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Kosova Daily Report #1644, 98-12-23
Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1644
Prishtina, 23 December 1998
CONTENTS
[01] President Rugova Receives Dutch Ambassador
[02] Ninth Anniversary of the Democratic League of Kosova (LDK)
[03] One Albanian Killed, One Wounded in Shooting Incident in Cafeteria in
Mitrovica
[04] Fresh Serb Forces Sent in Kosova from Serbia
[05] Serb Police Firing at Shtime Area, Albanians Arrested
[06] Two Serb Policemen Wounded in Kosova Capital, Serb Sources Say
[01] President Rugova Receives Dutch Ambassador
PRISHTINA, Dec 23 (KIC) - The President of the Republic of Kosova Ibrahim
Rugova received today Mr. Jan Piet Kleiweg De Zwaan, the Dutch Ambassador
to Belgrade, to discuss the most recent developments in Kosova.
The situation in Kosova continues to be grave and dangerous in the
aftermath of the Serbian military aggression of this year, which resulted
in a huge loss of life, destruction of Albanian settlements, and hundreds
of thousands of people forced from their homes, President Rugova said.
The deployment of the OSCE Kosova Verification Mission will hopefully
create the climate and conditions for a meaningful political process in
search of a solution to the Kosova issue, the President said.
The newly-appointed Ambassador of The Netherlands, Mr. De Zwaan, took an
interest in different aspects of the Kosova issue. He also briefed Rugova
on the engagement of the Dutch government in processes related to the
Kosova situation.
[02] Ninth Anniversary of the Democratic League of Kosova (LDK)
PRISHTINA, Dec 23 (KIC) - None years ago today, on 23 December 1989, the
Democratic League of Kosova (LDK), the first democratic party in the
Albanian nation as a whole, was formed after World War II.
Leading Prishtina intellectuals and academics founded the LDK, which
precipitated the breakdown of the ruling Communist system in Kosova, and
later in Albania.
The Democratic League of Kosova is the strongest political force among the
Albanians. (The first democratic force in Albania, The Democratic Party,
was founded a year later, in December 1990).
The LDK initiated a vigorous process of integration of Albanians in Kosova
on a democratic, national and political platform.
Being committed to internationally-recognized democratic principles and
methods, the LDK has been the tour de force of the democratic structures in
Kosova which have worked for the realization of the expressed political
will of the people for independence of Kosova.
The Independence Declaration adopted by the Assembly of Kosova on 2 July
1990, the promulgation of the Constitution of the Republic of Kosova in
September 1990, the national referendum on independence of Kosova
(September 1991), as well as the 1992 and 1998 parliamentary and
presidential elections in Kosova were all pushed for and supported by the
LDK. The LDK got most of the support of the electorate in Kosova, and Dr.
Ibrahim Rugova, the party leader, was elected President by an overwhelming
majority of the direct vote in 1992 and 1998.
The LDK has had a major role in the promotion of the Kosova issue before
the world. Its national and civic program, and the non- violent policies
advocated by Rugova, have won Kosova a high respect in the world.
The authentic non-violent resistance the people of Kosova were engaged in
in their struggle for freedom, democracy and independence, for years
contributed largely to the existence of a democratic society in the face of
a severe Serbian regime here.
Yet, despite its policies and commitment, a conflict broke out in Kosova
this year when Serbia waged a war of aggression against the Kosova nation,
which has left two thousand Albanians killed and nearly as many unaccounted
for, more than 1.300 arrested, 400 hundred settlements with 41,000 houses
burned and destroyed by Serb shelling and burning, and over half a million
Albanian displaced from their homes, according to Mr. Kol& Berisha, the
vice-chairman of the LDK. He spoke today at a meeting of the LDK Presidency
in Prishtina to mark the ninth anniversary of the party.
[03] One Albanian Killed, One Wounded in Shooting Incident in Cafeteria in
Mitrovica
PRISHTINA, Dec 23 (KIC) - Two Albanians, Lulzim M. Ademi and Naser Q.
Haziri (23), were wounded when an unidentified assailant opened fire in
Melisa cafeteria near the Adriatik hotel in Mitrovica Tuesday evening, the
LDK sources in town said referring to a Serb local radio in Mitrovica.
Meanwhile, sources said Naser Haziri died of wounds today morning in the
Prishtina hospital.
In the aftermath of the cafeteria shooting incident, police was stationed
in all key positions in town, and Melisa cafeteria was closed off by Serb
forces.
Police set up road blocks at the entrances to the town of Mitrovica,
harassing motorists and checking papers of passengers today.
Around 20 Serb armed policemen raided the house of Shemsi F.
Balinca in Ibri neighborhood today morning. Police arrested his family
visitor, Daut M. Rrahmani (24), resident of the same neighborhood. The
motive for the arrest was unknown.
Late last evening, around 22:00 hrs, some 15 policemen made entry into
Bedro tea-house in Ibri neighborhood and took Nazmi Ku^i (23) and Faruk
Rrahmani (25), who were held in police custody for half an hour.
Samir A. Begu (18), a local cigarette vendor, was physically abused and had
100 DM worth of cigarettes robbed by police in Mitrovica yesterday .
[04] Fresh Serb Forces Sent in Kosova from Serbia
PRISHTINA, Dec 23 (KIC) - Fresh Serb police forces - three buses, three
lorries, two APCs - came in Kosova from Serbia at noon today, LDK sources
in Podujeva said. An hour later a column of three busloads and a lorryload
of Serb police as well as other vehicles headed towards Prishtina, capital
of Kosova.
A heavy Serb police presence has been reported in the town of Podujeva
today - near the Besiana motel, at 'Qershiat e Llapashtic&s' in the suburbs
of town, on the road leading to Llapashtic& village, as well as near the
local brick factory.
Police have been routinely harassing motorists and passers-bye.
Serb snipers have been stationed on top of some houses. Reportedly, they
aimed at people and houses in town.
A number of Albanian households (the houses of Kadri Ka^iu, Bejtush Bllaca,
Imer Bllaca, Murat Osmani, and Adem Ajeti) were raided by police
yesterday.
Part of the roof of the family house of Ramush Abdullahu in Podujeva was
burned yesterday. Police have been staying in it. The houses of Abdullah
Murati, Latif P&rvetica and Abdyl Fejzullahu were damaged by Serb fire.
Three Albanian secondary school students were beaten up by police on the
street yesterday, LDK sources said.
Fresh Serbian military forces and hardware went to the Dumosh airfield,
east of the town of Podujeva, yesterday. The now huge forces, which started
deploying on Saturday, have begun digging in there, LDK sources said.
[05] Serb Police Firing at Shtime Area, Albanians Arrested
PRISHTINA, Dec 23 (KIC) - Around 16:00 hrs on Tuesday, a huge column of
Serb military forces left Shtime heading for Suhareka, LDK sources said.
Just after this convoy's passage, Serb police with armoured vehicles opened
fire on the village of Belinc.
There has been no immediate word on casualties, but damage was reported in
the area. Local Albanian villagers started fleeing their homes in freezing
weather conditions, the LDK said.
Serb police forces arrested three Albanians today in Shtime. A number of
Albanian houses were reported raided in town.
Police arrested today Dr. Bedri Sadriu, a physician with the Mother Teresa
charity in Shtime, Nazmi Shahini, a local activist with the LDK in Muzeqin&,
and Xhemshir Reshiti, a schoolteacher from Shtime.
A number of Albanians were arrested by police yesterday in the village of
Re^ak, the LDK chapter in Shtime added.
[06] Two Serb Policemen Wounded in Kosova Capital, Serb Sources Say
PRISHTINA, Dec 23 (KIC) - The Serbian regime Media Center in Prishtina said
a police car was fired upon Tuesday evening, at 22:00 hrs in Velania
neighborhood of Prishtina. Policeman Miodrag Nesic was seriously wounded,
whereas a colleague of his lightly wounded in the attack, the Center said,
adding that the two were transferred to Belgrade hospital by helicopter.
Kosova Information Center
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