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Kosova Communication 248 - 15/01/96From: kosova@gn.apc.org (Kosova Information Centre)Kosovo News DirectoryKosova Communication -Bulletin of the Ministry of Information of the Republic of Kosova5th year, No. 248, 15 January 1996CONTENTS[01] Rugova welcomes opening of American office[02] Albanias attention focused on Kosova[03] Demai on autonomy[04] US to establish USIA office in Prishtina[05] Arens on the fate of talks[06] Albanian soldiers in Bosnia[07] Greece return bodies of eight Albanians[08] Kosova should be demilitarised[09] Data on 195/96 school year in Kosova[10] Belgrade authorities extort Albanian guest-workers[11] News in Brief[01] Rugova welcomes opening of American officePrishtina, 12 January. In a press conference held today in Prishtina the President of Kosova Dr. Rugova welcomed the statement the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Richard Holbrooke announced the efforts of his country to soon open an American office in the capital of Kosova, Prishtina. This is an outstanding event for close relations between the USA and Kosova and shows the permanent care and commitment the US has demonstrated for the situation and the issue of Kosova stated Mr. Rugova.[02] Albanias attention focused on KosovaPrishtina, 11 January (Voice of America) - At the Durres New Years reception, organised for diplomats serving in Albania, speaking on the political solutions of the problems in Balkans, Albanian President Sali Berisha stated that Albanias attention was focused on Kosova. The issue of Kosova has been discussed in all major Western capitals and was the subject of a United Nations Resolution, supported by 115 countries, stated Dr. Berisha. President Berisha welcomed the opening of the Kosova office in Bon and Washington as well as the announcement that an American information office is to be established in Prishtina. All these actions are steps towards the better acknowledgement of the Albanian reality in Kosova, stated the Albanian President adding that Albania hoped that in this year the problem of Kosova, the solution of which is a fundamental precondition for peace and stability in the region, would head towards a solution through dialogue of the legitimateKosova leaders and Belgrade authorities in the presence of a third party, in accordance with full respect of national and human rights and freedoms of Albanians in Kosova and International legislation that guarantee them. [03] Demai on autonomyPrishtin, 11 January - I think it is approaching - said Adem Demai, Chair of the Human Rights and Freedoms Council in Prishtina and holder of the Saharov Prize, in an interview published in the Belgrade weekly Telegraf Additionally Demaci noted that Serbia was pretending rather than being ready for talks, while in actuall fact it is plotting something in the form of a dictatorship to place Albanians before an accomplished fact.Mr Demai placed emphasis on the need to lift martial law, the withdrawal of army and police forces from Kosova as well as the restoration of all that was taken through force during the past years - before any talks can proceed. [04] US to establish USIA office in PrishtinaWashington, 8 January - A senior State Department official stated that the US would in the near future establish an official presence in the capital of Kosova, Prishtina, Voice of America (VOA), Albanian Section, reported today. Assistant Secretary of State, Richard Holbrooke, architect of the Dayton accord on Bosnia, told the VOA that he had had lengthy discussions with President Milosevic of Serbia about Kosova and the U.S. office.Ambassador Holbrooke stated the U.S. presence would be in the form of a USIA office and whent on to add that his country was committed to seeing tensions in Kosova decrease. The U.S. State Department official denounced the oppressive policies Serbia has been instituting against the people of Kosova. The Kosova Albanians should enjoy full rights, he said, adding that the USA did not support the demands for an independent Kosova. The opening of a USIA office in Prishtina was legislated for in early 1990, but security concerns were often cited by the US administration as the reason for the delay. [05] Arens on the fate of talksPrishtina, 12 January - In an interview given to the Voice of America, Ambassador Gert Arens stated that he had recently had contacts with Belgrade officials and the Democratic League of Kosova representatives. We held talks to see how we can help start and solve the Kosova problem as we are of an opinion that it is a very essential issue. He reminded that three party talks on education had failed in 1993 as the Serbian regime maintained claiming these issues were strictly internal matters of Serbia and as such there was no need for international mediation. As to the fate of the three party talks, Mr Arens said its work ends on 31 January this year. However he added that international community decided to resume its work within the conference framework.[06] Albanian soldiers in BosniaTirana, 11 January (Radio Tirana/Bujku)- An Albanian Army unit is already having its last preparations prior to joining allied forces in Bosnia implementing the Dayton peace agreement, the army unit command reports. Albania will be the first Balkan country to send its military troops to Bosnia. Although still not a full NATO member Albania is proving its willingness to fully cooperate within the Alliance.[07] Greece return bodies of eight AlbaniansTirana, 8 January - During the first week of January, Greece returned to Albania 1,500 Albanian economic immigrants. Also returned were the bodies of eight dead Albanians. Greek medical records state that they died accidentally. Meanwhile Albanian doctors have concluded that their body marks fail to show accidenal death.[08] Kosova should be demilitarisedPrishtina, 9 January - An article printed in todays Bujku states that Kosova is currently the most militarised region in the Balkans. Such military might in a region where its majoritys dissatisfaction is ever increasing, represents a serious threat to general peace and stability of the region. Without demilitarised Kosova there can not be a lasting solution for Kosova, the artcile concludes.[09] Data on 195/96 school year in KosovaPrishtina, 5 January - The Kosova Pedagogical Institute has just published a report for the school year 1995/96 . According to the report, 5,828 children have been enrolled in 144 nurseries, an increase of 537 compared with the previous year. 425 primary schools have enrolled 268,543 pupils, 4,644 fewer than a year ago. 66 Secondary schools have registered 56,187 pupils, 15,07o fewer than a year ago. Serbian authorities continue to keep closed 25 primary schools and virtually all 61 secondary school buildings . Private buildings are being used instead.[10] Belgrade authorities extort Albanian guest-workersGeneva, 10 January - The Swiss Telegraphic Agency (ATS) reports that at least 100 Kosova Albanians working in Switzerland were forced to pay duties by Serbian authorities when leaving Kosova, following their December holidays. The Geneva Social-Protestant Centre confirmed that these workers could only reclaim their passports after paying 3,000-5,000 Swiss Franks. There are currently over 150,000 immigrants from Kosova in Switzerland, the second largest foreign community.[11] News in BriefPrishtina, 6 January - On his arrival at Prishtina airport, Veli Shabani from Metehi (Podujeve) was stopped by the Serbian police. Mr. Shabani is a guest-worker in Germany. He was beaten unconsciousness and then taken to Prishtina Police station. He was released at 10 AM the following day having had his passport seized.Prishtina, 9 January - The President of Kosova Dr. Ibrahim Rugova conveyed his condolences to Jacques Chirac, President of France, and Mrs Danielle Mitterand, on the death of the former French President, Francois Mitterand. In a letter of condolence to Jacques Chirac, Dr. Ibrahim Rugova stressed the role Mitterand had played in the integrative processes in Europe. Prizren, 9 January - During 1995 the Serbian fiscal police seized, in various forms, money and goods valued at over 11 million dinars. The Serbian press estimates seizures at 500,000 dinars. Skenderaj, 9 January- During December in Skenderaj, Serbian police searched 1 family , interrogated 17 people, took hostage one person, maltreated 6 others and wounded one (Sejsi Shala). A passport was confiscated. Ferizaj, 11 January - In a six month report on Serbian police practices, the LDK Information Commission in Ferizaj said hundreds of citizens of this municipality were subjected to various forms of harassment and persecution. During the period July-December last year, 110 Albanians were arrested by Serbian police 30 were beaten and tortured; 152 were either detained or compelled to report at the Serbian police station for so-called informative talks, wheras 117 Albanians were fired from their jobs on ethnic and political grounds. The report states that Serbian police has been harassing in particular Albanian political and human rights activists, as well as teachers, students and people involved in Albanian language education. Serbian police patrols raided Albanian schools in this municipality 11 times over the last six months, breaking up classes and intimidating school children. Prishtina, 11 January - Yesterday, Vojo Kalezic, a Serbian refugee from Croatia forcibly occupied the flat of Behram Rrhamani in the Ulpiana neighbourhood of Prishtina. The refugee, aided by Serbian police, broke into the flat when none of the Rrahmani family were at Home. Prishtina, 11 January - On 9 January Mr. Musa Igrishta from Mazgit Village had his house confiscated. The house which had been provided by Mr. Igrishta to serve as school premises, has been occupied by Serb colonists. |
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