Subject: Yugoslav President brands Kosovo Europe's top problem
Date: Fri, 24 Nov 2000 12:10:20 PST
From: C-afp@... (AFP / Richard Lein)
Organization: Copyright 2000 by Agence France-Presse (via ClariNet)
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ZAGREB, Nov 24 (AFP) - Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica
Friday branded Kosovo Europe's number-one problem, threatening
stability in the Balkans and beyong, while the province's UN chief
blamed "bastards" for undermining the chances for peace.
Speaking to EU and fellow Balkan leaders gathered for a special
summit here, Kostunica said: "Kosovo today is certainly the biggest
problem in Europe, which could provoke many other conflicts that
seem to have been put out, in the Balkans and elswehere."
"Kosovo is the only region where terror still reigns and the
exodus of people from their ancestral homeland continues," he said,
referring to strife between the province's ethnic Albanian majority
and Serb minority.
UN Security Council resolution 1244 on Kosovo "remains a dead
letter which cannot achieve what it must: the preservation of a
multi-ethnic Kosovo and creating secure conditions for all" in the
province, he said.
"Without complete respect for this resolution, then we won't
have peace in Kosovo, the Balkans or Europe," Kostunica said.
Speaking to reporters after the EU-Balkan summit, Kouchner said
he was deeply concerned by a fresh wave of conflict and bloodshed
that risked bringing "black clouds" back over Kosovo.
"Serbs and Albanians in Kosovo are finally starting to live
together," he said. "If some bastards are planting bombs and killing
people, then this fledgling detente will disappear."
On Thursday Kosovo Albanian leader Ibrahim Rugova's top aide
Xhemaji Mustafa was shot dead in Pristina, a day after a bomb attack
on the home of Belgrade's top representative in Pristina which
killed a member of staff.
"I am outraged by the murder of Xhemaji Mustafa," said Kouchner,
adding that he said it appeared to be a political killing.
But he was optimistic about prospects for a peaceful resolution
to tension in a buffer zone on the Kosovo-Serbia border where three
Serbian policemen were still missing and presumed dead after their
patrol was attacked Tuesday.
Serbian police Friday gave NATO-led peacekeeping forces in
Kosovo 72 hours to put an end to attacks by ethnic Albanian
guerrillas, warning that if the situation is not resolved they would
return to the area.
Kouchner welcomed Kostunica's recognition of the UN resolution
which calls for elections and substantial autonomy for Kosovo, and
renewed his call for the vote to be held this early next year.
"For the peace process this is absolutely necessary," he said,
adding: "Kostunica and the Serbian authorities will get responsible
people to talk with."
Municipal elections held in Kosovo in October saw Rugova's
moderate followers eclipse former guerrillas of the Kosovo
Liberation Army (KLA), whose clashes with Serb forces in 1998-99 led
to NATO air strikes last year against then-president Slobodan
Milosevic's regime.
But Kouchner chided the international community, describing all
countries on the UN Security Council except for the United States as
"very reluctant" to hold elections in Kosovo next year.
"I think this is a big mistake," said Kouchner. "When you corner
people, when you are not offering them (anything), especially people
who have suffered, they fight."
He also warned EU and Balkan leaders that extending Serbia's
December 23 elections to Kosovo risks a slide back to violence.
"I sincerely hope that the Serbian parliamentary elections in
December will further strengthen the democratic forces in Serbia. I
fully understand its political importance," he said.
"But I fear that extending them in the territory of Kosovo may
seriously endanger the already fragile peace process there. We may
again slide back into conflict," he said.
Kouchner said he expects a solution to be found, but warned in
no case would the UN administration organize the vote.