Borba, Jan 15, 2005, page 27
January, 2005. No 1
domestic
wez4Azy BORBA i:
Kosovo as Conflict Risk Alert
BRUSSELS - ACCORDING TO THE INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP (ICG) ANALYSTS, KOSOVO AND METOHIJA IS A CONFLICT RISK ALERT, OR SITUATION AT PARTICULAR RISK OF FURTHER CONELICT IN THE COMING MONTH, BEFORE THE OPENING OF A DIALOGUE ON A FINAL STATUS OF SERBIA'S SOUTHERN "PROVINCE, WHICH IS EXPECTED IN MID-2005.
Black hole of Europe
In its regular monthly bulletin, the ICG identified Kosovo for the first timece since 1999 as onc of the world's dangerous Zzones. It is estimated that an indictment against KOSOVO'S Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, once of the Icaders of the former Liberation Army of Kosovo, by the Hague Tribunal could inspire Kosovo Albanians to attack Scrbs, the same way they did last March.
Belgrade - Italian reporters Umberto Tomasi and
Mariela Cataldo have published a book on Kosovo as the Black Hole of Europe, in which they condemn the unjust satanization of Serbs and the secret battle to seize „the biggest coal reserves in Europe“ which are located in Kosovo.
According to these war correspondents, who toured Kosovo and spoke with the local population, Serbs were deliberately satanized by certain news agencies in order to set the stage for the secret battle for seizing the biggest coal reserves in Europe, that are located in that province.
The authors of the book claim that Kosovo is in fact a drug-state, managed by the mafia and with the blessing of the international community. „They already have their own automobile license plates, but when they cross the border, also illegally, they quickly put up Serbian plates,“ the authors said.
Human rights in Kosovo and Metohija and the clection of judges from Serbia and Montenegro (SCG) for the European Court of Human Hights will be on thc
agenda of the winter scssion of the Council of Europc (CoE) Parliamentary Assembly (PA) in Strasbourg froni Jan 24-28.
"The report by the Council
Patriarch Pavle serves liturgy in
Pec - Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) leader Patriarch Vavle served holy liturgy on Ja-
nuary 7th morning, at the Pec Patriarchate, which was also
attended by Serbian Primc Minister Vojislav Kostunica.
In the service, thc Patriarch stressed that all of us nced peace.
In thc traditional Christmas message, Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) Patriarch Pavle, joined by the SPC bishops, has called on the most responsil-
le individuals in the country, „all those who influence thc preservation of values and thc creating, of the laws on which the state rests,“ to demonstra-
Reconstruction of destroyed Serbian temples
Kosovska Mitrovica - UNMIK chief Soren Jessen-Petersen said on January 7th, in a talk with Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) Patriarch Pavle at the Pec Patriarchate, that there is gencral good will in favor of thc reconstruction of the Serbian religious buildings that were damaged during thc violence in Kosovo and Mc-
tohija province in March last ycar.
Jessen-Petersen agrced with Patriarch Pavle that SPC representatives should be part of the process of the renewal of the churches and monasterics in Kosovo-Metohija, undcrscoring, that they must have absolutely the main role in this work.
Jessen-Petersen said he had met with representatives of UNESCO, the Council of Europe and the international community, and that they bad agreed there is joint good will to begin thc reconstruction of the religious builcdlings in Kosovo that were damaged in March last ycar.
In thc talks, Patriarch Pavle underscored that these
religious buildings have a double meaning - religious and also cultural-historic, which is invaluable. Hc appealed to the head of the local United Nations administration UNMIK to work on finding a peaceful solution
- and on the protection of the
Serb population and their religious buildings in the province.
committec for legal issucs and human rights on the state of human rights in Kosovo-Metohija suggests thc sctting up of an independent court for human rights
which would enable the Kosovo-Metohija population to receive legal assistance at the level of the Strasbourgbased European Court of Human Rights.
ec Patriarchate
te love and wisdom.
"The message also points out the tragedy of the Scrb people in Kosovo and Metohija, the destroyed houses,
the torehed homes, the razed temples, „the land for which wec paid with our blood“ and where Serb people now do not have the right to live.
Greece sends C
Belgrade - A Greek plane carrying presents for 2,000 children from refugee familics and houses for neglected and handicapped children all over Serbia, as well as those from Kosovo-Metohija
Serb cnclaves, landed in Belgrade. The private plane full of toys and sweets for the celcbration of the Orthodox New Year Eve at the Belgrade Kings Palace arrived in
Crucial year
Belgrade - Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said on January 10th that the year 2005 will bc crucial for the Serbian people and state, particularly for the future of Kosovo and Metohija.
„Our fellow countrymen liying in our southern province are exposed to violence and pogrom, their sacred buildings and homes are being burnt down, and they are deprived of human rights and freedoms,“* said Kostunica at the Christmas and New Ycar'"s charity reception for Kosovo and Metohija. Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija are dramatically endangered and the budget should be reviewed carefully in order to see if there are ways of recomposing, the funds allocated in rather small amounts for Kosovo-Metohija, Serbian Presideni Boris Tadic said on January 10th. |
#
ICG's report unrealistic
London - Coordinating Center for Kosovo and Metohija President Nebojsa Covic assessed the report by the International Crisis Group on Kosovo as unrcalistic, full of misconceptions and as a direct flerting with extremists groupings.
In his statement with BBC, Covic said that the order of reasons had been switched in the report. „The first and basic reason for Kosovo and Metohija being a risk region, thc region in which an outbreak of new conflicts is possible, is the incapacity of the international factors to face thc rcality in Kosovo-Metohija, terrorism, organized crime and all other forms of violence that reached their climax on March 17,“ said Covic.
He said that not even that experience was enough to take adequate steps, but a life of delusions continued, as if not a single incident has happened since March 17, and not a single cause of what happened last March had not been removed.
Crisis possible
Prague - International crisis group for Kosovo chief Alex Anderson has said a widcr political crisis in KOSOVO is possible in the event that an indictment is raised against KOSOvo Premicr Ramush Haradinaj.
Speaking for Radio Free Europe, Anderson said International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) #' ıef prosecutor Carla del Ponte last ycar said the: – ,...ı De neW indictments for war crimes committed by members of the
Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK).
Anderson said thc possible raising of such an indictment could causc an even greater crisis in Haradinaj's birthplace, as former UCK fighters would react, but also young people who did not take part in the war.
ristmas presents
the company of Prince Aleksandar Karadjordjevic and Princess Katarina.
"TThc gifts from Grece will be distributed among the children at a traditional reception ceremony, to be
Montenegrin government will not give up referendum
PODGORICA - MONTENEGRIN PRIME MINISTER MiLO DJUKANOVIC SAID ON TUESDAY THAT HIS GOVERNMENT WILL NOT GIVE UP A REFERENDUM ON INDEPENDENCE, BUT THAT IT IS UP TO THE CITIZENS OF MONTENEGRO TO PROVIDE THE CONCRETE DECISION. „1 belicvc that citizens will have an opportunity to state their opinion on Montcncgro's independence by thc end of February 2006, at the latest. Everything is in thcir hands. Milo Djukanovic and the government can believe in independence even more,
but they cannot bring independence to thc state, only the citizens can do so,“ Djukanovic said in an interview to Radio Montenegro.
Montenegrin Minister for International Economic Relations and European Integrations. Gordana Djurovic said in January that Montencgro has officially applied to the World "Trade Organization (WTO) to be admitted to that organization independently. Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic said that „there can be no word of Montenegro being in a
debtor crisis*.
„Everything we havc projected for the ncar future shows that Montenegro will manage to service its foreign debt without major problems, as it becomes duc in the coming. ycars, as it has been done last year as well,“ Djukanovic told Radio Montenegro. Montenegro has a debt of 492 million cćuros, which makes up 33 percent of its gross domestic product, hc said, so that neither the home nor the forcign debts arc a threat to the national economy. held on January + and 5.
In cooperation with the Centre for Neglected Children, Prince Aleksandar and Princess Katarina will also bring joy to Kosovo Serb children.
Water supply system
Zvecan - Serbian Minister for Capital Investments Velimir Ilic said on January Sth on thc regional television in Zvecan that a project would soon be realised for building, a water supply systeni for northern Kosovo and Metohija.
"The project will be financed by an Isracli firm, and in the realisation will be included also the Serbian government, Ilic said.
In his assessment, the capacity of the waterworks will be 50 pct greater than the current needs of consumers in the north of the Province.
"The water supply of the population of northern Kosovo and Metohija will in this way be solved for thc next 100 years, Ilic said.
Soldier kills
guards
commander in Podgorica
Podgorica - Serbia-Montenegro Army first sergeant Jadranko Kandic dicd from the wounds hc received when soldier Sadudin Adrovic of the Moraca military barracks in Podgorica shot at him carly on January 11th; the Podgorica Corps said in a statement.
Soldier Adrovic shot at Kandic, who was guards commander at thc barracks, from an automatic rifle, from a
five-meter distance, while Kandic was visiting guards” positions. Reasons for Adrovic"s action are still unknown.
Kandic was wounded in the stomach and rushed to the Podgorica Clinical Centre. He underwent a surgery, but died despite the doctors” efforts.
Last ycar six soldiers have died in Serbia and Montenegro so far in different accidents.