Kosova Daily Report #1611, 98-11-13

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

Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1611
Prishtina, 13 November 1998

CONTENTS

[01] President Rugova Receives U.S. Senator Carl Levin on Thursday

[02] President Rugova Calls for Deployment of NATO Troops in Kosova

[03] Serbs Release the Last Four Abducted Albanians after Two Serbs, U^K Prisoners, Were Freed

[04] Volatile Situation in Malisheva amidst Growing Provocations by Serbs Forces

[05] Increased Redeployment, Provocative Movements and Repressive Practices by Serbs Forces

[01] President Rugova Receives U.S. Senator Carl Levin on Thursday

The overall situation in Kosova and the prospects for the creation of an environment conducive to negotiations in pursuit of a political settlement were discussed at length during the meeting.

President Rugova described the situation in Kosova as 'grave and volatile' in the wake of the Serbian military and police aggression this year. He expressed his hope that an early deployment of the OSCE and NATO verification missions will instil a feeling of some security for Albanian people to return to their homes when they have homes to return to.

Senator Levin, who with Miles toured areas in Kosova affected by the Serb crackdown, condemned the violence used to cause so many victims and so much wanton destruction of settlements and property.

President Ibrahim Rugova and the U.S. Senator exchanged views about how to create the conditions and proceed with a political process in pursuit of resolution in Kosova.

Rugova thanked Levin for his visit to Kosova and the U.S. Congress for its longstanding support for a rightful solution to the Kosova issue.

[02] President Rugova Calls for Deployment of NATO Troops in Kosova

President Rugova denounced the Serb campaign of political trials of young Albanians in Kosova. He recalled that LDK chapter vice- chairman in Gjilan, Lutfi Haziri, and four of his party colleagues from that constituency continued to be in Serb regime detention.

Rugova pressed also for the release of LDK chapter chairman in Malisheva, Jakup Kastrati, and chapter presidency member Cen Desku, who are being held in custody by U^K (Kosova Liberation Army) groups. "I regret, but I must say that this [arrest] does no good to Kosova".

The President of the Republic called for an urgent arrival in Kosova of the Hague Tribunal's Chief Prosecutor and investigators to investigate crimes committed here. "The Hague Tribunal has a jurisdiction in Kosova, because it had been founded to prosecute the crimes in all territories of the former Yugoslavia", Rugova insisted.

The OSCE Verification Mission (KVM) should be up and running as soon as possible here, because it would provide a sense of security for the people of Kosova, Dr. Ibrahim Rugova said. He reiterated his demand for NATO troops to be deployed in Kosova, to offer a permanent protection to the people here.

The best solution for Kosova is an independent status, with all guarantees for the local Serb community, as well as an interim international protectorate pending a lasting solution, President Rugova said.

Albania's ATA news agency's correspondent asked whether local Serbs had any reason to fear "Kosova's freedom", as he put it.

There are no reasons whatsoever, the President said. "All our institutions, the political parties, and the people of Kosova have repeatedly affirmed that Serbs will be protected in Kosova.

They will have all their rights safeguarded. We do not designate the Kosova Serbs a minority. Therefore, claims by Serb extremists and fears by some that Serbs would suffer in an independent Kosova are unfounded", Ibrahim Rugova concluded.

[03] Serbs Release the Last Four Abducted Albanians after Two Serbs, U^K Prisoners, Were Freed

Tens of Kosovar Albanians had been abducted by armed Serb civilians in collusion with Serb police near Leposaviq on Wednesday afternoon and evening.

Witnesses claimed Albanians were forced off the buses and cars and were taken at gunpoint to a nearby village where they were threatened with liquidation unless two Serbs who went missing in Drenica early this week, and were reportedly held captive by the U^K, were not found and released.

The LDK chapter in Mitrovica said the four Albanians Sabit M.

Hasani (45) from Zhabari i Posht&m of Mitrovica, Bahrije (24) Ferizi and Bashkim N. Ferizi (22) from Lubovec of Sk&nderaj, and Dr. Nexhmi K. Zeqiri (40), resident of Mitrovica, were released late last evening with the intervention of international observers.

Sources said that the two Serbs held somewhere in Drenica by the U^K were released before the last Albanian were let go. One of the Serbs was released at around 19:00 hrs, while the second about three hours later on Thursday.

The two Serbs had been detained under the pretext of trespassing the U^K territory, and reportedly sentenced to 10 days in jail.

The LDK chapter in Mitrovica noted that the drama of the Albanian hostages and the Serbs detained by the U^K was resolved primarily owing to huge efforts of the international observers.

It was certain, though, that the hostage taking of the Albanians in Leposaviq had all the signs of having been masterminded by the Serb police, observers said.

[04] Volatile Situation in Malisheva amidst Growing Provocations by Serbs Forces

The Serbs posted in several locations in the town of Malisheva and surrounding villages opened fire again last night on the outlying villages, the Malisheva LDK Information Commission said today (Friday) morning.

Local sources said a convoy of Serb military and police entered the village of Mle^an at around 12:30 and started shooting in the direction of the civilian populations immediately. The Albanians had returned in the past few days to their homes shattered in Serb offensives.

The head of the Malisheva Information Commission described today the situation in the area as highly volatile. Serb forces in armored vehicles have been continuously moving along the Malisheva-Rahovec road since morning hours today. The Serbs have intimidated and provoked several clusters of IDP's trying to return to their villages from which they had been driven during Serb offensives in summer, he said.

[05] Increased Redeployment, Provocative Movements and Repressive Practices by Serbs Forces

PRISHTINA, Nov 13 (KIC) - Sources in several Kosova towns reported further redeployment and repositioning of Serb forces as well as cases of provocations and repressive practices against the Albanian population.

Vushtrri: Heavily armed Serb police patrols were stationed today in many places in the town of Vushtrri ('Vucitrn') and the roads leading to the countryside. The LDK chapter in the town said several Albanians were harassed by the Serb police both in the streets and the checkpoints.

Gjilan: Sources in Gjilan said half a dozen buses and lorries with Serb policemen and soldiers on board were seen moving yesterday afternoon on the Ferizaj-Gjilan roadway. Some of the vehicles had Leskovac (town in Serbia) number plates, they said.

Prishtina: A convoy of mechanized Serb forces left Prishtina early in the morning today, heading for the Mal&sia a Gollakut region, south-north of the town. The Serb forces were later reported posted at Llukar village.

Peja: Witnesses told the KIC that Serb forces set afire today morning the house of an Albanian at Zllapek village. The LDK chapter in Peja named the Albanian as Vesel Dezdari. It could not say who had burned his house, though.

Mitrovica: LDK sources in Mitrovica said the number of Serb troops number has been growing and their movements stepped up in the town over the past couple of days. Scores of Albanians have been harassed by Serb police patrols roaming the street of the town last evening and during morning hours today.

A 43-year Albanian, Fadil K. Zeqiri (43), has been held in Serb police custody since last evening. He was arrested on the street, the LDK Information Commission said, noting that the pretext of his arrest is still unknown.

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