Kosova Daily Report #1324, 98-01-21

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

Kosova Information Center

KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1324

Prishtina, 21 January 1998

CONTENTS

[01] IHF Recommends an Urgent 'Dayton-like' Conference on Kosova

[02] Serbs to Pull Down an Albanian Historical Monument in Peja

[03] Out of 44 Directors in Health Institutions in Kosova Only 5 Are Albanians

[01] IHF Recommends an Urgent 'Dayton-like' Conference on Kosova

The IHF statement entitled "Kosovo: Urgent Appeal for Courage, Leadership and Cooperation" said that a delegation of IHF and its affiliates in Kosova, Montenegro, Norway and Serbia has recently toured in Kosova where they had discussions with Kosovar leaders, experts, human rights groups and local residents in central Kosova where armed incidents with the Serbian police were reported to have occurred last November.

The IHF statement underlined that "the resolve of Kosova Albanians to deal non-violently is reaching the point of exhaustion. Other ominous indications of possible forthcoming dangerous escalation of violence are the appearance of the so-called 'Kosovo Liberation Army' that has assumed responsibility for at least 17 killings of Serbian related targets".

The IHF delegation said it has received numerous reports of preparations by the Serbian military and police forces, including special police exercises in several places in Kosova. "Increased militarization of Kosovo reportedly includes arming of Serb civilians with additional weapons. Notorious Serb paramilitary leader 'Arkan' has also reportedly been observed in the area, an indication of possible violence against Albanians" the statement reads.

The IHF recommends that international organizations express solidarity with Kosovar students and their legitimate demands for release of the premises of the university. It recalled that the Serb police has violently broken up peaceful protest of students who plan to stage similar manifestations to see that they are allow access to university facilities. The Education Agreement must be implemented immediately as a first step towards normalization in the Kosova education.

The IHF recommends an immediate initiative to convene an international "Dayton-like" conference on Kosova to resolve the present crisis which threatened to escalate into a bloody conflict.

"Concern is not a policy", the statement quoted an expert observer as remarking, probably referring to a phrase repeatedly expounded by various diplomats and organizations. "The critical situation in Kosova requires urgent, determined efforts to convince FRY President Slobodan Milosevic to agree to a process of international mediation about the future political status of Kosovo".

The statement further said the IHF and its affiliates in Kosova, Montenegro, Norway and Serbia raised the question of Kosova in the meetings they had in Montenegro. "All the political figures with whom the IHF spoke, including the representative of the Bulatovic fraction, supported a negotiated political solution to the 'Kosovo problem'".

[02] Serbs to Pull Down an Albanian Historical Monument in Peja

"Mulliri i Haxhi Zek&s" is one of the oldest buildings in Peja, and is a monument of historical importance to the Albanian culture.

The building was set in fire last year by yet unidentified persons, when parts of the roof and of the upper floor were damaged.

The Serb company began its work of pulling down the monument last weekend, but it stopped after a number of Albanian residents gathered near the monument building to protest its destruction.

The Albanian residents of Peja complained on the phone to the Serb director of the Serb-run Institute for the Protection of Monuments, Stojan Kostic, but say they have not seen any action from him yet.

Peja residents say they will not allow the destruction of this monument with historical importance for their town.

[03] Out of 44 Directors in Health Institutions in Kosova Only 5 Are Albanians

Albanians run the health institutions mainly in areas with no Serbian inhabitants, such as Gllogovc, Sk&nderaj, Gkakova, Vushtrri and Dragash. All other health institutions, beginning from the small medical centers, hospital and other specialized health institutions are run by the 8 percent of the population.

Albanians in Kosova outnumber Serbs by nine to one.

After the Serb occupation of Kosova in 1989, the Belgrade regime dismissed Albanians from work in public institutions and enterprises en masse.

Kosova Information Center

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