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Kosova Communication 268 (96-06-17)Kosovo Information Center Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Kosova Information Center <kosova@gn.apc.org>Kosova CommunicationBulletin of the Ministry of Information of the Republic of Kosova5th year, No. 268 , 17 June 1996CONTENTS
[01] Kosova is not a part of SerbiaFlorence - 13-14 June - Mr. Alfred Serreqis speech at the Mid Term review Conference at Florence was dedicated to Kosova. We are trying to heal a part of our region and Albania fully agrees and supports it, but unfortunately we are dangerously forgetting or at worse neglecting a real threat to regional or wider security, the grave situation in Kosova. Stated Mr. Serreqi. It is difficult for us to understand how we can feel pleased to see progress on the application of the Dayton-Paris agreement without being equally concerned with the crisis in Kosova, which could endanger consequences equal or worse than those in Bosnia? How is it possible that following the Bosnian nightmare the international community still continues to be passive with regards to regards Kosova, risking to let events lead and then impose on it? Was is not case with the Serb entity in Bosnia that we now call republic? How can we be quiet and wait just because in Kosova there is not yet war. It is a very wrong message that we are sending to the Albanians and the situation on the ground in Kosova reflects it eloquently enough continued Mr. Serreqi.Kosova is not part of Serbia and cannot be considered as such not only for many reasons of historical, legal and political nature but mainly because the Albanians do not identify themselves with it added Albanian Foreign Minister. The Dayton Peace Agreement is important, very important, but even if implemented as planned it will not solve all problems. Thats why it should be followed with proper steps on the Kosova case concluded Mr. Serreqi. [02] President Rugova receives David AustinPrishtina, 12 June - The President of the Republic of Kosova Dr. Ibrahim Rugova received today in Prishtina Mr. David Austin, political advisor of the Office of the High Representative for former Yugoslavia, Mr. Carl Bildt. The grave situation and the recent developments in Kosova and wider in the region were discussed at length. Mr Austin also met with Dr. Ejup Statovci, Rector of the University of Prishtina. Mr. Statovci briefed his guest abut the difficult working conditions of the University and its achievements.[03] Liberals International adopt a resolution on KosovaPrishtina, 10 June - A delegation of the Liberal Party of Kosova, headed by Mr. Gjergj Dedaj, chair, took part in the proceedings of the Liberals International Congress held last week in Noordwijk of Netherlands. The Congress adopted a Resolution on Kosova, calling on the Serbian regime to immediately engage in a dialogue with the leadership of Kosova. The Resolution was sponsored by the Progressive Party of Scotland and was unanimously adopted by representatives from 60 countries. The Liberals International urged the Serb regime to bring to an end police and army violence against the Albanian people of Kosova; requested the restoration of Albanian-language schools in Kosova at all levels; treat Kosova as an international problem and called an international conference to address the plight of Kosova. The Resolution also calls on the governments of the European countries to establish cultural and informative offices in Kosova and to deny Serbias admission into international organisations and institution until a just settlement of the Kosova issue is found.[04] Albanians rally in Bern.Bern, 10 June - Thousands of Albanians living in Switzerland participated in a rally, organised by the Kosova National Movement, in Swiss capital of Bern. After marching through streets of town the main event was held in front of U.S. Embassy. The demonstrators expressed their determination not to accept robbery and vowed not to stay idle and allow the suppression of will of the Albanian people. They called upon the government of the United States of America to recognise the Republic of Kosova. They also required that any talks regarding the repatriation of the refugees should be conducted with the Kosova government and not with Belgrade.[05] 19,000 Serbian refugees settled in KosovaPrishtina, 12 June - Tanjug news agency reports Zvezdan Milinkovic, Kosova Serbian Commissioner for Refugees, to have stated that Serbian conducted census showed that in period of time from 15 April to 31 May 19,000 colonists, mainly from Croatia, had been brought to Kosova. The census did not include colonists who have been granted the refugee status. Most of the colonists, about 5,500, are staying in Prishtina , and about 1,200 in Peja and Fush Kosova.[06] Serbian Academy president moots peaceful and civilised secession of KosovaBelgrade, 14 June -Assessing the problem of Kosova as the most important strategic problem of the Serbian peoples future, Aleksandar Despic, president of the SANU [Serbian Academy of Science and Arts], said at the regular annual SANU conference that to judge from the predictions of the science of demography and on the basis of the population explosion among the Kosovo Albanians, it can be expected that in a couple of decades Serbia will become a bilingual country of Serbian and Albanian people. Yet again, we are at an historical cross-roads, with two possible paths to the future. One of them insists on maintaining the territorial integrity of Serbia, leaving no room for any other secession, and the other is to approve the attempts of Albanians to establish their independent state, by seceding as part of Serbias territory. If the problems of ethnic, and therefore linguistic, religious and cultural duality could be pushed aside, if Serbia in the future becomes a real civic state, and if such a state is accepted by the Albanians, Kosovo remaining within Serbias borders would be of unquestioned value. Not only would sources of our culture and spirit thereby remain in Serbia, but with Kosovo, a significant potential of energy and raw materials would also remain here with Kosovo. If, however, it is decided that such a situation is not good for the Serbian people, that ethnic duality contains insoluble problems which caused the former Yugoslavia to break apart, one should then start talks with those people, who in fact insist on the secession of Kosovo, about a peaceful and civilised separation and creating borders, lest the tragic experiences of the recent past are repeated, Despic continued. Despic pointed out that the Kosova issue should not be approached with hurried and inadequately grounded policies and that it was Academys duty clearly to present to our people the grave dilemma with which it will be ever more harshly confronted, particularly when and if the Albanians decide to join in the political life of Serbia in a large-scale manner.[07] Despics remarks on Kosova were attacked by other academics.Commenting on a speech the President of the Serbian Academy of Arts and Sciences, Aleksandar Despic, Dr. Rugova stated a certain evolution has occurred, especially within the Serbian Academy, which has been notorious for the contents of its Memorandum [adopted ten years ago] against Albanians and Kosova, but also against others in the former Yugoslavia. Mr. Despics idea that independence (secession) of Kosova could be part of an agenda to address the Kosova issue is, according to Dr. Rugova, a sign that something has started changing in the political consciousness of the Serbian elite. President Rugova, however, denied any possibility of what the Serbs call redefinition of the Kosova territory, namely its partition. Kosova has got its own territory and identity, and was one of the former Yugoslavias federal units, Dr. Rugova pointed out, and recalled that carving up Kosova has been an old ploy of Serbia since the 1920 Versailles treaty and its being re-actualised at the time when support for independence for Kosova is growing .[08] CDHRF Monthly Report on human rights violations in KosovaPrishtina, 14 June - At least 1,423 persons were subjected to various forms of Serbian police practices during May 1996, said the Prishtina-based Council for the Defence of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF) in a monthly report issued on 10 June. In the Gllogovc area alone, a 99 per cent Albanian-inhabited municipality in central Kosova, as many as 173 persons were ill-treated, 72 of whom were women and 66 children, the report notes. The human rights Council carries a long register of human rights abuses committed by the Serbian regime/police in Kosova: 229 persons were arbitrarily arrested; 80 families had their homes raided on, commonly under the pretext of arms searches; 340 persons were ill-treated in connection with alleged arms possession; 203 persons were physically maltreated, of whom 29 suffered serious body injuries; 369 persons were harassed and intimidated either at homes or in public; 127 persons were ordered to report to Serbian police station for the so-called informative talks, etc. The report notes that while the 1995/96 school year is about to end Serbian police has stepped up with violence against Albanian schoolchildren and people involved in Albanian-language education. During May, the Serbian police has raided on Albanian-language schools on a number of occasions. 20 teachers were maltreated by the Serbian police over the last month, the CDHRF reports. The CDHRF further carries a list of illustrative cases of people being severely tortured, harassed, arbitrarily arrested, robbed by the Serbian police, as well as forceful evictions of Albanians from apartments.[09] News in BriefTivar, 11 June - Radio Tivari (Bar - Montenegro) has started transmitting a 15 minutes daily programme in Albanian. Four years ago this programme was 30 minutes. 15% of Tivaris inhabitants are Albanians.Prishtina, 12 June - Open Society Foundation, recently registered in Belgrade, is to open its office in Prishtina. Formerly the Soros Foundations was banned by Serbian authorities earlier this year. Prishtina 13 June - 10 people suffering of haemorrhage fever are receiving treatment in the Prishtina Infectious Clinic. 5 of them are in critical condition. They are from Klina, Gllogovc and Malisheva. Mice have been identified as the carriers of the infection. Last year 109 people were affected by this disease, 14 of them fatally. Prishtina, 13 June - Serbian police raided the offices of Medical Facultys Deans office. Dr. Zenel Kelmendi, the dean, stated that police had confiscated student lists. Viti, 13 June - Leonarda Berisha, an Albanian citizen married to Naser Hysky, mother of two, was ordered to leave Kosova. She was also banned to enter Kosova for five Years. Kosovo Information Center Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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