[ALBSA-Info] {QIKSH =?ISO-8859-1?Q?=AB?=ALBEUROPA=?ISO-8859-1?Q?=BB?=} NEWS: Moscow condemns Kosovo vote (WorldNetDaily.com, 19 October 2000)

[Wolfgang Plarre]

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/bluesky_westerman_news/20001019_xnwes_moscow_con.shtml

THE BALKANS QUAGMIRE 

Moscow condemns Kosovo vote 

Calls upcoming elections 'a travesty'  meant to tear province from
Yugoslavia 

By I. J. Toby Westerman
© 2000 WorldNetDaily.com 

Moscow has condemned the upcoming elections in Kosovo as "a travesty,
... another move to tear Kosovo from Yugoslavia," according to official
Russian sources. 
     The Voice of Russia World Service quotes the Yugoslav government as
stating that the nominally Yugoslav province is in the grip of
"anti-Serb terror." Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica is quoted as
saying that the head of the U.N. Mission in Kosovo, Dr. Bernard
Kouchner, is running Kosovo as a "governor general of some colonial
country," while striving to please "Albanian extremists." Kostunica,
according to Moscow sources, regards the atmosphere in Kosovo as
"absolutely abnormal" for holding elections. 
     Voice of Russia World Service is the official broadcasting service
of the Russian government.
     The elections -- which the U.N. Mission in Kosovo, or UNMIK, has
scheduled for municipal governments in Kosovo for Oct. 28 -- are
considered an important initial step toward local self-government for
the war-torn province. Eligible voters will include those inside and
outside of Kosovo. Most of the province's Serb population, however, is
expected to boycott the elections. 
     A U.S. State Department official, who wished to remain unnamed, was
unmoved by Moscow's concerns, and said the Kosovo election was "open to
anyone," and that all in the province are free to participate in running
for office, as well as the balloting. 
     The State Department source also stated that -- in contrast to the
earlier Yugoslav vote -- the elections in Kosovo will have "total
transparency," because the 41,000 U.N. troops in the province would
provide protection "as good as it can be." 
     The Kosovo elections will take place amidst continuing ethnic
violence. Between 200,000 and 300,000 have fled the province, mostly
Serbs, but also Gypsies and other minority groups. 
     A report released yesterday on the Kosovo system indicates that
those Serbs remaining in Kosovo face danger not only from terrorist
gangs -- but even from the law itself. 
     In its report, "Kosovo: A Review of the Criminal Justice System,"
the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe states that
there is "clear and compelling evidence" of anti-Serb bias in the
courts, that imprisonment exists "in violation of international
standards," and that some provisions of Kosovo law "may conflict with
human rights standards." 
     The report also finds that "vulnerable groups," including
"juveniles and victims of sexual violence within the criminal system,"
need greater protection, while noting that those wrongfully imprisoned
lack a legal remedy "to challenge illegal detentions." 
     Ethnic Albanians have reacted angrily to official Belgrade
statements that Yugoslav troops could re-enter Kosovo by January 2001,
and are vowing to rekindle fighting upon their arrival. 
     The State Department spokesman said he did not believe Yugoslav
troops would return to Kosovo "for the foreseeable future," describing
such a development as "highly destabilizing." 
     Violent incidents are, however, occurring both within and on the
borders of Kosovo. As U.N. KFOR troops struggle to maintain order in the
province itself, the conflict between Serbs and Albanians continues on
the border of Kosovo. A guerrilla group is active in Albanian areas on
the Serb-Kosovo border, and recently killed two Serb police officers
patrolling the area. 
     The guerrilla force calls itself the Liberation Army of Presevo,
Medvedja and Bujanovic -- after village areas in the region. 
     An Oct. 12 Los Angeles Times story quoted Albanian leaders within
Kosovo as being confident that the struggle for an independent Kosovo
has already been won, and that the Oct. 28 elections are in reality a
step leading to eventual independence. Former leaders of the Kosovo
Liberation Army are active in the present election campaign, and look
forward to province-wide elections, which may occur next year. 
     Moscow has already condemned the Oct. 28 vote as simply a contest
between various groups seeking independence for Kosovo. 
     Ethnic conflicts in the southern Balkans are not limited, though,
to Yugoslavia and its nominal province, Kosovo. 
     Albania and Greece have exchanged accusations regarding the right
of ethnic Greeks to take part in Albanian elections. Athens states that
both ethnic Greeks living in Albania and those residing in Greece are
forbidden to take part in voting in Albania. 
     For its part, the Albanian government is protesting the visit of
Greek politicians to Albania, accusing them of urging the Greek minority
in Albania to support a minority Greek party, and thereby violating
Albanian sovereignty. 

I.J Toby Westerman, a contributing editor to both WorldNet Magazine and
WorldNetDaily.com, focuses on current events in the Commonwealth of
Independent States and the Balkans.

© 2000 WorldNetDaily.com, Inc.


-------------------------- eGroups Sponsor -------------------------~-~>
Get FREE long-distance phone calls on Tellme!
Dial 1-800-555-TELL, say "Phone Booth"
http://click.egroups.com/1/9816/8/_/920292/_/971988332/
---------------------------------------------------------------------_->

Nëse don të çregjistrohesh nga ALBEUROPA, dërgo një Email në:

albeuropa-unsubscribe at egroups.com