October 19, 2005

KiM Info Newsletter 19-10-05

Tuesday, October 18, 2005
ADN KRONOS INTERNATIONAL (ITALY)

Belgrade, 18 Oct. (AKI) - As talks on the final status of the province of Kosovo draw nearer, local media is reporting signs of tension in the UN-administered province, where majority ethnic Albanians demand independence. A mysterious "Army for the Independence of Kosovo" (AIK), allegedly wearing black uniforms, has been spotted in the southwestern part of the province, stopping traffic and searching automobiles. The UN Security Council is next week expected to announce the start of talks on the final status of the province, despite fierce opposition from Belgrade.

The Pristina Albanian language daily "Koha ditore" said on Monday that the United Nations administration (Unmik) has warned all its officials not to travel in UN vehicles in that part of the province from dusk to dawn because of "security incidents".

It didn't specify the nature of incidents, but the paper said the order was issued on October 14, and relates to municipalities of Pec, Istok, Djakovica, Klina, Malisevo, Suva Reka, Prizren and Dragas. The paper added that police in these regions have extended their working hours from eight to twelve

"Koha ditore" also said that AIK had sent an open letter to Kosovo's electronic media, warning that it would proclaim an "emergency situation and start applying war rules" unless Kosovo's parliament proclaimed independence by October 15 - something which didn't happen.

The United States undersecretary of state for political affairs, Nicholas Burns, warned during last week's visit to Kosovo against using violence as a means of pressure before and during the talks, which are expected to start in November. Kosovo ethnic Albanian leaders have already announced their negotiating team, which includes President Ibrahim Rugova, Prime Minister Bajram Kosumi, the speaker of parliament, Nexhat Daci and leaders of the two main opposition parties, Veton Suroi and Hasim Taci.

Belgrade still hasn't announced its team, but Sanda Raskovic Ivic, the Serbian government coordinator for Kosovo, has said that Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica would travel to New York next week to outline the Serbian position before the Security Council. Kostunica has warned that giving Kosovo independence would have a domino effect in all Balkan countries with sizeable ethnic Albanian minority, such as Macedonia, Greece and Montenegro.

He's offering ethnic Albanians large autonomy, demanding local self-rule for the estimated 100.000 Serbs remaining in Kosovo.

The western media has reported that the international community, primarily the United States and Great Britain, were favouring a phased independence for Kosovo. But political analysts have warned that the initiative might be stymied by a permanent member of the Security Council in particular Serbia's ally, Russia, which has a veto right.

Valotto: KFOR Will Fight Armed Groups If They Exist

18 Oct (RTK, Pristina)

The KFOR Commander, Italian General Giuseppe Valotto evaluated the statements about the existence of armed people in different parts of Kosovo as not very concerning. During the visit conducted in Ferizaj/Urosevac, Valotto stated that the activities of some persons cannot threaten the security adding that more than 95% of Kosovans want peace and calmness in the country.

“I have a totally different opinion. If they exist we are here to fight them but whoever uses this kind of system is a criminal and doesn’t work in the interest of the nation. The peace and calmness cannot be guaranteed with weapons”.

Valotto stated that KFOR knows its tasks and it’s ready to react to any kind of the threatening.

UNMIK staff asked not to travel at night in southwestern Kosovo

Beta News Agency, Belgrade
October 17, 2005

Pristina - UNMIK has asked its staff not to travel at night on roads in the western and southwestern parts of Kosovo "for security reasons", reported Pristina electronic media in the Albanian language today, citing the daily "Koha Ditore".

In a written communiqué UNMIK suggests that its officials in one part of Metohija (called Dukadjin by the Albanians) do not travel in vehicles bearing UN insignia from 6:00 p.m. in the evening to 8:00 a.m. in the morning.

According to "Koha Ditore", this UNMIK decision has been in effect since October 14 and restricts movement by UNMIK officials in the municipalities of Pec, Istok, Djakovica, Klina, Decane, Malisevo, Suva Reka, Prizren and Dragas.

The memo does not give specifics for the incidents to which UNMIK refers nor does it say whether they are connected with the appearance of an armed formation of Kosovo Albanians calling itself the "Army for Kosovo Independence (VNK)".

The paper states that regional police in western Kosovo has extended working hours from eight to twelve hours per day.

In a statement for electronic media in Kosovo, the so-called Army for Kosovo Independence has threatened that unless the Kosovo Assembly proclaims the independence of Kosovo by October 15, it will "declare and implement a state of emergency and begin to carry out rules of war".

UNMIK At Mouse Hole At Night

18 Oct, 2005 (Blic Daily, Belgrade)

As soon as night falls, there is not a single car on roads in Metohija. The fear from extremists going on for years not only within Serbian community, but in Albanian community and international organizations as well, has been additionally increased after recent announcements of the first actions by Albanians in uniforms claiming to belong to the Army for Kosovo Independence /UPK/.

'Several days ago they were stopping cars on Rudnik road, Srbica municipality. All of the checked people were Albanians. They even checked a car of Kosovo Police Service /KPS/ and requested identity cards from the policemen. Civilians from one car reported that 150 Euros were taken away from them. All these cases have been reported, but KPS hushed this report. According to the latest reports, people in uniforms were seen around Milesevo, as well', 'Blic' source from UNMIK says.

Albanian media reported that UNMIK had requested from its staff not to travel at night along the roads in Metohija. With written information UNMIK suggests to its employees not to travel by vehicles with UN marks after 18.00 until 08.00.

As 'Blic' has already reported, Army for Kosovo Independence has recently announced its existence. It has issued a proclamation that is still being distributed throughout Kosovo. The main goal of this army is immediate proclamation of Kosovo independence, without negotiations. As their target they mentioned UNMIK and KFOR as occupiers, but also Albanians working for them and other international institutions. They sent a death threat to these 'Albanians traitors'. This army specified October 15 as deadline for proclamation of Kosovo independence by Kosovo Parliament.

The zones in Metohija that armed Albanians are moving in according to the reports, are Pec, Istok, Djakovica, Klina, Decani, Malisevo, Suva Reka, Prizren and Dragas.

As 'Blic' finds out the shifts have been prolonged to both KPS and UNMIK to 12 hours daily.
So far KFOR has issued no statement although their members had recently an incident meeting with the terrorists near Decani.

Dusan Janjic: National council to be Belgrade's winning formula

BELGRADE, Oct. 18, 2005 (BETA)

President of the Ethnic Relations Forum Dusan Janjic said Belgrade's "winning formula" for the Kosovo future-status talks might be to establish a national council, which would be "placed at the helm of the negotiating team" as well.

In an interview with the Danas daily of Belgrade, published on Oct. 18, Janjic said it was also necessary to set up a national security council and organize elections for Serb national councils in Kosovo. When asked to comment on demands for an early vote in Serbia, Janjic said it was a clear sign that the political elite had decided to sacrifice an important national and state interest like Kosovo.

Janjic suggested the national council should include Serbia's premier, president and speaker, the foreign minister and "if need be, a few more ministers." He said that the national council was not in place because Serbian Premier Vojislav Kostunica "didn't have the courage to do it."

Labus: Belgrade negotiating team a matter of days

BELGRADE, Oct. 18, 2005 (BETA)

Serbian Deputy Premier Miroljub Labus said on Oct. 17 that a Serbian government delegation for talks on the future status of Kosovo would be in place in a matter of days.

"Belgrade's negotiating team hasn't been appointed yet, but it will be in a matter of days, because the talks are scheduled to begin in two or three weeks and we have to do it quickly," Labus said to reporters in the Serbian parliament building.

The U.N. Security Council is expected to make a decision on the talks at its session next week, when U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan should also appoint his special envoy for the future status process.

President of the Coordinating Center for Kosovo and Metohija Sanda Raskovic-Ivic said Belgrade would unveil its team shortly after the Security Council session on Oct. 24, if the Council decided to open the talks.

OSCE ambassadors do not prejudice status

BELGRADE, Oct. 18, 2005 (BETA)

The delegation of the OSCE ambassadors, which is visiting Kosovo, said that their evaluation about the situation in Kosovo is similar with the report of Ambassador Eide, whereas they did not prejudice the status.

The OSCE delegation met on Monday with the Parliament Speaker Nexhat Daci and with the Prime Minister Bajram Kosumi. The meeting was focused on preparations of Kosovo delegation for the status process.

The Chairman of the delegation and the Slovenian Ambassador to the OSCE, Janez Lenarcic said that this visit shows the OSCE commitment to Kosovo and to the current developments here.

“We are interested to learn more about the preparations made for the status talks,” Lenarcic said.

Petritsch: Compromise for Kosovo

BELGRADE, Oct. 18, 2005 (BETA)

Austrian Ambassador to the United Nations Wolfgang Petritsch wants a compromise to be reached in the future talks on Kosovo's status, in the best interest of all the nations living in the province.

Petritsch was the European Union's chief negotiator at the Rambouillet peace talks on Kosovo, in 1999, and the EU special envoy for Kosovo in 1998 and 1999.

When asked if he might participate in the Kosovo status talks, Petritsch said in an interview with Beta, on Oct. 17, that he would continue his ambassadorial duties in Geneva, expecting a very tight schedule until Austria took over the EU presidency on Jan. 1, 2006.

Division of Kosovo still seen as an option for Belgrade 

BELGRADE, Oct. 18, 2005 (KosovaLive) 

Cedomir Antic, a member of Serb G17 Plus political party, said that division of Kosovo in ethnic lines is the best solution for Serbia, and that this solution could be reached “through an agreement between Serbs and Albanians.”

“We do not oppose Kosovo’s independence, be it conditional or full independence, if the entities are defined, so after that the people can decide themselves with whom they want to live,” he said.

Antic evaluated that it would be in disfavor of Serbia if Kosovo remains in Serbia or Serbia and Montenegro. “A solution, according to which, Kosovo will be part of Serbian state would bring catastrophic consequences,” said Antic, adding that then it would impossible to form any Government in Belgrade without the consensus of Kosovo Albanians.

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