Kosova Daily Report #1481, 98-07-05

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

Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1481
Prishtina, 5 July 1998

CONTENTS

[01] President Rugova Receives Senior U.S. and Russian Diplomats

[02] Rugova, Holbrooke and Afanasyevsky to the Press

[03] Serbian Forces Attack Re^an, Krushic& and Muhlan Villages on Saturday

[04] Serb Forces Shell Vushtri Villages Saturday Evening

[01] President Rugova Receives Senior U.S. and Russian Diplomats

The current situation in Kosova, and ways to de-escalate it and create a climate conducive to a substantial dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade were discussed in the meeting.

The senior U.S. and Russian Diplomats briefed President Rugova on the Kosova Observer Mission, which will start work tomorrow, and will be chaired by U.S., Russian and British diplomats accredited to Belgrade.

President Ibrahim Rugova called for an urgent international intervention to bring an end to Serbian military and police attacks against the unprotected people of Kosova. He called on both U.S. and Russia to work harder towards a resolution of the Kosova issue, Rugova's Office said.

Meanwhile, President Rugova met for talks with U.S. Ambassador Holbrooke for a second time in the afternoon today.

Holbrooke said he had a long discussion with Rugova, and was going back to Belgrade.

[02] Rugova, Holbrooke and Afanasyevsky to the Press

Ambassador Richard Holbrooke said the Russian foreign vice-minister and himself had come here together today as part of a continuing collaboration directly in the Contact Group in pursuit of a peaceful settlement in Kosova. "We were together in Bosnia, and we are colleagues and friends, and our goals are the same: a negotiated peaceful settlement to the Kosovo problem.", he said.

Holbrooke went on to elaborate on the contents of their meeting: "In our first discussion, the vice-foreign minister and I talked to Dr. Rugova, first to express our support for him as the leading political figure in Kosovo and to show our support for his search for a peaceful nonviolent solution to this crisis. And, secondly, we reviewed at length the Kosovo Observer Mission which will begin work tomorrow. The Russian, American and British ambassadors and others will begin symbolic patrols, and those patrols will become a routine integrated multinational effort. For a long time Dr. Rugova has asked for international presence here."

President Clinton's envoy credited 'FRY' President Milosevic's trip to Moscow, the Yeltsin-Milosevic communique as having outlined the process, the observer mission. "We are grateful to President Yeltsin for his role in this, and we are delighted that this process has started.", Holbrooke said at the conclusion of his remarks to the press.

Nikolay Afanasyevsky, the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, spoke through an interpreter about the need not to "squander the chance of the beginning of talks in search a peaceful solution to the problem".

He, too, expressed support for Dr. Ibrahim Rugova and his team. "We support him and others who stand for a peaceful solution."

Afanasyevsky spoke on the need to "act energetically and speedily", not to lose the chance of "sparing Kosova from a huge tragedy".

The Russian diplomat referred to the international monitoring in Kosova as "an immense achievement from the Yeltsin-Milosevic meeting in Moscow".

"This will be a huge contribution to peace and stability in the region,", Afanasyevsky concluded.

President of the Republic of Kosova Dr. Ibrahim Rugova called "fruitful" the discussions he had with Ambassador Holbrooke and Deputy Foreign Minister Afanasyevsky.

The start of the Observer Mission in Kosova is "an important moment" in the situation here, Rugova said.

"Therefore, we call on the armed groups, the Albanians and the population, to welcome members of the Observer Mission, because they come here to help us, to create a climate of trust and avert further escalation of violence", President Rugova said.

The Kosova leadership and the people have been pressing for an international presence in Kosova as an important step for the resolution if the Kosova issue by peaceful and political means, he said.

"We herewith extend our welcome, and express our support for them (the observer mission members)", the President said at the end of his remarks to the press in Prishtina today.

In reply to a question on the "progress you are making in bringing various Albanians factions together here", Ambassador Holbrooke spoke of yesterday's meetings Afanasyevsky and himself had with 'FRY' President in Belgrade.

"Ambassador Hill will be continuously engaged... But this is a continuing process. United States and Russia, and other Contact Group members are continuously engaged. We are not to stop.", the U.S. envoy said.

"As to this issue (the bringing Albanian factions together), we'll give you a wrap-up later", Holbrooke said.

[03] Serbian Forces Attack Re^an, Krushic& and Muhlan Villages on Saturday

Material damage was reported in the Serbian attack. At least one house was burned down.

Women and children have been evacuated from the attacked area.

The U^K came to the aid of the local Albanian population, sources said.

[04] Serb Forces Shell Vushtri Villages Saturday Evening

The LDK Information Commission in Vushtrri ('Vucitrn) said the Serb forces garrisoned at Brusnik village launched a series of short but heavy shelling of the Albanian settlements at around 19:40 last evening.

Albanian hamlets near the mountain foot of ^icavica, neighboring on Drenica region were shelled by Serb forces on several occasions last week.

Witnesses told KIC that two mortar shrapnells fell near the Shalc village too.

The LDK chapter in Vushtrri said Serb women and children have been evacuated from the Prilluzha village.

Priluzha is a big village in the municipality with around 300 Serb families. It is only armed Serb men who have been staying in the village, sources said.

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