Kosova Daily Report #1581, 98-10-13

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

Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1581
Prishtina, 13 October 1998

CONTENTS

[01] "Balkan Graveyards Are Filled with President Milosevic's Broken Promises", Says Clinton

[02] ACTORDs Issued, Responsibility on Milosevic's Shoulders, Solana Says

[03] Independence, the Only Real Solution for Kosova, Parliament Says

[04] LDK Hails NATO Ultimatum, Warns over Belgrade's Habits of Noncompliance

[05] U^K Representative Hails NATO Activation Orders

[06] Two Men Wounded in Skenderaj Village, Attacked by Serbs on Monday

[07] Bodies of Four Killed Albanians Found in Carrabreg, De^an

[08] First Snows Come in Suhareka Hills, With Thousands of Homeless Refugees

[09] Albanian Detained By Serbs Two Months Ago Found Dead Near His Village

[10] Serbs Camouflage Armaments Even in Schools

[11] Serb Police Brutalizes and Detains Seven Albanians at Checkpoint near Vushtrri

[01] "Balkan Graveyards Are Filled with President Milosevic's Broken Promises", Says Clinton

Following is the text of Clinton's statement, issued by his Press Secretary's Office:

(Begin text)

In recent weeks, faced with a deepening and dangerous crisis in Kosovo, the United States has worked to stop the violence and repression and put the people of Kosovo on the path to peace. Last month, the United Nations Security Council, through Resolution 1199, demanded that President Milosevic implement a cease-fire, withdraw the forces he has recently sent to Kosovo and garrison the rest, allow refugees to return to their villages, give immediate access to humanitarian relief agencies, and agree to a timetable for autonomy negotiations with the Kosovar Albanians.

President Milosevic has not yet complied with the international community's demands. Given his intransigence, the 16 members of NATO have just voted to give our military commanders the authority to carry out air strikes against Serbia. This is only the second time in NATO's history that it has authorized the use of force -- and the first time in the case of a country brutally repressing its own people.

The international community is now prepared to act. But as I have said from the beginning, we would prefer to resolve this crisis peacefully, rather than through military action. That is why I sent Ambassador Richard Holbrooke on a mission to make it clear to President Milosevic what the world expects him to do to avert the NATO air strikes.

Ambassador Holbrooke has reported to me, and in the past few hours to NATO, that, faced with a solid international front, President Milosevic has made a series of commitments. If fully implemented -- and that is a critical and very big "if" --these commitments could achieve the international community's objectives as stated in the United Nations resolution.

In light of President Milosevic's pledges, and the independent verification system that will be established, NATO has agreed to delay action for 96 hours.

President Milosevic has agreed first the fully comply with U.N. Security Council Resolution 1199. Second, he has accepted an intrusive international inspection to verify compliance. Third, he has agreed to a timetable for completing interim autonomy arrangements with the Kosovar Albanians.

If these commitments are met, and the international community will be able to see for itself whether they are met, they could provide the basis for peace and progress.

All along our objectives have been clear -- to end the violence in Kosovo which threatens to spill over into neighboring countries and to spark instability in the heart of Europe; to reverse a humanitarian catastrophe in the making as tens of thousands of homeless refugees risk freezing or starving to death in the winter; and to seek a negotiated peace.

But let me be very clear: Commitments are not compliance. Balkan graveyards are filled with President Milosevic's broken promises.

In the days ahead we will focus not only on what President Milosevic says, but on what we see that he does through a robust, on the ground and in the air verification system.

I hope that the commitments President Milosevic has made can create a peaceful way forward. That has been our preference all along. But together with our NATO partners, we will determine whether President Milosevic follows words with deeds. And we will remain ready to take military action if Mr. Milosevic fails to make good on his commitments this time.

As we approach the next century we must never forget one of the most indelible lessons of this one we're about to leave -- that America has a direct stake in keeping the peace in Europe before isolated acts of violence turn into large-scale wars. Today, determined diplomacy backed by force is creating the path to peace.

I want to thank Mr. Holbrooke, I want to thank Secretary General Solana and our NATO allies for all the contributions they have made. Now we must and we will do what is necessary to see that path to peace is followed.

Thank you very much.

(End text)

[02] ACTORDs Issued, Responsibility on Milosevic's Shoulders, Solana Says

Solana said Ambassador Holbrooke stressed there had been some progress in his efforts to resolve the crisis in Kosova and that this progress was largely due to the pressure of the Alliance in the last few days. "We have to maintain this pressure in order to ensure that the process continues", NATO Secretary General said in a statement to the press following the decision on the ACTORDs.

The 'FRY" has still not complied fully with UNSCR 1199 and time is running out, Solana said.

Diplomacy can still success and the use of military forces can be avoided, the NATO Secretary General said, adding that the responsibility is on Milosevic's shoulders. "He knows what he has to do."

[03] Independence, the Only Real Solution for Kosova, Parliament Says

In the midst of the Serbian military offensive - which has left almost 2, 000 Albanians killed, as many gone missing, over 450,000 displaced from their homes, most of them with no hope of ever returning back, because they have been levelled to the ground - Kosova has been turned into a "slaughterhouse" and most of its territory into a scorched earth, the Presidency of the Parliament of Kosova said in a press release issued from the meeting.

The Republic's Parliament condemned the ongoing Serbian criminal military and paramilitary offensive in Kosova and the Greater Serbian designs at the expense of Kosova.

"There can be no solution for the Kosova issue under Serbian- Yugoslav rule. The Albanian people and the other non-Serb peoples of Kosova have never, with no act whatsoever, recognized/accepted the Serbia-Montenegro state, which has been constituted without Albanians and against their wishes, nor the Serb-Montenegrin pretensions to keep Kosova under occupation," the Presidency of the Parliament said.

The Kosova Parliament called on the international community to address the Kosova issue, and not exclude independence as a solution for it.

The Parliament still supports a peaceful and political solution for Kosova, but also holds an international intervention is necessary as well as an interim stage international administration pending a lasting solution, which should be based on the will of the people of Kosova expressed in the 1991 referendum.

Based on all legal and political documents of the Republic of Kosova, the Parliament reaffirmed that "no group or individual in Kosova, excepting its legitimate representatives, has the authority to represent the people of Kosova, let alone agree to any arrangement for Kosova which is in opposition to the will of the people declared in the Referendum", a press release, signed by Idriz Ajeti, the Speaker of the Parliament of Kosova, concluded.

[04] LDK Hails NATO Ultimatum, Warns over Belgrade's Habits of Noncompliance

The LDK reaffirmed its policy line: the need for internationally guaranteed talks for Kosova, which should respect the political will of the people for independence.

In a statement issued today (Tuesday), the LDK said it welcomed NATO's issuance of activation orders, but warned of "grave experiences with Serb regime's broken promises and noncompliance".

The plight of the displaced Albanian population up and down Kosova is worsening by the hour, the LDK said, adding that it makes full implementation of NATO demands an imperative.

"The NATO ultimatum gives hope for a resolution of the Kosova issue," the LDK leadership said, adding that the delay of action may put in danger many Albanian families living rough in the open.

The LDK presidency reiterated its call for the deployment of "peacemaking international forces in Kosova" pending a negotiated, internationally guaranteed, settlement in Kosova.

[05] U^K Representative Hails NATO Activation Orders

PRISHTINA, Oct 13 (KIC) - Speaking at a press conference in Prishtina today, Adem Dema^i, the General Representative of the U^K (Kosova Liberation Army), hailed "the news that NATO will strike in four days' time if Milosevic fails to comply with UN Security Council Resolution 1199".

Unarmed [OSCE] observers would be an unsatisfactory solution, Dema^i said, referring to reports that Holbrooke had stricken a deal with Milosevic for such a presence in Kosova.

Asked to comment on the interim accord draft for Kosova, Dema^i said he himself, but also Kosova chief negotiator Fehmi Agani, was dissatisfied with the proposed arrangements.

The U^K would take part in negotiations with Belgrade when and if certain conditions have been met, Adem Dema^i said, adding that all Albanian prisoners should be released, the Albanian broadcasting media restored, the return of people to their homes completed, and criminals handed over to the Hague Tribunal.

The U^K representative called for the creation of a Government of National Salvation in Kosova.

The U^K reaffirmed said it would show self-restraint during eventual NATO strikes against Serb military installations, pursuant to its decision of 8 October to cease military actions.

The U^K Representative's Office issued a press release today in which it slammed the latest version of a draft accord for Kosova.

"It has substantial weaknesses", the Office said, adding that it was "unacceptable even as an interim accord", because it eliminated the sovereignty and the borders of the Republic of Kosova, as well 2as the U^K as a "real force to protect/preserve sovereignty".

[06] Two Men Wounded in Skenderaj Village, Attacked by Serbs on Monday

The chapter of the Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF) in Skenderaj said Serb forces backed up by heavy armament were deployed yesterday between the villages of Mak&rmal and Likovc, where from they attacked later the outlying hamlets.

The CDHRF said two local villagers were wounded in Plluzhina. It failed, however, to learn their identity or the extent of their injuries.

The LDK chapter in Skenderaj said Serb forces burned down Monday the whole farmhouse of an Albanian in Klin& e Ep&rme village.

Besides houses and barns of Sali Barani, Serbs set ablaze his lorry, tractor, car and farming appliances, it said.

[07] Bodies of Four Killed Albanians Found in Carrabreg, De^an

Local sources in Carrabreg village named said they identified three victims, naming them as Cuf& Balaj (78), Mone Balaj (f, 75), Ajmane Dautaj (f, 70). The fourth is a young man in his late teens, whose identity has not been established yet.

The LDK chapter in De^an said a 22-year-old Albanian, Arben Hajdari, resident of Shaptej village, died in his village on Sunday because of lack of medical treatment. The young Albanian was wounded earlier this year.

Sources in De^an and the neighboring Gjakova municipality said Serb troops have not been withdrawing, but rather repositioning and camouflaging in places that cannot be noticed easily by random passersby. Serb forces have been in particular garrisoning or digging in and around industrial complexes, according to local sources.

[08] First Snows Come in Suhareka Hills, With Thousands of Homeless Refugees

Motorized Serb convoys with soldiers in combat fatigue have been seen heading towards the villages of Gjinoc, Mohlan, Dubrav&, Sllagrazhd&, Mushtisht, Vraniq and Reshtan.

The LDK chapter in Suhareka said the first snows fell today morning in the hills and villages in the area, where thousands of refugees are living in makeshift plastic tents or gutted houses. Besides the shortage of basic food and medical supplies and winterization items, the uprooted people are faced with freezing, it said.

In some of the villages such as Grej^ec, ^adrak, Papaz and V&rshec, the local residents are afraid to return to their gutted houses, because of Serb forces' presence around their villages.

[09] Albanian Detained By Serbs Two Months Ago Found Dead Near His Village

The LDK Information Commission in Skenderaj said Rrustem Rreci, alongside with several neighbors of his, was rounded up by Serb forces and taken to an unknown place. There has been no word on their whereabouts so far.

[10] Serbs Camouflage Armaments Even in Schools

Part of the Serb war machinery has been withdrawn to their permanent bases, but most of it has been camouflaged in different places, including factories and buildings of community.

The local school in Cernica village has been turned into a virtual armor, eye-witnesses said. Huge quantities of weaponry and ammunition has been hidden in the school's gym, while classrooms into make-shift army barracks. The Serb school principal has been behaving as if he himself was an army officer, they said.

Cernica is a strategic Albanian-Serb mixed village, from where a number of outlying villages and those on both sides of Ferizaj- Gjilan roadway can be easily pounded with fire, the LDK chapter in Gjilan warned.

[11] Serb Police Brutalizes and Detains Seven Albanians at Checkpoint near Vushtrri

The LDK chapter in Vushtrri ('Vucitrn') said the seven Albanians arrested in Nadakovc on Sunday were residents of Drenica region. It could learn the identity of only one of them, naming him as Beqir Fekaj from K&rnina village of Istog.

Five of them were held in Serb police station in Vushtrri for around 24 hours, during which tine they were tortured badly. Two other men, one from Obria village of Gllogovc and the second one from ^ubrel of Skenderaj, have not been released yet.

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