Tagesnachrichten 15. Juli 1998
von ALBANEWS und anderen
Daily Report No 1491 July 15, 1998
Kosova Information Center
Tagesnachrichten 15. Juli 1998
Augsburger Allgemeine 9. Juli 1998:
Still there is no stop of deportations !
newspaper Augsburger Allgemeine reports on July
9, 1998
... Despite the crisis Bavaria deported further
28 Kosova-Albanians. The plane landed in Belgrade. The deported shall all
be penalteds, Bavarian ministry of Interior said.
_______________________________________________________________________
CDHRF - REPORT NO. 420 - FROM JUNE 21 UNTIL JUNE 26, 1998
JUNE 24:
BELGRADE: Shkëlzen
Gashi from Klina and Elmi Hasani from Poklek i Vjetër near
Gllogoc, deported from Germany, were arrested at Belgrade airport.
JUNE 23:
FERIZAJ: 2 policemen from the police station
in Babush searched for Rrahim Pajaziti. Rrahim has been
living in Germany for the last 5 years.
JUNE 24:
MITROVICA: In "Kroi i Vitakut", fire was set
to the house of Bashkim Xhemajl Kabashi (40). Bashkim is currently
living with his family in Germany.
JUNE 26:
FERIZAJ: Police searched for Avdyl
Faik Avdyli (1973) from Komogllava, who is in Germany for 4 years
now.
LDK General Council Discusses Final Preparations for the First Session of Kosova Parliament
PRISHTINA, July 15 (KIC) - The General Council
of the Democratic League of Kosova (LDK) - the party executive - met today
for the second time in two days to examine the final preparations for the
inaugural session of the Parliament of the Republic of Kosova.
The meeting was chaired by the LDK leader and
President of the Republic of Kosova, Dr. Ibrahim Rugova.
A spirit of open and constructive dialogue prevailed
in the discussions today, the LDK said. There was a strong emphasis on
the importance of the Parliament of the Republic being constituted as well
as the choice of people who will lead it.
The General Council of the LDK drafted lists
of the composition of the parliamentarian commissions as well as other
bodies of the Kosova legislature.
The Parliamentarian Group of the LDK, the biggest
in the Parliament, will meet tomorrow to round off preparations for the
first session of the top Kosova legislative body.
U.S. Condemns Belgrade for Food Embargo on Kosova
PRISHTINA, July 15 (KIC) - State Department spokesman
James Rubin reported July 14 that the United States has reason to believe
that there is an artificial shortage of basic food and other supplies in
Kosova.
Following is the full text of the State Department
release, entitled KOSOVO: ARTIFICIAL SHORTAGE OF COMMERCIAL COMMODITIES:
(Begin text)
United States has reason to believe there is
an artificial shortage of basic food and other supplies in Kosovo. We have
seen this kind of intimidation tactic before and condemn such action as
a violation of human rights. We have raised our concerns about a food embargo
with senior FRY ["Federal Republic of Yugoslavia"] and Serbian officials.
In keeping with his commitment to allow unfettered
access of humanitarian supplies, we expect President Milosevic will not
hamper the local populations' access to food and basic commercial commodities.
The United States is monitoring the development
of the situation closely. We intend to hold Milosevic to this commitment
in this regard.
(End text)
It should be recalled that it was two months
ago today, on May 15, that Milosevic imposed a food blockade on Kosova.
It was that very day that 'FRY' President met in Belgrade with Kosova President
Ibrahim Rugova in what was hastily hailed by the West as Milosevic's readiness
to press ahead with peaceful and political means to solve the Kosova issue.
The May 15 full food blockade was released a
bit after a week, to only be reimposed a month later with so-called 'internal'
Serb government decrees placing heavy restrictions on the trading of commercial
commodities with Kosovar firms.
NATO Planning on Kosova Continues, Pentagon Spokesman Says
PRISHTINA, July 15 (KIC) - NATO is still
considering a range of options (on Kosova)", Pentagon spokesman Kenneth
Bacon said Tuesday during a briefing in Washgintong.
NATO hasn't completed that consideration yet,
he said, adding that what's changed in Kosova over the last few weeks "is
the appreciation of the complexity of the problem."
This is how he described the new appreciation
of the situation:
"Several weeks ago people thought of the problem
as almost one-sided.
It was a problem of Yugoslavian police or military
forces attacking Kosovar Albanians. What has become clear in the last couple
of weeks is the Kosovar Albanians have become more energetic in their independence
movement and more energetic in their own military activities."
There has been, I think, an appreciation of the
greater complexity of the situation on the ground, Bacon concluded. He
stressed that the NATO planning on military options continues, adding that
everybody is still looking for a diplomatic solution. The planners clearly
are aware that the circumstances have changed, Bacon said, adding that
one of the advantages of contingency planning is that "you usually plan
for more than one contingency." But the more contingencies you have to
plan for, the longer the planning takes, which is one of the reasons why
NATO planners have been hard at this for the last month and may still have
some time to go. It's also a reason why a diplomatic solution remains the
preferred outcome here.", the Pentagon spokesman concluded.
Three Albanians Killed, One Wounded During Serb Shelling of Deçan Villages
PRISHTINA, July 15 (KIC) - Serbian military and
police forces attacked with artillery the villages of Carrabreg i Poshtëm
and Strellc i Epërm in the municipality of Deçan, western Kosova,
for three hours yesterday (Tuesday), from 19:00 through 22:00 hrs, local
sources said today.
In the exchange of fire with the Serbian forces,
two Albanians - Artan Nezir Qorraj (17) and Rexhë Sadik Qorraj (35)
- were killed, and one other, Haki Ramë Qorraj (27), wounded in the
village of Carrabreg të Poshtëm. In the Strellc i Epërm
Enver Hasan Avdimetaj (29) was killed yesterday evening, the LDK Information
Commission in Deçan reported.
The two villages were shelled in retribution
for the Albanian resistance forces having prevented the Serb infantry units
advance into them, local observers said.
As usual, while retreating Serbian forces set
Albanian houses on fire - three in Carrabreg i Ulët and four in Strellc
i Epërm.
The LDK Information Commission in Deçan
said fighting of a lower intensity occurred in the village of Prejlep,
whereas the villages of Gramaqel and Baballoq were shelled by Serb military
positions in Suka e Biteshit.
Two Albanian houses were levelled to the ground
in Gramaçel last night, whereas several others suffered damages.
The LDK Information Commission in Deçan
quoted UÇK (Kosova Liberation Army) reconnoiters as saying Serb
police have plundered Albanian houses in several villages in the municipality,
adding that an number of Serb paramilitaries found shelter last night in
the Deçan Monastery.
The LDK chapter in Deçan says it calls
upon the Serb Orthodox Church not to allow that religious facilities be
turned into housing units for the armed forces of the Serb regime as well
as paramilitary Serb troops. On the contrary, they would be treated as
accomplices in the crimes being committed against the Albanians, the LDK
sources said.
The population of this municipality is hopeful
that the trips of international monitors as well as the OSCE mission to
Deçan and other war-torn areas will contribute to getting a real
picture of the situation and help overcome it, the LDK Information Commission
in Deçan said.
One Albanian Killed, One Wounded in Reka e Keqe
PRISHTINA, July 15 (KIC) - The Serbian military
and police offensive against the border area villages with Albania, known
as 'Reka e Keqe' region, has been going on unabated, local sources said.
Lats night and today (Wednesday) Serbian forces
have been shelling the villages of Nec, Ramoc, Stubëll, Berjah, Smolicë,
and the area stretching as far as the outskirts of Junik, the LDK Information
Commission in Gjakova reported. Local Albanian resistance forces, in tandem
with the UÇK, have been resisting Serbian attacks.
During the Serbian military attack on the village
of Devë on Monday evening, Vllaznim Jetishi (20) was killed, and Qerim
Jetishi (30) badly wounded, local sources said. The body of Jetishi was
taken to the Gjakova morgue Tuesday, whereas the wounded Qerim I. Jetishi
to the Gjakova hospital.
Meanwhile, LDK sources said Ms Fatime Boshnjaku,
a coordinator with the local chapter of the Mother Teresa charity, arrested
by Serb security earlier this was has been sent to the Lipjan jail. Serb
inspectors returned back the confiscated items of the Mother Teresa charity,
but held back the car and the medicines they had seized too.
Meanwhile, LDK sources said Serb inspectors have
confiscated in the premises of the charity organization a continent of
medicines of the International Red Cross, which was destined for the inhabitants
of the Junik region.
Serb Police Withdraws, UÇK Retains Its Positions near Trepça Mine
PRISHTINA, July 15 (KIC) - There was no shooting
in and around Mitrovica yesterday, and the road to the mining-metallurgical
Trepça complex was passable and without police roadblocks/checkpoint,
Prishtina-based Bujku reported today.
Only random passers-by could be seen in the miners'
neighborhood, because the population has fled the area temporarily.
The region around the mine is under the control
of the UÇK units, Bujku said, adding that there was no police presence
on the roadway from Mitrovica to the mine.
Serbian workers did not show up in their workplace,
the mine, yesterday.
The displaced population has started drifting
back to their homes, the Bujku daily said.
Twenty 'Yugoslav' Soldiers Desert in FYROM, Albanian Daily Says
PRISHTINA, July 15 (KIC) - Twenty 'Yugoslav' soldiers deserted in FYROM, near the north-western town of Kumanova, several days ago, the Shkup/Skopje-based Fakti daily reported. The recently launched daily newspaper in Albanian in FYROM quoted eye-witness accounts.
Three Serb Policemen Wounded Tuesday near Carrabreg, Western Kosova
PRISHTINA, July 15 (KIC) -Three Serbian policemen
were wounded yesterday (Tuesday) in a police checkpoint on Peja-Deçan
road, near Carrabreg, the Serb press reported.
Reportedly, they have received serious wounds,
and been hospitalized in Peja ('Pec').
Serb Police Opens Blind Fire on Albanian Village in Suhareka
PRISHTINA, July 15 (KIC) - Serb police on board
of an armored vehicle opened indiscriminate fire on the village of Bllaca,
municipality of Suhareka, yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon.
The LDK chapter in Suhareka said a Serb police
armored vehicle drove back and forth from Suhareka to the Qafa e Duhlës
mountain pass on a couple of occasions yesterday. When passing nearby Bllaca
the police opened fire on houses in the village from a machine gun on top
of the car. A resident of Bllaca, Ms Xhemile Suka, was reported wounded,
the LDK said, adding that damage was caused to several houses.
The LDK Information Commission in Suhareka said
the Albanian population in the town has been subjected to continued harassment
and intimidation by the Serb police. Shaban Elshani was tortured for a
couple of hours in the local police station in the town on Tuesday. Mr.
Elshani was initially harassed on the street without any pretext, then
taken to the police station, where he was beaten up brutally.
Two other residents of Suhareka, Shefqet Gajraku
and Bajram Haxholli, were arrested by Serbian police at a petrol station
in the town last Saturday. Their families have not been able so far to
learn a word about their whereabouts, the LDK chapter said.
Serbs Shell Llausha Tuesday Night and Today Morning
PRISHTINA, July 15 (KIC) - The Llausha village
near Skenderaj ('Srbica') was reported shelled for about two hours by Serb
forces Tuesday night. The village came under a renewed attack by Serb forces
today morning, sources said.
Mr. Fadil Geci, head of the local LDK sub-chapter
in Llausha, told the KIC Serb forces shelled a number of Albanian farmsteads
in the village from 10 p.m. through midnight yesterday. Today's Serb attack
was concentrated on Gecaj neighborhood, he said. The LDK activist said
he could not learn if there were any casualties among the Albanians, noting
only that the local forces put up a fierce resistance.
The Llausha village has been held inside a deadly
Serb siege since early March. There has been a sharp shortage of food and
medical supplies in the village, sources said. The harvesting of the wheat
has been impossible in the village as the whole area is being kept under
constant Serb sniping.
Albanian House Set in Flames in Serb Shelling of Obiliq Village
PRISHTINA, July 15 (KIC) - The farmstead of an
Albanian, Adem Dedinca in Lajthishta (Leshkoshiq) village of Obiliq, was
burned down Tuesday evening after having been fired upon by Serb forces.
Sources in Obiliq, a town 10 km north-west of
Prishtina, said Serb forces attacked Lajthishta village with machine-gun
fire from the neighboring village of Janovoda, which has been turned into
a huge Serb forces base for a couple of weeks now.
Witnesses told the LDK chapter in Obiliq the
house and barns of Adem Dedinca were burned to the ground yesterday evening.
No human casualties were reported.
Meanwhile, sources in Obiliq and the neighboring
town of Fushë Kosova said Serb forces have continued to deploy fresh
troops and heavy armament around the open-pit coal mines in Bardhi ('Bellaçevc')
village. Large-caliber cannons have been dug in many places around the
mines. Serb forces were seen today digging with bulldozers tank-size ditches
in two locations in villages west of the mines, Grabovc and Shipitulla,
can be held at gunpoint.
Serbs Supplied with Weapons in School Building
in Gjilan
Serb opposition leader says he
was 'surprised' learning Serbs in Kosova were give arms
PRISHTINA, July 15 (KIC) - The Serb population
in Budrika village of Gjilan was seen being supplied with weapons and ammunition
in the local school building today morning.
Sources in Gjilan said the Serbs in Budrika were
given armament from the Serb police authorities.
Budrika is a large village in Gjilan, eastern
Kosova, with around 300 Serb families. The local Serbs were supplied with
weapons earlier during the past years. They are now being given additional
supplies of ammunition and heavier arms, including automatic rifles, sources
in Gjilan said.
Reports from Kosova towns and municipalities
in which there is Serb population say the Serbs have been supplied with
additional armament on a daily basis. During the last decade, the Serb
regime has overtly delivered weapons to the Serb population in Kosova.
On the other hand, thousands of Albanians were
persecuted, had their homes raided by Serb police under the alleged pretext
of arms possession. There were cases when Albanians had to even buy pieces
of weapons and, ironically enough, from Serb regime agents to deliver them
to the police in order to spare themselves and their families from additional
harassment.
The Serbs could get their pieces of weapon in
the Serb police stations and buildings of the community, including schools,
such as was the case of Obiliq and Lipjan a couple of days ago, and in
Budrika of Gjilan today.
The leader of a Serb opposition party, Zoran
Djindjic, said on Tuesday he "was surprised by reports that Serbs in Kosova
were being given arms". Noting that it was a dangerous move, Djindjic sounded
as if he had heard about it for the first time!
The Kosovar leadership, domestic and foreign
human rights groups and the population at large, have been continuously
warning of the overt armament of Serbs in Kosova by the Belgrade regime.
Over the past years, one could encounter on a daily basis, in shops, markets,
hospitals, buses and street of Kosova, Serbs, including teen-agers, carrying
guns in their belts. In many a cases, Serbs were eager to display them
in front of their Albanian neighbors, or even intimidate and attack them
openly.
Kosova Information Center
Last page!
_______________________________________________________________________KOSOVA (fighting - Deçan)
Powerful clashes in Carrabreg and PrejlepOne Albanian was killed during the fighting which lasted more than five hours
Deçan, 14 July (ARTA) 1730CET --
Albanian sources claim that strong clashes took place yesterday in the village of Carrabreg i Poshtëm. KLA forces, backed by armed local Albanians, defeated Serb forces in the fighting that lasted around five and half hours. Nearly the whole village now, is under KLA control. There are no reports on victims of the attack, during which the Serb forces burnt three houses.
On the other hand, shelling also took place in the villages of Isniq, Prejlep Strellc i Epërm and Strellc i Poshtëm in the municipality of Deçan. Isuf Hysen Ymeraj was reported killed in Isniq. He was buried in the same village today. Otherwise, there are claims that the Serb police burned down two other houses, belonging to Albanians, in the region.KOSOVA (fighting – Gjakovë)
The whole border area engaged in fightingGjakovë, 14 July (ARTA) 1730CET--
Harsh clashes took place last night and today between the KLA units and the "Yugoslav" army.
Ali Rrustemi, from Babaj i Bokës, who wounded a day before by the Serb army forces in the village Duzhnjë, passed away today. Sources from the ground, confirmed by the LDK local information sources, tell about a fierce attack of the "Yugoslav" army against the villages of the Kosovë-Albania bordering zone. The same sources claim that the KLA units are still defending the regions under their control. The material damages have now taken catastrophic measures. There are almost no chances of finding a house in Morinë, Smolicë and Nec, that has not been shoot at with heavy or light arms. No victims were reported from today's clashes.KOSOVA (attacks - Drenica)
"Gryka e Llapushnikut" and the village of Kizharekë - targetSerb military units are aimed at provoking the KLA and frightening the inhabitants of Drenica, by showing their firepower off
Gllogoc, 14 July (ARTA) 1900CET --
"Yugoslav" army units, stationed at a place called Çukë e Komoranit, backed by Serb paramilitary forces, have intensified their provocations, apparently in an attempt to frighten the local Albanian population.
Serb military forces, from their base in Çukë, used heavy artillery to attack "Gryka e Llapushnikut", the village of Kizharekë as well as the suburbs of Komoran, starting from last night, at around 2300CET. Shooting, in the same direction, took place today as well. No large material damage has been caused and nobody was reported killed or wounded during the attack.KOSOVA (shelling – Obiliq)
Military tanks shelled the village of HadeFushë Kosovë, 14 July (ARTA) 1615CET--
Serb paramilitary units that settled yesterday in the regions around the villages Graboc, Hade e Shipitull, started shelling the village of Hade. Two houses were completely destroyed in this occasion. The Serb police and army settled in very important strategic points from where they can clearly see all the villages of this region. A number of tanks are now stationed on these points. The inhabitants of this region have abandoned entirely their homes and went in different direction and some of them found shelter in the surrounding forest.
There is information that the Serb police settled in the buildings of the open mine pit "Kosova" in Bardhi i Madh.
People who followed this Serb police offensive claim to have seen a large number of artillery forces as well as a convoy reportedly composed of Arkan's units.
"We cannot return home for the time being, our houses will remain abandoned until we are freed" - claims a resident of Graboc i Ulët, who managed to escape from the territory surrounded by the Serb paramilitary forces.
The current move of these Serb paramilitary units, created an artillery line dividing Drenica with the villages of the Kosova plain and Obiliq.KOSOVA (aftermath - Mitrovicë)
Four Albanians wounded in shellingMitrovicë, 14 July (ARTA) 1800CET --
Four KLA members were wounded in the recent clashes that took place between KLA and Serb police\military forces in the region of Shala e Bajgorës. It is claims that Serb forces also suffered considerable losses. Many houses have been reported destroyed in the village of Bare. Sources say that the villages of Stantërg, Vidishiq, Mazhiq, Rashan and Pasomë, were also subjected to shelling.
Many inhabitants of this region fled to the municipality of Vushtrri, where many IDPs from Drenica are also sheltered. Reliable sources of Albanian daily "Koha Ditore" and the CDHRF, claim that there were clashes between the "Yugoslav" army, stationed in the military base in the village of Kutlloc, which decided to desert, and the Serb police stationed at the police station in Stantërg. Witnesses say that the clashes were very strong, adding that many were killed and wounded. Signs of blood can still be seen on the streets of Stantërg. There are claims that mortars and machine guns were used during the exchange of fire.
On the other hand, "Yugoslav" army soldiers were spotted in Mitrovicë last night, near the bus station, asking for civilian clothes and hiding from the police. There are reports on mass desertion from the military barrack in Mitrovicë as well.KOSOVA (shelling – Prizren)
The army strikes with heavy artillery from LandovicëPrizren, 14 July (ARTA) 1745CET--
Serb military forces shot with heavy artillery weapons from the military base in Landovicë, last night from 2200CET to 0020CET, LDK local information sources in Prizren inform.
It is supposed that these forces were shooting in the direction of Suharekë.KOSOVA (aftermath of attack – Suharekë)
The young Albanians killed in Peçan, were working on the vineyard at the timeSuharekë, 14 July (ARTA) 1800CET--
Following yesterday's attack on the village Peçan, today the situation is somewhat calmer.
According to the Albanian sources, the health condition of two (out of twelve) wounded has improved. Concerning the information transmitted by some foreign informative centers, according to which young Albanians who were conducting training within KLA attacked the Serb forces, a KLA officer called Fanaj declared: "These are all speculations because the Serb police\military forces shelled the village's vineyard, where a group of Albanian civilians were working". Sources from the ground inform that "since it is the season of the vineyard works, a number of young people were working on the property of a villager when the Serb forces shelled the place killing two and wounding a number of others".
The situation is very tense at the center of Suharekë as well. The police, with painted faces, patrol down the streets of the town, harassing the passersby. The tension is greatly added by the presence of snipers on top of the highest buildings in Suharekë. A large part of the inhabitants have already fled their homes moving on to more secure places, fearing a possible attack.
"KOHA Ditore" sources claim that last night the KLA units forces rejected an attack of a Serb army helicopter.
Local sources inform that the Serb police abducted two Albanians, Bajram Haxholli (37) and Shefket Gajraku (38) from Suharekë, two days ago. Nothing is known about their whereabouts.KOSOVA (military reinforcements – Prizren)
Military reinforcements on the southern borderPrizren, 14 July (ARTA) 1830CET--
A convoy made of 5 APCs, 3 tanks with large caliber cannons, 3 terrain vehicles, 1 tank with an anti-aircraft launcher, 2 excavators, 3 trucks loaded with soldiers, with a large caliber cannon attached to each one of them, 1 truck loaded with food items and an ambulance car, was seen passing by Zhur, going in the direction of Dragash (50km. South of Prizren), CDHRF branch in Zhur informed.
The same source claims that this convoy was headed in the direction of the villages of Opojë (inhabited mainly by Albanians), an area that has not registered any incidents so far.KOSOVA (concentration of forces – Gjilan)
Military\police concentration and the arms provision continuesGjilan, 14 July (ARTA) 1700CET--
Although there is no open front line, the situation in the town of Gjilan and the surrounding is largely being intensified by the presence of the Serb police and military forces. According to the information issued by the CDHRF branch in Gjilan, a couple of days ago, 4 APCs entered the grounds of the textile factory in Gjilan, where they publicly unloaded a considerable amount of weapons and ammunition. The same source informs that the police at the bus station stopped yesterday two Albanian students of the University of Prishtina, Bekim Sahiti (24) and Xhavit Shaqiri (21), both from the village Malishevë, municipality of Gjilan. After being legitimated, the police stole their money and brutally beat them, threatening to send them to the police station for a "better treatment".KOSOVA (Government in exile - communiqué)
"We must speak out as one"Prishtina, 14 July (ARTA) 1915CET --
"...The Government of Kosova, expresses its deep concern about the situation and the urge of changing it in favor of the issue of Kosova. The government has its constitutional duties, as the broad representation of the people of Kosova, for protecting its people from the Serb aggressor, for contributing with all its means for increase the security of the people and creating the necessary conditions for eventual negotiations. The government expresses its obligation for supporting all armed Albanians and members of armed forces of Kosova, the only representative of which is the KLA, as well as the need to coordinate its activities with the KLA, in order to confront open Serb aggression which is now taking the form of open genocide towards the Albanian people. It will continue to be engaged fully in carrying out the duties for which it has the mandate. In this context, it calls all political forces that are now disputing, to stop arguing and find means of progress for our issue...
The Government of Kosova expresses its deep concern due to the extraordinary modest measures of the Contact Group, which are insufficient for stopping aggression and putting the issue in the tracks for a political solution. The Government of Kosova thinks that the repeated rhetoric and softened tones which emerged from the Contact Group's last meeting, do not serve the aim for which the Contact Group's members declared themselves, for not allowing a second Bosnia, for preventing an escalation of violence and for finding a permanent solution to the problem of Kosova. The lack of lucidity and determination for acting now, can serve only Milosevic and the policy of his supporters".KOSOVA (Kinkel’s proposal)
"No details on the new Dayton proposal"Bonn, 14 July (ARTA) 2100CET--
In the regular press briefing of the German Government representative held this afternoon, the issue of Kosova was discussed.
Among others, "KOHA Ditore" correspondent asked the Foreign Ministry's representative about Kinkel's statement two days ago, on a new "Dayton" that would solve Kosova’s problem. The question was how does the minister see this new Dayton and how could negotiations be carried through without being guaranteed by anyone, implemented without the foreign military presence and which would at the same time insure this possible freedom.
The German Foreign Ministry spokesman, said that in Kinkel’s statement to a newspaper, it was stated that "we need a new political creativity in approaching the Kosova problem", adding that he also declared that "it seems that a similar process (Dayton) would be needed, but no details can be given concerning this proposal".KOSOVA (Serbia’s opposition leaders in Prishtina)
Late gesture of "good will"Prishtina, 14 July (ARTA) 2100CET --
"There is no reason for me not to say that our mission here was not foreseen to aim at finding great solutions", said chairman of the Democratic Party, Zoran Djindjic, after meeting with representatives of the Kosova Albanian negotiating team, Fehmi Agani and Veton Surroi.
He, along with other leaders of the so-called "democratic parties of Serbia", including Vesna Pesic from the Civic League of Serbia and Vuk Obradovic, from the Social Democratic Party of Serbia, arrived in Prishtina today, to meet with representatives of the Albanian side.
"We came because we want to learn about the situation from the people here and get their evaluations, as well as to exchange information", Djindjic explained after the meeting. He stated that these parties "do not have the mandate for talks, or negotiations". The chairman of the Democratic Party expressed his concern due to the situation in Kosova, adding that he is pleased "because both sides prefer a peaceful and political solution to the problem". He stated that "there is no political goal that is worth the lives of people".
Chairman of the Civic League of Serbia, Vesna Pesic, told journalists that she came to Kosova to convey the message that "both sides must agree upon the fact that the shooting and killings must stop". She argued that "talks cannot continue as long as armed conflict does not stop". "Both sides are for finding an acceptable solution", she added. She stated that she was "impressed" with the fact that "people are for peace, and that they expressed this energetically and that they want change the situation politically".
"We had the privilege of receiving and saluting the representatives of Serbian democratic parties", said the negotiating team coordinator, Fehmi Agani. "We received them as representatives of a mission of good will, who came for talking and eventually finding solutions, which would prevent a larger-scale conflict in Kosova". He claimed that the two sides had their differences in some issues, especially concerning the status of Kosova. "We have many differences when it comes to the perception of the issue of Kosova. Of course, we see the solution in the framework of an independent republic, something that our guests from Belgrade disagreed with".
Member of G-6, Veton Surroi, commented the visit of the leaders of Serbian opposition parties to Prishtina as an "expression of good will". Asked why the Albanian side met with representatives of Serb opposition, while it refuses to meet with official representatives of Belgrade, Surroi said that: "if you want to create a political process, then you must meet with politically active people". He added that today's meeting cannot be "deemed as negotiations". "These talks were held so we could tell them things about the situation, which they do not know", said Veton Surroi, "their impression now, is very different from what it was in the beginning".KOSOVA (pro and con the constitution of the Parliament)
Parliament, National Council or KLAPrishtina, 14 July (ARTA) 2120CET--
The recent demands of the political parties in Kosova - the constitution of the long awaited parliament, on one hand and the foundation of the National Council, on the other - are the major "factors" that influenced largely the deep division of our political body. Despite the international mediation, which is nowadays in the function of uniting Kosova Albanians, our political parties still disagree. Despite the two meetings between the representatives of the political parties in Kosova, despite the appeals, the calls for unification made even by the KLA itself, everything still remains a stalemate. Parliament or National Council? This is the main issue between the political parties.
LDK vice-chairman, Kolë Berisha, thinks that: "…based on the demands of almost all the political parties of Kosova and the people in general, particularly the ones that voted on the 22 March elections, for this critical moment and the created reality in Kosova, the constitution of the parliament, for the time being is inevitable and even essential". He added that this issue was also discussed in yesterday's meeting of LDK's General Council, during which the agreement about the necessity of constituting the parliament was reached.
On the other hand, as he announced the continuation of the General Council's meeting, Berisha evaluated that these days the LDK parliamentary group is scheduled to meet. According to the LDK vice-chairman, "the parliament must be convened and the first session of its constitution must be held by the beginning of the coming week"
Discussing the concepts that came out from the two meetings between the political parties in Kosova, the vice-chairman of Kosova's Parliamentarian Party (PPK), Bajram Kosumi, claims that "the first concept is the one presented by LDK and its satellite parties it that have been consistent in the continuation of the current game with institutions, and not the constitution of the parliament". The second concept, on the other hand, is "the establishment of a joint body, meaning the National Council. We are stressing once more the fact that PPK is not a parliamentarian party and nobody is stopping the parliamentarian parties to establish their parliament..."
PPK's stand is that the foundation of a joint parties' body, which would have to create a correlation with KLA, not put it under control or monitor it, because KLA proved to be able to do that itself, is necessary. This body should be the National Council, which would claim all the political responsibility", declared the PPK vice-chairman, Bajram Kosumi.
This stand is supported by UNIKOMB, whose vice-chairman is Afrim Morina. He thinks that the "noise made recently for the constitution of the Parliament of the Republic of Kosova, is made precisely by this political class which prevented its constitution for six years in a row. Firstly because they feared for its own personality, they weren't willing to sacrifice a thing for the national interest", said Morina.
UNIKOMB vice-chairman reiterates that: "This party was never a political farce or a fictitious institution, but it is a coordination of activities with the political bodies, that correspond with the needs of the time. While half of Kosova is in war, a fact that is being ignored by the gentlemen who are making so much noise about the constitution of the parliament, the same thing is being done by Belgrade as well which is trying to present the war in Kosova as a clash between the police and the `terrorists'. We as a party, do not recognize a parliament that pretends to be constituted, not because of the fear that it would put KLA under control and we are convinced that if this parliament is constituted, then it will serve to the foreign interests and not to the Albanian ones". For it to be in the service of Albanians, Morina evaluates that "it would then have to be constituted in the KLA controlled zones, and not in Prishtina".
PRISHTINE, July
14 (ata) - ATA correspondent Behlul Jashari reports:
Fierce fighting which took place this morning
in Kosove was concentrated on the border line with Albania in the outskirts
of Gjakove. Serb Yugoslav army, police and paramilitary forces are shelling
the villages of Reke e Keqe in a broad area from Nec up to the suburbs
of Junik.
KLA (Kosove Liberation
Army) forces and Albanian population are defending themselves resolutely
against Serb attacks. An Albanian from Babaj i Bokes, Ali Rustemi, who
was wounded by the Serb army, died today in the hospital of Gjakove, where
another wounded man has also been sent.
Fierce gunfire
has taken place last night also in the suburbs of Decan. After three hours
of fighting, Serb forces were forced to withdraw, suffering great casualties.
Out of revenge the Serb forces while they were withdrawing set on fire
some houses in Carrabreg and in the city of Decan.
Serb forces have
also attacked the villages Isniq, Lluke e Eperme, Strellc and Prejlep.
An Albanian, teacher Isuf Ymeral, 67, was killed by shells of Serb forces
in Isniq.
According to sources
in the spot, in the mine of Trepce in Stanterg, about 6 km northeast of
Mitrovice, the number of the wounded in the ranks of the KLA is four. While
the losses in the Serb forces, both material damage and casualties are
considerable.
Sources from Prizren
report that from 10 p.m. up to 2 a.m. today from the base of the Yugoslav
army in Landovice heavy artillery pieces have opened fire in the direction
of Suhareke outskirts. Still there are no reports for the consequences.
/sh.Dha/mima/xh/
Turkish people have always been close to Albanian people - Demirel
TIRANA, July 14
(ATA)-Speaker of Albania's parliament Skender Gjinushi on Tuesday met with
the President of the Turkish Republic, Sulejman Demirel.
At this meeting
Gjinushi said that the Albanian parliament and all political forces, despite
differences in their programmes, want to further expand and promote the
relations with the Turkish republic.
Referring to the
situation in the region, Gjinushi said that regional integration cannot
be realised unless the national problems are resolved.
"Kosova, our main
problem, is in armed conflict. Wishing a peaceful solution, we assess that
actually Kosova is in Bosnia's conditions and the solution requires a proper
political and military alternation towards a second Dayton," said Gjinushi.
President Demirel
expressed readiness to increasingly strengthen the relations between the
two countries. In the new world context, Albania is building a new democratic
state, a new constitution, a new economic reality, he said.
He evaluated the
Albanian parliament, which supports the solution of the crisis in Kosova
through peaceful means, as well as the stand that Kosovars' demands be
articulated in a single voice.
The Bosnian drama
should not be repeated, said Demirel.
"We do not see any other
way besides that of peaceful solution. The Turkish people have always been
close to the Albanian people," he said. /a.ke/pas/lm/
Traditional friendship between Albania and
Turkey is a chance for both countries
- Speech of President Meidani in the dinner given
for the visiting Turkish President, Demirel
TIRANE, July 14
(ata) - In the official dinner given Tuesday evening to honour the president
of Turkey Sulejman Demirel who is visiting Albania, the President of Albania,
Rexhep Meidani highlighted the continuous interest of Turkey in the affairs
and problems of Albania, in its stability.
"I would like
to reiterate that, in particular Turkey of this decade has extended the
hand of hospitality to Albania without hesitation," said Meidani.
Mentioning Turkey's
participation in NATO, which has been a factor for peace in the region,
President Meidani said that "membership in European organizations and in
the NATO is the fundamental objective of Albania. In our forward march,"
he said, we have also accounted the support from friends and allies, hence
the unsparing support of Turkey."
Focusing on the
international relations, Meidani said that Turkey and Albania are closely
cooperating also in the framework of the international organizations or
regional initiatives. He mentioned on this occasion the project of East-West
Corridor or Corridor 8.
With regard to
the situation in Kosove, Meidani said: "We are realistic, we consider calmly
the space and land parameters and we take into account the developments
in the field when we say that a genuine peace in Kosove will be that based
on the legitimate right of the Albanian people of Kosove to enjoy what
they are entitled to according to international conventions."
"Turkey has always
proved a high sensitiveness towards developments in Kosove," said Meidani.
He voiced the gratitude of the Albanian people for the continuous and unreserved
contribution that the Turkish state, government and society have in general
made to support a lasting and peaceful solution to the question of Kosove.
"The word and
role of Turkey have a special weight in the road that the solution of this
internationalized problem will take," stressed President Meidani. /a.ke/pas/xh/
Demirel says 65 million Turks are close to
Albania
-Turkish president unfolds plan to resolve
Kosova issue-
TIRANA, July 15
(ATA)-By Y. Pata,
The President
of the Republic of Turkey, Sulejman Demirel, on Wednesday told the Albanian
parliament that Turkey will always be close to Albania in case of need.
"The aim of this
visit is to publicly declare that 65 million Turks are close to the Albanian
people," said Demirel in his speech before deputies.
In the context
of a two day visit to Albania, the president of the Turkish Republic, on
Wednesday before noon, held a speech at the Albanian parliament.
He proposed a
four-point plan to resolve the Kosova issue.
This plan consists
in an immediate halt of bloodshed in Kosova; restoration of the fundamental
human rights and freedoms of Albanians in Kosova; immediate start and without
hesitation of dialogue between the parties and return to their lands of
all the people forcefully driven out of Kosova.
Demirel criticised
the international community for delay in intervening in Kosova. Turkey,
he said, is ready to take part in any operation of peace, if decided upon
by the International Community.
"We should in
no case allow a repeat of the terrible tragedy of Bosnia," he said.
The Turkish president
also spoke of the indispensability of expanding Albanian-Turkish relations
in all fields.
Also present in
this parliamentary session was Albanian President Rexhep Meidani. /s.sh/pas/lm/
PRISHTINE, 15 July /ENTER/- Albanian sources in Pristine report fierce fighting which took place tuesday morning in Kosove on the border line with Albania in the outskirts of Gjakove. Serb Yugoslav army, police and paramilitary forces are shelling the villages of Reke e Keqe in a broad area from Nec up to the suburbs of Junik. KLA (Kosove Liberation Army) forces and Albanian population are defending themselves resolutely against Serb attacks. An Albanian from Babaj i Bokes, Ali Rustemi, who was wounded by the Serb army, died today in the hospital of Gjakove, where another wounded man has also been sent. Fierce gunfire has taken place last night also in the suburbs of Decan. After three hours of fighting, Serb forces were forced to withdraw, suffering great casualties. Out of revenge the Serb forces while they were withdrawing set on fire some houses in Carrabreg and in the city of Decan. Serb forces have also attacked the villages Isniq, Lluke e Eperme, Strellc and Prejlep. An Albanian, teacher Isuf Ymeral, 67, was killedby shells of Serb forces in Isniq.
DEMIREL: THE BOSNIA DRAMA WONT BE REPEATED IN KOSOVA
TIRANA, 15 July /enter/- The turkish president
and his delegations, within their program met the albanian personalities,
including albanian president Meidani, premier Nano and speaker of Albania's
parliament kender Gjinushi. During all these meeting the good relations
between the two countries and the sitiation in the region were discussed.
President Demirel expressed readiness to increasingly strengthen the relations
between the two countries. In the new world context, Albania is building
a new democratic state, a new constitution, a new economic reality, he
said. He evaluated the Albanian parliament, which supports the solution
of the crisis in Kosova through peaceful means, as well as the stand that
Kosovars' demands be articulated in a single voice.
The Bosnian drama should not be repeated, said
Demirel. "We do not see any other way besides that of peaceful solution.
The Turkish people have always been close to the Albanian people," he said.
In a official dinner given by the albanian president,
he said that Tu key is a important factor for peace in the region, adding
that "membership in European organizations and in the NATO is the fundamental
objective of Albania. In our forward march," he said.
Focusing on the international relations, Meidani
said that Turkey and Albania are closely cooperating also in the framework
of the international organizations or regional initiatives. He mentioned
on this occasion the project of East-West Corridor or Corridor 8.
55 TONS OF TURKISH RED CRESCENT AID FOR REFUGEES FROM KOSOVE
TIRANE, 15 July ./enter/- The Organization of the Turkish Red Crescent donated Tuesday to the Albanian Red Cross a 55 ton aid for refugees from Kosove who left their homes towards the North of Albania to escape Serb violence and repression. "In the course of the support by analogous associations through the International Federation of the associations of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, for the Albanian Red Cross to help the refugees from the region of Kosove, the Red Crescent has delivered a contingent of assistance consisting of basic food items," the chief of the sector of Communication and Sources in this organization, Zamir Muca said. According to Muca, the aid consists of flour, sugar, cooking oil, rice, 2 500 blankets and 5 tons of medicaments for various infectious and chronic diseases. In cooperation with the International Federation of the Associations of Red Cross and Red Crescent, the Albanian Red Cross has sent so far 179 tons of food in the district of Tropoje and in the districts of Durres, Tirane, Kruje, where Albanians of of Kosove are accommodated
200O NATO FORCES IN ALBANIA
TIRANE, 15 JULY, ENTER/ - Sources of Defence Ministry of Albania has informed said the infantry forces will organise a combined military exercise with the Nato troops during august at the military base of Bize, 200 km north east of Tirana. This will be the biggest military manoeuvres ever organised in Albania where more than 2000 NATO forces will participate. It is expected that the general commander of NATO or Europe Clark will participate and visit Albania during these exercises. The NATO forces will be presented by the soldiers of USA, Italy, Germany, Spain, Turkey, Nedertheland, Belgium, Denmark, Norvegia and other countries.
KOSOVA
BATTLE FOR PRISHTINA
By Mufail LIMANI
While fighting erupts, or last preparations for
it are made all around Kosova, Prishtina has become a political province
indeed; on the other hand, transforming Prishtina into Kosova's political
capitol, through a demand that Albanians should have a single competent
and fully legitimate center to communicate with, has become an actual international
matter. Naturally everyone knows what we have here is that KLA should get
into politics, meaning that force will be more close for KLA, and will
perhaps have a major weight for future developments.
At the third DLK convention
Dr. Rugova made the biggest mistake in his career: he overestimated the
role of the personality in history (which he himself spoke of at that convention...),
he changed and sacked the entire party leadership, with very important
representatives of all relevant political views in Kosova. Hence he, in
fact, remained alone.
In elections that followed
in March, amidst Serbian massacres that were beginning to take place, people
had gone in demonstrations against Serbia, with almost no one even looking
at what was written on the ballots... But Rugova's "friends" do not explain
these elections as such. Quite the opposite, the course of the third convention
and March elections were totally misread by those who have influence at
Rugova, averting him from the most essential thing - that for a long time
now Rugova has no simple status of a national personality or symbol in
Kosova, who people like more or less then others, and that he was a real
embodiment of Albanians' crucial need to be unified in face of the Serbian
threat. His critics never entirely understood this spontaneous popular
need as those who profited from Rugovism. The misreading of Rugovism, as
a massive, almost religious idolatry of a man, seems to be the very factor
that leaves Kosova lacking a serious political decision making center.
And that Kosova is still
not such unexperienced in political life, it suffices to recall a popular
support for Communist leaders by the end of '80-ies, when they started
openly quarrelling with Milosevic. Those who have forgotten this, perhaps
ashamed of those days, are the ones to blame why they once underestimated
and once overestimated the political maturity of the average Kosovar. Put
into a single word, by attaching the entire weight of "power" on a single
man, with a clear and not too disgraceful purpose of putting under control
all developments in Kosova, quite the opposite was achieved: Kosova, some
maintain, has been decapitated.
Rather then decapitated,
Kosova today has been left without political monopoly. In this situation,
DLK now tries to preserve as much influence through Rugova and Western
diplomacy, for which he remains a major player, with the most significant
aspect being the demand for the constitution of the parliament where DLK,
in fact, has no opposition whatsoever. This demand is nothing less that
an open attempt for Dema‡i's and Qosja's new expulsion from politics.
This attempt for the
constitution of the parliament, which derives from the dubious elections
(which is proven by the immaterial influence of current representatives
in their electoral units) revives the fear as far as the prospects of a
new consensus among Albanian leaders, being that at the very start, by
reaffirming monopoly, it excludes the idea of consensus. Anyhow, a further
denial of the DLK monopoly by Americans is a sign that days of all calculations
with the one- party monopoly in this party are gone for good. The sooner
they see this they will be better off. Those who are left, ought to learn
form mistakes of the others...
COOPERATION AND RIVALRIES
By Fehmi AGANI
Should the parliament be accepted or not, convoked
or not, should it function or not? How come there are such dilemmas concerning
the parliament of the Republic of Kosova? It is indeed hard to understand!
There may be a lot of
truth in numerous objections as far as the elections. But, who can deny
the legitimacy of the elections with the turn out of over 80% of potential
voters! And, who may be interested in denying the Parliament which in our
case is the furthermost important institution of the statehood?! And how
come an institutional vacuum is created exactly when the Republic of Kosova
craves to be recognized and affirmed?!
There is no need to
mystify the role of the institutions, consequently neither of the parliament!
But, nor to belittle its function by artificial analogy. Less can we problematize
its composition. There are no illusions as far as prospects of functioning
of this parliament. But, even its mere symbolic functioning as a parliament
of the Republic of Kosova, even if as only its contest of Serbia and its
pretensions in Kosova, the fact that we can say that Serbian parliament
is not ours, and that its laws are invalid to us, and that they can only
be imposed as laws of the occupying power - even this fact only, does this
not suffice to constitute the parliament as soon as possible, to demand
accountability solely from it, to eventually push the constitution of the
parliament?
The National Council
which is being recommended, even though such institutions may be very fruitful,
in the concrete case means giving up from the statehood institutions; to
me it sounds something like 'National Council - Sulejman Ugljanin"! It
cannot replace the parliament, it can only be its degradation!
The president? There
is much to be said on this subject. Not enlisting into the camp of those
who are today inclined only to disapprovingly weigh his function, I have
to say that there was and still is much misunderstanding regarding this
function.
First, it is commonly
forgotten that president as an institution exists only in the system of
institutions and therefore, if there is no parliament (and government),
there can also be no president. Not to mention various aspects of realizing
its very function. But, the president is the one elected and dr. Rugova
is the one who has been elected, not longer ago then this year.
Relations between institutions
are always complex, and the act of elections does not sanctify every action
taken. Elections, on the contrary, create obligations and responsibilities,
with a obligation of establishing a cooperative spirit that can not be
realized through isolation and scorn, but through encountering permanently
discussing matters of this or that view with his associates, certainly
being among the most important. Anyhow, disagreements in these relations
through designated, institutional procedures, such as early elections and
other ways, cannot help but seriously damage the cooperation as well as
the Kosova question.
Political disagreements
are not seldom anywhere, and therefore should not come as a surprise. But,
Kosova finds itself in moments when its destiny is decided, at least at
this stage. Hence, one can understand the public pressure not to allow,
regardless of who is right and who is not on particular matters, inter-Albanian
disagreements with all the emotional weight they carry, to damage or prolong
the most favorable settlement possible.
AVOIDING A BIG POLITICAL MISTAKE
By Adem DEMAÇI
Mr Rugova's and his supporters' policy of wrong
"investments" was found, precisely during this hot summer, before full
bankruptcy. In order to escape full bankruptcy, mr Rugova, his supporters,
his followers and his advisors have thought of finding creditors who would
be prepared to cover up their political losses.
For this purpose, mr
Rugova and other political bankrupts called a "consultation" of all "parliamentarian"
and non parliamentarian parties. The idea was to urge the non parliamentarian
parties to become partners with bankrupts so these deceivers and swindlers
could, for some time, continue selling fog and illusions.
Let's see whether one
can trust mr Rugova, and whether one can work with mr Rugova? How can you
trust a man who has not only tried to stop mr Gelbard in making a mistake
by unjustly accusing KLA as a terrorist organization, but has made the
very same mistake himself, after which the Serbian regime was given a green
light to massacre the martyr people of Drenica under the veil of "fighting
terrorism"?
A question rises - who
are those who hold lectures on unification? The very same ones that all
along engaged in splinters so they could preserve the political monopoly;
the very same that due to extremely low political level helped and supported
our political splinters and defeats in the name of unification around never
created and non existent institutions even nowadays.
Joining these individuals
means that you are headed toward a bottomless well! Because only lunatics
may try to carry coal to Newcastle! We engage and we will engage for unification,
because even little children know that unification builds strength, but
not by carrying coal to Newcastle, not with sour apples and not with bearers
of bankrupt politics.
Let us round up this
"tale" for all those who urge us to join "those who carry coal to Newcastle".
It is an argument, seemingly small, but with great meaning. Why has mr
Milosevic stated that he is prepared to meet only and only mr Rugova? Well,
for the mere fact that mr Rugova for so many times now has shown as such
a soft, such generous and such "spendthrift" man so he could be prepared,
despite big words he speaks, to sell Albanians' interests. Many people
still talk more than think, still wish more than work, give more then buy
airs, consequently we find ourselves in this political destitution.
CONSENSUS OR DISSENSUS
By Mehmet HAJRIZI
Many a thing was responsibly or irresponsibly
written these days on the topic of consensus, on the unity and on the unification.
We all know, and we all understand the historical weight of the consensus
today as an internal need and external demand, but not the same goes for
criteria and ways it may be reached. This can best be illustrated by the
recent meetings of representatives of Kosova political subjects who dealt
exactly with this topic.
Conceptual differences
of these meetings consist in the continuation of already failed practices
of the past, or in their change. The previous legislature of the Republic
of Kosova, in spite of all ceaseless and various forms insistence of representatives
and political subjects, was never convoked. The Kosova public not even
today knows anything about fundamental reasons why parliament and bodies
which derive from it were not constituted, since we metanymycally spoke
about the effects rather than reasons. Therefore, we ought to clarify these
reasons and those who caused them in order to understand better current
phenomenons in the political arena.
Those that yesterday's
did not want because they lacked the courage, boldness and will to institutionalize
the independence of the Republic of Kosova, fail to do that today, too.
This March elections were carried not only without a considerable part
of our national movement, but further worse, against it, by settling accounts
with it in a lowest possible way: by the misuse of the electorate, misuse
of its sentiments and votes.
The parliament deriving
from the March elections not only does not represent the unification of
our entire political and national subject, but also does not represent
those who participate in it, because four months have e already passed
without convoking its constitutive meetings. Whoever else would have blocked
this meeting, but not non-parliamentarian, as they please to call them,
subjects.
Now the very same subjects
are urged not to jointly and sincerely deal with capital matters of our
broken down movement toward building, with democratic suggestions, our
common responsibilities, but are rather urged for consensus so they could
endlessly continue their game of deceit and illusion with strong but fictive
words.
How can you forge new
associations, build the unity of a national movement and the consensus
without repairing big damages caused by blows against the Prishtina University
students' movement, by disregarding and scornful stance against the organized
and already internationally recognized national resistance, or by treating
subjects of this movement as convinced scribes.
The political subject
of Kosova, united or splintered, should ultimately understand (if it still
remains on the arena) that the a chapter of our movement, that started
on October 1, 1997, has already been completed. Like it or not this chapter
cannot be brought back. New realities can not be treated by old archetypes.
Old ideas of their authors sink together with past times.
Organized masses have
already replaced sick political protagonists, courage has replaced fear,
and the real cult of freedom has replaced mystified idols. "When masses
get on the political arena", used to say Zwieg, "courage is the decisive
nominator in all calculations".
ON THE INAUGURAL EXPEDITION OF THE INTERNATIONAL
MONITORING MISSION IN KOSOVA
DIPLOMATIC PICNIC THROUGH RUINS OF HUMAN CONSCIENCE...
By Agron RAMAJ
Although in his speech mr Miles announced that
a mixed convoy of diplomats and journalists would pass through four Serbian
police checkpoints, not specifying whether this implies stopping, it was
very soon clear that Serbian authorities had tried to maximally relativize
the significance of police checkpoints during this expedition.
The convoy procreated
by the first police checkpoint at the entrance to Vushtërri without
stopping, passed through the outskirts of Mitrovica, Shipol, and headed
toward Skënderaj. Only few kilometers out of Shipol, passengers of
this convoy started encountering a new reality - a horrifying void along
the road replaced Shipol's streets full of people, a void which was disturbed
only by a convoy of Serbian police armored vehicles which was passing by
shortly before noon.
And police officers
are the first living creatures to emerge. At high noon convoy makes its
first stop at the police checkpoint in Klina e Epërme, on the road
junction that leads to Peja and Skënderaj.
Soon as the auto convoy
stops, diplomats go ahead, followed by rushing reporters who hope to grasp
bits of the discussion between diplomats and the police. But, a low stature
police officer, with an automatic rifle in his hands, assisted in conversation
by ambassador Kotov with his knowledge of English, only reports that situation
during the day is quiet, with shooting from surrounding hills during the
night.
After passing the checkpoint
on the entrance to Klina e Epërme, the convoy continues its way through
this quiet scattered village, and while approaching Skënderaj there
are people emerging reporting that this village is, still not completely,
abandoned.
Once in Skënderaj,
the situation changes - roads are barren, you perhaps see a man in every
hundred meters. Barren roads of Skënderaj seem to make heaviest impression
on passengers of the convoy who speak the same language with this towns'
inhabitants that have fled. On the other hand, there are but few policemen
- it looks as preparations for the diplomatic convoy were completed on
time.
The auto convoy doesn't
make a stop in Skënderaj. The next stop is Polaci i Ri, situated on
a hill from which Skënderaj is controlled, and where, half an hour
past noon, there were less then dozen policemen. Albanian forces are positioned
only couple of kilometers further.
As the convoy stops,
diplomats go forward again, and they are followed by reporters, but the
"dialogue" this time around is shorter. The Serbian commander of the checkpoint,
with a clearly simulated self confidence, says that he cannot say anything.
Regardless of the fact that mr Miles had announced in Prishtina that they
could go little further beyond this point, which optimists interpreted
as a chance of meeting members of the Kosova Liberation Army, this did
not happen. As asserted, reasons were of a diplomatic nature, and disagreements
in this regard were expressed up front the convoy, in the car with wavering
American and Russian flags.
The return to the road
that leads to Prekaz i Poshtëm showed that this is quite a different
experience.
You could not see a
living thing along the road. Even dead dogs lying along the unpaved road
showed that practically no one was saved around here. The road passes through
a woody hill, where the Ammunition factory is located, which represents
a Serbian police stronghold.
In ruins of Prekazi
i Ulët many diplomats are not in first rows. They remain almost alone
once they get of their cars. Reporters rush towards destroyed houses, despite
the warning by the U.S. mission chief of security that there may be explosive
devices. Those devices are, for sure, not the only things to impede reporters:
on the steep rise reaching the houses, colleagues from Reuters are attacked
by "reporters" - civilian Serbian policemen. Nothing has changed in the
house of Jasharaj family since that day of March 5 when they suffered a
massive attack by the Serbian police. Traces of destruction are a proof
to the visitors that the battle on that day of March was fought until the
end.
Nevertheless, a heavy
atmosphere of stillness, which terrifies, prevails in this unseen destruction.
Nor reporters and some diplomat, such as Italian ambassador mr Ricardo
Sesa, when they get nearer for a closer look of what has remained inside,
break this stillness. On the ground floor of the two story house visitors
notice a pair of children shoes, among others. Whose shoes may be... Blerim's,
Besarta's, Kushtrim's or...? It is difficult to answer this question in
the house that had twelve children among victims...
WITNESSES OF FIGHTING IN BARDHI I MADH AND HADE
THEY WERE USING HEAVY ARTILLERY WHILE MY SON
WAS USING A WELDED GUN
By Besa ILAZI
The crack down of the Serbian police and army
ten days ago in Bardh i Madh, Lismir and Hade forced more then 30 thousand
inhabitants of these and other close villages flee their homes. Most of
them have sought shelter in safer places, and it is claimed that a number
of them, thousands of them, are still somewhere in Qyqavica mountain whereabouts
awaiting starved and hopelessly to return to their homes. Whereas in the
village of Hade prevails a graveyard silence, and one can only occasionally
hear sniper shots fired by the Serbian police, in Bardhi i Madh you may
notice the movement of the KLA members if not of the domestic population...
From some that succeeded
in getting out of these villages we tried to find out how KLA took Bardhi
i Madh, how were villagers organized in defence, and to learn about the
crack down of the Serbian police and army.
A youngster from Bardhi
i Madh, who found shelter in Prishtina together with his eleven member
family, says: "On Monday, June 22, the day KLA took over Bardhi i Madh,
I was not at home. The next day I came home and the very same day, at eleven
11 A.M., villagers gathered in order to decide how to act. Unfortunately,
as you may know, DLK in Bardhi i Madh was divided in two factions, and
the faction of Prekopuca, who is very influential in villages, had previously
gotten in contact with KLA soldiers, those of Zhilivoda. The other faction,
the faction of Ahmet Krasniqi was constantly engaged all along the way;
we had tried to help inhabitants of these regions with food and medicaments
since war erupted in Drenica. Bardhi i Madh, on the other hand, was the
only supply route for this region, but how did all this happen, no one
can explain. Some say that KLA was forced to take the open mine pit so
it could avoid the stationing of the police in those parts..."
"But, something quite
different emerged; at the meeting names of leaders and commanders, all
fellow villagers of Prekopuca's faction, as well as of dubious individuals,
which were known for frauds much earlier, were read and we found ourselves
before a completed act, and we had our destiny in hands of individuals
one could not trust. We were disillusioned: how can a mass of 3-4 thousand
people follow individuals one can not trust. Later we were told by a soldier
that they were simply astounded with this people, how can they be so indifferent,
but then he too had suspected if they had knocked at the wrong door, which
was proven to be true. So, in that, call it, disarray that lasted for a
week people, although not opposing assignments given to them, such as opening
trenches and small shelters, carried out everything unwillingly. We in
the village had a man who had graduated the military academy, but he was
ignored and never asked about anything, never engaged for anything. They
wanted to verify his past, his record... He, nevertheless, tried and all
day long warned them that the attack would be carried not from Slatina
pines, as it was thought, but from the opposite end, from Dobro Sella,
thing later to be proven right.
The population began
fearing, and most of the inhabitants of these villages started pulling
out their families since the very first days. But, various individuals,
not soldiers, from surrounding villages, in the name of the army, were
thwarting them. They used to stop families on the road and send them back.
They maltreated our
children, and on the other hand they had pulled out their families themselves
days before. One of them even gave a totally irrational answer bearing
in mind the massacre in Prekazi i Ulët, saying that children should
not be pulled out because where there were children there would be no massacres.
It is not true that
villagers of Bardhi i Madh were offered weapons and that they had refused
them. There were no weapons, this was KLA's major concern".
"The attack of the police
and army began Sunday, somewhere around noon, at 2 P.M. Initially there
were sporadic shots from light weapons, and then two grenades were fired,
exploding on the entrance to Bardhi i Madh. That was the front line. They
shelled Bardhi i Madh, there are many houses destroyed, but none has totally
been burnt down. Fortunately, the population had pulled out earlier, with
only men staying behind. There were large movements of the population,
because soldiers all the time needed help..."
"Now I have found shelter
in Prishtina together with my six member family; I have my brother and
his four members family, and my mother, with me now too. There were massive
movements of the population from all villages of that part, not only from
Bellacevac. The population of Fushë Kosova, of the village Halilaq,
that is close to the army, Sllatina e Madhe, Sllatina e Vogël, Bardhi
i Madh, Bardhi i Vogël, Pomozetin, Grabovc, they all moved. Then villagers
of Obiliq municipality, Leshkoshiq, Shipitullë, Grabovc i Epërm,
Hamidi, Plemetin, Hade also moved... Some headed toward the town, and some
others toward Drenica and Qyqavica mountains. But, the situation is particularly
difficult for those who pulled out toward mountains and Drenica, because
it is known that Drenica, as it is, is an impoverished region, particularly
now when the only supply route for assistance has been blocked, and when
there is no food... We came through mountains around Sllatina and up to
Prishtina. The population of Bardhi i Madh moves from time to time, we
go for water for cattle and food, for a simple thing we need. The electric
power was cut off four or five days before making the already difficult
life more difficult for those who stayed behind. Dishonorable individuals
have come to the village to rob us... We think of returning to our homes
as soon as possible, but based on the positions of the Serbian police and
army, we think this will not happen soon", says by the end a disillusioned
youngster from Bardhi i Madh.
INTERVIEW
JANUSZ BUGAJSKI
THE INDEPENDENCE OF KOSOVA WAS UNNEEDEDLY
REFUSED
By Isuf HAJRIZI, NEW YORK
Z RI: Do you find the NATO threat real, or are we heading toward a strenuous path of awaiting and lagging as in Bosnia despite the statements given by Clinton and some others?
BUGAJSKI: I fear that developments from last week show that we Americans have pulled back. We have pulled back from a strong threat against Milosevic urging him to revoke all forces from Kosova. He refused this, and at the same time recruited Russia to assist it so it could, once more, escape the NATO attack, similar to Bosnia before the Dayton Accords. Milosevic acts only up to the scale of not forcing NATO to embark its attack against it. I fear that we have made too many compromises by balancing the blame between Milosevic's forces and the Kosova Liberation Army. As we all know, most of the KLA guerrillas defend their homes. However, I think that NATO threat is on the table, and if Milosevic were to decide to get involved in a major crack down in order to massacre the population and force massive expulsion, then the NATO threat would become more real. But, even if NATO threat did not exist, I think that war in Kosova will continue whether NATO gets in or not. This war will drag. NATO intervention would shorten this dragging, the nonintervention would stretch it.
Z RI: In what measure has the splinter in the Kosovar leadership complicated efforts of the United States to resolve this problem?
BUGAJSKI: Unfortunately Kosova leadership does not speak with a single voice. There have always been political cracks among Rugova's people, on one side, and Dema‡i's people and some other parties and individuals, on the other. Now a new factor has emerged, the KLA which has appointed its official spokesman. KLA hesitates to be connected to any of these groupations, and may head toward creating a sort of its own Sein Feinn which would speak on its behalf. I think that KLA's participation is necessary in any kind of talks, since it has already turned into a serious war force. But, the splinter in the Kosovar leadership does not help America, which can simply not talk only to Rugova or any of his advisors or some other leaders, and take this as an unified stance. On the other hand, Rugova is not able to take control over the movement, and the same goes for a part of the KLA which is not able of controlling the entire movement on the ground. Not being a concentrated force, KLA remains a decentralized guerilla force, which may be required for current circumstances. However, this form of action within KLA makes negotiations more difficult.
Z RI: Is there any particular strategy that the United States and is allies continue their support of Rugova, despite their awareness that Kosova president is losing control?
BUGAJSKI: I would say that they have no one else
they would support, so the United States continue to support Rugova, being
that they supported him from the very beginning. He is a man devoted to
the resolution of the problem in a peaceful way despite the fact that the
U.S. administration has not agreed to his objective, namely to the independence
of Kosova. But they have agreed to his strategy, to his tactics, to his
peaceful manner, to his nonviolent approach. Ignore Rugova at this time,
I think this would have produced confusion in America, lacking another
personality to talk to. Could that person be a KLA or opposition member?
If we abandoned Rugova, then we would have to insist on new elections or
on a new referendum in order to see who the people would chose.
Of course, KLA should participate in that process.
But it would be very difficult to hold elections at the time when everyone
is aware how difficult is to hold simple elections anywhere in Yugoslavia,
let alone in war time. I think that the U.S. administration will continue
to support Rugova despite his weakening. But, the administration will,
nevertheless, increase its contacts with KLA.
Z RI: Few days ago U.S. envoy Richard Holbrooke stated that the status of Kosova should change within Yugoslavia. Does this imply the status of republic for Kosova, and is this the end to which Americans are aspiring?
BUGAJSKI: Yes, I think that the United States, although they have not stated this publicly, see the status of the republic as something that both sides would consent to. In other words, Kosova as the third Republic in the remnant Yugoslavia. Even though we are not certain what reaction could this cause in Montenegro, whose leadership is against such a status for Kosova, and could consequently seek a loose confederation, which would sent us back to 1991, when Yugoslavia disintegrated. I think that many governments have unneededly refused the option of the Kosova's independence. In fact, we should carefully see what kind of independence we are dealing with, what sovereignty, what kind of state would Kosova become toward fulfilling the will of the Kosova people by not causing instability in Balkans. My argument would be, if independence contributed the movement toward democracy and would have helped in overthrowing Milosevic in Serbia, then I think that independence is a right option. It is impossible to deny the option of the independence when 100 per cent of the Kosova people want it.
--- SUBMITTED BY PRESS NOW, AMSTERDAM 1998 ---
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