Kosova Daily Report #1577, 98-10-09

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

Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1577
Prishtina, 9 October 1998

CONTENTS

[01] President Rugova's Press Conference

[02] U^K Halts Its Military Actions

[03] LDK, PLK Call for NATO Intervention in Kosova

[04] Four Unidentified Bodies Cannot Be Buried in Malisheva Village

[05] Fresh Serb Troops Deployed in Planej& of Prizren

[06] Land Mines Explode in Southern Kosova Village

[07] Albanian Family Evicted from Apartment

[01] President Rugova's Press Conference

PRISHTINA, Oct 9 (KIC) - The President of the Republic of Kosova Dr. Ibrahim Rugova told a press conference in Prishtina today the situation in Kosova continued to be grave and dangerous. Serb military and police forces have continued their action against villages in Malisheva, Drenica and Mitrovica. "Thousands of Albanians live up in the hills, exposed to the elements", Rugova said, referring to reports that there have already occurred cases of people dying of low temperatures, especially children. The slain and mutilated bodies of scores of people - mostly elderly, women, and children - have been found in the past several days, he added, speaking about the consequences of Serb offensives in Kosova.

The Serb regime campaign of violence and repression against Albanians has continued, with arrests and trials of hundreds of people for political reasons, Ibrahim Rugova stressed.

The Kosova President told reporters Serb forces have not withdrawn from Kosova. "On the contrary, fresh troops have been sent in from Serbia, and others have only been repositioned."

The best solution for Kosova is for it to be an independent country, with all guarantees for local Serbs and an interim stage international protectoarata, Dr. Rugova reiterated his well-known line. "Kosova was an associate member of a state that has ceased to exist, that is ex- Yugoslavia. Therefore, just like the other republics, Kosova has the right to be independent", President Rugova said. He pointed out that Kosova has been "an occupied state since 1990", whereas it has been under unrelenting Serbian aggression since March 1998. "Kosova's independence would stabilize the entire South-eastern Europe", he underlined.

The Kosova leader hailed the permanent efforts of U.S. President and Secretary of State on Kosova, calling Clinton and Albright "friends of Kosova". He thanked also other world leaders, including John Paul II, Prime Minister Blair and Foreign Minister Cook, President Chirac, NATO Secretary Solana, Kofi Annan, President Yelstin. Rugova called on Russia to be more constructive and to abandon the "logic of the cold war".

President Rugova pressed on the USA, UE, UN, and NATO to "undertake more energetic steps to protect the people of Kosova".

A NATO intervention should be seen as a move to protect the people of Kosova, pursuant to Chapter VII of the UN, President Rugova concluded.

[02] U^K Halts Its Military Actions

The General Staff of the U^K issued a statement in which it said the U^K would show "self-restraint, so as to contribute to the implementation of the UN Security Resolution" of 24 September which called for a ceasefire.

The "self-restraint" will be effective during the NATO military actions, but the U^K retains the right to respond if the other side (Serbs) will not respect this, the statement said.

One of the reasons cited in summer against NATO intervention in against Serb targets in Kosova was that the U^K "would take advantage of them" to further its gains.

[03] LDK, PLK Call for NATO Intervention in Kosova

The Belgrade regime has not complied with any of the demands contained in UN Security Council Resolution 1199, the LDK said.

The main political force called today on the UN Security Council, the United States, the European Union, the OSCE, and members of the Contact Group, and NATO not to believe Belgrade's "empty promises" any longer.

"There should be no hesitation to launch strong and urgent action, to intervene militarily in Kosova, to end Serbian aggression", the LDK said, adding that peacekeeping ground troops should then be committed here so as to ensure that a political and negotiates solution to the Kosova issue is found on the basis of the political will of the people of Kosova expressed in the 1991 referendum.

Meanwhile, the Liberal Party of Kosova (PLK) added its voice to the calls for multinational NATO forces to destroy the Serbian war machinery and arsenal, to "pave the way for a political resolution" in Kosova respecting the will of the people.

[04] Four Unidentified Bodies Cannot Be Buried in Malisheva Village

The bodies could not be identified or buried because of the Serb forces' presence in the area. Serb troops have been occupying five houses of Albanians in Gllareva village, the source said.

The LDK said the residents of Kramovik village were prevented by the Serb police from returning to their homes today. Some of the villagers were reportedly told by Serb police they would be shot dead if they only attempted to come near the village.

Local activists said that only one house in Kramonik village was not hit by Serb shells during heavy attacks in summer months. A small number of houses in the village can be used for temporary shelter, they said.

[05] Fresh Serb Troops Deployed in Planej& of Prizren

The LDK chapter in Prizren said a long convoy of Serb troops in armored vehicles and trucks trailing artillery pieces drove today morning along the Gjonaj village. The troops stopped later at Planej&, where they began digging in and camouflaging in the forests.

The rapid buildup of Serb troops has caused apprehension amongst the local population.

[06] Land Mines Explode in Southern Kosova Village

Sources in the area said that land mines have been planted in many places along the Kosova-Macedonia border area. Several of them have exploded during the past few months, killing cattle in the area. No human casualty have been reported.

[07] Albanian Family Evicted from Apartment

PRISHTINA, Oct 9 (KIC) - The family of Nuredin Ibishi in Prishtina was forced by Serb police to vacate their apartment they have legally lived for 15 years.

The Trade Union of former policemen of Kosova, whose member Nuredin Ibishi is, said five Serb policemen broke into his apartment on Tuesday ordering them to remove things immediately. "Your husband does not recognize the Serb state, therefore you have to leave", Serb policemen told Mrs Ibishi.

A Serb police officer has occupied the apartment, the trade union said.

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