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Kosova Communication 242 - 20/11/95From: kosova@gn.apc.org (Kosova Information Centre)Kosovo News DirectoryKosova CommunicationBulletin of the Ministry of Information of the Republic of Kosova4th year, No. 242 , 20 November 1995CONTENTS[01] Hungarian Diplomats visit Prishtina[02] U.S. will Pursue Comprehensive Balkan Settlement[03] Kosova, as a very serious and sensitive problem,[04] Kosova Liberal Party approves its Political Declaration[05] Large number of Albanian-former Yugoslav border incidents recorded[06] Coercive measures destroy Ferizaj economy[07] CDHRF Releases Report on Serbian Repression in Kosova During October[08] Another Albanian Parliamentary Group[09] Albanian MP demands endorsement of the University of Tetova[10] Miners march remembered[11] "Albanian Question" by R. Qosja published in French[01] Hungarian Diplomats visit PrishtinaOn 14 November, Mr. Istvan Fehervari, Counsellor, and Mr. Janos Huszar, First Secretary in the Embassy of the Republic of Hungary in Belgrade visited Prishtina, where they met with high level Kosova officials. In a meeting with Dr. Ibrahim Rugova, President of Kosova, Hungarian diplomats shared an interest in many aspects of the Kosova situation and acknowledged the need of discovering an acceptable solution, through dialogue, of the Kosova issue. The Hungarian diplomats also met with Ejup Statovci,Rector of the University of Prishtina , and Rexhep Qosja, chair of the Forum of Albanian Intellectuals.
[02] U.S. will Pursue Comprehensive Balkan SettlementU.S. Senior Deputy Assistant Secretary of State John C. Kornblum, in a meeting yesterday with Kosova Prime Minister Bujar Bukoshi, said the U.S. will not stop with Bosnia but will pursue a comprehensive settlement of the Balkan crisis, including Kosova. Prime Minister Bukoshi, who met with Ambassador Kornblum at the State Department, said it was "a good meeting" in which Kornblum agreed with many points that the leadership of Kosova supports. During his five-day U.S. visit, Dr. Bukoshi has urged the U.S. to mediate talks between Belgrade and the Kosova leadership, as the next step after successful completion of negotiations over Bosnia.During his U.S. visit, Prime Minister Bukoshi has communicated the Kosova message through a variety of print and electronic interviews that have generated world-wide coverage. He has been interviewed by The Washington Post, Washington Times, U.S. News & World Report, Newsday, Dayton Daily News, Cleveland Plain Dealer, United Press International, Knight-Ridder News Services, Reuters, Voice of America, NBC, ABC, WTN, AP Television and CNN International. At a news conference last Thursday in Dayton, Ohio, site of the U.S.-sponsored Bosnia peace talks, 30 journalists reported on the Prime Minister's message to America, "There can be no lasting peace in the Balkans without peace in Kosova." Dr. Bukoshi's U.S. visit has included important talks with Members of Congress including Sen. Joseph Biden (D-DL), Sen. Paul Coverdell (R-GA), Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY), Rep. Jim Kolbe (R-AZ), and Rep. Scotty Baesler (D-KY). "I was extremely pleased with the support expressed by the Members of Congress," the Prime Minister said. "Among U.S. foreign policy leaders, there is a great understanding of the Kosova crisis and the need to resolve it." He said his meetings in America gave him "added hope and optimism." (Ruder-Finn)
[03] Kosova, as a very serious and sensitive problem,The Swiss Foreign Minister Mr. Flavio Cotti, who has recently visited Washington, said in a statement concerning the latest developments for the settlement of the former Yugoslav crisis, that Kosova, as a very serious and sensitive problem, must not be forgotten in this process. Cotti said that a satisfactory solution for Kosova must be found, Prishtina-based Bujku newspaper reported.
[04] Kosova Liberal Party approves its Political DeclarationOn 10 November 1995, the Kosova Liberal Party (PLK) approved its Political Declaration. The Declaration states that "in occupied Kosova, not only is the political will of the people of Kosova being ignored but the most fundamental human rights , the right to life, freedom and property, are being violated in a systematic and unprecedented manner". "PLK can not accept from anyone any proposals for minimal or maximum autonomy, as the autonomy, both in theory and practice, implies a subservient position , and as such Albanian subjects should dismiss it from their political vocabulary". PLK requests all Governments to undertake concrete steps towards the permanent and just solution, through dialogue and diplomacy, of the issue of Kosova.
[05] Large number of Albanian-former Yugoslav border incidents recordedIn a statement to Tanjug, Colonel Rade Cucak head of the border service of the Yugoslav Army stated that during this year the greatest number of incidents were recorded in the borders with Albania and Croatia. There were several serious incidents on the Albanian border, six of them involving fire arms. The border dividing Albania from Kosova and Montenegro is tightly controlled by the Yugoslav Army and is the only sealed border in Europe. There were numerous occasion when border patrols opened fire on Albanians on both sides of the border. By March 1994, 22 Albanians were killed, whereas not a single Serb was even injured. The most recent victims were Rasim Morina (25) and Lulzim Sadik Morina (23). Both were 150 meters within the territory of Kosova, near Prizren, when they were shot by a Serbian army border patrol.
[06] Coercive measures destroy Ferizaj economyIn the town of Ferizaj alone, over 8,000 Albanian workers have lost their jobs. Many Albanian specialists were replaced by unqualified Serbian workers. During the past month another 117 Albanians were dismissed by local companies. At the same time 60 Serbian refugees from Croatia where employed by the same companies. Many companies were robbed, ownership changed and the plant of many factories sold. The factory for food processing, Minex, was initially integrated with the Bambi Company from Pozarevac (Serbia). After the dismissal of Albanian staff all plant was transferred to Pozarevac. The Tool and Machinery Factory, valued at $10 million, following the dismissal of Albanian workers joined Serbian company, Jugoazbest and its property was appropriated. The property of the Building Company Trajko Grkovic was sold off in an auction. The property of BANKKOS also has a new ownership.
[07] CDHRF Releases Report on Serbian Repression in Kosova During OctoberThe Prishtina-based Council for the Defence of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF) has released its latest monthly report on the Serbian regime's campaign of repression and violation of human rights in Kosova. The CDHRF says plundering of the Albanian population has become the most conspicuous practice of the Serbian regime's human rights record in Kosova alongside the now protracted campaign of cracking down on Albanians allegedly in connection with arms collection. "Arrests, raids, convictions, physical torture, and police interrogation of Albanians has become an everyday Kosovar reality", the Prishtina human rights organisation notes. During October 1995, as many as 727 Albanians were affected by Serbian state-sponsored repression and violence, the CDHRD says, noting that 188 persons were arbitrarily arrested and/or detained; 123 Albanian households were raided on and had their homes searched by Serbian police; 123 persons were subjected to physical torture, 22 of whom received injuries on these occasion; 276 persons were maltreated in connection with arms searches campaign; 26 Albanians were summoned for so-called 'informative conversations; 144 people were summoned to police.The CDHRF says 23 women, 11 children, and 16 elderly people were among those targeted by the Serbian police in October. In diverse forms, 5 journalists, 67 political activists, 48 teachers and educational activists, sports activists, etc., were harassed and maltreated by the Serbian regime, according to the CDHRF. During October 13 persons were sentenced to prison terms, one person was kidnapped by the police, 22 had their passports seized. There were 22 cases of police intimidation of Albanians, while due to Serbian police torture and threats 4 Albanian families had to flee the country, the CDHRF says. It further notes that 4 Albanian families were evicted from their apartments and Serb families moved into vacated properties during this month. The Prishtina human rights organisation points out in its report that the practice of forceful conscription of Albanian youths into the Serbian military continues. Touching on the Serbian regime's campaign of plundering of Albanian- owned businesses and individual citizens, the CDHRF says October recorded at least 138 cases of Albanian citizens and businesses being targeted by the campaign, with large sums of goods and foreign currency being arbitrarily seized by the Serbian regime.
[08] Another Albanian Parliamentary GroupIn a joint press release, the National Democratic Party (PDP) and the Party for Democratic Prosperity of Albanians (PPDSH) stated that they have formed a new Parliamentary Group in the Macedonian Parliament . The group consists of Rahmi Tuda and Zeqir Kadriu from PDP and Arber Xhaferi, Sali Ramadani and Hisni Shaqiri from PPDSH, all deputies of Macedonian Parliament. The group aims to address better the interests of its constituents and of the Albanian people in general.
[09] Albanian MP demands endorsement of the University of TetovaThe FYROM Parliament recently had a reading of the Bill on Higher Education. All Albanian deputies demanded changes to the article 9 which states that higher education can be conducted in the Macedonian language only. They also demanded legalisation of University of Tetova, and its inclusion in the countrys system for higher education.As on many previous occasions Albanian and Macedonian MP disagreed on most of the issues discussed. While Albanians insisted that the bill include the possibility of higher education in languages of all nationalities and ethnic groups , the Macedonians replied that in FYROM Albanians should study only in the Macedonian language. The bill, as many others, was passed by outvoting of the Albanian deputies.
[10] Miners march rememberedTrepca miners have recently commemorated the 17 November march. On 17 November 1988, 2000 employees of the Trepca Mines started their 52 km march from Stanterg to Prishtina, to protest against the Serbian intention to revoke the autonomy of Kosova. On their way to Prishtina another 1000 people joined them. The march helped to lift the iron curtain on media and showed the world the oppression of Kosova Albanians. The march represents an important event in the recent Albanian history.
[11] "Albanian Question" by R. Qosja published in FrenchThe Paris based publishers FAYARD, recently published the "Albanian Question" (La Question albanaise) by Rexhep Qosja. The book studies the Albanian issue comprehensively, from its origins to present day and the way in which it is treated by national, regional and international political environments.Rexhep Qosja was born on 1936, and he is a senior professor with University of Prishtina and member of the Kosova Academy of Arts and Sciences. He is a leading Albanian literary criticasd well as a politician and novelist. His latest novel "Vdekja me vjen prej syve te tille" (Her eyes spell death) was published in French by Gallimard in 1994.
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