Борба, 18. 02. 2005., стр. 12
February, 2005. No6
domestic
President s Visit
Continued from Page 1
President Tadic, who on Sunday visited Strpce 12,000-strong Serb cnclave in Kosovo and Metohija, said he is proud of
Washington. - Serbian President Boris Tadic's decision to visit Kosovo-Metohija is a smart political move, especially in view of the fact that talks on the province”s future status would start in a few months, Director for Eastern European Studies of the Washington-based Woodrow Wilson Centre Martin Slezinger told Tanjug on Monday. This is very important because Serbia does all in its power to prove that Kosovo is still its part, not only under UN Security Council Resolution 1244, but also de facto. Slezinger said and added that his visit was a good move for that reason.
He believes that Tadic's determination not to accept any solution that would mean Kosovo' independence, which he reiterated several times during his visit to the province, is justified in view of the context of his visit
to Kosovo.
He had to go there and demonstrate his credibility as the Serbian leader and to express the strong stand that
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them, because their survial demonstrates the courage and will to remain on land inhabited by thcir anCeStOrS. "The international public should show solidarity
with the minority nation in Kosovo and Metohija which is entitled to thc samece rights enjoyed by thc majority nation, Tadic sct out adding that the intcrnational public should
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Kosovo would remain a part of Serbia, while promising that any agreement on some new status of Kosovo would be achieved with the participation of Serbia as an integral part of these talks, Slezinger said.
US expert for the Balkans Daniel Server has said that it is good that Serbian President Boris Tadic has visited Kosovo-Metohija, but that it is a pity that he did not meet with any of the local Albanian officials.
He said that he could see no reason why Tadic would not visit Serbs in the province, but that he believed that it was a pity that he had not met with Kosovo President Ibrahim Rugova, Server, who is the director of the Peace and Stability Operations at the American Peace Institute in Washington, told Tanjug. Server, however, does not ex-
pect that Tadic's visit would result in
any dramatic about-turns in the overall situation in Kosovo, although he said he believed that it sent a certain signal.
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Annan: Serbs
United Narions - Serbs live in fear in KOSsOvoO, which is even more ethnically divided, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan said on Tuesday, in a report issued for the UN Security Council, which dcals with thc situation in Kosovo ever since last November till January 2005.
Although the number of serious crimes against Kosovo Serbs has been reduced cver since last March, when thousands of them
The majority in the Parliament will not support SRS and SPS discontinuation of the *prosecution” of Slobodan Milosevic's family.
Former Yugoslav ambassador in Russia and the brother of Slobodan Milosevic, Borislav gavc a statcment for Tanjug correspondent in Moscow, that he is awarc of Radical party initiative concerning the menbers of Milosevic family, but hc did not want to spcak about possible return of his daughter — in -—law to Scrbia. “I know as much as you do from the press that Radical party is suggesting some kind of document, to bec possibly soon voted for in the parliament”, said Borislav Miloscvic for Tanjug.
As for himself personally, Miloscvic stated that upon reassignment from thc duty in Belgrade hc retired and
that hc is in Russia in privatc capaćity.
*Like many other citizens of Serbia and Montenegro” hc emphasized, adding that
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About status wi
th Belgrade
Belgrade - The British government”s positiom is clear - Belgrade has to be included in the process of defining a final status of Kosovo, Head of the British Office in Kosovo Mark Dickinson has
said.
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werc expelled from thcir homes during ecthnically motivated riots, Annan said that isolated incidents continued to stoke Scrbs” fears.
Convoys for the transport of minorities are being Ssto-
he does work in Moscow occasionally as a consultant for some Russian companiGB; ned, graffiti with mcssagcs of hatred are being written on public institutions, empty houses belonging to Serbs are being looted and there is little respect for the minorities” right to language, Annan said.
basis of revocation from the duty decree, which was signed by current president of SRY Vojislav Kostunica”.
show it is capable of resolving problems, as should thc. international institutions in the province.
"Tadic pointed out that in talks in Pristina he dcmanded additional sccurity mcasures for the Serbs and all non-Albanians,. as well as additional protection mceasures for the cthnic Albanians living in the Bujanovic, Presevo and Medvedja municipalitićs. During: a visit to thc “Branko Radicevic” school in Cernica, close to Gnjilanc, Tadic said that this village is one of the symbols of Serb suffering.
“My visit hcrc testifics that the living standards in Kosovo and Metohija have not been fulfilled and all who come to Cernice arc awarc of this,” Tadic said adding that the local schoolyard is the sole area of free life in Cernica and that it is good it cxists at all,
President Tadic said in Visoki Decani Monastery on Monday that thc state-
Ive ın
Kosovo Serbs arc thosc
who feel in jeopardy in par-.
ticular, the UN secretary gcncral stressed, adding that thcir refusal to leave their community or to communicate with members of thc majority community (Or Yicc versa), had made the cvident ethnical division even deeper.
"The (Kosovo) govern? ment has not done enough in punishing, all ethically motivated crimes, Annan said in the report.
his diplomatic passport on the 24th of December of the same ycar through an authorized person.
"The SCG Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Borislav _ Milosevic was “transferred from Moscow embassy to SMIP on January the 15th 2005, on thc
Milosevic resigned from Forcipgn Ministry on 27th of March 2001.
National agency at thc Ministry of Forcign Affairs confirmed that he gave back
Majority of the parties in thc Parliament arc against the resolution on discontinuation of thc “PDrOsecution” of Slobodan Milosevic family which is scheduled
hood of Serbia is a long
one and that it was never founded on the jeopardizing of other nations. “Qur statehood is a long once and it never thrcatcned others. As the Serbian president, I come to Kosovo and Metohija bringing, this message to all nonSerbs, to ethnic Albanians and the international community, and also in answer to those who describe my visit as a provocation and a hostile act,” Tadic said. Expressing gratitude to thc priests of the monastery and fellow nationals who remain in thcir lands, in spite of everything, President Tadic pointed out that “the presence of thc state (in Kosovo) is no hostility, because if othcrs have the right to display their symbols, then noone can deny us that right, either,
On the way through Pec, several stones were thrown at the bus, which was transporting, reporters accompanying, Tadic from Belgrade.
fear
Iđt:-is: because: :of::their concern over their own safety that Serbs are discouraged to return to Kosovo, the UN secretary general said.
Minorities bave little trust in the Kosovo political and administration system, Annan concluded in the report, adding that their participation in the political process and in
the higher levels of civil'
services continued to bc marginal.
for 18th of February. Resolution initiated by Radical party and accepted by Socialist party proposes that the state officials discontinue thcir politically motivated prosecution of family Milosevic, as well as discontinuation · of judicial and executive power for political purposes. | Along with the coalition in power and the DS, which are against this resolution, as we are informed, even SRS is trying not to be involved, thereby acknowledging, that “defense” of Milosevic family can bring them negative points. | DS Vice-president, Dusan Petrovic thinks that submission of the resolution is in fact politićal act on behalf of the Radical and Socialist Party in order to divide voting majority between themselves. He estimates the resolution is not only politically out of question but legally unattainable. The director SPO parliamentary group Veroljub Stevanivic emphasized the
Marek Nowitzki: Humanitarian CrISIS On KOSOVO
Bonn - Kosovo ombudsman Marek Antoni Nowitzki has said that the living conditions of the Serbs, whosc clectricity has been cut off, are at the brink of a humanitarian crisis.
In an interview to thc German Deutsche Welle radio, Nowitzki said it is unclear why, in the middle of a cold winter, clectricity has been switched off to only three Serb villages for the past two months.
I went there, during this intense cold period, when temperatures drop well below 20 degrees and met with the local leaders who described the situation, Nowitzki set out, adding that the people are desperate and do not know what to do.
Many are ill and simply all this is the result of something that has lasted for the past two months, Nowitzki pointed out.
nesty for th
SPO members of the parlia-.
ment will not vote for the resolution since prosecution of Milosevic family is nonexistcnt.
- We were prosecuted by Milosevic for 10 years. The return of Milosevic's wife and son cannot be questioned, the fact there are allegations against them is a COurt case, not a matter of
parliament or resolution, .
noticed Stevanovic. "The director of Democratic party parliamentary group Milos Aligrudic said this party is not going to vote for the resolution because it instigates pressure on Judicial officials. - "That is unacceptable regardless of who is in question. If amnesty for a person is needed it is the authority of the President of the Republic, emphasized Aligrudic. "The president of parliamentary group G 17 plus Miroljub Labus considecrs the motive for suggesting the resolution is competition between SRS and SPS
COMMENT
By Dragan Milenković
Cell with Electric Meter
If neither the President of the state of Serbia, nor its govcrnmcnt, together with thc Primc Minister, cannot do anything, for the Serbian villages, strccts and other ghcttos in KOSOVO and Metohija to regain clectricity, it means that this is a situation that cannot be changed by anybody or anything.
UNMIK should bc vcry much congratulated for its consistency and not succumbing, to political pressures, as Well as for its consistency in introducing a civilized socicty in Kosovo. For in civilization, everyone must pay thcir own bills, and the Serbs, as cven somc of the human rights organizations. have confirmed themselves, cannot be an exemption to that rule.
Howevcr, one “bit” must have slipped UNMIK'"s mind. Since thc arrival of thc international administration tO KOSOVO and Metohija, the Serbs have not lived freely. Thcir movcment is restricted to couple of hundred square meters (often even less), they cannot till thc soil on their own land, they cannot travel anywhere (they can, but at enormous risks), they cannot work and make a living, so, all things considered, they practically live in prison.
If one looks from that·pcrspective, Kosovo and Metohija may become remembered in history as the only prison with an
clectric metcr installed in eveny single cell, vwvith diligent am consistent officcrs collectinp | clectricity bills, or cutting off thc power for those who do not pay. They zcalously hand a receipt to. cach uscr, which rcads that thc clectricity will be turned on as soon as the prisoner pays thc bill.
"The officcrs of that strange, prison electric DOWCF COmpany pretend not to sec that thc prisoner is in no way able to carn that money, since 0thcr prison officcrs arc kec ping him from doing so. They pretend not to sec that it is cold in the cell, and that the prisoner might soon bc dead from cold. The only thing that concerns them is that thc mgulations are carried Out,
There is a moral to this stoni. For over two hundred IhOwsand Serbs, who fled to Or parts of Serbia or in Monten gro since thc arrival of NATO forces in Kosovo and Metohija, it is better that they do not come back to thcir homes at all, Because, if they do so, they 00 uld become a very rare kind of people who go to prison at (hc ir own Will.
And if such pcople couhi ac tually be found, thc Ministy00 Return of Kosovo, With ODČ Serb at its head from rccenl, should change its name, and called instead of Ministy Mr Return, thc Ministry of Prison.
Former Yugoslav ambassador in Russia and the brother of Slobodan Milosevic, Borislav gave a state“ ment for Tanjug correspondent in Moscow, that he is aware of Radical party initiative concerning the members of Milosevic family, but he did not want t0 comment on possible return of his daughter - in
-law to Serbia.
“I know as much as you do from the press that Ra
dical party is suggesting some kind of document,
to
be possibly soon voted for in the parliament”, said Borislav Milosevic for Tanjug.
As for himself personally, Milosevic stated that upon reassignment from the duty in Belgrade he re tired and that he is in Russia in private capacity:
“Like many other citizens of Serbia and Montenć gro” he emphasized, adding that he does work in Moscow occasionally as a consultant for some Rus
sian companies.
as to who will become guardian of Milosevic's work and person as well as his family and says that the members of the parliament in this group will be against the resolution.
- I guess the Radical party wishes to have Milosevic as honorary president, says Albijanic jokingly.
Since the text of the resolution is not submitted for Parliamentary procedu-
re, most of MPs are not ac quainted with its content except that it is wel known that Socialist Party was in dilemma whether [0 support it because of the decree saying that politici prosecution of Miloscvić family which started 0f October the 5th did no stop since DOS disappe“ red from the political sU“ nć.
S. B.