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Tuesday, Mar. 2, 1999, 12:15 PM.
Mr Hashim Thaçi is appointed
as a mandatary with the duty of constituting the Provisional Government of Kosova
Prishtinë, March 1 (Kosovapress) General Headquarters (GHQ) of the Kosova Liberation Army
(UÇK), has appointed the mandatary with the duty of constituting the Provisional
Government of Kosova, which in turn will work towards preparations for the free and
regular parliamentary elections. The appointed mandatary is Mr Hashim Thaçi, member of
the General Headquarters (GHQ) and head of the Political Directorate of UÇK. A delegation
of UÇK was named, in the GHQ last meeting, , that will visit USA, on the invitation made
by American Foreign Ministry. This delegation consists of six UÇK leaders: Hashim Thaçi,
Jakup Krasniqi, Ramë Buja, Bashkim Jashari, Bislim Zyrapi and Ramush Hajredinaj. This
visit is expected to take place soon, that is before 15th of March. UÇK delegation will
meet with military and political structures of this friendly country and the topic of
these talks will be situation in Kosova and Rambouillet Agreement, with a special
attention of UÇK position during the interim period.
After yesterday’s fighting
people have spent the night out, in the mountains
Kaçanik, March 1 (Kosovapress) In Gajre, Kaçanik, a bitter fighting resumed between KLA
Units and Serbian military and police forces, after Serbs attacked this village and KLA
positions. Serbian forces attacked using all heavy weapons including, tanks,
"Praga" vehicles, APCs , etc. In yesterdays fighting around Kaçanik, two KLA
soldiers were lightly wounded, whereas according to our sources, there were 11 serbian
soldiers and policemen killed with the Commander of the serbian police station in
Kaçanik, being one of the dead. Serbian information media is informing that only one
policemen is killed and four others wounded. Serbian forces, aided by infantry, tried to
penetrate in Gajre but, after KLA’s reaction, around 18.30, they retreated leaving
behind, the dead, wounded, one destroyed Armoured vehicle and two APC, also destroyed.
Villagers of Gajre, Ivajë, Kotlinë and Shtrazë spend the last night mainly under open
sky and in the cold and snow. Today, until now (13.15), we do not have information on
further developments in this region.
Vollebeck and Fischer tomorrow in Prishtinë
Prishtinë, March 1 (Kosovapress) Knut Volebeck Head of OSCE and Norway’s Foreign
Minister, and Joschka Fischer, Germany’s Foreign Minister, are expected to visit
Prishtina tomorrow. Both, prominent European personalities, are expected to meet with the
Representatives of Kosovan Delegation in Rambouillet, and other personalities of KLA and
Political Parties. The main issue in these meetings, will be the Agreement for Kosova,
which was prepared by Contact Group and offered to be signed to Albanian and Serb
delegation.
Demaci Quits as Kosova Rebel
Representative
PRISHTINA (Reuters) - Adem Demaci, firebrand opponent of an international peace plan that
would provide autonomy, not independence, for Kosova, resigned as political representative
of the Kosova Liberation army (KLA) Tuesday.
Demaci, a 64-year old icon of ethnic Albanian resistance to Serbian rule in the province,
has spent nearly 28 years in jail as a political prisoner.
He announced his resignation with an angry denunciation of the current peace process as a
treason against historic ethnic Albanian aspirations for freedom and independence.
Demaci refused to attend last month's peace conference in Rambouillet, France and urged
the KLA not to go either.
But the guerrilla army sent five representatives who joined 11 other ethnic Albanians in
giving the proposed autonomy plan conditional approval subject to consultations in Kosova
that are under way this week.
Demaci told a news conference: "Since there are people who can deal with politics
better than I can, I have come here today to say farewell to you as the general political
representative of the KLA."
Demaci, who seemingly had dealt himself out of the peace process by refusing to go to
Rambouillet, contributed to the inconclusive finish of the talks there by alleging he had
been designated by the KLA as its final arbiter on any peace deal.
Senior KLA military leaders began distancing themselves from him almost immediately and
observers now believe that while they have reservations about the agreement they will
support it.
Demaci indicated Tuesday he would keep open his office in the Kosova regional capital
Pristina but gave no hint of what he planned to do next. Western diplomats worried he
might try to split off hard-line elements in the KLA.
U.S. envoy Chris Hill said Monday he expected ethnic Albanian signatures on the 83-page
document by March 15, the date of a follow-on conference to Rambouillet, also in France.
Even as Demaci was bowing out as the KLA's political representative there were signs that
its senior military leaders were organizing themselves to seize whatever political
advantages the signing of a peace deal might offer.
Hasim Thaqi, head of the KLA political directorate, was named to form a provisional
government for Kosova, the KLA's Kosovapress agency announced late Monday.
The KLA and two ethnic Albanian political parties agreed during the talks at Rambouillet
to create such a government in preparation for parliamentary elections.
Those elections would be held later this year pursuant to the peace plan for Kosova, where
ethnic Albanians make up 90 per cent of the two million population.
Serbian authorities have accepted parts of the autonomy plan but are adamant in their
refusal to countenance the deployment of 30,000 NATO ground troops to implement its
provisions.
Serbia has its own government structures in Kosova, which most ethnic Albanians have
refused to accept since 1989 when Belgrade revoked the province's autonomous status.
Kosovapress also announced the members of a KLA delegation that plans to go to Washington
upon receipt of a formal invitation by the U.S. government. Hill, the lead mediator,
confirmed Monday that such an invitation was in the works.
S T A T E M E N T From Adem
Demaci
We feel morally and historically obliged to point out again that this imposed Agreement of
Rambouillet will not bring freedom to the Albanian people of Kosova and will not liberate
Kosova from the Serbian slavery. We feel morally and historically obliged to show that
unscrupulous propaganda of these days aims the deceit of the people by damaging the issue
of the independence of Kosova. The independence and freedom are something completely
different from this Agreement. This is not even close to what we have fought and we are
fighting for. The efforts and the liberation war of the Albanian population in Kosova will
not stop and cannot be stopped notwithstanding the fact whether this Agreement is signed
or not or other similar agreements. No signings can extinguish the will of people and its
readiness for sacrifice, for freedom and the independence of the Republic of Kosova. This
agreement will not bring any peace or freedom in Kosova, in the contrary it will bring the
continuation of bloodshed. All those that believe in this agreement, believe in the mercy
and magic improvement of Mr. Milosevic.
Those that sign this agreement make concessions to the
Serbian regime and Milosevic, encourage him and bear responsibility for the consequences
due to their weakness and illusions. It is true that diplomacy and politics are art of
possibility, but the greatest possible victory of Serbian hegemony is to make Albanians
define their freedom and independence as something impossible. Independence is not a
dream, hope or illusion; it is a vision, a process which can not be stopped and a
realizable political program. But those that agree with this agreement abandon the
political vision and reduce it to a daily policy, which itself contains bad compromise
that leaves the issue of our liberation and freedom in the middle of the way. Those that
want to sign and accept this agreement, on behalf of the Albanian people, forgive their
blood which can not be forgiven, they are forgiving to Serbian regimes all terrors,
massacres and repressions perpetrated on the Albanian people since 1878. Also the signing
of this agreement represents the first act of the international character in the history
of the Albanians in Kosova, where the sovereignty and integrity of Serbia and
"FRY" is internationally recognized towards the Albanian lands in Kosova, which
until this eventual agreement Serbia and "FRY" did not and do not have. The
office of the Political Leader of the Kosova Liberation Army, Mr. Adem Demaçi,
accomplished its work, activity and duties with honor, preciseness and high consciousness.
It was based on and led its concepts, principles and convictions which are the
materialization of political will of people of Kosova declared in Referendum in September
of the year 1991.
Our office and the KLA had the same principles, ideals and
concepts. But things changed with the appearance of some individuals from KLA who are
getting prepared to accept and approve this agreement. These individuals have abandoned
the basic principles of KLA and the obligation toward the political will of people of
Kosova declared in Referendum of the year 1991. As we do not want our office to serve for
contradictions within the KLA, we decided to change the character of the work of our
office. We persistently protected and represented the liberation war of the Albanian
people, led by the KLA, but due to the fact that this way of eventual signing of the
agreement does not guarantee the independence of Kosova, we decided to withdraw. We cannot
bite this agreement as it is in opposition to our convictions and to our idea of life in
freedom in our ancient land.
SOME CRUCIAL REMARKS REGARDING THE DRAFT- PROJECT
INTRODUCED IN RAMBOUILLET (FRANCE)
In the Draft-Project, Serbia and the Serbian regime are not
identified as aggressor and occupier. With this Draft-Project, the International Community
legalized the Serbian state aggression, when in 1989 it abolished the autonomy of Kosova.
In this way, it is encouraging the appearance of terrorist and fascist regimes all over
the world, since it is not sanctioning them. If this Agreement is signed, the Albanian
population of Kosova will forgive all to Serbia, all that it has done for 121 years, since
1878. Here are some essential points, which come out of this pro-Serbian Draft-Project:
1. Kosova will have only the public security, not the state
one. This means that our future police can chase the pickpockets and those working in
black market, i.e., if during the transitory period of 3 years, an Albanian comes out in
the street and hails: "Kosova Republic - an Independent state", the Serbian and
Yugoslav Security (Drzavna Bezbednost - DB, former UDB) will intervene, arrest that person
and sent him to Serbia in order to spend his life term in Serbian prisons. The well-known
scenario will be repeated time and again: "our officials" will convince his
mother that her son had made a mistake and force his brother to give up on him.
2. After the signing of this Agreement, we, the Albanians in
Kosova, will not be treated as we are, as Albanian people, but as members of the Albanian
national community in multi-ethnic Kosova, where the Serbian national community and others
will live. Serbian national community will be in a position to block things, as the
arbitration is arranged by proportion. According to this logic, why then Albanians in
Presheva, Bujanovc and Medvegja, who are more than Serbs in Kosova, cannot comprise a
National Community in Serbia? With the concept of National Community definitely, there
will be no possibility for referendum because this will be in opposition to the
international conventions and resolutions, as well as a national community can always
consider that referendum threats its national interests. With this eventual
agreement Albanians for the first time with their own signature would accept the
sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia and "FRY". Although Kosova was
occupied and annexed violently from Serbs and Montenegrins, the confirmation or
acceptation for this matter during the history was never given from the Albanians. While,
now with eventual signing of this agreement, such shame will be done.
3. The fact that the KLA is not mentioned in the Agreement is
intolerable and unacceptable. According to this Agreement, the KLA is treated on the level
of the Serbian paramilitary units and others (no one knows what "the others"
means) and not on the level of the "Yugoslav" Army or Serbian police, and that
it must be disarmed within 120 days. It also must throw away its uniforms and the KLA
emblem within 30 days. Serbian soldiers will remain in Kosova. Kosova was not declared a
no-flight zone and the Serbian planes can continue to fly over Kosova. According to
the Agreement, the border zone will be 5 km. The idea of Serbia is to bring Serbian
colonists along the border zone and so surround the Albanians, as Romania did with
Hungarians in the past. Near 2 million Hungarians live in Romania with territorial
continuation but they are surrounded by Rumanians. Without the KLA, we Albanians would be
totally insecure. From the past, moreover, we have a very bad experience regarding the
indifference and inability of the international troops to protect the population from the
massacres, as it happened in Srebrenica and Zhepa. Whereas Lebanon and Somalia taught us
that if endangered, the international troops can abandon the region and the population.
4. According to the Agreement, Kosova will be represented in
the Parliament of Serbia and in the House of Citizens of the "FRY". Those that
accept this Agreement, accept that the KLA soldier be disarmed, throw away his uniform, be
a deputy in the Parliament of the Serbian occupier and sit side by side with the
criminals, who ordered the massacre and mass executions of the Albanians. Kosova will not
be represented in the House of Republics of the "Yugoslav" Federation, as it is
not a constitutive element of the federation. According to the 1974 Constitution, Kosova
was a constitutive element of the Federation, together with Slovenia, Croatia, Macedonia,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, which are independent states now. In that time, an Albanian could
be president of Yugoslavia in row-accordance. Its evident that this Agreement offers less
than the 1974 Constitution. Montenegro with 400.000 Montenegrins, 150.000 Muslims and
50.000 Albanians enjoys more rights than Kosova with 2.000.000 Albanians (5 times more
than Montenegrins). Furthermore, according to this Agreement, Kosova is not
identified with its borders, but it is mentioned as a multi-ethnic region, which contains
a certain number of municipalities. So, Kosova is considered as a totally integrated part
of Serbia.
5. The municipalities have still lots of competencies. In a
small turmoil, the municipality of Leposaviq might ask to be separated, whereas the
international factors may come for an arbitrage, which can result with strange
compromises, such as: autonomy within the autonomy! The competencies of municipalities and
the concept of the national community in Kosova lead to the separation of Kosova and its
territorial swallowing piece by piece from Serbian side.
6. This Agreement wants Albanians to recognize an in-existent
state, "FRY", which is accepted neither by European Union nor the USA nor by any
international organization. With the recognition of the so-called Yugoslavia, Albanians
accept the status of minority in Yugoslavia and not anymore in the so-called Yugoslavia.
In this way to 'Yugoslavia' will be open the ways to go back again in all existing
international organizations and institutions.
7. In the economic aspect, the fact that Serbia will collect
taxes is unacceptable. Kosova is not considered as an equal unit in succession of the
wealth of the former SFRY, which was guaranteed to Kosova by the Item Nr.9 of the 4 August
1992 of the Badinter Commission. With the recognition of 'Yugoslavia', 'Yugoslavia'
immediately will have the right in the succession of the wealth and to Kosova definitely
this right will be eliminated. In every agreement to Kosova must be recognized the genuine
right for the compensation for 150.000 workers who were dismissed violently from their
jobs and left in the edge of survival. To these workers must be returned the right for
personal probation, insurance for disabled and compensation for other damages caused to
the wealth of Kosova, including the war atrocities.
8. The sentence: "on the basis of the will of the
people", does not mean that it refers to the people of Kosova and consequently Serbia
can make speculations and cheating like always. Serbia can freely say that it refers to
the will of the people of Serbia or "Yugoslavia", as Serbia and
"Yugoslavia" are recognized as a state where the Kosovar Albanians live and
realize their rights and obligations. We can have as many referendums as we want. We had
one in September 1991. The point is that there is missing lack the International
Community's obligation for its recognition. Due to this fact the word referendum was not
mentioned thereof, because this expression includes that International Community should
organize, control and guarantee its results. It is not coincidental that in the same
sentence where is mentioned the expression the will of the people, is followed by the call
upon the Helsinki Final Act, which the right to referendum, conditions with the fact that
we would not be recognized as nation and with inalienability of the borders and
territorial integrity of the state.
9. What kind of value and logic has the Assembly of Kosova,
which does not have right to any essential constitutional change? The term
"Assembly" is unjustifiable when everything is predetermined and the
representatives of the people cannot alter anything that is substantial for state
elements. Which country in the world has a onstitution where 5% of the population defines
the will of the majority?! How can such a norm be called democratic?!
10. Why the term "witness" is used instead of "guarantor" of the
Agreement. Why the level of "those that witness" is so low: the level of the
Ambassadors Hill, Petritsch and Mayorski?! Or is the prove an international collective
security, where the above-mentioned Ambassadors appear instead of the state?! Every
International agreement must be registered in the administration of the organs for
international collective security with the evidence number and adequate date. All these
international norms according to this agreement are not valid for the heroic Kosova and in
this way Kosova is contemned and humiliated in illegal way.
The office of Mr. Adem Demaçi
Memorial Meeting in Likoshan
Likoshan, March 1 (Kosovapress) A Memorial meeting, in honour of the 24 Martyrs fallen for
freedom of Kosova, was held yesterday, in the Martyrs Burial Ground between Likoshan and
Qirez, Drenicë. Apart form, KLA soldiers and superiors, family members, there were also
present thousands of citizens of Drenica and the leaders of the Directorates for Public
Relations and Civil Administration of Gllogoc and Skënderaj. The parading soldiers of the
"Fehmi Lladrofci" Brigade opened the meeting, which was followed by the raising
of the Albanian National flag and a minute silence for the fallen Martyrs. Addressing the
crowds Mr Gani Koci, said that a year ago in this place, and with the order of the
Legendary Commander, Adem Jashari, a KLA Unit, made of 9 Soldiers, have fought one of the
bloodiest battles, in the history of Albanian Nation, against the barbaric regime and
Serbian military forces. Meanwhile, Mr Shaban Shala said that owing to Likoshan, Qirez,
Prekaz, Glloxhan, Rahovec, Reçak, owing to determined fight of Drenicë, Llapushë,
Dukagjin, Llap and Kosova as a whole, our issue found its deserved place in the
international forums. In the name of Directorates for Public Relations and Civil
Administration of Gllogoc and Skënderaj Mr Izet Ibrahimi said that, we are walking along
the paths that promise Freedom, and that is why we should unite around KLA. As the sign of
remembrance for the 24 Martyrs, an artistic programme was performed, bearing a clear
message: Martyr’s Blood will shine for Kosova’s future. Finally, Representatives
of Drenica OZ and members of family laid garlands and bouquets of flowers on the Graves of
the Fallen Martyrs.
Villages of Galicë and Dubovc are being shelled
Drenicë, March 1 (Kosovapress) Last night at 19.00, serbian Forces in Bukosh and Novolan
have shelled villages Galicë and Dubovc. Between Dubovc and Galicë four 220mm gun shells
have fallen. The purpose of this shelling was to hit the school building.
Soldier Besim Vishaj was killed
Gjakovë, March 1 (Kosovapress) Yesterday in the vicinity of the village Osek Pashë, in
the municipality of Gjakova, the dead body of Besim Vishaj (20) from Gjakovë, a KLA
soldier, was found. There are news about another wounded Albanian but his identity is not
known as yet. The dead body of Besim Vishaj was taken by Serbian police in the Morgue of
Medical centre in Gjakovë.
Two dead bodies were found near Piranë
Prizren, March 1 (Kosovapress) Two dead bodies, of an unknown identity, were found near
Piranë, yesterday at around 15.00. This was confirmed by representatives of the Verifying
Mission in Prizren, but they did not have details of who and how were unidentified victims
killed.
Xhevdet Hoxha, from Randobravë, has gone missing
Prizren, March 1 (Kosovapress) Since 24th of February nobody knows anything about Xhevdet
Hoxha from villahe Randobravë, municipality of Prizren. In the mean time, we’ve
learned from this village, that the dead bodies of two other Albanians killed on the 26th
of February are still being held in the Morgue of the Medical Centre in Prizren.
Serbian Troops Shell Kosovar Albanian
Villages on the Border with FYROM
PRISHTINA, March 2 (KIC) - Serbian military and paramilitary police troops launched today
morning, at 5 o'clock a.m., an attack against the village of Krivenik, in the Hani i
Elezit area, southeast Kosova bordering on FYROM, local sources said.
Two hours later, frequent and powerful detonations were heard in the village of Pustenik,
aimed at Kosova Liberation Army (UÇK) positions, where clashes with Serbian forces have
occurred in the past several days.
Serbian shelling targeting Pustenik continued at 9:30 CET, too. As many as 15 Serbian
military shells landed in the village in five minutes alone, local LDK sources in Hani i
Elezit reported.
Heavy Serbian military movements were reported early in the morning today in Hani i Elezit
and Kaçanik area. Huge Serbian forces were heading towards the Kaçanik Gorge, whereas
three columns of Serbian troops, backed up by as many as 70 vehicles, including army
tanks, headed towards Hani i Elezit at 6:45 CET. Three powerful detonations were heard at
the time within ten to fifteen minutes.
Heavy Serbian military and police forces had been closing in on the village of Pustenik
before 7 o'clock in the morning today.
Most of the Albanian residents displaced by the recent fighting have sought refuge in the
town of Kaçanik.
The people of the small town of Hani i Elezit have been locked up in their homes, fearful
that going out would mean becoming easy targets of the Serbian police. Some Albanians have
been reported arrested.
Çiçavica Massif Villages Attacked Overnight
PRISHTINA, March 2 (KIC) - Serbian military forces positioned at Dolak, Bukosh and
Frashër mounted a one-hour attack with heavy guns against the villages around the
Çiçavica massif in northern Kosova overnight, local LDK sources in Vushtrri said.
Serbian forces have reportedly ransacked many Albanian households in the villages of Dolak
and Bukosh.
Ambassadors Hill and Petritsch
discussed with several representatives of Albanian delegation which participated in
Conference of Rambouillet today in Prishtina
Radio21
Ambassadors Christopher Hill and Wolfgang Petritsch, the mediators for Kosova stayed in
Prishtina today. They had special meetings with the leadership of Joined Democratic
Movement, Veton Surroi and Blerim Shala.
Other details bring our journalist Bahtir Cakolli.
After the meeting with Ambassadors Hill and Petritsch, the president of Joined Democratic
Movement Rexhep Qosja for Radio 21 declared:
"We discussed about the flow and the actual impressions of international conference
at Rambouillet, about the atmosphere which is here about those discussions, efforts to
form a government of national unity and other issues which are related to those
essential".
Regarding the statement of Ambassador Petritsch given today in Prishtina that he won't
discuss with KLA General Political Representative Adem Demaçi, because according to him,
he is not for a political solution to the Kosova issue, Rexhep Qosja declared:
"I haven't heard this opinion. I haven't heard him personally. We think that we
should discuss with Adem Demaçi as well. He is a man with a wonderful paratactic
biography, after all he is our brother, and naturally we should discuss and agree with him
also. This is our duty and our need".
The mediators for Kosova Christopher Hill and Wolfgang Petritsch had separate meetings
with Veton Surroi and Blerim Shala. At the end of the meeting Veton Surroi declared:
"The same way of the work we had at Rambouillet continues here as well, it means that
the work meetings continue".
Hill and Petritsch met also President Rugova, Idriz Ajeti, Dr.
Fehmi Agani and Edita Tahiri
Radio21
The American mediator Christopher Hill and the European mediator Wolgang Petritsch met
with President Rugova, Idriz Ajeti, Fehmi Agani and Edita Tahiri.
At the end of the meeting, Fehmi Agani declared:
"The subject of discussions was the development of the activity to inform the opinion
about the agreement and its content. We were informed about the ways of organising of this
activity. There is no essential issue which should be treated specially. It is a general
matter. I have the impression that the opinion has received it positively and supports the
signing of the temporary agreement".
Yugoslav Forces Pound Kosova Border
PRISHTINA, Yugoslavia (AP) - Yugoslav forces pounded an area along Kosova's border with
Macedonia with tank and mortar fire today, pressing an offensive that has driven thousands
of ethnic Albanian civilians from their homes.
The days-old operation appears to be an ominous military effort to control a strategic
artery in the Serbian province, even as international officials struggle to contain the
fighting and seal up a peace deal.
Yugoslav troops and tanks have been massing at the border, and a bridge connecting
Macedonia and Kosova is mined - preparations either to prevent NATO forces from coming in,
or keep diplomatic monitors and refugees from getting out.
NATO has been increasing its troops in Macedonia in expectation of sending a peacekeeping
force into Kosova to enforce a peace agreement - or to extract international monitors if a
deal collapses and NATO carries out threatened airstrikes against the Serbs.
The peace deal - partially worked out in peace talks last month in France - aims to end a
year of fighting between Serb forces and ethnic Albanians fighting for the independence of
the Albanian-majority province. Some 2,000 people have died and more than 300,000 - mostly
ethnic Albanians - have been displaced by the fighting.
Associated Press photographers said Serb forces appeared today to have taken the village
of Gajre, 2 miles from the southeastern border of Kosova with Macedonia.
Armored personnel carriers and trucks filled with Yugoslav army troops and police were
stationed along a 9-mile stretch of road between the nearby villages of Kacanik and
Jankovic, firing mortars and anti-aircraft cannons into rocky, snow-covered hills where
refugees are believed to have fled.
Hundreds of ethnic Albanians were camped in the open near the border as the result of
fighting that intensified after rebels ambushed a convoy on Sunday, killing the Kacanik
police commander, who was to be buried later today.
The U.N. refugee agency said some 3,000 displaced people were already packed into the town
of Jankovic, living with local families, with hundreds of others camped on a snow-covered
hillside in plastic tents.
``This is the first case in some time where people are staying in the open,'' said Kris
Janowski, a spokesman for the Geneva-based agency. ``And it has brought the refugee
problem to the doorstep of Macedonia for the first time.''
With violence worsening, Norwegian Foreign Minister Knut Vollebaek was meeting in the
Kosova provincial capital, Pristina, today with ethnic Albanian leaders and Serb
authorities.
Vollebaek met the day before with Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic in Belgrade. He
said Milosevic ``flatly refused'' the deployment of NATO peacekeepers in Kosova, a vital
part of any peace deal.
Norway heads the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which directs the
international monitors mission in the province.
Vollebaek and other officials are trying to tie together the strands of the draft peace
deal that Serbian and ethnic Albanian negotiators partially agreed to but failed to seal
during two weeks of talks last month at Rambouillet, France. The deal would give expanded
autonomy to Kosova, where ethnic Albanians comprise a 90-percent majority, but not
independence.
U.S. envoy Christopher Hill, meanwhile, scheduled meetings in Belgrade with Serbian
President Milan Milutinovic and Yugoslav Deputy Prime Minister Vuk Draskovic. No talks
were expected with Milosevic, who has refused to meet with Hill in recent weeks.
Hill said after meetings with Kosova Albanian political leaders on Monday that there were
positive signs they would sign the deal as pledged when talks resume March 15, and he
stressed the need for an international peacekeeping force.
Belgrade's state-run Politika newspaper, meanwhile, blasted the Clinton administration
today for inviting a top KLA leader, Hashim Thaci, to Washington for talks.
The paper accused the State Department of ``sponsoring separatism'' in Kosova and
``directly giving legitimacy to terrorists.''
Officials Struggle for Kosova Deal
PRISHTINA, Yugoslavia (AP) - With scattered violence in Kosova threatening to worsen,
international officials were struggling to tie together the strands of a peace deal left
hanging from recent negotiations.
But efforts hit the same barrier as they did at last month's peace talks at Rambouillet,
France: Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic's refusal to allow NATO peacekeepers to be
deployed in Kosova to enforce a deal.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Knut Vollebaek was to meet today with ethnic Albanian leaders
in Kosova, a day after talks with Milosevic in Belgrade. Vollebaek said Milosevic had
``flatly rejected'' any possibility of allowing a NATO peacekeeping force.
Vollebaek's government leads the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe,
which directs an international monitoring mission in Kosova.
A NATO peacekeeping force is a central part of a draft peace deal that Serbian and ethnic
Albanian negotiators partially agreed to during two weeks of talks at Rambouillet, but
failed to seal.
The deal is meant to end a year of fighting pitting ethnic Albanian separatists against
Serb-led Yugoslav forces in Kosova, a southern province of Serbia.
Serbia is the dominant republic in Yugoslavia. More than 2,000 have died and hundreds of
thousands of others - mostly Albanians - have been displaced in the violence.
The proposed deal would give expanded autonomy to Kosova, where ethnic Albanians make up
90 percent of the population, but not grant it independence. Negotiations are due to
resume in Rambouillet on March 15.
In Kosova on Monday, international monitors brokered the release of a Serb hostage held by
ethnic Albanian rebels, but the rebels admitted to killing another hostage. The two were
abducted over the weekend.
Elsewhere, groups of angry Serbs beat up two OSCE monitors, a Dane and a British citizen,
an OSCE official said.
Anti-Western sentiment has been growing amid NATO threats to bomb Serbian strategic
targets unless the Serbs sign the peace agreement and let thousands of NATO troops police
the deal.
On Monday, U.S. envoy Christopher Hill met with top Kosova Albanian political leaders who
are to participate in the negotiations when they resume.
Hill told reporters after the meeting that three were positive signs that Albanian
politicians would sign the deal, and he stressed the need for an international
peacekeeping force.
``There is no question that there are very serious problems on the ground,'' he said. ``We
feel the way to solve this is though the Rambouillet accords ... and this means the
presence of a NATO-led force.''
NATO has been stepping up its activities in neighboring Macedonia. Alliance troops, tanks
and equipment have begun streaming in preparing to move into Kosova, should the agreement
be signed. The force could number up to 28,000.
Refugees Beg For Help As Shelling
Echoes In Kosova
By Deborah Charles
NEAR KACANIK (Reuters) - Several hundred ethnic Albanians, who have camped out in the
woods for two nights since fleeing fighting in their Kosova village, begged for help
Tuesday as shelling echoed from nearby hills.
The refugees, mostly women and children, said they might not be able to survive another
night out in the cold.
``Everybody's forgotten about us,'' said Valide Shahini, whose 60-member extended family
was camped out under plastic sheets on the side of a muddy hill.
The sound of mortars and shelling could be heard coming from an area close to the border
separating this war-torn Serbian province from Macedonia. The villagers said it had been
going on since early morning.
At the main General Jankovic border crossing, Yugoslav armored vehicles were lined up
along the road and refugees from recent fighting in the area were sheltering in nearby
houses, afraid to try to cross because they did not have documents.
The Serbian-run Pristina Media Center said ethnic Albanian guerrillas had attacked
Yugoslav army units at the border in the early hours.
``The clashes lasted for more than two hours and the terrorists were crushed,'' it said.
It also quoted the headquarters of the Yugoslav army's Pristina Corps as saying the
guerrillas were trying to create a corridor to bring in reinforcements from Macedonia as
well as to fabricate a refugee crisis.
On the hillside, babies cried, children coughed and old women sobbed as they told of
Sunday's escape from Granje village.
``The Serbs were one kilometer behind us. We were running and the bullets were behind our
backs,'' said Zatije Spahije, as she wiped tears from her face.
Spahije said she was worried about her daughter-in-law, one of two pregnant women who had
been evacuated from the hillside by international cease-fire monitors Monday.
The refugees said they had no information on what had happened to the women and the two
new-born babies taken out by international monitors Monday.
One man begged a Reuters news team to escort people out.
``We want an organized way to take us away from here with an escort so that they can get
us out safely,'' he said.
Another woman appealed: ``Please take us away with you in your car.''
About half an hour later a convoy of international aid trucks drove up toward the area
where the ethnic Albanians were camped out.
Fernando del Mundo, spokesman for the UNHCR in Pristina, was in one of the trucks. He said
the aid workers were bringing blankets, food and other supplies to the refugees.
But it was unclear how the heavy trucks would make it through the small muddy forest path
up to the camp.
Milosevic rejects peace force
OSCE chairman Vollebaek and President Milosevic far apart over Kosova deal
President Slobodan Milosevic has flatly rejected the latest attempt to secure agreement on
a draft peace deal for Kosova.
Knut Vollebaek, who is chairman of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in
Europe, was trying to persuade President Milosevic to withdraw his objections to an
international military force in Kosova to implement a political settlement.
"In order to be honest here I should say that Milosevic rather flatly rejected"
such a force, Mr Vollebaek told a news conference after his meeting in Belgrade with the
Yugoslav leader.
'Failure does not augur well'
The BBC Correspondent in Belgrade, Jacky Rowland, says the failure of this latest mission
by the OSCE chairman does not augur well for the next round of Kosova peace talks, which
is due to start in two weeks' time.
The OSCE chairman said that such a force "was not a violation" of the sovereign
rights of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia," because Nato forces would be deployed
at the "invitation" of the Yugoslav government.
"We need a robust international presence on the ground. I urged Milosevic, (Yugoslav
Foreign Minister Zivadin) Jovanovic and (Serbian President Milan) Milutinovic to accept
such a presence and invite such troops," Mr Vollebaek said.
Tolerable presence
President Milosevic maintains the only tolerable international presence in the province is
the OSCE's Kosova Verification Mission (KVM), a communique issued by the official agency
Tanjug said.
From Belgrade Mr Vollebaek is going to Kosova, where American mediators say ethnic
Albanian leaders are indicating they will accept the draft peace deal when talks resume in
France on 15 March.
Yugoslav troops shell
Kosova-Macedonia border
Rebel hard-liner resigns over peace plan
PRISHTINA, Yugoslavia (CNN) -- Yugoslav forces shelled an area along Kosova's border with
Macedonia with tank and mortar fire on Tuesday, stepping up an offensive that has already
displaced thousands of ethnic Albanians in the region.
And, in a political development that could boost international efforts to persuade ethnic
Albanians to accept a plan for self-rule, Adem Demaci, a prominent hard-liner of the rebel
Kosova Liberation Army, resigned.
At the same time, Hasim Thaqi, the head of the KLA's political directorate, was named to
form a provisional government in Kosova.
In Tuesday's fighting, Yugoslav army forces backed by Serbian police appeared to have
taken the village of Gajre, 3 kilometers (2 miles) from the southeastern border of Kosova
with Macedonia.
Armored personnel carriers and trucks filled with Yugoslav army troops and Serbian police
were stationed along a 14-kilometer (9-mile) stretch of road between the nearby villages
of Kacanik and Jankovic, firing mortars and anti-aircraft weapons into rocky, snow-covered
hills where refugees are believed to have fled.
Hundreds of ethnic Albanians were camped in the open near the border as the result of
fighting that intensified after rebels ambushed a convoy on Sunday, killing the Kacanik
police commander.
The U.N. refugee agency said that about 3,000 displaced people were already packed into
the town of Jankovic, living with local families. Hundreds of others camped on a
snow-covered hillside in plastic tents.
KLA hard-liner resigns
"Since there are people who can deal with politics better than I can, I have come
here today to say farewell to you as the general political representative of the
KLA," Demaci told a news conference in announcing his resignation.
Demaci boycotted a recent internationally brokered round of Kosova peace talks held in
France. The KLA said at the talks it was willing to agree to a draft peace plan giving
wide-ranging autonomy to ethnic Albanians in Kosova -- but only after consultations with
political and military leaders and civilians back home.
The implementation of the draft peace agreement -- which is still firmly rejected by
Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic -- is to be discussed at a second round of peace
talks in France on March 15.
Demaci said the KLA delegates were preparing to sign the agreement and he accused them of
betraying the fight for independence.
KLA forms provisional government
Parallel to Demaci's resignation, the KLA named Hasim Thaqi, the head of the KLA's
political directorate, to form a provisional government for Kosova, the KLA's Kosovapress
reported Tuesday.
The KLA and two ethnic Albanian political parties agreed to set up such a government at
last month's peace talks in France.
The interim administration is to be formed in preparation for parliamentary elections in
Kosova later this year. Those elections would be held following implementation of an
internationally sponsored autonomy plan for Kosova.
That plan, however, is still under discussion and has been firmly rejected by Yugoslavia,
which opposes the deployment of a NATO-led force to monitor the accord.
International peace mediators Knut Vollebaek of Norway and Chris Hill of the United States
continued their shuttle mission in Yugoslavia on Tuesday, hoping to salvage the scheduled
second round of the Kosova peace talks.
Albright recruits Dole to push
Kosova peace
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright is reaching out to former
U.S. Sen. Bob Dole to help reach a peaceful settlement in Kosova.
Dole is expected to meet ethnic Albanian leaders in Kosova and may also call on Yugoslav
President Slobodan Milosevic in Belgrade, State Department deputy spokesman James Foley
said Monday.
"He is an eminent figure who has a lot of credibility with the Kosovar Albanians,
because he's spoken out on their behalf over the years," Foley said.
"If he were to go to Belgrade, he is someone who has dealt with Mr. Milosevic
previously and would speak on behalf of the United States in that regard," he added.
Dole, the 1996 Republican presidential nominee, was pressed into service when the Kosovars
balked at signing a deal at peace talks in Rambouillet, France, last week. Details on his
schedule and itinerary are still being worked out, Foley told reporters.
The announcement that Albright was bringing Dole into the peace process came on a day when
there was little obvious progress in the bid to get the two sides to agree to the draft
accord negotiated at Rambouillet last month.
In Belgrade, Milosevic's government reiterated its wholesale rejection of a crucial
element of the accord: the use of international peacekeepers to enforce the pact.
"The position of the Yugoslav government is that no foreign troops are acceptable,
regardless of conditions, structure or their mandate," Foreign Minister Zivadin
Jovanovic was quoted as saying in the Serbian media.
The United States bluntly warned Milosevic that NATO air power is still an option should
Yugoslav-Serb forces "start to engage in massive assaults upon innocent
villagers."
"We've indicated to Mr. Milosevic that the ACTORD (NATO activation order) remains in
effect, and to the extent that his forces launch any attack against innocent people, he is
going to face action by NATO itself," Defense Secretary William Cohen said.
Thousands of Serb troops with tanks, artillery and armored vehicles are now massed on the
Serb-Kosovar border in position to deliver punishing assaults on the Kosovars or swarm
into Kosova with little notice.
Leaders of the ethnic Albanians also have accepted in principle an administration
invitation to attend talks with U.S. officials in Washington, Foley and other U.S.
officials said.
There is no decision yet on when the talks would be held, Foley said.
In Pristina, Kosova, the separatist Kosova Liberation Army handed over two Serbs who had
been missing since the weekend.
"The two were handed over. One is a body, the other is alive," a spokesman for
the international verifiers overseeing a cease-fire in Kosova said.
One of the men had been shot dead and the other was badly beaten, the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe said.
Also in Kosova, at least 350 Kosova Albanians driven from their homes by recent fighting
in the Kacanik area of southern Kosova sought shelter in a forest gully Monday. Up to
3,000 villagers were reported to have fled Kacanik, around 9 miles from the border, on
Sunday after fighting broke out between government troops and guerrillas. |
