|
Monday, Mar. 1, 1999, 5:30 PM.
After today’s fighting, civilian population has
taken to the mountains
Kacanik, February 28, 1999 (Kosovapress)
Today, in Gajre of Kacanik from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM fierce fighting took place between KLA
units and Serbian police and military forces. Military confrontations started after the
attack of Serbian forces on Gajre and against KLA positions in this village. In their
attack they used all kinds of weapons including tanks, armoured vehicles etc. In these
confrontations two KLA soldiers were lightly wounded, whereas from the enemies side there
were seven policemen or soldiers killed, amongst which also the Commander of the Kacanik
Police Station. Serbian infantry forces could not take over Gajre and they retreated
around 6:00 PM leaving behind them two burnt down armoured cars.
The civil population of Gajre and other neighboring villages like Ivaje, Kotlina, Shtraza
etc, have abandoned their homes and their villages and are spending the night in the
mountains in the severe cold and snow.
Serbian Forces Shell Five Villages in Vushtrri Area
PRISHTINA, March 1 (KIC) - On Sunday evening, Serbian military and police forces shelled
the villages of Taraxhë, Liqej, Oshlan, Dubofc and Galicë, municipality of Vushtrri,
local LDK sources said. Sporadic gunfire aimed at these Albanian villages was heard all
night long. No immediate details on the consequences of this assault have been made
available.
Meanwhile, five Albanian civilians were arrested by Serbian police in two separate cases
in Vushtrri on Sunday, local sources said. Three of them have been named as Bajram Shalaku
(56), Xheladin Berisha (37), residents of Okrashtica, and Sahit Rrudhani.
Serbian Forces Machine-Gun UÇK Positions in Mitrovica Area
Overnight
PRISHTINA, March 1 (KIC) - Automatic gunfire was reported near the Ibri bridge and the bus
station in the town of Mitrovica at 19:40 CET on Sunday, local sources told the KIC. Later
on, beginning at 21:45 CET, Serbian forces stationed in the hills overlooking the villages
of Frashër i Vogël, Vaganicë e Poshtme, Vaganicë e Epërme, Pirç and Vërnicë,
machine-gunned UÇK (Kosova Liberation Army) positions in the area. The machine-gun
assault against UÇK positions resumed early today (Monday) morning, lasting for three
hours, from 02:00 through 05:00 CET, local sources said.
Serbian troops opened artillery fire from their military base at Shipol, on the suburbs of
Mitrovica, early in the morning today. There has been no immediate word on casualties or
material damage.
A number of Vushtrri villages bordering on the Mitrovica municipality, including Oshlan,
Pantinë and Liqej, were shelled overnight, local LDK sources in Mitrovica reported.
Population of Five Villages Displaced in Southeastern Kosova
One Albanian killed, one wounded by Serbian forces in Gajre village yesterday PRISHTINA,
March 1 (KIC) - In the wake of the Serbian military crackdown in south-eastern Kosova,
most of the Albanian residents of five villages - Bob, Biçec, Kovaçec, Gjurgjedell and
Llanishtë -fled their homes, local LDK sources said.
Thousands of Albanians tried to cross over to the neighbouring Macedonia yesterday, but
were turned back by the Serbian forces at the Hani i Elezit border crossing. Some of the
families found refuge in the small town of Hani i Elezit itself, whereas the rest were
encouraged by the OSCE verification mission to return back home.
An alarming situation has been reported in the villages of Rezhancë and Krivenik, which
have been sealed off by Serbian forces, local sources said.
Serbian forces killed one Albanian and wounded another in Gajre village, municipality of
Kaçanik, yesterday, LDK sources said. The killed Rrustem Halim Çallaku (64) was buried
today. The wounded Albanian has been named as Fejzullah Rexhep Çallaku (79).
Heavy Serbian Military Buildup in Central Kosova
PRISHTINA, March 1 (KIC) - A heavy Serbian military presence has been reported in central
Kosova, in Rahovec, Malisheva and Shtime municipalities. Scores of Serbian armoured and
other motorized vehicles have been reported stationed there recently. Because of the Serb
forces' concentration near Rahovec and Hoçë e Madhe, the Albanian population of half a
dozen villages (Shkozë, Jançift, Maxharrë, Ostrozub, Dragobil, etc.) lives in anxiety,
local LDK sources said.
Serb forces have threatened with reprisals over the alleged kidnapping of two Serbs from
Hoçë e Madhe village. The residents of Shkozë village spent the night outside their
village in fear.
A column of Serbian military police vehicles arrived in Shtime from Ferizaj today morning,
local sources said.
Serbian military forces stationed at Pishnajat e Shtimes (the Shtime Pinewood) have been
on the move, back and forth to Zborc village.
Serbian forces engaged in a shooting spree late Sunday evening, causing panic amongst the
residents of Bllacë and the outlying villages in the Suhareka municipality.
Six People, Four of Whom Albanians, Killed in Unsolved, Separate
Incidents in Kosova
PRISHTINA, March 1 (KIC) - The bodies of two killed persons were found Sunday afternoon
near the village of Piranë, between Rahovec and Prizren, an OSCE spokesman in Prizren
said. He could not specify the ethnic background of the killed people. An UÇK fighter, in
his mid-twenties, was found killed at Trakaniç village, municipality of Gjakova, on
Sunday morning. He was wearing military fatigues, sources said.
A notorious Albanian collaborationist with the Serbian police, Muharrem Ibraj, killed a
local Albanian in Osek Hylë village near Gjakova, LDK sources said. The Albanian,
Sylejman M. Bajrami (45), was killed after having had his house surrounded by Serbian
forces.
A day earlier, on Saturday evening, an Albanian youth, Albesian Mataj (17), was ambushed
and killed near Osek Hylë, local LDK sources said.
Unidentified assailants shot dead an Albanian and wounded two others in the center of
Prishtina, capital of Kosova, in mid-evening on Sunday. The killed was named as Ekrem
Gashi, whereas the seriously wounded as Fahri Bejta and Genc Nuha. They were shot dead
when they were fired upon with automatic, perhaps machine-gun fire near a group of
Serbian-owned shops.
One Albanian found dead
Deçan, 28 February (ARTA) 2200CET --
The body of Ramadan Tahiraj was found in the village of Carrabreg i Epërm of the Deçan
municipality. Ramadan'sbody, who was missing starting from the June offensive, was found
in a crater, informs the KD correspondent. The burial was conducted in the presence of his
family in the village Carrabreg i Epërm.
Sources from the field inform today of a tense situation in the municipality of Deçan.
Besides from the direction of the border strip, where have been reported ceaseless firing
from great caliber arms, shooting reported from different types of arms from Serb police
positions in Irzniq, Lumbardh and Gllogjan, firing was reported also from the direction of
Ratish i Epërm and Ratish i Poshtëm and from Maznik and Dashinoc.
Witnesses from the field report that large police forces are observed in the Suka e
Baballoqit.
Two corpses found, situation tense
Prizren, 28 February (ARTA) 2200CET --
The Prizren OSCE Mission confirmed on Sunday afternoon that near the village of Tupec of
Prizren, 7 kilometers from the city, two male bodies were found, aged 25-30, killed by
fire arms in mysterious circumstances.
Witnesses from the field say that yesterday night about 0300CET shooting was heard in the
area. The verifiers found the bodies in the afternoon in the place where the crime was
committed. After a while the Serb police came and having done the investigation of the
place and of the victims, brought the bodies to the city's Hospital morgue. Their identity
is still unknown.
Less than 48 hours from the offensive over the village of Randobrava of the region of
Përdrin, Serb forces undertook on Saturday about 1700CET an assault over the villages of
this region. Large Serb police/military and paramilitary forces stationed at the village
of Piranë, 10 kilometers from Prizren, fired from heavy infantry and artillery weapons
until 1820CET.
OSCE Mission verifiers once again were compelled to prevent further conflict, because KLA
forces of the Pashtrik Operative Zone, protecting the village and its position, answered
on this provocation.
A convoy of Serb police/military forces left on Sunday Prizren and went along the
Prizren-Gjakova highway, and according to information from the field, these forces,
composed of tens of tanks and armored vehicles and other logistic vehicles, were deployed
in the village of Xërxë.
The tense situation continues in the village of Randobravë. The bodies of the two victims
on the 26 February aren't recovered yet from the morgue of Prizren to be buried. Form 24
February there is no information on the whereabouts of Xhevdet Xhafer Hoxha from this
village.
Police seals off Gjakova street, KLA fighter found killed
Gjakovë, 28 February (ARTA) 2200CET --
A fighter of the UÇK (Kosova Liberation Army) was found dead today morning near the Osek
Pashë village, in the suburbs of the town of Gjakovë, southwest Kosova.
The UÇK member, whose identity has not been confirmed yet, has been killed in yet
unsolved circumstances, local LDK sources said, adding that another Albanian has been
reported wounded.
An Albanian, found killed in yet unsolved circumstances in Bishtazhin village four days
ago, has been buried in the Gjakovë town cemetery today.
Around lunch time today, Serb police in five vehicles sealed off the Çabrati road and the
Mulla Jusufi street in the town of Gjakova, local LDK sources said.
Heavy gunfire in the Kaçanik villages
Kaçanik, 28 February (ARTA) 2200CET --
Heavy gunfire was reported in the village of Gajre, municipality of Kaçanik, at around
1300CET on Sunday, local LDK sources reported.
The sound of gunfire was heard in the town of Kaçanik, in southeastern Kosova, itself.
The Albanian residents of Bob village, adjacent to Kaçanik, have been fleeing their
homes.
A Serb police armoured vehicle and two jeeps full of policemen left the police station in
Kaçanik at 1225CET on Sunday.
A team of the OSCE verification mission departed for Gajre village in a bid to see for
itself what has been going on there.
Reports said Serbian military and police reinforcements, backed up by armoured vehicles,
were coming into the area at 1345CET.
Serbian forces resume shelling of villages
Podujevë, 28 February (ARTA) 2200CET --
Serb military forces were engaged in sporadically shelling the village of Llapashticë,
southwest of the northern town of Podujevë, since four o'clock in the morning of Sunday,
LDK sources said.
A large arsenal of heavy weaponry, such as tanks, armored carriers, mortars and so on is
concentrated in the Podujevë villages, in Dumosh, Luzhan, Lupç i Poshtëm, Godishnjakë,
Vranidoll, Tabet e Llapashticës, Peran and the police station in Podujevë. Serb forces
resumed shooting and shelling in the direction of the KLA positions in Majac,
Llapashticë, Katunishtë, Obrançë etc., KD correspondent said on Sunday.
During the night hours and early in the morning, shootings and shelling were reported from
the Serb positions in the direction of Llapashtica, Katunisht, Obrançë.
A heavy presence of Serbian forces has been reported in the town of Podujeva, home to
20,000 Albanians. They have been holding key communications and entrances/exists under a
firm grip, local sources said.
The man found dead with a gunshot wound yesterday at Barainë village, near Orllan, was
Mehmet Reçica, resident of Vranidoll village of Podujevë.
Mr. Reçica, in his early forties, was last seen alive four days ago, local human rights
sources said.
An artillery attack against the village of Pustenik
Hani i Elezit, 28 February (ARTA) 2200CET --
Serb forces launched on Sunday an artillery attack against the village of Pustenik, of
Hani i Elezit, in southeast Kosova, bordering with Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
(FRYOM). The shelling was especially strong between 1015CET and 1035CET, LDK sources
notified on Sunday.
The sound of heavy guns reverberated several kilometers away.
At 1130CET today, some 3,000-4,000 residents had approached the border crossing area in a
bid to cross over to safety in neighboring FYROM. Serb forces have been preventing them
from actually crossing the border, local LDK sources in Hani i Elezit said.
The passage through the Hani i Elezit border crossing has been blocked, sources close to
the LDK said just before noon on Sunday.
The village of Gorancë was emptied of its Albanian population on Saturday. The Serb
military detained Skender Berisha (1964) and drove him away towards Kaçanik. His fate and
whereabouts are unknown.
The Kaçanik - Hani i Elezit roadway has seen stepped up Serbian military and police
forces' movement in both directions today, local sources said. Four armored vehicles full
of paramilitary police personnel were seen at 1100CET, while a column of Serbian forces
headed towards Ferizaj.
Shelling of several villages
Mitrovicë, 28 February (ARTA) 2200CET --
Serb forces resumed their shelling of the villages of Vaganicë e Poshtme, Vaganicë e
Epërme, Vërnicë and Pirç, municipality of Mitrovica, and Oshlan and Pantinë villages
of Vushtrri, the LDK Information Commission reported Sunday.
The identity of two KLA fighters, killed on 26 February in clashes with Serbian forces
have been confirmed. They have been named as Gazmend Bali (22) and Muhamet Gashi (30),
both residents of Mitrovica, local LDK sources said.
Local Albanian resistance forces, the KLA, have been resisting a sustained Serbian
offensive for days in a row.
The sound of heavy Serb guns being used today has been reported heard in the town of
Mitrovica, 38 km northwest of capital Prishtina.
Serb forces resume shelling of villages
Vushtrri, 28 February (ARTA) 2230CET --
Serb forces continued to shell the villages of Oshlan and Pantinë, of the Vushtrri
municipality, the "KD" correspondent reported on Sunday.
Serb military forces resumed their attack against the village of Bukosh on Saturday
afternoon, at around 1700CET. The attack lasted till 1915CET, only to be resumed later in
the evening, LDK sources in Vushtrri said.
Serbian forces opened sporadic fire from three positions, Bukosh, Dolak and Frashër
villages. Heavy fire was mounted at 0330CET on Sunday. The area has been sealed off,
making it virtually impossible to learn anything about possible casualties.
Agani: "We should have signed the agreement on
Saturday"
Prishtina, 28 February (ARTA)2200CET --
The Serb side's disappointment with the stands at the end of the first part of the
conference in Rambouillet are what could be considered as the achievements of the Kosovar
delegation in the conference, said Fehmi Agani. In the interview he gave Albanian daily
"Koha Ditore", Agani explained the issue of the referendum, KLA's role and the
consulting with the people. Agani first talked about the concrete achievements in the
Rambouillet conference:
Agani: It is normal that you ask what we achieved in the conference held in Rambouillet. I
will answer in a somewhat unnatural way. Milutinovic, upon his return from Rambouillet,
expressed the dissatisfaction of the Serb delegation with five major issues, which have to
do with the document proposed. He said the Serb delegation was dissatisfied with the fact
that Kosova, or its Parliament, could be given constitutional power and power to derive
its laws; said he was dissatisfied with the independence of the courts of Kosova,
including the supreme court and the constitutional one; he stated his displeasure with
requests for Serbia and Yugoslavia to accord constitutions and other laws in the framework
of the agreement; they are unhappy with the fact that Kosova is given protection to an
extent that seems too great to Milutinovic, or rather for the fact that they cannot change
Kosova's borders and impose a state of emergency; in the end, he said he was unhappy
because the agreement is treated as an interim agreement, and that another procedure will
be under way three years later. These five issues, with which he expressed displeasure,
are the major achievements in Rambouillet, in my opinion. They are all in a document which
I was for. We hope to sign it.
KD: While we're discussing the displeasures of the Serb delegation, President Milutinovic
denied the President of Kosova as well. Will Kosova have a President in the interim
period?
Agani: Yes. Kosova will have a President in that period of time. According to the
proposition and our consent, he will be a president elected by the Parliament of Kosova.
KD: Mr. Agani, what will actually happen with the referendum?
Agani: It remained an open issue, with great chances. That was one of the main issues we
insisted upon. The Contact Group, as it is, was unable to guarantee that the referendum
would be held, since, as we all know, Russia, and some other members, were against making
any such guarantee. We know that the referendum would bring about independence, there is
no doubt. Another formula, however, has been found. The first formulation, which said that
the agreement and its functioning would be contemplated after three years has been
changed. It now says that the international community will determine a mechanism to seek a
permanent solution, after the three year period, based on the people's will and the stand
of other relevant factors. In other words, with is not a hundred percent guarantee that
the referendum will be held, but the chances are great. If the fact that we wrote that we
interpret the agreement as our right to a referendum, which is also the American
interpretation, to our consent, the chances have only elevated. Whether this will take
place or not, depends not on the probability level now, but from developments in the next
three years. If we prove ourselves capable for self-governance, even as independent people
after three years, we will enjoy greater support for referendum, or independence. If we
prove the opposite, we will have no results, of course.
KD: What about KLA's role in the interim phase?
Agani: KLA's role in this period is defined in an indirect way. The major functions,
regarding defense and security, will be taken over by NATO. In other words, NATO will
dictate the withdrawal of the Serb army and police, as well as the implementation of the
agreement. Reorganization and a functioning form, has been foreseen for the KLA, however,
a form that according to all odds will be realized with a bilateral agreement, relying on
the USA, or the concept of their help.
KD: There were claims that the possibility of a KLA transformation into a political party
in the three-year-long period was also discussed in the meeting...
Agani: Yes. Judging from the activities and orientation, the KLA is not a military force
only. It is only natural that, even now, in efforts for gaining power - which are usually
misinterpreted as efforts for the chair and which in fact are efforts to take over
institutions - and with the political orientation of the KLA for realizing political will
through institutions, the KLA must function as a political group or party, as a coalition,
or front, to participate in future elections. Kosova's institutions will be formed quite
soon and this will be done through elections.
KD: Mr. Agani, from what you say one could conclude that the first part of the conference
have way to many achievements. Why did you not sign then?
Agani: Frankly, it was too great a decision to sign immediately. I'll make a digression.
If we are to evaluate the conference in Rambouillet and its results, I would first like to
say that we would first have to know that the conference was held in the frameworks of an
indisputable concept. It was not a conference for the independence of Kosova. It is clear
that Yugoslavia's integrity should be accepted in the interim period. The conference was
for finding a temporary solution.
In this aspect, I think, we have enough reasons to be pleased. Regarding the signature
issue, another element should be taken considered as well. We did not have the possibility
of pre-hand consultation for formulating our joint stands. Some of us even spoke out in
Rambouillet. We lacked the "unity" created by the hierarchy. The Serb side may
have been "united" and that, because, whatever they say, they always listen to
Milosevic in the end. We should have first created unity. It was impossible for us to
decide then. I personally believe that it was not good that we did not sign there, on
Saturday, when Albright pleaded with us twice to accept the agreement. But, I have to
admit that we had great dilemmas and could not decide immediately.
KD: Why do you think it was wrong not to sign the agreement?
Agani: Let me smooth this evaluation a little. I cannot say it was a mistake, but I repeat
my conviction that we should have signed the agreement on Saturday, as Albright insisted.
KD: Not only was the agreement left unsigned, but it was postponed until Tuesday. Why?
Agani: We requested to formulate our demand for a referendum, but the postponement
actually had to do with clarifying the stand regarding KLA's future. That was the issue
that gave way to greater concern. On the other hand, I think we used the two-day
prolonging very well, since most of our stands were taken into account and added to the
final stands of the conference in those two days. The Serb side made its requests as well,
of course. It damaged the course of the process quite a lot, by boycotting cooperation for
full ten days. Thus, we were given many annexes that we hadn't seen before, and
propositions, made by the Serb side, in the two days. It was too great a tension to face
then.
KD: You accepted the agreement in principle, although you returned to consult the people.
How do you intend to carry out the consultations?
Agani: There are different ways. One of them, which is not accepted with the justification
that it is unnecessary, is a referendum for the agreement. The agreement could be
published and the people would then be invited to vote. I personally believe this would be
the best way, since its result would be obligatory for all. There are other possibilities.
I think that with the publication of the agreement within the two weeks, all political
subjects, associations and else. If most declare themselves in favor of the agreement, we
will sign.
KD: Why was a referendum for the agreement not accepted?
Agani: There are some difficulties related to the referendum, considering that some parts
are caught in war. We would not want to have a case to hold a referendum which is
considered legitimate by some and illegitimate by others, not to mention the fact that
Serbia has "made referendums look bad" But, other channels could carry out this
task as well.
KD: You mentioned the "unity" among the Serb delegation a while before. Are
there inverted commas when the Albanian delegation's unity is mentioned as well?
Agani: No. We were in fact caught in a situation where we had to create unity and I am
convinced that we achieved quite a lot. There were groups of rivalry within the Kosovar
delegation, which even threatened each-other at some point, but we were 100 percent united
in talks on the document. There were no differences. Functional unity tied to the document
and talks was complete. We wanted to preserve that unity and we will try to do so until
the end. We cannot afford ourselves the luxury of fighting each other.
KD: It seems that the complete functional unity enabled you to come out with an initiative
for forming the temporary Government of Kosova...
Agani: Yes. The proposition was made by a certain part, which the others accepted as an
idea to form the Government. Our stand was that the mandatory be determined, to be more
precise, Jakup Krasniqi, whose contribution to the conference was really outstanding. Of
course, we did not go to Rambouillet for the Government and other elements. What is more,
not all political subjects were represented in the conference. |
