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Kosova Communication #261From: kosova@gn.apc.org (Kosova Information Centre)Kosovo News DirectoryKOSOVA COMMUNICATIONBulletin of the Ministry of Information of the Republic of Kosova5th year, No. 261, 22 April 1996CONTENTS[01] Albanian Student Shot Dead[02] Rugova addresses European Parliament Southeast delegation[03] No U.S. recognition of Serbia-Montenegro[04] European Parliament recommends an International Conference on Kosova[05] Germany and France offer grants for Kosova students[06] Serbia is grabing Kosova resources[07] More Serbian refugees settle in Ulqin[08] Giant cross to be built in Montenegro[09] Albanian vendors on strike[10] Calls for respect of Constitution[11] In the function of ethnic cleansing - Mobilisation in the Serbian army[12] Invitation for informative talks[13] Seizure of money[14] Searches[01] Albanian Student Shot DeadPrishtina, 21 April - Armend Selim Daci, a twenty year old Albanian student, was shot in an ambush today at three aclock in the morning by a Serb civilian in Prishtina who later gave himself up to the police. This killing has caused outrage among the Albanian population. Earlier this year Serb civilians killed two Albanians and wounded many in Decan, Bince, and Vitia of Fushe-Kosova. None of the perpetrators have been brought to justice so far.[02] Rugova addresses European Parliament Southeast delegationParis, 17April - The President of the Republic of Kosova Dr. Ibrahim Rugova addressed today in Strasbourg the delegation on Southeast Europe of the European Parliament.The chair of the Southeast delegation in the EP, Ms Doris Pack, said in her introductory remarks that Kosova had been a permanent danger to peace and security in the region. The Kosova issue is not a human rights issue only, but rather a complex political and constitutional one. The European Parliament has adopted resolutions on Kosova, the most recent one two weeks ago, in the light of the latest developments in the former Yugoslavia and the region, Ms Pack said, adding that there was a need to move promptly towards addressing the Kosova issue. Dr. Rugova stated that the situation in Kosova had been continuously grave and repressive in all spheres of life, adding that he had pressed for an interim international civil administration in Kosova, in tandem with a demilitarisation of the country, which would create a normal climate for a negotiated settlement to the Kosova issue. A third authorised party in a talks process with Serbia is a must, for it would guarantee the course and outcome of the negotiations, the President said. Kosova deserves the support of the Europeans for self- determination, which would at the end of the day be beneficial to Europe itself concluded Mr. Rugova. President Rugova met today in Paris with the French Minister for European issues, Michel Barnier. He informed his host on the situation in Kosova and requested that France supports the right to self determination for the people of Kosova and the possibility of a French presence in Kosova through the opening of a French office in Prishtina. Mr. Barnier stated that Kosova was the main condition for normalisation of the region, which would be encouraged by France adding that they would explore the possibilities for opening an office in Prishtina. [03] No U.S. recognition of Serbia-MontenegroNew York/Washington DC, 15 April - The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosova Dr. Bujar Bukoshi met Monday in Washington with Rudolf Perina, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, to discuss Kosova in the wake of the recent developments in the region. The Kosova Prime Minister expressed his concern over the recent step by European countries which have recognised the self-styled Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), calling it premature and offensive to the [Kosova] Albanians. Dr. Bujar Bukoshi said such a step amounted to undermining the efforts of the international community to avert a conflict in Kosova and the possibility of finding a temporary settlement to the Kosova issue. The recognition of Serbia and Montenegro now and in this manner is a very bad message for the Albanians, said Dr. Bukoshi, calling on the U.S. administration not to recognise the Serb-Montenegrin federation and to exert influence on other countries to do the same.Prime Minister Bukoshi said action was needed to prevent the situation in Kosova from further deterioration and getting out of control, warning the international community that not taking concrete actions on Kosova means undermining the credibility of the [Kosova] Albanian leadership. Dr. Bukoshi said the Dayton Accords do practically recognise the state of the Bosnian Serbs [Republika Srpska], noting that by all means the Albanians deserve more than them. Mr. Bukoshi asked that if Europe recognised Republika Srpska which gained statehood out of nothing, how can someone expect that Albanians accept being ruled by a Serbian criminal regime? Mr. Perina stressed the desire of the USA to assist in securing a peaceful solution to the Kosova issue, adding that the U.S. and its allies would continue to work on that. The senior U.S. State Department official emphasised the outer wall of sanctions against Serbia and Montenegro would remain in place, as envisioned by the Dayton Accords. [04] European Parliament recommends an International Conference on KosovaStrasbourg, 17 April - The European Parliament passed a resolution on the situation in the former Yugoslavia. Among other things the resolution regrets the premature diplomatic recognition of the FRY by some member states.Three points of the resolution refer to Kosova. The European Parliament insists that Belgrade begins negotiations with Kosovas elected representatives, before the UE normalises its diplomatic relations with Yugoslavia and lifts any remaining sanctions, calls on the Council and the Commission to take the initiative of holding an international conference, dealing specifically with Kosova, and requests the Council to instruct the Commission to open an office in Kosova. The president of the European parliament has been instructed to forward this resolution to the President of the Kosova Parliament in exile as well as to the Governments of Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and FYROM. [05] Germany and France offer grants for Kosova studentsPrishtina, 17 April - The Rectorate of the University of Jena, Germany, has offered the University of Prishtina three student grants and two others for scientific researchers. The University of Jena is to urge other German Federal institutions to provide more grants for the students and researchers of the Albanian University of Prishtina as well as book and other equpment.Cultural atache for the French Embassy in Belgrade informed the Rector of the University of Prishtina, Dr. Ejup Statovci, that Franc has allocated two grants for students to study French language, one for secondary school French language teacher and another one for a researcher from Department of French Language at the Faculty of Philology of the University of Prishtina. The French Embassy in Belgrade donated a quantity of books in French and audio tapes for learning French. [06] Serbia is grabing Kosova resourcesGeneva, 16 April - Media, including Reuters, report that Serbian coercive management of Trepa Mines, has started exploiting their recently signed two year contract with Greek firm Mytilenos.This is perceived as an attempt by the Serbian regime attempt to grab as much of Kosova undergorund resources as they can. This coincides with the removal of sanctions on Serbia by the International Community. This particular deal involves the sale of 42,000 t of lead, 8,400 tofzinc and 50 t of silver, with total value calculated at $50 million. Albanian miners sacked in 1989 and currently live on charity. Serbia, once more, is proving that Kosova is considerded its colony and is unscrupulously stripping the wealth of occupied Kosova, thus pushing its people towards total poverty. [07] More Serbian refugees settle in UlqinUlqin, 14 April - The Ulqin municipality commissioner for Refugees Tahir Pereziq stated that the number of Serbian refugees in the Refugee Accommodation Centre in Ulqin, a town mainly inhabited by Albanians, has increased over the past three months.The Refugee Accommodation Centre, established three years ago, has dealt with over 2,500 refugees. Over 200 have been housed in the former Czech camp at Plazhi i Madh (Large Beach). Another 250 have been housed in the private sector. During past three months 1,200 new refugees have arrived in Ulqin. The settlement of refugees in Ulqin and other Montenegrin municipalities is endorsed by the Republican Commission. They are granted refugee status within 10 days of their arrival, thus enabling them to obtain permanent residence in Ulqin. Albanian inhabitants of Ulqin have to wait for months for documents like simple ID cards despite the factthat many have been born and lived there. [08] Giant cross to be built in MontenegroUlqin, 15 April - The Montenegrin independent paper Monitor reports of plans of the founder of Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro, mitropolite Amfillofie Radovic, to build a huge orthodox church on top of Mount Rumi.According to the article, on the top of mount Rumi, on 1,593 m altitude, a church with 38 m high cross is to be built. The cross will be seen from distances as far as 200 km. At the foot of Mount Rumi live people of different religions, the Monitor concludes. [09] Albanian vendors on strikePrishtina, 16 April - Over 1000 Albanian vendors of the Prishtina fresh produce market, run by the Serbian-installed authorities, have been on a strike for almost two weeks now in protest at the taxes imposed on themwhich are exceedingly high, without parallel in any town in Serbia, Vojvodina or Montenegro. The strike has been suported by Kosova Albanian political organisations, associations and other institutions.[10] Calls for respect of ConstitutionUlqin, 17 April - The Liberal Alliance of Montenegro reacted to the decision of the Montenegrin Parliament to ban several articles of the Statute of the Ulqin Municipality, which refer to the usage of Albanian flag and languge, education in Albanian etc. In their statement they state that if Montenegro is a state of all its citizens, then all paragraphs regarding the rights of all ethnic communities and groups should apply. The statement also notes that Albanians are not represented adequately in the state institutions admitting that no single Albanian holds an important state office and there is no proportional representation of Albanians in state structures in Ulqin.[11] In the function of ethnic cleansing - Mobilisation in the Serbian armyPrishtina, 17 April - Recedntly, Serbian military authorities have issued mobilisation orders to former Albanian army officers in several villages around Ferizaj, such as Talinovc i Muhaxhireve, Cernilla, Varosh and Nikadin. None of the Albanian former army officers have responded to these orders so far.[12] Invitation for informative talksKamenica, 11 April - Serbian police summoned Mr. Zijadin Spahiu from Muciverci to the police station in Kamenica. Mr. Spahiu is coordinating secretary of Albanian Political Parties in Kamenica. He was questioned about the functioning of these parties, about the coordinating body as well as recent consent of the LDK to Adem Demacis election as a deputy to the Parliament of Kosova.[13] Seizure of moneyPrishtina, 15 April - On 13-th of April, at the border crossing between Kosova and Macedonia, Macedonian border police confiscated 24,500 DEM from Ejup Ismajli from Begunca of Vitia, temporarily employed in Germany.[14] SearchesMitrovica, 12 April - Around ten aclock in the evening, ten Serbian policemen raided the cafeteria Dardania in Mitrovica and searched customers as well as the owner, Mr. Adil R. Musliu. |