From Alooscnon at aol.com Mon Feb 1 03:31:57 1999 From: Alooscnon at aol.com (by way of Teresa Crawford ) Date: Mon, 01 Feb 1999 00:31:57 -0800 Subject: [kan-l] strike! support KAN Message-ID: <3.0.3.32.19990201003157.014a7a70@mailbox.syr.edu> **** Kosova Action Network Discussion List **** From: KOSOVA ACTION NETWORK JANUARY 31,1999 To: AGRON KRASNIQI and AZEM BUJUPI and the other 49 students in the hunger strike at the University of Prishtine We would like to express our support of your hunger strike in highlighting the crucial importance for the Albanian political parties and factions to come together for the sake of the Albanian people at large, regardless of political opinion. Although during this difficult year, divisions between personalities and factions may be very real and very deep, this is not the time to drive these positions further apart. It is the time, however, for the Albanians to acknowledge what they have in common--a deep and unshakeable love for freedom and democracy. Both factions must take the position that the Albanian people have suffered enough. At this time, they do not need the embarassment and frustration of political one-upsmanship and infighting, which will lead only to more negative outcomes. Save political gamesmanship for election seasons. A new election may be long overdue. That's not the point here. Neither side--not LDK's nor KLA's-- has a legal or electoral mandate from the people of Kosova stating that they should ignore the other faction. Instead, each side has a moral and humanitarian mandate to come together in a spirit of tolerance and cooperation. Therefore, we urge the political/military representatives of Kosova, both appointed and elected, to attend the Paris talks as a first step on the long road to a democratic independence, in which a wide range of views are tolerated. Sincerely, Alice Mead Kosova Action Network coordinator Jan. 31, 1999 ------------------------------------ Submitted by: Alooscnon at aol.com (by way of Teresa Crawford ) From zahn at vbe.com Fri Feb 19 19:58:19 1999 From: zahn at vbe.com (Ramazan Hajdini) Date: Fri, 19 Feb 1999 18:58:19 -0600 Subject: [kan-l] Gazeta Albania, 18 February 1999 (Congr. Trafickant on Kosova) Message-ID: <36CE08AB.42B7773@vbe.com> **** Kosova Action Network Discussion List **** Stand up for the independence of Kosova! By U.S. Congresman James A Trafickant I will tell the American administration that our military forces are component part of the peacekeeping troops to secure the people that are in Kosova. They respect the facts and plans which have been drafted before. The policy of the United States of America, first of all aims at the cease of fire to see a sort of stability in the region. For the moment being our policy is autonomy, but my opinion is, and I will convince the Congress on this, that is brings nothing else but endless crisis. The only final solution is independence. Without this there will be no security in the region, there will be successive continuos conflict, until there will be an independent Kosova in Yugoslavia. I think that this is good for the region and after all it is to the benefit of the world, to the benefit of America and certainly to its interests in the Balkans. I would like to say something about my meeting with the prime minister (Pandeli Majko). I do not have anything to say about my meetings with the political representatives, but my meeting with the Prime Minister was specific. Probably, this is related to a stand, I would like to say today, to a stand that is passive and not active, that does not provide possibilities and I think that it is now time to reach goals. The Prime Minister was very technical about Kosova and he spoke to me about the borders under the international law. My question to the young politicians of Albania is: Albania behaves in accordance and respects the international laws, but isn't Miloshevic the one who violated the international laws by committing barbarisms on the Kosova Albanians? Isn't it time for Albanians to rally out, to step up for this cause? If not for this cause for what else? If not now, then when? What is being risked today is the defeat in a big game, where big things cannot be achieved. Albanians are all over the region, but the heart of the homeland, is this, it is Albania. And if Albania does not support independence then, why should the rest of the world do it? You should step up now. You should stand up. At this moment our government does not support independence. We will work in America to change this stance, because in the future an independent Kosova would be far more better for the region and sure for more better for my country. I denounce communism. Do not mess up communism with nationalism. I do not support isolationism. An independent Kosova is also good also for the Serbs; it opens perspectives, if unites the people. Leave aside differences, discords and unite round the joint root, thus you will win the respect in the world. There will no longer be massacres, violations, or treatment as a second-hand citizen. It is time to start. We will present a resolution in the Congress. I have asked the Democratic Party in Albania to present this resolution about the independence of Kosova to Parliament. We have Also presented a petition with signatures on the independence of Kosova, that will circulate all over the world, in America, New Zealand, Australia, Austria and that will be signed not only by those of Albanian blood, but by all those that ask for liberty and justice. Develop your political program now, prepare your strategy. No matter what happens in France, go ahead, hit the iron until it is hot for the independence of Kosova. *This is what the US Congressman, James Traficant spoke out while taking the floor during the proceedings of the International Conference on the Democratic Security and the Regional Stability, organized by the Albanian Institute for International Studies. Albanians, joint war The chairman of the Democratic Party, Sali Berisha and the chairman of the Democratic Party of the Albanians in Macedonia (FYROM), Arber Xhaferri held a meeting where they discussed at length about the crisis in Kosova and for the ways of the inter-action of the Albanian factor in the Balkans. In the meeting, together with the engagement for the solution of the Kosova problem, it was discussed also for the indispensability of a stable political solution for Albania, as the only way out for pulling the country out of the crisis. Berisha and Xhaferri considered the liberation war of the Kosova people as a "war of all the Albanian nation". At the same time, the two Albanian politicians emphasized that the "engagement of all the efforts by the Albanians in Albania, Kosova, Macedonia and Diaspora, wherever they are to win this war on the Serb aggression in Kosova continues, it is indispensable". The coalition where the Albanian Democratic Party of Arber Xhaferri takes part came out victorious in the last elections held in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, which gave five ministerial posts in the new governmental cabinet of Skopje to this party. analysts appreciate that after this, the situation of the Albanians in FYROM is improved a lot. Very meaningful in this direction was also the amnesty from which there profited two Albanian local leaders, sentenced to long-term imprisonment. ------------------------------------ Submitted by: Ramazan Hajdini From tmcrawfo at mailbox.syr.edu Sat Feb 20 16:53:52 1999 From: tmcrawfo at mailbox.syr.edu (Teresa Crawford) Date: Sat, 20 Feb 1999 13:53:52 -0800 Subject: [kan-l] Silent Vigil, New York City 2/24/99 Message-ID: <3.0.3.32.19990220135352.01413484@mailbox.syr.edu> **** Kosova Action Network Discussion List **** Thought the group might be interested in participating in this. Teresa > >Women in Black is a people's movement which opposes violence in society and >armed conflict. Women in Black has been meeting in Belgrade for many years, a >consistant voice for peace, anti-militariam, tolerance and democracy. > >New York City, has a solidarity chapter which meets monthly for a silent vigil >to protest violence in former Yugoslavia. > >You are invited to this month's Silent Vigil, standing against violence in >Kosovo/a. > >Time: Wednsday, February 24th from 5.30 pm until 6.30 pm >Place: In front of the New York Public Library, 5th Avenue (between 41 and >42nd streets) > >Please wear black clothing and feel free to bring signs or posters which >express your political/social/humanitarian concerns for the region. All >people of peace and goodwill are invited. > >For further information contact Indira at (212) 598-0954. >WOMEN IN BLACK >RACCOON, Inc. > > The Advocacy Project contact information: teresa at advocacynet.org (315) 471-7790 voice mail 510 Greenwood Place Syracuse, NY 13210 ------------------------------------ Submitted by: Teresa Crawford