressed regret over the low turnout of the Serb community at the assembly elections in Kosovo and called the authorities in Belgrade to play a “constructive role” in that province. “The EU is disappointed with the weak participation of the Serb community in Kosovo. It is important for that community to completely participate in the political life. The EU calls the Belgrade authorities to play a constructive role in Kosovo,” AFP quotes the statement by Dutch Presidency of the EU.
 
Bajram Rexhepi and Michael Polt in Pristina (RSCG)
The US is resolute in their intention to boost cooperation of Albanian and Serb communities in Kosovo in order to provide the freedom of movement for all citizens, the return of refugees and the rule of law, stated the US Ambassador to the SCG Michael Polt. After talks with Kosovo Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi in Pristina, Polt emphasized that Washington would not practice one-sided policy, but that it would take into consideration problems of all the national minorities in the province.
 
Talks between Pristina and Belgrade officials on technical issues and some other problems related to Kosovo will not commence before the constitution of the new provincial government, stated the government spokesperson Mimoza Kusari. She has assessed that the new Kosovo government will be constituted within a week or two. The first topic of the Belgrade-Pristina talks will be the problem of missing persons, Kusari said.
 
Sladjan Ilic resigns over low turnout of Serbs at elections (RTS)
Former President of the Strpce Municipality Sladjan Ilic has resigned from that post over the disappointing low turnout of Serbs at the elections, at which he took part as the candidate of the Serbian List for Kosovo and Metohija. Ilic told a press conference in Belgrade that he felt responsibility and couldn’t be at the helm of institutions in regions where most of the voters expressed a stand contrary to the one he advocated, that the position of Serbs in Kosovo could only be changed through institutions.
 
Kosovo government announced census (RTS)
Kosovo government spokesperson Mimoza Kusari has announced that there will be a census in Kosovo. Following a government session, Kusari told journalists that UNMIK Head Sřren Jessen-Petersen had promised he would sign, immediately after the Kosovo Assembly is constituted, the Census Law recently adopted by the assembly. The last legitimate census in Kosovo was held in 1981.

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ERP KIM Info-Service is the official Information Service of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Raska and Prizren and works with the blessing of His Grace Bishop Artemije.
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