From aki at alb-net.com Fri Dec 6 09:23:47 2002 From: aki at alb-net.com (aki at alb-net.com) Date: Fri, 06 Dec 2002 09:23:47 -0500 Subject: [AKI-News] AKI NEWSLETTER, DEC. 6, 2002 Message-ID: ADVOCATES FOR KOSOVA'S INDEPENDENCE (AKI) KOSOVA ACTION NETWORK/KOSOVA-IRELAND SOLIDARITY/SWEDEN-KOSOVA UNION DECEMBER 6, 2002 >From Valerie Hughes, Kosova Ireland Solidarity on the urgent need for a just political solution to the problem of Kosova: THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE YUGOSLAV ELECTION, 8TH DECEMBER 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------- Mary Robinson recently stated that "acute poverty, inequality and the persistent violation of human rights can create an environment which breeds violent extremism." That unfortunately is the grim context in which the election on Sunday of the next President of Yugoslavia should be judged. While the current President is the likely winner over his principal opponents, the extreme right-wingers, Vojislav Seselj and Borislav Pelevic, it is very uncertain that the election will attract the necessary fifty per cent voter turnout required for legitimacy. Yugoslavia was recently refused admission to the Council of Europe , seen by it as a necessary stepping stone to its much desired entry into the European Union.This failure was linked to the principal concern of the Council of Europe that Serbia - the dominant state within the Yugoslav Federation -would implement a constitutional charter with Montenegro forming thereby a new joint state.However the Montenegrin President , Milo Djukanovic, rejected the proposed constitution . Javier Solana, the European High Representative on Foreign and Security policy supports President Kostunica's position in favour of a strong union between Serbia and Montenegro and opposes Djukanovic's pro-independence orientation.It is very disturbing that in the light of the last ten years of Balkan history,important European leaders should still fail to understand the full measure of suspicion of Serbia's neighbours regarding the intentions of the Serbian government.For example, when the recent Serbian drafted constitution described Kosova as part of Serbia'a territory, an explosion of anger ensued in the Kosovar Assembly.Regarding Djukanovic's problems with the new joint state proposals ,Peter Palmer of the International Crisis Group stated in October :"The EU has played a highly negative role during the past year." On May 16th of this year, Carla Del Ponte , the Chief Prosecutor of the Hague War Crimes Tribunal offered a different and far more relevant perspective on what is essential if Serbia is to become an equal part of the wider European community. In her view, respect for underlying moral values precedes a concern for technical constitutional solutions.She emphasized that what is important are concrete actions , not mere verbal expressions of goodwill.Referring to the failure to cooperate sincerely with the Hague Tribunal, she stated that "All delays and obstruction lead us to believe that Belgrade is just waiting for the Tribunal to disappear.There is no wish to face the crimes committed by the Serbian forces on behalf of and in the name of the Serbian people. There is a permanent desire to blame others - be it Albanians, the West, the US, NATO or anybody else." In the context of punishing war crimes, Mary Robinson stressed the need to tackle impunity. "Perpetrators of gross violations of human rights must be held accountable.It is necessary to stand up to bullies : to name and shame." Far from naming and shaming however,Kostunica's government has obstructed the Hague Tribunal's efforts to bring notorious war criminals to justice.In addition,there has been an almost total failure to fulfill its promise to judge reported war criminals in domestic courts. The scandal of continuing impunity in the Balkans was well expressed by Judge Nusreta Sivac, a former victim of the Omarska Concentration Camp who spoke of the present day reality in Bosnia ,of "Rapists and murderers strolling along cafe-lined boulevards , while those wh suffered are shunned and intimidated."(London Independent , 23.11.02) The appalling cynicism behind this failure to arrest war criminals is expressed in many other areas . Recently , for example, the international community exposed the export to Iraq of cruise missile technology along with chemical and biological weapons. "The sales were approved at a January 2002 meeting of the Yugoslav government, at which President Kostunica and Foreign Minister Svilanovic were present and voted in favour of continued sales.The resulting scandal highlights the nearly complete lack of reform since Milosevic left, the lack of civilian control over the military and Kostunica's refusal to remove Milosevic era cronies from top positions."(International Crisis Group,Oct.2002) As the EU - sponsored European Stability Initiative has stated (Nov.2002),"The Western Balkans is at risk of becoming an island of instability and underdevelopment in the heart of Europe." The UN Head of Mission in Kosova, Michael Steiner, recently described the "astronomical unemployment (almost 60%) ...and grinding poverty as major stumbling blocks to a lasting peace in Kosovo." The Kosovar economy , already so fragile, is hugely dependent on emigrants' remittances from abroad.Tragically , the EU , by deporting thousands of Kosovo workers is making an already desperate situation even more explosive. Last month, Michael Steiner called for a new UN Security Council Resolution on the final status of Kosovo. "The idea in world capitals before the 11th of Sept last year that the reconstruction of Kosovo could take generations or an eternity is outdated." The continuing uncertainty regarding Kosovo's constitutional status renders impossible the international investment that is necessary in the country for its economic transformation. If the deliberate and orchestrated violence which destroyed so much in Bosnia and Kosova is not to fester and triumph again , it is essential that the international community adopt a much more urgent and effective approach to overcoming the fundamental causes of instability in the area.Delays, denials and obfuscations contributed hugely to previous Balkan disasters.Let us not go down that road once more! END THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE YUGOSLAV ELECTION, 8TH DECEMBER 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------- Mary Robinson recently stated that "acute poverty, inequality and the persistent violation of human rights can create an environment which breeds violent extremism." That unfortunately is the grim context in which the election on Sunday of the next President of Yugoslavia should be judged. While the current President is the likely winner over his principal opponents, the extreme right-wingers, Vojislav Seselj and Borislav Pelevic, it is very uncertain that the election will attract the necessary fifty per cent voter turnout required for legitimacy. Yugoslavia was recently refused admission to the Council of Europe , seen by it as a necessary stepping stone to its much desired entry into the European Union.This failure was linked to the principal concern of the Council of Europe that Serbia - the dominant state within the Yugoslav Federation -would implement a constitutional charter with Montenegro forming thereby a new joint state.However the Montenegrin President , Milo Djukanovic, rejected the proposed constitution . Javier Solana, the European High Representative on Foreign and Security policy supports President Kostunica's position in favour of a strong union between Serbia and Montenegro and opposes Djukanovic's pro-independence orientation.It is very disturbing that in the light of the last ten years of Balkan history,important European leaders should still fail to understand the full measure of suspicion of Serbia's neighbours regarding the intentions of the Serbian government.For example, when the recent Serbian drafted constitution described Kosova as part of Serbia'a territory, an explosion of anger ensued in the Kosovar Assembly.Regarding Djukanovic's problems with the new joint state proposals ,Peter Palmer of the International Crisis Group stated in October :"The EU has played a highly negative role during the past year." On May 16th of this year, Carla Del Ponte , the Chief Prosecutor of the Hague War Crimes Tribunal offered a different and far more relevant perspective on what is essential if Serbia is to become an equal part of the wider European community. In her view, respect for underlying moral values precedes a concern for technical constitutional solutions.She emphasized that what is important are concrete actions , not mere verbal expressions of goodwill.Referring to the failure to cooperate sincerely with the Hague Tribunal, she stated that "All delays and obstruction lead us to believe that Belgrade is just waiting for the Tribunal to disappear.There is no wish to face the crimes committed by the Serbian forces on behalf of and in the name of the Serbian people. There is a permanent desire to blame others - be it Albanians, the West, the US, NATO or anybody else." In the context of punishing war crimes, Mary Robinson stressed the need to tackle impunity. "Perpetrators of gross violations of human rights must be held accountable.It is necessary to stand up to bullies : to name and shame." Far from naming and shaming however,Kostunica's government has obstructed the Hague Tribunal's efforts to bring notorious war criminals to justice.In addition,there has been an almost total failure to fulfill its promise to judge reported war criminals in domestic courts. The scandal of continuing impunity in the Balkans was well expressed by Judge Nusreta Sivac, a former victim of the Omarska Concentration Camp who spoke of the present day reality in Bosnia ,of "Rapists and murderers strolling along cafe-lined boulevards , while those wh suffered are shunned and intimidated."(London Independent , 23.11.02) The appalling cynicism behind this failure to arrest war criminals is expressed in many other areas . Recently , for example, the international community exposed the export to Iraq of cruise missile technology along with chemical and biological weapons. "The sales were approved at a January 2002 meeting of the Yugoslav government, at which President Kostunica and Foreign Minister Svilanovic were present and voted in favour of continued sales.The resulting scandal highlights the nearly complete lack of reform since Milosevic left, the lack of civilian control over the military and Kostunica's refusal to remove Milosevic era cronies from top positions."(International Crisis Group,Oct.2002) As the EU - sponsored European Stability Initiative has stated (Nov.2002),"The Western Balkans is at risk of becoming an island of instability and underdevelopment in the heart of Europe." The UN Head of Mission in Kosova, Michael Steiner, recently described the "astronomical unemployment (almost 60%) ...and grinding poverty as major stumbling blocks to a lasting peace in Kosovo." The Kosovar economy , already so fragile, is hugely dependent on emigrants' remittances from abroad.Tragically , the EU , by deporting thousands of Kosovo workers is making an already desperate situation even more explosive. Last month, Michael Steiner called for a new UN Security Council Resolution on the final status of Kosovo. "The idea in world capitals before the 11th of Sept last year that the reconstruction of Kosovo could take generations or an eternity is outdated." The continuing uncertainty regarding Kosovo's constitutional status renders impossible the international investment that is necessary in the country for its economic transformation. If the deliberate and orchestrated violence which destroyed so much in Bosnia and Kosova is not to fester and triumph again , it is essential that the international community adopt a much more urgent and effective approach to overcoming the fundamental causes of instability in the area.Delays, denials and obfuscations contributed hugely to previous Balkan disasters.Let us not go down that road once more! END ________________