Kosova Daily Report #1725, 99-03-19

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

Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1725
Prishtina, 19 March 1999

CONTENTS

[01] Kosova Delegation Signs Rambouillet Accords, Serbs Refuse

[02] Rugova's Aide Presses for NATO Action to Protect the People of Kosova and Enforce the Rambouillet Deal

[03] Serbian Forces Continue their Offensive in Mitrovica and Vushtrri Area

[04] Two Podujeva Villages Shelled, Fresh Serb Forces Enter Kosova

[05] LDK Activist Found Killed in Bishtazhin, Gjakova Area

[06] Albanians Missing in Prizren, Malisheva and Klina

[01] Kosova Delegation Signs Rambouillet Accords, Serbs Refuse

PRISHTINA, March 19 (KIC) - In a signing ceremony in Paris on Thursday evening, the representatives of the Kosova delegation - President Ibrahim Rugova, Hashim Tha^i, Rexhep Qosja and Veton Surroi - signed the Kosova interim agreement negotiated at Rambouillet last month.

The U.S. and EU negotiators, ambassadors Chris Hill and Wolfgang Petritsch, also signed the document.

The Russian negotiator, Mayorski, also present in the signing ceremony, did not sign the agreement which the 'FRY' side has refused to sign, in a clear show of defiance to the international community.

The Kosovar delegation has now painted a 'black and white' situation. It has demonstrated the commitment of the people and the leadership of Kosova to a political solution for Kosova.

The Serbian side has been pursuing a military, and not a peaceful solution to the Kosova issue, by stepping up its military aggression against the Albanian people at the time of the Rambouillet/Paris conference.

The West's and indeed NATO credibility is on the line now.

[02] Rugova's Aide Presses for NATO Action to Protect the People of Kosova and Enforce the Rambouillet Deal

The Kosova agreement, as it has already been observed, "does not fulfill the express will of the people of Kosova for independence, as the only lasting and acceptable solution", Mr. Mustafa said. The Kosova delegation accepted this interim deal, however, being fully convinced that it will normalize life and bring NATO in, he added.

All the conditions have been created for an "urgent NATO intervention, for strikes against Serbian military targets, and the deployment of NATO troops, so as to protect the people of Kosova and enforce the Rambouillet deal", Rugova's aide said.

By refusing to sign, the Belgrade regime has once again demonstrated that it is against a peaceful and political solution in Kosova, Xhemail Mustafa said.

During the negotiations in France, under the pretext of NATO threats, the Serbian regime has brought in huge reinforcements in troops and armor, President Ibrahim Rugova's aide said. "This is one more reason why the international community and its institutions should give up their political rhetoric and act urgently against Serbian forces in Kosova".

The line for triggering NATO action has been crossed by now, Xhemail Mustafa said, in reply to a question. NATO should intervene now to implement the Kosova agreement, he added.

Asked about what the people of Kosova should do in case Serbs retaliated against the Albanian population after possible NATO strikes, Mustafa said the people of Kosova would call for and expect help from the international community. "The people will also find ways to organize self-defense", he added.

A new humanitarian catastrophe is looming in Kosova, now that 30,000 Albanian people have been driven from their homes amidst the unfolding Serbian offensives in separate parts of Kosova, Xhemail Mustafa said.

The Serbian regime is apparently keen on continuing its offensive in Kosova amidst a news black-out, President Rugova's press advisor said, referring to the Belgrade's crackdown on three Albanian-language outlets in Kosova, "Kosova sot", "Gazeta e Re Shqiptare" and "Rilindja".

[03] Serbian Forces Continue their Offensive in Mitrovica and Vushtrri Area

Serb infantry forces tried to advance into the area, but were repelled by U^K units, they added.

Meanwhile, the village of Be^uk was machine-gunned overnight by Serbian forces, local sources said.

Serbian army and police, backed up by tanks and other combat equipment, headed to Be^uk village today. They fired at three Albanian family compounds - Ahmetaj, Halitaj and Mustafa - in the village.

The villages of Pantin& and Okrashtic& were shelled last night by Serb forces, local LDK sources said.

[04] Two Podujeva Villages Shelled, Fresh Serb Forces Enter Kosova

PRISHTINA, March 19 (KIC) - Two Podujeva villages, Obran^& and Katunisht& ('Velika Reka'), were shelled for some time today morning.

Serb police forces left Podujeva for Peran village, a Serbian military base, at 11:00 CET.

Two Serb army tanks and two lorryloads of soldiers left the Dumosh airfield today morning, heading for Prishtina.

Fresh Serbian troops and armor - including tanks - entered Kosova from Serbia via the Nis-Podujeva-Prishtina highway at around 11:30 CET, local LDK sources said.

Meanwhile, local sources said the corpses found yesterday in Peran village were suspected of being the bodies of Nazmi Azem Ismajli (39) and Ismet Muharrem Beqiri (43), both local residents of Peran, who were arrested by Serbian forces on 9 January. They have been unaccounted for since then.

The corpses were found not far from the houses in the village of Peran. They have been taken to Prishtina hospital morgue for examination.

[05] LDK Activist Found Killed in Bishtazhin, Gjakova Area

Ferid's family said he was in his work-place yesterday, and had reportedly left by car back for his place.

The body of Ferid Domi has been taken to the Gjakova morgue.

[06] Albanians Missing in Prizren, Malisheva and Klina

They are Bali Avdaj from Lubi^ev&, Nuredin Shala from Jeshkov&, Shemsedin Shala from Kushtendil, Rexhep Budurri from Ho^a e Qytetit, Fehmi Shala from Ho^a e Qytetit, Hilmi Shala from Jeshkov&, Shehadin Gashi from Bilusha, Besnik Kastrati from Dushanov&, Musli Gashi from Hatmaxh&, Ymer Shala from Jeshkov& and Faik Be^aj from Malisheva, local sources in Prizren said.

Meanwhile, LDK sources in Malisheva said Mehmet R. Gashi (1961), resident of Suhareka, and Faik Telaku, resident of Banja e Malishev&s, have been unaccounted for for two days now.

Armed and masked policemen rounded up a number of civilian Albanians in Radulloc village of Klina yesterday. They were driven away in two cars in the direction of Gjurakovc, local LDK sources said, failing to give their names.

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