Kosova Communication, Week 12, 97-03-22

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From: Kosova Information Center <kic_pr@zana-pr.ztn.apc.org>

Kosova Communication W. 12

CONTENTS

[01] PRESIDENT RUGOVA RECEIVES GERMAN DIPLOMATS

[02] HIGH LEVEL ITALIAN PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION MEETS PRESIDENT RUGOVA...

[03] ...AND SACHAROW PEACE AWORD WINNER ADEM DEMAÇI

[04] PRESIDENT RUGOVA RECEIVES ALBANIAN CHARGE D'AFFAIRES

[05] STATEMENT OF U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT ON CONTINUING VIOLENCE IN ALBANIA

[06] EU FACT-FINDING MISSION SAYS ORDER SHOULD BE RESTORED IN ALBANIA

[07] BELGRADE BANES DANISH NGO DELEGATION FROM VISITING KOSOVA

[08] NGO ROUND TABLE ON ALBANIAN-SERB RELATIONS IN BREZOVICA POSTPONED

[09] FIVE PEOPLE WOUNDED ON BOARD OF BUS

[10] SERBIAN SECURITY HARASSES KOSOVARS STUDYING IN ALBANIA

[11] SERBIAN SECURITY BEATS ALBANIAN STUDENTS

[12] SERBIAN STATE TERROR IN KOSOVA CONTINUES

[01] PRESIDENT RUGOVA RECEIVES GERMAN DIPLOMATS

President Rugova presented Ambassador Gruber and Ambassador Lutz with the current state of affairs in Kosova. The situation in Albania was also tackled.

President Rugova reaffirmed that Kosova, as an independent and neutral country, open to both Serbia and Albania, is an optimal solution to the Kosova issue, noting that genuine talks between Prishtina and Belgrade, under the mediation of USA in close cooperation with EU, are necessary in search of a peaceful solution to the Kosova issue.

German diplomats spoke of the German interest and efforts in support of a peaceful and just resolution to the Kosova problem, through dialogue. The fate of Albanian asylum-seekers in Germany was also tackled in the meeting.

[02] HIGH LEVEL ITALIAN PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION MEETS PRESIDENT RUGOVA...

The discussions focussed on the current situation in Kosova and in the region as a whole, as well as prospects for a negotiated settlement to the Kosova issue.

The Italian Parliamentary officials said they had come to Kosova to demonstrate their concern over and commitment to Kosova and the plight of the people here.

[03] ...AND SACHAROW PEACE AWORD WINNER ADEM DEMAÇI

During a lengthy meeting Kosova issue was discussed and Mr. Demaci expressed his dissatisfaction on how the Kossova problem is viewed by the Italian Parliament and by European Community in general.

[04] PRESIDENT RUGOVA RECEIVES ALBANIAN CHARGE D'AFFAIRES

The situation in Kosova and the crisis in Albania were discussed. Views were exchanged about the modes of action of the Albanian authorities and all the political forces to overcome the crisis there, restore the constitutional and democratic order, and reestablish an environment of security for all the citizens in Albania.

President Rugova of Kosova and the Albanian diplomat expressed a shared understanding of the need for urgent help by the USA and the EU to overcome the grave situation in Albania.

[05] STATEMENT OF U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT ON CONTINUING VIOLENCE IN ALBANIA

[06] EU FACT-FINDING MISSION SAYS ORDER SHOULD BE RESTORED IN ALBANIA

[07] BELGRADE BANES DANISH NGO DELEGATION FROM VISITING KOSOVA

This is the second time, in six months, that the "FRY" authorities prevent the Danish organization from having its people travel to Kosova. Danish MPs and experts were planning a several-day-long trip to Kosova.

The Danish Committee on Kosova has promoted understanding for the plight of the people of Kosova in the Danish society at large. The Copenhagen-based NGO has nominated twice President Ibrahim Rugova of Kosova for the Nobel Peace Prize.

[08] NGO ROUND TABLE ON ALBANIAN-SERB RELATIONS IN BREZOVICA POSTPONED

A co-sponsor of the round-table was the American Council on International Relations. Mr. Behxhet Shala, the secretary of the CDHRF, told KIC a consultative meeting of the Albanian would-be-participants took place last Friday in Prishtina. They were in favor of the round-table, but "expressed their reservations about the timing, in view of the current developments in Albania".

[09] FIVE PEOPLE WOUNDED ON BOARD OF BUS

Four Albanians, Besim Vokshi (1960), Hydajete Hoxha (1955), Afërdita Xhafa (1957), Shaban Kajtazi, and Fazli Ballkan (1942), the bus-driver, were wounded by two persons who had boarded the bus in Gjakova. The attackers had ordered the bus driver to stop, and passengers on board of bus hand over the money and valuables.

When Mr. Vokshi resisted the order of the thugs they shot at him, wounding him. Other four passengers and the bus-driver were wounded, too. According to the LDK sources while robbing the passengers, thugs 'spoke in poor Serbian', indicating they were Serbs.

[10] SERBIAN SECURITY HARASSES KOSOVARS STUDYING IN ALBANIA

Sources in Kamenica said today that Arben Morina from Kamenica was harassed for several hours by Serbian state security officers on March 17. Arben Morina had his passport seized and was ordered to report at the Serbian police station in Gjilan.

Only last week over, a dozen of Albanians from Prizren and Gjakova who had attended courses in the Tirana University, had their passports seized while crossing the Albania-Kosova border.

[11] SERBIAN SECURITY BEATS ALBANIAN STUDENTS

They were interrogated about their being students of the Albanian-language University, as well as the place where instruction was being offered to them. The four Albanian students were then forced into a building nearby. They were subjected to physical torture with no reason whatsoever, besides that fact that they are Albanian students.

[12] SERBIAN STATE TERROR IN KOSOVA CONTINUES

On March 20, the Serbian police were looking to arrest mr. Zymer Zymeri, former local civil registrar at Sveqla village near Podujeva.

On March 20, the Serbian police summoned Vehbi Aliu to report at the Serbian police station in Vushtrri under the pretext of being in arms possession. While in custody Mr. Aliu was exposed to physical torture. He was released but told to report back the next day together with his father Tahir Aliu. They were both ill-treated the next day.

On March 19, a Serb police expedition intruded into the offices of dozens of Albanian businessmen and intimidated some passers-by in Junik. Sources in Junik said that a Serbian state security officer ill-treated on 20 March Tahir Isufaj local albanian activist.

On March 18, for the fourteenth (14) time in row, the Serbian police raided on the home of Jashar Kulla at Lummadh village. He was reported beaten up by the Serbian police in front of family members.

On March 18, a Serb police expedition from Ferizaj and Vitia arrested Mr. Sylejman Tahiri from Gërmovë village. Mr. Tahiri was held for several hours and subjected to severe physical torture. He was interrogated about the killing of his late brother Milaim Tahiri. Being questioned about his assumption on the possible assassin of his bother and having responded that he suspected it could be his Serb neighbour policemen Zoran Aleksic, he was exposed to severe physical torture.

On March 17, the Serb authorities of the Forestry Bureau in Rahovec have cut water supply for 50 Albanian families, including the local elementary school of Panorc village, on the alleged pretext that the wells were dug at their property.

On March 14, the Serbian police arrested on the street Hajdin Abdullahu from Kamenica. While in custody he was subjected to physical torture.

On March 14, Gazmend H. Morina, student of the Prishtina, was arrestedby the Serbian police in Mitrovica under the alleged pretext of being a member of "Liberation Army of Kosova". He was subjected to severe physical torture while in custody. This was the second time Mr. Morina was detained over the past weeks.

On March 14, the Serbian police raided on the homes of Abaz and Halil Plakolli at Letancë village in Podujeva, under the alleged pretext of arms searches. No arms were reported found.

On March 14, the Serbian police raided on the home of Xhavit H. Podvorica. The police were after Xhavit, under the pretext he had deserted for the former Yugoslav army. Xhavit had deserted from the former Yugoslav army in 1992, refusing to take part in the war of agression in Croatia. He has been living in Switzerland since then.

On March 12, Haki Braha, journalist of the TVP (Television of Prishtina) and local activist of the Parliamentarian Party of Kosova was arrested on the street by the Serbian state security officers. He was maltreated for over three hours in custody.

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