Tagesnachrichten 1. August 1998
von ALBANEWS und anderen
Daily Report No 1508 August 1, 1998
Kosova Information Center
Tagesnachrichten 1. August 1998
7. to call on the Commission and the Council to provide all necessary humanitarian aid to the victims of and the refugees from the acts of violence and call on member states to stop returning refugees and asylum seekers to Kosova where protection cannot be guaranteed;________________________________________________________________________
Augsburger Allgemeine 9. Juli 1998:
Still there is no stop of deportations !
newspaper Augsburger Allgemeine reports on July
9, 1998
Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT # 1508
Prishtina, 1 August 1998
Serb Offensive Continues, Fighting in Reka e Keqe and Junik Reported
PRISHTINA, July 31 (KIC) - Fighting continued
for the seventh straight day in the border zone villages of Reka e Keqe
region, and in Junik, the LDK Information Commission in Gjakova said.
Although the Serb propaganda said the offensive
of the Serbian military and police in Kosova was over, reports from the
ground said local Albanian resistance forces, including UÇK units,
have been fighting heavy Serbian military, paramilitary and police troops.
LDK sources in Gjakova said today they did not
have reports on casualties on the Albanian side in the most recent .
Meanwhile, the LDK Information Commission in
Deçan said yesterday (Friday) at least 7 Albanians have been killed
in Junik since the beginning of this latest offensive early this week:
Shaban Galaj, Mehmet Zekë Qosaj (17), Bajram Ramë Shehu (85),
Agim Ali Jasiqi (35), Musë Ali Gjoci, Vezir Hysen Ademaj and a volunteer
from Ferizaj ('Urosevac'), whose first name is Fetah. The number of those
wounded is high, LDK sources in Deçan said, adding that heavy material
damage had been caused to the farmsteads.
The situation in the town of Gjakova is made all
the more difficult in the midst of the ongoing Serb offensive by the huge
number of people - mostly the elderly, women and children - who are on
the move, trying to make their way to relative safety to other villages
and the town of Gjakova. The current situation is alarming, for it is impossible
to cater for the needs of such a huge number of people. Many of them indeed
are prevented from even entering the town of Gjakova. Those who have made
it tell of ill-treatment experienced in the hands of Serb policemen manning
check-points besetting the town.
An urgent international humanitarian intervention
is need to help the displaced Albanian population, Albanian structures
in Gjakova said.
Entire Albanian Villages Burned by Serbian
Forces in Klina
28.000 inhabitants displaced from their homes
in the past four months
PRISHTINA, Aug 1 (KIC) - Serbian forces have embarked on a criminal campaign of destruction and burning of entire villages in the municipality of Klina, in central Kosova, local sources said. Half of the farmsteads in the village of Kërrnicë, which was shelled for two days by Serb forces positioned in four checkpoints. The village school, which was built only last year by local donations, was burned during the shelling, LDK sources said.
Last night many Albanian houses were burned in the village of Jashanicë, while many houses have been reported burned or destroyed in the villages of Gllarevë, Rigjevë, Stapanicë, Dush and Jellovc.
In Gllarevë ('Iglarevo') the local elementary school building was burned to the ground, whereas hundreds of wheatfields set ablaze by Serb forces. In this village Shefqet Hasaj (35) has been killed, whereas Bekim Shala, resident of Ujmir, and a young Albanian from Zabërgja have been wounded.
In the 13 villages of the Ujmir region in Klina some 10.000 Albanians have been forced out of their homes. They have spent the past ten days in the open sky, with food and medicines lacking, LDK sources in Klina said.
Reports said in the village of Dush Marmullaku and his wife Zade have been abducted, as well as Haradin, his nephew. It is feared for their life, for they are suspected slain.
The municipal Emergency Council in Klina, an aid
organization set up in spring, said some 28.000 inhabitants have been displaced
from heir homes in 30 villages for the past four months. They all have
been without any help from domestic or foreign humanitarian organizations,
local sources said.
Albanian Killed by Serb Forces in Graboc
PRISHTINA, Aug 1 (KIC) - On Friday evening around
22:30 hrs, Serbian forces killed Faik Mjekiqi (35), father of four, who
stood in defense of his village.
A local LDK source in Graboc said the situation
was a bit calmer today there and on the surrounding villages. There was
only sporadic shooting, the source said.
Serbs Attack Fleeing Albanian Civilians, Four Wounded Friday Afternoon
PRISHTINA, Aug 1 (KIC) - At least four Albanian
civilians, including three women, were wounded Friday when attacked by
Serb forces near Sibovc village of Obiliq, 15 km west of Prishtina.
Sources in Obiliq said Serb forces mounted a
fierce attack late in the afternoon on Friday against several villages
along the Çiçaviva mountainfoot - from Sibovc in Obiliq to
the Zhilivoda village in the neighboring municipality of Vushtrri ('Vucitrn').
The LDK chapter in Obiliq said it learned the
identity of at least four Albanians wounded during the Serb machine-gun
and artillery attack: Magbule Thaçi (f, 21), her mother Ajshe Thaqi
(52), Ilmije Thaçi (f, 35) and Ahmet Kelmendi (43). The wounded
Albanians were fleeing their village of Sibovc which was pounded from at
least two Serb positions, witnesses said. Sources in Vushtrri said sporadic
gunfire was heard during the whole course of last evening and night coming
from the village of Prilluzhë.
Hundreds of Serb Shells Land in Malisheva Villages
PRISHTINA, Aug 1 (KIC) - The situation in Malisheva
municipality have been reported exceedingly volatile, in the wake of the
Serb offensive in the area which causes huge tides of refugees.
Isuf Bytyqi, head of the LDK Information Commission
in Malisheva, told the KIC today morning that Serb forces have continued
with intermittent bombardment of Albanian settlements during the whole
course of last week. Hundreds of shells have landed in the villages and
fields in the area. Scores of farmhouses are in flames or smoldering, and
many hectares of wheatfields have been burned, he said.
Besides pounding Albanian houses with heavy artillery,
Serb snipers have been shooting at everyone in the villages around their
bases, Bytyçi said, adding that it is feared the casualty-toll amongst
the Albanian population is high. Ramadan Hoti from Carralluka was killed
yesterday by Serb snipers, he said.
Sources in Malisheva said Serbs have been dousing
with petrol and setting ablaze houses in Malisheva and the surrounding
villages. The head of the LDK information commission in Malisheva said
thousands of people, including children, have for many days now been night
and day in the open sky, lacking food and medical supplies.
Thousands of Uprooted People Wait Helpless in Forests and Tractors Carts
PRISHTINA, Aug 1 (KIC) - The situation has been
deteriorating by the hour in the area between Malisheva and Suhareka, packed
with displaced persons lacking basic necessities, witnesses said.
Referring to estimations by the local human rights
groups, the LDK chapter in Suhareka said around 70.000 uprooted people
in tractors have been living for days in the open sky in an area called
Lugu i Kravasarisë (Kravasaria Valley). The situation is particularly
difficult in the villages of Ngucat, Lladrovc and Senik, with thousands
of people 'accommodated' in the forests around.
Ragip Zekolli, secretary of the LDK chapter in
Suhareka, said a team of local doctors have been conducting a check-up
of the population, but they are virtually helpless, lacking basic medical
supplies. He appealed on international agencies and ICRC to assist the
endangered population scattered in the fields and forests.
Firefighting Reported in Lipjan Villages Friday
Serb media speak of 8 killed Albanians and three
wounded Serb Policemen
PRISHTINA, Aug 1 (KIC) - Firefighting was reported
Friday afternoon in the villages of Lipjan, bordering on the Drenica region,
about 20 km south-west of Prishtina.
The Belgrade-based daily Dnevni Telegraf said
eight Albanians were killed and three Serb policemen wounded in the fighting
in the municipality of Lipjan yesterday. "Several armed Albanians were
captured", the newspaper said.
Dnevni Telegraf said the incident occurred yesterday
when a group of armed Albanians attacked a Serb police patrol not far from
Lipjan.
Albanian sources in Lipjan could not confirm
the Serb press report about the death of eight Albanians on Friday.
The LDK chapter in Lipjan said Friday that over
a dozen villages in the municipality, bordering on the Drenica region,
have been under intermittent fire by Serb troops since last weekend.
The outlying villages on both sides of the Magura-Shala
road - Krojmir, Resinoc, Bainca, Pjetërshtica and Shala - were most
vulnerable, the LDK said.
The LDK Information Commission in Lipjan said
two Albanians, a 21- years old girl Afërdita Qeriqi, and Haxhi Karpuzi
(47) were killed during the recent Serb shelling of their villages of Krojmir
and Shala.
Heavy Explosion in Prishtina, Albanian Shop Blown Up Overnight
PRISHTINA, Aug 1 (KIC) - Lats night, one hour
after midnight, a heavy explosion occurred within the compounds of the
clinics of the Medical Faculty, run by the Serb administration, the Prishtina-
based Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF) said.
CDHRF sources said an Albanian-owned shop was
blown up when the unknown device exploded.
The hospital compound is under a regular and
heavy police guard. There were two explosions in the Dardania neighborhood
of the capital Prishtina on the night of Wednesday, early Thursday. The
first occurred twenty minutes past midnight, the second ten to fifteen
minutes later, he said.
The sound of explosions was heard in the entire
Dardania neighborhood, which has some 30.000 inhabitants. There were no
casualties, nor any material damage.
The Dardania residents and the eye-witness who
revealed to the KIC details surrounding the first explosion at twenty minutes
past midnight that day said the two blasts might have been orchestrated
by the Serb police/security.
Meanwhile, on Thursday evening, at 22:00, a Serb
policeman opened fire on the flat of an Albanian family in Dardania. The
CDHRF said several bullets hit a room of Hasan Voca's family flat. All
the six members of the Albanian family were inside the flat at the time.
Volunteering Serbs Ready to Fight in Kosova, Leader of Paramilitary Units Says
PRISHTINA, Aug 1 (KIC) - Over 7000 Serb volunteers
in Kosova are ready and available to fight, the Belgrade-based Blic quoted
today the leader of a paramilitary organization, the "Council for Defending
Kosova", Miroslav Solevic, as saying.
According to the newspaper, Solevic said Serb
volunteers are well- trained and experienced to fight in Kosova, but they
have been waiting because, as he put it, "the state has still enough manpower
to fight". The leader of the Serb units told the Blic that Serbs have been
enlisting for war on voluntary basis. "It would make no sense if our units
did not coordinate actions with the state", he said.
There have been reports of increased mobilization
of Serb civilians with the police and paramilitary troops in Kosova.
Sources in Lipjan said Friday that at least 1000
Serbs, mobilized with the Serb troops recently, have been garrisoned in
the local school in the mining town of Magura. 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.
Serb Civilian Harasses Albanians at Gunpoint in Vushtrri
PRISHTINA, Aug 1 (KIC) - An armed Serb civilian
harassed for hours Albanians residents of Lummadh village of Vushtrri ('Vucitrn)
on Thursday.
Sources in Vushtrri said a local Serb, named
Marjan, roamed the streets of the village, shooting in the air and brandishing
his automatic rifle to Albanians in the street and in their courtyards.
In addition, the same Serb established his own checkpoint on the Prishtina-Mitrovica
road, harassing passers-by, and even halting and checking passengers aboard
buses travelling the road.
There have been increased reports about armed
Serbs harassing and threatening Albanians in towns and villages throughout
Kosova. The KIC has received eye-witness accounts of citizens being harassed
at Serb gunpoint in the Kosova capital Prishtina too, especially in the
evening and night hours.
For many years now, the Serb population in Kosova
has been almost overtly supplied with arms by Serb-installed authorities
and police. Serbs have been given arms in police stations and community
centers, including schools.
Reports from Peja, the second biggest town in
Kosova, say life has been made intolerable in the town with armed Serb
gangs intimidating people and raiding and looting their homes.
LDK and Human Rights Activists Ill-treated for Hours in Serb Custody
PRISHTINA, Aug 1 (KIC) - Five activists with local
branches of LDK and the Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms
(CDHRF) in Ferizaj were released Friday night after many hours in Serb
custody.
Milazim Haliti, Fatmir Sylejmani, members of
the LDK Presidency, Bekim Bërkolli, vice-chairman of the local chapter
of the Human Rights Council, were arrested in their offices yesterday morning
when scores of Serb policemen broke in Friday morning.
Adem Salihaj, chairman of the local LDK Presidency
in town, and member of the Parliament of Kosova, was arrested at midday
Friday.
So was Agim Reçica, chairman of a local
LDK sub-branch in Ferizaj. The LDK chapter in Ferizaj said all the activists
were subject to exhaustive interrogation and physical maltreatment while
in custody.
Adem Salihaj, chairman of the LDK Presidency
in Ferizaj, has spent many years in Serb jails over the past two decades
for his political beliefs.
Kosova Information Center
Last page!
_______________________________________________________________________Powerful explosion in Prishtine, Albanian's shop blown up
PRISHTINE, August 1/ ATA correspondent in Prishtine, Behlul Jashari reports:
A powerful explosion occurred today at 01.00 a.m. in Prishtine, in the compound of Medicine Faculty hospitals, violently administered by the Serbs.
Sources from the Council for the Defence of Human Rights say that the explosion blew up a shop, property of an Albanian. The hospital compound, where the explosion occurred, is constantly guarded by Serb forces./lm/Civilians heading for West of Prishtine
PRISHTINE, August 1 /ATA correspondent Behlul Jashari reports:
Serb artillery last night attacked civilians trying to escape shelling in the Sibofc village, some 15 km west of Prishtine.
Reports from the spot say that at least four Albanians have been seriously wounded - Makbule and Aishe Thaci, Ilmie Thaci and Ahmet Kelmendi.
Shelling from Serbian positions in Grabofc have also caused material damages.
The shells have also pounded the suburbs of Sibofc, in the Obiliq commune, up to the Zhilivode village of Vushtri commune.
/p.ta/pas/lm/
_______________________________________________________________________Wave of grasshoppers neutralised
ELBASAN, July 31 (ATA) - By P. Zekthi: The wave of grasshoppers which appeared for some weeks in the Elbasan district causing considerable damages in agricultural products have been neutralised and does not present any threat to the products of local farmers, Fuat Hoshafi, inspector for plants protection at the district Directory of Agriculture and Food said to ATA on Friday.
He said that the directory adopted quick measures to prevent them by sprinkling chemical preparations. The grasshoppers have damaged 600 hectares out of 39 thousand hectares of land.
During July, the grasshoppers entered houses and public buildings of Elbasan, Tirana, Gjirokaster, Korze, Has, Tropoje cities and other. ake/ak/Serb police, army torch some 100 Albanian houses in Bllace
PRISHTINE, August 1 (ATA) - During Serb military-police offensive on July 29 and 30 around 100 Albanian houses of the Bllace village have been torched, many of them with benzine, while the village came under the artillery fire from three directions Duhla Pass, Duhla and Birazi, Center for Information in Kosova (QIK) said.
Nine Albanians have been wounded in attacks of Serb police and military, while Flamur aatani, 20, died of wounds. 100 heads of cattle have been killed in the attack and all houses which escaped the artillery attacks have been raided.
Around 7.000 residents of Bllaca and Duhla are homeless, without food, clothes, medicaments and other necessary things.
The situation in the commune is deteriorating for thousands of Malisha residents have arrived recently there. Both Bllaca and Malisheva residents have remained homeless. It is also reported that many children are ill and they lack the medical care and medicaments. pta/pas/ak/
_______________________________________________________________________ROMANIA ASKED SELF DETERMINATION FOR KOSOVA
TIRANE, 1 AUGUST /ENTER/ - Romania asked the status of autonomy and self determination for Kosova, which must be the result of the dialogue between both sides.The romanian foreign minister, Andrei Pleshu said in joint press conference with his albanian counterpart Milo, that we all must demand the model of governing of Tirol or german lands for Kosova.He said that the question of Kosova is not an interior question of Yugoslavia but of all the region.
Plesu supported the political equilibrium of rugova sand stressed that the new status of Kosova must be decided in talks where all parts participate.
Romania's Foreign Minister Andrei Plesu arrived in Tirana on Friday for a one-day formal visit.During his stay in Tirana Plesu met Albanian senior officials, President Meidani, Prime Minister Nano and his counterpart Milo.MILO AVALUATES THE CONSTITUTIONS OF THE INSTITUTIONS IN KOSOVA
TIRANE, 1 AUGUST /ENTER/ - The albanian foreign policy avaluated the CONSTITUTIONS of the institutions in Kosova.The albanian foreign minister , Paskal Milo said in pres conference with the romanian foreign minister Plesu that in " Kosova the constitution of the all albanian institutions is expected which will take over the burden of talks with Belgrade for the solution of the status of Kosova".
The albanian foreign minister stressed again the stand of the albanian GOVERNMENT "in support of a peaceful solution is the best solution for all is the solution from the talks and not from killings ".MILO: DESPITE THE SERB BORDER PROVOCATIONS ALBANIA WANTS TO AVOID THE WAR WITH SERBIA
TIRANE, 1 AUGUST /ENTER / The reaction of the albanians to the incidents on northern border of Albania would in accordance to the intensity and expansion of these incidents.This statement was made friday by the albanian foreign minister Paskal Milo in Tirana in joint press conference with the romanian foreign minister.
Milo said that we are prudent to avoid any provocation that aims the implication of Albania in conflict. The albanian foreign minister said that Albania wont proclaim war to belgrade for the fact that two shells touched Albania. He said that the latest attacks on the albanian border are provocations.UNION FOR DEMOCRACY HAILED THE NEW GOVERNMENT OF KOSOVA
TIRANE, 1 AUGUST /ENTER/ - The opposition group Union for Democracy hailed friday the formation of the new albanian GOVERNMENT in Kosova with a wide basis. The deputy chairman of the DP ,Genc Pollo asked all the albanian political parties to form a joint political stand stressing that the lacking of such a stand had not helped the albanian question.
Pollo considered the forming of the albanian GOVERNMENT in Kosova as consolidation of the albanian factor in Kosova but called that this factor must not suffer from the interior difference which of second hand importance.
Union for Democracy is of the opinion that the offensive of Miloshevic in Kosova has not ended,because thursday there had been a lot of shelling in Kosova.
On behalf of the group, Remzi Ndreu, chairman of the Union democratic party denounced the indifferentism of the international organizations towards the albanian question.
The political union of the albanians in Kosova showed that the attempts of Miloshevic to dived the albanian factor and KLA failed, the Union said. Union for democracy called on all albanian political parties in Kosova to consolidate their stands in order to advance towards a solution of the albanian question.DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTION OFFERS ONGOING ASSISTANCE TO PARLIAMENT
TIRANA, 1 august/enter/- US Democratic Institution in Albania promised friday to continue the assistance given in drawing up the regulation of the Albanian parliament and many other programs related to the civil society.In meeting with this delegation the albanian deputy speaker Dokle said that the Albanian parliament has very good relations with the U.S. Democratic Institution and the Republican one.Gloyer assured Dokle that such programs will continue in the future and promised to help finalize the process of drawing up constitution. Focusing on the development in Kosova and reiterating the stands of the Albanian parliament towards the situation there, Dokle said that a second Dayton which would prevent a second Bosnia was urgent.
THE EUROPEAN "TROIKA" PREVENTED TO VISIT THE CONFLICT AREAS IN KOSOVA
PRISTINE, 1 AUGUST /ENTER/ --The European "troika"after receiving the promise of Miloshevic of ending the military offensive in Kosova was prevented from going to Rahovec even though the town was the reason for the diplomatic mission.
"You may not go", was the simple reply that the police commander in Malishevë gave, without stating any reasons.
"When they say that, it means that some operation of security forces is taking place", claimed a Western diplomat who wanted to remain anonymous, Arta agency reports.The first place that the police stopped the mission, which was also the longest one, was at the crossing for Sllatine. The process of getting permission to pass lasted over 20 minutes. After this, at the Komoran checkpoint, the diplomatic convoy passed without difficulty.
Abandoned houses, most of them burnt, cars left behind, ruined trailers, clothes which were on drying wires and no people, make one shudder. Other than a few cows that came into sight, as they sought grass to eat, the policemen were the only living beings. At the turn that leads to Malishevë, where the KLA checkpoint used to be, now policemen do the control.
The European "troika" now did a tour around the deserted town - Malishevë. Burnt houses, destroyed cars, dead cows could be seen. There were policemen and soldiers as well, stationed somewhere in the depths of town. Further, into the town, on the top floor of a house where policemen are stationed, a white wedding dress could be seen, with a red rose arranged in the middle.THE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN KOSOVA VERY GRAVE
PRISTINE,1 AUGUST /ENTER/ .Most of the villages in Kosova continue burning after the latest offensive of the serb troops against the albanian inhabited areas. Over 100 houses are already burned and the peripheral neighborhoods of Sukaj and Bajraktari are completely destroyed. These localities were shelled from Qafa e Duhlës, Duhël proper and Biraç.
According to the albanian sources, cited by ARTA agency the 7 thousand inhabitants of Bllace and Duhel who are presently under the wide-open sky without any food, clothing, medicine or medical treatment. Thousands of villagers of the Malisheve municipality that border with Suhareke, fled their homes concentrating in a narrow area between the villages of Nishor, Semetisht, Kosterc and Pagarushe. Other large groups of people have found shelter in the forests. There are many sick children who have no access to any medical attention.
After four days, several villages of Suhareka finally received electricity. On the other hand, because all the roads are blocked, the provision with food items has completely stopped. A number of Serb military artillery units withdrew from one part of the villages of Malishevë, but not from Malishevë proper. The town of Malishevë suffered enormous material damage when houses and large field parcels of grain were burnt.KOSOVA (fighting - Skënderaj)
THE FIGHTINGS IN KOSOVA CONTINUEPRISTINE,1 AUGUST /ENTER/-Reports from Pristine inform that the fightings in Kosova have continued even thursday and friday.The Serb forces shelled the villages of Jashanicë and Burojë from the military base in Binçë (municipality of Klinë), severely wounding three young Albanians, CDHRF in Skënderaj informs.The names of the wounded are: Rasim Hoti (26) from Jashanicë, Feriz Hyseni (21) and Fidaim Hyseni (25) from Vojnikë. All three of them were wounded while they were inside the village's mill.The clashes between the KLA units and the Serb military forces in the villages of Rekë e Keqe, starting from the villages of Nec, Smolicë, Berjahë, Stubëll, Nivokaz, Dobrosh and Sheremet extending to the villages surrounding Junik, continued even saturday.The Serb forces attacking this region are constantly receiving new reinforcements of the Serb army, heavily equipped with weaponry, including multi barrel mine launchers.
Large police forces concentrated this week in the towns of the Anamoravë region (Gjilan, Viti and Kamenicë), particularly in the towns’ entrances and exits. Sources from the ground, however, inform about their concentration in the villages as well, especially in the villages situated deep in the forest along the border with Macedonia.NEW FRESH TROOPS ARRIVE IN MITROVICE
MITROVICE,1 AUGUST/ENTER./- Witnesses in Mitrovice report that a police convoy consisting of 15 buses, came from Serbia, friday noon and got settled at the military barrack in Mitrovicë. The buses had Kraljevo registering plates.
On the other hand, another military convoy made of 12 vehicles, tanks, APCs with missile launchers, terrain vehicles and trucks dragging large caliber cannons, loaded with armed soldiers, departed from the military barrack in Mitrovicë and settled in the military base in Kutlloc.
Despite the claims of the Belgrade media that "all the major roads in Kosova are open", the Serb military convoys and other vehicles are still using side roads to reach their targets. The soldiers on the last terrain vehicle of the military convoy that was using the Brezovicë road to go from Prishtina to Prizren, were pointing their guns in all directions, including the direction of the passersby, moving on the same direction.
This was the most burdened road in Kosova, yesterday. Serb media claims that the Prishtina-Prizren road has been reopened as of yesterday.KOSOVA (Rugova press conference)
RUGOVA: WE MUST ALL SUPPORT THE NEW GOVERNMENTPRISTINE, 1 AUGUST /ENTER/-In the weekly press conference the albanian leader of Kosova Rugova called for a wide support for the new albanian GOVERNMENT where representatives of all albanian political forces participate.As for KLA representation in the new government, Rugova stressed that "this is a government with all ministries".
Rugova stated that the conditions for dialogue have not been created so far. He underlined that "although negotiations are necessary, the conditions must be created for them to have any results". Concerning the risk of the conflict spreading to neighboring countries, Rugova minded that "there is always a danger". He referred to the problems at the Kosova-Albanian border to illustrate his point.
He evaluated that "the situation in Kosova is still dangerous" and thus, appealed to the international community, especially the USA, EU, NATO and UN, to undertake "preventive measures in Kosova and obstruct ethnic cleansing tendencies by Serbia".GERMANY BLOKCS THE FINANCIAL AIDS FOR KOSOVA
BONN,1 AUGUST/ENTER/In a interview with the german paper the german foreign minister Kinkle reported of a mmeting with the albanian kosovar representatives where he would ask them not to continue and finance the Albanian struggle, especially not the KLA in Kosova,Arta agency reported.
Kinkel's statement concords with the requests made by Milosevic and his Foreign Minister, Jovanovic, for preventing "Albanian Diaspora from sending money, which would be used for weapons, to Kosova Albanians".
A Foreign Ministry spokesperson told Albanian daily "Koha Ditore" that "the Albanian political spectrum will have several meetings in the Foreign Ministry". He said that during the meeting, "Germany will make it clear to them that it will not allow Kosovars living in Germany, to finance their people's struggle in Kosova".
That is why the Political Director at the German Foreign Ministry, Wolfgang Ischinger, began a series of meetings with LDK chairman for Germany, Hafiz Gagica, and the representative of the Government of Kosova, Pejtër Coli. Ischinger, who just returned from a visit he made to Belgrade and Kosova, will also meet with the chairman of the Albanian Democratic Association in Germany and the spokesman of LPK, Ibrahim Kelmendi, as well as the chairman of the National Liberation Movement of Kosova, Shukri Klinaku.
A senior official at the Foreign Ministry, who wanted to remain anonymous, said that one of the reasons for the series of meetings was to exchange views. "We also want to warn the Kosovar Diaspora, especially in Germany, not to stimulate the conflict. As we all know, the Kosovar Diaspora is very large and very powerful and it plays a very important role in what is being called war in Kosova".
The first Kosova Albanian to meet with Ischinger friday, was LDK chairman for Germany, Hafiz Gagica. After the meeting, Gagica told "KD" that the meeting with Ischinger was a good opportunity to exchange views on the situation in Kosova and Western efforts to solve the conflict. "We presented our stands, which I believe everyone knows by now", said Gagica. "We made it clear that the LDK will continue its policy of efforts for institutionalizing life in the Republic of Kosova and solving the conflict through peaceful means".INTERNATIONAL HELSINKI HUMAN RIGHTS : KOSOVA A NEW SREBRENICA
VIENNA 1 AUGUST /ENTER /- 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 wfe 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.
Prishtina, 29\30 July (ARTA) 1830CET --
The guarantee that Milosevic gave concerning
the free movement of diplomatic and observing missions in Kosova was not
realized. The European "troika", for example, was prevented from going
to Rahovec on Wednesday, even though the town was the reason for the diplomatic
mission. "You may not go", was the simple reply that the police commander
in Malishevë gave, without stating any reasons. "When they say that,
it means that some operation of security forces is taking place", claimed
a Western diplomat who wanted to remain anonymous.
The first place that the police stopped the mission,
which was also the longest one, was at the crossing for Sllatinë.
The process of getting permission to pass lasted over 20 minutes. After
this, at the Komoran checkpoint, the diplomatic convoy passed without difficulty.
From Komoran on, there were no common people,
just policemen and tanks, burnt houses, destroyed fields, wrecked vehicles,
bullets, tin cans and leftovers as well as the broken barricade of a former
KLA checkpoint. The rocks along the road left just enough space for the
vehicle to drive through.
Abandoned houses, most of them burnt, cars left
behind, ruined trailers, clothes which were on drying wires and no people,
make one shudder. Other than a few cows that came into sight, as they sought
grass to eat, the policemen were the only living beings. At the turn that
leads to Malishevë, where the KLA checkpoint used to be, now policemen
do the control.
Escorted by the police, the European "troika"
now did a tour around the deserted town - Malishevë. Burnt houses,
destroyed cars, dead cows could be seen. There were policemen and soldiers
as well, stationed somewhere in the depths of town. Further, into the town,
on the top floor of a house where policemen are stationed, a white wedding
dress could be seen, with a red rose arranged in the middle.
Malishevë, which used to be overcrowded
with people and loaded shops, is now completely deserted. The European
diplomats stop to talk to a police commander, who says: "We are free to
move around and see". They lead the convoy to the KLA Headquarters, where
only documents, old newspapers, food rests and made beds, remained from
their presence...
"All of them fled, they went deep in the woods",
explained a policeman, when the diplomats asked where the inhabitants were.
"The terrorists are there with them and they have taken the highest points.
We do not know the number of terrorist which are hiding there. It is impossible
to find out. I have Albanian friends, who I work together with", said the
policeman, acting nicely. "One Albanian family can have four to five, or
even up to 18 members, and the number which fight can be from 1 to 18 members.
Therefore we do not know the number".
After visiting the "town of ruins", always with
police escort, the "troika" turned to the road Prishtina-Pejë and
while the police car which was ahead, turned right to Prishtina, the diplomatic
column turned left to Kijevë.
"Sirs, please do not make any problems! Please
turn back! You cannot go to Kijevë!", the policeman said in an official
tone.
"We have permission from your minister to go
where we want", said the British Political Director.
"Can I tell Milosevic that you did not let me
pass when I meet with him tomorrow?", he asked. Sweat streamed down the
policeman's face as he bit his lip in anxiety. "You can", he said.
"Good, give me your name and your number, but
I tell you that Odalovic said we could go anywhere", said the senior diplomat.
The policeman seemed to ease down and entered the car to check with Odalovic.
He returned to the convoy smiling ear-to-ear.
"Please return to your cars and follow me. We
will now go to Kijevë".
The diplomats did not get off their vehicles
in Kijevë at all. The mini-tour of the police-controlled village had
nothing special to offer. The walls of houses had "traditional" Serb slogans
written on them as the police ate and drank in the former cafe, which had
been turned into a checkpoint. In a distance, beyond Kijevë, houses
went up in smoke.
KOSOVA (war and displaced people)
Fighting continues as number of IDPs increases
Prishtina, 31 July (ARTA) 2130CET --
It has been reported that the villages of Pjetërshticë,
Karaçica, Krojmir and Dugë, were all shelled. Such reports
arrived from LDK sources in Ferizaj as well, claiming that the "Yugoslav"
army shelled the village of Jezerc, from its positions in a place called
"Pishnajat" in Shtime. Sources claim that 45 year-old Osman Demi, from
the village of Belincë was killed during these attacks.
On the other hand, Serb forces began another
attack against the village of Sibovc, claims the LDK Information Commission
in Obiliq. The same sources say that the attack is still taking place,
adding their belief that the Serb forces are also shelling the villages
of Shipitull and Graboc i Epër. Many of the locals have already abandoned
their homes in search for shelter in the mountain of Qyqavicë.
It has also been claimed that Serb police forces
shot at the Albanians working in the Open Mine Pit in Bardh i Madh, as
they returned from work. There is no information on eventual victims.
It has been one week since the Albanian inhabitants
of Ferizaj went into the woods, in the mountain complex of Shalë and
Krojmir, the mountains of Berishë and Pojatë, for shelter.
Around 20 thousand women, children and elders,
spent a week under the open sky, as people from Dobrajë, Ribari i
Madh, Poturoc and Torinë are also flooding in. It has been claimed
that there are Albanians from the villages of Zborc, Carralevë, Belincë
and Shtime, are also sheltered there. All the people there have urgent
needs for food, hygienic items and clothing.
Several Albanians from Magurë stated that
four shops belonging to Albanians in this village, were looted. They claim
that Serb police, military and paramilitary forces are now stationed there.
On the other hand, it has been claimed that around 1,000 mobilized and
armed Serbs are now stationed in the premises of elementary school "Jeronim
De Rada", in the management offices of the mine in Golesh, as well as the
premises of "Ferronikel" in Medvec. Witnesses say that several Romany also
did some of the looting.
Sources say that Serbs living in all vicinities
were given more weapons and that they are keeping watch. They state that
armed Serbs are now stopping passers by and checking their ID papers, especially
during nighttime.
KOSOVA (dramatic situation - Suharekë)
7 thousand people without food, clothing and
medicine
Suharekë, 31 July (ARTA) 1710CET--
Following the recent Serb military\police offensive,
the villages of Bllacë and Duhël are still burning. Over 100
houses are already burned and the peripheral neighborhoods of Sukaj and
Bajraktari are completely destroyed. These localities were shelled from
Qafa e Duhlës, Duhël proper and Biraç.
The attacks resulted with the wounding of 7 Albanians,
one of which, Flamur Çitaku (20) died later due to the severe wounds.
Two others are in a very critical health condition. According to the CDHRF
in Bllacë, the Serb police looted and demolished many Albanian houses.
The Council also notifies about the 7 thousand
inhabitants of Bllacë and Duhël who are presently under the wide-open
sky without any food, clothing, medicine or medical treatment. Thousands
of villagers of the Malishevë municipality that border with Suharekë,
fled their homes concentrating in a narrow area between the villages of
Nishor, Semetisht, Kosterc and Pagarushë. Other large groups of people
have found shelter in the forests. There are many sick children who have
no access to any medical attention.
After four days, several villages of Suharekë
finally received electricity. On the other hand, because all the roads
are blocked, the provision with food items has completely stopped.
KOSOVA (looting - Malishevë)
Looting and burning of the town
Malishevë, 31 July (ARTA)
A number of Serb military artillery units withdrew
from one part of the villages of Malishevë, but not from Malishevë
proper. The town of Malishevë suffered enormous material damage when
houses and large field parcels of grain were burnt.
According to local LDK sources, the villages
Astrazub, Dragobil, Bubavec and Drenoc suffered a high toll of victims,
as a result of the fierce Serb police and military attacks.
Witnesses, claim to have seen several boxes at
the places where the Serb forces were concentrated. It is suspected that
these boxes contain ammunition, which could be of great risk to the people
that have now started to return home.
The funeral of Dul Morina and Islam Morina from
Astrazub and of Muharrem Hoxha from Dushanovë, killed during the Serb
force's shelling, was held last night in Astrazub.
The victims of the Serb terror in the villages
of Drenoc and Bubavec, still remain unburied.
KOSOVA (fighting - Skënderaj)
Three young Albanians severely wounded
Skënderaj, 31 July (ARTA) 1920CET--
The Serb forces shelled the villages of Jashanicë
and Burojë from the military base in Binçë (municipality
of Klinë), severely wounding three young Albanians, CDHRF in Skënderaj
informs.
The names of the wounded are: Rasim Hoti (26)
from Jashanicë, Feriz Hyseni (21) and Fidaim Hyseni (25) from Vojnikë.
All three of them were wounded while they were inside the village's mill.
It is claimed that immediately after their action,
the numerous Serb army units, with more than 150 tanks and other heavy
weaponry, headed from Malishevë in the direction of Prishtina, last
night at around 2400CET.
KOSOVA (fighting - Gjakovë)
Fierce clashes in Rekë e Keqe and Junik
continue
Gjakovë, 31 July (ARTA) 1915CET--
Today is the sixth day of clashes between the
KLA units and the Serb military forces in the villages of Rekë e Keqe,
starting from the villages of Nec, Smolicë, Berjahë, Stubëll,
Nivokaz, Dobrosh and Sheremet extending to the villages surrounding Junik,
LDK branch in Gjakovë informs.
The Serb forces attacking this region are constantly
receiving new reinforcements of the Serb army, heavily equipped with weaponry,
including multi barrel mine launchers.
Almost no information can be drawn out concerning
the consequences of the Serb attack since the town is being held under
a complete siege and it is impossible to enter in the combat zones.
There is information about large displacements
of population from this area in the less endangered villages and in Gjakovë
proper.
KOSOVA (tension mounts - Viti)
Police checkpoints in every corner
Viti, 31 July (ARTA) 1730CET--
Large police forces concentrated this week in
the towns of the Anamoravë region (Gjilan, Viti and Kamenicë),
particularly in the towns’ entrances and exits. Sources from the ground,
however, inform about their concentration in the villages as well, especially
in the villages situated deep in the forest along the border with Macedonia.
CDHRF branch in Viti, informs about increased
police\military movements, in the directions Gjilan-Ferizaj, Viti-Gërlicë
and almost throughout all the municipal localities, ever since 20 July.
The information adds that yesterday at 0930CET, a military unit made of
trucks and APCs, settled near the village of Tërpezë and in the
nearby forest, where the soldiers conducted their training and strategic
observation.
The same source informs that on 27 June, the
Serb inhabitants of the town of Viti and of the villages of Goshicë
and Gërmovë were openly handed over guns, in daytime. The same
pattern was applied in Gjilan too.
KOSOVA (attacks - Mitrovicë)
15 buses filled with policemen arrive from
Mitrovicë
Mitrovicë, 31 July (ARTA) 1600CET--
Serb military\police forces, started shelling
one part Shala e Bajgorës, the villages of Melenicë, Rahovë,
Mazhiq and Stantërg, last night at 2400CET, local "KOHA Ditore" sources
inform. They were shelled from the Serb military base in the village of
Kutlloc, from the cliff of Sokolaj in Boletin and from the military base
in the village of Zhitkovc (municipality of Zveçan). The shelling
lasted until 0200CET and so far, Stantërg is the only village that
suffered material damages.
A police convoy consisting of 15 buses, came
from Serbia, yesterday at 1230CET and got settled at the military barrack
in Mitrovicë. The buses had Kraljevo registering plates.
On the other hand, another military convoy made
of 12 vehicles, tanks, APCs with missile launchers, terrain vehicles and
trucks dragging large caliber cannons, loaded with armed soldiers, departed
from the military barrack in Mitrovicë and settled in the military
base in Kutlloc, today at 1230CET.
Serbs in the village of Frashër, continue
burning the few remaining Albanian houses.
KOSOVA (arrests - Ferizaj)
Eight LDK branch leaders arrested
Ferizaj, 31 July (ARTA) 1900CET--
The Serb police broke into the LDK seat in Ferizaj
today and raided the LDK, CDHRF and the Municipal Financing Council premises.
The raiding was conducted by a group of policemen and inspectors, claim
the representatives of these associations. They inform that after the detailed
control and confiscation of the materials they found, the police then arrested
the members of the LDK leadership found there: Sahit Krasniqi, Faik Grainca,
Milazim Haliti, Bekim Bërkolli, chairman of the Youth Forum and Fatmir
Sylejmani, member of the first LDK sub-branch. All the people present were
backed up to the wall with automatic guns pointed at them.
It was further found out that, Adem Salihaj,
LDK leadership chairman, whose house was later raided, was arrested as
he was on his way to Prishtina. Also, following the arrest of Sahit Krasniqi,
his house was raided in search for weapons. Using the same pretext, Muhamet
Neziri was arrested and his house was raided.
On the other hand Agim Reçica, chairman
of LDK second sub-branch, was arrested a day before.
KOSOVA (media propaganda)
The army uses the side roads
Prishtina - Prizren, 31 July (ARTA) 1700CET--
Despite the claims of the Belgrade media that
"all the major roads in Kosova are open", the Serb military convoys and
other vehicles are still using side roads to reach their targets.
The soldiers on the last terrain vehicle of the
military convoy that was using the Brezovicë road to go from Prishtina
to Prizren, were pointing their guns in all directions, including the direction
of the passersby, moving on the same direction.
This was the most burdened road in Kosova, yesterday.
Serb media claims that the Prishtina-Prizren road has been reopened as
of yesterday.
KOSOVA (Rugova press conference)
"Please, this is a government which will have
all ministries!"
Prishtina, 31 July (ARTA) 1715CET --
"The idea is clear to everyone. In a meeting
I held with other political parties, I requested the creation of a broad
coalition government - with the parties, which participated in the elections
and those groups, which did not. We have had some progress, but we are
still working on it and we will give out further details these days", replied
Kosova Albanian leader, Ibrahim Rugova, after participants of the briefing
held in Prishtina today, asked about the new government and its role in
the present situation in Kosova.
As for KLA representation in the new government,
Rugova stressed that "this is a government with all ministries", stopping
short of making any other comment.
Rugova stated that the conditions for dialogue
have not been created so far. He underlined that "although negotiations
are necessary, the conditions must be created for them to have any results".
Concerning the risk of the conflict spreading
to neighboring countries, Rugova minded that "there is always a danger".
He referred to the problems at the Kosova-Albanian border to illustrate
his point.
He evaluated that "the situation in Kosova is
still dangerous" and thus, appealed to the international community, especially
the USA, EU, NATO and UN, to undertake "preventive measures in Kosova and
obstruct ethnic cleansing tendencies by Serbia".
KOSOVA (hospitalized attorney)
Attorney Destan Rukiqi beaten in the District
Prison
Prishtina, 31 July (ARTA) 1830CET--
The non-governmental organization Humanitarian
Law Fund (FHP) in a report issued today for the media, notifies that the
Kosovar attorney Destan Rukiqi has been hospitalized.
Rukiqi was sent to prison on 23 July, where he
immediately started serving a misdemeanor sentence. He was beaten in the
District prison and due to the severe injuries he suffered, he was hospitalized
in Prishtina. The FHP report further states that Rukiqi may have to undergo
a dialysis treatment due to a kidney injury he suffered.
Rukiqi's attorney, Bajram Kelmendi, has still
not been allowed to visit his client.
"Beating the prisoners is a systematic practice
in Kosova", it is stated in the FHP report. According to the FHP data,
starting from January until the end of July, over 500 Albanians that were
sentenced, were beaten and subjected to tortures so they would admit that
they are KLA members. The death of Rexhep Bislimi, on 21 July in the Prishtina
Hospital, as a result of the tortures he was subjected to during interrogation,
is used as an example in this report.
KOSOVA (Germany host to Kosovar politics)
Germany will not allow Kosovar Diaspora finance
the struggle for freedom
Bonn, 31 July (ARTA) 2030CET --
At the same time that the German political director
met with the "FRY" President, Milosevic, the Foreign Minister, Klaus Kinkel,
told German paper "Berliner Zeitung" that he would meet with Kosovar political
representatives tomorrow. "I will invite the representatives of all political
parties and groups tomorrow, to ask them not to continue and finance the
Albanian struggle, especially not the KLA in Kosova", German news agencies
transmitted the statement.
Kinkel's statement concords with the requests
made by Milosevic and his Foreign Minister, Jovanovic, for preventing "Albanian
Diaspora from sending money, which would be used for weapons, to Kosova
Albanians".
A Foreign Ministry spokesperson told Albanian
daily "Koha Ditore" that "the Albanian political spectrum will have several
meetings in the Foreign Ministry". He said that during the meeting, "Germany
will make it clear to them that it will not allow Kosovars living in Germany,
to finance their people's struggle in Kosova".
That is why the Political Director at the German
Foreign Ministry, Wolfgang Ischinger, began a series of meetings with LDK
chairman for Germany, Hafiz Gagica, and the representative of the Government
of Kosova, Pejtër Coli. Ischinger, who just returned from a visit
he made to Belgrade and Kosova, will also meet with the chairman of the
Albanian Democratic Association in Germany and the spokesman of LPK, Ibrahim
Kelmendi, as well as the chairman of the National Liberation Movement of
Kosova, Shukri Klinaku.
A senior official at the Foreign Ministry, who
wanted to remain anonymous, said that one of the reasons for the series
of meetings was to exchange views. "We also want to warn the Kosovar Diaspora,
especially in Germany, not to stimulate the conflict. As we all know, the
Kosovar Diaspora is very large and very powerful and it plays a very important
role in what is being called war in Kosova".
The first Kosova Albanian to meet with Ischinger
today, was LDK chairman for Germany, Hafiz Gagica.
After the meeting, Gagica told "KD" that the
meeting with Ischinger was a good opportunity to exchange views on the
situation in Kosova and Western efforts to solve the conflict.
"We presented our stands, which I believe everyone
knows by now", said Gagica. "We made it clear that the LDK will continue
its policy of efforts for institutionalizing life in the Republic of Kosova
and solving the conflict through peaceful means".
Gagica then said that he thanked Ischinger for
the warm welcome that awaited refugees in Germany. "We stated that the
Western media campaign for the Diaspora's engagement in helping out our
brethren in Kosova is unacceptable. The media is trying to find the victim
(Albanians) guilty by belittling mass state terror against the Albanian
people in Kosova".
The meeting between Ischinger, Pjetër Coli,
Ibrahim Kelmendi and Shukri Klinaku is still taking place. It has been
presumed that both sides are now engaged in a duel, with the German side
trying to "discipline" the powerful Albanian Diaspora.
KOSOVA (KLA General Headquarters - communiqué)
The Serb offensive aims to create a government
acceptable to Belgrade
Prishtina, 31 July (ARTA) 1700CET --
"The KLA General Headquarters evaluates that
the objectives of the Serb military offensive are many. We distinguish
the following: to eliminate the factor of KLA from the political scene,
to create a government in Kosova which would be acceptable for Belgrade
and its traditional allies, to crush the Albanian people's economy and
eliminate the people's chances to fight for freedom.
Some other states, where Albanian people live,
have also joined the game, preventing the people from helping their families
and nation even financially. This can be seen in the pressure, which poverty-stricken
Albania has been put under, which was divided politically by influential
factors, so it does not help half of its nation in its war for freedom.
These are some of the aims of the Serb policy, combined with certain international
circles and certain political forces in Kosova. In fact, this is part of
the Serbian policy since Garasanin and on. Saying that Serbia has exercised
too much violence towards the Albanian people of Kosova means that this
occupying country has the right to exercise violence and terror up to a
point, so in other words, it was given the right to do so.
It is not only the fact that the new Hitler and
neo-fascism in Europe is not being condemned that bothers us, we in the
KLA, are also sorry for the Western righteousness and democracy. We are
determined for life in freedom and will fight until we triumph. We tell
all those that think that they can yield the Albanian people and the KLA
with expeditions and offensive that that is where they are wrong. We appeal
to all Albanians in the world to help the liberating war of the Albanian
people in Kosova. Our struggle is a freedom fight, a fight for liberation
and unification, for honor and dignity, for civilization and modern citizenship.
We say, with our deepest conviction that all
those who think that they took the legislative and policy-making right
from the KLA, through one offensive, are wrong. We, the KLA will not allow
for our leaders to choose others, because every time others were chosen,
Albanians were deprived of freedom".
TIRANA, July 31 (ATA)
- By Irena Luto: Albanian deputy
parliamentary Speaker Namik Dokle thanked on
Friday Gilian
Gloyer, the new representative of the U.S. Democratic
Institution
in Albania for the assistance given in
drawing up the regulation
of the Albanian parliament and many other programs
related to the
civil society.
Dokle said that
the Albanian parliament has very good
relations with the U.S. Democratic Institution
and the Republican one,
press and information office at the parliament
said in a
press release obtained by ATA.
Gloyer assured
Dokle that such programs will continue in
the future and promised to help finalise the
process of drawing
up constitution.
Focusing on the
development in Kosova and reiterating the
stands of the Albanian parliament towards the
situation there,
Dokle said that a second Dayton which would prevent
a second
Bosnia was urgent. ypa/das/ak/
LINK to further press news
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08272 - 98974
Fax
08272 - 98975
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E-mail
wplarre@dillingen.baynet.de
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