Kosova Daily Report #1338, 98-02-05

Kosovo Information Center: Kosova Daily Report Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

Kosova Information Center

KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1338

Prishtina, 5 February 1998

CONTENTS

[01] Kosova Government Warns Over Escalating Tensions in Kosova

[02] Crisis in Kosova Has Indisputable Influence in the Whole Region, Tony Lloyd Says

[03] Albania's President Asks UN Secretary General to Deploy Preventive Missions in Kosova

[04] Local Serbs in Klina Terrorize Albanian Population

[05] Serb Police Establish Check-Point and Enforcement in Komoran

[06] Repatriated Albanian in Serb Police Custody Since Tuesday

[07] Radio and TV Prishtina Marks 53 Years of Existence

[01] Kosova Government Warns Over Escalating Tensions in Kosova

"The Government of the Republic of Kosova calls on the international community to urgently take preventive measures before it gets to late," said the statement, adding "every forbearance has its limits".

The Kosova Government called in particular the United Nations, U.S.A. and the European Union, as well as the Contact Group to exert pressure on Belgrade to end its militaristic warmongering conduct, which if it continues like it does "it will throw the whole region into a catastrophe with unpredictable effects", said the statement.

Further the Government of the Republic of Kosova said the Albanians will not become victim of vicious schemes of Belgrade and the neighboring countries, therefore they will react as one wherever they are, and "will use all possible means to protect themselves", Kosova Government emphasized.

The Government criticized in strongest terms the President of FYROM, Kiro Gligorov for his statement given first in Slovenia and later in Shkup/Skopje, about a corridor through Macedonia for possible refugees from Kosova in case of an open conflict in Kosova as "vicious and hypocritical". "It should be clear to Gligorov that a war in Kosova in reality will threaten the existence of his own country," read the statement.

Therefore, "he [FYROM President Gligorov] instead of dealing with barren and dangerous calculation about corridors, should more seriously engage for a peaceful and just settlement of the Kosova issue and the issue of Albanians in his country," the Kosova Government said.

"The Government of the Republic of Kosova calls on the peace-loving people of Kosova, a virtue demonstrated in the last ten years, to unite stronger than ever before our efforts for the realization of our legal aspirations, which belong to every nation, and for which you opted for in a free vote in the popular Referendum of 1991," said the statement.

The Government called on the people of Kosova to determinedly keep on its track and use all democratic means actively.

"The Government will continue to consider the tangible potential of danger we are exposed to and will take adequate measures to prevent it. Therefore, once more we notify the Serbian criminal regime that its menace actions will not persuade the Albanian people of Kosova to abandon its objectives nor its homeland," the Kosova Government stressed out.

"Our determination and the lust for freedom will conquer over the brutality of Serbian criminal machinery," ends the statement of the Republic of Kosova issued yesterday, and broadcasted by the Albanian satellite TV (TVSH).

[02] Crisis in Kosova Has Indisputable Influence in the Whole Region, Tony Lloyd Says

The British Foreign Office State Minister met Wednesday in Albania's capital Tirana the Albanian Foreign Minister Paskal Milo.

The Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) has quoted Tony Lloyd as saying that "we do not accept the thesis that Kosova is an internal issue of Yugoslavia since it has an indisputable influence in other countries of the region, as well as in Albania, FYROM, etc," According to ATA Mr Lloyd also said that "the key to the solution of the conflict in Kosova is the dialogue to be established between Belgrade and Albanian progressive representatives of Prishtina".

On the other hand, ATA has quoted the Albania's Foreign Minister Milo as saying that with regard to the Kosova question, Belgrade should reflect immediately so that the situation there be solved peacefully. "We expect from Belgrade clear and concrete messages," he said Meanwhile, the Prishtina-based Bujku newspaper said that Tony Lloyd told reporter at Tirana airport that Kosova would be the main topic of discussions he expected to have in Tirana, after visiting Shkupi/Skopje and Belgrade. We have called on Milosevic to recognize the right of Kosovar Albanians, Bujku quoted Mr. Lloyd as saying. He also called on all the parties concerned to refrain from violent approaches in pursuing solutions in Kosova. He also spoke of the implementation of the Education Accord signed by Rugova and Milosevic one and a half year ago, as well as "the concept of a wider autonomy for Kosova within the borders of FRY", Bujku said.

[03] Albania's President Asks UN Secretary General to Deploy Preventive Missions in Kosova

The Bujku newspaper said today that in his meeting with Annan Meidani has asked for a permanent UN presence in Kosova as a preventive measure. Meidani has told the Bujku/Rilindja correspondent to UN that a UN diplomatic mission in Kosova as a first step is very essential now. "It could be positive if there was a permanent mission of the United Nations there too" he said, adding that an increased presence of international organizations and its mechanisms is very much necessary.

Reuters said that Rexhep Meidani asked U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan to increase international pressure on Belgrade.

[04] Local Serbs in Klina Terrorize Albanian Population

They have also introduced a dusk-to-dawn curfew in these villages.

The local Serb residents who conduct the night watch have been harassing scores of Albanian residents, often their close neighbors.

At Videja, a village populated by Serbs, the local Serb population have set up barricades and stop every passerby.

LDK sources in Poterq i Ep&rm reported that some 10 armed local Serbs wearing army uniforms have intimidated a large number of Albanian residents. Many were beaten severely, says Bujku.

Last night a number of local Serbs placed various machinery and equipment on the road and created a barricade. They have been stopping and intimidating every person who passes through after, as they put it, dusk-to- dawn curfew.

Similar obstructions on the road were set up in Dygajev& village.

In Jagod& village the Serbian local school principal announced that none may travel after 8 p.m.. According to LDK sources in the village he himself put on a uniform at night and commands the night-watching.

Bujku said that over the last week a lot of thefts have been carried out in the region during nights.

[05] Serb Police Establish Check-Point and Enforcement in Komoran

Sources in Gllogovc said that the Serb police has established a new check- point in the vicinity of Komoran village, near the Prishtina- Peja road.

Sand-bags and planks were placed around an older barrack, which had served earlier as a police check-point but was abandoned several years ago.

Source from half a dozen municipalities, mainly in central and west Kosova, have reported about increased presence an movements of Serb police and army forces over the last two days.

[06] Repatriated Albanian in Serb Police Custody Since Tuesday

Gani Dibrani's brother Haxhi Dibrani, told Kosova Information Center that his brother was an asylum-seeker in Germany and he was repatriated by the German authorities. He was detained at the Prishtina airport.

He said the Serb police authorities at the airport have not produced any explanation why his brother is being held in custody.

[07] Radio and TV Prishtina Marks 53 Years of Existence

On 5 July 1990, heavily armed Serb policemen intruded into the offices and studios of the Radio and Television of Prishtina, expelling over 1200 Albanian employees.

The radio and TV of Prishtina has been ever since closed to Albanians. Short news programs in Albanian broadcasted by the radio and television of Prishtina are but translation of programs produced in Belgrade.

Kosova Information Center

Kosovo Information Center: Kosova Daily Report Directory - Previous Article - Next Article