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Kosova Communication 238 - 22/10/95From: kosova@gn.apc.org (Kosova Information Centre)Kosovo News DirectoryKosova CommunicationBulletin of the Ministry of Information of the Republic of Kosova4th year, No 238 , 22 October 1995CONTENTS[01] Kosova is Present in Diplomatic Circles says Rugova[02] Problem of Kosova must be solved Berisha is told[03] Albanian and US Defense Ministers Meet[04] Kosova Amendments Included in Legislation Pending in Conference[05] Gilman Resolution Presses Macedonia[06] New academic year starts in University of Tetova[07] Statement by Albanian Youth Organisations[08] 10,000 non-Kosova citizens study in Prishtina[09] Serbian, assassin of Human Rights leader arrested[10] Calls for sovereign and independent Montenegro[11] CDHRF report on human rights abuses in Kosova.[12] Presure on personel of presidents office.[13] More Albanian workers dismissed.[01] Kosova is Present in Diplomatic Circles says RugovaThe President of the Republic of Kosova, Ibrahim Rugova, in an interview published on 20th October in Bota Sot (The World Today) stated that the recent visits of diplomats to Kosova and regular contacts of Kosova with diplomatic representatives of Western countries are connected with the new American initiative, as Kosova was present in diplomatic and state circles and was encompassed in the global plan for the solution of the former Yugoslav crisis.Contact lead to a good direction towards the solution of the question of Kosova on the basis of the political will of the people expressed in the referendum. Today things are clear - the referendum, free elections and the organisational structure that we have created constitute the main basis for the solution of the Kosova question, stated Mr. Rugova. Asked about the demand for the establishment of an international protectorate in Kosova, Mr. Rugova stated that that would be one of the political, diplomatic and preventive means to be applied until a final solution of the issue. An international civil protectorate is acceptable for Kosova in this situation, as well as for Serbia, and there are positive considerations towards this question, added President Rugova. President Rugova further, stated that there is now a base for looking at the future of Kosova with optimism. Our organisation, beginning with the Constitutional Declaration, the Constitution of Kosova, the Referendum, elections, solidarity network, education, health care, pluralism , state and political structure that we have created are important, and the world is aware of these results. All these forms of organisation give us force to stand strong and resist. We must be also optimistic because we have made friends in the outside world. Kosova will soon be a country like all other countries that have emerged from the former Yugoslavia, a country rich in natural and human resources, and experience gained during these years. This is where my optimism is based, said Mr. Rugova.
[02] Problem of Kosova must be solved Berisha is toldThe President of the Republic of Albania, Sali Berisha, at a press conference on 17th October in Tirana, following his last visit to Italy, stated that Italy, during her six month leadership of EU, would consider a priority the question of opening of talks for the associate membership agreement of Albania with the EU.Referring to the question of Kosova, President Berisha said that the Italian Government considered the solution to the question of Kosova a necessity and a condition for the solution of the Balkan crisis. It also appreciated the attitude of the Albanian leadership of Kosova towards the problem. Italy will give its contribution towards the restoration of the violently revoked autonomy of Kosova, emphesised out President Berisha.
[03] Albanian and US Defense Ministers MeetThe defense Minster of the Republic of Albania, Mr. Safet Zhulali, was received at the US Pentagon on 16th October by the US defense minister William Perry. An agreement regarding military relations concerning information exchange and security of the two countries and the defense of secret military data was signed.Speaking on the situation in the region, Zhulali said the peace plan for Bosnia is important for establishing peace and stability in the whole of former Yugoslavia. However, he went on to ad that peace in Yugoslavia must be accompanied with guaranteed rights for the Albanians of Kosova and the creation of democratic space for Albanians in the former Yugoslavia.
[04] Kosova Amendments Included in Legislation Pending in ConferenceThree significant Kosova amendments to congressional appropriations bills, two by Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole (R-KS) and one introduced by Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY), have been included in conference committee bills currently under consideration. Rep. Engel's amendment to the House Foreign Operations Appropriations bill for fiscal 1996 links any easing of sanctions against Serbia to improvements in the Kosova situation. Sen. Dole's companion amendment to the Commerce, State and Justice Department Appropriations bill calls for restoration of civil and human rights, return of international observers, meeting of the elected government, and an end to Serbian repression. A second Dole amendment, included in the foreign aid bill passed last month, earmarks at least $6 million in humanitarian assistance for Kosova. House-Senate conferees are likely to accept all three amendments, sources said. Once passed, the Foreign Operations bill faces the possibility of a presidential veto. (Ruder Finn)
[05] Gilman Resolution Presses MacedoniaHouse Concurrent Resolution 103, introduced Sept. 21 by Rep. Ben Gilman (R-NY), chairman of the House International Relations Committee, calls on Macedonia to "take appropriate measures to ensure the fair and equitable treatment" of Albanians in Macedonia, particularly with respect to conducting higher education in the Albanian language. The "sense of the Congress" resolution also urges Macedonia to pardon persons convicted in the University of Tetova Albanian-language confrontation last February. The resolution, if passed, has no force of law but simply presents the views of Congress on the issue.
[06] New academic year starts in University of TetovaOn 16 October, the new academic year started in 6 Faculties of the University of Tetova. Mr. Fadil Sylejmani, Rector of the University, addressed students and professors gathering at the premises of the Economics Faculty. He stated that University of Tetova was this year better prepared, with greater funds and possessed more academic staff and premises. According to Mr. Sylejmani, 150 lecturers will teach 1,254 students in 17 lecture halls, three labs and other premises.
[07] Statement by Albanian Youth OrganisationsOn 14 and 15 October , the first meeting of the Youth Forums of the Democratic Party of Albania, Democratic League of Kosova, Democratic League in Montenegro, Party for Democratic Action (Bujanovc Branch) and Party for Democratic Prosperity of Albanians in Macedonia was held in Tetova. The situation of Albanian youth was the main topic discussed. The participants, considering that the time was for new initiatives agreed to establish a Coordinating Council of Youth Forums. A statement issued on this occasion , stated: We support peace negotiations in the former Yugoslavia and consider that without a solution to the Kosova problem there cannot be peace in the Balkans. We therefore demand greater international support for the peaceful policies of Albanians. We also demand a halt to the colonisation of Kosova and its demilitarisation before any dialogue may begin. We support the demands for the implementation of the memorandum for special status for Albanians in Montenegro We support the University of Tetova and demand that International Community press for its institutionalisation.
[08] 10,000 non-Kosova citizens study in PrishtinaAbout 18,000 Serbian students currently study at the Serbian run University of Prishtina. About 10,000 of them came from Serbia and other regions of the former Yugoslavia (1,100 from Bosnia and Croatia). They came to Prishtina after being refused a University place at Universities in Serbia.
[09] Serbian, assassin of Human Rights leader arrestedIn the beginning of October the Greek police, pursuant to an Interpol warrant, arrested Darko Asanin from Serbia. Asanin has been arrested under suspicion of having assassinated a Kosova Albanian, Enver Hadri. Namely, Enver Hadri was killed on 25 February 1990 in Brussels, on his way to the European Parliament. Mr.Hadri had been living in Belgium since 1960 and was chair of the Committee for Albanians Rights. The perpetrators were duly identified by Belgium authorities but Belgrade ignored their demands for extradition With this arrest the case has been reopened and Belgium demanded his extradition from Greece. Darko Asanin also stands accused of other three murders in former Yugoslavia.
[10] Calls for sovereign and independent MontenegroSeven Montenegrin associations appealed to countries involved in finding a solution for the crisis in the former Yugoslavia. They demanded that Montenegro be treated as subject with the same rights and obligations as all other former Yugoslav Republics, Belgrade based Nasa Borba informs. Signatories of the appeal (Matica Crnogorska, Democratic Forum for Human Rights and Inter- ethnic relations, Citizens Forum, Students Forum, Montenegrin PEN, Independent Society of Montenegrin Writers and Society against Fascism) express the need for Montenegro to be treated equally regarding reciprocal recognition of former Yugoslav republics, as independent and sovereign states, within the borders they had prior to disintegration of the country.
[11] CDHRF report on human rights abuses in Kosova.The Prishtina-based Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms (CDHRF), in a monthly report on Serbian regime/police practices in Kosova, reports 'in the wake of the ever increasing campaign of arms searches and harassment of people under this pretext, during September the Serbian regime re- launched a wide-spread campaign of plundering Kosova citizens. Over the past month, Serbian police raided marketplaces in virtually all Kosova centres stripping vendors and citizens, large amounts of money and goods. According to Council estimates, Serbian police (regular troops and/or so-called 'fiscal police') have seized no less than DM 150,000 from Kosova citizens and private business owners last month. Behind such a campaign is the Serbian regime's intent on 'catering' for the needs of Serb colonists in Kosova, the CDHRF reports. During September this year, 742 Albanians, including 19 children, were subjected to diverse forms of Serbian police practices. 285 Albanian families had their homes raided under the contrived pretext of arms searches; 163 persons were arrested, 224 persons were ill-treated in various fashions, out of them 117 were beaten. 11 Albanians were badly tortured and had to seek medical treatment, says the report. The CDHRF makes mention of other forms of Serbian regime repression, noting that 133 Albanians were summoned to the so-called police "informative talks', three women were taken hostage in cases where their husbands were not found when police inquired for them, whereas 88 political and educational leaders and activists were subjected to Serbian police ill-treatment. The forceful eviction of Albanians from their apartments has also continued over the last month, said the report, pointing out that as many as 10 Albanians were forced to vacate their apartments, which were later allocated to Serb families. The CDHRF provides illustrative examples of Serbian police atrocities, emphasising that the number of persons having been ill-treated during September might be higher, but many people failed to report their cases fearing retaliatory actions of the Serbian police.
[12] Presure on personel of presidents office.The personnel of President Rugova's Office have been frequently targeted by the Serbian regime in the past few months. On 16 October, Mr. Adnan Merovci, technical secretary in the Office of President Rugova of Kosova, had his passport seized by Serbian security officers. Mr Merovci was held in custody from 7 to 22 September 1995 on charges of alleged illegal arms possession, and a lawsuit against him has been initiated. On 21 September 1995 President Rugova's driver, Qefser Baholli, was questioned by the Serbian security over President Rugova's activities and had his passport seized. On 8 May 1995, two other drivers in the President's Office, Muharrem Rama and Mentor Zeqiri, had their passports seized by the Serbian authorities.
[13] More Albanian workers dismissed.During the first half of October, 102 of 160 Albanian employees of 17 Nentori Company in Ferizaj were dismissed from their jobs for having refused to sign new collective contracts. Serbian occupying authorities, since the coercive measures were applied on 23 March 1993, of 349 Albanian workers in this company 26o have been dismissed. |
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