|
|
|
Kosova Daily Report #1625, 98-12-01
Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1625
Prishtina, 1 December 1998
CONTENTS
[01] Dema^i Denies Existence of Foreign Fighters in the U^K
[02] Kosova Chief Negotiator to Hold Press Conference in the Press Center
on Wednesday
[03] Albanian Commits Suicide after Being Tortured by Serb Police
[04] Albanian Girl, Run Down by Serb Army Vehicle, Dies
[05] Serb Occupies Flat of Albanian in Rahovec by Force
[01] Dema^i Denies Existence of Foreign Fighters in the U^K
PRISHTINA, Dec 1 (KIC) - Adem Dema^i, the Political Representative of the
Kosova Liberation Army (U^K), denied today in the strongest terms
allegations that foreign fighters have joined the U^K ranks, or that Bin
Ladin, the Saudi millionaire accused of terrorism, has infiltrated units to
Kosova.
There are no foreign fighters within the U^K, but only Albanians who fought
in Croatia, Bosnia, and elsewhere, Dema^i told a press conference today,
"insisting there are no people of other ethnic backgrounds in the U^K". The
U^K has not allowed any alien element to infiltrate it, he said, adding
that "we have enough fighters, we even have not got enough weapons for the
number of people wishing to join us and willing to die for Kosova".
The U^K has not given up its independence drive, Adem Dema^i said, when
asked to comment further on his remarks to the Voice of America late last
week that the U^K was willing to compromise, namely to accept republic
status for Kosova within the rump Yugoslavia. "You should add to this that
it should mean not only a republic's status within Yugoslavia, but also
guarantees from the U.S. and EU that in three years' time Albanians will be
allowed to exercise their right to self-determination in determining their
future".
A step by step solution to the Kosova issue which does not preclude
independence, namely which leads to the implementation of the 1991
independence referendum, is acceptable, the U^K Political Representative
stressed, in reply to a number of questions. Dema^i took pains to clarify
that he himself and the U^K did not said they would settle for anything
less than independence in the long run.
"The U^K and all the political forces have made a common cause, have a
unified position which emanates from the popular referendum of the year
1991, opting for an independent and sovereign Republic of Kosova". Mr.
Ibrahim Rugova, the U^K, and all others stand for independence, and all of
them are willing to pursue the goal step by step, Adem Dema^i said,
rejecting criticism that President Rugova of Kosova has not given up the
independence goal, while the U^K is doing this. The U^K will not lay down
its arms up until independence is achieved, Dema^i said.
The kind of status that Kosova had in the former Yugoslavia, according to
the 1974 Constitution, is not possible now that that Yugoslavia has ceased
to exist, the U^K representative said, insisting that the status of the
republic for Kosova, just like Serbia's and Montenegro's, can be restored
for an interim period.
Dema^i said his office has come up with a reaction to the U.S. Ambassador
Chris Hill's plan for an interim solution for Kosova.
"We have ten fundamental objections [to the plan] and we will forward them
to the U^K General Staff" for an official response, Dema^i said. The plan
should undergo essential emendations for it to become acceptable, he
added.
The U^K representative reiterated his position on the need to create a
comprehensive body, an Assembly, in Kosova, which would then elect a
"maximally broadly-based Government" and complete the negotiating team for
internationally mediated talks with Belgrade.
Adem Dema^i has floated the idea of the establishment of an unelected
Assembly which would replace, if not effectively undo, the Parliament of
the Republic of Kosova, elected in the 22 March 1998 vote.
[02] Kosova Chief Negotiator to Hold Press Conference in the Press Center
on Wednesday
PRISHTINA, Dec 1 (KIC) - Dr Fehmi Agani, the head of the Kosova negotiating
team for talks with Belgrade, will hold Wednesday a press conference in the
newly-launched Press Center in Prishtina, located in the 'Dora'
restaurant.
In the press conference, scheduled for 11:00 hrs, Dr Agani will speak about
the political process, the U.S. envoy Chris Hill's plan for an interim
settlement in Kosova, as well as the Kosovar position on such a
settlement.
[03] Albanian Commits Suicide after Being Tortured by Serb Police
PRISHTINA, Dec 1 (KIC) - Last Friday, on 27 November, Xhemajl Byty^i, 43,
killed himself by hanging in the town of Shtime, the Bujku newspaper
reported.
Byty^i, resident of Re^ak village, father of five, had been repeatedly
tortured by the Serbian police in November, the newspaper said, adding that
his farmhouse had been burned on 18 November, too.
In a written statement to the local chapter of the Prishtina-based Council
for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF) dated 24 November,
Xhemajl claimed he had been detained a number of times by the Serb police
in Ferizaj, on which occasions he was tortured on charges of having
assisted the U^K (Kosova Liberation Army) with wheat flour and tobacco.
Xhemajl Byty^i was taken to the Serb police station in Ferizaj on 12, 21
and 23 November also, and tortured for hours by police, who used electric
truncheons.
During a police interrogation by police on 23 November he was threatened
with liquidation of his family.
Xhemajl Byty^i committed suicide in such a grave psychic situation, the
Bujku said.
[04] Albanian Girl, Run Down by Serb Army Vehicle, Dies
PRISHTINA, Dec 1 (KIC) - Five days ago, a nine-year-old Albanian girl,
Sarand& Arif Tha^i, received grave body injuries when she was run down by a
Serb army vehicle in the Piskota neighbourhood of the town of Gjakova, the
Bujku newspaper reported.
The little girl was taken to the Prishtina hospital, where she died of
wounds she had been inflicted in Gjakova, the newspaper said.
[05] Serb Occupies Flat of Albanian in Rahovec by Force
PRISHTINA, Dec 1 (KIC) - A Serb woman, Olgica Mojsic, an employee with the
Park hotel in the town of Rahovec ('Orahovac'), was assisted by Serb police
early August to break in and occupy the flat of a local Albanian doctor,
Dr. Sk&nder Gashi, a gynecologist, in the Miladin Popoviq street in
Rahovec.
Dr. Gashi told the KIC today the Serb woman had broken into his apartment
in the wake of the summer Serb offensive in town, when he and his family
had fled their home.
The Albanian doctor said he had bought the flat in November 1997 and had
all the supporting documentation.
Gashi's wife and children were prevented by Olgica Mojsic and the Serb
police to return to their apartment, the Albanian doctor said.
Kosova Information Center
|
