[ALBSA-Info] Senate Calls for Release of Albanian Prisoners Held in Serbia

[National Albanian American Council - NAAC]

National Albanian American Council
1700 K Street, N.W., Suite 1201, Washington, DC  20006
481 8th Avenue, Suite 922, New York, NY 10001
Telephone: (202) 466-6900   Fax: (202) 466-5593
Web: www.naac.org   Email: naac at naac.org
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For Immediate Release:  November 5, 2001      Contact:  Sokol Shtylla (202) 466-6900
 
PRESS RELEASE
 
NAAC Hails Senate Vote on Albanian Prisoners in Serbia; 
 
Calls on Djindjic to Release Them Immediately
 
Washington, DC, November 5, 2001: The National Albanian American Council (NAAC) issued the following statement regarding Albanian prisoners being held in Serbia. 
 
On October 24, the Senate called on the Serbian government to release all remaining political prisoners who are being held in Serbia. The 2002 Foreign Appropriations Bill, which was passed by the Senate, conditions $115 million in aid for Serbia to "steps, additional to those undertaken in fiscal year 2001, to implement policies which reflect a respect for minority rights and the rule of law, including the release of all political prisoners from Serbian jails and prisons."  These conditions must be met by March 31, 2002.
 
Over 200 Albanians remain in Serbian prisons since the end of the war in Kosova over two years ago.  Despite the recent Kosova-Serbia agreement to transfer all Albanian prisoners held in Serbian jails to Kosova, the Serbian government has done little to fulfill the agreement.
 
Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who authored the amendment in the Bill to include the release of prisoners as a condition for aid, stated on the floor of the Senate, "I urge the democrats and reformers in Belgrade to take notice of our actions, and to release the political prisoners immediately."  Senator Jesse Helms (R-NC) echoed that sentiment: "I find it incomprehensible for a government that claims to be democratic and just to sustain this cruel vestige of the Milosevic era."  Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), who chairs the Foreign Operations Subcommittee, also cosponsored the amendment.
 
NAAC joins the Senate and calls on Prime Minister Djindjic and Serbian authorities to release all remaining Albanian prisoners immediately.  Their continued imprisonment is an affront to the American people, on whose behalf millions of dollars were spent to overturn the Milosevic government.  There can be no enduring peace or reconciliation between Kosova and Serbia until all the prisoners are released.  If they are not release, the U.S. should immediately begin reducing its aid to Serbia and cut if off completely after March 31st of next year.
 
The National Albanian American Council ("NAAC") is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advocating for Albanians and promoting peace and economic development in the Balkans by fostering democratic policy, promoting respect for human rights, and conducting educational and developmental programs.

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