Kosova Daily Report #1485, 98-07-09

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Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1485
Prishtina, 9 July 1998

CONTENTS

[01] President Rugova Receives Senior Austrian Diplomat

[02] Contact Group Discusses Kosova, Comes up with New Statement in Bonn

[03] IHF Calls for Robust and Large-Scale Monitoring Mission in Kosova

[04] Serb Military Pounds Border Villages in Gjakova and De^an Districts

[05] Stepped Up Police Repression in Gjakova

[06] Five Unidentified Albanians Buried in Gjakova

[07] Albanian, Wounded a Month Ago, Dies

[08] Serb Police Sniper Wounds Albanian near Gllogovc

[09] Albanian House and Bakery Fired Upon in Fush& Kosova

[10] Serb Smashes Up Ten Albanian Businesses in Istog

[11] Armed Serbs Occupy Albanian Apartments in Fush& Kosova

[12] Bardhi and Hade Villages still Empty of Their Residents, at Serb Forces Gunpoint

[13] Body of Unidentified Man Taken to Prizren Morgue

[01] President Rugova Receives Senior Austrian Diplomat

President Rugova and Mr. Rohan exchanged views about the current situation in Kosova and ways to create an appropriate climate for a negotiated resolution in Kosova.

The situation is extremely dangerous amidst the continuing Serb military and police operations against the unprotected Albanian population in parts of Kosova, the President said, pressing for an urgent international intervention to end the violence and pave the way for a meaningful, substantial talks process on Kosova.

Independence for Kosova is a viable arrangement that would stabilize the entire region, Dr. Ibrahim Rugova emphasized, pointing out that an international protectorate as an interim stage would make it easier for a lasting solution to be attained.

Mr. Albert Rohan - whose country, Austria, holds the presidency of the European Union (EU) - expressed his deep concern over the current developments in Kosova, calling for a cessation of hostilities in advance to a comprehensive dialogue on the status of Kosova.

[02] Contact Group Discusses Kosova, Comes up with New Statement in Bonn

It will "define possible further elements for the future status of Kosovo, which would be made available to the authorities in Belgrade and the leadership of the Kosovo Albanian community for a dialogue with international involvement," the 13-point statement of the Contact Group, meeting at political directors' level, said.

The six-nation Group - United States, Great Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Russia - noted that "the prospects of a peaceful settlement have deteriorated since the Contact Group's meeting in London on June 12."

Although the primary responsibility for the situation in Kosovo rests with Belgrade, the Contact Group acknowledges that armed Kosovo Albanian groups also have a responsibility to avoid violence and all armed activities.

The Contact Group assessed Belgrade's response to the requirements set out in the 12 June London statement: to cease all action by the security forces affecting the civilian population and order the withdrawal of security units used for civilian repression; to enable an effective and continuous international observer Group in Kosovo and allow unimpeded access for observers; to facilitate, in agreement with UNHCR and ICRC, the full return to their homes of refugees and displaced persons and to allow free and unimpeded access for humanitarian organizations and supplies to Kosovo; and to make rapid progress in the dialogue with the Kosovo Albanian leadership.

The Contact Group noted that "withdrawal of [Serb] security forces used for civilian repression has not yet been carried out", nor "rapid progress in the dialogue with the Kosova Albanian leadership" achieved.

In point five of the long statement, the Contact Group called for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Kosova "to pave the way for continuous talks between Belgrade and the Kosovo Albanian leadership on additional confidence-building measures and the future status of Kosovo."

Contact Group members will pursue this goal through immediate talks with both Belgrade and the Kosova Albanians, the statement said, adding that the Kosova Albanian team for all these talks "must be fully representative of their community in order to speak authoritatively."

In an implicit acknowledgment of a set-back, aware that the basic demands of the Contact Group have not been complied with by Belgrade, the Contact Group now pins much hope on Belgrade implementing "fully the undertakings made by President Milosevic in Moscow on 16 June".

The Contact Group reiterated that it supports neither the maintenance of the status quo nor independence for Kosova. "It emphasized that international involvement in the dialogue between the Belgrade authorities and representatives of the Kosovo Albanian community was an essential element of credible negotiations."

With this in mind, the Contact Group "agreed to recommend to the negotiating teams basic elements for a resolution of the question of Kosovo's status. Contact Group members reaffirmed their intention to work actively for the achievement of the resolution of this issue."

In point nine, the statement notes that, in order to help the parties, "the Contact Group set in hand work to define possible further elements for the future status of Kosovo, which would be made available to the authorities in Belgrade and the leadership of the Kosovo Albanian community for a dialogue with international involvement."

[03] IHF Calls for Robust and Large-Scale Monitoring Mission in Kosova

It is evident that the Kosovar civilian population has been intentionally and disproportionatelly targeted by security forces contrary to common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions and Protocol II (1977) concerning non- international conflict, the IHF statement said.

"The mission obtained information from the Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF) concerning the believed abduction, i.e. arrest and detention of 400 Kosova Albanians by government security forces in violation of international law, as well as reports that the KLA has detained an estimated 30 Serbian detainees", the IHF said, adding that it was gravely concerned that "abduction and detention, i.e. potential hostage- taking and forced disappearance could become a tactic used in the conflict".

The major Kosovar human rights group, the Prishtina-based CDHRF said "CDHRF possesses information that more than 400 Albanians are being kept hostage. 32 Serbs were reported as missing to the CDHRF.", an appeal for the release of hostages, issued by the CDHRF, said.

The IHF made a number of recommendations, including the deployment by the international community of a "robust and large-scale international monitoring mission", withdrawal of 'FRY' security and military units from Kosova, as well as "the deployment of a preventive force to monitor the implementation and enforcement of a cease-fire and to replace Serbian security forces".

[04] Serb Military Pounds Border Villages in Gjakova and De^an Districts

The sound of heavy detonations was heard in the town of Gjakova itself, sources said.

The extent of damage and possible casualty-toll in this latest Serb onslaught is still unknown.

What is known is that local Albanians resistance forces, led by the U^K, have been battling with Serb military and paramilitary forces.

All the Reka e Keqe region's villages have been engulfed in the fighting, local sources said, refuting allegations that the village of Morin& had fallen in Serb hands.

Meanwhile, reports said last night and today the villages of De^an have been shelled by Serb military from its positions on Suka e Biteshit and Kodra e Zhdrell&s. The villages of Gllogjan, Grama^el, Baballo^, Shaptej have been reportedly targeted.

[05] Stepped Up Police Repression in Gjakova

After having spent several days in Serb custody and been physically ill- treated, Enver A. Lleshi, Argjend M. Pulani and Florent A.

Lipoveci have been sent to Serbian investigating jail in Peja ('Pec').

Reports said several Albanians were being held in Serb police custody in Gjakova, including Bashkim Efendiu, Astrit Beqa, Arben Saliuka, Hajdar Podrimja, Vllaznim Podrimja.

The Podrimja family had 1.500 kg of flour seized when the house was raided by Serb police.

The number of arrested Albanians is suspected to be higher, with households being routinely raided.

Heavily-equipped Serb police have been patrolling the town of Gjakova today, LDK sources said, adding that for half an hour they stayed in front of the seat of the LDK chapter in Gjakova.

There is a rapidly deteriorating situation with regard to provision of food supplies amidst the blockade instituted by the Serbian occupation authorities.

[06] Five Unidentified Albanians Buried in Gjakova

Their bodies were taken by police to the Gjakova morgue yesterday.

Their identity has not been established.

[07] Albanian, Wounded a Month Ago, Dies

[08] Serb Police Sniper Wounds Albanian near Gllogovc

Kurteshi was shot in the leg while passing through a back road, apparently in an effort to by-pass a police check-point, sources added.

The town of Gllogovc and the municipality was without electricity and telephone lines from Tuesday through Wednesday afternoon.

[09] Albanian House and Bakery Fired Upon in Fush& Kosova

The attackers run away with an Opel Kadet car driving to a Serb neighborhood, eye-witnesses said, noting that the first floor of the house had been hit.

Meanwhile, at 22:00 hrs Wednesday, unidentified persons opened fire on the "Bujari" bakery, which is at the Fush&-Kosova crossroads, on the road leading to Peja.

The owner of "Bujari" said a Serb police had threatened him three days ago. He said he had to close down the bakery amidst security concerns.

The 'Bujari" is the sole private bakery in the town.

[10] Serb Smashes Up Ten Albanian Businesses in Istog

Serb police told Albanians the perpetrator had been arrested. He had been seen at large in Istog, though, the newspaper said.

[11] Armed Serbs Occupy Albanian Apartments in Fush& Kosova

Five of them have been usurped at the village of Bresje, and several others in the small town of Fush& Kosova, sources said.

The illegally seized apartments had been evacuated by their Albanian occupants amidst an increasingly tense situation in the recent days.

Furniture has been thrown out in corridors by the new, Serb occupants, LDK sources said.

[12] Bardhi and Hade Villages still Empty of Their Residents, at Serb Forces Gunpoint

The two villages and an open-pit coal mine - which was taken over by Serb forces after having been under the U^K control for about one week late last month - are being held at Serb sniper gunpoint, sources said.

Serb/Yugoslav army aircraft flew overhead the area today morning, LDK sources in Fush&-Kosova said.

Local population who fled the Hade and Bardhi villages in the wake of a large-scale Serb attack in the area cannot return to their homes still, as the streets and homes are being held under Serb forces gunpoint.

Villagers of Hade who have found refuge in the 'safer' areas and in Prishtina told the KIC that no one was ever able to find out what had happened to the body of an Albanian killed by Serbs on 29 June.

Ajet Dedinca was shot dead by Serbs while on his way back home from Lismir mines, where he used to work. It is suspected that the Serbs have dumped his body in hollows in the mining area, his relatives were quoted as saying.

The LDK chapter in Obiliq sad that a four-member family from Hade has been missing since the Serb clampdown in late June. The Mirena family - mother, father and two boys - have been seen last on 29 June, while the Serb attack was unfolding.

The LDK appealed on international humanitarian organizations to intervene with the Serb regime to find out what happened to the body of the late Ajet Dedinca and the Mirena family.

[13] Body of Unidentified Man Taken to Prizren Morgue

The body of the man, in his fifties, was taken to the morgue by the Serb police.

The chapter of the Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF) in Prizren said the police had allegedly found the dead man near the town of Rahovec, at a place called "Te rrasat".

The body has bullet wounds, the Council said.

The Serb police took Wednesday morning the bodies of five Albanians to the town morgue in Gjakova. Their identity has not been yet established, but is believed that they were killed in the fighting in border area villages, LDK sources in Gjakova said.

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