Kosova Daily Report #1337, 98-02-04

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

Kosova Information Center

KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1337

Prishtina, 4 February 1998

CONTENTS

[01] Albania's Official Rejects Idea for Greece's Mediation in Prishtina- Belgrade Talks

[02] OSCE Troika Ambassadors Meet with Kosovar Group for Implementation of Education Accord

[03] Increased Presence of Military and Police Forces in Gjakova

[04] Mounting Serbian Police Repression in Mitrovica, Sk&nderaj and Vitia

[05] Serb Regime Mobilizes Army Reservists in Vojvodina to Send Them to Kosova

[06] Serb Police Detains Chairman of Former Political Prisoners Association

[07] Thorough Police Inspections at Prishtina-Mitrovica Road Last Night

[08] Serbian "Women in Black" Call for International Preventive Measures in Kosova

[01] Albania's Official Rejects Idea for Greece's Mediation in Prishtina- Belgrade Talks

The Bujku newspaper has quoted Mr. Sabri Godo as telling reporters in Germany that only the United States and/or Germany can mediate the talks between Albanian and Serb side, because only they can guarantee the implementation of possible agreement reached between Prishtina and Belgrade.

Sabri Godo said that he did not believe President of the Republic of Kosova Ibrahim Rugova has objections over Albania's presence in a possible Prishtina-Belgrade meeting. "As far I know he maintains that Kosovars themselves should decide about Kosova, meaning that Albanian Government should never adopt any decision without their prior consent", he said.

Last month the Greek government launched an idea for offering itself as intermediator in talks between Belgrade and Prishtina and for arranging a possible Rugova-Milosevic meeting in Greece.

The Kosovar leadership has persistently called for a stronger international mediation, US and EU, which could guarantee outcome of talks.

[02] OSCE Troika Ambassadors Meet with Kosovar Group for Implementation of Education Accord

Bujku said that OSCE troika delegation met with Kosovar Group for Implementation of Education Accord, signed in September 1996 by President Rugova of Kosova and the then Serbia's President Milosevic.

Rexhep Osmani, one of the member of the Kosovar Group has told the Bujku newspaper that members of the OSCE troika delegation said their intention was not to interfere in the job of the original intermediator but were curious to know what were the obstacles which have caused the lack of progress.

The to date talks on the implementation of the accord have brought no results exclusively because of Serb regime unwillingness, he said.

The delegation of the OSCE troika countries met Tuesday in Prishtina with President of the Republic of Kosova Dr. Ibrahim Rugova.

[03] Increased Presence of Military and Police Forces in Gjakova

A massive movement and deployment of military forces has been seen in the villages Morin&, Molliq, Nivikaz, Batush& and Koshare, a border belt with Albania. The Serbian police have over the last few days distributed in these villages summons to local Albanian population to report at the police station. They too distributed army conscript summons.

Meanwhile, sources in Gjakova reported that the Serbian military troops have been carrying-out uncommon maneuvers at Kodra e ^abratit quarter of Gjakova.

Heavy Serbian military forces arrived in town Monday evening and were stationed at a newly opened military barrack in downtown Gjakova. The town center has virtually been blocked, and the police have been inspecting every casual passerby.

Sources in Gjakova said a large number of Serbian army officers have been lodged at the main hotel in downtown Gjakova.

Serbian-installed authorities in Gjakova paraded in downtown Gjakova together with the newly arrived Serbian army officers and police commanders Monday evening.

The situation in town is very tense, LDK sources say, adding that

the LDK authorities called on the local population to refrain from possible provocations.

Gjakova municipality is 99 percent Albanian populated region, whereas the administration is purely Serbian.

[04] Mounting Serbian Police Repression in Mitrovica, Sk&nderaj and Vitia

Yesterday at noon a Serbian police patrol stopped at the bus station in Mitrovica Shaban M.Haxhiun (39) from T&rnavci of Sk&nderajt, his brother, Haxhi Haxhiu (46) and Bedri M. Hetemin (23) from Kllodernica of Sk&nderaj municipality.

The police held them at a police office within the bus station, and beat them severely just because they were from Sk&nderaj municipality.

The police beat them severely and seized 230 DM from Haxhiu brothers, and 380 DM from Berdi Hetemi.

The three were travelling to Slovenia where they work as seasonal workers.

Last night a dozen of Serbian police patrolled near the bus station in Mitrovica and harassed many local residents and casual passersby. They set up a check-point in front of the police station consequently scrutinizing every single person.

Among others Ylber S. Durmishi and Ramadan M. Osmani, teachers at the "Frank Bardhi" secondary school were held for over one hour, sources in Mitrovica said.

Meanwhile, sources in Sk&nderaj say heavy Serbian police forces harassed and intimidated a great number of Albanian residents in Sk&nderaj, among them a lot of high school students.

Abdullah Dobra (27) from Krushefc, told LDK Information Commission that the police after having checked his car thoroughly, they asked him to look deeper into the boot while one of the policeman hit him severely with the boot cover. The policeman threatened him not to report the case.

At the place, a check-point the Serbian police had set up some two weeks ago, the police beat up severely a number of high school students, as well as kids from primary school. They stopped Valdet and Murtez Jashari, primary school children from Prekazi and held them for 20 minutes. They beat them up severely.

The Serbian police held and intimidated the local chairman of the LDK, Idriz Recaj, as well as Ibush Kabashi, LDK activist and Adem Meta, secretary of the Human Rights Chapter in Sk&nderaj.

In Viti Serbian Police Interrogated the member of the local LDK presidency Imri Neziri. He was held in detention for two hours and was interrogated by Krsta Marinkovic, Serbian security inspector.

The Serbian inspector asked many questions about his political activities and the forthcoming Parliamentary and Presidential election in Kosova.

Sources in Viti said the Serbian police have been taking notes of all private medical centers in town. Yesterday, a Serbian police patrol went to "Vita" medical center and took notes of the owner and the doctors working in the center.

Serbian police "visited" all other private medical centers in Viti.

Sources in Kamenica, Istog, Klina and Peja have been reporting of scores of ill-treated and intimidated Albanians in their regions.

[05] Serb Regime Mobilizes Army Reservists in Vojvodina to Send Them to Kosova

The Prishtina-based newspaper Bujku has quoted Milorad Isakov, president of Serb Reformist Party as saying that mobilization summons have been delivered to army reservists in Vojvodina. The reservists are told they would be sent to Kosova, he said.

"Young men in Vojvodina are escaping and hiding again in order to avoid mobilization" Isakov said.

Referring to a statement made by a senior official of Milosevic's Socialist Party (SPS) in Kosova, Zivorad Igic, who said that "Albanians cannot wash out their hands of terrorism", Milorad Isakov said "Albanian terrorism is a result of the overall situation in Kosova where Igic himself has played a major role to have the situation the way it is".

Meanwhile, the Belgrade-based daily Blic has quoted the leader of another Serb party in Vojvodina as saying that his party opposes the mobilization schemes and involvement of men from Vojvodina in Kosova. Nenad Canak, leader of the Social-Democratic League of Vojvodina told Blic that his League "will do whatever it can to not only to prevent the mobilization, but it will establish centers for sheltering deserters, similar to the ones organized during 1991, 92 and 93".

[06] Serb Police Detains Chairman of Former Political Prisoners Association

Berat Luzha was arrested today at around 9:30 on the street in Prishtina by two Serb police officers and was reportedly taken to the police station where he was held for about two hours.

Meanwhile, the Bujku newspaper said that the Serbian police detained on Tuesday in Peja Jahja Lluka chairman of a Peja-based Association for the Return of Kosovar Migrants. Bujku could neither learn the pretext of Mr. Lluka's arrest nor if he was released in the meantime.

[07] Thorough Police Inspections at Prishtina-Mitrovica Road Last Night

The police threatened an Albanian youngster by putting the gun barrel in his mouth.

Meanwhile, sources in Vushtrri say the Serbian residents of Sllatina village have been threatening Albanian school children not to pass through the village.

Few days ago the Serbian resident of this village harassed a number of their Albanian neighbors.

[08] Serbian "Women in Black" Call for International Preventive Measures in Kosova

"We appeal on the international community to prevent the new war in the Balkans. It is necessary that the international community finally starts to consider more seriously those who speak the language of non-violence, instead of reacting to the language of violence and weapons," said the Women in Black.

"For this reason we all have our responsibilities. We will continue to denounce publicly the repressive policy of Serbian regime in Kosova, and express our solidarity with all non-violent actions of Albanian men and women in Kosova," say Women in Black.

The Women in Black organization has announce they will hold an hour protest in Belgrade in support of Kosova Albanians.

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