Kosova's President
Ibrahim Rugova told Munich's "Sueddeutsche Zeitung" of 29 September
that delays by the international community in recognizing the
province's independence will play into the hands of extremists who
want a greater Albania. Rugova said Kosova needs to have its own
diplomatic representation abroad and a transfer of the UN civilian
administration's (UNMIK) powers to elected Kosovar officials as soon
as possible. He stressed that Kosova has almost achieved independence
in practical terms, adding that there is increasing recognition of
this fact in the European Union as well as in the United States.
Rugova noted that it is Kosova's obligation -- as it is the
obligation of all the countries in the region -- to cooperate with
the Hague-based war crimes tribunal. He argued that Serbia's policies
toward Kosova are unchanged since the days of former President
Slobodan Milosevic. Rugova added that he is not enthusiastic about
any talks with Belgrade before the international community recognizes
Kosova's independence. PM
IS THE UN PLANNING HIGH-PROFILE TALKS ON KOSOVA? UNMIK head Harri
Holkeri wants the Belgrade-Prishtina talks slated for 14 October in
Vienna to take place "at the highest level," RFE/RL's South Slavic
and Albanian Service reported from Belgrade on 29 September. He will
depart for the Serbian capital shortly to persuade Serbia and
Montenegro's President Svetozar Marovic and Serbian Prime Minister
Zoran Zivkovic to lead their country's delegation. The ethnic
Albanians in particular -- fearing that the international community
will force them into political talks with Belgrade -- have maintained
that talks should be focused on technical questions that are best
dealt with by experts, (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 22 and 24 September
2003 and "RFE/RL Balkan Report," 13 and 20 June, and 1 and 15 August
2003). PM
POLITICIANS PREPARE FOR KOSOVA TALKS. Kosova's Prime Minister Bajram
Rexhepi asked the parliament on 27 September to give him the
necessary powers for negotiating with Belgrade, RFE/RL's South Slavic
and Albanian Service reported. The government appealed to UNMIK to
hand over various powers to it if UNMIK insists on acting as a
mediator rather than as part of the Prishtina delegation. Elsewhere,
leaders of Kosova's Serb minority told Holkeri that they are ready
for talks for the resolution of "all" outstanding questions. And in
Nis, General Branko Krga, who heads the General Staff of the Serbia
and Montenegro Army, warned that the run-up to the talks could
witness "provocations by extremists." He did not elaborate. PM
SERBIAN OPPOSITION PARTY TO BOYCOTT PRESIDENTIAL VOTE. Mladjan
Dinkic, who is the deputy leader of the G-17 Plus political party,
said in Belgrade on 27 September that his party will not take part in
the Serbian presidential election scheduled for 16 November, RFE/RL's
South Slavic and Albanian Service reported. Meanwhile, Dragoljub
Micunovic, who is the presidential candidate of the governing
Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) coalition, said that, if
elected, he will work to ensure that parliamentary elections are held
as soon as possible. Previous Serbian presidential elections in
October and December 2002 were inconclusive or invalid (see "RFE/RL
Newsline," 17, 18, and 24 September 2003). PM