[kcc-news] News: The KLA General Headquarters declares an amnesty for two Tanjug reporters: ARTA (27 November 1998) (fwd)

[Mentor Cana]

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KOSOVA (KLA communiqué)

The KLA General Headquarters declares an amnesty for two Tanjug reporters
and two LDK activists

Prishtina, 27 November (ARTA) 1600CET --

The KLA General Headquarters, issued a communiqué, stating their decision to
declare an amnesty for its prisoners, including two Tanjug reporters and two
LDK activists from Malishevë, on the occasion of the Albanian national feast
of 28 November.

The KLA decided to terminate the prison term for the two reporters and the
detention for the two LDK activists, although investigations will continue.
The above-mentioned will be released on 27 November, in the presence of
international observers.

"We are doing this to prove, once again, that we do not like the war that
was imposed on us, and that we do not like prisons and having prisoners. We
are for peace as much as we are determined for the freedom and independence
of our people and land", says the communiqué issued by the KLA.

This way, the KLA has proved that it acknowledges and respects international
conventions of war and peace, and that it acknowledges and respects relevant
factors of the international community, says the communiqué. However, the
KLA calls these factors to pressure the regime in Belgrade to respect
international conventions, and comply with UN Security Council resolutions
1160 and 1199, as well as with the Contact Group decisions for Kosova.

The communiqué stresses that the KLA requests the release of Albanian
political prisoners and requests to have information on the fate of hundreds
of kidnapped and disappeared Albanians. "We evaluate such an act as the
first step of good will. We are prepared to do the first step", says the
communiqué issued by the KLA General Headquarters.





KOSOVA (KLA declares amnesty for prisoners)

Bashota, KLA: "We released them because of the Independence Day"

Dragobil, 27 November (ARTA) 1900CET --

The reporters gathered in Dragobil today were separated from the KLA
soldiers with a red strip. They were waiting for the arrival of the KLA and
KDOM, who the spokesperson of the OSCE mission in Kosova, Duncan Bullivant,
said, "will bring the released prisoners at 1400CET".

One KLA vehicle escorted by an American KDOM jeep, two other armored jeeps
and other vehicles brought with them two reporters of the Tanjug news
agency, Nebojsa Radosevic, and Vladimir Dobrisevic. The KLA commander, Sokol
Bashota, who was talking on behalf of the KLA General Headquarters, said
that they were being released "in a sign of good will".

"The release of the arrested today is another expression of good will, that
we do not like the prisons. We will be as transparent as possible, and we
want a free, sovereign and democratic state", declared Sokol Bashota, who
along with the OSCE head of the mission in Kosova, were the first ones to
get out of the vehicles.

"Because of the 28th November, because of the national flag's day and the
Independence Day, as well as the anniversary of the first public appearance
of the KLA, the KLA General Headquarters, declares amnesty for four arrested
persons", said Bashota.

Head of the verifying mission, Walker, evaluated the release of the arrested
as "an important trust-building gesture. As you know, KLA will be releasing
four people today, two journalists, and two politicians. I think this is
great news for the persons that are being released, their families, as well
as for Kosova. The OSCE sees this as a small step but a very important one
to build mutual trust. An opportunity that we hope will be used by
everyone", said Walker.

Based on humanitarian agencies, there are at least 870 people that are still
being kept under arrest. According to him, this is intensifying the already
unstable cease-fire in Kosova.

As for the Albanian prisoners, held in Serb prisons, and the possibility to
negotiate their release, Walker said that there has still not been such an

act, but hopes that this case will serve as an example.

"I hope that the release of the four persons will urge a similar reaction to
the opposite side", said Walker. "We will use this release as an indicative
gesture, as a trust building gesture, to talk with those who hold other
people, and insure their release. So far, this is my first negotiation for
such an issue, and it was quite easy".


Two KLA soldiers, dressed in black, with masks on their faces, took the Serb
journalists, taken in 40 days ago, out of the car. The journalists then
headed in the direction of the reporters.

Vladimir Dobricic was the first to approach the journalists, and shortly
expressed his wish to go home as soon as possible.

"We miss our families. We want to see them", he said. His colleague Nebojsa
Radosevic said that they were well treated.

"It was alright. It is important that everything was on-line, from the first
day, the first meeting, and until the end. Compared to the existing, we were
placed fine. The food was alright...", said Radosevic, with a tired voice,
but smiling.

Radosevic said that he was not present during the trial, but said that he
was notified that he was sentenced. Asked if he was physically maltreated,
he shortly replied, with a "No".

After waiting for the release of the two LDK activists, Cen Desku and Jakup
Kastrati, for about twenty minutes, the KLA soldiers informed that they were
released in the meantime.

"They were taken by the KDOM and sent home", said the soldier known as
Gazetari.





KOSOVA (KD special interview – excerpts)

Petritsch: "The agreement will not provide you with everything but it would
give enough"

Prishtina, 27 November (ARTA) 1600CET --

In the interview he gave Albanian daily "KOHA Ditore", during his official
visit to Prishtina, the special envoy to Kosova, Ambassador Wolfgang
Petritsch, talked about the American plan, the agreements and objections of
both sides, about the KLA, about the security of the OSCE and other issues.
Initially, Ambassador Petritsch was asked to give a detailed evaluation of
the recent American plan, for what the international community is mounting
pressure on both sides to accept, due to the time factor.

Petritsch: It is a fact that the international community is under a heavy
time pressure. We have to get the momentum going, meaning that we should not
stop now. We should work based on the internationally accepted and supported
American proposal. I say this because, this is the time frame we have. Of
course, if this drags on too long, people will lose confidence in the
negotiating process.

KD: Does this mean that the time frame does not allow the drafting of new
concepts, as is the case with the one proposed by the Serb President
Milutinovic?

Petritsch: In this stage of the negotiating process, we should not come up
with new plans or proposals, Serb or Albanian. We should concentrate on only
one plan, and this is the one that we have been discussing.

KD: Foreign Minister Schuessel also mentioned Christmas, within the time
frame as a kind of a date that the negotiations should start. Could you tell
us more in that direction?

Petritsch: I believe we have to have deadlines in order to be able to
achieve something. We do not believe that we can go on forever like this. We
have had quite a few chances, in the past, to get together and to agree on
something. Of course, you have to see that this is an agreement that can
only be a first step on the very long road to a situation in Kosova that
will be appreciated by the people of Kosova. This is but a first step in
order to begin building institutions. We have to build everything from
scratch here, because there should be a truly democratic system. Thus, I am
referring to building institutions like the Assembly, the Government, and
the police. The cease-fire, right now, can only provide a status quo that
was there before March '98. This peace plan is much more ambitious. We are

looking for local police, recruited and trained here in Kosova. Kosova
Albanians will be the police here in Kosova, maybe 3,000,

or so. So this will take a long time, to train them, select them. We want
the highest possible standards for the security and the police forces here
in Kosova.


KD: According to the agreement, which are the dates set to have the
elections and build the institutions we are referring to?

Petritsch: We have two very important deadlines. If this is an interim
agreement, then we will agree on a period, say three years or five years.
This is one deadline that is very important. The second deadline is the
elections in Kosova, and they should be held within nine months. They could
occur earlier, but not later than nine months. However, we first need a
formal agreement, and it is only then, that all this can start. For the Serb
side, of course, this is not something that they are looking forward to.
They are interested in keeping the status quo. It is the Albanians that
should be primarily interested that things move fast.

KD: You stated that you convinced the Albanian side to accept the American
plan. If that is so, isn't the Albanians' side the main condition for a
referendum to be guaranteed after three or five years?

Petritsch: We are not in favor of a referendum. It would not serve the
purpose. The referendum is basically between the people, now, you have an
international involvement here, and the international part would be totally
excluded. What we are much more interested in is, a solution, after three
years, that would involve the international community, like for example an
international conference for Kosova. It is then that you have an
international factor here.

KD: But, does the Albanian side agree with this completely?

Petritsch: I know from many private talks that this plan meets with a lot of
approval and sympathy on the part of the Albanians. I also know that the
Serb side is extremely concerned about this proposal and that they are
unhappy about it. However, they are happy that the Albanians don't agree so
far. This gives them a chance to present a new plan that is much more in
favor of the Serb side. So, as long as the Albanian leadership does not say
OK, we accept this because we know that this is an interim agreement, it
would be difficult for the Serbian side to decide what to do. But, you are
giving the Serb side a chance to drag this out and continue with the status
quo, which is extremely unfavorable for the Kosova Albanian people.

KD: What status does the international community prefer for Kosova?

Petritsch: We want a truly democratic Kosova, built up from the base, up to
higher authorities in Kosova. You will have a presidency, an Assembly, a
Government, Prime Minister, your own police, of course according to the
ethnic make up. We are not talking about a Kosova Albanian ethnic state - we
are talking about a Kosova, where all the people that call it home will have
rights. But, of course, the Kosova Albanians being by far the largest group,
will also have by far, the greatest rights and decisions.

KD: Can you be more specific, like whether it is going to be within Serbia
or outside it?

Petritsch: We trying not to accord too much importance to it, how it
formally is. In fact, it will be self-rule. It means that the central
Government in Belgrade will not be involved in any decisive way.

KD: What will be the similarities, or differences, or better yet the
relations between Kosova, Serbia and Montenegro?

Petritsch: These relations will depend on the will of the Kosovars, how they
like to establish these relations. How intensive they will be, depends on
the people here, because we are talking about a democratic model. Therefore,
you will have the chance to choose, and I do hope that the Kosovar people
understand that in a modern world you cannot live alone, you depend on
neighbors, and you will eventually learn how difficult this is after so many

years of a conflict. But I know that Kosovars are very mature people and
that they will find a way to slowly build up relations with the Montenegrin,
and Serbian proper, with Albania, as well as other neighbors in the region,
because what we are looking for is a region of stability and prosperity. One
part alone cannot survive. What we want to change is the tradition of
confrontation, of violence. This is very important, this is what we have
learned from our own history. In Western Europe, for hundreds of years,
there were fights between Germans and the French, between the French and the
English, the English and the Swedes. Now, after 1945, have we entered an era
of peacefulness, living together, without having to love each other - you
just have to accept and respect your neighbor, and he will do so as well.
Here, of course, we are first and foremost addressing the Serb side. But, I
believe that it is very important for the Albanian side to realize what is
the interest, and what lies behind the interest of the international
community, why we are here. We are here because we want to assist you to
build up a truly democratic society. We are not here to come up with new
borders. We are not here to assist anybody with new confrontations. The
philosophy behind the presence of so many thousands of foreign international
organization members is cooperation.






KOSOVA (tension mounts - Klinë)

Albanian Independence Day marked with shooting

Klinë, 27 November (ARTA) 1700CET --

Shooting from different caliber weapons and frequent movements of Serb
police and military forces were witnessed again in the region of the
municipality of Klinë. The movements of the Serb forces were especially
intensified this morning, starting from 0800CET until 1130CET, particularly
along the roads Klinë-Volljakë and Klinë-Dollovë. Shooting, on the other
hand, was mainly aimed against the villages of Jashanicë, Ozrim, Leskoc, and
Kosh.

Nearly all schools in Albanian, in this municipality, celebrated November
28, Albania's Independence Day. Following a minute of silence, a sign of
honor to all the victims, most of the schools had improvised
cultural-artistic programs. There are claims that there were frequent
movements of Serb police forces along the roads close to these schools.





KOSOVA (LDK press conference)

Rugova: "Kosova, closer to independence or an international protectorate,
this year"

Prishtina, 27 November (ARTA) 1900CET --

"The situation in Kosova is still very tense, with bad consequences, and
this is due to the large Serb police and military force presence", said
Ibrahim Rugova in his regular press conference.

As for the situation of the dislocated, President Rugova said that "much
more needs to be done to ensure their return home, and that this would have
much more effect if NATO troops were deployed". Rugova repeated that the
best solution is the independence of Kosova and an international
protectorate as an interim phase.

On 28 November – Albania’s Independence Day, Rugova wished good luck to all
the citizens of Kosova and Albanians in general and added that the
independence of Kosova "will give new weight to this important historical
day".

Asked for a short evaluation as to what was achieved since 28 November of
last year and what the odds of finding a solution for Kosova, next year
were, Rugova replied: "The Serb police and military force offensive resulted
with many victims and material damages, this year. But this year is a year
of a progress concerning the solution of the Kosova issue".

"It is understandable that next year we will get even closer to the solution
to issue of Kosova and of course, its independence", highlighted President
Rugova.

Asked whether Kosova will have a new Government next year, Rugova said that
there already is a Government with all its institutions.

Further, Rugova stated that he had no problems or disagreements with Albania
and that he has and will continue to remain in contact with Albania. In the

meantime, he evaluates the Constitution of Albania as a step leading to the
stabilization of the situation there and an opportunity of opening new
perspectives for Albanians.

President Rugova did not wish to comment the signing of the declaration,
between the Serbian President, Milan Milutinovic, and representatives of
ethnic communities, during a meeting they held on Wednesday.

Rugova claimed that "the negotiations should be well prepared and have the
effect of what it is being discussed. The American mediator, Christopher
Hill, the Contact Group, and the international community also share this
stance".

The President of the Republic of Kosova called the attempts made by Serb
politicians in the relation Belgrade-Prishtina, to allegedly have talks in
Kosova, "a political show", witnessed for so many times now.





KOSOVA (Independent Students’ Union of the University of Prishtina)

During the cease-fire, we could have new protests

Prishtina, 27 November (ARTA) 1745CET --

Albin Kurti, was one of the leaders of the students’ peaceful movement about
a year ago, however, he now stands by the KLA general political
representative.

The walls of the offices of the Independent Students’ Union were covered
with posters of the protests of 1 October "Peaceful, Nonviolent Protests",
photos of Mother Theresa. There, the students were not organizing protests;
they were making badges, gathering clothes for the dislocated and blood for
the wounded.

The front page of the students' newspaper "Bota e Re", instead of the poster
of the "peaceful students' strolls", now has the photos of armed warriors,
fighting for the independence of Kosova.

The first civilian victims of the war, starting from Halit Geci, the teacher
in Llaushë, the killing of whole families in Likoshan, Qirez, and Prekaz,
created a new situation, in which the people sought protection and not
protests.

"With the first protests, we achieved our aim, we broke the status quo,
although our requests were not fulfilled, we still request the release of
the buildings", said the chairperson of the Independent Students’ Union of
the University of Prishtina (ISU UP), Bujar Dugolli.

"The times of protests have passed, every situation has its forms of
resistance", he added.

"There was no opportunity for holding protests since the beginning of war.
The present engagement of the ISU, is the continuation of work at the
University and supporting the students, which is accomplished by gathering
clothes, blood etc", said he.

After one year, during which many people died and as much were arrested,
many houses were destroyed and hundred of thousands of people were
dislocated, there comes a cease-fire that is still not certain.

"The cease-fire could create a new situation in which there could be room
for new protests", said Dugolli. "It depends on the cease-fire. We have
reason to protest - there are thousands of arrested people", he added.

Besides the nine arrested members of the UPS UP, sentenced in Prizren, three
of which were released to defend themselves in freedom, thousands of other
students were arrested, including the chairman of the UPS UP in the
Architecture Faculty.

"He was arrested while travelling with a bus to Prishtina, two months ago.
We have no contact with him or his family, which has now been dislocated. We
only know that he was arrested and that no charges were brought against him.
All the information we can get is through other students. We have no precise
information as to how many students are arrested, but we most surely have to
deal with thousands here", stated Dugolli.

Many analysts claim that the protests set forth a new situation, and
destroyed the status quo. Then, the students’ leaders, made headlines, they
were visited by the highest-ranking European and American officials and were
simply given all the attention. Now, since the union is not active any more,
the leaders are engaged in other political activities, as well. Such is the

engagement of Albin Kurti, in the office of the KLA general political
representative, that according to Dugolli does not affect the independence
of the union.

"ISU UP has its own independence and the engagement of its members in other
activities does not affect it. Every student can contribute elsewhere as
well. Getting active in other organizations, such as the KLA, does not
affect the independence of the union at all, since they work for the same
interests", he said.


Kurti stands by the KLA general political representative in most press
conferences and "Bota e Re" has changed its image, just as Kosova did.

""Bota e Re" is putting special emphasis to the KLA. Our program includes
the protection of the students and they have joined the KLA", said Dugolli.





ALBANIA (referendum – results)

50,6 percent of the voters went out in the referendum, 93,5 percent voted
for

Tirana, 27 November (ARTA) 2000CET --

In the referendum for the new Constitution of Albania, 93,5 percent of the
voters declared themselves for a new Constitution, informed the central
elective commission.

50,6 percent of the voters went out in the referendum, and 93,5 percent
voted for, states a communiqu issued on this occasion.

The Democratic Party, of the former President Sali Berisha, continues to
dispute these results, claiming that no more than 39,6 percent of the voters
went out in the referendum. According to this party, Albanians have rejected
this referendum, replying to the call made by the party to boycott the
referendum.

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