From mentor at alb-net.com Fri Sep 10 00:18:40 1999 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Fri, 10 Sep 1999 00:18:40 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [kcc-news] United Nations Report, Sept 9 (fwd) Message-ID: >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> READ & DISTRIBUTE FURTHER <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< --------------------------------------------------------------------- Kosova Crisis Center (KCC) News Network: http://www.alb-net.com --------------------------------------------------------------------- Kosovapress http://www.kosovapress.com/ Kosova Information Center http://www.kosova.com/ --------------------------------------------------------------------- *********************************************************** KOSOVO - Official U.S. Government Documents For more information regarding the latest policy statements and other materials related to the Kosovo crisis, visit http://www.usia.gov/regional/eur/balkans/kosovo/ *********************************************************** 09 September 1999 United Nations Report, Thursday, September 9, 1999 "RETURN FESTIVAL" TO CELEBRATE REBIRTH OF KOSOVO'S ARTISTIC LIFE In celebration of the restoration of Kosovo's cultural and artistic life, an international festival of music and theatre will be held over the weekend in Kosovo's capital, Pristina, and in Skopje, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said September 9. Vanessa Redgrave will host "The Return Festival" which will open in Skopje, the capital of The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, on Friday evening and continue in Pristina on Saturday and Sunday, under the auspices of UNICEF and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). "We are not only celebrating the return of the province's artists and performers, but are also promoting the return of tolerance and respect among the different communities," Ms. Redgrave said. Ms. Redgrave will open the Festival at Skopje's Universal Hall, where the composer Philip Glass will perform. On Saturday, the Festival will open in Pristina at the National Theatre, with music, dance and theatre performances. Kosovar jazz musicians will join international artists for a jazz "extravaganza" on Saturday evening. The Festival will close on Sunday night with a gala performance by international musicians. The Festival will help to reinvigorate Kosovo's talented, but long-neglected artistic scene, UNICEF said. Plans already exist to rehabilitate Pristina's Dodona Theatre, and to build a new acting studio. UN CHIEF IN KOSOVO INVITES STUDENTS TO HELP BUILD DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY The goal of the United Nations in Kosovo is to build a new, democratic and multi-ethnic society with active involvement and participation of all its younger generation, the head of the UN mission in the province told a group of Kosovar university students September 8. In a keynote address at the University of Pristina on Tuesday evening, Dr. Bernard Kouchner also appealed for a halt to ethnic violence, in particular acts committed against elderly Serbs. Dr. Kouchner said all political parties should work together towards holding free and fair elections in the territory, stressing that any rift in Kosovo would be a victory for Slobodan Milosevic. During a lively two-hour question-and-answer session that followed, Dr. Kouchner told the students that the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) planned to suspend all discriminatory laws in Kosovo. To a question on the future of the University of Pristina, he said that the University would be open to all students in the territory, regardless of ethnic background. On the subject of Mitrovica, a town with large Albanian and Serb populations that has been the site of ethnic tensions and violence, Dr. Kouchner emphasized that the city would not be divided along ethnic lines. To a question on whether there would be a Kosovo army, Dr. Kouchner said that there would be a civilian force similar to the National Guard. Dr. Kouchner was joined in the debate by the leader of the Albanian LBD (United Democratic Movement) Rexhep Qosja and the political leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) Bardhyl Mahmuti. KOSOVO TRANSITIONAL COUNCIL DECIDES TO SETUP JOINT BODY WITH UN AND KFOR Leaders of Kosovo's political groups, meeting September 8 in the United Nations-supervised Kosovo Transitional Council, agreed to form a joint committee involving the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), the KFOR security force and representatives of Kosovo national communities. Each member of the Council, which acts as forum for major political parties and ethnic groups and is the highest consultative body under UNMIK, was asked to nominate one representative to the new security structure. Meeting for the fifth time under the chairmanship of UNMIK chief Dr. Bernard Kouchner, the Council noted that while recent moves by the UN and KFOR had led to some improvement, the security environment remained a cause of serious concern, particularly after last week's spate of assaults and murders. In his statement after the meeting, Dr. Kouchner said it was a "good" session that took place in a positive atmosphere and covered a wide range of issues, including the economy, customs, budget and the question of the detainees and the missing persons. During the meeting, Dr. Kouchner reviewed recent UNMIK actions to revive the Kosovo economy, drawing particular attention to latest regulations adopted by UNMIK, as interim administrator, to restore the customs service in the territory and to legalize the use of all foreign currencies in Kosovo. During a discussion of the Council's working methods, Dr. Kouchner reiterated his offer to fundamentally reform the Council -- which currently provides input into UNMIK decision-making process -- to give it a truly executive role. Council members, in turn, agreed to the idea of quickly expanding the scope of the body's work. The Council also agreed to soon hold the inaugural meeting of its Sub-Commission on Prisoners and Detainees, to address the situation of Kosovo prisoners still being detained in Serbia. UNITED NATIONS TO REGISTER KOSOVARS AS FIRST STEP TO HOLDING ELECTIONS The United Nations will begin registering all people of Kosovo on 1 October, as a first step towards holding elections next year, a UN spokeswoman said September 8. Speaking to the press in Kosovo's capital, Pristina, Daniela Rozgonova said the registration would also include Kosovar Albanians who had gone abroad after 1989 and Serbs who had recently left the territory. The UN will open offices around Kosovo to verify individuals' identity and it is expected the first identification cards will be issued by the end of October, Ms. Rozgonova said. Working with local volunteers, the UN will strive to register people in all parts of Kosovo, with an emphasis on reaching those in remote areas. --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from this list send a message to majordomo at alb-net.com In the body of the message include: UNSUBSCRIBE KCC-NEWS From mentor at alb-net.com Wed Sep 15 10:37:11 1999 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Kosova Crisis Center News and Information) Date: Wed, 15 Sep 1999 10:37:11 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [kcc-news] Albright Remarks to Kosovar Albanians at Peace Conference (fwd) Message-ID: >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> READ & DISTRIBUTE FURTHER <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< --------------------------------------------------------------------- Kosova Crisis Center (KCC) News Network: http://www.alb-net.com --------------------------------------------------------------------- Kosovapress http://www.kosovapress.com/ Kosova Information Center http://www.kosova.com/ --------------------------------------------------------------------- *********************************************************** KOSOVO - Official U.S. Government Documents For more information regarding the latest policy statements and other materials related to the Kosovo crisis, visit http://www.usia.gov/regional/eur/balkans/kosovo/ *********************************************************** 14 September 1999 Transcript: Albright Remarks to Kosovar Albanians at State Dept. Sept. 14 Secretary of State Madeleine Albright says almost 800,000 Kosovar Albanian refugees have returned to their homes. In remarks September 14 in the State Department's Ben Franklin Room to Kosovar Albanians who are in the Washington area attending a U.S. Institute of Peace Conference at Lansdowne, Virginia, she said that "UNMIK and KFOR are revising upward their estimates of Serbs and other minorities choosing to remain in Kosovo." "We hope many more will be able to return," she said. Following is the transcript, as delivered: (begin transcript) U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Office of the Spokesman September 14, 1999 As Delivered REMARKS BY SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE K. ALBRIGHT TO KOSOVAR ALBANIANS AT U.S. INSTITUTE OF PEACE CONFERENCE WASHINGTON, DC SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Thank you very much, Chet. Chet and I were colleagues for a long time at Georgetown University and it's very nice to be colleagues in this enterprise also. Good morning to everybody and I'm so very, very pleased to be able to welcome you to the Department of State. As you may know, I have just come back from a rather long trip to the Middle East and to Asia and I came back especially early because I did not want to miss the chance to meet with all of you and to talk to you - the mothers and fathers of a democratic Kosovo. I thank you all for changing your schedule to make my participation possible. And I also want to thank Dick Solomon and the United States Institute of Peace for organizing this conference -- and for your dedication to the cause of peace in Kosovo, throughout the Balkans, and around the world. I want to congratulate Vjosa Dobruna, Xheraldina Vula, Muhamet Mustafa, and everyone -- every one of you -- for the encouraging reports you have just presented. After all that has happened, there is no better feeling than to see the people of Kosovo at peace, hard at work, and planning for the future of what will always be your rightful home. I think it really is quite appropriate that you should have had your meeting in Virginia - a state which for all Americans is deeply identified with the creation of an American democracy and so it's very nice that you met at Lansdowne. I'm only sorry that I wasn't here so that you could meet at my farm so that this could be called the Hillsborough declaration. You have heard new voices and different views. And with the Lansdowne Declaration you have drafted, you have taken responsibility for building Kosovo's institutions -- and with them, a better future. What is more, I see that you have achieved a new appreciation for the importance of women's full participation in political life -- and I understand that several wives in Pristina are going to be pleasantly surprised when their newly-enlightened husbands return. You have done an inspiring job at Lansdowne of bridging differences and creating the common ground upon which a democratic Kosovo may be built. And already, you have accomplished much in Kosovo as well. Almost 800,000 Kosovar Albanian refugees have returned to their homes. UNMIK and KFOR are revising upward their estimates of Serbs and other minorities choosing to remain in Kosovo. We hope many more will be able to return. Great progress has been made toward rebuilding homes and preparing for the winter. The economy is rapidly reviving, as factories reopen and new businesses appear daily. Schools have opened, and ethnic Albanian children are receiving the public Albanian-language education they were so long denied. Judges and prosecutors appointed by the UN Mission in Kosovo have begun to hear cases, laying the foundation for a system of justice administered for Kosovars by Kosovars. The Kosovar Police Academy opened last week with its first class of 168 students. And Kosovo's independent media are vigorous and expanding, thanks in no small part to the efforts of many in this room. This remarkable progress is a testament to the determination of the people of Kosovo to build lives better than what they have known before - and to the desire of the international community to support all of you in doing that. After months of violence, ten years of Belgrade's repression, and more than fifty years of Communist centralization, it would be wrong and foolish to expect one summer to cure all of Kosovo's troubles and problems. I believe that most Kosovars are trying, as fast as you can, to tackle their difficulties honestly. In short, I believe in you. But after all that the people of Kosovo have suffered and lost, they -- and you -- should not accept anything less than true democracy and lasting peace. And neither democracy nor peace is sustainable without respect for human rights. If everyone is not safe in Kosovo, ultimately no one will be safe; and if all are not equal under the law, ultimately no one will be able to count on the law for protection. And that is why, as your friend, I will say plainly that you must combat the temptations of revenge, corruption and criminality. Evidence of unchecked criminality would lose you the support of the international community, and the trust of your people. And you must do everything you can to prevent the killing, terrorizing and expulsion of Serbs and other minorities. Acts of terror harm your own interests. They discourage international humanitarian support and investment, and they give aid and comfort to your enemies. They are seen by some to validate Milosevic's claim that Serbs cannot be safe where ethnic Albanians have power. And by teaching Kosovo's children to hate, they prepare not peace, but discord. Already, some in the international community have concluded that you cannot build a peaceful, multi-ethnic democracy. And they expect you to fail -- and, as Senator Dole told you, they are waiting to be proven right. You have heard the stories. You have been described as prisoners of Balkan history, interested only in doing to the Serbs what they have already done to you. I can't tell you how to feel. No one can. But I hope and believe that you will aim higher and achieve more than the cynics and bigots expect. And I pledge that the United States will stand with you in those efforts. Today I can announce three steps the United States is taking to do our part to support peace, democracy and renewal in Kosovo. First, after consultations with Congress, the United States has officially opened the U.S. Office in Pristina, to represent American interests and serve as a platform for all our efforts in Kosovo. The head of the office, Larry Rossin, is a distinguished Foreign Service Officer -- and he is with us today. And we are all very grateful to him and he's a great friend. Larry, thanks for already doing a great job. Second, we have begun consultations with Congress toward amending our budget request for fiscal year 2000 -- which begins next month -- to provide substantial additional support for Kosovo and Southeast Europe. These new resources will promote Kosovo's democratic development, including the holding of elections, the development of a free media, and the rule of law. And they will help stand up a Kosovo police force. And they will sustain our own commitment to KFOR. Third, the United States will support the development of a new civil emergency response organization -- the Kosovo Corps. The Kosovo Corps will deal with floods, fires, land mines and unexploded munitions, as well as assisting with Kosovo's reconstruction. We expect that many members of the KLA will join the Kosovo Corps. Others have joined the new Kosovo police. With other donors, the United States will support programs for vocational training, scholarships and other assistance for KLA veterans. Their energy, skills and resources are needed to build the peace. It is vital that the KLA carry out fully and faithfully its undertaking to demilitarize by next Sunday, September 19. Your courage sustained you through times of bitter suffering and hardship. Your courage won you the support of NATO and many others around the world. And now, your courage is needed to win the peace. Over the past four days, you have shown not only courage, but also initiative and wisdom. You have taken the initiative to move Kosovo's political process forward - by acknowledging problems with the transition and by establishing a forum for political leaders to meet regularly in Pristina. You have identified economic priorities and the need for transparent and reliable economic structures. And you have already built the foundations for a strong civil society, from a vibrant free press to women's groups to the Mother Teresa Society. As a former professor, I can tell you that there are as many different ways to run a democracy as there are democracies; and as a long-time resident of one, I can tell you that they are always and everywhere a work in progress. As someone whose family fled Central Europe in search of freedom, I can tell you that your institutions must be strong enough to protect the twin foundations of democracy -- individual liberties and the rule of law. And as someone who believes in you, I can tell you that your work will put you on track toward a Kosovo that will be admired for the justice it extends to all its people, not only some; for the peace it maintains by settling differences through laws, not force; and for the freedom it preserves by choosing leaders with ballots, and not guns. It will be my privilege to stand with you as you work to put the vision you have melded here into practice -- and secure the blessings of liberty for the people of Kosovo. Thank you. --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from this list send a message to majordomo at alb-net.com In the body of the message include: UNSUBSCRIBE KCC-NEWS From mentor at alb-net.com Fri Sep 17 10:53:57 1999 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Kosova Crisis Center News and Information) Date: Fri, 17 Sep 1999 10:53:57 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [kcc-news] FBI Says Ready To Back Stories Of Kosovo Massacres (fwd) Message-ID: >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> READ & DISTRIBUTE FURTHER <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< --------------------------------------------------------------------- Kosova Crisis Center (KCC) News Network: http://www.alb-net.com --------------------------------------------------------------------- Kosovapress http://www.kosovapress.com/ Kosova Information Center http://www.kosova.com/ --------------------------------------------------------------------- http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/19990916/ts/kosovo_fbi_1.html Thursday September 16 4:48 PM ET FBI Says Ready To Back Stories Of Kosovo Massacres By David Lawsky WASHINGTON (Reuters) - FBI forensic specialists said Thursday they were ready to buttress the stories of massacres told by local people to the International Criminal Tribunal after examining the bodies of 124 victims in Kosovo. The findings of the FBI experts were due to be combined with the work of teams from more than 10 other countries to help prosecutors in The Hague make their cases concerning alleged war crimes committed by Serbs against ethnic Albanians in the former Yugoslavia. In all, the FBI teams worked at 21 sites to uncover the 124 bodies, with the help of a sketch artist, an anthropologist and a pathologist, officials said. ``This evidence will help support witness statements,'' Arthur Eberhart, section chief of the investigative response unit at the FBI Academy, said at a news conference. The FBI teams examined the bodies to determine the cause of death and recorded their findings with sketches, videotape, still cameras, charts, and satellite readings to identify the exact location of the sites. One grim find was made outside the town of Gornje Obrinje, roughly 19 miles northwest of provincial capital Pristina, where the bodies of 23 members of the same extended family who had been killed in April were uncovered. ``They were aged 2 years to 94 years old,'' Eberhart said. He said 12 of the 23 family members were women, including five girls under 17. Clothing and effects were used to identify the victims, officials said. For example, a red snowsuit containing unidentifiable remains was all that was left of a 4-year-old boy, they said. William Rodriguez III, chief deputy medical examiner for the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology in Rockville, Maryland, said that the 4-year-old had been shot. Rodriguez said a 2-year-old boy in the group had been killed by a ``blunt-force trauma,'' which occurred when the boy was hit in the head with the butt of a rifle. Rodriguez said his examinations showed that others at sites around the country had been shot or, in some cases, had their throats slit ``so that they were nearly decapitated.'' The experts said that family members stood by and watched as they worked -- which made their task different from performing similar work in the United States. They also said they identified some of the remains by examining clothing and physical effects. ``They wore five to eight layers'' of clothing, Rodriguez said. He said the people of Kosovo needed the clothing to keep from freezing because they feared that fires that could have kept them warm would give away their positions in the woods. Eberhart said that one 6-year-old boy had pretended to be dead and survived the massacre of the 23 other members of his family while being buried under their bodies. ``Of course it's emotional,'' Eberhart said, adding that when he left, ``the 6-year-old just looked into my eyes.'' --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from this list send a message to majordomo at alb-net.com In the body of the message include: UNSUBSCRIBE KCC-NEWS From mentor at alb-net.com Tue Sep 21 15:00:50 1999 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Kosova Crisis Center News and Information) Date: Tue, 21 Sep 1999 15:00:50 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [kcc-news] The Lansdowne Declaration, Released: 14 Sept 1999 Message-ID: >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> READ & DISTRIBUTE FURTHER <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< --------------------------------------------------------------------- Kosova Crisis Center (KCC) News Network: http://www.alb-net.com --------------------------------------------------------------------- Kosovapress http://www.kosovapress.com/ Kosova Information Center http://www.kosova.com/ --------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.usip.org/oc/events/landsdowne.html Released: 14 Sept 1999 The Lansdowne Declaration September 13, 1999 We, the individuals identified below, gathered at Lansdowne Center in Virginia, September 9-13, 1999, with the faciliation of a team assembled by the United States Institue of Peace, have reached consensus on a framework of basic principles, practices and procedures to help guide Kosova during and after its transition to democratic self-rule. Representing a broad spectrum of Kosovar Albanian leadership from civil society groups, political movements, humanitaran and professional institutions, we commend these results to our people. We appeal to the international community to reflect upon and respect the fruits of our deliberations. And we underscore the sincerity of our stance favoring a plural society which welcomes all Kosovars. We state the determination of the people and political forces of Kosova to achieve: - the liberation of all those citizens of Kosova detained and imprisoned illegally, as well as those who have been illegally subject to judicial processing, - the liberation of those kept in Serbia as hostages, many of whom are children, - the accounting for all missing persons, - and the prosecution of war crimes. Protection of those who bear judicial witness to war crimes is of equal importance. We pledge our cooperation with those outside Kosova who share these aims and we demand the full cooperation of relevant international organizations. Finally, we would take this occasion to express our profound thanks to the U.S. Government and people for their support and to the United States Institute of Peace for its professional conduct of the meetings. The pages below are organized under the headings of Political Process; Strengthening Civil Society; and Economic Reconstruction, Revitalization and Reform in accordance with the structure of our deliberations at Lansdowne. Lansdowne Workshop Participants Journalists Aferdita Kelmendi (Director of Radio/TV 21) Baton Haxhiu (Chief Editor, Koha Ditore) Shaban Arifaj (journalist) Dukagnin Gorani (journalist) Gani Dili (journalist, women's issues) Independent Ylber Hysa (head of Kosova Associations for Civic Initiatives) Mahmut Bakalli (head of Kosovo media board) United Democratic League (LBD) Bajram Kosumi Mehmet Hajrizi Hyadet Hyseni Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) Naim Jerliu Edita Tahiri Bujar Bukoshi Alush Gashi Party of Democratic Unity (PBD) Bardyhl Mahmuti Shaban Shala Jakup Krasniqi Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK) Hashim Thaqi Rame Buja Fatmir Limaj Azem Syla Zhavit Haliti Non-governmental organizations and activists Palok Berisha (Mother Teresa Society) Xheraldina Vula (Radio 21, Women's NGO) Sevdije Ahmeti (Director, Organization for Protection of Women and children) Marte Palokaj (Mother Teresa Society) Edi Shukriu (activist, women's issues, president of LDK Women's Forum) Vjosa Dobruna (Doctor, Organization for Protection of Women and Children) Shkelzen Maliqi (Analyst, Open Society Institute) Pajazit Nushi (Council for the Protection of Human Rights and Freedom) Arben Koca (chairman of youth council in Skenderaj) Ariana Xerxa (Humanitarian Law Fund) Economists Riza Sapunhaxiu (economist, formerly Kosovska Bank, World Bank) Shefqet Cana (Joint Kosovo Bank) Ahmet Shala (Professor of Economics) Muhamet Mustafa (Riinvest) Local Officials Bajram Rexhepi (Mayor of Mitrovica) Adem Bajri (attorney, Peja) Ardian Gjini (Vice Mayor of Gjakova) U.S. Participants Conference Chair Chester Crocker, Chairman of Board of Directors of the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) Conference Advisor Harriet Hentges, Executive Vice President, USIP Conference Director Dan Serwer, Director of the Balkans Initiative, USIP Sub-Group Chairmen Michael Froman, Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations Hal Saunders, Director of International Affairs, Kettering Foundation George Ward, Director, Training Program, USIP Conference Organizers Burcu Akan, USIP Kristine Herrmann, USIP Lauren VanMetre, USIP Christina Zechman, USIP Political Process We began by looking forward five to ten years into Kosova's future. We decided that the following nine elements were essential to a future of peace and prosperity for all Kosovars: - Self-determination based on a referendum conducted under international auspices. - The rule of law, under which all Kosovars will be able to live without fear; - Under the law, guarantees for human rights and individual liberties; - Government institutions that are responsive and serve the needs of civil society; - A functional multi-ethnic society that includes equal opportunity for all; - A free economic market with protection for those members of society who are at risk; - Integration of Kosova into international institutions. - An international role that provides for the protection of Kosovars and their rights; and - An updated education system that provides opportunities for advancement to Kosova's most precious resources, its youth, and contributes to building civil society. We then agreed to examine five of these categories in order to identify the institutions and processes that are essential to their realization. In order to establish the rule of law, we identified the need for: - A constitution; - Elections; - Agreement on and adherence to a political code of conduct. Essential to human rights and individual liberties are: - A functioning, unitary judicial system based on international human rights conventions; - Enforcement of respect for individual and collective rights; - Systematic respect for laws. In order to develop responsive government institutions, the following are important: - Adequate financial resources; - A professional civil service; - A functioning, unitary judicial system; - Effective and democratic police; - Effective defense of Kosova's territory, through transformation of the KLA into a national defense force and integration into the Partnership for Peace. A functional, multi-ethnic society depends upon: - Adequate legislation; - Confidence-building measures by government and civil society; - Intercommunal dialogue; - Merit-based employment decisions; - Where necessary, affirmative action to ensure minority rights. An international role involving the United Nations, OSCE, NATO, the U.S.A. and the ICRC is essential to: - Full implementation of UNSCR 1244 throughout the territory of Kosova; - Secure the release of prisoners detained for political reasons; - Ensure the prosecution of war criminals; - Protect the safety of those who bear witness to war crimes and other offenses against humanity; - Defense of the Albanian populations in Presheva, Bujanoc, and Medvegja, which are exposed to repression, discrimation, and ethnic cleansing; - Bearing in mind the temporary absence of Kosovar political and judicial authorities, the issuance of new travel and identity documents for the Kosovar people. As a further step, we agreed to outline the elements of a political code of conduct. We arrived at the following: All individuals, political parties, and other groups should: # During this transitional period, resolve to establish, attend, and not boycott a political consultative forum that, meeting regularly, would be open to all political forces. The forum would meet and be chaired on a rotational basis. Its initial meeting would be facilitated by the U.S. Institute of Peace. The forum would operate in full respect of the legitimate roles of international organizations. # Build support for formulas for unified organs of government and administration based on democratic principles and international obligations. # Be guided above all by democratic values in striving toward the paramount goal of a more prosperous and secure future for all who live in Kosova. # Respect pluralism and the fair competition of political ideas and political programs. Corruption, intimidation, violence and other pressures are antithetical to democracy and must be excluded. # Promote the transparency of the political process, including party programs, party structures, and party activities. # Respect diversity, including the protection of the identity of minorities (i.e., ethnic, confessional, political, and social groups), ensuring free access to the political system for the latter. All forms and measures of discrimination that would endanger the identity of minorities must be rejected. # Pledge their determination to agree upon mechanisms for the conduct of democratic elections under international supervision and resolve to respect the results of those elections. Elections must be properly prepared with international support and with due regard to establishment of necessary social conditions, for example, adequate housing. See also the report on civil society regarding elections. # Preserve the institutions that have sustained the people of Kosova during times of difficulty, including families and non-governmental organizations. # Actively recognize that the contributions of women and men to the political process are crucial. # Extend political debate as widely as possible in Kosova, support the political parties in regenerating their programs and organizations to adapt to newly created conditions and the necessity for a healthy political atmosphere in Kosova. Strengthening Civil Society The Albanian people of Kosova have developed strong institutions of civil society, although they have not necessarily used that term. Identifying the elements of those foundations and naming them as such could be a useful step in strengthening civil society in the next stage of Kosovar development. Among those elements, we count those instances in which citizens came together to accomplish important objectives without the help of government. We specifically note the following: # a growing tradition of citizens taking personal responsibility over a long historical period, refusing to bow to repression, protesting openly and organizing underground and demonstrating a strong will to govern themselves; # solidarity among Kosovar Albanians and Albanians in other countries; # increasing consciousness among Kosovar Albanians of the importance of education and national culture for development of a civil society; # formation of women's NGOs in the late 1980s with the effect of laying early foundations for civil society ; # the formation of human rights NGOs; # establishment of the Mother Teresa Society in 1990 as a base for assistance when Kosovar Albanians were forcibly removed from their jobs and lost their incomes and their right to medical care and health insurance; # the "alternative structures" developed by citizen initiative after Kosova's autonomy was suspended to provide education, medical services and political organizations to Albanians in Kosova; # establishment of Radio 21 and TV 21, Radio Koha and TV Koha, Kosova press news agency and Radio Kosova e Lire as an institution that was active in the war zones; # deliberate engagement of the Albanians to end the practice of blood feud and revenge through mediations; # development of the Students' Independent Union; # the actions of some newspapers to continue publishing despite Belgrade's efforts to stop publication; # formation of the Kosova Liberation Army and of a national network of its supporters by conducting dialogues with citizens in town after town; # a tradition of tolerance, especially among different religious traditions; # creation and gradual increase of opportunities for citizen assembly. # development of awareness for protection of personal rights and liberties. Despite the emergence of Kosova from under repressive Serbian rule, obstacles to further development of a broadly based democratic civil society remain: - lack of guaranteed security for citizens; - suspicion or mistrust among present Kosovar organizations; - residual "prejudices" from the period of socialist rule; - absence of a rule of law and an independent judiciary; - absence of a political culture with a tradition of opposition within the system; - a mentality of oppression or victimhood that limits realization of the full capacities of independence; - broad ignorance of what civil society is; - absence of agreed practices to assure fairness in political life; - exclusion of women from many political and economic activities, mainly because of the economic and political situation and partly as a result of a traditionally patriarchal mentality; - presence of domestic violence; - a hostile relationship between Serbs and Albanians that reflects Serb refusal to acknowledge wrongs done and a demand that Serbs be held accountable for what they did; - limited media workers, equipment, resources and coverage; - absence of enough opportunities for citizens, especially women, to talk together and to learn from one another; - actions by international organizations and some international NGOs that show lack of respect for Kosovar civil society and confine space for its development; - the traditional educational curriculum of the school system, which in its present form is not conducive to developing civil society; - the lack of a census of the population, including the population in temporary refuge, which would enable issuing identification cards and travel documents; Against that background, we propose the following areas of work and specific projects for developing civil society in Kosova: # Reconceptualization of the citizen as the central political actor in whom ultimate power resides, in contrast to the former view of the citizen as oppressed or victimized. This will require significant changes in educational curricula and projects to increase opportunities for citizens to experience an effective role in influencing decisions on the future of their communities. # A transitional period perceived as a time interval necessary for establishing democratic institutions in Kosova as well as other elements that define a civil society. This will require public and media discussion of the idea of a transitional period. It will also require a widely agreed timetable for preparing free and fair elections, including systematic identification of the necessary steps laying the foundation for that event. # Broad acceptance of principles and practices to govern social and political interactions. These include: resolving differences through dialogue, mediation and other non-violent means; respect for diverse views; dialogue rather than confrontation as the norm for communication; mutual respect in rivalry; openness in dialogue; tolerance; awareness of common interests and differences; commitment of all individuals; equality of all individuals; keeping one's word. This will require educational programs and deliberately developed experiences that model peaceful ways of resolving potential conflict. # Creation of opportunities at all levels of society for dialogue that will identify local needs and a conscious effort, from that dialogue, to frame the choices among fundamental social and political philosophies. This will require active programs to promote community dialogues and to make them part of normal political life. # Creation of opportunities in which relationships among majority and minorities can be healed and improved and of methods for assuring an appropriate role in social, economic and political life for minorities and women. This will require educational institutions, political organizations and NGOs to make inclusiveness an active part of their programs. # Encouragement of citizens in playing the greatest role possible in the revival of the economy. This will require providing materials for reconstruction of homes and public facilities and support of small business. # Legitimation of citizens' work, in collaboration with security authorities, to enhance local security. This requires acceptance of local organizations by the authorities. # Many of these projects require the rapid creation of normal conditions for the work of the media, in particular for the independent media. Above all, this requires urgent creation of an effective telecommunications system in Kosova and repairing radio and TV systems. This can only be done with the help of the international community. It requires immediate collaboration between media organizations and potential funders to identify technical and program needs, particularly providing necessary equipment and education of professional journalists from the younger generation. # Comprehensive registration of citizens is essential to holding elections and to all aspects of administering effective services for citizens. # Respect for the rights of citizens to express their free will through referenda on vital social issues and statehood. # Adopting and respecting a new legal framework for NGO operations, for political organization, for protection of property and the free market, for conservation of the environment, for protection of minorities and other special groups such as the physically and mentally handicapped, students and young people. We call on the citizens and leaders of Kosova to contribute in every way possible to development of a strong civil society and on international organizations to recognize that this development is critical to developing democracy. Economic Reconstruction, Revitalization, and Reform Kosova faces several challenges on the economic front. First, it must engage in the immediate reconstruction of fundamental components of its economy which were damaged or destroyed during the war. Second, it must revitalize competitive sectors of its economy where production has severely declined or come to a halt as a result of both the war and Belgrade's policies during the 1990's. Third, it must undergo the process of reform as part of the transition to a market economy. Fourth, it must put in place institutions and policies to attract foreign investment. We note that our objective is not to reconstruct pre-war Kosova or even to recreate pre-1989 Kosova, but to build a new, open, integrated and free market economy capable of carrying Kosova into the next century. Reconstruction In addition to the great human and psychological impact of the war on Kosovars, Kosova suffered significant material damage during the war in a broad range of sectors. We identify the following areas as priorities for immediate reconstruction and, with the winter fast-approaching, call on the international donor community to focus its efforts on ensuring adequate assistance and the appropriate distribution of that assistance to areas in need throughout Kosova: - Housing - Water supplies - Electricity - Telecommunications - Agricultural production - Educational institutions - Health facilities We also call on the donor community to develop a program through which proposals for modest infrastructure projects for Kosova, including at the level of the local community, can be funded. Efforts should be made to ensure that reconstruction is pursued consistent with prudent urban planning. In order to help restart Kosova's economy, including its construction and construction materials sectors, we call on the donor community to use local, Kosovar resources to the greatest degree possible in the reconstruction effort. Revitalization The war greatly damaged Kosova's economy, but before the war, Kosova's economy suffered from the expropriation and asset-stripping of major industrial properties. There is an urgent need to revitalize factories that are idle, mines that are closed, farms that are lying fallow, and thermoelectric plants that are operating well below capacity. (This should be done in a manner consistent with environmental interests.) This is critical to creating jobs for Kosovars which, in turn, is critical to avoiding social upheaval. # Revitalizing these properties will require outside support, and we call on the donor community to devote substantial resources to providing the critical inputs necessary to restart these assets. However, the most significant obstacle appears to be uncertainty about who has the authority to make decisions regarding these assets: # We call on UNMIK and KFOR to allow these properties to be revitalized immediately. # We call on UNMIK to create a process to resolve as quickly as possible issues regarding the status of these and other state/socially-owned properties, including who has the authority -- before and after elections -- to make decisions regarding the operation and sale of these assets. In our view, pre-1989 property rights should be presumed to be the # We call for a process by which transactions involving state/socially-owned properties during the 1990's, including transactions involving foreign investors, can be evaluated to determine their legal status. Reform We strongly recommend to Kosova-wide and international institutions that Kosova should build its own, open, free market economy integrated into regional and Euro-Atlantic institutions, and that this general perspective should define its political, legislative and administrative orientation. As part of the transition process, we will privatize major state assets, recognizing that the public sector may have a continuing interest in some of them and that there are a number of different models for privatization: - We support the privatization of major state assets as soon as possible following elections. - Before elections, we call on the political parties and other relevant institutions to work with Kosovar experts and experts from the international community to prepare proposed strategies for privatization, including by learning lessons from other transition economies. We recognize the importance of creating a well-regulated banking system and a payments system and believe that that process should begin as quickly as possible. We note that one of Kosova's strengths is its small and medium-sized enterprises, including its family businesses. We believe that Kosova's development strategy should emphasize this sector and that Kosova should create a strong network of support for this such enterprises, including facilities to finance their investment. # Pending the development a full-fledged banking system, we call on the donor community to create as quickly as possible a development fund which could finance the creation and expansion of small and medium-sized enterprises as the first step toward recreating a banking system. We believe it is important that Kosova develop a credible fiscal system, including by developing a transparent and responsible budget and a tax system that, over time, will provide sufficient revenue to fund the government bodies and the appropriate scope of government-supported activities. - In that regard, we recommend that Kosova take care to develop governmental bodies and government-supported institutions (e.g., health and education institutions) which are efficient. - We recognize that a reform program will cause economic dislocation and, therefore, call for a well-targeted social safety net and other programs, including education and training programs and programs to support the development of small businesses, designed to help Kosovars adjust to the market economy. Recognizing the size of Kosova's market, we recommend that Kosova should focus on the development of export-oriented industries, including the following: - Agriculture/farming/wine production - Food processing - Electricity - Minerals - Metals/metal processing - Rubber - Textiles/leather goods/handicrafts We are committed to free trade and to integration with the rest of the region, Europe and the international trading system. - In that regard, we support the development of regional infrastructure projects in (e.g., Corridor 8, Pristina-Durres links) and internal infrastructure projects that facilitate trade. - We do not believe that it would be wise to adopt high tariffs or other forms of protectionism. Attracting and Retaining Foreign Investment We recognize that the long-term sustainability of Kosova's economy depends on its capacity to attract foreign investment. To do so, we propose the following: # We are committed to working with each other to create an environment of political stability grounded in democratic principles. # We note the absolutely critical need for the rule of law. In that regard, we call for the development of a credible legal system and a transparent, consistent and reliable regulatory system on which Kosovars and foreign investors can rely. # We are committed to fighting official corruption and crime so as to avoid allowing the market economy to become a criminal economy. Working Together To better articulate a common position on these and other economic issues to the international community, and to develop public and political consensus on this platform, we recommend that the dialogue among economic experts and all political forces be continued, including through the creation of an economic forum. To contact USIP : usip_requests at usip.org 1200 17th Street, NW, Suite 200, Washington DC, 20036-3011 Telephone: 202.457.1700, Facsimile: 202.429.6063 --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from this list send a message to majordomo at alb-net.com In the body of the message include: UNSUBSCRIBE KCC-NEWS From mentor at alb-net.com Fri Sep 24 09:25:34 1999 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Fri, 24 Sep 1999 09:25:34 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [Kcc-news] U.S. Officials Expect Kosovo Independence Message-ID: 1. WASHINGTON POST http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/inatl/longterm/balkans/balkans.htm 2. CNN http://cnn.com/WORLD/europe/9909/24/kosovo.us/ WASHINGTON POST http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/inatl/longterm/balkans/balkans.htm U.S. Officials Expect Kosovo Independence The emphasis, national security adviser Sandy Berger says, is on creating democratic model in Kosovo. (Susan Biddle ? The Washington Post) By R. Jeffrey Smith Washington Post Foreign Service Friday, September 24, 1999; Page A1 PRISTINA, Yugoslavia, Sept. 23 ? Senior U.S. officials have privately dropped their opposition to Kosovo's independence from Yugoslavia and say the Clinton administration increasingly sees the province's secession as inevitable. Officials say the emerging consensus, which amounts to a major shift for the United States, is already having a significant impact on the international peacekeeping operation in Kosovo. The United States has become a leading advocate for the creation of independent institutions and legal structures that tend to isolate the fledgling United Nations protectorate from Yugoslavia's manifold economic problems and political troubles. U.S. officials deny that the administration's approach is meant to engineer the further breakup of Yugoslavia, as the Belgrade government claims. They say it is meant only to ensure that Kosovo becomes a viable, self-governing democracy with a successful economy. But they add that sovereignty issues should not be allowed to stand in the way of Kosovo's progress because it will likely gain its independence anyway. "Nobody in Washington expects this not to happen," said a U.S. official who spoke on condition he not be named. "Our attitude before the war was, it's better if it doesn't happen. Now, we know it's clearly on the way. . . . It's the mostly unspoken assumption" of all U.S. policymakers. Top foreign policy spokesmen in Washington declared that the administration has not altered its policy. "Our policy on Kosovo independence has not changed. We support the creation of democratic institutions and a market economy, and that's the focus of our effort," national security adviser Samuel R. "Sandy" Berger said through a spokesman. State Department spokesman James P. Rubin said, "We have always said we do not support independence for Kosovo, and we do not support independence for Kosovo now." But numerous Western diplomats who follow the situation in Kosovo closely say it is clear that Washington has adopted a more tolerant attitude since the NATO air war earlier this year toward the aspiration of an overwheleming number of Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority for independence, an event the United States has previously discouraged out of concern it will destabilize the region. Although officials in the National Security Council are said to be more hesitant, key State Department and Pentagon officials have concluded that Kosovo will one day be independent. Washington has been less cautious than some European capitals about pursuing policies in Kosovo that Yugoslavia claims are accelerating the province's drift toward independence. These include the recent adoption of a new currency and special border tariff within Kosovo, as well as the creation of an independent police force and a Kosovo "protection" corps that includes former ethnic Albanian guerrillas who fought for Kosovo's independence from Yugoslavia and Serbia, its dominant republic. The United States is pressing ? with support from some European nations and from Bernard Kouchner, the U.N. administrator in Kosovo ? for approval of a U.N. regulation giving the U.N. office here the right to issue temporary travel documents to Kosovo residents. A senior U.S. official said Washington still accepts that Kosovo's future legal status is to be resolved after an international conference, which will be held sometime after the Clinton administration leaves office and probably after Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic is out of power. "The issue of eventual status for Kosovo ? what their relationship to Serbia will be, what their relationship to Yugoslavia will be, what their relationship to the whole region will be ? will be taken up in the future," an administration official said. Differences within the Western alliance about Kosovo's independence are "a constant factor" in the peacekeeping effort now, a U.S. official said. A U.N. official said the differences stem from "an irreconcilable mix of two principles" embodied in Resolution 1244, which provides the legal underpinning for the deployment of more than 50,000 NATO troops and a U.N. civil administration inside Kosovo. "On the one hand, it calls for a civil administration and says you can do anything. On the other hand, it says you can do nothing if the state [Yugoslavia] disagrees. But so far, it has disagreed with everything . . . and we have to make sure that this place works," the official said. The NATO deployment followed a 78-day allied bombing campaign against Yugoslavia that ended with an agreement by Belgrade to withdraw its army and police forces, which had been battling separatist ethnic Albanian rebels for 16 months. U.N. administrator Kouchner, a French humanitarian aid official who was initially viewed with suspicion in Washington but is now regarded as a valuable ally, faces decisions in coming weeks about whether and how to privatize a mine in the town of Trepce, several large power plants on the outskirts of Pristina, the Kosovo capital, and the local cellular telephone network ? all owned by the Yugoslav state. The United States favors moving swiftly on privatization to attract foreign investment and create jobs, but the United Nations is still unsure of its legal footing, several officials said. Senior U.N. officials have objected to some of Kouchner's proposals. His decision last month to grant the German mark status as the province's official currency was "a mistake," one official said. Another U.N. official said the proposal to issue U.N. travel documents, akin to temporary passports, to Kosovo residents has also met with opposition at U.N. headquarters. More controversy is expected over a U.N. decision that phone numbers registered under the province's new cellular network will not retain the "38" Yugoslav country code. The Yugoslav government is angry that such measures are even being considered. Stanimir Vukicevic, its top representative in Pristina, says that Kouchner has weakened Yugoslavia's links with Kosovo. "The customs service employs not even one Serb. There is no Yugoslav flag at border crossings . . . or any other symbol that would mark the territory of the state," he said. Similarly, the decision on the German mark "is making it a habit within the population that the dinar is not the local currency any more. . . . Currency is a part of sovereignty." Russia, an ally of Belgrade that has 3,600 soldiers in Kosovo as part of the peacekeeping force, has also objected to any moves that weaken Yugoslav sovereignty. An illustration of the new U.S. attitude was on display earlier this week, when Washington was more supportive than its European allies of a plan to allow Kosovo Liberation Army members to form a new Kosovo corps that ostensibly will be responsible for humanitarian tasks but also will be allowed to train with weapons. The KLA's leaders have said they view the organization as Kosovo's future army. A senior U.S. official indicated that discussion of independence was premature, but left open the possibility that it would happen. He said the administration wants the Kosovo Albanians to focus immediately on the hard work of building democracy and a free economy. "There's no reason to skip ahead and talk about independence when you don't have the institutions that would make the place viable," the official said. CNN http://cnn.com/WORLD/europe/9909/24/kosovo.us/ Report: U.S. officials expect Kosovo independence September 24, 1999 Web posted at: 5:28 a.m. EDT (0928 GMT) WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Senior U.S. officials have privately dropped their opposition to Kosovo's independence from Yugoslavia, Friday's Washington Post reports. The newspaper says the shift comes with an emerging consensus within the Clinton administration that the secession of the province is inevitable. The report quotes a U.S. official, speaking on the condition that he not be named, saying "Nobody in Washington expects this not to happen. Our attitude before the war was, it's better if it doesn't happen. Now, we know it's clearly on the way." Administration denies policy shift Leading foreign policy spokesmen told the Post that the administration had not changed its policy. "We have always said we do not support independence for Kosovo, and we do not support independence for Kosovo now," State Department spokesman James Rubin said. "Our policy on Kosovo independence has not changed," said a spokesman for White House National Security Adviser Samuel Berger. "We support the creation of democratic institutions and a market economy, and that's the focus of our efforts." But other officials told the newspaper that the belief that Kosovo would eventually gain independence has become "the mostly unspoken assumption" of all U.S. policymakers. Consensus said to be impacting policy The report says the new consensus in Washington is already having a significant impact on the international peacekeeping operation in Kosovo. The United States has become a leading advocate for the creation of independent institutions and legal structures that tend to isolate Kosovo from Yugoslavia's economic and political troubles, the newspaper says. The report points to Washington's support of a plan to allow members of the Kosovo Liberation Army to form a new Kosovo corps as an illustration of the changing view. The Yugoslav government and Russia have lashed out at the agreement setting up the Kosovo Protection Corps, which leaders of the KLA have said they see as the nucleus of a future independent Kosovo army. The organization will ostensibly be responsible for humanitarian tasks, but will also be allowed to train with weapons. Serb leaders in Kosovo said Wednesday they had quit the Kosovo Transitional Council to protest the plan. Differing opinions among U.N. officials Some senior United Nations officials are reported to be in disagreement with some of the recent proposals from Bernard Kouchner, the U.N. administrator in Kosovo. Kouchner is a French humanitarian aid official who was viewed with suspicion in Washington initially, but is now highly regarded. One official said his decision last month to make the German mark the official currency of the province was "a mistake." Another U.N. official told the Post that Kouchner's proposal to issue U.N. travel documents was also opposed at United Nations headquarters. Similar controversy is expected over a decision not to retain Yugoslavia's country code in phone numbers registered under Kosovo's new cellular telephone network. The Yugoslav government charges that these and other measures are designed to weaken Yugoslavia's links with the province. From kosova at justiceforall.org Fri Sep 24 19:03:19 1999 From: kosova at justiceforall.org (Kosova Task Force, USA) Date: Fri, 24 Sep 1999 17:03:19 -0600 Subject: [Kcc-news] KosovaTaskForce: Time to Support Kosovar Independence Message-ID: <199909242156.OAA02804@newshub1-work.home.com> Kosova Task Force, USA Action Alert 9/24/99 Senior US officials have shown of signs of possible change in their stance opposing independence for Kosova, reported the Washington Post and CNN today. According to the articles, although nobody is saying this out loud, there is a definite attitude shift towards favoring Kosova's independence marked by such actions as giving Kosova a different telephone code, a different currency and supporting a proposal that the KLA form a Kosova "protection" corps. These unnamed officials reportedly say that Kosova's indepedence is, more than likely, just a matter of time. Now is the time to act to help the Kosovar's achieve their dream of independence. Action Requested ? Contact your policymakers and support independence for Kosova. It is necessary to support positive moves and attitudes because those opposed to Kosova's independence, most notably the Serbians and the Serb lobby, will be calling to voice their opposition to the independence of Kosova Talking Points ? The independence of Kosova is what the Kosovars have been demanding all along. ? Kosova's independence is the only viable long term solution to the current situation in the Balkans. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright ph: 202-647-6575 e-mail: secretary at state.gov Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Senator Jesse Helms ph: 202-224-4651 e-mail: jesse_helms at helms.senate.gov ========================================== Justice For All 730 W. Lake St., Suite 156 Chicago, IL 60661, USA Phone: 312-829-0087 Fax: 312-829-0089 Email: kosova at justiceforall.org Internet: http://www.justiceforall.org Visit our website for news and information ========================================== The following organizations constitute the Kosova Task Force, USA: Albanian Islamic Cultural Center, American Muslim Council, Balkan Muslim Association, Council of Islamic Organizations of Chicago, Council of Islamic Organizations of Michigan, Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), Islamic Circle of North America ( ), Islamic Council of New England, Islamic Medical Association, Islamic Shura Council of Southern California, Islamic Society of Greater Houston, Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), Majlis Shura New York, The Ministry of Imam W.D. Muhammad, Muslim Students Association of US and Canada, The National Community. ============================= To be removed from this list, send the following command to unsubscribe Kosova-List To be added to this list, send the following command to subscribe Kosova-List -- From mentor at alb-net.com Wed Sep 29 15:06:20 1999 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Wed, 29 Sep 1999 15:06:20 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [Kcc-news] U.N. War Crimes Prosecutor Sets Out Kosovo Strategy; Bob Dole Backs Kosovo Independence Message-ID: 1. Bob Dole Backs Kosovo Independence http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/19990929/wl/dole_kosovo_1.html 2. U.N. War Crimes Prosecutor Sets Out Kosovo Strategy http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/19990929/ts/kosovo_tribunal_1.html http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/19990929/wl/dole_kosovo_1.html Wednesday September 29 3:33 AM ET Bob Dole Backs Kosovo Independence By TOM RAUM Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) - Kosovo should seek independence from Yugoslavia, but it must hold free elections and support democratic principles if it wants international support, says former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole. Dole cautioned, however, that Kosovo's Albanian majority, in particular the Kosovo Liberation Army, could lose that support if it should turn its back on those principles. The 1996 Republican presidential candidate from Kansas, who served as an envoy to Kosovo this year for the Clinton administration, testified Tuesday before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Dole criticized both the Republican Bush and the Democratic Clinton administrations for not dealing more firmly with Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic. ``We could and should have acted against Milosevic much earlier,'' Dole said, which he said would have avoided much bloodshed. ``Early intervention is far less costly and often just as effective as belated intervention,'' Dole said. ``Half-measures yield half-results.'' So long as Kosovo's leaders agree to hold free elections, renounce violence and move toward a market economy, ``then I believe independence will be forthcoming and should be.'' At the White House, President Clinton said the administration has not changed its support for an autonomous but not independent Kosovo within Yugoslavia. ``What we have supported for Kosovo, and what we continue to support, is autonomy,'' he said during a White House meeting with Turkey's prime minister, Bulent Ecevit. Dole served as a go-between with Kosovo Albanians for the Clinton administration this year in an effort to get support for a peace plan from Kosovo activists. More recently, he traveled to the region in July in his capacity as chairman of the International Commission on Missing Persons. While Milosevic's troops heavily damaged Albanian homes and businesses, Dole said, ``his forces did remarkably little damage to Kosovo's infrastructure and natural resources.'' He said multibillion-dollar reconstruction projects many had envisioned may not be necessary. Copyright ? 1996-1999 The Associated Press http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/19990929/ts/kosovo_tribunal_1.html Wednesday September 29 7:55 AM ET U.N. War Crimes Prosecutor Sets Out Kosovo Strategy By Janet McBride THE HAGUE (Reuters) - New U.N. war crimes prosecutor Carla del Ponte set out her strategy on Kosovo Wednesday, narrowing her investigative focus to Yugoslavia's leaders and the perpetrators of only the most heinous crimes. The local justice system in Kosovo, under the aegis of the United Nations, would try cases that fell outside the scope of the International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia as she defined it, Del Ponte said in a statement of prosecution policy. For example, nine Serbs arrested in Kosovo over the weekend by French, Dutch and German troops would not be brought to The Hague, prosecution spokesman Paul Risley explained, although the tribunal would assist any local investigation. ``The primary focus...must be the investigation and prosecution of the five leaders of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Republic of Serbia who have already been indicted,'' wrote Del Ponte, a former Swiss attorney general. Prosecutors have publicly indicted Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and four associates, including Serbian President Milan Milutinovic, for alleged crimes in Kosovo. Concluding that investigation and extending charges, possibly to include genocide, was a top priority. Beyond that, investigators would focus their energies on other power brokers. ``Investigative resources must...be applied...to high-level civilian, police and military leaders,'' wrote Del Ponte, who took over from Canadian judge Louise Arbour on September 15. The tribunal, set up in 1993 when the Bosnia conflict was at its height, has insufficient resources to pursue all those accused of recent atrocities against ethnic Albanians in Kosovo. Thousands of bodies have been exhumed from over 150 mass graves in the province, according to U.N. officials, and over 500 potential burial sites have been reported so far. Although the tribunal could not hope to prosecute every low-level war criminal active in Kosovo, it would take a close interest in particularly heinous or notorious crimes, including crimes of sexual violence, Risley told reporters. Landmark judgements by the U.N. court relating to Bosnia have already established rape and sexual assault as war crimes. In the two weeks since Del Ponte took office, she has met officials from the United States, Britain, France and Germany and the commander of SFOR peacekeepers in Bosnia, General Montgomery Miggs. Thursday, she will speak with the director of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louis Freeh. The FBI has offered the tribunal valuable insight into events in Kosovo. ``They will discuss the recently completed work of the FBI forensic team in Kosovo and ongoing cooperation between the FBI and the tribunal,'' Risley said. Copyright ? 1996-1999 Reuters Limited