Annan Talks Peace in Kosovo

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, visiting war-damaged Kosovo on a mission of reconciliation, was treated Thursday to a choral performance by ethnic Albanians at a rebuilt school here.

The children were cute, and the atmosphere was warm. But the songs captured the nationalism and ethnic bitterness--even hatred--that continue to engulf Kosovo.

“Our letters are golden,” went the words of one tune, in praise of the Albanian alphabet. “We love them. . . . We are not going to use Serbian letters. Let them keep them for themselves, because we have our letters.”

It was not clear whether anyone translated the songs for Annan. But in his public statements, the U.N. leader stressed his message of ethnic tolerance and reconciliation--themes that underlay his every move during a two-day visit to this province of Serbia, Yugoslavia’s dominant republic.

“We have to put our differences behind us and build a new future,” Annan declared at the school.

“I see a nation--I mean a group of people in this territory--who are determined to rebuild their lives,” he said later at a news conference. “When I talk of rebuilding, I’m not talking of bricks and mortar alone. I hope we all shall take into consideration the question of democracy, good government, respect for human rights and respect for one’s neighbors--and hopefully, reconciliation and, of course, justice.”

During his visit, which began Wednesday, Annan met with top U.N. officials and representatives of Kosovo’s ethnic Albanian majority and its small remaining Serbian minority. Leaders on both sides of the ethnic divide expressed satisfaction with the meetings.

After private talks, Annan apparently left Serbian leaders with the impression that the United Nations had ruled out independence for Kosovo, which technically remains under Yugoslav sovereignty despite U.N. control of the province.

Ethnic Albanian leaders, on the other hand, said that he did not shut the door on their desire for independence.

At his news conference, Annan offered something to each camp without quite contradicting himself.

“We are not here to prepare the people for independence,” Annan said in response to a question. “I know there is a desire and clamor on the part of many people for independence, but that is not the mandate of [U.N. mission chief Bernard] Kouchner, that is not my mandate.”

However, when asked about the possibility of Kosovo gaining representation at the U.N. separate from the Yugoslav mission, Annan replied: “All the states with seats in the U.N. are independent states, and as of now Kosovo is not an independent state.” That statement was seen by some here as leaving open the possibility of a change in Kosovo’s status.

Virtually all ethnic Albanians in Kosovo favor independence. Serbs oppose independence for the province, which is seen by them as the cradle of Serbian culture.

The U.N. has governed Kosovo since June, when North Atlantic Treaty Organization airstrikes launched to protect the ethnic Albanians forced Yugoslav forces to withdraw. The official position of countries forming the peacekeeping force in Kosovo is that the province should have a high degree of autonomy under Yugoslav sovereignty.

Annan looked stiff, tired and somewhat ill at ease during most of his appearances. A top aide traveling with him, who requested anonymity, said that “meeting with political leaders here is a real land-mine exercise. . . . Everything has to be perfectly balanced.”

Annan seemed to really enjoy himself only once, when he spoke to the schoolchildren.

“I would encourage you to study hard, to play hard, to listen to your parents and do your homework,” Annan told them. “It’s not always easy, but you have to do it.”