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Kosova Comunication # 267 (96-06-10)Kosovo Information Center Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Kosova Information Center <kosova@gn.apc.org>Kosova CommunicationBulletin of the Ministry of Information of the Republic of Kosova5th year, No. 267 , 10 June 1996CONTENTS
[01] Kornblum opens US Information Centre in PrishtinaWashington, June 6 (USIS Bulletin) -The new U.S. Information Centre in Prishtina, capital of Kosova, was opened June 5 by Acting Assistant Secretary for European and Canadian Affairs John Korblum, according to a statement by Nicholas Burns, spokesman of the State Department. The U.S. information Agency was represented at the opening ceremony by the Counselor-designate Anne Sigmund. The following is the text of Burns statement: This morning Acting Assistant secretary for European and Canadian Affairs john Korblum opened a U.S. Information Centre in Prishtina, the capital of Kosova. The center will be operated by the U.S. Information Agency, which was represented at the ceremony by the counselor-designate of USIA, Anne Sigmund. Ambassador Kormblum made brief remarks at the ceremony, noting that the centre would be a place where all the people of Kosova would have access to information and could meet and work towards a positive future. The opening of the U.S. Information centre in Kosova is a visible sign of our interest and concern for the situation in the region and our commitment to a peaceful dialogue to resolve tensions there. The centre will be staffed by U.S. foreign service officers as well as local employees. The United States was pleased that the opening was attended by a large crowd of Serbian and Albanian Kosovar citizens, who vocally expressed their approval of the decision to open a U.S. Information Office. The Serbian deputy administrator was present as was dr. Ibrahim Rugova, the head of the League for a democratic Kosova.[02] An historic day for KosovaPrishtina, June 5- Following the opening of the U.S. Information Centre in Prishtina, Kosova President Rugova stated: this is an historic day for Kosova. We are for a peaceful solution to the Kosova problem based on the political will of its people. I thank United States of America, President Clinton, Vice President Al Gore and all our friends for such a great present for Kosova and the whole region.[03] Albanian President Hails Opening of USIS Office in PrishtinaTirana, June 6 - The President of the Republic of Albania Dr. Sali Berisha hailed the opening of a United States Information Services (USIS) in Prishtina. A statement quoted by the Albanian TV said Dr. Berisha called the establishment of the U.S. office in Prishtina evidence of the direct interest of the U.S. administration and President Clinton for the resolution of the Kosova issue, which is of crucial importance for lasting stability in our region.[04] Bujku: Institutionalised international presence in KosovePrishtine, 6 June - In todays issue of the newspaper Bujku the comment of the chief editor Avni Spahiu titled Institutionalised international presence in Kosove is being published. The American flag in Prishtine, in front of the USIA, since yesterday symbolises the institutionalisation of the American diplomatic presence in Kosove. Long announced and awaited, this US move depicts an important event within the complexity of Kosove issue, especially in the dimension of its internationalisation, its importance on the aspect of peace and security in the region and its strategic position. As a concrete move in the actual developments in Kosove, this is not just a continuation of American interest on the issue of Kosove and its solution, but also a continuation of an increasing American presence in the region with a particular meaning in its future, states the comment. Sometime ago, the spokesman for the US department emphasised that the opening of the USAI centre in Prishtine marks the beginning of a constant American diplomatic presence in Kosove, and other states and international institutions have shown interest to follow the American example. With the readiness expressed by many countries in meetings with the Albanian officials to accept the presence of Kosova representatives in those countries and in the realisation of this other dimension of the relations of Kosova with the outside world, the question of Kosova would gain in the aspect of its full internationalisation. The article concludes by saying that the day of June 5th is a historic day for Kosova.[05] German delegation visits KosovaPrishtina, 6 June - President of the Republic of Kosova Dr. Ibrahim Rugova received yesterday a seven-member German Bundestag delegation, headed by Gerd Poppe, Foreign Relations spokesman of the Greens. The overall situation in Kosova was discussed at the meeting and views on the ways to approach the Kosova issue were exchanged. The German Bundestag members - who have been on a fact-finding mission to Kosova - shared an interest in the ethnic, political and social aspects of the plight of Kosova. Following the meeting Mr. Poppe held a press conference. He stated that the delegation supported the Albanian idea of starting unconditional negotiations in the presence of a third party and pledged to support that idea at the Bundestag. He also hoped that the delegation could force the German Government not to improve its relations with Belgrade before a solution to the Kosova issue was found. The right to self determination cannot be contested, however it should be realised via a dialogue, concluded Mr. Pope.Angelica Koster Losak , a Bundestag Member, stated that she had witnessed a clear apartheid and segregation in Kosova. Bearing in mind that Germany unconditionally recognised FRY we have to force our government to open a German cultural office in Kosova , she added. [06] We have recognised the Republic of KosovaTirana, 4 June - In an interview given to the Belgrade independent daily Nasa Borba, Mr. Tritan Shehu, chair of the Albanian Democratic Party, speaking on possible solutions to the issue of Kosova stated: Firstly, we think that the status that Kosova enjoyed during Titos era should be recognized. Secondly, a dialogue between Belgarde and Prishtina under mediation of a third party is a necessity. It is essential that human rights in Kosova are respected and later a gradually total solution of national issues can be pursued. Asked weather the final aim of the gradual solution was the unification of Kosova and other Albanian inhabited regions with Albanians Mr Shehu replied: Without any doubt, this the wish of all of us. However, today I can not predict how this process will proceed. This process is a long and very unpredictable one, but it is clear that all Albanians wish that Albania is united. We believe that problems should be solved step by step, in a peaceful way, by respecting human rights and through talks and respecting all democratic principles. In reply to the remark that Albania was the only country to recognise the Republic of Kosova, Mr Shehu stated that Albania has recognised the Republic of Kosova, and still does. This does not contradict my previous stance. But, I am once again repeating that we are for a peaceful solution to the problem.[07] Albanians protest in GenevaGeneva, 2 June - About 15,000 Albanians, mainly Kosovars living in Switzerland, staged a rally in Geneva, the venue of a meeting of the Contact Group with leaders of Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia, who gathered there to discuss the implementation of the Dayton Accords. In front of the Office of the United Nations in Geneva, Albanians called on the international community to recognize the fact that without an end to the Serbian occupation of Kosova and an equitable and lasting solution to the Kosova issue there could be no peace in the Balkan region. At the end of the protest rally in Geneva, Albanians addressed a Memorandum to Mr. Warren Christopher, U.S. Secretary of State, and to the governments of the member states of the Contact Group for the former Yugoslavia, expressing their concern over the ongoing and heightening tensions in Kosova. A delegation of the rally, headed by Mr. Xhafer Shatri, Minister for Information in the Kosova Government, was received by Senior Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Rudolf Perina and Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights, John Shattuck. The Kosova delegation expressed its gratitude for the continuous US support to Kosova adding that there could not be peace in the region without a definite solution to the Kosova issue. The U.S. will continue working towards the resolution of the Kosova issue, Mr. Perina stated adding that they would insist upon international institutions to ensure that the rights of the Kosova Albanians were respected. The Kosova delegation handed over a memorandum demanding that the international community place Kosova under an international civil administration and asked that USA also play a steering role in the case of Kosova, thus making it possible for its people to decide their fate and live in freedom and democracy.[08] Delegation of Kosova women in BrusselsPrishtine, 3 June - A delegation of The Republic of Kosove took part in an International Conference in Brussels, titled Lets give peace a chance - Balkan women speak. The leader of the delegation, Edita Tahiri said that the objective of the Conference was the inclusion of women in a Balkan alliance, on the basis of reciprocal recognition of the right of the Balkan nations for self-determination. The Kosova delegation presented its views on the realisation of legitimate aspirations of the people of Kosove and, in the name of long lasting peace and stability in the region, requested international support of the peaceful policy pursued by the Albanians.[09] Kosova Albanian Children Permanent Victims of Serbian RegimePrishtina, 3 June - Albanian children in Kosova have been denied virtually all internationally guaranteed rights and have been subjected to various forms of Serbian regime/police oppression, the Prishtina-based Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF) said in a report issued on 1 June. The four-page account, covering the Serbian regime discrimination and repression of Albanian children in Kosova, was sent to international organizations on the occasion of the International Childrens Day (1 June).Albanian children (and young people) in Kosova have been maltreated in all possible fashions: they have been arbitrarily arrested, taken hostage, plundered, forcefully drafted into the Serbian army, denied their right to education and normal childhood says the report. Citing a long list of illustrative cases of Serbian regime practices against Kosova Albanian children over the past couple of years, the CDHRF focused on dozens of particular cases having occurred during the past year and the first five month of this year. Since 1990, 20 children in Kosova were shot dead by the Serbian forces, while 55 others were wounded, most of them crippled for life says the report. During 1995 alone, 611 Albanian children were subjected to Serbian brutality. Isa Berisha (10) was shot dead by Serb soldiers in Hani i Elezit late last year, while only a month ago (end of April 1996), a 12-year-old boy, Nexhat Hetemi (12), was killed and three other children badly wounded by an explosive device tossed at them by unidentified persons at Lum i Madh village (in Serbian Velika Reka) of Vushtrri. The Kosova Human Rights Council carries a long list of illustrative cases of Serbian brutalities against Albanian children in Kosova, such as of Idriz Muhaxheri (15) from Ferizaj who has been suffering trauma since November last year, when he was beaten up severely by Serb policemen; or the case of four Albanian schoolchildren from Prizren (Rifat Gashi, Flamur Shala, Veton Bytyqi and Shahin Trashnjaku) who were beaten up severely by Serb civilians while taking some photographs near an old bridge in town. Besides being themselves victims of the Serbian regime, Kosova Albanian children have been witnessing their parents being beaten up and taken hostage, their teachers maltreated up and arrested in classrooms, and other practices gravely affecting their childhood and life, the CDHRF concluded. [10] Albanians demand TV channelShkup (Skopje), 6 June - During the last session of the FYROM Parliament, Albanian deputies unanimously agreed that Albanian programmes of FYROM TV do not satisfy the needs of the Albanian population in FYROM. Mr. Rahmi Tuda Co-ordinator of the Parliamentary group demanded a separate channel for Albanian language programmes. Deputy Rufi Osmani stated that only 3.3% of programmes shown on the FYROM TV are in the Albanian language and only 32 of its 2013 employees are Albanian. Albanian protestTetova, 6 June- Albanian political parties and other associations in FYROM organised a protest meeting regarding the recent poisoning of Tetova pupils. On 25 May, a group of Albanian pupils from Nikola Shtejn Medical Secondary School, who were staying at Hotel Galeb in Struga were poisoned. Some of banners read: Enough with experiments, Be careful, Black Hand is in action (Black Hand a terrorist organisation in the pre WW2 Yugoslavia), Struga is Albanian etc. Speakers called upon authorities to capture the perpetrators. A speaker stated that those who had poisoned pupils were aiming to create uncertainty among Albanians, they want without repressive means to curb Albanian growth and presence in public life. [11] Montenegrin Supreme Court confirms verdictPrishtina, 4 June - On 19 May, the Supreme Court in Bjello Polje (Montenegro) confirmed a verdict against Ahmet Xhonbalaj, teacher of history and Xhevdet Ulaj, unemployed engineer, charged for having applied for employment with the diplomas of the Prishtina University. On 6 December 1995, the District Court in Plava sentenced the two Albanians charging them with for forging documents. Reportedly, other Albanians from Montenegro, former students of the University of Prishtina, who had likewise applied for jobs in Montenegro have been sentenced or refused employment.[12] Serbian Police Detains Member of Kosova ParliamentPrizren, 6 june - Qazim Kabashi, a member of the Parliament of the Republic of Kosova was detained today morning by the Serbian State Security in Prizren. Sources in Prizren said Mr. Kabashi was arrested at a make-shift classroom of the secondary medical school in th town. He was released after having been questioned for about four hours at the Serbian state security department in Prizren.[13] News in BriefFerizaj 31 May - In the town centre, the youngster Bashkim Mehmeti was beaten by four Serbian inspectors and two policemen until he collapsed. Examinations at Prishtina hospital showed that he had three ribs broken.Mitrovica, 3 June - Muhamet (Ilaz) Vojvoda was arrested on 19 May by two policemen and a civilian under the pretext that he failed to answer his call up paper. He was sent to Nis prison where he was held in solitary confinement for 9 days. During that time he was questioned by the military prosecutor. Prishtina, 4 June - Isuf Mus Kabashi (37) from Gjurakoc died at his house tonight at 19:30. His family members stated that he was brought home in critical condition. Just before he died he stated that he had been beaten by police. Prishtina, 4 June - A Serbian conducted census showed that in period of time from 15 April to 31 May 17,000 Serb settlers had been brought to Kosova. Kosovo Information Center Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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