[ALBSA-Info] Albanians accept UN Kosovo plan, Serbs critical

[Gazhebo at aol.com]

Albanians accept UN Kosovo plan, Serbs critical

By Beth Potter
  
PRISTINA, Yugoslavia, May 15 (Reuters) - Kosovo Albanian leaders said on 
Tuesday they would support a U.N. plan which paves the way for elections but 
complained it did not include the possibility of a referendum on 
independence. 

Serb leaders were highly critical of the plan, branding it "unacceptable" and 
"very problematic" while Russia, Serbia's traditional ally, said it amounted 
to appeasement of ethnic Albanian separatists. 

U.N. governor Hans Haekkerup unveiled on Monday the blueprint for 
self-governing institutions for Kosovo and set November 17 as the date for 
elections to a provincial assembly. 

Leaders of Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority made clear their parties would 
take part in the election to a 120-seat assembly. But they said not including 
a provision to allow a referendum on the province's final status was a 
mistake. 

"Our main dispute is with the referendum question, but we will support this 
document," said Ibrahim Rugova, leader of the moderate Democratic League of 
Kosovo party, which took more than 60 percent of seats in municipal elections 
last year. 

"This document will hold hostage the aim of the people, which is 
independence," Hashim Thaci, a former Kosovo Liberation Army leader who is 
now head of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, said just before Haekkerup signed 
the document on Tuesday. 

But Serbs said the plans gave too much power to ethnic Albanians and amounted 
to a reward for the attacks on Serbs which have plagued post-war Kosovo, 
which legally remains part of Serb-dominated Yugoslavia. 

The Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) of Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica 
said the blueprint and the elections were also prejudging a final solution 
for Kosovo. 

"Even if they wished to, Kosovo Serbs could take part only with difficulty in 
the scheduled elections because they are not in their homes, nor can they 
return to them, nor is their security and freedom of movement ensured," a DSS 
statement said. 

In Moscow, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Yakovenko was even 
more scathing. 

"The document prepared by H. Haekkerup has a whole series of faults, which 
the Russian side has drawn attention to," he said in a statement. 

"The legal framework for future self-government in the region is elevated 
almost to the level of a constitution." he added, warning that this could 
boost independence-minded forces. 

SERBS SEE DANGER 

Kosovo was placed under U.N. rule in June 1999 after NATO bombing to end Serb 
repression of the ethnic Albanian majority. 

The U.N. administration has a mandate to implement substantial 
self-government pending agreement on Kosovo's final status at some 
unspecified future date. Kosovo Albanians overwhelmingly favour independence. 

Kostunica's political adviser Predrag Simic said the blueprint would not lead 
to reduction of tensions as the West hoped but would only "whet the 
Albanians' appetites." 

But Serb leaders did not make clear whether they would take part in the 
elections. 

Haekkerup on Tuesday restated his stance that he does not have the power to al
low Kosovo's people to vote on independence. 

"This does not address final political settlement, but I think it's a 
stepping stone to reach a final agreement at some later stage," the Danish 
former defence minister said. 

Voters in November are to elect a new assembly with 120 members and a 
presidency of seven. Some 20 assembly seats will be set aside for Serbs and 
other minorities. 

The assembly will elect a president, who will nominate a prime minister. All 
three main Kosovo Albanian leaders said they hoped to be candidates for 
president if chosen by their parties. 

After the new government was in place, U.N. administrators would "step back," 
Haekkerup said. But the U.N. governor will remain in ultimate control, 
retaining powers such as being able to dissolve the assembly.