[AKI-News] AKI NEWSLETTER, DEC. 6, 2002

[aki at alb-net.com]

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



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