Tagesnachrichten 16. Juli 1998
von ALBANEWS und anderen
Daily Report No 1492 July 16, 1998
Kosova Information Center
Tagesnachrichten 16. 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.
Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT # 1492
Prishtina, 16 July 1998
Parliament of the Republic of Kosova Holds
Inaugural Session Today
Idriz Ajeti elected President of
the Parliament, Rugova Sworn-in as President of the Republic
PRISHTINA, July 16 (KIC) - The Parliament of the
Republic of Kosova held its inaugural meeting just after noon in Prishtina
today (Thursday).
The meeting was held in the seat of the Presidency
of Kosova.
The President of the Republic of Kosova, Dr.
Ibrahim Rugova, who was re-elected on 22 March, the day the Kosovar legislature
was elected, opened the inaugural meeting.
The national anthem was sung at the outset. Then
a two-minute silence was observed for Albanians who have died in the Serbian
military and police aggression of this year.
President Rugova asked the deputies, and they
agreed, that the Parliament has three vice-chairmen.
The Democratic League of Kosova (LDK), the ruling
party, put forward as its candidate for the President of the Parliament
of Kosova, Idriz Ajeti. The deputies chose him by acclamation.
The three vice-presidents of the Parliament were
elected from the opposition parties, Ilaz Kurteshi (PSDK), Zef Morina (PSHDK),
and Gjergj Dedaj (PLK). They, too, were elected by acclamation.
Secretary-General of the Parliament was elected
Fatmir Sejdiu.
At 12:40 the President of the Republic of Kosova,
Ibrahim Rugova, made this swearing-in declaration:
"I swear that I will dedicate all my power to
the attainment and preservation of the independence of the Republic of
Kosova and its territorial integrity, the implementation of the liberties
and human and civic rights, the respecting and defending of the Constitution
and the laws, the maintaining of peace and well-being of all the citizens
of the Republic of Kosova, and that I, with consciousness and accountability,
will discharge all my duties. I swear!".
The swearing-in declaration of the President
was applauded by all the MPs.
Naip Zeka, an MP of the LDK, proposed that the
Parliament of the Republic of Kosova adopted an Declaration on the situation
in Kosova. The MPs asked the leaders of parliamentary groups that they
draft the text of the Declaration.
The Parliament then proceeded with the verification
of the mandates of the deputies to the Parliament of the Republic.
Naim Jerliu, the youngest of the MPs, read out
and others followed in the swearing-in ceremony of the MPs.
The text of the swearing-in declaration of the
MPs was as follows:
"I swear that I will engage with responsibility
and consciousness for the independence and sovereignty of the Republic
of Kosova, for the realization and protection of the freedoms and human
and national rights of its citizens, in full accordance with the Constitution
and the laws of the Republic of Kosova".
The President of the Republic of Kosova Dr. Ibrahim
Rugova declared the first session of the Parliament closed. He expressed
his conviction in the work of the Parliament.
Participating in the first meeting of the Parliament
was the majority of MPs elected on 22 March. A number of MPs, mostly those
from the war-torn areas, have failed to attend today's meeting.
In the 22 March 1998 election 118 deputies, out
of 130, were elected. In some municipalities of Kosova elections were put
off because of the grave situation, as Serb aggression had started in parts
of Kosova.
Idriz Ajeti, President of the Parliament of Kosova
PRISHTINA, July 16 (KIC) - Idriz Ajeti (1917),
who was elected President of the Parliament of Kosova today, is a leading
academic of Albanian studies in Kosova and indeed in the Albanian world
as a whole.
A Professor Emeritus of the History of Albanian
Language, Ajeti was rector of the University of Prishtina; director of
the Institute of Albanian Studies; director of the International Seminar
of Albanian Studies.
Since 1995, Professor Idriz Ajeti has been President
of the Academy of Arts and Sciences of Kosova, the top intellectual research
institution in Kosova.
Serb Police/Security Intervenes after Close of Historic Meeting for Kosova
PRISHTINA, July 16 (KIC) - While the members of
the Parliament of the Republic of Kosova were leaving the premises of the
Kosova Presidency [the Kosova Writers Association (KWA) building], Serbian
police and security showed up with two personnel carriers, several police
cars and a police vehicle for transport of arrestees.
Armed Serb policemen asked the MPs and many journalists
disperse. Many policemen rushed to the entry of the KWA building, whereas
the guards asked the police/security not to get in.
An armed policemen entered the premises of the
Kosova Information Center (KIC), in an adjacent small building, asking
the people in what they were doing.
At 13:05 Nicholas Hill, the First Secretary of
the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade, arrived to the Kosova Presidency/KWA building.
After him were a number of Serb security officers in plain clothes. Mr.
Hill entered the building where a number of MPs, LDK and other party officials,
as well as President Ibrahim Rugova of Kosova, were in.
A number of Serb security officers entered the
Presidency/KWA building, too.
At 13:08 a number of policemen walked away from
the area. At 13:10 hrs, a number of citizens arrived in front of the building,
disturbed by the police presence there.
At 13:13, Serb security officers in plain clothes
walked out of the Presidency/KWA building with amounts of written material
that they confiscated.
An employee with the administration said Serb
security had seized material of today assuming that it belonged to the
newly- inaugurated Parliament.
In front of the Presidency/KWA building, MPs,
journalists and citizens remained.
Before 14:00 hrs, the U.S, diplomat, Nicholas
Hill, left the building.
The President of the Republic of Kosova Dr. Ibrahim
Rugova left at 14:00 hrs. The crowd of people, MPs and citizens, gave Rugova
a long and loudly applaud.
The MPs to the Parliament had one common thing
to say to journalists: This is an historic day for Kosova.
Serb Forces Attack Three Villages in Prizen Municipality Thursday Afternoon
PRISHTINA, July 16 (KIC) - Serb forces launched
today (Thursday) afternoon a heavy attack against three villages in Prizren
municipality, at the border area with Albania, local sources said.
Reports said the villages of Billushë, Hoçë
e Qytetit and Jeshkovë came under heavy fire at around 14:00. The
villages are being attacked with all kinds of weapons, including machine
guns and cannons, an LDK activist in Prizren said, who noted that the echo
of detonation could be heard in the town itself.
The village of Billushë, Hoçë
e Qytetit and Jeshkovë are about ten kilometers west of Prizren.
Only a few people could be seen in the streets
of Prizren this afternoon and virtually all the shops were closed in the
town, local LDK sources said. No report has been yet available about possible
casualties.
Lower-Intensity Fighting in Border Zone Villages Overnight
PRISHTINA, July 16 (KIC) - Firefighting was reported
overnight and today morning in the border area villages with Albania, known
as 'Reka e Keqe' region, in southwestern Kosova.
Local sources said the skirmishes during the
last night were of a lower intensity compared to the fighting over the
past couple of days.
The villages of Nec, Ramoc, Stubëll, Berjah,
Smolicë, and the area stretching as far as the outskirts of Junik
have been continuously shelled by Serb forces over the past days.
The LDK Information Commission in Gjakova said
immense damage was caused in the Reka e Keqe villages as a result of continued
shelling. Scores of Albanian houses were levelled to the ground, including
the local school at Duzhaja village.
Reports from Gjakova speak of stepped up movement
of Serb forces in the town as well as in the direction of the border zone
villages.
A large number of political and human rights
activists in Gjakova have had their homes raided on and were arrested.
The body of an Albanian, Vllaznim Avdyl Jetishi
(20), taken earlier by the Serb police to the town morgue, has not been
collected by anyone yet. Whereas two wounded Albanians, one of them named
as Qerim I. Jetishi, are being strictly guarded by the Serb police in the
town hospital in Gjakova. LDK sources in Gjakova could not still learn
the identity of the second man.
Serb Media Claim 20 Serb Policemen Were Wounded near Mitrovica Wednesday
PRISHTINA, July 16 (KIC) - Serb media reported
today of 20 Serb policemen wounded near Mitrovica Wednesday afternoon.
According to the Serb press, groups of armed
Albanians opened mortar fire on a bus with Serb police on board yesterday
at about 4 p.m. The incident occurred near the Ternac village on the Mitrovica-
Skenderaj roadway, reports said.
Four Serb policemen received life-threatening
wounds, whereas the rest were injured slightly. The wounded policemen were
transferred to Belgrade for treatment, the Serb media said.
Albanians Face Criminal Charges for Delivering Relief to People in Drenica
PRISHTINA, July 16 (KIC) - The office of the Serb-installed
Public Prosecutor in Prishtina said it has brought criminal charges against
three Albanians from Prishtina and Obiliq, accusing them for alleged hostile
activities.
The Serb press said the Serb court named the
Albanians as Enver Hashani (48), Halit Sallova (38) and Ahmet Gjinovci
(51), who will face Serb charges. The three defendants were involved in
"helping the terrorists with food and medical supplies and clothing" in
Gllogovc and Skenderaj, the Serb press said, quoting the indictment.
Thousands of Albanians uprooted from villages
under constant Serb forces shelling in Drenica region have been sheltered
in some of the 'safer' places in Kosova, including villages in Gllogovc
and Skenderaj municipalities which have not been directly targeted by Serb
attacks so far.
Kosova Information Center
Last page!
48 hours from a mother's life
(Story of a Kosova woman who escaped death with
her children)
By Ylli Pata
BAJRAM CURRI, July
16 (ATA) - A small room of a single floor house uncomfortable to stay in
due to humidity and "full" of mattresses, pillows and blankets distributed
by the Albanian government to help people coming from Kosova is the place
where Merita Vulaj, the mother of three children Gentiana, Albana and Genti,
who experienced a 48-hour nightmare but also the joy of hugging each other
again, lived.
"I do not know
how I have escaped death. I thought that my daughters were killed by Serbs
and I still do not believe that they are here with me together with my
little son ... it is God's gift," Merita, a woman from Peja, who has been
staying in Bajram Curri city for a week, said with tears in her eyes.
Merita Vulaj,
who turns 35 next week but whose face seemed very weak, sitting in a mattress
which bears the seal of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR), was trying to tell the nightmare of July 3.
"... I left Peja
early in the morning for Junik with my children to visit my parents. My
husband remained home to protect the land and what we have managed to secure
during these years. When we arrived in Junik, the Serb forces started shelling
and the general staff of the Kosova Liberation Army (KLA) decided that
the civil population headed for Albania," the Kosova mother continued to
tell her story though it was difficult to narrate it in details.
At 21.30. p.m.
the 250-member group, mostly women, children and elderly people, headed
for Tropoja. Merita together with her son were riding the horse of her
father Zenuni, who was walking with her daughters. After they have walked
over half the way to the border with Albania, a powerful light illuminated
all the area. Hardly one minute passed when a "torrent" of bullets and
shells fell on 250 Kosova people. The Serbs were so near and informed on
the movement of this group of civilians began their routine pounding for
half an hour.
"I did not know
what happened in that moment; I heard only shouting and irregular movements
of panic-stricken people. Later I heard the horse neighing and falling
down together with me. It blocked my left leg, which still aches. At that
moment, I thought of my son whom I was embracing in my arms, but I did
not know for how long because I lost consciousness ...," Merita said, embracing
his four-year-old son as that terrible night.
After regaining
consciousness, the woman took the son and together with four other people
walked along the rocky paths crossing the border and stayed in a cave until
dawn.
The Serb forces,
as it was said, stopped shelling after they were attacked on the sides
by the KLA fighters, who were accompanying the large group of civilians.
Early next morning,
Merita and her little son have been taken by some shepherds who have sent
her to the hospital. The doctors and UNHCR employees, deployed in Tropoja,
have immediately taken care of her. Alda, a translator of the UNHCR, told
that when Merita gained consciousness, she began to cry loudly for her
two daughters she thought killed by the Serbs.
For 24 hours,
the woman from Peja seemed to be dead despite efforts from the doctors,
but she came back to life next day when the miracle happened.
Early on Monday,
two men from Kosova have handed over to the Catholic nuns' center in Fierze
two small girls, who had lost their mother. The 8 year-old Gentiana, convinced
that her mother was alive, had passed the border and asked the nuns to
help her find the mother. The nuns informed the local UNHCR office, which
had the identikit of Merita's lost daughters.
When the UNHCR
fuori strada entered the hospital area and Alessandra, local UNHCR chief,
together with the girls entered the room where "dead" Merita was laying,
the hospital staff saw a miracle; she, the woman, who had lost willingness
to leave, came back to life.
"I could not believe
my eyes; I thought I was in paradise, " mother from Peja said speaking
in her dialect while tears falling down on her white cheeks.
The story of Merita
is a small part extracted from the huge book of barbarous crimes exerted
by Serbs against innocent Albanians which have forced men to take up arms
under the KLA and defend their families and houses.
"They (Serbs)
have carried out horrible massacres. They have raped 12 to 13 year old
girls, have torched children alive and killed elderly people. I have seen
these with my own eyes when I was coming from Peja. They do not deal with
men and KLA fighters but only with civilians," said Merita, who could not
hold thanking Tropoja people and UNHCR volunteers in the city, who, as
she said, "brought her to life again." ake/ak/
Measures to heighten military readiness
KUKES, July 16
(ATA)-By R. Hoxha,
Developments in
Kosova, aggravation of the situation on the Albanian-Yugoslav border have
prompted a series of measures to heighten the military readiness in northeastern
Albania.
Currently, military
readiness tests have become massive in the defensive zone of the Infantry
Second Division in Kukes.
The spokesman
of this division, Azem Perllaku, told ATA that these tests have been carried
out in the three districts covered by the Division, mobilising in them
representatives of all ages able to fight.
Perllaku said
that the training process of both active and reservist forces has gone
on normally.
This training
will continue in the future, too, said Perllaku. /a.ke/das/lm/
Italian authorities return 160 Albanian refugees
DURRES, July 16
(ATA) - By S. Gjordeni: Some 160 Albanian refugees were returned from Italy
to Durres port, central Albania, in the last three days.
"Italian authorities
have returned on board of "La Vikinga", "Iliria", "Maria del Joros" ferries
160 Albanian refugees, who left Albania on board of dinghies from different
parts of the Albanian shore," Captain Klement Pikuli, commander of the
police border crossing in Durres port said to ATA.
Captain Pikuli
said that there were also Macedonian and Kosova citizens among them.
The border police
in Durres port checked their papers and allow them to go. Some 10 people
detained by the Italian police as the owners of the motorboats and dinghies
have been handed over to Durres police for further investigation. s.s/mima/ak/
Police seize a vehicle carrying 29 Kalashnikovs
TIRANA, July 16
(ATA) - Police of Gramsh district confiscated on Wednesday 29 Kalashnikovs
automatic rifles which were found in the vehicle directed by Isamedin Haxhiaj,38,
and Halil Haklaj, 41, a spokesman of the Public Order Ministry said to
ATA.
Both persons were
taken to the local police station for inquiry.
Two pistols, two
flak jackets and a considerable amount of money were also found in the
vehicle. s.s/mima/ak/
50 refugees from Kosova arrive in Has
HAS, July 16 (ATA)
- By Riza Hoxha: Some 50 refugees from Kosova, part of a 13-thousand contingent
settling in north Albania fleeing Serb terror and violence, arrived in
Has commune and were accommodated at their relatives.
"The 50 refugees
arriving recently from Kosova were provided food aid and clothes from the
Albanian Red Cross," Muhamet Ukperaj, head of the Golaj commune said to
ATA.
22 persons from
Planeja village, commune of Prizren, who are living in the dormitory of
the secondary school in Kruma city have arrived in Has district in March
this year. ake/mima/ak/
RADIO FREE EUROPE/RADIO LIBERTY, PRAGUE, CZECH
REPUBLIC
___________________________________________________________
RFE/RL NEWSLINE Vol. 2, No. 135 Part II, 16 July
1998
NATO UNLIKELY TO INTERVENE IN KOSOVA.
Unspecified U.S. Defense Department officials told reporters at the Pentagon on 15 July that the Atlantic alliance is unlikely to take any concrete action in Kosova in the foreseeable future unless "intolerable" atrocities take place there. The spokesmen said that the Serbian forces have slowed their advance recently and a "balance of sorts" has emerged on the ground. Officials stressed that "our goal is to bring about serious negotiations" and that political solutions have priority. The spokesmen said that NATO wants to "take a balanced view" rather than a "one-sided approach" in Kosova, which would be the case if it helped the Kosova Liberation Army (UCK) achieve independence. The UCK "needs to know--and NATO has made this clear and the U.S. government has made this clear--that the cavalry is not coming," the "New York Times" quoted one official as saying. PM
AUSTRIA WANTS BURDEN FOR REFUGEES SHARED.
Interior Minister Karl Schloegl said in Vienna on 16 July that "a mass exodus" from Kosova is under way and unlikely to end soon, AP reported. He added that he will tell his counterparts from Germany, Italy, France, and Switzerland when they meet in Gaschurn, western Austria, later the same day that they need to find a "common answer" to deal with what promises to be a "major migration." Schloegl stressed that he fears many refugees will come to Austria, as was the case during the wars in the former Yugoslavia between 1991 and 1995. The minister argued that Austria cannot accept such large numbers of displaced persons again. During those years, some 92,000 refugees went to Austria, the largest number per capita of the resident population in any EU member country. PM
KOSOVAR HELD IN SUSPECTED ATTEMPT ON NANO'S LIFE.
Spokesmen for the Albanian Public Order Ministry said in Tirana on 16 July that police arrested 19-year-old Faruk Mazreku two days earlier after catching him in the garden of Prime Minister Fatos Nano. Mazreku, who is a recently arrived refugee from Kosova, told police that he only wanted to talk to Nano. It is unclear whether Mazreku was armed or how he managed to get past security guards, dpa wrote. AFP reported that he was armed with a knife and that he is Kosova-born but a permanent resident of Belgrade. Some Tirana dailies suggested that Mazreku may be acting on behalf of an unnamed "foreign intelligence service" or in league with militant Kosovars angry with what they regard as Nano's "pacifist" policy toward that province. Meanwhile in Paris, OSCE Chairman Bronislaw Geremek said that Kosovar shadow-state President Ibrahim Rugova is losing political ground to the UCK with "every passing day," the Belgrade daily "Danas" wrote. PM
DEMIREL WARNS OF 'SECOND BOSNIA.'
Turkish President Suleyman Demirel told the Albanian parliament on 15 July that his country will provide $100,000 to help care for Kosovar refugees in Albania. He added that "we are losing time. I urge the world that Bosnia should not be repeated." He argued that "ethnic cleansing" is taking place in Kosova but noted that he is against "the use of the force. It's true, many times in the Balkans force was exercised to reach a goal, but we are living in peace time.... The people in Kosova are suffering a war [of sorts]. It's not a classic one, but...the consequences so far have been dramatic." PM
ILLEGAL MIGRANT TRAFFIC FROM ALBANIA TO ITALY INCREASING.
The Italian Coast Guard has intercepted 15 speedboats carrying some 150 illegal migrants over the past three days, "Gazeta Shqiptare" reported on 16 July. The Coast Guard rescued 19 immigrants from a boat on 15 July after its motor failed. Most of those detained recently are Albanian citizens, but some are refugees from Kosova. FS
ALBANIAN CONSTITUTION COMMISSION WANTS BROAD DEBATE.
Sabri Godo, who heads the parliament's Constitutional Commission, told the legislature on 15 July that all Albanians should actively participate in drafting a new constitution. The same day, "Shekulli" and "Gazeta Shqiptare" began publishing a series of articles that will present the entire proposed draft. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party has rejected an invitation to discuss the draft with representatives of the Council of Europe's Venice Commission, which provides expert legal advice. The commission is reviewing the draft basic law at the request of the Albanian parliament. Godo said he expects a parliamentary vote and a popular referendum on the constitution to take place before the end of this year. FS
DJUKANOVIC SAYS 'NO COMPROMISE WITH MILOSEVIC.'
Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic said in Podgorica on 15 July that he "recently" spoke to Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic but that the two men did not reach a compromise on the key political issues that divide them. Djukanovic stressed that his government continues to refuse to recognize his arch- rival Momir Bulatovic as Yugoslav prime minister, an RFE/RL correspondent reported from the Montenegrin capital. Djukanovic warned that any attempts to "entangle" the Yugoslav army in the crisis in Kosova would be a "tragedy" for all of Yugoslavia. Also in Podgorica, spokesmen for the Montenegrin Helsinki Committee for Human Rights demanded that the government give a full explanation of the role of the military in Kosova. The spokesmen charged that some Montenegrin troops have been sent there against their will. PM
UN EXTENDS PREVLAKA MANDATE.
The UN Security Council voted in New York on 15 July to extend the mandate for UN military observers in the Prevlaka region of Croatia for an additional six months. The resolution confirmed the "sovereignty and territorial integrity of Croatia within its internationally recognized frontiers." Croatian Ambassador to the UN Ivan Simonovic hailed the resolution, RFE/RL's South Slavic Service reported. He stressed that it shows the UN considers the Prevlaka dispute between Zagreb and Belgrade not to be one of borders, but rather one of security. Prevlaka belongs to Croatia but controls access to Yugoslavia's only deep-water naval base, which is located in Kotor Bay. PM
KOSOVA (shelling Drenica)
Shelling continues in Llaushë
Prishtina, 15 July (ARTA) 1800CET--
Albanian sources from the village Llaushë
inform about a large scale shelling of all neighborhoods of Llaushë,
last night. The shelling started at 2200CET and lasted for two hours.
The same sources confirm that the shelling in
Llaushë recommenced this morning. The attack started on the neighborhood
of Gecaj from 1000CET and it destroyed the already damaged houses.
Llaushë is surrounded ever since 5 March
and the chairman of LDK sub-branch said that the Albanian local forces
are defending the village.
Ever since 5 March, little aid has managed to
enter Llaushë while the lack of medicine started being felt a long
time ago.
KOSOVA (clashes - Deçan)
Three killed one wounded
Deçan, 15 July (ARTA) 1900CET--
Serb combined police/military forces started
shelling the villages Carrabreg i Poshtëm and Strellc i Epërm,
Deçan municipality, last evening at around 1900CET. Three Albanians
were killed and one was wounded during this fire exchange. The clashes
lasted until 2200CET. It is believed that they took place as a sign of
Serb revenge against the Albanian forces that managed to drive back the
Serb infantry units, as they were trying to enter these villages. On their
withdrawal, the Serb forces burned seven houses, three in Carrabreg i Ulët
and four in Strellc i Epërm.
LDK local information sources in Deçan
inform that at the same time clashes of lower intensity took place in the
village Prejlep, whereas the villages Gramaçel and Baballoç
were shelled from Suka e Biteshit. Last night's shelling in Gramaçel
completely destroyed two houses.
Albanian sources inform that a number of new
Serb paramilitary forces settled yesterday at Deçan Monastery.
KOSOVA (fighting - Gjakovë)
One Albanian killed and one wounded
Gjakovë, 15 July (ARTA) 1745CET --
The fighting that took place in the Kosova-Albanian
border region last night, and continued today, was claimed to be of very
high intensity. The clashes were mainly concentrated in the villages of
Nec, Smolicë. Stubëll, Berjahë, Nivokaz and Ramoc. The consequences
of the conflict were alarming, with much material damage reported.
It has been confirmed that the police killed
20 year-old, Vëllaznim Avdyl Jetishi and wounded 30 year-old Qerim
Ibrahim Jetishi, close to the village of Devë.
On the other hand, there are reports that Serb
military forces, from their positions, are still shelling the villages
where Albanian resisting forces are concentrated. The KLA and armed local
Albanians are resisting these attacks.
There are claims that the police detained Fatime
Boshnjaku, and English teacher and coordinator of the humanitarian association
"Mother Theresa", in Gjakovë and Astrit Beqa, secretary of the Municipal
Financial Council in Gjakovë.
Otherwise, there were frequent police\military
movements in the town of Gjakovë. These convoys were mainly headed
towards the border region. This added presence of police\military forces,
caused fright among the local population of Gjakovë, who have been
besieged. There are claims that the people in this municipality, are still
facing major difficulties in food and medicine provision.
KOSOVA (shooting Suharekë)
Shooting in the direction of Bllacë,
Suharekë municipality
Suharekë, 15 July (ARTA) 1745CET--
The Serb forces in an APC moving from Qafa e
Duhlës in the direction of Suharekë, at 1600CET, shot in the
direction of the village Bllacë, local LDK information sources in
Suharekë, inform. On this occasion, Xhemile Suka was severely injured
and the house of Ahmet Suka was damaged.
Albanian sources inform about a tense situation
in the municipality and about the harassment, civilians are subjected to.
The Serb police stopped yesterday Shaban Elshani
from Suharekë and brutally beat him. He was later released, but the
police kept the car his was travelling on. This is not the first time that
the police beat Elshani.
The police arrested Shefqet Gajraku and Bajram
Haxholli from Suharekë, as they were waiting in line to get fuel.
Nothing is known about them ever since.
KOSOVA (clashes - Klinë)
Clashes extend to Ozrim, Jashanicë and
Jellovc
Klinë, 15 July (ARTA) 1600CET--
Harsh clashes took place between the Serb armed
forces and KLA units, last night in the villages Ozrim, Jashanicë
e Epërme and Jellovc.
The villages Dush and Gjergjevicë were constantly
shelled in the past two nights. Occasional clashes are also taking place
in Kijevë.
Today is the 28-day ever since the electric power
was cut off for 70% of the villages of the municipality. Two months have
already passed since the Albanian villagers of Dollovë were forced
to flee their village. Ever since more than 500 inhabitants live dispersed
in many villages of Kosova.
A number of Albanian journalists of the municipality
of Klinë that were once subjected to physical harassment are now being
searched by the Serb police, who are threatening to kill them, inform Albanian
civilians that were taken to the police station in Klinë.
KOSOVA (tension mounts Istog)
Barricades around the Dubravë jail
Istog, 15 July (ARTA) 2020CET--
The activities of the Serb armed police and civilians
are continuing these days with increased intensity. Besides the provocative
and constant shootings from the three main points along the border with
Drenica and the trenches dug in the villages Dreth and Banjskë, fearing
an attack of the Albanian forces, barricades around the Dubravë jail
were established.
After deporting all the prisoners from this jail,
with the arrival of the international observers in the terrain, 40 Serb
prisoners were brought there. Helicopters and APC convoys are constantly
going from this military base, mainly in the direction of Pejë
Such a convoy headed this morning in the direction
of Pejë, to later come back in a great rush.
KOSOVA (tensions rise Rahovec)
Groups of ten policemen cruised down town
Rahovec, 15 July (ARTA) 2000CET--
Following the stationing of a large number of
policemen in Hotel "Park" and the deployment of a large arsenal of fighting
technique in the village Hoçë e Madhe, the tension in the municipality
of Rahovec is increasing.
The deployment of this contingent, disturbed
the inhabitants. Beside the monitoring and the recording of the terrain
-- from the roof of the hotel, the policemen yesterday and today started
cruising down town in two groups of ten, escorted by the local policemen.
Witnesses claim that the armed policemen during
this time were stopping and controlling the passersby. On this occasion
one young Albanian was beaten.
KOSOVA (tensions rise Gjilan)
Serb armed civilians get ready for the war
Gjilan, 15 July (ARTA) 1700CET--
Although no clashes have yet occurred in the
region of Anamoravë (Gjilan, Kamenicë, Viti and Novobërdë),
the local Serb authorities have increased the scale of people's mobilization,
as an increased movement of the police\military forces is being witnessed.
The local authorities have started providing
Serb civilians in town and in villages with arms and ammunition.
Increased groups of armed Serb civilians are
conducting their military training in the localities surrounding the towns.
Sources from the ground claim to have seen groups of Serb armed civilians,
yesterday and today, in the village Burdikë e Ulët near Zhegër,
inhabited by Serbs, as well as around the Gjilan-Makresh crossroad, where
Serb civilians shot at places improvised for training.
The inhabitants of the neighboring municipalities of Bujanoc and Preshevë (Southern Serbia) have greatly reduced the movements in the direction of Gjilan, because of the fear and insecurity. Great food shortage is also being felt as the prices of many articles are increasing very rapidly.
KOSOVA (police brutality - Podujevë)
The Serb police beat, harassed and looted
dozens of civilians
Podujevë, 15 July (ARTA) 1720CET--
CDHRF branch in Podujevë informs that two
persons, one uniformed as a policeman and a civilian wearing a bulletproof
vest, cruised for two hours last night around the crossroad at Qershia
e Llapashticës. They stopped, beat, harassed, threatened and looted
dozens passersby.
The worst experience was that of, Nuhë Zejnullahu,
whom the police beat, maltreated and then took towards Batllavë, where
he was stolen 700 DM.
A day before the police confiscated 25 tons of
flour from Bexhet Qosja and sent them to Kursumlija (a town in Serbia).
According to CDHRF in Podujevë, Ibrahim
Bajgora was abducted yesterday by the Serb police and taken to an unknown
direction.
He claims to have been abducted by two unknown
persons who applied electric shocks on him. After the release, his health
condition worsened.
Frequent police movements in the direction of
Prishtina and, police cruising in town, were evidenced throughout the whole
day yesterday.
KOSOVA (relatives of arrested meet USIS and ICRC)
"They offended, beat and arrested us in front
of the children..."
Ferizaj, 15 July (ARTA) 2030CET--
The wives of the three arrested in Ferizaj met
yesterday the representatives of USIS and ICRC, at the CDHRF premises in
Prishtina.
Hanife Bytyçi, Mexhide Topalli and Lumnije
Zariqi, informed the high representatives about the raiding and arresting
of their husbands, Sylejman, Ylber and Xhavit, as they followed the whole
brutal ritual of the raids. They told the officials that: "
the Serb policemen
destroyed everything, they offended, beat us in front of the children,
then they arrested our husbands, who are in detention ever since and are
subjected to harsh tortures everyday". The officials were interested in
learning about the pretext of the arrest, which police arrested them, what
kind of uniform and weapons were they carrying as well as about their behavior".
They were particularly interested in the case
of Ylber Topalli. ICRC representatives claimed that they visited Ylber
in the Central Jail in Belgrade and found out that his health condition
is improving and that his life is out of danger. This direct and mutual
exchange of information was evaluated as very fruitful and essential.
KOSOVA (military indictment Nis)
Four Albanians indicted
Prizren, 15 July (ARTA) 1920CET--
The military prosecutor of Nis indicted Fadil
Dabiçaj (39), Bedri Kukolaj (20) and Latif Hyseni (34), as well
as proposed the sanction against underage Armend Mazrekaj, all from the
village Prejlep, Deçan municipality.
According to the accusation, the indicted are
accused of "Association for Hostile Activities", as described in Art. 136,
in conjunction with Art. 132 and 125 of the Criminal Code of "FRY". They
are accused of illegal weapons trafficking on 27 April from Albania, near
the "Gjeravica" border cross-point and the military border post. On that
occasion, three Albanians were killed and two "Yugoslav" Army soldiers
were wounded.
None of the accused admitted the accusation in
their statement.
KOSOVA (KD interview with Barend Cohen - excerpts)
I have information that women and children
are kept hostage
The Hague, 15 July (ARTA) 2030CET --
Dr. Barend Cohen is known as a veteran activist
of international human rights, with expertise especially in the field of
health problems, treating patients, etc. He visited Kosova recently and
is preparing a report. Albanian daily "Koha Ditore" interviewed him.
KD: Dr. Cohen, you were in Kosova. What was your impression of the situation there?
Dr. Cohen: The situation in the beginning, looked
calmer than before. However, I realized soon that my first impression was
wrong. I was deceived by the fact that there were less policemen than before.
However, if I was stopped only five times before, even though I passed
about 100 policemen, these days you get stopped by every policeman you
see along the road. Every encounter with the police was a challenge of
its own, they asked where we came from, why we came here, what we were
doing, etc..
In other words, the first impression that the
situation was calmer, was wrong. The situation was very tense. On the other
hand, it became clear that Albanians are not afraid anymore, but -- "ready
to face the music". Young Albanians told us: "If it must happen, then let
it happen, let them come and kill us, but they should be aware that it
won't be easy this time!". This convinced us that the situation is in fact
deteriorating.
KD: Your mission had the duty to observe the health system in Kosova as well. Do you have anything to say about it and have you visited any private clinics and how do you evaluate their work?
Dr. Cohen: Everything speaks for itself. 2500
health workers have been sacked and people who are not even from Kosova
run the hospitals. Moreover, what is more, not all Albanians are free to
seek medical help in the hospitals.
We also visited private clinics. One case fascinated
me. I am going to mention it in my report. We visited a maternity clinic
in Prishtina, which was in fact a four-story private house. The owner,
Mr. Shaban, had offered his house to the Kosovar health system. At the
entrance, I met a simple man, cleaning the garden. I though to myself,
maybe they engaged a gardener, but he turned out to be the owner of the
house-turned-clinic. The personnel of the clinic worked for free, the doctors
as well as the nurses.
KD: Several international humanitarian organizations are working in Kosova now, but you stated that they are inefficacious and expensive. What is the reason for your disappointment with their work?
Dr. Cohen: You mean the professional "activists" who are extremely well paid for their work. These professionals, the names of which I dare not mention for diplomatic reasons, are paid from 300-400 dollars per day. They go out in the field, in their white jeeps with long antennas, and turn back at the first checkpoint is the police tell them to. They return to a four-star hotel and drink beers. One of them pays more in one night, than an Albanian family in a month. I will tell you about a case I saw in Prishtina to illustrate this better. One organization sent medicine to Kosova, but the medicine it sent will be no good for Kosova in the next 250 years. They did not even see what kind of medicine the people need.
KD: Dr. Cohen, you stated that genocide and war crimes took place in Kosova when you talked to a Dutch paper...
Dr. Cohen: Of course, there is. Moreover, it is not taking place now, it has been there for quite long. Genocide took place in Kosova tens of years ago. I do not think that there are any gas chambers in Kosova though, because the regime does not need them. The regime there works in a very subtle way. It is enough to sack people, to destroy their homes, to destroy their dignity, to close their schools and if it is lucky, to take over territory which Albanians will eventually abandon. As far as I know, many Albanians have already abandoned their homes, like in the case of Deçan.
KD: You also told a Dutch paper that you have information on concentration camps in Kosova...
Dr. Cohen: I have information that many women and children are being kept in detention in the premises of a factory in Kosova, which is surrounded. If there is a place, which is surrounded, where there are people of one nationality, I call it a concentration camp.
KD: You contacted with representatives of the Hague Tribunal as well. Do you believe that they will be seriously engaged in enlightening cases of war crimes in Kosova?
Dr. Cohen: I do not know. I would like to believe. We know that many Nazis were put on trial in the courts of Nuremberg and Tokyo after the Second World War. Still, many of them passed unpunished. This happened because of the hypocrisy of the governments of Western allies. There was even a case when a Japanese doctor wounded Nazi prisoners, just so there would be victims for Japanese doctors to exercise on. He went to some western country after the war and became a senior official of some military institute, only to return to Japan, as a hero. This is the reason for my skepticism in the cases of Bosnia and Kosova. See how long the trials of the Hague Tribunal last, even though there is evidence, eyewitness accounts, etc..
KD: So, you think the Tribunal might be affected by political courses?
Dr. Cohen: I do not know, I would prefer if it
were not that way. Anyway, I repeat that I am skeptical and displeased
with their work so far. However, I have heard that the Tribunal has taken
the case of Kosova seriously. Let us hope that it will be successful as
well.
ALBANIA (Turkish President visits Albania)
Demirel: "The Turkish people terrified by
events in Kosova"
Demirel stated that the issue of Kosova, is not only the issue of Albanians, but of the Balkans and international community as well
Tirana, 15 July (ARTA) 1715CET --
The Turkish President, Suleyman Demirel, accompanied
by Turkish ministers, businessmen and journalists, arrived in Albania yesterday.
After landing in the airport in Rinas, where the Albanian President, Rexhep
Meidani, Deputy Prime Ministers, Fino and Islami, the two presidents awaited
him held a private a meeting.
Meidani evaluated Demirel's visit to Albania
as an important step in the close, brotherly ties between the two countries.
He stressed the importance of the visit, insinuating "the moment when it
took place, when a part of the Albanian nation, living in Kosova, is facing
the ruthless Serb violence".
During the meeting, the Turkish President stated
that the developments in Kosova terrify the Turkish people, adding that
Turkey supports the righteous issue of the Kosovars. He stated his preference
for the problem of Kosova to be solved peacefully. Demirel stated that
the issue of Kosova, is not only the issue of Albanians, but of the Balkans
and international community as well.
According to the press, President Demirel stated
that the "talks would be concentrated on issue of Kosova, which is a threat
to the stability of the whole region", before going to Albania.
Turkey has declared itself for a peaceful solution
to the conflict in Kosova, respecting the territorial integrity of Yugoslavia,
while at the same time, acknowledging the autonomous right of Albanians
living there.
During the meeting that they held, the delegations
of the two countries also discussed economic, military and social cooperation.
The Albanian President asked Turkey for help in making the military industry
more productive. They also discussed tightening their relationship in the
field of public order.
TURKISH GOVERMENT GIVES 100 THOUSAND USD FOR THE ALBANIANS FROM KOSOVA
TIRANE,16 JULY,ENTER /GJ.KOJA/-The Turkish government through the half moon gave to the Albanian state 100 thousand usd as aid for the newcomers from Kosova located in Albania. The aid was handed to Albanian president Rexhep Meidani by the Turkish president Sulejman Demirel during a meeting Wednesday with the Turkish businessmen. President Meidani on his part gave this sum to the state commission for the Albanians of Kosova.
DEMIREL ACUSSES SERBIA FOR ETHNIC CLEANSING IN KOSOVA
TIRANE, 16 JULY,ENTER/G.SELENICA/ The Turkish
president Sulejman Demirel said Wednesday at the Albanian parliament that
aim of his visit was to tell the world that the Turkish people are on the
side of the Albanians. Demirel emphasised that there states nowadays that
have not left aside the wrong policy and the shortlight purpose based on
ethnic cleansing.
Demirel said that the situation in Kosova is
a threat for peace and international security and the international option
never listen to our warnings that Kosova lives under the threat of a ethnic
aggression. Demirel said that the humanity shame of Bosnia must not be
allowed to be repeated in Kosova and the solution of the Kosova question
can be reached through a dialogue. In connection to this he called for
the dialogue between the sides in conflict and for a calm return of the
people that have left their homes.Turkish president stressed that it is
necessary to have the support of the international opinion for the Kosova
question and not to create the possibilities to the aggressor to create
another image from that of one to be blamed.
The Albanian speaker of the parliament Gjinushi
said during this session of the Albanian parliament Wednesday that between
the two countries more than 30 agreements have been signed and the bilateral
relations are towards consolidation. Talking on the question of Kosova,
Gjinushi said that the Albanian policy supports the idea of self determination
and the talks can not be realised without the intervention of NATO.
DEMIREL EXCLUDES THE SOLUTION OF KOSOVA QUESTION WITH FORCE AND HOPES FOR A SOLUTION WITH DOALOGUE
TIRANE,16 JULY,ENTER/G.SELENICA/-Turkish president
Demirel in a joint press conference with Albanian president Meidani said
that the solution of Kosova question excludes the solution with force and
the solution can be reached only through dialogue. Demirel said that many
problems in Balkan have been solved with force, but the times have changed
and now is the time of peace. He added that the people of Balkan must be
used with the co existence and the talks and dialogue must be used to solve
the conflict questions, but most important is not to have blood shed and
tears. Demirel said that never have anything good thing be achieve with
force and measures must be taken for the security of the Albanian population
and to end the violence in this part of Balkan.
Talking on the stand of the international community
towards the question of Kosova, Demirel said that the international
community had taken the first steps, but not yet have a result.
Albanian president Meidani stressed it is important
the presence of the diplomacy of the international organisations in Kosova
and this is not realised then the time will come to discuss the presence
of the military forces. Commenting the Albanian attitude towards Kosova,
Meidani said that the position of the political class in Albania is unified
and this had been expressed in the resolutions of the parliament approved
by all Albanian political forces..Meidani said that during the recent conflict
7000 Albanian houses have been looted and 150 000 Albanians fled their
homes whereas 300 thousand others have directly or indirectly influenced
by this war.
ALBANIAN DEPUTY DEFENCE MINISTER IN BRUSSEL
TIRANE,16 JULY/ENTER/ The Albanian defence ministry
informs that the Albanian deputy Defence Minister Ilir Bocka in visiting
Brussels to participate in a regular meeting of the individual programme
NATO- Albania þClearing Houseþ which will discuss the concrete
aid and assistance to Albania, Albanian army within the Paternity for Peace
by the NATO member countries.
During the meeting , the participants will discuss
the balance of the work done up to now and the conclusion of the
2128 NATO teams that have visited Albania recently. The Albanian ministry
sources said that at the focus of the meeting will be also the situation
in Kosova and the readiness of the Albanian army in case of a widening
of the conflict south.
LDK general council discusses constitution of Kosova parliament
PRISHTINE, July
15 - ATA correspondent in Prishtina Behlul Jashari reported that the party
of the Kosova president Dr Ibrahim Rugova, Democratic League of Kosova
(LDK), held a close door meeting on Wednesday to discuss for the second
time the constitution of the parliament as soon as possible.
The LDK parliamentary
Group, which is going to elect if head, will also deal with the issue on
Thursday. mima/ak
United States concerned on situation in Kosova
TIRANA, July 15
(ATA) - The United States said on Tuesday that they would try to persuade
the Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic to meet his engagements and allow
free access of necessary humanitarian equipment and goods to Kosova people,
press and information office at the Albanian Foreign Ministry said.
"An artificial
shortage in foodstuff and other necessary goods for the population has
been created in Kosova. We think that this is a known threatening tactic
and we denounce such actions as violation to human rights," James Rubin,
State Department spokesman said on Tuesday.
The press office
quoted Rubin as saying that the U.S. had conveyed its concern on the food
embargo to the leaders of the Yugoslav Federation and Serb officials.
"NATO is continuing
to consider a series of possibilities but has not yet found a final decision
on military intervention," Kenet Beckon, a Pentagon spokesman told a news
conference on Tuesday.
Beckon said that
in the last two weeks they had clearly seen that the Albanians of Kosova,
which comprise 90 percent of the population there, were becoming more energetic
in their movement for independence and military actions.
The Pentagon spokesman
said that this was one of the reasons why the U.S. special envoy in the
Balkan Richard Holbrooke held talks with the representatives of the Kosova
Liberation Army (KLA) during his latest mission in the region.
"All are trying
to find a diplomatic solution to that. We believe that this is the way
to be followed as we and our European partners are interested in finding
a diplomatic solution," Beckon said. ake/mima/ak/
LINK to further press news_______________________________________________________________________
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