Kosova Daily Report #1320, 98-01-15

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

Kosova Information Center

KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1320

Prishtina, 15 January 1998

CONTENTS

[01] Gelbard and Ischinger to Visit Prishtina Friday

[02] Nato is Concerned over Escalating Tensions in Kosova

[03] Serb Security Arrests and Ill-treats Four Albanian Students

[04] Four Albanian Families in Rahovec Raided on by Serb Police

[05] Serb Civilians and Police Ill-treat Albanians in Mitrovica

[06] Serbian Police Beat Severely Bus Driver and Ticket Collector

[01] Gelbard and Ischinger to Visit Prishtina Friday

In a press release issued earlier this week, the USIS in Prishtina said that the U.S. State Department spokesman confirmed on January 9, that in his nineteenth trip to the states of the former Yugoslavia, Ambassador Robert Gelbard will visit Kosova on 16 January. Kosova will be his last stop on his Balkans itinerary before he flies to Madrid, the statement said.

Meanwhile, the Kosova Information Center (KIC) has learned that Mr. Wolfgang Ischinger, Political Director in the German Foreign Ministry will travel to Prishtina on Friday together with Ambassador Gelbard.

Robert Gelbard and Wolfgang Ischinger, and their aides, are expected to meet with the leadership of Kosova and representatives of major political parties.

The visit of the two high-ranking official from U.S. and Germany was initially announced by the German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel during a meeting with the President of the Republic of Kosova Dr. Ibrahim Rugova in Hamburg (Germany) last September. The visit was had been scheduled for 21 October 1997 but was postponed for a later date.

The visit has been perceived in Kosova as a concrete step in international efforts, first and foremost of the United States of America, EU and Federal Republic of Germany, to press for the establishment of the dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade.

[02] Nato is Concerned over Escalating Tensions in Kosova

Mr.Gani Azemi, head of the Kosova Information Center (KIC) in Brussels who also attended the occasion spoke about the situation in Kosova and the Serb regime repressive policies against the Albanians.

Gani Azemi had a longer discussion with the Nato spokesman Jamie Shea who expressed concerns of the alliance over the increasing tensions in Kosova. Nato has been careful watching the situation in Kosova, and together with OSCE, EU and other international organizations it has been making efforts to lower tensions and encourage a dialogue between Belgrade and Prishtina.

Further escalation in Kosova should be prevented with all the means because it endangers the whole region, Shea is quoted to have said.

Over the past months Nato has on several occasions expressed concerns over the escalating tensions in Kosova.

The Nato Council in a meeting held in Brussels last December said in a final communique that Nato "shares the concerns expressed at the PIC [Peace Implementation Council] concerning the escalating ethnic tensions in Kosovo and other areas."

"We call upon those concerned to refrain from activities that might exacerbate existing difficulties and strive for mutually acceptable solutions through responsible dialogue", the communique read.

[03] Serb Security Arrests and Ill-treats Four Albanian Students

They were taken to the Serbian security premises in Prishtina and held for five hours.

The two students told LDK sources that they were interrogated about the organizational structure of University students. The Serbian security seized all the money they had in them, one of the students told LDK Information Commission.

They said that together with them the Serbian security arrested and interrogated also two other University students whose names they did not know.

[04] Four Albanian Families in Rahovec Raided on by Serb Police

The police said they were looking for hidden weapons allegedly in they possession. During the raid the police beat severely Nazim Gashi.

The police summoned Xhavit Gashi, Florim Kabashi and Jetullah Kabashi to report at the police station for interrogation 13 January.

Bujku says all three of them are political activists in the village.

[05] Serb Civilians and Police Ill-treat Albanians in Mitrovica

They were on their way to Rep&, when at Shupkovc village, at the vicinity of a Serbian refugee camp, a Serb civilian drove in their direction attempting to run them over.

Since, brothers Istrefi complained, the Serbian civilian fetched two Serb policeman and arrested them on the road.

Brothers Istrefi were forced into one of the nearby barracks and beaten up severely by the Serbian police and the civilian. They were consequently taken to the police station in Mitrovica where they were held until 9 p.m. Brothers Istrefi were beaten up at the police station too, and were threatened with liquidation.

[06] Serbian Police Beat Severely Bus Driver and Ticket Collector

They were stopped near the police station at Kliqina village of Peja, while at work commuting from Prishtina to Peja.

"Kosovatrans" bus company was introduced coercive measures in 1991, and since then is in the hands of Serbian-installed administration.

The newspaper provides no information as to the reason of their ill- treatment.

Kosova Information Center

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