interview by Stana RISTIC
Soon, on June 10 to be precise, it will be four years since the adoption of the UN Security Council Resolution 1244. How is this resolution being implemented in practice? Where is Kosovo and Metohija heading: toward the realization of substantial autonomy within the framework of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, i.e., the union of Serbia and Montenegro, as written in Resolution 1244 or is it "sliding" toward an independent Kosovo?The answers to these questions can only be found in a comprehensive analysis of the implementation of Resolution 1244. It would be good to draw a line, to establish what in Resolution 1244 has been fulfilled and what has not, and to establish why the provisions of this document are not being realized adequately by those who are responsible for doing so.
Despite the fact that four years have passed since the arrival of peacekeeping forces (KFOR and UNMIK) Serbs and other non-Albanians are still not safe in Kosmet [Kosovo and Metohija]. They do not have freedom of movement. Furthermore, even though the right to return is given priority in Resolution 1244 as well as in other official documents, during the last four years only two percent of displaced Serbs and non-Albanians have returned to Kosmet.
On the other hand, as part of the implementation of Resolution 1244, provisional institutions of self-government have been created in Kosmet which in essence are not multiethnic but are practically monoethnic and Albanian. The special representative of the UN Secretary General, Michael Steiner, has decided to transfer additional authorities and powers to these provisional institutions. This is a sure path toward a monoethnic Kosmet, which would not be democratic because this process is in violation of democratic principles, as well as of human and collective rights of members of non-Albanian national communities. If this process is not halted, it is possible that the southern Serbian province will "slide" into an independent Kosovo instead of creating substantial autonomy in Kosovo as prescribed by Resolution 1244.
These are the points emphasized by Branko Radujko, advisor on Kosmet to the Serbian prime minister, during an interview for "Politika".
Negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina have been announced. Is there any hope that they will be held and when would they begin? RADUJKO: Talks were announced, not negotiations. As a reminder, on March 3 Michael Steiner sent a letter with an invitation for talks to late premier Dr. Zoran Djindjic and Dr. Nebojsa Covic, chairman of the Coordinating Center for Kosmet. It was proposed that talks cover transportation, transport documents, identification documents, problems in the Kosovo Electrical Utility Company and other so-called technical issues. The Coordinating Center immediately sent a letter to Michael Steiner with the request to talk about key and substantial issues as well, including returns, security, freedom of movement and decentralization in Kosmet. However, the answer to this letter has not arrived to this very day.
Yes, it has. As a reminder, it formed a delegation headed by Gordana Matkovic, Minister for Social Issues. The delegation included five other ministers and deputy ministers from various departments, as well as six members of the Coordinating Committee for Kosmet. Michael Steiner was advised of this. However, to this day he has not sent a list with the names of the members of the delegation from Pristina, who should be representatives of UNMIK and provisional institutions of self-government in Kosmet.
Michael Steiner has stated that talks have not begun because of the assassination of premier Zoran Djindjic?
That's not true. The assassination of premier Djindjic is a tragedy and a great loss for us. However, the Serbian Government is still functioning and the state of Serbia continues to exist.
What is the real reason for delaying talks?
Michael Steiner suddenly, and without consulting with the Serb side, started the initiative to transfer additional authorities and powers to the provisional institutions of self-government in Kosmet. This initiative in itself has modified the circumstances under which talks between Belgrade and Pristina would take place. The very act of transferring additional powers to the almost entirely monoethnic provisional institutions would completely change the situation in Kosmet, already riddled with problems.
The UN special representative recently visited Belgrade. Did the issue of talks between Belgrade and Pristina come up?
No. The main topic was the transfer of authorities. Michael Steiner asked the Belgrade government to put pressure on the Serbs in Kosmet to participate in the work of the Council for Transfer of Authorities, a process that goes against their interests. It's understood that the Serbian Government does not want and does not intend to apply this kind of pressure.
What was Michael Steiner's reaction?
He said he did not dare return to Pristina without securing transfer of additional authorities. We do not know if Steiner said this because he is afraid, uncertain or biased. In any case, his words seem almost tragic.
I said almost tragic. And it is almost tragic that Michael Steiner fails to react (or does not dare to do so) while Kosovo premier Bajram Rexhepi polemizes with the highest representatives of the Council of Europe and berates the Hague tribunal, an institution founded by the United Nations, also responsible for the UN protectorate in Kosmet.
How do you comment on Bajram Rexhepi's demand that the Kosovo Protection Corps be transformed into the armed forces of Kosovo?
Michael Steiner is here to implement Resolution 1244, which does not say anything about the KPC, let alone the armed forces of Kosovo. I don't know who in the world would support such a demand. I hope that this proposal will remain one of Bajram Rexhepi's futile dreams.
What is your opinion of Rexhepi's demand to transfer foreign policy authority to them?
Mildly put, it's nonsense. There's no hint of it in Resolution 1244. As well, section eight of the constitutional framework for local self-government in Kosovo specifically states that this authority is reserved for the UN special representative and that he cannot transfer it to the provisional institutions of self-government.
What happened with the announcement that the Serbian Government would address the UN with regard to the transfer of additional authorities?
I am convinced that this will happen very soon. If not the Serbian Government, then the Council of Ministers of the union of Serbia and Montenegro will ask the UN to assess not only this "paper" by Steiner but the entire (non-)implementation of Resolution 1244.
Serbia and Montenegro has become a member of the Council of Europe. Teams of CE experts are preparing a decentralization program for Kosmet. Can our country encourage the speeding up of this process?
We hope that it can. It is extremely important that decentralization be implemented in Kosmet because it is the essential prerequisite for the democratization of relations and the realization of human as well as collective rights of non-Albanian communities in Kosmet.
What would you like to say in conclusion?
"I think that we have established trust between the Serbs in Kosmet and the Belgrade government, which is of exceptional importance. This should be nurtured. It is also essential for the Serbs in Kosmet to establish a consensus with respect to their minimal common interests and common representation. Unity and action can be of considerable benefit," says Branko Radujko.