Kosova Daily Report #1396, 98-04-09

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From: Kosova Information Center <http://www.kosova.com/>

Kosova Information Center

KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1396

Prishtina, 9 April 1998

CONTENTS

[01] President Rugova Receives Belgian Ambassador

[02] Tens of Thousands of Albanians Call for End of Serbian Terror, Independence for Kosova

[03] OSCE Calls for Unconditional Dialogue, Participation of Outside Party in Kosova-"FRY" Talks

[04] Serb Police Evicts Albanian Woman from Her Flat to Make Room for Army Officer

[01] President Rugova Receives Belgian Ambassador

The current situation and the prospects for a negotiated and peaceful settlement to the Kosova issue were discussed.

The situation in Kosova is extremely grave in the wake of actions by Serbian forces against the local Albanian population in some parts of Kosova, President Ibrahim Rugova said. He pressed for increased international pressure to make Belgrade withdraw its special police and paramilitary units from Drenica.

The people of Kosova are committed to their peaceful struggle for freedom and independence of their country, the President said, adding that negotiations between Prishtina and Belgrade, under third party mediation, are necessary in pursuit of a just solution for Kosova.

The Belgian ambassador Joris Couvreur conveyed the concern of the Belgian government over the situation in Kosova. Belgium stands for a peaceful resolution to the Kosova crisis, he stressed.

The President of the Republic of Kosova Dr.Ibrahim Rugova urged the Belgian government to continue and increase its support for a just and peaceful solution to the Kosova issue.

[02] Tens of Thousands of Albanians Call for End of Serbian Terror, Independence for Kosova

The protest was co-organized by the Democratic League of Kosova (LDK), several other political parties, as well as women's and youth organizations.

The protesters called for an end to Serbian violence and terror, withdrawal of special police and military troops from Kosova, and called for recognition of the Republic of Kosova.

The Protest Committee had planed that the venue of the protest be the central avenue in the Kosova capital, the Mother Teresa street.

The Serbian police prevented the crowd from gathering in the avenue, so they rallied in Ramiz Sadiku, Dubrovniku and other streets, as well as back roads.

The protesters held placards in both Albanian and English, among which, "Freedom, Independence", "Peace", "Stop Serbian Terror", "Give Peace a Chance", etc. The refrain of the popular song ALL WE ARE SAYING IS GIVE PEACE A CHANCE was sung by the crowd, and slogans "Kosova-Kosova", "Rugova- Rugova", and "Drenica-Drenica" chanted.

To counteract the Albanian protest, the Serbian regime orchestrated that some 300 Serb students show up in the compounds of the Students Canteen near the Ramiz Sadiku street. A police cordon was there to prevent Albanians from extending their protest.

Eye-witnesses said they saw Serb students showing to the policemen they were armed.

The protest of tens of thousands of Albanians unfolded under the watchful eye of heavy Serbian forces, including people in plain clothes who carried guns.

Four busloads of Serb policemen were parked in front of the Students Dormitories in Prishtina. There was heavy Serb police presence in front of the Radio Prishtina, run by Serbs, as well as in the "Mother Teresa" street.

Though the Serb police did not intervene to break up the protest, Serbs in plain clothes provoked protesters on several occasions.

The protest ended peacefully, at 12:30.

Several citizens were reported ill-treated by police in Prishtina before the protest actually started.

In a bid to prevent people coming to the Kosova capital today, the Serbian police stopped at Devet Jugovic all buses commuting from Podujeva to Prishtina. People coming from other parts of Kosova were likewise hindered to actually enter Prishtina in great numbers.

[03] OSCE Calls for Unconditional Dialogue, Participation of Outside Party in Kosova-"FRY" Talks

A statement issued after the meeting of the OSCE Ministers said they Ministers reiterated their "call for an unconditional dialogue between the authorities of the "Federal Republic of Yugoslavia" and Serbia and the leadership of the Kosovar Albanians".

The Ministers reaffirmed their conviction that "participation of an outside representative or representatives will provide an essential contribution to the dialogue".

They urged the "FRY" authorities to accept without further delay the mission of Felipe Gonzalez, the Personal Representative of the Chairman-in- office and Special Representative of the European Union. They warned the "FRY" that the organization of the referendum could have a disruptive effect on an already inflamed situation. "By taking this particular step, the Yugoslav authorities are contradicting their own publically declared strong wish to become a fully-integrated member of the OSCE community."

They called on the "FRY" authorities to allow for the reinstatement of the OSCE's long-term mission in Kosova, Sandjak and Vojvodina.

"Disturbed by the reports of the continued presence of the Serbian special police force, the Ministers reiterated their call for their immediate withdrawal", the statement said.

The OSCE Ministers expressed deep concern over recent reports of further violence and urged both sides to "use utmost restraint."

26 Seats in Kosova Parliament Allocated to Smaller Parties and Ethnic Communities

PRISHTINA, April 9 (KIC) - The Republican Electoral Commission of Kosova said on Wednesday that three political parties which won at least 3 per cent of votes in the 22 March election, as well as ethnic communities, will have 26 seats in the newly elected Parliament of the Republic of Kosova.

Presidential and parliamentary elections in Kosova were held on 22 March. 100 PM's for the 130-members Parliament legislation are elected in direct vote. Kosova has a combined majority-proportional election system.

The Democratic League of Kosova (LDK) won the overwhelming majority of seats in the direct vote, while its candidate Dr. Ibrahim Rugova was re- elected President of the Republic of Kosova.

There parties winning over 3 percent of vote each are the Albanian Christian-Democratic Party (PSHDK), with 6.52 per cent of votes, one faction of the Social-Democratic Party of Kosova (PSDK) lead by Kaqusha Jashari 4.4 per cent, and the Liberal Party of Kosova (PLK) 3.77 per cent.

The PSHDK will have 10 members in the Parliament, the PSDK 6, while PLK 5, the Commission said, in a statement which includes the names of all the MP's selected through proportional procedure.

The Electoral Commission said that Slav Muslims ("Bosniacs) will have three seats in the Parliament, while Turks one.

Four more seats in the newly-elected Parliament of Kosova will be allocated to political parties and ethnic groups when elections in three Kosova municipalities affected by Serb crackdown - Skendaraj, Gllogovc and Klina - had been completed. Voting was put off for a later date in these municipalities.

According to the Kosova Constitution and the Election Law, the Parliament of the Republic should convene for its inaugural meeting not later than thirty days after the announcement of the results.

[04] Serb Police Evicts Albanian Woman from Her Flat to Make Room for Army Officer

This morning, four Serb policemen broke into the apartment of Ms Saide Kelmendi at Beogradi 52 street i Prishtina, dumping out her furniture and other family belongings soon.

Saide Kelmendi told KIC she has been legally living in the apartment for four years now. She said she had inherited the apartment from her late sister Exhlane Gashi, who had bought it several years ago and was in possession of the supporting documentation.

Ms Kelmendi said that a week ago she was told by the Serb-installed authorities she should vacate the apartment for a Serb army officer was to be housed instead. "I did not vacate the flat, as I am its legal owner. Yet the police arbitrarily threw out all my belongings", she said.

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