Kosova Daily Report #1329, 98-01-26

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From: Kosova Information Center <kic_pr@zana-pr.ztn.apc.org>

Kosova Information Center

KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1329

Prishtina, 26 January 1998

CONTENTS

[01] LDK Vice-Chairmen Meet Officials of Swiss, Finnish and Austrian Embassies

[02] Aggravation of Situation in Kosova, a Threat to the Entire Region, Nato Official Warns

[03] Serb Media Confirm Reports on Wounding of Two Serb Policemen in Malisheva Saturday

[04] Serbs to Pull Down Part of Old Town of Prizen

[01] LDK Vice-Chairmen Meet Officials of Swiss, Finnish and Austrian Embassies

The current development in Kosova were discussed in the meeting.

The LDK officials underlined that the situation in the country has been aggravating following a couple of yet unloved incidents which were exploit by the Serbian regime to crack down on Kosova.

Referring to a last week's attack of the Serb forces against the family of an Albanian in Prekaz of Skenderaj, the LDK vice-chairmen said that Albanians had in no way provoked the incident. They noted with concern that the Serb regime has been in a habit of provoking citizens of Kosova and inventing pretexts for wide-scale interventions against unprotected people.

[02] Aggravation of Situation in Kosova, a Threat to the Entire Region, Nato Official Warns

Shea said the deterioration of the situation in Kosova represents a threat to the region, calling on all sides to exercise restraint from the use of violence. NATO sources told Deutsche Welle the Kosova issue will be addressed in the meetings of the Political Committee of the Alliance and the General Committee of NATO in the coming days.

Asked to comment on the concrete ways and possibilities NATO possesses to prevent conflict from escalating and to persuade the two sides to sit on the negotiating table to seek a peaceful settlement, the NATO spokesman said diplomatic, financial and economic pressure are some of the measures used on Serbia, and they are going to remain in place. We will make it clear to both sides that the international community will not tolerate any use of violence in the region as means for solving problem, said Shea.

Over the past months, Nato officials have on many occasions expressed concern over the escalating tensions in Kosova. The 16 foreign ministers of Nato member countries in a meeting held last December in Brussels included Kosova in its final communique.

"NATO's interest in stability extends beyond Bosnia and Herzegovina to the surrounding region. We share the concerns expressed at the PIC [Peace Implementation Council] concerning the escalating ethnic tensions in Kosovo and other areas" the communique read, calling upon all those concerned to refrain from activities that might exacerbate existing difficulties. The Nato statement called for mutually acceptable solutions for the Kosova issue through "responsible dialogue".

[03] Serb Media Confirm Reports on Wounding of Two Serb Policemen in Malisheva Saturday

The Prishtian-based Serb daily "Jedinstvo" as well as the dailies printed in Belgrade said that a "terrorist attack" was carried against a police patrol of the Serb police station in Rahovec on Saturday evening at around 7:50. Yet unidentified gunmen opened automatic fire at a police car, wounding two police officers. None of the newspapers have provided the names of the policemen who are said to be wounded.

The Serb media also said that the same evening (Saturday, at around 8:40) grenades were thrown at a building housing Serb policemen in Grabanica village of Klina. No human casualty was reported, they said.

LDK sources in Malisheva said yesterday that scores of local Albanians were maltreated, beaten up and detained in Malisheva on Saturday evening following an unsolved incident in the town.

Witnesses have told KIC they had heard shootings fired near a police vehicle on Saturday evening but they could not learn what in fact happened there as the area was quickly blocked by heavy Serb police forces. Over 50 Serb policemen who came in Malisheva from the surrounding towns of Rahovec, Klina and Prizren were involved in a two-hours campaign of reprisals against local Albanians.

Meanwhile, sources in Klina said that since morning hours today heavy Serbian police forces, have been roaming on the town of Klina. Serb police both in plain clothes and in uniforms have been reported also stationed in several places halting and scrutinizing virtually every random passer-by.

[04] Serbs to Pull Down Part of Old Town of Prizen

The LDK Information Commission in Prizren said that the recent initiative of the Serb regime is in violation with the existing town plan. Houses that Serb regime intends to pull down are exclusively owned by Albanians. In addition, they are typical for the architecture of the ancient town and have been under protection for decades.

Legitimate officials of Prizren have for many years been requesting that the area in the town center, the Serb want to use for other purposes now, be placed under the protection of UNESCO.

Kosova Information Center

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