Belgrade Media Update, Feb 23

UNMIK Media Monitoring Report

NATO to remain in Kosovo (RTS)

NATO remains committed to the stability of the Balkans and sees the future of this region in the firm link with the Euro-Atlantic community, it was underlined in the joint statement of leaders of Alliance member states at the summit in Brussels. As underlined, “NATO will remain in Kosovo and contribute to the realization of political processes under UN auspices, which must lead to the creation of a multiethnic, peaceful and prosperous society.” It turned out that Belgrade and EU’s stands in advocating full respect of UNSCR 1244 are identical, as well as the fulfillment of all standards prior to the commencement of talks on the province’s status. The standards encompass first of all the right of IDPs to return, rule of law, respect of human and minority rights, a constructive dialogue with Belgrade, introduction of a market economy and reorganization.

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Sřren Jessen-Petersen’s proposal not accepted in Brussels (RTS)

According to sources in Brussels, UNMIK Head Sřren Jessen-Petersen has proposed at the summit that the conclusions also included the stand that a solution for Kosovo could not be in the division of the province – which was not accepted. Javier Solana has stated that, without Belgrade, it is almost impossible to achieve some of the set standards, and invited “friends from Belgrade” to engage in the processes in Kosovo.

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EU, US and UN work together in Kosovo (B92/Srna/Beta)

Representatives in Brussels say that the US administration has given the EU the go-ahead to take care of all questions and problems related to the Balkan region, with the exception of Kosovo, which will be a joint effort between Brussels, Washington and the UN, according to B92’s Brussels correspondent Dusan Gajic. “Without the implementation of standards, there will be no discussions of Kosovo’s status, and Belgrade’s participation is key to the region’s integration into the EU and the carrying out of standards in Kosovo,” EU High representative Javier Solana said. His spokesperson Christina Gallach has said that this summit in Brussels presents a chance for US President Bush to give clear support to the leading role of the EU in all situations related to the Balkans. “The only exception is Kosovo, where we will continue to work together because that process was begun within the framework of the UN,” Gallach said. “During the meeting with the American president it was made clear that NATO’s presence in Kosovo will be there in the interest of stability in the Balkan region.” said NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. “KFOR will guarantee that the process in Kosovo develops in a peaceful manner,” he added. Kosovo Serb official Oliver Ivanovic said that the fact that the EU will be in charge of regional issues is a sign that the US has retreated from involvement in European policies. Some Kosovo Serb representatives feel that the EU is trying to separate Kosovo from Serbia and have called upon Belgrade to make it abundantly clear to the international community that standards have not yet been implemented in Kosovo. President of the Council of Serbian Municipalities, Marko Jaksic, said that national officials, especially Foreign Minister Vuk Draskovic, have not done enough to make sure that Kosovo remains a part of Serbia. He said that the only solution is for Belgrade, together with the Kosovo Serb community, to ask the international community for help in solving the problems of Serbs in Kosovo, not just the issues of the Albanian community. Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Miroljub Labus said that the government is paying close attention to decisions made by the EU, because Belgrade wishes to be an active partner in deciding the future of Kosovo.

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EU summit with Bush (RTS)

The EU special summit, in honor of US President George Bush, who is the first US President to visit the EU, has ended. Among the ten speakers who have presented EU’s foreign political priorities on behalf of all 25 EU member countries, Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Shiesel was “in charge” of the Balkans. Shiesel mostly reiterated what had been concluded by the EU foreign ministers the day before – that the EU is resolute in playing an active role in the processes in Kosovo, but that everything must be implemented in accordance with UNSCR 1244 and under UN auspices.

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Covic on EU summit (RTS)

The EU has put aside the story on independence of Kosovo, assessed Nebojsa Covic. Following the meeting of the EU foreign ministers on Kosovo, he underlined that the Union realized that any change of borders in the Balkans would destabilize the region and open a line of other questions. Covic emphasized that Belgrade has to take the initiative when the southern province is at issue, and demand urgent activation of working groups for missing persons, energy, returns, and traffic.

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Tadic: China supports UNSCR 1244 (RTS)

Serbian President Boris Tadic has stated in Beijing that Chinese officials fully support UNSCR 1244 on Kosovo and territorial integrity of the SCG. Beijing supports the position of Belgrade that Kosovo is an integral part of the SCG, and that the denial of Serbia’s legitimate state and national interests in the province is impermissible, Tadic underlined after his talks with Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinhong. The consistence of the Chinese policy in the UNSC regarding the resolving of the Kosovo issue has been confirmed in the talks.

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Samardzic: Belgrade will not accept independence of Kosovo (RTS/Tanjug)

There is no independence of Kosovo without Belgrade’s consent, and Belgrade will not accept that, despite an aggressive propaganda, premeditatedly spread in the country and abroad, that this is the only solution, stated Slobodan Samardzic, Advisor to the Serbian prime minister. On the eve of his departure for the UNSC session, he underlined that it is the issue of political illusions spread by advocates of secession, which is, as he underlined, utterly detrimental to state and national interests. Kosovo is part of Serbia and the SCG and our state policy is the preservation of the province and salvation of the Serb people, who are deprived there of everything, including the right to life, Samardzic emphasized. “There is no independent Kosovo, while one should arrive to a solution “step by step” by achieving UNSCR 1244,” he said, reiterating that a “contribution to that solution is the Serbian Government plan on the decentralization of the province.”

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Kosovo government adopts draft law on decentralization of Kosovo (RTS)

The Kosovo government has passed the plan for the decentralization of power in the province, according to which Serbs will be able to form new municipalities in Gracanica, Partes, Junik, Djeneral Jankovic and Mamusa. Kosovo Premier Ramush Haradinaj has stated that the plan is not aimed at cantonization, but rather at transforming parallel structures and providing regular functioning of authorities.

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Covic and Heindle discuss political situation in Kosovo (RTS)

The Head of the CCK Nebojsa Covic has emphasized in talks with the Special Envoy of the German Ministry for Southeastern Europe and Turkey Johannes Heindle that one of the priorities of that body is to step up cooperation among Belgrade and international community’s institutions and representatives in Kosovo. CCK’s statement reads that Covic and Heindle exchanged views of the current political situation in Kosovo, especially the international community’s relation towards this situation.

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Nikolic: Belgrade should have united stand (RTS/Beta)

SRS Deputy President Tomislav Nikolic has stated that he expects the adoption of a united stand on Kosovo in the Serbian Parliament following the “indicative stands” of the EU ministers. Nikolic called the conclusions of the EU foreign ministers “indicative” and “to the detriment of Serbia” because he expects now everybody to “finally embark upon the work on the memorandum on Kosovo.” “We should not wait for negotiations that should commence within three-four months, without at least one, or better, two great powers that would support our stand, which we would adopt in Parliament,” said Nikolic.