ASSEMBLY SUPPORT INITIATIVE asiNEWSLETTER Mid-2005: Time for Review asi UN Secretary-General appointed ASSEMBLY SUPPORT INITIATIVE NEWSLETTER Norwegian Ambassador Kai Eide AUGUST 2005, NO 18 as his “Special Envoy for the Comprehensive Review of Kosovo” Madeleine Albright addressed Assembly of Kosovo osce MISSION IN KOSOVO ASSEMBLY SUPPORT INITIATIVE 2 NEWSLETTERasi Editorial 2. Editorial / Debating for democracy Franklin De Vrieze 3. Madeleine Albright addressed Assembly of Kosovo 4. Pristina hosts the South- East Europe parliamentary roundtable Peter Van Houtte and Franklin De Vrieze 6. Recent developments in Kosovo’s institutions 8. On the Brink of History Debating for democracy Scott Bates 9. Kosovo discussed by NATO Parliamentary Assembly uring recent months the Assembly of Kosovo was criti- Doina Ghimici Dcized, from within and by some in the international com- munity, for its schedule of meetings. However, during last two 12. Mid-2005: Time for Review months, the Assembly took up the challenge and conducted Andriani Mortoglou more debates on key questions in Kosovo society. Special sessions took place, with debates on the Standards process, 14. Controversial Kosovo-Serb minister local governance reform, the economy, security and missing Zoran Culafi c persons. The debates were well facilitated and open to every- one who wanted to speak. Many of our Kosovo friends are 15. Interview with Štrpce/Shtërpcë Municipal pleased to note that the Assembly is becoming the place of President S. Jakovljević “A role model municipality public debate. that is left aside bythe central institutions” 16. In pace with standards Now is the time for further fi ne-tuning, to be er prepare Isuf Demaj the substance of debates and to ensure that each debate gets proper follow-up for its conclusions or recommendations. In 17. Support to the Assembly of Kosovo addition, Commi ees can prepare reports on specifi c topics with policy recommendations adopted by the plenary ses- 19. A Census for Kosovo sion. Commi ees can prepare public hearings on the imple- Katja Salsbäck mentation of legislation leading to specifi c analysis and suggestions on which the Ministries need to respond. Min- isters who don’t show up at Commi ee or plenary session could get a warning from the Assembly. That is how it goes in any parliamentary democracy. ASSEMBLYasi SUPPORT INITIATIVE This ASI Newsle er includes information on recent devel- NEWSLETTER opments in Kosovo and Kosovo’s democratic institutions Editorial board: as well as on specifi c support activities to the Assembly. We Sven Lindholm, Ramush Tahiri, Franklin De Vrieze, Blerim Vela, also mention the South-East European parliamentary round- Labinot Hoxha, Edmond Efendija, Krenar Loshi table held in Kosovo for the fi rst time in early June. It was of OSCE Mission Headquarters, 10000 Pristina historic signifi cance, also relevant to the Standards process. Tel. (+381-38) 500 162 Fax: (+381-38) 500 188 While the Standards comprehensive assessment is on the contact: [email protected] http://www.osce.org/kosovo way and Mr. Kai Eide tours Kosovo, expectations are rising at the moment to the possible formula of the start of future Thhee vviewsiews expressedexpressed byby thethe contributorscontributors toto thisthis NewsletterNewsletter areare theirtheir ownown andand dodo notnot nnecessarilyecessarily status talks. In this ASI Newsle er we include overview on rrepresentepresent thethe viewsviews ofof thethe Assembly,Assembly, OSCEOSCE MissionMission inin KosovoKosovo oror thethe ASIASI partnerpartner organisations.organisations. the recent developments. We hope you fi nd it useful. Feed- back is always welcomed. Pictures in this Newsletter: Gazeta Express pg. 1, 3 (Ferdi Limani) / pg. 7, 14, 16, 17, 20 (Atdhe Mulla) / OSCE pg. 4, 5, 8, 10, 15, 18 / UNMIK pg. 6 / NATO pg. 9 / Franklin De Vrieze, ASI co-ordinator. Public Information Offi ce of the OPM pg. 12. ASSEMBLY SUPPORT INITIATIVE asiNEWSLETTER 3 Madeleine Albright addressed Assembly of Kosovo Former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright addressed the Assembly of Kosovo in a special plenary session on 5 July in her capacity as chairperson of the National Democratic Institute for International Aff airs (NDI). During her visit to Kosovo, from 4 to 7 July, Mrs. Albright conducted meetings with institutional leaders, opposition representatives, civil society and female parliamentarians. Following are extracts from her speech to the Assembly. uring these past six years, arguing passionately about the Dyou have shown the world specifi c actions and policies that the people of Kosovo are your government should take builders; not only world-famous and ultimately compromise. builders of houses and public Because when you act, you will structures, but builders of new act not simply for yourself and and democratic institutions. You the interests of your own party; have formed political parties you will act for all those you and held elections. You have represent and for the interests developed independent media of all Kosovo. The members of and established a judicial system. this Assembly have been given You worked constructively with a great trust. the international community. The responsibilities of those And you have moved closer in the governing coalition to the long-awaited day when are many. But those who are Kosovo’s fi nal status will be in the opposition also have a determined. responsibility. As a member The credit for those of the Democratic Party in the accomplishments belongs to United States, believe me, I all the people of Kosovo, to know what it is like to be in the Albanians, Serbs, Roma, Ashkali, opposition. I hate to lose, but Gorani, Egyptian, Turk, Bosniak of endeavor they might choose demands it. The people of I have also learned that times and other, who have helped to – to become businesspeople or Kosovo deserve no less. change and so do the minds build a be er society. You have doctors, journalists or computer Your third challenge is the of voters. New leaders come many reasons for pride. And programmers, even future most basic. And that is to build forward. And some of those those accomplishments make presidents and prime ministers a united society in which people now in opposition will one day your friends proud; I should of Kosovo? from every ethnic group can fi nd themselves leading the know because I am one, and Kosovo faces a second participate and contribute. When government. That is why those in always will be. You also know challenge and that is to build a I was here six years ago, I said opposition have a responsibility I am frank. As a friend I have a society governed by the rule of that there were some people who not simply to criticize, but also responsibility to tell you what I law. It’s no secret that corruption wanted Kosovo to fail. These to put forward their own ideas. think about the tasks that remain and crime are problems here, as were cynics who predicted that And it is why both the majority uncompleted and to caution you they are in many other parts of the majority in Kosovo would and the opposition have an about the challenges ahead. the world. It is tempting to deny make it impossible for others to interest in honouring the rights You face, fi rst of all, the it because no society wants a live normal lives. They were sure of the other. challenge of creating a healthy reputation for corruption. But that the new Kosovo would be In the months immediately economy that generates good the problem cannot be addressed an intolerant and violent place ahead, the international jobs and gives people confi dence unless it is openly recognized and that minorities would be community will be looking that they will be able to build a and confronted. And it cannot be discriminated against and made closely at your progress in future for themselves here in solved unless police and judicial to feel unwelcome. I predicted forging a government that their ancestral home. Kosovo has authorities are independent and then that you would prove those serves the people, at the the youngest population and also non-partisan; above suspicion; critics wrong. depth of your commitment to the highest unemployment rate and commi ed to investigating The work of this Central democracy, and at your success in Europe. I wonder especially crimes thoroughly regardless Assembly will play a vital role in creating a Kosovo that is about the young women. Will of the rank or position of those in that eff ort and in shaping open and safe for all. These are they be given an equal chance to accused; regardless of whether Kosovo’s future. And those high standards and the scrutiny excel in the classroom, to succeed they come from the government of you who are members you face will be intrusive and in the workplace, and to pursue or the opposition. The rule of will be in the starring roles, critical. Your future is up to their dreams in whatever fi eld law comes when the public debating, discussing, even you, as it should be. ASSEMBLY SUPPORT INITIATIVE 4 NEWSLETTERasi Pristina hosts the South- East Europe parliamentary roundtable “Can we reach a consensus on the fact that the Minister of Finance should resign, aV er he decided on his own initiative to change the budget, without informing his colleagues in the government an the parliament? And we, MP’s of the ruling parties, how are we going to defend our Minister? Will the government call for early elections?” Excerpt of intense and sometimes emotional discussions and negotiations between MP’s from South-East Europe, Pristina, 9-11 June 2005. Peter Van Houtte and Franklin De Vrieze, OSCE Mission in Kosovo hen the President of the in Kosovo.