-Caveat Lector- ----- Original Message ----- From: Coordinamento Nazionale per la Jugoslavia <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, March 09, 2006 8:03 AM Subject: [JUGOINFO] KOSMET 2006 (english)
> > (attacchi a mano armata contro case di non-albanesi, incendi, > aggressioni, una donna strangolata, profughi impossibilitati a > rientrare... e poi la gestione politica del protettorato del Kosovo, > dove pochi giorni fa la NATO ha imposto Agim Ceku, già ufficiale > dell'esercito ustascia di Tudjman e poi comandante dell'UCK , a fare > da "primo ministro"...) > > > KOSMET 2006 (english) > > 1. Selection of news from various sources > > 2. WAR CRIMINAL CEKU APPOINTED AS "PRIME MINISTER" > > 3. War Criminal, Ally, or Both? > The KLA's new leader, Agim Ceku, may have helped mastermind the most > brutal ethnic-cleansing campaign in post-communist Yugoslavia's > history. Now he's on NATO's side in the war over Kosovo. > by Jeffrey Benner, May 21, 1999 > > > === 1 === > > http://www.b92.net/english/news/index.php?nav_id=33690&style=headlines > > Beta (Serbia and Montenegro) - January 23, 2006 > > Another attack on Serbian home > > GNJILANE - A hand grenade was thrown into the yard of > Slobodan Todorovic's home, in the village of Cernica, > near Gnjilane. > According to Serbian sources in Kosovo, the attack > occurred slightly before 10 pm last night and is the > fourth such attack on the Todorovic household in the > last several years. No one was injured in the attack, > but some property was damaged. > The police have yet to come and investigate the scene. > There are about 40 remaining Serbian families in the > village of Cernica. > In June 1999, there were 712 Serbs in the village, > there are now only about 200 left. > > > http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/newssummary/#setimes/newsb riefs/2006/01/23/nb-04 > > Southeast European Times - January 23, 2006 > > New ethnic incident reported in Kosovo > > VITINA, Kosovo, Serbia-Montenegro - Two Serb > teenagers, aged 17 and 19, were attacked and beaten by > a group of ethnic Albanians in the southeast village > of Mogila on Sunday (22 January). > It happened in front of the local Serb Orthodox > Church, according to local media reports. > The case was reported to the Kosovo Police Service and > to KFOR. (Politika - 23/01/06; Tanjug - 22/01/06) > > > http://www.slobodan-milosevic.org/news/fonet012406b.htm > > Young Serb injured in incident near Gnjilane, Kosovo Police Service states > > BBC Monitoring Europe (Political) - January 24, 2006 Tuesday > Text of report by Serbian independent news agency FoNet > Source: FoNet news agency, Belgrade, in Serbian 1649 gmt 23 Jan 06 > Copyright 2006 British Broadcasting Corporation > Posted for Fair Use only. > > Kosovska Vitina, 23 January: The Kosovo Police Service [KPS] spokesman > in Gnjilane, Naser Ibrahimi, told FoNet today that an incident had > occurred at a playground in the village of Mogila last Sunday [22 > January], which had left a 17-year-old Serb boy injured. > Ibrahimi said that a conflict between young men of Albanian and Serb > nationality had occurred at the playground, and that a young Serb man > had been slightly injured. > Police have detained five young men, taken their statements and handed > them over to an investigative judge. > Serbs living in Mogila have specified that a big group of Albanians > attacked two young Serb men in the St Theodore church back yard, where > these had gone to make a phone call, since the signal for mobile > phones is best there. > Villagers said that Bojan Djuzic (17) and Dejan Nojkic (18) had been > beaten up. > > > http://www.slobodan-milosevic.org/news/ap020806.htm > > Kosovo Serbs demand return to homes and jobs in troubled province > > Associated Press Worldstream - February 8, 2006 Wednesday 12:40 PM GMT > Copyright 2006 Associated Press > Posted for Fair Use only. > > ZVECAN Serbia-Montenegro - Hundreds of Serbs displaced from Kosovo > since the 1998-1999 war held a protest rally Wednesday demanding a > safe return to their homes and jobs. > About 500 protesters gathered in the town of Zvecan, where the > province's U.N. administrator, Soren Jessen-Petersen, had arrived for > talks with the leaders of the dwindling Kosovo Serb community. > "Our right to work and live in freedom has been suspended more than > six years ago," protest leader Dragisa Terencic said, referring to the > 1999 change of authority when NATO intervened in the armed conflict > between Serbs and ethnic Albanian separatists over Kosovo. > As NATO bombing forced Serbia to relinquish control over its southern > province, more than 200,000 Serbs fled while about 100,000 remained, > living mostly in enclaves surrounded by the ethnic Albanian majority. > The Wednesday rally gathered representatives of more than 7,000 Serbs > who worked in Kosovo's coal mines and power plants before the war. > Jessen-Petersen made no comment as he entered the talks with the Serb > leaders, but he was expected to address reporters after the meetings. > International negotiations on a final status for Kosovo were expected > to begin later this month in Austria. Ethnic Albanian demand > independence, while Serb leaders in Belgrade have vowed not to give up > the province. > > > http://www.slobodan-milosevic.org/news/srna020606.htm > > Serb home torched in Kosovo village > > BBC Monitoring Europe (Political) - February 6, 2006 Monday > Excerpt from report by Bosnian Serb news agency SRNA > Source: SRNA news agency, Bijeljina, in Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian 0924 > gmt 6 Feb 06 > Copyright 2006 British Broadcasting Corporation > Posted for Fair Use only. > > Kosovska Vitina, 6 February: Unidentified persons torched Trajan > Savic's house in the village of Cernica near Kosovska Vitina > yesterday, the Kosovo Police Service has said. > Six members of Savic's family were asleep when their home was set > ablaze but they managed to escape. > Cernica Serbs have urged the international community [peacekeepers] to > set up a checkpoint and to secure constant Kosovo Police Service patrols. > Two weeks ago, a bomb was hurled at the Cernica home of Milorad > Todorovic, deputy chairman of the Coordination Committee for > Kosovo-Metohija. > Forty-five houses have been torched in the village of Cernica since > 1999 [NATO intervention]. > Some 120 Serb families used to live in the village until the arrival > of the UN mission in Kosovo-Metohija and now only 40 remain. > > > http://www.slobodan-milosevic.org/news/b92020806.htm > > Returnee says life impossible for Serbs in Kosovo capital > > BBC Monitoring European. London: Feb 8, 2006. pg. 1 > Text of report in English by Belgrade-based Radio B92 text website on > 8 February > Credit: Radio B92 text website, Belgrade, in English 0941 8 Feb 06 > Radio B92 text website, Belgrade, in English 0941 8 Feb > 06/BBCMonitoring/(c) BBC > Posted for Fair Use only. > > Pristina , 8 February: Zoran Stanisic, a refugee who has returned to > Pristina, said that he cannot live in his own apartment, is constantly > being robbed, and cannot reopen his business. > After fleeing almost seven years ago, Stanisic, along with his mother, > moved back to Pristina five months ago. Before the war, Zoran, an > economist and electrical engineer, was the owner of a successful > private company in Pristina. He said that he has been riddled with > problems and obstructions in trying to reopen his business and rehire > his old associates, who are all of varying nationalities. > "I've found both my business and living places broken in to. I alerted > the Kosovo police, which came 15 minutes after the fact. Since I am > one of the few Serbs living in Pristina, it's funny that this is the > second time this month that someone has probably tried to send us a > message," Stanisic said. > Stanisic said that he trusted the promises of the international > community, the Kosovo Government and the Return Ministry, that the > minimum conditions of normal living would be given to him, which > encouraged him to return to Pristina. > "When winter came, we had nothing, so we were forced to temporarily > get out of the way, and wait to see whether their promises would be > fulfilled or not. It looks as if there is nothing for Serbs in this > city, and Serbs are ordained to live in enclaves, concentration camps, > and behind barbed wire," Stanisic said. > Until 1999, about 40,000 Serbs lived in Pristina. There are currently > 150 living there now. Zoran Stanisic is now living in Gracanica, > because, as he stated, he cannot live in his Pristina apartment. > > > http://news.scotsman.com/latest_international.cfm?id=207292006 > > The Scotsman - February 10, 2006 > > Serbs stage British Embassy protest > > Several hundred Serbs from Kosovo have rallied in > front of the British Embassy in Belgrade to protest a > British diplomat's alleged backing for the province's > independence from Serbia. > The protesters carried pictures of Serbs killed in > Kosovo, and some held photos of former Yugoslav > President Slobodan Milosevic. > The demonstrators were angered by reports that a > senior British official suggested in talks with Serb > officials that they should accept that Kosovo will > gain independence in upcoming talks on the province's > future status. > The southern Serbian province has been administered by > the United Nations since a Nato air offensive drove > out Serb troops in 1999. > John Sawers, political director of Britain's Foreign > Office, visited both Belgrade and Pristina, Kosovo's > capital, earlier this week as part of preparations for > UN-brokered negotiations on the province's future > status. > Serbs cherish Kosovo as the cradle of their history > and culture and refuse to allow it to become an > independent state. > However, Kosovo's ethnic Albanians insist independence > for the province is the only acceptable solution. > The so-called Contact Group for Kosovo, which includes > the United States, Britain, Russia, Italy, Germany and > France, has demanded that the solution for Kosovo be > found by the end of this year. > Meanwhile, a European Union envoy for Kosovo met with > Serbia's President Boris Tadic to discuss preparations > for the talks. Stefan Lehne also met with Prime > Minister Vojislav Kostunica and other officials. > In a statement issued after the meeting with Lehne, > Kostunica said Serbia is ready for the negotiations > and warned against "prejudging the future solution for > the status" of the province. > > > http://www.slobodan-milosevic.org/news/fonet021106.htm > > Aid to Kosovo Serbs will have to be "smuggled" past new customs - official > > BBC Monitoring European. London: Feb 11, 2006. pg. 1 > Text of report by Serbian independent news agency FoNet > Credit: FoNet news agency, Belgrade, in Serbian 1449 11 Feb 06 > FoNet news agency, Belgrade, in Serbian 1449 11 Feb > 06/BBCMonitoring/(c) BBC > Posted for Fair Use only. > > Kosovska Mitrovica, 11 February: The director of the [Serbian] Care > for Children Centre, [Strength of Serbia Movement - PSS official] > Boris Stajkovic, has told FoNet that this organization's humanitarian > aid was not delivered today to the Serb population in Kosovo > Pomoravlje [County], because UNMIK [UN Interim Administration Mission > in Kosovo] had imposed customs obligations on non- governmental > organizations for this purpose. > Stajkovic said two vehicles carrying clothes and around 400 hygienic > and 200 school packages with books for children and inhabitants of > Silovo and Gnjilane had been stopped at the administrative line with > Kosovo, because UNMIK had demanded 2,000 euros in customs duty. > He added that the Care for Children Centre today did not know about > this UNMIK decision because this information had not been made public > anywhere in Serbia. > "This is a new tragic fact for Serbs in Kosovo, following the fact > that they have been barred from having access to electricity and their > jobs, and this stops us from delivering to the children everything > which they need most in order to survive," Stajkovic said, adding that > this was "yet another horrible form of pressure against the Serbs who > live in Kosovo under exceptionally difficult circumstances". > As he put it, the only thing they could do was to unload the aid in > Raska and then, using private cars, "smuggle" it bit by bit and this > way deliver to places where it is needed most. > "We have to deliver even humanitarian aid in various illegal manners, > but, really, we are not left with anything else to help people survive > such a situation in various ways," Stajkovic concluded. > > > http://www.slobodan-milosevic.org/news/srna021506.htm > > Serb woman strangled in divided Kosovo town > > BBC Monitoring Europe (Political) - February 15, 2006 Wednesday > Text of report by Bosnian Serb news agency SRNA > Source: SRNA news agency, Bijeljina, in Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian 0756 > gmt 15 Feb 06 > Copyright 2006 British Broadcasting Corporation > Posted for Fair Use only. > > Kosovska Mitrovica, 15 February: Danka Kompirovic was strangled in her > Bosnjacka mahala home, in the [Serb-controlled] northern part of > Kosovska Mitrovica, at around 2130 [2030 gmt] last night. > The body of the 61-year-old woman was taken to the hospital in the > northern part of the town where a post-mortem examination will be > conducted. > According to witnesses, three persons fled from the Kompirovic home to > the southern [Albanian-controlled] part of the town and this is why > Albanians are suspected of committing the crime. > The Kompirovic home was the only remaining Serb house in Bosnjacka > mahala, out of some 100 prior to the arrival of the peacekeepers in 1999. > > > http://www.slobodan-milosevic.org/news/fena021906.htm > > Bomb explodes outside Serbian bank office in Kosovo > > BBC Monitoring Europe (Political) - February 19, 2006 Sunday > Excerpt from report by Bosnia-Hercegovina Federation News Agency FENA > Source: Federation News Agency, Sarajevo, in Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian > 0947 gmt 19 Feb 06 > Copyright 2006 British Broadcasting Corporation > Posted for Fair Use only. > > Kosovska Mitrovica, 19 February: No-one was injured when an explosive > device was activated in the town centre of Dragas [Muslim Slav enclave > in southern Kosovo] around 2120 [2020 gmt] last night. > The explosive device, most probably a bomb, was activated near the > Komercijalna banka [Belgrade-based bank] office, the Caglavica-based > KiM [Kosovo Serb] radio reported. > > > http://www.slobodan-milosevic.org/news/mina022606.htm > > Refugee bus reportedly stoned by Kosovo Albanians > > BBC Monitoring European. London: Feb 26, 2006. pg. 1 > Text of report by Montenegrin Mina news agency > Credit: Mina news agency, Podgorica, in Serbian 2032 26 Feb 06 > Mina news agency, Podgorica, in Serbian 2032 26 Feb > 06/BBCMonitoring/(c) BBC > Posted for Fair Use only. > > Decani, 25 February: A group of some 50 Albanian youths today stoned a > bus transporting displaced persons from Kosovo-Metohija who now live > in Montenegro. > The chairman of the Alliance of Refugee Associations in Montenegro, > Milenko Jovanovic, said that the incident had taken place in Decani > and that no-one was injured. > "The incident took place around 1500 [1400 gmt] and the bus, with some > 60 passengers on board, was not damaged to a great extent," Jovanovic > said. > The displaced persons were travelling to Kosovo to visit graveyards > and the Visoki Decani monastery. > > > http://www.slobodan-milosevic.org/news/fonet030606.htm > > Serbs shot at in Kosovo village > > BBC Monitoring Europe (Political) - March 6, 2006 Monday > Excerpt from report by Serbian independent news agency FoNet > Source: FoNet news agency, Belgrade, in Serbian 2054 gmt 5 Mar 06 > Copyright 2006 British Broadcasting Corporation - Posted for Fair Use > only. > > Belgrade, 5 March: The vehicle in which Radmila Natovic and Jelena and > Igor Djokic were was shot at in the village of Staro Gacko in the > municipality of Lipljan around 1930 [1830 gmt] this evening. No-one > was injured. [Passage omitted: more details] > > > http://www.slobodan-milosevic.org/news/mina030606.htm > > POLICE CHECKPOINT FIRED AT FROM DIRECTION OF ALBANIAN VILLAGE IN SOUTH > SERBIA > > BBC Monitoring International Reports - March 6, 2006 Monday > Excerpt from report by Montenegrin Mina news agency > Source: Mina news agency, Podgorica, in Serbian 1812 gmt 6 Mar 06 > Copyright 2006 Financial Times Information All Rights Reserved > Global News Wire - Asia Africa Intelligence Wire > Copyright 2006 BBC Monitoring/BBC Source: Financial Times Information > Limited - Posted for Fair Use only. > > Bujanovac, 6 March: Unidentified persons have attacked a police > security and inspection booth at the Konculj checkpoint [in southern > Serbia] on the administrative line with Kosovo, but no one was injured > in the incident. > According to a statement, the attack happened last night at around > 1910 [1810 gmt], no one was injured and the police returned fire after > being shot at by the attackers. > The attack was conducted from the outskirts of the Albanian village of > Konculj, from a spot near the 29 November primary school, from a > distance of 600 metres from the checkpoint, Belgrade media have reported. > The attackers opened machine gun fire in the direction of the security > and inspection booth, with bullets falling 10 to 15 metres away from > the booth. > [Passage omitted: information on investigation which has been launched] > > > > === 2 === > > Source: Rick Rozoff at yugoslaviainfo @ yahoogroups.com > > > http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060301/wl_nm/serbiamontenegro_kosovo_premier_dc > > Reuters - March 1, 2006 > > Kosovo PM Kosumi quits under pressure By Shaban Buza > > -Political sources said Kosumi's resignation was the > "result of pressure" following a round of meetings > with Western envoys earlier in the week, including the > United States. > He is expected to be succeeded by Agim Ceku, a former > senior commander in the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) > who now heads the Kosovo Protection Force.... > -Kosumi was elected by the Albanian-dominated Kosovo > parliament a year ago when then-Prime Minister Ramush > Haradinaj was indicted on war crimes charges by the > United Nations tribunal in The Hague. > -Former student activist Kosumi was sworn in on March > 23 last year as head of Kosovo's interim government, > the handpicked successor of Haradinaj, 37, who was > also a former KLA guerrilla commander.... > -Up to 200,000 Serbs fled when NATO occupied Kosovo in > the summer of 1999 fearing revenge [sic] attacks by > Albanians. Securing the safety and rights of some > 100,000 who remain, many living in isolated enclaves, > is a central issue in the talks... > > > Kosovo Prime Minister Bajram Kosumi resigned on > Wednesday following international criticism that he > had failed to do enough to create a multi-ethnic state > as the province seeks independence. > Citing the need to preserve a coalition majority and > the cooperation of Kosovo's Western backers, Kosumi > told reporters: "I find the correct and ethical action > is to resign from the post of prime minister." > Kosumi, 45, handed in his resignation to President > Fatmir Sejdiu after word leaked that he no longer had > the confidence of his own Alliance for the Future of > Kosovo (AAK) party. > Kosumi was also criticized for ineptness by other > members of Kosovo's ruling ethnic Albanian coalition > and Western mentor states shepherding the Serbian > province through talks that could lead to its > independence later this year. > United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan criticized > the Kosumi government in a January report for not > doing enough to meet democratic standards set by the > U.N. for the creation of a just and smoothly > functioning multi-ethnic society. > Political sources said Kosumi's resignation was the > "result of pressure" following a round of meetings > with Western envoys earlier in the week, including the > United States. > He is expected to be succeeded by Agim Ceku, a former > senior commander in the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) > who now heads the Kosovo Protection Force, the civil > emergency unit set up to absorb former rebel fighters. > "Agim Ceku has been offered the post of prime minister > and is going to say he accepts at a press conference > this afternoon," a source close to Ceku said. > Kosumi was elected by the Albanian-dominated Kosovo > parliament a year ago when then-Prime Minister Ramush > Haradinaj was indicted on war crimes charges by the > United Nations tribunal in The Hague. > Political sources said the ruling coalition was very > unhappy with Kosumi's performance, his perceived lack > of leadership and inefficiency. They pointed out that > two cabinet posts, for the interior and justice > portfolios, had still not been filled three months > after they were created by the province's > administration. > The West wants Kosovo's status resolved this year and > is impatient with any unnecessary delays. Kosumi quit > just as he was due to meet visiting United Nations > special envoy Marrti Ahtisaari, the former Finnish > president charged with mediating Kosovo status talks > with Belgrade. > > FORMER GUERRILLA AS SUCCESSOR? > > Serbs and Kosovo Albanians met in Vienna last week for > a first round of direct negotiations on the fate of > Serbia's disputed southern province. > The talks were delayed a month by the death of Kosovo > Albanian president Ibrahim Rugova. > Former student activist Kosumi was sworn in on March > 23 last year as head of Kosovo's interim government, > the handpicked successor of Haradinaj, 37, who was > also a former KLA guerrilla commander respected for > his grasp on Kosovo's fractious political scene. > The province's 90 percent ethnic Albanian majority > wants independence from Serbia, which Belgrade says it > is not prepared to grant. But Belgrade lost control of > Kosovo nearly seven years ago when NATO intervened... > Up to 200,000 Serbs fled when NATO occupied Kosovo in > the summer of 1999 fearing revenge attacks by > Albanians. Securing the safety and rights of some > 100,000 who remain, many living in isolated enclaves, > is a central issue in the talks. > > > http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L01716252.htm > > Reuters - March 1, 2006 > > FACTBOX - Agim Ceku, nominated as Kosovo PM > > Former guerrilla commander Agim Ceku was nominated as > Kosovo prime minister on Wednesday after Bajram Kosumi > bowed to domestic and international pressure to > resign. > > Here are five facts about Ceku: > > -- An ethnic Albanian native of Kosovo, Ceku was > stationed in Croatia as part of the Yugoslav Army when > war broke out there in 1991. Siding with the Croats, > he fought Serb troops for the republic's independence > from Yugoslavia. > > -- Ceku married a Croatian woman but returned to > Kosovo as a commander of the ethnic Albanian Kosovo > Liberation Army (KLA), which in early 1998 launched a > guerrilla war against Serb forces. A career soldier, > Ceku took responsibility for overhauling the KLA > command structure. > > -- Serb forces pulled out in 1999 under NATO bombing > and Ceku helped oversee the disbanding of the KLA. He > took command of the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC), a > civil emergency force created by the United Nations to > absorb the former rebels. > > -- Ceku has had to purge the Corps of rogue elements > several times since 1999. But he retains the strong > support of Kosovo's Western backers, most notably > Britain, which took on the role of KPC sponsor and > mentor. > > -- Serbia says Ceku is guilty of war crimes against > Serb civilians during the Kosovo war. He has twice > been detained - in Slovenia and Hungary - on > Serbian-issued arrest warrants, but was quickly > released on both occasions. Ceku was born near the > western Kosovo town of Pec on Oct. 29, 1960. > > > http://news.monstersandcritics.com/europe/article_1133751.php/Kosovo_Prime_M inister_Kosumi_resigns > > Deutsche Presse-Agentur - March 1, 2006 > > Kosovo Prime Minister Kosumi resigns > > Pristina - Kosovo Prime Minister Bajram Kosumi > unexpectedly resigned Wednesday, in the midst of > crucial talks with Serbia on the future status of the > province. > Agim Ceku, a former rebel commander who fought Serbia > throughout the 1990s, was expected to be nominated as > the next head of the government. > The step would irk Belgrade officials, who on top of > worries over the prospect of losing Kosovo now also > have to negotiate the man Serbian courts convicted as > a war criminal. > 'Taking into account that the government is at risk of > losing the majority in parliament and...in the overall > interest of cooperation with our international > friends, I took this decision to resign from the post > of the prime minister,' Kosumi said. > He described the step as a 'moral act,' but did not > immediately offer a deeper explanation of the pressure > his cabinet. > Minutes earlier, the leading Democratic League of > Kosovo (LDK) party also sacked the parliament speaker > Nexhat Daci, saying it was unhappy how he handled the > assembly during preparations for the crucial talks > with Serbia. > The dramatic changes were announced during the visit > of the United Nations envoy mediating the Kosovo > status talks, Finnish diplomat Martti Ahtisaari, who > said they would not affect the talks. > 'I don't see this development as a government crisis,' > Ahtisaari said. 'We will continue the negotiations ... > this development will not influence the process.' > Kosumi and Daci both came under the pressure in their > own parties, the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo and > LDK. The province has been embroiled in a power > struggle since the death of the overall leader and > president Ibrahim Rugova in January. > Kosumi was elected prime minister a year ago, after > his party supremo Ramush Haradinaj and another > ex-rebel commander, was indicted for war crimes by the > Hague-based International criminal Tribunal for former > Yugoslavia and forced to resign. > Ceku, 45, formally non-aligned politically, heads the > Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC), an unarmed organization > mostly composed of ex-guerrillas (UCK). > Though unarmed and formally a disaster relief > organization, the KPC is widely seen as the core of > Kosovo's future army. > A career soldier, he skipped from the former Yugoslav > Army to fight for Croatia in its 1991-1995 war for > independence. He resigned from the Croatian army early > in 1999 on invitation by UCK to take control. > In 2004 he was briefly detained in Hungary, on an > Interpol warrant issued by Belgrade, in 2004. > Haradinaj and another top Kosovo Albanian leader, > Hashim Thaci, were also convicted by Serbian courts as > war criminals. > Consultations were under way on the nomination, which > would formally be put forward by President Fatmir > Sejdiu. > The NATO intervention paved the way to a UN > administration in the province, which last month, > after six years, opened the direct talks with Serbia > on its future status. > The Albanians, who make up the vast majority in > Kosovo, unanimously want quick independence from > Serbia, which Belgrade ruled out, offering instead > only a broad autonomy. > > > http://www.mia.com.mk/ang/glavnavest/lastvest.asp?vest=\Refresh1\388-0103.ht m > > Macedonian Information Agency - March 1, 2006 > > AHTISAARI: KOSUMI, DACI REPLACEMENT WILL NOT AFFECT KOSOVO TALKS > > -Kosumi was elected by the Albanian-dominated Kosovo > parliament a year ago when then-Prime Minister Ramush > Haradinaj was indicted on war crimes charges by the > United Nations tribunal in The Hague. > He is expected to be succeeded by Agim Ceku, a former > senior commander in the Kosovo Liberation Army > (KLA).... > -Earlier today, news agencies reported that an > organisation calling itself the Albanian National Army > (ANA) requested for the UN Mission (UNMIK) > withdraw from Kosovo (UNMIK) and announced a struggle > for the creation of a Greater Albania. > -"We will fight against any enemy or traitor to the > full victory, the uniting of the Albanian nation, with > the motto - one nation, one state." > > > The United Nations envoy mediating the Kosovo status > talks, Finnish diplomat Martti Ahtisaari, said > Wednesday that the resignation of Kosovo Prime > Minister Bajram Kosumi and sacking of Parliamentary > Speaker Nexhat Daci will not affect the course of > talks on Kosovo status. > "I don't see this development as a government crisis," > Ahtisaari said. "We will continue the negotiations ... > this development will not influence the process." > This evening, Kosumi should meet Ahtisaari, who > arrived in Pristina for a three-day visit. > Kosovo Prime Minister Bajram Kosumi resigned on > Wednesday following international criticism that he > had failed to do enough to create a multi-ethnic state > as the province seeks independence. > Citing the need to preserve a coalition majority and > the cooperation of Kosovo's Western backers, Kosumi > told reporters: "I find the correct and ethical action > is to resign from the post of prime minister". > Kosumi, 45, handed in his resignation to President > Fatmir Sejdiu after word leaked that he no longer had > the confidence of his own Alliance for the Future of > Kosovo (AAK) party. > Political sources said the ruling coalition was very > unhappy with Kosumi's performance, his perceived lack > of leadership and inefficiency. They pointed out that > two cabinet posts, for the interior and justice > portfolios, had still not been filled three months > after they were created by the province's > administration. > Kosumi was elected by the Albanian-dominated Kosovo > parliament a year ago when then-Prime Minister Ramush > Haradinaj was indicted on war crimes charges by the > United Nations tribunal in The Hague. > He is expected to be succeeded by Agim Ceku, a former > senior commander in the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) > who now heads the Kosovo Protection Force, the civil > emergency unit set up to absorb former rebel fighters. > Minutes earlier, the leading Democratic League of > Kosovo (LDK) party also sacked Parliamentary Speaker > Nexhat Daci, saying it was unhappy with how he handled > the assembly during preparations for the crucial talks > with Serbia. > Earlier today, news agencies reported that an > organisation calling itself the Albanian National Army > (ANA) requested for the UN Mission (UNMIK) > withdraw from Kosovo (UNMIK) and announced a struggle > for the creation of a Greater Albania. > "There is no democracy within that organisation (UN). > It continues to rule with the right to veto as in the > Middle Ages and cannot build democracy," ANA said in a > statement delivered to the media in Pristina. > A former UNMIK chief, Michael Steiner, branded ANA a > terrorist organisation. > "We will fight against any enemy or traitor to the > full victory, the uniting of the Albanian nation, with > the motto - one nation, one state," read the > statement. > ANA claimed responsibility for a number of armed > attacks in Kosovo and the region in recent years. > > > http://www.b92.net/english/news/index.php?order=priority > > B92 (Serbia and Montenegro) - March 3, 2006 > > Cheku's [Ceku] nomination unacceptable > > BELGRADE - The Serbian Government has deemed the > Kosovo's nomination of Agim Cheku for prime minister > unacceptable, stating that he is facing war crimes > indictments. > The Serbian Government's Media Cooperation Office's > Chief, Srdjan Djuric, said that the War Crimes > Tribunal has indicted Cheku for war crimes charges, > adding that there are no instances in Europe or around > the world where a country or state's prime minister is > indicted for war crimes. > "The War Crimes Court has issued an indictment against > Agim Cheku and an international warrant for his arrest > is pending. Today in Europe, and throughout the entire > globe most likely, there are no prime ministers who > are accused of war crimes. For the Serbian Government, > it is completely unacceptable to have a man, who > should be in court facing war crimes charges, be > elected as prime minister or for any other political > position. The officials of the international community > who are responsible for Kosovo have an obligation to > protect the elementary norms of civilisation and stop > Agim Cheku from being elected and make a mockery of > the values which a democratic society is founded on," > Djuric told B92. > > > === 3 === > > From: p-tosic > Subject: [yugoslaviainfo] Agim Ceku: War Criminal, Ally, or Both? > (and other news related to Kosovo) > Date: March 5, 2006 4:44:06 AM GMT+01:00 > To: yugoslaviainfo @ yahoogroups.com > > ["Well, I have always made it clear ... that NATO has no direct > contacts with the KLA*," answered Shea. "Who they appoint as their > leaders, that is entirely their own affair."] > > *video proves the opposite Mr Shea! > > http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6557813549136654170 > > Google: Latest News from Kosovo > > http://news.google.be/news?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&tab=wn&q=Kosovo&btnG=Search+N ews > > > MakFax: Kosumi: No negotiations with Serbia over Kosovo status > http://news.serbianunity.net/bydate/2006/March_01/19.html > > Kosovo PM Kosumi quits under pressure > http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060301/wl_nm/serbiamontenegro_kosovo_premier_dc > > Kosovo's 'delicate moment' > http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=c4629b44-454b-4a17-aa > 08-32a0b7bf2ef4&k=69986 > > Sorry, My Mistake > > http://www.antiwar.com/blog/comments.php?id=P2670_0_1_0 > > 1999-2006: Western Support Brings War Criminal Ceku To Power In Kosovo > http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L01716252.htm > > Kosovo: KLA Chief As Prime Minister, Armed Struggle For Greater Albania > http://www.mia.com.mk/ang/glavnavest/lastvest.asp?vest=\Refresh1\388-0103.ht m > ............................. > > http://kosovareport.blogspot.com/ > > Kosovo Report > March 1, 2006 > > a.. SRSG's statement on resignation of Prime Minister Bajram Kosumi > b.. Serbia holds two over murder of Albanian-American prisoners > c.. Kosovo prime minister steps down > d.. BREAKING NEWS: Kole Berisha to Become New Speaker of the Kosovo > Assembly...developing > e.. KPC General Agim Çeku - Prime Minister (Express) > > ........................... > > http://www.motherjones.com/news/special_reports/total_coverage/kosovo/ceku.h tml > > Mother Jones > > War Criminal, Ally, or Both? > > The KLA's new leader, Agim Ceku, may have helped mastermind the most > brutal ethnic-cleansing campaign in post-communist Yugoslavia's > history. Now he's on NATO's side in the war over Kosovo. > > by Jeffrey Benner > May 21, 1999 > > > The Kosova Liberation Army (KLA)'s new chief of staff, Agim Ceku, has > been linked to two of the grisliest episodes of brutality in the > ongoing war in the former Yugoslavia, perhaps even worse than the > current Serb campaign against ethnic Albanians. Now he's on NATO's > side in the war for Kosovo. Who is this man, and why is NATO making > excuses on his behalf? > > Ceku joined the newly formed Croatian military (HV) in 1991 during > that region's effort to secede from Yugoslavia. He quickly rose to the > rank of brigadier general, and retired last February. Though it sounds > lifted from a résumé, a short description of Ceku in Jane's Defense > Weekly credits him with helping to orchestrate Operation Storm and the > Medak offensive, which involved the cleansing of ethnic Serbs from the > Krajina region of Croatia, the deliberate shelling of civilians, rape, > and systematic arson. > > According to Jane's, "in 1993 Ceku masterminded the successful HV > offensive at Medak, and in 1995 was one of the key planners of the > successful 'Operation Storm,' in which the HV quickly defeated [its] > Serb opponents." > > Ceku also has some well-placed references to go along with that > résumé: An unnamed retired U.S. military official told Jane's, "We > were impressed by [Ceku's] overview of the battleground and the > ability to always predict his enemy's next move." > > In Operation Storm, a four-day offensive in August of 1995, the > Croatian army regained control of the Krajina region, which was > primarily inhabited by ethnic Serbs. Many analysts say Operation Storm > was undertaken with the tacit approval of the West, and perhaps even > with the assistance of U.S. military advisers (much the same way it is > reportedly advising the KLA in Kosovo). > > According to an Amnesty International report, "Croatia: Impunity for > killings after 'Storm,'" nearly the entire ethnic Serbian population > of the region, estimated to be at least 180,000 people, fled in face > of the attack. Hundreds of civilians were murdered, most of the > victims being elderly and disabled persons who were unable to flee. > The report estimates that 5,000 structures were torched by the > advancing Croatian army. > > According to The New York Times, the International Criminal Tribunal > for the Former Yugoslavia has determined that war crimes were indeed > committed during Operation Storm. In a March 21, 1999 article, the > Times revealed an unpublished report produced by the Tribunal. Among > the report's assertions: > "During the course of the military offensive, the Croatian armed > forces and special police committed numerous violations of > international humanitarian law." > > The Medak offensive in 1993, which Jane's credits Ceku with > "masterminding," is also known as the "Medak massacre." While the name > may not ring a bell for most readers in the U.S., it is remembered in > Canada as that nation's largest military action since the Korean War. > According to the book, Tested Mettle, Canadian peacekeepers in the > "Medak Pocket" engaged Croatian soldiers in a firefight to stop them > from terrorizing Serbian civilians. Four Canadians were wounded in the > battle, which left nearly 30 Croatian soldiers dead. > > Excerpts of the book's account of the fighting at Medak were published > in newspapers across Canada last November. Atrocities witnessed by > Canadian soldiers are described in detail. "A drunken Croat soldier > emerged from a building and staggered toward [a Canadian soldier]," > begins one section. "A girl could be heard screaming inside the house. > Draped on the drunken soldier's head was a pair of blood-soaked panties." > > While details about his role in such horrors remain unconfirmed, the > mere mention of Ceku's possible connection to war crimes is enough to > put NATO on the defensive, especially since the U.S. has been linked > with him in the past. During the May 14 NATO press briefing, a > reporter asked Jamie Shea to comment on reports of Ceku's involvement > in ethnic cleansing while he was serving in the Croatian military. > > "Well, I have always made it clear ... that NATO has no direct > contacts with the KLA," answered Shea. "Who they appoint as their > leaders, that is entirely their own affair. I don't have any comment > on that whatever." > > However, unable to restrain himself, Shea did comment. Using a > laughable chain of reasoning, he lay the blame for NATO's association > with the KLA at the feet of their mutual arch enemy, Milosevic. "If > Milosevic had not started a policy of brutality in Kosovo some years > ago, the KLA would never have existed." Shea said. "It is a very > recent creation, and it is a creation of Belgrade, first and foremost." > > Chillingly, Shea went on to imply that the Krajina atrocities during > Operation Storm were a case of the Serbs getting what they deserved. > "When you spoke about the Serbs who were driven from the Krajina, this > is absolutely true," he admitted. "But as somebody who remembers these > events particularly well, do not forget that there were many, many > Croats who were persecuted and also driven from their homes in that > part of the world, when the Yugoslav national army moved there in 1991." > > In fact, this sort of response from a Western official regarding > atrocities committed by the Croatian army is hardly new. The West has > long seen Croatia as a valuable ally against Milosevic, so misdeeds by > the Croatian military have been downplayed by Western European and > U.S. officials. According to the Times, American lawyers hired by the > Pentagon argued at the International Criminal Tribunal against > indicting the Croatian generals who led Operation Storm. The lawyers > argued that only legitimate military targets were shelled during the > attack. > > The following assessment, printed in the August 22, 1995 edition of > The Washington Post, still rings true: > > "In the battle for international public opinion, Croatia has so far > escaped serious criticism for Operation Storm despite increasing > evidence of shootings of civilians and officially sanctioned arson of > many Serb houses in the Krajina [region]. International attention has > focused on rebel Serbs, who are being charged with digging mass graves > near Srebrenica -- a U.N. 'safe area' in Bosnia that fell to a > combined Yugoslav-Bosnian Serb assault in July." > > While the Krajina battle is often cited as the turning point which > brought opposing parties to the negotiating table in 1995, for Ceku it > served as inspiration to make war. According to a BBC translation of a > May 14 Croatian news report, Ceku issued a statement saying: "There is > only one way out. And we have advocated it from the very beginning: a > final defeat of the Serbian army and its expulsion from Kosovo; a > defeat similar to the one they [the Yugoslav army] suffered in Croatia." > > More Kosovo Coverage from the MoJo Wire > > > > > > > > > -------------------------------------------------------- > > IL 18 MARZO 2006 A ROMA > CONTRO LE GUERRE E CONTRO LE OCCUPAZIONI MILITARI > > http://www.cnj.it/INIZIATIVE/fse180306.htm > > ed anche per ricordare il settimo anniversario della > AGGRESSIONE DELLA NATO CONTRO LA REP. FED. 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