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Kosova Communication 251

From: kosova@gn.apc.org (Kosova Information Centre)

Kosovo News Directory

Kosova Communication

Bulletin of Ministry of Information of the Republic of Kosova

5th year, No 251; 4 February 1996


CONTENTS

  • [01] President Rugova Writes to EU Council of Ministers

  • [02] Berisha Visits Israel

  • [03] Albanian Parliament on Kosova

  • [04] Will Serbian Terrorism Remain Unpunished

  • [05] Serb Colonists Given Jobs of Albanians in Suhareka

  • [06] Milosevic should be indicted

  • [07] Serbianization of Names in Klina

  • [08] Albanian Political Prisoners Must be Released

  • [09] One Albanian Dies, Several Gravely Wounded, by Gang of Slavic Refugees

  • [10] NEWS IN BRIEF


  • [01] President Rugova Writes to EU Council of Ministers

    Prishtina, 30 January - The President of Kosova Dr. Ibrahim Rugova wrote yesterday to Mrs Suzana Agnelli, Italian Foreign Minister, and chair of the EU Council of Foreign Minister, warning that the premature normalisation of relations with Serbia and Montenegro would be detrimental to the ongoing peace process in the former Yugoslavia.

    All the crises in the former Yugoslavia, including the Kosova issue, should be solved, Dr. Rugova said, noting that Dayton accords have retained an "outer wall" of sanctions against Serbia, which should be kept in place until a number of issues, including Kosova, are addressed first. Recognition by the EU would "encourage Belgrade to continue its aggressive policy and to reject any co-operation" towards to the resolution of the Kosova issue "on the basis of the political will of the people", President Rugova of Kosova concluded. Meanwhile, "Free Europe" radio said normalisation of relations the UE with the rump Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) will be made conditional on Serbia's recognition of the FYROM, the settlement of the Kosova issue, as well as the safe return of thousands of Kosova Albanian asylum-seekers, who have not been allowed back by the Serbian regime.

    The High Representative of the international community in the former Yugoslavia, Mr. Carl Bildt, is quoted by the Belgrade-based Nasa Borba newspaper to have said in a press conference Monday "Kosova is among the key issues, high on the EU agenda", which will substantially determine the development of the rump Yugoslavia and the European Union.

    [02] Berisha Visits Israel

    Tirana, 30 January - Sali Berisha, president of the Republic of Albania arrived on 29th January 1996 for a three-day visit to Israel. He was received by the Israeli President, Veiceman, Prime Minister Peres and other government members.

    President Berisha, concerning the situation in the Balkans, pointed out that Albania, while opposing violent changes of borders, encourages dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade with the mediation of a third party.

    Prime Minister Peres, addressing this issue, stated that he appreciated the fact Albania supports dialogue for the solution of the question of Kosova.

    [03] Albanian Parliament on Kosova

    Tirana, 29 January - Deputy Abdi Baleta raised a question with the Albanian foreign minister, Alfred Serreqi, about Kosova. His request was seconded by the deputy Teodor Keko.

    The intention of this question is obtaining information about attempts made by Albanian diplomacy for a solution to the question of Kosova, and more specifically, about the attitude of the Albanian diplomacy towards an earlier decision of the Albanian Parliament for the recognition of Kosova.

    [04] Will Serbian Terrorism Remain Unpunished

    Bruselss, 1 February - The Serbian criminal Darko Asanin, who assassinated in Brussels, on 25th January 1990, Enver Hadri, a human rights activist from Kosova of, was allowed to go back to Serbia by Greek authorities despite the request of the Belgium Government for his extradicition.

    The Belgian senator Anne-Marie Lizin requested an explanation from the Foreign Minister, Dericke, regarding shelter provided by Greece to the killer of Enver Hadri. She stated that Enver Hadri was killed in Brussels because of involvement in the protection of human rights to the majority Albanian community. Her question to the Foreign Minister concentrated on what measures the Belgian Government will undertake to realise the extradition of the criminal.

    The criminal Asanin was part of the Serbian secret service. After the assassination, Belgian police identified two other criminals also involved in the killing: Andria Lakonic and Veselin Vukotic. In August 1995 Asanin was caught by Interpol in Greece and was arrested by Greek police. Greek authorities refused his extradition to Belgium deciding to return him to Belgrade. This has caused deep indignation among the Albanian community in Belgium and elsewhere.

    [05] Serb Colonists Given Jobs of Albanians in Suhareka

    Suharek, 30 January - Over 30 Serb recent arrivals from Croatia have been recently given jobs at state-owed firms in Suharaka. Sources in Suhareka said most of the Serbs have been employed at the "Balkan" rubber plants and the medical centre in the town.

    The Serbian-installed authorities in Suhareka were quoted by the Prishtina- based Serbian daily "Jedinstvo" as saying all other Serbs refugees housed in the town will soon be given jobs. The LDK Information Commission in Suhareka noted that Serb colonists have been given the jobs of dismissed Albanians, sacked by the Serbian regime on ethnic and political grounds.

    [06] Milosevic should be indicted

    Bonn, 27 January - A seminar on the International Criminal Court, was held near Bonn from 24 - 26 January. The seminar was organised by the International Society for Human Rights and Conrad Adenauer Foundation. Bujar Bukoshi, prime-minister of Kosova, participated in the seminar. In a statement to Radio Deutche Welle regarding the former Yugoslav tragedy he stated: We think that the main instigator of the whole tragedy is Milosevic and all preconditions to indict him at International Criminal Court are met. A time will come when some kind of Nuremberg shall be organised for the aggressive policy whose origins, and its commanders were in Belgrade.

    [07] Serbianization of Names in Klina

    Klina, January 1995 - The Serbian Regime for several years now has continued a comprehensive campaign of the Serbianization of Kosova. It aims to change anything written in Albanian, such as seals, names of schools, street names, names of institutions, shops as well as all Albanian place names.

    This campaign has not spared Klina, a small town in the central part of Kosova with an Albanian majority.

    Street names, such as Ganimete Terbeshi , Ali Kelmendi, Emin Duraku, Avni Rrustemi and Xhemajl Kada were replaced with Slav names written in Cyrillic script.: Majka Jugovic, Kosovska, Knjaz Milos, Vuk Karadjic and Jug Bogdan. The same was done with a number of the remaining streets in the town. The two main streets of Klina were given the names of Serbian saints, Car Dusan and Sveti Sava.

    The monument which was in the town centre was destroyed by the Serbian regime that claimed to have detected signs of separatism in its structure.

    Serbian authorities also perceived a danger of Albanianism in the names of schools. It was the attack on school names that marked the beginning of the anti-Albanian campaign in 1988. The first school name to be attacked was Luigj Gurakuqi in Klina, then Azem Bejta in Grabanica. Serbian authorities then faced a strong opposition waged by teachers, the pupils and their parents, so this campaign was brought to halt in order to be reactivated again in 1992-3. In the village of Budisalc, the school name Liria was substituted with Jovan Jovanovic Zmaj, in Jashanica, Perparimi was substituted with Milan Rakic, in Grabanica, Azem Bejta became Branislav Nusic.

    In addition, all portraits of Albanian historical figures and personalities as well as all inscriptions in Albanian were removed from schools where there are Albanian and Serbian pupils.

    Serbs are given key positions in all institutions. Communication is carried out in Serbian alone, now the only official language. Administration is also carried out in Serbian only. Young Albanians are often ill-treated because they cannot speak Serbian. Inscriptions in both languages remain only at the post offices and clinics. Inscription for shops and companies belonging to Albanians are written first in Serbian, in Cyrillic alphabet, and then in Albanian. These inscriptions have a disconcerting effect because, many Albanian words are impossible to be written in Serbian.

    [08] Albanian Political Prisoners Must be Released

    Prishtina , February 1996 - Hundreds of Albanian political prisoners are still remain incarcerated in Serbian jails. A few such prisoners in the Serbian prison of Dubrava (near Istog) compiled a partial list of such prisoners. Among these prisoners there are several names of the members of the parliament of the Republic of Kosova, party political leaders. Here is the list: Abdylxhemil Alimani, Adem Salihaj (deputy), Afrim Memeti, Agim Krasniqi, Avdi Behrami, Avdimehmedoviqi, Bajrush Xhemaili (deputy), Blerim Olloni, Dergut Bibaj, Destan Thai, Ejup Draga, Enver Krasniqi, Esat Jaka, Eset Sahiti, Fadil Hyseni, Faik Ajeti, Fatlik Lika, Fehmi Lestrani, Gani Hajdari, Gani Mullaabazi, Hajredin Hyseni, Hajzer Hajzeri, Halit Rama, Haxhi Ferati, Hysen Gega, Ibish Gashi, Ibush Kelmendi, Ismail Mehmeti, Ismet Mahmuti, Ismet Veliqi, Jonuz Haskaj, Kujtim arkaxhiu, Mehmet Loci, Mentor Kai, Naser Husaj (chair of National Front party), Nazim Kepuska, Nexhmedin Sadriu, Nuhi Bytyi, Pajazit Aliu, Palush Palushi, Raif ela, Ramadan Pllana, Reshat Maliqi, Raxhep Orui, Riza Xhakli, Sali itaku, Sali Mustafa, Salih Salihu, Sejfullah Sahatiu, Shaban Shala, Shefki Muaj, Shefqet Beaj, Shemsi Veseli, Sheremet Ahmeti, Sherif Shala, Sylejman Hasani, Ukshin Hoti (chairman of National Unity -UNIKOMB party), Xhavit Haziri, Xhelal Canziba (deputet), Xhemali Haxhimustafa, Xhemshit Krasniqi, Xhevat Ibraj, Zajm Berisha, Zenel Kabashi and Zija Rudhani.

    Most of the 160 former Albanian policemen sentenced in 1995 in Prishtina, Peja, Gjilan and Prizren and former Albanian army officers who are still imprisoned, are not included in the above list.

    [09] One Albanian Dies, Several Gravely Wounded, by Gang of Slavic Refugees

    Dean, 30 January - An Albanian, named as Ali (Deme) Shabanaj, has died and four others were stabbed today (Tuesday) in Dean by an organized gang of some 20 refugees of Slavic origin from Albania. The gang attacked the Shabanaj family in their house in Dean, a town in western Kosova. The Council for the Defence of Human Rights and Liberties, said Ali (Deme) Shabanaj, Brahim (Deme) Shabanaj, Hasan (Deme) Shabanaj, Ismet (Ali) Shabanaj and a nephew to the family, surnamed Mazrekaj (from the Voksh village of Dean) received severe body injuries by the attackers. Ali Shabanaj died later in Peja hospital. 10,000 people attended Mr. Shabanajs funeral.

    The latest reports said the wounded people are in a critical condition. Doctors at Peja hospital are fighting for the life of Brahim Deme Shabanaj. The danger that Slavic refugees settled in Kosova might pose to Kosova has been frequently cited by the Kosova leadership, Albanian political and human rights activists, when they warned against the Serbian regime's plans for settlement of Serbs and Montenegrins in densely-populated Kosova, in an attempt to change the ethnic structure of the country. Around 20.000 Serbs and Montenegrins (mostly from Bosnia and Croatia), including several of thousand refugees from Albania, have been settled in Kosova in the past few years.

    Hasan Shabanaj gave the following statement: Suddenly a group of Serbian refugees entered our Travel Agency office and ordered customers that were present to leave the building. They then attacked us with knifes. Each of them possessed two long double edged knives , similar to bayonets. The attack was observed by Serbian police. Following the massacre, police removed some of the attackers away. Others followed the police vehicle. One of the policemen, Zarko Milosevic, is the son in law of the refugees who committed the crime. Another fact proving the police involvement in this crime was that Beqir Shabanaj was ordered to report to the police station where he was kept until the refugees ended the mascre. Several years ago, Serbian authorities settled 1000 Serbian refugees in Dean area. Since then they provoked many incidents, individuals or groups attacking innocent Albanians. The attacks have increased during January.

    [10] NEWS IN BRIEF

    Suhareke,15 January - Serbian military authorities issued 343 draft and call- up papers for Albanians.

    Prishtina, 30 January - The President of Kosova, Ibrahim Rugova, received the Charge dAffairs of the French embassy in Belgrade, Gabriel Keller. Rugova told Mr. Keller that Kosova demands temporary International civil administration until the situation is normalised and mediated talks on the future of Kosova may commence.

    Tetova, 30 December - Tetova Magistrates Court fined the following Albanians for violating public peace and order by unlawfully raising the flag of the Republic of Albania at several rallies , schools and other building and on 28 November 1995, the Albanian National Day: Fadil Rexhepi, Jusuf Ferati, Isak Sefer, Ilaz Halimi,and Bedredin Ibrahimi .

    Prishtina, 1 February - The Belgrade based daily Nasa Borba writes that following the peace settlements in Bosnia and Eastern Slavonia, paramilitary forces of the Serbian criminal Arkan will be transferred to Kosova. According to the paper a tigers centre is to be established in Ferizaj. Borislav Pelevic, a close associate of Arkan, is reported to have said that in event of war in Kosova, Arkans guard will be at the disposition of the Serbian nation.

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