Kosovo PM Kosumi quits under pressure

Reuters ^ | March 1, 2006

[joan]

Mar 1, 2006 — By Shaban Buza

PRISTINA, Serbia-Montenegro (Reuters) - Kosovo Prime Minister Bajram Kosumi resigned on Wednesday following criticism of his stewardship as the province seeks independence from Serbia in U.N.-led negotiations.

Citing the need to preserve a coalition majority and the cooperation of Kosovo's Western backers, Kosumi told reporters: "I find the correct and ethical action is to resign from the post of prime minister."

Kosumi, 45, handed in his resignation to President Fatmir Sejdiu after word leaked that he no longer had the confidence of his own Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) party.

The AAK nominated former guerrilla commander Agim Ceku, 45, to succeed him, a choice Sejdiu is expected to endorse.

Ceku "will lead Kosovo with dedication toward the achievement of our common goal of an independent and sovereign state," the party said in a statement. Ceku's appointment could draw fire from Serbia, which has a warrant out for his arrest.

Kosumi has been criticized for ineptness by other members of Kosovo's ruling ethnic Albanian coalition and Western mentor states shepherding the U.N.-run Serbian province through talks that could lead to its independence later this year.

United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan chastised the Kosumi government in a January report for not doing enough to meet democratic standards set by the U.N. for the creation of a just and multi-ethnic society.

Kosovo's U.N. governor, Soren Jessen-Petersen, said the move came "in recognition of many calls reaching the authorities here … that we want to support Kosovo, but at the same time we want the leaders and the people to work very, very hard to earn that which they want to see in Kosovo."

Ceku, a former Yugoslav army officer who also fought in Croatia's 1991-95 war for independence from Yugoslavia, now heads the Kosovo Protection Corps, a civil emergency unit set up to absorb former guerrillas of the 1998-99 Kosovo war.

He is seen as a political heavyweight, more in the mold of Kosumi's predecessor Ramush Haradinaj, another former guerrilla commander who resigned a year ago to stand trial at the U.N. war crimes tribunal in The Hague.

VIENNA TALKS

Kosovo had already been rocked by the death on January 21 of president Ibrahim Rugova, the icon of the Albanian independence drive. But political sources said the ruling coalition had grown unhappy with Kosumi's perceived lack of leadership and inefficiency after less than one year in office.

It also voted to oust parliament speaker Nexhat Daci as part of the reshuffle.

The West is determined to resolve Kosovo's status this year, fearful of fresh ethnic violence.

Serbs and Kosovo Albanians met in Vienna last week for a first round of direct negotiations on the fate of the disputed province. They are due to meet again on March 17.

The province's 90 percent ethnic Albanian majority wants independence from Serbia, which Belgrade says it is not prepared to grant. But Belgrade lost control of Kosovo nearly seven years ago when NATO intervened to stop the killing of civilians in a Serbian counter-insurgency war.

Up to 200,000 Serbs fled when NATO occupied Kosovo in the summer of 1999 fearing revenge attacks by Albanians. Securing the safety and rights of some 100,000 who remain, many living in isolated enclaves, is central to the talks.

Diplomats say independence is almost certain, albeit it under continued international supervision.

[joan]

bttp

[FormerLib]

Ceku, the butcher of the Krajina, is called upon to finish the genocide of non-Albanians in Kosovo.

And the West sits by and watches.

[getoffmylawn]

Diplomats say independence is almost certain, albeit it under continued international supervision.

Ahhh... good old "Diplomats"... you can always count on him for a good quote.

[norton]

"Ceku, the butcher of the Krajina, is called upon to finish the genocide of non-Albanians in Kosovo...And the West sits by and watches."

[Sarc] Don't you just love it when a plan comes together? [end Sarc]

[Dragonfly]

Cheku’s nomination unacceptable | 09:53 March 03 | B92

BELGRADE -- Friday – The Serbian Government has deemed the Kosovo’s nomination of Agim Cheku for prime minister unacceptable, stating that he is facing war crimes indictments.

The Serbian Government’s Media Cooperation Office’s Chief, Srdjan Djuric, said that the War Crimes Tribunal has indicted Cheku for war crimes charges, adding that there are no instances in Europe or around the world where a country or state’s prime minister is indicted for war crimes.

“The War Crimes Court has issued an indictment against Agim Cheku and an international warrant for his arrest is pending. Today in Europe, and throughout the entire globe most likely, there are no prime ministers who are accused of war crimes. For the Serbian Government, it is completely unacceptable to have a man, who should be in court facing war crimes charges, be elected as prime minister or for any other political position. The officials of the international community who are responsible for Kosovo have an obligation to protect the elementary norms of civilisation and stop Agim Cheku from being elected and make a mockery of the values which a democratic society is founded on.” Djuric told B92.