Tagesnachrichten 31. Juli 1998
                  von ALBANEWS und anderen
                                    
         Daily Report No 1507  July 31, 1998
                  Kosova Information Center

1. Reports about deportation and persons repatriated to Kosova
    if possible in German and in English
2. Daily Reports from KIC (Kosova Information Center)
3. news from ARTA /ATA / RFE/RL NEWSLINE and so on
4. Reports from Human Rights Organisations
    especially CDHRF (Council for the Defence of Human Rights and Freedoms, Prishtina)
5. eventual additional press news
6. Background-information
7. earlier news - so far as room is given by my provider on the server
8. The Bible says
 
• Nachrichten ueber Abschiebungen und Abgeschobene nach Kosova

   nach Moeglichkeit in deutsch und in englisch
• Nachrichten des KIC (Kosova Information Center) in englisch
• Nachrichten von ARTA /ATA / RFE/RL NEWSLINE usw. in englisch
• Berichte von Menschenrechtsorganisationen in englisch -

insbesondere von CDHRF (Council for the Defence of Human Rights and Freedoms)
• eventuell weitere Presse-Nachrichten in englisch
• Hintergrund-Informationen - in englisch, zum Teil Uebersetzung in deutsch
• fruehere Nachrichten - soweit dafuer Platz ist auf dem Server des Providers
• Die Bibel sagt

      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;

Leider gibt es immer noch keinen Abschiebe-Stop !

Augsburger Allgemeine 9. Juli 1998:
 

... Bayern schob gestern 58 Straftäter in den Kosovo ab.

siehe dazu  Sueddeutsche Zeitung vom 18. Juli 1998  !!
_______________________________________________________________________

Still there is no stop of deportations !

newspaper Augsburger Allgemeine reports on July 9, 1998
 

... Bavaria deported yesterday 58 penalteds to Kosova.

Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT # 1507
Prishtina, 31 July 1998

President Rugova's Press Conference

PRISHTINA, July 31 (KIC) - The President of the Republic of Kosova Dr. Ibrahim Rugova said today the situation in Kosova continues to be extremely dangerous. He referred to the Serbian military and police offensive, which extended to the town of Rahovec, in the municipality of Malisheva, and in Junik, "which resulted in new tragedies for the citizens of Kosova".
Tens of thousands of people have been displaced from their homes in Malisheva, Rugova said during a press conference in Prishtina today (Friday). "Hundreds of thousands of Albanians have been internally displaced in Kosova, in addition to tens of thousands who have turned into refugees in Albania and Montenegro", President Ibrahim Rugova said.
He called for international help to cater for the needs of all of them.
Rugova condemned the Serb aggression and violence in Kosova and called on the international community - the United States of America, the European Union, NAT0 and the UN - to take preventive steps in Kosova and prevent ethnic cleansing. He urged international protection for Kosova.
The President of the Republic reaffirmed that the best solution is for Kosova to be an independent country, "with all guarantees for local Serbs".
Asked by the BBB correspondent regarding the formation of coalition Government, Rugova said the idea was clear to all. "In a meeting I have had with all the political parties, I pressed for a broad- based coalition government, in which political parties that participated in the [1998] March 22 elections would be included, but also several others".
There has been a "little progress" in this direction, President Rugova said.
The Kosova Government will have all the departments/ministries, he said, in reply to a question whether the UÇK would be represented in the new coalition government.
"I can say that time has come for the independence of Kosova to be recognized, and the international community should protect Kosova's independence", Rugova said. Independence would benefit all, local Serbs and Serbia proper, all the citizens of Kosova, the entire region - "because such an arrangement would stabilize Albania, Macedonia, and the South-east Europe".
In current circumstances it is hard to talk, President Rugova said, in reply to a question regarding the possibility of the start of Kosovar-'Yugoslav' negotiations. "Conditions should be created for negotiations, so that they yield results, and not be conducted just for the sake of them".
The danger of the conflict spilling over to neighboring countries exists, Rugova said, referring to the incidents in the Kosova- Albania border, which is controlled by the Serbian forces.
"The main thing, now, is to prevent ethnic cleansing in Kosova", President Ibrahim Rugova said at the end of his press conference today.

Kosova Government Should Be Formed in Institutional Fashion, through Parliament, LDK Official Says

PRISHTINA, July 31 (KIC) - Mrs Nekibe Kelmendi, Secretary-General of the Democratic League of Kosova (LDK), said the position of the party is that a broad-based coalition Government be formed, in which parliamentarian and non-parliamentarian parties would be included, "even those parties which were formed after the [22 March] elections".
The "Informatori", the Prishtina-based Albanian language evening newspaper, quoted Mrs Kelmendi today as saying the Government of Kosova should be formed through "institutional procedures", respecting the Constitution of the Republic of Kosova. "Therefore, the Government should be voted by the Parliament of the Republic of Kosova", Mrs Kelmendi said.
There have been reports indicating that parties which have not participated in the March elections would like to be part of the Government, but not to be mandated by the Parliament which they do not recognize. The idea of 'an all-party executive', advanced by the U.S., is said to go much along these lines.
"There is general support in Kosova, at grass-root level, for the appointment and election of the Government in one way alone: an institutional fashion", the LDK Secretary General said today.

Kosova, the West's Verbal Gymnastics
Western talk of Serbs using 'excessive' force in Kosova kills

PRISHTINA, July 31 (KIC) - More than 500 Albanians civilians slain in their homes, entire families executed, entire towns and villages destroyed, 300.000 Albanians displaced from their homes in Kosova, roughly one sixth of the population. Deçan, Rahovec and Malisheva are ghost towns.
This is Kosova of the past five months. The Kosovars have been crying foul.
The West's reaction has been one of a verbal gymnastics: 'No options ruled out in Kosova', but no military action is in the cards; 'We will not allow a repeat of Bosnia', but 'Kosova is not Bosnia'.
Western spokesmen, with the air of wise men, say the Serbian military offensive has 'further radicalized the population' in Kosova; Serbian military and paramilitary police have used 'excessive force'.
The sinister, understated meaning, of these statements is: firstly, that it's wrong for the population of Kosova to even have shown signs of a vivid sign of anger, let alone reaction, to the Serb aggression; secondly, Serbia should have killed and continue killing Albanians and destroying their homes, but not necessarily using the kind of force it is using.
There is no end to this verbal gymnastics.
Serbian military hardware, Serb army and paramilitary troops kill Albanians wantonly in Kosova. The Western talk of Serbs using 'excessive' force in their killing sprees kills, too.
Subsuming outright Serbian military aggression against the 90 percent of the people of Kosova to 'excessive use' of force is criminal in semantic and human terms.

Heavy Fighting Reported in Reka e Keqe and in Junik

PRISHTINA, July 31 (KIC) - Heavy fighting continued for the sixth straight day in the border zone villages of Reka e Keqe region, Nec, Smolicë, Berjah, Stubëll, Nivokaz, Dobrosh, Sheremet, up to Junik, the LDK Information Commission in Gjakova said.
Local Albanian resistance forces, including UÇK units, have been fighting heavy Serbian military, paramilitary and police troops. Serb forces involved in the offensive are receiving re-enforcement on a daily basis. Heavy artillery, motorized units, as well as multiple rocket-launchers were seen heading to the battlefields yesterday afternoon.
The attacked area is sealed off, so it is impossible to determine the extent of damage and the casualty-toll.
In the midst of the ongoing Serb offensive, a lot of people - mostly the elderly, women and children - are on the move, trying to make their way to relative safety to other villages and the town of Gjakova.
The local Albanian structures in Gjakova called on the UNHCR and the International Red Cross to undertake urgent measures to create minimal conditions for the displaced population, to shelter and feed them. Reports said, though, that part of the fleeing population has had no choice but to run to the mountains surrounding the war zones.
"The current situation has all the ingredients of a humanitarian catastrophe", Albanian structures in the town said. The situation could be alleviated if the community centers are made available, but this can only be done if international institutions intervene with the Serb-installed authorities to allow it, they said.

Serb Troops Pound Shtime Villages, One Albanian Killed Friday Morning

PRISHTINA, July 31 (KIC) - Several villages in Shtime and Lipjan municipalities in central Kosova, south-east of Prishtina, came under heavy Serb forces fire this morning.
Sources in the are said the villages of Pjetërshticë, Karaçicë, Krojmir, Dugë were pounded for a couple of hours today.
The LDK chapter in Shtime said it has so far learned that one Albanian, Osman Demi (45), from Balincë village, was killed in Duga.
Meanwhile, sources in Ferizaj said Serb troops pounded again today the Jezerc village. This village, sealed off by heavy Serb forces for almost two weeks now, has been repeatedly attacked with machine-gun fire and artillery.
Jezerc was shelled today from a Serb base at Pishnajat e Shtimes (Shtime Pinewood). Large caliber shells reportedly landed in the village.
The LDK chapter in Ferizaj did not report about the shelling of Jezerc, for its offices were raided by Serb police, who detained several officials.

Three Albanians Wounded in Serb Attack on Skenderaj Villages

PRISHTINA, July 31 (KIC) -  Two villages in Skenderaj ('Srbica') municipality - Jashanicë and Burojë - came under Serb artillery fire Thursday afternoon and evening. Albanian settlements were pounded from a military bases at Binçë in Klina, sources said.
The chapter of the Prishtina-based Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF) in Skenderaj reported that three Albanians were wounded in the shelling of the two villages yesterday afternoon and evening.
Rasim Hoti (1972) from Jashanica, and Feriz Hyseni (1977) and Fidaim Hyseni (1973) from Vojnika, are the name of the three wounded Albanians, according to the CDHRF.

Two Albanians Killed, Many Wounded, in Lipjan Villages

PRISHTINA, July 31 (KIC) - Over a dozen villages in Lipjan municipality, bordering on the Drenica region, have been under intermittent fire by Serb troops since last weekend.
Sources in Lipjan said the situation in the villages under Serb fire has been deteriorating by the hour. The outlying villages on both sides of the Magura-Shala road - Shala, Krojmiri, Resinoc, Bainca, Pjetërshtica - are most vulnerable, witnesses said.
The local Albanian population have been fleeing their homes, heading for safer villages, as well as to the mountains, where they spend days and nights in the open sky.
The LDK chapter in Lipjan said two Albanians, a 21-years old girl Afërdita Qeriqi, and Haxhi Karpuzi (47), have been killed during the Serb shelling of their villages of Krojmir and Shala, respectively, in the past two days.
A 17-year-old boy Tefik Vuniqi was killed in his Leletiq village earlier this week.
The LDK chapter named several wounded Albanians, including Selim Karpuzi (53), Shyqri Qeriqi, (56), Nazmi Qeriqi (25), Nexhare Qeriqi (40) Rinor F. Qeriqi (3), Habib Vuniqi (41), Kimete Mëziu (23).
The situation has been reported volatile in he mining town of Magura, too. At least 1000 Serbs, mobilized with the Serb troops recently, have been garrisoned in the local school in the small town. Local Serbs, armed to the teeth, have been harassing and intimidating the few Albanians who are still in the town and the surrounding villages, witnesses said.

Serbs Set in Fire Albanian Villages in Klina

PRISHTINA, July 31 (KIC) -  The Serb troops have been setting in fire Albanian houses in the villages Klinavc and Kërrnicë, in Klina municipality in central Kosova, sources told the KIC today afternoon.
Clouds of smoke are billowing from houses in these tow villages, the LDK chapter in Klina said.
In Gjurgjevik i Vogël village the Serb police arrested today Avdullah N. Elezi (45), Shaban B. Elezi (45), Gani H. Elezin, Sadri A. Elezi, Sami A. Elezi, Xhemë V. Elezi, Emin Krasniqi, Agim Kryeziu, Shefqet Desku and Agron Desku, the last two from Klina.

Albanian Lawyer, in Critical Condition, Moved from Jail to Hospital
Destan Rukiqi, apparently tortured badly, is being treated in the dialysis with seriously damaged kidneys

PRISHTINA, July 31 (KIC) - Destan Rukiqi, a lawyer from Prishtina, has been transferred from a Serb jail in Lipjan to the Prishtina hospital in a critical health condition.
Bajram Kelmendi, another lawyer in Prishtina, told the Prishtina- based Bujku that Mr. Rukiqi is being treated in the Nephrology Ward of the Prishtina hospital. A source in the hospital said today that Rukiqi has apparently suffered serious kidney damages and he is being treated into the dialysis. 'It is evident he was tortured severely in jail', he said.
Destan Rukiqi was last week (23 July) sentenced to 60 days in prison by the Serbian-run Magistrate Court in Prishtina, his guilt being involvement in a legally-related verbal dispute with a Serb judge in the court. He had gone to the District Court in Prishtina to ask for permission to visit a client of his on pre-trial detention. The Serb investigating judge, Ms Marinkovic, prevented Rukiqi from taking notes from his client's dossier which resulted in a verbal dispute between the two.
Destan Rukiqi was arrested in his office the next day and was sentenced summarily to 60 days in prison. He was taken to serve his prison term immediately.
A lawyer from Prishtina told the KIC on condition of anonymity that the whole thing surrounding Rukiqi's imprisonment and torture has been planned by the Serb regime in advance. Destan Rukiqi, together with a couple of other Kosovar attorneys, was involved in putting together a dossier on Serb regime atrocities in Kosova over the past months which was delivered to The Hague Tribunal recently.
The Kosova Chamber of Defending Lawyers said in an press release on Thursday that the case of Destan Rukiqi represents "an unprecedented case in the profession of the bar - for a defending lawyer to be sentenced to prison just because he was insistent on carrying out his job as a lawyer in a criminal case"
The release said Rukiqi has been denied the right to meet his lawyers in the premises of the jail. His health condition has gravely deteriorated, after he was tortured by prison guards.
"The case of Destan Rukiqi, a defending lawyer by profession, is a message to and proof of what other Albanian lawyers can expect, the dangers to their personal security while they discharge their duties of defending clients in criminal cases of a political nature", said the statement of the Kosova Chamber of Defending Lawyers, signed by its chairman Xhafer Maliqi.

Serb Police Raids LDK and CDHRF Offices, Arrests Officials, in Ferizaj

PRISHTINA, July 31 (KIC) -  Heavy Serb forces raided today (Friday) morning offices of the local branches of LDK and the Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF) in Ferizaj.
Witnesses told the KIC that four vanloads of Serb policemen sealed off the area around the LDK and CDHRF at around 11:00, breaking with exceptional brutality into the offices. All the people who happened to be inside were ordered to stand against the walls with hands up, while the police was searching the offices.
After about half an hour the police arrested Sahit Krasniqi, Milazim Haliti, Fatmir Sylejmani, members of the LDK Presidency, as well as Bekim Bërkolli, vice-chairman of the local chapter of the Human Rights Council.
Meanwhile, sources in Ferizaj said that Adem Salihaj, chairman of the local LDK Presidency in town, was arrested at his place at around midday. He is a member of the Parliament of Kosova, too.
The five LDK and human rights officials were still in Serb police custody this afternoon, sources reported. No word still about the pretext of their arrest.
Meanwhile, sources in Freizaj said Agim Reçica, chairman of a local LDK sub-branch in Ferizaj, was also arrested by the Serbian poilice today afternoon.

Serb Police Detains Head of Fushë-Kosova LDK Information Commission

PRISHTINA, July 31 (KIC) - Arsim Osmani, head of the LDK Information Commission in Fushë-Kosova ('Kosovo Polje') was ill- treated brutally for over five hours in the Serb police custody on Thursday.
The LDK chapter in Fushë-Kosova said Arsim Osmani was detained Thursday afternoon in Lipjan. He was taken to the local police station, where he was interrogated and beaten up until around 22:00 hrs.
He was questioned about the LDK organization, and was beaten up merely for being an LDK activist, the LDK chapter said.

Kosova Information Center
Last page!

Romania backs a self-ruling autonomy for Kosova

      TIRANA, July 31 (ATA) - By Irena Luto: Romania backs the idea of a wide-ranging "self-ruling" autonomy for Kosova and is against full independence, Andrei Plesu, Romanian Foreign Minister told a joint news conference on Friday with the Albanian  Foreign Minister Paskal Milo.
      "We are against a full independence of Kosova, that is Kosova be out of the Yugoslav Federation Republic," Plesu said.
      Plesu, who arrived in Tirana on Friday for an official one-day visit, held talks with the Foreign Minister Paskal Milo, President of Albania Rexhep Meidani and prime minister Fatos Nano.
      Chief of the Albanian diplomacy Milo refused to elaborate on the political status of Kosova saying that this can be decided by the legitimate representatives of Albanians in Kosova.
      Plesu said "Romania will uphold its attitude in future meetings with Yugoslav factors."
      He praised the policy of the Albanian government and said that "the fact that it knew how to maintain the balance in such  a difficult situation as the crisis in Kosova it is praiseworthy."
ypa/das/ak/

Romania ready to offer ongoing assistance to Albania

      TIRANA, July 31 (ATA) - By Irena Luto: Romania is ready to offer ongoing assistance to help Albania overcome the economic crisis and safeguard security, Andrei Plesu, Romanian Foreign Minister told on Friday his Albanian counterpart Paskal Milo.
      The Romanian Foreign Minister Plesu, who is in Tirana on a one-day visit, expressed his satisfaction for the ongoing bilateral relations and wish to promote them in other fields besides the culture and education, with Romania's intensive contribution in scholarships and academic assistance, press and information office at the Foreign Ministry said in press release obtained by ATA.
      Milo said that they are interested in economic cooperation between Albania and Romania and stressed that Romanian investments should be defended and stimulated now as well as applied in different fields thanks to prepared programs by the Albanian institutions.
      They also discussed the Kosova issue treating it like an issue which needs a special attention to maintain stability in the region. Both sides favour negotiations as the "most appropriate" way to resolve the crisis in the region. ypa/das/ak/

Plesu says Romania is on Albania's side concerning Kosova crisis

      TIRANA, July 31 (ATA) - By Irena Luto: The Romanian Foreign  Minister favouring the right of self-rule for Kosova within the federation borders of Yugoslavia, said to Albania president on Friday that "the Romanian government is on the side of Albania as  regards the Kosova crisis."
      President Rexhep Meidani briefed him on views and stands  of the Albanian state as regards the development in Kosova and said that Romania's support to halt bloodshed, genocide and ethnic cleansing of Albanians in Kosova by the Serb military machine was a  precious contribution in finding a right solution to that and establishing peace, press and information office at the presidency said in a press communique obtained by ATA.
      As regards the promotion of bilateral relations, president Meidani said that "your visit and other scheduled talks between senior government and state officials of both states during this year would enable finding ways to boost cooperation in all fields."
      Plesu shared the same view with Meidani as regards the positive effects of bilateral political talks, considering the most important the forthcoming visit of President Meidani in Bucharest on the invitation of President of Romania Emil Costandinescu.
      President Meidani thanked Romania for its help to Albania in special moments in transition period, including the participation of Romanian troops in "Alba" operation during the crisis last year. ypa/das/ak/

Italian police return 50 Kosova refugees to Durres

      DURRES, July 31 (ATA)-By S. Gjordeni,
      Fifty Kosova refugees, illegally crossing to Italy recently, were returned to the Durres port on "Tirana" ferry on Friday by the Italian police.
      The commander of the port's border crossing point, captain Klement Pikuli, told ATA that they are mostly women and small children aged 3-4.
      He adds that measures are taken to accommodate the returned.
s.s/lm/

Rugova: It is high time Kosova independence is recognised and defended

      PRISHTINE, July 31 - ATA correspondent Behlul Jashari reports:
      International recognition and defence of Kosova's independence, as well as an end to the Serbian army and police attacks and ethnic cleansing were the major demands of President Rugova at today's news conference.
      Rugova called on the international community, first the United States, European Union, NATO and United Nations to undertake preventive steps in Kosova so as to call a halt to mass  ethnic cleansing in Kosova.
      "We ask international protection for Kosova and its people and stress that the best solution is independent Kosova, with all  guarantees for the Kosova Serbs and an international protectorate  as a transitional stage," said Rugova.
      Referring to the situation in Kosova, Rugova said that the latest attacks by the Serbian army and police have caused fresh tragedies for the Kosova citizens.
      "Besides thousands Kosova Albanians, who are refugees in Albania and Montenegro, we have hundreds upon thousands of people  displaced inside Kosova waiting for humanitarian assistance," said Rugova stressing that these attacks have also killed and wounded many people.
      As regards the report on a coalition government which is going to be created soon, Rugova said that in a meeting with all the political parties he had asked for a wide base coalition government with the participation of parties which participated in the elections but also other groups which had not participated  in the elections.
      Asked whether the Kosova Liberation Army (KLA) would be present in the government, Rugova said that this was a government  where all would have their representatives.
      Asked to comment on a draft resolution in the U.S. Senate, Malaysia's government attitude, experts of international law and other engagements on the recognition of Kosova independence, president Rugova replied:
      "It is time that the independence of Kosova should be recognised and this should be defended with the help of the international community. This would have been good also for Serbs, for all the citizens of Kosova, even for Serbia, and the entire region, which would calm even Albania and Macedonia and the Southeastern European region."
      Responding to a Serb journalist whether negotiations with Belgrade were expected to resume soon, Rugova said that it was difficult to discuss under such conditions.
      "Naturally, we should always talk, but we should hold negotiations and create conditions to have concrete and successful results and not just see each other," Rugova said.
      Concerning the risk of a flare-up of the conflict from Kosova to the whole region, Rugova said that the risk exists always.
       "You see the problems in the border with Albania which is under the Serb control; Macedonia and other countries in the region are threatened. Therefore, we should ask for an international preventive measure and what is most important: to prevent massive ethnic cleansing of Kosova people," president Rugova said. pta/pas/lm/ak/

Dozens of villages, hundreds of hectares of land engulfed by flames

      PRISHTINA, July 31 - ATA correspondent Behlul Jashari reported that the Klina regions some 20 km east of Peja came under the shelling of Serb forces and dozens of villages and hundreds of hectares of grain were engulfed by the flames.
      An official of the emergency communal council said that over 30.000 people have been uprooted from 30 villages of Klina.
      Wheat reserves are finished and the situation is difficult due to the lack of medicaments and treatment particularly for the  sick and wounded.
      The daily Bujku of Prishtina considered the settlements of uprooted Albanian population in Klina commune "Nazi camps and reservations." pta/das/ak/

Seminar "Kosova yesterday and tomorrow" held in London

      TIRANA, July 30 (ATA)-By I. Luto,
      Kosova reality and the latest events in this trouble spot of Europe were treated in the seminar "Kosova yesterday and tomorrow", held in one of the spaces of the "House of Commons" in London, Albania's Foreign Ministry Press department told ATA.
      Attending the seminar were important figures as academician Noel Malcom, editor of the book "Kosova a brief historical survey", Bianca Jager from "Amnesty International USA", Carlz Grant, director of the European Reform Centre, Dr. Bujar Bukoshi, Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosova as well as many British parliamentarians and academicians.
      "It is inconceivable that in face of a juridically justified historical background Kosova does not enjoy the right of emerging from the FRY disintegration process with the status of the Republic," said Bukoshi, referring to the status Kosova enjoyed in Federal Yugoslavia of Josip Broz Tito.
      Bianca Jager dwelt on the fact that although the situation in Kosova resembles that of Bosnia, several years ago, Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic is still treated by U.S. Balkan troubleshooter Richard Holbrooke as part of peace and not as responsible for the crimes in Bosnia and Kosova.
      "He (Milosevic) should be brought to the War Crimes Tribunal in the Hague," said Jager.
/y.pa/mima/lm/

Albania's Prime Minister urges intensification of national Security

      TIRANA, July 30 (ATA)-Albania's Prime Minister Fatos Nano on Thursday issued an order on several effective measures and actions to strengthen public order and national security at home, according to the Prime Minister's press office.
      Nano asked that a special plan be drafted to fight illegal and criminal activity carried out in the country's northeastern zone.
      "The Ministry of Public Order, in cooperation with the Ministries of Defence, Local Government and National Information Service (SHIK), should, within August 10,1998, draft and submit this action plan for approval to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers," the order says.
      The Public Order Ministry will prepare the "Strategy of War Against Drugs", "Illegal emigrants trafficking", "Stolen cars trafficking" and "Prostitution trafficking".
/a.ke/lm/

Romanian Foreign Minister Andrei Plesu arrives in Tirana

      TIRANA, July 31 (ATA)-By I. Luto,
      Romania's Foreign Minister Andrei Plesu arrived in Tirana on Friday for a one-day formal visit.
      During his stay in Tirana Plesu is expected to meet Albanian senior officials, President Meidani, Prime Minister Nano and his counterpart Milo.
      According to Albania's Foreign Ministry press office, the meetings are expected to discuss bilateral relations, regional problems especially the crisis in Kosova.
      Both ministers will hold a news conference at the Palace of Congresses./s.s/pas/lm/

Additional police contingents in Mitrovice

      PRISHTINE, July 31 (ATA)-The Mitrovice roads (Northern Kosova) yesterday were busy with intensive movements of Serb police forces, which undertook a large-scale checking operation to identify the occasional pedestrians, according to the Kosova Information Centre (KIC).
      On the other hand, a military plane flied low over the city several times while two armoured cars as well as 14 other vehicles left in the direction of Skenderaj, south of Mitrovice.
      Fourteen Krajleve (Serbia) number plated busloads of armed policemen arrived in Mitrovice in the afternoon and were accommodated in the army barracks of this city.
      Last night the Serb military and police forces shelled the villages of Shale e Bajgores, Rahoven, Stantergun, Mazhiqin, Kutllofcin, Rashani, Tuneli i Pare and other villages.
      LDK sources in Mitrovice say that the Serb attacks came from the positions erected by them (Serbs) in Kutllofc, from Shkembi i Sokolit and  Zherovine village.
/p.ta/pas/lm/

RADIO FREE EUROPE/RADIO LIBERTY, PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
___________________________________________________________
RFE/RL NEWSLINE Vol. 2, No. 146 Part II, 31 July 1998

SEARCH UNDER WAY FOR REFUGEES IN KOSOVA.

Teams from the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and other international relief workers searched remote areas of Kosova for refugees on 30 July. Investigators found one group of 500 Kosovars, including women and children, in the hill country near Malisheva, an RFE/RL correspondent reported from Prishtina (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 30 July 1998). Another large group of civilians took refuge in a railroad tunnel, CNN noted. Wolfgang Ischinger, who is the German member of a EU delegation visiting the region, said that Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic promised to help the refugees go home but Ischinger added that Milosevic will first need to implement "additional confidence-building measures." Ischinger said that he and his EU colleagues found a "wasteland" in Kosova and were "shocked" at what they saw. In Geneva, the UNHCR's Sagato Ogata told CNN that the Kosovar refugee situation is quickly becoming "catastrophic." PM

ANOTHER SREBRENICA IN THE MAKING?

The Kosova Helsinki Committee said in a statement issued in Prishtina and Vienna on 31 July that it is concerned about "reports of victims and other casualties of the Serbian offensive and reported massacres of the [ethnic] Albanian civilian population in the towns of Rahovec...[and] Malisheva." The text added that "a wave of reprisals" has already taken place in Rahovec, "with the basic message that [ethnic] Albanian civilians will die wherever UCK guerrilla fighters achieve a foothold." The committee and International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights, the statement continued, fear that the ongoing Serbian siege of Junik near the Albanian border could lead to "a Srebrenica-like situation, with massive killings of besieged [ethnic] Albanian civilians." PM

RUBIN SAYS MILOSEVIC HOLDING UP KOSOVAR TALKS.

U.S. State Department Spokesman James Rubin said on 30 July that recent negotiations between U.S. diplomats and representatives of various Kosovar groups have resulted in an agreement that the Kosova Liberation Army (UCK) will be "directly or indirectly" represented in any future negotiations on the province's future. Rubin added that it is Milosevic's fault that the Kosovars have not yet agreed on the exact composition of their team. "We hold the Serbian authorities responsible for the civilian casualties and the civilian disruptions and murders...resulting from these military operations. And we hold [Milosevic specifically] responsible. And whether he is trying to sabotage the negotiating process [by continuing his armed crackdown] is a question only he can answer." Milosevic said in Belgrade on 30 July that the Serbian offensive is over, but Kosovar and Western news media reported that it is continuing. PM

KINKEL WARNS UCK.

German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel told the "Berliner Zeitung" of 31 July that the UCK's continuing military actions could cost the Kosovars the sympathy of the international community that they currently enjoy. He warned the UCK to drop its "three illusions," namely that it can obtain independence, NATO support, and a military victory over the Serbs. The minister added that NATO could help to guarantee any future agreement on Kosovar autonomy because "Milosevic is not in a position to restore peace and order" to Kosova. Kinkel said that NATO is considering a possible "preventive deployment" of forces to Albania within the framework of the Partnership for Peace Program. He did not elaborate. PM

ANOTHER EXPLOSION IN BOSNIA.

An explosive device went off in Muslim-controlled Travnik on 31 July across the street from a joint Muslim and Croatian police station. The blast killed an ethnic Croat policeman and injured a child. Police are investigating. It is the fifth explosion in Bosnia in recent days, AP reported (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 30 July 1998). Meanwhile in Sarajevo, spokesmen for SFOR said that a contingent of 350 troops and 100 vehicles will arrive in the Croatian port of Ploce on 2 August. The new forces will be based in Sarajevo and have been trained in ensuring public order and facilitating the return of refugees. PM

ALBANIAN PREMIER ORDERS ACTION AGAINST ORGANIZED CRIME.

Fatos Nano, at a meeting of the government's National Security Committee on 31 July in Tirana, ordered Interior Minister Perikli Teta to prepare a detailed plan by 20 August for fighting organized crime. Nano stressed that the government must pay special attention to corruption within the police, which he said was in some cases "at the center of organized crime." Nano urged the Ministries of Interior and Defense and the secret service to cooperate more closely in fighting crime, especially in the northeast, "Gazeta Shqiptare" reported. In particular, the northeastern regions of Tropoja, Bajram Curri, and Kukes have become notorious for lawlessness. Armed gangs, arms smugglers, and soldiers of the UCK operate freely there. FS

FBI TIRANA OFFICE ROBBED.

Unidentified individuals broke into the office of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation and stole one passport and more than $2,500 in cash on 29 July, "Shekulli" reported on two days later. A police spokesman said that the FBI uses the office, located in central Tirana's Palace of Congresses, only for translating Albanian newspapers. The FBI also helps train Albanian police and assisted its Albanian counterpart in investigating an influx of forged $100 bills earlier this year. FS

BULGARIA OPPOSES KOSOVA INDEPENDENCE.

President Petar Stoyanov on 3O July said in Toronto that an escalation of the conflict in Kosova might negatively impact on Bulgarian reform, AP reported. Foreign Ministry spokesman Radko Vlaikov said the previous day that Bulgaria "shares the views of the international community" about the need to solve the conflict in Kosova, "including the granting of a broad autonomy" to the region. "At the same time," he added, "we agree with the international community that there can be no question of granting independence," BTA reported. Vlaikov said that the Kosova Albanians' demands for independence are "indefensible" from the point of view of international law and a "redrawing of borders is inadmissible." MS

RUMANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IN ALBANIA

TIRANA, JULY 31, ENTER/ - Rumanian foreign minister Andrei Pleshu payed a one day visit in Tirana during which he met Albanian president Rexhep Meidani, Albanian prime minister Fatos Nano and the foreign minister Paskal Milo.
The Rumanian foreign minister was quoted as saying in his meeting with Mr.Nano that Albanian government has been reasonable in an unreasonable situation like the one in Kosova.
Pleshu said later in a press conference that Rumania supports a status of autonomy and self determination for Kosova, in the model of Tirol or German landes. He stated that the problem of Kosova is not an interior issue of Yugoslavia and supported Rugova "for the equilibrium he shows". Andrei Pleshu said that the status of independence could not be accepted and added that the solution has to be done through political ways.
Concerning UCK, Kosova Liberation Army, Pleshu said that UCK should be under political control.
On the same press conference, Albanian foreign minister Paskal Milo declared that Albania will support what the people of Kosova will decide in the near future.
"The efficiency of the politics is measured with the fact how able are the politicians to save lives of people", Milo declared. Concerning the last incidents in the border, Milo said that there were provocations which intend to include Albania into the conflict.

KOSOVA (G-15)
Negotiating team ceases to function

Prishtina, 30 July (ARTA) 2015CET --
Rugova's negotiating team ceased functioning only four months after being appointed. This decision was made with the agreement of all G-15 members, in the framework of efforts for creating a new joint executive body. It has been announced that a new Albanian negotiating team, which will include KLA representatives and which will be engaged in talks with Belgrade, is to emerge from this body.
     The former G-15 coordinator, Fehmi Agani, said that "it has been evaluated that G-15 has been surmounted with the development of events". According to Agani "even the character of talks has changed", since they are now taking place between Rugova and Milosevic with the mediation of Ambassador Hill. One of the main reasons that Agani enlisted was the necessity of including the KLA in the negotiating team. In other words, said Agani, "the circumstances in Kosova request a different kind of engagement, therefore the team members consider that they ended their function and thus give the mandate back to President Rugova so the negotiating process can proceed".
     On the other hand, Veton Surroi, former negotiating team member, stressed that "the decision to discontinue the team was in the framework of creating conditions for consensus, from which a strong executive body will emerge". He said that this executive body, means a government, a government negotiating team and a new consensus. In these conditions, said Surroi, "all G-15 members agreed that the new circumstances which were created are impossible for the normal functioning of G-15".

KOSOVA (appointment of new government)
The lists will be published this week?

Prishtina, 30 July (ARTA) 1900CET--
The meeting of the representatives of the recently constituted Parliament of Kosova, postponed several times before, was held today upon the invitation of the President of the Republic of Kosova, Ibrahim Rugova.
     This meeting, evaluated by the participants as very brief and informative, was called by Rugova to "inform them about the recently created situation, following the contact with the KLA".
     The meeting was attended by the Parliament leadership headed by Idriz Ajeti, speaker, and his deputies Iljaz Kurteshi, Gjergj Dedaj and Zef Morina. Other parliamentarians also attended the meeting.
     What remained confusing is when will the next meeting, when the list of people that will make up the new Government will be revealed, will be held. However, the proposed lists are expected to be published during this week. Sources close to the Albanian Democratic Movement (LDSH), claim that the concrete results from yesterday's meeting with KLA are also expected to be revealed during this week.
     On the other hand, sources close to the leadership of Kosova's Parliament state that presently there are several proposals for the chairmanship coming from the LDK and its satellite parties, as well as from the two other opposition parties: Demaçi's Parliamentarian Party (PPK) and Albanian Democratic Movement (LDSH), headed by Rexhep Qosja.
     As it was stated by the participants, the opposition parties that refused to participate in the 22 March elections, PPK and LDSH, are insisting to get hold of the two key posts in the new Government - the post of the Prime Minister and one of the vice-premier posts.
     Another disputable issue is whether the new Government should be voted in the recently constituted Parliament, or not. For the time being, based on the 22 March elections, this Parliament is made of the LDK-PSHDK-PLK and PSDK (Kaçusha Jashari’s wing) coalition. LDK sources claim that the government should get the approval of the Parliament while the LDSH representatives claim that they have completely disregarded the parliamentarian procedure, since they did not participate in the elections and in this regard they do not recognize this institution.
     Nevertheless, LDSH and almost all the opposition parties, in the meeting with KLA, supported three basic preconditions:
     - All political subjects, including the ones that are not represented in the present Parliament should support the establishment of the new Government;
     - The Government should be an all-parties executive body, involving political as well as military forces and
     The government should be completely independent – in decision-making and functioning. This executive body would independent from Rugova and his Parliament.
     Such a stand of the opposition parties makes it unclear on whom will the Government be responsible to and does its independence imply the creation of a new body, parallel to other state institutions.

KOSOVA (KD analysis)
All-party executive body

Prishtina, 29 July (ARTA) 1600CET --
Even the US Special Envoy to the Balkans, Robert Gelbard, announced some time ago, in a statement he made, that "ten Albanians have twelve thoughts". Well, it seems that only the "flying" diplomacy of Ambassador Hill succeeded in achieving "reconciliation of Kosova Albanians", the architect of which is Holbrooke.
     The definite result of the "American bulldozer diplomacy" and the largest Serb offensive after World War II, which came unfortunately (a little) late for Albanians, is a "coalition government", or what its architects called an "all-party executive body".
     After the "American ally" gave green light for constituting parliament, another green light was given, this time, for forming the government, which unfortunately was given after the Albanians side as well as the international one transmitted such green signals to Belgrade for the newest offensive in Kosova.
     The struggle to take KLA under control and get hold of the upper hand in the Albanian political scene, pushed representatives of the LDK, to ask the KLA twice for a "showdown" in their own arena. Sources close to this political party claim that its representatives tried to achieve compromise with representatives of the KLA. They offered "armed groups and the people who were defending their homes" two seats in the about-to-be-constituted government and the chance to appoint the Prime Minister, and that, with the hope that the KLA will support the present Premier, Bujar Bukoshi.
     The constitution of Parliament and the tendency to create the government caused even more divergences in the fragile Albanian political scene. Between two options -- creating a government, something that Ibrahim Rugova himself supported, and the National Council, as proposed by Adem Demaçi and Rexhep Qosja -- armed Albanian forces, which had as much as 40 % of the territory under control chose combining political forces and creating a joint national front.
     The government of parliamentary parties, the National Council and the National front, finally achieved compromise for forming a "coalition government", thanks to American "flying" diplomacy. Sources close to all major parties in the current political scene claim that Ambassador Hill himself, was the mediator in Prishtina. They even claim that he mediated between Rugova, Demaçi and Qosja, by running from office to office.
     Circles close to these politicians say that the creating of 18 ministry departments has been foreseen, 3 of which would be Deputy Prime Minister posts and of course, a new mandate. These circles claim that Rugova first proposed the first LDK vice-chairman, Kolë Berisha, to be the Prime Minister, which according to sources close to the LDK, would have been accepted by Adem Demaçi as well.
     It has been stated that Rugova's proposal was rejected by his party itself, because the party leadership was still engaged in efforts to keep the first man of the "first democratic government in Kosova", Bujar Bukoshi, in this post. The same sources assert that if Bukoshi is not appointed Prime Minister again, he will surely be the Minister of Finances.
     Considering the increasing divergences between the old LDK and the "new" fragment that emerged, it was clear that the compromise had to be sought between them. First, because the leadership of the new party could influence the KLA, and second, because the Albanian political structures were divided and this seemed a way to mend the differences between them. This is why, foreign analysts say, the new Prime Minister was sought within the LDSH, a person who might have been a member of LDK in the past, close to Rugova and the USA. This is why Hill visited Drenica accompanied by two potential candidates of the LDSH for Prime Minister - Mehmet Hajrizi and Hydajet Hyseni. As for the LDSH, it is claimed that it will have one more seat in the "departments of many ministries". On the other hand, it will be up to the KLA and the General Headquarters, to appoint the Minister of Defense and maybe the Minister of Public Order, that is, if the KLA has two candidates.
     Well-informed sources claim that the chapter of LDSH and the KLA was closed with this much, leaving the chapter of PPK and other political parties open.
     The same sources say that Bajram Kosumi, the vice-chairperson of the Parliamentarian Party of Kosova -- which has agreed to create a joint mechanism -- will have the post of one of the three Deputy Prime Ministers. These sources claim that the PPK chairperson, Adem Demaçi, has continued with his "self-denial" stand.
     Another thing that is clear is that the two other posts for Deputy Premiers are reserved for the coalition partners of the LDK and the Albanian Christian Democratic Party of Kosova (PSHDK). Sources close to these two parties point at the PSHDK vice-chairman, Veli Bytyqi, as the new potential Deputy Premier.
     It is also claimed that according to Rugova, who has drafted a very long list, seven potential members of the Prime Minister's cabinet, must be LDK members and that other parties can divide other posts.
     Unconfirmed sources claim that Veton Surroi will be appointed in one of the most important departments of the "Hajrizi" cabinet, adding that Blerim Shala should be appointed in the other important department.
     Alert observers say that the late ministers of the "Bukoshi" cabinet will be "retired" and appointed in post called "administration of the Office of the Government of Kosova, somewhere in West European countries".
     Nevertheless, the constitution of the Parliament of Kosova and the new executive mechanism in Kosova, which in more civilized countries would be called a government, should play the role of fusing loose ends in only one point. International and internal pressure will now be transmitted in three or more points: from Rugova, to Ajeti and land on the possible "Hajrizi" government.
     It remains to be seen whether this will be a coalition government consisting of completely opposition parties, or just a temporary coalition. Sources say that the new mechanism in Kosova, is a transitional mechanism, which will function until October of this year, when it is believed that new elections will be held. One thing is clear though: the compromise was achieved for the regime in Kosova to de-despotize the reign and spread administration from one man (Rugova), to other responsible people.

KOSOVA (fighting - Gjakovë)
One senior officer and three paramilitary killed

Gjakovë, 30 July (ARTA) 2045CET--
The localities of the villages of the area of Malësi e Gjakovës and of Gjakovë Has, were attacked today by the Serb army who used their entire military arsenal. The loud detonations were heard all the way to the town. Sources from the ground claim that the Serb forces attacked all the villages from Nec to Junik. Nevertheless, KLA replied back strongly. It reported the killing one senior Army officer and three paramilitary volunteers.
     Subsequently, the Serb army attacked today the villages of Malësi e Gjakovës and those of Gjakovë Has. Sources from the ground claim that the Serb forces also shot in the direction of the villages of the Albanian part of Has.
     Large military forces, followed by 10 tanks, APCs and other vehicles, 7 of which had missile launchers, departed today from the town of Gjakovë, heading in the direction of the bordering area. Despite the fierce battles that are taking place in these areas, the Albanian sources have not given any detailed reports on the victims, but it is claimed that there are a considerable number of wounded and big material damages.

KOSOVA (shelling – Mitrovicë)
Eight villages in Shala e Bajgorës shelled

Mitrovicë, 30 July (ARTA) 1830CET--
The villages of Bare, Vidishiq, Rahovë, Mazhiq, Kutlloc, Rashan, Tuneli i Parë and Stantërg, were subjected to heavy artillery shelling, last night at around 2300CET. Shala e Bajgorës and Mitrovicë proper are held under siege, hence the precise number of killed and wounded, remains a speculation, Albanian local sources claim. A "VJ" army helicopter flew at a very low altitude over the town of Mitrovicë proper, today at 0900CET. An immense wave of people is arriving from the war afflicted areas of Malishevë, Drenica and Dukagjin. The number of IDPs in Mitrovicë has reached 20.000 adding to the already serious social situation.
     On the other hand, Belgrade's TV broadcast the news that an "Albanian terrorist" that wounded 15 Serb policemen, was arrested in Drenica.
     Hashim Meçini from Klinë e Epër (municipality of Skënderaj), who was talking in front of the cameras about "his activities in the KLA", is said to be a mentally retarded person. In fact, local sources claim, he refused to leave his house the day the village of Klinë e Epër was shelled. This is when the Serb police units arrested him.

KOSOVA (shelling - Klinë)
The last houses in Gllarevë, Rixhevë and Jellovc were burned today

Klinë, 30 July (ARTA) 2120CET--
The shelling in the village Siçevë started at 2200CET. The Serb snipers on the other hand are shooting at all of those who are trying to go back home.
     The last houses in Gllarevë, Rixhevë and Jellovc were burned today, as the few remaining houses in Stapanicë, Mleçan and Dush are still burning. In the afternoon hours, the Serbs started burning the houses of the villages Jellovc, Resnik, Jashanicë e Epër and the fields planted with grain in Malishgan.
     It is suspected that a large number of Albanians that fled their homes, are either kidnapped or executed. Nothing is known about Sylë Veseli (80), from Gllarevë, Osman, Zade, Haradin and Sali Marmullaku from Dush, whose houses were set on fire.
     The police forces run over the house of Rexhep Marmullaku in Dush, using a tank and then stationed there, from where continued to burn the other Albanian houses of this village.
     Snakes are now seriously threatening the people that have spent over five days in the forest. Their lives are endangered, because as the medical personnel in Ujëmirë stated, there is lack of anti-viperous serum.

KOSOVA (killing – Istog)
A 75 years old man found with his throat cut

Istog, 30 July (ARTA) 1715CET--
Ramë Gashi (75), from Lutogllavë (municipality of Pejë), was found with his throat cut in the forest of Moknë, at the place called "Qukat e Halilit", today at 0800CET. The victim was found by a group of shepherds, who were looking for him since he did not return to the cottage, last night. The shepherds say that Rama along with his family moved from Sushicë to Lutogllavë, several years ago. Just a few days ago, he spoke of people’s suspicious movements in this forest.

KOSOVA (tensions – Prizren)
The police threw Islam Thaçi from the third floor?

Prizren, 30 July (ARTA) 2200CET--
Following the military\police offensive in the villages of Opojë, when one Serb military officer was killed and another one was wounded, several Albanians were arrested. This refers to the eight arrested from Opojë and to the 74-years-old, Islam Berisha, with the pretext that he was sheltering KLA members in his house in Buqo, near the Albanian border.
     One of the arrested, Islam Thaçi (25), from Prizren, was thrown from the third floor of the police station, last night at 1900CET. Suffering serious injuries, Islami was sent to the Hospital in Prizren. However, his family claims that, the police took him from the hospital, at 1200CET and nothing else is known about him. Albanian sources of information claim that Islam Berisha is presently at the hospital's intensive care in Prizren, because of the severe injuries he received.
     Two military convoys were seen today moving down the streets of Prizren. The first one headed in the direction of Opojë, during the morning hours, and the second one was seen going in the direction of Gjakovë.
     A considerable number of policemen, settled last night in the elementary school "Lekë Dukagjini" in Prizren. A military convoy was seen moving in the direction of the bordering point of Gorozhub (Has area). About 50 uniformed policemen positioned at the Landovicë checkpoint escorted this convoy. Another large number of military forces headed in the direction of the Prizren-Kukës road.

KOSOVA (IDPs return home)
Around 80 inhabitants of Rahovec returned home

Prizren, 30 July (ARTA) 2220CET--
The first buses traveling to Rahovec from Prizren brought back home about 80, mainly young, inhabitants of Rahovec. They managed to travel using special permits. Strangely enough, even the Serb installed organs made calls to return the people. During the coming days the frequency of buses is expected to increase, since the biggest wish of the majority of the IDPs is to return home.
     The flux of the inhabitants of Rahovec, who have been sheltered in Malishevë, up till now, has again taken over Prizren. Presently, over 15 thousand, people from Rahovec are sheltered in Prizren, out of which 5 thousand are accommodated at their relatives in the town.
     The majority of the families have made contacts with their dispersed family members. However, ever since 19 July, nothing is known, among others, of the 25-member family of Halil Këndolli.

KOSOVA (mine fields – border with Macedonia)
"Yugoslav" army plants mines at the border with Macedonia

Kaçanik, 30 July (ARTA) 2100CET--
The "Yugoslav" army has started mining the bordering zone towards Macedonia.
     LDK Information Commission in Kaçanik, has notified that three military officers of the "VJ" indirectly confirmed this.
     These three military officers, gathered about 30 villagers of Glloboçicë, on 26 July. They told them to stay away from the bordering line in a distance of 200 meters, since the movements in this bordering zone are banned. Further, the officials told the villagers that this is for their own physical security, without explicitly mentioning the planted mines.
     These mines killed 3 cows and wounded 20 others. It is supposed that the mines are being planted from the bordering villages in Hani i Elezit to the forest of Glloboçicë, respectively near Luboten mountain.

KOSOVA (looting - Lipjan)
The Serb police loots and demolishes Albanian houses in Magurë

Lipjan, 30 July (ARTA) 1900CET --
Albanian sources say that the houses in Magurë, which Albanians abandoned, are being looted and demolished, following the arrival of police forces in the village. The same sources claim that the houses belonging to the Emërllahu and Kleçkani families, as well as many other houses, have been stripped of TV sets and household equipment. They state that the police took those goods to the local elementary schools, where they loaded them on trucks.
     Albanian sources also claim that five members of one family, including children aged from 2-5 years old, have been missing since 18 July, when the shelling of the village of Vërshec began.

KOSOVA (tense situation - Pejë)
The "Salipuric band" terrorizes Albanians

Pejë, 30 July (ARTA) 2145CET--
The bodies of six Albanians taken from the hospital’s morgue, were buried in the town's cemetery, on 24 and 25 July, inform sources from Pejë.
     Recently, a Serb band known as the "Salipuric’s band", started breaking in the Albanian owned houses, looting everything valuable and beating people they find inside.
     Serb armed groups of civilians are harassing many Albanians. Serb guards are shooting in different localities of the town. Snipers are settled on top of town's highest buildings.
     Serb police checkpoints are set at town’s entrance and exits, particularly on the roads that lead in the direction of Rozhajë and Çakorr.

KOSOVA (tension mounts - Prishtina)
Bomb explosions in the capital

Prishtina, 30 July (ARTA) 2200CET --
There were two explosions in Dardania, a neighborhood of Prishtina, first at 0020CET and the second at around 0030CET, said a witness today. The explosions were heard in most of Prishtina. However, no material damage was caused.
     The witness said that one of the explosions took place somewhere between the seventh and ninth block of Dardania, where over 30,000 people live.
     "A light-colored vehicle, probably a BMW, stood in front of block 7 for about ten minutes. The lights of the car were turned off", said the witness. "Two minutes later, it turned the lights on and went away. It returned shortly after and turned the lights out again. This time, it was parked between blocks 7 and 9. A man came out of the car. The explosion was heard only seconds after that".
     The witness claimed that the car was not there when he went to the window to see what had happened. The BMW was spotted in Dardania earlier as well, escorted by police cars, say the people who live there.
     The second explosion came 10 minutes later, probably somewhere along the road leading to Fushë Kosovë. According to this witness and the testimonies of other people living in this neighborhood, the explosions were caused by the police.
     They back their theory with the fact that many policemen are staying in block seven. They also remind that there are two Serb nightclubs, where the police usually stay, just 50 meters away from the site.

KOSOVA (missing)
Over 1.400 persons missing in Kosova ever since the beginning of this year

Prishtina, 30 July (ARTA) 1730CET--
"530 persons are arrested or missing in Kosova, ever since March", stated today Beatrice Weber, chairman of the sub delegation of ICRC in Prishtina, evaluating the situation of the Albanian civilians ever since the escalation of war in Kosova.
     400 out of them are Albanians. This includes the missing and arrested persons that are presently held inside Serb jails or police stations. The other 130 persons belong to the Serb nationality, of whose absence they were informed by relatives by phone.
     Ever since the open escalation of violence in Kosova at the beginning of this year, the Serb police, army and paramilitary have killed, abducted, arrested, raided, looted and burned Albanian civilians and their properties, not withstanding any age and gender. A CDHRF report about the state of human rights and freedoms in Kosova, during the first six months of this year, evaluates that these months represent "the most tragic chapter in the history of the Albanian people in Kosova".
     According to this institution's data, the number of the missing and arrested persons, during this period is much higher when compared to the one claimed by ICRC.
     "400 people are kept hostage, were kidnapped and are missing (including several Serbs), as 924 arbitrary detentions were also evidenced", it is stated among others in the report of this Council.
     Nothing is known about the kidnapped -- according to CDHRF, "relatives and humanitarian organizations are prevented from inspecting the places where the kidnapped are suspected to be held".
     The arrest of dr. Hafir Shala, activist of the humanitarian organization "Mother Theresa", on 10 April near Gllogoc, and the fact that nothing is known about him ever since, represents one of many cases of abductions of the Kosova Albanians – CDHRF considers.
     The death of the CDHRF activist and ex-political prisoner, Rexhep Bislimi (32), on 22 July, due to the severe torture he was subjected to on 6 July, illustrates the ways of how the Albanians end up in the jails of the Serb regime. "We were informed that the victim had broken ribs and his entire body was bruised", it is stated in this report.

KOSOVA (refugees - Albania)
Around 80 refugees arrived in Tropojë

Tropojë, 29 July (ARTA) 2200CET --
Radio broadcast "Voice of America", referring to local sources, notified that several Kosova Albanians have passed the border last night and during early morning hours today.
     They entered Albania through Padesh, close to Tropojë, where 16,000 Kosovars fled to in early June, due to the escalation of violence.
     It has been claimed that the group of 80 refugees marks the beginning of a new wave of refugees from Kosova.
     The people who arrived today were mainly from Junik, where fierce clashes had taken place a day before. There are no reports as to whether any of them are wounded. A local source said that 10 Kosovars were still in the hospital in Bajram Curri. He claimed that most of them were admitted in the hospital on 18 July, when a group of Albanians stepped on a minefield in an attempt to enter Kosova. He stated that they are recovering.

KOSOVA/ALBANIA (KD interview – Albanian Minister of Interior)
"Instead of travelling around, Rugova should come to the Albanian Parliament"

Tirana, 30 July (ARTA) 1700CET—
KD: What measures has the Albanian side undertaken against the provocations of the Serbian side at the Albanian border?

Teta: Albania is not at all tolerant towards these incidents and provocations. It made all the efforts to stop the conflict. It is making calls to all the international instances -- it is in constant contact with all the foreign monitors that are presently in Albania, as well as with NATO and its bodies. I think all of this help the solution of the conflict with Serbia.
     All Albanian institutions should be responsible to explain to the Albanian army and police on how to carry out the tasks legally, respecting the international covenants that were ratified by Albania.

KD: Is Albania able to face more serious provocations?

Teta: Albania is a sovereign state and has the capacity to face any kind of aggression. The recent events, stands and evaluations made by Albanians, show that Albania is capable of facing any risk.
     The Morina case, where the villagers picked up the weapons and came to help to the bordering forces, is an example that shows that Albanians have a national conscience and are ready to do everything to defend their country.
     This is the answer to all questions as to whether Albanians are conscious enough to defend their country or not.
     I think that Albania in collaboration, particularly with the international community, will act at the right moment to prevent the further escalation of bloodshed.

KD: The Government stated being in favor of a peaceful solution of the conflict in Kosova and the situation escalated even further. Is a peaceful solution possible under these conditions?

Teta: When I say peaceful solution, I also include, according to my military concept, a military intervention, for example a NATO intervention in Serbia. This helps the peaceful solution.

KD: You once said at the Parliament: "Instead of travelling around, Rugova should come to the Albanian Parliament".

Teta: Ever since 1991 presidents from all over the world, except Rugova, visited the Albanian Parliament. I wish and expect to welcome Rugova at the Albanian Parliament one day.
 

KOSOVA (woman's network appeals)
Sally Becker, stop your hunger strike, we want you alive because we need you

Prishtina, 30 July (ARTA) 1900CET --
The governmental and non-governmental woman's network addressed a letter to humanitarian activist, Sally Becker, which was sentenced to 30 days imprisonment, because of "passing the border illegally", according to the indictment.
     "Dear sister Sally,
If it were not for humanity, love towards close ones and stretching out the hand to all, without making any difference in race or nation, Albanian Mother Theresa would not have made it as far as Calcutta.
     You came to Kosova, which is burning in flames as a humanitarian activist and pushed by the uttermost humane feeling. You were punished with imprisonment by the inhumane. Along with thousands of women and children, which were sentenced by the world, stripped and hungry in the woods of Kosova, you showed your solidarity with them through hunger strike.
     We plea to you to stop the hunger strike, we need you.
     In the name of humanity, we request your immediate release!", says the letter.

KOSOVA (reportage - Malishevë)
The sky remains the only cover for thousands of IDPs

Malishevë, 30 July (ARTA) 2045CET --
18 year-old Afërdita Qeriqi and Haxhi Korpusi, are the two victims, which resulted from the last Serb offensive. They were both killed in their houses close to Malishevë. "We could not bury Afërdita in the cemetery", said a woman who was walking in a line of thousands of IDPs, mainly women and children, in search for shelter.
     Tens of trailers, overloaded with women, children and elders, drove upward in the tight mountain roads of the region.
     These people were escaping from the villages of Rusinoc, Baincë, Sedllar, Krojmir, Fushticë, Lladrovc, Sankoc, Llapushnik, Orllat and Malishevë, villages which were exposed to attacks by heavy artillery for five days in a row.
     These people, have found shelter in the mountain complex around the villages of Sedllar, Kleçkë and Krojmir, for the past three days and three nights.
     Mothers, with tearful eyes, could be seen holding their children tight in their arms in an attempt of comforting them. The male members of their families remained home, they say, "to defend houses and look after the herd".
     33 year-old Mensur, drove up the mountain roads in a hurry, trying to accommodate his family somewhere in the woods.
     "Now we can all go to hell, me along with the international community", he said as tears ran down his face. He shut the door of the vehicle he had been driving and refused to talk to the foreign journalist. We were told that this was the third time he had to leave his shelter. His fate, seems to the fate of the majority of the people in the column, which winded up to the mountains of Malishevë like a snake.
     They claim that the Serb police and military forces burnt and destroyed many houses, that the Serb forces killed most of their herds. The tanks were still staying along the road that leads from Orllat to Malishevë.
     KLA fighters were also in these woods, claiming that Serb forces used large caliber and sophisticated weapons. "They used everything except the airforce", they say. They state their disappointment with the Serb forces. "We are afraid that the West gave green light to Serbia", says a senior KLA officer.
     Chairman of the LDK branch in Lipjan, Xhevat Olluri, walked down the mountain with his children: "They used missiles and they even aimed at the mountains, although they knew that there were civilians hiding there", Olluri said.
     "We cannot go on living in the woods, because there is no food and no medicine and the nights there are extremely cold", said Olluri, in a very coarse voice. He expressed his anger with the fact that there was no international presence in Kosova in these times of crisis. He pointed towards the woods where he said that many were sheltered.
     "Two people were killed, but still, three children were born in the woods", said Olluri, with a twist of optimism.
     He considers this operation as a perfidious measure of ethnic cleansing. People we met on the way up, stated that there were tens of wounded in the mountains. They claimed that there were also adolescents among them.
     Detonations could be heard coming from all sides, from Shtime and all the way into central Kosova, Drenica.
     "They are attacking the village of Pjetreshticë from Zborc", said Mujë Drenica. He pointed to the direction where smoke could be seen, rising up in clouds. He claimed that Zborc was leveled to the ground. The people said the same about Carallukë and Orllat.
     The "IDPs" have little to say. They are hungry and need to sleep. They have no time to think about anything but how to keep alive.
     "Please alarm the world, because they want to lose every trace of us. They hit me in the head, but despite my age, I am still standing", said Isa, with his white Albanian traditional cap, soaked in blood. He claims to have lived through many wars, but said he hopes that this will be the last one. "They burned my house, they burned my land, they left me without food for the winter". This was one of the issues, which had preoccupied the elderly. Lots of grain, which had been harvested, was set on fire on purpose by the Serb forces.
     On the other hand, a senior KLA officer stated that they did not suffer much loss. "We had to withdraw the civilians and we needed time for that", he told Albanian daily "Koha Ditore". He said that seven KLA members were killed. "One was killed by a missile in Llapushnik", he said, putting special emphasis to this case by calling the soldier one of the best that the KLA had.
     KLA members who are trying to look after the civilians, also looked tired. Their messages to the world, which were phrased in bad language, showed their disappointment. However the message was something like: "Let them go to hell".
     At the end of the road, which the KLA built time ago, they awaited blankets, running water and sponges -- after four nights passed under the open sky...
     The sky will be the only cover for thousands of IDPs tonight though...

Foreign Ministry hands over a protest note to Yugoslav official

      TIRANA, July 30 (ATA) - By Irena Luto: The Albanian Foreign  Ministry handed over on Thursday a protest note to the charge d'affair of the Tirana-based Embassy of the Yugoslav Federation Republic Vukicevic on the latest incident in the border post of Padesh on July 28, press and information office at the Albanian Foreign Ministry said in a press communique obtained by ATA.
      The protest note urged the Yugoslav authorities to take measures to halt such provocations which heavily compromise relations between the states and run counter to international principles and norms.
      The latest border incident in Padesh post, is a repeated case in the recent days with Yugoslav forces violating the territorial integrity of the Republic of Albania.
      The protest note said: "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs sees as an opportunity to make known once again to the Yugoslav side that if such provocations are repeated they will fail. In case they are part of a plan which aims at extending the conflict even in the territory of the Republic of Albania, they would face a determined reaction by the armed forces and the entire Albanian people," the press communique said. ypa/das/ak/

Thousands of refugees from Junik headed for Albania

      PRISHTINE, July 30 - ATA correspondent Behlul Jashari reported that Junik and the region around it are under siege and incessant attacks of the Serb forces for the fourth day.
      All efforts are under way to evacuate the civil population and the Kosova Liberation Army (KLA) is determinably responding to the attacks and defending residents.
      Over 1.000 civilians from Junik and the surrounding areas which are on their way to Albania are expected to cross the border today (Thursday). Other 2.000 are treading paths, mountains of Bjeshke te Namuna, without food and protection under  the Serb artillery fire.
      The KLA has caused increasing loss to Serb forces during the firefights in Junik area, sources on the ground said.
      The Serb commander of the border area and some militaries have been killed. Four tanks and other military equipment have been destroyed.
      Sources said that fighting has continued in Strelic i Eperm, Carrabreg i Poshtem, Prejlep and Rastavice villages.
shdha/das/ak/

APPEAL
ADDRESSED TO INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN AND HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS

Dear Sir/Madam,

     Please note that a large number of citizens from Malisheva and its surroundings, Skënderaj, Klina, Deçan, Junik and Rahovec were forced to flee their homes and to seek shelter in safer regions, which were not affected by state organized violence and terror. Tens of thousands of citizens were left with no food and water, in the open. Due to famine and thirst, fatigue and exhaustion many lose their consciousness. They desperately need our aid. Many have fallen in the hands of the police, military and paramilitary forces and were subjected to severe violence, were killed and massacred. The unprotected civilians and the numerous victims call for defence from violence, terror, famine and disease.
     We appeal hereby to international humanitarian and human rights organizations to help with food, medicine and shelter. We also appeal to the international community and to all relevant factors to protect the lives, human and national dignity of Albanians.

Prishtina, July 31, 1998

CDHRF - Dr. Pajazit Nushi
Kosova Red Cross - Dr. Jusuf Dedushaj
Health Care Committee - Dr. Teuta Hadri

Kosovo Situation: Civilian Massacre in Rahovec;
A potential Kosovo Srebrenica in Junik
 
Prishtina, Vienna - 31. July 1998: The International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF) and the Kosova Helsinki Committee (KHC) are gravely concerned with reports of victims and other casualties of the Serbian offensive and reported massacres of the Albanian civilian population in the town of Rahovec (Orahovac), the still fully unreported casualties during the Serbian take-over of the neighboring town of Malisheva (Malishevo), and the likely massive casualties in the besieged village of Junik, known to be a KLA stronghold and currently believed to harbor about a thousand Albanian guerilla fighters. The IHF and KHC fear that the Junik case could degenerate into a Srebrenica-like situation, with massive killings of besieged Albanian civilians, and call upon the international community to prevent such a tragedy. These concerns are especially enhanced after the reported massacres of Albanians in Rahovec, in what seems to have been not only a Serbian take-over of the town, but a reprisal and punitive action against Albanian civilians.
        In the Rahovec offensive, Serbian forces, according to all available reports, indiscriminately used disproportionate armor and firepower force on civilians and housing premises. A reprisal wave against the Albanian civilian population of Rahovec has clearly and rudely taken place, with the basic message that whereever KLA guerilla fighters achieve a foothold, Albanian civilians will die.
        According to confirmed reports, the Serbian offensive of 19. - 21 July in Rahovec has resulted in the killing of at least 51 Albanians and the wounding of at least 103 others. Unconfirmed reports state that casualties may be triple this number, but verification is impossible as Serbian forces have sealed the area from journalists and humanitarian and relief missions. Confirmed reports also detail burials of unidentified victims of the Rahovec violence, labeled solely with numbers, in Prizren graveyards.
        During the Serb offensive, the religious leader of Rahovec, Sheh Muhedin, was killed by sniper fire on the Mosque premises, after being forced to expel some 500 believers who had sought shelter and refuge in the Mosque. The bishop of the Serbian Orthodox Church Artemije has expressed his regrets for the killing that did not spare civilians and religious objects. Some of the most prominent and wealthy Albanians of Rahovec have also reportedly been killed. Sakib Shehu and two brothers of the Haxhijaha family have been killed and their gas station destroyed. Over a dozen of women were killed, including 22 year old Fatime Bugari who was 8-months pregenant, and 37 year old Hatixhe Hundozi, who was also pregnant. Other women among the casualties included: the wife of Hysen Bugari (58), Myzaqete Haxhiymeri (60), Bule Ibra (22), R. A. Ibra (56), Myzafere Imeri, Emine Krasniqi (21), Zyrafete Krasniqi (27), the wife of N. Mullaabazi, Sabrie Mullabazi (90), Hamide Popaj (70), Ryve Popaj (42), Zize Popaj (70), the daughter of Beqir Rexha (18), Drita Rexha (24), Emsale Shala (27), the wife of A. Spahiu, Dane Vuciterna (48), Hamide Zeqiraj (65) and three children. According to eyewitness accounts made available by the Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms in Prishtina, during street fighting, Albanians were tied to electric poles as human shields for Serb forces. Two people were reportedly seen hanging from electric poles, several others massacred with their throats cut and eyes removed, while others were reported to have been run over by APCs and tanks.
 
        For days, Albanian civilians have stayed in basements and cellars to avoid being killed by Serb shelling and street fighting. The KHC has interviewed several people who spent three days in a private basement along with over 200 others, primarily women and children. Over 260 Albanian males were arrested by Serb police and held in detention centers in the nearby town of Prizren.
        It should be noted that KLA groups are reported to have taken and detained some 52 civilians as prisoners-of-war or hostages, including medical personnel from a Rahovec ambulance, and some monks of the nearby Zoqishte monastery. Two days later, 35 Serbian detainees were turned over to the International Committee of the Red Cross.
        The IHF and the KHC appeal to both sides of the conflict to abide by international humanitarian law in order to spare the civilian population. The IHF and the KHC fear that otherwise the vicious circle of uncontrolled violence against civilians will be fueled further. According to the UNHCR Belgrade office, there are currently over 400 Albanian hostages detained by Serb authorities and 122 Serbian hostages detained by the KLA.
        The IHF and the KHC also express grave concern over the massive wave of refugees from Rahovec, in which an estimated 20.000 people originally fled, to the already overcrowded commune of Malisheva, where humanitarian circumstances are already extremely difficult. Many who fled earlier fighting in the Drenica region have already sought refuge in Malisheva, tripling the normal population even before the hostilities of 29 July. Electricity and the water supplies have been cut for over 40 days, there are no telephone connections, and humanitarian relief organizations are barely allowed to enter the town to deliver basic relief. The IHF and the KHC urge the Serbian authorities to open of a humanitarian relief corridor to Malisheva and the surrounding area, where Albanian civilians fled and remain in hiding, and allow the delivery of necessary humanitarian aid. In addition the IHF and KHC call for Serbian authorities to make possible the return of all refugees to their homes, under the guidance of the UNHCR or other international monitoring and supervision to overcome the fear of the Albanian civilian population of additional retributions upon their return.
        The IHF and KHC urge the Serbian authorities to immediately halt on-going offensives in Kosovo, and Junik specifically, where the seige by Serbian forces threatens a Kosovo Srebrenica. An immediate cease-fire must be implemented.
        The IHF and the KHC deplore the lack of clear international condemnation of the Serbian violations of humanitarian law in Rahovec and other operations in Kosova.
        The IHF and the KHC express their disappointment vis á vis the lack of unity of Albanian political forces, who so far have failed to speak with one voice, forming a credible and uncontested representation for the resumption of negotiations with Belgrade. Albanian disunity postpones the resumption of negotiations, and consequently causes additional and unnecessary civilian casualties and suffering. Albanian disunity has thus become a serious obstacle to the urgently needed and necessary resumption of Yugoslav-Albanian negotiations that should bring about a peaceful and negotiated settlement to the crisis. The IHF and the KHC are of the opinion that such a settlement of the Kosova issue could be reached only in a Dayton-like conference, which is currently being recommended and called for by some Contact Group countries.
        The IHF and KHC fear that otherwise the Kosovar crisis will deteriorate further, to possible full and open war that might engulf Kosovar urban centers, including Prishtina. The already emptied towns of Glogovac, Deqan, Skenderaj, Rahovec, and Malisheva, whose Albanian population has fled, clearly constitute a Bosnian-pattern of ethnic cleansing likely to spread further and lead to dark scenarios of the partitioning of Kosova.
_______________________________________
The International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF) is a non-governmental organization which monitors compliance with the human rights provisions of the Helsinki Final Act and its follow-up documents. In addition to supporting and providing liaison among 34 Helsinki committees, the IHF has direct links with human rights activists where no Helsinki committee exists. It criticizes human rights abuses regardless of the political system of the state where these abuses occur.
_______________________________________

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

Human Rights Watch     350 Fifth Ave.  34th floor     NY, NY.  10118-3299
Telephone: 212-216-1270     Facsimile: 212-736-1300     E-mail: hrwnyc@hrw.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For further information, contact:
Fred Abrahams (212) 216-1270

Human Rights Lawyer Arrested and Severely Beaten in Kosovo

(New York)  - The Serbian government's attack on human rights in Kosovo extended to human rights defenders this week, as a local human rights lawyer was arrested and then severely beaten by the police, Human Rights Watch said today.  Another ethnic Albanian human rights activist entered her sixth week in prison.
        Destan Rukiqi, who has defended dozens of ethnic Albanian political prisoners in Kosovo in recent years, was taken from the Lipjan prison to the Prishtina hospital yesterday with serious injuries to his kidneys.  His wife, who visited but was not allowed to speak with her husband, said today that he is in serious condition and on dialysis.
        "Mr. Rukiqi's beating is a direct message to the human rights community in Kosovo," said Holly Cartner, Executive Director of Human Rights Watch's Europe and Central Asia Division.  "It is intended to intimidate and silence those who are reporting on the government's atrocities."
        Mr. Rukiqi was involved in a number of human rights related cases, and had provided information on war crimes committed by Serbian special police forces in Kosovo to the International War Crimes Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in The Hague.
        Rukiqi was arrested on July 23 and sentenced that same day in expedited procedure to the maximum sixty days in prison for disturbing public order (under Article 6, paragraph 3 of the Serbian Law on Public Order).  The arrest was related to an incident that morning, when Rukiqi had raised his voice at a district judge in Prishtina, Ms. Danica Marinkovic, after she had refused to let him view a case file of his client.  The government tightly controls the judiciary and the police throughout Yugoslavia, especially in Kosovo.  Judge Marinkovic has presided over a number of political trials against ethnic Albanians in Kosovo in which the defendants were tortured.
        Another local human rights activist, Ms. Zahrida Podrimcaku, was arrested in Prishtina on June 9, 1998.  Ms. Podrimcaku had been investigating what happened on May 31 in the village of Poklek, when police detained ten ethnic Albanian men during an attack on the village.  The body of one of the men, Ardian Deliu, was found the next day, while the other nine men remain missing and are presumed dead. Podrimcaku was charged with supporting terrorists and is awaiting trial.
        According to local human rights groups, at least three hundred ethnic Albanians have been arrested and charged with committing terrorist acts, usually under Articles 125, 136 or 139 of the Yugoslav Penal Code.
        "Testimony from Albanians who were arrested and then released, and now the beating of Mr. Rukiqi, tell us that these people are being subjected to torture," Ms. Cartner said.

News from:
CONGRESSMAN ELIOT L. ENGEL
Seventeenth District, New York

 2303 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC  20515 -- 202/225-2464
3655 Johnson Avenue, Bronx, NY  10463 -- 718/796-9700
***********************************************************
  For immediate release:  July 31, 1998
  Contact:     Jason Steinbaum at 202-225-2464
               Joseph O'Brien at 718-796-9700

ENGEL RESOLUTION SUPPORTS SELF-DETERMINATION FOR KOSOVA

Washington, DC--Rep. Eliot L. Engel late yesterday introduced a resolution (text follows) calling for the United States to support the right self-determination for Kosova.

"I firmly believe that United States policy toward Kosova is misguided.  We can no longer deny to the people of Kosova the same right of self-determination which we have accepted for Bosnia, Slovenia, Croatia, and FYR Macedonia," Rep. Engel said.

The resolution calls upon the United States to "support any resolution of the question of the status of Kosova, including independence. . ." arrived at through a process of self-determination.  It also asserts that "Serbia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, especially as ruled by Slobodan Milosevic, have forfeited the legitimate right to govern or to determine political status of the territory of Kosova."

"I do not seek to dictate the outcome of negotiations or to tell the Kosovars what is best for them," said Rep. Engel.  "I simply want the people of Kosova, not Milosevic, to determine their own future."

Rep. Engel was joined in the introduction of the Kosova self-determination resolution, H.Con.Res. 313, by Reps. King (R-NY), Moran (D-VA), and Kelly (R-NY).

Rep. Engel is Co-Chair of the Congressional Albanian Issues Caucus and Chairs the House Democratic Task Force on Foreign Policy.  He represents areas of the Bronx and Westchester.

****

Text of resolution follows:

105TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. CON. RES. 313

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Mr. ENGEL  (for himself, Mr. King, Mr. Moran of Virginia, and Ms. Kelly) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations.

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Congress with respect to self-determination for the people of Kosova, and for other purposes.

Whereas under the United Nations Charter, friendly relations among nations are based on the principles of equal rights and self-determination of peoples;

Whereas under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which the United States and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia are parties, all peoples have the right of self-determination;

Whereas equal rights and self-determination of peoples are among the Principles Guiding Relations Between Participating States enshrined in the 1975 Helsinki Final Act, to which the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was a party;

Whereas the Helsinki Final Act states that ''all peoples have the right, in full freedom, to determine, when and as they wish, their internal and external political status, without external interference, and to pursue as they wish their political, economic, social, and cultural development'';

Whereas the Constitution of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was founded upon the right of every nationality to self-determination, including the right to secede;

Whereas in the Constitution of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, adopted in 1946, and the amended Yugoslav Constitution, adopted in 1974, Kosova was described as one of the 8 constituent territorial units of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia;

Whereas until 1989 Kosova had a representative on the Yugoslav Federal Presidency, a constitutional entity consisting of members from each of the constituent territorial units of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia;

Whereas several former constituent territorial units of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, including Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, have exercised their rights to become independent, and Montenegro retains the right to do so in the future;

Whereas the borders of Yugoslavia were altered in the 1990's when Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia became independent;

Whereas the United States and the international community do not recognize the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia as the successor state to the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia;

Whereas the political rights of the people of Kosova were curtailed on March 23, 1989, when the Government of Yugoslavia revoked the autonomous status of Kosova by amending the Yugoslav Constitution without the consent of Kosova, as was constitutionally required, and by other  unconstitutional actions including further amendments to the Yugoslav Constitution obtained by unconstitutional means;

Whereas in September 1990, in a referendum on the question of independence for Kosova, 87 percent of those eligible to participate voted and 99 percent of those who voted supported independence for Kosova;

Whereas throughout the 1990's, the people of Kosova have peacefully operated a shadow government separate from the Serbian and Yugoslav authorities, and that shadow government has governed the majority of the population of Kosova;

Whereas since 1989 the majority of the population of Kosova, 92 percent of whom are ethnically Albanian, has been subject to official discrimination including the removal of ethnic Albanian students from public schools and the University of Pristina and the firing of more than 100,000 ethnic Albanians from the civil service and police;

Whereas since 1989 the people of Kosova have been subject to egregious human rights abuses, and according to the Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1997, the most widespread and worst abuses in Serbia and Montenegro were committed by the police against the ethnic Albanian population of Kosova;

Whereas on July 17, 1998, the Senate passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 105 declaring that it is the sense of the Congress that ''the United States should publicly declare that it considers that there is reason to believe that Slobodan Milosevic, President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), has committed war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide''; and

Whereas the United States has opened an office of the United States Information Service in Pristina, the capital of Kosova: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that-

       (1) by illegally revoking of the autonomy of Kosova in 1989 and undertaking other unconstitutional actions, by subsequently promoting official policies of harsh discrimination against the majority ethnic Albanians in Kosova, and by flagrantly violating the human rights of the people of Kosova, Serbia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, especially as ruled by Slobodan Milosevic, have forfeited the legitimate right to govern or to determine political status of the territory of Kosova;

       (2) the United States should support the right of self-determination for the people of Kosova;

       (3) the United States should support any resolution of the question of the status of Kosova, including independence, if such resolution is arrived at by means of legitimate acts of self-determination, including a free and fair referendum in Kosova;

       (4) the United States should support the same right of self-determination for Kosova that the international community has recognized for the other former constituent territorial units of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, some of which have become independent;

       (5) the United States should encourage other countries, especially members of the Contact Group of Nations for the Former Yugoslavia, to support the right of self-determination for the people of Kosova; and

       (6) the United States should support such representation of Kosova in international institutions as is consistent with the exercise of the legitimate right of self-determination by the people of Kosova.
 

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