Kosova Communication # 265

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

Kosova Communication

Bulletin of the Ministry of Information of the Republic of Kosova

5th year, No. 265, 20 May 1996

CONTENTS

[01] President Rugova Receives U.S. Diplomat

[02] Kinkel meets Rugovas envoys

[03] Demai receives Swedish diplomat

[04] Engel: US genuinely supports liberation of Kosova Albanians

[05] Albanian school in Kosova outlives the violence

[06] Human Rights violations Report for April 1996

[07] Serbisation of street names in Prishtina

[08] News in Brief

[01] President Rugova Receives U.S. Diplomat

The current situation in Kosova was discussed at the meeting. President Rugova expressed his appreciation for continued U.S. concern over developments in Kosova.

[02] Kinkel meets Rugovas envoys

Mr. Kinkel expressed the concern of his country and the European Union about the situation inKosova. He stated that Kosova was not forgotten and in the future his and other countries would pledge themselves to finding a solution to the issue. German Minister informed Kosova envoys that an agreement, to return asylum seekers from Germany, has been reached with Belgrade. The return will be under international guarantees and supervision and shall be done in several stages depending on the situation in Kosova. Mr. Kinkel also stated that the International Community and Germany in particular would do their utmost to ensure normal conditions for the returning of refugees.

[03] Demai receives Swedish diplomat

Talking on a possible solution to the Kosova issue, Demai stated that we areunder no illusions adding that if Euro-American project goes ahead it will cause a human catastrophy. Forcing Albanians to remain under Serbian ward would only set a time-bomb and could cause the very dangerous conflict. Albanians are not prepared to be colonised forever.

Mr. Weiss acknowledged all of the presented problems and stated that he supported the way Albanians were pursuing their aims adding that alongside attempts to establish an Albanian-Serbian dialogue everything should be done to keep the tense situation in Kosova under control.

[04] Engel: US genuinely supports liberation of Kosova Albanians

I am pleased that a US Information Ofiice is to be opened in Prishtina. Actually this was a project initiated by us and to which I had devoted a lot of my efforts. Its opening is very important to the Albanian people of Kosova, because they will feel that United States are their friends who want to help them. The US presence in Prishtina is very meaningful. I hope it will be beneficial.

Asked whether US would mediate in talks between Prishtina and Belgrade, Engel replied: President Clinton and the American Congress have made clear that they will not tolerate any possible Serbian aggression in Kosova and regime in Belgrade should understand this. They should understand that US will not allow abuse of the rights of the Kosova Albanians and that it genuinely supports their liberation.

[05] Albanian school in Kosova outlives the violence

The Serbian repression against Albanian schools in Kosova has started with the poisoning of over 7,420 pupils, and continued with the dismissal of Albanian teachers, curtailing of their finnances, and closure of school buildings. The refusal of Albanians to accept Serbian curruclums was only a pretext. This is affirmed by the fact that even educational institutions such as Medical, Electrical Engineering and Natural Science Faculties, whose curriculums were similar with those in Serbia were closed.

Serbians seggregated schools in Kosova. They seperated Serbian and Albanian pupils. Morning shift was reserved for Serbs while the afternoon one for Albanians. Some schools were physicaly divided by walls. An example of this is the Dardania Primary School in Prishtina, where Serbs took three quarters of the building for themselves ( and their 500 pupils) leaving the rest for over 2150 Albanian pupils.

October 1992 peacful demonstartions demanding the return of school building were organised. Those demonstarations were quashed by violence. Serbian police arrested, beat up and sentenced many headmasters, teachers, parents, political activists, students and pupils.

Within the Geneva Conference 13 failed meetings with Serbian authorities were held. They were followed by two UNESO delegation, yet again with no result.

By forcefully revoking the autonomy of Kosova, abolishing its parliament, its executive branch and closing all state institutions to Albanians, Serbia aims to degrade Albanians to a position of a national minority and second hand citizens with no rights to secondary and higher education.

In the Republic of Kosova there are currently 950 primary schools(with 27,313 pupils); 65 secondary schools (with 56,000 pupils); the University of Prishtina with 13 faculties and 7 colleges ( with over 13,000 students).

Serbian authorities have seized buildings of 34 primary and 60 secondary schools as well as all University buildings. Pupils and students of these institutions are forced to continue their education on private premises. The education system in Kosova is being financed entirely by the Government of the Republic of Kosova.

Since the proclamation of the Republic of Kosova over 3,000 students have graduated from the University of Prishtina, 18 gained their masters and 20 others their doctoral deegre.

[06] Human Rights violations Report for April 1996

The report staes that there was an increase in Serbian violence during the Aprl,1996. The report mentions the tragic events of April, when Armend selim Daci, an Albanian student, was shot dead by a Serbian civilian called Zlatko Jovanovic, and five other Serbian policemen and civilians were killed. The report also mentions two bomb explosiotns which killed an Albanian child and injured three others. The circumstances surrounding the above incidents are yet to be clarified.

Following the above mentioned events, Serbian police undertook a campaign of terror against the Albanian population. Many houses in Dean, Shtime, Vushtrri, Suharek, Mitrovic, Pej, Gllogovc, etc. were raided. Many Albanians were arrested. Women and children were terrified. They were threatened with expulsion to Albania and told physical liquidation of Albanians will commence soon.

The report states that during April 711 Albanians were ill-treated, including 14 women and 20 children.; there were 220 arbitrary arrests; 7 people were penaly persecuted and 5 other for criminal offences; 102 family homes were raided; 287 people were ill-treated for alleged weapons crimes; 197 people were physically ill-treated; 393 others were psychically mal-treated, 38 people were halted without any reason; 4 people had their passaports seized; 40 people were summoned to so called informative talks.

During April police forces on 9 occasions intervened in educational institutuions ill-treating 22 teachers and 5 students.

Two families were evicted from their flats.

The report informs on plunderingof Kosova markets by the Serbian authorities, destruction of financial records of the United Bank of Kosova and other violations of Human rights and freedoms in Kosova.

[07] Serbisation of street names in Prishtina

Some new street names are Sveti Sava, Tsar Dusan (replacing Ramiz Sadiku), Stefan Decan (replacing Zenel Hajdini), Tsarica Milica (replacing Limon Kaba), Kral Petar, Vojvoda Vuk (replacing Abedin Terbeshi), General Boza Jankovic (instead of Fadil Hisari).

Some streets are getting names of towns in Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia and even Greece. Banja Lluka (replacing Sami Frasheri) and Athens are new street names in Prishtina.

They are provoking lokal Albanian population by naming streets after Albanians traitors, Serb collaborators such as Rrahman Morina, Sejdo Bajramovic and Kadri Reufi etc. as well as names like Serbian Warriors, Serbian Upriser which are also very revolting for Albanians.

[08] News in Brief

Prishtina, 14 May - Ibrahim Thaqi (37) from Gjakova was injured in his workplace at the Boka bakery in Zelenika near Herzeg Novi (Montenegro). He was shot by Predrag Pejovic, from nearby Igallo. He came to the bakery accompanied by many youths.

Dean, 14 May - Serbian authorities of Decan have advertised for sale 46 plots for shops in the Decan shoping centre (Whod say that thay have one). The advertised property belongs to Albanians Jakup M. Cacaj and Bajram A. Gjikokaj. Albanians consider this as unseen robbery.

Kaanik, 15 May - 150 young Albanians from the Kacanik and surrounding villages have been sent call up papers by the Serbian Army. They have to report by 31 May.

Prizren, 16 May - Marte Prenkpalaj, headmaster of the Qamil Guranjaku in Kushnin (Has), was questioned by Serbian Security officials in Prizrn. She was interrogated regarding her participation at the conference Young women for democracy in Balkans held in Albania. She was representing the Association to abolish illiteracy Sisters Qiriazi.

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