Kosova Daily Report #1407, 98-04-22
Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1407
Prishtina, 22 April 1998
First Edition: 11:30 hrs
Second Edition: 15:45 hrs
CONTENTS
[01] EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN DE^AN - Build-up and Garrisoning of
Serb Forces, Sporadic Shooting at Baballoq
[02] Additional Serb Army Forces Deployed along Kosova-Albania Border Zone
[03] Serbian Police Vacate Police Station in Irzniq
[04] President Rugova Receives ICRC Officials
[05] LDK Demands Cessation of Armed Actions of Serb Forces in Kosova
[06] Sporadic Serb Shooting at Baballoq Continues, Population on the Move
in Fear
[07] Broek and Kinkel Support Idea of Kosova Talks on Neutral Ground
[08] Talbott Describes Kosova as "Extremely Urgent, Difficult and Dangerous
Problem"
[09] Serb Police Compels Albanians Build Barricades around Police Bases
[10] Serb Army Tanks Parading through Prishtina Village
[11] Serb Police Orders Albanian Family to Vacate House
[12] Serb Police Beats Albanian Interpreter Accompanying Deutsche Welle
Reporter
[01] EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN DE^AN - Build-up and Garrisoning of
Serb Forces, Sporadic Shooting at Baballoq
PRISHTINA, April 22 (KIC) - Heavy Serbian police and military forces were
deployed today (Wednesday) in the Serb refugee settlement at Baballoq
village of De^an, whereas on the main road passing near the Serb settlement
police checkpoints have been set up, subjecting passers-bye to rigorous
checks.
Baballoq is an Albanian village, with 180 households and around 1600
inhabitants. Around 300 meters away a housing unit for Serb settlers has
been built.
The Information Commission of the Democratic League of Kosova (LDK) branch
in De^an said the sound of sporadic shooting can be heard today at Baballoq
village.
At 7:30 hrs today, a military convoy, equipped with heavy weaponry, reached
De^an from Peja ('Pec'), and headed for the village of Baballoq.
The Albanian village was under sporadic Serb fire yesterday (Tuesday) from
10:45 through 20:15, local sources said. Serb police, military as well as
Serb settlers from the refugee settlement took part in the attack.
Meanwhile, Serb press reported today of armed confrontations yesterday,
laying the blame on the Albanian side. It is reported that the road block
erected along the Gramo^el-Gllogjan road near the Serbian refugee
settlement has allegedly been attacked by Albanians. The police fired back,
the Serb reports said, adding that there were no casualties on the Serb
side.
LDK activists paid a visit to Baballoq last night. They told KIC there were
no reported casualties among the local inhabitants resulting from
yesterday's Serbian attack.
Yesterday's attack against the Baballoq village is the first massive attack
after the one launched by Serb forces on Gllogjan village on 24 April, when
three Albanians were killed and several others wounded in their
homesteads.
The situation in De^an has been explosive for days now.
The Serbian authorities and forces have been engaged in activities which
bespoke an impending full-scale attack against Albanian villages. This has
become all the more evident in the aftermath of the Serb regime
orchestrated evacuation of Serbs and Montenegrisn from the villages.
[02] Additional Serb Army Forces Deployed along Kosova-Albania Border Zone
PRISHTINA, April 22 (KIC) - Sources in De^an said that Serb army forces
with heavy armament and other combat equipment have been positioned since
Tuesday evening in several places adjacent to the Kosova-Albania border.
The LDK Information Commission in De^an said Serb army units have been
positioned yesterday afternoon in the fields and forests around Vokshi and
Juniku villages, as well as in a plateau called Shkoza in the border zone.
Residents of the area have been extremely anxious about what may happen in
the next days or even hours, sources said.
Residents of Sllup village - women, children and elderly people - have
already abandoned their homes. They have found temporary refuge at Drenoc
village.
Local population from other Kosovar villages near the Kosova- Albanian
border zone has been reported moving out of the area.
[03] Serbian Police Vacate Police Station in Irzniq
PRISHTINA, April 22 (KIC) - The Serb police station at Irzniq village of
De^an has been abandoned by its personnel since Tuesday afternoon, sources
in the area said.
The whole police personnel, as well as the equipment of the Irzniq police
station, were moved out in a lorry yesterday at around 17:00 hrs, the LDK
Information Commission in De^an said.
Residents of Irzniq fear before leaving the Serb police could have planted
mines in the building.
Some of the Serb printing media announced Tuesday that the police station
in Irzniq was to be vacated shortly.
[04] President Rugova Receives ICRC Officials
PRISHTINA, April 22 (KIC) - The President of the Republic of Kosova Dr.
Ibrahim Rugova received today in Prishtina Mr. Pascal Haldimann, the
outgoing Head of the ICRC Sub-Delegation to Prishtina, and Ms. Beatrice
Weber, the new Head of the Sub- Delegation.
President Rugova and the ICRC officials discussed the situation in Drenica
and other parts of Kosova in the wake of massacres committed against the
local Albanians by the Serbian forces.
ICRC officials expressed their profound concern over the worsening
situation in Kosova, and spoke about the efforts and activities of the
organization to help the affected area in Drenica with humanitarian aid.
Dr. Rugova thanked the ICRC and Mr. Haldimann for his work in Kosova, and
welcomed the efforts of the organization to help the vulnerable under very
difficult conditions in Drenica and other parts of Kosova.
[05] LDK Demands Cessation of Armed Actions of Serb Forces in Kosova
PRISHTINA, April 22 (KIC) - The presidency of the Democratic League of
Kosova (LDK) warned today of a dangerous deterioration of the situation in
the municipalities of De^an and Gjakova amidst an increasing terror by
Serbian police and military forces in the area.
In a statement, the LDK, the main political party in Kosova, condemned the
crackdown of Serbian police and military forces Tuesday and Wednesday in
Baballoq village of De^an. The Serb attack on Baballoq, artillery and
grenade launchers having been used, heralds the danger od fresh Serb
massacres, like the one against the Albanian people in the Drenica region,
the LDK said.
The party called for an immediate withdrawal of Serbian police and military
forces from villages in the De^an and Gjakova municipalities. The extremely
huge build-up of Serb forces there, which have been showing threatening
force against the local population, could result in large-scale massacres
that would endanger the entire region, the LDK said.
The party warned in the statement that the arming by the Serb regime of the
local civilian population is yet another proof of the militarist course the
regime has been pursuing. "Serbia is bringing in fresh police and military
troops on a daily basis in Kosova, and is setting towns and villages under
siege".
There are indications that the Serbian authorities are preparing the public
opinion for an impending onslaught, the LDK stressed, referring to remarks
by a senior Serb police officer who said there may be hundreds of
casualties on 24-25 April, amidst a possible provocation by Albanian
militants.
[Reuters agency quoted "an authoritative Serbian source" as saying: ``What
we fear is a big provocation by the KLA around April 24 or 25 which will
prompt major police action. "Casualties could climb into hundreds and
affect the Contact Group's verdict against Belgrade," the source was quoted
as saying by Reuters April 21.] Given the dramatic situation and the
possible scenarios of the Serbian military and paramilitary forces, the LDK
called on "the United States, the Contact Group, the European Union, and
the UN" to take urgent and decisive preventative measures against the war-
mongering activities of the Serbian regime.
"Preventing the terror of Serbian forces is of critical importance to pave
the way for a political resolution of the Kosova issue, and the peaceful
implementation of the will of the people for independence", the LDK said in
its statement.
At the end of the statement, the LDK called on the Albanian population of
the De^an and Gjakova villages to stay in their homes and not flee the
area. By leaving the area, they would only help Serbian schemes of ethnic
cleansing of Kosova, the party concluded.
[06] Sporadic Serb Shooting at Baballoq Continues, Population on the Move
in Fear
PRISHTINA, April 22 (KIC) - The situation in De^an municipality in western
Kosova is deteriorating by the hour, local sources said.
The Information Commission of the Democratic League of Kosova (LDK) branch
in De^an said the sound of sporadic shooting can be heard still at Baballoq
village.
The Albanian village came under Serb gunfire and grenade attack yesterday
(Tuesday) from 10:45 through 20:15, local sources said.
Serb police, military as well as Serb settlers from the refugee settlement
took part in the attack.
There is panic in this as well as other Albanian villages in the
municipality, the LDK sources said, adding that the population is moving
out of the area in fear of imminent Serb massacres. People are heading for
Peja ('Pec') and Prishtina, eye-witnesses said.
The situation in De^an has been explosive for days now.
The Serbian authorities and forces have been engaged in activities which
bespoke an impending full-scale attack against Albanian villages. This has
become all the more evident in the aftermath of the Serb regime
orchestrated evacuation of Serbs and Montenegrisn from the villages.
There have been reports of increasing Serbian forces's build-up along the
border zone with Albania.
LDK sources in Gjakova said Serb military forces have been stationed in the
compounds of the former tobacco factory "Virgjinia" at Ponoshec village.
Other troops have been heading for the villages of Koshare and Botusha,
situated two to four kilometers from the Kosova-Albanian border, sources
said.
The LDK branch information commission in Gjakova said heavily armed Serb
military forces headed today for the Dushkaja region. Some of them have
been stationed near the Radoniq lake, whereas the rest at a location called
"Boka" near Zhdrella village.
There is growing fear among the local population in the municipality.
Inhabitants of Grama^el and Palabardh villages which are close to the De^an
municipality have started moving out, heading for other villages or the
town of Gjakova, LDK sources said.
[07] Broek and Kinkel Support Idea of Kosova Talks on Neutral Ground
PRISHTINA, April 22 (KIC) - Prishtina and Belgrade should be invited to
hold exploratory talks on Kosova on neutral ground, according to top
European Union's foreign affairs official.
"Has the time not come yet for the international Contact Group to invite
the parties to some territory outside the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to
talk maybe about talks?", External Relations Commissioner Hans van den
Broek said Tuesday in Brussels during a conference at the European
Parliament.
Van den Broek said the European Union should contribute "more actively and
visibly" to finding a solution, and consider sending troops from its
defence arm, the Western European Union (W&U), to neighboring countries
like Macedonia or Albania.
"The EU has, in my view, to play a more active role itself", he told the
conference, Reuters reported.
"That's why I would recommend that the (EU) Council of Ministers, or the
ministers of the WEU would discuss what kind of contribution they can make",
Broek said.
German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel was quoted as saying he saw no room
for a military presence by the United Nations or NATO in Kosova itself.
Speaking at the same conference, Kinkel said Van den Broek's idea of
neutral-territory talks on Kosova was "well-advised".
"I agree with Hans van den Broek that the Europeans have to come clean on
this and say where they stand [on Kosova],'' Kinkel told the conference.
[08] Talbott Describes Kosova as "Extremely Urgent, Difficult and Dangerous
Problem"
PRISHTINA, April 22 (KIC) - The U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Strobe
Talbott, who is visiting Europe to discuss the situation in Kosova, met in
Warsaw with the Polish Foreign Minister Bronislaw Geremek and Felipe
Gonzalez, personal representative of the OSCE chairman, USIS reported.
In a brief press conference held after the meeting, the US Deputy Secretary
of State said "my colleagues from the United States government and I are on
a Presidential mission that is taking us to the capitals of all members of
the Contact Group in the former Yugoslavia. We are working on an extremely
urgent, difficult and dangerous problem of Kosovo which poses threat to the
peace and security and stability of an important region in Europe and
therefore to transatlantic community as a whole, which Poland and the
United States are part of".
"President Clinton, sending us on this mission, instructed us specifically
to come to Warsaw, to meet Mr. Geremek in his capacity as the chairman in
office of the OSCE", the senior U.S. official said, adding that "we will be
working very closely with him and his colleagues and Mr. Gonzalez in the
days and weeks ahead as we continue to find the solution to this very
important problem".
Speaking to journalists, Mr. Strobe Talbott said "the important thing is
for the international community to use resources that it has at its
disposal to convince the parties in the Kosovo conflict that it is in their
own self-interest to enter unconditionally into dialogue that will lead to
a lasting settlement."
The key components of such a settlement, according to the Deputy Secretary
of State Talbott, are that it (the settlement) "be based on the principles
of sovereignty, territorial integrity, inviolability of international
borders", and that the dispute be resolved peacefully, Talbott said.
[09] Serb Police Compels Albanians Build Barricades around Police Bases
PRISHTINA, April 22 (KIC) - The Serb police has been erecting barricades
around police station buildings and check-points in Podujeva municipality,
sources said.
Over the past couple of days, sand-bag barricades were erected around the
police stations in Lluzhan, K&rpimeh and Orllan, as well as the "Besiana"
motel in Podujeva which was turned into a Serb police base several years
ago, the LDK Information Commission in Podujeva said.
Reportedly, Albanians were compelled by Serb police to fill bags with sand
and transport them to police stations.
Meanwhile, the chapter of the Council for the Defense of Human Rights and
Freedoms (CDHRF) in Podujeva said that around 60 Serb army vehicles with
combat equipment on board drove though Podujeva on Monday afternoon. The
convoy which was coming from Serbia drove in the direction of Prishtina,
the CDHRF said.
[10] Serb Army Tanks Parading through Prishtina Village
PRISHTINA, April 22 (KIC) - A convoy of Serb military vehicles, truck and
tanks paraded twice through Shkaba (in Serbian 'Orlovic') village of
Prishtina today.
LDK sources in Shkabaj said the Serb army convoy drove through the village
first in the morning hours to return again at around noon.
The Serb army troops have bee reported garrisoned later around the memorial
complex of Gazimestan, about five km north-west of Prishtina.
[11] Serb Police Orders Albanian Family to Vacate House
PRISHTINA, April 22 (KIC) - The Serbian police has ordered an Albanian
family in Kijeva (Malisheva municipality) to immediately vacate the house
which is located near a police checkpoint on the Prishtina-Peja road.
Sejdi Gashi was given a three-day time to move his family out of the house,
the Prishtina-based newspaper Koha ditore said today.
The newspaper said the Serb police broke brutally into the house of Sejdi
Gashi on Monday. Mr. Gashi was told he should vacate the house because, as
the police put it, "it is located in a dangerous area". In case he failed
to vacate the house, the police themselves would throw out his family,
Gashi was told.
Quoting LDK sources in Kijeva, Koha ditore said that all the Albanian
families in the vicinity of the recently established police check-point in
Kijava have abandoned their houses. Serb policemen have been housed instead
in a couple of houses there.
[12] Serb Police Beats Albanian Interpreter Accompanying Deutsche Welle
Reporter
PRISHTINA, April 22 (KIC) - The Deutsche Welle correspondent Philip Makers
(sp) reported that the Serbian police had stopped him and his Albanian
interpreter at De^an today. While the Serb police threatened the Deutsche
Welle correspondent, they beat up the interpreter severely, the Prishtina-
based correspondent of the Albanian section of the Deutshe Welle told KIC.
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