Tagesnachrichten 21. Juli 1998
von ALBANEWS und anderen
Daily Report No 1497 July 21, 1998
Kosova Information Center
Tagesnachrichten 21. Juli 1998
7. to call on the Commission and the Council to provide all necessary humanitarian aid to the victims of and the refugees from the acts of violence and call on member states to stop returning refugees and asylum seekers to Kosova where protection cannot be guaranteed;________________________________________________________________________
Augsburger Allgemeine 9. Juli 1998:
Still there is no stop of deportations !
newspaper Augsburger Allgemeine reports on July
9, 1998
Kosova Information Center_______________________________________________________________________
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT # 1497-B
Prishtina, 21 July 1998Second Edition: 19:30 hrs
President Rugova Meets with Ambassador Chris Hill
PRISHTINA, July 21 (KIC) - The President of the Republic of Kosova Dr. Ibrahim Rugova received today in Prishtina Ambassador Chris Hill, the U.S. diplomat who has been mediating between Prishtina and Belgrade on the Kosova issue.
On the current situation in Kosova, the President of the Republic said a grave and dangerously escalating situation prevails in Rahovec and its suburbs as well as in the border villages amidst stepped up Serbian military and police operations against the Albanian population.
President Ibrahim Rugova and the American envoy discussed possible steps to de-escalate the situation and create the appropriate conditions for a political solution to the Kosova issue.
In advance to his talks with Rugova, Ambassador Hill stressed the confidential nature of his discussions.
President Rugova discussed the situation in Kosova in separate meetings yesterday with the Italian Ambassador to Belgrade, Ricardo Sessa, and Second Secretary in the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade, Robert Petre.LDK: Serb Aggression's Goal Is Ethnic Cleansing of Kosova
PRISHTINA, July (KIC) - The Presidency of the Democratic League of Kosova (LDK), the main political party in the country, denounced today in the strongest terms massacres carried out by Serbian military, paramilitary and police forces in Rahovec and other areas in Kosova, engulfed in an undeclared war waged by Serbia.
Reports from Rahovec indicate that civilian Albanians have been massacred there, the LDK said in a statement, adding it is impossible to offer any assistance to thousands of citizens who have been holed up in the sealed-off area.
"Serbia is killing children, women, young and the elderly; it is burning and destroying houses under the very eyes of the world," the LDK said. "It is committing crimes against humanity".
The goal of Serbia is apparent - the ethnic cleansing of Kosova, the LDK Presidency said.
The party urged the United States of America, the European Union, and NATO "to intervene energetically to halt Serbian aggression."
It called on the Hague Tribunal to investigate the Serbian massacres in Kosova and to indict those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The LDK Presidency called on international humanitarian organizations to step up work in the crisis zones in Kosova.Critical, Dramatic Situation in Rahovec Reported
PRISHTINA, July 21 (KIC) - Eye-witnesses described the situation in Rahovec as critical today, speaking of many killed and wounded, of massacred people.
A number of people were tied to electricity or telephone posts before being actually executed by Serb forces, eye-witnesses said.
Large numbers of people have got out of the surrounded Rahovec. Yet, many remain holed up.
Scores of Albanians have been reportedly killed. Three pregnant women are known to be among them.
There are many wounded people in Rahovec. Some 80 wounded Albanians, many of them women and children, have sought medical assistance in the village of Ostrozub.
Eye-witnesses said there were heavy detonations, shells of heavy artillery landing in the town, as well as incessant machine gun fire today.
Many houses have been burned or destroyed.
Local Albanian resistance forces have been battling with heavy Serb military, paramilitary and police force in Rahovec. The latter have received re-inforcements today.
Diplomats and media representatives have not been allowed access to the area, local sources said.Rahovec Is Awful, Eye-witnesses Say
PRISHTINA, July 21 (KIC) - Serbian military and police forces rounded up yesterday hundreds of people, residents of Rahovec, and sent them to Prizren.
Some of them revealed details of their ordeal after being released.
Rahovec is awful, they said.
T. Sh., 30 years old, said he was terrified of what he had seen in Rahovec. "Many people were slain there. Serb forces pounded many houses, and many innocent people were killed... They rounded us up in basements. They got us in lorries. There were 300 of us perhaps. You could see pregnant women there".
Some political activists in Rahovec were sent in the direction of Vërmicë (a village bordering on Albania). Among them were Musë Kasapi with his son, Metush Canziba with his son, Beqir Haxhimusa and Mazllum Haxhimustafa. We were told they would be killed there. I don't know what happened to them...", T. Sh. says.
Xh. Sh., 34 years old, said in shock: "We were in the basement. I got out to look for my brother who was out in the fields. Instead of my brother I saw horrendous scenes. I spotted many killed bodies at a location called "Bllato".
He tells he saw many killed people and livestock in Bellacerkë village. Houses were smoldering there, he says.
D.K., 16 years old, said he was concerned about his mother and brother, who remained behind in Rahovec. "Our house was destroyed, just like many others", he said.CDHRF: At Least 60 Albanians Killed in the Kosova-Albanian Border on 18 July
PRISHTINA, July 21 (KIC) - The local chapter in Deçan of the Prishtina-based Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF) quoted eye-witness accounts as saying Serbian military and police forces committed a massacre on 18 July in the Albania-Kosova border, killing women and children who were trying to cross over and get back to their homes which they fled from in the wake of Serbian shelling of their villages. The overwhelming majority of the women and children were originating from the municipality of Deçan, CDHRF said.
The attack started at 2:30 a.m. when the column of 120 people had crossed the border at the location of Padesh, in the C82 pyramid. Initially two mines were activated, and within a minute or so heavy shelling and shooting from different arms started. There was shooting from three sides. The carnage occurred past the location called Rrasa e Zogut, near the alpine summer huts of Junik inside Kosovar territory, eye-witness accounts say.
The women and children were on horses, which fell when they were battered with arms.
It is supposed that at least 60 Albanians were killed that day, many of whom women and children. The number of wounded is very high, eye-witnesses said.
Between 15.000 and 20.000 Albanians, mostly from the Deçan region, fled their homes and crossed into Albania a month and a half ago, after a huge Serb military offensive to clear the border zone of local Albanian population.Kosova Information Center
Last page!
Contents
RAHOVEC IN FLAMES AND SMOKE AMIDST CONTINUED SERB
SHELLING
12 Bodies Taken to the Morgue, 5 Wounded Albanians
in Hospital, Last Night in Prizren
Activist Speaks of Scores of Tortured Albanians
in Serb Jail in Prizren
Llausha Village Fired upon by Serbs Overnight
Serb Fire Large-Caliber Cannon Missile in Vushtrri
Village
Firefighting Reported Near Ferizaj, South-East
of Prishtina
Bujku Editor-in-Chief Questioned by Serb Security
RAHOVEC IN FLAMES AND SMOKE AMIDST CONTINUED
SERB SHELLING
At Least 34 Albanians
Reported Killed/Massacred,
Many Wounded,
Scores Arrested,
Entire Families Missing
in Rahovec
PRISHTINA, July 21 (KIC) - In flames and smoke.
This is how the town of Rahovec and the surrounding villages has been described
today amidst continued shelling by Serbian forces, which has left scores
of people killed and wounded.
Precise figures on the casualty-toll are still
unknown as the area has been inaccessible.
The Kosova Information Center (KIC) received
two accounts today indicating that at least 34 Albanians have been killed
in the last couple of days.
LDK in Malisheva Lists Names of 10 Killed
Earlier in the day today, the LDK Information
Commission in Maliseheva, a municipality neighboring on Rahovec, said it
had reports indicating that at least ten Albanians had been killed in the
past days. It named among the killed: Hamëz Rexhepi (66) Dritë
Hoxha (f, 24), Ibrahim Cena (50) and Fatime Bugari (f, 22), residents of
Rahovec; and Ibrahim Popaj (82), Zize Popaj (f, 70), Hamide Zeqiraj (f,
65), Ryvije Popaj (f, 60), Agim Kelmendi (22) and Ahmet Kelmendi (25),
residents of the Bellacërkë village.
They have been buried in courtyards and vineyards,
namely were possible under the circumstances.
The number of those killed is higher, as well
as the number of wounded, the LDK Information Commission said.
Many residents had been hold up in Rahovec, unable
to leave the town, whose lives are in danger, the LDK said.
Those who manage to get out of the area today
were reported as saying the town of Rahovec was being shelled today, too,
whereas gunfire was reported in the direction of the villages of Xërxë
and Bellacërkës. Virtually all houses in Bellacërkë
have been destroyed, reports said.
Account by local Albanian Muslim Community official: 24 Killed
Mr. Halit Shala, secretary of the Albanian Muslim
Community in Rahovec, said Monday, 20 July, terror reined in the town.
A considerable number of killed and massacred people littered the streets,
he said. Only in the Tekke of Sheh Mihidini in Rahovec there were women,
children and old men, who had sought shelter there, but were slain barbarically,
Mr. Shala was quoted by the local chapter in Prizren of the Prishtina-based
Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF).
In the center of the town one saw people tied
to electricity posts, but also massacred people, Shala claims.
At a location called "Tumba", the high school
teacher Haxhi Sharku and Ali Percaj were massacred, amd six other carbonated
bodies were lying. The identity of the bodies is unknown.
The local CDHRF chapter quoted Shala's account
as saying that in the streets of Rahovec the bodies of Ramadan Abaz Ibra
(58) and his 56-year-old wife were lying; then the bodies of Bula Abaz
Ibra (f, 22), Emsale Shala (f, 27), Abdullah Bugari (37), Kadri Cena (43),
Sakip Bugari (50), the wife of Hysen Bugari (58), Hasan Shtavica, a school
teacher, as well as the high school teachers Faik Sylka e Xhemajli Ramqaj.
Past a location called "Bllata", near the lake,
the bodies of five unidentified people have been spotted.
Two dozen houses burned down are reported, and
the CDHRF gave the list of the family heads.
Mr. Shala said among the wounded were Shani Sylka
(an imam with the local mosque), Luan Vuçiterna, and Vllaznim Canziba.
The following people are listed as taken hostage/prisoners
by Serb forces: Merita Mustafa (f, 25) with her 2-month baby, Ali Mustafa
(35), Liridon Mustafa (3 years old), Veton Mustafa (7), Satkie Mustafa
(f, 23), Muharrem Mustafa (42), Vezire Mustafa (f, 35), Xhemile Mustafa
(f, 75), Muhidin Mustafa (65), Iliaz Shala (55), Xhemajli Iska and his
family, Maliq Kerali and his family, Nait (Sali) Musa with his son, Abaz
Mullauka (42), Rasim Vuçitërna (68), Xhevdet Vuçitërna
with two sons and his wife, Faredin Merxha (56), Mejreme Merxha (f, 52),
Hidajete Merxha and her daughter, Ali Shala and his eight-member family,
Mejdin Qemajli (47), Muharrem (37) and Bekim (surnamed unknown) (35) with
their families.
The following people are considered as missing:
Hadi Sokoli (32), Hivzi Shehu (30), Sabit Shehu (26), Sedat Shehu (27),
Esat Shehu (20) with his family, Gani Haxhijaha (35), Nijazi Mullauka (68),
Nijazi Rama with his ten-member family, Jonuz Jupa with his family, Muhamet
Kolari with his five-member family, Hanife Kollari (70), Ilir Hasku with
two members of his family, Osman Mullaabazi (68) with his family (68),
Jonuz Jupa with his family, Muhamet Sulejmani, Eqrem Derguti and his wife,
Bademe Draga (f, 70), Nesim Shala with his family, Ramadan Dina with his
family, Fahredin Dina with his family, Latif Veliu with his family, Qerim
Cena (32), Shefqet Derguti (52) with his wife, Sadik Derguti (32), Muzair
Mjezini, Fatime Kasapi (f), Qazim Kasapi, Lirie Kasapi (f), Sanie Kasapi
(f) with two sons and a daughter (Bekim, Burim and Leoreta).
Scores of arrested
Two lorryloads of arrested Albanians were taken
from Rahovec to Prizren last night. The women and children were let free,
whereas the men were held up.
Today (Tuesday), at 7:00 o'clock in the morning,
a lorryload of 20 young Albanian detainees was taken to Prizren, local
sources said.
At 10:00 in the morning today, a lorry with police
license plates shipped civilian Albanians from the Serb police in Rahovec
to Prizren.
There were between 30 and 40 of them, the local
CDHRF chapter said.
Also today, at 11:30 hrs, a lorry owned by the
"Progres" firm brought to Prizren 31 arrested people, all of them tied,
rounded up in the Rahovec district.
There were wounded people amongst the detainees.
They were all dumped in the hall of the fire-fighters, adjacent to the
Serb police station in Prizren, the local chapter of the CDHRF in Prizren
said.
The CDHRF chapter in Skenderaj: Eye-witnesses
speak of Albanians massacred in Rahovec
The local chapter of the CDHRF in Skenderaj quoted
local Rahovec citizens as saying they had seen Serb forces massacring residents
in Rahovec, women, children and elderly.
Eye-witnesses were quoted as saying they saw
themselves Serbs drowning to death in a well one Albanian and his two sons,
as well as a mother with her two children butchered.
Serb paramilitaries of the notorious Arkan have
been engaged in killing sprees in Rahovec, these eye-witnesses said.
12 Bodies Taken to the Morgue, 5 Wounded Albanians
in Hospital, Last Night in Prizren
Some 240 Albanians,
rounded up in Rahovec, taken to Prizren jail
PRISHTINA, July 21 (KIC) - The LDK Information
Commission in Prizren said 12 unidentified bodies were taken last night
to the Prizren town morgue. Around 20:00 hrs, five wounded Albanians were
taken to the Prizren hospital. Jemin Hondozi (1974) and Albanore Hoxha
(f, 1981) had received gunshot wounds, whereas Samere Nurshaba (f, 1991),
Abdullah Nurshaba (1994) and Rexhep Nurshaba (1953) were wounded of grenade
shrapnel.
LDK sources said around 200 civilian Albanians,
rounded up in Rahovec and its surrounding area, were taken in lorries to
the Prizren jail last night.
Meanwhile, today at 10:40, another 38 Albanians
were taken to Serb custody in Prizren.
Eye-witnesses said women, children, and the elderly
were taken in the premises of the jail, whereas the men to the police station.
Activist Speaks of Scores of Tortured Albanians in Serb Jail in Prizren
PRISHTINA, July 21 (KIC) - An activist with the
major Kosovar Albanian organization of women said today she witnessed herself
the torturing of scores of Albanians in a Serb jail in Prizren on Sunday.
Ms. Samie Zeqiraj, Presidency member of the LDK
Women's Forum, said she was on an bus commuting from Mamushë to Prizren
on Sunday morning when arrested by the Serbian police near Landovica motel.
She herself and a dozen other passengers were taken to the police station
in Prizren where she was held until 10 o'clock in the evening.
Samie Zeqiraj said during the whole day they
were intimidated, tortured and threatened with killing by outraged Serbs.
She said that men in particular were tortured barbarically.
Until around 5 p.m. all the passengers taken
in the bus were held together in a room. "After 5 o' clock, the police
started to pick up us one by one. I was interrogated by a Serb officer
until 20:00", she said.
Samie Zeqiraj said she was released shortly at
around 8 p.m, but she had no idea what happened to the rest of the people
who were rounded up together with her.
"While leaving the police station, I saw scores
of Albanians covered in blood, some of them hand-cuffed, the police dragging
them inside", Samie Zeqiraj said.
Llausha Village Fired upon by Serbs Overnight
PRISHTINA, July 21 (KIC) - Serb forces resumed
shelling Llausha village in Skenderaj ('Srbica') Sunday afternoon and evening
as well as today morning, a local LDK activist said.
Fadil Geci, head of the LDK in Llausha, said
Serb force fired mortars on several farmsteads in the village from their
position in the former ammunition factory near Skenderaj. He said there
were no causalities, and only minor material damage on some houses.
Mr. Geci said that Serb snipers fired several
shots Sunday afternoon on local harvesters in the fields of Llausha.
Llausha village has been repeatedly targeted
by Serb forces since early March, when Serb forces laid a deadly siege
around the village.
The major Kosova human rights group said yesterday
that the Serbs shelled for the first time a suburb in the town of Skenderaj
itself.
Meanwhile, the CDHRF said today Tahir Brahim
Hasani, 80, a blind person, was slain by Serb forces in his home at Klinë
e Ulët village of Skenderaj last night.
Serb Fire Large-Caliber Cannon Missile in Vushtrri Village
PRISHTINA, July 21 (KIC) - Serb forces garrisoned
at Taraxhë village of Vushtrri ('Vucitrn) fired several shells from
large-caliber cannons today morning at around 9 a.m.
Local sources in Vushtrri said Serbs opened fire
in the direction of Albanian villages in the area of Çiçavica
and Drenica region. No reports about possible casualties or damage caused
by today's bombardment have been available to the KIC.
The echo of huge detonations could be heard in
Kosova's capital Prishtina.
Meanwhile, the LDK Information Commission in
Vushtrri said the Serb police beat brutally brothers Xhafer Xhafa and Skender
Xhafa on Sunday evening. The two Albanians were beaten in the local medical
center in the town where they had sent Skender Xhafa's pregnant wife to
a delivery ward.
Firefighting Reported Near Ferizaj, South-East of Prishtina
PRISHTINA, July 21 (KIC) - Skirmishes between
the fighters of the UÇK and Serb forces were reported Sunday afternoon
at Jezerc village of Ferizaj ('Urosevac'), about 45 km south-east of Prishtina.
The local LDK chapter in Ferizaj said Serb forces
withdrew from Jezerc village at around 9 p.m. last evening. While driving
along the town streets, the Serbs provoked the citizens and fired from
automatic rifles in the air as well as the houses.
The LDK chapter could not learn about the precise
extent of the fighting and possible casualties in Jezerc village yesterday.
It noted, however, that Serb forces backed up by heavy armament left the
town today morning at around 9 a.m., heading towards Jezerc and the neighboring
village of Nerodime.
No word still about possible firefighting in
the area today.
Sources in Ferizaj said the funeral of a resident
and UÇK fighter was held Sunday in Jezerc. Nazmi Ukëzajmi was
killed last Wednesday evening in clashes with Serb forces, the LDK in Ferizaj
said, failing to say whether he died in his native village of Jezerc or
elsewhere.
Bujku Editor-in-Chief Questioned by Serb Security
PRISHTINA, July 21 (KIC) - Avni Spahiu, Editor-in-Chief
of the Prishtina-based Bujku daily newspaper was interrogated for a couple
of hours by the Serbian state security today (Tuesday) in Prishtina.
Avni Spahiu told the KIC the Serb security phoned
in his office today morning, ordering him to report back to them in person
immediately.
Mr Spahiu said the two-hour interrogation by
Serb state security officers focussed on a Bujku story covering an oath
of allegiance ceremony of the UÇK (The Liberation Army of Kosova).
Earlier this month, the Bujku newspaper covered
a swearing-in ceremony of recruits with the UÇK, somewhere in central
Kosova.
However, the story about the UÇK swearing-in
ceremony as well as the full text of the oath read out by recruits appeared
in other Albanian-language papers in Prishtina before Bujku had done it.
BC-ALBANIA-WEU-DELEGATION_______________________________________________________________________
Albanian parliamentary commissions urge NATO forces in KosovaTIRANA, July 21 (ATA) - By Ylli Pata: The foreign, order, SHIK and defence commissions of the Albanian parliament urged on Monday the representatives of the Western European Union Parliamentary Assembly (WEU) to instal NATO forces in Kosova as soon as possible.
"We present our attitude that NATO forces should be deployed in the territory of Kosova before the situation precipitates in a wide-scale conflict," Ndrec Pema, deputy head of the Order and SHIK commission said to ATA.
Members of three commissions said to the WEU delegation that "the Albanian government has not been involved in weapons' trafficking in Kosova."
The WEU delegation, headed by the Dutch Euro deputy Van der Linden said that aggravation of the situation in Kosova was increasingly reducing the chances for a peaceful solution to the crisis. It said that "the possible alternative is military intervention by the international community, an option which should be considered in the nearest meeting of the WEU parliamentary Assembly."
The delegation is on an official few day visit to Albania during which it held talks with Albanian president Rexhep Meidani, prime minister Fatos Nano and secretary for European Integration Ilir Meta. ake/mima/ak/BC-KOSOVA-MASSACRED-PEOPLE
Terror prevails in RahovecPRISHTINE, July 21 (ATA) - Terror prevails in Rahovec and many people killed or massacred are seen in the roads, a press release of Prishtina-based Council for the Defence of the Human Rights and Liberties said.
Bodies of mostly women, children and elderly people, who had come to ask for shelter at the sacred place of Saint Mihidini masjid, have been massacred. In the center of the city and even in main roads massacred people were seen tightened in pillars.
At the place called "Tomba" there is the massacred body of the teacher Haxhi Sharku and other seven Albanians, whose bodies had been burnt beyond recognition.
Other five massacred bodies found near the lake at the place called "Bllate" could not be recognised.
Around 21 houses have been burnt down and 50 people injured, the Council said adding that two police trucks full of Albanian citizens arrested in Rahovec arrived in Prizren in the evening.
Women and children have been released while men and youths are under custody with other 20 young men arriving today.
On Tuesday from 10.00 a.m. to 11.30. m.p. two other trucks full of Albanian civilians left Rahovec for Prizren, part of them under handcuffs. They are thought to be some 60 to 70 and all are placed at the fire brigade building, near the police station in Prizren. pta/mima/ak/BC-KOSOVA-KLMDNJ-REPORT
KLMDNJ briefs contact group on Serb massacres in Albanian borderPRISHTINE, July 21 - ATA correspondent Behlul Jashari reported that the sub council of the Human Rights (KLMDNJ) in Dezan had sent reports to Belgrade-based Contact Group ambassadors on the massacres of the Serb army on July 18 near the Albanian border killing scores of people and wounding hundreds of others, including women and children who were leaving Albania for Kosova.
"After they passed the border at the place called Padesh and were heading for Livadhi i Madh through a mountainous terrain, two mines went off followed by grenade shelling and incessant shooting. The attack started from three directions and lasted 30 minutes followed by a short break, and resumed again," the report said.
"Many people were massacred but their number could not be clearly defined. It was learned that all the children, women and elderly people who were being transported by 30 horses were killed," it said.
Hundreds of people have been injured, others have broken feet and legs or fallen down in abysses or maybe lost in mountains without any help, the report said.
"The fact that names of those killed or any other detail as regards the horrible event has not revealed after four days shows that Belgrade is trying to hide the traces of the crime, which included children, women and many citizens who were turning back to Kosova," the report said. pta/mima/ak/
RADIO FREE EUROPE/RADIO LIBERTY, PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC_______________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
RFE/RL NEWSLINE Vol. 2, No. 138 Part II, 21 July 1998ALBANIA WANTS AIR STRIKES AGAINST SERBIA...
Prime Minister Fatos Nano told Western European Union envoy Hans van der Linden in Tirana on 20 July that "no more time should be lost in stopping the Serbian war-machine through air strikes. It is necessary to ensure that a negotiation process" can start. Nano added that "it is clear that the Kosova Liberation Army (UCK)...remains a key factor in ending the crisis and must be taken into consideration by the international community," Nano's spokesman told an RFE/RL correspondent in the Albanian capital. A Defense Ministry spokesman informed Reuters that Albania has tightened its border controls and put the army and police on a heightened state of alert after heavy fighting in the border area over the weekend. The spokesman added that troops have been told to use restraint (see "RFE/RL Newsline" 20 July 1998). FS
...ASKS GREECE TO MEDIATE.
Foreign Minister Paskal Milo asked his Greek counterpart, Theodoros Pangalos, in Tirana on 20 July to use his influence on Belgrade to stop the fighting in Kosova. At a press conference, Milo stressed that "political dialogue can only take place when Belgrade pulls out its troops and halts military action." He added that if efforts to peacefully end the bloodshed fail, Albania will have to support the Kosovars' resistance efforts. Pangalos said he will meet with Kosovar representatives soon. He also pledged to speak with Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic. Pangalos proposed the creation of a "great Dalmatian road" to connect the Greek port of Igoumenitsa with Trieste. Greek diplomats told Reuters that the project will "open up Greece more to the north [and] give a big boost to Greek construction companies." The diplomats suggested that Athens might seek funding from the EU. FS
SERBS CLAIM VICTORY IN RAHOVEC.
On 20 July, Serbian paramilitary police officials told journalists on the outskirts of the southwestern Kosovar town of Rahovec that Serbian forces have defeated an attempt by the UCK to take that town (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 20 July 1998). The Serbs did not allow the reporters to enter Rahovec, but journalists could see fires burning in the center. Hundreds of fighters took part on each side in the three-day battle. The overall casualty toll was about 100, which makes the battle the bloodiest single clash since late February, when Serbian forces began the conflict. PM
BATTLE FOR RAHOVEC AS MILESTONE?
The Prishtina daily "Koha Ditore" wrote on 20 July that some 25,000 civilians fled northward into UCK-held territory toward Malisheva during the fighting. That town now hosts some 75,000 refugees, and the supply situation there is "catastrophic," the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" reported . Kosovar sources said in Prishtina on 20 July that the fight for Rahovec is continuing. A UCK spokesman noted that the battle began a "war that will end in Prishtina," the German daily added. The attack on Rahovec marks the first time that the UCK engaged the more heavily armed Serbs in a head-on confrontation in a town rather than employ hit-and-run tactics in rural areas. UCK spokesmen have said repeatedly in recent weeks that UCK fighters will "soon" be in Prishtina. PM
ALBANIAN POLICE SEIZE TRUCKLOAD OF ARMS.
Military police captured a truckload of arms in Kukes on 19 July, "Shekulli" reported. The truck contained more than 4 tons of arms, including some 1,000 Kalashnikovs and other Albanian- made machine guns. The truck came from the southern city of Vlora and the arms were bound for Kosova, police spokesmen said. It is the largest single quantity of illegal arms seized by police in 1998 and has an estimated market value of $2 million. Elsewhere, Tirana hospital workers told "Shekulli" on 20 July that three of the injured UCK soldiers who received treatment there the previous day are Yemenis. The men "disappeared" from the hospital after one day, according to the daily. FS
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL SLAMS SERBIAN POLICE.
Amnesty International issued a report in London on 20 July saying that the Serbian police in Kosova are often "out of control" and use "grossly excessive" force. The report noted several cases in which ethnic Albanians "disappeared" or were beaten or killed. "Unarmed civilians, unconnected with any [UCK] attacks, are being injured, killed, or even summarily executed.... We reiterate our appeals that all Serbian police and Yugoslav army forces be given strict orders to respect international human rights and humanitarian law." Meanwhile in Prishtina, the Kosova Committee for the Defense of Human Rights said in a statement that Serbian forces have killed some 469 Kosovars since the beginning of 1998. PM
SERBIAN OPPOSITION APPEALS TO GELBARD.
Leaders of the Serbian opposition coalition League for Change told Robert Gelbard, who is the U.S. special envoy for the former Yugoslavia, in The Hague on 20 July that the international community should take a greater role in halting the violence in Kosova and stopping the smuggling of arms to the UCK. The Serbian politicians stressed that the key to peace in Kosova is the democratization of Serbia and that Milosevic "is the key factor behind the instability in the Balkans," as Civic Alliance leader Vesna Pesic put it. Former Yugoslav Prime Minister Milan Panic added that "we are Serbs and we want peace. We know what happened in Bosnia and we want to avoid that," Reuters reported. Other members of the delegation included Democratic Party leader Zoran Djindjic and former Yugoslav Central Bank Governor Dragoslav Avramovic. PM
THREE EXPLOSIONS IN MACEDONIA.
Explosions took place in Skopje, Kumanovo, and in a locomotive near the Yugoslav- Macedonian border in the early hours of 21 July. Police issued no statement, and nobody claimed responsibility, but AP reports from Skopje that the UCK may have laid the devices. PM
BOSNIAN SERBS UNDERSCORE LANGUAGE DIFFERENCES FROM SERBIA.
The Constitutional Court of the Republika Srpska ruled in Banja Luka on 20 July that the official form of the "Serbian" language in the Bosnian Serb entity is the form of Serbo-Croatian spoken in the western part of the former Yugoslavia, known as "ijekavski," RFE/RL's South Slavic Service reported. After the Bosnian war began in 1992, the Bosnian Serb leadership favored the form of Serbo-Croatian spoken in Serbia, known as "ekavski." The court decision means that the official media will use a language similar to that of the Bosnian Muslims and Croats but clearly different from that of the Belgrade media. Serbo-Croatian dialects are based chiefly on geography, not on ethnicity. Since the breakup of the former Yugoslavia, nationalists on all sides have made great efforts to claim the existence of separate "Serbian," "Croatian," or "Bosnian" languages. PM
Fresh Serb military and police forces in Kosova_______________________________________________________________________PRISHTINE, July 20 (ATA)-Serbia dispatches fresh heavy military and police forces to Kosova. Albanian sources report that these forces cross the valley of the Iber river and the Podujeve-Prishtine road from several cities of Serbia.
Meanwhile, Belgrade has threatened that it will undertake tougher military and police actions against the Albanians of Kosova. /b.j/lm/Rugova meets U.S. diplomat
PRISHTINE, July 20 (ATA)-President of the Republic of Kosova Ibrahim Rugova met in Prishtine today with the second secretary of the U.S. embassy in Belgrade, Robert Pitri, and discussed the latest situation in Kosova and the possibility to overcome it through diplomatic means.
Rugova said that the situation in Kosova is becoming increasingly grave and dangerous, due to Serb forces' attacks in various parts of the region.
The situation is especially grave in the commune of Rahovec, said Rugova, who called for an urgent international intervention to halt attacks and ethnic cleansing. /b.j/lm/NATO plays irreplaceable role for political solution of Kosova crisis - Meta
TIRANA, July 20 (ATA)-Secretary of State for European Integration Ilir Meta and the President of the West European Union (WEU) Parliamentary Assembly, Jacques Burnel, stated in Tirana on Monday that the escalation of the conflict in Kosova risks its spill over to Albania and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), according to the Foreign Ministry press office.
"The Albanian government is for a peaceful solution to the conflict in Kosova and supports the policy of Mr. Rugova (President of the Republic of Kosova). It (the government) demands that the Albanian political factor of Kosova creates a joint platform, which should also be accepted by the Kosova Liberation Army (KLA). Only in this way will the application of any agreement reached be guaranteed," said Metal at the meeting.
The president of the WEU Parliamentary Assembly said that the deterioration of the situation in Kosova will cause the efforts for its peaceful solution to lose ground.
"When the political solution seems remote and the possibility of the conflict's spill over so near, then we hold that NATO's role to support a political solution remains irreplaceable," said Meta.
The Serbian forces on Saturday morning launched a large-scale military and police operation on the FRY-Albania border belt against the civilian population of Kosova killing and wounding dozens of people.
The Albanian government considered this operation a Serbian barbarous and genocidal act and a provocation and threat against the territorial sovereignty and integrity of Albania.
The Council for the Defence of Human Rights in Prishtine (Capital of Kosova) today made public the names of 350 Albanians killed by the Serb forces in Kosova (90 per cent of the population is Albanian) since the eruption of conflict between the Serbs and Albanians demanding independence, in January of this year. Many of the killed are children, women and old people. /s.s/mima/lm/Greece to demand wider international presence in Kosova -Pangalos
TIRANA, July 20 (ATA)-By I. Paco,
Greece will ask an increase of the international presence in Kosova and will take new initiatives to help start dialogue and end violence by both sides as soon as possible, Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, who is on a 48 hour visit to Albania, told a news conference on Monday afternoon.
At this conference, also attended by Albanian Foreign Minister Paskal Milo, Pangalos expressed the support of his government for all the Contact Group and international community approaches towards the crisis in the region.
Asked about his and the Greek government's stand towards the Kosova Liberation Army (KLA), Pangalos said that "We are against any act of violence and believe that they help neither the Kosovars, nor Albanians nor the stability in the region."
Albania's Foreign Minister Paskal Milo, expressing the stand of his government towards the KLA said that "it is a legal reaction of a people being massacred, on whom genocide and ethnic cleansing is being exercised and in this aspect we can not but give them moral support."
But he said that he agrees in principle to all initiatives for a peaceful solution to the crisis.
Pangalos expressed the wish that the Kosova Albanians have a unified stand which would help start dialogue and facilitate international mediation in the coming negotiations.
Pangalos also made the European Union responsible for rejecting for four years in succession Greece's demand to negotiate the Kosova issue before the situation reached this point.
"The Yugoslav leadership is also responsible for not taking measures and bringing the situation to this point," he said. /s.s/das/lm/Wallen says Sweden ready to support international intervention in Kosova
TIRANA, July 21 (ATA)-Sweden is ready to support an international military intervention in Kosova in case further developments in Kosova continue in the same way like so far.
This is what Foreign Minister of Sweden Lena Hielm Wallen writes on the debate page of one of the major Swedish newspapers Dagens Nyheter.
Wallen says that there is a limit up to which the international community can tolerate human sufferings and that a peace-imposing operation is necessary to be presented to the Unite Nations Security Council, the press and information department of the Albanian Foreign Ministry told ATA.
Wallen asserts plans for a military intervention backed by the United Nations against the will of the Yugoslav government but adds that the Kosova leadership should realise that the solution of the conflict should be found within the framework of Yugoslavia and not of an independent Kosova.
The long-term autonomy is possible, but only by the consensus of Yugoslavia and through the support first of all of the EU, the U.S. and Russia, she says. /a.ke/das/lm/OSCE office also in Malesi e Madhe
KOPLIK, July 21 (ATA)- By M. Malja,
OSCE office has began operation also in the district of Malesi e Madhe (North of Albania), the chairman of the district council, Luigj Rakaj, told ATA.
He said the aim of the office is to closely follow the situation along the Albanian-Yugoslav border of this district.
Intensification of Serbian violence in Kosova and aggravation of the situation on the northern border made the OSCE open offices in Shkoder last September and later in Bajram Curri, Kukes and Has so that the entire state border with Yugoslavia is covered by OSCE observers.
The Malesi e Madhe district has a 110 km border line with Montenegro. /a.ke/das/lm/
TIRANE, 21 JULY, ENTER/ - Albanian premier Fatos
Nano met Monday in Tirana with the Greek foreign minister Teodoros Pangallos.
Official sources said that Nano evaluated the good relations between Albania
and Greece as " important pillar for the future of the region, which must
not suffer any more by such tragedies as that of Bosnia ".
Nano said that Albania hailed the steps of the
Greek government for the legalisation of the Albanian emigrants in Greece
while it has guaranteed all rights to the Greek minority in Albania.
Talking on Kosova question, Nano said that Albania
supports the thought that there is no progress and no talks without the
ending of the military operations. þWe have intensified the contacts
with the influential factors in Kosova offering them the last year experience
of Albania where the armed people supported the political elections, leaving
aside the extreme demands and the radical solutions. We believe that
the crises of Kosova wont have any peaceful solution as far as there is
no democratisation of Serbia.
For our governments a priority will be the protection
of the stability in the region. The coalition government is facing
with calm and control the difficult situation created due to the crises
north, despite the primitive statements of the Albanian opposition, that
stimulate the sons of Kosova to fight against the government of Tirana.",
Nano said.
The Greek minister said that together with the
"stabilisation of Albania, the relations between two countries have noticed
a significant progress".
"The Greek government is very interesting to
destroy the causes that can provoke a armed conflict in Kosova, because
this would be with very grave consequences for the neighbouring countries
with Yugoslavia. We would use all our influence on Belgrade to block the
fightings in the terrain and on the other hand will help the realisation
of the manoeuvres and the strengthening of the relations of Albania
with NATO.", Pangallos said.
It was reported that last night the Greek minister
will meet a representative of Kosova who will arrive in Tirana from Pristina,
but reliable sources said that they had not yet arrived.
ALBANIA REFUTES RUMOURS ON ALBANIANS FIGHTING IN KOSOVA
TIRANE,21 JULY,ENTER/GJ.KOJA/-Border authorities
in Albania refuted the rumours that soldiers of the Albanian army might
have passed the border and have entered Kosova recently. The general commander
of the Albanian border Gezim Goci said to enter Monday that these rumours
are not true and the news transmitted by the foreign press agencies and
Italian press that 300 Albanian troops have passed the border Saturday
for Kosova to support the Albanians of Kosova, are not true. Goci said
that Albanian side immediately after the incident Saturday, when the shellings
occurred on the Albanian soil asked an urgent meeting between the two sides
to protest against such an attack. The Serbs have refused such a meeting
under the pretext of non security on the Albanian soil. Goci said that
based on the international laws the meetings between the two sides when
there are violation of the integrity are realised on the territory of the
side that claims the violation and on the border between the two countries.
The Serb authorities said Sunday that at least
300 Albanians had entered Kosova, referring to some statements of the KLA
soldiers captured by Serb authorities. The news was refuted by the Albanian
authorities.
PANGALLOS: THE RIGHTS OF THE ALBANIANS ARE AN INTERNATIONAL PROBLEM
The Greek foreign minister said that his country supports the international stands on Kosova.
TIRANE,21 July, ENTER/G.SELENICA/-The Albanian
foreign minister Paskal Milo in a joint press conference with his Greek
counterpart Pangallos said that the relations between the two countries
are growing and soon will be concrete with the first promised investments
by the Greek government and the other delivered part of the credit that
Greek government had given to Albania. Milo said that Pangallos brought
a new idea of co-operation between the two countries which consist in joint
actions for the construction of the highway north- south which will be
from Igumenica to Trieste. Albanian minister said also that Albanian sides
have raised the problem of the border pyramids and the prevention of the
border incidents. Milo said that both sides had talked on the question
of treating the Albanian emigrants in Greece, their employment, the opening
of the native language schools for them and the free movement of people.
Milo informed that Greek delegation had granted 200 thousand usd aid for
the Albanians of Kosova.
On the question of Kosova, both ministers, Milo
said were against the violence on Albanians and have asked the departure
of the military police forces from Kosova.
Commenting the stand of the Albanian government
towards KLA, Milo said that the Albanian government is considering positive
the reaction of the KLA as the reaction of a people being killed and massacred
in his own home by the military and police Serb forces. Milo said that
his government supports in principle any attempt to solve the question
of Kosova in peaceful way, but added that this can not realised while one
side continues the ethnic cleaning. Milo said that no militarymen from
Albania is fighting in Kosova.
Pangallos said during the press conference that
22 Greek businessmen are visiting Albania together with his delegation
and talked about the process of normalisation for the Albanian emigrants
in Greece. Pangallos mentioned the opening of a school in Albania where
the first language will be Albanian and second Greek.
On the Kosova question he said that his government
supports a solution realised by the international community and supports
the attitude of OSCE, contact group and European Union for peaceful solution
of the conflict. He stressed that of importance is the fact that all sides
in Kosova have a unique stand for a final solution of the problem of Kosova.
Greek minister said that Miloshevic had said
different things in different times on Kosova. He said that the human rights
and this case the rights of the Albanians are international question and
must be treated by the international community.
OPPOSITION MEETS THE WOUNDED OF KLA
TIRANE,21 JULY,ENTER/GJ.KOJA/- The deputy chairman
of the DP Genc Pollo, deputy Azem Hajdari and other representatives of
this party met Monday the wounded Albanians of Kosova hospitalised in the
military hospital of Tirana. Pollo considered this visit as an expression
of the solidarity of the Albanian people and DP to the just struggle of
the people of Kosova. The wounded thanked the representatives of
Democratic Party for the support this party gives to the people of Kosova.
15 wounded Albanians from Kosova had been hospitalise
in Tirana who are out of life risk.
MILO ASKED PANGALLOS TO INTERVENE AT BELGRADE AUTHORITIES FOR THE QUESTION OF KOSOVA
TIRANE,21 JULY,ENTER/G.SELENICA/-The Greek foreign
minister said to the Greek media, that Albanian minister Milo had asked
him to influence on the Belgrade authorities for a peaceful solution of
Kosova question, demand, according to the Greek minister done based on
the good relations between the two countries.
Sources at Albanian foreign ministry said that
Greek minister agreed to this demand and had promised to intervene at the
Belgrade authorities. These sources informed that both sides had
discussed during the talks on the question of the legalisation of
the Albanian emigrants, and Greek minister promised to pay priority to
this question ,and on the existence of the orthodox church in Albania.
MILO: ALBANIA HAS NOT ONLY THE POLITICAL WILL ABUT THE NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE SOLUTION OF THE KOSOVA QUESTION
TIRANE,21 JULY,ENTER/G.SELENICA/-Albanian foreign minister Paskal Milo said Monday to journalists that the government is very concerned on the recent developments in Kosova and has a lot of hopes that the Council of Europe will take the preventive measures to solve this question. Milo said that if the incident of two days ago would be repeated, the Albanian government will show that it has not only the political will to hinder the spreading of the conflict, but also the necessary infrastructure to defend its country. Commenting the Serb press reports where the Albanian government is accused of sending armed troops in Kosova, Milo said that these are slanders that want to justify the spreading of the conflict south.
SOCIALISTS HESITATE TO DISCUSS ON CONTRABAND AND CRIME
TIRANE,21 JULY,ENTER/GJ.KOJA/The steering committee
of the Socialist Party is divided in its stands on the necessity
of a urgent meeting where corruption and criminality in the country will
be discussed. Sources at this party said to enter Monday that it is very
difficult to convene this committee because the members of the presidency
of SP do not want the meeting of this forum.
The organisative secretary of SP Petro Koci said
that the meeting will be within this week. On a statement of the
PBDNJ-sw leader Vasil Melo for a round table by the president of the republic
for the question of Kosova, where a resolution will be approved,
Koci said that this is not necessary. Koci said that the parliament had
approved a resolution on Kosova. He said that if Melo had such proposal
he must make them in the coalition parties, Koci said.
TIRANA, July 20
(ATA)-President of the Republic Rexhep Meidani on Monday met with an expanded
delegation of the West European Union, visiting Albania after Macedonia,
in a fact-gathering mission, according to the Press and Information office
close to the President.
The delegation
comprises representatives from nine European countries.
Meidani said that
Albania's position on the situation in Kosova is to find a lasting equilibrium
and a realistic solution to the Kosova issue in transparent cooperation
with the international community.
"We have continuously
stressed the need of unifying the Albanian factor in Kosova as an inseparable
part of the solution to the Kosova issue," said Meidani.
Referring to the
developments on the ground, President Meidani asked a considerable international
presence throughout the Kosova territory to prevent and halt military operations.
"Continued killing
of the Kosova civilian population, torching and material destructions directly
affect the self-defensive reactions on the part of the Albanian population
in the region," said Meidani.
Meidani encouraged
the cooperation of the international structures of WEU and NATO to control
the situation in Northern Albania.
The situation
and expansion of cooperation as well as the role of the MAPE structures
in Albania occupied an important place at the meeting. /s.s/pas/lm/
BC-KOSOVA-FIGHTING
Serbian forces grenade Skenderaj and Llaushe
PRISHTINE, July
20/ATA correspondent Behlul Jashari reports:
Serbian forces
on Monday grenaded the Skenderaj town of Drenice and the Llaushe village,
which has been the target of grenades since earlier in the morning.
Skenderaj is being
bombarded for the first time since the beginning of the conflict in Kosova.
Sources from the
spot report that units of the Kosova Liberation Army (KLA) and local inhabitants
of the Llaushe village have resolutely counteracted the barbarous attacks
of the Serbian forces. /la/mima/lm/
PRISHTINE, July
19 - ATA correspondent in Prishtina Behlul Jashari said that Serb forces
had continued shelling the Kosova-Albania border line during the recent
24 hours. The Serb heavy artillery was shelling the villages of Nec, Smolice
until Junik, sources of the Democratic League of Kosova (LDK) in Gjakova
said.
Heavy fighting
has been going on in villages of Prejlep, Carrabreg i Poshtem and Strellc
i Eperm, sources from Dezan said.
Military
operations are accompanied by helicopters flights of the Yugoslav army
over the Gjakova city and other regions.
Albanian sources
said that heavy fighting are continuing in the regions of Anadrini, between
Gjakova and Rahovec.
Reports from all
fronts say that Kosova Liberation Army (KLA) and the Albanian population
organised in defence of their settlements are determined to face barbarous
attacks of the Serb forces.
An Albanian was
found killed at a suburb of Gjakova city, near a check point of Serb forces,
but police did not allow the family to take the body. A Serb policeman
who was trying to desert was killed by his chiefs in Strellc village.
Two convoys of
Serb military machines roared passed the roads of Ferizaj on Sunday while
helicopters of the Yugoslav army flew over the city. cela/ak/
BC-ALBANIA-GREECE-KOSOV-
Pangalos says solution to Kosova through dialogue,
stop violence
TIRANA, July 20
(ATA) - By I. Pazo: Greece will exert all its influence upon Belgrade to
help find a peaceful solution through dialogue with the presence of the
international community in Kosova, Theodoros Pangalos, Greek Foreign Minister,
who arrive early on Monday in Tirana for a two day-visit, told journalists
following a meeting with his Albanian counterpart.
Both diplomats
discussed ongoing bilateral relations and crisis in Kosova.
"We agreed in
general that a solution through dialogue should be achieved and it is necessary
to stop violence immediately," Pangalos said, adding that maybe today evening
and Tuesday early in the morning he would meet some representatives of
Kosova who are in Tirana.
The meetings with
the Kosova leaders are not included in the agenda of Pangalos but there
is a possibility that he can hold separate meetings with Iljaz Ramajli,
the official representative of Kosova in Tirana, and others. However, Pangalos
refused to elaborate.
Following the
talks with his Albanian counterpart, Pangalos attended the inauguration
of the new computer network in the Albanian Foreign Ministry financed by
the Greek government and estimated at 70 million drachmas. ake/ak/
BC-ALBANIA-GREECE-RELATIONS
Pangalos: stabilised Albania helps promote
bilateral relations
TIRANA, July 20 (ATA) - Albanian
prime minister Fatos Nano and Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos
praised the good relations between Albania and Greece in a meeting on Monday
midday, according to press and information office at the Council of Ministers.
Nano said that
relations are an important pillar for the future of the region, which should
not experience a tragedy like that in Bosnia.
Albania praised
the steps undertaken by the Greek government to legalize Albanian immigrants
in Greece and, on its part, guaranteed all the rights for the Greek minority
in Albania because the rapprochement between the two peoples was very important
even in mutual relations between governments.
Talking about
the Kosova crisis, the prime minister Nano said that Albania upheld the
view that there is no progress and political negotiations without putting
an end to military operations on the ground.
"We have intensified
contacts with influential factors in Kosova offering them Albania's last
year experience when armed people backed the election political process
getting rid of extreme requests and radical solutions. We believe that
the Kosova crisis cannot have a peaceful solution as long as there is no
democratisation in Serbia," Nano said.
Both governments
should consider priority the maintenance of stability by every means, Nano
said.
"The coalition
government is facing with calm and self-restraint the grave situation created
by the crisis in the North, despite the primitive statements of the opposition,
which incites the sons of Kosova to fight against the Tirana government,"
Nano said.
The Greek minister
Pangalos said that "with stabilised Albania, even the relations between
the two countries have recorded a markedly progress."
"The Greek government
is very interested to prevent causes which can provoke an armed conflict
in Kosova because this would have grave consequences for all neighbouring
countries with Yugoslavia. We will exert all our influence upon Belgrade
to prevent fighting on the ground and on the other side to help carry out
military exercises and promote relations between Albania and NATO," Pangalos
said.
He said that Greece
upheld the view that a solution should be found as soon as possible otherwise
it would be too difficult to pave way for normal negotiations. ake/ak/
BC-ALBANIA-KOSOVA
Serbian TV news, a slander to involve Albania
in war -Milo-Bocka-
TIRANA, July 20
(ATA)- by I. Paco,
Senor Albanian
authorities on Monday turned down as a slander the news broadcasted by
the French News Agency AFP which referred to the Serbian state television
that "around 300 soldiers of the Albanian Republic of Albania are currently
in Kosova.
According to the
State Television RTS 1, this information is based on several captured members
of the Kosova Liberation Army (KLA).
Albania's Foreign
Minister Paskal Milo told reporters prior to his meeting with his Greek
counterpart Teodoros Pangalos that "this is nothing but a an ordinary slander
which aims to cover up the grave crimes of the Serbs against the Albanian
population in Kosova".
Milo added that
"such slanders aim at blaming Albania for an eventual spread of conflict
in the region".
"Our militaries
are not prepared for diversion, but to defend our national integrity,"
said Milo.
"We are not at
all implicated in the conflict and such statements are slanders by the
Serbian side which aim at involving Albania in the conflict," deputy Defence
Minister of Albania Ilir Bocka stated on Monday morning.
He said that the
Albanian soldiers are in defence of their own country and are not at all
implicated in such diversionist acts."
After Saturday's
events, when near the Albanian border, and even inside it, Serbian security
forces carried out attacks which killed and injured dozens of Kosovars,
Albanian Foreign Minister said that this tension is likely to lead to the
conflict's escalation.
Milo expressed
the belief that the international community will be able to halt the conflict.
"The community
is undertaking measures which we will see in the coming days," said Milo
not telling what they will be concretely.
Milo also said
that "if the conflict escalates, the Albanian government has an infrastructure
which it is increasingly mobilising to safeguard to country's sovereignty."
One day ago, the
chief of the Albanian diplomacy, declared for the press after the latest
wave of violence near the border between Albania and Kosova that "diplomatic
means have already been excluded".
However, on Monday
he asked his Greek counterpart Pangalos, who is on a formal visit to Albania,
that Greece exercise it own influence on Belgrade to find a peaceful solution
to Kosova. /a.ke/pas/lm/
BC-ALBANIA-MEIDANI-PANGALOS
Meidani evaluates Albanian-Greek relations
TIRANA, July 20
(ATA)-President of the Republic Rexhep Meidani on Monday evaluated Albania's
relations with Greece, according to the president's spokesman.
"Our relations
are very good and there is a joint will to keep improving them," said Meidani,
adding that cooperation in economy and investments should reach higher
levels.
He laid the stress
on the encouragement of cooperation and identification of the priority
fields of this cooperation such as infrastructure, tourism, small and medium
investments and other fields.
Greek Foreign
Minister Pangalos pointed to the importance of the free movement of the
citizens of the two countries' border areas as an European experience to
increase economic cooperation and investments on the border areas.
Referring to the
latest developments in Northern Albania and the Kosova issue, Meidani stressed
the need of a substantial international presence, at first political and
diplomatic, throughout the territory of Kosova to create or restore trust
on the ground and call a halt to the Serbian military machine.
They said that
as long as crimes and ethnic cleansing continue in Kosova, the unification
of the Albanian political factor there, indispensable for a democratic
space in resolving this issue, remains very difficult.
Views were exchanged
in this meeting on various aspects of the political and economic life at
home. /s.s/lm/
According to the statements
given to the Sub-CDHRF in Deçan, on 18 July 1998, Serbian police
and military forces perpetrated a massacre on the border zone with Albania.
Women and children, who were trying to return to their homes, were massacred.
The majority of women and children were from the district of Deçan.
The attack began at 2.30 a.m., when a line of 120 persons crossed the border
at the place called Padesh, at C-2 pyramid. Two mines exploded and after
a minute, shelling and incessant fire began. Fire was opened from three
directions. Dum-dum bullets were used. This happened in the vicinity of
the mountain huts in Junik, at the place called Rrasa e Zogut. Women and
children were on horseback, which fell due to shelling. It is believed
that at least 60 Albanians, mainly women and children, were killed. The
number of the wounded is much higher.
The Sub-CDHRF in Prizren
sent us the information given by Halit Shala, secretary of Islamic Community
in rahovec.The state of terror is prevailing in Rahovec. There are many
killed and massacred in the streets of Rahovec. Many women, children and
elderly that had taken shelter at the masjid of Sheh Mihidini in Rahovec,
were brutally massacred. Many corpses of the Albanians were hung on the
electric pillars in downtown Rahovec. Professors Haxhi Sharku, Ali Percaj
and six carbonized bodies, whose identities are unknown, were massacred
at the place called "Tumba".
The corpses of the following killed Albanians
remained in the streets of Rahovec:
the wife of Ramadan
Abaz Ibra (56), Ramadan Abaz Ibra 958), Bula Abaz Ibra (22), Emsale Shala
(27), Abdullah Bugari (37), Kadri Cena (43), Sakip Bugari (50), the wife
of Hysen Bugari (58), Hasan Shtavica, a professor, Faik Sylka, a professor,
and Xhemajli Ramqaj, a professor. Five unidentified corpses are at the
place called "Bllata" near-by the lake.
The houses of the following persons were burned:
Xhemajli Mustafa, Gani
Jahaj, Hidajet Haxhijahaj, Jusuf Haxhijahaj, Sakip Shehu, Selami Osaj,
Latif Mustafa, Hidajet Kasapi, Xhemajli Kadiri, Dervish Lamaj, Xhelal Jupaj,
Sali Rama, Hasan Dema, Haxhi Topalli, Idriz Bytyqi, Ramiz Bytyqi, Sali
Shala, Bashkim Tara, Qerim Cana, Hasan Jeminhazeri, Xhemajl Canziba. The
building next to the post office, "Park" hotel, the motel and "Haxhijaha"
gas station were burned, too.
The following persons were wounded:
Shani Sylka (imam),
Luan Vuçiterna and Vllaznim Canziba.
The following were taken hostage:
Merita Mustafa (25)
with her baby (2 months), Ali Mustafa 935), Liridon Mustafa (3), Veton
Mustafa (7), Satkie Mustafa (23), Muharrem Mustafa (42), Vezire Mustafa
(35), Xhemile Mustafa (75), Muhidin Mustafa (65), Iliaz Shala (55), Xhemajli
Iska with his family, Maliq Kerdali with his family, Nait (Sali) Musa with
his son, Abaz Mullauka (42), Rasim Vuqiterna (68), Xhevdet Vuqiterna with
his wife and two sons, Faredin Merxha (56), Mejreme Merxha (52), Hidajete
Merxha with her daughter, Ali Shala and eight members of his family, Qemajl
(47), Mejdin (47), Muharrem (37) and Bekim Bekeri (35) with their family
members.
The following are considered as missing:
Hadi Sokoli (32), Hivzi
Shehu (30), Sabit Shehu (26), Sedat Shehu (27), Esat Shehu (20) with his
family, Shani Haxhijaha (35), Nijazi Mullauka (68), Nijazi Rama and ten
members of his family, Jonuz Jupa with his family, Muhamet Kollari and
five members of his family, Hafife Kollari (70), Ilir Hasku and six members
of his family, Osman Mullaabazi with his family, Muhamet Sylejmani, Eqrem
Dërguti with his wife, Bademe Jahiraga (70), Nesim Shala with his
family, Ramadan Dina with his family, Bahredin Dina with his family, Latif
Veli with his family, Qerim Cena (32), Shefqet Dërguti (52) and his
wife, Sadik Dërguti (32), Muzair Mejzini, Fatime Kasapi, Qazim Kasapi,
Lirije Kasapi, Sanije Kasapi, her two sons and a daughter (Bekimi, Burimi
and Leoreta).
Last night, two lorries full of detained Albanians
from Rahovec arrived in Prizren. Women and children were released whereas,
the men are still kept in detention. 20 detained Albanians were taken to
Prizren today. Later on, at 10.00 a.m., a police lorry with 40 detained
Albanians arrived in Prizren. At 11.30 a.m., 31 detained Albanians from
Rahovec were taken to Prizren in a lorry of the "Progres" Enterprise. Among
the detained were some wounded people, who were taken to the firestation,
which is next to the police station.
Prishtina, 21.07.1998
2.20 p.m.
Information Service
Dear Sirs,
I avail hereby the opportunity
to inform you on the latest massacre perpetrated by the Serbian army three
days ago, namely on 18 July 1998, in the vicinity of the Albania-Kosova
border, at the C-2 pyramid. Tens of people were killed and hundreds of
others were wounded. Among the killed, there were women and children, who
were returning from Albania to their homes. Many eye-witnesses we met,
most of whom were wounded, stated as follows:
Quote "We crossed the border at 2.30 in the place
called Padesh, at the C-2 pyramid.
While we were walking,
at the place called "Livadhi i Madh" in an alpine terrain, two mines exploded
and after a minute, shelling and incessant fire towards us was opened.
The attack was carried out from three points, automatic fire from behind,
mortars in front, cannon shelling from the right side. Exploding bullets
were used during the whole attack. All this suffering lasted for half an
hour. It paused for five minutes, and Serbian army opened fire again and
lit lighting rockets. It was impossible to find out what was going on.
We could only see many massacred people whose death toll is unknown. Many
children and women were on horseback. They were all killed. We know that
about 30 horses, carrying these children, women and elderly, were killed,
too. Hundreds of people were wounded, their legs and arms were broken.
Several have fallen into the abysses, some wounded remained in the woods
without any aid given. This was a nightmare."
The fact that for four
days now, no details were given on the perpetrated massacre, during which,
according to eye-witnesses, 60 people were killed, hundreds of others were
wounded, and the names of the massacred were not given, proves that Serbian
army and its superiors in Belgrade are trying to hide their crime, especially
in the cases when there are women, children and civilians among the massacred.
Therefore, Serbian military-police
and paramilitary forces are intensifying their attacks against the Albanian
civilians of this region, killing and massacring them. We once again appeal
to you to urgently inform Your governments, to undertake concrete measures
to prevent the further massacre exerted on the Albanian population by the
Serbian military-police forces in Kosova.
Deçan, Lugu i Baranit, Peja, 21.07.1998
Musa Berisha,
Chairman of the Sub-CDHRF in Deçan
LINK to further press news_______________________________________________________________________
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