Moscow, 11 Oct (Tanjug) – On Wednesday, during a round table held at the Moscow Technical state university "Bauman", Bishop Rashko-Prizrenski Artemije said there cannot be any just and right solution for the Southern Serbian province, without a return of the exiled Serbs which need to be provided conditions for normal life in Kosovo and Metohija.

In the hall filled with students from different Moscow colleges gathered in the youth organization "Young Russia", the bishop said it is possible for Kosovo to stay part of Serbia, while at the same time Albanians will be given broad autonomy and governing over local authorities.
 
He said he expects Moscow and Belgrade to defend their stances and not allow forcing of just any kind of solution for Kosovo and Metohija, and especially not forcing independence.
 
"I believe that with the help of the good people in America, and with the help of the Russian government the west will come to its senses," added bishop Artemije.

Kosovo bishop hopes for Russian help on status issue

INTERFAX (RUSSIAN FEDERATION)
11 October 2006, 16:12

Moscow, October 11, Interfax - Kosovo's Serbian Orthodox Bishop has expressed hope that Russia will play a role in protecting the rights of Serbians in Kosovo and resolving the issue of Kosovo's status.

"Now Russia has grown even stronger than ten year ago, and we hope that Russia's voice [in talks on Kosovo] will be heard in New York and Washington," Bishop of the Raska and Prizren Eparchy Artemije Radosavljevic said at a meeting with students at Moscow State Technical University named after Bauman on Wednesday.

The bishop noted the need to extend the terms for holding talks on Kosovo's status, saying it is impossible to settle the issue under the existing schedule - thus by the end of the year - and that "we are going to show everybody that in that case any decision would have to be imposed."

Ahtisaari prevents illegal construction in Kosovo and Metohija

Blic daily, Belgrade
October 11, 2006

Chief negotiator for Kosovo Martti Ahtisaari personally asked Pristina to stop construction near Serbian cultural and religious sites. Ahtisaari sent a letter to UNMIK chief Joachim Ruecker and asked him to freeze construction projects near Gazimestan, Velika Hoca and Gorioc Monastery.

"We have reasons to believe that the construction activities in question may be intended to create facts on the ground and could complicate the negotiations and, subsequently,implementation of their outcome",Ahtisaari wrote in the letter seen by "Blic". Ahtisaari emphasized that these locations are on the list of Serbian cultural and religious monuments "that have been slated to enjoy protective zones designed to limit industrial, commercial and other activities in the proximity to the sites in order to preserve the unique cultural, historic and natural environment". He concludes that it would be desirable for work to stop until tdecisions with regard to the relevant protective zones have been finalized in the course of negotiations.

The Russian agency Rosbalt writes that Ahtisaari has completed his proposal for the status of Kosovo seen by the news agency. According to Rosbalt, the status is not given and the proposed status is formulated in such a way that everyone can interpret it as they see fit. However, the agency adds that cited among the attributes of independents are Kosovo's right to a place in international organizations and the necessity of building "goodneighborly relations with Serbia". (Z. J.)

Serbs in Kosovo seek NATO protection

NAPLES, Italy, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- Serbian President Boris Tadic has asked NATO to provide security for Serbs living in the Albanian-majority province of Kosovo.

In talks in Italy Monday, U.S. Adm. Harry Ulrich, NATO's Southeast Europe flank commander, and Tadic agreed the allied forces stationed in Kosovo should provide security for all residents of Kosovo, the Serbian news agency Beta reported.

Kosovo has been administered by a U.N. civil mission and NATO protection troops have been deployed in the province to curb ethnic conflicts since violence flared in 1999.

U.N.-led talks between the Serbian government in Belgrade and Kosovo's ethnic-Albanian leaders have been ongoing since February but have reached no consensus.

Leaders of ethnic-Albanians, who make up 90 percent of Kosovo's population of 1.8 million, insist on independence from Belgrade, while the Belgrade government, representing 100,000 Kosovo Serbs, says the province will forever be Serbia's integral part.

Tadić Seeks Protection For Kosovo Serbs

Belgrade, 11 Oct (B92) - Serbian President Boris Tadić has asked NATO to provide security for Serbs living in the Albanian-majority province of Kosovo.

In talks in Italy Monday, U.S. Adm. Harry Ulrich, NATO's Southeast Europe flank commander, and Tadić agreed the allied forces stationed in Kosovo should provide security for all residents of Kosovo, the Serbian news agency Beta reported.

Kosovo has been administered by a U.N. civil mission and NATO protection troops have been deployed in the province to curb ethnic conflicts since violence flared in 1999.
U.N.-led talks between the Serbian government in Belgrade and Kosovo's ethnic-Albanian leaders have been ongoing since February but have reached no consensus.

National Investment Plan In Kosovo

Belgrade, 11 Oct (B92) - Serbia plans to invest 32.6 million euros into Kosovo by way of its National Investment Plan.

Kosovo economic team chief Nenad Popović said that Serbia, regardless of the disapproval of Kosovo politicians, will implement its National Investment Plan throughout the region.

"I have already received positive signals from UNMIK stating that they have nothing against investments into the infrastructure, hospitals, and schools, and small and large companies." Popović said.
He added that he will present the investment plan, which sets aside 32.5 million euros for the Serbian communities in the region, to UN mission officials in Kosovo.

Popović said that poverty is the biggest problem in Kosovo, along with the energy situation, unemployment, organized crime and corruption, adding that the Kosovo Government should be dealing with these issues instead of trying to get in the way of positive investments into the Serbian communities.
 
"With their radical objections to the investments of the Serbian Government, the Kosovo politicians are nullifying their calls for Serbs to participate in the Kosovo institutions, proving that this is yet another farce." Popović said.

Asked who will guarantee security for those who will work on the infrastructural developments if they are not approved by the Kosovo Government, Popović said that he believes that UNMIK and KFOR will do everything they can to ensure security and safety.

UNMIK Does Not Approve Investments

The UNMIK administration evaluates that it is still too early to talk about implementing investments in Serbian environments in Kosovo. Using the National Investment Plan the Serbian government allocated 32.6 million euros for this purpose. UNMIK still does not have enough details for what Nenad Popovic is requesting, and therefore has no answer about this issue, said Mechilde Heneke, spokesperson of UNMIK.

"Tomorrow, Popovic will meet with UNMIK officials. We will see what the Serbian government economy team wants and we will discuss the possible implementing of what they present. Right now we cannot say what they want and where they plan to invest the money," said Heneke, and added this is why it is still to early to discuss the certainty of the investments. "The only thing that we can say right now is that this investment of the Serbian government will be treated just as all other international donations and that it will have to pass all predicted procedures, which are in the domain of UNMIK and local authorities in Kosovo", said Heneke.

Rome, 11 Oct (Beta) – Italian Prime minister, Romano Prodi, has announced the continuance of the support to Serbia, regardless of the outcome of the Kosovo talks.

Serbian President Boris Tadić today finishes the three day official visit to Italy, during which he had meetings with the Italian officials. In Rome, he will talk to the Minister of Defense, Artur Parizi, with President of the Konfindustry of Italy, Luka Montezemolo, who is also the owner of the "Ferari", and with other Italian businessmen.
The Serbian President talked yesterday with Italian president Giorgio Napolitano, Prime Minister Romano Prodi, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Massimo D'Alema.

Tadić stated that the Serbian government knows the conditions of EU acceptance: "The priority task of this and the upcoming government is to arrest and deliver persons accused of war criminals to the Hague Tribunal, primarily Ratko Mladić". 

Bilingual ballots for referendum in Kosovo

Mondo, Belgrade
Wednesday, October 11, 2006 10:40

Ballots for voting in Kosovo and Metohija in the referendum on the new constitution of Serbia will be printed in Serbian and Albanian languages, Nenad Popovic, the vice-president of the Coordinating Center and head of the Center's headquarters for organizing the referendum in the Province told Tanjug.

He explained that 261 polling stations would be opened in the Province for citizens to vote in the referendum on the new Serbian constitution.

Approximately 97,000 voters will be able to vote according to cross-checked voter lists from 2004, including Serbs, non-Albanians and a number of citizens of Albanian nationality.

As well as saying that it is expected that citizen turnout in Kosovo and Metohija for the referendum scheduled for October 28 and 29 will be large, Popovic expressed the hope that "some number of Albanians will take part in the referendum".

Popovic, who is the head of the economic team for Kosovo and the south of Serbia, went on to explain that polling booths will be opened in 19 municipalities in five Kosovo district, i.e. 90 polling booths in the Kosovo district, 92 in the Kosovska Mitrovica district, four in the Prizren district, 65 in the Kosovsko Pomoravlje district and 10 polling booths in the Pec district.

"A polling booth is generally set up for at least 100 people but because of the present specific circumstances in Kosovo and Metohija, it is possible to open a booth where there are compact groups of voters even if they number less than 100," said Popovic.

Ethnic Albanians also called on to vote in referendum

Mondo, Belgrade
Wednesday, October 11, 2006 15:21

Nenad Popovic, vice-president of the Serbian Government's Coordinating Center for Kosovo and Metohija called on all ethnic Albanians in Kosovo and Metohija on Wednesday to register to vote in the upcoming referendum on the new constitution of the Republic of Serbia.

"Once again I wish to call upon all citizens from Kosovo and Metohija:
Serbs, Albanians, Montenegrins, Goranis, Turks, Roma, Ashkalis, Egyptians, Croats, Bosniaks, Muslims and all other national minorities to vote in the referendum to confirm the new constitution of the Republic of Serbia on October 28 and 29," the vice-president of the Coordinating Center and head of the Center's headquarters for organizing the referendum in the Province told Tanjug.

"By particapating in the referendum the citizens of the southern Serbian province will use their civil and voting rights, which are constitutionally guaranteed. All ballots will be printed in Serbian and Albanian languages,"
emphasized Popovic. He called on all ethnic Albanians to register to vote in the upcoming referendum.

Ahtisaari asked to make efforts to continue negotiations on Kosovo-Metohija

RELIEF WEB (SWITZERLAND)
Source: Government of Serbia
Date: 10 Oct 2006

Belgrade, Oct 10, 2006 - Director of the Serbian government's Office of Media Relations Srdjan Djuric stated that the government today called upon UN Special Envoy for Kosovo-Metohija Marti Ahtisaari to make all necessary efforts to ensure that talks on the future status of Kosovo-Metohija are continued and a just solution, which is in accordance with international law, is found for the province.

In a statement to the news agency Tanjug, Djuric said that Ahtisaari's latest statement, that a solution cannot be found through negotiations, is perhaps the strangest of all his statements thus far.

He recalled that the mandate given to Ahtisaari by the UN authorises him solely to allow two sides to find a solution through talks which is acceptable for both sides and is based on compromise.

Djuric pointed to the fact that the Serbian government firmly insisted from the very beginning that constant and direct talks are held with ethnic-Albanian representatives, and added that a compromise and historically just solution is the aim which we should all try to achieve together.

Substantial autonomy, founded on clear democratic principles, is now guaranteed for the province through the Constitution. Following the announcement of the new Constitution it is the right moment for Ahtisaari to fulfil his mandate and make all necessary efforts to continue the negotiations in order to reach a just solution for the province in accordance with international law, said Djuric.

Russia Presses EU for Acceptable Solution on Serbia

MOSNEWS.COM (RUSSIAN FEDERATION)
Created: 09.10.2006 11:47 MSK (GMT +3), Updated: 11:47 MSK

Russia has told the EU Kosovo solution cannot be imposed on Serbia, Beta news agency reports. Moscow also said it would not support such a solution neither within the Contact Group nor in the UN Security Council. Beta has learned that Moscow believes negotiations on a solution acceptable to both parties should be continued in 2007, if one cannot be reached in 2006.

Sources in Brussels have confirmed that the Russian position has been relayed to some Contact Group partners as well as to Martti Ahtisaari. The Russian message states that the Contact Group has asked Ahtisaari to provide a comprehensive solution proposal, to be debated by the Group first.

Russia informed that this was acceptable, if following the Contact Group debate, this proposal was to be submitted to Pristina and Belgrade with the aim of encouraging both sides to improve the negotiating process.

Sources in Brussels also say that Moscow sent a sort of a demarche to the Finnish EU presidency, emphasizing its position that the Contact Group, by authorizing Ahtisaari to work out a proposal, in no way meant to impose a solution on Serbia. Russia also explained that any suggestion, such as denying Serbia's rights of a sovereign country, thus undermining the negotiations with Belgrade, was untenable.

European diplomatic sources, unwilling to confirm or deny the existence of the Russian message to the EU, suggested that the majority of the EU 25 member states favored a compromise solution for Kosovo, meaning an essentially limited sovereignty for the province, without a seat at the UN.

Crvenkovski for mutually acceptable solution on Kosovo

Makfax news agency, Skoplje
Skopje /09/10/ 17.39

Macedonia has reiterated its official stance on the Kosovo status issue, that the solution has to be "mutually acceptable" by Belgrade and Pristina.

"We encourage both sides to reach a mutually acceptable solution under mediation of the international community".

Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski stated this during his meeting with Stefan Lehne, Director for Western Balkan in the Council of Europe and Advisor of the EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana.

Lehne briefed Crvenkovski on the current situation in the talks for determining the final status of Kosovo, on the developments following the new constitution and upcoming referendum in the Republic of Serbia, and on the further activities of the Contact Group, President's Cabinet announced.

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