Russan K-FOR troops extort firewood from Albanian transporters

Kamenicë, October 1, 1999 (Kosovapress) - Russian soldiers stationed in the village Crep of Kamenicë, are using their checkpoint to extort firewood from all the transporters that pass through. Based on the latest reports of financial difficulties of the Russian government, and the unability to support the troops in Kosova, this brings us to conclusion that the wood is to be used for heating purposes, since winter is approaching.

Our reporter happened to be in the truck of Mr. Sadik Shkodra when the russian troops at the checkpoint asked him for wood as a checkpoint passing condition. After they received the firewood, Mr. Shkodra was allowed to pass.

Serbs are selling their houses in public auctions

Viti, October 1, 1999 (Kosovapress) - Many eywitnesses from the town of Vitia are reporting what they describe as public auctions organized by individual Serbs with the aim of selling their house(s). The customers are the Albanians, who buy the houses, usually with inflated prices.

However, this is not the end. In most of the cases, the same Serbs that sell the houses voluntarily, due to the high real-estate prices, claim to the Serbian and foreign press that they have been threatened by Albanians to leave, therefore they sold the house.

Gjakovë: A minor killed by Serb mine

Prishtinë, October 1, 1999 (KIC) - Esat Krasniqi (14) died, and his cousins Avdi and Driton Curri (14 and 13) were critically wounded as a result of a mine explotion that occured in the Çabrat section of Gjakova.

City's authorities once again appealed to the population not to enter the section of Çabrat under any circumstance, since the Serb troops have mined the area heavily, and no de-mining action has begun yet.

Meidani: Kosova and Montenegro will become independent countries

Lublana, October 1, 1999 (KD-RFE) - In an interview to Lublana's daily "Delo", Albania's president Rexhep Meidani said that there is no possibility for the formation of "New Federations" in the Balkans, since Kosova's and Montenegro's goals are Euro-Atlantic integration. Meidani said that Albanians and Serbs have to live together in Kosova. When asked about the impressions about the equality when Meidani was a visiting professor in the University of Prishtina during 1977-1980, he said that unlike now, at that time, "positive atmosphere of cooperation existed on both sides".