Kosova Daily Report #1596, 98-10-28

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

Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1596
Prishtina, 28 October 1998

CONTENTS

[01] President Rugova Welcomes NATO Decision

[02] "To Put Kosova Back into the Hands of Its People", an Overriding Objective, President Clinton Says

[03] NATO to Maintain ACTORDs over Kosova Situation

[04] Serb Military and Police Have Not Withdrawn from Three Klina Villages

[05] One Albanian Dies, Two Wounded, from Explosion of Mine near Malisheva

[06] Brother and Sister, Gone Missing Two Months Ago, Found Dead in Peja Area

[07] Serbs Bring Body of Unidentified Man to Gjakova Morgue

[08] Serb Troops Have Not Pulled Out from Several Villages in Suhareka

[09] Serb Police Occupy School Building in Rahovec

[10] Jezerc Village of Ferizaj Still Under Virtual Siege

[11] Serbs Pound with Machine-gun Fire Mitrovica Villages Tuesday Nights

[12] Four Albanians Convicted on Terrorism-Related Charges in Peja

[01] President Rugova Welcomes NATO Decision

"This was a welcome, positive move" on the part of NATO, President Ibrahim Rugova said.

The Kosova leader hailed the engagement of U.S. President Bill Clinton, NATO Secretary General Javier Solana, and all the member countries of the Alliance, in their efforts to "protect the people of Kosova".

[02] "To Put Kosova Back into the Hands of Its People", an Overriding Objective, President Clinton Says

"I am very encouraged that NATO's persistence and resolve have compelled President Milosevic to pull back his forces and comply very substantially with the demands of the international community", Clinton said in remarks to a group of regional government officials.

"From the outset, we have had three overriding objectives in Kosovo: first, to end the violence that threatens the fragile stability of the Balkans; second, to prevent a humanitarian crisis from becoming a catastrophe, by stopping the repression of Kosovar Albanians; and third, to put Kosovo back into the hands of its people by giving them self- government again," President Clinton stressed.

Meanwhile, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright promised that "NATO will be overhead and next door" to Kosova, and she outlined NATO's four-part "regime" for Kosova.

The NATO plan includes air verification of Milosevic's compliance with international demands, the Macedonia force -_ which is still in the planning stages and requires approval from the government there - and the authority for NATO to carry out air strikes, which remains in place.

Albright said NATO forces are still prepared to act promptly if or when strikes are necessary. She said Tuesday: " I'm not here to tell you today that in Kosovo all is well, it is not....We must consider Milosevic's track record, his longstanding unwillingness to negotiate seriously and the accumulated barbarity of the past months."

[03] NATO to Maintain ACTORDs over Kosova Situation

"Two weeks ago, NATO issued an ACTORD for limited air operations and a phased air campaign against Yugoslavia. We took this decision in order to back up diplomatic efforts to achieve peace in Kosovo and open the way for a political solution to the crisis," Solana said.

It is pressure on Milosevic and "our credible threat to use force which have changed the situation in Kosovo for the better", the NATO Secretary General said.

Over the past few days, NATO's aerial surveillance assets and the Kosova Diplomatic Observer Mission have been verifying whether Mr. Milosevic's actions "match the commitments he has made to us", the statement said.

"NATO's objective remains to achieve full compliance with UNSC Resolutions 1199 and 1203. As a result, we have decided this evening to maintain the ACTORD for limited air operations. Its execution will be subject to a decision and assessments by the North Atlantic Council. We will also maintain our ACTORD for the phased air campaign and will continue our activities under Phase Zero. We have requested our Military Authorities to remain prepared to carry out these air operations should they be necessary and to maintain forces at appropriate readiness levels for the operations under both ACTORDs", Javier Solana explained the decisions of the North Atlantic Council (NAC).

The NAC will keep the situation in Kosova under constant review. "If we see evidence of substantial non compliance in the future with UNSC Resolution 1199, then we will be ready to use force", Solana said, adding that NATO knows that President Milosevic "only moves when he is presented with the credible threat of force".

The NATO immediate focus will now be on ensuring the effectiveness of the verification regime, the NATO political chief said, and went on to say: "Our NATO verification flights over Kosovo are beginning. We welcome the possible association of Russia and other partner countries in NATO's air verification regime.

NATO and the OSCE have been working closely together to co-ordinate their activities in carrying out the verification mission. The Alliance is also expediting planning for a NATO force for the extraction of the OSCE verifiers on the ground in Kosovo. We welcome UNSC Resolution 1203 which endorses the establishment of the two verification missions."

Despite the progress that has been made, the Kosova crisis is far from over, Javier Solana said. "A lot of work remains to be done", stressed, adding that a political solution must be found. "I urge both sides (Belgrade and Prishtina, KIC) to take advantage of the opportunity that now exists to move the political process forward and to secure this unique opportunity to work for a better future for Kosovo, and also for Yugoslavia as a whole," Dr. Solana's statement concluded.

[04] Serb Military and Police Have Not Withdrawn from Three Klina Villages

There was increased movement Tuesday of Serb forces from the notorious checkpoints at Dollc, Pograxh&, and Kijev&, as well as the compounds of the Leather Factory in Klina, sources said.

[05] One Albanian Dies, Two Wounded, from Explosion of Mine near Malisheva

The Malisheva LDK chapter said the late Ali Pa^arizi was a member of the Liberation Army of Kosova (U^K). He was buried military honor today in his native village of Dragobil.

Arsim Pa^arizi and Haki Pa^arizi have been taken to the Prishtina hospital. Their condition is serious, sources in the Prishtina hospital said.

[06] Brother and Sister, Gone Missing Two Months Ago, Found Dead in Peja Area

The LDK Information Commission in Peja said Mustaf& Laj^i and Dude Laj^i had been executed by Serb forces.

Sources in the area said today that Serb police and army forces have been recently dug in in two new locations, in Gryka e Milishecit (Malisheci gorge) and near Shtupe^ i Madh.

Serbs have raided many houses of the local Albanian population, demolishing and pillaging them, and harassing family members. In addition, Serbs have set afire two houses in the village of Shtupe^ this week.

[07] Serbs Bring Body of Unidentified Man to Gjakova Morgue

LDK sources in Gjakova said the body was collected in a meadow near the village of Prejlep in De^an. His identity has not been established yet, but it is supposed that he was a native of Prejlep, as several men from that village and the area have gone missing for months, the Commission said.

[08] Serb Troops Have Not Pulled Out from Several Villages in Suhareka

The LDK Information Commission in Suhareka said Serb forces were still today (Wednesday) morning in several checkpoints and outposts in the area, including in Mohlan, Duh&l, Krushic& e Ul&t, Reshtan, Gryka e Carralev&s. Virtually all parts of the municipality are within shooting range. None of these checkpoints existed before last March, when Serbs embarked on huge offensives in central and western parts of Kosova.

Serb forces manning the checkpoints have been intimidating random passersby.

Several Albanians have told LDK offices in Suhareka that they were subjected to intimidation and physical maltreatment while attempting to return to their villages.

Serb forces demolished and smashed a petrol station and its accessory buildings at Shirok& village on Tuesday evening.

[09] Serb Police Occupy School Building in Rahovec

Witnesses said that during the day the Serb policemen have been staying the school, whereas in the nights they go out patrolling the streets and harassing the population.

Sources in Prizren said that at least 50 Serb policemen have been stationed in the buildings of an old police station in Zym village.

The police station has been unoccupied for eight years now, since the time Albanian personnel was dismissed from the Kosova police force.

[10] Jezerc Village of Ferizaj Still Under Virtual Siege

Serb troops have remained dug in in at least two positions where from the village can be held at gun-point.

The army barracks in Ferizaj has been swelled with both Serb police and military forces, sources said.

[11] Serbs Pound with Machine-gun Fire Mitrovica Villages Tuesday Nights

Serb civilians have repeatedly opened fire in the direction of Albanian houses in the "Kroi i Vitakut" suburbs in Mitrovica.

[12] Four Albanians Convicted on Terrorism-Related Charges in Peja

The Albanians were charged with hostile activities and terrorism, sources in the Serb-run court said.

Xhavit Mus&shabani (1967) from Peja was sentenced to 4 years, Florim Zukaj (1971) from Beleg of De^anit to 2 1/2 years, Driton Zukaj (1976) to 2 1/2 years, and Arbnor Nexhat Xhemajli (1977) from Peja to 1 year in prison.

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