Yugoslav Daily Survey, 98-03-12

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From: Yugoslavia <http://www.yugoslavia.com>

Yugoslav Daily Survey

CONTENTS

[01] STATEMENT OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF THE FR OF YUGOSLAVIA

[02] SERBIAN INTERIOR MINISTRY'S PRELIMINARY REPORT ON ANTI-TERRORIST OPERATIONS IN KOSOVO-METOHIJA

[01] STATEMENT OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF THE FR OF YUGOSLAVIA

Tanjug, 1998-03-11

At its today's meeting chaired by Prime Minister Dr Radoje Kontic, the Federal Government considered the Statement from the Ministerial meeting of the Contact group held 9 March 1998 in London.

Appreciating the condemnation of separatism and terrorism contained in the Contact Group Statement, the Federal Government does not accept attempts to have any internal issue of the Republic of Serbia and the FRY internationalized. According to the assessment of the Federal Government there is no basis for that either in the international law or the international practice.

This is interference in internal affairs of a sovereign and independent country. The Federal Government indicates that terrorism is a scourge in Europe and the world alike and that it is dangerous to apply double standards in relation to it. It is a legitimate right and obligation of each country to energetically stand up against terrorism as a method for the realization of political goals. If we seek to eliminate terrorism what we need is a clear and unequivocal condemnation of that evil by all factors, particularly by responsible political forces and leaders of persons belonging to the Albanian national minority.

The Federal Government assesses that dealing with exclusively internal issues of a country at international meetings and threats involving the introduction of any measures of pressure, represents a flagrant violation of the international legal order and setting of a precedent with unforeseeable implications on the international relations.

While respecting all human and minority rights and standards set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, Helsinki Act, Paris Charter as well as the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the protection of minorities, the Federal Government considers that these document offer the framework for the resolution of all questions in Kosovo and Metohija through dialogue, by political means and within the constitutional order of the Republic of Serbia.

To that end, the Federal Government fully supports the positions of the Republic of Serbia contained in the latter's Statement of 10 March 1998 and the invitation to an open dialogue with a view to finding a solution to all concrete issues.

The Federal Government also fully supports the policy, measures and efforts made by the Republic of Serbia towards enabling a stable social development in the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija in the conditions of tolerance and full equality of all citizens, regardless of their nationality and religion, which represent the basis of each democratic and multi*ethnic society.

The Federal Government on this occasion as well confirms its readiness to cooperate with the international community on the basis of full equality, respecting legitimate interests, sovereignty, territorial integrity and constitutional and legal order of the FRY, in accordance with the international legal order.

The Federal Government calls upon all responsible international factors to refrain from any steps or acts which imply the encouragement of separatist elements in Kosovo and Metohija, particularly from undertaking any measures which are totally unfounded and which are contrary to the acknowledged and constructive role of the FRY as a factor of lasting peace, stability and good*neighbourliness in this part of Europe.

[02] SERBIAN INTERIOR MINISTRY'S PRELIMINARY REPORT ON ANTI-TERRORIST OPERATIONS IN KOSOVO-METOHIJA

Tanjug, 1998-03-11

The Serbian Information Ministry has published a Serbian Interior Ministry's preliminary report on its anti-terrorist action in Serbia's southern province of Kosovo-Metohija, which was adopted at the Government session on Tuesday.

The report said:

"Several-month terrorist attacks on the area of Srbica, which have threatened the safety of traffic on many roads and brought about numerous civilian casualties, engendering a feeling of insecurity of citizens of all nationalities, have imposed the need to fully secure safe travel by setting up police outposts.

"In an effort to hinder the implementation of these measures, a terrorist group led by Adem Jasari attacked police patrols on February 28, killing four policemen and injuring another two. Sixteen terrorists were liquidated in the clash.

"At dawn of March 5, a group of terrorists launched another attack on a police patrol near the village of Donje Prekaze. Following a strong police response, the terrorist group retreated to their stronghold on the Jasari family compound in the same village.

"Obeying all rules of procedure, police forces surrounded the terrorist group and invited them to surrender, while urging all other persons to clear the premises. The police gave them two hours to comply. Within the given deadline, dozens of civilians complied with the order and dispersed in safety from the terrorist stronghold.

"After the two-hour deadline expired, Adem Jasari's terrorist group responded with fire to a repeated call for surrender, using heavy weapons - mortars, machine guns, hand grenades, automatic and sniper guns.

"The battle with the terrorists lasted 27 hours. A total of 51 people were killed. Regrettably, it was later found that members of the Jasari family, whom the terrorists prevented from leaving their stronghold, were among those killed.

"The Interior Ministry expresses regret and bitterness that these were the victims of ethnic Albanian terrorists' cruelty and ruthlessness. The police had no way of knowing if there were any civilians left with the terrorists, since dozens of them had earlier vacated the premises surrounded by the police.

"The cruelty of A. Jasari can be also seen in the fact that he had personally killed his nephew in order to prevent him from surrendering himself.

"Two policemen were killed and another seven were seriously injured in the anti-terrorist operation.

"The terrorists had a total of 67 dead in both operations, whereas in the February 28 operation several people were killed and their bodies were removed by the terrorists while the fighting was in progress. "After the operation was completed, competent judicial bodies - the investigative magistrate in Kosovska Mitrovica in the presence of the prosecutor - carried out an investigation, and the full freedom of movement was subsequently restored in the area.

"The competent bodies are investigating allegations that the police had overstepped their authority in the operations and they will publish their findings," said the Interior Ministry's preliminary report.

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