Visit our archive of Documents on Greece & the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923) Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923)
HR-Net - Hellenic Resources Network Compact version
Today's Suggestion
Read The "Macedonian Question" (by Maria Nystazopoulou-Pelekidou)
HomeAbout HR-NetNewsWeb SitesDocumentsOnline HelpUsage InformationContact us
Thursday, 28 March 2024
 
News
  Latest News (All)
     From Greece
     From Cyprus
     From Europe
     From Balkans
     From Turkey
     From USA
  Announcements
  World Press
  News Archives
Web Sites
  Hosted
  Mirrored
  Interesting Nodes
Documents
  Special Topics
  Treaties, Conventions
  Constitutions
  U.S. Agencies
  Cyprus Problem
  Other
Services
  Personal NewsPaper
  Greek Fonts
  Tools
  F.A.Q.
 

Kosova Daily Report #1468, 98-06-22

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

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

Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1468
Prishtina, 22 June 1998


CONTENTS

  • [01] President Rugova to Meet Solana, Holbrooke
  • [02] President Rugova Meets Russian Deputy Foreign Minister
  • [03] Afanasyevsky Says "Difficult and Complex" Issues Were Discussed in Prishtina
  • [04] Dr. Agani: Serb Offensive against Albanian Civilians Has Blocked Negotiations
  • [05] Three Busloads of Albanians, Held by Serb Police, Driven to Raska
  • [06] Heavy Serbian Shelling of Gjakova Villages Overnight
  • [07] Over 500 shells hit the villages of Smolic& in 48 hours
  • [08] Serbian Military Convoy Heads for Gjakova Today
  • [09] Serbs Attack, Albanians Resist in Klina Villages
  • [10] Two Albanian Doctors in Serb Custody

  • [01] President Rugova to Meet Solana, Holbrooke

    PRISHTINA, June 22 (KIC) - The President of the Republic of Kosova Dr. Ibrahim Rugova leaves tomorrow (Tuesday) for Brussels for a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana.

    En route to Brussels, President Rugova will meet in Shkup (FYROM) with the newly nominated U.S. ambassador to the UN, Richard Holbrooke.

    The U.S. Balkan troubleshooter, Ambassador Holbrooke, will be on a trip to Kosova, sources tell the KIC.

    [02] President Rugova Meets Russian Deputy Foreign Minister

    PRISHTINA, June 22 (KIC) - The President of the Republic of Kosova Dr Ibrahim Rugova received today in Prishtina Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Nikolai Afanasyevsky and his aides.

    The most recent developments in Kosova were discussed, as well as ways to de-escalate the dramatic situation so as to create conditions for a negotiated settlement to the Kosova issue.

    The Russian diplomat briefed Rugova on the contents of the meeting President Yeltsin of Russia had with 'FRY' President Milosevic in Moscow last week.

    Afanasyevsky said his country stands for a resolution in Kosova through dialogue and presses for a resumption of the talks process.

    President Rugova said Belgrade should comply with all the demands of the Contact Group first for the negotiations to resume.

    The Kosova leader pressed for an urgent international intervention to force Belgrade pull out its military and police forces from Kosova, and bring an end to its aggression and ethnic cleansing of Albanians. A great number of people in central and western Kosova fled their homes following Serb massacres and amidst the unfolding military offensive, Rugova said, adding that many Albanians were forcefully driven out and made to flee to Albania.

    Kosova was one of the eight equitable units of the former Yugoslavia, and when the latter was disintegrated, the people of Kosova opted in a national referendum for an independent state, Ibrahim Rugova said. "An independent and neutral Kosova, with all guarantees for local Serbs, is the best solution", the President concluded.

    [03] Afanasyevsky Says "Difficult and Complex" Issues Were Discussed in Prishtina

    PRISHTINA, June 22 (KIC) - Nikolai Afanasyevsky, the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, talked to reporters in Prishtina after meetings he had with President of the Republic of Kosova Dr. Ibrahim Rugova and his negotiating team for talks with 'FRY' representatives.

    His trip to Belgrade and Prishtina was aimed at efforts to an early resumption of Albanian-Serbian negotiations, Afanasyevsky said, adding that the commitments made in the Yeltsin-Milosevic statement of the last week paved the way for the resumption of talks.

    He noted Belgrade's willingness to press ahead with them, as well as Rugova's commitment to peaceful means.

    Afanasyevsky then elaborated more or less on what the statement of the Russian and 'Yugoslav' President said.

    The commitment not to attack the civilian population should be honoured, he said, adding that "all terrorist activities" should be brought to an end.

    In his meetings with Kosova leaders today, "difficult and complex issues" were discussed, the Russian diplomat said.

    Asked by reporters to say whether the Russians would support the withdrawal of Serbian forces from Kosova, the main point of the Contact Group demands, Afanasyevsky said "the Security Council and the Contact Group demanded that the Kosova leadership condemn terrorism and distance itself from terrorist activities in Kosova".

    Asked to comment on the fact that over 50 percent of the Albanian victims in Kosova were women, children and elderly, Afanasyevsky said his country and other members in the international community had condemned the "excessive use" of forces by Serbian forces.

    It was not only Russia that opposed Nato intervention in Kosova, the Russian diplomat said.

    [04] Dr. Agani: Serb Offensive against Albanian Civilians Has Blocked Negotiations

    PRISHTINA, June 22 (KIC) - After meeting with the Russian diplomat Nikolai Afanasyevsky, Dr. Fehmi Agani, coordinator of the Kosovar negotiating team for talks with Milosevic's team, told reporters Russia's position for a peaceful solution to the Kosova issue was welcome.

    "We expressed our position that Serbia/Yugoslavia, by embarking on offensive operations against the Albanian civilian population, has blocked the negotiating process", Dr. Agani said.

    He went on to say that "the road towards resumption of the negotiating process is the respecting of the demands put forward by the Contact Group".

    The Kosovar side notes that in the Moscow statement, the key point is lacking: withdrawal of the Serbian forces of repression in Kosova, Dr. Fehmi Agani said. "Without this, the process of the return of refugees back to their homes, as well as the resumption of the process of negotiations is impossible".

    Asked to say whether the U^K (Kosova Liberation Army) was a topic of discussions today, Agani said the Albanian side stressed it was "a movement of rebellion".

    [05] Three Busloads of Albanians, Held by Serb Police, Driven to Raska

    PRISHTINA, June 22 (KIC) - Three busloads of Albanians, thought to be held captive/prisoners of war by Serb police, passed through the town of Novi Pazar Sunday at 11:00 hrs., heading for Raska, the Information Service of the National Council for the Bosniaks of Sandjak in Novi Pazar said.

    The Albanian prisoners had evident signs of injuries about the face and the head, Bosniak sources said, adding that they raised their hand-cuffed hands while passing to indicate they were held as captives.

    The convoy of buses and police cars escorting them stopped for a while just before entering the town of Novi Pazar, near a gas station, because a bus needed repair.

    During this time, policemen armed with automatic weapons, prevented citizens from approaching the cavalcade, the National Council for the Bosniaks of Sandjak said.

    [06] Heavy Serbian Shelling of Gjakova Villages Overnight

    [07] Over 500 shells hit the villages of Smolic& in 48 hours

    PRISHTINA, June 22 (KIC) - The villages of the 'Reka e Keqe' region in the municipality of Gjakova, along the border area with Albania, found themselves under a fierce artillery attack by Serbian military and police forces, local sources said.

    The shelling and heavy detonations started at around 20:30 hrs, from Serb positions in 'Suka e Biteshit', 'Kodra e ^abratit', 'Babaj i Bok&s' and other drive-by positions.

    Heavy detonations echoed in the ears of the fear-stricken citizens of the town of Gjakova, sources said, adding that the extent of damage from shelling in the villages of Nec, Stub&ll, Berjah, Smolic&, Brovin& and Morin&, is still unknown.

    In the past 48 hours, more than 500 shells hit the village of Smolic& alone.

    Serbian forces launched a heavy shelling of the Reka e Keqe villages around 04:30 a.m. today (Monday), the LDK Information Commission said.

    From the above-mentioned positions and others, Serb forces shelled the villages of the De^an district, such as Grama^el, Baballoq, and Gllogjan.

    The local population has been putting up a fierce resistance, sources said.

    There is an alarmingly deteriorating situation in the De^an district after several weeks of Serb offensive and blockade.

    There were long queues today in front of bakeries and other shops in the town of Gjakova, the LDK Information Commission said.

    [08] Serbian Military Convoy Heads for Gjakova Today

    PRISHTINA, June 22 (KIC) - A Serbian military convoy was seen today (Monday) morning, around 10:20, passing through Krush& e Madhe village, heading in the direction of Gjakova.

    The convoy, said to have arrived from Prizren, consisted of four tanks, four military lorries, three armoured personnel carriers, 7 Yugoslav-made TAM lorries with cannons trailed on them, a transporter lorry with a cannon, four jeeps, nine armoured vehicles with anti-aircraft guns, as well as accessory equipment.

    Serb Forces Shell Shtime Villages Today

    PRISHTINA, June 22 (KIC) - Around 10:20 hrs today, Serbian forces resumed shelling the villages of the Carraleva mountain pass.

    Serb military and police have been shelling also the hillside between the villages of Belinc and Re^ak in the municipality of Shtime, LDK sources said.

    Serbs have been pounding the Albanian villages from their position at the 'Kryqi i Belincit'.

    High-caliber weaponry has been reportedly used today. The sound of heavy blasts could be heard in the small town of Shtime, local sources said.

    There have been no immediate reports about the extent of damage or possible casualties.

    Serbian forces attacked these village yesterday, too.

    Serb artillery fire targeted three Albanian family compounds: Latifi, Smajli and Emini.

    Meanwhile, LDK sources from Shtime reported that Mr. Ali Sadriu, chairman of the LDK branch in Shtime, who was arrested and ill- treated by Serb security Saturday, reported back to the police in Ferizaj ('Urosevac') today morning, as he had been ordered.

    After a quarter of an hour, he was told he would not be questioned, but rather be free to get back home.

    [09] Serbs Attack, Albanians Resist in Klina Villages

    PRISHTINA, June 22 (KIC) - There as fighting yesterday (Sunday) in many Klina villages between Serbian paramilitary forces and the local Albanian resistance fighters, including the U^K, defending their homes, the LDK Information Commission in Klina said.

    There were fierce clashes in the village of Dush, which has an ethnically mixed population.

    A local Serb villager is known to have died, and the population to have deserted the village, sources said.

    The village of Dush is near the Serb police checkpoint at Pograxh&, and the Mushrooms Factory at Jashanic&, where police have been stationed.

    It is from these positions that Serbs have been shelling on a daily basis the surrounding villages of Jashanic&, Jellovc, Resnik and villages in the neighbouring municipality of Skenderaj ('Srbica').

    Population have left the villages of Jellovc and Resnik.

    There was gunfire yesterday in the villages of Grapc and Bingj&, mainly Serb populated, in which heavily-armed Serb forces have been deployed, as well as in the villages of Shtupel, Kerrnic&, Ozdrim, sources said.

    Life in the town of Klina is very dangerous, the said, adding that Albanians do not dare go out because of a heavy Serb build-up, including the Serb armed population which has arrived here after having left the villages of Grapc, Bingj&, Shtupel, and Dush.

    [10] Two Albanian Doctors in Serb Custody

    PRISHTINA, June 22 (KIC) - Two Albanian doctors, residents of the municipality of Gllogovc, Dr. Xhevat Avdiaj and Dr. Anton Gegaj, have been in Serb custody for ethno-political-medical reasons.

    Dr. Avdijaj has been in detention for more than a month for having given medical help to an Albanian shot and wounded by Serb forces.

    Dr. Gegaj, employee with the Health Center in Klina, was arrested on 19 June and taken to the Peja detention center, accused of "negligence in offering medical assistance".

    This 'negligence' is assumed to have been related to the fact that Serb wounded policemen had been taken to the Health Center the day Dr. Anton Gegaj was arrested.

    Kosova Information Center

    Kosovo Information Center: Kosova Daily Report Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
    Back to Top
    Copyright © 1995-2023 HR-Net (Hellenic Resources Network). An HRI Project.
    All Rights Reserved.

    HTML by the HR-Net Group / Hellenic Resources Institute, Inc.
    ksv2html v1.02 run on Monday, 22 June 1998 - 15:22:58 UTC