(english / italiano)
Governatore numero due: Michael Steiner
IL BOSS DELL'UNMIK, MICHAEL STEINER, FINALMENTE SE NE VA
Nessuno lo rimpianga. "Degno" successore di Kouchner, Steiner rimarra'
nella memoria degli albanesi kosovari soprattutto per le avventure da
squallido playboy con le loro ragazze, e nella memoria dei serbi
kosovari solo come l'ennesimo despota straniero corresponsabile di
ulteriori lutti, miserie, e della ulteriore distruzione del patrimonio
artistico, storico e spirituale.
Steiner lascia dietro a se una provincia sempre piu' economicamente e
politicamente integrata nella Repubblica di Albania e segregata dallo
Stato di appartenenza, grazie anche ai suoi provvedimenti ispirati al
criterio: "Kosovo will
never again be a part of Serbia". Criterio esplicitamente formulato in
maggio, ad incoraggiamento dei "patrioti" UCK che hanno fatto a pezzi
con l'accetta una famiglia di tre persone. E poi: la legge sulle
privatizzazioni, l'intervento in difesa del "Serpente" Thaci, arrestato
in Ungheria...
Riportiamo di seguito qualcuno degli ultimi suoi atti da governatore
coloniale del Kosovo, e le relative polemiche.
---
http://www.euobserver.com/index.phtml?aid=11703
EU Observer - June 13, 2003
US opposes EU candidate for Kosovo administration
Despite unanimous support from the enlarged EU, Swedish UN ambassador
Pierre Schori is not expected to become the new chair of UNMIK, UN
Interim administration mission in Kosovo.
According to the German newspaper Frankfurter Rundschau, Mr Schori is
seen as "too critical towards the US" and would therefore face strong
opposition from Washington.
The UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo, UNMIK, needs a new
chairman from August 2003 when the mandate of the current head of the
mission, German Michael Steiner, ends.
Mr Pierre Schori has unanimous support from Russia and the enlarged EU
that is expected to have 25 members from May 2004, reports Frankfurter
Rundschau.
However, the former Swedish deputy Foreign affairs minister and leader
of social democrats in the European Parliament is seen as "too critical
towards the US" and "too sympathetic" towards such countries like Cuba
and Nicaragua.
The official reason for opposing Mr Schori's nomination is the fact
that Sweden is not a NATO member.
Another obstacle would also be the fact that Mr Schori is representing
Sweden. The US does not want another" reports the Swedish media,
referring to the UN chief weapons inspector.
The decision on the new head of UNMIK will be taken by UN Secretary
General Kofi Annan. But it is unlikely that Mr Annan would go against
the will of the US, the German newspaper wrote.
Press Articles Frankfurter Rundschau
Written by Dace Akule
Edited by Andrew Beatty
---
STEINER COMPLETES MISSION IN KOSOVO-METOHIJA
PRISTINA, June 30 (Tanjug) - UNMIK chief Michael Steiner will
leave on Monday Kosovo and Metohija, officially ending his mission
that lasted one and a half years, Tanjug has learned from sources
close to UNMIK.
Steiner is leaving for New York where, Pristina electronic
media reported, he will submit his last report on the situation in
Kosovo-Metohija on July 3. Steiner will speak about the
political-security situation, about the position of minority
communities and about the future dialogue of Belgrade and Pristina,
which is expected to start next month in Brussels.
He will then return to Kosovo-Metohija where on July 5 he will
organize a farewell reception for his associates, ending in that way
his stay in Kosovo-Metohija.
---
http://www.seeurope.net/en/Story.php?StoryID=41765&LangID=1
Seeurope.net - July 7, 2003
Kosovo and Albania Sign Free Trade Agreement
A free trade agreement has today been signed by UNMIK officials, the
Kosovo-Albanian leadership and the Albanian Government.
The agreement was signed by outgoing UNMIK governor Michael Steiner,
who is scheduled to make his departure from the province tomorrow,
Kosovo Trade Minister Ali Jakupi and Albanian Economy Minister Arben
Malaj.
The Albanian delegation, which arrived in Pristina yesterday, succeeded
in securing the first free trade agreement signed by Kosovo's
authorities, B92 radio reported.
---
http://www.serbia.sr.gov.yu/news/2003-07/08/329992.html
Serbia Info - July 8, 2003
Kosovo-Albania free trade agreement against UN Resolution 1244
Belgrade/New York, July 8, 2003 - Serbia-Montenegro's Foreign Minister
Goran Svilanovic said that the
signing of a free trade agreement between the Serbian
province of Kosovo and Albania is in contravention of
international documents guaranteeing Serbia-Montenegro's integrity in
Kosovo-Metohija.
He said that for Serbia-Montenegro, the signed free trade agreement is
against UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and Kosovo-Metohija's
Constitutional framework.
Ambassador of the Serbia-Montenegro Mission to the UN
Dejan Sahovic protested to the UN Secretariat in New York over
Steiner's last-day signing of the Criminal Code and the Criminal
Procedures Act, reports a statement from the Serbia-Montenegro
permanent Mission to the UN.
The statement says that such activities do not contribute to the
creation of a positive atmosphere before the expected dialogue between
Belgrade and Pristina.
UNMIK chief Michel Steiner signed the free trade agreement on July 7
with Kosovo Minster of Trade and Industry Ali Jakupi and Albanian
Minister of Economy Arben Maljaj. Steiner's term in office expires on
July 8.
---
STEINER SIGNS KOSOVO CRIMINAL LAW
PRISTINA, July 6 (Tanjug) - Just a day before he is to end his
one-and-a-half-year mission, UN Kosovo mission chief Michael Steiner
signed on Sunday two laws - Criminal Law and Law on Criminal
Proceedings in Kosovo-Metohija. According to Steiner, the laws, in
keeping with the Constitutional framework and Resolution 1244, replace
the former Yugoslav Criminal Law, which was applied in Kosovo.
The laws are to come into force nine months as of the date of
the signing. At the time when the Kosovo government was drafting the
law, officials of the coordination centre pointed out on several
occasions that they would oppose to it, because Kosovo was an integral
part of Serbia, and because of the fact that during the period of
international protectorate, the criminal laws of the Republic of
Serbia and Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SRJ), now state union of
Serbia and Montenegro, had to be applied. Steiner confirmed at a
Sunday press conference that he would end his mission tomorrow, and
leave Kosovo on Tuesday.
STEINER'S DECISION IS THOUGHTLESS - COVIC
PRISTINA, July 7 (Tanjug) - Coordinating Centre for
Kosovo-Metohija Head Nebojsa Covic has said that the decision by UNMIK
Chief of Administration Michael Steiner on Sunday to sign the Criminal
law in Kosovo-Metohija is thoughtless and with a lack of seriousness,
adding that Steiner is ending his carrier the way he started it.
I hope a new UNMIK chief will we will be able to cooperate
with and will implement the UN resolution 1244 within the triangle
Belgrade-Pristina-international community, Covic told Tanjug,
underlining that over the past year and a half Steiner has been
working to the disadvantage of Kosovo, Serbia and all of its citizens,
regardless of whether they are Serbs or Albanians.
Kosovo Parliament Presidency member Oliver Ivanovic expressed
his dissatisfaction with this act and said he would not be surprised
if Steiner signed some new laws on Monday, which is the last day of
his office in Kosovo.
MULTIETHNIC SELF-GOVERNMENT TO BE SET UP IN KOSOVO, STEINER
PRISTINA, July 5 (Tanjug) - A basic and multiethnic
self-government has to be set up in Kosovo, in keeping with resolution
1244, and we have to work to that effect, outgoing UN Kosovo mission
chief Michael Steiner said in Pristina on Saturday, and pointed out
that, regardless to its final status, Kosovo should become part of the
EU.
Steiner said that Pristina and Belgrade should prepare
themselves for a dialogue, and that they were not to wait long for
that. There are some who do not find such progress as suitable, and
they are the people who are against changes, the UN Kosovo mission
chief said, and added that if you want to sit with someone at the
negotiating table, than you cannot call him names that will prevent
him from coming to the talks.
Commenting on the recent appeal of Kosovo ethnic Albanian
leaders that Serb IDPs returned to their homes, Steiner said that they
had said the truth in the appeal, because if they had said - we
guarantee security and employment, they would have violated the
Constitutional framework.
---
Da: Rick Rozoff
Data: Mer 9 Lug 2003 07:18:33 Europe/Rome
Oggetto: [yugoslaviainfo] Kosovo's Third UN Chief Leaves Province Amid
Belgrade Protests
http://www.ptd.net/webnews/wed/cu/Qserbia-montenegro-
kosovo.RKja_Dl8.html
Kosovo's third UN chief leaves province amid Belgrade
protests
Nebi Qena
-On the very eve of his departure, Steiner infuriated
Belgrade which accused him of overstepping his
authority by signing a free trade agreement between
Kosovo and Albania, the first deal of its kind for a
UN-administered province.
-Belgrade, already angry over Steiner's decision
Sunday to sign into law a new criminal code for
Kosovo, said Monday it would protest to the United
Nations over the trade deal with Albania, arguing it
was in the contrary to UN resolutions.
-[N]ebojsa Covic, the Serbian Deputy Prime Minister in
charge of Kosovo, accused Steiner of working during
his mandate "to the detriment of Kosovo, Serbia and
all citizens, regardless if they are Serbs or
Albanians."
-[L]ast month's murder of three Serbs has raised
tensions between the ethnic communities as the worst
attack on the Serb minority in almost three years.
PRISTINA, Serbia and Montenegro, July 8 (AFP) -
Kosovo's controversial UN administrator Michael
Steiner wrapped up his mission on Tuesday amid angry
protests from Belgrade authorities over his actions in
the troubled province.
On the very eve of his departure, Steiner infuriated
Belgrade which accused him of overstepping his
authority by signing a free trade agreement between
Kosovo and Albania, the first deal of its kind for a
UN-administered province.
During his 18 months at the head of the UN mission
known as UNMIK, Steiner pushed for greater autonomy
for Kosovo but repeatedly came under fire from both
Serb authorities and leaders of the ethnic
Albanian-dominated province.
The German diplomat, the third UN administrator for
the province who is known for his blunt style, managed
to bring closer political rivals in the province,
insisting on getting the two rival ethnic communities
to work together after a bloody 1998-99 war.
Steiner, 53, had previously courted controversy after
allegedly insulting soldiers on a flight from Moscow
in an infamous "caviar" scandal which cost him his job
in 2001 as foreign policy adviser to Chancellor
Gerhard Schroeder.
Belgrade officials and Kosovo's Serbs have criticized
him for failing to prevent pro-independence moves by
the ethnic Albanian majority, while the Albanians
accused him of blocking their aspirations.
Kosovo is part of the loose union known as Serbia and
Montenegro, but has been a UN protectorate since 1999
after NATO bombed Belgrade to stop a crackdown by
Slobodan Milosevic's forces on ethnic Albanians.
Under UN Security Council resolution 1244, Belgrade
retains sovereignty over Kosovo but it is granted a
high degree of autonomy.
It has a parliament, president and a prime minister
but most decision-making remains in the hands of
UNMIK, which is also responsible for foreign affairs
and security.
Kosovo's leaders have often complained that most vital
decisions still remain within UNMIK's realm and have
demanded more power, something Belgrade has vehemently
opposed.
Belgrade, already angry over Steiner's decision Sunday
to sign into law a new criminal code for Kosovo, said
Monday it would protest to the United Nations over the
trade deal with Albania, arguing it was in the
contrary to UN resolutions.
However, Tanjug news agency quoted a UN spokesman in
New York as saying: "After examining all documents, we
have concluded that the agreement on free trade is in
accordance with the resolutions and documents related
to Serbia and Montenegro and Kosovo."
It was just the latest in a series of verbal sparring.
On Monday, Nebojsa Covic, the Serbian Deputy Prime
Minister in charge of Kosovo, accused Steiner of
working during his mandate "to the detriment of
Kosovo, Serbia and all citizens, regardless if they
are Serbs or Albanians."
However, the German diplomat did succeed in planting
the seeds of dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade
four years after the conflict.
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana announced in
June that the two sides were set to launch a joint
dialogue this month, although no date has been set and
it appears neither side is interested in talking until
a new UN administrator is appointed.
No-one has yet been named to replace Steiner, who is
being transferred to Geneva as Berlin's UN
representative there. His deputy at UNMIK, Charles
Brayshaw of the United States, will stand in until a
replacement is chosen.
A dozen names ranging from Italian to French and Dutch
diplomats have been circulating in the Kosovo media.
The new administrator is however expected to be meet a
calmer political climate in Kosovo as Steiner has
managed to iron over political differences between
rival ethnic Albanian parties.
In addition, UN police say that ethnically motivated
incidents that have plagued the province since it came
under UN and NATO control in June 1999, have
decreased.
However, last month's murder of three Serbs has raised
tensions between the ethnic communities as the worst
attack on the Serb minority in almost three years.
---
HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK
http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2003/07/4-SEE/see-090703.asp
U.S. DIPLOMAT TAKES TEMPORARY CHARGE IN KOSOVA...
In New York on 8 July, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan
thanked Michael Steiner for his work as head of the UN
civilian administration in Kosova (UNMIK),
international and regional media reported. Annan said
he will soon appoint a successor to Steiner, adding
that U.S. diplomat Charles Brayshaw, who is Steiner's
deputy, will hold the post in the meantime. The German
diplomat moves on to head his country's mission to the
UN in Geneva amid speculation that he ultimately wants
a prominent role in determining German foreign policy.
PM
...AS SPECULATION CONTINUES OVER THE PERMANENT JOB
The EU's nominees to head UNMIK are said to be Swedish
Ambassador to the UN Pierre Schori and veteran Italian
diplomat Antonio Armellini, international and regional
media reported on 8 July. The EU has the right to
nominate the head of UNMIK because it is by far the
largest donor of aid to Kosova. Brussels recently put
forward two names instead of the usual one because of
U.S. objections to Schori, who has been an outspoken
critic of U.S. policies toward Iraq. The Milan daily
"Corriere della Sera" reported recently that Annan
wants someone with a more prominent political profile
than Armellini has for the post. Veteran Balkan U.S.
diplomat Jacques Klein, who had been considered a
dark-horse candidate for the post, has just been named
UN special representative in Liberia. PM
Governatore numero due: Michael Steiner
IL BOSS DELL'UNMIK, MICHAEL STEINER, FINALMENTE SE NE VA
Nessuno lo rimpianga. "Degno" successore di Kouchner, Steiner rimarra'
nella memoria degli albanesi kosovari soprattutto per le avventure da
squallido playboy con le loro ragazze, e nella memoria dei serbi
kosovari solo come l'ennesimo despota straniero corresponsabile di
ulteriori lutti, miserie, e della ulteriore distruzione del patrimonio
artistico, storico e spirituale.
Steiner lascia dietro a se una provincia sempre piu' economicamente e
politicamente integrata nella Repubblica di Albania e segregata dallo
Stato di appartenenza, grazie anche ai suoi provvedimenti ispirati al
criterio: "Kosovo will
never again be a part of Serbia". Criterio esplicitamente formulato in
maggio, ad incoraggiamento dei "patrioti" UCK che hanno fatto a pezzi
con l'accetta una famiglia di tre persone. E poi: la legge sulle
privatizzazioni, l'intervento in difesa del "Serpente" Thaci, arrestato
in Ungheria...
Riportiamo di seguito qualcuno degli ultimi suoi atti da governatore
coloniale del Kosovo, e le relative polemiche.
---
http://www.euobserver.com/index.phtml?aid=11703
EU Observer - June 13, 2003
US opposes EU candidate for Kosovo administration
Despite unanimous support from the enlarged EU, Swedish UN ambassador
Pierre Schori is not expected to become the new chair of UNMIK, UN
Interim administration mission in Kosovo.
According to the German newspaper Frankfurter Rundschau, Mr Schori is
seen as "too critical towards the US" and would therefore face strong
opposition from Washington.
The UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo, UNMIK, needs a new
chairman from August 2003 when the mandate of the current head of the
mission, German Michael Steiner, ends.
Mr Pierre Schori has unanimous support from Russia and the enlarged EU
that is expected to have 25 members from May 2004, reports Frankfurter
Rundschau.
However, the former Swedish deputy Foreign affairs minister and leader
of social democrats in the European Parliament is seen as "too critical
towards the US" and "too sympathetic" towards such countries like Cuba
and Nicaragua.
The official reason for opposing Mr Schori's nomination is the fact
that Sweden is not a NATO member.
Another obstacle would also be the fact that Mr Schori is representing
Sweden. The US does not want another" reports the Swedish media,
referring to the UN chief weapons inspector.
The decision on the new head of UNMIK will be taken by UN Secretary
General Kofi Annan. But it is unlikely that Mr Annan would go against
the will of the US, the German newspaper wrote.
Press Articles Frankfurter Rundschau
Written by Dace Akule
Edited by Andrew Beatty
---
STEINER COMPLETES MISSION IN KOSOVO-METOHIJA
PRISTINA, June 30 (Tanjug) - UNMIK chief Michael Steiner will
leave on Monday Kosovo and Metohija, officially ending his mission
that lasted one and a half years, Tanjug has learned from sources
close to UNMIK.
Steiner is leaving for New York where, Pristina electronic
media reported, he will submit his last report on the situation in
Kosovo-Metohija on July 3. Steiner will speak about the
political-security situation, about the position of minority
communities and about the future dialogue of Belgrade and Pristina,
which is expected to start next month in Brussels.
He will then return to Kosovo-Metohija where on July 5 he will
organize a farewell reception for his associates, ending in that way
his stay in Kosovo-Metohija.
---
http://www.seeurope.net/en/Story.php?StoryID=41765&LangID=1
Seeurope.net - July 7, 2003
Kosovo and Albania Sign Free Trade Agreement
A free trade agreement has today been signed by UNMIK officials, the
Kosovo-Albanian leadership and the Albanian Government.
The agreement was signed by outgoing UNMIK governor Michael Steiner,
who is scheduled to make his departure from the province tomorrow,
Kosovo Trade Minister Ali Jakupi and Albanian Economy Minister Arben
Malaj.
The Albanian delegation, which arrived in Pristina yesterday, succeeded
in securing the first free trade agreement signed by Kosovo's
authorities, B92 radio reported.
---
http://www.serbia.sr.gov.yu/news/2003-07/08/329992.html
Serbia Info - July 8, 2003
Kosovo-Albania free trade agreement against UN Resolution 1244
Belgrade/New York, July 8, 2003 - Serbia-Montenegro's Foreign Minister
Goran Svilanovic said that the
signing of a free trade agreement between the Serbian
province of Kosovo and Albania is in contravention of
international documents guaranteeing Serbia-Montenegro's integrity in
Kosovo-Metohija.
He said that for Serbia-Montenegro, the signed free trade agreement is
against UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and Kosovo-Metohija's
Constitutional framework.
Ambassador of the Serbia-Montenegro Mission to the UN
Dejan Sahovic protested to the UN Secretariat in New York over
Steiner's last-day signing of the Criminal Code and the Criminal
Procedures Act, reports a statement from the Serbia-Montenegro
permanent Mission to the UN.
The statement says that such activities do not contribute to the
creation of a positive atmosphere before the expected dialogue between
Belgrade and Pristina.
UNMIK chief Michel Steiner signed the free trade agreement on July 7
with Kosovo Minster of Trade and Industry Ali Jakupi and Albanian
Minister of Economy Arben Maljaj. Steiner's term in office expires on
July 8.
---
STEINER SIGNS KOSOVO CRIMINAL LAW
PRISTINA, July 6 (Tanjug) - Just a day before he is to end his
one-and-a-half-year mission, UN Kosovo mission chief Michael Steiner
signed on Sunday two laws - Criminal Law and Law on Criminal
Proceedings in Kosovo-Metohija. According to Steiner, the laws, in
keeping with the Constitutional framework and Resolution 1244, replace
the former Yugoslav Criminal Law, which was applied in Kosovo.
The laws are to come into force nine months as of the date of
the signing. At the time when the Kosovo government was drafting the
law, officials of the coordination centre pointed out on several
occasions that they would oppose to it, because Kosovo was an integral
part of Serbia, and because of the fact that during the period of
international protectorate, the criminal laws of the Republic of
Serbia and Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SRJ), now state union of
Serbia and Montenegro, had to be applied. Steiner confirmed at a
Sunday press conference that he would end his mission tomorrow, and
leave Kosovo on Tuesday.
STEINER'S DECISION IS THOUGHTLESS - COVIC
PRISTINA, July 7 (Tanjug) - Coordinating Centre for
Kosovo-Metohija Head Nebojsa Covic has said that the decision by UNMIK
Chief of Administration Michael Steiner on Sunday to sign the Criminal
law in Kosovo-Metohija is thoughtless and with a lack of seriousness,
adding that Steiner is ending his carrier the way he started it.
I hope a new UNMIK chief will we will be able to cooperate
with and will implement the UN resolution 1244 within the triangle
Belgrade-Pristina-international community, Covic told Tanjug,
underlining that over the past year and a half Steiner has been
working to the disadvantage of Kosovo, Serbia and all of its citizens,
regardless of whether they are Serbs or Albanians.
Kosovo Parliament Presidency member Oliver Ivanovic expressed
his dissatisfaction with this act and said he would not be surprised
if Steiner signed some new laws on Monday, which is the last day of
his office in Kosovo.
MULTIETHNIC SELF-GOVERNMENT TO BE SET UP IN KOSOVO, STEINER
PRISTINA, July 5 (Tanjug) - A basic and multiethnic
self-government has to be set up in Kosovo, in keeping with resolution
1244, and we have to work to that effect, outgoing UN Kosovo mission
chief Michael Steiner said in Pristina on Saturday, and pointed out
that, regardless to its final status, Kosovo should become part of the
EU.
Steiner said that Pristina and Belgrade should prepare
themselves for a dialogue, and that they were not to wait long for
that. There are some who do not find such progress as suitable, and
they are the people who are against changes, the UN Kosovo mission
chief said, and added that if you want to sit with someone at the
negotiating table, than you cannot call him names that will prevent
him from coming to the talks.
Commenting on the recent appeal of Kosovo ethnic Albanian
leaders that Serb IDPs returned to their homes, Steiner said that they
had said the truth in the appeal, because if they had said - we
guarantee security and employment, they would have violated the
Constitutional framework.
---
Da: Rick Rozoff
Data: Mer 9 Lug 2003 07:18:33 Europe/Rome
Oggetto: [yugoslaviainfo] Kosovo's Third UN Chief Leaves Province Amid
Belgrade Protests
http://www.ptd.net/webnews/wed/cu/Qserbia-montenegro-
kosovo.RKja_Dl8.html
Kosovo's third UN chief leaves province amid Belgrade
protests
Nebi Qena
-On the very eve of his departure, Steiner infuriated
Belgrade which accused him of overstepping his
authority by signing a free trade agreement between
Kosovo and Albania, the first deal of its kind for a
UN-administered province.
-Belgrade, already angry over Steiner's decision
Sunday to sign into law a new criminal code for
Kosovo, said Monday it would protest to the United
Nations over the trade deal with Albania, arguing it
was in the contrary to UN resolutions.
-[N]ebojsa Covic, the Serbian Deputy Prime Minister in
charge of Kosovo, accused Steiner of working during
his mandate "to the detriment of Kosovo, Serbia and
all citizens, regardless if they are Serbs or
Albanians."
-[L]ast month's murder of three Serbs has raised
tensions between the ethnic communities as the worst
attack on the Serb minority in almost three years.
PRISTINA, Serbia and Montenegro, July 8 (AFP) -
Kosovo's controversial UN administrator Michael
Steiner wrapped up his mission on Tuesday amid angry
protests from Belgrade authorities over his actions in
the troubled province.
On the very eve of his departure, Steiner infuriated
Belgrade which accused him of overstepping his
authority by signing a free trade agreement between
Kosovo and Albania, the first deal of its kind for a
UN-administered province.
During his 18 months at the head of the UN mission
known as UNMIK, Steiner pushed for greater autonomy
for Kosovo but repeatedly came under fire from both
Serb authorities and leaders of the ethnic
Albanian-dominated province.
The German diplomat, the third UN administrator for
the province who is known for his blunt style, managed
to bring closer political rivals in the province,
insisting on getting the two rival ethnic communities
to work together after a bloody 1998-99 war.
Steiner, 53, had previously courted controversy after
allegedly insulting soldiers on a flight from Moscow
in an infamous "caviar" scandal which cost him his job
in 2001 as foreign policy adviser to Chancellor
Gerhard Schroeder.
Belgrade officials and Kosovo's Serbs have criticized
him for failing to prevent pro-independence moves by
the ethnic Albanian majority, while the Albanians
accused him of blocking their aspirations.
Kosovo is part of the loose union known as Serbia and
Montenegro, but has been a UN protectorate since 1999
after NATO bombed Belgrade to stop a crackdown by
Slobodan Milosevic's forces on ethnic Albanians.
Under UN Security Council resolution 1244, Belgrade
retains sovereignty over Kosovo but it is granted a
high degree of autonomy.
It has a parliament, president and a prime minister
but most decision-making remains in the hands of
UNMIK, which is also responsible for foreign affairs
and security.
Kosovo's leaders have often complained that most vital
decisions still remain within UNMIK's realm and have
demanded more power, something Belgrade has vehemently
opposed.
Belgrade, already angry over Steiner's decision Sunday
to sign into law a new criminal code for Kosovo, said
Monday it would protest to the United Nations over the
trade deal with Albania, arguing it was in the
contrary to UN resolutions.
However, Tanjug news agency quoted a UN spokesman in
New York as saying: "After examining all documents, we
have concluded that the agreement on free trade is in
accordance with the resolutions and documents related
to Serbia and Montenegro and Kosovo."
It was just the latest in a series of verbal sparring.
On Monday, Nebojsa Covic, the Serbian Deputy Prime
Minister in charge of Kosovo, accused Steiner of
working during his mandate "to the detriment of
Kosovo, Serbia and all citizens, regardless if they
are Serbs or Albanians."
However, the German diplomat did succeed in planting
the seeds of dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade
four years after the conflict.
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana announced in
June that the two sides were set to launch a joint
dialogue this month, although no date has been set and
it appears neither side is interested in talking until
a new UN administrator is appointed.
No-one has yet been named to replace Steiner, who is
being transferred to Geneva as Berlin's UN
representative there. His deputy at UNMIK, Charles
Brayshaw of the United States, will stand in until a
replacement is chosen.
A dozen names ranging from Italian to French and Dutch
diplomats have been circulating in the Kosovo media.
The new administrator is however expected to be meet a
calmer political climate in Kosovo as Steiner has
managed to iron over political differences between
rival ethnic Albanian parties.
In addition, UN police say that ethnically motivated
incidents that have plagued the province since it came
under UN and NATO control in June 1999, have
decreased.
However, last month's murder of three Serbs has raised
tensions between the ethnic communities as the worst
attack on the Serb minority in almost three years.
---
HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK
http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2003/07/4-SEE/see-090703.asp
U.S. DIPLOMAT TAKES TEMPORARY CHARGE IN KOSOVA...
In New York on 8 July, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan
thanked Michael Steiner for his work as head of the UN
civilian administration in Kosova (UNMIK),
international and regional media reported. Annan said
he will soon appoint a successor to Steiner, adding
that U.S. diplomat Charles Brayshaw, who is Steiner's
deputy, will hold the post in the meantime. The German
diplomat moves on to head his country's mission to the
UN in Geneva amid speculation that he ultimately wants
a prominent role in determining German foreign policy.
PM
...AS SPECULATION CONTINUES OVER THE PERMANENT JOB
The EU's nominees to head UNMIK are said to be Swedish
Ambassador to the UN Pierre Schori and veteran Italian
diplomat Antonio Armellini, international and regional
media reported on 8 July. The EU has the right to
nominate the head of UNMIK because it is by far the
largest donor of aid to Kosova. Brussels recently put
forward two names instead of the usual one because of
U.S. objections to Schori, who has been an outspoken
critic of U.S. policies toward Iraq. The Milan daily
"Corriere della Sera" reported recently that Annan
wants someone with a more prominent political profile
than Armellini has for the post. Veteran Balkan U.S.
diplomat Jacques Klein, who had been considered a
dark-horse candidate for the post, has just been named
UN special representative in Liberia. PM