Ladies and Gentlemen, representatives of Albanian and international media, through the Secretary of the office of the General Political Representative of the Kosova Liberation Army, Mr. Adem Demaci, we will elaborate on the situation in Kosova with concentration on the last happenings.
The terror of the Serb regime in Kosova has no visible end. The Serb terrorist actions are increasing daily. The targets of these terrorist acts are Albanians. They are targets because they are Albanians, that have decided to live in their land of Kosova, to live free, independent, in peace and democracy. The terrorist acts taken by the criminal forces of the Serb regime aimed at the Albanian civil population, are a revenge of the Serb forces that have been caused a lot of damage in direct battles with the forces of KLA. The Serb regime and its terrorist forces do not posses any moral backbone to honorably accept the suffered losses. They try to compensate their losses with miserable massacres. The Serb misery has no limits; a perfect example is the abduction and the so-called examination of the victims of the Reqak massacre, by the so-called Serb, Russian and Bellorussian experts that exerts a second massacre upon the same victims of Reqak. Over all, banning the public and humane burials, with high honors and respects, that the victims of Reqak massacre fully deserve, shows a culmination of barbarism by the Serb regime. However, the determination, dignity, and bravery of Albanians have and still are overcoming all this. The fascist Serb regime is in the last phase of losing its colony; Kosova. Decrease of the military morale of the Serb forces has caused many desertions of Serb soldiers and officers. This is very natural since most of these soldiers come to Kosova for the first time during their military service, that at the same time means an anti humane mission against the Albanian struggle for freedom and to maintain Kosova as a Serb colony. Also, the number of Serb regime manipulated Serbs in Kosova is falling daily. They understand that their loyalty to Belgrade brings them no security. They realize that they can not any longer take advantage of their positions in the colonialist administration. Continuously, they understand the truth - the just liberating fight of KLA, a war against the Serb terrorists and in service of, not only Albanians, but also all people living in Kosova. KLA defends the democratic principles and the desires of the majority, which are being violated daily by the Serb regime. On the other hand, only through KLA, have Albanians been able to become a significant side in the conflict.
As far as the political solution of Kosova is
concerned, it can not be achieved until the Serb regime becomes honestly
interested in a political solution; however, it is hard to assume that
they will be interested since they continue their terror and systematic
repression in Kosova daily. The retreat of the Serb forces from Kosova
and the amnesty of all Albanian political prisoners and those kidnapped
have shown continuous negative trends. The Serb forces come to Kosova ceaselessly.
They group, reposition and prepare for new offensives and battles against
the Albanian nation in Kosova. On the other hand, arrests and arraignments
intensify, while the ones kidnapped, when found, get repositioned to the
list of people murdered. Since its existence it has been proven that the
Serb regime does not respect any signed agreements or international norms
and conventions.
Unfortunately, the international community has
not taken the adequate punishments against the Serb regime with its head
criminal Mr. Milosevic. The international community has not taken full
advantage of the mechanisms it has in realizing the requests that come
out of their decisions. This way, we have many times encountered cases
where the Albanians and the KLA have respected the decisions of the international
community more than the international community itself. The fact that the
Serb regime does not want a political solution has been proven in the Rambouillet
talks in France. The representatives of the Serb regime are trying to sabotage
the talks. This was proven with their claim of not being able to represent
or sign an agreement. Also, their unwillingness to sign a cease-fire agreement
shows that they don't want a cease-fire, stability or peace in this area,
but they want to use terrorism and military to press down the Albanian
resistance. They want to do an unnatural thing that can not be done. The
signing of the cease-fire is conforming with the base concept that negotiations
can not go parallel to the massacres and terrors happening at the same
time. As far as the Serb regime delegation it is necessary to state that
we are in conflict with the Serb regime and not with the gypsies, Turks,
and Egyptians. Especially knowing the fact that they too are enslaved by
the Serb regime. Serbs, Turks, gypsies, and Egyptians will be free, secure
and will enjoy all possible rights in the independent Republic of Kosova.
Albanians have no interests in treating them as minorities and to sanction
their rights and liberties. While at the topic of a political solution
for Kosova, it is important to say that they can not be achieved with limitations
on what Kosova can and will be in the future. The Kosova issue can not
be solved justly until the terms "autonomy" and "nationality" are taken
out of the international community's project-proposals. Terms ethnic community,
ethnicity, etc., eliminate the right of the Kosova people for independence.
Self-determination is a democratic right that
fully belongs to the people of Kosova. The nation of Kosova has to decide
on its future. No one else should have the right do so instead. Also, Kosova
has no federal or confederate system with the multi-ethnic territory for
the notion "ethnic community" to be used. 90% of the Kosova inhabitants
are Albanians, 8% Serb, and 2% others. Actually, there are less Serbs in
Kosova than there are Albanians in Serbia. In this contexts, in the solution
of Kosova, the status of Serbs in Kosova and the status of Albanians in
Serbia, should also be incorporated.
Autonomy for Albanians will mean a step back, a return to a semi-colonial condition that promises nothing but sufferings for Albanians. Albanians do not feel secure in Kosova, except in an independent Kosova; Albanians can not achieve their rights in Kosova, except in an independent Kosova; Albanians do not feel free in Kosova, except in an independent Kosova. Conclusively, the independence of Kosova is a secure issue, an issue of Albanians rights and liberties.
Question: Is there a certain reason why Mr. Adem Demaci is not holding this Press Conference? And the other question is, it is speculated that, all sides in Rambouillet including the Albanian one, with KLA incorporated, have been offered with some limitations, that are incorporated in the proposed project for a transitional solution to the Kosova issue. What can you say in case the self-determination request does not come true and about the stand of KLA in this case?
Answer: As far as the first question is concerned, I would like to say that the General Political Representative of the KLA, Mr. Adem Demaci, is the one that decides who gives the Press Conferences. As far as the limitations presented with the projects and proposals of the international community, it is imperative to state that the trip of the KLA representatives to Rambouillet negotiations was an act of good will. This was an act that has shown that KLA is willing to somewhat sacrifice, so they can give a chance to the political solution of the Kosova issue, however the issue can only be solved politically if it leads toward independence, since the independence of Kosova is what the Albanians declared as their choice. So, regardless of the limitations presented in different drafts, there can be no solution achieved without the recognition of the declaration of the people of Kosova, and any solution achieved should be in function of the people of Kosova.
Question: The KLA delegation in Rambouillet, proposed the cease fire agreement to be signed by the both sides in the conflict, ambassador Hill rejected this KLA proposal. Could you please elaborate on that?
Answer: Well, I must say that cease-fire is a precondition for a political process. Without cease-fire, we can not have a negotiation process. Having negotiations in one hand and Serb offensives, terror and massacres in Kosova on the other, can not lead to any substantial outcome or agreement. The negotiations also depend on the ground situations since parallel to the negotiations, Serbs are continuing their terror and massacres in Kosova. This is why these two processes cancel each other out and can not exist at the same time. The request of the Albanians representatives in Rambouillet for a cease-fire to be signed will not only be a sign of good will, but also a mark of interest in a political solution by both sides. This could possibly lead to an agreement that could eventually precede a solution.
Question: Do you think that the process will fail, because of this rejection?
Answer: Well, I know that simply these two processes can not go together. How things will continue, we'll see in a very near future.
Question: In the last press conference, Mr. Demaci, declared that the KLA participation in Rambouillet will be a capitulation. What is your comment on this and what do you think about Mr. Hashim Thaqi being selected the leader of the Albanians delegation in Rambouillet?
Answer: First, it is necessary to state that Mr. Adem Demaci has agreed with the representatives of the General Headquarters of the Kosova Liberation Army. Mr. Adem Demaci is always in contact with the GH of KLA and in correlation with the political directory of the GH of KLA, whose director is also the leader of the Albanian delegation in Rambouillet. The participation of the Albanian delegation, including the representatives of the GH of KLA, shows the many dimensions of Albanian politics, and the willingness of KLA to sacrifice in order to find a political solution to the Kosova issue. In actuality, Mr. Demaci thought that non-participation in Rambouillet would cause the Serb side to sit down and negotiate directly with the representatives of the General Headquarters of KLA, this way they would meet the KLA politicians who not only think healthy but also have led the liberating war.
Question: You know that you said that two words must be taken out, the autonomy and national community, but according to the 10 principles, that both the Albanians and the Serbs have agreed, the autonomy is part of the 10 principles. So would you accept, would KLA accept a kind of autonomy and than have a referendum after 3 years? Is there going to be a compromise or you want this word to be removed from these 10 principles?
Answer: First, labeling Albanians as a national community is not right, because they are 90% of the population in Kosova. Kosova does not have a federation or confederation system, or is not a multiethnic territory. So, ethnic community or national community has to be removed because that is not adequate and that is eliminating the right, of Albanians in Kosova, to self-determination. Self-determination is main democratic principle, because people will decide about their own future. When discussing autonomy, we must remind you that Albanians used to have autonomy. They had autonomy since 1945 and there was some kind of a positive evolution of this autonomic process. The highest level of autonomy was achieved in 1974, however, regardless of this achievement, 80% of all political prisoners in former Yugoslavia were Albanians. Discriminatory laws against Albanians existed. That is why the 1981 demonstrations happened. These factors led to great dissatisfactions among Albanians, especially when their autonomy was violently taken away from them on March 23,1989. This made Albanians realize that they can not achieve their rights this way and that they can not be safe in autonomy. This was also proven in Bosnia, Croatia, Slovenia. All of the former members of the Yugoslav federation realized that the only way to integration in Europe was by annihilating this thing called Yugoslavia.
Question: Today, when the future of Kosova is being decided in Rambouillet, the Albanian delegation, the political and military factors, have never been more unified. Some people, who are giving statements to different radio stations, in coffee shops, are calling these people Marxists, Leninists, or Tito-ists. Can you, as clerk of the General Political Representative of KLA, comment on this?
Answer: I will answer the question about the unity first. We need many more proofs that this has been achieved, especially knowing the fact that the only way complete unity will be achieved is if they join KLA, put themselves in service of KLA, and gather around KLA. Another unity can not exist and can not be established in Kosova. For those in Rambouillet, participating in the conference, only time can tell if they will overcome the hurdles presented to them. Their symbolic readiness will be the first test in seeing if it is temporary or something more. In order to be something more, they have to prove themselves. This remains to be observed.
Information Service
Prishtinë, 14.02.1999
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Adem Demaçi
Përfaqësues
i Përgjithshëm Politik i Ushtrisë Çlirimtare të
Kosovës (UÇK)
--<>--
Adem Demaçi
General
Political of the Kosova Liberation Army (KLA)
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Tel&Fax
: ++ 381 38 534 Tel&Fax : ++ 381 38 30
E-mail : Demaci@albanian.com
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