Kosova Communication (Aug. 21)

From: "Steve Iatrou" <siatrou@cdsp.neu.edu>


CONTENTS

  • [01] Demographic violence added to the police violence

  • [02] Settlement of refugees threatens region

  • [03] Serbia is playing with fire

  • [04] Albania will not remain indifferent

  • [05] Dole Urges Clinton to Keep Serbian Sanctions

  • [06] U.S. concern at refugee relocation

  • [07] Reactions of the neighbouring states

  • [08] Settlement of Serb Refugees in Kosova

  • [09] Jobs and other benefits offered to refugees


  • Kosova Communication

    Bulletin of the Ministry of Information

    of the Republic of Kosova

    4th year, No 231 , 21 August 1995

    [01] Demographic violence added to the police violence

    In a press conference held on 18 August, the President of the Republic of Kosova, Dr. Rugova, called for an immediate halt to the settling of Serb refugees in Kosova, who have been forcefully brought to the area against their wish.

    Mr. Rugova said the settlement of Serbs from Croatia has been carried out in all parts of Kosova especially in the areas where Albanians make up an absolute majority of the population. The settlement has been carried out in accordance with an old map for colonisation of Kosova which was created between the two World wars. He added that the settlement of these refugees has not been put forward as a humanitarian and temporary issue but rather as the colonisation of Kosova. Serb refugees have been promised land, houses, employment etc. Therefore besides the systematic police violence, the Serbian regime now has been applying a demographic violence.

    Dr. Rugova, yet again reiterated that Kosova should be included in a global resolution of the crisis informer Yugoslavia, and all the legitimate representatives of the units which used to constitute the former federation must take part in a possible conference on former Yugoslavia.

    [02] Settlement of refugees threatens region

    On 17 August, the President of Albania, Dr. Sali Berisha, received an American military delegation led by William Carouch, Commander in Chief of the American infantry stationed in Europe.

    Mr. Berisha stated that the situation in the Balkans remained complicated adding that the decision of the Yugoslav government to relocate Croatian-Serb refugees to Kosova, constituted a serious and genuine threat of relocating the conflict to the south.

    Kosova was the most complicated issue of the Balkans crisis, said Berisha , warning that without the presence of the representatives of Kosova in talks there would be no solution to the crisis. Any future decision made without the presence of Albanians of Kosova would further complicate the situation, thus threatening peace and stability in the southern Balkans said Berisha.

    Mr. Berisha expressed concerns that following the Croatian offensive there were tendencies by some to acknowledge Belgrade for not reacting with aggression. The truth was, he went on to say, that Krajina had never existed as a constitutional unit in former pre or post war Yugoslavia, except as an integral part of Croatian territory which was conquered by aggression and was treated as an accomplished act by the international factors. To thank Belgrade for not intervening in Croatia is the same as decorating the aggressor, concluded Berisha.

    [03] Serbia is playing with fire

    In a press conference held in Bon on 18 August, commenting on the latest refugee crisis, Dr. Bujar Bukoshi stated that Belgrade was playing with fire.

    Mr Bukoshi demanded the international community undertake something concrete and place Kosova under a UN protectorate, and simultaneously put maxim pressure on Serbia through increasing the severity on sanctions on Serbia.

    [04] Albania will not remain indifferent

    On August 15 Alfred Serreqi, the Albanian Foreign Minister wrote to the Foreign Ministers of the members of UN Security Council, Contact Group and to the Chairman of the OSCE, expressing the concern of the Albanian government regarding the latest developments in Former Yugoslavia and the settlement of Croat-Serbian colonists in Kosova.

    Serreqi believed that this action will further aggravate the tense situation in Kosova and requires the commitment of the International Community to exert its influence in preventing the serious consequences of such an act. After stating that the Albanian government will not be indifferent and will not adopt a passive stand towards a spill-over of the conflict in the south, he added that he looked forward to their contribution to stay the hand of Belgrade and to put an end to its methods of colonisation.

    [05] Dole Urges Clinton to Keep Serbian Sanctions

    The Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, in a letter to President Clinton yesterday, urged the Administration to reconsider recent U.S. diplomatic efforts that would involve lifting sanctions on Serbia without achieving and implementing a comprehensive settlement in former Yugoslavia that includes Kosova. In his letter, Senator Dole expressed "deep concern" about the U.S. diplomatic initiatives which he described as a "piecemeal approach." The Clinton approach "would in my view reward (Milosevic's) pariah regime without requiring real results on the ground," the Majority Leader said. "Furthermore, and as importantly, it would not address the critical issue of the status and rights of the Albanian majority in Kosova who have been under martial law for over six years." He send the current resettlement of thousands of Serb refugees will "exacerbate the situation there and could lead to conflict." (Ruder.Finn)

    [06] U.S. concern at refugee relocation

    According to a State Department Report, August 15, David Johnson, deputy spokesman, regarding the reports that Belgrade authorities plans to relocate Croatian-Serb refugees to the Kosova region has stated: Nearly 90 percent of the population in Kosovo are ethnic Albanians who have suffered harsh Serb repression from the government in Belgrade. The situation in Kosovo is very tense and we have opposed any effort to resettle a significant number of ethnic Serbians in Kosovo. Johnson commented: Weve raised these concerns with high-level Serbian and FRY officials and will continue to do so over the next few days.

    [07] Reactions of the neighbouring states

    The latest developments in former Yugoslavia and the replacement of Serbian refugees from Croatia and Bosnia to Kosova has raised concerns in the neighbouring countries of FYROM. Greece and Turkey. FYROM Defence Minister Blagoje Handjinski stated that this would increase tensions and destabilise the whole region. Turkey reminded Belgrade that attempts to change the ethnic structure of the population could increase existing tensions. Greek Deputy Prime Minister Nikos Kuris warned that the settlement of the Krajina Serb refugees in Kosova could cause the spill-over of the conflict to the south.

    [08] Settlement of Serb Refugees in Kosova

    During the first weeks of August hundreds of Serb refugees from Croatia and Bosnia have been installed in all parts of Kosova, especially in the regions on the border with Albania. Up to 15 August 2- 3 thousand of refugees have settled there. Serbia plans to bring at least 20 thousand colonists.

    The Serbian regime anticipates settling them on arable land mainly in the communes of Istog, Peja and Vushtrri. Milos Nesovic, Serbian appointed deputy governor of Kosova , has been quoted in Borba to have said that soon a proposal will be made to the Serbian government to make the necessary decisions for the distribution of farming land to refugees. Serbian media informs that every colonist family should be give 5 hectares of land.

    Tens of Krajina Serb refugee families have been taken on 15 August to Ferizaj and temporarily placed in the Hotel Luboten. They are expecting another 400 refugees. To provide funds for this purpose, local authorities have stopped paying pensions to Albanian pensioners.

    Serbian authorities in Gjakova have stated that they are ready to accept up to 2,000 refugees. Initially they are to be placed in student dormitories and other public buildings. So far about 350 refugees have arrived.

    About 500 refugees have already arrived in Gjilan. They are staying in student dormitories, children nurseries, and the premises of the Gosha metal company. Local authorities are anticipating the arrival of a further 2,000 refugees.

    500 refugees are to be settled in Istog. Serbian authorities have ordered hotel managers to make preparations for the immediate housing of 100 families. On 11 of August a family from Grahova, Bosnia has settled in the village Kernunje. The Following day arrived another 157 refugees from Krajina. 102 of them (mostly elderly people) were placed in the Rehabilitation Centre in Peja Spa ; the rest are in the Hotel Korenik in Gjurakovc. Another 70 refugees were installed in Peja Spa on 15 August. Up to the 16th August the number of refugees in Istog totals 294.

    About 100 Serbian refugees, mainly elderly people, from Bosnia and Croatia, arrived in Mitrovica on 15 August. The are staying at the dormitories and the premises of Xheladin Deda medical school. The premises of another school have been prepared for the admission of refugees.

    On 11 August the Serbian Press wrote that Peja was prepared for the immediate acceptance of 500 refugees. On the same day Goran Percevic, vice-chair of the local branch of the Serbian Socialist Party stated that Peja can immediately accept up to 15,000 refugees. The Peja authorities have pledged 5,000 hectares of arable land for Serbian refugees. The premises of the Primary School Vaso Pashe Shkodrani have been equipped with furniture in order to accommodate refugees.

    The Serbian press stated on 14 August that several Serbian families from Krajina have found refuge at their relatives in Prishtina. One family is reportedly staying in the Hotel Bozhur.

    In Prizren student dormitories, the premises of schools and the motel Landovica in Nashec have been prepared to accept refugees. By 15 August 450 refugees have settled there.

    Several refugees have arrived in Rahovec and are staying in student dormitories and a childrens nursery. Local authorities are preparing other premises for their acceptance.

    In Skenderaj, almost a pure Albanian town, Serbian authorities plan to install 100 Serb families, and give them 3 hectares of arable land each.

    In Suhareka so far several hundred refugees have arrived. They have been placed in the Hotel Balkan.

    In Shtrpce, a village close to a winter sports resort , 350 refugees have been placed mainly in holiday houses.

    In Viti about 300 refugees are to be placed, mainly in Kllokot Spa, school premises and the companies Agromorava and Gornja Morava.

    According to Jedinstvo, 11 August, 300 refugees are to settle in Vushtrri . They are going to stay at the motel Vicianum, school premises and surrounding villages.

    A number of refugees arrived on 11 August in Zubin Potok. At the moment they are staying in motel Konak near the Albanian village Caber. It should be mentioned that in this almost ethnically clean Serb commune only 150 are to be taken although there are many empty villages.

    [09] Jobs and other benefits offered to refugees

    Serbian managers of Kosova companies have started to offer jobs and other benefits to refugees, hoping to attract more of them to settle in Kosova.

    The printing company Panorama, which was created with the assets of the Rilindja printing and publishing company, has decided to employ all printers who have left Croatia. Novak Bijelic, the Serbian installed director of Trepca Mines offered jobs and other means for 500 Serbs.


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