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Kosova Communication 258From: kosova@gn.apc.org (Kosova Information Centre)Kosovo News DirectoryKosova CommunicationBulletin of the Ministry of Information of the Republic of Kosova5th year, No. 258 , 1 April 1996CONTENTS[01] Autonomy unacceptable[02] Dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade as a condition[03] Strong determination for idependence[04] 5.000 Rally for Kosova in Washington[05] Support for the right to self-determination[06] In FYROM: Municipal Assemblys have the power to establish Universities[07] Legalization of Tetova University Sought[08] In aid of ethnic cleansing: Seizures[09] Interventions in schools[10] Searches[11] Trials[12] News in Brief[01] Autonomy unacceptableLondon, 27 March - Adem Demaci, chair of the Prishtina based Council for the Defence of Human Rights and Freedoms , during a visit to Great Britain was separately received by Members of the British Parliament, John Austin Walker (Labour) and David Atkinson (Conservative). Mr. Demaci informed them of the current situation in Kosova and stated that no autonomy was acceptable for the people of Kosova.Mr Walker stated that he would support a just solution of the issue of Kosova, while Mr. Atkinson stated that he would do his utmost that Serbia be not admitted into the European Council while the rights of the Albanians are not respected. During his visit to London Mr. Demaci also met with Foreign Office officials, representatives of Amnesty international and visited several NGO-s dealing with Human Rights and Freedom of Speech issues.
[02] Dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade as a conditionTirana, 27 March - ATSH reports that following a meeting between the Albanian President Berisha and German Defence Minister Volker Rue a joint statement was issued. Important attention was paid to the issue of Kosova. The Albanian side is of the opinion that talks between Belgrade and Prishtina, in presence of a third party are necessary in any attempt to find a solution Germany and other countries should condition the integration of Serbia into the international community with immediate start of dialogue with Prishtina, and the resolution of the problem of Kosova. Regarding the Albanians in the FYROM, Mr. Berisha stated that he still insisted that they give their contribution for the stability of that country. He also considered that understanding between Albanians and Macedonians and respect of freedoms and national rights of the Albanians is a crucial for the stability of the FYROM.
[03] Strong determination for idependenceBern, 31 March (Rilindja) - yesterday, thousands of Albanians living in Switzerland and surrounding countries as well as many Swiss politicians, intellectuals and other citizens attended a gathering in support of the independence of Kosova. President of the Republic of Kosova , Ibrahim Rugova sent a message to the meeting. Flavio Cotti, Swiss Foreign minister also sent a message of support to the organisers of the gathering.Many Swiss politicians addressed the rally, showing solidarity with the Albanian demands and reqired that international community, including Switzerland, undertake concrete steps to solve the issue of Kosova. At the end of the rally, a petition signed by tens of thousands of Albanians was presented to the Swiss Parliament. A telegram in support of his peaceful policies was sent to Mr. Rugova.
[04] 5.000 Rally for Kosova in WashingtonWashington DC, 27 March (Ruder-Finn) - An estimated 5,000 Albanian Americans rallied in front of the White House and at the U.S. Congress today to protest the continued human, civil and national rights repression of Albanians in the Republic of Kosova. Organised by the Albanian-American community, the protest rally began in LaFayette Park across from the white House, moved down Pennsylvania Ave. and ended on the grounds of the U.S. capitol where more than a dozen members of the house and senate spoke in support of a free Kosova.In a statement read at the rally Sen. Larry Pressler said, The situation in Kosova must be resolved before any further sanctions are lifted on Belgrade. Sen. Al DAmato said he had urged secretary of State Warren Christopher to stand firm along side the people of Kosova in their battle against tyranny. At a congressional hearing following the rally, Rep. Eliot Engel announced the introduction of a House resolution, cosponsored by the Albanian issues and Human Rights caucuses, which calls for restoration of human rights and self- determination for the people of Kosova while urging the president to appoint a special envoy to promote a negotiated settlement of the Kosova crisis. Similar rallies were earlier held in The Hague and Rome with the same motto : Recognise Kosova as a sovereign and independent state.
[05] Support for the right to self-determinationGeneva, 22 March - In a debate regarding the issue of self- determination held at the 52 session of the Commission for Human Rights, the issue of Kosova was also discussed. In his speech, Andi Gjonej, permanent representative of the Republic of Albania at the UN Mission in Geneva, pointed out the dangers of selective application of the right to self- determination. Acts of aggression, foreign military interventions and domination as well as oppression and denial of the will of the peoples expressed with regard to their political status have lead to open violations of human rights, said Mr. Gjonej.Lack of negotiations and political dialogue as the only democratic means for determining the forms of application of this right, have lead to armed conflicts of lrge scale, violation of international humaniterian law and commission of crimes against humanity. Such tragic events have occurred in the region of Balkans, which still remains tense and the powder keg for peace and stability in the region. Referring to the issue of Kosova, ambassador Gjonej stated that: the path of seeking means through the political negotiation that has been pursued by the Albanians of Kosova aiming at defending the future political status of Kosova, is worthy to mention and hailed, as well as the only possible manner for the recognition of that right. But, the continuos denial of its expression, in a peaceful and democratic way, could only lead to the tragic deterioration of the situation there. In that case, causes of such situation lay on the part of those that deny that right, and not to those who are entitled to benefit from it. added Mr. Gjonej. Mr. Alexandra Aula, representing Pax Christi International, Makbul Ahmad, representative of World Muslim Congress and Verena Graf representing the International League for the Rights and Freedoms of the Nations, also spoke in support of the right of the people of Kosova to exercise their right to self- determination.
[06] In FYROM: Municipal Assemblys have the power to establish UniversitiesShkup/Skopje, 26 March - The appeal of Prof. Dr. Fadil Sylejmani, Rector of the University of Tetova, and Milaim Fejziu, President of the Senate of the same University was today heard by the Macedonian court. Mr. Sulejmani has been accused of calling for resistance at the incidents years in Tetova, when police intervened by force on crowds of Albanian people who were defending their University, killing one and wounding many. Mr. Fejziu has been accused of disrupting an official person in execution of his duties. The lower Court sentenced Mr Sulejmani to 2 years and 6 months and Mr. Fejziu to 6 months imprisonment.Beqir Hiseni, defence lawyer, stated that this was a staged trial and that there were no grounds for a criminal prosecution. Abdulhaqim Saliu, defnce lawyer, said that police evidence should not be admissable. Naim Selmani, also a lawyer, pointed out that Municipal Assemblies have the power to establish Universities, therefore the municipalities of Tetova, Gostivar and Dibra founded the University of Tetova as the Universities of Shkup and Manastir were established by the corresponding Municipal Assemblies. The decision of the court will be announced via the Municipal Court of Tetova.
[07] Legalization of Tetova University SoughtShkup/Skopje, 23 March - A joint consultative meeting of the University of Tetova (UT) academic board and representatives of Albanian political forces in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) was held last Saturday in Tetova.Ways to secure the legalization of the University of Tetova, which has been treated as illegal and clandestine by the Macedonian authorities, were discussed at the meeting. The representatives of the University of Tetova insisted the Albanian political forces make their participation in the FYROM Parliament and Government conditional on the legalization of the Albanian-language University as the third university in the country, alongside the existing Macedonian- language universities in Shkup/Skopje and Oher/Ohrid. With regards to the Teachers College in Shkup/Skopje, it was felt that it had been only established to enable the The FYROM authorities to manipulate home and foreign opinion. The College cannot satisfy the needs for higher education of Albanians in the FYROM.
[08] In aid of ethnic cleansing: SeizuresOn 16 March , Serbian police seized timber, as well as large amount of cash (all valued at about 300,000 YUD), from a Mitrovica market. Policethey also imposed fines totalling 150,000 YUD on Albanian merchants. From another market in Mitrovica, goods valued at 25,000 YUD were seized. On 22 March, Serbian police intervened at Ferizaj market, seizing large amounts of merchandise, such as food, furniture, technical goods etc., valued at 100,000 DM. A considerable quantity of the seized goods were taken to Serb owned shops in the town.On the same day Kamenica market was also raided. 30 Albanians were robbed. Similar raid have occurred in Vushtrri, Skenderaj and other Kosova towns.
[09] Interventions in schoolsOn 23 March, Serbian police intervened at the private premises of Pjeter Bogdani secondary school. Documentation and teachers identification were checked, school stamps, diploma and certificate forms were seized. On 28 March, police disrupted lessons in many Kosova primary and secondary schools, including primary schools Ismail Qemali, Gjergj Fishta, Pjetr Bogdani and Meto Bajraktari in Prishtina, Filip Shiroka in Slivove, near Prishtina, Nexhmi Mustafa in Besi near Prishtina, secondary school Sami Frashri in Prishtina, primary school Trepca in Ilixha, Fan S. Noli in Llukavc te Begut, Ndre Mjeda in Rakosh, Hysni Zajmi in Vrella, Avni Rrustemi in Zallq and Three martyrs for Albanian school in Uce. The pretext for the interventions was that 28 March (the day when the autonomy of Kosova was revoked) was an official Serbian holiday.
[10] SearchesOn 19 March, Serbian police under the pretext of alleged weapons offences, searched the house of Ramadan Kerceli in Gjilan. He was told to report to the police station the following day where he was brutally ill-treated. On 21 and 25 March, again under the pretext of weapons offences the house of Agim Ibrahimi in Ferizaj was searched. As he was not there at the time, his wife, Feime, and his four children were maltreated.On 26 March, a 70 strong police unit raided over 100 Albanian families in the villages of Dimce and Paldenice near Hani i Elezit. They seized large quantities of tobacco. During the raid that lasted 6 hours, Ruzhdi Dermjani and his sons, Rifat, Kadri, Fadil, Sabri and Arif together with Nuredin Cupi were physically ill-treated.
[11] TrialsOn 25 March, The Serbian run court in Gjakova is to try Zef Osmani, former director of the Primary School Vellazerimi in Cermjan. He has been accused of allegedly calling for resistance in1991.
[12] News in BriefHajvali, 25 March - Children of Zoran Jocic, threw stones and broke the windows of the local mosque, during pryers. Jocic threatened those who complained that he would demolish the mosque itself Serbian police questioned the mullah and two believers, who were told to be careful as they were disturbing Serbian families.Prizren, 26 March - A Serbian inspector ordered the closure of the Medical Centre of the charity Mother Theresa in Prizren. This is the second closure of the Centre under the pretext that it should be registered under the name of its manager, Dr. Rexhep Hoxha! During 1995 54,000 people sought medical attention at the Centre and large quantities of medication were distributed to the local population. Prishtina 27 March - Speaking on the possibility of the return of Albanians to their jobs, Mr. Hajrullah Gorani, Chair of the Independent Trade Unions of Kosova, once more reiterated the stance of his Union that the return can only be done collectively. Prishtina 27 March - The notorious Serbian criminal Arkan announced that his political party will pledge itself to Kosova, which according to him, was endangered both from inside and outside. He also stated that he would not allow Serbians to be treated as second class citizens. Peja 27 March - Serbian police questioned today for two hours the former TV Prishtina journalist Rrok Berisha. He was asked about the structure of Albanian Demo-Christian Party, its president Mark Krasniqi and the Kosova Office in Tirana.
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