Kosova Daily Report #1413, 98-04-28

Kosovo Information Center: Kosova Daily Report Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: Kosova Information Center <http://www.kosova.com/>

Kosova Information Center

KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1413

Prishtina, 28 April 1998

CONTENTS

[01] President Rugova Receives U.S., German, and Australian Diplomats

[02] U.S. Worried about "Significant Buildup" of 'Yugoslav' Army in the Interior of Kosova

[03] Serbian Police Shot at the Car of Japanese Diplomat, Eye-Witness Says

[04] Situation Remains Tense Amidst Further Serb Forces Buildup in Western Kosova

[05] Three Albanians Killed by Serb Army Monday Identified

[06] Albanian Arrested by Serb Police, Taken to Unknown Place by Serb Civilians

[07] Albanian Woman Imprisoned Instead of Her Husband

[08] Serbian Army Manoeuvering in Vushtrri Area

[09] Mounting Serb Police Repression in Mitrovica

[10] Tens of Thousand Chant "Freedom, Independence" for Kosova in Peaceful Marches Tuesday

[11] Serb Police Sets Up New Check-points in Kosova

[12] Serb Police Removes School Canteen's Floor to Build Barricade Around Its Base

[13] Serbian Teachers in Klina Wear Military Uniforms

[14] Serb Police Beat Two Skenderaj Residents in Prishtina

[01] President Rugova Receives U.S., German, and Australian Diplomats

President Ibrahim Rugova exchanged views on the situation in Kosova with the First Secretary in the U.S. Mission in Belgrade, Robert Norman, and acting director of the American Center in Prishtina, Razvigor Bazala; German Ambassador to Belgrade, Wilfried Gruber; and Secretary for Political and Economic Issues in the Australian Embassy, Jason Robertson.

Regarding the situation in Kosova, President Rugova said it is extremely grave amidst an increasing build-up of and armed actions by Serbian military and police forces against the local Albanian population in parts of Kosova, in Drenica region and the municipalities along the border area with Albania. He pressed for resolute international pressure to bring Serbian brutal actions to an end, and ensure that Belgrade pulls out its police, military and paramilitary units from Kosova.

The people of Kosova are committed to their peaceful struggle for freedom and independence, the President said, reaffirming the need for an unconditional dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade under a third party mediation in search of a political and negotiated settlement for Kosova. Belgrade should be pressured into complying with Contact Group requirements and engaging in a dialogue with the Kosovar negotiating team at a neutral country/venue, Dr. Rugova stressed.

The U.S. diplomats said the Washington is closely watching the worrisome developments in Kosova and reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to a peaceful resolution of the Kosova issue.

Conveying the message of Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel, the German envoy to Belgrade expressed his government's concern over the most recent situation in Kosova and the need for an early start of dialogue to resolve the crisis.

The Australian diplomat expressed his government's willingness to encourage a negotiated settlement in Kosova.

In all his meetings today, President Ibrahim Rugova of Kosova pressed for stepped up international efforts on Kosova.

[02] U.S. Worried about "Significant Buildup" of 'Yugoslav' Army in the Interior of Kosova

PRISHTINA, April 28 (KIC) - The border problem right now - reports of incidents along the Albanian and Yugoslav border in Kosova - "are really symptomatic and, indeed, a consequence of the failure of Milosevic to take meaningful action towards achieving a viable solution to the crisis", Mr. James Foley, the U.S. State Department spokesman said Monday, 27 April, during the daily press briefing.

He recalled that the Contact Group called for unconditional negotiations, for a pull-back of the special [Serb] police, for international mediation in the Kosova crisis, as well as for international presence for monitoring, for the delivery of humanitarian assistance. "In almost every one of these areas we've seen nothing but obstruction on the part of Milosevic.", Mr. Foley said.

There are reports of "a significant military build-up in the interior of Kosovo, and we believe these reports are troubling given the recent incidents of disproportionate use of force by the government", the State Dept. spokesman told reporters in Washington, adding that the U.S. has raised this concern with senior officials in Belgrade. "Again, the United States reiterates the UN and the Contact Group's call for the immediate withdrawal of special police units from the Kosovo region and for Belgrade authorities and the Kosovar Albanians to engage in an unconditional dialogue. It is clear that the status quo in Kosovo is not sustainable and that the level of mistrust and the wide gap between the two parties make it impossible for these parties to have productive talks without some kind of international assistance, which is additionally what the Contact Group was calling for.", Mr. Foley said.

The United States has called for withdrawal of the special police units and "the non-intervention of the Yugoslav army on the one hand, and we've also called on the Kosovar Albanians themselves to eschew violence.", he said. "So far we've only seen one response, from the Kosovar Albanians who have agreed to enter into a dialogue with Belgrade." Mr. Foley pointed out.

Meanwhile, the USIA Diplomatic Correspondent, Jane A. Morse, said the United States has formulated a plan to resolve the crisis in Kosova and will present it to the Contact Group April 29.

If member nations do not accept it, the United States is prepared to take the initiative alone, the USIA quoted a senior Clinton Administration official as saying.

"We will not accept any efforts to dilute the package," the official told reporters during a background briefing at the State Department April 27, USIS Washington File reported.

The unnamed official said the "substantive package" calls for establishing a framework for negotiations and confidence-building measures to lessen tensions on both sides (Prishtina and Belgrade, KIC] in the first phase. A second phase comprises of "substantive negotiations" for a peaceful settlement.

The Administration official said the U.S. hope is that the package will be attractive enough for the Contact Group to support and for Milosevic to accept and implement.

The United States will present the plan to the April 29 meeting in Rome of the six-nation Contact Group, which is comprised of the United States, France, Great Britain, Russia, Italy, and Germany, USIS-Prishtina Wireless File, April 28, reported.

"The time has come that if the Contact Group cannot act appropriately and agree on this reasonable but very strong package which we're advocating, then we would expect, while continuing to work with the Contact Group in the future, to show much more leadership on our own," the senior Clinton Administration official was quoted as saying.

"When I say a stronger U.S. role, what I am largely referring to is a stronger U.S. role in terms of trying to broker talks, to broker negotiations" on Kosova, the official replied, when asked if more U.S. leadership meant a military presence in Kosova.

"We do not believe that the United States or any other outside individual country or group should be the ones to advocate what the permanent solution for Kosovo should be. That is up to the parties to decide," the U.S. official concluded.

[03] Serbian Police Shot at the Car of Japanese Diplomat, Eye-Witness Says

The LDK sub-branch read out the statement on the phone to KIC.

Serbian forces shot at the car of the Japanese Embassy from their check- point at a place called Varri i Beqir Mehmetit, a hill-top near the Llausha village, the statement said.

LDK said that after the car was shot at, the driver made a U-turn, directing the vehicle towards Skenderaj, whereas the woman that was in the car was offered the first aid by the Albanians living in the Rrezall& e Re neighborhood.

The LDK sub-branch named the eye-witness as Hamdi Gashi. It was him personally who offered help to the Japanese diplomat. The car then left for Skenderaj, Mr. Gashi was quoted as saying.

The eye-witness account of the incident is an express denial of Serb allegations that Japanese diplomat was shot at by the Albanians.

Why would the police do that? - is the question, which requires an elaborate answer. The short answer is: To intimidate those outsiders trying to see the situation first-hand to back off from further efforts.

The Serbian regime has been keen and resolute in keeping the outsiders out from areas in Kosova the Serb military and police have embarked on concerted actions against Albanians.

Despite repeated international calls for the Belgrade regime to allow media representatives and humanitarian organizations access to areas in Kosova in which the civilian population has suffered amidst armed actions of Serb forces, the access by and large has been denied.

The Milosevic regime does not want outsiders to see Kosova Albanian "terrorist" women and children killed in their homesteads.

[04] Situation Remains Tense Amidst Further Serb Forces Buildup in Western Kosova

The LDK Information Commission in Gjakova said shootings were heard last night at around 22:00 hrs coming from the fields in an area stretching between Qafa e Prushit and Deve village. The sound of huge explosions followed soon.

In other parts of the border area, last night was much calmer than the previous ones. Serb army troops have continued building up in the area. Tanks, artillery and other combat equipment was being dug in trenches all over the area.

Meanwhile, sources said the area in villages around Gjakova and the town itself has been packed with Serb police. Local Albanians have been routinely subjected to harassment in Serb police check-points, road-blocks, as well as by police patrols roaming the area.

[05] Three Albanians Killed by Serb Army Monday Identified

The deceased Albanians, Haxh& Mustaf& Tolaj (1960), Sadri A.

Latifaj (1963) and Edmond Hysni Dabi^aj (1976) were natives of Prejlepi village of De^an.

The three Albanians were killed in still unsolved circumstances during a Serb army operation against two Albanian villages in De^an municipality, western Kosova, Sunday night.

The tillage of Hulaj and St&rguni i Vokshit of De^an came under fierce Serb/Yugoslav army fire during the whole course of Sunday night and Monday morning hours.

The area where Serb forces launched attacks is about 10 kilometers inside Kosovar territory in the Kosova-Albania border area.

Serb army used artillery and gunship helicopters during the operation, reports said.

Meanwhile, the Serb press said four other Albanians - Armend Mazrekaj (1980), Bedri Kukalaj (1977), Hysen Latifaj (1964) and Fadil Dabi^aj - were wounded during the Serb army onslaught in the night between Sunday and Monday.

The LDK Information Commission in De^an said it is unclear whether the four wounded Albanians were hospitalized or were simply kept hostage.

[06] Albanian Arrested by Serb Police, Taken to Unknown Place by Serb Civilians

Ram& Osmani and Rifat Osmani from Junik of De^an were detained in their places yesterday morning.

Rifat Osmani was released after three hours in custody, whereas Ram& Osmani was reportedly sent to an unknown destination by three Serb civilians.

Luz Shkoza, local LDK activist in C&rmjan, as well as Mark Krasniqi, Ndue Shkoza and Ahmet Avdiu were arrested at one of the Serb police check-points in Gjakova on Monday.

Ahmet Avdiu is reported in Serb custody ever since, while the three other Albanians were realesed later in the day.

Heavy Serb police forces raided on Monday (at around 2 p.m) the household of Sali Abdyli at Shishman village of Gjakova.

The police arrested the family members Elez Abdyli and Ms Hatixhe Abdyli.

[07] Albanian Woman Imprisoned Instead of Her Husband

Since Mr. Abdyli was not at home, the Serbian police arrested his wife Mrs. Hatixhe Abdyli, and his brother Elez Abdyli, LDK sources in Gjakova reported.

While the LDK Information Commission it had no knowledge of Elez Abdyli's whereabouts, Mrs. Hatixhe Abdyli was reported taken to the women's prison house in Lipjan.

[08] Serbian Army Manoeuvering in Vushtrri Area

Similar military exercises were conducted in the same area in the past weeks. Heavy shootings and blast from different armament were used in the drills.

The Albanian population has been deeply concerned about the presence and the exercises of the Serbian army troops in their villages. Serb soldiers have been routinely trespassing the estates of Albanians.

[09] Mounting Serb Police Repression in Mitrovica

A couple of Serbian guards of the leather factory at Bare of Mitrovica shot with their weapons in the air while a group of Albanian students was passing by. The Serbs have been repeatedly doing this when Albanians are around in the area, the LDK Information Commission in Mitrovica said.

Monday morning a Serbian police expedition police raided the homes of Nezir Doroci and Skender Doroci. They questioned them in connection with the activities of the co-called U^K (Kosova Liberation Army).

Yesterday afternoon, the Serbian police beat up Albanians Isuf Jashari and Ismet Zejnullahu, both teachers at the local primary school at Broboniq.

Both teachers were reported to have sustained body injuries.

[10] Tens of Thousand Chant "Freedom, Independence" for Kosova in Peaceful Marches Tuesday

Today was the nineteenth day of peaceful marches of Albanians in the main avenues and streets of capital Prishtina and other Kosovar towns.

The calm half-hour manifestations have been called by the LDK and other political parties to protest Serbian occupation (the motto being "Kosova, the biggest jail in Europe") and call for independence for Kosova.

For five minutes of the half-hour protest march people stood chanted the rallying call "Freedom, Independence" in both Albanian and English, but also "Drenica, Drenica", "De^ani, De^ani", "We will give our lives, but not give up Kosova".

At the end of the manifestation, the participants carried symbolically a table and three chairs, which stood for the need for third-party mediated negotiations between Prishtina and Belgrade in search of a peaceful solution to the Kosova crisis.

Peaceful marches conveying the same message were held in other towns of Kosova.

[11] Serb Police Sets Up New Check-points in Kosova

The LDK Information said the Albanian families around the new check-point were threatened today that if anything happens there, it would be their members who will face reprisals.

The police at Zallq have been scrutinizing each and every passerby.

At least 40 new Serb police check-points, either fixed or temporary, have been established in Kosova since end February this year, besides a large number of existing ones in towns, villages and roads.

Albanians are routinely harassed, beaten up, threatened and plundered by Serb police in check-points and road blocks.

Another Serb police check-point was set up just outside Strellc 2village of De^an on Sunday.

[12] Serb Police Removes School Canteen's Floor to Build Barricade Around Its Base

Sources in Podujeva said that the Serbs removed roof planks and floor from the canteen of the local school, using them for building barricades around the police station building.

[13] Serbian Teachers in Klina Wear Military Uniforms

The Serbian pupils have been attending classes without interference, though.

The difference between the school environment two months ago and now is that the local Serbian teachers hold their lessons in military uniforms. After school, they take their positions together with Serbian army troops.

[14] Serb Police Beat Two Skenderaj Residents in Prishtina

When the police found out they were from Skenderaj and spoke bad Serbian, they beat the boys severely.

Jeton Deliu was reported to have received serious body injuries.

Kosova Information Center

Kosovo Information Center: Kosova Daily Report Directory - Previous Article - Next Article