Kosova Daily Report #1622, 98-11-26

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

Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1622
Prishtina, 26 November 1998

CONTENTS

[01] President Rugova Receives Austrian, Belgian and Greek Diplomats

[02] Fresh Serb Forces in Suhareka Hold Albanian Communities under Grip

[03] Serb Police Arrests Four Albanians in Nis, Serbia

[04] Serb Management Threatens Firing 50 Albanians from Work in Rahovec

[05] Serb Court Convicts Senior Education Official in Shtime

[01] President Rugova Receives Austrian, Belgian and Greek Diplomats

The current situation in Kosova, the prospects for a negotiated settlement to the Kosova issue, and the role of the OSCE and NATO verification missions were discussed in the meetings President Rugova had with European diplomats.

In view of the grave situation in Kosova in the wake of this year's Serbian aggression, the international community should step up efforts in the political and humanitarian fields, President Rugova said. He stressed the significance of the Kosova Verification Mission towards the creation of a feeling of security for the return of Albanian refugees and displaced people and a climate to pursue a political track in the resolution of the Kosova issue.

The Kosova leadership has been steadfast in its position that internationally-mediated, well prepared, talks between Prishtina and Belgrade should be the path to take in pursuit of a resolution, Rugova said.

The Austrian Ambassador Wolfgang Petritsch, the EU envoy for Kosova, spoke of the EU and Austria's efforts to alleviate the situation of the displaced population through coordinated humanitarian programmes.

Rugova and Petritsch also discussed about the political process on Kosova issue, stressing that dialogue should be well prepared if it is to yield concrete results.

In their discussions, President Rugova and Belgian diplomats Couvreur and Verbeke tackled ways Belgium can contribute to a political resolution in Kosova.

In the meeting with Greek diplomats, President Rugova spoke of the prospects for the creation of a climate conducive to a meaningful negotiating process. Such a process should be a means down the road to implement the democratic will of the people of Kosova for independence, the President concluded.

[02] Fresh Serb Forces in Suhareka Hold Albanian Communities under Grip

Additional Serb forces have been deployed in the municipality of Suhareka, harassing Albanians in static and rolling checkpoints on a daily basis. The Serbs have been repeatedly opening fire, during night hours in particular, in the direction of villages in the area.

[03] Serb Police Arrests Four Albanians in Nis, Serbia

Naser Vu^it&rna, Agim D&rguti, Qani Mullaabazi and Bujar Zika, all of them from the Kosovar town of Rahovec, were arrested on 18 November in the 'Ambassador' Hotel in Nis.

The LDK chapter in Rahovec said the four Albanians were transferred to the Prizren jail. They were summarily sentenced to one month investigative detention, on charges of being associated with the U^K.

Meanwhile, the Human Rights Council (CDHRF) reported that Shefqet Gashi (50), resident of Zo^isht village, was arrested on 18 November while travelling by bus to Krush& e Madhe village, and held for three days in custody. In the jail in Prizren, Gashi was beaten up, the CDHRF said.

[04] Serb Management Threatens Firing 50 Albanians from Work in Rahovec

The Serb management said the Albanians would lose jobs on grounds that they had not gone to work from 3 through 8 August 1998.

In the aftermath of the Serbian military crackdown in Rahovec in July, the Albanians had to report to the police station in town to obtain certificates to go to their work-places, the LDK chapter said. Those who indeed went to the police station were physically maltreated, it added.

[05] Serb Court Convicts Senior Education Official in Shtime

The LDK chapter in Shtime said Ahmet Ahmeti was convicted on fraudulent charges. His conviction is seen as part of a Serb regime drive to persecute and intimidate political and educational activists.

The LDK said that the situation in the town and surrounding villages has been rapidly deteriorating amidst stepped up re- deployment of Serb forces and their hostile attitude towards the Albanian population.

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