Kosova Daily Report #1343, 98-02-11

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

Kosova Information Center

KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1343

Prishtina, 11 February 1998

CONTENTS

[01] Kosova Albanians Are Not Minority But a Divided Nation, Paskal Milo Says

[02] LDK and PPK Contemplate Current Developments in Kosova in a Joint Meeting

[03] Savage Treatment of Albanians at Serb Police Check-points

[04] Five Newborns Infected in Mitrovica Delivery Ward Die in Prishtina

[05] Serbian Police Force Albanian Bus Owner to by Food for Them

[01] Kosova Albanians Are Not Minority But a Divided Nation, Paskal Milo Says

According to ATA and Reuters Milo said Albania is doing its utmost, within its possibilities, to ensure a peaceful settlement for the tensions in Kosova, where the ethnic Albanians demand full human rights.

"The pressure of Belgrade against Kosovar Albanians proves of the fact that Belgrade continues in its old policy and mentality and lacks willingness to initiate a new philosophy in the Balkans," said Albania's Foreign Minister.

"Albanians in Kosova are not a national minority, but rather a majority and they demand the status of a divided nation according to international right."

"We do not support any military group seeking to start a war in Kosova, and we are against any kind of terrorism, be it Serb or Albanian," Paskal Milo told reporters.

Meanwhile the Koha Ditore has quoted Albania's president Rexhep Meidani as saying in a press conference upon his return from a visit to U.S.A. that "the settlement of the Kosova issue lays in a gradual process of self- determination."

He told the reporters that during his visit to U.S.A. he described the situation in Kosova as very tense and volatile and he had requested the establishment of a permanent U.N. office in Prishtina.

[02] LDK and PPK Contemplate Current Developments in Kosova in a Joint Meeting

The Koha ditore daily said that LDK representatives (Dr. Fehmi Agani, Hydajet Hyseni, and Anton Noka, vice-chairman, and Fatmir Sejdiu, Secretary General) and those of PPK (Bajram Kosumi, Dr. Rifat Blaku and Jonuz Salihaj, vice-chairmen) contemplated the ways for coordinated action in face of the ever-increasing Serb regime retaliatory campaigns and provocations against the Kosova people.

The newspaper has quoted one of the PPK vice-chairmen, Bajram Kosumi, as saying that similar meetings will be held again in order to seek ways how to respond in the given circumstances. The recent developments are but a proof that the Belgrade regime has been making much efforts to impose a militaristic concept for solving the Kosova issue, he said.

Meanwhile, the LDK vice-chairman Fehmi Agani, has told Koha ditore that it is necessary such meetings be not only held between the LDK and PPK but with other parties too in order to study the "situation jointly in the wake of obvious stepped-up Serb regime repression and Serbia's venture to once again 'pacify' Kosova through the use of violence".

[03] Savage Treatment of Albanians at Serb Police Check-points

The paper's correspondent in Klina reported today that scores of heavily armed Serbian police, particularly in Kijeva where they had set up a check- point seven days ago, have been using very brutal practices against the Albanian population, teachers and students.

The Serbian police ill-treated the Albanian physician Frrok Prenaj, and Prek& Prenaj, a businessman in Klina.

They beat up severely Ajet Dakaj, from the neighboring village of Cerovik, who was on his way to the school where he works. He was hit severely just because he told them he was a teacher.

The police ill-treated Zef Prenaj, also a teacher, and robbed him of 40 DM, who claimed 'Albanians are not entitled to posses hard currency!' The reporter said among the ill-treated and tortured individuals are Shefqet Rama and Azem dakaj from Cerovik, the later is educational adviser in Klina.

Another for of terrorizing Albanians is plundering. The police asks for money and seizes every penny. Bajram Abazi told the reporter that the police after having searched him asked for 20 DM. He said he refused to give them the money, yet Agim Kryeziu, an accountant from Bubavec was robbed twice.

Maliq Dakaj, a businessman from Cerovik was ill-treated likewise at the Serbian police check-point in Kijeva, and was seized 100 DM.

The Serb police ill-treated also Fadil Zogaj from Rixheva.

A new phenomenon says the reporter is the objection of certain Kosovar Serb residents towards the Serb police brutality against Albanian population. The reporter in Klina said a Serb from Dush village openly objected the Serbian police torture, while he also quotes witnesses to have said that a Serbian mother, who was on the bus during a police intervention in Kijeva, stepped out of the bus and told the policemen, "Do you have children and families? Shame on you and your families!".

[04] Five Newborns Infected in Mitrovica Delivery Ward Die in Prishtina

The newspaper said that five babies were fatally infected by still unidentified virus at the delivery ward of the Mitrovica obstetric clinic. They were transferred to Prishtina hospital where all of them died over the past days.

The Serb-installed management in both the hospitals in Mitrovica and Prishtina have refused to give detailed information regarding the infection and the factual cause of the death of the babies.

They have neither given the names of the babies' parents, the newspaper said.

Dr. Sasa Kravcenko of the Prishtina hospital has confirmed for Bujku that "it is true that six babies, five Albanian and one Serb, have died", but he has denied to further speak of the cause of the death.

The newspaper has quoted another doctor of the Mitrovica clinic as saying that the hygienic condition in the delivery ward are extraordinarily poor.

[05] Serbian Police Force Albanian Bus Owner to by Food for Them

They told the bus driver that if he wanted to keep working he should buy 100 kebabs and five loafs of bread for them on his way back.

The Serbian police at this Check point ill-treated Monday and Tuesday students of the local primary school in Dollc.

They were stopped under the excuse that they had not greeted the policemen.

Bujku correspondent said the police beat brutally Faton Godanci, student at the eighth form.

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