Tagesnachrichten 17. Juli 1998
von ALBANEWS und anderen
Daily Report No 1493 July 17, 1998
Kosova Information Center
Tagesnachrichten 17. 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.
President Rugova's Press Conference
PRISHTINA, July 17 (KIC) - The situation in Kosova
continues to be dangerous, President Ibrahim Rugova of Kosova said during
a press conference in Prishtina today (Friday).
Attacks by Serbian forces on Kosova's villages
have continued this past week, resulting in loss of life and destruction
of property, Dr. Rugova said. The President of the Republic asked for "international
protection for Kosova and its people".
Regarding the political solution, Rugova reaffirmed
that the best solution is an independent Kosova, will all guarantees for
local Serbs, adding that an international protectorate as in interim stage
is needed pending a lasting solution.
President Rugova called yesterday's inauguration
of the Parliament of Kosova a very important move for all the citizens
of Kosova, "benefitting all of them". He recalled that the Kosova legislature
has 144 seats, 14 of which 2are reserved for Serbs, based on their ethnic
share of the composition of the Kosova population.
Will a new Government be formed, namely a Prime
Minister named, a reporter asked, to which President Rugova replied by
saying "other bodies" will be formed soon, in which all political forces
will be included, apparently alluding to the possible inclusion in the
Government of political forces that have not taken part in the 22 March
parliamentary elections.
'An Eagerly Awaited Moment'
UÇK Commander welcomes inauguration of
the Parliament of Kosova
PRISHTINA, July 17 (KIC) - The commander of the
First Brigade of the Ushtria Çlirimtare e Kosovës (UÇK,
the Kosova Liberation Army), said today in a taped statement to the LDK
Information Commission head in Deçan that the first session of the
Parliament of the Republic of Kosova was a welcome move. "It is a step
further in the institutionalization of life in Kosova, a rounding off of
the results of the March elections. The convening of the Parliament was
therefore eagerly awaited.", the UÇK Commander said. "It is not
of much importance to us soldiers/officers which political parties are
taking part in the Parliament, for here, as elsewhere, the army is depoliticized",
the Commander said. What is important is that an institutionalized life
is promoted, with the legitimate leadership elected by the free popular
vote being in charge, the UÇK Commander stressed. In the current
situation, our country should have its bodies and institutions, he said,
adding that the UÇK is "the army of this nation, and we respect
the will of the people, expressed in the independence referendum, as well
as all the legitimate bodies, elected by free vote, and which are committed
to the independence of Kosova". The Ushtria Çlirimtare e Kosovës
does not recognize any other solution but independence, the Commander said.
"We wish all the best to the Parliament and the President, and applaud
their efforts towards further institutionalization of the statehood of
Kosova", the UÇK Commander said.
Meanwhile, the head of the LDK Information Commission
in Deçan, Mr. Osman Cacaj, said he had himself carried an opinion
poll with 80 citizens in the municipality. Cacaj said 78 of them said they
were supportive of the just- completed inauguration of the Parliament,
and pressed for an early formation of the Government of Kosova and other
state organs of the Republic of Kosova.
Serbian Troops Mount Attack on Deçan Villages
PRISHTINA, July 17 (KIC) - There was heavy fighting
between Serbian troops and local Albanian resistance forces for five hours
(22:00 through 03:00 hrs) last night in the Deçan area, local sources
said.
The strongest attack by Serbian military and
police was mounted against the village of Carrabreg i Ulët, where
all kinds of weapons were used, the LDK Information Commission in Deçan
said. The local residents and the UÇK units repelled the Serb attack,
so Serb forces had to retreat, sources said.
Meanwhile, Serbian forces attacked the villages
of Llukë e Epërme, Isniq and Strellc i Epërm. Fighting was
reported today (Friday), too, especially in the village of Prejlep. There
have been no reported casualties.
Local human rights sources in Deçan reported
that an Albanian teenager, Tafil Hajdaraj (15), resident of Shaptej, was
wounded by Serb shelling on Wednesday. The boy was grazing cattle in the
fields at the time.
The local chapter of the CDHRF in Deçan
said several Albanians have been kidnapped by Serb police this past week.
On Tuesday, in the Dardania neighborhood, Gani
Shoshi (22), resident of the village of Lybeniq, was kidnapped by Serb
police. He was staying in Peja with his uncle's, local human rights sources
said.
Sadik Haradinaj (23), also a Lybeniq resident,
was arrested on Wednesday on the Loxhë-Peja roadway. He has been reported
still in Serb custody.
Two Albanians Wounded Last Night in Serb Selling of Suhareka Villages
PRISHTINA, July 17 (KIC) - Two young Albanians,
Xhevat Bujari and Lumni Graishta, residents of Duhël, were wounded
last night during an attack of Serbian forces against the villages of the
municipality of Suhareka. The two had taken shelter there after having
fled their homes.
The Serbian forces shelled the villages of Luzhnicë,
Javor, Grejçevc and Bllacë from 20:15 on Thursday through 1
o'clock a.m on Friday, the LDK Information Commission in Suhareka said.
Serbian forces resumed shelling the village of
Bllacë at 9 o'clock in the morning today (Friday), LDK sources said,
adding that Serb military has been pounding the village form its position
in Biraç. There have been no immediate reports on the extent of
damage or casualties.
Fierce Firefighting Reported in Malisheva Village
Friday Morning
Still unconfirmed reports speak of three Serb
policemen killed in Shkoza village
PRISHTINA, July 17 (KIC) - Serb forces launched
a heavy attack against the Shkoza village (municipality of Malisheva, central
Kosova) early in the morning today.
Sources in Malisheva said Serb forces began bombarding
Shkoza at around 5 a.m. The village was attacked for two hours with heavy
artillery from a Serb base at Hoqa village in the neighboring municipality
of Rahovec ('Orahovac'). Local Albanian resistance units and the UÇK
repelled the Serb attack, sources said. At least three Serb policemen were
killed, a source in Malisheva said, adding that immense material damage
was caused on the Serb side. The report could not be still confirmed by
LDK sources.
Firefighting in the area died out after 7 o'clock,
when the Serb forces retreated into their bases. Yet, the situation in
Shkoza and the neighboring villages of Malisheva has continued to be very
tense during the whole course of Friday, sources said.
Serb Forces Shell Albanian Houses in Prizren Outskirts
PRISHTINA, July 17 (KIC) - Several Albanian houses
were burned and damaged in the outskirts of Prizren that came under heavy
Serb shelling Thursday afternoon.
Sources in Prizren said Serb forces launched
a mortar attack on the "Tusus" neighborhood in Prizren at around 13:00
yesterday (Thursday). Houses of Ali Berisha, Berzan Berisha and Ramadan
Tusuni were burned and destroyed almost completely. Damage was caused on
several other houses in their vicinity.
The head of the LDK Information Commission in
Prizren said he could see himself the shelling of the Prizren outskirts
from the hills above the town. A large number of local population fled
their homes during afternoon hours yesterday, fearing other Serb attacks.
Witnesses told the LDK chapter in Prizren that
the town hospital was rigorously guarded by the Serb police during the
whole course of afternoon. A Serb police vehicle, presumably carrying wounded
policemen, was seen entering the compounds of the hospital earlier.
Stepped up movement of Serb forces in Prizren
and several villages in the vicinity was reported until evening hour.
At around 2 p.m. yesterday, Serb forces launched
a heavy attack against three villages in Prizren municipality - Billushë,
Hoçë e Qytetit and Jeshkovë - at the border area with
Albania, local sources said.
LDK sources in Prizen told the KIC today that
there was heavy fighting between the Serb forces and the local resistance
units and UÇK near Hoçë village from 14:00 through 17:00
hrs yesterday.
Earlier in the morning yesterday, the Serb police
arrested several Albanians near the village. Meriman Gashi, Hysni Krasniqi,
Xhavit Ajazaj and Shefqet Krasniqi were forced off a bus and taken to police
custody, sources said. No report has been available about their possible
release.
Serb Military-Police Crackdown on Albanian Family Compound in Gjakova Suburbs
PRISHTINA, July 17 (KIC) - There was gunfire and
shelling last night in the Reka e Keqe region, local sources said, adding
that it was of a lesser intensity compared to what was happening there
in the several days.
In the afternoon yesterday (Thursday), Serb police
opened fire in the main avenue of the town of Gjakova, provoking random
passers- by.
Serbian police surrounded the Jetishi family
compound in Brekoca, a suburb of the town of Gjakova, from 10:30 through
14:30, local sources said. A motorized expedition, with tanks, armored
vehicles and another vehicles full of soldiers and policemen, raided 15
houses of the Jetishi family compound. Family members were physically maltreated
in front of their kin.
After the raid, the following Albanians were
arrested: Ibrahim (67), Salih (53), Zenel (34), Flamur (27), Valon (28),
Fadil, Agim (38), Kujtim (34), Adem (45), Mustafë (36), Artan (19),
Hysen (60), Genc (32), Behar (21) and Kastriot (22) Jetishi. Shpëtim
Bajrami, who was a visitor with the Jetishi family, was arrested too.
In the evening hours, Sali, Adem, Hysen and Ibrahim
Jetishi were released, wheres the rest were reported still in Serb police
custody today.
Likewise yesterday, Serb police arrested Krist
Spaçi on the road to Brekoc. He was held in Serb custody for half
a dozen hours and ill- treated before being freed.
While the Serb raid on Brekoc was going on, Serb
military and police besieged the village of Zhub, adjacent to the area
where the extended Jetishi family lives. Reports from Gjakova said the
remains of Vllaznim Jetishi were still in the town morgue. The burial has
not been allowed by Serb authorities.
Meanwhile, Qerim Jetishi, wounded by Serb military
three days ago, was sent to the Prishtina hospital last night. He is said
to be in a critical condition.
There is a desperate situation with provision
of basic necessities in Gjakova as a result of the Serbian food blockade.
Local Albanian authorities have called on international
organizations to come to the aid of the population of the municipality
of Gjakova. The 150,000 inhabitants may be starving soon if the present
situation continues unchanged, the authorities said.
Five Albanians Receive Shrapnel Injuries in Serb Attack on Gllogovc Village
PRISHTINA, July 17 (KIC) - Five Albanians were
wounded Thursday afternoon in Dobrashec village of Gllogovc when a Serb
mortar fell in the courtyard of a local village.
Sources in Gllogovc said that Dobrashec village
came under Serb fire at around 14:30 yesterday. The LDK chapter in Gllogovc
said four Albanian men - Muhamet Hajdaraj, Riza Hajdaraj, Ferat Hoti, Hajdin
Hajdaraj - and a 12- year-old boy, Jeton Hajdaraj, received shrapnel injuries.
Sources in Gllogovc said that there were no clashes
between the Serb forces and the local Albanian population, and the Serbs
started shelling farmsteads in Dobrashec village without any pretext.
Serb Forces Attack Llausha Village Friday Morning
PRISHTINA, July 17 (KIC) - Serb forces, garrisoned
in several places around Llausha and the former ammunition factory near
Skenderaj ('Srbica'), launched a heavy attack on the village today morning
at around 9, sources said.
Fadil Geci, head of the local LDK sub-chapter
in Llausha, told the KIC by phone that almost all the neighborhoods of
this big village came under Serb fire this morning. Albanian farmsteads
in the village are being attacked from all sorts of armament, he said at
around 9:30.
Serb Police Shoots Dead 30-Year-Old Albanian in Ferizaj
PRISHTINA, July 17 (KIC) - The Serbian police killed a 30-year-old Albanian near Ferizaj, 50 km south of Prishtina, on Wednesday night. The LDK chapter in Ferizaj said Nazmi Uksmajli was killed near Jezerc village. The late Albanian was shot dead while walking near a Serb police checkpoint. The Serb police took the body of the killed Nazmi Uksmajli to the Prishtina morgue on Thursday morning.
No Bakery Operating in Gllogovc Since Tuesday
PRISHTINA, July 17 (KIC) - For two days now, no
bakery has been operating in the town of Gllogovc, local sources said.
The only private bakery which had been working in Gllogovc was closed down
on Tuesday due to shortage of flour.
The town of Gllogovc and the surrounding villages
have been held inside a deadly siege by Serb forces for a couple of months
now. There has been a sharp shortage of basic food supplies and medication
in the area, people in the town said.
Meanwhile, sources in Gllogovc said today that
Serb forces garrisoned in the Ferrous-Nickel compounds opened fire on several
positions on the town. The "Feronikeli" mines and plants complex has for
a couple of months now been turned into a huge base of Serb forces. Serb
snipers hold key positions in the plants as well on top of several buildings
in Gllogovc.
Serbian Military Deployed in Northeastern Border of Kosova with Serbia
PRISHTINA, July 17 (KIC) - In the vicinity of
the village of Përpellac ('Prepolac'), a village on the border belt
between Kosova and Serbia, Serbian military troops were deployed yesterday
(Thursday) morning, the LDK Information Commission in Podujeva reported.
The Serb forces have been stationed some two
km away from the border line. It looks like they were engaged in military
drills yesterday, for gunfire was heard, local sources said.
Reports said a Serb helicopter flew low over
the area, in the villages of Pollatë, Brecë, Tërrnavicë,
etc. The municipality of Podujeva has more than 100.000 inhabitants, 99
percent of whom are ethnic Albanians.
Soldiers Stationed in Elementary School Near Novobërdë
PRISHTINA, July (KIC) - Over 100 Serb soldiers
have been stationed today (Friday) in the compounds of the elementary school
at the village of Bostan, near Novobërdë, eastern Kosova, the
LDK Information Commission in Novobërdë said. Groups of Serb
civilians and soldiers showed up together in the village yesterday.
The local population fears a Serb crackdown,
of the kind seen elsewhere in Kosova in the past months.
These groups of Serbs have provoked the residents
of the village of Vllasali.
Serb Police Targets LDK and Human Rights Activists in Ferizaj
PRISHTINA, July 17 (KIC) - A number of human rights
workers and LDK activists in Ferizaj ('Urosevac') have had their homes
raided on or/and been arrested by Serb police during the past two days.
The LDK chapter in Ferizaj said scores of Serb
policemen searched for two hours yesterday the homes of Sami Hajrullahu
and Fehmi Hajrullahu, activists with the Council for the Defense of Human
Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF) in Ferizaj. Family members were harassed and
property smashed up by Serb police under the pretext of searching for hidden
arms. No weapons were reported found.
Ismail Nazifi, head of a local LDK chapter in
Ferizaj, was harassed by Serbian police Thursday afternoon.
At least 25 heavily armed Serb policemen were
involved in searching the house of Milaim Jashari, member of the CDHRF
chapter in Ferizaj yesterday.
The Serb police raided around midday yesterday
the houses of Xhavit Zariqi, Nuhi Zariqi and Mehmet Zariqi at Rahovicë
village of Ferizaj. The three of them as well as their family members were
harassed brutally by the police.
Elmi Reçica, head of an association of
former prisoners in Freizaj, was arrested yesterday after having his house
raided by a dozen of Serb policemen.
Muhamet Sejdiu, CDHRF activist in Gaçkë
village, was detained by Serbian police on Thursday. He was reportedly
harassed in the police station in Ferizaj for over three hours.
Kosova Information Center
Last page!
_______________________________________________________________________Parliament's inauguration to be followed by creation of government - Rugova
PRISHTINE, July 17 /ATA correspondent Behlul Jashari reports:
The President of the Republic of Kosova, Ibrahim Rugova, on Friday declared that the meeting of the Kosova parliament, emerging from the March 22, 1998 elections, will be followed by the creation of the government.
"We will also set up the other bodies, which will include all political forces," President to the Republic of Kosova Ibrahim Rugova told a news conference on Friday.
The Kosova parliament, convened on Thursday, has 144 seats, of which 14 are for the Kosova Serbs.
"The best solution is an independent Kosova with all guarantees for the local Serbs and an international protectorate as a transitional stage," said Rugova.
He asked "international protection for Kosova and its people," because, as he said "the situation in Kosova, unfortunately continues to be dangerous."
"The Serbian forces attacks, which have killed and wounded many people and destroyed assets and houses, continue," said Rugova.
He especially thanked the local and foreign journalists who although under very grave conditions cover the developments in Kosova. /la/mima/lm/Solana urges Albanian parliament to play an active role on Kosova
TIRANA, July 17 (ATA) - Albanian parliament should play an important role in creating a favourable climate in negotiations for a solution to the Kosova crisis.
In a letter to the parliamentary deputy Speaker Namik Dokle, NATO Secretary General Javier Solana praised the talks with him and urges an active role for the Albanian parliament in trying to create a favourable climate for a solution to the Kosova issue, according to the press and information office at the parliament.
"The Albanian parliament should play a serious role in the months to come in order to create a peaceful negotiation climate on the Kosova crisis, encouraged by the efforts undertaken so far in this process," Solana said. s.s/ak/Albanian parliament hails first meeting of Kosova parliament
TIRANA, July 17 (ATA) - Leadership of the Albanian parliament hailed on Friday the first meeting of the parliament of Kosova as an important event for the Albanian population there.
"As for all the Albanians, whenever they live in their territories the July 15 this year marks a new institution which has been voted by the whole Albanian population in Kosova," the telegram said.
The Albanian parliament is deeply concerned on the development in Kosova and has backed and is backing the will of the Albanian population for self-rule, through dialogue and peaceful means, it said.
Hailing the first meeting of the parliament of the Kosova Republic and congratulating its new-elected Speaker the Academician Idriz Ajeti with his collaborators, the parliamentary leadership, speaking on behalf of all deputies, expressed its firm conviction for a useful cooperation in the interest of national issue, according to the telegram.
The parliament of the Republic of Kosova, which came out of the March 22 elections, held its first meeting on Thursday in Prishtina.
Academician Idriz Ajeti, deputy of the Democratic League of Kosova (LDK) was elected parliamentary speaker. Gjergj Dedaj of the Liberal party, Zef Morina of the Christian Democratic party and Iljaz Kurteshi of the Social Democratic party, were elected deputy speakers. Fatmir Sejdiu of the LDK was elected Secretary of parliament.
The Kosova parliament was inaugurated under extraordinary war state conditions in Kosova and without any public announcement of its inauguration today, so that the Serbian forces could not prevent it convening.
After the end of the parliament's proceedings, Serbian forces, backed by armaments, surrounded the building and later, through many provocations and threats entered it.
Serbian forces and participants of Serbian state security members confiscated armload of documents.
Meanwhile diplomats of the United States, accredited to Belgrade and who were in Prishtine and representatives from the U.S. Office in the Kosova capital also arrived there. /s.s/pas/ak/
_______________________________________________________________________RADIO FREE EUROPE/RADIO LIBERTY, PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
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RFE/RL NEWSLINE Vol. 2, No. 136 Part II, 17 July 1998NANO SAYS KOSOVA CRISIS THREATENS ALBANIA'S STABILITY.
Prime Minister Fatos Nano told his national security advisers on 16 July that the international community has not been able to come to grips quickly with the crisis in Kosova and that its failure to act will place a great burden on his government, "at least for the medium-term." He added that the refugees in particular will place a strain on the state budget, Reuters reported. He said that whereas 13,000 refugees are officially registered, the real number of refugees could be as high as 20,000. Nano urged Kosovar leaders to set up a single representative institution and speak with only one voice to the outside world. He warned that their failure to do so would work to the advantage of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic. The prime minister concluded that "all these factors increase the danger to Albania's stability and threaten the work we are doing to rebuild." PM
SERBIAN POLICE BREAK UP KOSOVAR PARLIAMENT.
Some 90 members of the Kosovar shadow-state legislature attended its first session in eight years in Prishtina on 16 July. Deputies took an oath of loyalty to the shadow state and elected a speaker. Police then arrived and told the legislators to hand over any documents and to disperse. The deputies left peacefully, and police took away several boxes of documents. Kosovar President Ibrahim Rugova called the session a success and told Reuters: "we have done it." One legislator added: "it is a very historic day, marking the start of a new free, democratic and independent state of Kosova." Some observers noted, however, that the meeting may prove to be too little, too late, since the government does not represent all political parties and has been steadily losing influence among Kosovars to the Kosova Liberation Army (UCK) in recent months. PM
ANNAN WANTS MORE TROOPS FOR MACEDONIA.
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said on 16 July in New York that the world organization should add 350 soldiers to the current 800 who make up the UN peace-keeping operation in Macedonia (UNPREDEP). He also called for extending UNPREDEP's mandate by another six months, which would be until February 1999. Annan said that the force is stretched too thin to be able to monitor effectively Macedonia's borders with Albania and Yugoslavia. UNPREDEP is the first mission in UN history that seeks to prevent a conflict from spreading rather than keeping the peace in a war-torn area. PM
MONTENEGRO HAS NEW GOVERNMENT.
Some 47 deputies in the 78- member legislature on 16 July approved the new cabinet of Filip Vujanovic, an ally of reformist President Milo Djukanovic. Supporters of pro-Milosevic Yugoslav Prime Minister Momir Bulatovic boycotted the session. Vujanovic promised to promote economic reforms and criticized Milosevic's efforts to curb Montenegro's autonomy. He said that "the destiny of Montenegro and its citizens can be decided only in Montenegro.... We cannot give up Montenegrin statehood, national identity, tradition, and culture." The government represents a coalition of anti-Milosevic parties and includes representatives of the ethnic Albanian minority. PM
BOSNIAN PRIME MINISTER BLAMES FOREIGNERS FOR REFUGEE DELAY.
Bosnian federal Prime Minister Edhem Bicakcic told RFE/RL's South Slavic Service in a telephone interview on 16 July that refugees are currently returning to many parts of the mainly Muslim and Croatian federation. He added, however, that the number of Croats and Serbs who have returned to Muslim-controlled Sarajevo remains too low. Bicakcic said that a major problem preventing refugees from going home is that the international community has not fulfilled its promises to construct houses and apartments. He singled out the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the European Commission for special criticism. Bicakcic charged that some unnamed foreigners "deliberately find excuses" for delaying promised aid. PM
CROATIAN OPPOSITION TO UNITE?
Vlado Gotovac, the leader of the Liberal Party, told Reuters on 16 July that chances are good that opposition parties will form a coalition and defeat President Franjo Tudjman. "We are trying to find a joint political platform with which we would present ourselves at the elections and a program that we would make sure we fully implement once the elections are over." Gotovac said that the laws governing elections and the media must be changed if Croatia is to become a truly democratic country. He added that there is no chance of reforming that legislation so long as the HDZ remains in power. Observers noted that the failure of the opposition to close ranks has been a major factor in the HDZ's maintaining its grip on power since 1990. Legislative elections are due by October 1999 and a presidential vote in 2002. PM
ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT ORDERS INVESTIGATION INTO INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
The government on 16 July authorized pyramid- scheme investigator Farudin Arapi to audit the records of another eight investment firms. They include one of Albania's largest companies, namely 2K, which is owned by businessman Koco Kokedhima. Independent legislator Nikolle Lesi recently urged the government to investigate 2K, and he published a series of articles in his daily, "Koha Jone," in which he called 2K a pyramid scheme. Some observers charged that Lesi's motive was to get rid of a competitor. Kokedhima's daily, "Shekulli," lowered its sales price to one-fifth of that of "Koha Jone" in May and quickly tripled its circulation to 17,000. "Koha Jone's" circulation during the same period fell from more than 20,000 to 9,000 copies. Also on 16 July, 70 legislators endorsed Lesi's proposed draft law to ban publishers from selling newspapers below production costs. FS
_______________________________________________________________________KOSOVA PARLIAMENT BAGAN ITS SESSION IN PRISTINE
PRISTINE, 17 July /ENTER/ The Parliament of the Republic of Kosova, emerging from the elections of March 22 this year in Kosova, was inaugurated in Pristine today. The elections were held after the expire of the mandate of the first democratic pluralistic Parliament of Kosova, which emerged from the May 24 elections of 1992 and which could not convene under very grave conditions of Kosova.
Thursdayþs meeting to inaugurate the parliament of Kosova, with the participation of the deputies of all parliamentary parties was held in the Presidency of Kosova and the Democratic League of Kosova (DLK) headquarters, as the building of the Kosova parliament has been occupied by the Belgrade military and police regime since the beginning of July 1990.
The legislators carried out all the procedures of inaugurating the Parliament and its commission, based on the Constitution of the Republic of Kosova. Academician Idriz Ajeti, LDK deputy, was elected speaker of parliament.ALBANIAN POLITICAL RIGHT PARTIES AGAINST THE STATEMENT OF THE ALBANIAN PRESIDENT
TIRANE,17 JULY,ENTER/GJ.KOJA/- Albanian right parties disagree with the Albanian president statement on the question of Kosova. Meidani had declared that all Albanian political parties are unique in their stand on Kosova. The republican leader Fatmir Mediu said Thursday that the Albanian parties are in unison on the Kosova question only as far as the option of the solution is concerned, but not on the status of Kosova. Mediu said that the parties of the position are for a wide autonomy whereas the parties of opposition for independence and to respect the wish of the Albanian people of Kosova. Mediu added that as far as the location of the NATO troops, the parties of the Albanian position think that these forces must be located in Albania whereas opposition wants their location in Kosova.
The member parties of the Union for democracy are against the president statement. Sources within this coalition said that the statement of Meidani is without basis because it lacks common stand on the Kosova question of the position and opposition. This political group considers the statement of Meidani as a personal opinion of the Albanian president.DEFENCE MINISTRY: THE CONCENTRATION OF THE SERB TROOPS CONTINUE ON THE NORTH EASTERN BORDER
TIRANE,17 JULY,ENTER/GJ.KOJA/- Sources at the Albanian Defence Ministry said Thursday to Enter that on the north eastern border of Albania continues the concentration of the Serb mobile troops. According to these sources, the Albanian side is observing and controlling any movement of the Serb troops along the border line between the two countries. The sources confirmed that based on the observations the Serb troops are realising movements within the territory of Kosova and are tensing the situation. The above sources said that due to the actual situation, the Albanian military units in this part of the country are organising military exercises according to the programmes of the Defence ministry. Albanian and foreign observers of the CE,OSCE and military embassy representatives in Tirana are observing the terrain and the new situation.
THE ALBANIANS MUST FIGHT NOT ONLY WITH WEAPONS
TIRANE, 17 JULY, ENTER/ - A 53 year women from Obiliq of Kosova , is visiting her son in Tirana, married to an Albanian women. The new Albanian family is very linked with Kosova. Her daughter in law talks the Kosova dialect and her grand son as well. The old woman said that she had left her husband alone at home, because the children had left their native home, the elder son is in England, two daughters in Germany and one son in Tirana.
She is very concerned about the fate of her husband, because there is war, she said. þThe Serbs want Obiliq and all the other territories rich in minerals. There is coal in Obiliq and Bardh i madh", she said, giving a lot of informations on the rich soil of Kosova. Her nephew is member of a resistance group. Muja, his name, was at first soldier in the Yugoslav army in Croatia, but he sided with the Croats and was rewarded officer. Muja, 26 years from Sibovs of Obiliq, lived three years in Germany and when the conflict began in Kosova came back home. He married Shpresa, graduated in philosophy ,from Pristine some weeks ago. þNow they are together in the mountains, in Cicavice: she said, hinting why not all young people are fighting for their country. þThe war has just began, what are waiting forþ. But her son is against his mother. He said that the war is done not only with weapons. þSome fights, someone works, the others fight with informations " he said adding "we Albanians are used to weapon war, but this must change".
Unconfirmed sources notify that the villages of Poslishtë, Billushë, Leskovec are being attacked by heavy artillery, with the attack of Serb forces also concentrated in the village of Hoçë in the evening hours
Prishtina, 16 July (ARTA) 1800CET --
Albanian daily "Koha Ditore" states that many
people from Prizren called the offices of the editorial board, to report
that fighting has been taking place in the neighborhood of "Tusus" (towards
the Albanian border), in this town. Among the callers, was a man that presented
himself as a "freedom fighter", who stated that fierce clashes were taking
place in this neighborhood, while Serb forces used heavy artillery to attack
houses belonging to Albanians. He stated that many houses were damaged,
but that there is still no information on eventual victims.
On the other hand, the "KD" correspondent in
Prizren, reported that large convoys of Serb police forces, headed to "Tusus",
a neighborhood inhabited by Albanians.
He claims that the smell of gunpowder could be
felt in "Tabakhane", which lies in the center of Prizren. The streets of
Prizren are crowded with people, as they try to evacuate the female, young
and elderly members of their families. He stresses that smoke could be
seen coming from the old vineyards of Prizren, as shooting can be heard
coming from all directions.
Sources say that artillery attacks are being
carried out along the Prizren-Zhur road, which is blocked for traffic,
close to the village of Poslishtë
Unconfirmed sources notify that the villages
of Poslishtë, Billushë, Leskovec are being attacked by heavy
artillery, with the attack of Serb forces also concentrated in the village
of Hoçë e Qytetit in the evening hours.
KOSOVA (clashes - Gjakovë)
Lower intensity clashes in the region of Rekë
e Keqe
Gjakovë, 16 July (ARTA) 1930CET--
Serb military forces completely destroyed the
elementary school and shelled the Albanian houses in the village Duzhnjë
inform sources from the ground. These forces also raided several Albanian
houses in the village Prekoc, where they killed one Albanian and wounded
another, just a day before.
The town of Gjakovë is taken over by a tense
situation of total insecurity, which is added to by the frequent movements
of the Serb police and army.
KOSOVA (fighting - Deçan)
The fighting last night was of lower intensity
Deçan, 16 July (ARTA) 1930CET --
The fighting that took place in Deçan,
last night and continued today, was reported to be of lower intensity.
There was shooting especially in the village of Carrabreg i Poshtëm,
last night. No casualties have been reported so far.
There were occasional sniper shots in the direction
of the villages of Prejlep, Baballoç and Gramaçel.
Albanian sources state that one Albanian from
the village of Isniq was killed. The same sources confirm that one Albanian
was killed during an exchange of fire near the Kosova-Albanian border the
night before last. The victim has apparently been buried in Albania.
There is no information on the fate of the Ibërhysaj
brothers, as well as Basri Musli Kuçi, all of whom are from Deçan,
since the beginning of the conflict.
In the meantime, an ICRC team arrived in Strellc
today, to gather information on the difficult economic state of the local
Albanian population.
KOSOVA (attacks continue - Mitrovicë)
The villages of Shala e Bajgorës shelled
Mitrovicë, 16 July (ARTA) 2215CET --
Serb police\military forces shelled the villages
in the region of Shala e Bajgorës: Kutlloc, Rashan, Tërstenë,
Vidishiq, Stantërg, Mazhiq and Bare. The attack began at around 2200CET
and continued until 0300CET, last night. According to the reports, considerable
material damage has been caused. However, there are no reports on casualties.
Large police\military forces, headed from Mitrovicë
to Skënderaj today, including 72 heavy military vehicles which took
positions in the most strategic parts of Skënderaj and along the Mitrovicë-Skënderaj
road.
KOSOVA (shooting - Drenica)
Shooting continues
Gllogoc, 16 July (ARTA)
The only obstacle that is preventing the Albanian
residents and IDPs from going back to the region of Drenica is confirmed
to be the military\police units along with the paramilitary forces. Over
10.000 people fled the town of Gllogoc and the surroundings, as a result
of the Serb violence. Even now, when the inhabitants have decided to go
back home, the uncontrolled Serb paramilitary forces are constantly shooting
from the military\police base in "Ferronikel", aiming at preventing them
from going back.
According to "KOHA Ditore" sources, the inhabitants
of the village Çikatovë e Re were forced to flee their home
as a result of shooting of the Serb forces. Besides Gllogoc, the same scenario
is taking place in Komoran, as well, in a larger scale even.
Reports on the burning and looting of Albanian
houses and stores continue coming from the ground.
KOSOVA (killing – Drenica)
Idriz Selmani was killed and his 6 years old
nephew was injured
Komoran, 16 July (ARTA) 1900CET--
Idriz Selmani (65) was killed and his 6 years
old nephew was injured, couple of nights ago, at around 2100CET, in the
village Komoran, in the neighborhood of "Abrive", under non-clarified circumstances.
Idriz's nephew, Shpëtim, received severe
injuries on the head and the medical personnel are presently trying to
save his life.
KOSOVA (reinforcements - Skënderaj)
Six Albanians wounded
Gllogoc, 16 July (ARTA) 2220CET --
Sources say that Serb forces shelled the village
of Dobroshec, on which occasion five Albanians were reported wounded.
The LDK Information Commission branch in Gllogoc
states that the following were wounded: Muhamet Hajdaraj (38), Riza Hamit
Hajdaraj, Ferat Hoti, from Godanci (a guest), Jeton Hajdaraj (12) and Hajdin
Hajdaraj.
The report issued by the Information Commission
claims that KLA forces caused considerable damage to Serb forces. A witness
says that one bus, was completely destroyed, as smoke could be seen coming
out of two other buses. The witness confirms that the buses were loaded
with policemen. It is believed that many were killed or wounded.
Serb forces avenged their loss, shooting in all
directions, wounding a passerby called Shefqet Ibrahimi, from the village
of Lubavec and beating an old man, Ibrahim Ibrahimi, from the village of
Broboniq. Large convoys of
Serb forces were spotted going to Skënderaj
today.
Not far away, in Klinë e Poshtme and Klinë
e Epërme, the situation remains alarming. The civilian population
was forced to abandon their homes. There are claims that many of the inhabitants
decided to join KLA forces. They are trying to protect most of the roads
in this region.
Otherwise, Serb snipe>
Transfer interrupted!
positions on top of local high buildings and
on top of the mill, which links the town with Klinë e Ulët.
KOSOVA (tension rises – Ferizaj)
One person suspected killed
Ferizaj, 16 July (ARTA) 1915CET --
The LDK Information Commission (KI LDK) branch
in Ferizaj, states that there were increased movements of police vehicles,
which headed in the direction of the villages of Nerodime and Jezerc, after
midnight.
The KI LDK branch and the CDHRF in Ferizaj, state
that unconfirmed sources claimed that "the police, which had set up a barricade
at a place called "Bashkimi i lumenjëve", had shot and thus suspected,
killed, the driver of a red "Niva"". Witnesses, who had been travelling
this way told these two associations that "they saw signs of blood, oil
spills and broken glass at the scene, while an ambulance and vehicle carrier
of the "AMSJ" ("Yugoslav Automobile League"), carried the victim and the
damaged car, "Niva" away". There is still no information about the incident
or the identity of the victim. However, there are reports that the police
stopped taxis to drive in this direction. There are also reports that the
police made local Albanian villagers leave their carriages of wood at the
police station in Nerodime.
KOSOVA (Armed Serb civilians – Lipjan)
Serb armed civilians organize night watches
Lipjan, 16 July (ARTA) 1630CET--
Local Serb civilians, fearing the entrance of
the Albanian forces in town of Lipjan, have settled and are still settling
night watches at 500 meters away from the town, in directions that are
considered to be dangerous, sources from the ground, inform. These watches
are being conducted only during the night hours, along the Sitnicë
river, that extends from one to the other end of the town. Such Serb civilian
organization, equipped with different weaponry, brings about total insecurity
among the inhabitants in general, since the authorities now legalize the
possibilities of provocations and radicalization.
KOSOVA (CDHRF report April-June)
Around 100,000 Albanians abandoned their homes
so far
Prishtina, 16 July (ARTA) 1830CET --
"Serb police, military and paramilitary operations,
which have engulfed nearly the half of the territory of Kosova from April
to June, have claimed the lives of 214 persons, mainly women, children
and elders", says the three-month report issued by the CDHRF in Prishtina.
During this period of time, according to the
council, other than crimes against the civilian population, "Serb security
forces seized, arrested, looted and mistreated hundreds of Albanians, no
matter the age and gender". It stresses that the Serb security aimed at
political and humanitarian activists especially.
The report states that at least 300 people were
taken hostage or went missing since the beginning of these operations in
Kosova. The CDHRF registered 198 cases only during this interval of three
months.
"There were Serbs among the abducted also, although
their number is very small compared to Albanians", says the report, adding
that neither family members, nor humanitarian organizations know anything
of their whereabouts. What is more, the report stresses, humanitarian organizations
are prevented from inspecting places where the abducted are believed to
be held.
The CDHRF suspects that the abducted, or those
considered missing, "are executed by the police that tries to conceal traces
this way".
As for the victims, the Council states that the
Serb authorities do not allow Albanian doctors to check them for determining
the identity, or the circumstances of death, preventing the work of foreign
medical teams as well. According to the CDHRF's information, Serb authorities
are keeping 200 people, of different ages and gender, hostage in Deçan.
The attack of Serb police\military forces against
the villages of Deçan and Pejë, which began on 25 May, "resulted
with the execution, without trial, of seven members of the Hamza family,
one member of the family Gogaj-Cacaj and one of the family Delimetaj",
the report adds.
On the other hand, the report states, around
100,000 people are believed to have abandoned their homes so far.
"Food and medicine provision is being made impossible
due to the fact that Serb forces blocked all roads", the report stresses,
underlining that thousands of Albanians are endangered by starvation or
epidemics.
The report does not stop short of mentioning
cases of political trials, which are presently taking place in Serb-run
courts of Pejë, Prizren, Prishtina, Mitrovicë, as well as the
military one of Nis, where many Albanians are accused of being KLA members
or their collaborators.
KOSOVA (constitution of Parliament)
Police intervened after the end of the constitutive
meeting
Idriz Ajeti, newly elected speaker of the Parliament: "The lack of the Parliament restricted us largely. I believe we will be successful if we all work"
Prishtina, 16 July (ARTA) 1700CET--
The meeting of MPs elected in the 22 March elections,
called as a meeting of parliamentarian groups, scheduled to start at 1400CET,
actually started at 1200CET and came out to be the Constitutive Session
of the Parliament of Kosova where the MPs and the President swore oath.
What characterized today's constitution of the
Parliament, largely contested by the opposition parties that did not attend
the meeting, was the police intervention at the premises of the Writers’
Association of Kosova, which however, happened shortly after the meeting
was over.
Two police APCs, one pick-up and another police
vehicle, with about 30 policemen, stationed in front of Rugova's premises,
where the meeting was being held. Along with the uniformed policemen carrying
Kalashnikovs, dozens of Serb State security members wearing civilian clothes
were also there. The latter confiscated an amount of material they found
inside the building.
The Presidency's security personnel tried to
prevent them from entering. Adnan Merovci, responsible for the protocol
and security, talked with the police representatives and told them that
they were not welcome in the building, however this did not stop the Serb
civilians from getting in.
Nekibe Kelmendi, LDK vice-chairperson, explained
how the police confiscated all the electoral material, prepared for the
MPs, as well as the report from the first constitutive session of the Parliament
of Kosova. As she claims, the police were not brutal, but they had a harsh
stand. "We had only two minutes to hand them the materials. They finished
their job, raiding the whole building", declared Kelmendi after the police,
that stayed for 20 minutes, left.
Several minutes after the police left, Nicholas
Hill, First Secretary of the US Embassy in Belgrade, came to the building.
Academician Idriz Ajeti was elected speaker of
the new Parliament of the Republic of Kosova. After the meeting was over
and the police left, Ajeti said that the constitution of the Parliament
was awaited for a long time, but the circumstances so far had not been
good for it’s constitution. "The lack of Parliament restricted our activities
at a large scale", he said. According to him, now that the Parliament is
established the political life is completed. "I believe we will be successful
if we all work".
Nekibe Kelmendi, vice-chairperson of the LDK,
the largest political party in Kosova, declared that the constitution of
the Parliament leads to a new reality, which the determining factors should
face. "This is the materialization of the electoral results and the people's
will", declared, she.
On the other hand MP Gjergj Dedaj, chairman of
the Liberal Party of Kosova, stated that the constitution of the Parliament
is "a historical act, a highly important act, which marks the foundation
of Kosova's independence and the institutionalization of the state of Kosova",
adding that very soon the Government of Kosova, acting in Kosova, will
be appointed. Dedaj, called today's police intervention "a precedent and
an attack, i.e., a demonstration of the Serb police force, which prevents
the institutionalization of the state bodies of the Republic of Kosova".
KOSOVA (constitution of Parliament)
Merovci: "The police attempted to enter the
building violently, but the Presidential Security prevented them"
Prishtina, 16 July (ARTA) 2130CET--
Adnan Merovci, responsible for the protocol and
security in the Presidency of Kosova, explains that "…the police attempted
to violently enter the building, but the security prevented them". Merovci
tells how the police told him that "the meeting that is being held in there,
needs to be stopped immediately". Upon the arrival of the police in civilian
clothing, Merovci demanded to know the reason of their visit and he told
them that their violent attempt to enter the building would be regarded
as a raid.
"Their chief asked me to accompany him while
he was confiscating the documents. I did not accept", claims Merovci. Further,
according to him, about 10 persons got in and collected all the material
they found. "They tried to get in the President’s office as well, but I
categorically refused to allow such a thing to happen", explains Adnan
Merovci. According to him, the incident lasted about an hour.
KOSOVA (constitution of Parliament - reactions)
LDSH, PPK, UNIKOMB, PSDK: "We do not recognize
this parliament"
Prishtina, 16 July (ARTA) 2115CET --
Extra-parliamentarian parties, which did not
participate the elections held on 22 March, evaluated the constitution
of the Parliament today as "a body that legitimizes divergences".
The leadership of the Albanian Democratic Movement
(LDSH), avoided making direct statements concerning the constitution of
parliament today. However, they issued a communiqué, stating the
following: "Party leaderships, which have refused to cooperate with other
parties and coordinate their activities with relevant factors of our national
movement, have institutionalized divergences instead of answering internal
and external calls for unifying the national movement in Kosova".
On the other hand, the vice-chairman of the Parliamentarian
Party of Kosova (PPK), Jonuz Salihaj, reiterating that the PPK considered
the 22 March elections to be a farce, stressed that "every organ, which
is established from these elections, is not considered legitimate". Salihaj
evaluated that the parliament that was constituted today "is not a parliament
for joining forces, but one that legitimizes divergences". "This parliament
was constituted for legitimizing the agreement reached between Yeltsin
and Milosevic, therefore we consider that this parliament will not play
the role it should, but a very suspicious role. We do not recognize this
parliament in any way", said the vice-chairman of PPK.
The chairman of one wing of the Social Democratic
Party of Kosova (PSDK), Luljeta Pula-Beqiri, stressed that the "much awaited
news about the constitution of Parliament of the Republic of Kosova, would
have been awaited as a memorable day". However, she adds, "in these times,
in these new, completely different political realities and relations, this
parliament is not considered representational, because it does not represent
even half of the political parties of Kosova". "Thus", she continued, "we,
as a party, are engaged in the National Council, which substitutes the
parliament in circumstances of war anyway. The National Council, where
all political forces would be represented, as well as the political representative
of the KLA". "I think that the decision for the constitution of parliament
under these conditions of war and political frictions, does not contribute
to the political agreement among the Kosovar political parties".
On the other hand, the vice-chairman of the Party
of Albanian National Unity (UNIKOMB), Afrim Morina, considers that "the
constitution of parliament is one of the many surprises of the political
scene in Kosova". "First of all", says Morina, "because nobody expected
the parliament to be constituted that way, in a rushing manner, without
any ceremony, even without setting the date and time".
He claims that "after the noise lately, concerning
the constitution of parliament, Rugovists closed this chapter, leaving
the way open for other problems about the ministries, where the main issue
will be the Ministry of Defense and taking the KLA under control, in order
to pacify it. The foreign factors will now have the possibility of offering
their project for the autonomy of Kosova, because the LDKists wanted it
so and some are ready to accept it. However, the people chose their way
and there is no way to stop them", stated the vice-chairman of UNIKOMB.
Political analysts evaluate that, despite appeals
and calls for unity and a joint front, the chances for political parties
to unify diminished, even though, they say, unity never existed among them.
They go as far as to say that forming a National Council was based on a
fictitious unity.
TIRANA, July 16
(ATA)-No options, also including military, have been ruled out in resolving
the crisis in Kosova, spokesman of the U.S. State Department James Rubin
said Wednesday, reaffirming the U.S. stand at a news conference, which
had Kosova at the centre of its attention.
The Foreign Ministry
press and information department told ATA that Rubin has considered absolutely
right the indignation of the people at the Serbian authorities and violation
of their legitimate rights.
Expressing support
for these rights of Albanians, Rubin said: "We wish to see radical changes,
so that Yugoslavia ensures the improvement of the fundamental and legitimate
rights of the Kosova People."
Referring to plans
for military actions, he said that no options have been ruled out; plans
for a military intervention continue, even at accelerated rates. /a.ke/lm/
Fighting engulfs Prizren
PRISHTINE, July
16/ATA correspondent Behlul Jashari reports:
This afternoon
fighting also engulfed the city of Prizren (20 km from Albania's northern
border) and its suburbs.
At around 13:30
in the Tasus quarter, in the suburbs, only two km from the city centre,
Serbian military and police forces began heavy artillery shelling from
the fighting positions in the site called "Ura e Lloces".
Sources from the
spot say that several houses have been covered with smoke and fire. They
say fierce fighting is also taking place in the suburbs of the Hoce e Qytetit
village, in Prizren's suburbs, where powerful blasts are being heard from.
Many inhabitants
of the Prizren suburbs are leaving their homes because of the fighting.
The Democratic
League of Kosova (LDK), at an emergency meeting today, denounced the Serbian
attack and called on the citizens to stay home as much as their can so
as to counteract to the Serbian aims of ethnic cleansing. /das/lm/
Kosova Albanians inaugurate their parliament
-Rugova and deputies swear oath of allegiance-
PRISHTINE, July
16/ATA correspondent Behlul Jashari reports:
The Parliament
of the Republic of Kosova, emerging from the elections of March 22 this
year in Kosova, was inaugurated in Prishtine today.
The elections
were held after the expiry of the mandate of the first democratic pluralistic
Parliament of Kosova, which emerged from the May 24 elections of 1992 and
which could not convene under very grave conditions of Kosova.
Today's meeting
to inaugurate the parliament of Kosova, with the participation of the deputies
of all parliamentary parties was held in the Presidency of Kosova and the
Democratic League of Kosova (DLK) headquarters, as the building of the
Kosova parliament has been occupied by the Belgrade military and police
regime since the beginning of July 1990.
The legislators
carried out all the procedures of inaugurating the Parliament and its commission,
based on the Constitution of the Republic of Kosova.
Academician Idriz
Ajeti, LDK deputy, was elected speaker of parliament.
Gjergj Dedaj,
deputy of the Liberal Party, Zef Morina of the Albanian Christian-Democratic
party, and Iljaz Kurteshi of the Social-Democratic Party were elected deputy
speakers.
Fatmir Sejdiu,
LDK deputy, was elected secretary of Parliament.
In his oath of
allegiance, the president of the Republic of Kosova, Dr. Ibrahim Rugova,
said that he will energetically devote himself to achieving and safeguarding
the Independence of the Republic of Kosova in its territorial integrity,
to ensuring human and civil rights and freedoms.
The Kosova parliament
was inaugurated under extraordinary war state conditions in Kosova and
without any public announcement of its inauguration today, so that the
Serbian forces could not prevent it convening.
After the end
of the parliament's proceedings, Serbian forces, backed by armaments, surrounded
the building and later, through many provocations and threats entered it.
Serbian forces
and participants of Serbian state security members confiscated armloads
of documents.
Meanwhile diplomats
of the United States, accredited to Belgrade and who were in Prishtine
and representatives from the U.S. Office in the Kosova capital also arrived
there. /sh.dha/pas/lm/
Nano says aid for Kosova refugees increases
TIRANA, July 16
(ATA)-It is important that efforts are intensified, especially between
the central and local governments, to stabilise the situation in the northeastern
zones, where the bulk of the Kosova refugees has been settled, said Prime
Minister Fatos Nano at Wednesday's meeting of the Inter-ministerial National
Security Politics Committee.
According to the
spokesman of the Prime Minister, Nano said in his speech that the
aid for this population is increasing and the government will soon begin
taking measures to cope with winter.
Nano made an analysis
of the situation in Kosova and its consequences in Albania.
He asked the public
order and defence ministers to neutralise all attempts to raid arms depots
as well as illegal trafficking.
Referring to the
situation in Kosova, Nano said that its is very important for Albanians
not to lose international support.
They should find
common language with one another and show to the international community
and, particularly, the Contact Group, that they are able to reach political
compromises.
An agreement is
imposed on the Albanian factors which should be applied as soon as possible.
/a.ke/pas/lm/
The text you can read at aprjun98.htm
European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI):
Stefan Troebst
Confict in Kosovo: Failure of Prevention?
An Analytical Documentation, 1992-1998.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* News Release Issued by the International Secretariat
of Amnesty International *
TUESDAY 7 JULY 1998
KOSOVO PROVINCE: WHERE FOOTBALL IS A POLITICAL CRIME
Whilst attention is focused on the World Cup,
football is being turned into a political crime in Kosovo province, said
Amnesty International today. The punishment for a footballer or a football
fan can be jail, a beating, or both.
Over the past several
years, Amnesty International has received numerous reports about ethnic
Albanians sent to prison simply for organizing a football match.
On 24 February 1997,
Esat Leku, aged 24, was sentenced to 60 days' imprisonment by the local
Court for Petty Offenses in Glogovac for organizing a football game without
the prior consent of the local authorities.
On 13 March 1997, Bajram
Axemi, aged 37, was summoned before the Court for Petty Offenses in Gnjilane
for organizing a football competition in July 1996. He was sentenced to
a fine of 300 dinars [at that time, about Pounds Sterling 30] or a 15-day
prison term.
On 16 December 1997
in Lipljan, Ali Stublla, the former chairman of the "Ulpiana" football
club, was arrested and sent to serve a 30-day prison term. He had reportedly
been convicted in 1995 of failing to report games organized by "Ulpiana".
Ill-treatment by police
has been all too common when ethnic Albanians have been detained by the
Serbian police in Kosovo province. Football players have not escaped this.
On 11 April 1997, a
police squad intervened during a football match in Muhadzerov Prelaz between
teams representing the ethnic Albanian villages of Prelezi and Rakaj. The
police broke up the game and confiscated the football gear from the players.
The players themselves were ordered to appear at the police station the
following day, and Nazim Rekaj, Sabri Mihalica, Heset Mihalica, Milazim
Ferati, Fatmir Lalinovci, and Abdyl Lalinovci were reportedly ill-treated
by the police. Heset Mihalica reportedly suffered severe physical injuries
because of the ill-treatment.
BACKGROUND
Since 1990, the majority of ethnic Albanians
in Kosovo province refused to recognize Serbia's authority in the province
and so a number of "parallel" institutions were established -- government,
an education system. The "parallel" structures were extended to an alternative
football league. To the Serbian authorities, this has been intolerable.
Kosovo province has
been a human rights crisis waiting to happen. The abuses of basic human
rights have led to frustration and anger which have culminated in the present
armed confrontation.
Amnesty International
believes that any lasting solution to the present crisis must ensure guarantees
for human rights protection, and that those responsible for past and present
human rights violations by police and security forces will be brought to
justice.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Immediate Cease-Fire In Kosovo Essential To
Facilitate Internationally Mediated Settlement
IHF Calls For Monitoring and Preventive Force
Prishtina, Belgrade, Vienna, 10 June 1998. The
International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF), in cooperation
with the Kosova Helsinki Committee, Netherlands Helsinki Committee and
Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia, dispatched a fact-finding
mission to Kosovo to investigate the conflict situation and violations
of international human rights and humanitarian law resulting from the escalation
of security operations by the Yugoslav government. The mission met with
members of the negotiating team appointed by Dr. Ibrahim Rugova, was refused
a meeting with Serbian authorities in Prishtina on ambiguous grounds, made
field trips through Serbian controlled areas on two major front lines in
Kosovo, i.e., Western Kosovo and the Central Kosova region of Drenica,
including the Serbian Orthodox Patriarchate in Pejë, and Kosova Liberation
Army (KLA) controlled areas in Drenica.
This mission was a follow-up
to the IHF's recent mission to Albania and Montenegro (13-18 June 1998),
to interview Kosovar refugees in Albania and internally displaced persons
(IDPs) in Montenegro forcibly displaced from their homes in the municipalities
of Gjakovë, Deçan, and Pejë.
Fighting continues between
FRY security-military forces and KLA units in areas visited by the mission.
Western and Central Kosovo are openly affected by warfare and highly insecure.
Personal security is greatly endangered, and freedom of movement is significantly
limited because of continuing conflict. This is especially the case between
Gjakovë and Pejë, where villages along the route illustrate a
Bosnia-like pattern of ethnic cleansing and destruction of civilian property.
A large fire-fight was underway while the mission was detained for one
hour at the police checkpoint in Prilep. Throughout that hour, fighting
involving heavy weapons, machine guns, and automatic weapons was heard
from the direction of Drenoc and Voksh. The mission's freedom of movement
was limited to the main road by FRY security forces for security reasons,
which precluded the mission from visiting the villages of forcibly displaced
Kosovar refugees which were interviewed in Bajram Curri by the IHF mission
to Albania. The mission was prevented by Serbian militia from traveling
to the Decani monastery to interview Serb displaced persons temporarily
sheltered there. Fighting, including heavy artillery and smoke from burning
houses, was noted by the mission in Loxha, only a couple of kilometers
from the district center of Pejë. According to unverified field information,
as many as a dozen persons from both sides were killed and wounded in Loxha.
The town of Pejë
was in a high state of tension, reflected in its resemblance to a virtually
deserted town, even in mid-afternoon, with most shops and public premises
closed, apparently due to nearby fighting. The mission spoke with Serbian
civilians who used aggressive and threatening language when speaking about
the Kosovar population. The IHF fears that such ethnic tensions could quickly
lead to a "civil-war" type of violence, which could spread to other urban
centers, including Prishtina.Highly flammable tensions were also evident
during a visit to the Serbian Orthodox Church ex-Patriarchate, where Serbian
security personnel carried Kalashnikovs on the Patriarchate grounds. In
Gjakovë, the mission also saw a militia armored personnel carrier
with hooded special forces.
The mission was strongly
harassed at security checkpoints on the Kosovo-Montenegro administrative
border near Radavc at the place called Savine Vode. At the Kosovo-Montenegro
checkpoint, one mission member was verbally threatened by a militia officer.
Later that night, at the checkpoint near Miloshevo, mission members were
subjected to search and interrogation in which the checkpoint commander
accused mission members of being Western spies and agents for the KLA.
This treatment is illustrative of the substantial risks Kosovar civilians
run when attempting to travel inside Kosovo. It is clear that government
security forces at checkpoints are prepared to maltreat individuals based
on their ethnic identity. On the final day of the fieldwork in KLA held
territory, the representative of the Serbian Helsinki Committee remained
in Prishtina, as the result of recommendations in relation to the mission´s
meeting with the KLA.
The mission traveled
to the Kishnareka area and met with the local KLA commander and officers,
and internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Komoran. It is apparent that
the conflict is placing the local population and IDPs under substantial
stress. IDPs are being housed in crowded conditions with local families.
There is a lack of basic food commodities, water, and sanitation, and medical
care is virtually non-existent, except for modest efforts by Médecins
sans Frontières. These conditions are aggravated by the security
cordon imposed on the area by the FRY government. There is also a substantial
lack of international humanitarian presence in conflict-affected areas,
contrary to President Milosevic's recent declaration from Moscow to allow
unimpeded access to humanitarian organization to deliver relief materials.
It is obvious that the high insecurity in the region is hampering efforts
of humanitarian organizations to deliver assistance to IDPs and the local
population in areas under siege.
While freedom of movement
for international organizations is hampered by government security forces,
the mission was able to gain a clearer picture of the widespread displacement
of civilians and destruction of property caused by recent security operations.
It is evident that the Kosovar civilian population has been intentionally
and disproportionately targeted by security forces contrary to common Article
3 of the Geneva Conventions and Protocol II (1977) concerning non-international
conflict. The mission obtained information from the Council for the Defense
of Human Rights and Freedoms concerning the believed abduction i.e. arrest
and detention of 400 Kosova Albanians by government security forces in
violation of international law, as well as reports that the KLA has detained
an estimated 30 Serbian detainees. The IHF is gravely concerned that the
hostage-taking and forced disappearance could become a tactic used in the
conflict that would precipitate an increase in violence, placing the civilian
population in still greater jeopardy.
Recommendations
The Kosova crisis is poised on the edge of open warfare. While an increase in diplomatic involvement by Contact Group is welcome, it is insufficient in scope and scale to prevent an outbreak of full scale conflict. The Milosevic government is continuing to stall on making the necessary gestures to contribute to de-escalating tensions and creating a basis for resuming negotiations. The recent agreement to allow a small diplomatic monitoring presence is insufficient to adequately cope with the crisis conditions in Kosova. In order to preempt a further escalation in the conflict and an increase in civilian casualties and humanitarian hardship, the IHF
- calls on the international community to deploy, and the Milosevic government to accept, a robust and large scale international monitoring mission capable of monitoring the situation in Kosova. An increased international presence will improve the prospects for de-escalating tensions and enabling international facilitation of the political processes necessary for a negotiated solution.
- calls on the FRY government to withdraw security forces from Kosova and immediately cease hostilities and implement a cease-fire. The FRY government should drawback security and military units in order to facilitate the cessation of hostilities.
- calls for the deployment of a preventive force to monitor the implementation and enforcement of a cease-fire and to replace Serbian security forces.
- calls upon the Contact Group and UN Security Council to undertake all necessary measures to prevent an outbreak of full scale war in Kosovo, as it could cause massive civilian casualties, spill over international borders, and destabilize the region.
- calls on the FRY government and Kosovar political representatives to immediately restart negotiations for a internationally mediated political solution to the conflict. The KLA leadership should make an immediate effort to play a constructive role in the negotiation process.
- calls on all parties to the conflict to abide by the Geneva Conventions regarding non-international conflict, especially with respect to hostage taking and retributions against civilian non-combatants.
- calls for unimpeded deployment of international human rights investigators and forensic experts to investigate allegations of crimes committed in conjunction with the armed conflict and security operations in Kosova.
- calls on the FRY government to immediately allow unrestricted freedom of movement to international and local humanitarian organizations to deliver relief materials and medical assistance, and to assess the condition of displaced persons.
- calls on international humanitarian organizations to increase their efforts to gain access to deliver urgently needed relief materials. Humanitarian organizations should also prepare to adequately respond to key issues such as water and sanitation, food supplies, medical care, shelter rehabilitation, and quick impact projects to alleviate the hardship produced by displacement and overburdened local resources.
- calls for the FRY government to allow immediate and unrestricted access by the ICRC to prisoners of war and other persons detained during the security operations. Likewise, the KLA should allow the ICRC immediate access to any prisoners of war or detainees being held.
For more information:
Kosovo Helsinki Committee
Gazmend Pula
+381-38-26 153
Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia
Sandra Sljepcevic
+381-11-639 481
Netherlands Helsinki Committee
Jan ter Laak
+31-30-230 2535
IHF Secretariat
Jennifer Lincoln-Lewis
William Hayden
+43-1-402 73 87
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRESS RELEASE
ICG Examines the Albanian Dimension of the Kosovo Crisis
10 July 1998
The International Crisis Group (ICG) publishes today a report examining the Albanian dimension of the escalating conflict in Kosovo.
The 15-page report, entitled The View from Tirana: The Albanian Dimension of the Kosovo Crisis, is the latest in a series of ICG studies of the southern Balkans.
As fighting escalates
in Kosovo and Kosovo Albanian refugees stream out of the ethnically-divided,
southern Serbian province into neighbouring Albania, that country -- Europe’s
most impoverished -- is being inexorably dragged into the conflict.
Relations between Albanians
from Albania proper and their ethnic kin over the border in Kosovo are
complex. The political division of the past half century and Albania’s
isolation have caused the two communities to evolve in a very different
fashion.
Given the nature of
the fighting in Kosovo and the ethnic and, in some cases, family ties between
Kosovo Albanians and Albanians from Albania proper, it appears almost impossible
for Tirana to stand passively by.
Since a violent outbreak
of anarchy in spring 1997 in the wake of the collapse of a series of pyramid
investment schemes, parts of northern Albania on Kosovo’s border have been
largely beyond Tirana’s control. These regions therefore potentially offer
fertile soil for insurgents, whether from Kosovo or from Albania.
The ICG report describes
the background to Kosovo-Albanian relations, both during the communist
era and more recently during the 1992-1997 administration of ex-president
Sali Berisha. It also examines the position of the current Albanian government,
its restrained response to the crisis and its relationship with Kosovo
Albanian politicians.
The report examines
how the Albanian media and opposition have reacted to the violence in Kosovo,
and considers Serbian allegations that Kosovo Albanians are using northern
Albania both to acquire weapons and to recruit soldiers. It concludes with
a series of recommendations aimed at lessening tension and contributing
to stability in the region.
For further information and copies of the report,
contact ICG in Sarajevo
on (+387 71) 447 845, 447 846 or 200 447, in
Washington on (+1 202) 986
9750, or in Brussels on (+32 2) 502 9038. The
report can also be accessed
via the internet on ICG’s web site - http://www.intl-crisis-group.org.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IFEX- News from the international freedom of expression
community
_________________________________________________________________
ACTION ALERT - FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA
(KOSOVO)
13 July 1998
CPJ protests attacks on journalists
SOURCE: Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), New York
**This alert contains information further to IFEX alerts of 23 June and 8 July 1998**
(CPJ/IFEX) - CPJ is greatly alarmed by the continuing
pattern of intimidation and violence against journalists by Serbian special
police and military in Kosovo. In particular the organisation is distressed
by a recent incident in which special police, posing as journalists, infiltrated
an international press pool that was following a motorcade of diplomats
around the conflict zone. Such conduct presents grave safety risks for
correspondents in the area.
On 6 July 1998, nearly
50 correspondents joined a convoy of envoys in a trial run of the so-called
Kosovo Observer Mission touring the Kosovo countryside to survey the aftermath
of battles between the Serb military and the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA).
As a pool video cameraman walked alongside the convoy filming its approach
to Prekaz, a red car with press markings occupied by three men in civilian
clothes suddenly swerved toward him, nearly striking him. When the motorcade
stopped near the town, two journalists who were part of the pool, Kurt
Schork of Reuters and Anthony Lloyd of "The Times" of London, approached
the occupants of the red car to complain about the incident. Schork and
Lloyd then turned away and started walking toward the center of town. Several
minutes later, one of the red cars' occupants grabbed Schork by the shoulder,
turned him around and punched him hard in the face. Provoked by the attack,
Lloyd struck the unidentified man, who then retaliated with two karate
kicks to Lloyd’s chest, breaking two of his ribs. The incident took place
in front of the eight foreign envoys on the mission, who identified the
occupants of the red car as Serbian special police (see IFEX alert of 8
July 1998).
CPJ is also distressed
by a 22 June 1998 attack on a Danish TV2 crew, which was targeted by Serbian
soldiers near the Glogovac mine. Correspondent Neils Brinch, cameraman
Heinrik Gram and an Albanian interpreter who asked not to be identified,
were heading back to Pristina in their rented armored car after they were
turned away by guards at a KLA checkpoint at Glogovac. The vehicle they
rented, painted white, was typical of the kind used by journalists to cover
the conflict. The crew felt two shots fired at their car, prompting Brinch
to stop. A Serb soldier in uniform ran up to their car and pointed his
gun at the crew. As soon as Brinch lifted up his arms to show he was unarmed,
the soldier started shooting at the crew’s car. Brinch sped away from the
scene. Although no one was hurt, the crew found 21 bullet marks on the
armored vehicle (see IFEX alert of 23 June 1998).
CPJ strongly protests
these violent actions by Serbian soldiers and special police against journalists
carrying out their professional duties. The infiltration of Serbian agents,
posing as journalists, into the first international observer mission in
Kosovo represents a grave breach of security and violates all international
norms that guarantee journalists the right to freely and safely practice
their profession.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Send appeals to President Slobodan Milosevic:
-urging him to recall his pledge to CPJ’s Kati
Marton in December 1996 to respect press freedom and the universally recognized
rights of journalists. With this in mind, encouraging him to investigate
these incidents and take the necessary measures to prevent such attacks
in the future
APPEALS TO:
His Excellency Slobodan Milosevic
President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Fax: +381 11 656 862
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
For further information, contact Chrystyna Lapychak
at CPJ, 330 Seventh Ave., New York, NY 10001, U.S.A., tel: +1 212 465 1004
x 101, fax: +1 212 465 9568,
e-mail: europe@cpj.org, Internet: http://www.cpj.org/.
The information contained in this action alert
is the sole responsibility of CPJ. In citing this material for broadcast
or publication, please credit CPJ.
_________________________________________________________________
DISTRIBUTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
EXCHANGE (IFEX) CLEARING HOUSE
489 College Street, Suite 403, Toronto (ON) M6G
1A5 CANADA
tel: +1 416 515 9622 fax: +1
416 515 7879
alerts e-mail: alerts@ifex.org
general e-mail: ifex@ifex.org
Internet site: http://www.ifex.org/
_________________________________________________________________
* News Release Issued by the International Secretariat
of Amnesty International *
AI INDEX: EUR 70/45/98
10 JULY 1998
Arrest Karadzic and Mladic now --
Make Kosovo's human rights violators stop
and think
Every day that SFOR fails to actively search for
and arrest suspects like Radovan Karadzic and General Ratko Mladic marks
another defeat for justice and sends the wrong message to human rights
violators in Kosovo province, Amnesty International said today, on the
eve of the third anniversary of the capture of Srebrenica.
"In a place
like Kosovo, a message that you cannot get away with murder -- backed up
by meaningful actions -- may just make potential perpetrators think twice
before they take their next brutal step," Amnesty International said.
The near-total lack
of accountability for human rights violations in Kosovo province during
the past decade has undoubtedly been one of the major causes of the current
conflict there. According to Amnesty International, accountability for
war crimes in neighbouring Bosnia-Herzegovina could make all the difference
in preventing such crimes in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
"Arresting Karadzic
and Mladic now could help to save lives in Kosovo tomorrow," Amnesty International
said.
Karadzic and Mladic
have been indicted twice by the International Criminal Tribunal for the
former Yugoslavia in The Hague for genocide, crimes against humanity, and
violations of the laws of war. One indictment relates to the
events which followed the capture of the former United Nations "safe area"
of Srebrenica by Bosnian Serb forces on 11 July 1995.
More than 6000 "missing"
persons from Srebrenica remain unaccounted for, many of them almost certainly
deliberately killed and buried in mass graves still to be excavated.
The arrest of indicted
war crimes suspects in other parts of the former Yugoslavia today would
make a powerful statement to all parties involved in the conflict in Kosovo
that there can be no rest for those who violate the most basic principles
of human rights and humanitarian law.
"For the men, women and children of Srebrenica, Saturday will be a day to remember and mourn," Amnesty International said. "Shouldn't we also be making sure that this anniversary is one that the likes of Karadzic and Mladic will never forget? For the sake of the people of Srebrenica; for the sake of the people of Kosovo - arrest now!"
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greek Helsinki Monitor & Minority Rights
Group - Greece
P.O. Box 51393 GR-14510
Kifisia Greece
Tel. +30-1-620.01.20
Fax +30-1-807.57.67
e-mail: office@greekhelsinki.gr
http://www.greekhelsinki.gr
LINK to further press news_______________________________________________________________________
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