Kosova Daily Report #1463, 98-06-17

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

Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1463
Prishtina, 17 June 1998

First Edition: 15:30 CET
Second Edition: 17:00 CET

CONTENTS

[01] Rugova's Aide Slams as Insufficient Milosevic's Offer for Talks

[02] Seven More Killed Albanians in De^an

[03] Serb Forces Fortify Gjakova-De^an Road

[04] Serb Soldiers Kill Albanian at Caralluk& Village of Malisheva

[05] Serbian Military Shells Shtimje Villages

[06] Police Abducts Displaced People in Peja

[07] Serbian Regime Launches Criminal Investigations Against 16 Albanians

[08] CNN: Serbs Reportedly Attack Kosova Refugees

[09] U.S. Says Serb Troops Should Be Withdrawn from Kosova

[10] Russia Claims Victory, Cautions European Reaction

[11] LDK Vice-Chairman and His Associate Ill-Treated by Serb Police

[12] Armed Serbs Open Fire at Plemetin Village of Obiliq

[13] Bodies of Four Killed Albanians Taken to Gjakova Morgue

[14] A Desperate Situation in Gjakova Area

[15] Volatile Situation in Suhareka, Serb Forces Open Fire

[16] House of Albanian in Suhareka Hit by Serb Shelling Today

[17] Serb Forces Shell Klina Villages for Five Hours Wednesday

[18] Serb Police Shoot Indiscriminately on Albanian Villages in Rahovec

[19] Serb Police Shoot at Albanians, Loot and Burn Their House, in Komoran

[01] Rugova's Aide Slams as Insufficient Milosevic's Offer for Talks

The is the main point put forward by the Contact Group in London on Friday, Mustafa said, adding that Milosevic should be made to comply on this.

The Moscow (joint Russian-"FRY") declaration is not clear on this, namely whether Milosevic is ready to fulfil it, President Rugova's press advisor said. "Unless and until this demand is met, it is futile and non-serious to talk about negotiations".

The Kosova Albanian side is very much interested in seeing the Prishtina- Belgrade talks process resumed. However,"it is confident only a NATO intervention can create the preconditions for meaningful talks" on the status of Kosova, Mr. Xhemail Mustafa, a close Rugova aide concluded.

Milosevic agreed last month to hold talks with Kosova representatives, but the latter insist negotiations do not make sense while the Serbian offensive continues.

Given Milosevic's delaying tactics and double-winged policies of shooting and talking, his high-sounding willingness to resume talks has been seen as a negligible result of the Moscow meeting, let alone a breakthrough.

The Serbian military crackdown in Kosova - leaving scores of Albanians killed, hundreds wounded, tens of thousands turned into refugees, entire villages and towns destroyed - followed the meeting 'FRY' President Milosevic had with President Ibrahim Rugova of Kosova last month.

[02] Seven More Killed Albanians in De^an

Meanwhile, the latest reports said seven more Albanians were killed during the Serbian offensive last week, rising the known death-toll from 58 to 65 Albanians killed in De^an since 29 May 1998. The figure cannot still be considered final, as a large area has been sealed off for almost three weeks.

The seven killed people are Mrs Mire Lataj (80), her 75-year-old sister, the 80-year old mother of Have Balaj, and Cuf& Balaj (85).

It is supposed that the three unidentified killed men, who were buried in Peja ('Pec') yesterday, were people killed by Serbian forces in the villages of De^an municipalities during the past few days.

Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in the villages where there is still an Albanian population has been reported terrible.

The food supplies are running short, just like medicines.

There is a desperate situation in many Albanian households in the villages of Prapa^an, Dabi^, Lluk& e Ul&t, Lumbardh, Maznik&, Pozhar. Some of the Albanian families have been burdened with offering shelter to scores of people who have fled other villages in the municipality after Serb offensive.

There is indignation over lack of support by Kosovar and international organizations to people in these villages, LDK sources said.

[03] Serb Forces Fortify Gjakova-De^an Road

He said he was not able to learn yet about the range of fighting or about possible casualties.

The LDK activist said since early in the morning today (Wednesday) Serb forces have begun digging trenches along the De^an-Gjakova roadway. The road was being fortified between the villages of Lubeniq and Rastavica.

Osman Cacaj said that Albanians being held captive by Serb forces have been also ordered to dig trenches.

Meanwhile, sources in De^an said that hundreds of Albanians are being held as hostages/captive in the town.

Some local residents - who were trapped inside their houses while the town was being shelled by Serbs - have been taken on buses to Peja, sources said, failing to specify the number or the place they were taken to.

[04] Serb Soldiers Kill Albanian at Caralluk& Village of Malisheva

The LDK Information said Krasniqi was killed by Serb snipers between the villages of Bllac& and Sllapushan of Suhareka.

The soldiers opened fire from their position called Bregu i Dushit.

Ymer Krasniqi was father of ten children, and had been a member of local Albanian defense structures, sources said.

[05] Serbian Military Shells Shtimje Villages

At 11:45 hrs, Serbian forces launched three shells near the Kryqi i Belincit.

The waterworks of the village of Belinc have suffered damages.

The village is on the right side of the Shtimje - Prizren roadway.

Many Albanians, mostly women and children who have not been able to leave the village, remain crowded in some houses at Carralev& and in the nearby forests.

The villages of Belinc, Carralev& and Zborc were shelled by Serbian forces from 20:00 through 21:00 hrs on Tuesday.

[06] Police Abducts Displaced People in Peja

Three villagers of Strellc i Ul&t, one of whom was named as Shaban Ahmetaj, have been reported abducted by Serbian police forces in Peja.

[07] Serbian Regime Launches Criminal Investigations Against 16 Albanians

The Albanians have been named as Ymer, Naim, and Evzi Kurti, Ismet, Bajram and Ahmet Ahmeti, Rexh& and Florim Rexhaj, Mehmet and Dervish Rrahmani, Rrahman Mala, Shpend Veseli, Shpend Bezhani, Haki Nuza, and Haxhi Rexha. The first fifteen of them are residents of Smolic& village, whereas Haxhi Rexha from Dobrosh village of Gjakova.

The 16 Albanians have been accused of membership with the U^K and having been involved in attacks against Serb police.

It is not clear whether the Albanians are in custody or at large.

[08] CNN: Serbs Reportedly Attack Kosova Refugees

CNN quoted refugees as saying they were attacked by two Yugoslav MI-8 helicopters using heavy machine guns and grenades as they buzzed refugee camps near the Kosova-Albanian frontier.

The helicopters were backed by dozens of soldiers in the mountainous area, where hundreds of people had taken shelter while waiting to cross into Albania, refugees said, CNN reported, adding that their accounts could not be independently confirmed.

Serb officials did not comment on the reports.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Dan Everts, head of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) Albanian mission, confirmed that an unidentified man was shot and killed at the Padesh border checkpoint by Yugoslav soldiers firing across the border.

When police tried to recover the body, soldiers resumed firing, Everts said.

[09] U.S. Says Serb Troops Should Be Withdrawn from Kosova

Tuesday PRISHTINA, June 17 (KIC) - The United States said Tuesday's talks on Kosova between Russian President Yeltsin and his 'FRY' counterpart Milosevic were a partial step in the right direction.

Following a telephone call between Clinton and Yeltsin Tuesday, White House spokesman Mike McCurry told reporters, "The outcome of this meeting today, in the president's view, moves us in the right direction", news agencies reported Meanwhile, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said there had been "some progress" in the Moscow talks but Milosevic "did not meet the primary points that the Contact Group raised".

"All options are on the table", including military force, if Milosevic does not end repression and ethnic cleansing in Kosova, Albright told a Senate Appropriations subcommittee, VOA reported.

McCurry said Milosevic must withdraw his forces and this should not be linked to what the joint statement refers to as 'stopping terrorist activities'.

"That's a linkage that would appear to be a loophole," McCurry was quoted as saying.

"There's no justification for continuation of the brutal campaign of violence by Serb security forces, and the withdrawal of Serb security forces is fundamental."

An important step forward, movement in the right direction, "but I don't think it ends the journey," Pentagon spokesman Ken Bacon assessed.

Bacon said there should be no linkage between an immediate withdrawal of Serb forces and 'stopping terrorist activities'.

"There ought to be complete withdrawal of military forces so that negotiations can begin", the Pentagon spokesman said, referring to a withdrawal of security units that have taken part in civilian repression in Kosova. "This can be both VJ (Yugoslav Army) or the special police, the MUP (the Ministry of the Interior)," he added.

Secretary of State Albright said Milosevic's insistence on linkage was clearly unacceptable, because "we believe Milosevic has the primary responsibility to halt the repression and stop making excuses for the repression."

[10] Russia Claims Victory, Cautions European Reaction

The Russian President has already claimed a victory for Russian diplomacy.

European leaders reacted cautiously so far to the Yeltsin-Milosevic meeting's outcome.

Albania said the Moscow talks had broken no fresh ground.

Rob Reynolds of the NBC News said the meeting in Moscow to discuss the crisis in Kosova "appears to have ended successfully - a boost for peace prospects in the Balkans and a victory for Russian diplomacy."

"It's clear that without Russia's participation it is impossible to solve this problem," Yeltsin was quoted as saying to reporters after the meeting. He said that Milosevic had agreed to sit down at the negotiating table for talks with Kosova Albanian leaders. "This is the most important thing," Yeltsin said. "I have accomplished the task I set for myself."

Yeltsin has temporarily reduced the threat of NATO military action in Kosova, and boosted Russia's stature in world affairs, Reynolds of the NBC news said.

[11] LDK Vice-Chairman and His Associate Ill-Treated by Serb Police

The LDK officials, on their way to Prizren, were halted by police in the suburbs of the small town of Shtime at 15:00 hrs.

They were ordered out of the car, and beaten up by Serb police.

LDK Information Commission in Prizren said Islam Bajrami received grave body injuries, and is receiving medical treatment.

The Presidency of the LDK condemned today the brutal ill-treatment of one of its three vice-chairmen, Mr. Kryeziu, and the local LDK official in Prizren.

The LDK will press ahead with its policies and the independence drive despite Serbian regime's outrageous practices, the LDK Presidency said.

[12] Armed Serbs Open Fire at Plemetin Village of Obiliq

Passers-bye are routinely ill-treated by armed Serbs.

Last night, the villages of Sibovc, Shipitull& and Graboc i Ep&rm were cut electricity, sources said.

[13] Bodies of Four Killed Albanians Taken to Gjakova Morgue

The identity of the killed Albanians is not yet known.

LDK sources in neighboring De^an learned today of seven more Albanians having been killed by Serb forces in the past few days.

[14] A Desperate Situation in Gjakova Area

There have been reports on considerable damage caused recently by Serbian attacks in the villages of Kramovik and Rakovin& as well as the Gjekaj family compound at C&rmjan.

The number of displaced Albanians streaming towards the town of Gjakova from attacked areas has been on the decrease today.

There is an increasingly desperate situation with regard to food and medical supplies in Gjakova.

Albanian citizens are routinely harassed and beaten up in the streets of the town.

Ismail Peja and Gani Rudi, formerly employees of the local branch of BankKos have been in custody on charges that a 'shelter' has been found in the building of this bank.

Sandbags and trenches have been put in place around the Serbian police dept. in Gjakova.

On 12 June, the Serbian-installed management of the Radoniqi water- supply system cut off irrigation channels to villages in the municipality of Gjakova and De^an.

[15] Volatile Situation in Suhareka, Serb Forces Open Fire

At Duh&l, Serb police opened fire last night, sources said.

At midday today, Serb forces backed up by armored cars have been stationed near the wine cellar in Suhareka, and have been reported opening fire.

Albanians closed down their businesses in town.

[16] House of Albanian in Suhareka Hit by Serb Shelling Today

The police opened fire from its position near the Suhareka Wine Cellar in the direction of the road leading to the village of Po^an.

Kuqi's house was reported damaged.

[17] Serb Forces Shell Klina Villages for Five Hours Wednesday

LDK sources in Klina said Serb forces unleashed a fierce artillery attack against these villages at around 5 a.m. While shelling the Albanian villages, Serb forces reportedly tried to take a strategic position above the Grapc village.

Serb forces failed to conquer the position, as local Albanians put up a powerful resistance, sources said.

LDK sources in Klina did not learn if there were casualties during today's clashes and the shelling of villages.

The LDK Information Commission noted that all Serb males from the villages of Grapc and Binxha have joined the Serb police and paramilitary forces.

[18] Serb Police Shoot Indiscriminately on Albanian Villages in Rahovec

Sources in Rahovec - a municipality in south-west Kosova bordering on Klina, Malisheva and Gjakova - said Serb police stationed in the area began shooting from machine guns in the direction of outlying villages.

[19] Serb Police Shoot at Albanians, Loot and Burn Their House, in Komoran

At least 1000 Serb policemen have been deployed in the compounds of the Ferrous-Nickel plant in Gllogovc, local LDK sources said. Serb snipers, holding key positions around the plant and the nickel mines, have been shooting at everything that moves in the area.

Serb snipers shot in the direction of Ahmet Bajraktari (77), while grazing cattle in his meadows in Gllogovc yesterday.

Serb forces also opened fire from the top of the local post office in Gllogovc Tuesday noon.

There have been no immediate reports on casualties.

Serb forces reportedly set ablaze the houses of Ms. Hyra Gjoshi and Mehdi Sylaj in Komoran yesertday.

Sources in Komoran said Serbs break into homes of Albanians, loot and smash them on a daily basis.

Virtually the entire Albanian population of the huge village of Komoran has abandoned homes as Serb forces have been building up there and cracking down on them.

Kosova Information Center

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