DOCSLIB.ORG

Press Release

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Press Release - 1 - EUROPEAN UNION Press Release Committee of the Regions COR/05/61 Brussels, 23 June 2005 At Pristina, Kosovo, the Committee of the Regions (CoR) advocates the values of local and regional democracy On 22 June 2005, shortly after the Brussels EU Council on 16 and 17 June, at which the heads of state or government confirmed the Thessalonica Agenda and the future of the western Balkans within Europe, the CoR’s external relations commission (RELEX) held a conference in Pristina (Kosovo) on the role of local and regional authorities in consolidating democracy in the western Balkans. Attended by the prime minister of Kosovo (PISG), Bajram Kosumi, the conference brought together over one hundred local and regional elected representatives from the EU and the western Balkans, together with Kosovo’s key political players. Members of the CoR and its partners – the European Commission, the Council of Europe and the Stability Pact – affirmed that if the peoples of the western Balkans were to have a future within the European Union, it was vital to have genuine devolution and a participatory democracy which fully respected democratic values and minority rights. Participants listed concrete examples of the European devolution model applied successfully both in the EU and in some areas of the Balkans; areas concerned included South Tyrol/Alto Adige (Italy), Istra/Istria (Croatia), the Aland islands (Finland), Tetovo (Macedonia) and Novi Pazar (Serbia/Montenegro). These examples provided a template for defining Kosovo’s final status, which will be discussed over the coming weeks in an attempt to stabilise the region. Opening the conference, the CoR’s first vice-president, Sir Albert Bore stated that "The challenges in the Balkans reflect the past and future realities of Europe which we, the European Union, must now confront. These realities demonstrate our success in building an area of peace and stability, of lasting mutual respect, of freedom and an ever-increasing sense of responsibility which would have been unimaginable sixty years ago." The director-general of Commission DG enlargement, Fabrizio Barbaso said, "Kosovo is a constructive partner in the process of stabilising the western Balkans." Noting "the process’s positive direction, while recognising that there was still progress to be made," he reiterated that devolution was the key issue in the process. Kosovo premier, Bajram Kosumi (PISG) said, "Every passing day brings us closer to the Union" and "the prospect of EU membership is promising for the future status of Kosovo". To this end, he announced that policies for integrating minorities were forging ahead. CdR 145/2005 FR/KH/ss/ht .../... - 101 rue Belliard - B-1040 BRUSSELS - Tel. +32 (0)2/282 20 55 - Fax +32 (0)2/282 20 85 - Internet http://www.cor.eu.int EN - 2 - The UN representative, Joachim Ruecker said, "Kosovo illustrates the challenges and the benefits of a multi-ethnic society; Kosovo's future depends on the sustainability of the economic and political process." Giovanni di Stasi, president of the Council of Europe’s Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, reiterated Congress’s political message: "There can be no democracy without a dynamic local democracy". He recalled that "Crossborder cooperation would rebuild confidence and fraternity between citizens" and he called on all the region’s politicians to "ratify the Madrid Convention on crossborder cooperation." The Stability Pact representative, Jean-Daniel Biéler said "The Europe of regions and local authorities is a reality: let us use this instrument, including all crossborder programmes, to support the democratisation process in the Balkans." A final declaration was adopted after the meeting and the Committee of the Regions will follow this up in its opinion on Kosovo’s future within the EU and in future discussions on drafting an outlook opinion on minorities in the European Union. CdR 145/2005 FR/KH/ss/ht .../... - 3 - EUROPEAN UNION Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe Committee of the European Commission Regions FINAL DECLARATION Prishtina/Priština, 22 June 2005 The participants in the conference on The role of EU regional and local authorities in the process of democratic consolidation in the Western Balkans region, organised jointly by the Committee of the Regions of the European Union, the European Commission, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe and the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe: 1. welcome the progress made by the States of the Western Balkans in terms of strengthening regional cooperation and democratic consolidation in the region and encourage them to continue with the political, economic and social reforms – and respecting democratic values to the benefit of all citizens regardless of their community of origin – that can deliver a favourable climate for prospective European integration; 2. therefore consider that the local and regional authorities of the Western Balkans and of the European Union should help to achieve this, in accordance with the Conclusions of the Presidency of the European Council in Thessalonika on 19 and 20 June 2003 and of the General Affairs Council of 21 and 22 February 2005; 3. recall that they attach the utmost importance to the political dialogue between the communities of Kosovo and between the authorities in Belgrade and Pristina as the only way to achieve that greater stability which is a prerequisite for the European integration of the whole Western Balkans region; 4. encourage any initiatives to enable all the communities of Kosovo to be part of political discussions and assist in drafting the future political status of Kosovo and its institutional framework, including genuine internal devolution on the basis of proposals drafted with the Council of Europe; 5. endorse the European Commission proposal to explore new avenues in order to ensure that Kosovo can benefit fully from all European Union instruments and – subject to the outcome of the discussions on the final status – call for contractual relations with the Union to be established promptly whilst waiting for a Stabilisation and Association Agreement to be signed; CdR 145/2005 FR/KH/ss/ht .../... - 101 rue Belliard, B-1040 Brussels - Tel. +32 (0)2/282 22 11 - Fax +32 (0)2/282 23 25 - Internet http://www.cor.eu.int EN - 4 - 6. welcome the initial effort made by the government (PISG) to reform the local government in Kosovo and encourage the authorities to continue these efforts. 7. call on the Committee of the Regions of the European Union and the representatives of the local and regional authorities of the Western Balkans to step up their cooperation efforts and harness the experience gained under the pre-accession policy implemented with the local and regional authorities of the enlargement, accession and current applicant countries; 8. encourage all the States of the Western Balkans region to persevere with devolution and to take ownership of the principles of subsidiarity, proportionality and proximity by establishing units as close to the citizen as possible as the preferred forum for reconciliation and understanding plurality and democracy; 9. stress to this end the importance of the Council of Europe's European Charter of Local Self-Government as a reference text on local democracy in Europe, and which still remains to be signed and ratified by Serbia-Montenegro; 10. recall that devolution must be accompanied by a genuine transfer of power and particularly financial resources and properties commensurate with the new responsibilities entrusted to the local and regional authorities; 11. stress the vital role that the local and regional authority associations must play in each country in putting the views of the local and regional authorities to governments and as key instruments in promoting their action capability on behalf of local and regional politicians; in this respect, encourage the development of the Network of National Associations of Local Authorities of South-East Europe (NALAS – SEE network) in order to step up exchanges of information and enhance the individual capacity of each member association; 12. are convinced that safeguarding and promoting regional and minority languages are key factors in tolerance and mutual understanding within a pluralist, multi- ethnic and multicultural region such as the Western Balkans; 13. encourage the states of the Western Balkans region to adopt and implement "action plans" and local and regional authority capacity building strategies in accordance with the conclusions of the Zagreb Regional Ministerial Conference on Effective Democratic Governance at Local and Regional Level (25-26 October 2004), in cooperation with the Council of Europe and in preparation for the Evaluation Conference to be held in 2006 in Skopje; CdR 145/2005 FR/KH/ss/ht .../... - 5 - 14. stress, in this respect, the important role played by the Council of Europe's Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in improving protection of minorities in Europe and encourage the states of South-East Europe to sign and ratify these treaties with a view to improving the protection of the region's minorities and languages; 15. recognise the need in the Western Balkans: − To protect minority languages and not to impose any unjustified limits on their use, for example in the media; − facilitate participation of persons from national minorities in the decision- making processes, in particular at local and regional
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Kosovo's New Political Leadership
    ASSEMBLY SUPPORT INITIATIVE asiNEWSLETTER Kosovo’s new political leadership ASSEMBLYasi SUPPORT INITIATIVE NEWSLETTER юѦȱŘŖŖŜǰȱќȱŘŘ Strengthening the oversight role of the Kosovo Assembly oces Mission in Kosovo ASSEMBLY SUPPORT INITIATIVE 2 NEWSLETTERasi Editorial Editorial 2 Kosovo has a new political leadership. Within one Mr. Kolë Berisha’s speech on the occasion ǰȱȱ ȱǰȱ ȱȱȱȱ of assuming the Assembly Presidency 3 ȱȱȱȱ¢ȱȱĜǯȱȱ Fatmir Sejdiu succeeded the late President Ibrahim President Fatmir Sejdiu talks to BBC 6 Rugova. Former TMK Commander Agim Ceku succeeded Bajram Kosumi as prime minister. Mr. “There is no full freedom in Kosovo Kole Berisha succeeded Nexhat Daci as president unless all of Kosovo’s citizens can enjoy it” 7 ȱȱ¢ǯȱ¢ǰȱȱ ȱȱȱȱȱ ȱȱ ȱǯȱȱŘŚȱȱŘŖŖŜǰȱȱ¢ȱȱ Kosovo Serb Leaders Meet Premier Çeku, ȱ¡ȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱȱęȱ ȱ Consider Joining Government 9 rounds of talks on decentralization. Recent Developments in the Assembly 10 ȱȱȱȱȱȱȱĴȱȱȱȱ¢ȱ sessions in the Assembly on various policy issues. The new president Let’s learn to hear the voice of the citizen 12 ȱȱ¢ǰȱǯȱ ȱǰȱȱȱȱȱȱ¢ȱ a new democratic atmosphere and to strengthen co-operation with Presidency of the Assembly 14 international institutions. Transparency and full adherence to Rules Why we asked for a new dynamic in of Procedure are high on his agenda. Assembly’s Work 16 In light of the current changes at the Assembly one can hope that this ȱǰȱȱȱȱ¢ȱȱȱĴǰȱ Our Vision of an Independent Kosovo 17 to further enhance their role in overseeing the work of the government ȱ ¡ȱ ęȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Pay off Time 18 Consolidated Budget (KCB).
    [Show full text]
  • Southern Balkan Challenges After the Hague Indictment
    Conflict Studies Research Centre Balkans Series 0 5/12 Southern Balkan Challenges After The Hague Indictment James Pettifer Key Points * The Hague indictment of Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj offers both opportunities and dangers for the international community. * The US, while supporting the general principle of Kosovo independence, is currently letting the Europeans take the lead on the issue. * There is a short window of opportunity for political progress if a major conference can be arranged to progress the political status issue. * In the medium term, if political progress is not forthcoming, the risk of conflict in the region, in Kosovo, Macedonia, Preshevo and Cameria increases substantially. 05/12 Southern Balkan Challenges After The Hague Indictment James Pettifer The indictment sending Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj to the Hague Tribunal (ICTY) had been long expected after a period of preparation of Kosovo and international public opinion. The fact that he has accepted the indictment and has gone to the Hague voluntarily has provided a good public relations coup for the Kosovo Albanian leadership by contrast to the intransigence and lack of cooperation with ICTY in most other Balkan countries, and is likely to increase the pressures for rapid progress towards independence within Kosovo. But it is not seen that way in Serbia, and the Serbian position is increasingly closely linked to the residual influence of Greece and its associated orbit within the EU. The party of Hardinaj is in general seen in Kosovo and the world in general as very much aligned to the Anglo-American axis within Kosovo and had only about 8% of the votes.
    [Show full text]
  • 02 Klasnja.Indd
    THE LIMITS OF INTEGRATION The EU and Kosovo Time to Rethink the Enlargement and Integration Policy? Marko Klasnja The EU’s approach to the HE European Union has been hailed for its contri- Tbution to the largely successful post-communist Western Balkans has been transition in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Exerting its well-known “soft power” advantages by of- plagued with inconsistencies fering the possibility of membership, the EU encouraged and half-baked measures. The the partners in the ongoing process of integration and “Europeanization,”1 here meant to connote the processes situation in Kosovo demonstrates and mechanisms by which European efforts to build political, economic, legal, and social institutions cause that the EU needs to rethink its changes at the domestic level.2 This success story has so policy arsenal if it is to achieve far not been replicated in the Western Balkans, another region undergoing transition where the EU’s ambitions its goals. and pledges seem to mirror those of the earlier “Eastern Enlargement.” The results in the Western Balkans have so far been much more limited and by no means assure an equally successful outcome. This may be a consequence of the much wider range of challenges faced by the region than was the case with Central and Eastern Europe, given the recurring conflicts in the former Yugoslavia, the late start of transition in many countries, and the unsolved territorial and ethnic issues, not to mention other prob- lems. The intricacies of the status-settlement process for Kosovo—that is, whether the province will become an independent country or remain part of Serbia—exemplify the multi-faceted nature of the transition process in the region.
    [Show full text]
  • Decentralization Should Not Imply Enclavization
    Decentralization should not imply enclavization Bajram Kosumi1 Kosovo is in the process of an assessment standards as required by both the UN Security Council of and the Contact Group. We expect that the assessment will show that Kosovo has made major progress. In other words, we expect this assessment to be realistic and to open the door to starting a discussion on the final status of Kosovo. As is known, there have been several political and technical assessments so far, and all of them have been positive. There were some difficulties at the beginning. However, the Kosovo government and its agencies have relied on all their potential and have managed to make an initial breakthrough. These are the arguments that guarantee ongoing assessment. We do not see standards as something which the international community imposes on Kosovo. I have said many times that those were the standards of freedom and human rights, and that is how we perceive them. We will build a better democracy and show more respect for human rights and freedoms not because the international community required this, but because of our future. We want to create a democratic society, a free society that guarantees equality among all its citizens. Kosovo has established democratic institutions invested with new powers. With their four years experience, these institutions have proved that they are up to the Kosovo challenge, even in difficult times such as in the past several months. Both the Kosovo institutions and politicians have demonstrated wisdom and resoluteness in making decisions and taking over responsibility. A positive evaluation by international political factors testifies to this.
    [Show full text]
  • F a S T Update Kosovo Semi-Annual Risk Assessment May 2006 To
    F A S T Update Kosovo Semi-annual Risk Assessment May 2006 to October 2006 T S A F © swisspeace FAST Update Kosovo | May 2006 to October 2006 | Page 2 Contents Country Stability and Conflictive Events (relative) 3 Conflictive and Cooperative Domestic Events (relative) 5 Conflictive and Cooperative International Events (relative) 7 Appendix: Description of indicators used 9 The FAST International Early Warning Program 10 FAST Update Subscription: www.swisspeace.org/fast/subscription_form.asp Contact FAST International: Country Expert: Phone: +41 31 330 12 02 Dr. Florian Bieber Fax: +41 31 330 12 13 mailto:[email protected] www.swisspeace.org/fast © swisspeace FAST Update Kosovo | May 2006 to October 2006 | Page 3 Country Stability and Conflictive Events (relative) Average number of reported events per month: 70 Indicator description: see Appendix Risk Assessment: • The stability of Kosovo and key events in the region remain a function of the ongoing status discussions. Both developments over the past six months, as well as the stability of Kosovo in the foreseeable future are primarily dictated by the nature and possible outcome of the status negotiations. While the talks themselves have failed to yield any tangible results to date and remain largely deadlocked, the Country Stability, as well as Conflictive Events, have been greatly fluctuating recently, as they have over the past years. Most worrying is the sharp, if temporary, decline of Country Stability in late 2006, as well as the increase in relative Conflictive Events, indicating increased tensions in the face of an expected conclusion of the status talks in early 2007. • In Serbia, the authorities have continuously emphasized their rejection of independence for Kosovo and in extension any imposed solution which would not be based on a compromise incorporating Serbian demands.
    [Show full text]
  • Kosovo and U.S. Policy: Background to Independence
    Order Code RL31053 Kosovo and U.S. Policy: Background to Independence Updated June 20, 2008 Julie Kim Specialist in International Relations Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Steven Woehrel Specialist in European Affairs Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Kosovo and U.S. Policy: Background to Independence Summary Close to nine years after NATO intervened militarily in the southern Serbian province of Kosovo, Kosovo declared itself an independent and sovereign state on February 17, 2008. A new Kosovo constitution came into force on June 15. These developments marked a new stage in, but not the end of, international concern and engagement in the western Balkan region. Serbia strenuously objects to and does not recognize Kosovo’s independence. Kosovo represented the last major unfinished business from the wars of Yugoslav succession in the 1990s. In 1998 and 1999, the United States and its NATO allies engaged in collective action to end escalating violence in Kosovo. These efforts culminated in a 78-day NATO bombing campaign (Operation Allied Force) against Serbia from March until June 1999, when then-Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic agreed to withdraw his forces from the province. Afterward, Kosovo was governed through a combination of U.N. and local Kosovar interim governing structures. Under the terms of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999), the U.N. Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) retained ultimate political authority in the province. A NATO-led peacekeeping force, KFOR, was charged with providing a secure environment. UNSC Resolution 1244 did not settle Kosovo’s disputed status. The ethnic Albanian majority demanded full independence for Kosovo; Serbs insisted that Kosovo remain an integral part of Serbia.
    [Show full text]
  • PR 58 Kosovar Women Call for Peace
    KOSOVAR WOMEN CALL FOR INCLUSION IN PEACE PROCESS ****** AdvocacyNet News Bulletin 58, March 8, 2006 ****** Prishtina, Kosovo and Washington, DC: A powerful coalition of Kosovar women’s organizations has criticized the United Nations and the government of Kosovo for the absence of women on the seven-man Kosovar team that is negotiating the future status of the province, and warned that the lack of a gender perspective in the talks will undermine any future democracy in Kosovo. The complaint is contained in an open letter to the UN’s Special Representative, Soren Jessen- Petersen, on the occasion of International Women’s Day (March 8). “The women of Kosova are concerned that their voices have been ignored or marginalized by both national and the UNMIK leadership,” says the letter. Also today, one of the signatories of the letter, the Kosova Women’s Network (KWN), announced that it is joining with the renowned Serbian group, Women In Black, to monitor the status talks for a gender component. In a telephone interview with The Advocacy Project (AP), Igo Rogova, the president of the KWN, said that the letter comes from all sides of the women’s movement in Kosovo. “We are in one voice—Albanian, Serb, Turkish, Roma—all saying one word: women’s inclusion in the negotiations,” she said. The Kosova Women’s Network, an AP partner, comprises 85 women’s groups, including six Serbian and five Roma organizations. The KWN and its allies have proposed that Adita Tahiri, an experienced politician, join the negotiating team. They also want to see a woman in all of the subject-specific working groups that are being organized as part of the talks.
    [Show full text]
  • SWP Comments 2005/59, December 2005, 6 Pages
    Introduction Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik German Institute for International and Security Affairs War of Resolutions Parliamentary Blockades in the Kosovo Negotiations Dušan Reljić SWP Comments The approaching start of the future status negotiations for Kosovo is marked by a hardening of positions in Pristina and Belgrade, as well as mounting violence in Kosovo itself. At the same time, differences are arising between the United States, which leans toward independence for Kosovo, and Russia and China, which oppose secession. On October 24 the UN Security Council tiations will not be the final phase of the (UNSC) gave a green light to the beginning process as a whole but rather would pave of negotiations following the recommenda- the way for the next stage of the inter- tions of the Norwegian diplomat, Kai Eide. national presence in Kosovo. Since early summer 1999 Kosovo has been a Since the report’s publication, the protectorate of the UN. The UN General security situation in Kosovo, according to Secretary requested that Eide prepare a the UN administration (UNMIK), has report for the UNSC on the situation in worsened. UNMIK members and vehicles, as Kosovo. In the report, the UN special envoy well as the Kosovo Police Service (KPS), have describes the situation in the province on been the target of a series of terrorist at- the ground as extremely grim. Eide point- tacks. A bomb injured many shoppers at a edly remarks upon the critical situation of market in a predominately Serb-inhabited the non-Albanian population there. Yet, village. On December 3 outside the city of Eide concludes that there will never really Prizren, a tour bus en route to Belgrade was be “any good moment for addressing attacked with hand-held rocket launchers.
    [Show full text]
  • Dissemination E-VIVA Shkarko
    UNIVERSITETI PUBLIK “KADRI ZEKA” GJILAN PUBLIC UNIVERSITY “KADRI ZEKA” GJILAN Zija Shemsiu pn., 60000, Gjilan, Republika e Kosovës www.uni-gjilan.net tel: 0280390 Enhancing and Validating servIce related competences in Versatile learning environments in Western BAlkan Universities (e-VIVA) Report on the implementation of the activities realized in UKZ 1 International co-operation and projects are the main priorities, together with the quality have been developed and raised during this mandate by the Vice-Rector for International Cooperation and that have been supported by the Rector of the UKZ Prof. dr. Assoc. Dr. Bajram Kosumi. The e-VIVA project, is a project that has to do with the new methods of learning in Higher Education Institutions in order to raise the competences and knowledge for quality education. This is a project funded by Erasmus + with 16 partners, for a duration of three years. The partnership consists of universities from the EU and Western Balkans such as: Unternehmensberatung GmbH (Austria), Blended learning institutions’ cooperative / blinc eG (Germany), University of Duisburg Essen / UDE (Germany), University of Nova de Lisboa (Portugal), University of Montenegro, Universitety of Donja Gorica, European University of Tirana, University of Elbasan “Aleksandër Xhuvani”, University of St.Kiril dhe Metody, University “Mother Tereza”, University of Sarajeva, School of Science and Technology in Sarajevo (SSST), University of Gjilan “Kadri Zeka” Universum College, University of Nis and University of Novi Sad. In order to gain experience from universities and other institutions abroad, there is international cooperation. Thus, the University "Kadri Zeka" has paid great attention to the organization in the implementation of the e-VIVA project.
    [Show full text]
  • UNTYING the KOSOVO KNOT a Two-Sided View Helsinki FILES No
    Helsinki FILES No. 20 UNTYING THE KOSOVO KNOT A Two-Sided View Helsinki FILES No. 20 UNTYING THE KOSOVO KNOT A Two-Sided View Publisher: Helsinki Commi�ee for Human Rights in Serbia For Publisher: Sonja Biserko *** Editor: Seška Stanojlović Authors: Fahri Musliu Dragan Banjac Translated by: Ivana Damjanović Dragan Novaković Cover Page: UNTYING THE KOSOVO KNOT Ivan Hrašovec A Two-Sided View Printed by: Zagorac, Belgrade, 2005 Number of copies: 500 ISBN: 86-7208-111-0 *** This book of interviews has been published within the projecet “Belgrade- Prishtina: Steps to Build Confidence and Understanding” and with the support of the United States Institute of Peace. The opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of inteviewees and other sources, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Institute of Peace. The Helsinki Commi�ee for Human Rights in Serbia thanks the DFA Federal Department of Foreign Affairs - Swiss Liaison Office in Kosovo for its assistance in having this book translated into English. The opinions expressed herein are those of the persons interviewd and other sources, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Swiss Liaison Office. Contents: Editor’s foreword: Framework for Talks ........................................... 7 The author’s preface ............................................................................. 9 Serbian Side Vuk Draskovic ....................................................................................... 13 Goran Svilanovic
    [Show full text]
  • I Have Known S0ren for More Than 25 Years. He Is an Enthusiastic, Open and Compassionate Human Being
    THE SECRETARY-GENERAL MESSAGE TO BE INCLUDED IN THE GOLDEN BOOK PUBLISHED BY "FOCUS KOSOVO" TO MARK THE RETIREMENT OF MR. SOREN JESSEN PETERSEN June 2006 I have known S0ren for more than 25 years. He is an enthusiastic, open and compassionate human being. His humanitarian ideals have informed all his work, including his inspired and effective diplomacy. His fundamental strength has always been his ability to reach out and make people feel he was there for them. Most recently, as my Special Representative in Kosovo, S0ren has led a highly complex mission during a very challenging period which included the October 2004 elections, successive democratic changes in government, and, sadly, the death of President Rugova. S0ren fulfilled his mandate with outstanding success and, as he had promised, brought a much more peaceful, democratic and stable Kosovo to a new phase, which will determine its final status. Kofi A. Annan '•'I I•I Edward To Myriam Dessables/UNMIK@UNMIK@UNITED N Mortimer/NY/UNO LOGISTICS BASE@UNHQ-DPKO 22/06/2006 04:36 PM cc Annika Savill/NY/UNO@UNHQ bcc Subject SG's comment on SorenQ Here you are, Myriam. He confirmed "more than 25 years", but I'm afraid couldn't get anything more personal out of him. Hope the rest of the Golden Book is more exciting! All best wishes. Edward Ref: tribute to Mr. Jessen Petersen Please find attached, for your review, the draft tribute mentioned in my note last night. I should be most grateful if you could fill in the [approximate] number of years you have known Mr.
    [Show full text]
  • Who's Who in Kosovo
    WHO'S WHO IN KOSOVO ICG Balkans Report N°76 Prishtinë/Pristina, 31 August 1999 Table of Contents I. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................1 II. POWER BASES AND POLITICAL PARTIES.......................................................................2 A. The Kosovo Liberation Army......................................................................................2 (i) Military ....................................................................................................................2 (ii) Political ...................................................................................................................3 B. LDK (Lidhja Demokratike te Kosovës) - Democratic League of Kosovo .................4 C. Other Parties in the Unofficial Elected Parliament....................................................5 D. LBD (Lëvizja e Bashkuar Demokratike) - United Democratic Movement.................5 E. LPK (Lëvizja Popullore e Kosovës) – People’s Movement of Kosovo.....................6 F. PBD (Partia e Bashkimit Demokratik) – Democratic Union Party ............................7 G. LKÇK (Lëvizja Kombëtare për Çlirimin e Kosovës) - National Movement for the Liberation of Kosovo...................................................................................................7 H. Serbs .............................................................................................................................7 III. TRANSITIONAL COUNCIL ...............................................................................................7
    [Show full text]