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Kosova Daily Report #1604, 98-11-05
Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1604
Prishtina, 5 November 1998
CONTENTS
[01] President Rugova Receives U.S. and Canadian Diplomats
[02] Parliament's Presidency Meets with LBD Leadership
[03] Serb Police Forces Move along Roads, in the Countryside, Prevent
Return of People
[04] Serb Military Convoys Travel Kosovar Roads
[05] LDK Presses for Immediate Release of Local LDK Activists Held by U^K
[06] Albanian Returnees Summoned to Police Interrogation in Peja
[07] Serb Police Takes Wounded Albanian Out of Prishtina Hospital
[01] President Rugova Receives U.S. and Canadian Diplomats
PRISHTINA, Nov 5 (KIC) - The President of the Republic of Kosova Dr Ibrahim
Rugova received Wednesday evening Ambassador Richard Miles, U.S. Chief of
Mission, and Raphael Girard, Canadian Ambassador in Belgrade, to discuss
the situation in Kosova and prospects for a negotiating resolution.
President Rugova said the situation continues to be grave because of a
heavy Serbian military and police presence in Kosova.
A speedy and complete placement of OSCE and NATO verification missions is
needed so that displaced Albanian people can feel safe to return to their
homes and their humanitarian needs be addressed, Rugova said.
The President and U.S. and Canadian diplomats underlined the need for the
creation of an environment conducive to a genuine political process in
pursuit of a solution to the Kosova issue.
[02] Parliament's Presidency Meets with LBD Leadership
Formation of broadly-based Kosova government discussed
PRISHTINA, Nov 5 (KIC) - The Presidency of the Parliament of the Republic
of Kosova, chaired by Parliament Speaker Idriz Ajeti, and the leadership of
the opposition coalition of parties, the L&vizja e Bashkuar Demokratike
(LBD, the United Democratic Movement), chaired by Rexhep Qosja, met today
in Prishtina to discuss issues pertaining to cooperation of political
parties in the building of institutions, focussing on the formation of a
government which would be the result of a consensus of "political and
national subjects in Kosova", the Parliament said in a press release.
Talks on these issues will continues until a final agreement is reached,
the statement said.
[03] Serb Police Forces Move along Roads, in the Countryside, Prevent
Return of People
PRISHTINA, Nov 5 (KIC) - The continued Serbian police forces' movement in
the villages of Rahovec is a deterrent to any considerable return of
displaced Albanians to their destroyed villages, LDK sources said.
In the villages of Opterush& and Drenoc, some of those who had actually
returned were made to flee again because of such a threatening Serb police
presences, sources said.
Serb police forces continued to be posted in and patrolling the villages of
Duh&l, Grej^ec, Reshtan and Mohlan in the Suhareka area, LDK sources said.
Serb forces have been digging in at Smonic& hamlet, near T&rpez& village of
Malisheva, local LDK sources said.
A stepped up police presence has been reported in the town of Mitrovica
today. A number of police vehicles with personnel on board left for
Skenderaj around 10,00 hrs today.
Two Serb army helicopters flew low over the town of Mitrovica at 11 a.m.
today. A Serb APC and 30 policemen stayed for a couple of hours near the
elementary school "Fazli Grej^evci" in Zhabar village of Mitrovica today
morning.
Serb police forces's posts have been reinforced in the swathe of territory
along the Mitrovica-Skenderaj roadway, LDK sources in Mitrovica.
Serb police checkpoints continue being posted at a location called "Faqja e
dheut", in T&rrnafc, in Kodra e Baran&ve, as well as in the villages of
Llaush&, ^ubrel, Vitak and in Kod&r e Runikut.
Serb police has been preventing Albanian residents of Klin& e Ul&t village
from returning to their homes, local sources said.
[04] Serb Military Convoys Travel Kosovar Roads
PRISHTINA, Nov 5 (KIC) - At around 11:00 hrs today, a Serb military convoy
consisting of 35 vehicles - tanks, armoured cars and trucks - passed
through Suhareka in the direction of Prizren, LDK sources in Suhareka
said.
The convoy came from the direction of Shtime, they added.
Meanwhile, a convoy of Serb army vehicles with soldiers on board left
Vushtrri for Mitrovica at 7:30 in the morning today, LDK sources said.
[05] LDK Presses for Immediate Release of Local LDK Activists Held by U^K
PRISHTINA, Nov 5 (KIC) - The Presidency of the Democratic League of Kosova
(LDK) reiterated its demand for the two local LDK leaders in Malisheva,
Jakup Kastrati and Cen Desku, arrested last week by the U^K (Kosova
Liberation Army), to be released without delay.
"The LDK considers the continued holding in U^K custody of Jakup Kastrati,
chairman, and Cen Desku, member of the LDK chapter presidency in Malisheva,
has damaging implications," a statement of the party said.
The U^K said earlier this week it was holding the two LDK officials for
their alleged propaganda activities which went contrary to the liberation
struggle of the Albanian people.
The LDK presidency condemned in the strongest terms the "unacceptable
method" of charging the two LDK activists with "utterly unfounded
allegations".
Kastrati and Desku have shown themselves for years to be "committed members
of our national movement", the LDK said, demanding that they be released
immediately.
[06] Albanian Returnees Summoned to Police Interrogation in Peja
PRISHTINA, Nov 5 (KIC) - Early in the morning today, Serbian policemen
manning a checkpoint at Vitomiric& village halted and detained a number of
Kosova Albanian refugees returning from Ulqin, the Montenegrin coastal town
where they had sought refuge in the wake of Serb offensives this summer.
Mr. Zymber Krasniqi, resident of Vranovc village of Peja, told the KIC some
refugees originating from that area were taken to the Serb police station
in Peja for interrogation.
Meanwhile, LDK sources said Serb police raided the home of Pajazit Zymberi
in the town of Peja today afternoon and arrested Mahir Berisha from Llabjan
and Ismet Krasniqi from Barani village.
The police smashed up furniture in Zymberi's house, and beat the two
arrested Albanians unconscious, the LDK said.
Four Albanian middle school students - Muhamet Nik^i, Edip Sharapolli, Feim
Uka and Besnik Berisha - were beaten up by young Serbs in Peja today, LDK
sources said.
[07] Serb Police Takes Wounded Albanian Out of Prishtina Hospital
PRISHTINA, Nov 5 (KIC) - On Tuesday, the Serbian police took Gjok& Ndrecaj
out of the Prishtina hospital. The medical personnel was not asked about it
all, the KIC was told by sources inside the hospital.
Ndrecaj, resident of a Gjakova village, was hospitalized for some six
weeks. He had to be operated again for serious wounds.
Some 40 Albanians wounded by Serb forces during attacks in Kosova have been
treated in the Prishtina Surgery Clinic in the past few months. Most of
them have been illtreated by police in hospital, some of them even taken
out without medical staff's permission.
The main Prishtina hospital as well as the Lungs Clinic have been home to a
threatening Serb police/security presence since the spring. Albanian
patients and staff have been repeatedly illtreated by Serb police.
Kosova Information Center
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