[kcc-news] Kosova "Shuttle diplomacy" within the Chateau

[Mentor Cana]

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KOSOVA (Rambouillet - Day Four)

"Shuttle diplomacy" within the Chateau

Beqë Cufaj & Augustin Palokaj \ Koha Ditore

Rambouillet, 8 February (ARTA) 2230CET --

The second working day in Rambouillet (Saturday was proclaimed day 0), began
with the Albanian delegation insisting on immediate armistice in Kosova and
for the Contact Group members to serve as a guarantee. The Albanian side
demanded this to happen so negotiations could go well.

The Serb-Yugoslav delegation (as called by the spokesman of the
co-chairmen), on the other hand, requested to see the signatures of the
Albanian delegation, saying that they accept the ten basic principles
proposed by the Contact Group. This is important for the Serb side since one
of the principles guarantees the "FRY" territorial integrity, which could
prove them successful.

"KD" sources notify that US mediator, Christopher Hill, was engaged in
efforts to "convince the Albanian delegation to sign to these principles"
today. Western sources told "Koha Ditore" that the issue is about the
principles to which "they agreed with the simple act of turning up in
Rambouillet."

Other sources still, said that Albanians, did not accept anything, at least
not so far. They are studying all of the propositions carefully, and giving
their objections. According to "KD" sources, the Albanian delegation has
shown that it is very united until now.

"There is harmony within the delegation and they are working, together, with
great seriousness," a diplomatic source told Albanian daily "Koha Ditore".
The Albanian side, there are claims, has so far depicted itself as a
delegation from Kosova, which is surprisingly compact, and not diverged as
expected.

Seems like sooner or later they willhave to meet each-other

Western diplomats told "Koha Ditore" that it is up to the two delegations to
decide when they want to meet each-other.

"It could be that they do not meet at all, but we are aiming at achieving an
agreement," said the sources. Other sources confirmed that none of the sides
has so far shown interest to sit at the same table as the other side. It
seems that they have no intention of doing such a thing. Some sources said
that the mediators were incapable of even getting the two sides to sit
together at breakfast.

Hill, Petritsch and Mayorsky, are holding separate meetings and discussions,
with both delegations, going from one to

the other, and giving them the propositions and annexes and taking their
suggestions and objections. This is very similar to the "shuttle diplomacy"
lead by Ambassadors Christopher Hill and Wolfgang Petritsch, which was
applied the last couple of months in Kosova. The distinction now is that
there is no need for shuttling back and forth between Belgrade and
Prishtina, since their movements are limited within the Chateau. Time is
also very limited and neither of the sides will have enough time to study
and doubt. In other words, what can be seen at the Chateau, are very
condensed and rapid activities, limited in time and space. The presence of
legal advisers and experts, which was not allowed in the beginning of the
conference because of the organizers, is still being considered and there is
still no indication as to whether or not they will be allowed to attend.

Momcilo Trajkovic, and a Serb delegation from Kosova, has arrived in Paris
in the meantime. They, Serb sources said, strive to claim the status of
observers at the conference, at least. They announced that they will hold
press conferences, where they will present their stands, as the "stands of
Serbs in Kosova."

Serb sources claimed that Trajkovic and Kosova Serbs said that the
"agreement as it is, should not be signed, because Kosova would be left
short of Serbs otherwise, and Milosevic a traitor".

Patriarch Pavle, from the Serb Orthodox Church, is expected to join
Trajkovic soon. Serb sources say that the Kosova Serb delegation will demand

for a sort of "autonomy within autonomy" to be proposed for them.


The hottest issues

The conference is now in the phase of harmonizing annexes with a political
character. The annexes which have to do with the Constitution of Kosova,
elections and the Ombudsman, were handed to the two parties on Sunday. These
issues are being discussed today. "KD" sources announced that the issues
that deal with the military part of the agreement are deemed as "the hottest
issues".

The same sources claimed that these issues were bound to be settled last,
after the political ones are worked out. One of the reasons why the military
part of the agreement is considered especially difficult is the fact that
the Albanian side demanded NATO to sign the agreement, and not only serve as
a guarantee. And, what is more, the military part of the agreement should
also settle KLA's position, as well as the position and number of "Yugoslav"
army soldiers in Kosova

during the interim period.

There are reports that the Contact Group is expected to hold a meeting in
Paris, and maybe even Rambouillet. The Contact Group meeting is expected to
contemplate the conference results during the one-week period. The level of
the meeting has not been determined so far, although there are assumptions
that the meeting will be held on the level of Contact Group member Foreign
Ministers.

According to "KD" sources, British Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook, is
expected to arrive in Rambouillet. He expressed his readiness to travel to
Rambouillet whenever there is need for his intervention to accelerate the
process.



KOSOVA (press briefing - Rambouillet)

Parties still apart

Beqë Cufaj & Augustin Palokaj \ Koha Ditore

Rambouillet, 8 February (ARTA) 2230CET --

The appearance of the four spokesmen of the Contact Group delegation offered
no particular help to journalists in finding out something new regarding the
negotiations which are taking place in Rambouillet. The spokesmen of the
delegations of the USA, France, Great Britain and Russia appeared today in
front of journalists and briefings were announced at the end of each day by
at least two or three spokesmen. The press conference began with
explanations of the French Foreign Ministry spokesman about the lack of
working conditions for the journalists. Perhaps some of the journalists have
offended the hospitality of the Frenchmen, but their working conditions are
terrible. The journalists have to stay all day long in cafes in order to
find a place to put plug in their computers to type the texts and afterwards
run through the town to find a place from where they can send their reports.
All these, according to the French spokesman, are due to the fact that the
conference is prepared at very short notice and the first days of the
conference were weekend days.

No discussions on principles

Regarding the events inside the castle, the spokesmen said the two sides had
received the plan of the Contact Group which contains ten main
(unnegotiable) principles and three Annexes which they are reviewing. The
spokesmen confirmed that one of the principles was the territorial integrity
of "FRY" but did not say anything about the attitudes of both sides on it.
In the morning, conference chairmen Hill, Petritsch and Mayrosky met first
with the Albanian side and later with the Serbian side. In fact, "Koha
Ditore" sources stated there would be no discussions about the principles
today and there would not be any such discussions in the conference at all,
because they are considered to be adopted by the consent of both sides to
come to Rambouillet. Some journalists tried to present, today, the adoption
of these ten principles as a success of the first day of the conference, but
in fact they were not discussed at all. This was actually the first day of
the conference. Yesterday was declared as day zero by the organizers because
the participants were busy with their accommodation and were also tired. "As

you see both the delegation are here despite the many articles you have
written about this" Philip Reeckers, the spokesman of the American
delegation said at the press conference calling it the first success the
fact that "both sides were present in the same conference room and applauded
at the same time to introductory speeches".


Three annexes

The Albanian delegation did not meet with the Yugoslav-Serb delegation so
far. This was confirmed by the sources of "Koha Ditore" and by the CG
spokesmen later. According to the spokesmen, both sides will sit together at
the same table once they have taken stands regarding the three Annexes which
were handed out to both sides. These are Annexes related to the
Constitution, the Elections and the Ombudsman. The Russian spokesman said
both sides were examining

these Annexes. The spokesmen confirmed that the term Constitution meant the
Constitution of Kosova, which is part of the plan for the interim solution
of three years. The first day of the conference was considered as
"successful and very constructive" by the spokesmen. According to them "both
sides are very serious and they are conscious that there must be an
immediate end to violence and killings". The spokesmen did not talk in
details, saying that they did not present their own governments but only
their delegations in the conference. They did not say anything about the
Albanian delegation presenting a motion for an immediate cease-fire.
According to the Albanian delegation "this would create more positive
conditions for the conference".



KOSOVA (Conference on Kosova - Rambouillet)

Albright to join?

Augustin Palokaj & Beqë Cufaj

Rambouillet, 8 February (ARTA) 2230CET --

Sources close to the Albanian delegation stressed that the delegation's
objections have to do with the way the Conference is led and with the
presence of international representatives in the Conference. The Albanian
delegation advisors had serious objections to the nature of work and their
total isolation from the counsellors.

It is natural, they said, that the French President, Jacques Chirac, made
the introductory speech at the opening session of the Conference. The French
Foreign Minister, Hubert Vedrine, the British Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook,
Russian representative, Boris Mayorsky, representatives of the US, EU, OSCE
and the Contact Group, as well as the Serb and Albanian delegations were
present. A great mistake was made because no NATO representative was invited
to the Conference, especially since Serbia signed the agreement in October
with NATO officials. NATO's air threat was the decisive force that was used
to pressure Serbia to sitting at the negotiating table, as the perspective
of NATO ground troops encouraged Kosova Albanians to participate in the
meeting.

The observers pointed out that the absence of NATO representatives, reflects
French efforts to leave the alliance aside, and promote European leadership.

European counsellors

France did not grant an entry permit to two international advisors, despite
the official request the Albanian delegation made for the participation of
Paul Williams, who served as an international advisor to the Bosniac
delegation in Dayton, and Marshall Harris, former Foreign Service official.
They accompanied the Kosova Albanian Prime Minister, Bujar Bukoshi, to the
talks, but were stopped at the entrance of the Chateau. Bukoshi was allowed
in.

Ambassador Morton Abramowitz, from the International Crisis Group, an
international counsellor that the Albanian delegation invited, arrived in
France on Sunday.

The American delegation

The American delegation is widely represented by not highly ranked
bureaucrats, including a colonel as a senior Pentagon representative.

There are claims that the American Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright,
will join the Conference next weekend, changing the chairmanship structure,
which will have major difficulties in modifying the Conference organization,

procedures, strategy and tactic with hers.

Kosova Albanians

According to various reports, the Kosova Albanian delegation has
consolidated in key negotiating objectives: the complete withdrawal of Serb
police, military and paramilitary forces from Kosova; the acceptance of a
full democratic self-governance and the protection of minority rights; the
agreement on the mechanism for the final solution following the three-year
interim period, as is the referendum; the deployment of NATO troops in
Kosova; effective enforcing measures for the surveillance of the eventual
agreement; and considerable international civil involvement under NATO
leadership.




KOSOVA (casualties - Gjakovë)

Three Albanians killed, one wounded, and several arrested

Gjakovë, 8 February (ARTA) 2230CET --


Three Albanians were killed and one was badly wounded in the Gjakovë
municipality on Sunday night.

26-year-old Luigj Mataj was killed and 23-year-old Skënder Leka wounded, at
around 2300CET on Sunday, as they were driving in a car through the village
of Osek Pashë. Luigj Mataj, from the village of Novosellë e Epërme, died
immediately, while Skënder Leka, from the village of Novosellë e Poshtme,
badly wounded, was sent to the Gjakovë hospital, the "Koha Ditore"
correspondent reported on Monday.

Sebahate Zeka (18) and Xhemajli Smaçi (23), were also killed, under
mysterious circumstances, in the Gjakovë suburb called "Te Muri i Sadik
Agës". Their bodies were sent to the hospital morgue in Gjakovë, the
correspondent said.

The LDK Information Commission in Gjakovë, informed that the Serb police
arrested Halil Gashi (26), from the Drenica village of Arllat, Sokol Sylë
Salihu (19), from the Gjakovë municipal village of Shishman, as well as Ramë
Dini (60), from the village of Cermjan. These three Albanians, who were
sheltered in this town, are still being kept at the police station in
Gjakova.

On the other hand, "KD" sources informed that the Serb police raided several
houses in the village of Dobrigje, under the pretext of searching for
weapons. This induced panic among the local population, who fled their homes
in fear of a possible attack.



KOSOVA (casualties - Kaçanik)

Body of a dead man found

Kaçanik, 8 February (ARTA) --

A corpse was discovered in a place called Krivareka, around three kilometers
from the town of Kaçanik, on Sunday at 1700CET, by occasional passersby. The
Serb police and Serb Investigating Judge were seen examining the site, in
that place, under a bridge, at 0800CET today, the "KD" correspondent
reported on Monday. The identity of the person killed is still unknown.



KOSOVA (shelling and repositioning - Podujevë)

Military deployments in Llap

Podujevë, 8 February (ARTA) 2230CET --

Frequent movements of Serb military forces and fighting technique, from
their stationing points in Dumosh and other parts of the Llap region, were
noticed throughout the day, CDHRF sources in Podujeva said on Monday. Five
tanks reportedly left the military base in Dumosh at 1000CET, going through
the villages of Lluzhan, Podujevë and Peran, where they stayed for about 3
hours. They then headed back in the direction of Lluzhan.

Serb forces and their fighting gear, including tanks, APCs and armored
carriers, are concentrated around the villages of Lluzhan, Penuh, with many
forces reported in Lupç i Poshtëm, Sallabajë, Godishnjak, Tabet e
Llapashticës and Peran, as well. The villages of Sallabajë, Majanc and
Konushevc, were shelled at around 1300CET on Monday, from the Serb military
positions close to the village of Godishnjak.

Local sources notified that new military forces were seen coming in Kosova,
from Serbia, the "Koha Ditore" correspondent reported on Monday.



KOSOVA (Walker - Prishtina bomb attack)

Facing urban terror

Prishtina, 8 February (ARTA) 2230CET --

The bomb which killed three people in Prishtina during the weekend was
evidently timed to coincide with the beginning of peace talks in France, the

Kosova Verification Mission chief William Walker said on Monday.

Walker came back from Rambouillet, yesterday, to find out more about the
Saturday explosion in Prishtina.

"It was no coincidence," Walker said during a visit to the scene.

Arriving there, he introduced his new deputy, Giovanni Kessler, an Italian
state prosecutor, to the journalists. He will help him with the
investigation on this incident.


Three Albanians, a man, a woman and a teenage girl, were ripped apart in a
powerful explosion outside a small Albanian grocery store on Saturday
evening.

"This shop is smaller than I thought it was", Walker said, turning wrongly
towards a small shop which was also damaged by the blast near the "Almir"
grocery store where the blast occurred, while he learned which was the real
scene.

"This is obviously urban terror and it's something that would be a great
worry to all of us just as the peace talks are getting under way for the war
to take a new direction," Walker told reporters.

"This was certainly much bigger than a hand-grenade," he said, referring to
a spate of recent grenade attacks on both Serb and Albanian cafes and
restaurants. Three Albanians have been killed on Saturday. Another one, a
student from Baran, around ten days ago.

This will aggravate the work of "persons who are trying to negotiate an
agreement in Rambouillet," Walker said. "It will make their lives harder."

"As for the KVM, I have already someone who knows the police and legal
matters", he added, tapping his new deputy on the shoulder. "Judge Kessler
is acquainted with judicial and prosecuting matters, but has also been
engaged in police matters and he knows better than me what we are looking
for. His life will be more complicated if we have more such incidents". The
head of OSCE KVM spoke little of his stay at Rambouillet.

"I came back from Rambouillet yesterday. I stayed there only 24 hours.



KOSOVA (Walker - Reçak massacre funeral)

Walker says it is very sad

Prishtina, 8 January (ARTA) 2230CET --

The Head of Kosova Verification Mission, William Walker, expressed his
surprise about the obstruction to the burial of Reçak massacre victims in
front of the journalists.

"KVM simply does not understand why there was needed so much time to arrange
a burial, peacefully and with respect", he said. The dead bodies have been
here in Prishtina for three weeks now". He added that an autopsy was
performed on the dead bodies and they should have been buried without
delay."

"We condemn all those who try to use the exchange of dead bodies and burials
for political purposes. KVM has made efforts in all sides, with families,
official authorities, state officials, the judge to clarify this and make
possible a decent burial of these dead bodies but we've had no success so
far," OSCE KVM head said.

"I have returned from Rambouillet to participate in one of the burials but
this has not been solved yet. This is sad, very sad".

He maintains that many sides are involved in this problem. "There are more
than two sides, the local authorities who decide about the burial, state
authorities who decide how will the dead bodies be released and families who
undoubtedly have most to say. There are more than two sides," the Head of
OSCE Kosova Verification Mission William Walker said.


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