Kosova Daily Report #1487, 98-07-11

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

Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1487
Prishtina, 11 July 1998

First Edition: 10:30 CET
Second Edition: 16:45 CET

CONTENTS

[01] Serb Forces Launch All-Out Attack on Peja Village Saturday Morning

[02] President Rugova Receives Ambassador Hill

[03] President Rugova Receives British Ambassador

[04] OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Denounces FRY's 'Military Aggression' in Kosova

[05] Serb Army Kills Two Albanians in Kosova-Albanian Border

[06] Ground-to-Ground Missiles Used in Serb Attack on Loxh& Village of Peja

[07] Serb Forces Shell De^an Villages

[08] Serbian Forces Open Automatic Weapons Fire on Village in Mitrovica

[09] Automatic Weapons Fire in Mitrovica Friday

[10] Heavy Fighting Resumes Saturday in Border Zone Area

[11] Sporadic Fire Reported Around Coal Mine Area

[12] Five Busloads of Serb Police Arrive in Suhareka Friday

[13] Heavy Blast Causes Panic in Hani i Elezit Friday Evening

[01] Serb Forces Launch All-Out Attack on Peja Village Saturday Morning

Peja is the second biggest town in Kosova, 80 km west of capital Prishtina.

LDK activists in Peja told the Kosova Information Center, by phone, that Loxha is being bombarded with all kinds of weaponry from Serb positions in Zag&rm&, Raushiq, Gorazhdec and ^erhane.

Clouds of smoke are billowing from many houses in the village, reports said.

The Albanian population has been quickly fleeing from two big neighborhoods in south of Peja, adjacent to the Loxha village.

People are moving in the direction of Montenegro.

General panic prevails the town of Peja and surrounding villages this morning, sources said. Most of the parts of Peja, areas in its south and west in particular, have been held under a virtual siege by Serb forces for days now.

According to estimates of the LDK chapter in Peja, around 30 000 people from the neighboring town of De^an and the border (Kosova- Albania) zone villages have been sheltered in Peja itself and adjacent villages.

The LDK chapter in Peja called today for an urgent intervention of the international community in bringing to an end the Serb attack and the siege of Peja. The LDK chapter also urged the Kosova Observer Mission to go to Peja as soon as possible today so as to intervene with the Serb regime to halt the unfolding offensive.

The village of Loxh& has been intermittently attacked by the Serb forces for several days now. On 6 July the village came under fierce Serb fire. At least three Albanians were killed, many others wounded, and house burned down since then.

[02] President Rugova Receives Ambassador Hill

Rugova and Hill had a lengthy discussion on the overall situation in Kosova and prospects for a negotiated, peaceful solution to the Kosova issue.

President Ibrahim Rugova said he appreciated the comprehensive U.S. engagement on Kosova.

[03] President Rugova Receives British Ambassador

The current situation in Kosova and ways to overcome it were discussed in the meeting.

President Rugova said the situation was extremely dangerous amidst the unfolding Serbian military and police operations against the Albanian people in parts of Kosova.

We stand for a negotiated settlement in Kosova, based on the expressed will of the people for independence, Rugova stressed, pressing for strong international action to halt Serbian aggression and create the appropriate environment for a meaningful talks process.

The British ambassador expressed the deep concern of Her Majesty's Government over the tragic developments in Kosova and pledged continued support for an equitable solution.

President Ibrahim Rugova thanked Great Britain for its engagement on Kosova during the six-month EU Presidency.

[04] OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Denounces FRY's 'Military Aggression' in Kosova

In a 21-point declaration on Kosova, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark, said it was deeply concerned about the tragic developments in Kosova, "the destruction of communities that has resulted in thousands of local inhabitants, particularly Kosovo Albanians, fleeing their homes".

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly suggests that the European Union, the United States and others in a position to do so "impose comprehensive and effective economic sanctions against the FRY until it halts its aggression in Kosovo".

It further added that it considers that "NATO, in line with the UN Charter and international law, and with the explicit endorsement of a relevant UN Security resolution, may take such military measures as to ensure the termination of aggression and the protection of the population of Kosovo and its neighbors".

In the declaration, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly urges the Government of the FRY and the "leaders of the Albanian population in Kosovo" to negotiate seriously in order to bring about a peaceful and just solution to the conflict.

The Assembly calls for the "immediate withdrawal of Serbian police units and the end of operations against the civilian population" in Kosova.

"If the situation continues to deteriorate, there will be eventually a military intervention authorized by the U.N. Security Council", Javier Ruperez, outgoing president of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, told reporters after a four-day meeting of more than 300 MPs from the 54 OSCE countries.

"If by the end of this month we do not see any concrete measures of pacification in the area, then the U.N. Security Council should take the matter up for consideration and consider all the options, including the military one."

Helle Degn of Denmark, elected as new president of the Assembly for a one- year term, told reporters the resolution was in tune with efforts by the Contact Group of major powers to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis.

"It is a very important signal that if we don't see any achievement we are willing to consider also the possibility of military action," she said.

Mr. Riza Nikqi addressed the Seventh Annual Session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly on behalf of the President of the Republic of Kosova, Dr. Ibrahim Rugova.

"Let me remind you that this is the third military aggression which the government of Milosevic has initiated within the last decade", Mr. Nikqi said, calling for NATO to intervene militarily.

[05] Serb Army Kills Two Albanians in Kosova-Albanian Border

The identification of the bodies was carried by Serb military itself, the LDK sources said.

Yesterday afternoon, four armored vehicles of the Serb army raided the village of V&rmic& and arrested Dr. Naim Fanaj, Beqir Fanaj, Bekim Fanaj, and Haxhi Kurtaj.

Dr. Fanaj was taken forcefully to the village medical center, where he works. The military looted all medicines stocked in the center.

The arrested were release late in the night.

There occurred last night a movement of local Albanian population from the village of V&rmic& to Zhur.

[06] Ground-to-Ground Missiles Used in Serb Attack on Loxh& Village of Peja

The De^an chapter of the Prishtina-based Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF), said in a report filed from Peja that the Serbian attack extended to the neighboring village of Raushiq.

Serbs launched 'Katjusha' ground-to-ground missiles in their attack on Loxh& at 9:15, CDHRF said.

Latest reports said Selman Xhemaj, in his late seventies, was killed today, and three other Albanians were wounded - Rexh& H.

Morina, Jeton H. Morina (23) and Mustaf& Shala (22).

Many Albanian houses were burning in Loxh& in the wake of the attack, which lasted till 10:45 hrs. Serb forces reportedly withdrew then.

Serbian forces employed heavy artillery, attacking from their positions in Zagerm, near Peja, in Qerhane, on the Peja -De^an roadway, and in the village of Gorozhdec, which is a Serb-inhabited settlement.

Local Serbs of Gorazhdec have joined in the attacks launched by Serbian military and police troops.

Meanwhile, sources in Peja said more people were leaving the overcrowded town today, heading toward Montenegro, amidst the fresh Serb offensive in the area adjacent to Peja.

As many as 30.000 people from De^an and elsewhere had found refuge in the town of Peja in the past couple of months.

[07] Serb Forces Shell De^an Villages

At 10:30 hrs, Serbian forces positioned at Suka e Biteshit and Suka e Here^it attacked the villages of Shaptej, Grama^el and Baballo^.

Meanwhile, reports said Serb forces started firing with heavy guns in the direction of the villages of Carrabreg i Posht&m, Prejlep, Voksh, Dranoc, Pob&rgj&.

The unprotected local Albanian population has been fleeing homes, frequently not knowing where to, local sources said.

[08] Serbian Forces Open Automatic Weapons Fire on Village in Mitrovica

There have been no immediate reports about the consequences.

[09] Automatic Weapons Fire in Mitrovica Friday

Serb police have been deployed in the neighbourhood.

Meanwhile, at 6 o'clock in the morning today, six lorryloads of Serb soldiers left Mitrovica for Skenderaj ('Srbica'), local sources said.

Three Albanians were reported ill-treated in the town of Mitrovica on Friday: Driton V. G&rguri (34), who was robbed of DM 220, Agim Maliqi, and Zahir Deliu. All the three were beaten up after being halted on the street, LDK sources said.

[10] Heavy Fighting Resumes Saturday in Border Zone Area

These border zone village have been the scene of fierce combats between local Albanian resistance units and the Serbian military troops, police and paramilitary forces who have mounted frontal attacks Friday morning.

Serb forces, aided by Serb military helicopter gunships with Red Cross signs, attacked Albanian positions on repeated occasions yesterday, local sources said.

Reports said Serbian forces have been using heavy artillery in the frontal attack against the villages today.

There have been no immediate reports about possible casualties over the past 24 hours, excepting a confirmation by the Albanian resistance forces about five of their fighters killed earlier this week.

Reports from the border area said the war front has been extending southward to the Hasi villages, a region in the Prizren municipality.

Serb army forces were deployed Friday afternoon on the hills above villages of Zhubi and Vogov&, adjacent to the Kosova-Albania border belt. The local population, women and children, fled the area amidst a fresh Serb buildup of forces there.

LDK sources in Gjakova said there has been a stepped-up movement of Serb forces in the streets of the town during the whole course of morning and early afternoon today. The Serb troops were heading for De^an and border villages, the local LDK chapter in Gjakova said.

There has been a sharp shortage of food and medical supplies in Gjakova.

Serb police arrested today morning two local coordinators of the Mother Teresa charity association in Gjakova, Ms Fatime Boshnjaku and Mr. Uran Luzha. The two humanitarian activists were apprehended while on their way to deliver supplies to the population in the town.

[11] Sporadic Fire Reported Around Coal Mine Area

Sources in Obliliq said Serb positions around the coal-mine came under fire on several occasions last night.

Serb forces stationed in the compounds of the "Kosova B" power plants opened fire from machine guns in the direction of Lajthishta (Leshkshiq) village near Obiliq.

The LDK chapter in Fush& Kosova said Serb army forces garrisoned on the hills of Sllatina village opened machine gun fire in the direction of Bardhi around 10 a.m. today. Sporadic shooting around Bardhi was reported until mid-afternoon hours.

The local Albanian population around the coal mines villages - Bardhi (Bella^evc), Hade, and Lajthishta (Leskoshiq) in particular - have fled homes late last month in the wake of a huge Serb offensive.

On Friday, the displaced women of these villages urged the US representatives (USIS) in Prishtina to assist the population in their bid to return to their homes.

[12] Five Busloads of Serb Police Arrive in Suhareka Friday

Albanian families living near the Serb police station have evacuated their houses, they added.

A number of Albanian passers-bye were ill-treated in the town of Suhareka yesterday.

Numerous police have been patrolling the town today. Police placed sandbags near the elementary school building.

The increased Serb police presence in Suhareka has brought a virtual standstill in the life of local citizens, who hardly dare go out, local sources said.

[13] Heavy Blast Causes Panic in Hani i Elezit Friday Evening

Sources in Hani i Elezit ('General Jankovic') said the blast of a still unknown device occurred at around 18:00 hrs near the Curraj neighborhood. The blast caused panic in the community.

Witnesses told the LDK chapter in Hani i Elezit that the explosive device was activated by the Serb army. There was a stepped-up movement of the Serb army forces in the area, reports said.

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