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Friday, 22 November 2024
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Kosova Communication 244From: kosova@gn.apc.org (Kosova Information Centre)Kosovo News DirectoryKosova CommunicationCONTENTS[01] Independence Day Commemorations[02] Albanian-inhabited territories in Former Yugoslavia.[03] Kosova is evermore present in international agendas[04] Human Rights violations threaten peace[05] Help for teachers in Kosova[06] Elizabeth Rehn visits Kosova[07] New era is opening in Balkans[08] Albanian Children, Victims of Serbian Death Factories[09] Independence day commemorations obstructed[10] Round table on colonisation of Kosova[01] Independence Day CommemorationsOn 28 November 1912, in Vlora(Albania), Albanians proclaimed their independence from the Ottoman Empire. At that time Albanian territories were divided into four administrative units with Shkup (Skopje), Shkodra, Manastir (Bitola) and Janina as capitals. The then Great Powers acknowledged the independence of Albanians, but in only half of their ethnic territories, leaving out Kosova and Albanian territories in Eastern Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia and Greece. The 28 of November also commemorates Albanian liberation from nazi-fascist occupation, in 1944. This day also commemorates the day when in 1444, the Albanian national hero, Gjergj Kastrioti Skenderbeu hoisted the national flag in Kruja castle, the then capital of the country.Prishtina, 30 November. On this day of the 83 anniversary of the proclamation of the Albanian independence, Albanians organised numerous manifestations. On 27 November, the President of the Republic of Kosova, Ibrahim Rugova hosted a reception for the representatives of public life in Kosova. Mr. Besnik Konci, Charge daffairs of the Albanian Embassy in Belgrade, also participated. Addressing those present, Mr. Rugova stated that unfortunately this independence was halved and we are still trying to secure independence for Kosova, which day after day is becoming a reality. The following day in Prishtina a solemn gathering was held. Similar manifestations were organised throughout Kosova and other
[02] Albanian-inhabited territories in Former Yugoslavia.Tirana, 30 November (TVSH). On Albanian Independence Day, the President of Albania, Sali Berisha, gave a reception. In his speech he stated: as we are celebrating the independence of Albania, two million Albanians in Kosova are living under Serbian violence, terror and occupation. We believe that the Dayton agreement and the deployment of Nato troops in Bosnia will create conditions to solve the issue of Kosova and the Balkans crisis in general. We insist that a just solution of this problem is a condition for the prevention of a conflict which would be more dangerous then the one our peninsula has already experienced
[03] Kosova is evermore present in international agendasPrishtina, 28 November. The President of the Republic of Kosova gave an interview to the Prishtina based paper Bujku Asked to comment on the international position of Kosova and its place in the negotiations for peace in the former Yugoslavia he stated: Kosova is ever more present in international agendas: both in diplomatic circles and the worlds public opinion. After the war in Bosnia, Kosova is being treated as a most difficult issue that must be solved. Speaking on Kosovass foreign policy he stated: The aim of Kosovas foreign policy is the promotion of the issue of Kosova, to make her known, to show the reality of the occupation that exists in Kosova and to advance international relations by creating direct links and to be more present in the World. It. also aims to promote other issues regarding Kosova such as history, the economy etc. This is also our task as Kosova had not been known in public circles but only in certain closed ones. In the current situation, we have a global foreign policy, executed by both political parties and state institutions. We have maintained contacts and regular relations with our neighbours and the World. Kosova has in the past five years developed into a state and society that has maintained its existence - economic and social - despite the permanent Serbian regime's crackdown concluded Mr. Rugova
[04] Human Rights violations threaten peaceNew York, 30 November. The Albanian ambassador to the UN, Pllumb Kulla addressing the third general Assembly of the United Nations stated Albania maintains its stand that the severe and massive violations of human rights are closely linked with peace and stability in a country or region. There can not be internal, and potentially regional, stability if human rights are severely violated. The continuation of the violation of human rights in Kosova can not be tolerated. The situation there can deteriorate abruptly and become a serious threat for International peace and security. added Mr. Kulla and referred to the General Secretarys Report on the possibility of an appropriate international monitoring presence in Kosova. The Republic of Albania has continuously called for dialogue between the Belgrade authorities and the legitimate representatives of Kosova Albanians, under third party meditation.
[05] Help for teachers in KosovaA delegation of Kosova Trade Unions of Education, Science and Culture, led by Dr. Agim Hyseni, President, was received by Roger Dennis, General Secretary of the World Confederation for Education. The dire situation of the state of education in Kosova was discussed at the meeting. Mr. Dennis promised that he would help all teachers in Kosova.
[06] Elizabeth Rehn visits KosovaPrishtina, 30 November. On 27 November the UN Special Rapportuer on Human Rights in Former Yugoslavia visited Kosova. She met with high level Kosova officials, political party leaders and human rights activists. In all her meetings she was thoroughly briefed on the wild repression that Serbian authorities are exersizing over the Albanian population of Kosova. On 28 November she met with Riza Halimi, President of the Presheva based Party for Democratic Action and Behlul Nasufi, member of the Serbian Parliament . They informed Mrs Rehn of the current situation in Presheva, Bujanoc and Medvegja and submitted a file of evidence of human rights violations in these towns in Eastern Serbia.
[07] New era is opening in BalkansPrishtina, 27 November. the former French Prime Minister, Edward Balladuer in an article entitled After the Yugoslav War: Second chance for Europe, published in Le Figaro states: Peace is dawning in the former Yugoslavia and needs to be consolidated and concluded in a wider plan for stability of the region. Mr. Balladuer goes on to say that a new regional tabel for discussions could be set, and would gather together former warring parties and other states of the region. The list of the participants would be carefully considered, and it seems necessary that Albania and Macedonia be included as well as East European neighbours. USA and Russia should be invited but the European Union shoud have the leading role. Ending Mr. Balladuer states: following the peace agreement a new era is opening in Balkans . It is a chance for the European Union that shouldnt be ignored.
[08] Albanian Children, Victims of Serbian Death FactoriesPrishtina, 29 November. The British TV programme "World in Action", has gathered evidence that the former Yugoslav Army (JNA) produced chemical weapons, including "Sarin" poison, at a plant in Potoci near Mostar (Bosnia). Samples of the material found there were later analyzed at the SNDE military institute in Sweeden, confirming the substance was used to produce Sarin. The findings of the Swedish military institute endorse assertions by Kosova doctors statting that in spring 1990 as many as 7,000 Albanian school children were poisoned by the Serbian regime in schools and other institutions. International experts and institutions, including the former president of the Presidency of the former Yugoslavia, Stipe Mesic, have also confirmed that there was poisening of Albanians in Kosova in 1990. Dr. A. Hendrix, Director of the Laboratory of the International University of References (ILUC) and a UN expert on Toxicology and Environment, was reported to have said at a press conference in 1993 that Albanians in Kosova were poisened with Serbian toxins in March and April 1990. Dr. Hendrix pointed out that he had analyzed the blood and urine of those affected, and concluded that the 'chemical substances Sarin or/and Tabun had been used. Both of them are chemical weapons", he stated. The British television team has obtained documents proving there are other such factories in Serbia proper.
[09] Independence day commemorations obstructedPrishtina, 29 November. Many manifestations organised to mark 28 November - Albanian Independence Day - were obstructed by the Serbian Police resulting on the ill-treatment and arrests of many people. The Serbian police broke up an indoor gathering in Skenderaj. After having ill-treated dozens of participants, the Serbian police arrested Ahmet Tahiri, Presidency member of the LDK branch in Skenderaj, Xhafer Murtezaj, Chair of the municipal Education Bureau, Ms. Zejnije Rrecaj, a secondary school teacher from Skenderaj, and Sabit Istogu, correspondent with the Prishtina- based newspaper "Bujku". Sources in Skenderaj said all were subsequently cross-examined before the Serbian-run Magistrates Court in Skenderaj. All were eventually released and told that their cases would be dealt with later.
[10] Round table on colonisation of KosovaPrishtina, 22 November. The Council for Defence of Human Rights and Liberties in Prishtina organised a round table discussion on Ri - colonisation of Kosova today. Representatives of all political parties in Kosova participated. Skender Kastrati, member of the LDK Committee on emigration stated: since the Serbian state gained its independence in 1832, the main aim of Serbian policies were the expansion into Albanian lands. Hence, in the period of from 1830 to 1918, the region of Nish was colonised, which was part of the Vilayet of Kosova most of whose inhabitants were Albanians; from 1918 -1941 the ethnic Albanian territories in prewar Yugoslavia were colonised with 150,000 Serbs and Montenegrins, another 65,000 colonist were sent to Kosova from 1945 to 1965; from 1981-1989 5,000 Serbs were brought to Kosova; in 1993 and 1994, 226 and 409 Serbs respectively were settled in Kosova. Since 1992 the number of Serbs who came to Kosova is greater then of those of who left. During this period of time, 1300 Serbs from Albania and another 2,940 from Croatia and Bosnia have also been settled in Kosova Following the fall of Krajina, by 15 November 1995, another 13,897 colonists were brought to Kosova. Mr. Kastrati also stated that Serbia wants to use the issue of refugees to realise its expansion into Albanian territories. This would intensify the migration of Albanians to Western Europe and undoubtedly increase Albanian-Serbian tensions with the subsequent danger of inciting a conflict which would destabilise the region as a whole.
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