Kosova Daily Report #1321, 98-01-16

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

Kosova Information Center

KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1321

Prishtina, 16 January 1998

CONTENTS

[01] Visit of U.S. and German Delegation to Kosova Put Off Due to Weather Conditions

[02] Beginning of Dialogue is First Essential Step to Reduce Tensions in Kosova, Gelbard and Ischinger Say

[03] A Serbian Civilian Wounds Albanian Seriously

[04] "Journalist to Journalist" Help KIC Staff Financially

[05] Repression in Kosova

[01] Visit of U.S. and German Delegation to Kosova Put Off Due to Weather Conditions

In a press release distributed to reporters today at around 10 a.m., the United States Information Service (USIS) in Prishtina said that Robert Gelbard, special representative of U.S. President and Secretary of State for the Dayton Accords, and Mr. Wolfgang Ischinger, Political Director in the German Foreign Ministry could not make it to come to Prishtina today, expressing their hope that the visit will be made in a near future.

"Ambassador Robert S. Gelbard, President Clinton's Special Representative for Dayton Implementation, and his German counterpart, Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger, asked us to express their extreme disappointment that they were unable to make the planned visit to Pristina today because of weather conditions at the airport. They also said that they hoped to be able to come in the very near future", the USIS release reads.

The visit of the two high-ranking official from the United States and Germany was 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 initially scheduled for 21 October 1997 but was postponed for a later date.

In a briefing on 9 January 1998, the U.S. State Department spokesman confirmed that Ambassador Robert Gelbard planned to visit to Kosova on 16 January during a several-day trip to the states of the former Yugoslavia.

[02] Beginning of Dialogue is First Essential Step to Reduce Tensions in Kosova, Gelbard and Ischinger Say

The Office of the President Rugova said that they assured Dr. Rugova that they would travel to Prishtina in a near future.

Meanwhile, the USIS office in Prishtina has dispensed today a joint statement of Robert Gelbard and Wolfgang Ischinger in which they underscored the support of their governments for the "initiation of a genuine dialogue to address the serious situation in Kosovo".

They reiterated concern shared by all Contact Group countries regarding rising tensions in Kosova and potentials for the violence, and condemned "both violent repression of non-violent expression of political views and terrorist actions to pursue political goals".

The two ambassadors "urged the immediate and full implementation of the education agreement mediated by the Sant' Egidio Community and urged Dr. Rugova and the Kosovar Albanian leadership to continue to cooperate fully with Sant' Egidio representative Monsignor Paglia".

The statement said that ambassador Gelbard had also urged President Milosevic in their meeting the previous evening to move forward with implementation, while the German side intends to do the same in its contacts with the leadership in Belgrade.

Gelbard and Ischinger "reiterated that as a first step to reduce tensions, its is essential that the genuine dialogue begins. They emphasized that the Contact Group support neither the independence for Kosovo nor the status quo. It supports an enhanced status for Kosovo within the FRY. Such a status should fully protect the rights of Albanian, Serb and other residents of Kosovo in accordance with OSCE standards, Helsinki principles and the U.N. Charter", the statement reads.

[03] A Serbian Civilian Wounds Albanian Seriously

The Fazliu family told KIC on the phone that Ali Fazliu was in his car, parked, when the Serb shot at him. They said that he demanded from him to remove the car, and since Mr. Fazliu refused to do so, he got his revolver out and shot at him.

Mr. Fazliu was taken to the Prishtina hospital immediately, and is said that he is out of consciousness and in real life danger.

[04] "Journalist to Journalist" Help KIC Staff Financially

The Journalist to Journalists provide assistance to journalists world-wide who live and works in poor conditions.

A German reporter who has visited Kosova recently has initiated the idea of sending the financial assistance to KIC. The reporter, who insisted not to have her name mentioned, has also paid visits to the KIC in the past, and realized that its employees live and work under poor condition.

The staff of the Kosova Information Center in Prishtina are extremely grateful to her, Ms. Schl”tzer-Scotland and all those who have bestowed their funds.

Serbian-installed Administration Harass Albanians in De^an Sources in De^an say that for some time now, the Serbian-installed administration in De^an have been conditioning the issue of personal documentation with the presentation of a voting certificate.

They have caused a lot of inconveniences for the De^an residents, since no Albanian participated in the last Serbian elections organized in Kosova.

One of the victims of this type of harassment was Albanian student Hasim Cakaj.

[05] Repression in Kosova

Brothers Shala were sent to the police station after the raid, and were interrogated and beaten severely. Mustaf& Shala was reported inflicted heavy body injuries.

They were released after having been held in custody for five hours, yet ordered to report at the police station in Peja the next day.

Brothers Shala were held at the police station in Peja for three hours, and released consequently.

Sources in Peja reported that the Serbian police beat severely on the street the thirteen-year-old Gazmend Gashi, from Baran in Ep&rm of Peja. Gazmend Gashi was on the way to visit the doctor together with his brother Sahit Gashi.

His older brother Sahit Gashi (24) tried to stop the policeman from hitting his brother, and in return the Serbian policeman threatened him with the automatic-riffle. The Serb policeman received help by a Serbian civilian, resident of Peja, and they both beat Sahit Gashi severely, together.

The two Serbs left threatening the people who were verbally opposing the violent behavior of the Serbs.

Hani i Elezit: - Two serbian policemen went this morning at 7.30 a.m., to the home of LDK Chairman at Hani i Elezit, Zylbehar Hasallari, and inquired for his brother Elhami Hasallari, LDK sources reported.

The police eventually arrested Elmahi Hasallari and took him to the Serbian police station in Hani i Elezit.

Mr. Hasallari was charged of being in possession of a weapon allegedly inherited from his father.

He was released from detention an hour later, but ordered to report at the police station again at 6 p.m. today and "turn in the weapon he was in possession of."

The police seized Mr. Hasallari's passport.

Gjilan: - Serbian police detained and interrogated Halim Huriglica (41), local LDK chairman in Dob&r^an of Gjilanit, LDK sources reported.

He was interrogated about the political activities of the LDK.

Kosova Information Center

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