Tagesnachrichten 15. August 1998
von ALBANEWS und anderen
Daily Report No 1522 August 15, 1998
Kosova Information Center
Tagesnachrichten 15. 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;________________________________________________________________________
Kosova Information Center_______________________________________________________________________
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT # 1522-C
Prishtina, 15 August 1998Third Edition: 15:45 hrs
Serbian Offensive in Peja and Deçan Area Resumes in the Afternoon
PRISHTINA, Aug 15 (KIC) - LDK sources from Peja ('Pec') told the KIC at 15:10 hrs Serbian attacks on the village of Loxhë, near Peja, and the Deçan villages, resumed in the afternoon today (Saturday). Heavy Serbian troops, backed up by military jest and helicopters, as well as dozens of tanks and other heavy guns, launched today morning an offensive against more than a dozen Albanian villages along the Peja-Deçan roadway.
Around midday the offensive operations had died temporarily, local sources said.
The villages were in flames and smoke was billowing from them, an LDK sources from Peja told the KIC by phone ten minutes past 15:00 hrs today, reporting on the resumption of the Serb offensive.
The local chapter in Deçan of the Prishtina-based Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF) said at 14:00 the Serbian shelling of the villages of the Lugu i Baranit (Baran Valley) was going on.
There have been killed and wounded amongst Albanians in the ongoing Serb offensive today, sources said earlier in the day.Serb Authorities Launch Investigations Against 76 Albanians in Peja
They are accused of 'terrorist' activitiesPRISHTINA, Aug 15 (KIC) - The Serb regime Public Prosecutor's Office in Peja ('Pec') has launched investigations against 76 Albanians, most of whom from Gjakova villages, according to the Serbian press. They are accused of being involved in 'terrorist' activities, a routine charge against Albanians in Kosova in the past months and years.
The Serb press gave their names today.
Hundreds of Albanians have been accused of 'terrorist' activities in the past few months alone. It is all but impossible to keep track of the increasing number of people who have been accused of terrorist activities, some of whom have already been tried on trumped up charges.
President Ibrahim Rugova of Kosova condemned in the strongest terms on Friday the staged political trials of Albanians in Kosova.Kosova Information Center
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Second Edition: 15:00 hrs
Serb Offensive Dies Down in Deçan Area
Around Midday
Meanwhile, a local human rights activist in Deçan
said the Serb shelling was still going on at 14:OO hrs today
PRISHTINA, Aug 15 (KIC) - The LDK chapter in Deçan
reported at 12:30 hrs the Serb attacks against the villages along the Deçan-
Peja roawday, which started at 6 o'clock in the morning today (Saturday),
had died down around midday. There was a cessation of the shelling, Osman
Cacaj, a senior LDK official in Deçan said.
The village of Loxhë and Raushiq, near the
town of Peja ('Pec'), were bombarded by Serb military jets too, local sources
said. There have been killed and wounded in today's offensive against the
Albanian villages in the region, local sources said. The name of a killed
Albanian has been made known only - Ahmet Deli Shala (30).
Early in the morning today (Saturday), Serbian
military and paramilitary police troops launched a large-scale attack against
the villages along the Deçan - Peja roadway, in western Kosova.
Reports said 46 tanks, four military jets, eight helicopter gunships, as
well as huge troops on 20 trucks and many other vehicles were involved
in the offensive operation against the Albanian villages.
A dozen villages were attacked today, eight in
the municipality of Deçan - Junik, Beleg, Isniq, Lëbushë,
Strellc, Prapaçan, Llukë e Epërme, Carrabreg i Poshtëm,
Dubovik and Krushec - and two in the municipality of Peja, the villages
of Loxhë and Raushiq, local sources said.
Meanwhile, the Prishtina-based Council for the
Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF) said the villages of Baran
and Vranoc in Lugu i Baranit (Barani Valley) were shelled today by Serb
military and police troops. Serb shells landed very near to where the civilian
population - displaced people from Deçan, Peja, Malisheva and Gjakova
- had been crowded.
A population of more than 50,000 has been under
siege, under a ring of steel by Serbian forces, for a week now. Reports
said they have been streaming towards the villages of the Lugu i Baranit
(Barani Valley) in the wake of today's Serb offensive.
Meanwhile, Mr. Musa Berisha, chairman of the
chapter of Prishtina- based Council for the Defense of Human Rights and
Freedoms (CDHRF) in Deçan said Serb shelling was still continuing
at 14:00 hrs. In an interview with the VOA Albanian Section he failed to
offer details on the targets of the shelling in the afternoon.
Heavy Blasts Heard in Gjakova, Probably Originating
from Deçan Area
10,000 Albanians still without shelter and food,
camping out in mountainous regions of Dushkajë, along the Drini river,
and in the villages along the Gjakovë - Deçan roadway
PRISHTINA, Aug 15 (KIC) - The sound of heavy artillery
barrages could be heard in the town of Gjakova in the morning hours of
today, LDK sources said.
The Gjakova LDK chapter could not say whether
villages in the municipality of Gjakova were being attacked today by Serb
forces. It quoted eye-witnesses as saying Serb troops were continuing their
offensive actions in the Deçan and Junik areas.
Meanwhile, reports said people displaced from
the fighting in the area were streaming towards the town of Gjakova, making
the already critical humanitarian situation even worse.
Despite efforts to offer shelter to the incoming
arrivals, it is estimated that some 10,000 Albanians are still without
shelter, without food, and threatened by epidemics.
These are people who have been camping out in
mountainous regions of Dushkajë, along the Drini river, as well as
in the villages along the Gjakovë - Deçan roadway, the LDK
sources in Gjakova said.
Unconfirmed reports said at least 30 Albanians
have been rounded up by Serb forces and sent to an unknown destination,
as the campaign of arrests and provocations goes on unabated in the town
of Gjakova.
Meanwhile, LDK sources said two young Albanians,
Ermir Shala (20) and Driton Berisha (20), residents of Gjakova, have been
sent to a Serbian jail in Peja after a few days in custody in Gjakova.
Nine Bodies Brought to Gjakova Morgue Last Evening
PRISHTINA, Aug 15 (KIC) - The bodies of nine killed persons were taken by the Serb forces to the town morgue in Gjakova last evening, at around 20:00 hrs, local sources said. The LDK chapter in Gjakova said the bodies have not been identified yet, but it is presumed that they were all Albanians killed in the border area. The corpses are several days old, the LDK said, quoting witnesses.
Serb Forces Resume Pounding Villages around Shtime
PRISHTINA, Aug 15 (KIC) - Albanian hamlets around
the Gryka e Carralevës (Carraleva Gorge) and Devetaku plateau in the
municipality of Shtime were reported pounded with artillery fire both last
evening and today (Saturday) morning.
The LDK Information Commission in Shtime, a town
about 25 km south of Prishtina, said hamlets in the area have been attacked
from Serb bases at Zborc and at Belinc hill. Serbs opened artillery and
machine-gun fire on the outlying villages just after 7 o'clock today, the
Commission said, failing to provide other details about possible casualties
or the extent of destruction of Albanian property.
Serb Offensive Operations to Extend to Northern
Kosova?
A large-scale campaign of arrests of Albanian
'terrorists' will ensue in the coming days in Peja, Mitrovica, and, most
immediately in Prishtina and Podujeva, senior Serb official said
PRISHTINA, Aug 15 (KIC) - A senior official with
the Serbian Ministry of the Interior told the Serbian Blic day a massive-scale
campaign of arrests of Albanians will be carried in the coming days.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the Serb
security officer said "a massive-scale campaign of arrests of terrorists
who have sheltered in Prishtina, Peja ('Pec'), Mitrovica and Podujeva"
will be in place in the coming days, Blic reported today. These are the
towns that have been outside the area of direct armed conflicts in Kosova
in the past six months.
"Amongst some 15,000 'displaced' Albanians in
Podujeva, police has learned there are dozens of terrorists from the area
of Malisheva and Drenica", the unnamed Serb officer quoted by Blic said.
The truth is there are no displaced Albanians
who have found refuge in Podujeva. This northeastern municipality along
the border with Serbia has remained intact from Serb military and police
operations of the kind seen in western and central Kosova in the past several
months.
The chain of members of the UÇK in Prishtina
has already been cut, the Serb officer said, adding that "police patrols
will in the next couple of days be visiting Hajvali, as well as the Vranjevac
(Kodra e Trimave) and Suncani Breg (Bregu i Diellit) neighbourhoods" in
Prishtina, Blic reported.
Whether the Milosevic regime is thus announcing
its extension of armed crackdown and ethnic cleansing campaign to these
parts of Kosova, including the capital Prishtina, or else engaging in a
special warfare to make the Albanian population flee before this has happened,
can only be a matter of conjecture for now.
Serbs Turn into Rubble Two Villages in Suhareka, Duhël and Bllacë
PRISHTINA, Aug 15 (KIC) - Serb forces entered
yesterday (Friday) evening the village of Duhël and Bllacë in
the municipality of Suhareka, setting ablaze the remaining houses there,
sources in Suhareka said.
Duhël and Bllacë and many other outlying
villages along the Prishtina-Prizren roadway in the Suhareka municipality
have been repeatedly pounded with artillery and machine-gun fire for over
five weeks now. They have been attacked mostly from a Serb base at the
Qafa e Duhlës mountain pass, as well as from Serb motorized convoys
moving along the road on an almost daily basis. The LDK Information Commission
in Suhareka said Serb infantry, backed up by armored vehicles, advanced
into the two villages yesterday evening, setting afire whatever was left
there.
The local population of the Duhël and Bllacë
villages have fled homes earlier, many of them still living rough in the
mountains, the LDK chapter said. It warned that the situation in the area
is distressing and the hapless population living in the open or huddled
in small and inadequate shelter is in desperate need of food and medical
supplies.
Meanwhile, sources in Suhareka said Serb troops
attacked two other villages in the municipality last night. The villages
of Sllapuzhan and Maqiteva were attacked from a motel near Suhareka and
the "Ballkani" rubber plants.
Serb Police Demolish Three Schools in Fushë-Kosova
PRISHTINA, Aug 15 (KIC) - Serb police have broken
into and demolished four primary schools in Fushë-Kosova ('Kosovo
Polje') villages over the past few days.
An education activist in Fushë-Kosova, M.
Simoni, told the KIC today that Serbs have demolished primary schools in
the villages of Bardh i Madh, Pomozotin, and Graboc i Ulët. Serbs
have smashed inventory in the classrooms, offices and labs. Sources in
Bardhi i Madh said Serb police have sealed off the local school building,
denying access to anyone there.
Kosova Information Center
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First Edition: 11:00 hrs
Serbian Troops Mount Full-scale Attack on Villages
along Peja - Deçan Roadway Today
* Nine villages attacked: eight in the municipality
of Deçan - Isniq, Lëbushë, Strellc, Raushiq, Loxhë,
Prapaçan, Dubovik and Krushec - and one in the municipality of Peja,
the village of Loxhë.
* At least five Albanian civilians killed
so far.
* Over 50, 000 Albanians, most of them
refugees, are encircled in the attacked villages.
PRISHTINA, Aug 15 (KIC) - Early in the morning
today (Saturday), Serbian military and paramilitary police troops launched
a full- scale attack against the villages along the Deçan - Peja
roadway, in western Kosova. Reports said 46 tanks, four military jets,
eight helicopter gunships, as well as huge troops on 20 trucks and many
other vehicles are involved in the offensive operation against the Albanian
villages.
The KIC stringer in the Deçan area, sources
with the Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF) in
Peja, and eye- witness in the villages of Deçan told the KIC today
a huge Serb troop build-up overnight preceded the launching at 6 o'clock
of full-scale attack on the villages of Loxhë (Peja) and the Deçan
villages: Isniq, Lëbushë, Strellc, Raushiq, Loxhë, Prapaçan,
Dubovik, Krushec, etc.
The CDHRF chapter in Peja said the attack on
Loxhë started at 6 a.m. when four Serb "Orao" military jets dropped
a bomb each. Then shelling from the military base at Zagërmë
and the newly established base at Gorazhdec village started. At least 200
shells landed in the village of Loxhë from 6:00 through 8:15 hrs.
The village is in flames and smoke billowing from it can be seen from the
town of Peja, sources said, adding that the casualty-toll is unknowns as
the village is sealed off.
From a four kilometer distance, the village of
Strellc is being shelled from the Serb military base at Zagërmë.
Osman Cacaj, head of the LDK Information Commission
in Deçan, told the KIC that Serb troops backed up by armored vehicles
and helicopter gunships, started at 6 o'clock a full-scale attack against
the villages of the municipality of Deçan: Isniq, Lëbushë,
Strellc, Raushiq, Loxhë, Prapaçan, Dubovik, Krushec, etc. By
9 o'clock in the morning, when the attack was continuing unabated, at least
five Albanian civilians were known to have been killed. Mr. Cacaj said
around 60,000 Albanians, most of them displaced people from Deçan,
Peja, Malisheva and Gjakova municipalities, are holed up in these villages.
In the name and on behalf of children, women and the elderly, the local
LDK official called on the international community to intervene urgently
to save the attacked population in Deçan and Peja area.
Osman Cacaj said a Serb helicopter gunship is
flying overhead the area, whereas the population has nowhere to go.
Since lats weekend, when the last strong Serb
offensive in Deçan started, this population has been under siege,
under a ring of steel by Serbian forces.
Meanwhile, an eye-witness told the KIC the villages
of the Lugu i Baranit (the Baran Valley) are being shelled by Serb troops
today. It has become a notorious thing for Serb troops to launch attacks
against Albanian settlements in Kosova during week-ends. In this way, his
military and paramilitary police attacks pass largely unnoticed, outside
the attention of the world.
Slobodan Milosevic is in the habit of embarking
on offensive operations against Kosovars, while protesting his willingness
to engage in talks with them; the latter playing as music to the ears of
the West. Milosevic knows his brinkmanship and his outrageous policies
have paid off for years now. He sees no reason whatsoever to change his
mind, when he sees that a sense of urgency in the international community
over Kosova in March and April died down by and large in June and July.
LDK Calls for International Intervention to Halt Serb Offensive
PRISHTINA, Aug 15 (KIC) - The Presidency of the
Democratic League of Kosova (LDK), President Ibrahim Rugova'a party, appealed
today to the international community - the United States of America, the
European Union, NATO, and the UN Security Council - to intervene urgently
to halt the Serbian offensive in the area of Peja and Deçan.
In a statement issued today, the LDK Presidency
said the ongoing Serb offensive actions may result in "catastrophic consequences
for the civilian population" in the attacked area.
Serbia should be forced to halt the attacks and
pull out its military and police troops from Kosova, the LDK said. "It
is high time for real pressure to be made to bear on Belgrade if a political
resolution in Kosova is wished for, and pursued", the party concluded.
Kosova Information Center
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_______________________________________________________________________Albania takes measures to launch successful military exercises
TIRANA, Aug 15 (ATA) - By E. Koraqi: The military army and troops of the 14 NATO member states are ready to start "Cooperative Assembly" multinational exercises.
"All the measures have been undertaken to help launch the biggest exercises under tight security conditions," Luan Hajdaraga, Minister of Defence, told a news conference on Saturday.
Our army being an active member in the Partnership for Peace countries takes part in the exercises with 300 troops.
In the week-long Cooperative Assembly will be launched from August 17 to 22 with the participation of United States, Germany, England, France, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Turkey, Belgium, Greece and Partnership for Peace member countries like Russia, Lithuania and others, a statement said.
The exercises will be led by Admiral Joseph Lopez, commander of the South European Allied forces.
The Ministry of Defence has created conditions to allow Albanian and international media highlight the exercises, the statement said. ypa/das/ak/BC-KOSOVA-LDK-APPEAL
LDK urges urgent intervention to stop catastrophe in KosovaPRISHTINE, Aug 15 - ATA correspondent Behlul Jashari reported that the Presidency of the Democratic League of Kosova called on international factors to urgently intervene to stop the attack in the Peja and Dezan, where Serb forces have also used the warplanes.
The appeal said that the consequences of this barbarous attack if not immediately interrupted could be catastrophic for the population of the area, where besides local populace there are a great number of refugees from other regions already ethnically cleansed.
The situation in Peja and Dezan areas, which are under attack is more than dramatic, the LDK presidency said. It called on the United States, European Union, NATO and the U.N. Security Council to undertake urgent action to oblige Serbia stop immediately the attacks and withdraw military and police forces from Kosova.
"It is time to exert a real pressure on Belgrade if it exists a real wish to resolve the Kosova issue," the LDK appeal said. mp/das/ak/Serb forces torch Suhareka villages
PRISHTINE, Aug 15 - ATA correspondent Behlul Jashari reported that Serb forces set two Albanian villages on fire on Friday evening in the commune of Suhareke, Duhle and Bllaca, the Democratic League of Kosova division in Suhareka said.
These villages which were completely destroyed and ethnically cleansed, are engulfed by flames and fire. The Serb forces have raided all the houses. mp/das/ak/Minister says Albania ready to face any eventuality in border
TIRANA, Aug 15 (ATA) - By E. Koraqi: The Albanian army, its general staff have taken all the measures to increase its military readiness in the northeastern area, Luan Hajdaraga, minister of Defence said on Saturday.
"To create a more secured situation in the area we have taken and continue to take measures in order to reinforce our military disposition that is the equipment of Kukes division with logistic means to cope with any situation," Hajdaraga told a news conference.
Asked about the latest incidents in the Albanian-Yugoslav border, the minister said that they were incidents provoked by Serbs and cases where traces of shell casings and cartridges have been found in the territory of Albania have not been few.
The Albanian border and military authorities have taken all the measures to make evident such violations and prepare to cope with any eventuality which cannot be excluded by Serbia. ypa/das/ak/Serb forces resume shelling in Lipjan, Shtimje
PRISHTINE, Aug 15 - ATA correspondent Behlu Jashari reported that Serb forces resumed shelling on Saturday at 14.30. p.m. from Zborc, commune of Shtimje, 30 km southwest of Prishtina.
The heavy artillery has shelled last night and early in the morning the villages of Klezke, Shale and Krojmir of Lipjan commune and village of Pjetreshtice, commune of Shtimje.
Sources on the ground said that some Albanian civilians have been wounded and there are no reports on casualties.
The local population which had returned to its houses was forced to flee again due to new attacks of Serb forces and was now in open air in the mountains. fh/das/ak/Minister guarantees successful NATO joint exercises
TIRANA, Aug 15 (ATA) - By E. Koraqi: Albanian Defence Minister Luan Hajdaraga guaranteed normal development of NATO exercises in Albania and safety of foreign armies after rumours "on a possible attempt during the exercises."
"Despite temporary suspension of the diplomatic activity in the U.S. Embassy after the terrorist acts in Tanzania and Kenya, the Ministry of Defence has taken all necessary measures to increase the element of security where foreign military troops have been placed," Hajdaraga told a news conference on Saturday.
"The exercises expected to be launched on Monday demonstrate NATO engagement to secure peace and stability in the region," he said. ypa/das/ak/US senior adviser meets Kosova negotiation group
PRISHTINE, Aug 15 - ATA correspondent Behlul Jashari reported that the diplomat Jim O'Brian, senior adviser to the U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, arrived in Kosova.
The U.S. diplomat, who is expected to attend the process of negotiations between Prishtina and Belgrade, met on Friday the negotiation group named by Kosova president Ibrahim Rugova at the U.S. office in Prishtina.
Following the announcement of the Kosova negotiation group, the U.S. diplomat Christopher Hill, who mediates talks between Prishtina and Belgrade, had said "the United States will remain an active partner in finding a solution to the Kosova issue" and in the days to come the Americans "will work tete-a-tete with the negotiation teams to go ahead." shdha/ak/Temporary suspension of U.S. embassy public operations will not affect excellent bilateral relations with Albania
TIRANA, Aug 15 (ATA) - The United States and the Republic of Albanian enjoy excellent relations at both the official and people-to-people levels, a statement of the press office at the U.S. State Department issued on August 14 said.
The decision the United States was forced to take on Friday, August 14, 1998 to suspend temporarily public operations at our Embassy in Tirana was unrelated to the internal situation of Albania and does not reflect any change in our warm bilateral relationship.
Rather, the temporary suspension of public operations was the result of recent declarations by Islamic extremists against the United States and the possibility that the U.S. Embassy facilities in Tirana could be among the targets of a terrorist attack, the statement said.
The United States government is committed to close cooperation with Albania in pursuit of our shared political and economic objectives. This cooperation will continue in a variety of settings despite our reduced presence in Tirana, the spokesman of the U.S. State Department said. /ypa/ak/
THE AMERICANS ARE LEAVING THE ALBANIAN CREATING FEAR AND SUPRISE_______________________________________________________________________TIRANE 15 AUGUST ENTER /The state department announced Friday that it had order all American diplomats and their families to leave Albania fearing a possible attack by the Islamic terrorists against the American embassy in Tirana.
Washington calls on all American citizens in Albania to leave the country, the State Department communiqu‚ published Friday night in Tirana said. The state department cited the " the latest statements done by the Islamic terrorists against the USA" and "the possibility that the offices of the American embassy in Tirana be object of a Islamic terrorist attack".
The state department calls on the American diplomats and citizens to return to their country by plane. An independent magazine in Tirana "Blitz" warned the firsts Thursday the possibility of bombs in Albania by the Islamic due to want the magazine considered as the conspiring activity of the CIA in Albania by the Albanian Secret Service. The magazine published a chronology of the actions of the Albanian Secret service in the fight against terrorism. She said that even in the year 1994 and 1996 terrorists have been repatriated by the Albanian secret service, but everything remained secret and no warning or actions had been against the Americans.The islamists write to president Meidani
A Islamic organisation, with seat in London ,announced that Albania had arrested another Muslim militant from Egypt and would repatriate him."he was arrested yesterday in one of the streets of Tirana.We ask the human right groups and the high Commissioner for the refugees to intervene and stop the repatriation of this person" said to Reuters agency Yasser el-Serri,director of the observing Islamic centre (IOC).
Serri did not announced the name of the militant, but said that he was sentenced to death in Egypt by a military court for participating in an life attempt of the year 1993 against the premier Atef Sedki.
IOC-organised Friday at the Albanian embassy in London a protest against the extradition last month of four Egyptian Muslims. The three persons were arrested by the Albanian secret service in a operation helped and supported by the USA ,CIA .They were handed to another service at the Rinas airport on July 2. IOC-i, in a open letter to Albanian president Meidani and Albanian government wrote that the repatriations are a violation of the international laws and human rights."We warn that these practices are doubtful and against the basic human rights and the lessons of our religion and would bring only losses and the anger of our god" the letter said sent by fax to Reuters office in Cairo by fax.Albanian press: The government is to blame
Albanian press had attacked strongly today the Albanian Informative Service accusing it as the main reason of the revenge warnings against Albania. The main papers of Tirana accuse NIS of working with dilintatism and on aim to put Albania at the objective of the international terrorism.
Paper "Koha Jone "accused the head of NIS as non professional head, and considers his interviews in Albanian press as irresponsible where he talks about the co-operation with American CIA for the repatriation of the terrorists. The paper criticises NIS of deconspiring the basis of CIA in Albania and declaring publicly where their offices are located.
The paper "Albania" considers the departure of the American diplomats as a work of the Albanian Secret Service.The paper wrote that the departure of the Americans can not be explained only with the lacking of professionalism but with any possible attempt of the Albanian Secret service to expel CIA from Albania.According to this paper the Albanian government is interested not to have the Americans present here at the culm of nongoverning the country and creating in the country the highest level of crime and contraband in the world.The paper accuses NIS of selling the American secret service and risking seriously the personnel of the American embassy in Tirana when making public the actions against the Islamic terrorists.All the Americans are leaving
nearly all the employees of the American embassy and the employees of the other American projects in Albania are leaving immediately the country. At the American culture centre a letter placed at the main gate informs that the embassy will be closed at least till Tuesday, while the staff of the embassy was preparing the luggages for a long trip.All the vehicles entering the embassy campus were under a strict control whereas the employees were rushing to prepare their luggages .It seems that only the American ambassador Marisa Lino wont leave the Albania, but she would be under very strong security measures.
Albanian government has offered it aid for the security measures but this does not satisfy the American staff.The American citizens can phone on the numbers 32875 ext 1620 to take instructions on the evacuation.
This is the second evacuation of the Americans from Albania within the last two years.The first one was in march 1997 when the majority of the American employees left the country , but not the staff of the American embassy in Albania. This is the gravest event ever happened in the history of the American embassy in Tirana since it departure from Albania when the communist came in power.Albanian citizens : Fear and suprise by the closing of the American embassy
The Albanian citizens are feeling afraid and suprised by the closing of the American embassy in Tirana. many of them think that this is a political decision of the USA to show to the Albanian government its irresponsibility, the Albanian papers wrote today.Some other citizens feel insecure towards a real Islamic risk in Tirana and evaluate the American decision as a blow for the actual goverment.Some citizens asked by the Albanian press blame the former Albanian administration of being liberal in the entries in Albania of the foreigners.
A private radio in Tirana, which had begun a programme with public opinions, interviewed hundreds of Albanians .All of them were afraid by the American departure."They are leaving, like in the year 1945 and left us in the hands of the communists" said a citizen named Bujar in radio "Contact".HAJDARI: THE VIOLATIONS OF THE AIR SPACE OF ALBANIA BY THE SERBS ARE A ROUTINE
TIRANE,15 AUGUST ENTER/- The parliamentary Defence commission chairman Azem Hajdari said Friday to ENTER that the violations of the Albanian territory by the Serbs are a routine. Hajdari said that the repetition of these violations is linked to the lacking of the seriously of the Albanian government to fulfil the constitutional obligations.
Hajdari said that the defence Council must analyse all the violations of the integrity of Albania by the Serb part and take all the necessary measures not to allow the repetition of these violations.
On the statements of the Albanian officials to respond to violations of the Albanian integrity, Hajdari said that these could not be taken seriously, because the actual officials are lacking seriosity. Hajdari said that he feels sorry that the Albanian opinion, Albanian political parties and Albanian government considers the war in Kosova as a war between a part of Albanians and the Serbs and only a part of the Albanians must face it.Hajdari said that the Albanians must have a clear vision on the essence of the conflict.He said that the moment has arrived that Albanians re-evaluate themselves to the nation and the national interest. Hajdari said that he does not oppose the statements of troika on the status of Kosova, but added that the best solution is to give an end to the Balkan conflicts and to recognise the independence of Kosova. Hajdari said that more than 13 500 Albanians of Kosova are located in Tropoja, and he opposed the low official figures in this direction.AMERICAN EMBASSY CLOSED-
TIRANE,15 AUGUST ENTER/-Very reliable sources asking to remain unnamed said to Enter that the American embassy in Tirana had ceased its activity. A State department note ordered the American embassy to cease its activity in Tirana due to insecurity. The activity is cut till a second order will be given.
It is reported that the employees of this embassy together with their families are leaving Albania .PDK. THE POLITICAL SUBJECTS IN KOSOVA MUST UNITE
TIRANE, 15 AUGUST ENTER/-The democristians declared Friday in a press conference that the question of Kosova must be solved through the unification of all political subjects in Kosova and the representatives of KLA in a joint negotiating organisation. According to the democristians the attempts of Rugova to be presented in the negotiations without the participation of KLA are negative tendencies that deepen the agreements between the leaders of the political parties and KLA.
The leader of the Albanian democristians Zef Bushati said that it is not positive that Rugova is postponing without limit the formation of the new government of Kosova.
Zef Bushati condemned the socialist of trying to put under control the judicial system and are attacking sharply the minister of Justice who according to them is the only independent minister in Nano government.KOSOVA ALBANIAN OPPOSITION CALLS FOR A JOINT LEADING ORGAN
PRISHTINE 15 august ENTER/ Three Albanian political parties in Kosova , the parliamentarian one, UNIKOMB- and the Albanian democratic movement opposed the formation of the new negotiating group of Rugova and calling for a joint leading organ. In a press release, the group representative Kosova could not achieve anything, because they are not presenting all political factor in Kosova and the national factors that play an important role for the national question. The three political parties invited the political subjects of Kosova to see clearly the Kosova reality and to present the interests of the people.
HELMUT KOL CALLS FOR A INTERVENTION IN KOSOVAPRISHTINE,15 AUGUST ENTER/ "Dojce Velle" reported that German chancellor Helmut Kohl did not exclude a possible intervention action of NATO without the mandate of UNO in Kosova. In a press conference in Bon, Kohl supported the attitude of the German defence minister Folker Rye who does not see necessary the mandate of UNO for a NATO intervention in Kosova.Kolh said that no one wants a repetition of the tragedy of Bosnia which was deepened by the delayed actions of the Atlantic alliance. Kohl said that no one wants such a tragedy in Kosova.
The German defence minister ,Folke Rye had threatened Belgrade with an active NATO intervention in Kosova. We must act in an offensive way leaving aside the political debates, Rye said.ADEM DEMACI'ACCEPTS TO BE THE REPRESENTATIVE OF KLA
PRISHTINE, 15 august/ENTER/ - Referring to the full trust by the Kosove Liberation Army, KLA, yesterday, Adem Demaci, chairman of the Parliamentary Party of Kosove replying to the offer of the KLA General Staff said he is honoured by the trust in him. "The full trust in a man like me is the best testimony that you have not taken up arms to fight out of the hatred and chauvinism against any people, but you have taken into account even your death, led by the strong will for freedom, by the boundless love for our people".Demaci stressed that three concrete, real and objective factors are acting actually in Kosova: The first factor is the Serb regime of Milosevic, which has caused and is aggravating with at all costs the political and human crisis in Kosove, Serbia and Montenegro. The second factor is the KLA as the extreme expression of the will of our people for freedom, which are insistently and heroically opposing the savage terror of the Serb regime. The third factor are the United States of America and the European states which are not yet harmonising their so contradictory interests regarding the way the Kosove question will be solved and consequently, the crisis is still going on.
TWELVE ALBANIANS KILLED AND OVER 50 OTHERS WOUNDED IN FIGHTING ROUND DECAN
PRISHTINE, 15 august/enter/ - During the last 24 hours, Serb forces have continued their attacks and fighting with Albanian forces on the border line, in the outskirts of Gjakove, Junik and Decan.Helicopters of Serb forces have been seen flying over the warring zones. Because some regions are confined, the information on the consequences there do not arrive in time.
It is reported that within two days, on August 11 and 12, during the offensive of the Serb forces in the commune of Decan, 12 Albanians have been killed and over 50 others have been wounded. During this offensive, according to LDK sources, Serb forces on the villages of Decan have torched more than 1 200 houses.
Serb forces gave an ultimatum to some villages of Has of Gjakove to hand in the weapons, otherwise they would have consequences. During the past 24 hours, Serb forces have opened fire against the villages surrounding Obiliq and Fushe-Kosove. Serb forces have shelled from their positions in Komaran the villages Kishnareke, Nekoc and the regions in the mountains Berishe in Drenice.
We will decide soon on concrete measures of action in Kosove" - France, Contact Group_______________________________________________________________________TIRANE, August 14 (ata) - In a meeting Friday with the special envoy of the French Government for Kosove, Ambassador Jacque Huntzinger, the Albanian State Secretary for European Integration, Ilir Meta discussed the situation in Kosove and the approaches of the Albanian Government regarding the developments there.
"We, as a Contact Group member," said the French senior diplomat, support the creation of the negotiating team of Rugove and hope it has the broadest possible basis of representation."
In response to the interest of the French diplomat for the consequences of the Kosovar crisis in Albania, Meta pointed out that besides the influx of the displaced people from Kosove, incidents on the state border with Albania are becoming frequent.
The latest proof ws the German reporter who was wounded on Friday in the Albanian territory by the fire from Yugoslav military forces.
Meta stressed that the Albanian Government has adopted a number of measures to halt any organized arms smuggling towards Kosove and refuted claims by Belgrade that military forces are being trained in Albania to fight in Kosove.
Huntzinger expressed the commitment of his country and of the Contact Group to powerfully help improve the situation in Kosove. "We will decide soon on the concrete measures of action in Kosove, which, we think will be a success," he said. /y.pa/xh/
Prishtina, 14 August (ARTA) 1800CET--
After the official response of Adem Demaçi
to the offer of KLA General headquarters was published, in the interview
given to "Koha Ditore", Demaçi speaks about what is and what is
not acceptable for the Albanian political scene, about Rugova’s negotiating
group, the Coalition Government, etc.
Initially, Demaçi gives the details of
his official response:
Demaçi: Just recently I have sent my official
statement as a response to the KLA General Headquarters. I think that there
is no time for running away from responsibilities, but it is the time to
take them and fulfil our duties, according to our tasks and possibilities,
which are posed to us by the historical momentum.
Therefore, I have taken this duty with great
satisfaction, and with a great satisfaction I can say that the foundations
have been established, which combined with the persistence of Albanian
nation, (which is expressed through the determination and the will of the
KLA to combat the state terror of Belgrade’s regime) and the readiness
of the Albanian politics to engage in finding the optimal, democratic,
peaceful and civilized solutions. Only thus, I believe, we will manage
to solve the problem properly and in the interest of the three parties
(the Albanian people, Serbs, and International Community) in the spirit
of the decisions, which emerged from the Kosova Albanian referendum, held
in September 1991.
KD: So, you are definitely giving up your party activities?
Demaçi: I'm not only giving them up, but I was pleased with the demand of these youngsters and fighters for freedom. This is a very strong argument, which testifies that our fighters won't subjugate to any ideology or political group, and that they are prepared and ready to be the soldiers of the free, equal and democratic citizens. In this way they will safeguard the state, the constitution, the laws and human rights, and will be a modern army similar with the other armies of the world. This is the best explanation for political stability over the entire European states, because the Army knows its duty and allows the politicians to deal with the questions of the government. However, the affairs of security and welfare of the people belong to the Army and Police.
KD: Some time ago you offered to be KLA’s political representative under the condition that KLA accept "Balkania".... What happened with it now ?
Demaçi: "Balkania" was my private project and it had the support of my party . Since KLA is the expression of the people's will, I am obliged to engage for the complementation and fulfillment of the decisions of the 1991 referendum.
KD: Does your engagement imply the acceptation of the Coalition Government?
Demaçi: No, We can not enter the Coalition
Government, because as you know , KLA and I, as well as many Albanians,
do not recognize 22 March elections. We don’t recognize its results.
We do not think that the problems could be solved
with fictions, if it is to be accepted that there is a president, then
the existence of the state has to be accepted too; if this is the case,
then we have to ask what is that state doing; if the Parliament is accepted,
then its decisions has to be seen... All these things are connected to
each other, and we have all these things only on paper. I respect Rugova
for his well-intentioned efforts to achieve the freedom of this people
with peaceful means, but this policy proved incapable to force the Serb
regime to stop the repression in Kosova. Dealing with politics and avoiding
the fact that KLA is the main and the most important factor, and on the
other hand, declare as the main policy the one that has scored only failures,
then this means that personal interests are more important than the general
ones, and such a policy is dedicated to fail. Therefore, I cannot be engaged
in any project where Rugova takes part, because he makes the cooperation
impossible. In addition, the Coalition Government is a failed concept,
merely because of this reason.
KD: Thus, you don't want to participate in the negotiations?
Demaçi: I have no intention to be part of a negotiating group with Rugova or his other groups. They give no guarantees for finding a solution.
KD: If Rugova starts the conversations and, on the other hand, he appoints the Government of Kosova, what would you do then?
Demaçi: We have no intention to prevent Rugova or to take over his apparatus. Whoever wishes can get involved in conversations, and we can't nor do we want to cause any obstacles. However, we believe that Rugova, since he has not the support of the main force in Kosova, will not succeed and I believe that those who have supported and continue supporting Rugova will realize that this is no solution.
KD: Then, what are your plans?
Demaçi: My plan is to make great efforts,
to consult people, to talk to Albanians, Serbs, Americans and Europeans
and with all those that we must talk to, so we can approximate the three
factors that are key for the solution of the Kosova problem: the Serb regime,
as the generator of the conflict in Kosova that is trying to impose its
solution of subjugation and capitulation, the KLA which with its heroic
will is successfully fighting in order to prevent the application of a
capitulating policy and the last factor, the international community, led
by the USA, which is more advanced than the European countries.
Therefore, we will try to convince our friends
that Rugova's politics is overcome. Now, new conditions for a new politics
have been created, for a new support, to give up on the many compromises
that USA and Europe are making respectively and which the Albanian people
is paying. We must make the big power, as USA is, to get engaged in a creative
and constructive way, with all its potential, for finding a solution that
would be accordance with the will of the Albanian people.
KOSOVA (Demaçi writes to KLA)
"Thank you very much for your full trust"
Prishtina, 14 August (ARTA)1600CET--
"Dear Sirs of the KLA Headquarters ,
I deeply thank you for your full trust. Your
confidence is extremely important and it will be a great incitement to
my further efforts for the solution of the Albanian-Serb crisis.
...When you, the KLA, set your full trust on
a person like me, this is the most apparent testimony that, you have not
taken the weapons stimulated by the hatred and chauvinism against any nation,
but that you are facing the death led by the unlimited love for our always-suffering
people, as well as for all the other people of the world.
...Respectable Sirs, your demand addressed to
me, to leave the party, is just. This indicates your high awareness, that
you are determined not to allow yourselves become a weapon of any ideology
or party, but you have committed yourself to be in the service of free
citizens, equal and democratic", it is stated among others in the response
of Adem Demaçi addressed to KLA General Headquarters.
KOSOVA (war in Kosova)
Shelling in Drenica
Drenica, 14 August (ARTA) 2100CET--
The local CDHRF in Gllogoc informs that yesterday,
the police shelled the villages Kishnarekë, Nekoc, and part of the
Berisha mountains from Komoran village.
There are no data on the killed, but it is stated
that the material damage is substantial.
12 Albanians killed and over 50 wounded
Deçan, 14 August (ARTA) 2100CET--
According to information issued by Osman Cacaj,
head of the Information Commission of the LDK in Deçan, during the
Serb offensive over the villages of this municipality on 11 and 12 August,
the police and military as well as paramilitary forces killed 12 and wounded
50 Albanians.
Meanwhile, according to the same source, during
the last Serb offensive in the villages of the municipality of Deçan,
Serbs forces have burnt 1208 houses.
It is stated that Serb forces burnt 38 houses
in Dubravë, 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 in Rastavicë.
Fighting in Junik and the border
Gjakovë, 14 August (ARTA) 2100CET--
Last night and today, according to the sources
from the ground, fighting took place in Junik and the bordering zones.
There was sporadic shooting in the villages of Rekë e Keqe.
It is stated that yesterday's fighting in the
villages of Deçan were of lower intensity than in the past days,
especially in the villages that border with Gjakovë municipality.
There is also information that in some villages
of Has, the police has called "civilians to give-in their weapons", otherwise
they will suffer severe consequences.
The displacement of the population continues
with the same intensity in town as well as the suburbs of the town of Gjakovë.
Finding shelter for these people is very difficult, and there is lack of
food and medicine.
KOSOVA (shooting – Suharekë)
Shooting around Bllacë and Sllapuzhan
Suharekë, 14 August (ARTA) 1615CET--
Different caliber arms' bursts, were heard throughout
the night in the zone between the villages Bllacë and Sllapuzhan,
Albanian sources from Suharekë notify. The shootings were of increased
intensity in the direction of the village of Bllacë. The same sources
have no confirmation about the eventual victims or about the material damages,
however they inform that the looting and the destroying of the Albanian
houses in the village of Bllacë, is still continuing.
Some times, some of the locals take the risk
of going to the houses in the periphery, to take the flour they find, thus
risking their life as they are under the constant target of the Serb police
and army.
The situation in the town has became somewhat
calmer, but it seems to be a false tranquility, because the numerous Serb
policemen have the streets of the town under a strict control, as the police
and military convoy cruising have now become everyday sights.
Today, after a month and a half, daily press
finally arrived in Suharekë. Although in limited number of copies,
it fulfills the immediate need for information.
KOSOVA (police/military movements – Mitrovicë)
Military\police forces headed in the direction
of Stantërg
Mitrovicë, 14 August (ARTA) 1600CET--
Increased military force movements were evidenced
in the town of Mitrovicë today. 4 APCs, 1 mine launcher, 1 terrain
vehicle and a truck loaded with Serb soldiers, departed from the military
barrack in Frashër, at around 0930CET. Whereas, 1 tank, 2APCs equipped
with mine launchers, 7 trucks and one container, took off from the military
barrack in Mitrovicë at around 1100CET, and went in the direction
of Stantërg, from where they got positioned in the military base in
the village Kutlloc i Shalës së Bajgorës.
On the other hand, Tafil Prokoshi, from Runikë
(municipality of Skënderaj), was arrested on 11 August, near "Polet"
in Mitrovicë. Nothing else is known about him ever since.
The situation in the town of Mitrovicë,
like the two previous days, remains chaotic. The Serb police beats, harasses
and arrests everyone who dares to go out in the town.
KOSOVA (raids – Kamenicë)
LDSH documentation confiscated
Kamenicë, 14 August (ARTA) 1730CET--
State Security in Kamenicë arrested two
members of local LDSH presidency, Fejzullah Kastrati and Fejzullah Hasani,
secretary. As LDSH sources claim, yesterday they were kept under custody
from 0900CET through 1600CET and during this time, they were interrogated
about the activity of this party and its program.
Meanwhile the police confiscated the documents
of the Party, while the above-mentioned persons were told to show up again
in the police station, for "informative talks ".
KOSOVA (shooting – Podujevë)
Bursts of automatic weapons were heard in
the town
Podujevë, 14 August (ARTA) 1800CET--
Today at 1530CET, near the Health Station in
Podujevë, bursts of automatic weapons were heard. According to information
sources in Podujevë, similar bursts have been heard also in the surroundings
of the town, which has caused a certain amount of anxiety among the inhabitants
of this region.
The movement of Serb troops from Serbia to Kosova
and vice-versa, has continued also today. According to these information
sources, this is the exchange of shifts of military and police forces and
not their withdrawal.
KOSOVA (torture – Prizren)
Adem Berisha in coma due to the inhumane tortures
and the electric shock
Prizren, 14 August (ARTA) 1700CET--
Adem Berisha (37), from the village of Buqe,
arrested yesterday by the Serb police, is now in the hospital in Prizren.
Due to the inhumane tortures and the electric shock he was subjected to,
he ended up in the intensive care department in a state of coma. His body
is covered with bruises, caused by the tortures.
On the other hand, the presidency of the Parliamentarian
Party of Kosova branch in Prizren, evaluated in today's meeting that the
political and the security situation in Prizren and the surrounding is
still very tense, as a result of Serb police, military and paramilitary
provocations.
The creation of the third so-called negotiating
group by Rugova, is another political failure in the chain of the failures
committed so far, this presidency evaluated. In addition, the KLA General
Headquarters’ statement on the full support to Adem Demaçi to speed
up the formation of the state institutions, was evaluated as politically
positive.
KOSOVA (reaction of the Islamic Union - Rahovec)
The Islamic Union in Rahovec protests against
arrest of religious leaders
Prizren, 14 August (ARTA) 1700CET--
Serb community and paramilitary, beside the violence
applied against, arrests and killing of innocent civilians, of women, elderly
and children, didn't spare the religious leaders of the Albanian people.
The target of this violence were also the religious shrines, the most often
being the mosques. In view of these events, the Presidency of the Islamic
Union in Rahovec issued a communiqué protesting against the killing
of innocent civilians in Rahovec, especially Sheh Myhedin, the wounding
of the imam of the Central Mosque in Rahovec, Shani Sylka and finally the
arrest of the Sokol Mosque, Imam Kadri Dërguti.
While the Islamic Union requests the liberation
of the religious leaders, on the other hand the Regional Prison in Prizren
has denied all relatives and attorneys the right to visit the arrested.
KOSOVA (Rugova’s press conference)
Rugova: Concrete talks - after the end of
the offensive
Prishtina, 14 August (ARTA) 2100CET--
"This Serb offensive should stop and a convenient
climate for concrete talks should be created", declared Dr. Ibrahim Rugova,
in his regular press conference, when asked when is the first negotiating
session expected to take place, now that the Albanian negotiating team
is created.
Despite the journalists’ interest for more details,
now after the announcement of the Albanian negotiating team and KLA pronunciation
concerning the political process, this question remained the only one in
today's conference. President Rugova rushed out of the room, leaving behind
many unanswered questions, precisely in times when the Kosova Albanian
political scene is in chaos.
KOSOVA (CDHRF report on abductions)
About 800 people missing and abducted
Prishtina, 14 August (ARTA) 2040CET--
CDHRF in Prishtina, has registered the missing
and abduction of over 800 persons ever since 22 January. The kidnapped
and the missing are of different age, starting from infants to elderly,
there are even entire Albanian families registered. According to the CDHRF,
the Serb police or army kidnapped these persons. Among the kidnapped registered
in CDHRF, there are 20 Serbs, reported to the Council by their relatives.
Nothing is known about the majority of these
people. Some of them are believed to be in Serb prisons as the others are
believed to be trapped inside their homes or other areas, following Serb
offensives.
The renewed information, telling about the kidnapping
and missing as well as the general chaotic situation in Kosova, make it
very difficult to talk about the precise number of the missing or kidnapped.
17 missing persons were registered in CDHRF from the region between Deçan
and Gjakovë, during this week. The Council also informs that in the
beginning of this month, they received an information that 88 people along
with their families (about 250 persons), were being held hostage in Laushë
(Skënderaj mun.).
According to reliable sources, there is another
list, which should contain more precise data about the whereabouts of the
kidnapped and the missing people. According to this list, the 620 Albanians,
are actually being kept under arrest. Whereas, according to this list,
140 Serbs and 10 Albanians are missing.
On the other hand, the international organizations,
whose mandate is to trace the kidnapped and the missing, do not want to
issue any data about the precise number and the whereabouts of the Albanian
missing and kidnapped in Kosova.
KOSOVA (asylum-seekers – Germany)
The number of asylum-seekers from Kosova increases
Bonn, 14 August (ARTA) 2030CET--
The number of the asylum-seekers during the month
of July has increased compared to the previous month.
In a communiqué issued by the Ministry
of Interior, it is claimed that during the month of July only, 8.484 persons
have applied for political asylum, which is 7.9 percent more than the month
of June. The majority of the asylum applicants come from "Yugoslavia" (3.002)
and from Turkey (1.076). Out of those that have a "Yugoslav" passport and
come from this area, 87.5 percent are Albanians from Kosova, it is stated
among others in this communiqué. According to this communiqué,
the number of the asylum seekers that come from Kosova has increased for
about 50 percent ever since May!
However, compared to the same period last year,
the number of asylum seekers has decreased 16.8 percent.
KOSOVA (new Albanian negotiating team – reactions
Prishtina)
The creation of the new group: Good - unclear
- schismatic!
Prishtina, 14 August (ARTA) 2115CET--
The publication of the list of the new negotiating
group was evaluated differently by the political subjects in Kosova. The
parties that are represented in this group, respectively the parliamentarian
parties, give a complete support to this last initiative, since the President
of the Republic himself initiated it. On the other hand, the non-parliamentarian
parties claim that this decision of the Albanian leadership, presents a
salvation for Milosevic.
The LDK vice-chairman, Naim Jerliu, explains
the creation of the negotiating Group as "an action that once more proves
the Albanian's side readiness to approach the solution of the Kosova problem
using political means. The publication of this group, was currently also
imposed as a need of the international community, to provide Kosova with
its own negotiating group in order to start the negotiations with Belgrade,
about which the international community was intensively engaged. However
this also comes as a result of the disintegration of the former negotiating
group", claimed Jerliu.
On the other hand, the vice-chairman of Kosova's
Parliamentarian Party, Bajram Kosumi, emphasized that the creation of the
new negotiating group is a very unexpected and unclear move. In a statement
for "The Voice of America" in Albanian, Kosumi states that "I cannot understand,
the influence and political connotation of the creation of a `G-15', then
`G-4', and now after the disintegration of the both, the formation of another
negotiating group. This group is composed of the people from one political
wing, what's more, politicians with autonomous `mortgage'". In fact, the
PPK vice-chairman thinks that "Rugova, has formed the group of one political
wing, since he is no longer capable of forming a team that includes the
entire Albanian political specter. Actually, he should understand that:
the one who opposes more than the half of the people cannot represent the
people".
The Albanian Christian Democratic Party of Kosova,
in its public pronunciation, evaluates that "the announcement of the negotiating
group, by the president, had to take place". The vice-chairman of this
party, Veli Bytyçi, highlighted that "all of those interested for
the well being of Kosova, should be inside this negotiating group, including
the parties or other groups that were not presented yesterday or at least
did not accept to participate in this negotiating group".
The steering board of UNIKOMB also expressed
a harsh stand concerning the creation of the negotiating group. Its vice-chairman,
Afrim Morina, discussing about the very difficult and decisive moments
for the Kosova Albanian people, believes that "to give up the coalition
Government, when for the first time we had the international support for
such a step, is unforgivable, very dangerous and an added contribution
for the disintegration in Kosova".
BAJRAM CURRI, August
14 (ata) - By Riza Hoxha:
Eighteen was the number of the wounded who reached
the district of Tropoje last Thursday. The injured crossed the border point
of Padesh following fighing these days near the border, the director of
health sector of Tropoje, Yllka Cela told ATA.
According to Cela,
two of the wounded are in a grave state and have been flown to Tirane,
three others have been released from the hospital and 13 others are being
treated in the hospital without any risk for their lives.
The district council
secretary Isa Kiliqi said that the refugees are being registered, with
325 people registered yesterday alone, out of a total of 600 who have crossed
the border in the recent days. He added that the situation today is calmer
with no Kosovars coming on this side of the border. /a.ke/das/xh/
Special care for pupils coming from Kosove
TIRANE, August
14 (ATA) - By P Shuteriqi:
The influx of the refugees from Kosove as a result
of the fighting there is being accompanied with the adoption of emergent
measures by the Albanian Ministry of Education and Science for a good beginning
of the school year.
According to polls,
said to ATA on Friday Vaso Qano, chief of cabinet in Ministry of Education
and Science, there are nearly 1 560 youngsters and children at school age
in the district of Tropoje.
This contingent
of pupils, he said, "is listed and divided according to grades with the
help of the educational department of the district." But the teams that
MES has sent to Tropoje have found that there are lots of damaged schools
in that districrt, and school buildings lacking most basic instruments
for normal classes. There are also many teaching instruments, satchels,
school books, notebooks and other things that are also lacking.
In order to ensure
a normal school year for 1998-1999, MES has adopted efficient measures
for 5 000 pupils of Tropoje and for the 1 500 others coming from Kosove.
The Ministry of Education of Austria has promised to bring within September
the necessary contingent of school tables while through UNICEF and SOROS
work is going on to provide these pupils with school books and other didactic
instruments. /a.ke/das/xh/
France supports beginning of negotiating process for an acceptable solution to crisis in Kosove
TIRANE, August
14 (ata) - The President of Albania, Rexhep Meidani, met Friday with
the Ambassador of France in Skopje, Huntcinger and special envoy for the
situation in Kosove, to whom he voiced his gratitude for the interest and
efforts of France to solve the crisis in Kosove.
The President's
press and information office told ATA that Meidani said in the meeting
that Albania has backed up the efforts of the Contact Group and of the
international community in general to find a realistic and democratic solution
to the question of Kosove, but in the conditions of the Serb repression
and military violence, this perspective is still not coming into life.
"A broad international
presence and a continuous international pressure on Belgrade is needed
so that war and ethnic cleansing in Kosove be stopped," said Meidani.
President Meidani
explained that Albania is resolute to cooperate with U.S. and the Contact
Group and is willing to effectively face the internal problems and to ensure
full stability in the country. In this context, he pointed out Albania's
fruitful cooperation with the international community to ensure a domestic
economic stability, to face with the influx of the people displaced from
Kosove and to ease any internal political tension.
The French special
envoy briefed Albanian President Meidani of his contacts with the political
leaders of Kosove, stressing the support of his country for the beginning
of the negotiating process for an acceptable solution to the crisis in
Kosove.
Also present in
the meeting was the French Ambassador in Tirane, Patrick Chrismant. /a.ke/das/xh/
U.S. embassy in Tirane guarded amidst high security measures
TIRANE, August
14 (ata) - By Ylli Pata:
The Embassy of the United States in Tirane continues
to be guarded amidst high security both in its inner premises and in the
territory round it, according to an order issued by the U.S. State Department
for a greater security in the U.S. embassies in every country of the world.
Also on Friday,
the location of the U.S. diplomatic representation was being guarded by
special units of the Albanian Ministry of Public Order which were serving
outside the territory of the embassy, while the internal premises of the
embassy were being guarded by the embassy staff.
Today all activity
of the embassy was suspended, one of the Service Guard workers in the U.S.
embassy in Tirane told ATA. The U.S. State Department has ordered the temporary
suspension of work in its diplomatic representations in some countries
of the world, including Albania.
More security
was immediately demanded following the grave incidents in two African states,
in Kenya and Tanzania in the past week, in which as a result of the explosions
in the U.S. embassies in those two countries, 257 people lost their lives
and around 5 thous and people were injured. das/xh/
US closes Tirana embassy
The United States has suspended normal operations
at its embassy in the Albanian capital, Tirana, because of possible attacks.
The measure follows reports that US officials
were involved in the arrests of suspected Islamic activists.
The State Department is also evacuating family
members and non-essential personnel from Albania.
From the newsroom of the BBC World Service
APPEAL
FOR THE URGENT ESTABLISHMENT
OF A UNITED LEADERSHIP OF ALBANIANS IN KOSOVA
The
presidency of the Kosova Helsinki Committee (KHC) expresses its deep concern
and disappointment with the on-going lack of unity and divisions of the
Kosova Albanian factor that continues to make impossible the establishment
of an united and comprehensive political representation of all relevant
forces of Albanians in Kosova.
The
presidency of the KHC therefore considers it an imperative that such a
joint political and national leadership of Kosova be formed, whether it
be in the form of a Government of National Unity, or in the form of a National
Council of Kosova, or in any other form of a functioning compromise, but
uncontested and with the credibility to speak with one voice, convincingly
and decisively, including in it the appropriate representation of the Kosova
Liberation Army (KLA). In such a Leadership, there should be place and
roles for all relevant political factors, parliamentary and/or non-parliamentary,
without intentions for political monopolization or other political exclusivism.
Every
further delay in the urgent need for the establishment of the joint and
uncontested leadership of Albanians in Kosova, compromises seriously Kosovar
political subjects, proportionally with their importance, weight and role
that they currently have within the Kosova Albanian factor; it compromises
them in the eyes of the international factor as well as in that of the
Albanian people and places political (ir)responsibility of historic proportions
on them. It can arguably and partially provide the justification pretext
to the Serbian side for continuing their military and police offensive
against the KLA and Albanian civilian population of Kosova, and within
this framework for their further victimization and suffering.
Such
a joint and uncontested representation of Albanians would enable and amplify
the demands addressed at international fora for their active involvement
in bringing about an immediate cessation of the Serbian offensive in Kosova
i.e. for an immediate cease-fire. Such a development could move the on-going
process of armed confrontation to political tracks of restarting Yugoslav-Albanian
negotiating process, with direct and vigorous international mediation and
arbitration. Otherwise the dramatic ordeal and the large scale consequences
affecting currently over quarter of a million Albanian refugees and internally
displaced persons are likely to continue.
Intentions
of any of the Albanian political factors to profit in any way in achieving
political positioning in this critical period that it could exploit in
the future, would be miserable and bloody and would carry a historic responsibility
that would equal the crime itself. The supreme national and political priority
for the overall Kosova Albanian political subject should actually be the
peaceful negotiation of an appropriate and favorable political status for
Kosova, and avoiding an unequal war and ethnic cleansing of Albanians,
which already has assumed dramatic proportions along with other types of
destruction and carnage. By achievement of a prior and principled agreement
it should be enabled that political positions of the Kosovar political
subjects be determined in future free and fair elections, non improvised
and internationally monitored, but, only once the status issue of Kosova
would have been resolved.
Failure,
postponement and delay of the Albanian factor to unite in one joint and
united leadership, well coordinated and co-responsible in the supreme role
of assuming national leadership in Kosova, indirectly and unintentionally,
but certainly, would result in joint responsibility for great victims of
the criminal campaign of Serbian forces in Kosova. They could condition
also an ominous silence and lack of actions by the international community
and could provide a sickening justification to this campaign of reprisals
of the Serbian forces over the Albanian civilian population. Such an attitude
could also provide the justification to certain international circles to
tacitly agree with Serbian drives for hitting, weakening and even destroying
the Albanian factor in Kosova and of the KLA particularly, even if that
is accompanied with collective reprisals of the entire Albanian population.
This could all the more be the case due to some earlier fully inappropriate
and undiplomatic statements of the KLA, from the international political
perspective very damaging for the issue of Kosova, which were formulated
in the sense of objectives of the KLA for unification of claimed ethnic
Albanian territories.
The
fierce Serbian offensive has already resulted in a brutal ethnic cleansing
of the Bosnian type and has emptied five smaller towns of Kosova, Dechan,
Glogovac, Malisheva, Skenderaj and Rahovec besides dozens of villages.
It continues to aim an 'iron and fire' pacification of the Drenica region
and of the border belt with Albania. As consequences of these Serbian attacks
on the Albanain population and the KLA, the Albanain political factor will
likely suffer serious weakening that will be reflected in the future negotiating
process which is inevitable, sooner or later, before or after the killings,
victimizations and sufferings and further destruction in Kosova. Illusions
that the issue of Kosova can be resolved militarily, which have been cultivated
to a certain extent also by some media and individuals, could prove to
be highly dangerous, especially for the Albanian side.
The
KHC remains convinced that the issue of Kosova is an international issue
of crucial importance for the South-East Balkans that can not be resolved
by force and military means. It can instead only through internationally
mediated and arbitrated political negotiations and within the framework
of an intensive Dayton-like process.
Having
this in mind, the Kosova Helsinki Committee appeals to the Kosova Albanian
political factor, i.e. to all relevant political and national forces, for
an urgently needed unity in the formation of an United National Leadership
of Kosova and of responsible and efficient political behaviour, including
the KLA. At the same time the KHC appeals to the KLA as well, to come out
without further delay in this critical circumstances of the fierce Serbian
offensive and as soon as possible, with its expected positioning on its
appropriate participation in this Leadership and its anticipated role in
it.
Otherwise
continuations of divisions, disunity and inability to come to a United
Kosova Albanian Leadership will indirectly albeit unwontedly and
unconsciously to help the aggression of Serbian forces in against the population
of Kosova and will lead to a tragedy and humanitarian catastrophe of a
grand national scale. The Kosova Helsinki Committee is deeply convinced
that with achieving political unity, some of the main Kosovar political
subjects might loose their aspired political monopoly or primacy in the
imagined and simulated authority in the given circumstances in Kosova,
but, in fact, with unity will inevitably and certainly win the issue of
Kosova and Albanians generally.
Prishtina
Dr.Gazmend Pula
Aug.6, 1998
Chairman
_______________________________________________________________________
The Kosova Helsinki Committee for Human Rights
(KHC) is a non/governmental organizations which monitors compliance with
human rights provisions of the Helsinki Final Act and its follow-up documents.
It is a Regular Member of the International Helsinki Federation for Human
Rights (IHF) based in Vienna.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
URGENT ACTION - THE OBSERVATORY
YUG 001 / 9808 / OBS 057
Arrest - Detention - Torture
Yugoslavia
August 11 1998
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the FIDH and OMCT, requests your URGENT intervention regarding the following situation in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
Brief description of the situation :
The Observatory has just been informed by the
Council for Defence of Human Rights and Freedoms in Prishtina («
the Council »), a member of FIDH, and by Human Rights Watch of the
arrest and detention of Mr. Destan Rukiqi, member of the Council, who was
arrested on July 23rd, 1998, in Kosovo.
Mr. Destan Rukiqi, a
47-year old human rights activist and lawyer, had been working on several
human rights cases and had provided information on war crimes, committed
by Serbian special police forces in Drenica, to the International War Crimes
Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in The Hague.
According to the information
received, Mr. Destan Rukiqi was sentenced the day of his arrest, on July
23rd, to a maximum of sixty days for disturbing public order (under Article
6, paragraph 3 of the Serbian Law on Public Order). He is the attorney
of Mr. Con Bugolli, a political prisoner and victim of the Serbian repression.
The morning of his arrest, when Mr. Rukiqi was examining the case of his
client, he was prohibited from copying his client's declaration before
District Judge Mrs. Marinkovic, which is authorised by law. After quarrelling
with the judge, he was immediately brought to trial, sentenced to two months
of imprisonment and sent to jail. He was denied recourse to appeal this
sentence and was imprisoned before the sentence entered into force.
Furthermore, Mr. Destan
Rukiqi was denied access to all legal counsel and his lawyers have learnt
that he has been subject to torture.
On July 30th, Mr. Destan
Rukiqi was reportedly taken from the Lipjan prison to the Nephrological
Clinic of the Prishtina University Hospital because he was suffering from
serious kidney injuries, after having been beaten. According to his wife,
he is in serious condition and is on dialysis.
On August 6th, Mr. Destan
Rukiqi was sent to Belgrade; however, it has not been possible to determine
whether he is held at the hospital of the central jail of Belgrade or at
another hospital in Belgrade. The administration of the Prishtina jail
has refused to communicate any information regarding Mr. Rukiqi's whereabouts.
Furthermore, the Observatory would like to recall that the administrations
of the Prishtina jail and hospital have prohibited Mr. Rukiqi from receiving
visits from his family and lawyers since his imprisonment.
The Observatory is gravely
concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of Mr. Destan Rukiqi
and recalls that, prior to his detention, he was in perfect health.
Moreover this situation
occurs in the context of the development of arbitrary arrests in the last
weeks in parallel with the armed offensive of the Serbian forces. Among
the persons arrested are many human rights defenders, particularly from
the Council for the Defence of Human Rights and Freedoms in Prishtina,
such as : Mr Xhevat HAZIRI, President of the Council’s section in Vitija,
Mr. Besim ZYMBERI and Mr. Skender FERIZI, members of the Council’s section
in Ferizaj.
It is now confirmed
that the persons arrested are systematically subjected to torture. This
has been the case of Mr. Rexhep BISLIMI, member of the Council’section
in Ferizaj, who reportedly died following torture on 21 July last.
Other harassments and
threats to defenders such as illegal house searching or ill-treatments
on their families, are increasingly being reported.
Actions requested :
Please write to the Yugoslavian authorities
urging them to:
i.-guarantee at all times the physical and psychological integrity of Mr. Destan Rukiqi and locate his whereabouts; guarantee also the security of all other defenders such as Mr. Xhevat Haziri, Mr. Besim Zymberi and Mr. Skender Ferizi;
ii.-proceed to their immediate release if they are being held without any valid charges or, should the case be the contrary, ensure their right to a fair and impartial trial as well as their procedural rights;
iii.-ensure a thorough and complete investigation into the arrest and torture of Mr. Destan Rukiqi, as well as into the death of Mr.Rexhep Bislimi, in order to identify those responsible, bring them to trial and apply the civil, penal and/or administrative sanctions as provided by law;
iv.-in general, ensure the right to all human rights non-governmental organisations and their members, to freely pursue their activities in favour of human rights and conform their actions to all human rights and fundamental freedoms as established in international standards.
Addresses:
His Excellency Slobodan Milosevic
President of The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Fax: (+ 38 111) 636 775 / 682 / 167 E-mail :
slobodan.milosevic@gov.yu
Minister Zivadin Jovanovic, Minister of Foreign
Affairs
Fax : (+ 38 111) 612 905
Minister Zoran Sokolovic, Minister of Internal
Affairs,
Fax : (38 111) 683 041 ; e-mail : Zoran.Sokollovic@gov.yu
Minister Zoran Knezevic, Minister of Justice,
Fax : (38 111) 636 775, e-mail : Zoran.Knezevic@gov.yu
Geneva - Paris, August 11, 1998
Please inform the Observatory of any action undertaken
by quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.
The Observatory, an FIDH and OMCT venture, is
dedicated to the protection of Human Rights
Defenders and aims to offer them concrete support
in their time of need.
To contact the Observatory, call the emergency
Line: Fax: 33 (0) 1 40 39 22 42
Tel.: FIDH 33 (0) 1 48 05 82 46 OMCT: + 41 22
733 31 40
E-mail: observatoire@iprolink.ch
_______________________________________
Greek Helsinki Monitor & Minority Rights
Group - Greece
P.O. Box 51393 GR-14510
Kifisia Greece
Tel. +30-1-620.01.20
Fax +30-1-807.57.67
e-mail: office@greekhelsinki.gr
http://www.greekhelsinki.gr
Kosovo: War, Mass Expulsion,
Massacres
A Report By The Society For Threatened Peoples
August 1998
- - Summary -
In Kosovo, the Milosevic regime is making war with the non-Serbian people of former Yugoslavia for the fourth time. Until 1989, Kosovo, which has a population of more than 90 per cent Albanians, was an autonomous area inside former Yugoslavia, and politically equal to the six republics. Immediately after he took over power, Milosevic abolished this status of autonomy. Kosovo was subject to rigid policies of serbianisation. The Kosovo Albanians have continued a non-violent resistence to these policies for years, and hoped for help from outside to achieve self-determination again. However, after the Dayton Conference, the governments of the so-called Bosnian Contact Group (with the exception of the USA) recognised the new "Federal Republic of Yugoslavia", without considering the interests of the Albanians. In this way they created the facts of international law which are allegedly making intervention in the "internal affairs" of Serbia impossible today, which means intervention in the war against two million Kosovo Albanians by the Milosevic regime.
Preparations For War
The war against the Kosovo Albanians has been
being prepared by the Milosevic regime for a long time. The first
signs occured already at the end of 1997. On 11 February 1998 at
a press conference in Novi Sad representatives of opposition parties in
Vojvodina pointed out that they had "incontrovertible evidence" that the
army was being mobilised for war in Kosovo.
On 5 March 1998, shortly after the outbreak of
the fighting, UNHCR speaker Mons Nyberg protested against the recruitment
of Serbian refugees from Croatia for military service in Kosovo, in opposition
to international humanitarian law.
In June 1998, members of the Hungarian minority
from Vojvodine confirmed to the Society for Threatened Peoples that more
that three hundred soldiers were in operation in Kosovo against their will.
The strength of the Serbian forces is estimated at up to 50,000 men, the
cost of the war is estimated at two million US dollars daily. In addition,
the Serbian troops in Kosovo are running looted Dutch APCs, stolen in July
1995 from the Dutch UNPROFOR who were stationed in Srebrenica.
The Course Of War
The war began on 28 February 1998 with the massacres in the Drenica region and extended quickly. The war in central Kosovo started in the middle of June, the fighting intensified in the regions of Mitrovica and Prizren in the middle of July, and on 14 July Serbian troops were observed in the south, in the region of Opoje on the border to Macedonia. On 19 July, the Serbian troops fired numerous grenades into the territory of the neighbouring state of Albania. On 25 July the Serbian troops finally started their large offensive in central Kosovo. During the attacks, they went forward directly against the civilians. Two people from the Yugoslavian Army who surrendered to the "Kosovo Liberation Army", UCK, told the OSCE that they received such commands.
Refugees
The number of refugees is increasing constantly. From the beginning of March until the beginning of July, there were 160,000 people in flight, according to estimates by the GfbV. Albanian aid organisations give a figure of 200,000 refugees already on 16 July. On 29 July, the Kosovo relief organisation, Mother Theresa, in Malisheva estimated the figure of inland refugees to be 263,000. International organisations are warning of a humanitarian tragedy. Already in June 1998 Charles Raedersdorf, the leader of the Swiss relief agency, SKH, called for urgent preparations for the breakout of winter which is to be expected in the middle of October.
The Plan Of The Attacks
The attacks follow a system which reminds one
of every attack during the Bosnian War. They frequently begin with
a surprise attack at dawn which is carried out using heavy weapons such
as rockets and grenades. Then snipers are positioned who restrict
freedom of movement of the civilian population. As a result, many civilians
hide themselves in the woods and return to their houses by night in order
to receive necessities for their survival. Finally heavily armed troops
draw in who block all transport connections during the day. Under
their protection, special units in dark uniforms with machetes and "scorpion"
guns arrive in the area. These troops are supposed to carry out massacres.
After days or weeks of terror, the bombardments are increased further and
in addition continued into the night, until the population leaves the area.
Plundering follows. The houses are burnt to the ground. The
cattle are left uncared for or are killed.
According to statistics from the GfbV, between
the beginning of March and the end of July 1998, more than two hundred
and fifty Albanian villages were attacked by the Serbian forces, bombarded
with heavy artillery and partly or completely destroyed. According
to the US human rights organisation, Physicians for Human Rights, women
were imprisoned and raped. Some women are said to be "missing" thereafter.
The GfbV estimates that at least 1,000 people had been killed by the end
of July.
Massacres And Mass Shootings
Since the offensive in the Drenica region at the beginning of March, the Serbian forces (Serbian special police, the Yugoslavian Army, and paramilitary "Chetnik" troops under the leadership of the alleged war criminals, Zeljko Raznjatovic "Arkan" and Vojislav Seselj) have committed severe violations of human rights against the Albanian population. During the massacres in Qirez/Cirez, Likoshan/Likosan, Prekaz, Glogjan/Glodjan, Zhara, Drenoc, Lubeniq/Ljubenic, Poklek i Ri near Glogovc/Glogovac, Padesh in the mountains near Decan, and during the storming of the town of Raho- vec/Orahovac, whole families were executed, pregnant women, elderly people and children were killed, men were hung up on electricity pilons and hand grenades were thrown into cellars housing refugees. The Albanian human rights organisation, Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF), in Prishtina, the Serbian human rights organisation, Humanitarian Law Fund (HLF), in Belgrade, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Physicians for Human Rights and UN investigators have submitted first documentations of the events on the basis of local investigations and witness statements. The UN War Crimes Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in the Hague started investigations into crimes in Kosovo on 12 June 1998.
Camps
Some reports say that prisoners are being held temporarily, tortured and probably executed in the Serbian forces headquarter "Munitions Factory" in Skenderaj/Srbica. According to statements by the Greek Helsinki Committee and by Human Rights Watch, again and again refugees have named the secondary school and the "Dekor" building in the now destroyed town of Decan as an internment camp for Albanian men. In the prison in Gjilan/Gnilane, Albanian prisoners were apparently so seriously mistreated that one was able to hear their cries of pain from the street. The whole area of Kosovo is under the control of Serbian forces who have erected a comprehensive network of checkpoints on all streets, important crossroads, train stations, bus stops, and arterial roads in the towns and villages. Men of military age in particular are being pulled out of buses and trains incessantly (predominantly by the Serbian forces, but also by the Kosovo Albanian guerilla army, the UCK) and during the conquering of towns and villages are being arrested and mistreated, as well as imprisoned and abducted.
Missing Persons
While about 400 Albanians are missing without
a trace on the one hand, on the other hand, again and again, corpses are
being found or being brought into morgues by the police under unexplained
circumstances, as well as being unidentified.
On 8 July 1998, in a dramatic appeal, the
Kosova Albanian human rights organisation Council for the Defence of Human
Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF) called on "all sides" to respect the Geneva
Conventions and release all prisoners. According to statements by
the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the fate of 130 Serbian
people remains unexplained.
The Humanitarian Situation
Since March 1998, the humanitarian situation in the whole area of Kosovo has been strained. Tens of thousands of refugees from the immediate areas of fighting must be cared for. The relief provided by international aid organisations is being seized or stopped and is not allowed to pass into the emergency areas. In twelve areas of Kosovo, mainly in the west and south west, the provision of food stuffs, medication and other relief goods have been partly or completely blocked since March. Electricity and water were also partly or completely broken down. The population in these areas was estimated to be 750,000 people in the middle of June, of which more than 100,000 are refugees. While the UCK controlled areas are hermetically encircled by the Serbian troops, the people in the Serbian areas are also living in an exceptional situation. Every move is watched by the Serbian snipers, no-one can enter or leave the area freely. Again and again, relief transports are turned back and workers in Albanian relief organisations are imprisoned for "supporting the enemy".
Human Rights Violations By the UCK
The Kosovo Albanian guerilla army, the Kosovo Liberation Front UCK, comprising 30,000 men according to their own statements in the middle of July, have declared that they respect international humanitarian law. Massacres and the employment of artillery against Serbian civilians are not known of until now. However, according to information presented to the GfbV, the UCK have been involved in hostage taking, mistreatment and disappearances of predominantly male Serbian civilians and non-combattants, even if not on the same scale as the Serbian forces. UCK speaker, Jakub Krasniqi confessed that the UCK have carried out executions, in the Albanian newspaper, Koha Ditore. On 8 July 1998, the Albanian human rights organisation, CDHRF claimed the number of Serbians missing was 32, while the ICRC spoke of 130 missing Serbians at the end of July. Apparently, elderly people and women are handled fairly by the UCK, while men of military age and allegedly Albanian "collaborators" are victims of human rights violations.
Appeal from the Society for Threatened Peoples (GfbV)
*The GfbV appeals to the governments of the so-called Bosnian Contact Group, in particular the German Government, to put a stop to the "ethnic cleansing" in Kosovo and to give the Serbian leadership an ultimatum. The Serbian forces must return to their barracks immediately and leave Kosovo within fourteen days, release all hostages and prisoners immediately, and allow relief organisations and representatives of the UN complete freedom of movement. If Milosevic ignores these demands, then NATO must prevent further attacks on the Albanian population in Kosovo.
* The GfbV appeals to the governments of the Contact Group to demand of the Albanian resistance movement, the UCK, the release of all hostages and prisoners, the punishment of all perpetrators of violence within the UCK, the explanation of the fate of all Serbian civilians whose disappearence is connected with the operations of the UCK, the end of the practice of condemning alleged "collaborators" without a far trial, as well as the respect of the cultural, historical and religious monuments and goods of the Serbian minority population in Kosovo.
* The GfbV asks the governments of the Contact Group to organise free and secret elections in Kosovo, under international control, to recognise the decision of this parliament about the future status of Kosovo in international law, and to guarantee the realisation of this decision, as well as to take care that the human and minority rights of the Serbian, Montenegrian, the Muslim Bosnian, Turkish and Roma peoples in Kosovo are protected by a minority statute.
The complete report (in German) can be obtained
from the Society for Threatened Peoples under the telephone number +49
551 4990611 or by email under versand@gfbv.de.
The English translation will be available in the end of August.
LINK to further press news
LINK to further press news_______________________________________________________________________
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