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KiM Info Newsletter 20-03-07 DEEP RIFT OVER KOSOVO IN UN SECURITY COUNCIL Russia slams UN envoy for 'preaching' Kosovo independence "His remarks have been extremely one-sided and unhelpful," Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told reporters, referring to the UN special representative for Kosovo, Joachim Rucker, who is based in the province. "He delivered a sermon on the inevitability of Kosovo independence. I thought it was quite inappropriate and said so," Churkin said, adding that any outcome in the Kosovo status talks must be "acceptable to the Serbs and of course the Albanians." UNITED NATIONS, March 19, 2007 (AFP)
"His remarks have been extremely one-sided and unhelpful," Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told reporters, referring to the UN special representative for Kosovo, Joachim Rucker, who is based in the province. "He delivered a sermon on the inevitability of Kosovo independence. I thought it was quite inappropriate and said so," Churkin said, adding that any outcome in the Kosovo status talks must be "acceptable to the Serbs and of course the Albanians." Churkin's comments came as a UN-brokered plan for the future status of the disputed Serbian province appears in disarray. South African Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo, who chairs the UN Security Council this month, said the architect of the Kosovo plan, UN chief mediator Martti Ahtisaari, would release his report next Monday. Last week, Ahtisaari warned that "the potential of negotiations is exhausted." Kosovo has been administered by the United Nations since 1999, when NATO bombing helped to drive out Serb forces carrying out a brutal crackdown on ethnic Albanians. Nine days ago, Serbian and ethnic Albanian officials failed to agree on future self-rule for Kosovo after more than 13 months of UN-sponsored talks. "You cannot reconcile the views of Serbs and Kosovars and therefore we think the Ahtisaari plan is really the viable option," said a Western ambassador, speaking on condition of anonymity. But Churkin, whose country is a veto-wielding member of the Security Council, charged that the UN mediators "are jumping the gun and are beginning to advocate outright independence and this is not good." As he blasted Rucker, Churkin insisted that he did not walk out of Monday's private meeting on Kosovo, but said he left because of other obligations. "The ambassador does not have to stay there all the time. For a real walkout, the entire delegation is supposed to leave. My first deputy stayed there and participated in the discussions," the Russian envoy said. Rucker retorted that he had merely briefed the 15-member council on what he called "progress" on implementing UN-set democratic standards to build "a functional democracy and market economy" in Kosovo. US acting ambassador Alejandro Wolff rushed to Rucker's defense, saying he had given a "very balanced, objective presentation," fulfilling his mandate of describing the situation on the ground. Ahtisaari's plan, unveiled last month, involves offering self-governance to Kosovo, whose ethnic-Albanian majority wants to break away from Serbia. Although it does not specifically mention independence, the plan is opposed in Serbia, and by its traditional ally Russia. Over the weekend Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said more effort was needed to find a compromise between Serbia and Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority over the province's future. And he suggested that if Ahtisaari "has exhausted his resources, we can surely find someone else to handle this issue." Churkin confirmed Monday that Moscow would like to see Ahtisaari replaced, saying "This is what we are advocating." But the United States and the European Union expressed strong support for Ahtisaari. "We have tremendous confidence in Ahtisaari. He's being doing outstanding work," Wolff said, adding that the current deadlock was not "Ahtissari's fault."
World powers clash over Kosovo
Churkin accused Ruecker of “preaching for independence instead of discussing implementation of Resolution 1244.” Martti Ahtisaari’s plan and the final status of the troubled province are yet to be discussed at the UN Security Council. The session dedicated exclusively to this issue is expected to take place in April. “Belgrade should look for solution, rather than status quo” South-Eastern Europe Stability Pact official and former Serbian Foreign Minister Goran Svilanović told B92 he had an impression that Russia wanted to elude voting on the new Kosovo resolution. “I’d say that Serbia and Russia have leveled its interests regarding Kosovo and directed the Kosovo debate towards the status quo,” Svilanović said. “When it comes to broader geo-strategic interests, Belgrade and Kosovo cannot be put side by side. I believe that Russia cares about its good relations with the European Union and the United States, and Kosovo and Belgrade’s official position have emerged as an important factor in these relations,” Svilanović said. “Kosovo has begun to divide the EU, and I think that Belgrade’s friends among the EU member states could face difficulties if Belgrade’s hard line position persisted and brought further divisions among the EU and its relations with America,” he added Svilanović stressed that Belgrade had to show “it was constructive and eager to seek out the solution for Kosovo, and not the status quo.” “Serbian government should thus decide on its platform before the UN Security Council,” Svilanović said adding that Serbia should not be regarded as a dividing factor that could affect the EU’s relations with the U.S. If that were the case, Serbia might lose some of its friends and supporters in the West, Svilanović argued. On the other hand, Moscow will find other ways to realize its interests regarding its ongoing relations with the EU and U.S.,” Svilanović concluded. Serbia advocates continuation of negotiations on Kosovo-Metohija status
Addressing the regular session of the Security Council in New York, Raskovic-Ivic stressed that Serbia firmly stands by the conviction that the Security Council will be consistent in respecting the UN Charter which would allow a real process of negotiation on the future status of Kosovo-Metohija to begin, with new mediators. The Serbian government strongly supports the Russian initiative for continuing negotiations and calls for dialogue and continuation of actual and thorough talks, on the basis of the SC Resolution 1244, said Raskovic-Ivic. She added that only such talks could lead to a solution based on compromise and agreement which is in accordance with the UN Charter, and of benefit both to Serbs and ethnic-Albanians. She said that it is important to give the talks this aim considering the fact that Ahtisaari’s proposal does not fulfill a single condition to appear before the Security Council since it presents solely the interests of ethnic-Albanians and is in direct violation of the UN Charter. Raskovic-Ivic recalled that Serbia is ready to provide the highest degree of autonomy to ethnic-Albanians, creating the most suitable conditions for them to regulate their future in the province. According to Raskovic-Ivic, regulation of the province, based on true democratic principles with substantial autonomy, is a realistic and viable solution, and excludes the creation of dangerous precedents which could jeopardize the peace and stability of not just the region, and a serious effect on the entire world order. She reiterated that the negotiations in Vienna were unsuccessful and did not produce any result, that Ahtisaari according to his mandate should have been a mediator in the process of reaching a compromise, and not, as he has done, impose a solution which is suitable only for the Albanian side. Ahtisaari’s proposal was not drafted by two negotiating sides, he also ignored or rejected almost 500 amendments presented by Belgrade and has delivered to Serbia a proposal for imposing a solution which violates the UN Charter, the SC Resolution 1244, the OSCE Helsinki Final Act and the Serbian Constitution, said Raskovic-Ivic. She added that it was to be expected that Serbia would reject that plan, just as any other country would do, because it proposes that a part of its territory be snatched away. At the session where the regular quarterly UNMIK report on the situation in the province was presented, Raskovic-Ivic voiced dissatisfaction with the fact that the situation was described as stable, but fragile, although violence and attacks against Serbs and other non-Albanians occur every day. The truth that can be easily checked is that in all crucial matters standards are not being fulfilled, she underlined and pointed to many, ethnically-motivated attacks against Serbs and other non-Albanians - 52 in the past three months, including systematic intimidation, threats of massive exodus, defiling of churches and cemeteries, the appearance of para-military formations, kidnappings and beatings. Raskovic-Ivic requested that the Security Council ensures that Resolution 1244, which guarantees peace and safety to the population in the province, is respected. She said that the issue of return of the refugees is most worrying, since their houses are being repaired, but the conditions for their return are not being created. She added that according to UNHCR data, only 1,608 people returned in 2006, of whom 31% are Serbs and 54% Roma. Raskovic-Ivic also said that the privatisation of companies in Kosovo is discriminatory. SRSG Joachim Rücker addresses the UN Security Council UNMIK/PR/1652
“The past few months have provided for a dynamic political period in Kosovo,” Mr. Rücker said. He observed that the UN Special Envoy’s proposal for the status of Kosovo presented on 2 February has been “generally well received” by the Kosovo Albanians and welcomed by the Kosovo Negotiation Team. “The primary focus has since been on the proposal’s decentralization provisions, granting additional competencies to future local authorities,” he said, and added: “This is generally viewed by the Kosovo Albanians as a difficult but acceptable compromise to accommodate the Kosovo Serb minority population.” On the other hand, the Kosovo Serb reaction to the proposal has been generally negative, in line with the views expressed by political leaders in Belgrade and largely neglecting the proposal’s comprehensive provisions to protect Kosovo Serb rights, interests and identity, such as decentralization and protective zones for religious and cultural heritage sites. “Not without success, the political leaders are intensifying efforts to reach out to Kosovo Serbs and reassure them that the status proposal contains a host of arrangements carefully designed to fully protect their rights, interests and identity,” Mr. Rücker said. “The Kosovo Albanian leaders of the Pristina Negotiating Team, which includes leaders of the Opposition, have made significant efforts to encourage patience among the population, and have made consistent calls for maintaining calm and trust in the process,” he added. The SRSG expressed his concerns about the potentially destabilizing effect of any delay in the process that could make a sustainable solution impossible. Mr. Rücker assessed sustained commitment by the Kosovo institutions to standards implementation in a range of priority areas, including in areas of vital importance to minorities. “The political will of the PISG to implement reforms remains steady, and putting these reforms in the context of integration into the European Union has now been a powerful impetus to further progress,” he said. However, the SRSG noted that in too many cases efforts at implementation have not been translated into improvements in the living conditions of the Kosovo Serbs. A major reason for this is the unwillingness of many Kosovo Serbs to participate in the institutions or accept the opportunities offered by the government and municipalities. “All too often, their non-participation in the institutions appears linked to the stance of Belgrade, which has continued to threaten Kosovo Serb civil servants with cutting off their salaries if they remain on the legitimate payroll of the PISG,” Mr. Rücker said, “Belgrade has continued to make statements discouraging returns and politicising security incidents, which creates an objectively unjustified climate of fear and demonstrates continued lack of respect for UNSCR 1244. I once again urge the Representative of the Serbian Government to support the participation of the Kosovo Serbs in the PISG.” The SRSG stressed that everyone in Kosovo deserves clarity about the future, to have the certainty of knowing where they stand and what their position is in relation to the institutions that organise their society. “The Kosovo Serbs need this clarity in order to gather the strength to take the decision they must take: to accept the hand extended to them by the Kosovo institutions and become an engaged part of Kosovo’s society,” he said, “The Kosovo Albanians and Kosovo’s other communities also need clarity on status to feel secure that the future they and their leaders are building is permanent and is sustainable after nearly eight years of international administration.” Mr. Rücker concluded that keeping momentum in the status process would allow the international community “to take advantage of a window of opportunity”. He expressed trust that the Security Council’s “continued engagement will ensure that this opportunity to stabilize the whole region and remove the obstacles for its journey to Europe will not be missed”. Serbia supports Russia’s initiative to continue Kosovo status talks Belgrade, Serbian Government Site March 19, 2007 – Serbian Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government Zoran Loncar said today that Russia’s initiative that the negotiating process on the future status of Kosovo-Metohija should be continued is a right solution in a moment when UN Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari comes up with a illegal and illegitimate plan that directly violates the UN Charter. Loncar told agency Beta that the Russian approach is fully responsible and constructive as compromise can be reached only through negotiations, adding that Serbia accepts this stand. Russian official calls U.N. envoy's position on Kosovo biased RIA Novosti19/03/2007 22:10 United Nations, March 19. (RIA Novosti) -- Russia's permanent representative to the U.N., Vitaly Churkin, has criticized Joachim Rucker, Special Representative of the U.N Secretary-General in Kosovo, for taking a biased position on the territory's status. Commenting on Rucker's report on Kosovo status at the U.N. Security Council's behind-the-doors consultations Monday Churkin said: "The international body has no right to be so biased and 'look with one eye'." Rucker said he had informed the U.N. Security Council on the developments in Kosovo, where people had accepted the Ahtisaari plan and were ready to take the next step. Marti Ahtisaari, a special UN envoy for talks on Kosovo, said March 10 he would return his resolution proposals to the UN Security Council following fruitless top-level talks in Vienna between Pristina and Belgrade. Although U.S. Ambassador Alejandro Wolff described Rucker's proposals as balanced, Russia believes it is too early to determine the Kosovo status without taking into account the opinion of the Serbian government and all ethnic groups. The Russian official said political resources for negotiations had not been exhausted yet. Serbia's predominantly ethnic Albanian Kosovo province, which has a population of two million, has been a UN protectorate since NATO's 78-day bombing campaign against the former Yugoslavia ended a war between Serb forces and Albanian separatists in 1999. As a veto-wielding member in the 15-nation UN Security Council and a traditional ally of Serbia, Russia has insisted that a decision on Kosovo should satisfy both Kosovar and Serbian authorities, and must be reached through negotiations. Unlike Russia, NATO has made it clear that it favors independence for Kosovo, but the final decision will be up to the UN Security Council, which will hear Ahtisaari's proposals this week. Belgrade, 19 March (AKI) - As the United Nations Security Council was hearing a report on the situation in Serbia's breakaway Kosovo province on Monday, Russia sent a clear signal it favours the continuation of talks on the future status of the ethnic Albanian majority province, possibly to be headed by a new UN negotiator to replace current top envoy to Kosovo Martti Ahtisaari. Serbia has hoped that Russia, as a permanent member of the Security Council, might use its veto to block the effective independence for Kosovo proposed by Ahtisaari in a plan he recently delivered to the top UN body. Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said on Saturday however that Moscow was not set to use its veto "automatically" and that talks should continue - with or without Ahtisaari. "If Ahtisaari thinks he has done everything within his power, then almost certainly another person could be found to do it," Lavrov told a press conference in Moscow. Lavrov's remarks followed Ahtisaari's statement after the last round of UN-led talks in Vienna on 3 March in Vienna that all chances for a compromise solution had been exhausted and his suggestion the UN should impose a decision on Kosovo's future status. After a year of negotiations, Ahtisaari, a former Finnish president, last week sent his plan for Kosovo to the UN Security Council proposing internationally supervised independence, which Belgrade rejected as one sided and soothing only the demands of the ethnic Albanian majority. The Serbian side has demanded that "real talks continue." Reiterating Moscow's position that the solution should be acceptable to both sides, Lavrov said Russia would prefer to come to an agreement with western powers, which favor independence, rather than use its veto power, adding that much would depend on the position of Belgrade. Serbian prime minister Vojislav Kostunica, who has blamed Ahtisaari for siding with ethnic Albanian interests, welcomed the Russian position, saying the resumption of talks headed by a new UN envoy might create the chance for a fair settlement. Belgrade has proposed broad autonomy for ethnic Albanians in Kosovo. But Belgrade opposes independence for the 90 percent ethnic Albanian province, saying this would "snatch away 15 per cent of Serbian territory." Morover, the creation of another ethnic Albanian state in the Balkans would violate the UN Charter and international law, Belgrade claims. Serbian foreign minister Vuk Draskovic also greeted Lavrov's statement, but expressed fear that the United States and other western powers which favour Kosovo's independence, would not support Russia's proposal. "Unfortunately, the other permanent members of the Security Council, apart from Russia and China [Britain, France and the US] are of a different opinion. It is not certain that the Kosovo talks will continue and a new UN envoy will be named," Draskovic said. The US, the European Union and ethnic Albanian leaders back Ahtisaari's plan, which grant Kosovo access to international bodies normally reserved for sovereign states, and allows it to raise its own flag, with its own national anthem, while providing guarantees for the tiny Serb minority and other minorities in the province. Kosovo has been under UN control since 1999 after NATO bombings drove Serb forces from the province in June of that year amid ethnic fighting and claims of gross human rights violations by Serbian forces suppressing an ethnic Albanian rebellion. Russia wants more Kosovo status talks, but eases veto threat SE News 19/03/2007 Moscow called at the weekend for the appointment of a new UN special envoy and another round of negotiations, but stopped short of promising to veto a status plan that Belgrade rejects. (Deutsche Welle, Blic, The Moscow Times - 19/03/07; AP, Reuters, DPA, RFE/RL, Beta, B92 - 18/03/07; Reuters, DPA, Balkan Investigative Reporting Network - 16/03/07; AFP - 11/03/07; Reuters - 10/03/07) Top Russian officials called at the weekend for the appointment of a new UN special envoy to mediate further talks on Kosovo's final status. At the same time, they appeared to downplay the possibility that Moscow could veto a Security Council decision on Kosovo that Belgrade opposes. "The situation that has taken shape between the parties must be discussed, and if no agreement has been forged -- we understand it has not -- the talks must be continued and a new special envoy should be appointed," Russian Security Council Secretary Igor Ivanov told Russia's Foreign and Defence Policies Council on Sunday (March 18th). A similar statement came from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov a day earlier. However, Lavrov also hinted that Russia has not decided on a veto. "We cannot announce that under any circumstances, we would block a solution that does not suit the sides," Reuters quoted Lavrov as saying. "Everything will depend on the sides' positions." Fourteen months of largely fruitless talks between representatives of Belgrade and Pristina ended on March 10th, when UN special envoy Martti Ahtisaari announced that nothing more was to be gained. "It is my firm conclusion that the potential of negotiations is exhausted," the former Finnish president said in a statement, noting that the two sides remained far apart. Last week, Ahtisaari sent his proposal for a settlement to the Kosovo status issue to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. After studying the plan, which envisions internationally supervised statehood for Kosovo, the UN chief will forward it to the Security Council, which is expected to start discussing it in early April. The Kosovo Albanian leaders have accepted Ahtisaari's proposals. Belgrade, which wants to retain some degree of sovereignty over Kosovo, has rejected the blueprint as unacceptable and is also calling for the continuation of negotiations. While most Kosovo Serbs do not support Ahtisaari's proposal either, one of the community's moderate leaders was quoted as describing Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica's demand for fresh talks as "ridiculous". "Serbia cannot get that," the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network quoted Oliver Ivanovic, a leading official in the Serbian List for Kosovo party, as saying. "New Kosovo talks can only happen in the unlikely event that the debate at the Security Council fails to end with the backing of Ahtisaari's proposal. In that case, we could get a new negotiator." EU and US officials have voiced support for Ahtisaari's plan and have called for a swift solution to the Kosovo status issue. The proposal "provides a framework for a future stable, democratic and multiethnic Kosovo," EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said after for Ahtisaari declared the talks over. "A sustainable solution of Kosovo's status is needed, without delay ... The status settlement will have to be anchored in a clear European perspective, so as to enhance stability in Kosovo and in the wider region." Holbrooke warns of Kosovo explosion if plan stalls Reuters, Mon Mar 19, 2007 8:20 AM ET BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Former U.S. Balkans peace broker Richard Holbrooke said on Monday that violence could explode in Kosovo as early as next month if Russia stalls a U.N. plan to give the breakaway Serbian province independence. Holbrooke, who brokered a 1995 peace accord for Bosnia, told reporters the Western-backed plan for supervised independence drafted by former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari was the best possible solution under the circumstances. "If the Russians delay or dilute or veto it, then I'm afraid the long pent-up desire of the Albanians in Kosovo for a rapid move toward independence will explode into violence," he said. NATO forces responsible for peacekeeping would need to be ready to act quickly to prevent an escalation of violence when the matter is debated in the U.N. Security Council next month, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations said. Holbrooke was in Brussels for a closed-door meeting of the Trilateral Commission of business and opinion leaders from the United States, Europe and Asia. "The Russians should be aware of the consequences of their actions in New York," he said, accusing Moscow of emboldening hardliners in Belgrade by saying it would not support any plan the Serbians oppose. The province holds almost mythic status for Serbs, their so-called cradle stretching back 1,000 years. Ahtisaari sent his plan to the Security Council last week after exhausting efforts to achieve a negotiated solution between the Serbian and Kosovo Albanian governments due to Serbia's total opposition to independence. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said granting independence to Kosovo against the wishes of Serbia would set a dangerous precedent. But Moscow has not said if it will use its Security Council veto power to block the plan. NATO waged an air war in 1999 to force Serbian troops out of the province and put an end to two years of violence in which 10,000 Albanians died and more than one million Albanians fled. The Albanians make up 90 percent of Kosovo's 2 million population. NATO heads a 16,500-strong peacekeeping force in the province. U.S. rejects Russia's call to replace U.N. Kosovo envoy Associated Press: Monday, March 19, 2007 12:58 PM WASHINGTON-The United States on Monday rejected Russian calls for the dismissal of the United Nations envoy for Kosovo who has proposed supervised independence for the breakaway province of Serbia. The head of Russia's security council, Igor Ivanov, said Sunday that a new United Nations envoy should be appointed to replace Martti Ahtisaari because Serbia has rejected his plan for the province's future. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Monday the U.S. continues to back Ahtisaari and is pushing for a quick resolution despite Serbia's objections. "We think Mr. Ahtisaari is doing a good job with a very, very tough issue," he said. "It is time to bring some possible solution to the issue of Kosovo." Ahtisaari said this month he would deliver his plan to the U.N. Security Council by the end of March, despite bitter disagreement between Serbia and Kosovo's ethnic Albanian leadership over the proposal. Ahtisaari said the potential for negotiations was exhausted on the plan, under which Kosovo would be granted internationally supervised statehood. Russia, which has veto power in the U.N. Security Council, opposes Kosovo being split off from Serbia. "If there is no agreement, and so far as we understand there isn't, that means it is necessary to continue talks and to appoint a new special representative," Ivanov said Sunday according to Interfax. Kosovo has been a U.N. protectorate since 1999, when NATO airstrikes on Belgrade ended a Serbian crackdown on ethnic Albanian separatists in the southern province. The U.N. plan is an attempt to resolve the final major dispute remaining after Yugoslavia's bloody breakup in the 1990s. Ahtisaari's plan, which needs U.N. Security Council approval to take effect, would grant Kosovo supervised statehood and elements of independence including its own army, flag, anthem and constitution. Russia and Serbia have objected that it could encourage other independence-minded regions around the world to break away. Russian envoy storms out of Security Council on Kosovo AFP, by Gerard Aziakou Mon Mar 19, 2:08 PM ET Russia's UN envoy stormed out of a Security Council meeting on Kosovo here Monday and accused the UN special envoy for the Albanian-majority Serbian province of "preaching for independence." "His remarks have been extremely one-sided and unhelpful," Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told reporters, referring to the UN special representative for Kosovo Joachim Rucker, who is based in the province. "He was preaching for independence instead of discussing implementation of Resolution 1244 and this is very unhelpful," Churkin said. Security Council 1244, adopted in 1999, authorizes the United Nations to facilitate a political process to determine Kosovo's future status. Kosovo has been administered by the United Nations since 1999, when NATO bombing helped to drive out Serb forces carrying out a brutal crackdown on ethnic Albanians. The talks are meant to set out a future status for the Serbian province. Rucker briefed the 15-member council on the latest developments in Kosovo after Serbian and ethnic Albanian officials failed on March 10 to agree on future self-rule for the disputed Serbian province after more than 13 months of UN-sponsored talks. Churkin said the UN mediators "are jumping the gun and are beginning to advocate outright independence and this is not good." But Rucker said he had merely briefed the council on what he called "progress" on implementing UN-set democratic standards to build "a functional democracy and market economy" in Kosovo. And US acting ambassador Alejandro Wolff rushed to Rucker's defense saying he had given "very balanced, objective presentation. He described the situation on the ground, which is his mandate as the secretary general's special representative." UN chief mediator for Kosovo Martti Ahtisaari warned last week that "the potential of negotiations is exhausted." The former Finnish president said he would finalize his proposal and submit it to the Security Council, where Russia could use its right of veto, for its review and final say "in the course of the next month." His plan, unveiled last month, involves offering self-governance to Kosovo, whose ethnic-Albanian majority wants to break away from Serbia. Although it does not specifically mention independence, the plan is opposed in Serbia, and by its traditional ally Russia. Over the weekend Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said more effort was needed to find a compromise between Serbia and Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority over the provinc's future. And he suggested that if Ahtisaari "has exhausted his resources, we can surely find someone else to handle this issue." Churkin confirmed Monday that Moscow would like to see Ahtissari replaced. "This is what we are advocating," he said. "Ahtissari has been saying he thought he is at the end of the road. So the situation has to be considered. the main thing is not the personality, the main thing is to continue negotiations." He also made it clear that any outcome in the Kosovo status talks must be "acceptable to the Serbs and of course the Albanians". But the US envoy retorted: "We have tremendous confidence in Ahtissari. He's being doing outstanding work," adding that the current deadlock was not "Ahtissari's fault". Last week, Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica again accused Ahtissari of favouring the ethnic-Albanian side in the talks. "Ahtissari has gone over to one side, that of the Albanians, and has made biased proposals," Kostunica told the Tanjug agency. The Serbian leader called for fresh talks that would lead to a deal respecting international law and the Serbian constitution.
Serbs refuse Kosovo's independence, recall deadly riots GRACANICA, Serbia (AFP) - Kosovo Serbs said on Saturday they would not accept any division of the province from Serbia as they marked the third anniversary of rioting that killed 19 people and displaced thousands. Church bells rang throughout the mainly ethnic-Albanian province's Serb enclaves exactly at midday. "Today, when Kosovo's fate is being decided by the world powers, we will not agree to the partition of Kosovo from Serbia," Bishop Artemije, a leading Serb Orthodox leader in the province, said in a speech in Gracanica. "Whatever they decide and undertake we have to remain determined," he said. Candles were also lit at an Orthodox church in Gracanica, 8 kilometres southeast of the provincial capital Pristina, where several hundred people gathered to pay tribute to eight Serbs who were killed during the 2004 riots. The UN Security Council will be asked in the coming weeks to consider a plan put forward by UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari following the failure of year-long talks between Serbia and Kosovo Albanians. The plan, which Ahtisaari revised after a final round of talks that ended deadlocked last week, would grant Kosovo self-rule, its own flag and anthem and membership of international organisations. According to Albanian-language Kosovo media, the proposals sent to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon contain a previously unseen annex that recommends granting Kosovo independence with international monitoring. "Martti Ahtisaari is very clear in his main recommendation: monitored independence for Kosovo is the most realistic and best solution for Kosovo and the region," the daily Zeri quoted a western diplomat who has seen the text as saying. During the three days of violence in the UN-run province in March 2004, villages populated by Kosovo's minority Serbs came under attack by ethnic Albanian extremists. Along with the eight Serbs, 11 ethnic Albanians were killed. More than 900 were injured, including foreign police and peacekeepers. The NATO-led mission in Kosovo was sharply criticised for failing to stop the rampage, in which 4,000 people, mainly Serbs, were expelled from their homes. Dozens of Serb Orthodox churches, monasteries and other religious sites, some dating back centuries, were also destroyed or damaged. The southern Serbian province of Kosovo has been controlled by the UN and NATO since June 1999 following a NATO air war which forced troops loyal to late Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic to withdraw and end a crackdown against ethnic Albanians. In a statement to reporters at Pristina airport, before flying to New York to attend a UN meeting on Kosovo on Monday, president Fatmir Sejdiu said "it is very important for us to remember this (the March riots) as a bad event and story which will never be repeated." "President Ahtisaari proposed a monitored independence for Kosovo. It is very important for us that the fields in which the international monitoring will be concentrating have to do with security and rule of the law," he added.
US should support Serbia, not Kosovo Albanian radicals, expert Ariel Cohen has often been critical of Russia's President Putin's policies but in case of Kosovo, says Cohen, Russia is on the side of international law and that warrants us to listen. "It is interesting that Holbrooke blames Russia," for any violence Kosovo Albanians are threatening to initiate if their independence drive is thwarted but "while I do not support President Putin and frequently in my texts I have been critical of Russia, I must say that when Russia stands on the side of the international law and warns that support for separatism in Kosovo would have ramifications not only in Europe but across the world, I think we need to pay attention." In a recent Washington Post opinion piece, former US Ambassador Richard Holbrooke claimed that the forthcoming Kosovo Albanian violence if the world community does not grant them independence should be blamed on Russia because the Muslim Kosovo Albanian leadership believes that Russia should be blamed for their inability to become independent. In 2004, Holbrooke hosted a Kosovo Albanian fundraiser which raised over half a million dollars for John Kerry's Presidential campaign and Holbrooke promised there that, if elected, Kerry will pronounce Kosovo independent. That fundraiser was attended by a well-known Kosovo Albanian weapons smuggler. "We have to be very careful as to the degree and locations of our support for independence movements that can destroy not only sovereign states but also democracy," replies Cohen. "I think that US should be on the side of democracy and not radical and quasi criminal elements that have predetermined political objectives," advises Cohen. Kosovo province has been administered by the UN since 1999 and since then Muslim Albanians have expelled over 200,000 Christian Serbs, destroyed over 150 Churches, instigated a widespread pogrom and are now threatening wholesale violence in the province if UN fails to give them independence. There are over 16,000 NATO troops in the province whose mandate is to, ostensibly, keep peace. UNs decision on the status of Kosovo province is expected this year. Pristina: Wahhabis in Kosovo 19 March 2007 | 18:08 | Source: Tanjug, Belgrade PRISTINA -- Albanian media in Kosovo report today the Wahhabis have been active in the province since the early 1990's. The reports claim that the radical Islamic sect has 30 religious schools in Kosovo, adding that their activity presents the Albanian community's identity with "a serious challenge". The Wahhabis mainly work to religiously indoctrinate impoverished Albanians, Bosniaks, Egyptians and Ashkalis, according to the Pristina-based media. The sect, which refers to its members as "fighters of pure Islam", impose their "exclusive teachings" during funerals, circumcision rituals and other religious gatherings, offering their version of Koran as an alternative to natural or social theories. The reports point to Elvis Goga from Pec as "the chief mujahedin in Kosovo", adding that the expansion of Wahhabism in the province has been aided by the foreign NGOs that still operate under the umbrella of the joint Saudi committee for assistance to Kosovo and Chechnya. These organizations arrived in the province in the wake of the 1999 war and stayed on in the field, obeying the Saudi government's position to "remain as long as they're needed." Wahhabis open internet cafes associated with their mosques, "in a bid to attract children to listen to 'naslihates' against Skenderbeg and the Albanian national renewal movement, the Western civilization and even Kosovo's traditional brand of Islam," the media report. The newspapers in Pristina also say that "Kosovo and international mujahedins may be preparing for a rebellion on the brink of the status solution," adding that the characteristic Wahhabi personalities would "attract the international reporters to Kosovo in an instant."
Serbian police crack down on alleged Muslim terrorist group, arrest 4 Associated Press: Saturday, March 17, 2007 12:10 PM BELGRADE, Serbia-Serbian police said Saturday they discovered the training camp of an alleged Muslim terrorist group in a tense southern region, and arrested four Serbian Muslims. In a statement, the police said they found several tents and a cave that allegedly served as a training ground for the Wahhabis, an austere brand of Sunni Islam promoted by extremists, including Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaida fighters. The camp was located on a mountain near Novi Pazar, in the center of the predominantly Muslim region of Sandzak along the border with Bosnia and Montenegro, police added. In a dayslong operation, the police found large quantities of plastic explosives, ammunition, face masks, military uniforms, bombs, food, water and other equipment, the police statement said. Also found were "propaganda terrorist material, military survival instructions, geographic charts and several CDs," the police added. Four people were arrested, all from Novi Pazar, while one person managed to escape, the statement said. The police statement did not specify whether the alleged terrorist group was planning any attacks in Serbia or elsewhere, or whether it had ties to other Islamic terrorist groups. Western intelligence reports leaked recently have suggested that Sandzak, as well as Muslim-dominated regions in neighboring Bosnia, could be an ideal recruitment spot for the so-called "white al-Qaida", Muslims with Western features who could easily blend into European or U.S. cities and execute terrorist attacks. Several incidents have been reported in Sandzak within the Muslim community, with the Wahhabis accusing local Muslim clerics of failing to practice "true" Islam, and disrupting prayers at local mosques. No terrorist attacks have been reported. Belgrade Media Update (Short news, 19 March 2007) Ivanov: New UN negotiator for Kosovo needs to be appointed (Politika) Kaidanow: Kosovo obstacle on Serbia’s road to EU (Tanjug) EU and US officials in Washington to discuss Kosovo (RTS/Tanjug) Ambassador Alexeyev’s interview (Vecernje Novosti) “According to Russia’s assessment, Ahtisaari’s plan is based on the creation of an independent state of Kosovo, and this is contrary to both international law and UNSCR 1244 and Belgrade’s position that is clear and precise: unacceptable is any endangering of Serbia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. This can mean only one thing: that the international community, objectively, is already facing a situation where Ahtisaari’s ‘status proposals’ are already opposed to the UN Charter!” Does this mean that Churkin will stop the procedure? “Regarding Ahtisaari’s ‘package’ the UN will have to resolve an important preliminary question: can the SC take into consideration what is contrary to the UN Charter? Russia thinks it cannot.” What Moscow specifically insists on when requesting continuation of objective consultation? “For commencing true Belgrade-Pristina negotiations on those principles, without the cheering of the ‘international factor.” Without pressure, threats and blackmail. The positions of the negotiating sides in Vienna have not drawn closer, and much time was wasted. This is the result of the bulldozer-diplomacy, where the negotiations were only a mask for imposing previously made solutions only to the Serbian side.” What arguments will Russia use in opposing Ahtisaari’s plan to enter the SC? “Nothing that is of principle importance for the status of Kosovo and the relations between Belgrade and Pristina had been harmonized so far. Still, someone wants to transfer the entire unresolved problem to the UNSC. This means: not to only offer it a solution but the problem itself! That is a very dangerous and counter-productive intention.” If the big Contact Group countries insist on at least initially examining the problem itself in the SC and passing a new Kosovo resolution, how will Russia position itself? “Ahtisaari’s proposal can give, in the best case, an impulse to commencing the work on a new resolution. Russia doesn’t have reason not to take part in the work on its project. Actively and constructively. From its positions, insisting on the new resolution to be based on the norms of international law, principles of European security and key regulations of UNSCR 1244.” Kosovo: Hot spring, cool summer boiling Kosovo & Metohija has already been under United Nations control –At least nominally- and the whole experience can be considered as a total failure, so as to state mildly. The organized crime syndicates roam freely in and out the Province, whilst their power and resources have greatly expanded, based in narcotics and human trafficking. It is not overstating to name Kosovo as the “European Medellin”; a place where anomy for the heads of the “Mafia” has become the norm. The ex-security head of OSCE in Kosovo-Thomas Gambil- revealed on late 2005 that the area is filled with organized crime figures and there is a clear lack of power by the UN side to deal with these destabilizing forces that are a Pan-Balkan problem and not just a local one. He also added “Incidents of sexual violence, torture, arson, murder, kidnapping, and verbal threats were allegedly widespread as part of an organized and successful campaign conducted "right under the U.N.'s nose" (2). Further, it is essential to note the numerous threats and arsons made by Albanians towards UN and other international personnel during the past few years, despite the fact that the international community was the decisive factor of their newly born empowerment and a source of massive economic assistance. With the Kosovo status negotiations reaching their climax, the pressure towards UN reaches a dramatic level (3) and one wonders what will be the case for the security of the personnel involved in this international mission. The KLA is still operational, albeit in a different mode and for a different reason. After the 1999 war, some of its armaments were handed into UN custody, most of it to be found in warehouses across the Province. Needless to say that these weapons can be relatively easily retrieved by KLA members in a matter of days, if not hours. There were approximately 25,000 KLA members active in mid-1999 and 5,000 of those joined the Kosovo Protection Corps (4) that are forming the official paramilitary forces of the Albanians. Moreover they serve as the nucleus in case KLA needs to re-establish itself. The Kosovo Liberation Army was able to muster a considerable force in 1999 by alerting the whole of the male-Kosovo populous, aged from 18 to 50 years. The denial of service was often punished with summary executions, or house arsons and blackmails. It is interesting that KLA ordered all males to join its forces and that include those leaving abroad –USA, Germany, Belgium-. As a result quite of few resettled in Kosovo and having dual citizenship they are able to greatly assist the local Albanian guerilla forces in issue regarding “International logistics support”. KLA had also its Jihad twist by the voluntary assistance of war-hardened Mujahedin that formed the guerilla unit in Drenica. There are reports from the United Nations (5) that present a worrying situation regarding the international Jihad mercenaries and the assistance for the Albanian guerilla warfare. Furthermore a reputable source from Canada (6) further attests to the short-sighted Western policy and the interrelation between KLA and international terrorism. Actually there are thousands of Open Source Intelligence information from American, French, German and Russian sources that fully confirm the link and depict a dramatic situation; as well as a danger to the European security. A real threat that may prove this spring to be a “Hot” one is the culminations between KLA-UCK and the Albanians in FYR Macedonia. More specifically there are various sources that indicate unofficially of a split between moderates and hardliners in Tetovo. The latter are eager to take direct action like the one in 2001 by the UCPMB organization, in case Kosovo is not declared independent. It is fair to assume that the internal Albanian political quagmires will have their ramification on the wider regional stability. KLA-UCK, itself was portrayed as a Leninist - Maoist organization that had a concrete left –wing ideology. That is actually half-truth, since the original nucleus of KLA was LPK a semi-Maoist and semi-nationalistic entity that was financed and supported by Hoxha’s Communist regime in Albania (7) – since the early 80’s. In essence the demographic upturn from the early 50’s and on in favor of the Albanians in Kosovo; provided the stimulus for the involvement of Albania in order to secure in the future a “Great Albania”. After the collapse of Communism Albania was not in the position to assist KLA, that gradually became a mafia-like organization spreading its wings across the Albanian Diaspora in Europe (8). Further, the Yugoslav wars in the 90s provided ample chances for KLA to profit through contraband activities and strengthen its ties with the wider Islamic movement. By the time USA gave its support to KLA in the late 1998 (9) the latter had become a hybrid guerilla force that combined nationalism, narcotics trade and attachments between Maoist and Islamists in one of the most peculiar paramilitary forces ever formed. The only logical conclusion is that KLA members were interested in securing the vision of “Great Albania” by all means possible and the ideological masques were used on and off in order to secure assistance in their aims. The only influence that could prove of decisive nature is the one of Islamic extremism, because it relates to the drugs trade from Asia (10). Kosovo Albanians then face a self-damaging trade off: should the Albanian heads want to diminish Islamic influence in Kosovo in order to please the West, they are running the risk of loosing their drug suppliers in the Islamic East and damaging severely their main source of income, apart from the various retaliation moves by the Islamists that might prove to be destructive for the fragile Kosovo societal scene. The role of the other states Already, US and UK are seen as states that will recognize an independent Kosovo, even though the former has raised doubt through public comments by statesmen like John R. Bolton (11). Furthermore over the past few years a very dynamic Serbian-American Lobby has emerged in USA that has gained wider acceptance and campaigns against Kosovo independence. This energetic Serbian Diaspora presence is supported by various political actors within America that view the interests of the country on a long term geostrategic level and are not willing to associate themselves with suspicions of cajoling terrorists and organized crime figures. France being another member of the Security Council, has kept a very low profile and it is estimated it will follow the US-UK suit, gaining in exchange “sphere of influence” in the new Balkan scenery. The last of the “Big Five”, China is not really interested in meddling with the Balkan affairs. The days where Milosevic Administration was eager in approaching Beijing are long gone, even though it is not improbable of assuming a Russian-Chinese alliance when the resolution will be brought to the limelight. Germany now, seems to be lukewarm of Kosovo independence, since it is really interested in expanding its industrial and commercial presence in the Balkans and it views Belgrade as a more suitable partner than the “Albanian factor”. Berlin uses its influence in order to seek a compromise thus safeguarding its interests on both sides. Russia has already stated that it will not recognize the independence of Kosovo (12) and it will veto such a resolution in the Security Council. As it is well understood, such stance from Moscow enchases its role as the patron of Serbia and creates a rift in the Balkans not seen since the years of the Cold War. Moreover Russia has expressed its interest around North Ossetia and Abkhazia Provinces in Georgia that also claims for independence and in this case their goal is supported by Russia. Moscow then aims to win either way. Should Kosovo become independent Russia gains a precedent for its claims in Georgia. On the other hand it would always be able to exert its influence in Belgrade and possibly seek a more energetic role in South Eastern Europe. On this latter aspect, it is interesting to note that Putin’s foreign policy has managed to expand considerably Moscow’s reach in the Balkan Peninsula. The recent signing of the Burgas-Alexandroupoli pipeline, with a 51% Russian majority (13), the considerable control on Bulgarian and Serbian energy industries makes Russia a very important partner in the Balkan security spectrum. As long as the Anglosaxon influence capitalizes towards the Albanian side, Moscow will react by supporting Belgrade and in today’s environment far more efficiently than Yeltsin’s Administration. The aim of Clinton’s Administration of curbing Russian influence back in 1999, was short-sighted. USA is now risking its long-standing interests that lay with established geopolitical entities-Like Serbia- in order to secure a pact with Albanians that don’t have state consciousness on a macro-historical level and might prove to be unstable in the near future; besides their connections with international terrorist movements that makes the situation far more dramatic. The current available information and analyses point out to a Russian Veto after all and to a compromise being sought in the UN chambers that will not fully recognize independence to Kosovo-at least typically. Other countries such as, Spain, Rumania, Slovakia, Greece, Indonesia, and other are opposed to Kosovo independence either for reasons relating to existence of minorities in their soil or for geopolitical balance considerations. Israel seems as well to oppose independence of Kosovo, especially after a visit of a Serbian delegation there last autumn. The main reason would be, probably, attributed to the fears of Wahhabi expansion in Kosovo that has proved to be in numerous cases as a hideout for suspected terrorists and interrelated organized crime figures. In addition, the creation of an independent Kosovo that will be dependent on years to come on four sources of income: EU capital, organized crime proceedings (14), Albanian Diaspora donations and Islamic funds, is a frightening prospect for European states that re-discover the Balkans as the power-keg of the Continent. Of course Kosovo has considerable mineral wealth (15), especially abundant reservoirs of lignite that could be exported across Europe. The only problem in this investment would be the multiple of actors nowadays influencing the Province, thus exerting all shorts of pressure that may lead to political instability, rather than an investor’s paradise. Moreover, due to its geographical placement, Kosovo is bound to conduct commercial business with Serbia in most respects, and any independence resolution will severely hinder its ability to progress economically for the long-term. Lastly the coal rich area of Trepca and industrial conglomerate is fought between various British, Greek, French and American interests that will eventually leave little space to any independent Kosovo government to share a part of the mineral wealth involved (16). Prospects The situation in Kosovo is one that could be best described as a political and diplomatic nightmare in the midst of a regional storm. The aspirations of the Albanian irredentism, USA & Russian global policies and the Serbian determination not to suffer a dramatic loss of national territory, all add to an explosive mixture of unknown proportions. If the Albanians feel not satisfied by a wider-autonomy regime in Kosovo there is the potential of a KLA re-establishment and a consequent NATO reaction that will create the framework of a war between international community and Kosovo-Albanians. Already NATO deploys more troops in the area (17), in order to secure positions in a future conflict. Moreover according to an important briefing (18) Serbian SOF’s have taken precautionary action by gathering forces in Northern Kosovo in order to protect Serbs residing there of hostile Albanian action. An Albanian move on FYROM in order to pressure the international community on independence demands (19) is still a possibility, and that is the reason behind the decision of the FYR Macedonia Government to back “Kosovo blueprint” that paves the way to independence (20). Of course a “Bon gesture” by FYROM is of little use if independence is not declared after all and the Albanian factor plays the destabilization card in order to secure more concessions. On overall, all Balkan states, bar Rumania could be drawn into a series of regional conflicts within the coming weeks, should the Albanians form a strategy of tension in all regions where there is an Albanian minority and most importantly try energizing the KLA reserves. That is exactly the scenario of the “Hot Spring” like it was the case in FYR Macedonia in 2001, only in a much wider geographical terrain this year and with opponents not clearly defined right now. The option of the “Cool summer” development is the one that predicts a pressure by USA towards the Albanian side not to overplay itself –With the use of the usual stick and carrot policy- that means the safeguarding of a wide autonomy, but not formal independence. In that case conflicts might simmer but will not be dramatic; no more at least than those of the previous years. Lastly one could state the “Explosive autumn” scenario, on which the international community fix on to disband all narcotics and terrorist related networks in the area, a move surely provocative for the short-term, albeit beneficial for the global stability on the long-term. The only certainty nowadays is uncertainty and that includes climate. “Hot spring”, “cool summer” and “Explosive autumn” surely seem to resemble the wider climate changes on the planet that have become unpredictable and contain many surprises for the currently standing realities and perceptions. References: (1) An article on the US Congressional Task Force on Terrorism and Unconventional Warfare report on the White devils (2) Statements made by the Ex-Security Head of OSCE in Kosovo-2005- (3) Article on KLA attack to UN in Kosovo (4) Kosovo Protection Corps (5) United Nations Human Rights Council report (6) Global Research Paper on Jihad in the Balkans and Kosovo connection (7) Paper on the history of KLA (8) Apocalyptic report on KLA (9) Article by the AIM Organization on the felicities concerning KLA (10) Serbianna.com Briefing on the organized crime connection between Kosovo heads of crime and their Muslim counterparts (11) Bolton's remarks on Kosovo status (12) Information on the Russian stance on Kosovo (13) News on the Burgas-Alexandroupoli pipeline agreement (14) A report on Antiwar.com on financing Kosovo organizations (15) A presentation of Kosovo mineral wealth by the European Union (16) Three, | 1 | 2 | 3 | interesting reports from USA and Chinese source on the Trepca mineral wealth dispute (17) Information by Serbianna.com on NATO troops deployment (18) Security briefing by balkanalysis.com on Serbian Special Operations Forces movements in Kosovo (19) An article of Axis Globe edition on relations between Kosovo-Albanians and FYROM (20) Macedonia backs Kosovo blueprint, defying Serbia
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Russia's UN envoy on Monday angrily criticized the UN special envoy for Kosovo for "preaching for independence" of the Albanian-majority Serbian province during Security Council consultations on the issue.
PRISTINA – Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Kosovo (SRSG) Joachim Rücker, in a closed session of the UN Security Council today, provided an update on progress in Kosovo. President Fatmir Sejdiu accompanied the SRSG in the Security Council.