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DECISIVENESS AND CONSENSUS
(Zeri, editorial)
Kosovo President Ibrahim Rugova addressing Kosovo citizens on 05
September presented his health conditions, which brought the recent rumors
and speculations to an end. The chief Kosovo politician since the end of
the eighties stated as he returned from the US military clinic in
Landstuhl, Germany, where he undertook medical check ups, that the
findings of these check ups concluded that he suffers from a localized
lung cancer. President Rugova also emphasized that he hopes that he would
overcome this challenge by Gods help and that he would cure to continue
even more strongly the work on recognition of Kosovos independence as
soon as possible.
The Presidents sickness came at the worst possible time for the
political developments in Kosovo, when the process for solving Kosovos
political status is expected to open. Now, as it could be seen from an
unofficial meeting of the EU state member representatives, the position
that addressing of Kosovos final status as soon as possible enjoys a full
support of the West. The only obstacle that should be overcome on the
future days is the report of Ambassador Kai Eide, the Special Envoy for
standards assessment. His recent statements, including the ones expressed
at the Prishtina Airport on 04 September, give a bigger emphasis to
progress than defects in meeting of the pre-statutory agenda by
Kosovars.
Besides others, the Presidents address announced that he would try to
combine exercising of the post of Kosovo President and continuation of the
medical treatment, which is a very important fact about the development of
the process for the solution of Kosovo status. The Presidents role in
this great issue is irreplaceable. Because of this, it would be highly
important, before the recommendations of Ambassador Kai Eide are made
public, if President Rugova leads the efforts for ensuring an organizing
and conceptual consensus of the main Kosovo politicians, which would be
realized in deeds through successful negotiations with international
mediators, expected to be appointed in October.
Belgrade officials would probably come up with confidential, if not
public, proposals addressed to western centers where the sickness of Dr.
Rugova is used as a pretext for the postponement of the entire process
regarding Kosovos status. Simultaneously, there will also be western
diplomats who would give contrary assessments the international
preparations for initiating of the process, expected to get finalized next
year, should accelerate because of the sickness of President Rugova.
However, we should hope that we will be witnesses of a political
decisiveness of all important politicians in Kosovo for clarifying the
joint strategy for Kosovos status.
THE PRESIDENT
(Kosova Sot, editorial)
The Kosovo President has never looked as he did yesterday. Tired of
illness and age, the main politician of the last 15 years did not give up
anyway. Ibrahim Rugova did not resign as it was said in different circles,
but it is not clear if he would be able to accomplish his duty in such
difficult health circumstances.
The reactions of the Kosovar and international community prove the huge
importance of Rugovas personality regarding any step towards Kosovos
final status. But it would be hard for the processes to keep the dynamism
they had so far with a sick President. However, the health of the
President is important currently. Addressing Kosovo citizens, the
President called upon them to support in the battle against cancer.
The most voted leader in Kosovo needs a moral and human support of
Kosovo people. It should be admitted that his sickness is a heavy blow and
challenge, not only for his family, but also for the entire Kosovo. Since
his name has been personified for years with many important issues, the
seriousness of the Presidents health condition is comprehensible.
Even after his resignation from the LDK, he has remained a spiritual
leader of the party. Known as Kosovos Gandhi, the pacifist politician,
as foreign analysts prefer to call him, he reiterated the refrain about
Kosovos independence. Rugova was and remained decisive for this point by
not giving up the aspirations of Kosovo people, who kept voting for him.
These days are difficult for the President, therefore, Kosovar society
should tell that they support him. In the meanwhile, it is not necessary
to repeat what SRSG Soren Jessen Petersen said yesterday for keeping the
unity. The Kosovo leadership should gather forces, leave hatred behind,
and it can move ahead towards the independence.
CONDITIONAL DREAM
(Express by Shkëlzen Maliqi)
There is no mystery regarding the illness of President Rugova. He has
announced his diagnosis himself and did not leave many hopes. Since the
details of the diagnosis have not been made public, there is no meaning if
we would speculate about the time. For President Rugova the engagement is
not the most important. He could work as much as he can. He, his family
and the staff need more privacy, non-disturbance and respect.
The main Kosovo problem should not be the health of President anymore,
but it should be the ruined political health of actual leaders. We have a
weak Governance, we could also say a scandalous and irresponsible one, and
if there will be no authority for a while or at least a unification
symbol, this could be a serious problem.
We al fear that a silent war will start now, or what is worse a open
one, for the power, and again there will be a confusion of the
representation to verify and amend great decisions that would lead to
the status agreement and new Kosovo constitution.
For the moment, the crucial importance is a urgent review of Kosovo
governing formula, in favour of a concentrated society, which would be
more reliable and more efficient in fulfilling it s homework and
preparation of negotiations for what is said that could start even in
October. October is on the eve, and Kosovo has neither a concept nor
experts to face with the great powers diplomacy and with Belgrade. For our
good luck, Serbia also suffers from a weak governance and continuous
primitivism of the diplomatic instances, but they at least have
structures, if not for something else, for trying to block processes.
I think that the current crisis cannot be solved by resignation of
President Rugova. Let Rugova stay with his force, as barrier of the dream
before its achievement, a symbol of unity regarding the objective, while
there is need to intervene on the weak points, and that is the current
Government. PM and Government should resign in order to create a space for
a concentrated government. If the ministers themselves do not feel like
doing this, political parties that make the essence of the current
coalition could intervene. It is possible that the main burden of the
change belongs to the AAK leader, who is forced to work from under shadow,
but who still keeps the keys of historical decisions.
COMMON PRESIDENTS AND KOSOVANS BURDEN
(Zëri by Blerim
Shala)
After returning from Germany, President Rugova has taken the
responsibility to tell Kosovo from what kind of decease he does suffer.
Dr. Ibrahim Rugova, Kosovo President, has acted as a statesmen, in the
most difficult times for him and Kosovo society. It is the third time
during the last 18 months that Kosovo and their leaders do face great
challenges, which could change course in Kosovo for bad.
The first time it was after March riots in 2004 that threatened to turn
everything up side down, Kosovo leaders managed to understand that they
were only a step away from the abyss, which would mean losing apart of
Kosovo territory. Their next behaviour made Kosovo society avoid bad
variants of status.
Second in this years March the then PM Ramuh Haradinajs indictment,
which was known as a almost unacceptable challenge by Kosovo people, has
been passed by the political maturity of Haradinaj himself and policy of
the place.
Third, if this Rugovas position, facing with the illness, could be
taken as a decisive moment, Kosovo leadership has chances to prove that
when it is the most difficult, when even international diplomats expect
the return and great troubles for Kosovo, it knows to make smart decision.
The next month will probably show how right we are when expect that Kosovo
leaders will show political maturity, very important for the most
important month for Kosovo.
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