OSZE-Vorausmission in Belgrad eingetroffen
Belgrad (dpa) - Die ersten 13 Mitglieder der technischen Vorhut der Kosovo-Beobachtermission der Organisation für Sicherheit und Zusammenarbeit in Europa (OSZE) sind am Samstag in Belgrad eingetroffen. Die Beobachter werden sich mit Vertretern des jugoslawischen Außenministeriums treffen, um am Sonntag in die Kosovo-Hauptstadt Pristina zu reisen, meldete die Belgrader Nachrichtenagentur Beta.
     Die technische Vorhut wird sich an Ort und Stelle über die Infrastruktur, sowie Arbeits- und Wohnbedingungen der eigentlichen Beobachter, die Anfang der kommenden Woche erwartet werden, informieren.
     Das Abkommen über die einjährige Stationierung der etwa 2 000 Beobachter für das Kosovo haben am Freitag in Belgrad der OSZE-Vorsitzende Bronislaw Geremek und der jugoslawische Außenminister Zivadin Jovanovic unterzeichnet. Die Aufgabe der unbewaffneten Beobachter ist die Verifizierung des jugoslawischen Truppenabzugs und die Überprüfung der Lage in der umkämpften südserbischen Provinz.
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Serben berichten von mehreren UCK-Angriffen im Kosovo
Belgrad/Pristina (dpa) - Bei mehreren Überfällen albanischer Untergrundkämpfer im Kosovo sind nach serbischen Angaben ein Polizist und ein Wachmann verletzt worden. Wie das halboffizielle serbische Media-Zentrum in der Kosovo-Hauptstadt Pristina am Samstag berichtete, griff die Separatisten-Armee UCK am Freitag und Samstag Polizeistationen im östlichen und zentralen Kosovo mit Handgranaten, Granatwerfern und mit automatischen Waffen an.
     Auch eine Polizeistation in Pristina, im Stadtteil Vranjevac, sei Ziel eines Anschlages gewesen. Dabei habe es aber keine Verletzten gegeben, berichtete der Belgrader Sender B 92.
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Anschlag auf serbische Polizeiwache in Pristina
Belgrad/Pristina (dpa) - Angehörige der albanischen Kosovo-Untergrundarmee UCK haben am frühen Samstag morgen mit automatischen Waffen eine serbische Polizeiwache in der Kosovo-Hauptstadt Pristina angegriffen. Der Anschlag, in dem es keine Opfer gegeben hat, ereignete im Stadtteil Vranjevac, der fast ausschließlich von Albanern bewohnt ist, berichtete der Belgrader Sender B 92.
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Mazedonien wählt neues Parlament
Skopje (dpa) - In Mazedonien wird an diesem Sonntag ein neues Parlament gewählt. Knapp 1,6 Millionen stimmberechtigte Bürger des jungen Balkan-Staats sind aufgerufen, über die Verteilung der 120 Sitze im Sobranie (Parlament) in Skopje abzustimmen. Die frühere jugoslawische Teilrepublik grenzt unter anderem an die südserbische Krisenprovinz Kosovo.
      Aufgrund des Wahlmodus, der von den Kandidaten für den Erfolg in ihrem jeweiligen Wahkreis die absolute Mehrheit der Stimmen fordert, wurde erwartet, daß in diesem Wahlgang lediglich über ein Viertel der Mandate entschieden wird. Die übrigen Sitze im Parlament werden in einem zweiten Durchgang in zwei Wochen vergeben. Aussagekräftige Ergebnisse des ersten Wahlgangs wurden nicht vor Montag abend erwartet.
      Insgesamt 17 Parteien und Koalitionen bewerben sich bei diesen dritten Mehrparteienwahlen Mazedoniens seit 1990 um die Sitze im Sobranie. Als aussichtsreichster Bewerber galt in den letzten Umfragen das Bündnis der Sozialdemokraten (Ex-Kommunisten) von Ministerpräsident Branko Crvenkovski und der Sozialisten, die bisher zusammen mit den Vertretern der größten Albaner-Partei der «Demokratischen Prosperität» die Regierung gestellt hat.
      Ihr schärfster Herausforderer ist die Mitte-Rechts-Koalition der nationalistischen Partei VMRO-DPMNE und der neugegründeten «Demokratischen Aktion» des in Mazedonien überaus populären Vasil Tupurkovski. Dieser war letzter Vertreter Mazedoniens im kollektiven Staatspräsidium des früheren Vielvölkerstaats Jugoslawien. Tupurkovski hat für den Fall seines Wahlerfolgs eine sofortige Finanzspritze von einer Milliarde US-Dollar aus dem Ausland für die marode Wirtschaft Mazedoniens versprochen. Diese Koalition lag in letzten Umfragen beinahe gleichauf mit der Regierungskoalition.
      Die Wahlen in Mazedonien werden von rund 180 ausländischen Beobachtern überwacht. Unter den Beobachtern sind Vertreter der Organisation für Sicherheit und Zusammenarbeit in Europa (OSZE) und des Europaparlaments.
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UCK-Sprecher fordert Abkommen auch zwischen OSZE und Rebellen-Armee
Pristina (dpa) - Der politische Sprecher der kosovo-albanischen Untergrundarmee UCK, Adem Demaci, hat die OSZE aufgefordert, auch mit der Rebellen-Armee ein Abkommen über die geplanten 2 000 zivilen Beobachtern im Kosovo zu schließen. Dies sei nötig, um «eine fruchtbare Zusammenarbeit zwischen UCK-Einheiten und OSZE-Beobachtern zu herzustellen», sagte Demaci der in Pristina erscheinenden albanischen Tageszeitung «Koha Ditore» (Samstagausgabe). Nur auf diese Weise könne sichergestellt werden, daß «die Kontrollmission (der OSZE) bei ihren Aktivitäten die volle Unterstützung der UCK genießt».
      Der amtierende Vorsitzende der Organisation für Sicherheit und Zusammenarbeit in Europa (OSZE), der polnische Außenminister Bronislaw Geremek, hatte am Vortag in Belgrad mit den jugoslawischen Behörden ein Abkommen unterzeichnet, das die Rahmenbedingungen für die Mission regelt. Diese soll überprüfen, ob Polizei und Militär gemäß der UN-Resolution 1199 den Teilabzug aus dem Kosovo vollzogen haben und ob die Bedingungen für die Rückkehr Zehntausender vertriebener Albaner gegeben sind.
      Demaci sagte in seiner Erklärung, daß die UCK die OSZE-Mission prinzipiell «respektiert», jedoch «über die Unzulänglichkeit ihrer Stärke und ihres Mandats besorgt» sei. Es wäre besser, wenn die Überwacher «von bewaffneten Kräften begleitet» würden, da die serbischen Sicherheitskräfte die Arbeit der Mission «behindern» würden.
      Dagegen hat der Generalstab der UCK die von US-Sondervermittler Richard Holbrooke und Jugoslawiens Präsident Slobodan Milosevic zu Wochenbeginn erzielten Vereinbarungen strikt abgelehnt. In einem gleichfalls in der Samstagausgabe von «Koha Ditore» veröffentlichten Kommunique hieß es: «Dieses Abkommen ist zu nichts anderem gut, als daß es Milosevic dafür Spielraum gibt, den Krieg, den Völkermord und das Schlachten fortzusetzen und die humanitäre Krise zu vertiefen.»
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«Salzburger Nachrichten»: Kosovo-Problem ist nicht gelöst
Wien (dpa) - Der Kosovo-Konflikt ist mit der Entsendung der OSZE-Beobachter nicht gelöst, meint die überregionale österreichische Tageszeitung «Salzburger Nachrichten» am Samstag:
      «Machtlose Beobachter werden den Abzug der gefürchteten serbischen Sondereinheiten überwachen müssen, die bisher eine Spur der Vernichtung zogen und die Rückkehr der Flüchtlinge behinderten. Die zivilen Beobachter werden nur Berichte schreiben können, wenn Milosevic, wie schon so oft, die Vereinbarungen nicht einhält. Auch beim Streit um den künftigen Status des zu 90 Prozent von Albanern bewohnten Kosovos ist keine Annäherung zwischen Belgrad und Pristina in Sicht. Milosevic wird den Albanern ohne anhaltenden Druck keinen Schritt entgegen kommen. Doch der militärische Druck, der in den vergangenen Wochen mühsam aufgebaut wurde, wird nachlassen und im Kosovo könnte schon bald wieder alles von vorne anfangen.»
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«Le Figaro»: Kontinuität in deutscher Außenpolitik
Paris (dpa) - Der konservative französische «Le Figaro» (Paris) kommentiert am Samstag die Abstimmung im deutschen Bundestag über eine mögliche Beteiligung an einer Nato-Intervention in Jugoslawien:
      «Nach und nach präzisieren Gerhard Schröder und Joschka Fischer die Konturen der künftigen deutschen Außenpolitik. Die gestrige Bundestags-Debatte über die Kosovo-Krise hat die Feststellung erlaubt, daß eine gute Dosis Kontinuität dabei ist. Wie üblich will Bonn aller Welt Freude bereiten: Washington, Paris, Moskau (...) Deutschland könnte so 14 Tornado-Jets und 500 Bundeswehr-Soldaten stellen, wenn die Nato sich zum Handeln entschließen würde.
      Das ist der Beweis, daß für die neue Regierungsmannschaft in Bonn die amerikanische Führungsrolle unabdingbar bleibt, solange Europa nicht in der Lage ist, seine Sicherheits- und Verteidigungsangelegenheiten selbst zu erledigen. Ein Gruß an Onkel Sam! 1963 hat Konrad Adenauer die Ratifizierung des deutsch- französischen Vertrags im Bundestag nur um den Preis eines Vorworts durchgesetzt, in dem steht, daß die Kooperation beider Länder dem Respekt vor der atlantischen Solidarität untergeordnet wird. Sehr enttäuscht hatte General de Gaulle gemeint: ,Verträge sind wie junge Mädchen, sie haben ihre Zeit'. 35 Jahre sind seither vergangen. Der Vertrag ist in die Jahre gekommen. Doch die Präambel bleibt aktuell.»
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«Kommersant daily»: Milosevic fürchtet Nato-Drohungen nicht
Moskau (dpa) - Die russische Wirtschaftszeitung «Kommersant daily» schreibt am Samstag zum Kosovo-Konflikt:
      «Die Drohungen der Nato scheint lediglich der jugoslawische Präsident Milosevic nicht zu befürchten. Mehr noch, er zieht seinen Vorteil daraus. In Serbien wurden die wichtigsten unabhängigen Zeitungen und Rundfunksender verboten. Milosevic rechnet damit, daß das Kosovo für die Weltgemeinschaft wichtiger ist als die Pressefreiheit in Serbien. Deshalb erwartet er keinen ernsthaften Protest. Jedenfalls nicht aus Rußland, wo die Staatsduma ebenfalls nicht abgeneigt ist, die Rechte der Massenmedien zu beschneiden. So kommen also den derzeit in Serbien weilenden Duma-Vertretern die Erfahrungen Milosevics bestens zupasse.»
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Nato verlängert Frist für Milosvic - USA: «Finger weiter am Abzug»
Wye Mills/Brüssel/Bonn (dpa) - In der Kosovo-Krise halten die USA und die Nato ihre militärische Drohung gegen Jugoslawien weiter aufrecht. Da sich der jugoslawische Präsident Slobodan Milosevic bisher nicht völlig den Forderungen der UN gebeugt habe, müsse die Nato «den Finger am Abzug behalten», sagte der Sprecher des US- Außenministeriums, James Rubin, am Freitag am Rande des Nahost- Gipfeltreffens in Wye Mills (Bundesstaat Maryland).
      Zuvor hatte der Nato-Rat in Brüssel den Aktivierungsbefehl für Luftangriffe vom vergangenen Dienstag bis zum 27. Oktober ausgesetzt, seine Gültigkeit aber nicht aufgehoben. Damit gab die Allianz Milosevic weitere zehn Tage Zeit, die UN-Resolution 1199 zum Kosovo- Konflikt zu erfüllen.
      Nach der Zustimmung des deutschen Bundestages kann sich nun auch die Bundeswehr mit 14 Tornado-Kampfflugzeugen und 500 Soldaten an einem möglichen Nato-Militäreinsatz beteiligen. Für den entsprechenden Antrag der scheidenden Regierung Helmut Kohl stimmten in Bonn 500 von 580 anwesenden Abgeordneten. 62 votierten dagegen und 18 enthielten sich der Stimme.
      Der Nato-Rat rief Milosevic dazu auf, innerhalb der neuen Frist seine zusätzlichen Militär- und Polizeikräfte aus dem Kosovo abzuziehen. «Wir sind immer noch um einiges von der vollen Erfüllung der Bedingungen entfernt,» hieß es in einem Kommunique der 16 Nato- Botschafter. Aus Nato-Kreisen verlautete jedoch, es gebe ermutigende Anzeichen, daß Milosevic der Forderung nachkomme.
      Auch US-Außenamtssprecher Rubin bezeichnete das bisherige Einlenken von Milosevic als «substantiell, aber nicht ausreichend». Eine «bedeutende» Zahl von Menschen im Kosovo hätten in ihre Dörfer zurückkehren können. Milosevic habe auch militärische und paramilitärische Kräfte «aus dem Feld genommen», aber andere blieben nach wie vor in der südserbischen Unruheprovinz, sagte Rubin.
      Jugoslawien und die Nato wollen auch Verbindungsoffiziere austauschen, um die Überwachung des Abzugs zu gewährleisten. Ein Nato-Offizier werde nach Belgrad gehen, ein jugoslawischer Offizier werde im Nato-Hauptquartier im italienischen Vicenza stationiert, hieß es in Brüssel. Die Nato will sich weiter bemühen, Rußland an dem Überwachungsprozeß zu beteiligen.
      Jugoslawien und die Organisation für Sicherheit und Zusammenarbeit in Europa (OSZE) unterzeichneten in Belgrad ein Abkommen über die Stationierung von bis zu 2 000 Beobachtern der OSZE im Kosovo. Nach der Unterzeichnung sagte der amtierende OSZE-Vorsitzende und polnische Außenminister Bronislaw Geremek, das Abkommen eröffne dem Frieden eine Chance im Kosovo. «Es ist der erste Schritt in die richtige Richtung.»
      Unterdessen wurde in der Kosovo-Hauptstadt Pristina am Freitag von neuen Kämpfen berichtet. Nach Angaben des kosovo-albanischen Informationszentrums wurde ein Albaner getötet und ein zweiter verletzt, als serbische Polizeikräfte den Weiler Makeremal am Donnerstag mit schweren Maschinengewehren beschossen. Nach serbischen Angaben wurde ein Polizist von albanischen Untergrundkämpfern erschossen.
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Rot-grüne Koalitionsverhandlungen: Kampfeinsätze möglich
Bonn (dpa) - In Deutschland sind die rot-grünen Koalitionsverhandlungen am Freitag einen entscheidenden Schritt weitergekommen. Die Sozialdemokraten (SPD) und Grüne wollen Auslandseinsätze der deutschen Streitkräfte (Bundeswehr) zur Friedenssicherung künftig akzeptieren, wenn sie vom Völker- und Verfassungsrecht gedeckt sind.
      Gleichzeitig wollen sie sich für eine Stärkung der Vereinten Nationen und ihres Gewaltmonopols einsetzen. Dies kündigten die Außen- und Sicherheitspolitiker von SPD und Bündnis 90/Die Grünen bei der siebten Runde der Koalitionsgespräche in Bonn an. Die künftige rot-grüne Regierung strebt außerdem eine europäische Lösung bei der Besetzung eines Sitzes im Weltsicherheitsrat an.
      Bei der Runde, die am Abend nach mehr als fünf Stunden zu Ende ging, konnten sich Sozialdemokraten und Grüne noch nicht auf die angestrebte Ökosteuer einigen. Ein kleiner Expertenkreis sollte bis zur Fortsetzung der Gespräche an diesem Samstag nachmittag nach einem Kompromiß suchen.
      Offensichtlich konnten sich beide Seiten bei den Themen Verkehr und Umwelt einschließlich Atomausstieg einigen. Damit scheint festzustehen, daß SPD und Grüne gegen Alkoholsünder schärfer vorgehen wollen und künftig bereits bei einem Blutalkoholwert von 0,5 Promille ein Fahrverbot verhängt wird.
      «Auch beim Transrapid haben wir eine Lösung gefunden», sagte Grünen-Vorstandssprecher Jürgen Trittin nach Ende der Beratungen, wollte aber keine Details nennen. Die designierte Bildungsministerin Edelgard Bulmahn hatte zuvor auch pauschal von Einigung auf den Feldern Landwirtschaft und Forschung gesprochen.
      An diesem Samstag sollte neben der Ökosteuer auch die Sozial- und Gesundheitspolitik behandelt werden. In Abänderung des Zeitplans sollen die Koalitionsgespräche auf Wunsch der Grünen am Sonntag dann für interne Beratungen unterbrochen, aber wie geplant am Montag abgeschlossen werden.
      Der außenpolitische Grünen-Sprecher Ludger Volmer bestätigte, Deutschland werde sich unter einer rot-grünen Regierung nicht vordringlich um einen eigenen Sitz im Weltsicherheitsrat bemühen. «Wir streben eine europäische Lösung an», sagte er.
      Zuspitzungen wie bei der Entscheidung über die deutsche Beteiligung im Kosovo sollten nach seiner Auffassung möglichst verhindert werden. Seine Partei lehnte bislang friedenserzwingende Kampfeinsätze der Bundeswehr grundsätzlich ab. Die Entscheidung des deutschen Parlaments vom Freitag wertete Volmer als «absoluten Ausnahmefall».
      Die neuen Koalitionspartner trafen keine «Vorab-Festlegung» über den Wehretat und die Truppenstärke. Dies solle erst nach Ergebnissen der geplanten Wehrstruktur-Kommission erfolgen, sagte der designierte Verteidigungsminister Rudolf Scharping.
      Nach den Belastungen für die Angehörigen der Bundeswehr und ihrer Familien in den vergangenen Jahren gehe es ihm darum, «zunächst Sicherheit für die Produzenten der Sicherheit» zu schaffen. Volmer räumte ein, der Wehretat dürfe kein Steinbruch für die Sparpolitik werden.
      In der Wehrstrukturkommission sollen nach Scharpings Worten auch die Entscheidungen über Rüstungsprojekte getroffen werden. Es werde keine neuen Beschaffungen geben, bevor die Aufgabenstellung definiert sei. Für bereits vereinbarte Großprojekte wie den Eurofighter gelte aber, «wir werden geschlossene Verträge nicht brechen».
      Das Atlantische Bündnis wurde von den Verhandlungspartnern als unverzichtbar für den Frieden in Europa gewertet. Die USA seien der wichtigste außereuropäische Partner Deutschlands. Für die Erweiterung der Nato nach Osten bleibe die Tür offen, sagte Scharping.
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USA wollen im Kosovo-Konflikt «Finger am Abzug behalten»
Wye Mills (dpa) - Die USA halten es für notwendig, den jugoslawischen Präsidenten Slobodan Milosevic im Kosovo-Konflikt weiter mit der Androhung von Militärgewalt unter Druck zu setzen. Da sich Milosevic bisher nicht völlig den Forderungen der UN gebeugt habe, müsse die Nato «den Finger am Abzug behalten», sagte der Sprecher des US-Außenministeriums, James Rubin, am Freitag am Rande des Nahost-Gipfeltreffens in Wye Mills (Bundesstaat Maryland).
      Nato-Oberbefehlshaber Wesley Clark müsse in der Lage sein, nach Ablauf der verlängerten Frist für Milosevic zu handeln, wenn dies unvermeidbar sei, sagte Rubin weiter. Er wies darauf hin, daß das bisherige Einlenken von Milosevic «substantiell» sei, «aber nicht ausreichend».
      Die Nato gab Milosevic am Freitag weitere zehn Tage Zeit, um die UN-Resolutiuon 1199 zum Kosovo-Konflikt umzusetzen. Der sogenannte Aktivierungsbefehl für Luftangriffe vom vergangenen Dienstag wird bis zum 27. Oktober ausgesetzt, bleibt aber voll gültig.
      Eine «bedeutende» Zahl von Menschen im Kosovo hätten in ihre Dörfer zurückkehren können, hob der Sprecher hervor. Milosevic habe auch militärische und paramilitärische Kräfte «aus dem Feld genommen», aber andere blieben nach wie vor in der südserbischen Unruheprovinz.
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*NEWS REPORT*
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The views expressed in the news reports and messages posted to the List by the List members are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the policy or position of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Quoting is allowed only if the source of the information  is specified.
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The following statement has just appeared on newstands in the November 5 issue of _The New York Review of Books_, which has granted permission to disseminate it on the internet.

                        SCHOLARS AGAINST MILOSEVIC

Over the past decade, the government of Slobodan Milosevic has systematically destroyed the hopes and aspirations of the peoples of the former and present Yugoslavia.  His policies have cost the lives of hundreds of thousands and the livelihood of millions.  He has destroyed his country's economy and its rightful, honorable place in the community of nations.  He has perverted the democratic process by coercing independent media and repeatedly rigging elections.  But, until now, he has failed to silence the outspoken opposition of the country's universities, which remain one of the few institutions upon which Serbs can someday build a new society based on the rule of law.
      Milosevic is now bent on silencing his academic critics by dismissing those faculty who refuse to sign a newly required loyalty oath.  Several professors have already been terminated, while well over a hundred more await a similar fate.  As  scholars we call upon the United States, its European allies, and private, non-governmental institutions to use all means at their disposal to preserve the freedom and independence of Serbia's universities.  In particular we urge them to establish a fund to support the families of dismissed faculty members, both as a humanitarian gesture and as a signal to those who remain employed that their continued resistence will not endanger their families' welfare.
      Hugh Agnew, Ivo Banac, Istvan Deak, Dimitrije Djordjevic, John V.A. Fine, Misha Glenny, Robert Hayden  Charles Ingrao, Charles Jelavich, John Lampe, Charles Maier, Nicholas Miller, Dennison Rusinow, Stanford Shaw, Gale Stokes, Peter Sugar, Susan Woodward

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

THE COMMUNIQUE ON THE VISIT OF BISHOP ARTEMIJE TO WASHINGTON D.C.,
OCTOBER 1998

Washington, October 15

Three days ago Bishop Artemije of Raska and Prizren arrived in Washington in continuation of his peace mission and his efforts to work actively on the peaceful settlement of the Kosovo crisis.
      During the last two days (Oct 14-15) His Grace together with the Yugoslav the former prime minister Mr. Milan Panic, Prof. Dragoslav Avramovic and the representatives of the “Alliance For Changes” had official meetings with the representatives of the US Administration and several NGO’s.
      Due to the great interest for this visit in Washington, on the first day there was organized a press conference in Intercontinental Hotel before the reporters of more than 20 leading US media. The press conference began with short presentations of the main guests on the topic: “The Prospects of Overcoming the Kosovo Crisis in the Light of the Recent Agreement between president Milosevic and Amb. Richard Holbrooke”.
      During the visit of the Serb delegation to Washington the following meetings were organized:
- The Meeting in the National Committee for Democracy. The delegation was received by the president of the Committee Mr. Carl Gersmon and his deputy Mr. Paul McCarthy
- The Presentation at the US Institute of Peace in front of the leading US analysts and representatives of the Governmental and Non-Governmental organizations.
- The Meeting with Ambassador Robert Gelbard in the Department of State. The Ambassador showed great interest for the visit of the Serbian Delegation. It was the third meeting between Bishop Artemije and Amb. Gelbard this year.
      On these meetings Bishop Artemije, Mr. Panic and Mr. Avramovic explained their positions on the recent developments in Serbia:
      - Bishop Artemije and his team openly condemned violence in Kosovo no matter from which side it came from and said that the problems in Kosovo may be resolved only in peaceful and democratic way, in full cooperation between the Serbs and Albanians. The delegation also expressed its concern for the humanitarian situation and sincere compassion for the suffering on both sides.
- The Serb Delegation disagreed with the idea of the NATO military intervention against Serbia because such an act would not contribute to the solution of the conflict nor it would relieve the humanitarian situation on the ground.
- It is of great interest that the elections, which were planned in the Belgrade Agreement, for Kosovo only should be extended to the entire territory of the Republic of Serbia. If the elections were organized only in Kosovo that would implicitly mean that this region has been excluded from the territorial integrity of Serbia which would greatly alarm the Kosovo Serbs and make them leave the province.
- The Serb Delegation also condemned the recent repression acts by the Serbian Government against the free media in Serbia, especially against the “Daily Telegraph”, “Danas” and “Nasa Borba” newspapers as well as the “Radio Index”. Without the full freedom of media it is impossible to continue the democratic process in Serbia and organize true democratic elections.
- The Delegation supported the idea of democratization of Serbia and FR Yugoslavia as the only true solution for the Kosovo crisis. The role of the Alliance for Changes would be of great importance in this respect and it is expected that the Alliance will give a significant contribution to the development of the democracy in Serbia. The democratization  of Serbia would accelerate the economic revival of the country and help the people of Serbia and FRY get out from the economic crisis in which they are found now. Only democratic Serbia may win the confidence of foreign investors, because without foreign investments it is impossible to continue with the economic, social and political transformation of the country as well as work more efficiently in confidence building in Kosovo province.
- The economic development of Serbia is the basic precondition for the resolution of all problems and the key factor of the democratization of Serbia, FRY and Kosovo as the integral part of the country.
      It is believed that the arrival of the Serb Delegation to Washington helped better understanding of the key elements of the Kosovo crisis and gave an opportunity to the US public and media to learn more about the view of the Serbian democratic forces and the Church on the recent Belgrade Agreement.

Information Agency of the Diocese of Raska and Prizren
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Decani Monastery               tel +381 390 61543
38322 Decani, Serbia           fax +381 390 61567
http://www.decani.yunet.com    e-mail: decani@EUnet.yu

Yugoslavia: Former Minister Blames Serbia's Lack Of Democracy For Kosovo Crisis
http://www.rferl.org/nca/features/1998/10/F.RU.981016132508.html
By Annie Hillar

Washington, 16 October 1998 (RFE/RL) -- A former Yugoslav prime minister says the fundamental problem that greatly complicates international efforts to resolve the Kosovo crisis is a lack of democracy in Serbia.
      Former Prime Minister Milan Panic made the comment in Washington Thursday during a briefing sponsored by the United States Institute for Peace -- a non-profit organization that promotes the peaceful resolution of international conflicts.
      Panic is currently the chief executive officer of ICN Pharmaceuticals, a health care company based in the United States and Moscow. He is also a member of the Alliance for Change, a coalition of Serbian political parties and citizens' groups opposed to Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic.
      Panic said this week's agreement brokered by U.S. special envoy Richard Holbrooke with Milosevic to end the violence in Kosovo is "a cease-fire" at best. He said there can be no peace in the Balkans without democracy in Serbia, and there can be no democracy in Serbia as long as Milosevic remains in power.
      To achieve democracy in Serbia, Panic said it is essential that the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and NATO support the Alliance for Change's call for early elections throughout Yugoslavia.
      He says: "Without true democracy and free and fair elections, Serbia will remain economically and politically unstable. Until the Serbian nation is permitted to govern itself in a truly democratic manner, the future of the Dayton accords and the Kosovo agreement will remain dangerously perilous."
      Panic said the international community should also speak out against the recent shutdown of three independent newspapers and two independent radio stations by Belgrade in a news media crackdown, because "democracy cannot develop and flourish in the absence of independent media." The government has banned radio stations from carrying BBC, Voice of America and Radio Free Europe broadcasts as well.
      Another speaker at the briefing, Serb Bishop Artimije Radosavljevic, also said the first step toward democracy in Serbia was to free the media. He said the independent media outlets were closed down because they dared to differ from Milosevic's point of view.
      But the bishop also criticized the international community's efforts to solve the conflict in Kosovo. He said democracy can't be achieved in any part of the world through sanctions or by threats of air strikes.
      He said the crisis in the region is a humanitarian one, and threats from NATO only worsen the situation of people forced to flee their homes during the conflict. Use of force by the international community, he said, does not give those people bread, clothing or their homes back.
      Instead, the bishop called for free and democratic elections in not only Kosovo but for all of Serbia, because "without the democratization of Serbia, Yugoslavia and the whole region, there is no solution for Kosovo." He said elections should be held so that all of the people have the opportunity to solve the problems in Yugoslavia.
      The Bishop said, "One man cannot solve the destiny of the whole people and the state."
-END-
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Decani Monastery               tel +381 390 61543
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16 October 1998
TEXT: KOSOVO DIPLOMATIC OBSERVER MISSION DAILY REPORT, OCT. 14
(Compiled from daily reports of U.S. element of KDOM) (260)

(The following KDOM Daily Report was compiled by EUR/SCE (202-647-4850) from daily reports of the U.S. element of the Kosovo Diplomatic Observer Mission and released by the Bureau of European and Canadian Affairs, Office of South Central European Affairs, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC)

KDOM Daily Report

October 14, 1998 U.S. and other KDOM teams, working out of Skopje, conducted three missions today. They traveled roads throughout Kosovo with the exception of the extreme north. The KDOM personnel focused on the Drenica region and on the towns of Pristina, Orahovac, and Suva Reka. KDOM saw no evidence of any skirmishing between Serb and UCK forces. KDOM observed significant reductions in police deployment throughout central Kosovo where life seemed to be returning to normal, at least in the areas south of Klina-Komorane.
In central Kosovo teams also saw significant IDP returns to towns and villages. Lights were on, smoke was coming from chimneys and people were working fields in areas previously deserted by Kosovars. KDOM credited the withdrawal of security forces and the increasingly cold weather for the significant return-home of so many people. Teams characterized the mood as more friendly and less tense than it had been recently. Seven humanitarian organizations -- UNHCR, Mercy Corps, Catholic Relief, Doctors Without Borders, UNICEF, ICRC, and World Food Program -- have returned to Kosovo after brief absences.
(End text)
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Decani Monastery               tel +381 390 61543
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16 October 1998
TRANSCRIPT: OCT 14 VOA INTERVIEW WITH PICKERING ON KOSOVO
(VOA news correspondent Nick Simeone queries ambassador) (4460)

Washington -- Ambassador Thomas Pickering, under secretary of state for political affairs, said "very little" of the agreement signed by "Federal Republic of Yugoslavia" President Slobodan Milosevic has been implemented so far, and that the United States and NATO are watching his actions "very, very carefully."
      Pickering was interviewed at the State Department October 14 by Voice of America (VOA) News Correspondent Nick Simeone.
      Milosevic must complete the withdrawal or cantonment of army and special police units from Kosovo, and permit unimpeded access for humanitarian organizations and supplies to Kosovo, as called for in United Nations Resolution 1199, Pickering said.
      He must also honor the agreement he signed October 12, following talks with U.S. Special Envoy Richard Holbrooke, to begin negotiations with Kosovar Albanians toward increased autonomy and to allow refugees and internally displaced persons to return to their homes. Milosevic also accepted two verification regimes: non-combat aerial surveillance, conducted by NATO; and up to 2,000 international verifiers, organized by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The Yugoslav leader signed an agreement with NATO October 15 and one with OSCE the following day.
      Originally, Milosevic was given 96 hours to make substantial progress in implementing the agreement; on October 16, NATO announced that it was extending the deadline until October 27.
      Pickering said NATO air strikes could be triggered if it is discovered that Milosevic "hasn't moved the forces he's supposed to move, or he hasn't cantoned the forces that he's supposed to canton, or that he is harassing or otherwise making difficulties and problems for the Albanian citizens of Kosovo outside the areas permitted in the agreement, including the setting up of roadblocks that are not dedicated either to traffic control or to crime prevention."
      He compared the threat air strikes in Kosovo with the threat of force against Iraq for failure to implement United Nations resolutions. "In each case, we are using diplomacy as the primary means to resolve the problem, but backed up by the threat of the use of force," Pickering said.
      Asked what will happen if Milosevic pushes the United States and NATO to the brink again, Pickering said, "If he did, like Saddam [Hussein], who already has found out, he would be making the worst mistake of his life."
      He said he believes the Kosovo Liberation Army, "having declared a cease-fire and declared its willingness to support and do everything it could to assist in the humanitarian relief of the Albanian people in Kosovo, is not going to violate this agreement. But we have told them ... they would be on their own if they violate the agreement."
      While Russia said the use of force would be a "serious mistake," Pickering said, "It is also our firm impression after many consultations with the Russians, that they understood perfectly well, particularly in dealing with somebody like Mr. Milosevic, that the threat of the use of force had to be present in order to bring him to the kind of diplomatic solution that has been worked out."
      He added, "Our interest is not in using force. Our interest is in diplomatic settlement. And thus far we have managed the problem to bring about a diplomatic settlement. Now we, of course, believe that the threat of the use of force is critically important for implementation, to insure implementation, and so that remains a centerpiece of our policy."

Following is a transcript of the interview:

(Begin transcript)

U.S INFORMATION AGENCY
INTERVIEW WITH AMBASSADOR THOMAS PICKERING
SUBJECT: KOSOVO

The Voice of America
Washington, D.C.
Wednesday, October 14, 1998

NICK SIMEONE: Ambassador Pickering, thank you for joining us today. The situation in Kosovo is our subject. ["Federal Republic of Yugoslavia" President] Slobodan Milosevic is now in the process, I take it, of implementing this agreement that he signed with [U.S. Special Envoy] Richard Holbrooke. Where do we stand on that? How much remains to be implemented, and how much already has been?

AMBASSADOR THOMAS PICKERING: The information I have is that very little thus far has been implemented. The major areas that we're concerned about, of course, is the presence of Yugoslav army forces, who either have to be removed or go back to the cantonments they were in in March. And similarly with the Ministry of Interior special police. And we are seeing some of his forces move into assembly areas. They have been for some time. But they don't seem to be in large numbers where they should be moving out of Kosovo. And so we're watching that very, very carefully.

SIMEONE:  Is that worrisome?

AMBASSADOR PICKERING: It is, of course, worrisome. The NATO hold on air strikes is for a 96-hour period. And NATO will be examining this very carefully. We expect to see the NATO Secretary General visit Belgrade in the very near future, and we hope that that will result in a formal agreement, formal signing of the agreement insofar as it relates to NATO. We hope and expect that the chairman-in-office of the OSCE will visit Belgrade on Friday, and that will result, we hope, as well, in a signing of that agreement. That particular process will then officially put those agreements in place.
      But in the meantime, we have been encouraging the return of the Kosovo Diplomatic Observation Mission people, and three teams were there today. We expect that the European mission and the Russian mission will also become active in the next 24 hours to begin to verify what I've told you is not happening.

SIMEONE:  Does that represent any backsliding at this point?

AMBASSADOR PICKERING: I don't think it represents any backsliding. It represents no forward movement, which is what we're interested in, because a principal part of the resolution that [Milosevic] has said that he will be in compliance with, has this withdrawal arrangement or the cantonment of these forces. And that's extremely important.
      The second piece that's important is the humanitarian assistance piece. And we understand that non-governmental organizations and international organizations will begin delivering assistance again to Kosovo with their international staff tomorrow. And we hope that that will move ahead. As these two things move ahead, obviously, we hope that at least the humanitarian part of the assistance will be assured, that people who have left their homes and are afraid to return will, with the cantonment of military and police forces, also be able to begin returning. We're terribly worried about up to 70,000 people now in the forests and in the woods and in the hills not being able to return until they get winter snows. And that would complicate what is already a serious tragedy.

SIMEONE: He, the President of Yugoslavia, Mr. Milosevic, has 96 hours in which he has to implement this entire agreement? Or how does that exactly work? Once we hit the 96-hour mark, if it's [not] completely implemented does that clear the way for NATO?

AMBASSADOR PICKERING: No, I think that there is a rule of reason and common sense here. The U.N. Resolution is a very sweeping resolution. It involves lots of commitments, including commitments with respect to war crimes, commitments with respect to political negotiations which he's provided a timetable for as a result of Ambassador Holbrooke's negotiations. Commitments added to that as a result of the new agreements, to accept a verification arrangement, both in the air and on the ground. A lot of those involve modalities that will take time to work out.
      I pointed to the two major concerns that we have. We hope that we will see a good faith effort to make a serious beginning and real progress before the 96 hours runs out. After that, NATO will have to decide what to do and obviously has a number of options. It can continue to keep the U.N. force commander, the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, in a position to move ahead and carry out air strikes if it feels compliance hasn't been enough. It can postpone the removal of the order to carry out air strikes for another period. Or it could lift the order immediately if it felt there was full compliance. But I think the latter is highly unlikely.

SIMEONE:  Full compliance?

AMBASSADOR PICKERING:  Yes.

SIMEONE: How long do you think it will take to get the 2,000 OSCE observers on the ground?

AMBASSADOR PICKERING: Well, the agreement says up to 2,000. We believe that 50 can be in almost immediately, because they were already conducting activities. They were the so-called Kosovar Diplomatic Observation Mission. And they, in our view, and in accordance with the planning that's gone on, will become the advanced element of the new group of observers. We expect to see those strengthened by perhaps up to another 100 or 150 very, very quickly. We expect that the rest of the mission will take time to organize. But we believe this initial increment within another week or two will provide a good deal of transparency and a good deal of observation, not what everybody would like. Then it will be up to the mission to plan on the appropriate number to insure that Albanians in Kosovo can return to the villages from which they were driven or burned out and begin to resume their lives, and have regular contacts with the verification mission to assure that they're not being shot at or forcibly removed from their villages or otherwise punished.

SIMEONE: Now, surely, if you're putting in civilian, unarmed observers on the ground, you couldn't then at the same time be contemplating an air strike if need be, could you?

AMBASSADOR PICKERING: Well, as you saw over the last week, when we were contemplating an air strike, when that became a reality we arranged for the people to leave. And that always is possible in the future. I don't think that's a very complex task. It will serve as a further, stiff reminder to Milosevic that he is not in compliance and he better get in compliance.

SIMEONE: Do you feel that these -- I understand there're going to be diplomats and lawyers that make up part of the OSCE mission on the ground.

AMBASSADOR PICKERING: I don't think the exact composition has been derived. But they're people who are adequate and -- put it this way, people who are adept because of past experience at conducting verification missions. And so some of them might be former military officers with real experience in observing military movements, if that's what's required, and people who can take the rugged countryside, who can move around on foot, if necessary. We hope that they'll be recruited from all across the spectrum of the 53 countries in the OSCE. We hope that they will work closely together.
      As Ambassador Holbrooke announced this morning, the arrangement is for an American, we expect, to be the mission director. And he will have individuals from many countries working on his staff and in his headquarters and out in the field. We expect there will be Americans among them. There are Americans in the KDOM, in the Kosovo Diplomatic Observation Mission, now.

SIMEONE: But you're not putting any restrictions in the future on the possibility of American troops?

AMBASSADOR PICKERING: The President has sent a letter to the Congress saying that he is not going to support the sending of American ground combat forces to Kosovo. American combat forces will participate in the sense that the non-combat aerial reconnaissance aircraft which might come from the United States come, in our view, from combat forces. But they will be regular aviation reconnaissance units, not equipped to carry on fighting, but to carry out real reconnaissance.

SIMEONE: In February, the United States, through the U.N., helped negotiate an agreement with Iraq to avert war there when Iraq was not complying with U.N. resolutions. Iraq's now violated that, and we've done nothing.
      Why do you feel people should be confident that this agreement, if Milosevic chooses to do so and break it, will be upheld?

AMBASSADOR PICKERING: We've done a great deal in Iraq -- I happen to be working on that as well -- including a unanimous resolution of the Security Council, making it very clear to Iraq where the world community stands. Missions undertaken this week by the Special Representative of the Secretary General, work by the Secretary General himself with the Iraqi Foreign Minister, and a very clear sense on the part of Iraq, which should not be mistaken, that there are very significant American forces in the region, much more significant than when the last crisis started in the autumn of 1996, and forces that are fully prepared to act if we feel that's necessary.
      So in each case, we are using diplomacy as the primary means to resolve the problem, but backed up by the threat of the use of force.

SIMEONE: But you don't think that Slobodan Milosevic might sense a weakness on the part of Iraq since the U.S. has not responded militarily, and push this accord to the brink again?

AMBASSADOR PICKERING: If he did, like Saddam, who already has found out, he would be making the worst mistake of his life.

SIMEONE:  But Saddam hasn't found that out yet.

AMBASSADOR PICKERING: Saddam has already found it out. He's found it out on many occasions in the past. And if he wants to test the United States, I'm sure he'll not find us wanting.

SIMEONE: Now we have these observers that are going to go in there. What sort of thing could they find that would trigger NATO action?

AMBASSADOR PICKERING: They will find that he remains in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1199, that he hasn't moved the forces he's supposed to move, or he hasn't cantoned the forces that he's supposed to canton, or that he is harassing or otherwise making difficulties and problems for the Albanian citizens of Kosovo outside the areas permitted in the agreement, including the setting up of roadblocks that are not dedicated either to traffic control or to crime prevention.

SIMEONE: And you're convinced he's going to remove all of those and comply fully?

AMBASSADOR PICKERING: That is his obligation. I wish I could say I was convinced, that I believe Mr. Milosevic would do all that willingly and gratuitously. He hasn't gotten to where he's gotten now without the threat of the use of force. The reason why we will maintain the threat of use of force is precisely to assure implementation because we don't trust him of his own free will necessarily fully to comply.

SIMEONE: Did Ambassador Holbrooke do any negotiation on this agreement with the KLA [Kosovo Liberation Army]? Are they a part of this? And what happens if they decide to continue attacking?

AMBASSADOR PICKERING: The KLA are not a part of this. But the KLA have been told by the United States through many different channels that if they seek to use military force to disrupt this agreement, they're really on their own. They have to accept the responsibilities...

SIMEONE: So you are saying you would tolerate retaliation by Serbian forces against the KLA if something's initiated by the KLA while this agreement is in place.

AMBASSADOR PICKERING: I think that "They're on their own" is pretty clear. You've made one definition of it.

SIMEONE: So we could see conflict renew itself, but conflict that doesn't go against this agreement?

AMBASSADOR PICKERING: I think that we're not looking for more conflict. We believe the KLA, having declared a cease-fire and declared its willingness to support and do everything it could to assist in the humanitarian relief of the Albanian people in Kosovo, is not going to violate this agreement. But we have told them, because there's no way that we can enforce this agreement other than allow it to become self-enforcing, so to speak, that they must take their own chances; they must recognize that they would be on their own if they violate the agreement.

SIMEONE: In the negotiations between Ambassador Holbrooke and Mr. Milosevic, did the Yugoslav leader demand that, the right to retaliate?

AMBASSADOR PICKERING: I can't tell you for certain that that is the case.

SIMEONE: At what point does this become, if NATO does, in fact, have to act, war on the former Yugoslavia by NATO? This is part of Yugoslavia, Kosovo. So at what point do we actually declare war on the former Yugoslavia?

AMBASSADOR PICKERING: I think that the issue is not at this stage to declare war. The issue...

SIMEONE:  But it would be, though...

AMBASSADOR PICKERING: ...is to assure that Mr. Milosevic meets his obligations in an international agreement that will be between him and the OSCE, all 53 states of Europe, on the one hand, and between him and the 16 states of NATO, on the other. The 16 states of NATO in a very solemn decision on Sunday -- Monday night -- made clear that they were prepared to enforce this agreement. They remain ready to do so. And until, in fact, he fully complies, we would hope and expect that NATO will continue to maintain that posture.

SIMEONE: What is Russia telling you about this situation? They were against any sort of NATO force in this.

AMBASSADOR PICKERING: Russia has made it clear that it felt that it would be a serious mistake to go to the use of force. It is also our firm impression after many consultations with the Russians, that they understood perfectly well, particularly in dealing with somebody like Mr. Milosevic, that the threat of the use of force had to be present in order to bring him to the kind of diplomatic solution that has been worked out. What they haven't answered and what is seemingly troublesome for them, is how you can have a valid threat of the use of force if you're, at the beginning, unwilling or unable to use it.
      And so we have continued to, I think, persuade them that it's extremely important for the success of diplomacy here, as it was in Iraq, and as it will continue to be in both places, to be able to have a credible threat of force to reinforce the diplomacy. Our interest is not in using force. Our interest is in diplomatic settlement. And thus far we have managed the problem to bring about a diplomatic settlement. Now we, of course, believe that the threat of the use of force is critically important for implementation, to insure implementation, and so that remains a centerpiece of our policy.

SIMEONE: And has the Russian government dropped its threat to intervene on behalf of the Serbs if NATO attacks?

AMBASSADOR PICKERING: There are several statements to that effect that now apparently have been disowned by the Russian Foreign Minister.

SIMEONE:  So which one do you stick by...

AMBASSADOR PICKERING:  I like the Foreign...

SIMEONE: ...do you believe?

AMBASSADOR PICKERING: I like the Foreign Minister's statement. I think he represents a rationale view in Russia, that the answer to the question of Slobodan Milosevic is not to go to war on the side of Serbia or against the rest of Europe.

SIMEONE: There's other situations around the world, aren't there, where people in a country are being attacked or displaced and the United States or any outside power has not set such an example or threat. For example, Chechnya. The Western powers never threatened Russia with intervention or any attack if Russian forces moved against Chechens, and to this day in Sudan where we have thousands of people who have been killed in the south by a repressive government in the north. In neither case has Western powers or the United States decided to draw the line.
      Why Kosovo?

AMBASSADOR PICKERING: Kosovo, I think, represents a particularly abhorrent case and one that's of great concern to the international community, in part because the international community has assumed in the Bosnian instance a serious responsibility through, particularly, European consultation with the United States for dealing with the really deleterious results of the collapse of the former Yugoslavia. That's important. And clearly it's been a follow-on to what we have, in fact, been engaged in using military force when necessary in Bosnia to deal with that particular problem, which really threatened the long-term stability and cohesion all over Europe. It threatened, in fact, to cross borders and affect the interests of many members of the alliance. Kosovo has also raised the question of a serious threat to the Dayton settlement and to Bosnia. It also represented a pretty horrendous use of untrammeled force against innocent civilians in a way that became clearly notorious and threatened to set off further complications around.
      We are deeply engaged in Sudan. We are the major donor of assistance. We have worked very hard with the parties to resolve the issue. We believe that there is a negotiating process engaged, but that the parties need to be more seriously involved in that. We believe diplomacy still has a role to play in that problem.

SIMEONE: Did the United States act too late on Kosovo? Should this have been done perhaps months ago before we got on the verge of a humanitarian crisis?

AMBASSADOR PICKERING: The United States, I think, acted in a way in which the cohesion and the present state of European concurrence on this issue permitted. It took us quite a while, as you recall, to get the original Security Council resolution. We'd been working on it for quite a while. Our deep concern with this situation was expressed as early as last spring when the depredations started and when the troop build-up started. And we worked very hard diplomatically to see if we could bring it under control. That clearly wasn't possible. It was clear that the international community was divided and only came together this autumn with the idea that it would support a situation in which diplomacy could be backed up with the use of force.

SIMEONE: Doesn't this also, though, further push an ultimate resolution of the Kosovo crisis down the road? We're not settling here, are we, the fundamental problem of whether Kosovo should have independence or not.

AMBASSADOR PICKERING: I think in the contrary, because one of the critical questions in the U.N. resolution and one of the major elements in Ambassador Holbrooke's negotiation was to develop a timetable for the political settlement of Kosovo, the interim agreement that the United States has put forward and that President Milosevic and his regime agreed, on their own, without negotiation with the Kosovar Albanians, to guarantees of self-government, to guarantees of elections as part of a settlement process, to commitment to see a development of a Kosovar police force, and so on. These are very important steps. These were unilateral on this part. They came about as a result of the effort on the part of Ambassador Holbrooke not only to negotiate a timetable, which is also in place for an early conclusion of an agreement, early November, but also to set forward a series of basic principles which he felt would help to unlock the present set of arrangements.
      You talked about Kosovo independence. As you know, the United States has not taken that position. The United States believes that we ought to move to an interim agreement for the next three years that can provide a very large measure of self-government, what we have called enhanced status for the people of Kosovo.

SIMEONE: But if the KLA, the Kosovo rebels continue to fight, aren't all bets off, and then we see Serb retaliation?

AMBASSADOR PICKERING: I don't believe so. I don't think that that's necessarily in the best interests either of the Albanians or perhaps even the KLA. Some isolated radicals may try to do that. But even there, as I pointed out, a number of the KLA have committed themselves to a cease-fire and to assisting in the humanitarian assistance of the people in Albania, which is clearly important and is a backing, if you like, of the arrangements we have worked out.

SIMEONE: Are you worried that Kosovo may ultimately become another American protectorate in Balkans, like Bosnia?

AMBASSADOR PICKERING: I don't think so. I think that, first, we're not putting, as I said, ground combat forces in. Neither is NATO. NATO may have a force in the region which can help to extract the OSCE verification monitors if they get into difficulty in a way that then would open the door for the use of air power to enforce the implementation of the agreement. But there is not, in the same sense of the word, a similar situation to Bosnia.
      Secondly, Bosnia, as you know, with SFOR, represents the contributions of a wide number of countries. The American military commander is in charge in only one area. It is a strong and cooperative effort. And I think, clearly, it represents a significant European, American and other interest in resolving the difficult Bosnian situation, not an American protectorate.

SIMEONE: A final question. Is Slobodan Milosevic an American ally or enemy?

AMBASSADOR PICKERING: I think that Slobodan Milosevic is shown by every action and by every statement, and indeed almost by every move that he has been brought along only under very, very severe pressure and that he doesn't consider the United States an ally, friend, mentor or controller, in that sense, except in the most extreme sort of situation. He began the negotiations by publicly calling Ambassador Holbrooke a criminal. He is clearly an individual who only understands the threat of the use of force in negotiations. It's not a pleasant way to have to negotiate. Ambassador Holbrooke spent many long, tedious and trying hours bringing him along with this particular agreement.
      But the fact that we have emerged with an agreement that we consider to be a serious and important step forward in no way implies that somehow Mr. Milosevic is a ... ally of the United States. Quite the contrary.

SIMEONE: But he is an ally on the Dayton Accords. We clearly need him. If we anger him on the issue of Kosovo, does that threaten to unravel?

AMBASSADOR PICKERING: He is a signatory of the Dayton Accords. He knows what will happen if he doesn't respect his signature. He is a signatory on these agreements, and he knows what will happen if he doesn't respect his signature.

SIMEONE:  Ambassador Pickering, thank you very much for your time.

AMBASSADOR PICKERING:  Thank you very much.

(End transcript)
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back to  ==> Part 1

From the press conference of Mr. Adem Demaci held on October 13, 1998

Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome!

        We are happy to announce the long apprehended NATO action, by all of us, that will happen within four days in case of Mr. Milosevic's non-compliance with the demands of the Security Council.  We also have information that Mr. Milosevic is close to agreeing on the demands by the Security Council as well as on allowing troops to monitor the fulfillment of these demands.  We could easily say that we are getting back to reality.  The unrealistic politics of Mr. Milosevic led the territory of former Yugoslavia to live under unreal conditions.  We are now entering the process of solving many problems that exist ahead of us so they could be reached without multiple sacrifices and hardships.  This will, hopefully, fulfill the demands of these nations in reciprocal way so the Balkans will, once and forever, come out of the top list of world problems and will hopefully use its experience as a positive input in solving the other problems our world is facing today.  I will not extend this any further so we can continue with your questions.  Hopefully, you understand that you can ask anything you desire.

Question:  What do you expect during these four days, the three-year period and beyond that?

Answer:  It is difficult for one to foresee the future when dealing with Mr. Milosevic's politics.  However, I expect Mr. Milosevic to understand the world's seriousness in this matter and, in the same manner, we are glad to see the world's seriousness as well.  Taking this under consideration, I believe, the problems among Albanians and Serbs will be solved within two years, leading us to a completely different situation.  The flow of these events will largely depend on Mr. Milosevic and the world.

We are satisfied with the agreements and the readiness of NATO to react within four days of Mr. Miloshevic's non-compliance with the deal offered to him by the United Nations Security Council.  I think we are developing a new way, a new situation, under new circumstances.  It won't be easy and we'll have many problems, but these problems will not be as laborious as the ones we are overcoming.

Question:  Mr. Demaci, Mr. Holbrooke just said that they reached an agreement and they agreed on two thousand non-armed civilian observers to come in Kosovo, what do you think about that?

Answer:  I am not satisfied with the fact that the observers will not be armed since they will be dealing with the Serb police, military and I know that Mr. Milosevic will attempt to trick us.  But we will see, we will see…

Question:  Do you think that the proposal that is now in the table will be enough to satisfy the Albanian side?

Answer:  It is not enough, it definitely isn't, but we will attempt to make corrections and additions necessary for Albanian satisfaction.  Mr. Agani is also not satisfied with this project.  We are attempting to add some essential paragraphs to this project and have some serious negotiations.

Question:  I am interested in knowing the position of the KLA Representative after the negotiations begin.  Will he be incorporated in the potential discussions with the negotiating group?

Answer:  KLA will not participate in any negotiations without the fulfillment of a few pre-conditions by the Serb regime.  This means all the imprisoned, sentenced and kidnapped people have to be freed.  This is the first demand.  All the major communication and mass media accouterments, such as national TV and radio, have to be released to the population of Kosova.  They were taken away from the Albanians of Kosova since July-August 1990 in a well-known manner.  This would allow for the formation of pre-conditions necessary for the beginning of realistic political work, the way it is supposed to happen.  Then, we have to begin with the return of all of the refugees back to their lands and ruins, wherever they are.  To allow a safe return to the country for all of the persons forced to leave under the Serb regime, and fulfillment of other conditions, which need be considered.  The war criminals have to be surrendered to Hague Court.  Full compensation to Albanians for the committed damages is necessary.  In other words, the Serb regime has to show its seriousness about the potential discussions, so we do not enter them unprepared.  KLA has urgently requested, through its 58th declaration, the formation of a National Rescue Assembly that will take responsibility for participating in negotiations, this inverting the existing negotiating groups, and this would have the full support of the KLA.  Unfortunately, KLA has to have the major say and participation as the factor that gave the major, most essential and important input in the Albanian issue and its arrival to the point it is today, the direction of a solution.

Question:  Ambassador Hill is on his way to Prishtina, what are you going to ask from him, what are the key points where you have differences on this offered plan?

Answer:  I don't believe that Mr. Hill will contact me, because Mr. Hill usually avoids me.  However, I think that the will be told that he must take under consideration the Albanian demands and conditions for a successful beginning to Albanian-Serb negotiations.

Question:  What do you think the reaction on the ground will be of the KLA to these agreements?  You say they are not satisfied, what will that mean exactly?

Answer:  Today, KLA, in its 58th declaration, demands the formation of a National Rescue Assembly that would take these issues into their hands.

Question:  Well, will they take up arms, we know that they are now self-restrained, will they take up arms?

Answer:  KLA's self-restraining has set a precedent for the Serb police and military to follow.  They have to start deactivating themselves and except this self-restraint which could transform into a long-term cease-fire.  It will mostly depend on the Serb regime.

Question:  You said that you welcome the agreement between Mr. Holbrooke and Mr. Milosevic and also the NATO decision on reactivation of the potential attack order if there is no achievement.  What do you salute?  Are you precisely informed about the points of agreement?

Answer:  I do not believe I said that I welcome the Holbrooke-Milosevic agreement because this agreement is not yet… I don't know its content.

Question:  An agreement exists.

Answer:  However, we don't know what kind of an agreement that is.  We have reservations when speaking about agreements and projects, but we fully welcome the decision of the Atlantic Treaty.  As far as Mr. Holbrooke's agreement is concerned, we do not know its composition, we don't know what's in it, etc.

Question:  What do you think about this agreement?

Answer:  Considering the propositions made by Mr. Hill, reservations exist in our side, as you have been previously informed.  However, we are here and willing to actively participate.

Question:  The last time I asked you if you have the document, if you had been informed in detail.  In the mean time you had a meeting with Mr. Agani.  Do you have any significant information.  What will be the Albanian stand on this agreement?

Answer:  At the time of our meeting with Mr. Agani, he had no access to this document, and then "Koha Ditore" published that and made it available for all of us.  We were in agreement with Mr. Agani that the bases for any Albanian demand and request have to be the expressions of Albanians in the 1991 Referendum.  This is an imperative fact for all Albanians.  The way these bases will be covered depends on Albanians, Americans, and Serbs and we play an active role by being willing to labor and fight for achievement of this goal.

Question:  You said that an Assembly is needed and that KLA will form a National Rescue Assembly that will, unfortunately, invert the existing organs.  How do you exactly think these existing organs should be inverted?

Answer:  Their inversion has to be done by allowing them to adjust to the war conditions that we are in, since they were all formed prior to or as if there was no war.  The war came and it happened.  We have to accept the reality of war since it still exists.  These are the limits that should be used in the peaceful inversion of existing organs, in good manner, with agreements, and the formation of a National Rescuing Assembly with agreements.

Question:  Kosova Liberation Army has been complying with the resolution of the United Nations Security Council, even though the Serb attacks have not stopped in many Kosova villages.  In case of NATO attacks, what will KLA do?

Answer:  Well, KLA will continue, because according to its declaration of self-restraint, KLA will respect that even in case of NATO attacks.  I am sorry to inform you that the Serb police and military have not only continued their attacks but they have made improvements in their positioning and weaponry in over 48 strategic points around Kosova, and they use them to continue their raids of village bombing and destruction, arrests, murders, imprisoning, etc.  This means that the Serb regiment has not stopped its activities, and the whole world has seen that the Liberation Army is a serious institution that does what it says, at the cost of sacrificing some technical retreats to maintain this self-restraint.

Question:  Are you happy with the political settlement that this deal implies?

Answer:  We only know half of this agreement, the part about the NATO agreement.  As far as the other half is concerned, the agreement between Mr. Holbrooke and Mr. Milosevic, we have no information on any kind of settlement.  We have to wait and see its content.

Question:  What are the crucial points, in your opinion, for this settlement to be acceptable?

Answer:  It is very crucial that the political will of Albanians, expressed in the 1991 Referendum, is accepted.  This point unifies all of Albanians.

Translated By:  Korab Rashid Sejdiu

Information Service
=====================================================
        Adem Demaçi
        Përfaqësues i përgjithshëm politik i
        Ushtrisë Çlirimtare të Kosovës (UÇK)
                       --<>--
        Adem Demaçi
        General Political Representative
        of the Kosova Liberation Army (KLA)
-----------------------------------------------------
         Tel.      :  ++ 381 38 36 032
         Fax.      :  ++ 381 38 34 051
         E-mail    :  Demaci@albanian.com

Taken without permission, for fair use only.

• Seven Students Face Return to Albania after Dismissal from High
• Hundreds of Kosovo Refugees Land on Italian Shores
• Serbs and Albanians Unhappy with NATO Extension
• In Woods above Their Village, People Want Return to Normal Lives
• Macedonian Opposition Expects Big Election Win

__________________________________________________

Seven Students Face Return to Albania after Dismissal from High
AP   17-OCT-98

MORRILTON, Ark. (AP) -- Seven Albanian teens who came to America to escape their violent homeland may have to go back after being tossed out of a high school that refuses to take more foreign-exchange students.
     Their American sponsors are scrambling to find another school that will take them and prevent a return to Albania.
     "These kids academically are so far ahead of the students here," said Larry Williams, the executive director of the Southern Christian Home, where the seven live. "They need the English. They speak real good English, but it's studied English, not Arkansas English."
     Albania is still is trying to recover from nationwide riots that exploded in 1997 after pyramid investment schemes collapsed, depriving many Albanians of their life savings.
     The South Conway County school board recently adopted a policy that limits the number of international students at Morrilton High School to six. Since there are already six such students enrolled, they do not want anymore, though they said they have sympathy for the students' situations.
     One teen-ager's father was recently killed in Albania.
     "I read the newspapers, I know what's going on over there," Superintendent Raymond Chambers said Friday. "I've been told about that girl's father being killed and I feel for her. At the same time, we have a policy to follow."
     Chambers said the Albanian students were allowed to enroll by a principal not familiar with the new policy.
     Williams said he has argued in vain that the Albanians aren't exchange students, but semi-permanent residents allowed into the country on indefinite visas. Their visas allow them to stay in the United States as long as they are in school, not just for the one year typically granted foreign-exchange students, Williams said.
     The students' parents were trying to get the seven out of Albania when the Southern Christian Home offered to take them, Williams said.
     Wayne Speer, a Church of Christ missionary in Tirana, recently sent an e-mail message to Williams complaining of how bad the situation had become in Albania.
     "There's constant gunfire here. (On a recent Sunday) during our communion service in the downtown museum which we rented for services, a gun battle broke out in the city square outside our windows. Machine guns were being fired everywhere, cars were being set on fire," he wrote.
     Armando Margjeka, one of the students, wants to return home, but only after getting a college degree in the United States.
     "I want to be a missionary in my own country," Margjeka said.

Copyright 1998& The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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Hundreds of Kosovo Refugees Land on Italian Shores
Reuters   17-OCT-98

LECCE, Italy, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Police said on Saturday they had picked up some 500 refugees, over half of them from Kosovo, on southern Italian beaches the previous night.
     "There were around 500-- 300 of them from Kosovo and the rest from Iraq and Turkey," a police spokesman in Lecce, in the heel of Italy's boot, said by telephone. "There were lots of young people and families."
     The refugees, who had taken advantage of calm seas and thick fog, were found on the beaches around Otranto in the southern Puglia region, the spokesman said.
     The narrow 60-km (40-mile) Strait of Otranto separating Italy from Albania is a popular gateway to Europe. Albanian smugglers' speedboats can reach the Puglian shores in three hours when the sea is calm.
     Thousands of ethnic Albanians have fled from the Serbian province of Kosovo this year to escape fighting between Serbian security forces and the separatist guerrillas of the Kosovo Liberation Army.

Copyright 1998 Reuters Limited.All rights reserved.
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In Woods above Their Village, People Want Return to Normal Lives
AP   17-OCT-98

KISNA REKA, Yugoslavia (AP) -- With the damp, cold night descending outside, Florin Garoj sat on the blanketed floor of a refugee hut and recalled the moment more than nine years ago when life changed, perhaps forever.
     Then he was an engineering student in his final year, preparing to make his own way in Kisna Reka, his family's village along the tree-covered mountains about 18 miles southwest of Pristina, the capital of Kosovo province.
     But President Slobodan Milosevic revoked the autonomy of Kosovo and its ethnic Albanian majority in February 1989. Many here say that launched an era of repression and inevitable rebellion. Today, the province is on the verge of NATO airstrikes.
     "With the loss of autonomy, every single Albanian person could see they were losing their rights," Garoj said Thursday night, his chin resting in his right hand. "From that day, normal life for Albanians ended."
     As if on cue, two dull thuds of tank fire sounded outside, far away from the woods where Garoj and hundreds of other refugees survive off international aid, resolve and a deep-rooted sense of community and order.
     Despite assertions by Milosevic that the Kosovo crackdown his forces launched in February was against Kosovo Liberation Army rebels, most refugees camped on a hillside seemed to be villagers hoping for peace and the restoration of their political rights -- not hardcore revolutionaries.
     In this makeshift refugee camp, people have little faith in the political agreement Milosevic signed with NATO, nor with the 2,000 international verifiers who will be brought in to make sure the Yugoslav president keeps his word. The refugees keep abreast of the news on battery-powered radios.
     Despite reports that Serbian forces are withdrawing as required by NATO, things around Kisna Reka look the same to them.
     "The situation is as it was a week ago," said Ramadam Nuhaj, 25. "Nothing has changed."
     Their homes are just a few miles away, but all the refugees except for a few older folks -- including Garoj's parents -- sleep in the ragged camp, fearing further attack from the Serbian security forces who drove them off earlier this year.
     "My parents are very old and they are attached to the place and the house," Garoj explained. "They've decided that if they have to die, it will be there."
     For the most part, life in the camp is far better than for tens of thousands of other refugees scattered throughout Kosovo, a province of Serbia, the main part of Yugoslavia.
     There are four faucets that pipe in spring water, courtesy of a British aid agency, and well-made cylindrical huts of tree branches covered by plastic sheeting, blankets and carpeting. Some people have wood stoves for heating and cooking, and food and clothing supplies from aid agencies arrive every few weeks.
     Camp life is communal, with the clan-based families sharing supplies and taking in others from overcrowded huts. When new relief goods arrived Thursday, the residents waited patiently for their names to be called to collect their allotment.
     "We have nothing, but we still have an ordered life with everyone having their role," said a man who only would give a nickname, Malesory, which is Albanian for "man of the forest."
     But children still tramp through cold, muddy patches in mismatched, ill-fitting shoes, many without socks. While daytime movement is relatively free, the scattered shooting and shelling still heard at night shows the danger continues.
     With temperatures already dropping below freezing at night, the oncoming winter threatens to bring widespread sickness, starvation and death.
     "We've always said that if they don't go back to their homes, there will be a catastrophe," warned Fernando del Mundo of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees.
     Going home will require the complete withdrawal of Serb forces from the area and international guarantees of safety, said Nuhaj, who lives with his wife in the camp.
     "We need the international community, because in 24 hours, the Serbian forces can come back," he said.
     After sunset, with most families asleep in their huts, Garoj and other men gathered in Nuhaj's hut to share tea served from a pot and drank from glasses salvaged from a village house.
     "Now we have turned into being forest people," Garoj sighed. "I'm an engineer. One day I hope to return to my profession and continue the normal life."

Copyright 1998& The Associated Press. All rights reserved
__________________________________________________

Serbs and Albanians Unhappy with NATO Extension
Reuters   17-OCT-98

PRISTINA, Serbia, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Neither ethnic Albanians nor Serbs-- though for different reasons-- were happy on Saturday with a 10-day extension for Yugoslav troops to withdraw from Kosovo and avert threatened NATO air strikes.
     "I think it's not good. Every extension is worse because the occupiers get more time," an ethnic Albanian in the Pristina main street told Reuters.
     "We wanted NATO to intervene as soon as possible. This is not good," Jakup Hasani, also an ethnic Albanian, said.
     On Friday NATO gave Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic 10 more days to pull combat troops out of Kosovo or risk air strikes.
     The U.S.-led alliance said urgent steps were expected to ensure full compliance until a new deadline expired. The first one expired on Saturday.
     "They have reached out hands with Milosevic to help him commit more crimes in Kosovo," ex-political prisoner Avdi Limani said. "This is a big mistake of the international community. The Albanians no longer believe in these fairy tales."
     He added that the Albanians had chosen their way. "We're going to fight to the end," Limani, an unemployed lawyer, said.
     Pristina Serbs, however, had a different view. They were also not happy with the withdrawal of their forces, saying it left them feeling insecure and defenceless.
     "They should not be withdrawn at all...We are defending our borders," said Predrag, a Pristina Serb. "If we withdraw forces what will happen then? The shooting is still going on, the people are dying, it was on TV."
     The Serb-run Media Centre said one policeman was killed on Thursday and three others wounded in what Serb police described as separatist guerrilla attacks against the remaining police outposts in the Malisevo region in western Kosovo.
     Ethnic Albanian sources said Serb forces continued to shell the villages in the central Drenica region and in the western Djakovica region. Serb sources denied such reports.
     "The winner in this case (NATO extension) is manoeuvring space which Milosevic receives and which he will use very well for his own terms in the nearest possible future," Veton Surroi, an editor of Koha Ditore, Albanian-language daily, said.
     He added that "in the next 10 days we will see further diminishment, further lowering of the requests towards the Belgrade regime."
     NATO said on Friday that full compliance was still far away, but late on Friday a large 344-vehicle-strong Yugoslav army convoy withdrew from their fighting positions.
     "The extension is a good and logical move. The original four-day deadline was stupid because no one could comply in such short time," Radovan Urosevic, the head of Serb Media Centre told Reuters.
     Two Serb women walking the streets of Pristina on a cold sunny morning agreed the move was good.
     "I suppose it will be all right. Not only for 10 days, but forever, at least for a while," one of them said.
     "I don't have bread to eat. How can I discuss politics?" said another Serb woman passing by.

Copyright 1998 Reuters Limited.All rights reserved.
------

Macedonian Opposition Expects Big Election Win
Reuters  17-OCT-98

SKOPJE, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Macedonia's right-wing opposition said on Saturday it expected a wide victory in Sunday's general election in the poor Balkan nation but feared widespread vote manipulation from the ruling social democrats.
     "Independent polls conducted by U.S. consultants put us ahead by as much as 16 points. But we fear widespread fraud by the government to alter the result," Vasil Tupurkovski, the head of the Democratic Alternative (DA) party, told Reuters.
     DA and the nationalist VMRO DPNE party have formed a coalition promising to eradicate poverty and gradually bring the former Yugoslav republic into the mainstream of Western nations.
     Tupurkovski, seen as the rising star in Macedonian politics, said he had given international observers a number of voting cards which had the same name but different numbers.
     "This means the same person can vote twice. There is also duplication of ID cards because in order to vote your ID number must match the one of the voting card. They'll do anything to stay in power because they know they are losing," he said.
     A senior official for the Social Democratic Party (SDAM) of Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski denied the accusations.
     "The opposition comes up with these kind of charges during the elections. A number of Macedonians share the same names and of course there is no duplication of ID cards," said party spokesperson Radmila Sekerinska. "The voting catalogues are very transparent and open to everyone."
     The last national elections in Macedonia took place in 1994. Observers for the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said then that there were voting irregularities but not enough to alter the final result.
     "The OSCE observers will be present on Sunday in about 100 out of the 1900 voting stations around the country. "They won't be able to estimate the extent of the frawd," Tupurkovski said.
     Sekerinska said many government-conducted polls showed the SDAM and their socialist party coalition partners were slightly ahead of the DA-VMRO grouping and predicted a neck-and-neck race but declined to give any percentages.
     "It will be very close and it will all depend on the post-election coalitions with smaller parties," she said.
     At stake in the two rounds of voting, the first on Sunday and the second on November 1, are 120 parliament seats.
     All mainstream parties have similar foreign policy targets aiming to normalise relations with neighbouring Greece and Bulgaria and push Macedonia closer to NATO and the European Union.
     Analysts and foreign diplomats said the DA-VMRO coalition had a winning momentum over the SDAM but pointed out that polls in Macedonia cannot be trusted and that 20 percent of the 1.5 million voters were still undecided.
     "You can't make a safe prediction, there are still many undecided voters but one thing is clear. The arrival of Mr Tupurkovski has changed the political scene," one Western diplomat said.
     "He helped the VMRO soften its nationalist cries and presented a development programme which the country needs. He is popular among Macedonia's neighbours, the country's youth and even within the ethnic Albanian minority," he added.

Copyright 1998 Reuters Limited.All rights reserved.
 

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