Tagesnachrichten 23. Oktober 1998
     von dpa, from ALBANEWS and others
     News of the day - October 23, 1998
     Kosova Information Center : Daily Report No 1591

         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

 

Sicherheitsrat weiter ohne Beschluesse ueber neue Kosovo-Resolution

Ausland warnt Albaner und Serben - Experten untersuchen Massaker

Finnische Experten untersuchen Berichte ueber Kosovo-Massaker

Moskau warnt Albaner und Serben - Nato-Militaers nach Belgrad

Bulgarien will Luftraum fuer Nato oeffnen

Jugoslawischer Soldat im Kosovo getoetet

Militaerspitze der Nato reist nach Belgrad

Cap Anamur: Lage der Fluechtlinge im Kosovo weiter furchtbar

Moskau warnt Kosovo-Konfliktparteien vor Behinderung der Beobachter

Rugova verlangt Nato-Truppen fuer das Kosovo

«The Guardian»: Die Schwächen des Kosovo-Abkommens werden deutlich

«Les Echos»: Russen müssen sich in Kosovo-Krise zu Lager bekennen

Nato-Rat warnt UCK vor Gewalt - Sacharow-Preis fuer Rugova

Nato-Rat warnt Kosovo-Rebellen vor weiteren Aktionen

Sicherheitsrat weiter ohne Beschlüsse über neue Kosovo-Resolution
New York (dpa) - Der Weltsicherheitsrat hat am Freitag trotz der von vielen westlichen Diplomaten geäußerten Hoffnungen noch keine neue Kosovo-Resolution verabschiedet, weil Rußland und China harte Gegenpositionen bezogen.
     Der in diesem Monat amtierende Ratspräsident Sir Jeremy Greenstock (Großbritannien) teilte nach mehrstündigen Beratungen hinter verschlossenen Türen mit, Rußland halte an seinem eigenen Resolutionsentwurf fest. Damit gibt es keine gemeinsame Vorlage der Kontaktgruppe, deren Mitglieder außer Rußland die USA, Deutschland, Großbritannien, Frankreich und Italien sind.
     Hauptstreitpunkt ist ein Formulierungsvorschlag der westlichen Mitglieder der Kontaktgruppe, nach dem der Sicherheitsrat «bestätigen» soll, daß Mitgliedstaaten der Organisation für Sicherheit und Zusammenarbeit in Europa (OSZE) und der Nato «möglicherweise zu Aktionen greifen müssen, um die Bewegungsfreiheit und Sicherheit» der zivilen Beobachter zu garantieren. Das wird von Rußland als Genehmigung für Militäreinsätze gesehen und strikt abgelehnt.
     Der chinesische UN-Botschafter Qin Huasun meldete «prinzipielle Vorbehalte» an, weil «eine regionale Organisation» (die Nato) bereits jetzt ohne das notwendige Mandat des Sicherheitsrats in den Kosovo-Konflikt eingegriffen habe. Qin sagte eine Abstimmung über die Resolution frühestens für diesen Samstag voraus, ohne sich über ein ögliches chinesisches Veto zu äußern.
     Mit der Resolution soll den Vereinbarungen Jugoslawiens (Serbien und Montenegro) mit der Nato und der OSZE über unbewaffnete Nato-Überwachungsflüge über der serbischen Provinz Kosovo sowie über die Entsendung von 2 000 zivilen OSZE-Beobachtern Nachdruck verliehen werden.
     Gleichzeitig will der UN-Sicherheitsrat auf die Erfüllung seiner Resolution 1199 dringen, die am 23. September verabschiedet worden war und vor allem einen serbischen Truppenabzug vorsah.
© dpa

Ausland warnt Albaner und Serben - Experten untersuchen Massaker
Moskau/Brüssel/Pristina (dpa) - Rußland hat die Konfliktparteien im Kosovo am Freitag davor gewarnt, die Arbeit internationaler Beobachter und humanitärer Organisationen zu behindern. Die Resolution des UN-Weltsicherheitsrats müßten beide Seiten erfüllen, betonte der Sprecher des russischen Außenministeriums, Wladimir Rachmanin. Frankreich forderte allen Beteiligten im Namen der internationalen Kontaktgruppe auf, an der Befriedung des Kosovo mitzuarbeiten.
     Die Militärspitze der Nato reist an diesem Samstag zu Gesprächen mit der jugoslawischen Militärführung nach Belgrad, um erneut Druck zum Abzug der serbischen Sondereinheiten von Armee und Polizei aus dem Kosovo zu machen.
     Ein finnisches Expertenteam soll Berichte über ein Massaker serbischer Einheiten an albanischen Zivilisten in Gornje Obrinje untersuchen. Der Sender B 92 (Belgrad) berichtete, die medizinischen Experten seien am Freitag im Auftrag der EU in Pristina, der Hauptstadt des Kosovo, eingetroffen. In Gornje Obrinje sollen nach albanischen Angaben mindestens 26 Personen, darunter Frauen und Kinder getötet worden sein. Westliche Journalisten hatten darüber berichtet, nachdem sie die Leichen gesehen hatten.
     Albanische Untergrundkämpfer der UCK haben am Donnerstag einen jugoslawischen Soldaten getötet und einen zweiten schwer verletzt. UCK-Kämpfer hätten auf der Landstraße von Pristina nach Pec einen Armeekonvoi aus dem Hinterhalt angegriffen, teilte das Militärkommando in Pristina am Freitag mit.
     Die 16 Nato-Botschafter stellten unterdessen bei einer Sitzung am Freitag in Brüssel noch einmal fest, daß der jugoslawische Präsident Slobodan Milosevic die UN-Bedingungen noch immer nicht erfülle. Deshalb soll der militärische Druck des Bündnisses weiter aufrechterhalten werden. Die Nato hat bereits den Aktivierungsbefehl für Luftangriffe beschlossen, die Verwirklichung vorerst aber bis zum kommenden Dienstag ausgesetzt.
     Auch Frankreich hat am Freitag in Übereinstimmung mit den übrigen Mitgliedern der internationalen Kontaktgruppe in einer Erklärung die Kontrahenten im Kosovo-Konflikt davor gewarnt, den humanitären Organisationen sowie den Beobachterteams der OSZE Hindernisse in den Weg zu legen. Wörtlich heißt es in der Erklärung: «Die für die Rückkehr der Flüchtlinge und Vertriebenen unabdingbare Schaffung eines Vertrauensklimas hängt direkt davon ab.»
     In Pristina forderte Albanerführer Ibrahim Rugova am Freitag eine Verlängerung des Nato-Aktivierungsbefehls und die Stationierung von Nato-Truppen im Kosovo. «Serbische Einheiten sind weiterhin im Kosovo, die Lage ist schwer und gefährlich», zitierte ihn die Nachrichtenagentur Beta (Belgrad).
     Rugova forderte zudem internationale Garantien, damit alle Flüchtlinge in ihre Dörfer zurückkehren können. Die serbischen Einheiten verließen die Provinz Kosovo nicht, sondern wechselten lediglich ihre Standorte. Deswegen sei zusätzlicher internationaler Druck auf Belgrad nötig, sagte er.
© dpa

==> LINK zu weiteren Meldungen

Wer nichts tut, macht keine Fehler.             - Oder ist gerade das ein Fehler ?  Was wird die NATO am Samstag (nicht) tun ?   Doing nothing means making no mistakes.             - Or ist exactly this a mistake ?  What will NATO do or not do on Saturday ?   Das ist die Antwort - THAT's the answer   Meldung vom 16.10.1998 18:16  http://seite1.web.de/show/3627715F.NL1/  Nato-Rat setzt Einsatzbefehl bis 27. Oktober aus     Meldung vom 18.10.1998 15:34 http://seite1.web.de/show/3629EE87.NL1/  Washington sieht «klare Anzeichen» für serbischen Rückzug  ... Belgrad ziehe offensichtlich mindestens zwei der erforderlichen sieben Bataillone aus dem Kosovo zurück und erleichtere die humanitäre Hilfe. ...

Offene Fragen:

     Ein ethisches
           Ein juristisches
                 Ein politisches Problem ?

                        Wenn sich jemand nicht an seine Zusagen,
                                an getroffenes Vereinbarungen,
                                an geschlossene Verträge,
                                an Gesetze hält,
                        kann der dann von anderen die Einhaltung genau
                                dieser Absprachen und Regelungen einfordern ?
                        ist der - sind die - Vertragspartner
                                dann noch an ihr Wort gebunden ?

Open questions:

     An ethical
           A juridical
                 A political problem ?

             If someone keeps not his promises,
                    incured agreements,
                    contracts,
                    laws,
             can this one call in from others to keep
                    even these agreements and arrangements ?
             is the - are the - partner of contract
                    in theses circumstances liable to keep his - their - word ?

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 !

Kaum zu glauben:     s o  handelt das Land des Oktoberfestes !

dpa- Meldung vom 02.10.1998 11:16  http://seite1.web.de/show/36149A07.NL1/      Bayern wollte Kosovo-Albaner per Flugzeug via Schweiz abschieben  Bern (dpa) - Nach Inkrafttreten des Landeverbots für die jugoslawische Fluggesellschaft JAT in Deutschland versuchen die Behörden des Bundeslandes Bayern nun, abgewiesene Asylbewerber aus dem Kosovo via Schweiz abzuschieben. Das erklärten Vertreter der Schweizer Flüchtlings-Bewegung am Freitag in Bern.       Ein erster Abschiebungs-Versuch scheiterte nach den Angaben der Flüchtlingshilfe am 21. September - allerdings nicht an den Schweizer Behörden. Ein jugoslawischer Staatsangehöriger sei von Frankfurt über Zürich mit der JAT nach Belgrad geflogen worden, wo ihn die jugoslawischen Behörden aber zurückwiesen.       Die Schweiz hatte sich dem vor vier Wochen von der EU beschlossenen Landeverbot für die JAT nicht angeschlossen. Sie fliegt immer noch einmal täglich ab Zürich.       Zur Begründung hieß es, selbst die EU-Länder wollten sich nicht alle an das Verbot halten. Belgrad akzeptiert keine abgeschobenen Asylbewerber, die auf dem Landweg nach Jugoslawien gebracht werden.       Das bayerische Innenministerium soll sich in der Schweiz nach Angaben der Flüchtlings-Bewegung eingehend über Möglichkeiten informiert haben, in Zukunft Kosovo-Albaner mit Maschinen der Fluggesellschaft JAT von Zürich nach Belgrad zu bringen.       Der bayerische Versuch, das JAT-Embargo zu umgehen, zeige, daß der Schweizer Alleingang hochproblematisch sei, erklärte der Zentralsekretär der Schweizerischen Flüchtlingshilfe, Markus Loosli.       Die Nationalrätin Vreni Müller-Hemmi aus Zürich richtete in der Sache eine Dringliche Einfache Anfrage an den Schweizer Bundesrat. Darin fordert sie die Landesregierung unter anderem zu einer Erklärung darüber auf, warum die Schweiz ein einzelnes deutsches Bundesland dabei unterstütze, einen Entscheid der gesamtdeutschen Regierung zu unterwandern.       Das Außenministerium nannte dagegen die Schweizer Haltung zum Milosevic-Regime «sehr kritisch». Ministeriums-Sprecher Livio Zanolari verwies auf die Schweizer Sanktionen gegen Belgrad, die von der Regierung am Montag weiter verschärft worden waren. Er ließ erkennen, daß man in Bern erneut über eine Teilnahme an dem EU-JAT- Embargo nachdenken wolle.  © dpa

www.kosova.com - website is hacked again !
"This Site is hacked by Serbian Hackers Team Crna Ruka.Long Live Great Serbia!!! "
could there be read at 19:10 hrs on October 23, 1998

Date:         Fri, 23 Oct 1998 18:07:34 +0200
From:         Edmond Hajrullaaga <edihaga@EUNET.YU>
Subject:      News:Kosova Daily Report#1591

Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT # 1591
Prishtina, 23 October 1998

President Rugova Accorded Sakharov Prize by European Parliament

PRISHTINA, Oct 23 (KIC) - The President of the Republic of Kosova Dr Ibrahim Rugova has been accorded the prestigious Sakharov Prize for 1998 by the European Parliament.
The group of the Popular and Christian Democratic parties had put forward Rugova as a candidate, whereas the Liberals, the Greens, the Europe of Nations and UPE groups supported it in the plenary session of the Parliament in Strasbourg, the KIC sources said.
There were two other candidates this year - Ukshin Hoti, a Kosovar teacher of the University of Prishtina, and Akin Birdal, a leading human rights activist in Turkey.
The Sakharov prize is accorded to personalities committed to human rights and democracy.
Dr. Ibrahim Rugova has been rewarded for his policies of non- violent struggle pursued by the Albanian people of Kosova against Serbian rule in Kosova.
The Prize will be accorded Rugova in December. In the ceremony earlier laureates of the Sakharov prize will be invited, including Adem Demaçi, the first Kosovar to have won it, sources said.

Rugova Receives OSCE Mission Head Walker, UN Envoy Dienstbir

PRISHTINA, Oct 23 (KIC) - The President of the Republic of Kosova Dr. Ibrahim Rugova received today afternoon Ambassador William Walker, head of the OSCE Kosova Verification Mission, who is for a one-day introductory visit to Kosova.
President Rugova described the situation in Kosova as grave and dangerous, as a consequence of the Serb military and police offensives against the Albanian people this year.
The U.S. diplomat, Ambassador Walker, briefed President Rugova on the OSCE Verification Mission's mandate with regard to compliance with UNSCR 1199 and descalating the situation in Kosova in pursuit of a political resolution.
The OSCE Mission is welcomed by the people, Rugova said, and pledged the support and cooperation of Kosovar institutions.
Mr. Walker gave a press briefing today afternoon at the American Center in Prishtina.
Meanwhile, earlier today President Rugova received Mr. Jiri Dienstbir, the UN special rapporteur for human rights in former Yugoslavia.
The UN official said he had come to Kosova to see the situation first-hand and report to the UN General Assembly.
Serbian forces have not been withdrawing, but rather repositioning in Kosova, President Rugova said, adding that such a huge presence makes it impossible for Albanian refugees to return to their homes and restore their lives.

Summary of President Rugova's Press Conference

PRISHTINA, Oct 23 (KIC) - The President of the Republic of Kosova Dr. Ibrahim Rugova told reporters today (Friday) the situation in the country continued to be dangerous amidst continued Serb shelling of the villages of Malisheva, Gjakova area, and Drenica region.
There have been new displaced Albanians in Malisheva area, Rugova said, recalling that thousands of people continue living rough in the open. Serb police has been prevented people from returning to their homes in a number of villages, he said.
President Rugova, who is also leader of the Democratic League of Kosova (LDK), said Albanian political activists are being illtreated and arrested. The LDK chapter leadership in Gjilan, including its vice-chairman Lutfi Haziri, have been arrested this past week by the Serb police, he said.
The Kosova President condemned in the strongest terms the killing Thursday by the Serb military of four members of a Kosovar Albanian refugee family returning back to their home village near the Kosova-Albania border. There should be international security in the process of the return of Albanian refugees, Rugova said, noting that the huge Serb police presence is a deterrent factor. "Serb forces are regrouping rather than actually withdrawing from Kosova", as demanded by the international community, he warned.
President Ibrahim Rugova reiterated his call for international protection of the people of Kosova. The NATO activation order for air strikes against Serbian targets should be kept in place, and NATO ground troops committed to Kosova, he said.
The best solution for Kosova is independence, with all guarantees for the local Serb community, and an interim stage international protectorate pending a lasting resolution, Ibrahim Rugova underscored.
Dr. Rugova availed himself of the opportunity to thank members of the European Parliament who accorded him the Sakharov Prize 1998.
The news of this Prize comes in "hard times for Kosova". It honours the people and citizens of Kosova, he said. "It is in recognition of the peaceful resistance of the people of Kosova towards peace, independence and democracy, and it honours the people's sacrifices".
The European Parliament and the U.S. Congress are two institutions which have been speaking out for Kosova since the 1980s, this year's Sakharov Prize winner said.
"I am delighted to be amongst the laureates of this Prize, including Mandela. It is of importance for Kosova that I am the second winner of the Prize, after Adem Demaçi. Besides, one of the candidates this year was yet another Kosovar, Ukshin Hoti, who is in (Serbian) prison", President Ibrahim Rugova said.
Asked by a foreign reporter to comment on reported remarks in Brussels and elsewhere that there has been progress in Kosova with regard to Serb troop withdrawals, President Ibrahim Rugova said Serb forces are still in Kosova. "One cannot say there has been any progress. Therefore, I have demanded that the NATO activation order remain in place, as a leverage to pressure Belgrade, and that NATO establishes a ground presence in Kosova", the President of the Republic concluded.

FOCUS: Hill's Plan Addresses Kosova Within Serbia, Djukanovic Says Approvingly
It is ironical and preposterous indeed that Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic feeds his vanity, one of a tiny ruler pampered by the West, with such an ambition: to have a critical say on what the status of a nation, Kosova, outnumbering his own by four to one, will be!

PRISHTINA, Oct 23 (KIC) - "I know the importance of Kosovo to the Republic of Montenegro, and the importance of substantial consultation with the President of the Republic of Montenegro in light of what is happening,", Ambassador Chris Hill, the U.S. ambassador to Shkup/FYROM, and an envoy for Kosova, told independent media representatives in Montenegro on Tuesday, 20 October.
"We [Hill and President Milo Djukanovic of Montenegro] also talked about the draft ideas for a political settlement" in Kosova, Ambassador Hill said in Podgorica.
Asked to say what political options concerning Kosova he had discussed with Djukanovic that day, and whether one of the options for Kosova was to be a third republic of Yugoslavia (composed of Serbia and Montenegro), the U.S. diplomat said he did not discuss different options for Kosova. "I described to President Djukanovic the draft agreement that we have."
Kosova Albanians would very much like that "Kosovo be taken out of Serbia", Chris Hill stressed. "That, however, is a position that we do not feel that we can achieve agreement on from the Serbs."
The focus has been placed on international democratization in Kosova, "with the understanding that after three years there will be a comprehensive review of the agreement, with consideration of what additional measures should be taken," the U.S. envoy said."And of course the Albanians would like this consideration of next steps to include a new status for Kosovo. And certainly they would absolutely have the right to raise that," Hill said, implying that there would be no provisions in the interim accord which would stipulate that a new status be sought for Kosova, that the people of Kosova would decide in a referendum or in any other way as to what their wishes with regard to their status would be.
Meanwhile, President Milo Djukanovic of Montenegro, served as Slobodan Milosevic's advocate on Thursday when he said Kosova should remain in Serbia, and even threatened that Montenegro would reconsider its position towards the Yugoslav Federation if Kosova's was to be upgraded to a third republic.
Speaking at a press conference in Podgorica, Djukanovic said: "If there is any susbtantial shift from the political platform offered by Ambassador Hill, which treats the Kosova problem within the framework of the Republic of Serbia", then Montenegro would reconsider its position, because in that case, his argument goes, Montenegro's equality in the two-member federation would be endangered.
As if to round off the "importance of Kosovo to the Republic of Montenegro"!
There has been much rhetoric and myth about the significance of Kosova to Serbia. We are hearing now new talk on Kosova being important to Montenegro, this being affirmed by the leader of Montenegro. It is ironical indeed that Djukanovic feeds his vanity, one of a tiny ruler pampered by the West, with such an ambition: to have a critical say on what the status of a nation, Kosova, outnumbering his own by four to one, will be!.
Meanwhile, the U.S. envoy for Kosova said Thursday afternoon in Prishtina he had brought with him a lawyer from the State Department, Jonathan Levitsky, to continue to work on the political agreement. "We are going to have a new draft very shortly", Chris Hill said.
One should only hope the new draft is substantially more accommodating to the demands of the people of Kosova, not Serbia. For there can be no solution for Kosova within Serbia. Neither within Serbia-Montenegro federation, for that matter, unless for a short interim period and on a par with the two republics, rather than subordinate to them.
Neither Serbia nor Montenegro are willing to accept Kosova as an equal partner in the 'FRY'. The best solution is for Kosova to be an independent nation. For all: Kosova, Serbia and Montenegro. And the rest in the region.

Serb Forces Dig in around Villages of Gjakova and Vushtrii

PRISHTINA, Oct 23 (KIC) -  Serb forces have resumed today repositioning around Albanian villages in the Hasi region, western Kosova, sources in Gjakova said today.
Army and police troops have dug in around every village on the border zone with Albania. At the village of Goden, the Srebs have been garrisoned in the houses of the local Albanians as well, witnesses told the LDK chapter in Gjakova.
LDK sources in Vushtrri ("Vucitrn') said that a Serb army convoy consisting of tanks and trucks trailing artillery pieces were deployed today morning at Brusnik village. Serb forces were reported deployed later today at another village in the area, at Bukosh.

Volatile Situation in Malisheva, Repositioning Serb Troops Resume Fire

PRISHTINA, Oct 23 (KIC) - The Serb forces garrisoned near the Volljaka bauxite mine opened sporadic fire last night against several outlying villages in the municipality of Malisheva. The villages of Panorc, Rud and Llapçevë were sprayed with machine-gun fire on several occasions, local sources said.
The Malisheva LDK chapter said a large number of uprooted people were still last night in makeshift shelters, while the air temperature dropped nearly to the freezing level in the mountains.
A 35-year-old refugee, Elmi Mazreku, resident of Malisheva, died lats night in a camping site. His family were unable to take him to a clinic for treatment, sources said.
Serb military forces were deployed today morning in two locations in the area, at Mariachi and Pishat e Volljakës (Voljaka Pinewood).

Serb Forces Shell Lladroc Village Today

PRISHTINA, Oct 23 (KIC) - At midday today, Serb military and police forces positioned at a location called "Rreze" started shelling the village of Lladroc, local LDK sources said.
Reportedly, Azë Krasniqi (33), resident of Carrallukë village Malisheva, was wounded by the shelling. She was staying in Lladroc as a refuge.

Old Woman, Three Children Die of Dire Living Conditions

PRISHTINA, Oct 23 (KIC) - Four more Albanian civilians have died in the village of Kralan of Gjakova amidst dire living conditions, the LDK chapter in Gjakova.
The 60-year-old woman, Fazë Aliaj, Hysen Feta's three-month infant, Shaban Zenuni's two-year-old child, as well as another 2-year-old child, have died, the LDK said, failing to offer other specifics on the circumstances they have been living in.

Serb Military Police Arrests a Dozen Albanians at Railway Station in Plemetin

PRISHTINA, Oct 23 (KIC) - At least 12 Albanians were arrested in Plemetin village of Obiliq on Thursday, when the Yugoslav military police cracked down on the train in the local railway station.
Witnesses told the KIC that the Albanians were forces off a  train and were taken to places still unknown.
The LDK chapter in Vushtrri said the Serb military police has cracked down on the railway station in Plemetin on several occasions on Wednesday and Thursday. On Wednesday, Serb police and soldiers halted every bus travelling the Prishtina-Obiliq-Plemetin- Prelluzha roadway from 9 a.m. through 3 p.m. Passengers on board the buses were subjected to strict checking and intimidation.

Attorneys of LDK Activist Warn Over Deteriorating Health of their Client in Custody

PRISHTINA, Oct 23 (KIC) - Bajram Kelmendi and Nekibe Kelmendi, defending attorneys of the vice-chairman of the LDK chapter in Gjilan, Lutfi Haziri, have warned that the health condition of client was deteriorating after he was tortured in the hands of the Serb state security.
Mr. Haziri has been held in Serb police custody in Gjilan since 15 October, when he was arrested at his home. He has been now facing terrorism-related charges. Only five days after his arrest, on 20 October 1998, Haziri was cross-examined by an investigating magistrate of the Gjilan District Court.
The lawyers claimed that their client "was constrained to make the very confession the Security wanted from him and he has suffered body injuries from the torture". Lutfi Haziri confirmed in front of the investigating magistrate and the defending attorneys who attended his interrogation that he was tortured. The judge refused to include that part of his statement in the minute-book.
Bajram and Nekibe Kelmendi insist that their client be taken to the Institute for Forensic Medicine in Prishtina in order to corroborate that force had been used against him, and to provide him adequate medical treatment. However, the Serb court authorities have been rejecting their demand.
In a written plea addressed to the court, they said the their client needed urgent medical treatment. They noted that the court has been deliberately refusing to take him to a doctor "because as the times passes, marks of torture will fade".

Serb Raids Refugee Homes

PRISHTINA, Oct 23 (KIC) - Early in the morning today, the Serb forces cracked down on several Albanian homes in Gjilan, intimidating scores of local residents.
Sources in Gjilan said that the Serb police campaign today was focused in the "Dheu i Bardhë" suburb, raiding in particular houses in which refugees from other war-torn parts of Kosova have found shelter.
Family member of Habib Shala from Fushtica (Gllogovc), who have been staying at Ramush Neziri's home, were maltreated by over 20 Serb policemen who raided the home.
Habib Shala (1948) and his son Petrit were arrested subsequently, and both of them were reported still in custody in mid-afternoon.

Kosova Information Center
Last page!

KOSOVA (shelling – Mitrovicë)
Shelling in the villages of Shalë e Bajgorës

Mitrovicë, 22 October (ARTA) 1500CET --
Serb military\police forces again shelled the villages of Mazhiq, Vidishiq, Krepsali, Melenicë and Bare, from their military base in the village of Kutlloc, Wednesday night from 2145CET until 0200CET, CDHRF in Mitrovicë and "KOHA Ditore" sources from the ground inform.
This shelling recommenced the next morning from around 0800CET. The material damages are reported to be enormous, as there is no information about the eventual victims.
On the other hand, at around 0600CET, a Serb military convoy equipped with heavy artillery departed from the military barrack in Mitrovicë and headed in the direction of Skënderaj. There is no sign of the withdrawal of the Serb military\police forces from their positions in the outskirts of Mitrovicë.

KOSOVA (victims – Gjakovë)
Serb soldiers kill four members of Sylmetaj family

Prishtina, 22 October (ARTA) 1700CET --
According to SCDHRF in Gjakovë, Serb soldiers killed four members of Sylmetaj family, today at 0400CET on the road between the border Kosova-Albania and the Gërçinë village.
The victims are Ramiz Hamzë Sylmetaj (28), Leonora Gani Sylmetaj (12), Muharrem Ramiz Sylmetaj (6), and Mazllum Ramiz Sylmetaj (2).
This family was returning to their house, from Albania, where they were temporarily sheltered, because of the war in Kosova. Two other members of this family were badly wounded; among them is also Ajshe Sylmetaj the wife of Ramiz. The sources of SCDHRF claim that, these members of the above mentioned family stated that they were shot by the Serb soldiers.

KOSOVA (shelling – Klinë)
Tanks shell in the direction of Maja e Bajrakut

Klinë, 22 October (ARTA) 2100CET --
Serb tanks started today at 1500CET, the shelling of Maja e Bajrakut, from Zabeli i Hoxhës and Boka e Volljakës. Maja e Bajrakut is the place where the civilian population is staying since several days. Numerous forces have come from Zabeli i Hoxhës through Boka e Volljakës. Volljaka is being kept under the siege of the Serb forces, while the shelling continue while we are reporting (at 1730CET). The village Kralan is being shelled from the Serb police positions in Mrasor village.

KOSOVA (shooting – Klinë)
Shooting in Sverkë

Klinë, 22 October (ARTA) 1545CET --
The village of Sverkë last night also, was subjected to arms shooting and flares' launching. Today, on the other hand, numerous tank and APC movements were evidenced mainly in the region of Sverkë and Ujëmirë. In the fields and house yards in the village of Siçevë, the Serb forces are digging holes and covering them, supposedly planting mines. Serb forces are posted in 4 to 5 places in the majority of the villages of the Klinë municipality, preventing the return of the people to their already burned and destroyed houses.
The Serb installed Court in Pejë, yesterday sentenced Sali Gashi (31), and Elmi Zeneli (24), both from Potërç e Epërm, with 3 years imprisonment, for the crime of "terrorism".
Nothing is known on the whereabouts of Lumnije Morina from Gllarevë, whose husband was killed a day before.

KOSOVA (Surroi – Cook)
Surroi: Establishing security--a condition for enabling the return of the refugees, and the first step of the political process

Shkup, 22 October (ARTA) 1600CET --
After the meeting with the British diplomat, Veton Surroi stressed that, "the talks were focused on to three main topics: Reinforcing of the security measures in Kosova which are necessary for enabling the return of the refugees into their houses, as it was anticipated with the Holbrooke agreement as well as with the additional measures; the possible forms of augmenting the political process in the future negotiations for and about Kosova, and; about the general context concerning Kosova--so to say also the need for the democratization of Serbia and "the need for the democratization of Serbia, as well as within this frame for Montenegro to find its corresponding stand with Belgrade", claimed Surroi.
"As for my evaluation, this meeting is a verification of the extraordinarily strong and innovative engagement of the Great Britain concerning the Kosova crisis. Such an engagement has left a strong impression on the Western European states regarding their approaches to the Kosova issue", declared after the meeting, Veton Surroi editor-in-chief of the Albanian daily "Koha Ditore".

KD interview – British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook
Cook: "I think Kosova would take benefits by putting this agreement into function"

Shkup, 21 October (ARTA) 1830CET--
The British Foreign Minister visited Macedonia in the quality of the representative of the Contact Group, in the meetings with the Kosova Albanian politicians and Macedonian authorities.
The prevailing crisis and the conflict were the main points of his attention, the same as of the corp diplomatique and the journalists following him.
The exclusive interview with Mr.Cook took place in hotel " Alexander Palace" in Shkup, just before his meeting with the Albanian Negotiating team from Prishtina.

Koha Ditore (KD): Why you did not come in Prishtina?

Cook: (I did not come) because, I should have needed visa from Belgrade, shouldn't I? But, I am not very far from there. I hope that in some future case I could come in Prishtina.

KD: Besides the promises and the agreements signed in Belgrade, there still is no sign that things are settling down in Kosova. What do you think about the recent trends of violence?

Cook: First of all, I have to express the satisfaction for this second interview, which was offered to me by your newspaper.
Also, I have to say that during the last months Kosova had a very high priority in my agenda. You may have noticed this by my numerous statements, which mostly expressed my concern for the behaviors of the ("Yugoslav") President Milosevic--but also those statements through which a political progress for the political solution of the Kosova problem, was aspired in front of the military solution of the crisis.
I came here immediately after the statement I gave in the Commons in London.
What was repeated continuously since the last week is that the deal achieved between Milosevic and Holbrooke is not perfect-- the international agreements are never perfect--- but it is an agreement which offers possibilities of a progress, for a self-governed Kosova, which would have a local control over its police; which would have free elections for its municipal administration and Assembly which would be supervised by OSCE and not by Belgrade; and which would pave the way for the Kosovars to set their control over their political patterns and their internal issues.
We achieved this deal only after a huge pressure exercised over Milosevic. Great Britain has continuously worked both as a member of the Contact Group and as a member of NATO in order to promote in front of the Belgrade, the twin-track intensive diplomacy of the Contact Group, backed by the NATO credible threats for using the force.
Great Britain kept (during the debating in the Contact Group and in NATO) a robust attitude in these points:

-An assistance to the efforts of the international community, which is responsible for ensuring the solution of the prevailing situation in Kosova, without tolerating any further the violation of the human rights and the international justice;
-In trying to achieve a (political) unity concerning Kosova, within the Contact Group and NATO, since we cannot be strict in front of Belgrade if we are not unified.

I think that we succeeded to compel Milosevic understand that we were serious--that the unity within NATO and Contact Group exists.
The strategy of the twin-track approach functioned.
I think that the reason why the agreement was achieved is that Milosevic was convinced that NATO was presenting a serious threat. Since we managed to achieve this agreement with the pressure over Milosevic, we are convinced that also the compliance to those requests will be achieved with a huge pressure over Belgrade. Maybe the most important message i have at the moment for the Kosova people is that, Britain does not see this moment (the agreement) as the end of the political process, but as its beginning.
I think that President Milosevic does not doubt that that we will be after this, and the international community will draw its attention from Kosova into another crisis.
Let me say that it won't be like this. We will be strongly engaged in our efforts to ensure that Milosevic will respect the agreement.
Allow me to finish this presentation by emphasizing the contribution of Great Britain in all this. We have already ensured 200 out of total 2.000 "verifying" observers; we will provide aircrafts for the NATO verification mission; personnel for the NATO Central Headquarters which will be set here in Macedonia, and we will give our contribution in the aspect of providing the humanitarian aids for refugees (and we are already working on it).
NATO threats cannot lose the credibility

KD: Could the NATO threats with air-raids (against the military targets in Serbia) be considered as credible threats, taking into account the continuous postponement of the deadlines and the flexibility furring the talks in Belgrade?

Cook: Here, I wouldn't have agreed with the formulation "postponement of the deadlines". Initially, we decided to authorize the military officers to continue (the planning of) the air raids---on last Monday.
Milosevic gave his compliance with the Holbrooke's package one-day later. I am convinced that these two acts are interconnected with each other. Without the threats for air-raids no agreement would have been achieved.
Due to Monday’s decision, the order for undertaking the air-raids which was supposed to expire on Friday, continued to remain in power during the course of the two upcoming weeks. I think that it is a right decision.
This is not referring to the postponement of the deadlines but to the issues of maintaining the order. The plans remain valid and in power. And as Solana claimed: NATO remains ready to intervene if it is necessary. What we are interested to be fulfilled during the next ten days is that the verification mission to arrive in Kosova, and to be present there in order to provide us measures which enable us to testify that Milosevic could violate this agreement illegally. We will conduct full verification during all the time and all over Kosova. And the results of the verification mission will be ultimately reported not only to OSCE but also to NATO.

KD: Let us speak for the draft document for Kosova. The Albanian side does not regard in it a mechanism that would have been the process of self-determination or the one of the referendum--necessary for the further advancement of the status of Kosova, after the interim period.

Cook: I think that the main part of the Holbrooke package is the devotion that free elections will be carried out for the Assembly of Kosova--and they will be observed by the OSCE.
It is up to them who will take part in these elections what kinds of pre-election programs they will present, and it is up to Kosovars to decide themselves upon what program or platform they will vote for. This will be an evident test for the Kosovar public opinion.
Secondly, the deadline from achieving a progress in the political negotiations is very precise--2 November. This is the date when Milosevic is obliged to make a progress in the crucial aspects.
As third I would like to stress that now, Kosovars have the opportunity to advance their political structures which they have elected themselves, and which would administer the services and the police they want to see.
This is a great possibility. Of course, this does not imply what the majority in Kosova desires, I understand that, but this is the agreement we have. I think Kosova could take benefits by putting this agreement into function, and I think that it would have been a tragedy if we spent the next six months discussing whether this is the agreement we have appreciated.

(To be continued)
 

KD interview - Sonja Biserko
Diensbier's statement is irresponsible and lacks basis

Prishtina, 22 October

KD: The Serb law on information is now in power. How can you, as a human rights activist, comment this?

Biserko: The law on information comes at the time When Milosevic reaches an agreement with Mr. Holbrooke, an agreement which has been widely disapproved. At first, it came as relief, considering the prospect of military intervention at the time. However, the political opposition as well as the wide public opinion disapproves of the agreement, which is now being shown due to the difficulties in implementing it.
I think that at this time, Milosevic is extremely isolated and that he is trying to keep the situation under control at any cost. And the Information law is one of his mechanisms of achieving this.
The main target was the daily "Nasa Borba", which was the only one that published Albanian sources of information.
This in addition to introducing a war economy, as a political step, will be the problems he has to face this winter. Through a small door, a real dictatorship is being imposed in Serbia. Naturally, this Law goes against the Constitution and has no legal argument.

KD: When speaking of the Information law, it is said that it is aimed at forbidding "the inducement of interethnic, religious or racial hatred". On the other hand however, the Serb state run media continually refer to the Albanians in a derogatory manner, calling them "shiptari", Which can directly be treated as an ethnic offense as Well as showing ethnic hatred...

Biserko: I believe that the negative stand toward Albanian goes back further than the Serb state media (RTS) and that this issue is in some way "imperial" - in some Way even racist.
But in all this, the RTS has played a significant role in paving the Way for the war, which was prepared at other institutions. However the media played a significant role, in Kosova as Well, and they share great responsibility. However, We're talking of banning the media and controlling those that presented the truth, right?
This was dangerous for the regime, although it is a lot different than presented by the state media. In addition, though, there is some sort of consensus in Serbia in regards to the policy in Kosova, thus the media targeted, at this time, could exercise great impact on shifting awareness on Kosova.
Thus, I think that this Law is backgrounded by serious attempts of setting control - in that Way the regime in the future can be more relaxed. However, Milosevic feels a lot more insecure and isolated presently, for his coalition partners, as Sesel, have a different opinion on the agreement. I believe that we should wait and see What Sesel and the nationalist campus is going to do, since they haven't clearly stated their stand on this issue yet. We are headed towards an insecure period in Serbia and the balance of power cannot be clearly figured out...

KD: Why the Albanian-language media weren't shut down?

Biserko: I don't know, but with this law, it could pressure the Albanian media as well. I've heard for the threats made to your newspaper, which (still) has not been carried through. I think that the shut down of Albanian media could be much more difficult because of the large presence of international community and worldwide attention towards the Kosova issue.
I believe that Milosevic will face problems with the policy toward the media in Serbia because of the large row from abroad. But, I cannot predict how this will all end.

KD: Let's change the subject. Some days ago, the UN envoy for human rights in former Yugoslavia, Jiri Diensbier, called the large Albanian families that were killed - "clans" and "local mafia" for whose death "everybody is satisfied"...

Biserko: I think that it is an irresponsible statement, especially given by a representative from a position that could have a very important role, because he reports on the human rights abuses in former Yugoslavia.
In this case, his statement concerning Kosova according to me is irresponsible and one that lacks basis.

KD: Diensbier talks about the pathologic hatred between Serbs and Muslims, claiming at the same time that something like that doesn't exist between Serbs and Albanians...

Biserko: I wouldn't do any talking about the hatred, but his statement proves his personal ignorance for this region, because Serbs, Muslims and Croats lived together in Bosnia and there was no pathologic hater there, not as he refers to it.
Meanwhile, as for the Serbs and Albanians we can say they lived in different worlds - especially these two last decades, after the lifting of autonomy in 1989. It can be said that this division increased with this conflict, where the civilians were the victims and during which many people were driven out from their homes...
So, a comment like that of Mr. Diensbier lacks basis and is inaccurate.
Thinking generally of this statement, it is an attempt to minimize the Kosova problem, aiming for it to be placed in another context. I think that this is bad, especially when coming from that kind of a UN person.
Through all that statement there is an attempt to put the both sides in one level -- all that happened through this war -- and all the time leaving behind the fact that the Kosovar Albanians for almost 20 years live in some kind of isolation, while living through this last decade under state terror, that caused the KLA appearance and all the things that happen in the field at this moment.

KACI - analysis
Unacceptable document - public debate needs to take place concerning Hill's documents

Prishtina, 22 October (ARTA) 1600CET --
Kosova's Action for Civilian Initiative (KACI), organized a round table, in which the constitutional and judicial experts of Kosova had a debate concerning the project-proposal offered by the Contact Group, respectively by the American Ambassador Christopher Hill.
"Considering the importance of the proposal of Ambassador Hill, we invited the constitutionals to give their opinions. We plan to make an `ad hoc' group of professionals out of this round table, who would independently address their stance about this issue also in the international instances", said initially the head of the KACI, Ylber Hysa and added that "this institution is willing to help this group, which will offer recommendation as to how we should approach this problem".
On the other hand, Isuf Berisha from KACI stated that "the group will be founded in order to give a firm stance about this issue, for have very little time".
The joint evaluation of all the present in this round table, was that the Project Proposal of the Contact Group is "unacceptable" for Albanians, because, as one of the colocutors claimed: "this proposal gives Kosova as much competencies, as the municipality of Prishtina had with the Constitution of 1974".
"Is there any nation or a country in the world, a UN member, and particularly from the Contact Group, that would accept to be a colony of Serbia and Montenegro, to be ruled by a foreign regime, of a totalitarian, despotic and fascist type, as is the one in `FRY’", asked Fatmir Fehmiu, professor of the Constitutional Justice and expressed the conviction that "not only they would not accept that, but on the contrary, they would fight against such a monster".
From this regard, according to him, the question raised is: "Why is the people of Kosova, who is undergoing the chaotic pressure of the classic rule type, in the heart of Europe, offered such a proposal?"
For Fehmiu, the project of the "Agreement", offered by the Contact Group, "conscious or not, intentional or not, legalizes the constitutional `coup d'etat' conducted by the present Serb regime (1989-1992), which made Kosova a classic colony, ruled by a totalitarian, despotic and chauvinistic regime".
The "Agreement" project, offered by the Contact Group, stated he further, presents in fact, a "modification of the Project of the Temporary Status of Kosova and Metohija", offered in April of the year 1998, by the Parliament of the Republic of Serbia, which is a materialization of the Platform of (LKJ) for Kosova" (1981), of the conclusions of the "Yugoslav program for preventing the dislocation of the Serbs and Montenegrins from Kosova", of different conclusions of the plenums of (KQ) of (LKJ) and (KQ) of (LK) of Serbia from the year 1981, and particularly of the Eighth Plenum of (KQ) of LK of Serbia up to the destruction of `Yugoslavia', which were also anti-constitutional". According to him, "this can be called paradox `sui generis', but it is a very bitter truth. However "so is the international community's behavior, concerning the manner they approach the problem of Kosova, even from the very beginning", he stressed out.
Further, Fehmiu recalled a series of resolutions for Kosova, which for years were approved by the international bodies, starting from the one approved in the Conference of London (1992), the resolutions drawn by the Parliament of Europe, the UN General Assembly, the UN Commission for Human Rights, resolutions that demand from the "FRY" (Serbia and Montenegro" authorities, to establish "genuine democratic institutions in Kosova, including the Parliament and jurisprudence and respect the people's will as the best means to prevent the escalation of the conflict". Hence, "we end up with a full package of documents!"
Nevertheless, Fehmiu continued, "the UN, EU, and OSCE attempts, expelled from Kosova, by the `FRY" authorities, not only were they not fulfilled, but in the contrary, despite their determinations, the war urged by the Serb colonialist oligarchy, continued". In fact, according to him, "the engagement of the London Conference, and now of the Contact Group, was not and is not primary and just concerning the issue of Kosova, because: The EU Commission decisions, with the selective application of the disposition of the Constitution of the "FRY" (1974), which was taken as a constitutional base of the dissolution, expelled Kosova without any grounds, as a federal forming, constituent unit of the Federation, they did not respect and are still not respecting the citizens' will; the will of the people of Kosova expressed in the referendum of (1991), as they respected the will of the citizens and the people of other "FRY" countries, for independence, but they submitted to the constitutional "coup d'etat", created by the Serb despotic colonialist, who first started bloody occupation of Kosova, and then continued with the aggression of war in Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia, and finally re-exploded in Kosova, with tendencies of destabilizing the other parts of its regime as well, leaving catastrophic consequences".
Fehmi consider the offered project of the "Agreement" as "unacceptable, as a form and content". "As a form, it is incompatible with the basic technical- judicial standards of the acts of such nature, as based on the content it is incompatible with the basic principles of the modern democracy - the principle of the people's sovereignty, since it denies its original right, the nearly sixty years old sources of self-organization, of the self-institutionalization and self-determination, and in this legalizes the colonization and the Serb totalitarian, despot and chauvinistic rule. We learn of this, from the point 8 of part VII, titled `Implementation period', in which it is stated that `the laws and institutions presently implemented in Kosova, will remain, until substituted with the decision of the competent body, found by this "Agreement"'. For Fehmiu, "this is not absurd".
But, is evident, he continued, that "if the content of the text of the `Agreement', ought to be compared with the dispositions of Constitution of Kosova (1974), presents a faded shadow of the district of Kosova, stripped of the competencies it had. This confuses the people, moreover when its co-author is USA, which eliminated colonization in 1776, with the announcement of the Declaration of Independence and is found on respecting the Law and Constitution", ended Fatmir Fehmiu.
On the other hand, Esat Stavileci, professor of the Administrative Justice, stressed that "first there must be a public and democratic debate about this issue, and not to have a proposal behind our backs, because this way this document can have fatal consequences for Kosova".
Further on, he presented the problem of the approach that Albanians should have towards this document. Stavileci thinks, "the approach should be professional and not political. Our documents should be sufficient enough in quantity and quality", he stated. Further, he emphasized that three factors are involved in this agreement: the international community, the Serb side, and the Albanian one. First of all, we should contemplate the readiness of the international community to offer a just solution for the issue of Kosova, because as he said, "it is claimed that Hill, in one occasion told Rugova, that `we are searching for a solution - we are not searching for justice'. Can there be a solution without justice?", asked Stavileci.
Secondly, it should be evaluated "how much is the Serb side ready to stand up to the pressures of the international community that `they will not allow second Bosnia in Kosova'. But, Bosnia has already happened in Kosova, stressed this lawyer. Thirdly, we should evaluate "how much is the Albanian side ready to ask for a more just solution of the problem of Kosova".
"The Kosovar problematic is specific and one cannot approach it with a analogue solution, as the Contact Group has done before, with the proposals that the Kosova problem should be solved using the previous models such as the one of Tyrol etc. The specific of Kosova as a problem is `sui generis', stated Stavileci, who then made some other, notes of the as well.
"It is wrong to think that presently there cannot be any final solution for Kosova and thus accept an interim settlement for three years", he stated and added that "there is no reason to make a call for another referendum for the status of Kosova, when the people of Kosova have already once declared themselves, in 1991. Then, the compromise solution does not mean that it should be in favor of the Serb side".
Finally, Stavileci concluded that "all this, results with the fact that Albanians are offered a minus solution of 74 and with the legalization of the violent situation created by Serbia, which suggests that Albanians and Serbs should start from zero, as if nothing had happened in the meantime". Thus, for Stavileci, while the entity of "Srpska Republika, was created by force, since it did not exist before as an entity, in the case of Kosova, an entity is disintegrated with force". Hence, according to him "we should consider the document as unacceptable with many consequences for Kosova".
The attorney, Bajram Kelmendi, did not either agree that the people of Kosova "declare themselves in another referendum, after three years, in case of a temporary agreement, because Milosevic could accept a referendum within `the entire Serbia'. What would we be doing then?", he raised the question. Kelmendi also noted that the "Albanian side should have gone out with a project resolution of their own a long time ago, in order not allow the others to offer us solution".

KOSOVA (Hill – shuttle diplomacy)
Holbrooke left Hill - Hill left Levitzky

USIS, Prishtina 22 October (ARTA) 2100CET --
"Today I am escorted by John Levitzky, an attorney in the State Department, whom I will leave behind in Prishtina and he will continue to work towards a political agreement, in which we have been intensively working, recently", stated the American Ambassador to the former "Yugoslavia" Republic of Macedonia and at the same time a mediator between Belgrade and Prishtina, Christopher Hill, after meeting the Albanian leadership in Prishtina.
In the meantime, he states, we will soon have another project to speed up the negotiating process.
"Let me inform you that the American Deputy Assistant of the Secretary of State, Marc Sean, is working in the aspect of the police... Of the political solution".
He, said Hill, met with the Serbs in Belgrade and with the local Serbs and Albanians, to form the local police.
Asked about the kidnapping of the Tanjug reporters, during the past days in Kosova, Hill said that it can not be tolerated, that any journalist be kidnapped.
I believe, he said that every journalist should have the freedom of moving and the freedom of expression.
"They cannot be subjected to arrests or abduction. I believe they will immediately be released. We will certainly raise this issue", claimed Hill.
Concerning the verifying mission in Kosova, Hill said that "we are implementing all the measures of verification and we cannot say that we are not content with the level of compliance. Presently we are working in ensuring the complete fulfillment of the Resolution #1199 of the UN Security Council", he said.
Replying about the possibilities of an eventual NATO intervention, in case of the eventual non-fulfillment of the demands resulting from the Resolution #1199, Hill claimed: "We are giving our efforts to ensure their fulfillment. It is still not achieved. This will be made clear to the NATO people and to the others as well", without specifying. "Compliance", he said, "is defined in the Resolution #1199; it is clear what are the demands and I am saying once more, that we are not happy with the scale of the fulfillment of the demands".
"Complete compliance, by the Serb forces is necessary as well as the self-restrain of the KLA soldiers", he said further.
"We are coming to a phase, in which the political path needs to be reinforced", claimed Hill.
On this regard, we have OSCE, which is rapidly flooding Kosova and we believe that we will be able to verify the compliance and the implementation of the political agreement". "This is the direction we will follow during the next two coming weeks", said the American Ambassador to Shkup.
"We will have our person here, which will intensively work in the text of the agreement", he stated.

• Two excellent articles by Betsy Sullivan, The Plain Dealer
• EXPERTS FEAR DEAL IN KOSOVO COULD FUEL BIGGER WAR
• IN SERBIA, A LACK OF NEWS IS DANGEROUS
• RELIGION IN KOSOVO - A CHRISTIAN AND A MOSLEM VIEW

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REPORT NO. 441

ON THE WIDESPREAD REPRESSION AND HARASSMENT PERPETRATED BY THE SERBIAN POLICE AND OTHER AUTHORITIES IN KOSOVA FROM OCTOBER 11, UNTIL OCTOBER 18, 1998

     The text you can read at  week441.htm

NATO Approves Mission of Surveillance Flights Over Kosova

BRUSSELS, October 22 /Reuters/ - The NATO allies on Thursday formally approved a mission to conduct unarmed surveillance flights over Kosova, a NATO official said. Operation Eagle Eye was expected to begin in a few days and could last "some considerable period of time", according to NATO sources. At the same time, the allies are maintaining their threat to strike at Yugoslav military targets after next Tuesday if they are convinced Belgrade is defying international demands. The airborne mission is intended to complement the work of 2,000 compliance monitors on the ground in Kosova. Together they will verify Yugoslavia's compliance with United Nations demands to greatly scale down its troops presence and permit the return of ethnic Albanian refugees. Intelligence data from the two sources will be collated at a coordination center to be established in Macedonia, Kosova's southern neighbor, by NATO and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). However, it is expected to rely on flights by a wide range of surveillance aircraft, from the American unmanned "Predator" drone to the veteran, high-altitude U-2 spy plane. The Lockheed P-3 Orion, the E-3 AWACS, the British Canberra photo reconnaissance plane, France's Atlantique Breguets and Mirage-4s, German reconnaissance Tornados and one Russian Antonov-30 have been mentioned by various sources.

Russia Does not Accept UN Resolution on Use of Force

UNITED NATIONS, October 21 /Reuters/ - Russia for the second consecutive day balked at a key proposal for a Security Council resolution on Kosova, wary of any provision that would allow the use of force, diplomats said. The objections came in negotiations among the Contact Group of major powers, thereby preventing any discussions of a resolution before the full Security Council. The Contact Group -- Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Russia and the United States -- wants a resolution by Friday that would back the week-old agreement worked out by U.S. envoy Richard Holbrooke and Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic. But after quiet threats of a veto by Russia, Western members dropped proposals that would authorize NATO to implement the Holbrooke-Milosevic deal. Instead they are hoping to convince Moscow that military intervention is necessary if the OSCE monitors are endangered and need to be "extracted." But that too had not been approved and would depend on the wording, the envoys said. The United States on the other hand wants no resolution that will weaken its own legal interpretation that NATO already has the right to act. No council member is anxious for any resolution or even a Russian abstention on a text, fearing it would send the wrong signal to Belgrade.

Another Cadaver of Serb Atrocity Discovered

GORNJI OBRINJE, October 22 /Reuters/ - The body of an ethnic Albanian man believed by neighbors to have been massacred in September along with at least 16 relatives was recovered from a well in central Kosova on Wednesday. The 34-year-old victim, Hajriz Deliu, was found dead by a shepherd on Tuesday evening about 10 minutes' walk from the gully where the bodies of his wife, two daughters and other members of his extended family were discovered a month ago. Neighbors said all were probably slain on September 24 while trying to escape a sweep through the village of Gornji Obrinje by Serbian security forces. At least 10 of the bodies seen by a Reuters correspondent last month were those of women, children or old people. Victims had been shot through the head or their throats slit. News of the atrocity rocketed around the world and spurred NATO to threaten Serbia with air strikes unless it halted a brutal, indiscriminate crackdown on KLA fighters and unarmed civilians alike in the ethnic Albanian-majority region.

Kosovars Continue to Flee from Serb Mortars

TRPEZA, October 21 /Reuters/ - The last of several hundred women and children who had been living under plastic in a ravine outside Trpeza in central Kosova left on Wednesday. But instead of returning to their homes in safety, as the West had been hoping, the refugees fled Serbian mortar bombs that wounded a woman and her infant son on Monday and landed precariously near the camp again the following day. The vacant refugee camp was a desolate spot on Wednesday, with its primitive, plastic-covered shelters perched over a stream rushing with water from heavy overnight rains. Occasional mortar and automatic rifle fire echoed through the surrounding hills during the afternoon, reminders of the unsettled security situation in this area. Some have managed to return, despite widespread destruction of their properties. Others, like those who fled Trpeza, still meander back and forth on foot between their villages and makeshift camps as a result of continuing Serbian police and Yugoslav army attacks. Ethnic Albanian civilians caught up in these exchanges are living in fear and refusing to go home. Trpeza, a picturesque village of whitewashed houses and stone walls that sprawls across a west-facing hillside, escaped the fighting in Kosova until last June 25. That's the day when ethnic Albanians from neighboring towns and villages began arriving -- displaced by a massive government offensive in central and western Kosova.

CONTENTS

• - NATO Warns as Artillery Fire Jolts Kosovo ''Truce''
  - Yugoslav Albanian Leader Welcomes Milosevic-Holbrooke Accord
  
  
• - AMB. HILL REPORTS ON MEETING WITH KOSOVAR ALBANIANS   22OCT
  - OCT 21 OFDA HEAD PRESS CONF. IN KOSOVO
  
  
• INFO: EU FINDS ELECTIONS IN FYR MACEDONIA PEACEFUL AND ORDERLY

 

  ==> LINK to the news

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