Tagesnachrichten 19. September 1998
     von dpa, from ALBANEWS and others
     News of the day - September 19, 1998
     Kosova Information Center : Daily Report No 1557

         Die Bibel sagt  -  The Bible says
 

If available you find on this page  -  Soweit verfügbar finden Sie auf dieser Seite     1. Meldungen von dpa    2. Remarks - Hints - Special informations    3. Reports about deportation and persons repatriated to Kosova  in deutsch und englisch     4. Daily Report from KIC  (Kosova Information Center)    5. news from ARTA  (Koha ditore)    6. news from RFE/RL NEWSLINE    7. news from Fr. Sava  (Decani Monastery)    8. Reports from Human Rights Organisations        especially CDHRF  (Council for the Defence of Human Rights and Freedoms, Prishtina)    9. news from ATA /ENTER  and so on  10. eventual additional press news  Link to Background-information  Link to earlier news - so far as room is given by my provider on the server  The Bible says  -  Die Bibel sagt

 

1. Meldungen von dpa

Meldung vom 19.09.1998 16:05  http://seite1.web.de/show/3603BA66.NL1/

Belgrad lehnt albanischen Plan für Übergangslösung im Kosovo ab
Belgrad/Pristina (dpa) Die serbische Regierung hat am Samstag einen albanischen Lösungsvorschlag für die Krise im Kosovo abgelehnt. Damit geht der Konflikt in der südserbischen Provinz weiter. Zunächst gab es aber keine Berichte von neuen Zwischenfällen. Das serbische Parlament wurde für den 28. September zu einer Sondersitzung über die Lage im Kosovo einberufen.
     Das Verhandlungsteam um den Anführer der Kosovo-Albaner, Ibrahim Rugova, stellte als Reaktion auf ein von den USA vorgelegtes Papier seinerseits einen Plan für eine friedliche Beilegung des Konflikts vor. Die 16 Punkte der angestrebten Übergangslösung sähen eine zeitlich begrenzte Selbstverwaltung mit internationalen Garantien vor, schrieb die albanischsprachige Zeitung «Bujku» in der Provinzhauptstadt Pristina.
     Grundlage von Rugovas Vorschlag ist ein albanischer Volksentscheid von 1990 über eine Unabhängigkeit des Kosovo, der aber weder von Serbien noch von anderen Staaten anerkannt wurde. Während einer zeitlich nicht definierten Übergangsperiode zur vollen Unabhängigkeit soll das Kosovo nach albanischer Auffassung mit den beiden jugoslawischen Bundesrepubliken Serbien und Montenegro gleichberechtig sein.
     Außerdem soll die Region ein selbstständiges Parlament, eine eigene Regierung, Notenbank, Gerichte und Polizei bekommen. Das entspricht der Verfassung von 1974, die das serbische Regime unter Slobodan Milosevic 1989 gewaltsam aufgehoben hatte.
     Belgrad lehnte jede Lösung ab, die über eine «Kulturautonomie» für die Kosovo-Albaner hinausgeht. «Kosovo ist und bleibt Teil Serbiens, und wir können nur über eine kulturelle und personelle Autonomie der Albaner reden», sagte der serbische Vizeregierungschef Tomislav Nikolic nach Berichten jugoslawischer Medien.
     Nikolic beschuldigte die Kosovo-Albaner, sie seien unfähig, zu verhandeln, weil unter einander zerstritten. Niemand wisse, wer wen vertrete. Sollte die albanische Seite Verhandlungen ablehnen, werde Serbien auch ohne sie ein Gesetz zur lokalen Selbstverwaltung verabschieden und Wahlen in der Provinz ausschreiben, sagte Nikolic einem Lokalsender in Jagodina.
     Rugovas Vorschlag sieht auch einen sofortigen Waffenstillstand, Abzug der serbischen Einheiten, Freilassung aller politischen Gefangenen und Straffreiheit für Teilnehmer der Kämpfe in der Provinz vor. Eventuelle Kriegsverbrecher sollen davon ausgenommen sein.
     In den heftigen Kämpfen im zentralen und nördlichen Teil Kosovos sind in den vergangenen Tagen nach serbischen Angaben mehr als zehn Untergrundkämpfer der UCK und zwei Polizisten getötet worden. Quellen der Kosovo-Albaner berichteten von «mehreren hundert» getöteten serbischen Soldaten.
© dpa

UCK berichtet von großen serbischen Verlusten im Kosovo
Belgrad/Pristina (dpa) Serbische Sicherheitskräfte sollen nach albanischen Berichten bei ihrer letzten Offensive im Kosovo schwere Verluste erlitten haben.
     In der nördlichen Region um Bajgorska Salja und im zentralen Drenica-Gebiet seien in dieser Woche `an die hunderte serbische Soldaten, darunter ausländische Söldner" getötet worden, gab der Hauptstab der albanischen Untergrundarmee UCK am Samstag bekannt.
     Das berichtete die Nachrichtenagentur Beta (Belgrad) aus der Kosovo-Hauptstadt Pristina. Unabhängige Quellen konnten diese Angaben zunächst nicht bestätigen.
© dpa

........

   Three months ago:

Contact Group Statement on Kosova, London/12 June 1998
   8.  The Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States confirmed their decision to implement the ban on new investment in Serbia and to freeze funds held abroad by the FRY and Serbian governments, and agreed to take steps to ban flights by Yugoslav carriers between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and their countries. Japan supported this approach and agreed to consider similar action. The Russian Federation does not associate itself with these measures.

Still there is no Stop of deportations ! - Immer noch kein Abschiebe-Stop !

Meldung vom 11.09.1998 19:07  http://seite1.web.de/show/35F958DA.NL1/

Flüchtlingsbeauftragter: Rückführung auf dem Landweg

Frankfurt am Main - Der Flüchtlingsbeauftragte der deutschen Regierung, Dietmar Schlee, hat darauf hingewiesen, daß nach dem JAT-Embargo eine Abschiebung der Kosovo-Flüchtlinge auch auf dem Landweg möglich sei.
Dabei vertraue die Regierung auf die Solidarität von Staaten wie Österreich und Ungarn, sagte Schlee im Hessischen Rundfunk.
Auch die noch bestehenden Flugverbindungen über London oder Athen seien nutzbar. Schlee bedauerte, daß sich Griechenland und Großbritannien nicht am EU-weiten Landeverbot beteiligten.
Aber wenn diese Länder meinten, rechtlich nicht anders zu können, «dann muß es doch eine Möglichkeit geben, über diese Flughäfen abzuschieben.
© dpa

......... 

Kennen Sie Fälle von Abschiebungen nach Kosova ? - Bitte senden Sie mir Ihren Bericht !
Do you know cases of deportations to Kosova ? - Please send me your report !

Postkarten schreiben ! -  Write postcards !

Postkarten schreiben ! -  Write postcards !

Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT # 1557
Prishtina, 19 September 1998

4 Albanians Killed, 9 Missing in Podujeva Villages in the Wake of Serb Onslaught
The fate of eight children of killed Albanian also unknown

PRISHTINA, Sept 19 (KIC) The consequences of the Serb onslaught in the village of Dobratin, 8 km north of Podujeva, are still to be determined.
Serb military shelled earlier this week from Dobratin the Shalë e Bajgorës region, straddling the municipalities of Mitrovica, Podujeva and Vushtrri.
Two Albanians were found killed earlier in Dobratin: Fetah Sefer Behrami (his body mutilated), resident of Kaçanoll village, and Maksut Rekaliu, native of Dobratin village.
Meanwhile, the bodies of two Albanians killed earlier this week during the Serb attacks were found today (Saturday) in the village of Kaçanoll of Shalë e Bajgorës region, one of them Jashar Behrami (28), the son of Fetah Behrami.
The Albanian houses have been looted, many of them burned and destroyed in Dobratin.
The fate of a number of local Albanians is unknown.
LDK forces in Podujeva said Ramadan Behrami (60), Muhamet Fazliu (36), Rrahim Ramadani (16), Ejup Sejdiu (36), Beqir Lepaja (26), Rrahim Lepaja (28), Haki Rekaliu (35) and Xhafer Ajvazi have gone missing.
The fate of eight children of the killed Fetah Behrami, whos house has been burned, is also unknown.
Some eye-witnesses, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Serb forces, while withdrawing from the Dobratin area, had a vehicle carrying several corpses.
Two cars, with which two of the missing persons had gone to the village to get their family members out, have been found burned.

Bodies of Two Albanians Found in Kaçanoll Village of Shalë e Bajgorës

PRISHTINA, Sept 19 (KIC) The bodies of two Albanians killed earlier this week during the Serb attacks have been reported found today in the village of Kaçanoll of Shalë e Bajgorës region.
LDK sources in Podujeva said one of them was Jashar Fetah Behrami (28), resident of Kaçanoll, whose father was slain by Serb forces in the neighboring village of Dobratin, municipality of Podujeva, earlier this week. The other killed Albanian has not been identified yet, LDK sources said.

Serb Forces Burn 17 Albanian Villages in Shalë e Bajgorës Region

PRISHTINA, Sept 19 (KIC) Seventeen Albanian villages have been burned and destroyed in the three days of Serb military shelling of the Shalë e Bajgorës region, an area in the triangle between Mitrovica, Podujeva and Vushtrri, LDK sources said Friday Serb forces have burned and destroyed 140 Albanian houses in Stari Tërg; 18 in the hamlet of Trepçali; 85 in Melenicë; 124 in Bare; 82 in Vidishiq 82; 66 in Reshan; 31 in Maxherë; 54 in Tërstenë; 46 in Mazhiq; 11 in Zjaqë; 25 in Zabërxhë; 32 in Kutllofc 32; 27 in Kovaçicë; 145 in Bajgorë; 59 in Kaçanoll; 40 in Selac; and 27 in the village of Dedi.
Thousands of Albanians of this region northwest of Prishtina have been living rough in the open in the mountains of Shalë e Bajgorës, with virtually no food, no medication, and no shelter.
Little children and pregnant women are said to be in a desperate situation up in the hills.
At least three Albanians have been killed in the Shalë region, local sources in Mitrovica said Friday without offering specifics.
Three others had been killed on Tuesday. Halim Ferizi (60), his son Enver Ferizi (38), and a visitor, Rizah Tahiri (55), resident of Selac village, were killed in the courtyard of Halim Ferizi's house in Stari Tërg.
Two Albanians were slain by Serb forces in the village of Dobratin, municipality of Podujeva, which is situated in the foot of the mountainous Shalë region.

A Bit Calmer Situation in Podujeva Area
Schools, closed down in the wake of Serb crackdown earlier this
week, will reopen on Monday

PRISHTINA, Sept 19 (KIC) The situation in the northern municipality of Podujeva was returning to some normality in the wake of the withdrawal of Serb military and police troops from the are of Dobratin, 8 km north of the town.
On Saturday, some people started going back to their homes in the villages of Bradash, Dobratin, Bajçinë, Pakashticë, which they had deserted in the week when the Serb military built up there and started shelling with heavy artillery in the direction of Shalë e Bajgorës region.
The victims of Serb terror were buried Friday afternoon in Dobratin, the village which saw many of its farmhouses looted, burned and destroyed by Serb troops.
A number of family compounds have been reported looted also in deserted villages which were not actually attacked by Serb troops.
Two members of the Kosova Parliament, Sabri Hamiti and Rexhep Gjergji, visited Podujeva on Saturday, and met with local people and activists in the area.
They called on the displaced population to return to their homes.
Local Albanian education authorities said schools, which were closed down in the wake of the Serb crackdown, will ne reopened Monday.

Two Boys Died, 4 Wounded in Still Unsolved Explusion, in Prizren

PRISHTINA, Sept 19 (KIC) Two Albanian teenagers died and four others were killed today at Leskovec village of Priozrn when a still unexplained devise exploded.
The LDK chapter in Prizren said the incident occured today at around middday at a laocation caled "Kodra e Livanit" (The Livani Knoll) near the village of residence of the victims.
Betim Xhema (14) and Behar Xhema (12), died at the spot, whereas Nali Xhema (12), Hashim Kryeziu (9), Milaim Kryeziu (14), amd a fourthe boy whose identity coukd not be lerned still were serously wounded.
The wouneded boys were taken to the Prishtina hospital in a lofe thretening condition.

Serbs Burn Farmhouses in Cërnushë Village, Mitrovica
Several hundred displaced Albanians camping out in forests near Vllahia village

PRISHTINA, Sept 19 (KIC) Sources in Mitrovica said the Serb troops entered into the Cërnushë village on Friday, setting ablaze several Albanian farmhouses. Looting of commodities and domestic appliances preceded the burning of the houses, witnesses said.
The Cërnushë village is located in the Shalë e Bajgorës region, a triangle between the municipalities of Mitrovica, Podujeva and Vushtrri, which bore the brunt of a heavy Serb offensive earlier this week, leaving several Albanians dead, thousands of new refugees, and scores of communities razed.
The LDK chapter in Mitrovica said several hundred Albanians, including children and women who were driven out of their homes during this past week, are camping out at Kozmatiq hill near Vllahia village.
Around 500 Albanians, mainly women, children and elderly persons, have been reported camping in the open in another location called Llamovë near Selac village sources reported.
The Shalë e Bajgorës had a population of 19.000 in peacetime, but most of them have been scattered in relatively safer places, mainly across central Kosova and Prishtina.

Fifty Hand-Cuffed Albanians Taken to Serb Jail in Mitrovica

PRISHTINA, Sept 19 (KIC) 50 Albanians were seen taken to a Serb jail in Mitrovica today (Saturday) morning.
The LDK Information Commission in Mitrovica quoted witnesses as saying that the detainees were brought to the town from Peja ('Pec'). They could not confirm whether they were old prisoners who were being held in Peja, or else newly rounded up men.
The Commission described the situation in the town today as very volatile. There has been an increased movement of Serb forces in combat fatigue roaming the streets of Mitrovica as well the roads leading to the Shalë e Bajgorë region.

Serbs Go 'Night Hunting' in Deserted Houses of Albanians in Mitrovica

PRISHTINA, Sept 19 (KIC) From 2:00 through 4:00 in the morning today, Serbs broke into several houses of Albanians in Reka village of Mitrovica, looting whatever could be taken away, witnesses aid.
Most of the Albanian residents of Reka have fled their homes in the wake of Serb onslaughts in the are during the past days.
The LDK chapter in Mitrovica named several Albanians who had their houses in Reka village broken into by Serb policemen and civilians: Izet Syla, Vehbi Syla, Enver Syla, Bedri Syla, Gani Syla, Avni Syla, Rasim Syla, Qazim Syla, Sabri Syla and Shahin Syla's house. In addition to pillaging huge amounts of commodities, Serbs smashed and destroyed what could not be taken away.

Artillery Fire Reported in Suhareka Overnight

PRISHTINA, Sept  (KIC) Serb troops garrisoned in two bases near Suhareka opened fire on the surrounding villages for over one hour on Friday night.
Fire from artillery guns was opened from Shirokë village and another base near the "Balkan" motel near Suhareka, which lasted from 23:30 through after midnight.
The LDK chapter could not confirm whether there were casualties in the villages hit by Serb artillery shells. It said only that heavy Serb troops were seen heading for the Reshtan village early afternoon today. By 2 p.m. it could not tell whether the Serb forces were involved in any attacks against the Albanian communities in the area.

Serb Burn Houses of Albanians, Prevent Return of Refugees, in Gjakova

PRISHTINA, Sept 19 (KIC) Serb forces have been making it impossible for displaced Albanians to return to their homes in the Reka e Keqe region in Gjakova, the local LDK chapter said today.
During the past two days the Serbs burned several houses of Albanians which had survived Serb bombardments earlier this year in the villages of Koshare, Morinë, Smolicë and Patok.
All this is apparently aimed at obstructing the return of Albanians, the LDK said.
At Duzhnje village, Serb troops have been garrisoned in the houses of local Albanians, Isuf Smajli, Hasan Hoti and Bekë Ademi.
In another village, Rogovë e Hasit, Serb troops have occupied  the local medical center.

Kosova Information Center
Last page!

KOSOVA (clashes Mitrovicë)
Another three Albanians killed in Shalë e Bajgorës

Mitrovicë, 18 September (ARTA) 2030CET--
Local sources from the villages of Shalë e Bajgorës inform that almost all the villages of this region have been completely destroyed during the offensive of the Serbian forces in the past three days.
During Thursday night, large movements of police and military forces have been registered from the area of Shala e Bajgorës -which was understood as the end of the operations, however, the confirmation is that there are still a large number of forces remaining in this region.
During the Serb offensive over this area, another three Albanians were killed. Their identity still remains unknown.

KOSOVA (killing – Podujevë)
Two Albanians killed in the field of Dobratin

Podujevë, 18 September (ARTA) 2130CET --
According to some people who managed to enter the village after the police attack, claim that the village Dobratin is tediously destroyed.
According to the LDK sources in Podujevë, more than 85 Serb police and military vehicles withdrew from Dobratin village towards Prishtina.
The same sources claim that there were seen also cars, tractors and domestic equipment looted from the Albanian houses, being carried away by those military vehicles.
It is interesting to state that the withdrawal of the Serb military and police units, which were installed between Dobratin, Lepaja and Bajçinë three days ago, started on Thursday at 1800CET.
The killing of Maksut Rekaliu (64) in the place called "Kroi i Boshnjakëve is confirmed. There is still no information on the condition of Haki Rekaliu (35) who was wounded, as well as of Xhafer Ajvazi.
Witnesses state that more than 70% of the houses in Dobratin are looted, while more than 20 of them are burnt. Burnt and plundered cars could be spotted through the roads of the village, while the local mosque was not spared either. It is quite damaged and Serb nationalistic symbols were drawn on its entrance.
The situation in the town of Podujevë, still remains tense.

KOSOVA (Serb attack Drenica)
Serb forces attacked Likovc

Skënderaj, 18 September (ARTA0 2100CET--
Albanian sources confirmed today that Serb forces have attacked Likovc. It is stated that 11 tanks and 13 trucks of the Serb forces came from the direction of Skënderaj, to "Qafa e Kingjit", between the villages of Likovc and Makërmal.
There, they had a serious confrontation with KLA forces.
The clashes started at 1400CET and from the distance, smoke and fire could be seen.

KOSOVA (return of IDPs Deçan)
The return of the people in Carrabreg i Epërm, i Poshtëm and Beleg commenced

Deçan, 18 September (ARTA) 1800CET --
The decomposed corpse of Shefqet Curr Zekaj who was killed during the last Serb military and police offensive was found on Thursday in the village of Beleg. The cadaver of the late was buried yesterday in the village.
The return of the dislocated people in the villages Carrabreg i Epërm, Carrabreg i Poshtëm and in Beleg started step-by-step after the appeal of the Serb police. Today, one could see men restoring the burnt roofs and women washing clothes.
Witnesses state that those few houses of the Rekë e Keqe villages Berjahë, Stubëll and Smolicë which "survived" without being burnt during the course of the last Serb offensive, were burnt yesterday starting from 1700CET until midnight.
The flames and smoke emerging from these villages still could be seen today.
There are claims that Serb police authorities have declared some days ago that, they will burn all the houses in which the owners don’t return to.
Shooting from heavy artillery against Rekë e Keqe villages were conducted yesterday starting at 1700CET from Çabrat hill near Gjakovë. Yet, there are no information about the eventual damages.

KOSOVA (military movements Fushë Kosovë)
An APC with canons settled near the school

Fushë Kosovë, 18 September (ARTA) 2100CET--
The football field in Sllatinë, just a few meters away from the school building, has now become the parking spot of one APC with canons and heavy machineguns.
It has also become evident since many days ago, that the surrounding hills are also full of military vehicles. The hills are actually the route that people from Drenica use to pass from one village to the other.
Albanian sources claim that this coincides with the Serb ultimatum made to the inhabitants of many villages of this municipality to hand over the weapons.

KOSOVA (burning – Ferizaj)
Burning after looting

Ferizaj, 18 September (ARTA) 2000CET--
Abandoned houses by the fleeing inhabitants of Nerodime e Epërme, have become target of looting and, consequently, burning by the Serb police.
According to the local sources from this village, on Wednesday "the houses of the Reka, Ramadani, Mehmeti, Maloku and Agushi families were set on fire".
These sources also claim that "many other houses are burning too".
At the same time, they "appeal to the international monitors to visit this village, in order to prevent the further burning of houses".

KOSOVA (killing – Vushtrri)
An Albanian killed by Serbian paramilitary

Vushtrri, 18 September (ARTA) 2100CET--
On Wednesday, at around 1845CET, Serbian paramilitary forces killed Halil (Rexhep) Mustafa (60) from the village of Smrekovnicë. LDK sources in Vushtrri state that he was killed near his house, while Serbian paramilitary were coming back from the direction of the Shalë e Bajgorës battlefield.
On Friday morning, in Shipitull of Obiliq, the Serbian police forces stationed for months in the place called "Kërshat e Grabocit", burned the house of Afrim Mjekiqi. He said that they burned the house and all surrounding buildings and also killed his livestock.

KOSOVA (Rugova press conference)
Rugova: "Reaching an agreement is in process...."

Prishtina, 18 September (ARTA) 2100CET—
In his regular meeting with journalists, Ibrahim Rugova appealed to the Serb forces not to start attacks against the eastern parts of Kosova, which are currently the only areas out the fighting domain. "This negative trend must be stopped as soon as possible"
Referring to the draft document presented just recently, Rugova said: "Reaching an agreement is in process", adding further that, "in principle, the agreement on the threeyears-term has been reached, and this is quite important".
"The agreement is a means of the referendum and... lets use softer words", stated Rugova afterwards, when asked whether the Agreement is a "betrayal to the referendum".
"It is an interim settlement. In order to normalize life and stop the violence. The harmonization of a text and reaching an agreement in general, is in process", he added.
When asked about the draft document which was published by "Koha Ditore" a couple of days ago, he said: "That what is published in the press, is just another, normal, suggestion, they can be various proposals, as you know many proposals has been made on Kosova so far", claimed Rugova, adding that "he is not acquainted with the stand of Belgrade in this regard". "However, Ambassador Hill is working with the Serb group", he stated.
"We are working in reaching a transitory agreement for Kosova", said he at the end.

KOSOVA (UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Prishtina)
Dienstbier: "I hope the negotiations will be successful..."

Prishtina, 18 September (ARTA) 1830CET --
The UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the former Yugoslavia, Jiri Dienstbier, within the framework of his ten-days visit in the region, stayed in Kosova on Friday.
During his stay in Prishtina, Dienstbier had a meeting with Ibrahim Rugova.
The topic of that one-hour meeting was the humanitarian crisis and the necessity of undertaking concrete steps to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe, which threatens Kosova.
"We spoke about the present humanitarian circumstances in Kosova and necessity of undertaking preventive steps before the winter and cold weather prevail", claimed Rugova after the meeting with the Czech guest.
"Of course, we also spoke about some other important issues afterwards", he said.
"We discussed for the necessity of stopping this negative trend of events in Kosova", stated Rugova further.
Albeit, asking an immediate halt of operations undertaken by Serb security forces (which he evaluated as an excessive use of violence), the UN Special Rapporteur, Dienstbier said: "We had a very interesting talk. I was happy to see that Rugova still supports the talks and not the violent actions. I hope the negotiations will start soon and the war will end".
"I also hope that, the negotiations will be successful and will result into a genuine self-administration in local basis, a thorough self-administration in Kosova", stated the UN special reporter for human rights, Jiri Dienstbier.
"I think that every country will fight the rebellion, but destroying entire villages in the region (I said so to the representatives of the Serb government) according to my opinion, is too much", he claimed.
"Their aim is to expel the people from their villages. That is the main purpose of that strategy and that strategy could hardly be acceptable", declared the UN Special Rapporteur, Jiri Dienstbier.
"I appeal a stop to these actions immediately", said Dienstbier, at the end of his statement after the meeting in Prishtina.
During his visit in Prishtina, Dienstbier was accompanied by Henrik Stenman, responsible of UN Office for Human Rights in Belgrade and Roy Sullivan, assistant in the same office.

KOSOVA (KLA communiqué)
"Our formations are successfully fighting the enemy's offensive"

Prishtina, 18 September (ARTA) 2100CET--
The communiqué #53 issued by the General HQ of the KLA, states among others: "It has been over two months that fighting is taking place between the KLA forces and those of the Serb occupier in the first operational zone. During this week, harsh fighting is taking place in the operational sub-zones of Llap, Shala e Bajgorës and Drenica, while in Nerodime, Pashtrik and Dukagjin, the fighting is of lower intensity.
Different punitive measures are undertaken against the different collaborationist forces, which continue at the service of the occupying government. In the past days, our forces have successfully fought the enemy's offensive. In it, they have lost hundreds of soldiers, including foreign mercenaries. The enemy has also suffered considerable damages in military techniques.
This is making the enemy take revenge of the civilian population and their households, their crops and herd. KLA is in the process of taking over Likovc and areas surrounding Lick.
In the other zones, as in Pashtrik, Dukagjin and Nerodime, fighting is going on, and the enemy is in panic and full insecurity.
The enemy, with its destructive war, aims at ethnic cleansing of Kosova, as well as the imposition of the solution of the problem of Kosova according to the Serb projects.
KLA General HQ calls the Albanian people in Kosova to make more efforts in helping the liberation war. First of all, it calls all military officers to join the liberation war. There is no time for dilemmas. We call the Albanian people in Albania to restrain themselves in these difficult days and try to solve the political problems with democratic mechanisms.
The KLA General HQ asks the International Community, the US and the EU for more concrete engagement for the just solution of the Albanian question, based on the right of the Albanian people to self-determination".

KOSOVA (Bonn-Belgrade relations)
Deterioration of the relations between Bonn and Belgrade

Bonn, 10 September (ARTA) 2100CET --
The "Yugoslav" Embassy addressed a note of protest (which seem to be extraordinarily harsh) to the German Foreign Ministry.
The German Defense Minister, Volker Ruehe, as well as the German journalists and correspondents from Balkan were the target of the note. According to Belgrade, the German journalists and correspondents, "are not informing objectively about the situation in Kosova".
The protest was especially directed to the statements made by Ruehe, who stated that "A NATO intervention could be expected within a couple of weeks, if Belgrade continues to massacre and destroy the civilian population".
In regard to the German media, in the note they are defined as "nests of Albanian separatists, as they were for Lubljana, Zagreb and Sarajevo".
The German Government rejected the accusations of Belgrade, evaluating them as irresponsible and out of line. In a long comment of the state information agency, DPA, (close to the German Government) among others, it is stated: "Germany has been accused for years by the `ultracommunists’ of Mira Markovic and the `ultrafascist` Vojislav Seselj".
On this occasion, DPA recalls the "importance of the disruption of the economic relations between Bonn and Belgrade" asking "whether the Belgrade would be able to function without the German currency".

ALBANIA (reactions – Berisha)
Berisha: "I am honored if the Albanian Parliament strips off my immunity"

Tirana, 18 September (ARTA) 2000CET --
Around 3000 people continued their protest yesterday in the "Skënderbeg" square, steered by the leaders of the Democratic Party and other member parties of "Bashkimi për Democraci". Sali Berisha was staying between his wife Lirie and the 13 years old son of the late Azem Hajdari. The protesters were holding transparents with the appeals written in English, requesting Fatos Nano’s resignation. The texts of the slogans were "We support a political and not a violent solution", "Enver-Nano, father and son", "Azem is alive" etc.
"I will be honored if the Parliament will decide to strip off my immunity" declared Berisha, while the Parliament convened to discuss this matter.
His message addressed to Prime Minister Nano states that the revolt will engulf the entire Albania.
"One year ago, I thought that Nano had changed, and therefore I recognized the elections, which I thought had to be recognized. However, Nano remains a Stalinist", said Berisha about his opponent.
Berisha informed the journalists that the police blocked the entries to Tirana, in order to prevent thousands of people from surrounding municipalities to protest in the capital.
"Albania needs sacrifice and we ought to sacrifice", addressed Berisha the protesters.
"We possess indisputable arguments that Fatos Nano, besides the shooting during the funeral, has prepared the rest of the scenario.
He has instructed disguised gangs to loot the shops and destroy the institutions, in order to blame the Democratic Party afterwards. We got evidence that the technical equipment of the Albanian Parliament was taken away a couple of hours before the protesters got in the seat of the Parliament.
Fatos Nano has falsely accused the Democratic Party of the alleged crimes against humanity, by arresting its six high ranking officials before the martyr leader of democracy Azem Hajdari was killed. In addition, its president and some others are accused for organizing an armed insurrection.
The killing of Azem Hajdari was not enough for Nano, but additionally he (Fatos Nano) shot at his funeral.
There is no bargaining with the accusations we are charged with, and we do not make bargains over the pure blood of Azem Hajdari", he said.
The overall international community has expressed its readiness to contribute in solving the political crisis, which has overwhelmed Albania.
Meanwhile, private "Radio Contact" informs that many Kosova Albanians coming from Switzerland are turned back at the Rinas airport with the pretext that "they have come to support Sali Berisha’s protests".

ALBANIA (Parliament on Berisha)
The Parliament decided: Sali Berisha is striped off the immunity

Tirana, 18 September (ARTA) 2230CET --
According to the Albanian daily newspapers in Tirana, the Prime Minister Fatos Nano (president of the Socialist Party, as well), because of the international pressure, demanded from the Socialist MPs in a session of yesterday to be restraint in their decisions.
Merely because of this, the Parliamentary Group of Socialist Party assembled today to discuss what will be their stand concerning this issue.
The Parliamentary session that followed, indicated that the Socialist MPs are very persistent in their decision to strip Sali Berisha off his MP immunity.
Before voting, a special commission composed of two socialist MPs, one social-democrat, one independent MP as well as one MP from the National Unification Party was established.
The result of the voting which was read by the independent MP, Nikollë Lesi, showed that 108 MPs voted; 103 votes were in favor of striping off the immunity, five votes were non-valid and there were no votes against.
"If the Public Prosecution will requests the Parliament to express clearly about his (Sali Berisha's) eventual arrest, another special session will be held", said Skënder Gjinushi, Speaker of the Parliament, adding that the issue of Berisha's arrest should be left in the hands of justice.

FYROM (raids – Western Macedonia)
Raids and arrests in Western Macedonia

Shkup, 18 September (ARTA) 1900CET --
Special units of Macedonian police raided three Albanian families and arrested three persons in Kërçovë municipality.
The raids were conducted very brutally, and according to the information, the pretext was the search for weapons. No weapons were found in any of the raided families (where even the children were maltreated), while no judicial order for search was handed to them by the judicial bodies.
Around twenty special policemen took part in each of the raids.
One of the families in Zajaz was visited today by the OSCE representatives, who were informed about the whole event.
In Kërçovë district Court we learnt that the police did not get any permission for the raids even though according to the Law they should have had one.
Meanwhile, the family of Fatih Hyseni in Karshiakë was also raided. Hyseni is the former chairman of the Students’ Union of the University of Tetovë. After the raid, he was summoned for a so-called "informative talk" in the Shkup police station.
Neither local competent authorities nor the Government gave any statement so far, concerning these events in Kërçovë and Shkup.
 

KOSOVA (documents)
This is the reproduction of the project-document regarding the draft framework of the future status of Kosova -drafted under the supervision of the US Ambassador to Macedonia and international mediator for Kosova, Christopher Hill. Its translation was published in "Koha Ditore", Kosova Albanian Daily, on 17 September 199I.

                   INTRODUCTION

1. All citizens in Kosovo have rights and duties as set forth in this Agreement. In Kosovo, members of each national community have additional rights as set forth below.

2. Federal and Republic organs shall not influence or intervene in the work of the organs of Kosovo acting within their areas of competence. The organs shall not intervene in the work of federal and republic organs acting within their areas of competence.

3. The organs of Kosovo shall follow principles of full respect for human rights, democracy and the protection of the equality of citizens and national communities.

4. The citizens and national communities in Kosovo shall enjoy, without limitation, human and democratic rights and shall be given the choice to be represented in all organs of authority.

5. Every person and national community in Kosovo shall have the right to apply to international institutions, including the European Court of Human Rights, for the protection of their rights in accordance with the procedures of such institutions.

6. The Agreement will be implemented by each side in accordance will applicable procedures.

II. RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF CITIZENS IN THE TERRITORY

1. The rights and duties of citizens in the territory are to be implemented in the legislative, executive and judicial organs established in this Agreement. Those rights and duties are the right to democratic self-government, including:

• The adoption of the organic documents of Kosovo;
• The adoption of regulations on the organization and procedures of the organs of Kosovo;
• The adoption of budget and annual accounts;
• Cooperation with Federal and Republic authorities;
• Participating in and conducting, consistent with this Agreement, free and fair elections;
• Ensuring freedom of movement;
• Providing law enforcement, including criminal investigations, prosecutions, and punishment;
• Regulating and, when appropriate, providing child care;
• Establishing and regulating the work of medical institutions and hospitals. Special arrangements will be made for state-owned institutions.
• Protection of the environment;
• Regulating commerce and privately owned stores;
• Regulating hunting and fishing;
• Planning and carrying out public works of communal or Kosovo-wide territorial importance, including roads and water supplies;
• Regulating land use, town planing, building regulations, and housing construction;
• Designing and implementing programs of economic, scientific, technological, demographic, regional, and social development, programs for the development of agriculture and rural areas;
• Developing programs for tourism, the hotel industry, catering, and sport;
• Organizing fairs and local markets;
• Organizing public services of communal and Kosovo-wide importance;
• Financing the work of communal and Kosovo organs;
• Conducting foreign relations consistent with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

2. This Agreement shall determine the allocation of these responsibilities among the organs of Kosovo.

3. The organs of Kosovo shall not interfere in the additional rights described in Part 3 of this agreement.

III. RIGHTS OF NATIONAL COMMUNITIES

1. Members of the national communities shall have the additional rights determined by this Agreement. The additional rights preserve and express the national, cultural, religious and other aspects of the national communities in accordance with international standards and the Helsinki Final Act.

2. The national communities shall be legally equal and shall not use their additional rights so as to endanger the additional rights of other national communities or the rights of citizens of the Republic of Serbia of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

3. Each national community shall elect, in accordance with procedures it shall decide, a National Council to administer the affairs of the community in the territory. Each Council will establish its own executive organs and procedures.

4. The additional rights of the national communities are to:
        preserve and protect their national cultures, including by:

• using their languages and alphabets;
• inscribing local names of towns and villages, of squares and streets and of other topographic names in the language and alphabet of the national community, consistent with the decision about style made by the communal organs;
• providing information in the language and alphabet of the national community;
• establishing educational, cultural and religious associations, for which the state shall provide financial assistance;
• enjoying unhindered contacts with their respective national communities outside the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia;
• using and displaying national symbols;
• providing for education, in particular for schooling in their own language and alphabet and in national culture and history. National communities are encouraged to coordinate curricula with Republic authorities concerning appropriate subjects (for example, to ensure that students meet standards in subjects such as mathematics or science);
• protecting national practices on family law by, if the community decides, arranging rules in the field of heritage, family and matrimonial relations, tutorship and adoption. Each community may establish procedures for resolving conflicts in these fields subject to the agreement of the parties to each dispute. These rules must ensure that practices are consistent with international recognized human rights.
• the preservation of sites of religious, historical, or cultural importance;
• implementing public health and social services;
• operating religious institutions in cooperation with religious authorities.

(ii) to adopt procedures and law for courts of the national communities, as described in this Agreement, and means to enforce decisions of those courts;

(iii) be guaranteed at least one radio and TV frequency, which it shall administer subject to nondiscriminatory, technical standards;

(iv) finance activities of the national communities by collecting charges a National Council decides to levy on members of its own community.

5. Members of national communities will also be guaranteed:

• the right to participate in regional and international non-governmental organizations in accordance with procedures of these organizations;

and

• equal access to employment in public services.

IV. THE ORGANS OF KOSOVO

1. The organs of Kosovo are the Assembly, the Representative, the Governing Board, the Administrative Organs, and the Ombudsman.

2. The Assembly.

(a) The Assembly shall comprise [......] Delegates. [......] Delegates shall be directly elected under international supervision. The remaining [......] Delegates shall be allocated equally among the national communities, each of which shall elect Delegates according to its own procedure.

(b) Each national community that is more than [......] % of the population shall be guaranteed at least [......] Delegates. If fewer than that number of Delegates of a national community are elected to the Assembly, the difference shall be selected by the Council of the respective national community.

(c) The Assembly shall be responsible for enacting all laws of the territory. Its areas of responsibility are:

• Conduct of relations with foreign entities, in consultation with Representative;
• Financing activities of the Organs of the Provisional Government;
• Coordination of policy with Federal and Republic authorities;
• Coordination among communes or national communities when necessary; and
• Confirmation of the members of the Governing Board and judges of the courts.

(d) Decision of the Assembly shall be taken by majority of those present and voting, except as provided in paragraph (e).

(e) When a majority of the Delegates of a national community assert that a proposed decision affects the vital interests of their national community, that decision shall require for approval a majority that includes the majority of the Delegates present and voting from the affected national community. If a majority of the Delegates from the asserting community is not present and voting, the regular voting rule shall apply.

(f) A procedure for resolving disputes over the use of the procedure establishing in paragraph (e) will be agreed.

(g) The Assembly of Delegates present shall constitute a quorum.

(h) The Assembly will decide its own rules of procedure and select officers. Each national community represented in the Assembly shall be represented in the leadership. The presidency of the Assembly shall rotate each term of office among those national communities in alphabetical order but may not be from the same national community as the territorial Representative.

(i) Each commune shall have a local assembly, which shall follow the model of the territorial Assembly.

(j) The President of the Assembly shall be responsible for representing the territory before Federal and Republic organs.

3. The Representative

There shall be a Representative, who shall be directly elected.

(a) The Representative shall be responsible for:

• Representing all persons in the territory of Kosovo before any international, Federal, or Republic body, with the President of the Assembly when required by this Agreement;
• Meeting regular with the National Council and with other representatives of the national communities and other persons;
• Chairing the Governing Board;
• Signing agreement on behalf of Kosovo after they are approved by the Assembly; and
• Serving on the Joint Implementation Commission established by this Agreement;
• Meeting regularly with the President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the President of Montenegro, and the President of Serbia to discuss issues of mutual concern.

4. Governing Board

Executive power shall be exercised by the Governing board.

(a) The Governing Board shall comprise [ ] Members. Each national community council shall select [ ] Member(s).

(b) The Governing Board shall be responsible for implementing and enforcing decision of the Assembly and of Federal and Republic organs.

(c) Decisions of the governing Board shall require a majority of Members present and voting. The Board shall decide its rules of procedure. The President of the Assembly and the President of the Governing Board may not be from the same national community.

5. Administrative Agencies

Administrative agencies are responsible for implementing decisions of Kosovo and, where appropriate, those of Federal and Republic organs.

6. Ombudsman

There shall be an Ombudsman of Kosovo, who shall monitor the implementation of this Agreement, particularly with regard to the rights of the national communities.

(a) The Ombudsman shall be nominated by the Federal Government from a list of Yugoslav citizens submitted by the [President of the European Court of Human Rights] after consultations with the national communities in the territory. The first term will be four years. Thereafter, the Ombudsman will be nominated by the Federal Government for a two-year term.

(b) The Ombudsman shall have complete, unimpeded and immediate access to any person, place, or information upon his or her request. He or she shall have the right to intervene before any Federal or Republic authority upon his or her request.

PART II: THE COMMUNES

1. The basic unit of government will be the communes. All responsibilities not expressly assigned elsewhere will be the responsibility of the communes. Communes may by mutual agreement form self-administering regions comprising multiple communes.

2. The government shall comprise a Council and such executive bodies as each Council will establish. Each national community is to be represented on the Council in proportion to its share of the regional population or by one member, whichever is the greater.

3. The communes shall have exclusive responsibility for carrying out typical functions of local and regional government, including:

Child care

Medical institutions and hospitals, other than those that are state owned;

Educational institutions, other than those that are state owned;

Environmental protection;

Trade and independent shops, consistent with Republic and federal law;

Hunting and fishing;

Public works of local or regional importance, including road and water supplies;

Land use, town planning, building codes and housing construction;

Programs for economic, scientific, technological, demographic, regional and social development, for the development of agriculture and rural areas, in accordance with applicable regulations;

Tourism, the hotel industry, catering, and sport;

Fairs and local markets;

Public services, including fire, emergency response and (as provided below) police;

Finances for the commune, including raising revenues, taxes and preparing budgets;

4. Each commune shall conduct its business in public and shall maintain publicly available records of its deliberations and decisions.

Part 3. Representation of Kosovo in Federal and Republic bodies

(a) Kosovo shall be appropriately represented in Federal organs responsible for developing and implementing defense and economic policies.

(b) Kosovo shall be guaranteed at least (ten) deputies in the House of Citizens of the federal Assembly and (twenty) deputies in the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia.

(c) Each national community in Kosovo shall be guaranteed at least one place in the Federal Government and in the Government of the Republic of Serbia.

(d) Each national community in Kosovo shall be guaranteed at least one judge on the Constitutional Court of the Federal Republic and three judges on the Supreme Court of Serbia.

(e) In order to monitor the protection of special rights of the national communities, a Council of the Republic for the protection of members of the national communities shall be established in the Republic of Serbia. The Council of the Republic shall be chaired by the President of the Republic.

V. RESOLVING CONFLICTS AND MAINTAINING PUBLIC ORDER

(1) Dispute Resolution.

(a) National Communities

Each national community may establish its own dispute resolution system for conflicts concerning inheritance, family law, civil lawsuits, as decided by the Provincial Assembly, and for criminal cases as described below. These mechanisms shall have jurisdiction only when all parties to a dispute agree.

Judges shall be nominated by the national community councils and confirmed by the Parliamentary Assembly. They must have qualifications required of judges of the corresponding state courts.

Decisions of the national community dispute resolution mechanism shall be honored by state courts.

(b) Courts in the Territory

The Assembly shall establish common and appellate courts for the territory of Kosovo, with jurisdiction over constitutional, civil and criminal matters not within the jurisdiction of the national community mechanisms established pursuant to paragraph (a).

(2) Police

(a) Police shall be sworn to uphold the law impartially, fairly and with equal treatment for all persons.

(b) All police operating in Kosovo must be trained to internationally-accepted standards for police operations, in particular, with regard to human rights.

(c) Each commune shall establish local police, which shall have membership representative of the commune. The state and border police shall recruit members of national communities so that its composition in Kosovo will be representative of the population.

(d) The local police shall be exclusively responsible for maintaining public order and peace; Federal and Republic police shall not carry out this responsibility. Federal and Republic authorities, in accordance with their respective responsibilities, shall retain responsibility for external security, border police, and the investigation of international and extra-Kosovo crime.

(c) Each commune shall establish a commission to review and make recommendations an all matters concerning the police, including in particular complaints about violations of human rights. Every national community in the commune shall have the complete cooperation of both sides and unimpeded access to any person, place, document, and information it requests.

VI. FINANCING

1. The bodies established in Sections II-IV shall have revenues from their own taxes and a part of the state tax revenue, so that they can carry out the rights and perform the duties established in this Agreement.

2. In recognition of the fact that this Agreement confers new responsibilities upon bodies in Kosovo, Republic and the Federal authorities shall examine how to provide resources necessary for the conduct of its responsibilities. These resources shall include funds (including tax remission), equipment, and training.

3. Federal and Republic authorities shall also facilitate, to the extent of their respective authorities, the delivery of resources from international sources to Kosovo.

VII. CONFIDENCE-BUILDING MEASURES

1. The sides will end violence. State security forces will reduce their presence outside locations of their permanent encampment as the security situation allows, with a view to maintaining a requirements as soon as possible. Alleged violations will be reported to international monitors and will not be used to justify further violence.

2. Each side will encourage all person displaced during the conflict to return to their homes. Federal and Republic authorities will continue to provide building materials and assistance. in cooperation with international assistance organizations, in each community a local commission, representative of all communities there, will assist in the delivery and distribution of food, medicine, clothes, construction materials, the restoration of electricity and water supply, and in encouraging returns.

3. Each side will cooperate with and provide unimpeded access to humanitarian and international organizations; facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance; and expedite the return of displaced persons and refuges to their homes, including by facilitating travel of those persons and international personnel; by rehabilitating or providing shelter; and agreeing to security arrangements that create confidence among the displaced persons and refugees. It is expected that international humanitarian law.

4. Each side will respect its obligation to cooperate in the investigation and prosecution of war crimes and other violations of international humanitarian law.

5. A joint commission will serve as central coordinating mechanism for monitoring the implementation of these measures, including the operations in Kosovo of civil and special police, of judicial and penal institutions, and forces with responsibility for external security. The commission will be comprised of Federal and Republic representatives, representatives of the national communities in Kosovo, and international representatives (including the KDOM, the Contact Group, and others as agreed). The sides shall cooperate completely with the commission and to provide it with safe, complete, and unimpeded access to all places, persons, and information (including documents and other records) upon its request.

6. An international presence in Kosovo will be responsible for monitoring and observing the implementation of this Agreement and for such other responsibilities as described in this Agreement.

The sides agree to provide complete cooperation as requested by the international presence and to take all necessary steps to ensure the safety of international personnel.

VIII. IMPLEMENTATION PERIOD

1. This Agreement shall be implemented as quickly as possible.

2. The sides acknowledge the complete implementation will require the adoption of necessary state regulations and other general acts, of the organic document of Kosovo, political acts and measures, and the elections of establishment of institutions and bodies established by this Agreement. Work will start without delay to complete all legal changes necessary for the full implementation of this Agreement.

3. Each national community in Kosovo is authorized to start exercising the additional rights determined by this Agreement, to the extent possible, immediately upon signature.

4. Within (....) months, there will be transitional elections under international auspices for the elective bodies established by this Agreement.

5. As soon as possible after signature of this Agreement, competent organs shall organize and carry out, under international supervision, an objective and free census of the population in the territory.

6. To facilitate the transition, the organs of the state shall provide the organs of Kosovo with updated all necessary records about the places of residence, citizenship, voters, lists, and other data indispensable for the implementation of this Agreement.

7. The signatories of this Agreement, members of the national communities shall provide active support, cooperation, and participation for the successful implementation of the Agreement.

8. The signatories of this Agreement take the obligation to allow, during the transition period, and in accordance with the nature of the rights and obligations under this Agreements, its adequate implementation even before the adoption and undertaking of all acts and measures fixed in the Agreement insofar as possible.

9. Laws and institutions currently in place in Kosovo shall remain until replaced by a decision of a competent body established by this Agreement.

IX. AMENDMENTS

1. Amendments to the Agreement shall be adopted by signature of the parties.

2. Each signatory may suggest amendments and agrees to consider and consult with the other with regard to suggested amendments.

3. In three years, the sides will undertake a comprehensive assessment of the Agreement, with the aim of improving its implementation and considering proposals by either side for additional steps, which will require mutual agreement for adoption.

X. FINAL PROVISIONS

1. This Agreement is concluded in (...) languages.

2. This Agreement shall come into force upon the completion of the internal process of each side.

For:

Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

Republic of Serbia

Kosovo

18 September 1998

NEW SERB OFFENSIVE UPROOTS ANOTHER 10,000 KOSOVO ALBANIANS

(UNHCR says at least 13 villages in Kosovo were emptied) (430)
By Wendy Lubetkin
USIA Correspondent

Geneva -- The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) says some 10,000 additional people have fled their homes as the result of a government offensive now in its third day in Kosovo.

UNHCR spokesperson Kris Janowski said September 18 that at least 13 villages in the region north of Pristina between Podujevo and Mitrovica were emptied by the Serbian offensive and the shelling of some of the villages.

"We were prevented from entering the area yesterday by the Serbian army," Janowski said. "We tried to enter the area from another entry point and we were blocked by the police. Our staff could see smoke rising from the villages in the area."

People fleeing the area told UNHCR staff most of the villages in a swath stretching from Podujevo to Mitrovica were now empty.

"They said that the pattern, which we had before, was [that] they became aware that an attack was coming and then shelling started," Janowski told a press briefing.

Along the road to Vucitrin, UNHCR staff met a family of 13, including nine women and children crammed into the wagon of their tractor, according to Janowski. They said they had slept in the open fields in drenching rain for the past two nights. An elderly woman in the wagon was crying.

UNHCR says it had located some 25,000 people who fled their homes in the Drenica region after an offensive was launched there two weeks ago. The UNHCR team who found the group said many people were sick or wounded and they were living out in the open without food or medicine. "These people are in very bad condition," Janowski said. "They need virtually everything. We will try to get the basics to them as soon as possible."

Meanwhile, UNHCR says there has been a large influx of Kosovo refugees into Bosnia-Herzegovina.

"Yesterday we had about 500 people massed outside the UNHCR office in Sarajevo asking for help," Janowski said. The Bosnian government estimates that some 9,000 Kosovo refugees have entered the country since fighting began. UNHCR says it has been approached directly by 3,000 people seeking assistance.

"It is an amazing irony that Bosnia-Herzegovina, which still has hundreds of thousands of refugees outside in Western Europe and neighboring countries, is now coping with a refugee crisis of its own with Kosovo Albanians asking for protection in Bosnia," Janowski said.

FIGHTING IN KOSOVO STIRS POLITICAL TENSION IN NEIGHBORING MONTENEGRO
 
        The conflict in Kosovo is stirring tension in the neighboring Yugoslav republic of Montenegro with grave ramifications for displaced persons. Montenegro on September 11 announced that its borders were closed for entry by persons displaced by fighting in neighboring Kosovo. Meanwhile, about 2,000 Roma who have fled Kosovo and Bosnia have been forced to live in "inhumane" conditions at a Montenegrin camp in Podgorica, the advocacy group Roma Union said in a press release. A Forced Migration Projects consultant, based in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, reports that a rift is growing between reformist political leaders in Montenegro, headed by Milo Djukanovic, and federal authorities in Belgrade. Montenegro on paper enjoys the same rights and powers as Serbia, but, in fact, the federation is dominated by Serbian authorities. If Kosovo is offered enhanced political status, a position urged by some international diplomats, Montenegro's position within the Yugoslav federation would be significantly weakened, dangerously undermining the political stature of the incumbent government, according to the FMP consultant. In a newspaper interview Djukanovic warned that the Yugoslav federation may disintegrate if federal authorities did not treat Montenegro as Serbia's equal. Thousands of Kosovars have fled to Montenegro in recent months. Human Rights Watch has assailed the border-closing decision, expressing concern about the fate of Kosovar displaced persons barred from entering Montenegro. (For additional information see FM Alert of August 28 and August 21).

        The above report was prepared by the Forced Migration Projects of the Open Society Institute in New York. The Projects can be contacted by phone at (212) 548-0655 or by e-mail at <refugee@sorosny.org>.

REPORT No.435
ON THE WIDESPREAD REPRESSION AND HARASSMENT PERPETRATED BY THE SERBIAN POLICE AND OTHER AUTHORITIES IN KOSOVA FROM SEPTEMBER 6 UNTIL SEPTEMBER 13 1998

     The text you can read at   week435.htm

Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA), 98-09-18
Taken without permission, for fair use only.
From: The Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at <http://www.telpress.it/ata>

Albanian Telegraphic Agency
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONTENTS

•[01] Two electricity pylons blown up, TV broadcasts interrupted
•[02] Turkish news agency offers aid to Albanian news agency
•[03] Serb forces offensive burning Kosova
•[04] Large number of ferries, passengers in Durres port
•[05] Expired foods intercepted
•[06] Austria allocates $100 million for Albanian railways
•[07] Joint transport commission to meet on September 21
•[08] Higher school contests are over
•[09] Ajka factory to become a share holder company
•[10] Democrats protest again at Scanderbeg square in Tirana
•[11] Parliament starts voting on Sali Berisha's immunity
•[12] Health minister adopts measures for Kosova people
•[13] Former head of State Control Service to stay in jail
•[14] Albanian parliament removes immunity of Sali Berisha
•[15] Customs deposit 3.3 million leks to budget
•[16] Rallies of Albanian Democratic Party in Shkoder and Korce
•[17] House-arrest for four former DP senior officials
•[18] Difficulties in depositing Value Added Tax in Tirane
•[19] Albanian Parliament removes parliamentary immunity of deputy Sali Berisha
•[20] Road blocks in all roads leading to Tirana
•[21] Large delegation of European diplomats to arrive in Tirane on Saturday
•[22] Albanian Defence Ministry and Army are national institutions to ensure state and country's stability
•[23] Albanian Minister of Finance asks extended assistance for Albanian customs
houses
•[24] I don't fear decision for removal of my immunity - Berisha
•[25] Commando forces and Military Police to guard state institutions in Albania
•[26] Serb forces set on fire 17 Albanian villages in Shale of Bajgore
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[03] Serb forces offensive burning Kosova

PRISHTINE, Sept 17/ATA correspondent Behlul Jashari reports: Serbian forces are carrying on a fierce and atrocious offensive against Albanians in the northeastern regions of Kosova.
By midday flame and billow engulfed Shale e Bajgores and the suburbs of Vushtrri and Podujeve.
According to the latest reports, the Serb forces are also looting and burning the village of Dobrad of Podujeve. The villagers have been forced by the Serb forces to leave this village, while the Yugoslav army has been stationed in several houses and the building of a school.
According to reports, heavy Serbian forces in the suburbs of Vushtrri burned the village of Panome and partly Smrokovnice in the afternoon hours.
Fire has also engulfed Bare, Kullofc, Bajgore and other villages in the suburbs of Mitrovice.
According to witnesses arriving in Podujeve, Shale e Bajgore, especially in the place called Pical, there are fierce confrontations between the units of the Kosova Liberation Army (KLA) and the Serb forces. Many have been reported killed among the Serb forces and a KLA soldier injured. /dast/lm/

[12] Health minister adopts measures for Kosova people

TIRANA, Sept 18 (ATA) - By R. Xhuvani: Minister of Health Leonard Solis has asked the Public Health Department in Shkodra to present as soon as possible requests to cope with the health situation of people arriving from Kosova via Montenegro.
Solis said to ATA that the ministry had taken all the measures to cope with the influx of refugees after coordinating all actions with the local government in the city.
The ministry has prepared a contingent of vaccines for children who are not vaccinated against contagious diseases. /pas/ak/

[26] Serb forces set on fire 17 Albanian villages in Shale of Bajgore

PRISHTINE, Sept.18 (ata) - ATA correspondent Behlul Jashari reports:
During the fierce offensive in the past three days, Serb forces have torched 17 ethnic Albanian villages in Shale of Bajgore, east of Mitrovice.
According to Albanian sources, there are 140 Albanian houses set on fire in Stanterg, 18 in Trepçali 18, 85 in Melenicë 85, 124 in Bare, 82 in Vidishiq, 66 in Reshan, 31 in Maxherë, 54 in Terstene, 46 in Mazhiq, 11 in Zjaqë, 25 in Zabërzhë, 32 in Kutllofe, 27 in Kovaçiçë, 145 in Bajgorë, 59 in Kaçanoll, 40 in Selac 40 and 27 houses were set ablaze in village Dedi.
There are also reports of 6 Albanians killed and massacred during Serb attacks in Shale of Bajgore and in the outskirts of Podujeve and Vushtrri.
Fierce fighting took place between KLA forces and Serb forces today at noon in Drenice, between villages Likoc and Makermal, which lasted for more than two hours, sources of the Commission for Defence of Human Rights report. /mima/xh/
------------------------------------------------------------------------
>From the Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at
http://www.telpress.it/ata

18 September 1998

TEXT: SHATTUCK TESTIMONY ON KOSOVO TO CSCE SEPT. 17

(Cites "humanitarian emergency and human rights crisis") (2140)

Washington -- Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor John Shattuck testified before the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE or the Helsinki Commission) September 17 on his recent trip to Kosovo with Former Senator Bob Dole, chairman of the International Commission on Missing Persons in the Former Yugoslavia.

"Senator Dole and I saw horrendous human rights violations, violations of humanitarian law, and acts of punitive destruction on a massive scale," Shattuck said.

"The international community," he said, "must urgently press for a cease-fire and a withdrawal of security forces in Kosovo, because only under those conditions will people be able and willing to return without fear to their homes. There are estimated to be hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons who cannot now return."

He said Belgrade "is inflicting punishment on the entire civilian population of Kosovo, where an estimated 18,000 homes have now been totally or partially destroyed."

Kosovo "is a humanitarian emergency and a human rights crisis, and a very serious catastrophe in the making. We told Belgrade authorities and ["Federal Republic of Yugoslavia" President Slobodan] Milosevic personally that they would be held responsible for having created the situation that now exists in Kosovo. Milosevic must change these circumstances by ceasing the brutal assault on the civilian population so that people can get the help they need and return to their homes as winter draws near."

Following is the text of Shattuck's testimony:
(begin text)

Testimony of John Shattuck
Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor
before the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe

Washington, D.C.
September 17, 1998

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for giving me the opportunity to brief the Helsinki Commission on Senator Dole's and my recent trip to Kosovo. I want to start by paying tribute to Senator Dole for his willingness to undertake this difficult but critically important mission at the request of the President and the Secretary of State. His great stature as one of our country's most distinguished citizens, and his wisdom and courage, emphasized to all who met with us how seriously Americans regard the deepening crisis in Kosovo.

I am also pleased to be here under the auspices of the Commission, since I serve as an Executive Branch commissioner to this organization.

Senator Dole and I spent four days examining the situation in Kosovo. Over this period, we had the opportunity to meet with Kosovo's political, academic, and religious leadership, and to speak directly with eyewitnesses and victims of human rights atrocities. Senator Dole and I saw horrendous human rights violations, violations of humanitarian law, and acts of punitive destruction on a massive scale.

We covered approximately 150 kilometers in Kosovo, focusing on the central and eastern parts of the province. While in Kosovo, we were able to investigate accounts of the shelling of unarmed civilians by Serb security forces, such as the actions that were taken against a group fleeing the town of Senik on August 29. Families seeking escape were shelled in a ravine -- seven people were killed and 30 severely wounded, including small children and elderly women.

As we made the trip around Kosovo, we also received severely disturbing accounts of large groups of people being rounded up and men and boys separated from women and children. Upon receiving these reports, we made immediate contact with the office of Slobodan Milosevic and his foreign policy advisor. We made the clear point to them that the United States would hold Milosevic and his government personally responsible for the wellbeing of these individuals. Above all, we demanded immediate access to the detainees by the International Committee of the Red Cross and the release of those not charged with criminal conduct.

Two days after we received the first reports of this incident, the Serbian government did release 536 of the men they had detained, but we understand that 73 men from this government action continue to be held in a prison in Prizren. In addition, there are reports of other detainees to whom the International Committee of the Red Cross does not have access, and as of this morning has yet to get access to the 73 men being held in Prizren, despite the assurances of Milosevic that are now more than one week old.

We also received reports and eyewitness evidence that between 40,000 and 60,000 internally displaced persons were in and around the town of Krucevac, near Pec. They were too afraid to return to their homes and were surrounded by security forces.

In Belgrade, we received reports that independent media outlets have again been intimidated by the government. These journalists have been accused of reporting favorably about terrorism by publicizing the massive human rights abuses that are occurring in Kosovo. Senator Dole and I met with many of these independent journalists when we were, in Belgrade.

The international community must urgently press for a cease-fire and a withdrawal of security forces in Kosovo, because only under those conditions will people be able and willing to return without fear to their homes. There are estimated to be hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons who cannot now return.

In our meetings with Milosevic and other officials, we stressed the need for broad and unimpeded country-wide access for humanitarian organizations, not only for the International Committee of the Red Cross, but for all humanitarian organizations. We also underscored the urgency of unrestricted international criminal investigations of humanitarian law violations by the Yugoslav War Crimes Tribunal.

In short, Kosovo is a humanitarian emergency and a human rights crisis, and a very serious catastrophe in the making. We told Belgrade authorities and Milosevic personally that they would be held responsible for having created the situation that now exists in Kosovo. Milosevic must change these circumstances by ceasing the brutal assault on the civilian population so that people can get the help they need and return to their homes as winter draws near.

In the Kosovo countryside, on more than one occasion, our delegation came across heavily-shelled and sometimes still-burning towns, long since abandoned to packs of wild dogs and heavily-armed Serb police and Yugoslav army forces. Among the displaced children we saw, there was evidence of the beginnings of malnutrition. Such horrendous human rights abuses are designed not just to terrify civilians but to obliterate the very infrastructure that makes daily life tolerable. The end result is destruction far beyond government claims of "apprehending terrorists." In short, Belgrade is inflicting punishment on the entire civilian population of Kosovo, where an estimated 18,000 homes have now been totally or partially destroyed.

Addressing the looming humanitarian crisis in Kosovo will require massive intervention by the international humanitarian relief community in order to prevent as many as possible of the tens of thousands of internally displaced persons from starving or freezing to death this winter. But as Senator Dole has noted, the humanitarian crisis is only a symptom of the broader political and military crisis that not only consumes Kosovo but also threatens to destabilize the entire region and undermine the peace process in Bosnia.

Solving that humanitarian crisis requires a political settlement, and the political will to make a settlement stick. Slobodan Milosevic must be held personally responsible for resolving this broader crisis, which is of his making.

There is a discrepancy between Milosevic's stated policy of favoring returns and the very nature of the operations carried out by security forces in the past few weeks. These operations have led to further killing and wounding of civilians, to large-scale destruction of private property, and to further mass displacements. They have created a climate of deep and widespread fear.

There are several steps that the United States is taking to ratchet up the pressure on Milosevic, and as both the President and Secretary Albright have stated, all options are on the table. We are increasing our focus on violations in Kosovo of humanitarian law and serious human rights abuses, and publicly stating that we are holding Milosevic personally responsible for resolving the human rights and humanitarian crisis he created. Ambassador Chris Hill is urgently seeking to broker a peace accord that moves beyond quick fixes and delivers a lasting solution. We are in close contact with our European allies on both the human rights crisis and the ongoing negotiations; in fact a representative of the European Commission accompanied Senator Dole and me on our trip.

We are stepping up the capability of the international community to take action on Kosovo, whether Milosevic wants our involvement or not. We reserve the right to intervene in ail necessary ways to address the humanitarian and human rights emergency and to help its victims in Kosovo and Serbia at large.

Milosevic's attempt to politically prop himself up through his Kosovo adventure has severe economic consequences for Serbia and Montenegro. We are increasing our efforts to ensure that all of our allies understand the gravity of the crimes being committed in Kosovo, and the dangers of indirectly propping up this regime through the purchase of state assets by international investors at fire-sale prices. Milosevic is on the ropes economically, and should be kept there.

We are strengthening the "justice track" on Kosovo. The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague has clear jurisdiction over the events in Kosovo, and we are increasing our support for the work of the Tribunal in investigating and prosecuting those who are committing war crimes and crimes against humanity.

After I departed Belgrade and Pristina, I traveled to The Hague to debrief the President of the Tribunal, Judge Gabrielle MacDonald and Chief Prosecutor Louise Arbour on the findings of our trip. The Prosecutor is hard at work on Kosovo, and we should give her any and all support necessary to bring perpetrators of these crimes against humanity to international account.

When the Kosovo conflict first broke in late February, the U.S. moved quickly to make an emergency contribution to the Tribunal to jump-start the investigations. The Tribunal's work on Kosovo is now moving forward.

While I was in The Hague, Tribunal President Judge MacDonald publicly released a letter she sent to the United Nations Security Council, pointing out the urgency of the Tribunal's work and the Milosevic government's record of flagrant noncooperation. Milosevic's record of zero compliance with the Tribunal is reprehensible, and we are giving our full support to this initiative at the Security Council.

We are increasing our efforts to deploy independent forensic experts to the region. Both Serbs and Albanians claim that bodies of their countrymen have been found in mass graves across Kosovo. In our meeting with Milosevic we pressed him to allow international experts to investigate these reports professionally on an urgent and unrestricted basis.

Our immediate task is to work to end the humanitarian crisis in Kosovo now. In less than five weeks, winter will set in. But food and shelter alone are not adequate. People will not return to their homes in the current climate of fear. A cease-fire and reduction of security force levels are preconditions for returns. Freedom of access for the International Committee of the Red Cross and humanitarian NGOs is essential. Serb authorities in Belgrade asserted that the Red Cross and others would have unfettered access, but to date this commitment has not been implemented.

We urge all involved to end the violence. Responsibility for ensuring the safety of the civilian population lies with the Milosevic government. It must stop its brutal assault on towns and villages and withdraw security forces. Meanwhile, Albanian political representatives and the Kosovo Liberation Army should do all they can to end civilian deaths and harassment. They should provide information on missing Serbs in Kosovo.

Finally, we are stepping up our support for the democratically-elected government of Montenegro, which I also visited last week, to build civil society and assist the Kosovars who have sought refuge there. While we are concerned that the Montenegrins have closed their border with Kosovo, the broad-based willingness of the Montenegrin government to assist refugees and to cooperate with international humanitarian relief agencies as well as the War Crimes Tribunal has demonstrated that the underlying crisis in the region is the lack of democracy and respect for basic human rights in Serbia under the Milosevic regime.

The crisis in Kosovo is a symptom of a larger emergency in Serbia. Ultimately, only the establishment of a democratically-elected, government that reflects the will of all the people of Serbia and respects civil society, opposition voices and an independent press will end this larger crisis.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

18 September 1998

TRANSCRIPT: AMB. HILL PRESS CONFERENCE ON KOSOVO, SEPT. 16

(U.S. chief negotiator on Kosovo briefs NAC in Brussels) (1790)

Brussels -- Ambassador Christopher Hill, the secretary of state's special envoy on Kosovo and U.S. ambassador to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, held a press conference September 16 while in Brussels for the North Atlantic Council (NAC) meeting.

Hill said he and Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott had briefed the NAC on the situation in Kosovo.

The ambassador said he had been in Kosovo the day before and had met with Dr. Ibrahim Rugova and members of the Kosovar Albanian negotiating team, and some diplomatic observers; he planned to return to Kosovo September 17.

"As you know, the U.S. is working on three tracks: the humanitarian issues, the political settlement, and, as possible, military contingencies. I'm very much focused on the political and negotiating track, and that's what I was talking to the NAC about today," Hill said.

"We very much support the idea of a political solution. I must say, it's a search for peace that's been made extremely difficult by the ongoing violence on the ground, the continued numbers of displaced people, and the fact that time is growing short and fall weather has already set in in Kosovo, and will soon be followed by winter."

Responding to a question concerning Russia's position on Kosovo and its role in the Contact Group, Hill said, "I think all of the members of the Contact Group, including the Russians, have been equally concerned, and appalled, frankly, by the violence on the ground. and especially the destruction of the villages....

"We have continued to work very closely with the Russians. The Russians are very active participants in the diplomatic monitoring observer mission, and there the Russians have formulated some, I think, very good ideas for trying to deal with the humanitarian situation."

Hill added that "we continue to work very closely with all the members of the Contact Group. We brief very regularly in Belgrade and elsewhere to try to remain fully engaged and pulling as one team. I must say, as someone who worked on the issues in Bosnia, I can tell you that the sense of unanimity among the Contact Group is stronger than I've seen it before."

Following is a transcript of the press conference:

(Begin transcript)

AMBASSADOR CHRISTOPHER HILL
U.S. Secretary of State's Special Envoy on Kosovo
September 16, 1998
NATO
Brussels, Belgium

AMBASSADOR HILL: First of all, I'm very sorry for being late. The NAC [North Atlantic Council] ran rather late today, and I'm also sorry that I guess we're going to have to go pretty quickly.

Let me just say I came hear today to join Deputy Secretary Talbott in briefing and discussing the current situation in Kosovo. I was just there yesterday at some meetings with Dr. Rugova, some members of the negotiating team. I also talked to our diplomatic observers and flew directly from Kosovo here. So I used the occasion here to update people on where we are on what continues to be a very difficult negotiating process. As you know, the U.S. is working on three tracks: the humanitarian issues, the political settlement, and, as possible, military contingencies. I'm very much focused on the political and negotiating track, and that's what I was talking to the NAC about today.

The process is continuing to go forward. We have been discussing specific elements of a settlement. We certainly have a tremendous number of problems ahead, but I do believe we have a process that is at least aimed in the right direction -- if it's not going at the speed that all of us would like.

Tomorrow I plan to go back to Kosovo and to sit down with the negotiating team and get their reaction -- their very specific written reactions -- to some of the ideas that we've proposed, and then later at the beginning of next week, I would plan to go up to Belgrade and discuss some of those and continuing the process. As you've heard many times, we very much support the idea of a political solution. I must say, it's a search for peace that's been made extremely difficult by the ongoing violence on the ground, the continued numbers of displaced people, and the fact that time is growing short and fall weather has already set in in Kosovo, and will soon be followed by winter. So let me stop there and take your questions.

Q: You said that the negotiating process was going forward even in spite of difficulties, but what are the organizations on the side of the Kosovars which are negotiating? In fact, I know Rugova is negotiating, but has he got powers over are [sic] there any opposition so to speak? The opposition to the Yugoslav Government?

AMBASSADOR HILL: Well, the people who are participating in the negotiations are people who are from the parties that participated in Dr. Rugova's structures, that is, his parliamentary elections that took place earlier this spring. There is a group of people who chose not to participate in the negotiations. The door has been left open to them. They certainly have not been excluded, and they've been welcome to join. We would hope that they will want to join. I must say, we have kept them informed on where we are, and we hope that they will see that this is the best way to try to bring some peace and stability to Kosovo.

Q: Inaudible

AMBASSADOR HILL: No, the team that Dr. Rugova announced earlier in August is the team that we're dealing with led by Dr. Agani.

Q: Ambassador, I was wondering if you had recommended any particular course of action to the Allies that would help to get part or all of these displaced people back into some proper shelter before winter comes?

AMBASSADOR HILL: I don't want to get into the specifics of what I recommended, but I certainly highlighted some of the problems, both in terms of the humanitarian situation and also the problems of the negotiations and what we might do to try to pick up the pace in resolving, or addressing, both of those situations.

Q: Mr. Ambassador, the Contact Group is not unified in its position and now, unfortunately, after two months of vacation, Milosevic is burning villages. The Russian position has gained the upper hand because Russia has a self-interest in Serbia. What interest does the West have to have to get the United States into Kosovo? And why has Russia's credibility gone up in the West when it is blocking efforts to stop genocide in 1998, a genocide carried live on CNN?

AMBASSADOR HILL: Well, look, I think all of the members of the Contact Group, including the Russians, have been equally concerned, and appalled, frankly, by the violence on the ground and especially the destruction of the villages you mentioned. It is hard to drive now from Pristina to Pec, which is a distance of 90 kilometers, without seeing a lot of destruction in every single village.

We have continued to work very closely with the Russians. The Russians are very active participants in the diplomatic monitoring observer mission, and there the Russians have formulated some, I think, very good ideas for trying to deal with the humanitarian situation.

Let me state more generally that we continue to work very closely with all the members of the Contact Group. We brief very regularly in Belgrade and elsewhere to try to remain fully engaged and pulling as one team. I must say, as someone who worked on the issues in Bosnia, I can tell you that the sense of unanimity among the Contact Group is stronger than I've seen it before.

Q: The German Defense Minister Volker Ruehe is being quoted by AFP [Agence France Presse] as saying that military strikes against Serbian positions might only be three to five weeks away. Do you have any comment on that?

AMBASSADOR HILL: Really, I'm sorry, I haven't seen his quotes, and for those issues I think you really need to address the NATO spokespeople.

Q: What's your personal view? Do you think that some form of military strike might help accelerate the process that you're talking about?

AMBASSADOR HILL: I'd rather not get into my personal views. But, you know, I had a very full discussion today on how I see the negotiations and what I feel might be done to assist the negotiating process, but I don't want to get into any further specifics on that.

Q: Romanian Television: Mr. Ambassador, what could be the role of some other countries in the area -- Romania is a good example -- in trying to solve the situation in Kosovo? Do you need the help, the expertise, of countries such as Romania in your diplomatic effort?

AMBASSADOR HILL: First of all, we have tried to brief the countries in the region because they are the ones most affected by the situation, and I think we should do more of that. I think that all the countries of the region need to keep a very active diplomacy. Romania has been very active on this. I've met some of your senior officials who've come through Skopje, and we've had the opportunity to discuss the situation. I mean, ultimately, the countries of the region are going to have to take a very active role in seeing whether they can provide this sort of stability and a role in trying to get more security.

Later this month, in Skopje, there will be something called the Southeastern Europe Defense Ministerial, to which Romania is invited. They will be discussing military areas of cooperation in the region, so I'm sure the subject of the ongoing instability in Kosovo will be raised.

Q: Which type of KLA [Kosovo Liberation Army, also called the UCK] do you prefer to have? A KLA which contributes to achieve a kind of agreement, or a KLA to implement once that agreement is signed by --?

AMBASSADOR HILL: Well, we're working on an agreement which would establish institutions for democracy and to establish the conditions for normal life in Kosovo, and we need agreements that are supported by a broad range of people whatever organizations they're in, and we're pushing very hard on all of that.

Q: Are you confident that the negotiating process that you're involved in will rule out the need for air strikes within -- ?

AMBASSADOR HILL: I can't get into that, but I can say that we are pushing very hard on this negotiating process; and, as I said, I'll be back there tomorrow.

Thank you.

18 September 1998

TEXT: $10 MILLION U.S. CONTRIBUTION TO UNHCR FOR KOSOVO

(US contribution to UNHCR aid operations in Kosovo) (440)

Geneva -- The United States Mission to the United Nations in Geneva announced September 18 that the U.S. government will contribute an additional $10 million "on an urgent basis" to support the UNHCR'S portions of the United Nations Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal for Kosovo.

The contribution, provided by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, is intended to enable the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to continue its activities in Kosovo uninterrupted and to expand its role in coordinating the international community's response.

Following is the text of the announcement:

(Begin text)

United States Mission to the United Nations in Geneva
September 18, 1998

U.S. CONTRIBUTES $10 MILLION TO UNHCR FOR AID OPERATIONS IN KOSOVO

The United States is providing on an urgent basis an additional $10 million to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in support of UNHCR's portion of the United Nations Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal for Kosovo.

The contribution, provided by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, is intended to enable the UNHCR to continue its activities in Kosovo uninterrupted and to expand its role in coordinating the international community's response.

"Tens of thousands of people forced from their homes by the conflict in Kosovo face even harsher conditions as winter approaches," said Ambassador George E. Moose, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva. "The United States places particular priority on addressing the needs of internally displaced persons and host families in Montenegro and Kosovo."

Ambassador Moose confirmed the $10 million contribution in a September 18 letter to Mrs. Sadako Ogata, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees.

Since the beginning of the Kosovo crisis, the United States has pledged a total of $52 million to United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working in Kosovo. In addition to this amount, the United States has donated 250,000 "humanitarian daily rations" or HDRs.

On September 9, President Clinton ordered the drawdown of $20 million from the U.S. Emergency Refugee and Migration Fund "to meet the urgent and unexpected needs of refugees, displaced persons, conflict victims, and other persons at risk due to the Kosovo crisis." The $10 million contributed to UNHCR is drawn from this amount.

In addition, the United States has recently provided $11 million directly to non-governmental agencies working in Kosovo, and $21 million in food to the World Food Program.

(End text)

18 September 1998

DOLE, SHATTUCK URGE SWIFT U.S. ACTION TO SAVE KOSOVO

(Options: cease-fire, NATO action before winter freeze) (730)
By Susan Ellis
USIA Staff Writer

Washington -- Former Senator Robert Dole and Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor John Shattuck believe that the violence in Kosovo is a war against helpless civilians and that the United States, through NATO, should act now and, in Dole's words, "not wait until people are carried out of the mountains frozen to death."

"I think our country and our NATO allies need to respond effectively," Dole, now chairman of the International Commission on Missing Persons in Bosnia, told the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe September 17. Dole and Shattuck, who also testified before the Commission, have just returned from a fact-finding trip to Kosovo to investigate reported atrocities and assess the humanitarian crisis there.

"There may be some reluctance on the part of our allies but my view is we don't have to go back to the UN to get another resolution," Dole said. "This is NATO. They don't need another resolution. They can act."

The importance of the topic was underscored by the fact that two senators joined representatives at a hearing on Capitol Hill. They were Senator Frank Lautenberg (Democrat of New Jersey) and Senator Alfonse D'Amato (Republican of New York), who called "Federal Republic of Yugoslavia" ("FRY") President Slobodan Milosevic "a war criminal."

"There are a lot of good Serbs in Serbia who don't agree with Milosevic," Dole said, adding, "We have a Serb Unity movement in this country, a lot of good Serb-Americans who don't agree with Milosevic. This is not an attack on that ethnic group. This is about doing what's right and doing something about what's wrong. And he (Milosevic) is a bad, evil person. And he's not going to change."

Dole described "a very tense meeting" he had had with Milosevic, saying, "Here's a man who looked us right in the eye and said nothing is going to happen, and the next day there were 40,000 more people driven from their homes."

Describing his and Shattuck's six-hour trip through village after abandoned village, he said, "It's a very eerie feeling. You see no human life. And where are they? We all knew where they were -- up in the mountains hiding. They're afraid of the Yugoslav army and the Serb police force."

Dole said the next move is up to Congress, and added, "I'm willing to stand up with the president of the United States and support him in anything he does -- today, tomorrow, next week -- because I think he wants to do the right thing."

The former presidential nominee said he reported to Defense Secretary William Cohen on his return "because I thought it was important that somebody understood. There's only about an hour's flight from NATO's headquarters, it wouldn't take long to get there."

Shattuck said that in Kosovo he had received "very disturbing accounts directly from some of the displaced persons and families we were meeting with ...(about) large groups of people being rounded up -- men and boys being separated from women and children...reminiscent of some of the worst examples of what had happened in Bosnia."

He said when he received those reports his delegation immediately contacted Milosevic in Belgrade and "made the clear point that the United States would hold Milosevic and his government personally responsible for the well-being of these individuals." They demanded the immediate release of those not charged with crimes.

Two days later the "FRY" government released 536 of the men they had detained, but "73 men of that government action continue to be held in prison" despite assurances from Milosevic, Shattuck testified.

"Obviously the pressure brought to bear was very important but it only highlights the continuing and growing problem of this kind of action by the authorities in Belgrade," Shattuck said.

Shattuck termed Kosovo "a humanitarian emergency, a human rights crisis, and a very serious catastrophe in the making. We told Belgrade authorities and Milosevic personally that they would be held responsible for having created the situation that now exists in Kosovo."

He urged Milosevic to stop the "brutal assault on the civilian population so that people can get the help they need and return to their homes as winter nears."

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