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Kosova Daily Report #1380, 98-03-23
Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1380
Prishtina, 23 March 1998
CONTENTS
[01] Measures Agreed on Implementation of Education Accord
[02] President Rugova Receives U.S. Diplomats
[03] President Rugova Receives German, Finnish and Austrian Embassy
Officials
[04] President Rugova Talks on Phone with US Team which Was Prevented from
Monitoring Elections
[05] LDK Claims Overwhelming Victory in Parliamentary Election
[06] U.S. Peace Activists Released after Two Days in Serb Jail in
Prishtina
[01] Measures Agreed on Implementation of Education Accord
PRISHTINA, March 23 (KIC) - The Kosovar and Serbian educational
representatives (the so-called "3+3" Commission) signed today in Prishtina,
in the premises of the Kosova National and University Library, a text of
agreed measures for the implementation of the Education Accord which was
signed almost 19 months ago, but never put to life because of Serb regime's
obstructionist approach.
The Education Agreement, known also as the Rugova-Milosevic accord on
education, provided for an unconditional re-entry of Albanian students to
schools and the University of Prishtina premises.
The Rome-based Sant' Egidio Community served as a mediator in brokering the
deal as well as adoption of these measures for its implementation.
Professor Fehmi Agani, Mr. Rexhep Osmani, and Mr. Abdyl Ramaj signed the
text on behalf of Kosova, and Mr. Ratomir Vico, Mr. Goran Percevic and Mr.
Dobrosav Bjeletic on behalf of Serbia.
Monsignor Vincenzio Paglia signed on behalf of the Sant' Egidio Community.
Paglia spoke to the press in Italian, whereas the Community's spokesman
Mario Marazziti read out the text of the agreed measures.
Following is the text of the paper signed today:
AGREED MEASURES FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ACCORD ON EDUCATION OF
SEPTEMBER 1st, 1996
- The following measures are temporarily adopted for the implementation of
the accord on education, signed by President Slobodan Milosevic and Dr.
Ibrahim Rugova on September 1st, 1996.
- The Institute of Albanology in Prishtina will be re-opened to its
previous occupants on March 31st, 1998.
- By March 31 st 1998, the Community of St. Egidio, taking into account
the proposals submitted by the two parties in the "3+3" Commission, will
select the first three faculties of the University of Prishtina in which
Albanian students and professors will re- enter by April 30, 1998. In
principle, the conditions of the re- entry will be the following: the
students who are now normally studying in the premises and Albanian
students will alternate in the use of the University spaces and facilities,
with the system of double shifts exchanged every semester. In the first
semester of implementation of these measures, the students who are now
normally studying in the premises will use the facilities in the morning
(till 2 p.m) and the Albanians in the afternoon. In the second semester,
the shifts will be reversed, with the Albanian students in the morning and
the students who are now attending classes in the premises in the
afternoon, and so on in the following semesters. Beside the utilization of
classrooms for teaching, the Albanian students and professors will have at
their disposal adequate facilities in each Faculty for administrative
functions and for the teaching staff as well (if this is not possible,
other solutions will be devised).
- By April 30 1998, the Community of St. Egidio, taking into account the
proposals submitted by the two parties in the "3+3" Commission, will select
the next three faculties of the University of Prishtina in which Albanian
students and professors will re- enter by May 31st, 1998. The conditions of
this re-entry will be the same as those for the faculties as in the
previous point.
- The remaining Albanian students and professors of the other seven
faculties will be able to get back to the facilities of the University of
Prishtina by June 30th 1998, according to the same conditions for the
previous faculties, stated at points 3 and 4. By September 30th 1998, the
Albanian students and professors will have access to the University
facilities (dining halls, libraries, dormitories, etc.) in an adequate way.
The Community of St. Egidio will provide solutions, after hearing proposals
of both sides, to eventual problems which might emerge. Anyway, the
academic year must start normally on October 1st 1998.
- By June 30th 1998, the Albanian students and professors will be able to
use the facilities of seven higher schools in Prishtina and in other towns
of Kosovo, specializing in pedagogic, economic and technical subjects.
Their utilization will be made according to the conditions for the re-use
of the University facilities, as in point 3, if these schools are used.
- The "3+3" Commission, assisted by the Community of St. Egidio,
underlines the necessity of fund raising to build new facilities quickly,
in order to increase space for teaching, research and administration at the
disposal of all. New University buildings, that could be quickly built,
will be able to house, on equal terms, all the structures of the
University. This will be subject of a special program, containing the
timetable and financing for its realization in accordance with real needs
and material possibilities.
- Similarly, by March 31st 1998, the Albanian students and pupils will get
back to high and elementary school buildings which actually are not used,
according to the list prepared by the "3+3" Commission. The Community of
St. Egidio will provide solutions to eventual problems that might emerge.
The Albanian students and pupils will get back to high and elementary
school buildings which are partially used by April 30th 1998. Their
utilization will be made according to the conditions for the re-use of
University facilities, set in point 3, or in another mutually accepted
mode.
- The meeting of the "3+3" Commission, with the assistance of members of
St. Egidio Community, will begin not later than March 30th to guarantee the
implementation of the transitional measures of normalization. The "3+3"
Commission will immediately form working groups for each faculty. The "3+3"
Commission will study other problems concerning the normalization of the
education system (financing, administration, languages, diplomas, programs,
degrees, status issues of the staff).
(end of text)
[02] President Rugova Receives U.S. Diplomats
PRISHTINA, March 23 (KIC) - The President of the Republic of Kosova Dr.
Ibrahim Rugova received today in Prishtina Mr. Nicholas Hill, First
Secretary, and Mr. Robert Pitre, Political Officer in the United States
Embassy in Belgrade.
Dr. Ibrahim Rugova and the U.S. diplomats discussed about the current
situation in Kosova.
The resolution of the Kosova issue should be sought in a well- prepared and
mediated dialogue, President Rugova stressed.
President Ibrahim Rugova expressed his appreciation for the comprehensive
attention the U.S. administration has afforded to the Kosova issue.
[03] President Rugova Receives German, Finnish and Austrian Embassy
Officials
PRISHTINA, March 23 (KIC) - The President of the Republic of Kosova, Dr.
Ibrahim Rugova received today in Prishtina Mr. R^Ádiger Lotz, 2nd Secretary
of the Embassy of Germany, Mr. Juha Ottman, 2nd Secretary of the Embassy of
Finland, and Mr. Jan Kickert, 2nd Secretary of Embassy of Austria in
Belgrade.
Current developments in Kosova were discussed at the meeting.
President Rugova said the situation continues to be extremely grave in the
wake of the armed actions of Serbian forces against the Albanians in the
Drenica villages.
The people of Kosova are steadfast on their determination to press ahead
with their struggle for freedom, independence, and democracy by peaceful
means, President Rugova underlined.
The Belgrade-based European diplomats shared an interest in diverse aspect
of the situation in Kosova.
Dr. Ibrahim Rugova said he appreciated the concern of the German, Finnish
and Austrian governments over the situation in Kosova.
[04] President Rugova Talks on Phone with US Team which Was Prevented from
Monitoring Elections
PRISHTINA, March 23 (KIC) - President of the Republic of Kosova, Dr.
Ibrahim Rugova had a telephone conversation Sunday with the US congressmen
Sue Kelly (R-NY), Jim Moran (D-VA) and Eliot Engel (D- NY) members of the
U.S. Congressional Mission to Kosova, and Janusz Bugaisky from the Centre
for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
The Serbian authorities refused to grant visas to a 14-member bi- partisan
U.S. delegation, led by three U.S. Members of Congress, who intended to
observe the 22 March elections in Kosova.
The delegation decided to monitor the election process from the FYROM
capital Shkup/Skopje.
The members of the congress evaluated the Sundays elections as legitimate,
since the Kosova people elected through an open vote its representative
which will take them towards the strengthening of statehood of Kosova.
President Rugova thanked the U.S. Congressional members and members of the
delegation for their interest and the support given in favor of the
presidential and parliamentary election of 2 March, 1998.
[05] LDK Claims Overwhelming Victory in Parliamentary Election
PRISHTINA, March 23 (KIC) - The 22 March parliamentary and presidential
elections were successful and proved that the Democratic League of Kosova
(LDK) remains the major political force in the Republic of Kosova, a member
of the LDK campaign team told KIC Monday afternoon.
According to the preliminary, but partial data, candidates of the LDK have
won a meaningful majority of the seats in the Parliament of Kosova, the
people at the LDK Elections Headquarters said. Over 95 per cent of the
Kosovar registered voters supported the LDK presidential candidate, the
incumbent President Dr. Ibrahim Rugova, they said.
Over one million people cast their ballots in Kosova on Sunday to elect the
President of the Republic of Kosova and 100 members of the 130-member
Parliament. Kosova has a combined majority- proportional system of
elections: 100 members are elected in direct vote, while 30 seats are
allocated to the ethnic groups and parties winning at least 3 percent of
the votes in the election.
The votes have already been counted in most of the municipalities in which
LDK candidates claimed virtually all seats, the LDK Headquarters said.
The Republican Elections Commission will organize a press conference Monday
at 6 p.m. when the preliminary results on the Sunday elections are expected
to be published.
[06] U.S. Peace Activists Released after Two Days in Serb Jail in
Prishtina
PRISHTINA, March 23 (KIC) - Six American humanitarian activists and
reporters imprisoned by the Serb regime on Saturday were reported released
today.
David Hartsough, Executive Director of a U.S. organization "Peace Workers",
as well as activists Daniel Perez, Teresa Crawford, Bruce Warren, Albarto
Cavalos and Peter Lipman, a journalist, were detained by the Serbian police
on Saturday and summarily sentenced to 10 days of imprisonment each at the
Serb-run Magistrate Court in Prishtina.
The US humanitarian activists were reportedly released today on condition
that they leave the country immediately.
The President of the Republic of Kosova, Dr. Ibrahim Rugova called on
Sunday "outrageous' the imprisonment of the U.S. peace and humanitarian
activists and urged for an immediate and unconditional release.
Kosova Information Center
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