Were the responsibility zones in Kosmet drawn according to economic interests?
KFOR COUNTRIES COME TO PICK THE SPOILS
Contingents protect "their" factories, Germans and Greeks cheated
by MRV
Glas, Belgrade, FR Yugoslavia, August 15 1999
BELGRADE - Zones of responsibility of various KFOR contingents in Kosmet were apparently drawn according to the economic interests of countries which participated in the NATO attack on Yugoslavia, resembling the way in which the market of the former Eastern block had been divided.
Time will show who had what kind of interests in Kosovo and why the zones of interest were drawn in the way they were. Unrealized decision by the British to militarily oppose the arrival of Russian forces to Pristina, which has recently been revealed, perhaps already offers a part of the answer, since Russia has for a while shown interest in our Petro-chemical sector, in whose construction is participated to a significant extent.
Italian sector - Car industry
"Zastava - Iveco"
Recently, Milan Beko confirmed for "Glas" that "Zastava" has turned over the keys of the factory in Pec, which produces parts for the Italian "Iveco", actually "Zastava's" trucks in cooperation with "Iveco", to the commander of the Italian KFOR contingent. Serb management and all workers, to the last, left the factory.
French sector - light metals
"Trepca" and "Feronikl"
Several days ago, the Greek press drew attention to the fact that the French KFOR contingent had removed representatives of Greek share holders from the " Governing board. Between 1996-98, French companies were very interested in the privatization of the factories for the production of light metals in Serbia and Kosovo, including "Trepca", but a deal was finally made with Greek entrepreneur Mitilinis. The same applies to "Feronikl" in Glogovac. French companies have previously shown significant interest for that factory.
On the other hand, soon a conflict between French and British partners could break out in connection with "Trepca" since the British emphasize their rights based on their ownership of the complex prior to WWII.
British sector - Energy
EPS and NIS
Events in connection with NIS [Serbian Oil Industry] and EPS [Electrical Utility Company of Serbia], whose management and workers were thrown out of their offices, somewhat clarify the situation. Namely, members of the British KFOR contingent were involved in all events related to these two companies, as "Glas" reported in the past. These companies are located in the British sector of control. A few years before the NATO attack on Yugoslavia, in an euphoria of privatization of large infrastructure systems, several British companies showed great interest in buying shares of electrical generation and utilities companies in Serbia and especially Kosmet. "British Power" was interested in the electrical utilities, while "Nat West" and "Bankers Trust" circled like a cat around a piece of bacon around Serbian Oil Industry (NIS). When EPS made contacts with German companies, Rhein-Westfallen electrical utility company (RWEE) and, to a certain extent "Krup", the privatization of EPS was stopped and its management was dismissed on January 28 1997.
German sector - Rubber industry
"Balkan-belt"
Something similar took place at "Balkan-belt" in Suva Reka, which is in the German sector of responsibility and was emptied of Serbs on the first day of peace. "Balkan" was producing car tires in cooperation with "Deutsche Kontinental". The technology and equipment for some product lines were bought mpany "Matador", but in the meantime German companies have acquired 60 percent share in "Matador". Before the NATO attack on Yugoslavia, orders from the German partner for "Balkan" in Suva Reka were allegedly significant and were not paid for until today.
GREEKS AND GERMANS CHEATED
Germany was at first, in 1997, pushed out of EPS and then Madeleine Albright at the last moment prevented the sale of 49 percent of shares of the Serbian Telekom to Italian "Stet", which has a common subsidiary with German "Siemens". Some of the shares were given formally to the Greek OTE, actually controlled by the American company ITT. Those knowledgeable about the situation in Kosmet claim that the clash between the British and these two companies is the reason why "Telekom" is not operational in Kosmet. It seems that the Italians will not fare better unless as a compensation they get control of "Zastava".
Glas investigates: Do the sectors of responsibility correspond to economic interests of NATO countries?
VINTAGE WINE AND CIGARS
by MRV
Glas Javnosti, Belgrade, FR Yugoslavia, August 17 1999
BELGRADE - Data arriving from Kosmet fill in the picture of the military-economic division of Kosmet, sketched two days ago in Glas.
The American contingent has entered with the Albanians the Tobacco Industry Gnjilane, located in its sector of responsibility. Before the aggression against Yugoslavia that factory had a pre-contract with the American company "Lucky Strike", which is the process of acquiring TIG's partner "Dunhill". The Americans appointed former director Hysen Bexheti to lead TIG. The Serbian management was arrested for a day and then expelled to Serbia proper.
According to some information, the Americans have also entered the Industry of Batteries in Gnjilane and the "Novo Brdo" mine.
The German contingent has taken over all three wine cellars in Kosmet. All of them used to export wine to Germany and "happen to be" in its sector of responsibility. Before the sanctions all export from all three cellars went to Germany, via a mixed company "Genex-Kombik" from Bingen, Germany, with participation of Yugoslav companies "Navip" and "Slovin".
KFOR WORKS FOR "LUCKY STRIKE"?
TIG has the most modern equipment in the Balkans, has a very small number of employees (450), and was ranked second in Europe among the "Dunhill's" licensees based on the quality of its products. On March 22, it was supposed to receive in Paris, together with Microsoft, BP, GM and a Canadian company, an award for world class quality. Immediately before the aggression against Yugoslavia TIG signed a contract with the American "Lucky Strike", the company which is in the process of acquiring "Rothmans" and Swiss "Dunhill"; this acquisition will turn "Lucky Strike" into the strongest tobacco conglomerate after "Phillip Morris" ("Phillip Morris" was given Tobacco Industry in Nis in the division of interest spheres). TIG has allegedly begun to renew its production.
BATTERIES FOR NASA
The Battery Industry in Gnjilane (IBG), famous for its special batteries, some of which are used by NASA within its space exploration program, was reopened under the control of the American KFOR contingent. American companies were interested in investing in this company before the imposition of sanctions against Yugoslavia.
MINE "NOVO BRDO": STRATEGIC METALS
In Novo Brdo, there is a mine of lead and zinc. Small amounts of gold and silver are produced during processing of lead and zinc ore.
"KOSOVOVINO", MALA HOCA: GERMANS POURING BRANDY
The German contingent entered the cellar in Mala Hoca, from where wine was earlier exported to Germany. The cellar has reopened and is bottling hard liquor, while the wine hasn't been touched yet. Besides the remaining two cellars, "Kosovovino" owns 4,000 hectares of vineyards.
"ORVIN" ORAHOVAC: TRIPARTITE MANAGEMENT
For 32 years "Orvin" provided as much as 45% of total export of wines from the former Yugoslavia to Germany. Its bottled "Amzelfelder" wine was especially famous. Germans offered to institute tripartite management (Germans, Albanians and Serbs) but so far Serbs are still in Serbia proper.
"METOHIJAVINO", DJAKOVICA: WINE CELLARS IN PRODUCTION
The situation in the cellars of "Metohijavino" is similar. This company was also a significant exporter of wine to Germany in the past. According to our information, these cellars haven't been damaged and are already in production.
The Chamber of Commerce will continue its work in Belgrade, Nis or Leposavic
ONLY THREE TOWNS IN SERBIAN ECONOMY
KFOR commandeers even private companies south from Kosovska Mitrovica
by C.A.
Glas Javnosti, Belgrade, FR Yugoslavia, August 22 1999
KOSOVSKA MITROVICA - Can the economy of Kosmet remain a part of the unified economy of Serbia and FRY in the conditions where KFOR is commandeering all companies south from Kosovska Mitrovica and where all non-Albanian workers and managers from public, state and privately owned companies have been expelled the province?
Apparently, the answer to this question cannot be given at the moment since the representatives of the UN Mission in Kosmet (UNMiK) are still delaying the signing of a civilian agreement, giving KFOR additional time to take possession of commercial property although it does not have the right to do so according to the UN resolution which ended the conflict in Kosmet.
The Kosovo and Metohija Chamber of Commerce (PKK), as "Glas" found out unofficially, has been trying to do whatever possible in this situation and preserve the unity of economic activities at least in the territory for which it can be said that it is under "Serb influence". This territory encompasses companies located in Kosovska Mitrovica, Zvecan and Leposavic and PKK has unfettered contacts with all of them.
As "Glas" found out, the Serbian Chamber of Commerce has just completed an analysis of the situation in the economy of the southern province of Serbia which includes the proposals for measures which need to be taken in order to maintain basic commercial activities. A meeting of PKK which should discuss the proposed measures will probably take place in Leposavic at the end of August or the beginning of September.
It has been discussed whether PKK should be based in Leposavic, or perhaps Belgrade or Nis, the cities which should provide resorces to keep the economy of Kosmet a part of the economy of Serbia and Yugoslavia.
PHONE LINES ARE DOWN
To the question of "Glas" whether Serbia has economic links with companies which are not located in the northern districts of Kosovska Mitrovica, Leposavic or Zvecan, our source says:
"We are in contact with the companies from these three towns. However, we have been unable to establish contact with the companies in the rest of the All information about the activities and situation in the companies in other parts of Kosmet comes from rare ethnic Serb employees who remain in Kosmet.
Translated in August 1999
