Tagesnachrichten 14. August 1998
von ALBANEWS und anderen
Daily Report No 1521 August 14, 1998
Kosova Information Center
Tagesnachrichten 14. 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;________________________________________________________________________
President Rugova's Press Conference
PRISHTINA, Aug 14 (KIC) - Ibrahim Rugova, the
President of the Republic of Kosova, denounced today in the strongest terms
the continued Serbian aggression in Kosova.
Speaking at a press conference in Prishtina,
Rugova said the ongoing Serbian military and police offensive is resulting
in killed and wounded people, as well as destruction of settlements and
property.
The Serbian attacks have been concentrated in
the Deçan and Junik areas, while shelling of villages in Rrafshi
i Dukajginit and Drenica region continued, President Rugova said.
He touched on the extremely grave humanitarian
situation of the displaced people, who have taken mountainous forests and
have been living rough there.
The return of Albanians to Rahovec, Malisheva
and elsewhere is being obstructed, the Kosova President said, accusing
the Serbian police for this. "The process of return should be observed
by the international community".
While the Serb offensive goes on in part of Kosova,
the campaign of repression and prosection of Albanian political activists
continues, Rugova said.
President Ibrahim Rugova called for an immediate
end to the Serbian military and police offensive in Kosova, reiterating
his call for the US, EU, UN, and NATO "to protect Kosova and its people,
who is facing a dangerous situation."
Dr. Rugova said the best solution is for Kosova
to be an independent state, with all guarantees for the local Serb community.
He reiterated his call for an international protectorate as an interim
stage pending a lasting solution in Kosova.
President Rugova hailed the commitment of President
Clinton, President Chirac, Chancellor Kohl and Prime Minister Blair to
bring an end to the grave situation in Kosova, as well as the engagement
of the Holy Father, John Paul II, on Kosova.
Asked by the Guardian correspondent to say when
the Albanian- Serbian talks will start, President Rugova said the Serbian
offensive should be halted and a climate for negotiations created before
they can start indeed.
U.S., NATO Welcome Announcement of the Kosova Negotiating Team
PRISHTINA, Aug 14 (KIC) - The United States Government
welcomed Thursday the formation of the Kosova negotiating team, which was
announced earlier in the day by President Ibrahim Rugova.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Colonel P.J.
Crowley said during a briefing Thursday that "through the hard work" in
Kosova of Chris Hill, the US Ambassador to FYROM, the Kosova leader Ibrahim
Rugova formed his negotiating team, and that the U.S. awaited a similar
response from President Milosevic of the 'FRY' regarding discussions on
the future of Kosova.
"The United States applauds this important step.",
a statement by James B. Foley, Deputy Spokesman of the State Department
said. By doing this, the Kosova leadership has "demonstrated its readiness
to engage in a meaningful negotiation", and the Serb side "must do the
same", Foley said.
The statement reads further: "Resolution of the
crisis in Kosovo can only be reached through a process of negotiation.
Formation of this Kosovar Albanian negotiating team marks the beginning
of a process, a new and a promising one, but there is much more to be done
to reach settlement. The process will not be easy, especially while violence
continues. The United States calls for a halt to current offensive actions,
particularly in the Decani and Junik areas. It is critical that both sides
sit down at the negotiating table and accept responsibility for ending
this conflict. The United States and other Contact Group countries will
immediately consult with the new Kosovar Albanian team in preparation for
resumption of talks with Serbian authorities."
Meanwhile, the NATO Secretary General, Dr. Javier
Solana, welcomed the news that the Kosova negotiating team had been formed.
"This is a tribute to the skilful leadership
of Dr. Ibrahim Rugova.", Solana said in a statement issued Thursday.
"It is very important that negotiations are taken
forward quickly by both sides in a spirit of cooperation on the basis of
the proposals developed by the Contact Group.", the NATO Secretary General
said.
"This is a window of opportunity that must not
be allowed to pass by.", Solana concluded.
In Two Days, Serb Forces Killed 12, Wounded Over 50 Albanians in Deçan Area
PRISHTINA, Aug 14 (KIC) - On Tuesday and Wednesday,
11 and 12 August, Serbian military and police killed 12 Albanians and wounded
more than 50 others in the Deçan area, local LDK sources in Deçan
said.
The following Albanians were reported killed:
Nexhat Humaj (Baballoç), Enver H. Halilaj (Gllogjan), Orhan L. Halilaj
(Gllogjan), Naim M. Nimanaj (Gllogjan), Xheladin Mushkolaj (Gramaçel),
Gëzim Dërvishaj (Irzniq), Maxhun Çekaj (Irzniq), Naser
Idrizaj (Kodrali), Artan I. Hasani (Dubravë), Arben Lan Ahmetaj (Gllogjan),
Malë Avdyl Zenaj (Irzniq), and a still unidentified man in the village
of Shaptej.
More than 50 Albanians were wounded on Tuesday
and Wednesday alone in Deçan area, the LDK sources said.
Serb Forces Burned 1,208 Albanian Houses in Latest Offensive in Deçan Area
PRISHTINA, Aug 14 (KIC) - Serbian military, paramilitary
and police forces have burned 1,208 Albanian houses in the villages of
Deçan municipality during the most recent offensive, Osman Cacaj,
head of the LDK Information Commission in Deçan told the KIC today.
Serbian forces have burned 36 houses in Dubravë
village; 131 in Irzniq; 63 in Shaptej; 37 in Llukë e Epërme;
125 in Baballoç; 90 in Kodrali; 130 in Gramaçel; 104 in Gllogjan;
187 in Prejlep; 197 in Carrabreg i Ulët; and 108 houses in the village
of Rastavicë, the LDK official said.
Demaçi Accepts to Represent UÇK, Disassociate Himself from His PPK Party
PRISHTINA, Aug (KIC) - Adem Demaçi, leader
of the Parliamentary Party of Kosova (PPK), said today in an interview
with the Voice of America (VOA) Albanian Section he would accept the offer
by the UÇK for him to have "a leading role in the creation of the
institutions of Kosova".
Just what this meant was not clear from the UÇK
"Political Declaration, NO. 7", where the offer was made publicly yesterday.
[see Kosova Daily Report 1521].
Does this mean that you will be the political
representative of the UÇK (the Kosova Liberation Army)? - the VOA
asked. "Yes. In one way it is this. In one way, it means perhaps more than
this, being the political wing of the UÇK," Demaçi said.
Asked whether he would accept the terms of the
UÇK, namely that he give up party activities, in order to align
himself only with the UÇK, the PPK leader said he would agree to
that. "This is evidence to the high qualities our army possesses, having
no ideological or party dimensions."
"It is my honor to serve for the first time an
army that is neither rightist nor leftist, but rather strives for the benefit
of the people and sacrifices itself for the benefit of the people", Adem
Demaçi told VOA.
He said the Kosova negotiating team appointed
by President Ibrahim Rugova on Thursday will fail. "This so-called negotiating
team is only an alchemic effort of those who cherish hopes the tasks will
be fulfilled by dreams. This group will fail, because behind it are not
the concrete forces such as the UÇK and the will of the people.",
Demaçi concluded.
[Anmerkung: Ich fürchte, dass Demaci Recht hat.] [Remark: I fear, Demaci is right.]
Serb Troops Pound with Artillery Fire Two Gllogovc Villages
PRISHTINA, Aug 14 (KIC) - The villages of
Kishnarekë and Nekoc, in the municipality of Gllogovc, came under
heavy artillery fire late in the afternoon Thursday, sources said.
Nekoc and Kishnarekë are located about four
kilometers east of Komoran, a big village on the left side of the Peja-Prishtina
roadway, which has been turned into a huge Serb base for three months now.
The two villages were pounded yesterday from the Serb police checkpoint
on the Prishtina-Peja-Gllogovc crossroads, as well as from a military base
at a place called 'Quka e Zabelit', the LDK chapter in Gllogovc said.
Considerable Number of Residents of Rahovec Have Returned Home, Senior LDK Official Says
PRISHTINA, Aug 14 (KIC) - The greater part of
the displaced Albanian population of Rahovec ('Orahovac') has returned
in the town over the past couple of days, Mr. Eqrem Kryeziu, one of the
three vice-chairmen of the Democratic League of Kosova (LDK) said today.
Mr. Kryeziu, who is also leader of the LDK chapter
in Prizren, said at least 5,000 residents of Rahovec had sought shelter
in the town of Prizren alone in the wake of the Serb crackdown in Rahovec
in mid-July, when dozens of Albanians were killed and many houses burned
or destroyed by Serb troops.
There have been press reports, based on some
eye-witness accounts, circulated by some Western media indicating that
mass graves existed in Rahovec suburbs interring perhaps the bodies of
more than 500 Albanians killed in the Serb military and police onslaught.
The town of Rahovec had a population of 20,000
in peacetime.
While in Prizren, the uprooted population of
Rahovec was sheltered in the homes of local Albanians, Eqrem Kryeziu said,
whom he thanked on behalf of the LDK for the "hospitality offered to these
hapless people".
Serb Police Set Three-Day Deadline to Albanian Village to Surrender Arms
PRISHTINA, Aug 14 (KIC) - Residents of the Ozdrim
village in Peja ('Pec') have been given a three-day deadline to surrender
their arms or face harsh consequences, an all-out attack by Serb troops.
The LDK chapter in Peja said that a local activist
of the Ozdrim village, Halit Gashi, was held for a couple of hours at the
Serb police station in Peja on Thursday. Serb police officers vowed they
would crush the whole village unless his fellow villagers delivered every
single piece of weapon in three days time, Mr. Gashi was quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, the LDK Information Commission in
Peja said the Serb campaign of violence and intimidation against the Albanian
population in the town has continued with impunity. Scores of Albanians
get harassed on a daily basis by Serb police and paramilitary forces, the
LDK said.
It named several Albanians who have been subject
to Serb brutalities lately, including Aziz Sh. Pushkën (75), a local
Muslim cleric in Peja. Mr Pushka was held for 24 hours in the Serb police
station in Peja, where he was brutally tortured. He sustained severe body
injuries and had to be treated by doctors later.
Serbs Pillage Homes of Albanians in Gllogovc
PRISHTINA, Aug 14 (KIC) - Serb forces have been
breaking into houses and apartments of Albanians in Gllogovc, pillaging
and demolishing them mercilessly, the local chapter of the Council for
the Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF) said today.
The CDHRF said that both uniformed Serb troops
and armed civilians have been involved in looting the houses abandoned
by local Albanians.
Hundreds of houses in Komoran village of Gllogovc
have been reported demolished and looted by Serbs.
The local Albanian population has fled Komoran
almost three months ago amidst a stepped up campaign of brutalities by
Serb troops garrisoned in several places, both in the village and around
it.
Serb Troops Parade Kosova Roads with Albanian Skullcap On Their Heads
PRISHTINA, Aug 14 (KIC) - Over a dozen of
truckloads of Serb forces drove Thursday evening along the Gjakova-Prizren
road, provoking the local population in both towns.
Witnesses said Serbs had on their heads traditional
Albanian white skullcaps and sang chauvinist Serb ('chetnik') songs. While
passing the "Bazhdarhane" suburb in Prizren, the Serbs on board the army
and police trucks opened fire in the air and in direction of houses there.
Witnesses said foreign reporters, presumably
from Italy, were also harassed by the Serb police. The reporters who happened
to be there attempted to take photographs of the Serbs wearing Albanian
hats and shooting from their automatic guns.
Growing Anxiety of Albanians over Their Missing Family Members
PRISHTINA, Aug 15 (KIC) - While the latest Serb
offensives across central and south-west Kosova have been continuing, forcing
many Albanians on the move for days, many others are suspected to have
been massacred or in the hands of the Serb forces.
The local chapter of the Human Rights Council
in Gllogovc said dozens of citizens from the Drenica region have been inquiring
about their family members whom they saw last during the Serb onslaughts
against their villages. Sylë Shala from Çikatova e Re said
his ten-member family has been missing for two weeks now.
Other people have said they know nothing about
their entire families or one or more members. The human rights chapter
in Gllogovc named some of them reported to be missing for days or weeks,
such as Afrim Gashi (21) from Kryshec, Sadri Geci, Samir Geci, Mustafë
Geci from Llausha, Sefer Gashi, Gjylferie Gashi, Hyrë Gashi, Selman
Gashi from Jashanica of Klina; Kujtim, Artan and Avni Bashota from Cerovik
of Klina; Abdullah Duraku froma Buroja, his wife and three kids; Zeqir
Tahiraj (70) from Shtarica, Bajram Shala froma Ujëmir of Klinas, Feriz
Bislimi, and Ramadan Tahiri from Radisheva, etc.
Kosova Information Center
Last page!
RADIO FREE EUROPE/RADIO LIBERTY, PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC_______________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
RFE/RL NEWSLINE Vol. 2, No. 156, Part II, 14 August 1998RUGOVA NAMES NEGOTIATING TEAM...
Kosovar shadow-state Ibrahim Rugova said in Prishtina on 13 August that he has appointed a negotiating team for talks with the Serbian authorities. The new body represents Rugova's Democratic League of Kosova, the Christian Democrats, and the Social Democrats. It consists of Fehmi Agani, Fatmir Sadiu, Edita Tahiri, Tadei Radiqi and Iliaz Kurtesi. Adem Demaci and Mehmet Hajrizi, who are close to the Kosova Liberation Army (UCK), declined Rugova's invitation to join. Unidentified senior Western diplomats told Reuters that the seriousness of the crisis made it imperative for the international community and Rugova to put together a negotiating team even without representatives of the UCK. One diplomat added that he hopes the team will achieve "early success [that] will pull in the doubting Thomases," by which he presumably meant the UCK. But on 14 August, Rugova said that the ongoing Serbian offensive must stop before talks can begin. PM
...BUT UCK REJECTS IT.
The UCK issued a statement to the Kosovar and Albanian media on 13 August announcing its forces are making a "tactical withdrawal" in response to the Serbian offensive. The text also made clear that Rugova's team does not speak for the guerrillas. Instead, the UCK's announcement said that the guerrillas have asked Adem Demaci to be their chief representative and to resign his other positions in Kosova's political arena. The text added that the UCK's other political representatives are Xhavit Haliti, Bardhyl Mahmuti, Hashim Taqi, Faton Mehmetaj, Sokol Bashota, and press spokesman Jakup Krasniqi. Veton Surroi, who is Kosova's best- known journalist and a top aide to Rugova, told the BBC on 14 August that Rugova's team is a "lame duck" because it does not include the UCK and because no serious talks are possible as long as the Serbian offensive continues. PM
SERBIA WELCOMES RUGOVA'S ANNOUNCEMENT.
The governments of the U.S., the U.K., France, Austria, Russia, and Serbia hailed Rugova's announcement on 13 August, Western news agencies reported from Prishtina. U.S. Ambassador to Macedonia Christopher Hill, who is also Washington's chief envoy in the Kosova crisis, said that foreign diplomats and Rugova's team will meet on 14 August to draft a negotiating platform, RFE/RL's South Slavic Service reported. Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Nikola Sainovic praised Rugova's decision to appoint negotiators as a "smart move." Sainovic also told state television in Belgrade that the authorities "always differentiated between citizens of Albanian [ethnic origin] and bandit-terrorist groups." PM
NATO OFFICIALS COMPLAIN OF RUSSIAN 'VETO.'
Unnamed U.S. and NATO officials say that Russian Foreign Minister Yevgenii Primakov is blocking any future NATO decision to intervene in the Kosova crisis by threatening to veto an authorization for such a move in the UN Security Council, the "International Herald Tribune" reported on 14 August. The newspaper noted that "senior Clinton administration officials, speaking privately, complained bitterly this week that Mr. Primakov had secretly told [Yugoslav President Slobodan] Milosevic that he need not worry about the risk of a NATO intervention without a Security Council resolution. Russia has vowed to veto any such UN resolution." It also quoted a senior U.S. official as saying this week that "right now, we've got a situation in which Western policy on a major issue is being run by Yevgenii Primakov." PM
ALBANIA CONDEMNS SERBIAN OFFENSIVE.
The Foreign Ministry issued a statement on 13 August saying that continuing Serbian attacks on Kosovar settlements are "intolerable." The statement said that "every delay in ending the Kosova conflict increases the magnitude of the bloodshed and the humanitarian catastrophe there, as well as the danger of its spreading to the rest of the region." Meanwhile, some 600 Kosovar refugees crossed into Albania near Tropoja the same day. A representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees told Reuters that only some 250 are civilians and that the rest are UCK fighters who "escorted" them. An Interior Ministry spokesman said in Tirana that Albanian helicopters brought 12 wounded Kosovars from Tropoja to the capital for treatment. He added that Serbian troops fired artillery shells 700 meters into Albania near Tropoja on 12 August and that a military observation tower at Padesh came under small arms fire the following day. FS
ALBANIAN PRESIDENT SENDS BACK SECRET SERVICE LAW.
Rexhep Meidani on 13 August returned to the parliament the controversial draft law on the National Information Service (SHIK, see "RFE/RL Newsline," 12 August 1998). He asked that the legislators change the text to further limit the powers of the secret service. An article that refers to "the obligation of the managers of central or local [government] institutions [as well as of] legal, state, or private entities to give information to SHIK officers" has been protested by human rights groups, the press, and the some members of the public. Meidani proposed instead that SHIK members should simply have the "right" to talk to public officials and private businessmen. He argued that the existing formulation leaves "room for abuse...to the detriment of the freedoms and rights of citizen." FS
WERE EGYPTIANS ARRESTED IN TIRANA INVOLVED IN LUXOR MASSACRE?
An unidentified source in Albania's Interior Ministry told Reuters on 13 August that three Egyptian Islamists arrested in Tirana in late June were suspects in the November 1997 massacre of tourists in Luxor, in which 62 people were killed. Egypt's largest militant group, al-Gama'a al- Islamiya, took responsibility for the massacre. Close cooperation between SHIK and the CIA led to the arrests. The source could not confirm a report from the "International Herald Tribune" the previous day that the three men and a fourth Islamist arrested in Tirana in July have ties to the Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 13 August 1998) . FS
TENSIONS MOUNT AMONG BOSNIAN SERBS.
Republika Srpska police have arrested some 33 persons since the assassination on 8 August of Srdjan Knezevic, a police official loyal to President Biljana Plavsic (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 12 August 1998), AP reported on 13 August. UN police spokesmen said that the wave of arrests reflects a "showdown" between supporters of Plavsic and those loyal to her hard-line predecessor, Radovan Karadzic. The spokesmen added that the UN police are seeking access to the arrested persons and can confirm only 14 arrests. Pale-based Karadzic loyalists have demanded the replacement of Interior Minister Milovan Stankovic, whom the hard-liners say has launched "a reign of terror against innocent people." Stankovic has charged the Pale leadership headed by Momcilo Krajisnik with ordering the assassination. The tensions come in the run-up to the Bosnian general elections slated for 12-13 September. PM
Prishtina, 13 August (ARTA) 2130CET--
"We are here with the representatives of the
Contact Group, EU and OSCE steering boards, to express complete support
to the new negotiating team, that was announced today. This team is ready
to recommence with the negotiating process, despite the fact that the violence
in the field is still going on. The resumption of the negotiations is that
more important, precisely because of the violence.
With the creation of this team, the Albanians
are demonstrating their readiness to engage in meaningful negotiations.
Without the negotiations, the people in Kosova will continue to suffer.
We can end up the conflict, through negotiations and through them we will
allow the people to continue with their lives and built a new future.
... There is no military solution for Kosova.
The only result of the continuation of war will be the continuation of
the sufferings. It is a very sad sight, the common people, the residents
of each town and village, they are the ones to suffer the most. They do
not deserve this. Those that were displaced, deserve to go back home, to
a safe place and to security. They deserve a political negotiation that
would result with immediate and concrete results.
... The USA will remain an active partner in
finding the solution to the problem of Kosova. Along with our colleagues
in the Contact Group, we will do everything we can to encourage the peaceful
process. In the coming days, we will closely collaborate with the negotiating
teams to make an advancement. Anyone who has spent a little time in Kosova
during the last weeks and months, can realize that there simply isn't any
other alternative", said American Ambassador to Shkup, Christopher Hill
in a press breifing today in Prishtina.
KOSOVA (new Albanian negotiating group)
KLA accepted the Coalition Government- Rugova
appointed the negotiating group!
Prishtina, 13 August (ARTA) 2100CET--
The President of the Republic of Kosova, Dr.
Ibrahim Rugova, proclaimed the new Albanian negotiating group --the list
he made himself, together with parliamentarian parties. This group includes:
Fehmi Agani, Fatmir Sejdiu, Edita Tahiri, Iljaz Kurteshi and Tadej Rodiqi.
This group was today proclaimed formally, in front of the building of Writers
Association of Kosova, in the presence of diplomats from the Contact Group
member-states, accredited in Belgrade.
In a short meeting with journalists, Rugova initially
said that "the situation in Kosova is very tense and dangerous, so the
process of negotiations has to be set, in order to create a convenient
climate for holding these negotiations and protect the people of Kosova,
thus getting out of this dramatic situation".
After he made public the names of the members
of negotiating group, Rugova stated that "some vacant places are left in
the group. It will be completed with new negotiators depending by the necessity".
He said that a place in this group has been offered
to the representative of Parliamentarian Party, Bajram Kosumi and to Mehmet
Hajrizi from LDSH, "but unfortunately, they have not accepted to take part
in the group. We ask them to reconsider their decision and to join the
efforts to halt this prevailing situation in Kosova". At the end of this
briefing, Rugova invited all citizens of Kosova to support his decision.
Asked what will happen with the KLA in this aspect,
the American Ambassador Hill, who has the biggest merits for creation of
this group, answered: "The door is open"!.
Notwithstanding , it seems that KLA is determined
for another project. Only two days after the "order" of the chief of the
American Diplomacy for the creation of a negotiating group, in times when
it was said that Rugova "left aside " the concept of the Coalition Government,
the response of KLA arrives merely today, when the negotiating group is
proclaimed. KLA general Headquarters has informed that within the framework
of the efforts to build the institutions, it gives full confidence to Adem
Demaçi.
With this decision, analysts say, a contradictory
situation is created. It has "shaken" the American initiative of the last
days, that has served as grounds for the creation of this negotiating group.
This group does not have the political consensus and at the same time,
"puts aside" the creation of the coalition government. The proposed PPK
and LDSH candidates Bajram Kosumi and Mehmet Hajrizi, regardless of Rugova’s
invitation to reconsider their decisions, still support their previous
standpoints published earlier.
The main reason why some of the proposed persons
have refused to take part in the new negotiating group, is that the circumstances
which have imposed the dissolution of G-15 have not changed at all. In
this sense, the necessity of including KLA in the negotiating group, including
of other political and non-political subjects is stressed.
This move has created a fuss in the political
scene of Kosova. Meanwhile, the offensive of Serb security forces is continuing
with the same intensity for the fourth week.
KOSOVA (new Albanian negotiating team – Petrich)
Petrich: " The grounds for negotiations are
created "
Prishtina, 13 August (ARTA) 2100CET--
Ibrahim Rugova and Christopher Hill, read their
communiqués about Albanian Negotiating Group in front of numerous
journalists, as well as diplomatic representatives of European States.
After Rugova and Hill, the Austrian Ambassador to Belgrade, Wolfgang Petrich,
addressed the journalists.
"We hope this will contribute to halting the
violence, which is in fact the goal EU has posed to itself six weeks ago,
and we further hope that now there are grounds for negotiations, and that
all people and political groups of Kosova will support this process", declared
Petrich.
"We appeal to Yugoslav side to use this opportunity
and return immediately to the table of negotiations and start a substantial
dialogue with Kosova Albanians", said Austrian Ambassador on his brief
statement.
Austria has the presidency of EU Council in turn.
KOSOVA (KLA communiqué)
Adem Demaçi will represent the KLA
Prishtina, 13 August (ARTA) 1530CET--
In the communiqué no.7 of the KLA General
Headquarters, among other things, it is stated: "After analyzing the military
and political situation in Kosova, KLA General Headquarters concludes that,
the objectives of the occupier destined to harm KLA and its political position,
have failed shamefully.
The tactical withdrawal aiming at saving the
civilian population was successful. The retaken fighting positions fully
certify the above-mentioned statement.
Besides the strong blows given to the occupier
in the battlefield, KLA successfully defeated the varieties of the special
war which were auxiliary to the offensive of the occupier.
By surpassing successfully all forms of war,
which were and are being applied in this offensive, KLA appears stronger
than ever. This is a good testimony of our determination and commitment
to continue war until independence.
The new circumstances impose the creation of
institutions, in which the Kosova political spectrum will be represented
in a dignifying way.
In order to cancel the manipulations connected
with the creation of the above-mentioned institutions, the KLA General
Headquarters announces publicly that Jakup Krasniqi, Xhavit Haliti, Bardhyl
Mahmuti, Hashim Thaçi, Faton Mehmetaj and Sokol Bashota will be
appointed as political representatives of the KLA.
The public appearance of KLA political representatives
facilitates the cohesion of political activity on the national level.
The speculations concerning the creation of the
institutions, represent one of the forms of special war against the interests
of Albanian people. We cast the ultimate appeal to "the conveyers" of these
speculations to stop spreading them. Otherwise, the castigation will be
merciless.
In order to urge the procedure of creating the
institutions of Kosova, KLA General Headquarters, gives its full confidence
to Adem Demaçi , and authorizes him to take a presiding role in
this process. Since KLA does not belong to any political party, it demands
from Adem Demaçi to resign from his political post".
KOSOVA (KD analysis)
Between the American doping and the Albanian
hangover
Prishtina, 13 August (ARTA) 2100CET--
In front of a "dozen" ambassadors, that gave
a particular importance to the communiqué of the "Kosova Albanian
leader", Ibrahim Rugova proclaimed officially the list of his negotiating
group, which in essence is an abbreviation of G-15, or better said, something
between fifteen and five. Moreover, the arrival of the Contact Group as
well as the Russian ambassadors through the semi-dusted road in the style
of "Mafia bosses" and later the arrival of "Big Brother" Hill, with a "decisive
letter" in his hand, in the "premises of the Republic of Kosova", gave
the impression of a "banal Hollywood scenery".
The drawing of one list, with the names of persons
that will represent the Albanian people in the negotiations with the Serb
side, is a "deja-vu" for the Albanian political scene. Nevertheless, the
main opponents of Rugova and his party, for the time being, will criticize
his "arrogant political dilettantism even his extreme egoism in diplomacy".
The same would add, that "the exaggerated influence
from American doping" and even those who are not well acquainted with the
circumstances in Kosova and the Balkans, have made him "become dependent
on them".
Nevertheless, the lists have been made public.
On one hand, "Rugova's list", the speculative circles will say, was created
because the government of Kosova was refused to be created and that the
Albanian negotiators are also represented in the Parliament of Kosova.
From the, almost juridical aspect, Rugova legitimates those that have been
legitimated by the constitution of the Parliament, Iljaz Kurteshi and Fatmir
Sejdiu, and then continued with the list of people that have been presiding
or are presiding a political party. Nevertheless, something remains unclear.
If an "all party executive" was sought, then it means that the divisions
among the Albanians, with the publication of "Rugova's list", will continue.
If this is the case, then the one to be blamed remains to be determined.
Rugova's new list, his permanent refusal to create
a National Council and finally his refusal to create a coalition government,
which would at least create the so long expected unity among Albanians.
Or, maybe, Rugova has accelerated the process of the creation of negotiating
group, before he meets the political parties on Monday to discuss about
the establishment of the Kosova Government. Such acceleration will bring
the Kosovar executive into a very difficult situation, because it was requested
to be independent, and in a determined moment, it will exclude it from
the game, even before entering it properly.
Or maybe the fault will be on the side of his
opponents, whose rating has started falling in Kosova. Moreover, all Rugova's
opponents, who had been requesting the creation of a determined group,
be it the National Council, had already refused to become part of any kind
of grouping. In essence, Rugova declared that "he had invited the representatives
of the opposition parties, but they refused to participate in it". Nevertheless,
circles close to the LDK and Rugova proper criticized their opponents because
they had refused any kind of LDK initiative thus deteriorating even more
the situation in the political scene of Kosova.
Anyhow, Rugova's new list, which in essence has
new (old) names is nothing else but, some analytical circles would claim,
a search to gain time and thus a tendency for the continuation of the present
status of the political discourse or in other words, a feeling of strengthening
positions.
After the presentation of the plan, as a diplomat
stated, the Z-4 for the solution of Kosova's problem, local analysts evaluate
that the creation of the Albanian negotiating group is a bigger pressure
over the Albanian side to accept one of the "five offered solutions". But,
it is also evaluated that "none of the five will have the courage to accept
and discuss about them".
And anyhow, G-1 (as his opponents call Rugova),
will continue his political discourse and in critical moments will rise
with the help of those that have helped him so far, thus challenging all
his opponents.
Domestic political circles, nevertheless hope
that the new group will not have the fate of the previous one -- that they
will hear someone saying, as Holbrooke had said about the G-15, that it
was a "big mistake", the very next day after it was created.
In essence, there are two key moment remaining
still:
First, the created group will be the group sentenced
to die before birth, although it was created precisely aiming at excluding
the idea for the creation of the new government;
Second, the new negotiating team is created in
times when KLA was expected to publish the names of its representatives
in the new executive body.
Just shortly before Rugova made public the "political
will" of the majority of the parties represented in the Parliament and
especially that of the ambassadors that were taking turns in having photo
shots with him, KLA published the list of its representatives and its contact
person, supposed to work on the development of the institutions in Kosova.
This list, however (un)expected, has at least respected a rule -- that
of the agreement, although this has not been respected by the author of
the new list.
Analyzing chronologically the problems in Kosova
- it seems that the creation of the institutions, is the biggest one. Inside
the Albanian political scene, for the time being, there are tendencies
for the creation of parallel organs among Albanians.
Finally, another question arises; will Christopher
Hill continue with his Contact Group mandate, or has his mandate expired
"with the draft of lists and the distribution of humanitarian assistance
in Kosova"?
KOSOVA (EU communiqué)
EU condemns the Serb attacks over Junik
Vienna, 13 August (ARTA) 1900CET--
EU condemned, on Wednesday, the massive attack
of Serb forces over the Junik village and stated that they are particularly
worried about the information that, land mines are being implanted. The
chairperson of the EU Council and Austrian Exterior Minister Wolfgang Schuessel,
said, "the EU observers are informing that a fierce offensive is being
conducted against Junik, one of the last areas under KLA control".
"In this village which is besieged by Serb forces,
1.000 civilians in very bad conditions are stuck ", said Schuessel in a
statement.
The information about civilian victims who have
suffered from the land mines in the village’s surroundings, are upsetting
and it is demanded from Austrian Ambassador in Belgrade to pose a stern
protest to the "Yugoslav " authorities.
"The Austrian Ambassador ought to appeal the
Belgrade authorities, also to prevent a further escalation of the humanitarian
situation", said Schuessel.
Independent information from Junik is very difficult
to get because the foreign journalists are barred entry in the flashpoints.
Schuessel wrote to "Yugoslav" president Milosevic
at the end of July and demanded him to keep the promise he has given to
European envoys, that the offensive will be end.
KOSOVA (large-scale offensive – Gjakovë)
Gjakovë municipal villages still on flames
Gjakovë, 13 August (ARTA) 1500CET--
Serb military and police offensive over Gjakovë
municipal villages, especially over Hereç, Firajë, and Dobrixhë
has continued yesterday until late evening. However, strongest attacks
were conducted over Deçan municipal villages, precisely in Junik.
There still could be seen flames and smoke burning
from the shelled and bombarded houses, while it is very probable that there
is no Albanian property which has remained undestroyed. Regarding the intensity
of yesterday’s fighting, a possible large number of the victims from both
sides is not excluded.
So far, there is no data about the killed and
the wounded.
Military aircrafts and helicopters have flown
all the time over Gjakovë town toward these villages.
Late in the evening, a long convoy with all kinds
of heavy weaponry and carrying military and paramilitary forces, paraded
through the streets of the town by exposing the KLA uniforms as war trophies,
but as Albanian sources state, Serb forces hide their losses and damages
they got in the fighting with Kosova Albanians. The column of the Serb
military officers provoked the Albanian pedestrians with their characteristic
nationalist behaviors, which was supported by local Serbs of Gjakovë.
In the villages situated in the border belt,
there was no fighting, except of some sporadic bursts fired by border units
and paramilitaries that are situated in many points of this area.
Over 30 villages with Albanian population, have
been emptied and have become a " burnt soil" after the recent Serb offensive,
while the population of these villages is still wandering around the forests
without shelter and in a dramatic humanitarian situation.
There is fear that besides the threat of hunger,
this part of the population is facing also a variety of contagious diseases,
which are to turn into epidemics.
The situation in the town is tense even more,
particularly after the installation of engineering units, on Çabrat
hill. The military is working here continuously and is conveying various
military materials with transport vehicles.
KOSOVA (military provocation – Vushtrri)
The Serb army provokes the Albanian residents
of Okrashicë and Pantinë
Vushtrri, 13 August (ARTA) 2000CET--
A Serb army convoy made of 12 tanks, cruised
near the Albanian houses in the village of Okrashicë, from 1000CET,
LDK information sources in Vushtrri inform.
The Serb military forces also provoked the Albanian
residents of the village of Pantinë.
On the other hand, "KOHA Ditore" sources inform
that last night the Serb paramilitary attacked and fired with different
weaponry from the distance, the Albanian village of Gllavotin, thus damaging
several houses. The shooting with dum-dum bullet lasted for about four
hours. Many material damages resulted from this attack.
KOSOVA (shooting – Obiliq)
Arms bursts in several villages of the municipality
Obiliq, 13 August (ARTA) 2000CET--
Serb armed civilians have shot automatic bursts
in the direction of the villages Babimoc and Milloshevë, local sources
in Obiliq inform.
The shooting in these two villages continued
during the morning hours as well.
This municipality was also being shot at from
the position of the Electric Power Plant "Kosova B", Janovodë and
from the place called Kërshat e Grabocit, as the Albanian residents,
who reside near the Serb positions have constantly been targeted by them.
The villages of Graboc i Epërm, Shipitull,
Sibovc, Lajthishte and Hamidi are still held under siege.
KOSOVA (shelling – Suharekë)
The villages of Budakovë and Maqitevë
shelled
Suharekë, 13 August (ARTA) 1720CET--
Serb forces settled in Qafa e Duhlës and
those settled in Biraç, shelled the villages of Budakovë and
Maqitevë, again yesterday at around 1500CET, CDHRF in Suharekë
informs. Fortunately, there were no victims. The material damages are considered
to be very high. The KLA units that operate in this zone fought back these
attacks.
On the other hand, shooting was also evidenced
in the direction of the villages Peçan and Sllapuzhan, but the consequences
were not as severe, since this shooting was concentrated in the direction
of KLA positions, whose units counter-effected it.
The difficult humanitarian situation has somewhat
been amortized by the assistance that is arriving from the Diaspora.
KOSOVA (tense situation – Istog)
Serb paramilitaries distribute lists " to
register in KLA "
Istog , 13 August (ARTA) 1700CET--
Serb military and police forces that are situated
in Dubravë prison, besides their usual operative activities, nowadays
have "enriched" their activity with other forms of psychological war. Aside
from frequent strolling dressed with KLA uniforms and driving the vehicles
with KLA license plates, they have started to distribute lists " for registration
in KLA", and they move around in the evenings wearing these uniforms.
Consequently, the citizens are worried because
of the possible frame-ups and lacking of identification cards. Besides,
some of the villages in Anadrini have been blackmailed with the demand
to " hand over the weapons", for if they do not want to do it "they will
suffer like in Drenica and elsewhere".
In Istog municipality, no newspapers are distributed
while the electric power and phone lines have been disconnected since Monday.
KOSOVA (prisoners transferred – Pejë)
Around 30 prisoners transferred to the prisons
of Serbia
Pejë, 13 August (ARTA) 1940CET--
The special police units stopped an "Eximtours"
enterprise bus, that drives in the relation to Montenegro, at the entrance
of Rozhajë and sent them to the police station in Rozhajë, LDK
Information sources in Pejë inform. After three hours, the driver
was forced to go back to Pejë, where along with the passengers, he
was sent to the town's police station. They are still being interrogated
and there is no other news about them.
30 prisoners, whose names remain unknown, were
transferred from the municipal prison in Pejë, to the different prisons
all over Serbia, the same source notifies.
About 120 military vehicles came from the direction
of Deçan at around 2100CET and got stationed in the town's military
barrack.
In the meantime, Pejë is still out of electric
power as a large part of the town is out of drinking water as well. There
is also great shortage of food items, particularly of bread. The Serb run
stores, on the other hand, distribute basic food items, such as kitchen
oil, sugar, flour and others, to Serbs only.
KOSOVA (shooting – Podujevë)
Bursts of weapons during the night
Podujevë, 13 August (ARTA) 1830CET--
The information sources in Podujevë inform
about numerous bursts of weapons in Podujevë which extremely worried
the citizens of this town, as well as those from the surroundings that
heard the bursts. According to these sources , the bursts have started
at 2400CET and lasted till 0400CET.
Today, the same sources inform, three trucks
full with soldiers have gone to Kërpimeh. They stayed for over two
hours on the outskirts of Kërpimeh from where they returned to base.
KOSOVA (provocation – Prizren)
Serb paramilitary convoys cruised down town
provoking the residents
Prizren, 13 August (ARTA) 1700CET--
Last night at around 2000CET, a Serb paramilitary
convoy, consisted of 5 APCs and terrain vehicles, on its way back from
the Gjakovë road, cruised down town, making a very loud noise and
singing Chetnik songs.
The paramilitary from this convoy, provoked the
passersby, using different signs and bad language. They also shot in many
directions for about 10 straight minutes, using different caliber guns.
On the other hand, at around 2100CET, another
military convoy of the Serb army, made of 32 different vehicles, dominated
by tanks, auto transporters with soldiers and terrain vehicles, Serb flags
placed on each vehicle, came back from the direction of the Gjakovë
road. It cruised down the town of Prizren, provoking the passersby, raising
three fingers and singing songs against Albanians.
Four days have passed, ever since the Serb army
shelling burned the hill of Pashtrik. No competent bodies have made any
attempts to fade this enormous fire.
This fire has by now taken over the entire Pashtrik
and it threatens to approach the villages close to this forest such as:
Gorozhub, Milaj, Planejë, and even Kojush and Mazrrek.
KOSOVA (suspected arrests – Prizren)
40 civilians were transported on a truck
Prizren, 13 August (ARTA) 1600CET--
According to an eyewitness, on the Prizren –
Brezovicë road, at 1900CET, a truck transporting civilians was spotted.
It is suspected that they were Albanian civilians who has been taken prisoners
in the battlefields of Gjakovë municipality. According to this source,
they were exhausted and were being sent to an unknown direction. There
are indication that they are probably sent in Lipjan prison.
In Rahovec, tense situation still prevails. According
to a local villager, Afrim Elshani, the Serb police is continuously destroying
the Albanian properties. He informed that the Serb paramilitary expedition
has broke in, plundered his father’s flat and burnt his house in Xërxë
village. He says that the houses have been shelled first, then plundered
and finally burnt with gasoline.
KOSOVA (brutality – Mitrovicë)
Without any pretext the Serb police beat 200
Albanians and arrested 30 others
Mitrovicë, 13 August (ARTA) 1615CET--
Serb police\military forces were witnessed coming
from the direction of Skënderaj in Mitrovicë during the early
morning hours, CDHRF informs. 5 buses, 3 long vehicles, 2 jeeps, one armored
truck and 2 "Zastava 101" vehicles, loaded with policemen, came at around
0945CET, from the direction of Serbia and settled in the military barrack
in Mitrovicë.
At around 1215CET, 2 buses, 20 trucks, 4 land
rovers, 3 trucks, 1 jeep and 1 APC, filled with policemen departed from
the military barrack in Mitrovicë and went to Skënderaj. During
their cruise down town, the soldiers were singing Chetnik songs, insulting
the passersby by directing their guns at them.
On the other hand, yesterday from 1345CET until
1500CET, a punishing police expedition, made of over 80 Serb policemen
from Vushtrri, came as reinforcement to the Serb forces in Mitrovicë.
Starting from the center of the town up to the neighborhood of "Ura e Gjakut",
these forces beat the Albanian civilians on the streets and in stores,
only because they are Albanians. During this Serb police torture over 200
people were beaten and over 30 were arrested.
The police near the police station wounded Shemsi
Ferizi, on this occasion. The police slashed the tires of all parked cars
with knives.
KOSOVA (asylum-seekers – Switzerland)
Switzerland: Over 45 percent of refugees come
from Kosova
Zurich, 13 August (ARTA) 2100CET--
In an information issued by the Swiss media,
it is stated that during July only, 3.114 persons applied for asylum in
Switzerland. Out of them, 1.452 (46 percent) are from Kosova. This is the
largest number of applications ever since January 1992. In the previous
month (June '98), 2.780 cases had applied.
According to the Swiss Federal Refugee Bureau
(Bundesamt für Flüchtlinge - BFF), the reason of this sudden
increase of requests refers to the conflict in Kosova.
So far, 300.000 residents of Kosova have been
dislocated from their homes, as a result of the brutal Serb force offensive.
KOSOVA (Rugova to visit Turkey)
Dr. Rugova will visit Turkey
Ankara, 13 August (ARTA) 1900CET--
The Turkish press announces that Dr. Ibrahim
Rugova will visit Turkey during the course of October, attempting to get
a stronger support from Ankara.
The representative of Kosova Albanians in Turkey,
Enver Tali, declared that the precise date of the visit is not determined
as yet, but he said that Rugova expects quite much from this meeting.
He said that Rugova will ask from Ankara to exert
pressure on NATO and other international organizations, in order to urge
the intervention in Kosova, because as Tali said, "Serb forces are oppressing
with blood the armed resistance of the KLA."
PRISHTINE, August
13 (ata) - The Council for Defence of Human Rights in Prishtine reports
that Serb military and paramilitary forces have confined since August 10
somewhere in a mountain of village Turiqec of Skenderaj, three families
of quarter Bakaj of Shtupel: the family of Arif Arifaj with 16 members,
family of Sabit Qellapeku with 12 members and that of Nasuf Qellapeku with
10 members.
The same source
cited by Kosove Information Centre reports that after the offensive Serb
military-police forces embarked on July 25 on the villages of Kiline and
Malisheve communes, the population has fled, in the mean time there is
no news for the fate of 38 inhabitants of the village Doberdol of Kline,
which have been taken hostage, stresses KIC. The same sources said that
no reports are available for four women in village Siceve who were taken
out of their homes which were set ablaze.
Sources of the
Committee for the Defence of Human Rights report that there is no report
for the fate of Xhevdet Haxhiaj, Bajram Ali Kryeziu and Hajdin Demush Kryeziu
who are supposed to be have been taken hostage on July 25 together with
some other Albanians in Kijeve or in the elementary school of Bubavec.
/p.ta/das/xh/
Serb forces shell Fushtice e Eperme and Mirena in Gllogoc
PRISHTINE, July
13 (ata) - Serb forces shelled yesterday villages Fushtice e Eperme
and e Poshtme of Gllogoc and the village Mirene of the commune of Lipjan,
Kosove Information Centre reports. According to LDK sources in Gllogoc,
most intensive shelling was that in Fushtice e Eperme and in Mirene, where
some houses were damages and ruined, but there is no report of casualties.
Also villages
Budakove and Maqiteve were intensively bombed while sporadic bullets were
heard also in the direction of villages Peqan and Sllapuzhan. The Information
Commission of the LDK branch in Suhareke has not yet had any report of
the consequences of the strikes, said KIC.
/p.ta/das/xh/
Offensive of Serb forces continues in villages of Gjakove commune
PRISHTINE, August
13 (ata) - The offensive of Serb military and police forces which
started Tuesday evening in some villages of the commune of Gjakove is continuing
and according to LDK branch, Serb military-police forces are concentrated
mainly in the villages along the Gjakove-Decan road, Kosove Information
Centre says. It is also reported that Serb forces continue to bombard Junik
and nearby villages.
The above sources
report that numerous blasts which are thought to have been powerful explosions
and not by artillery, and the police road checks in the roads leading to
and out of the city especially in Piskote are preventing the displaced
population in the villages at war to resettle, while in many cases Albanian
population has been arrested or maltreated by Serb police.
A grave situation
is prevailing in the city of Gjakove, Albanian citizens are facing with
a great influx of people displaced from the warring villages and many food
articles are lacking, stressed LDK sources in Gjakove. /p.ta.das/xh/
Belgian diplomats visit Prishtine
PRISHTINE, August
13 (ata) - ATA correspondent Behlul Jashari reports: A delegation
of the Foreign Ministry of Belgium consisting of advisers Gust van Hove
and David Philip, stayed in Prishtine and reported that the Belgian Foreign
Minister will visit the region the coming month.
The Belgian diplomats
discussed with President Rugova in a closed-door meeting, according to
Gust van Hove, the situation in Kosove and the suggestions of the Contact
Group which, said the Belgian diplomat, Rugova "has taken into consideration."
The Belgian diplomats
also met with academician Rexhep Qosja, chairman of the Albanian Democratic
League, Adem Demaci, chairman of the Parliamentary Party and other Albanian
personalities. /p.ta/das/xh/
Serbian paramilitary attack Albanian village
PRISHTINA, Aug 12 - ATA correspondent Belul Jashari reported: Paramilitary
and armed Serbs from Prilluzhe village of Vushtri, (about 12 km northeast
of Prishtina) are provoking interethnic conflicts.
Last night they
attacked with different armaments for more than four hours the Albanian
village Gllatovi, destroying several houses. Gllatovi village has been
attacked many times by Serbs from Prilluzhe village, sources on the ground
reported. /P.Ta/das/ld/
Balli Kombetar favours independent republic for Kosova
TIRANA, August
13 (ATA) - By P. Shuteriqi: The Balli Kombetar party presented on Thursday
its options for the status of Kosova which, according to that party "is
an independent republic for Kosova."
Deputy party leader
Shpetim Roqi told a news conference on Thursday that he opposed the options
of the E.U. Troika delegation a day before saying that the only solution
to Kosova was "an independent republic and self-rule for Albanians according
to relations established with the Republic of Albania."
In a press communique the
party hailed "the latest successes of the Kosova Liberation Army (KLA)
in the conflict in Kosova."
Balli Kombetar
is the only political party which is presenting a concrete proposal for
the political status of Kosova. No one of the Albanian political forces
has been openly expressed on this issue, but has said that the legitimate
representatives of Albanians in Kosova will decide on that.
During a recent
visit in Tirana, the E.U. Troika delegation presented the option for a
wide ranging autonomy as the future status of Kosova according to some
models applied in some European states.
Roqi also criticised
the approval of the law on National Information Service by parliament on
August 6. ypa/pas/ak/
Albanian Foreign Ministry condemns Serb offensive in Kosova
TIRANA, Aug 13
(ATA) - By I.Luto: Albanian Foreign Ministry issued a press release on
Thursday strongly condemning the Yugoslav military offensive in Kosova,
which is continuing to dramatize even more the humanitarian catastrophe
there.
It said that "the
catastrophe of Albanians in Kosova is continued to be felt much more in
Albania where the number of Kosova people, some of them wounded, exhausted
and terrorised, has begun to grow again."
The Ministry of
Albania urged Belgrade authorities not to speculate with the much moderate
stand of Albania against situations such as border incidents where Yugoslav
military forces are responsible, incidents which are frequently taking
place. ypa/pas/ak/
ON THE WIDESPREAD REPRESSION AND HARASSMENT PERPETRATED
BY
THE SERBIAN POLICE AND OTHER AUTHORITIES IN KOSOVA
FROM AUGUST 6, UNTIL AUGUST 9, 1998
The text you can read at week429.htm
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