PM: Ceding entire Golan is price of peace with Syria
By Gideon Alon, Haaretz Correspondent
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Monday that peace with Syria would mean giving up the Golan Heights, seized by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War and annexed in 1981.
"The whole world knows that in any future negotiations, if they are renewed, we will have to give up on the entire Golan Heights," Olmert said during a heated exchange with oppposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud).
Netanyahu had reacted angrily to Olmert's assertion that three of his predeccessors, Netanyahu included, had held talks with Syria on a complete Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights.
Olmert told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that, according to documents, the prime ministers from 1993 to 2001 (a reference to Yitzhak Rabin, Netanyahu and Ehud Barak) - had all held negotiations with Syria during which it had been clear that any agreement would entail Israel completely ceding the Golan and withdrawing to the 1967 border.
But Netanyahu interrupted Olmert's remarks, saying, "You know that's not right."
"You know it's true," replied Olmert. "Don't try to hide the truth."
Later in the discussion, the prime minister reiterated his opposition to negotiations with Damascus, on the grounds "Syria is interested in the industry of peace, rather than real peace."
12 Febrero 2007
Two dead following clashes between Albanian demonstrators and UN police - Albin Kurti arrested for inciting violence
"It is totally regrettable that two lives were lost as a result of wanton breach of security at the government buildings," the head of U.N. police in Kosovo, Stephen Curtis, said in a statement on Sunday. "The demonstrators at the government buildings compelled the police to take defensive measures to restore order," he said.
Información procedente del Informe Diario de la Misión de Naciones Unidas para el Kosovo
(from UNMIK Media Monitoring report, February 11, from Pristina dailies)
International police was compelled to use force and disperse the crowd only when protesters
turned violent trying to break police cordon and storm the Govenrment building
UNMIK Police chief, Stephen Curtis, was quoted as saying that the attempt by protesters to get into the government building, had created unnecessary conflict, and it seems that the conflict was initiated by the protesters.
“Every individual has the right to protest peacefully, but the violence is unacceptable”, Express quoted UNMIK Police chief Stephen Curtis, as saying.
Express carry a reaction of Government of Kosovo on yesterday’s protest, quoting Government Spokeswoman Ulpiana Lama who said that Police forces reacted professionally.
Koha Ditore, quotes a police source saying that during last week, police officers tried to arrange a meeting with the leaders of “Vetëvendosja”, to discuss regarding the protest, but “Vetëvendosja” refused to participate.
On this issue, the paper quotes Kurti who said on Friday, that he is not going to participate in any meeting where UNMIK representatives are present.
Papers say that around 19 hrs, Kosovo Police Service Special Unit stormed the premises of “Vetëvendosja” movement, where the leader of “Vetëvendosja” Albin Kurti was arrested.
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Dos muertos en choques en Kosovo, informa la BBC
Two dead following Kosovo clashes
BBC, February 11, 2007
Two people have died overnight following clashes in Kosovo between ethnic Albanian protesters and police.
They were among four people seriously wounded when United Nations and local police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse some 3,000 protesters.
The crowd in Pristina was protesting against a UN plan on the future status of Serbia's province. Many ethnic Albanians are unhappy that the plan falls short of granting full independence for Kosovo.
The proposals, unveiled on 2 February by chief UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari instead recommends a form of self-rule - which is itself strongly opposed by Serbia.
The UN has agreed to delay talks on its proposals until 21 February, at the request of Serbian President Boris Tadic.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday again warned that Moscow would not back any solution for Kosovo that was not also acceptable to Belgrade.
12 Febrero 2007
