EU-Beauftragte Petritsch bei Albaner-Führer Rugova
Pristina/London/Moskau (dpa) - Einen Tag nach der Kosovo- Vereinbarung ist der EU-Beauftragte für die jugoslawische Provinz, Wolfgang Petritsch am Mittwoch in Pristina mit dem Führer der Kosovo- Albaner, Ibrahim Rugova, zusammengetroffen.
     Der britische Außenminister Robin Cook warnte den jugoslawischen Präsidenten Slobodan Milosevic: «Wir passen genau auf». Falls Belgrad von der jüngsten Kosovo-Vereinbarung abweiche, müsse Milosevic damit rechnen, daß die NATO wieder ihren Druck verstärken werde, sagte Cook am Mittwoch morgen. Was die NATO vorranging in ihrem Drängen auf Verwirklichung der Zusagen bewege, sei das Schicksal der aus ihren Dörfern vertriebenen Flüchtlinge im Kosovo.
     Vor den ersten Schneefällen des Balkan-Winters müßten sie aus den Hügeln und Wäldern zurück sein. «Für uns ist es der Test für die Wirksamkeit des Abkommens, daß es uns gelingt die Flüchtlinge heimzuholen», erläuterte Cook.
     Das russische Parlament warnte am Mittwoch noch einmal vor den negativen Folgen eines möglichen NATO-Militäreinsatzes im Kosovo für Europa. In einer mit Mehrheit angenommenen Erklärung warnte die Duma vor einer Verschlechterung der Beziehungen zwischen Rußland und der NATO sowie vor wachsenden Spannungen in Europa und der Welt.
     Petritsch charakterisierte die Unterredung anschließend vor Journalisten als «sehr ausführlich". Er habe einen ersten Eindruck darüber gewinnen wollen, wie Rugova auf die zwischen dem US- Sondervermittler Richard Holbrooke und Milosevic vereinbarten Kosovo- Abmachungen reagierte.
     Rugova, Präsident der international nicht anerkannten «Republik Kosova", habe sich «verständlicherweise skeptisch" gezeigt, sagte Petritsch. Zugleich wolle sich die albanische Seite noch mit dem exakten Text der Abmachungen vertraut machen.
     Der EU-Diplomat, zugleich österreichischer Botschafter in Belgrad, appellierte darüber hinaus an Rugova, «die internationalen Anstrengungen zur Wiederaufnahme der humanitären Hilfe zu unterstützen".
     «Mir ging es darum, der albanischen Seite klar zu machen, welche großen Chancen die Abmachungen für die Albaner beinhalten", führte Petritsch weiter aus.
     Vordringlich sei aber derzeit das Wieder-Ingangsetzen der humanitären Hilfe. «Auf sehr pragmatische Weise muß schnell erreicht werden, daß die Flüchtlinge zurückkehren können, daß ihre zerstörten und beschädigten Häuser winterfest gemacht werden."
     Der EU-Vermittler forderte die kosovo-albanische Befreiungsarmee UCK dazu auf, die Kämpfe nicht wieder aufzunehmen. Die bewaffneten Rebellen mögen «die große Chance, die sich jetzt bietet, nicht zunichte machen".
     In einem Kommunique, das am Mittwoch in der albanischsprachigen Tageszeitung «Koha Ditore" veröffentlicht wurde, betonte der Generalstab der UCK seinen Respekt vor den internationalen Bemühungen, unterstrich aber zugleich die Forderung nach staatlicher Unabhängigkeit für die zu 90 Prozent von Albanern bewohnte südserbische Provinz.
     «Für die UCK ist keine andere Lösung (des Kosovo-Problems) annehmbar als die Unabhängigkeit", hieß es in dem Papier. «Die UCK respektiert die internationalen Mechanismen, verlangt aber zugleich eine «gerechte und dauerhafte Lösung des Kosovo-Themas".
     Die nach wie vor andauernde Präsenz der serbischen Sicherheitskräfte in weiten Teilen des Kosovo stelle «eine permanente Gefahr" für die Flüchtlinge und Vertriebenen dar. Zehntausende von ihnen harren immer noch unter freiem Himmel aus, weil sie sich nicht in ihre von den serbischen Sondertruppen niedergebrannten Siedlungen zurückwagen.
     Die staatliche Unabhängigkeit des Kosovo wird von der internationalen Gemeinschaft abgelehnt. Der US-Unterhändler Christopher Hill hatte vor einigen Wochen einen Entwurf vorgelegt, der bestimmte Autonomierechte für die Albaner beinhaltet und den Ausgangspunkt von künftigen Verhandlungen zwischen den Kosovo- Albanern und der Führung in Belgrad bilden soll.
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Sprengstoff-Anschlag auf Schweizer Flüchtlingsheim
Bronschhofen (dpa) - Auf ein Flüchtlingsheim im schweizerischen Bronschhofen (Kanton Sankt Gallen) ist in der Nacht zum Mittwoch ein Sprengstoff-Anschlag verübt worden. Wie das Justizministerium in Bern mitteilte, wurde niemand verletzt. Es handelt sich um eine Truppenunterkunft, in die noch in diesem Monat mehrere Familien aus dem Kosovo hätten einziehen sollen.
     Die Unterbringungspläne hatten im Dorf für Unmut gesorgt. Die Bevölkerung hatte erst aus der Presse von dem Vorhaben erfahren. Eine entsprechende Vereinbarung zwischen dem Schweizer Flüchtlingsamt und der Gemeinde wurde bereits unterzeichnet. Über den oder die Täter konnte die Staatsanwaltschaft zunächst keine Angaben machen.
     Justizminister Arnold Koller und der Direktor des Bundesamtes für Flüchtlinge, Jean-Daniel Gerber, verurteilten den Anschlag als feigen Akt.
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Duma warnt vor Militärschlag im Kosovo - Delegation nach Belgrad
Moskau (dpa) - Das russische Parlament hat am Mittwoch noch einmal vor den negativen Folgen eines möglichen NATO-Militäreinsatzes im Kosovo für Europa gewarnt.
     In einer mit Mehrheit angenommenen Erklärung warnte die Duma vor einer Verschlechterung der Beziehungen zwischen Rußland und der NATO sowie vor wachsenden Spannungen in Europa und der Welt.
     Außenminister Igor Iwanow nimmt an diesem Donnerstag am Treffen der internationalen Kontaktgruppe in Paris teil, die die zwischen US- Vermittler Richard Holbrooke und dem jugoslawischen Präsidenten Slobodan Milosevic erreichte Übereinkunft zur Kosovo-Krise bewerten will.
     Eine achtköpfige Duma-Delegation unter Leitung des nationalistischen Vize-Parlamentschefs Sergej Baburin flog am Mittwoch nach Belgrad und wollte noch am gleichen Tag ins Kosovo weiterreisen.
     Präsident Boris Jelzin erörterte mit Regierungschef Jewgeni Primakow, Verteidigungsminister Igor Sergejew und Außenminister Iwanow im Kreml die Verhandlungsergebnisse im Kosovo-Konflikt. Jelzin habe den Einsatz einer Mission der Organisation für Sicherheit und Zusammenarbeit in Europa (OSZE) im Kosovo begrüßt, sagte Primakow.
     Iwanow betonte in einer Rede vor der Duma, daß Rußland seinen «Minderwertigkeitskomplex» überwinden müsse. Das Land habe seinen «Platz in den internationalen Beziehungen und sei «eine Großmacht», zitierte ihn die Nachrichtenagentur Itar-Tass.
     Rußland werde seine nationalen Interessen verteidigen. Moskau lehnt einen Militäreinsatz der NATO gegen seine traditionellen Verbündeten, die Serben, ab.
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Erpressung im Internet - Kosovo-Zeitung aus dem Netz genommen
Aarau (dpa) - Ein Computer-Hacker hat einen Schweizer Provider gezwungen, die Online-Ausgabe einer kosovo-albanischen Zeitung aus dem Internet zu nehmen. Das berichtete am Mittwoch der «Tagesanzeiger» (Zürich).
     Nachdem der Hacker seiner Forderung mit dem Auslösen eines Festplatten-Crashs bei dem Provider Nachdruck verliehen hatte, gab die Providerfirma nach und nahm die Seite vom Netz.
     Die Schweizer Bundespolizei untersuche, ob hinter der Erpressung ein fremder Staat steckt, berichtete die Zeitung. Der Provider stellte Strafanzeige wegen Sachbeschädigung gegen Unbekannt.
     Der Chefredakteur der Zeitung, Adnan Aslani, sprach von einem «nicht hinzunehmenden Verstoß gegen die Informations- und Druckfreiheit». Der Provider will die Seite wieder ins Web stellen, sobald weitere Sicherheitsbarrieren an den Zugängen zu den Servern installiert sind.
     Der Erpresser war zunächst in die Homepage der Zeitung «Stimme aus dem Kosovo» eingedrungen und hatte den Text durch Haßtiraden gegen Kosovo-Albaner ersetzt.
     Die Providerfirma konnte mit dem Hacker in Polen, der sich als jugoslawischer Student bezeichnete, schließlich Kontakt aufnehmen. Als der Hacker bemerkte, daß er überwacht wurde, löste er auf einem PC des Providers einen Festplatten-Crash aus.
     Die Schweizer Bundespolizei geht davon aus, daß die Erpressung einen politischen Hintergrund hat, berichtete der «Tagesanzeiger». Die Internet-Adresse, unter der der Hacker auftrat, habe die serbischen Buchstaben für «Schwarze Hand» enthalten. Diese Organisation wurde 1911 mit dem Ziel gegründet, die Serben von Fremdherrschaft zu befreien.
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Belgrads Elf-Punkte-Plan für das Kosovo
Belgrad (dpa) - Die serbische Regierung hat am späten Dienstag abend einen Elf-Punkte-Plan für die friedliche und politische Lösung der Krise in der südlichen Provinz Kosovo veröffentlicht. Hier die wichtigsten Punkte des Regierungs-Beschlusses:
     Der Plan sieht in Punkt sieben die Abhaltung von allgemeinen Wahlen für ein Provinzparlament und lokale Selbstverwaltungs-Organe vor sowie der Gerichte unter Aufsicht der Organisation für Sicherheit und Zusammenarbeit in Europa (OSZE) innerhalb von neun Monaten. Bis zum 19. Oktober soll eine Vereinbarung über die Stationierung internationaler Beobachter, auch der OSZE, ausgehandelt werden.
     Serbien garantiert den Albanern und anderen Bevölkerungs-Gruppen im Kosovo die vollständige Gleichberechtigung aller nationalen und religiösen Rechte innerhalb des Rechtssystems Serbiens und Jugoslawiens (Punkte vier und sechs). Jede Lösung des Kosovo-Problems muß die territoriale Integrität und Souveränität Serbiens und Jugoslawiens achten (Punkt drei).
     Bis zum 2. November soll ein Abkommen vereinbart werden über die Grundelemente für eine politische Lösung. Bis zum 9. November sollen die Prozedur und Regeln der Kosovo-Wahlen festgelegt werden.
     Punkt neun sieht die Schaffung von lokalen Polizei-Einheiten vor, die den Gemeinden unterstellt und entsprechend des Bevölkerungs- Anteils zusammengesetzt sein sollen.
     Punkt zehn sieht Straffreiheit vor für alle am Kosovo-Konflikt aktiv Beteiligten, ausgenommen diejenigen Personen, die sich für Verbrechen gegen die Menschlichkeit oder das internationale Recht zu verantworten haben. Punkt elf: bereits verhängte Strafen für Kosovo- Albaner wegen politischer Delikte sollen überprüft und abgemildert werden.
     Nach Angaben Belgrads ist der Elf-Punkte-Plan die konkrete Ausarbeitung der Ergebnisse der einwöchigen intensiven Verhandlungen zwischen dem US-Sonderbeauftragten Richard Holbrooke und dem jugoslawischen Präsidenten Slobodan Milosevic.
     Das Regierungs-Dokument enthält allerdings keine ausdrücklichen Angaben über die geplante Luft-Überwachung des serbischen Truppenabzugs. Holbrooke hatte am Dienstag gesagt, Milosevic habe einer Luft- und Boden-Überwachung zugestimmt. Für die Luft- Überwachung sollte die NATO unbewaffnete Flugzeuge einsetzen.
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Treffen der Balkan-Kontaktgruppe am Donnerstag in Paris
Paris (dpa) - Die Außenminister der Länder, die sich in der internationalen Kontaktgruppe um eine Kosovo-Lösung bemüht haben, treffen sich an diesem Donnerstag in Paris. Das wurde am Mittwoch offiziell in der französischen Hauptstadt bekanntgegeben.
     Die Außenminister wollen eine Bilanz der bisherigen Verhandlungen ziehen und die mit dem jugoslawischen Präsidenten Slobodan Milosevic erreichte Übereinkunft bewerten. Der Kontaktgruppe gehören die USA, Rußland, Deutschland, Großbritannien, Italien und Frankreich an.
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Serbien verbietet zwei unabhängige Zeitungen in Belgrad
Belgrad (dpa) - Die serbische Regierung hat das weitere Erscheinen der unabhängigen Tageszeitungen «Danas» und «Dnevni Telegraf» (Belgrad) verboten.
     Am frühen Mittwoch morgen haben Polizisten, Vertreter des serbischen Informationsministeriums und unbekannte Zivilisten die Redaktionsräume der beiden Blätter besetzt und alle Beschäftigten aufgefordert, die Räume sofort zu verlassen. Gleichzeitig wurde der Druckerei verboten, die schon vorbereiteten Ausgaben der Zeitungen zu drucken.
     «Danas» wird am Mittwoch versuchen, eine Internet-Ausgabe zu machen, sagte Radomir Licina, Präsident des «Danas»-Verwaltungsrates, in belgrad. «Es ist eine Ehre, in einem solchen Staat verboten zu werden», reagierte Slavko Curuvija, Direktor und Chefredakteur der «Dnevni Telegraf».
     Die Blätter sind erste Opfer aus der Reihe der Printmedien der von der serbischen Regierung am Donnerstag vergangener Woche verfügten Medienzensur.
     Allen unabhängigen Sendern wurde per Regierungsbeschluß unter Androhung scharfer Strafen verboten, aus dem Ausland kommende Meldungen oder Rundfunk- und Fernsehprogramme in serbischer Sprache mit «staatsfeindlichen und defätistischen Inhalten» zu übernehmen. Seit Tagen wird auch das Programm des unabhängigen Lokalsenders «Radio Index» (Belgrad) stark gestört.
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Cook warnt Milosevic: Wir passen genau auf
London (dpa) - Der britische Außenminister Robin Cook hat den jugoslawischen Präsidenten Slobodan Milosevic nach dessen Einlenken gewarnt: «Wir passen genau auf». Falls Belgrad von der jüngsten Kosovo-Vereinbarung abweiche, müsse Milosevic damit rechnen, daß die NATO wieder ihren Druck verstärken werde, sagte Cook am Mittwochmorgen in einem BBC-Interview.
     Was die NATO vorranging in ihrem Drängen auf Verwirklichung der Zusagen bewege, sei das Schicksal der aus ihren Dörfern vertriebenen Flüchtlinge im Kosovo.
     Vor den ersten Schneefällen des Balkan-Winters müßten sie aus den Hügeln und Wäldern zurück sein. «Für uns ist es der Test für die Wirksamkeit des Abkommens, daß es uns gelingt die Flüchtlinge heimzuholen», erläuterte Cook.
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UCK-Rebellen: Für Kosovo nur Unabhängigkeit akzeptabel
Pristina (dpa) - Die kosovo-albanische Untergrundorganisation UCK hat die Abmachungen zwischen dem US-Sondervermittler Richard Holbrooke und dem jugoslawischen Präsidenten Slobodan Milosevic indirekt abgelehnt und ihre Forderung nach Unabhängigkeit für die mehrheitlich von Albanern bewohnte südjugoslawische Provinz bekräftigt.
     «Für die UCK ist keine andere Lösung (des Kosovo-Problems) annehmbar als die Unabhängigkeit", hieß es in einem Kommunique des Generalstabs der Rebellen-Streitkraft, das am Mittwoch in der albanischsprachigen Tageszeitung «Koha Ditore" (Pristina) veröffentlicht wurde.
     «Die UCK respektiert die internationalen Mechanismen, verlangt aber zugleich eine gerechte und dauerhafte Lösung des Kosovo-Themas", hieß es in dem Dokument weiter.
     Die serbischen Streitkräfte hätten allerdings die in den vergangenen zwei Tagen eingetretene Entspannung und das Nachlassen der NATO-Drohung mit Luftschlägen dazu mißbraucht, um «alle ihre gegenwärtigen Stützpunkte zu verstärken".
     Die andauernde Präsenz dieser Sicherheitskräfte stelle aber «eine permanente Gefahr" für die Flüchtlinge und Vertriebenen dar, von denen immer noch Zehntausende unter freiem Himmel ausharren, weil sie sich nicht in ihre größtenteils von den serbischen Sondertruppen niedergebrannten Siedlungen zurückwagen.
     Der UCK-Generalstab lehnt die vom Führer der Kosovo-Albaner, Ibrahim Rugova, benannte Delegation für Verhandlungen mit dem serbischen Regime als nicht repräsentativ ab.
     Deren Leiter, der Rugova-Vertraute Fehmi Agani, hatte am Dienstag zu erkennen gegeben, daß die Verhandlungen mit Belgrad bald wieder aufgenommen werden könnten.
     «Wir werden es nicht hinnehmen, daß irgendwelche parteigebundenen Gruppen über das Schicksal des Volkes von Kosova entscheiden", führte das Kommunique weiter aus. Die UCK beharre auf ihrer Forderung nach Einberufung einer «Regierung der Nationalen Rettung", welche «Verhandlungen über die Unabhängigkeit einleiten" solle.
     Die staatliche Unabhängigkeit des Kosovo wird von der internationalen Gemeinschaft abgelehnt. Der US-Unterhändler Christopher Hill hatte vor einigen Wochen einen Entwurf vorgelegt, der bestimmte Autonomierechte für die Albaner enthält und den Ausgangspunkt von Verhandlungen zwischen dem Rugova-Team und der Belgrader Führung bilden soll.
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«Pravo»: Kompromiß eröffnet Möglichkeiten zur politischen Lösung
Prag (dpa) - Die linksliberale Tageszeitung «Pravo» (Prag) schrieb am Mittwoch zum Kompromiß im Kosovo-Konflikt:
     «Der Kompromiß, den der US-Sondergesandte und «Balkan-Bulldozer' Richard Holbrooke ausgehandelt hat, eröffnet genug Möglichkeiten zu einer politischen Lösung des Konflikts. Dabei ist wichtig, daß beide Seiten ihr Gesicht wahren. Die NATO hat sich zu einer harten Lösung durchgerungen, ohne vorerst von ihr Gebrauch zu machen. Und Slobodan Milosevic hat erreicht, daß nicht Soldaten der NATO, sondern unabhängige Beobachter in den Kosovo entsandt werden.
     Unzufrieden müssen jedoch die Kosovo-Albaner sein, die ihre ganze Hoffnung auf eine Militäraktion des Westens setzten. Sie lehnen die jetzige Vereinbarung ebenso ab wie einen Dialog über eine Autonomie des Gebiets. Die Lösung dieses Interessenkonflikts wird der erste Test für den erreichten Kompromiß sein.»
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«Rzeczpospolita»: Frieden in Kosovo noch weit entfernt
Warschau (dpa) - Die konservative polnische Tageszeitung
«Rzeczpospolita» (Warschau) schrieb am Mittwoch zu Friedenschancen im Kosovo:
     «Der Weg zum dauerhaften Frieden im Kosovo ist weiterhin weit. Erstens müssen die Behörden Jugoslawiens zur Umsetzung der Vereinbarung und zum Truppenrückzug gezwungen werden.(...) Die Kosovo-Albaner müssen außerdem die Waffen niederlegen und Verhandlungen aufnehmen.
     Eine Lösung, die keine Aussichten auf die Unabhängigkeit enthält, wird sie nicht zufriedenstellen. Wie können aber Serben für Kosovos Unabhängigkeit gewonnen werden? Drittens muß für Kosovo ein internationaler Status gefunden werden, der die Stabilität der Nachbarländer nicht gefährdet. (...)
     Die Vereinbarung mit Belgrad läßt alle beteiligten Parteien das Gesicht bewahren, gibt aber keine Antworten auf diese Fragen. Sie hat keine Lösung der Kosovo-Frage gebracht, sondern das Problem nur verschoben.»
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Petritsch: Skepsis nach Einlenken von Milosevic
Berlin (dpa) - Der Botschafter Österreichs in Belgrad und EU- Beauftragte für das Kosovo, Wolfgang Petritsch, hat mit Erleichterung auf die jüngsten Zugeständnisse des jugoslawischen Präsidenten Slobodan Milosevic nach dem ultimativ angedrohten Militärschlag der NATO reagiert.
     Allerdings halte er nach wie vor Skepsis gegenüber der Glaubwürdigkeit Milosevics für angebracht. Hoffnungen setze er dagegen in die unabhängigen Medien.
     Im Deutschlandradio Berlin sagte Petritsch wörtlich: «Die unabhängigen Medien bilden so etwas wie den harten Kern einer zukünftigen Zivilgesellschaft in Jugoslawien. Und diese Zivilgesellschaft ist für Milosevic die Rute im Fenster und die Warnung, die aus dem eigenen Volk kommt.»
     In diesem Zusammenhang äußerte Petritsch auch die Hoffnung, daß sich angesichts der massiven Präsenz der internationalen Gemeinschaft in Jugoslawien die allgemeine Lage im Land zum Besseren wenden werde und es keine weiteren Auseinandersetzungen geben werde.
     «Das man aber immer wieder mit Zwischenfällen rechnen muß, ist klar. Es gibt auf beiden Seiten Extremisten, die jeden Kompromiß ablehnen. Hier wird es Aufgabe der internationalen Gemeinschaft sein, diese Extremisten nicht zum Zug kommen zu lassen», sagte Petritsch.
     Mit Blick auf anstehende Verhandlungen betonte Petritsch die besondere Berücksichtigung der berechtigten albanischen Interessen. Den Autonomie-Bestrebungen der Kosovo-Albaner erteilte der Diplomat aber eine klare Absage.
     Die Unabhängigkeit des Kosovo gehöre nicht zu den berechtigten Forderungen. Vielmehr müsse den Kosovo-Albanern ein sehr hohes Maß an Selbstverwaltung und Selbstregierung eingeräumt werden.
     «Deshalb halte ich es auch für ganz besonders wichtig, daß man den Albanern in dieser kritischen Situation klarmacht, was möglich und realistisch ist», sagte Petritsch weiter.
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«Trud»: Pause auf dem Balkan
Sofia (dpa) - Die auflagenstärkste unabhängige bulgarische Zeitung «Trud» (Arbeit) kommentierte am Mittwoch den Kompromiß im Kosovo- Konflikt:
     «Milosevic hat infolge des Drucks eingelenkt. Wir können aufatmen, weil die Luft-Armada der NATO nicht mit Donner von der Adria bis zum Schwarzen Meer oder vom Balaton bis zum Ochrid-See pendeln wird. Zunächst nicht.
     Aber was auf dem Kosovo-Feld geschehen soll, ist eine andere Sache. Die Zündschnur, die den Teppich des früheren Jugoslawien von Ljubljana über Zagreb bis Sarajevo verbrannte, wird in Pristina kaum unter den Tönen der letzten UNO-Erklärung erlöschen...»
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«ABC»: Milosevic versteht nur die Sprache der Gewalt
Madrid (dpa) - Zur Lage im Kosovo-Konflikt schreibt die konservative spanische Zeitung «ABC» (Madrid) am Mittwoch.
     «Erst als die Bomber fast schon über ihm waren, nahm Slobodan Milosevic, der schon vier Kriege verursacht hat, doch noch Vernunft an. Er hörte auf die einzige Sprache, die er versteht: die der Gewalt. Aber die Lage ist noch konfus. Die Einigung mit dem US- Vermittler Richard Holbrooke kann den Beginn einer friedliche Lösung bedeuten. Dahinter kann sich aber auch ein neues Ablenkungs-Manöver Milosevics verbergen.
     Bis zum Ablauf des NATO-Ultimatums an diesem Samstag bleibt noch Zeit, die wahren Absichten Belgrads aufzudecken. Wenn Milosevic der alte bleibt, wird man sich mit ihm weiter auseinandersetzen müssen, und zwar in seiner eigenen Sprache.»
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«Kommersant daily»: NATO hat nicht auf Angriffsoption verzichtet
Moskau (dpa) - Die russische Wirtschaftszeitung «Kommersant daily» (Moskau) befaßt sich in einem Kommentar am Mittwoch mit dem Kosovo- Konflikt:
     «Der Vertreter der NATO in Moskau, Aleksej Schachtachtinskij, zweifelt nicht daran, daß Jugoslawien Luftangriffen ausgesetzt wird, wenn Belgrad die Holbrooke gegebenen Versprechungen nicht einlöst. Seiner Meinung nach bestehen jetzt große Chanchen, daß Milosevic sein Wort hält, denn das Kosovo wird nun unter starker internationaler Kontrolle stehen.
     Der Aufschub bedeutet keineswegs den Verzicht der Allianz auf militärische Operationen gegen Jugoslawien. Damit in Belgrad in dieser Hinsicht keinerlei Zweifel aufkommen, hat Waschington nochmals sechs B-52 Bomber nach Europa verlegt, die mit Marschflugkörpern ausgerüstet sind».
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«Neue Zürcher Zeitung»: Kein Grund zur Euphorie
Zürich (dpa) - Die «Neue Zürcher Zeitung» kommentiert am Mittwoch die Lage im Kosovo:
     «Auch nach der erzielten Vereinbarung über die interatnationale Überwachung des Truppen-Rückzugs besteht kein Grund zur Euphorie. ... Die Führung in Belgrad ist von der Richtigkeit ihrer bisherigen Kosovo-Politik überzeugt ...
     Das verheißt nichts Gutes, denn der Autonomie-Plan verlangt auch von den Serben schmerzliche Zugeständnisse; die Forderung nach einem autonomen Status für Kosovo ist bisher von Belgrad immer als ein Schritt zur Abspaltung der Provinz und zur Zerschlagung Jugoslawiens zurückgewiesen worden.
     Die kosovo-albanischen Politiker sind allein schon in der Frage der Aufnahme von Verhandlungen gespalten. Vom Konzept der staatlichen Unabhängigkeit will auf albanischer Seite niemand abrücken ... Es dürfte für den Westen womöglich schwieriger werden, die Albaner zu politischen Konzessionen zu bewegen als die Serben, denen der Autonomie-Plan eher entgegenkommt.»
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«Financial Times»: Massaker rüttelten die Menschen im Westen auf
London (dpa) - Über die Kosovo-Vereinbarung zwischen dem US- Sonderbeauftragten Richard Holbrooke und dem jugoslawischen Präsidenten Slobodan Milosevic schreibt das britische Wirtschaftsblatt «Financial Times» am Mittwoch:
     «Hätte die NATO all das bereits vor sieben Monaten erreichen können, als die Kosovo-Krise ausbrach? Theoretisch ja, denn die Verhandlungen dieser Woche zeigen, daß Diplomatie Resultate bringt, wenn sie durch glaubhafte militärische Drohungen unterstützt wird.
     In der Praxis muß die Antwort aber nein heißen. Die Glaubwürdigkeit der NATO macht es erforderlich, daß erst einmal die öffentliche Meinung im Westen aufgerüttelt wird. Das aber war bedauerlicherweise erst nach den jüngsten Massakern an Kosovo- Albanern der Fall.»
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«Corriere della Sera»: Kosovo-Erfolg Wolkenkratzer ohne Fundament
Rom (dpa) - Die konservative italienische Zeitung «Corriere della Sera» (Mailand) schreibt am Mittwoch zum Einlenken Belgrads im Kosovo-Konflikt:
     «Das Problem liegt wie immer darin, daß der Teufel im Detail steckt. Zwar hat Holbrooke mit diplomatischen Geschick den Ausbruch des Krieges verhindert, indem er die Forderungen beider Seiten vereinte und dabei zugleich verhindert, daß weder Milosevic noch die NATO das Gesicht verloren, und er hat überdies noch Rußland in den Verhandlungsprozeß mit einbezogen.
     Dennoch bleibt seine mutige diplomatische Konstruktion wie ein Wolkenkratzer ohne Fundament. Die Zerbrechlichkeit dieses Wolkenkratzers zeigt sich bereits in den Reaktionen, die der Plan in Albanien und bei der albanischen Bevölkerung im Kosovo ausgelöst hat.»
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«L'Alsace» zur Kosovo-Krise: Das echte Problem ist Milosevic
Paris (dpa) - Die französische Regionalzeitung «L'Alsace» (Mülhausen) sieht in einem Kommentar am Mittwoch keinen diplomatischen Sieg in der Kosovo-Krise:
     «Kann man von einem diplomatischen Sieg sprechen? Nein, denn wenn die Gewalt ... von Anfang an schon die Verhandlungen begleitet hätte, hätte der serbische Diktator schon viel früher nachgegeben... Sicher, man muß sich beglückwünschen, daß die Bombardierungen und damit die Toten vermieden werden konnten, doch der Westen hat das Fälligkeitsdatum nur verschoben.
     Der Kosovo-Konflikt bleibt in der Sackgasse stecken. Die Diplomaten haben ebensowenig eine Lösung vorzuschlagen wie die Militärs.
     Hinter den großen Worten und der 'Verankerung der Demokratie, die wir im Kosovo haben wollen', kann die Provinz nur auf die Rückkehr zu einer relativen Autonomie hoffen. Niemand will eine Unabhängigkeit, die Ursprung eines Balkankrieges wäre. Im Grunde gibt der Westen eher Serbien recht. Doch der Form nach ist Milosevic ein Krimineller. Das echte Problem ist er.»
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«Il Messaggero»: Weiße Flagge
Rom (dpa) - Die liberale italienische Zeitung «Il Messaggero» (Rom) kommentiert am Mittwoch das Einlenken Belgrads im Kosovo- Konflikt:
     «Der Zar Serbiens schwenkt die weiße Fahne. Und hat alles in allem die von der internationalen Gemeinschaft vorgebrachten Forderungen akzeptiert: Den Rückzug der eigenen militärischen Spezial-Einheiten aus dem Kosovo, den Beginn von Verhandlungen mit den Separatisten aus Kosovo und die internationale Überwachung des Abkommens sowohl auf dem Lande als auch aus der Luft. ...
     Ein dritter Teil des Abkommens, der den künftigen politischen Status des Kosovo angeht, erscheint dagegen als schwieriger. In der Praxis werden voraussichtlich bis November die Verhandlungen zwischen Belgrad und den Separatisten albanischer Herkunft unter der Aufsicht des US-Botschafters in Mazedonien beginnen.»
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«Dernieres Nouvelles d'Alsace» zu Kosovo: Gewalt zahlt sich aus
Paris (dpa) - Zur Kosovo-Krise schreibt die französische Regionalzeitung «Les Dernieres Nouvelles d'Alsace» (Straßburg) am Mittwoch:
     «Einmal mehr hat sich die Gewalt ausgezahlt. ... Offensichtlich funktioniert das System nur, wenn die USA ihre Flugzeuge konzentrieren und den Allierten das Signal zum Sammeln geben.
     Das ist die andere Lektion dieser Krise, die übrigens die gleiche wie 1995 im Falle Bosniens ist: Europa kann sich entrüsten und seine 'Troika' nach Belgrad schicken, aber ohne Erfolg! Mangels einer echten gemeinsamen Außenpolitik, vor allem aber mangels Druckmitteln. Nur die NATO unter US-Kommando hat diese Fähigkeit. ...
     Das mag man aus Anti-Amerikanismus oder im Namen der Emanzipation des Kontinents beklagen. Doch man müßte sich drüber freuen, indem man sich sagt, daß Europa auf sich allein gestellt angesichts einer Krise des gleichen Typs in der Ex-Sowjetunion völlig entwaffnet wäre.»
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«Le Monde» zu Kosovo-Krise: Ganz besondere Risiken bei Intervention
Paris (dpa) - Zur Entwicklung in der Kosovo-Krise schreibt die unabhängige französische Zeitung «Le Monde» (Paris) am Mittwoch:
     «Wenn es der Westen letztlich geschafft hat, Slobodan Milosevic ohne Rückgriff auf Gewalt in die Knie zu zwingen, dann ist das umso besser. Denn eine militärische Intervention läuft nie ohne Schaden ab. Die in Serbien geplante Aktion enthielt ganz besondere Risiken.
     Einerseits wäre es die erste NATO-Intervention in einem souveränen Staat gegen dessen Willen gewesen, ohne ausreichend explizites UNO- Mandat, mit der die Legitimität der Militäraktion von allen - vor allem von den Russen - als unbestreitbar angesehen worden wäre.
     Andererseits und vor allem war der Westen ganz offensichtlich nicht bereit zu Folgen: Die Luftwaffe einzusetzen, um dem jugoslawischen Präsidenten Maßnahmen aufzuzwingen, die er nicht will, setzt voraus, daß man danach mit einer Land-Streitmacht die Kontrolle über das Gebiet ausübt. ...
     Wie stets zahlt sich die militärische Drohung bei Milosevic aus, sobald sie glaubwürdig ist. Diese Glaubwürdigkeit darf in den letzten von der NATO zugestandenen vier Verhandlungstagen nicht verlorengehen.»
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Deutsche Zeitungen kommentieren Kosovo-Konflikt
Hamburg (dpa) - Mit dem Einlenken des jugoslawischen Präsidenten Slobodan Milosevic in der Kosovo-Krise setzen sich die Kommentatoren deutscher Zeitungen in den Ausgaben vom Mittwoch auseinander.

Die links-alternative «taz» (Berlin) ist der Meinung:

«Erleichterung macht sich breit. Präsident Milosevic hat eingelenkt, weil er den innerstaatlichen Kampf gegen die Separatisten des Kosovo bereits gewonnen hat und weil ihm massiv mit militärischer Gewalt gedroht wurde. Einem Kosovo-Einsatz hätte der Makel angehaftet, keine völkerrechtliche Grundlage gehabt zu haben. Menschenrecht läßt sich zwischen den Staaten nur über das Völkerrecht durchsetzen. Sonst wird der universale Anspruch selbst despotisch, er kann sich allenfalls in die vage Hoffnung retten, daß der Neinsager doch noch Einsicht zeigen wird.
     Wer dieses Risiko nicht eingehen will, tut gut daran, eine europäische Sicherheitsstruktur aufzubauen, die ein frühzeitiges Eingreifen auf einer niedrigeren Stufe ermöglicht. Wenn die Tatsache eines überwiegend sozialdemokratisch regierten Europas eine außenpolitische Bedeutung hat, dann in dieser Aufgabe. Es sollte nicht vorkommen müssen, daß ein sozialdemokratischer Kanzler und sein grüner Außenminister einem Militäreinsatz ohne UN-Mandat ihre Zustimmung erteilen.»

Die bürgerliche «Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung» schreibt:

«Der Amerikaner Holbrooke sucht den Anschein von Erfolgsstimmung zu vermeiden, spricht aber doch von einem Durchbruch für das Kosovo, das Amselfeld. Wohin sind die Westmächte durchgebrochen mit ihrem Ankündigen einer militärischen Aktion? Milosevic hat noch nichts getan, er hat nur einiges erklärt: Erstens, daß er einem Waffenstillstand zustimme. (...) Zweitens, daß die serbischen Sondereinheiten aus dem Kosovo abgezogen würden. (...) Drittens, daß die Flüchtlinge zurückkehren dürfen. (...) Viertens, daß die OSZE einige tausend unbewaffnete Beobachter übers Kosovo verteilen dürfe. (...) Fünftens, daß der serbische Staat mit den Albanern verhandeln werde.
     Ja, je länger, je lieber. Milosevic setzt auf Zeitgewinn. Er wird in der Frist von 96 Stunden ein förmliches Abkommen mit den Mächten schließen. Holbrooke erinnert an die vielen gebrochenen Zusagen des Belgrader Herrschers. Dem kommt es auf eine mehr nicht an. Dem Westen etwa eines Tages ebensowenig?»

Die links-liberale «Frankfurter Rundschau» kommentiert:

«Alle prekären Fragen blieben ungelöst. Das serbische Regime hat zwar rhetorisch auch einer Autonomie des Kosovo in der Bundesrepublik Jugoslawien zugestimmt, aber nicht einer proportional von Serben und Kosovo-Albanern gestellten Polizei. Und wie auf Dauer mit einem Verhandlungspartner umgehen, dessen gebrochene Versprechungen, um mit dem US-Präsidenten zu sprechen, die Friedhöfe des Balkans gefüllt haben? 'Die Staatengemeinschaft ist jetzt bereit zu handeln', hat Bill Clinton forsch dahingesagt: 1 000 Tote und 250 000 Vertreibungen zu spät.»

Das reformkommunistisch orientierte «Neues Deutschland» (Berlin):

««Knoten, das wußte bereits Alexander, der Held des NATO-Staates Griechenland, zerhaut man mit dem Schwert, statt an ihnen herumzufingern. Und so geht's auch in Kosovo: Die Allianz macht Kampfjets startbereit und sofort kuscht auch der tückischste Präsident. Nicht feige wie die UNO reden, mit Bomben drohen - so löst man die Probleme. Quod erat demonstrandum. Gedankt sei Milosevic und den Albanerkriegern, daß sie diese Demonstration der Allmacht des Militärischen ermöglichten.
     Im Grunde hätten sie ein sattes Honorar verdient. Jetzt zeigt es sich, wie profitabel es gewesen ist, nicht schon im letzten Winter, als die Kämpfe angefangen haben, auf politischem Gebiet ernsthaft etwas zu unternehmen. Genützt hätte das nur den Menschen auf dem Balkan. Doch nun darf sich der Pakt als Sieger fühlen und kann zudem zufrieden sein, daß er nicht in ein Abenteuer mit ungewissem Ausgang ziehen muß.»

Die konservative Zeitung «Die Welt» (Berlin) meint:

«Es ist die Woche der neuen NATO. In Europa ist ein neues Gehege von Sicherheit abgezäunt, und Slobodan Milosevic wird als erster durch das Gatter getrieben - ganz gleich, ob nun mit Diplomatie, die sich auf eine militärische Drohung stützt, oder doch noch mit offener Waffengewalt. Die NATO hat sich den Balkan zu etwas gemacht, das die Amerikaner «ihren Hinterhof» nennen würden. (...)
     Was der neuen NATO jetzt noch fehlt, ist mehr europäisches Selbstbewußtsein, mehr Verantwortungsgefühl der Europäer für ihren Kontinent. Es stimmt, daß mit den USA, mit ihrer Erfahrung und ihrem Gerät die Aussicht auf Erfolg sprunghaft steigt. Aber auch Washington ist nicht unfehlbar, und der dortige Stellenwert europäischer Belange schwankt durchaus. Deshalb darf es in Zukunft kein Naturgesetz mehr sein, daß mit den USA alles geht - und ohne sie nichts.»
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Nato will Abkommen mit Milosevic überwachen - Wahlen im Kosovo
Washington/Brüssel/Belgrad (dpa) - Nach dem Einlenken des jugoslawischen Präsidenten Slobodan Milosevic in der Kosovo-Krise will die Nato mit strengen Auflagen dafür sorgen, daß Belgrad seine Zugeständnisse auch einhält. US-Präsident Bill Clinton warnte Milosevic am Dienstag nachdrücklich davor, seine Zusagen zu brechen. Die Nato will für unbegrenzte Zeit Kontroll- und Aufklärungsflüge über dem Krisengebiet durchführen. Am Abend beschloß die serbische Regierung die Abhaltung allgemeiner Wahlen im Kosovo.
     Nach dem Erlaß des Aktivierungsbefehls für einen möglichen Nato- Angriff hatte Milosevic am Dienstag zugesichert, die jugoslawischen und serbischen Sicherheitskräfte aus dem Krisengebiet entsprechend der UN-Resolution 1199 zurückzuziehen. Wie der US-Sonderbeauftragte Richard Holbrooke erklärte, stimmte der jugoslawische Präsident der internationalen Überwachung des Abzugs sowohl vom Boden aus als auch aus der Luft zu.
     Großbritannien will das Abkommen durch den UN-Sicherheitsrat billigen lassen. Nach einem Treffen mit Nato-Generalsekretär Javier Solana in Brüssel sagte der britische Außenminister Robin Cook am Dienstag: «Es muß sichergestellt werden, daß diese Vereinbarungen durch den UN-Sicherheitsrat in einer Resolution in Kraft gesetzt werden.» Solana machte klar, daß die Allianz ihre Drohung mit Luftangriffen zunächst aufrechthalten werde.
     Clinton betonte in Washington: «Wir werden uns nicht darauf verlassen, was Präsident Milosevic gesagt hat, sondern was er für die ganze Welt sichtbar tut.» Die internationale Gemeinschaft ziehe die Einhaltung der Vereinbarungen einem Konflikt vor, aber die Nato sei bereit zum Handeln. Es komme jetzt darauf an, «die Aggressionsdrohung durch das serbische Militär und andere Kräfte in Kosovo vollständig und unumkehrbar zu beseitigen». Der Nato-Rat berät heute (Mittwoch) in Brüssel über die jüngsten Entwicklungen.
     Wie das US-Verteidigungsministerium in Washington mitteilte, wird die Nato für die Luftüberwachung unter anderem das in großer Höhe fliegende Spionageflugzeug U-2 sowie das Marine-Patrouillenflugzeug P-3 «Orion» einsetzen. Außerdem beabsichtigt die Allianz, in einer «sicheren Zone» ein Überflugverbot für jugoslawische Kampfflugzeuge wie MiG-21 und MiG-29 zu erklären.
     Die Organisation für Sicherheit und Zusammenarbeit in Europa (OSZE) soll mit 2 000 Vertretern die Einhaltung der UN-Resolution am Boden überwachen. Der amtierende OSZE-Vorsitzende und polnische Außenminister Bronislaw Geremek sprach in Stockholm von einer «rein zivilen» Mission. Auch Pentagon-Sprecher Michael Doubleday, sagte, er gehe nicht davon aus, daß die internationalen Beobachter im Kosovo von einer Militäreskorte begleitet würden. Falls es Probleme gebe, könne eine schnelle Einsatztruppe in Aktion treten.
     Am Abend wurde ein weiteres Ergebnis der Vermittlungen zwischen Holbrooke und Milosevic bekannt. Nach Angaben der amtlichen Nachrichtenagentur Tanjug sollen innerhalb von neun Monaten ein Provinzparlament, eine Regierung und die Gerichte im Kosovo gewählt werden. Die OSZE wurde eingeladen, die Wahlen zu beobachten. Ferner ist die Bildung einer Lokalpolizei im Kosovo vorgesehen, die der ethnischen Zusammensetzung in jedem Bezirk entsprechen soll.
     Für alle Teilnehmer an Gewaltaktionen in der Provinz kündigte die Regierung in Belgrad Straffreiheit an. Davon ausgenommen seien Verbrechen gegen die Menschlichkeit und das internationale Recht, hieß es in dem Regierungsbeschluß. Internationale Experten sollen die verübten Verbrechen untersuchen können.
     Unterdessen ging die serbische Regierung erneut gegen unabhängige Medien vor. Am späten Dienstag abend verbot sie das weitere Erscheinen der Belgrader Tageszeitung «Danas». Polizisten, Vertreter des serbischen Informationsministeriums und unbekannte Zivilisten hätten die Redaktionsräume besetzt, sagte Radomir Licila, Präsident des «Danas»- Verwaltungsrates. Allen unabhängigen Sendern wurde bereits am vergangenen Donnerstag unter Androhung scharfer Strafen untersagt, aus dem Ausland kommende Meldungen oder Programme in serbischer Sprache mit «staatsfeindlichen und defätistischen Inhalten» zu übernehmen.
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Belgrad verspricht Wahlen im Kosovo innerhalb von neun Monaten
Belgrad (dpa) - In der südserbischen Krisenprovinz Kosovo sollen innerhalb von neun Monaten allgemeine Wahlen für ein Provinzparlament, eine Regierung und die Gerichte durchgeführt werden. Das hat die serbische Regierung am Dienstag abend in Belgrad beschlossen. Die Organisation für Sicherheit und Zusammenarbeit in Europa (OSZE) wurde eingeladen, diese Wahlen zu beobachten, meldete die amtliche Nachrichtenagentur Tanjug. Das ist das erste Ergebnis der erfolgreichen Vermittlungen des US-Sonderbeauftragten Richard Holbrooke mit dem jugoslawischen Präsidenten Slobodan Milosevic.
     Im Kosovo soll auch eine Lokalpolizei eingeführt werden, die der ethnischen Zusammensetzung in jedem Bezirk entsprechen soll. Gleichzeitig wurde Straffreiheit für alle Teilnehmer an Gewaltaktionen in der Provinz, ausgenommen Verbrechen gegen die Menschlichkeit und das internationale Recht, angekündigt. Internationale Experten sollen die verübten Verbrechen untersuchen können, heißt es in dem Regierungsbeschluß.
     Bis zum 19. Oktober soll ein Abkommen über eine Präsenz internationaler Vertreter im Kosovo vereinbart und bis zum 9. November sollen die Bedingungen für die Kosovo-Wahlen festgelegt werden. Gleichzeitig schlug die serbische Regierung der jugoslawischen Bundesregierung vor, alle diese Maßnahmen zu bestätigen.
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Serbien verbietet unabhängige Belgrader Zeitung «Danas»
Belgrad (dpa) - Die serbische Regierung hat am späten Dienstag abend das weitere Erscheinen der unabhängigen Belgrader Tageszeitung «Danas» verboten. Polizisten, Vertreter des serbischen Informationsministeriums und unbekannte Zivilisten hätten die Redaktionsräume besetzt, sagte Radomir Licila, Präsident des «Danas»- Verwaltungsrates, der dpa in Belgrad. Die Redakteure seien bereit, passiven Widerstand zu leisten, und hätten es geschafft, die nächste Ausgabe zu drucken.
     «Danas» ist das erste Opfer aus der Reihe der Printmedien der von der serbischen Regierung am Donnerstag vergangener Woche verfügten Medienzensur. Allen unabhängigen Sendern wurde per Regierungsbeschluß unter Androhung scharfer Strafen verboten, aus dem Ausland kommende Meldungen oder Rundfunk- und Fernsehprogramme in serbischer Sprache mit «staatsfeindlichen und defätistischen Inhalten» zu übernehmen.
     Am Dienstag abend wurde auch dem Privatblatt «Deneveni Teelegraf» aus Belgrad mit der Schließung gedroht.
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NATO plant Kontrollflüge über dem Kosovo und ein Überflugverbot
Washington (dpa) - Mit Kontroll- und Aufklärungsflügen über dem Kosovo will die NATO für unbegrenzte Zeit überprüfen, ob Serbien die Vereinbarungen über die Zukunft der jugoslawischen Krisen-Provinz auch einhält. Dies teilte das US-Verteidigungsministerium am Dienstag in Washington mit.
     Washington wird für die Luftüberwachung durch die NATO unter anderem das in großer Höhe fliegende Spionage-Flugzeug U-2 sowie das Marine-Patrouillenflugzeug P-3 Orion einsetzen, erklärte der Sprecher.
     Die NATO will nach den Angaben außerdem in einer «Sicheren Zone» ein Überflugverbot für jugoslawische Kampfflugzeuge wie MiG-21 und MiG-29 einrichten. Dabei war zunächst nicht klar, ob diese Zone nur den Luftraum der Provinz umfassen wird oder auch Teile Serbiens.
     Pentagon-Sprecher Michael Doubleday machte dabei deutlich, daß die Überwachung Gewalt auf beiden Seiten verhindern solle, also auch die Kosovo-Albaner und ihre militärischen Bewegungen kontrollieren werde. Er gehe jedoch nicht davon aus, daß die vereinbarten internationalen Beobachter im Kosovo von einer Militär-Eskorte begleitet würden. Falls es Probleme gebe, könne eine schnelle Einsatztruppe in Aktion treten.
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Albanien begrüßt Einigung im Kosovo-Konflikt
Tirana (dpa) - Albanien hat am Dienstag die Einigung im Kosovo-Konflikt begrüßt. «Die Vereinbarungen scheinen die Möglichkeit für eine politische Lösung im Kosovo zu verbessern», sagte ein Sprecher des Außenministeriums in Tirana.
     Er forderte jedoch fortgesetzten Druck auf Belgrad, bis alle Bedingungen der UNO-Resolution vom 23. September erfüllt seien. «Belgrad hat in der Vergangenheit nie seine Versprechen gehalten», sagte er.
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zurück zu    ==> Teil 1

Betreff:         [kosovo] NEWS-RadioYu, Oct 13 THE NEWS ABOUT THE AGREEMENT (SERB MEDIA)
Datum:         Wed, 14 Oct 1998 17:06:12 +0200
    Von:         "Fr. Sava" <decani@EUnet.yu>
  Firma:         Decani Monastery

Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1998 16:54:35 -0400 (EDT)
From: ddj@pathcom.com
Subject: SM News:7310: NEWS-RadioYu (Tue 98-10-13)
URL: http://www.srpska-mreza.com/forums/news/wwwboard.html

ddj posted Message 7310 in the SM News:
Dated  : October 13, 1998 at 16:54:10
Subject: NEWS-RadioYu (Tue 98-10-13)

NEWS-RadioYu
Tuesday October 13, 1998

Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic received again on Tuesday, U.S. ambassadors Richard Holbrooke and Christopher Hill.

The steps Yugoslavia is taking for the problems in Kosovo-Metohija to be resolved by peaceful means show the FR Yugoslavia's firm resolve to overcome this issue by political means, as well as its resolve to protect its territorial integrity and sovereignty, it was said in the statement. In the talks special attention was devoted to the international community's efforts to achieve the necessary engagement which would provide a permanent monitoring and verification of the development of the situation in Kosovo-Metohija. It was assessed that the mutual agreement, achieved in the talks that lasted until Monday, has made it possible for the problems to be resolved. It was concluded that the task should be taken over by an OSCE mission. Yugoslavia expects this to eliminate the wrong, false and ill-intentioned presentation of the events in Kosovo-Metohija. Also exchanged were views and ideas on open issues, which will be the subject of the political dialogue. Expressed was a constructive approach, which could undoubtedly represent the basis for a permanent political solution for the autonomy of Kosovo-Metohija, this being Yugoslavia's consistent commitment, the statement said. Also participating in the talks was Serbian president Milan Milutinovic, Tanjug reports.
***

US envoy, Richard Holbrooke said in Belgrade on Tuesday that an agreement was reached on a peaceful and political solution to the Kosmet crisis.

At a press conference, Holbrooke said that Yugoslavia, accepted the engagement of the international community, by which secured would be permanent monitoring and verification of the development of the situation in Kosovo-Metohija. We hope that this is a turning point, Holbrooke added, underlining that the agreement which was realized in the talks with Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic would help solve the problems of Kosovo.

The US envoy stressed that with president Milosevic he had reached an agreement on the OSCE mission, which would comprise 2000 people, for the verification of the situation in the field in Kosmet. He specified that the members of the mission would come from all the OSCE member countries, with the approval and support of the Yugoslav authorities who would guarantee their safety and the freedom of movement in Kosmet. Richard Holbrooke underlined that there would be no NATO troops in Kosmet and that the members of the OSCE mission would have diplomatic status according to the Vienna Convention. He announced that the chairman of the OSCE, Bronislav Geremek, would soon come to Belgrade to sign an agreement on all the details of this mission and added that its part of the mandate would be to assist humanitarian organizations. The agreed on verification of the situation in the field from the air would be carried out exclusively by non-combat planes which would fly over Kosovo-Metohija according to all the agreed on safety standards, stressed Holbrooke. He said that the agreement did not completely satisfy the Albanians in Kosmet, but he stressed its importance in reaching an agreement between the Serbian government delegation and political representatives of the Kosovo Albanians. This, as the US envoy explained, is something the authorities in Belgrade are doing on their own.
***

Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic said on Tuesday that an agreement was reached for the problems in Kosovo-Metohija to be resolved peacefully and that the danger of a military intervention against FRY was eliminated.

After talks with the US envoy, Richard Holbrooke, in a public address to the citizens of the FRY, Milosevic stressed that a political solution would be oriented toward an affirmation of the national equality of all the citizens and all the national minorities in Kosovo-Metohija. Under these great pressures which we were exposed to during the past, I would say years, and especially the past weeks and past days, prevailed has the orientation that that it is only by peaceful means that a peaceful solution can be found. The agreements we achieved, stressed president Milosevic, in general and in accordance with our country's interests, with the interests of the Republic of Serbia and all its citizens and the interests of all the citizens and national communities from Kosovo-Metohija, Now, underlined the Yugoslav president, the task is to speed up the political process and to speed up the economic revival of our country as a whole. At the end, I would like to thank all the citizens from the country and abroad who had, all this time, sent me messages of strong support. These messages also included the task to preserve the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country, to preserve its dignity, in a single word, while on the other hand , to secure a peaceful solving of problems which burden life in the southern Serbian province. I believe that we have achieved this, said Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic, addressing the citizens of Yugoslavia.
***

At Tuesday's session, the Serbian government reviewed Serbian President Milan Milutinovic's information about the political talks between Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and the special US envoy, ambassador Richard Holbrooke, announced the republican information ministry.

Serbian President Milan Milutinovic informed the government members about the several-day talks of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic with ambassadors Richard Holbrooke and Christopher Hill on the definite agreement reached on Monday with the international community for the problems in Kosovo-Metohija to be resolved in a peaceful manner and by political means.

Milutinovic informed the government about the entirety of the talks, especially about the international community's interest in a comprehensive monitoring of the situation in Kosovo-Metohija.

It was agreed that this task should be performed by an OSCE mission since this was assessed to be the best way for the international community to assure itself of the positive trends which are under way.

Of special importance is the fact that expressed was a constructive approach which represents the basis for a permanent political solution for the issue of Kosovo-Metohija's autonomy within Serbia, in accordance with the principles of the equality of all citizens and national communities living in this region.

Apart from this, also agreed on was a political framework, that is, principles for a political resolution with a time framework for its realization. They state as follows:

"1. A political approach and peaceful resolution of the problems in Kosovo-Metohija achieved through dialogue represent the only acceptable way for finding a lasting, just and humane solution for all the open questions;

2. Violence and terrorism, as unacceptable means contrary to all international norms, must cease immediately;

3. Any solution for Kosovo-Metohija must take into account the territorial integrity, sovereignty and international recognition of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia's borders, in accordance with the basic principles of the UN Charter, the Final Helsinki Act and the Paris OSCE Charter;

4. A solution must be based on the full respect of the equality of all citizens and national communities in Kosovo-Metohija. Guaranteed will be the full affirmation and equal treatment of all national, religious and cultural values, as well as the historical heritage;

5. The future of Kosovo-Metohija lies in peace, equality, integration, economic prosperity as well as free and joint life, and not in ethnic, religious, cultural or any other divisions and isolation;

6. Legal arrangements for establishing self-government in Kosovo-Metohija should be in accordance with the legal systems of the Republic of Serbia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, as well as with international standards and the Final Helsinki Act;

7. The citizens of Kosovo-Metohija will realize their self-government through assembly, executive and judicial bodies in Kosovo-Metohija. Within nine months' time, held will be free and fair elections for the bodies of Kosovo-Metohija, including those at the municipal level. The Yugoslav government invites the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to monitor these elections in order to ensure that they are open and fair.

8. Members of national communities will enjoy additional rights, in order to be made possible for them to preserve and express their national, cultural, religious and lingual identity in accordance with international standards and the Final Helsinki Act. National communities will be equal in the legal sense and will not take advantage of their additional rights to endanger the rights of other national communities or the rights of other citizens;

9. Within the context of a political solution for Kosovo-Metohija, which will provide for numerous competencies to be transferred onto the municipal level, established will also be the local police under the control of municipal authorities. This local police, whose composition will reflect the composition of the local population, will be coordinated by the administrative bodies of Kosovo-Metohija. This solution must ensure the full protection of all the citizens and national communities;

10. No criminal charges will be brought against any person before state courts for criminal acts related to the conflict in Kosovo-Metohija, except for crimes against humanity and international law, as envisaged by chapter 16 of the federal penal code. For the sake of providing full public insight, the state will allow full and unhindered access to foreign experts (including pathologists), who will cooperate with state investigators;

11. The authorized bodies will reexamine, for the sake of an extraordinary reduction of penalties, the sentences passed to members of national communities in Kosovo-Metohija, who have been convicted for politically motivated criminal acts.

The time framework

1. By October 14 agreed on will be a comprehensive time framework, on the basis of the following elements:

- by October 19, the reaching of an agreement on the status of international presence, including verification, the OSCE and other elements;

- by November 2, the reaching of an agreement that will contain the basic elements for a political solution for Kosovo-Metohija, using as the basis the document proposed by the Contact Group (on October 2 1998);

- by November 9, the drawing up of regulations and procedures for elections".

The government has supported the reached agreements in their entirety since they have fully preserved the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our country, a conflict has been avoided and conditions have been created for a political dialogue based on complex principles whose point of departure is that all the solutions should be set within the frameworks of the legal systems of the Republic of Serbia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

The government has decided to propose to the federal government to accept the agreed upon solutions, the announcement says.
***

Yugoslav Prime Minister Momir Bulatovic told Tanjug and Radio and Television of Serbia that, at the concluded second summit of Southeastern European countries, given was very important support to the advancement of comprehensive cooperation in the region.
 

My basic impression from this session is that - even though we are different at this moment- we know that our fate lies in the integration process and linking up, because only in that manner can we expect that all together, as soon as possible and as fully as possible, we can be an integral part of the European continent to which we belong in many ways, Bulatovic said. He stressed that that adopted Declaration had a built in formulation which shows that Kosmet was an internal affair of FR Yugoslavia. He also specified that this meant that all the citizens of Kosmet, representatives of all the national and ethnic groups, not only the Albanians, but all others as well, would be equally protected, respected and treated without any form of majorization.
***

The OSCE chairman, Polish Foreign Minister Bronislav Geremek will soon leave for Belgrade in order to sign, on behalf of the OSCe, the agreement worked out by special US envoy Richard Holbrooke, it has been stated in Warsaw.

The agreement Holbrooke reached with Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic envisages the presence of OSCE observers in Kosovo, who would monitor the realization of the peace plan for the province.
***

The council of the state DUMA, the Lower house of the Russian parliament, in regard to the events in Kosovo-Metohija, decided on Tuesday, to send a parliamentary delegation to Yugoslavia, Tanjug reports.

The delegation will be led by the DUMA's deputy speaker, Sergey Babur, and it will consist of four representatives of the major parties and parliamentary groups, and as it was announced, would most probably arrive in Yugoslavia on Wednesday.
***

The presidency of the self-proclaimed assembly of the so-called "republic of Kosovo" on Tuesday afternoon, announced that independence was the only realistic solution for Kosovo-Metohija, by that opposing the achieved agreement between Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic and US envoy Richard Holbrooke.

The self-proclaimed presidency, contrary to the stand of the international community, said that it was impossible to reach a solution to the Kosovo-Metohija issue within the framework of Yugoslavia. Confirming that it did not have the authorization of the Albanian national community in Kosovo-Metohija. The self-proclaimed body of the illegal assembly of Albanians said that no one among the Albanians had the right to accept solutions which were contrary to the will of the Albanian people. The political representatives of the Kosmet Albanians, including Ibrahim Rugova and his team for talks with the Serbian state delegation have still not responded to the agreement on a peaceful resolution of all the disputable issues in Kosovo-Metohija, made public on Tuesday.
***

China has made public its own diplomatic initiatives for a political solution of the problem in Kosmet, stressing once again, in regard to NATO military threats against Yugoslavia, that it opposed the use of force and threats of the use of force in international relations, Tanjug reports.

At a press conference, China's official representative, Tang Gouciang, commented on the latest developments in regard to Kosmet and reports that advancement was made in the talks. Citing Peking's diplomatic initiatives, Tang said that Chinese foreign minister Tang Jiaxuan, had recently sent messages to the UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, and the foreign ministers of the remaining four Security Council member countries, where he expressed China's stand on Kosovo and called for taking efficient measures on reaching a political solution and preventing the use of force.
***

The agreement on a peaceful and political resolution of the Kosmet crisis, reached in Belgrade by Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and US envoy Richard Holbrooke, represents a victory of diplomacy over force, it is stressed in Tuesday's first reactions of the world media. The world, Tanjug assessed, has almost unanimously welcomed this agreement, and the first assessment of west European analysts intimate a lasting solution to the issue of the autonomy of Kosovo-Metohija within the Republic of Serbia.

The Russian foreign ministry's official spokesman Vladimir Rahmanyin was among the first to offer Russia's support to the agreement reached in Belgrade. What is yet to be done, he said, is the formulation and coordination of the mandate of the OSCE which is to monitor the development of the situation in Kosovo-Metohija. At Tuesday's press conference he expressed the belief that Russia would take part in the OSCE mission. The chairman of the Russian Duma's foreign affairs committee, Vladimir Lukin has said that the Belgrade agreement on a peaceful resolution of the Kosovo problem was the position which Russia had also been aspiring to.

The American electronic media gave as top news in their broadcasts on Tuesday the information from Belgrade about the reached agreement on a peaceful and political resolution of the Kosovo-Metohija crisis. The first assessments set out by the American media are that it is thanks to the Belgrade agreement that avoided has been the danger of the use of military measures. The CNN television network as well as the American Associated Press news agency carried part of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic's statement that the reached agreement confirmed the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia's and Serbia's commitment to peace. Also carried are the assessments of US envoy Richard Holbrooke, especially his expressions of hope that a turning point has occurred in the process of resolving the Kosmet crisis.

The Italian foreign ministry's under-secretary, Pierre Fassino, welcoming the Belgrade agreement, underlined that it was necessary to continue to the end the search for a total peaceful solution to the Kosmet crisis. He assessed the Milosevic-Holbrooke meetings as very positive since, as he said, they opened the door to a political resolution of the problems. The chairman of the Italian Parliament's defense committee, Aldo Fini also expressed hope that now the road was definitely opened to a peaceful resolution of the Kosmet knot.

The agreement from Belgrade has also been welcomed by official London. British Prime Minister Tony Blair said that the Belgrade agreement represented a turning point in the resolution of the Kosmet crisis. Over the past few days, Great Britain, Tanjug assesses, was the most ardent advocate of a NATO military action against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. For this reason, not surprising is Tuesday's statement by British foreign secretary Robin Cook who did welcome the agreement, but also advocated that the pressure against Yugoslavia, including military pressure, continue.

The leading Bulgarian state and private radio and TV stations brought as top news the information about the agreement reached in Belgrade. The media in Sofia lay emphasis on the fact that Yugoslavia's priority goal was for a solution for Kosmet to be found by political means and to preserve the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. In neighboring Bulgaria, the Belgrade agreement is received with relief, since there was fear that a possible NATO intervention could lead to the war spilling over into this country as well.

The electronic media in Macedonia see the agreement as the first step towards the establishment of peace and the stabilization of the situation in the southern Serbian province. A military commentator of the Skopje TV A1, retired general Todor Atanasovski has said that a possible military intervention against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia would be an inappropriate act since Yugoslavia has done nothing outside its borders, nor has it endangered the security or territory of another state in order to be punished in such as drastic manner.

According to foreign news agencies, the OSCE has stated in Vienna that the first members of the monitoring and verification mission will arrive in Kosmet already in a week's time.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

PRESS REVIEW

Yugoslav papers report on the negotiations between Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and US envoy Richard Holbrooke. Headlines emphasize the western diplomats' assessment that achievement had been reached in finding a peaceful solution to the Kosovo crisis. Carried is also President Milosevic's assessment that there undoubtedly exist all the necessary conditions for a peaceful political solution to the current problems. PRESS REVIEW is prepared by Senka Nikolic.

Dailies also carry a statement by Yugoslav Prime Minister Momir Bulatovic on Yugoslavia's firm orientation for all the issues in Kosmet to be resolved through unconditional dialogue and with the guarantee of equal rights to all citizens, regardless of their nationality and religion and in line with the highest international standards. At the summit of the seven countries of southeastern Europe in the Turkish town of Antalya, Bulatovic emphasized that NATO threats with a military intervention were unacceptable and counter-productive, and that they could not resolve anything, but only contribute to the destabilization of the entire region with unforeseeable consequences. Bulatovic emphasized that this was completely contrary to international law and the interests of all states of southeastern Europe. Despite this, with concrete action, and not only verbally, Yugoslavia has fulfilled all the requests from the UN Security Council Resolution on Kosmet, Bulatovic said.

Blic's correspondent from Kosmet reports that the Serbian Interior Ministry's special units, as well as the majority of members the regular police units, withdrew from the region of Klina on Monday. The police was withdrawn to the bases fifteen days ago, in accordance with the conclusions of the Serbian Parliament and the decisions of the republican government. Albanian terrorists, however, have continued their activities. Blic reports that, on Monday morning, a group of terrorists put up barricades on the Pristina-Pec motorway, from where it opened fire on a vehicle passing by. On the arrival of the police at the scene of the crime, the terrorists opened fire again. The police did not respond, Blic writes.

Politika carries an article from which it can be seen that a possible military intervention in Yugoslavia would be contrary to the international legal order, primarily to the provisions of the United Nations Charter. The seventh chapter of the UN Charter unequivocally says that the international community can resort to force against a sovereign state in three cases only: if the events in it represent a threat to the safety of some other country; in case of an aggression; and thirdly, in cases where one state is endangering peace in the region. Politika emphasizes that none of the preconditions have been fulfilled in Kosovo-Metohija. Yugoslavia did not perform an aggression against any country, although it has been exposed to armed provocations from neighbouring Albania for months. Fight against terrorism is the legitimate right of every sovereign country, Politika writes. Besides, all actions aimed at eliminating terrorist groups were ended three weeks ago, so it cannot be said that Yugoslavia is endangering peace in the region.

"I am not at all happy about the announcement of airstrikes against the FR of Yugoslavia", Nasa Borba carries a statement by former US Secretary of State and ambassador in Belgrade, Lawrence Eagleberger. In his opinion, the Serb side is not exclusively to blame for what is happening in Kosovo. It takes at least two for this sort of chaos, Eagleberger said. He emphasized that the comparisons between the Albanian terrorists and other terrorist organizations, such as the IRA or ETA are not accepted in the world, as this world is not completely just.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

THE YUGOSLAV PRIME MINISTER IN ANTALYA

Yugoslav Prime Minister Momir Bulatovic addressed the issue of Kosovo Albanian terrorism in Kosovo-Metohija at the Summit of south-east Europen countries.

Since the beginning of the year, a total of 1,273 terrorist attacks have been carried out in Kosmet, Bulatovic said. In 569 attacks, 140 persons have been killed including 64 members of Albanian national minority, 37 Serbs and Montenegrins, 3 Romanies and 36 still unidentified persons. Over the past eight months, Albanian terrorists have attacked journalists on 12 occasions, aid workers on three and diplomatic representatives on two occasions.

Bulatovic underlined that Yugoslavia had positively resolved the requests stemming from Security Council Resolution 1199. "The only non-fulfilled part refers to the obligation of Albanian movements and parties in Kosmet." He recalled that the Yugoslav government had called on the OSCE to assure itself of the positive developments in Kosmet. Bulatovic said that the activities of police forces in Kosmet ceased on September 28 and humanitarian problems had successfully been resolved.

The international community should take into account accurate rather than false information aimed at destabilizing the region, and distance itself from Albanian terrorists whom it calls guerilla, army and liberation forces instead of ranking them among terrorist organizations.

The Yugoslav prime minister said that the international community played down the fact that Albania, affected by a serious political and economic crisis for several years now, had become a domicile for terrorists and Mujahedin, organized crime and the narco mafia.

It is well-known that the main goal of separatists in Kosovo-Metohija is to secede from Serbia and Yugoslavia and create what amounts to a greater Albania. Albania was the only country in the world to recognize the phantom Republic of Kosovo and open its mission in Tirana. More than one hundred serious border incidents have been caused from Albania's territory in the course of 1998, killing 40 members of the Yugoslav Army which, with the training and infiltration of terrorists and armament into Yugoslav territory, represents a form of aggression opposed to the basic documents of the UN and the OSCE, Bulatovic said.

Bulatovic repeated that Yugoslavia was determined to solve all problems, both internal and international, by peaceful and democratic means and through dialogue. Bulatovic called on all south-east European countries and the international community on the whole to condemn Albania's behaviour and exert pressure on it to renounce its political support to terrorism and separatism in Kosmet.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright (C.) Radio Yugoslavia
--------------DC5D65AF20914FFDEBCF2C3C--

THE STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC ON KOSOVO DEAL WITH AMB. HOLBROOKE
(transmitted by the state radio and TV)
Belgrade, Tuesday October 13, 1998

Dear citizens,
I want to inform you about the talks which we had during the several last days. We have reached an agreement that the problems in Kosovo and Metohija and concerning Kosovo and Metohija should be resolved in a peaceful way, by political methods. The agreements which have been reached are removing the danger of the military intervention against our country.

As for the political solution, it will be directed towards the affirmation of the ethnic equality of all citizens and ethnic groups in Kosovo and Metohija.

After all these pressures to which we have been exposed in the last, I should say, years, but especially the last weeks and days, there has prevailed a belief that good solutions may be achieved only by peaceful means.

The agreements which we have reached are fully in accordance with the interests of our country, the interests of Republic of Serbia and all its citizens as well as the interests of all our citizens and ethnic groups in Kosovo and Metohija.

Now we have a duty to speed up the political process and the economic transformation of our country in general.

At the end i would like to thank to all citizens, from this country and aborad, who have been sending to me their messages of their firm support. In these messages it was required that the sovreignity and territorial integrity of our country is preserved, that our dignity is preserved. In short, they asked for the peaceful solution of the problems which burden the life in the southern Serbia's province. I think we have achieved this. I thank to all.
-END-

(The text is published in "Dnevni Telegraf", Oct. 14)

--
Decani Monastery               tel +381 390 61543
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http://www.decani.yunet.com    e-mail: decani@EUnet.yu

Dear list members,

The future final agreement on Kosovo between Belgrade and the Kosovo Albanian leaders might be based on the modified US paper (Second Hill's document) and the Contact Group decisions. Here is the document on a possible Kosovo agreement reached by the Serb and Albanian scholars and intellectuals under the auspices of the Bertelsmann Foundation. I hope this text might interest you. On the last Bertelsmann Foundation conference, in Halki a month ago, I could hear that this paper is accepted as a base for the future agreement by the EU. The intelectuals who took part in these meetings which have been going on for two years are:
Kosovo Albanians: Veton Surroi, Gazmend Pulja, Adem Demaci, Isa Zymberi
The Serbs: Milan St. Protic, Predrag Simic, Dusan Batakovic, Ratomir Tanic

I attended the last two meetings in Thessalonica and Halki this year. In Thessalonica Bishop Artemije was present as well. Our Church has not passed any official statement concerning this paper nor have we taken active part in its composition, but we generally support all peaceful methods and options for the peaceful settlement of the Kosovo crisis. We intend to take part in further Bertelsmann meetings as representatives of the Kosovo Serbs and their interests. These meetings have given us opportunity to meet the Kosovo Albanian leaders personally and to exchange with them a lot of interesting ideas in the spirit of tolerance and mutual respect. We remain open for any kind of cooperation in this field if it might help the efforts for the peaceful settlement of the Kosovo crisis.

Fr. Sava

The text in English from the Bertelsmann server:
 http://www.stiftung.bertelsmann.de/english/publika/download/texte/kosovoen.doc

------------------------------------

JOINT RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE KOSOVO CONFLICT
In a joint dialogue, Kosovo Albanian and Serbian intellectuals, together with international experts, the Bertelsmann Science Foundation and the Centre for Applied Policy Research have developed recommendations to find a way out of the current crisis in Kosovo. Though full consensus among all participants has not been reached on each of the following paragraphs, these recommendations adequately reflect the serious contents of the debates. It should be noted that these recommendations represent a first step of an ongoing dialogue which will include in a second round the reflections on future scenarios for the status of Kosovo, ranging from maintaining the status quo to full independence.

The participants believe that concerted and urgent action is required to prevent a further escalation of violence in Kosovo, to improve the circumstances of life and to prepare a peaceful political solution of the conflict. Therefore the participants of the dialogue address their recommendations to the Kosovo Albanian and Serbian political leadership, to the international community and the concerned public, calling for a process of mutual confidence building and practical improvements.

The recommendations are based upon the conviction that a comprehensive democratization of Serbia is a necessary but not sufficient precondition for reconciling Serbs and Albanians. A solution of the Kosovo problem requires mutual respect of the Serbian and the Kosovo Albanian concepts of legitimate order and a gradual, pragmatic approach to improve the modus vivendi in Kosovo. Both the Serbian and the Kosovo Albanian side should understand that compromises in practical areas do not imply the recognition of the status quo or prejudge the future settlement. The participants believe that such a mutual awareness should guide the policies of both sides.

LETTER OF INTENT
Democratically elected representatives of the Serbs and the Kosovo Albanians should get together in order to prepare a joint letter of intent, aiming at building up confidence between both sides. International support and involvement is instrumental in facilitating the negotiating and implementation process.

The negotiations should aim at the following commitments:

a) Both sides commit themselves to pursue their objectives without any use of violent means, to respect human rights and democratic principles.

b) Both sides agree to start negotiations in two distinct areas:
firstly, confidence building and practical improvements, and secondly, definition and institutionalization of the status of Kosovo. A gradual but continuous and simultaneous negotiation process in both areas is important.

A full respect of human rights in Serbia should be an initial step towards the solution of the Kosovo problem and should provide a tolerant environment for the settlement of the Kosovo status question. Confidence-building measures and practical improvements are to be negotiated and implemented unilaterally, simultaneously and between both sides. The following measures are linked to each other and most of the measures have bilateral as well as unilateral aspects.
 
CONFIDENCE BUILDING AND PRACTICAL IMPROVEMENTS

1. The education agreement of September 1996 should be implemented without further delay. Kosovo Albanians should be allowed to use the school and university buildings again. Curricula, standardization of exams, recognition of degrees, financing and supervision of schools should be determined jointly, by involving the Serbian Ministry of Education, the Kosova Education Authority, parents and teachers. This implies mutual recognition of the existing education systems. The Serbian State should also apply this principle with respect to the degrees obtained by Kosovo Albanian pupils and students during the last years. However, if schools decided to choose other curricula, the recognition of degrees should be linked to the fulfillment of certain standards. In principle, a higher degree of independence would entail a higher degree of responsibility for the maintenance and service quality of schools. It may be useful to implement different models with varying degrees of independence, adjusted to local preferences and needs.

2. A fundamental reform of the public health care institutions should be reached through an appropriate agreement. Institutional arrangements should guarantee an effective participation of Kosovo Albanians in the public health care system. The staff of public health care institutions should be recruited on the basis of its professional qualification exclusively. The professional medical organizations should create a codex of non-discriminating behavior and monitor compliance with its rules.

 As the health system faces economic reform, privatization of practices and of health insurance organizations offers organizational forms to transform the current shadow state health care and social services into a pluralist public health system. Within such a system the state is complemented by other service providers.

3. Both Albanian and Serbian should be used as official languages in public life and institutions in Kosovo.

4. An agreement should be negotiated with respect to cultural and sport activities. All citizens should have equal access to cultural and sport facilities, which should be jointly administered in the public interest. Both sides commit themselves to develop and cultivate the identity of the Kosovo Albanian and the Serb community in Kosovo. The problem of naming streets, places and public institutions in Kosovo needs to be adressed. A commission consisting of Kosovo Albanian, Serb and international representatives should be established in order to ensure that names reflect the heritage of the object and the wishes and preferences of the local population.

5. Both sides should agree to improve the security situation in Kosovo by implementing the following interrelated measures simultaneously, wherever possible.

a) The Serbian Parliament should remove the state of emergency, declared on 26 June 1990, and all legal consequences derived from the act on “special circumstances”.
b) In return, the Kosovo Albanian side should reaffirm not to resort to any violent means; both sides should agree with the Helsinki principles concerning the change of international borders.
c) The Serbian and the Kosovo Albanian authorities should create a joint council to coordinate their activities in the area of internal security. Both sides commit themselves to publicly condemn and investigate in human rights violations and politically motivated acts of violence, including terrorist acts and allegations of terrorist acts, irrespective from which source on either side they may come.

Concerning the use of the term "terrorist acts", no final consensus was reached among the participants.

d) Kosovo Albanians should be offered civilian forms of military service or be exempted from military service for a mutually agreed interim period.
e) Disarmament of people with registered and unregistered weapons is required in order to guarantee the long-term security in Kosovo. Possession should be restricted to registered shotguns where a reason is provided for needing them (hunting etc.). Both sides should agree to set up a trilateral commission consisting of a Kosovo Albanian, Serb and international community representative, in order to disarm the local population.
f) The Yugoslav army should support a deescalation by avoiding public appearances in Kosovo. Army units should not get involved in police activities. The army should confine itself to controlling and defending the borders of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

6. The local public administration including police should again be opened to Kosovo Albanian personnel. Public employment policy should apply equal opportunity principles, seeking to choose the best-qualified applicants, while, at the same time, aiming at reflecting the composition of the population in Kosovo.

7. Police officers and civil servants working in Kosovo should participate in mandatory conflict management and human rights training. This would facilitate empathy and improve skills in non-violent techniques to reduce tensions and settle conflicts.

8. The independence of the judiciary needs to be ensured. A judicial commission consisting of Kosovo Albanian, Serbian and international experts should be established in order to evaluate the work of courts in Kosovo and formulate recommendations.

9. The independence of public and private media should be guaranteed. Frequencies should be granted to independent radio and TV stations in Kosovo.

10. The office of an ombudsperson should be established in order to improve the legal and political means to cope with problems of human rights. The ombudsperson should be acceptable for both sides. She/he would have full access to information and the right to present cases directly to the relevant political bodies. He/She should consider alleged or apparent violations of human rights and discriminations on ethnic or other grounds. All persons should have the right to submit applications concerning alleged violations of human rights to the ombudsperson.

11. International support of economic development should be considered because it is in the interest of the international community to stabilize the present situation. This support could take place in particular in the context of the Regional Approach of the European Union. Support should also be given in the framework of special programs of the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

12. A free-trade zone with the neighboring countries should be created. Visa regulations should be liberalized. Increasing cross-border trade and economic co-operation could enhance the importance of economic motives and interests and it could make borders more transparent.

13. The European Union should give technical assistance to programs aiming at an improvement of the co-operation between ethnic communities.

14. The international community should support the social and economic re-integration of those Kosovo Albanian refugees which have been repatriated.

15. The Governments of Serbia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia are recommended to agree with the European Union and the United Nations on the opening of offices in Kosovo. Furthermore, the Serbian and Yugoslav Governments are encouraged to agree with the Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) on the presence of a mission of long duration in Kosovo and to cooperate with the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office for Kosovo and with the Office of the High Representative. The OSCE should acknowledge this step by considering it supportive for the full participation of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the OSCE.

The international community should give financial, technical and political support to the implementation of these practical improvements and confidence building measures. A full integration of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia into the Council of Europe, the International Financial Institutions, the NATO and the EU will be preconditioned of its role in settling the Kosovo problem.

To facilitate this process of confidence building and practical improvements, an interim political framework is required for a mutually agreed period. To create this framework, experts in constitutional law should be consulted.

-END-
--
Decani Monastery               tel +381 390 61543
38322 Decani, Serbia           fax +381 390 61567
http://www.decani.yunet.com    e-mail: decani@EUnet.yu

PHOTOGRAF ENCLOSED:
Bishop Artemije and Mr. Adem Demaci talking about the Kosovo crisis in Thessalonica on the Bertelsmann conference.

http://www.usia.gov/current/news/latest/98101309.wlt.html?/products/washfile/newsitem.shtml

13 October 1998

TRANSCRIPT: ALBRIGHT PRESS CONFERENCE OCTOBER 8, LONDON

(Stresses unity, determination of Contact Group) (1560)

London -- Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said the October 8 Contact Group meeting on the Kosovo crisis "showed the unity of the Contact Group and our determination to pursue compliance of Resolution 1199 and to make sure that there is compliance on that resolution, verification and durability in the carrying out of that compliance.

"It was also very clear from all the people who spoke that we understood that time is running out; that the humanitarian situation, which we all discussed, is not improving; that winter is coming on; and that there has to be some action."

Albright spoke at a press conference the same day. She reiterated that "the use of force is not an end but a means, and what we want is compliance with 1199, and if diplomacy backed by the threat of the use of force works, all the better. But the sense that we all had was that the time for diplomacy was running out."

She added, "The reason why the international community has focused so much on what is happening in Kosovo is, to a great extent, the humanitarian catastrophe that is looming.... But we also have stated many times that we are concerned about the spreading of violence in the Balkans."

Albright said "Federal Republic of Yugoslavia" President Slobodan Milosevic should "understand that as the leader -- an elected leader -- of a sovereign nation, he has responsibilities not only to his own people but to the international community for trying to pursue civilized behavior."

Following is a transcript of her press conference:

(Begin transcript)

Press Conference
October 8, 1998, London, United Kingdom

As released by the Office of the Spokesman
U.S. Department of State

SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: As you know, it's been a long day so I'm going to keep my opening statement very brief and then take some questions.

I think this morning, as you know, in Brussels, I had some military discussions with Secretary General Solana and General Clark. This evening we were talking about the diplomatic side of the crisis that has been going on in Kosovo.

In our Contact Group meeting, we had an excellent discussion that I think showed the unity of the Contact Group and our determination to pursue compliance of Resolution 1199 and to make sure that there is compliance on that resolution, verification and durability in the carrying out of that compliance. It was also very clear from all the people who spoke that we understood that time is running out; that the humanitarian situation, which we all discussed, is not improving; that winter is coming on; and that there has to be some action.

I am very grateful to Secretary Cook for having convened this meeting and for his always brilliant way of conducting meetings. It's a pleasure always to have him as chair. I would also like to express gratitude for the work that Foreign Minister Ivanov did in his stop in Belgrade. The work that he and Mr. Holbrooke are doing is quite complementary, and that was evident in the discussion today. And finally, I am very pleased that the Contact Group made very clear the unanimous support for my decision to ask Mr. Holbrooke to return to Belgrade to continue pressing ["Federal Republic of Yugoslavia" President Slobodan] Milosevic to comply with 1199.

So, all in all, it has been a long but a good day that shows the unity and resolve of NATO and the Contact Group.

QUESTION: Will you say that this meeting enhanced the possibility that NATO would take military action if Milosevic doesn't comply?

SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: I think that what it has done is shown again the unity and resolve of the international community. As I have said, Barry, the use of force is not an end but a means, and what we want is compliance with 1199, and if diplomacy backed by the threat of the use of force works, all the better. But the sense that we all had was that the time for diplomacy was running out.

QUESTION: What would you say to those around the world who would argue that the willingness of the American administration to strike abroad is linked to the difficulties the President is facing in the domestic scene?

SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: I would say that that's hogwash. That's an American diplomatic expression.

(Laughter.)

QUESTION: Madame Secretary, would you say that this diplomatic mission by Holbrooke tomorrow or tonight, when he goes tonight and speaks to Milosevic tomorrow, is the last diplomatic mission that you will support?

SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: I don't want to make categorical statements like that; but as I have said, I think the time for diplomacy is running out. The added support now that Mr. Holbrooke has for his mission, I think, would also perhaps concentrate Milosevic's mind more. And the fact that the message that Foreign Minister Ivanov had was the same -- that there had to be compliance with 1199 -- I think would indicate that time for diplomacy is running out.

QUESTION: There's unity in seeking compliance, but no unity on what should happen if that compliance is not forthcoming; is that not a problem?

SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: I think that I would disagree with that. I think that there is unity in the fact that there has to be compliance; it has to be verifiable -- we talked about that -- and durable. I would also say, in terms of the use of force, while there may not -- all the members of the Contact Group may not agree on that, as I said this morning, if it is necessary to use force I believe that NATO -- well, first of all, they are increasingly -- their whole procedure is now one that shows that they are prepared to act; and those that do not agree would not have a veto over the action.

QUESTION: Aren't you afraid that NATO military action against Yugoslavia is going to cause the expansion of fighting to other countries with Albanian populations like Macedonia?

SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: First of all, let me repeat again, it is not our desire to use force for the sake of using force but in order to get compliance with the Security Council resolution -- the recent resolution and others.

Let me also make the larger point which is that the reason that the international community has focused so much on what is happening in Kosovo is, to a great extent, the humanitarian catastrophe that is looming in the hills and the fact that there are tens of thousands of people wandering around and winter is coming. But we also have stated many times that we are concerned about the spreading of violence in the Balkans, and that what had to be made clear was that the kinds of activities that Milosevic is undertaking and additional support of a crisis situation there in fact creates the danger of this spreading. So we are -- it's the opposite of what you say -- we believe that the alliance has to stand firm in order to make sure that there is not a spread of this kind of violence.

QUESTION: Madame Secretary, taking into account Russia's opposition, was there unanimity with all the other members of the Contact Group, including Germany and Italy, for the use of military force in Kosovo?

SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Well, first of all, let me say, as I said earlier, the discussion tonight was on diplomacy; we were very focused on that. But I also in my discussions on the side gave me a very good feeling about the fact that there was unanimity in the alliance.

QUESTION: I wonder if Mr. Ivanov gave you any reason to think that Mr. Milosevic could be persuaded diplomatically?

SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: I think he believed that his own mission there, which we thought was very useful, and the work that Mr. Holbrooke is doing with the support of -- and let me parenthetically say that Foreign Minister Ivanov very early on in the discussion gave his support to Ambassador Holbrooke, and in fact I think he was the first one of the Contact Group members to praise Ambassador Holbrooke's mission. So I do think that he believes, as do we all, that if we can maintain the determination of Resolution 1199 and our determination for compliance, verification and durability, that there is a chance that Milosevic can be persuaded diplomatically.

QUESTION: Madame Secretary, in the eyes of the United States has President Milosevic forfeited sovereignty over his country?

SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: I think that that is an international legal question that I think I don't want to answer in a specific form. But I do think that there is very much a sense that Milosevic is not behaving in a way that is commensurate with how a leader of a sovereign nation should pursue diplomatic solutions, or how he directs treatment of displaced people or his views about what is humanitarian or whether assistance is being provided properly. Those are all questions that the international community is asking. I think that's it very important that he understand that as the leader -- an elected leader -- of a sovereign nation, he has responsibilities not only to his own people but to the international community for trying to pursue civilized behavior.

(End transcript)

http://www.usia.gov/current/news/latest/98101310.wlt.html?/products/washfile/newsitem.shtml

13 October 1998

TRANSCRIPT: HOLBROOKE AND HILL PRESS CONFERENCE ON KOSOVO 10/13

(Remarks after latest talks with FRY President Milosevic) (5440)

Belgrade -- Ambassador Richard Holbrooke said in a press conference October 13 that "President Clinton and Secretary Albright sent us to the region nine days ago to deal with a crisis which has metastasized into an emergency. The crisis remains."

Though the crisis in Kosovo remains, the ambassador said, "As for the emergency which brought us here [to Belgrade for talks with 'Federal Republic of Yugoslavia' President Milosevic] and which brought us to the edge of the use of force, let me say that as a result of the nine days of discussions we have had, we are in a position to see the possibility that certain commitments that have been made, if they are turned into compliance, can offer us a map though the lifting of the sense of emergency....

"I cannot stress too highly how deeply concerned we are about what happened in the last few months in Kosovo -- the tragedy, the horror of it, the unnecessariness of it -- and that of course is why we came here. We hope that this will mark a turning point in the right direction. But the proof is not in what I am saying here today.

"The proof is in compliance with U.N. Resolution 1199 and with actions on the ground in Kosovo regarding the deployment of security forces, the return of refugees to their homes, the end of military violence on all sides or armed violence on all sides, the repairing of the damage -- in my view unnecessary -- and wanton in some cases -- destruction, and the creation most importantly of a political process that gives the people of Kosovo autonomy and self-determination. The details of this must be worked out and the timetable for this will be established....

"I want to stress again ... the emergency phase of the crisis is not over with this press conference and these announcements. All I said was we can see a path to its end. I am not here to declare the end of it."

Those announcements included:

"An agreement with President Milosevic on a ground verification program augmented by an important aerial verification program. On the ground the OSCE, the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe, will have in Kosovo a two-thousand-person Verification Mission. That is its name: Verification Mission. It is not monitors, it is not observers, it is verifiers -- compliance verifiers....

"Aerial verification by non-combat aircraft flying over Kosovo in conditions that fulfill all standards of safety have been agreed upon.... That arrangement will be codified in a formal agreement between the Secretary General of NATO, Javier Solana; the Supreme Commander of NATO, General Clark; and the appropriate authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia within the next few days, and I think you can expect a trip here by Secretary General Solana and General Clark in the very near future....

"The authorities here in Belgrade will make a statement regarding the political process later today. That is a statement that is theirs and theirs alone, but we hope that it will mark a turning point in the tortured and tragic relationships between the peoples -- Albanian, Serb, others -- in Kosovo."

However, in this regard, Ambassador to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Chris Hill said at the press conference, "Yes, these were a set of points which will be issued here in Belgrade ... that the authorities here in Belgrade are prepared to see in an eventual agreement. And the points include the restoration of self-government in Kosovo, an amnesty provision. There is also a provision for elections.... These elections are absolutely key. They will be the foundation of the democracy that we intend to try to construct in Kosovo. Does this satisfy all of the demands of the Albanian leadership in Kosovo? No. But it does provide the basis for establishing democratic self-government in Kosovo."

Ambassador Holbrooke said, "Finally, given the situation that now exists, [U.S.] Ambassador [to Serbia-Montenegro Richard M.] Miles has asked to beef up his embassy staff immediately ... and they will return at about 3 this afternoon from Budapest."

Holbrooke would not characterize his discussions with President Milosevic as a "triumph," but said, "Let's not use the 'T' word -- the word 'triumph' -- until we are ready to say that something has been done that is meaningful for the people of Kosovo."

When asked by the press, "How can you trust President Milosevic?" Holbrooke responded, "That's not my issue.... Our issue is to deal with the realities and do the best we can ... there is no value in going down that route today. We are here to move forward."

Holbrooke said that he is returning "home," but that Ambassador Hill will remain heavily engaged as Secretary of State Albright's representative in working on the implementation of the issues announced at the press conference.

Following is the transcript of the press conference:

(Begin transcript)

PRESS CONFERENCE BY AMBASSADOR RICHARD HOLBROOKE, AND AMBASSADOR CHRISTOPHER HILL

HOTEL HYATT, BELGRADE
OCTOBER 13, 1998
11:30 A.M.

AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE: You all know Ambassador Hill. I want to thank you all for coming, and I have a brief opening comment. We'll take a few questions.

President Clinton and Secretary Albright sent us to the region nine days ago to deal with a crisis which has metastasized into an emergency. The crisis remains. It exists in Kosovo and it has existed for a long time, and as we proceed with this discussion about where we are today, I cannot underline too strongly the fact that that is why we are here and the people of Kosovo -- all the people of Kosovo -- are in need of solutions to the tragedy which has enveloped them for too long. And we must not forget that is what this is about.

Now, as for the emergency which brought us here and which brought us to the edge of the use of force, let me say that as a result of the nine days of discussions we have had, we are in a position to see the possibility that certain commitments that have been made, if they are turned into compliance, can offer us a map though the lifting of the sense of emergency.

But before I get into details, I want to be clear on my distinguished friends and colleagues sitting to our right: The Ambassador of Austria representing the European Union, the Ambassador of France to Macedonia, the British Ambassador, and who else here. I am sorry. The Russian Ambassador. Oh, we have two French Ambassadors. Excuse me -- French Charge. I am sorry. "Toujours deux Francais pour chaque Americain." I want to thank all of them, and I think their presence here illustrates a point that Ambassador Hill and I would like to make, and that is that it was the collective efforts of the international community as represented by the Contact Group [Representatives of the United States, UK, Italy, France, Germany, and Russia], OSCE [Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe], the European Union, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), that make it possible for us to be here today, and, of course, the Russian Federation, whose support in this situation has been indispensable. I want to personally thank my Co-Chairman of the Dayton Peace Conference, now the Foreign Minister of Russia, Igor Ivanov, for his personal involvement in this effort as well as that of his colleagues. And I would ask you, Mr. Ambassador, to convey to Igor our deep gratitude.

Now, where are we? Compliance with Security Council Resolution 1199 is the immediate issue in front of us. We have agreed with ["Federal Republic of Yugoslavia"] President Milosevic on a ground verification program augmented by an important aerial verification program. On the ground the OSCE, the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe, will have in Kosovo a two-thousand-person Verification Mission. That is its name: Verification Mission. It is not monitors, it is not observers, it is verifiers -- compliance verifiers. They will come from any or all of the nations in the OSCE, and they will be stationed, with the Yugoslav Government's full permission and support, anywhere in Kosovo they wish to be. They will have security guarantees from the Yugoslav government. They will have freedom of movement. They will enjoy the same diplomatic status as other people do under the Vienna Convention. Among their other roles and missions will be to supervise any elections that take place as we move towards what we hope will be a political settlement of the core issue that brought us here today. And there are many other tasks which I am sure I've forgotten.

We met last night in Brussels with the Polish Foreign Minister, Foreign Minister Geremek, whom both Ambassador Hill and I have been privileged to know for many years. He will travel to Belgrade shortly to sign an agreement on behalf of the OSCE with the "Federal Republic of Yugoslavia" confirming every detail and much more of this agreement. First, of course, he has to consult the OSCE Permanent Council.

Secondly, aerial verification by non-combat aircraft flying over Kosovo in conditions that fulfill all standards of safety have been agreed upon. General Michael Short, whom many of you saw while he was with us, conducted this aspect of the discussion, assisted by Ambassador Hill, myself, Larry Rossin of the State Department staff, who is over here, General Thrasher, who represents General Clark here, and other members of our group. That arrangement will be codified in a formal agreement between the Secretary General of NATO, Javier Solana; the Supreme Commander of NATO, General Clark; and the appropriate authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia within the next few days, and I think you can expect a trip here by Secretary General Solana and General Clark in the very near future. I have talked to both of them within the last hour, and they are enthusiastically preparing for such a trip. If I may say, with the Ambassador's permission, I hope that the Russian Federation will participate in this program, although I am not authorized to speak for Russia, and if you wish to address any questions to the Russian Ambassador, he is right here.

Third, we came here many times in the past and we will come here again in the future, whether we want to or not, to discuss the core issue of Kosovo. To my left is the leader of our Kosovo negotiating effort, Ambassador Chris Hill, who is really now quite a public figure in these parts and deserves the highest commendation and support. I know he has the full support of Secretary Albright and President Clinton and the rest of the U.S. Government. He is assisted by Jim O'Brien, who works for Secretary Albright directly and who is easily recognizable here because he has on a sport shirt since his luggage is in Benin. They will continue their efforts.

The authorities here in Belgrade will make a statement regarding the political process later today. That is a statement that is theirs and theirs alone, but we hope that it will mark a turning point in the tortured and tragic relationships between the peoples -- Albanian, Serb, others -- in Kosovo. The Albanian people of Kosovo had in our view suffered enormously over the years, and particularly in recent weeks and months, and that is what brought us here. That statement is critically important as the turning point in the process, Ambassador Hill will go to Pristina as soon as possible in order to discuss this issue, which I remind you again is why we are here, with the Albanians and others in Kosovo.

I cannot stress too highly how deeply concerned we are about what happened in the last few months in Kosovo -- the tragedy, the horror of it, the unnecessariness of it -- and that of course is why we came here. We hope that this will mark a turning point in the right direction. But the proof is not in what I am saying here today. The proof is in compliance with U.N. Resolution 1199 and with actions on the ground in Kosovo regarding the deployment of security forces, the return of refugees to their homes, the end of military violence on all sides or armed violence on all sides, the repairing of the damage -- in my view unnecessary -- and wanton in some cases -- destruction, and the creation most importantly of a political process that gives the people of Kosovo autonomy and self-determination. The details of this must be worked out and the timetable for this will be established.

Finally, given the situation that now exists, Ambassador Miles has asked to beef up his embassy staff immediately. As you know, he is down to a skeleton crew. Some of the other embassies have closed down. So Ambassador Miles has asked from Washington authority to bring back some of the people who left -- not all but some -- and they will return at about 3 this afternoon from Budapest. Chris Hill and I will be happy to take any questions and then we have to leave.

Q: Mr. Holbrooke, how confident are you that the verification mission is going to satisfy the fears of ethnic Albanian refugees, and how soon could verification come into operation, particularly air flights? How quickly could that happen?

AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE: On the air surveillance, first let us sign the agreement. Then there has to be a very short period to set up hot lines between aerial headquarters in Vincenza, Italy, and Belgrade, and then get the planes up in the air. That could be done very fast.

On the ground, the Kosovo Diplomatic Observer Mission, KDOM, which was withdrawn in its entirety yesterday, will, I hope, be able to return to the region shortly. The agreement states that KDOM is the forerunner of the OSCE Verification Mission, and when the OSCE is established KDOM will simply disappear into it. KDOM, as you know, is Americans, Canadians, Russians, the EU, and they will be merged into a single group and replace KDOM by the OSCE.

Q: Can you please tell us the numbers of Serb police and Yugoslav soldiers who are expected to withdraw and by when? And, number two, the OSCE this morning was saying that they have no idea where they're going to get these two thousand people from or where they are going to get the money from. Is the United States going to fund most of this?

AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE: On your first question, Jane, U.N. Security Council Resolution 1199 is very clear on this, and we hope that they will go further. You have, of course, raised the issue of greatest concern to as in the short run, which is the presence of and the activities of security forces in Kosovo. And once again, all I can say is: What we're talking about here is not words in this room, in this hotel, but compliance on the ground in Kosovo. And I am not going to say that I know what is going to happen there. I can only say what the United States and, if I may speak for my colleagues, other nations involved in this enormous multi-national effort expect and will be looking for.

On the second part of your question, there may be a disconnect here. The only person of the OSCE we had time to talk to was Foreign Minister Geremek. Interestingly enough, he asked the same questions you did. I cannot speak on the financial side for the United States, but it is obvious that the United States wishes to and intends to be a major part of this effort, helping organize it. We want to participate in it. We have been talking among ourselves about the structure. Funding is something that the Congress must decide, and I would have no authority to address that. I would ask you to address it to Washington.

As for the people, many people told us in the last week that two thousand is too many. By the way, the Yugoslav authorities will agree to more than two thousand in surge capability, if there is an election or something to help train local police. The Yugoslav authorities said that's fine. So we could go above two thousand. And I kept hearing from some people as we discussed it that that's too many; we can't do it. It is true that the OSCE has never, never attempted anything close to this. I think, the largest previous size was about three hundred? Four hundred? In where, Nagorno? Nagorno Karabach. Or was it somewhere else?

ONE OF AMBASSADORS:  I think in Bosnia.

AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE:  Bosnia.  I've heard of it.  I've heard of it.

Q:  Why did you ... ?

AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE: Let me just finish, because this is a very important question, and I would like to use your question to speak to anyone who is listening. I have spoken all over the United States on Bosnia and Kosovo, and everywhere I go people come up to us and say I was an elections observer in Bosnia or I did this and this and that, and I want to sign up again. And I cannot believe that the world community cannot find two thousand people to go to work in that area. And I cannot understand people who tell us -- and Chris and I have heard this a lot in the last week -- it's too many people. So I would ask you, and through you ask everyone else, to volunteer their efforts to the OSCE. This a great mission, and it is vitally important to the Albanian people. Dr. Rugova has told Chris Hill and me many times that an international presence in Kosovo is of vital importance to stabilizing the situation.

Two thousand people distributed in the major towns and villages, including towns and villages that have been destroyed by the events of last few weeks. Those two thousand people can help bring confidence to people. Refugees and homeless, who are still living out in the open as winter closes in, will have more confidence to return to their homes and rebuild them. So I cannot tell you how strongly we feel about this. Furthermore, in the agreement it is stated that the OSCE verifiers will have the right, as part of their mission, to assist the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (the UNHCR), the ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross), private NGOs (non-governmental organizations), or any other organizations in rebuilding and refugee relief. So I cannot tell you how strongly we feel about this. I hope the world has funds.

Q:  If we just get back to these soldiers ...

AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE: Let me just go on, Jane, we have very, very limited time.

Q:  How will you verify?  I mean ...

AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE: We have to verify compliance. I'm sorry, we're just --

Q:  How?

AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE:  Jeff?

Q: Did you say whether you got an agreement with President Milosevic to comply with the International War Crimes Tribunal? Will you also say whether NATO will have any role in protecting the verification team or coming to their aid if the need arrives.

AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE: On your first question, the OSCE mission statement is an agreement for full compliance with 1199. Item 13 in 1199 specifies the International War Crimes Tribunal. We have made it clear in every conversation how important that is, and the Yugoslav authorities have said that they are willing to let the War Crimes Tribunal immediately double its size here and go higher if necessary. They can move round the area; they will not formally accept jurisdiction in Kosovo, but they can go into the area. And I would also point out in regard to the specific tragedy, which triggered the international outpouring, the massacre two weeks ago, that the Yugoslav authorities allowed the one survivor who was dying of gangrene to be escorted out to Skopje in KDOM vehicles three or four days ago. He is in good health now. His life has been saved. He is safe with his family and the Tribunal has full access to him. The second part of your question was what)

Q: Whether NATO will have any role in protection of the international verification troops?

AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE: There are no NATO ground troops on the ground in Kosovo. But, if anything were to happen to this OSCE group and an emergency extraction would be necessary, the international community would find plenty of ways to deal with it. We are all over the area.

I would also say that no harm has ever come to the forces in Bosnia. We feel that the discipline this government can exert over its own security forces is vital, and there are explicit commitments on this critical issue in the agreements that have been made.

May I say one other thing? I just want to clarify something in sequencing. These agreements and commitments we are discussing were all reached yesterday. I want to make clear on that.

Q: Do you regard this as a triumph for NATO and for the threat of the use of the force, and, secondly, how can you -- how can anyone -- trust President Milosevic?

AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE: On the first question, we are not feeling in a particularly triumphant mood. We did not want to come here. We came here because the crisis had exploded into an emergency. It is compliance that matters. But if this is the road path to the end of the emergency -- and I hope it is -- then we will feel we earned our pay this week. We will feel it was worth coming here. We will feel that international solidarity helps change the situation. There has not been any international presence in Kosovo in a long time. Two thousand people is a lot in a relatively small area. Aerial surveillance helps with compliance. If there is a new political party that is opened, that would even be more important. Let's not use the "T" word -- the word "triumph" -- until we are ready to say that something has been done that is meaningful for the people of Kosovo.

Q: Sorry. The other "T" word on trust. How can you trust President Milosevic?

AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE: That's not my issue. That's for you guys. Our issue is to deal with the realities and do the best we can. As many of you know, you make the characterizations; we deal with realities. I've dealt with this extensively in my book, copies of which are on sale in the lobby, and there is no value in going down that route today. We are here to move forward.

Q: If Milosevic does not comply with all points, what happens then, specifically?

AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE: I will let the international community deal with that at the appropriate levels. President Clinton addressed that very clearly in his remarks from New York city last night.

Q: Same question. What sanctions does the international community have in the event of a breach of these agreements in the future?

AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE: First of all, there has been no change in the outer wall of sanctions as a result of what we are discussing today. Secondly, international pressure has produced, I believe, some positive results in certain areas that can be reapplied. Third, we are still not out of the emergency yet; we are still in it. So let's cross each bridge as we get there.

Q: Where do we stand with the supposed four-day NATO strike deadline?

AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE: I would remove the word "supposed" from your question. You should address that specifically to [NATO] Secretary General Solana and General Clark. All I can say is that this situation is very clear. We are in a certain period in this process, and there has been no change in that as a result of what I am saying today.

Q: Do you expect compliance over the next four days that would be on the ground?

AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE: Well, I think this goes back to Jane's question, too. There are certain things you can get compliance on in a four-day period and certain things you cannot. We'll know when we see it, and they can deal with it as appropriate in Brussels.

Q:  What do you need to see in the next four days?

AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE: The OSCE Agreement should be signed. The aerial surveillance agreement should be signed. The two visits I talked about earlier are very important. It is very hard to move multinational organizations as fast as we are going to try to move them. You are talking about four days; it is really three-and-a-half as we are stand here, and so the clock is ticking. But we will work as fast as we can.

There are a lot of other subtexts here, which we have addressed as well, and we want to see what comes out of the Yugoslav side in the next few days. I want to stress again what I said in the beginning -- the emergency phase of the crisis is not over with this press conference and these announcements. All I said was we can see a path to its end. I am not here to declare the end of it.

Q: Do you think that it seems everything will be resolved? I am really curious. Don't you have any open questions to discuss with President Milosevic?

AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE:  Me, personally, or the world?

Q:  I mean, yes...

AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE: We always have questions to talk to him about, and Ambassador Hill is not leaving the area. He will remain heavily engaged as Secretary Albright's representative in this regard. You want to say something on that Chris?

Q: So, are you leaving?

AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE:  I have to go home.  Chris?

AMBASSADOR HILL: I will stay behind, and we'll continue to work on the implementation of these issues, especially on the need to gain greater momentum in the political track. The unilateral statement that will be made today or in the very near future in Belgrade, I think, is a very good impetus, and we need to follow it up and make sure that we can move ahead and reach this political settlement in the very near future, because, at the end of the day, we need a political settlement on Kosovo.

Q:  Any agreement on national quotas in the international mission?

AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE:  On what?

Q:  National quotas.

AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE: No. No. You know, when you got two thousand, you got room for everybody.

Q: Can I ask a question about the Kosovo Albanians? What assurances do you have that, if this deal is done, it will be acceptable to Kosovo Albanians and their leadership?

AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE: This is not a deal on the political side. Envisage three baskets, if you will, or three circles. One is the ground verification compliance. That's OSCE; it's international. That is an agreement, and Geremek will sign it with the Yugoslav, I assume, Foreign Minister. The second ring is aerial verification. That will be signed, I assume, I hope, by the Secretary General of NATO, General Clark, and the appropriate authorities. The third ring is the one you are talking about. We did not reach any agreements in that ring. The Yugoslav authorities, the Belgrade authorities, will issue their own statements. We did not negotiate those with Dr. Rugova or any other members of the Albanian leadership. They will make unilateral statements, which Chris and I and others hope and expect will mark a turning point in the direction away from deterioration. But these are not agreements, and, please, let us stress that point. We did not reach agreements on the future of Kosovo. I'd like Chris to add something in this because the distinction is quite important.

AMBASSADOR HILL: Yes, these were a set of points which will be issued here in Belgrade, which shows points -- elements of an eventual settlement -- that the authorities here in Belgrade are prepared to see in an eventual agreement. And the points include the restoration of self-government in Kosovo, an amnesty provision. There is also a provision for elections. That is, when the institutions in Kosovo are created, there will be elections, and those elections will be supervised by the OSCE, and that will be one of the tasks that the OSCE Mission will have. And if they need more than two thousand people to do that, they can bring in additional people for that purpose. These elections are absolutely key. They will be the foundation of the democracy that we intend to try to construct in Kosovo. Does this satisfy all of the demands of the Albanian leadership in Kosovo? No. But it does provide the basis for establishing democratic self-government in Kosovo.

AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE: And, to stress again, that is a unilateral undertaking by the Belgrade authorities. We are aware of that, of course, and Chris is giving you some of the headlines on it, but it is their unilateral undertaking. We did not sign it, we did not agree to it, we did not ask anyone else to. It's starting point and, to stress Chris's last point, it is the degree to which those things really happen that will determine whether today marks a turning point or just another day in the long story of this tragic area.

Q: Was there a discussion of either OSCE or IMF [International Monetary Fund] re-entry for former Yugoslavia?

AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE:  No.

Q: Isn't there a danger that this could degenerate into an Iraq-type situation -- an endless future crisis over the definition of verification, efforts by Milosevic...?

AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE: This is as opposed to endless past crises. Right? I am not going to compare this to some other part of the world. I've never been to that part of the world. I don't see any connection. We are here. We have dealt with this for many years. And you can make any comparison you want. We are not into that comparison.

Q: I was interested. Did you set any deadline to this political process (unintelligible)?

AMBASSADOR HILL: Yes, in addition to the statement. The statement actually will include a timetable by which the Belgrade authorities are prepared to try to reach this agreement. So the idea is to try to gain greater momentum to this process and move ahead very quickly. Because, obviously, in the implementation of any such agreement, OSCE with its two thousand people on the ground could be a very key element.

Q: Mr. Holbrooke, you in your book criticized the U.N. peace keepers because you said there was no peace to keep and that they did not have the authority to carry out their act. One question: If this could happen, if the same problem could happen, here in Kosovo? And also if you could say a few words about Clark Clifford, your good friend who just died?

AMBASSADOR HOLBROOKE: On the first question. Yeah, it's a concern we have. It's a very real concern. Of course, the difference is obvious. The U.N. went into Bosnia under conditions of all-out combat with no mandate to do anything but sort of hunker down and fire back if they got personal authority from New York. It was a tragic mission. I think we've learned a lot from it. And the conditions here in Kosovo are not at all like that. Three hundred thousand people died in Bosnia; two-and-a-half million were made homeless. Let us pray we never have to be here under those conditions. But the general problem you raise is very much on our minds.

In regard to Clark Clifford, I knew him for the last thirty years of his life. He was a great American figure, the last major link to the Truman administration. I was honored to co-author his memoirs. He made a fantastic contribution to American political life as the man who played a central role in President Truman's recognition of Israel, and NATO and the Marshall Plan, and the Truman Doctrine, in the 1948 campaign, in the desegregation of the armed service of the United States, exactly 50 years ago, an the Executive Order which Clark Clifford wrote, which was one of the turning points...(tape break)...and I'm sorry I'm not back in Washington to be able to say these things more publicly. Thank you very much.

(End transcript)

 Betreff:         Albright letter
 Datum:         Tue, 13 Oct 1998 13:36:33 -0400
    Von:         Jonathan Clarke <jcahi@mindspring.com>

here is text of today's letter
                                                                        October 13, 1998
The Honorable Madeleine Albright,
Secretary of State,
Department of State,
Washington, D.C. 20520

Dear Madam Secretary:

        As Serb Americans we are today breathing an immense sigh of relief at the agreement reached in Belgrade over Kosovo. We believe that the crisis was largely generated by mistaken western policies. Nonetheless, we were glad to note the Administration's strenuous efforts to avoid bombing. This would have been a colossal blunder that would have had a devastating impact on American interests.

        The focus now turns to the monitoring and verification process. To date, all discussion has centered on ensuring Belgrade's compliance with western demands. It must be noted, however, that compliance is an interactive process. The Kosovo Albanians civilian leadership was and is actively advocating NATO airstrikes as a means of bolstering its ambitions for independence, an objective endorsed by the Kosovo Albanian "parliament" earlier today.  The Kosovo Albanian military wing remains attached to violence as the prime means to achieve its ends. On October 12 the Knight Ridder agency quoted the KLA spokesman Adem Demaci as saying: "We will not stop the fighting. It is only for a short time, this self-restraint. Regrouping of KLA forces has started already." We are already receiving reports from Kosovo that KLA fighters are moving into areas vacated by Serbian police.

        These attitudes and statements make clear that the Kosovo Albanians have a vested interested in making it appear that Belgrade is not complying with western demands. They are likely to use every trick in the book to provoke new incidents, prevent refugee return, and throw roadblocks into the negotiation process. They want to stimulate NATO action.

        Given that NATO airstrikes have only been suspended pending verification, it is extremely important that the OSCE monitors and NATO airborne surveillance pays close attention to the actions of the Kosovo Albanian side. They have no interest in peace; their interest is in violence that they calculate will lead to NATO intervention. Now that American efforts have restored negotiation to its proper central place, we must be sure that the Kosovo Albanians are equally committed to peace and that they are told that no attempts to derail the peace process through violence will be tolerated. A good start would be to insist on an unequivocal renunciation of violence as prescribed by paragraph 6 of Security Council Resolution 1199.
Sincerely,
                                                                Milosh D. Milenkovich
                                                                President
5851 Pearl Road, Suite 307,
Cleveland, OH 44130
tel: (440) 842-2770 fax: (440) 842-2740

cc: Members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
      Members of the House International Relations Committee
      Members of NATO

Jonathan Clarke
tel (202) 785-8430
fax (202) 466-4089

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