[Kcc-News] NAAC, Disturbed by UNMIK Bias, Calls for Calm (fwd)

[Mentor Cana]

National Albanian American Council
2021 L Street, N.W., Suite 402, Washington, DC  20036
481 8th Avenue, Suite 922, New York, NY 10001
Brigada e Krajishtes, No. 8, 38000 Prishtina, Kosova
Telephone: (202) 466-6900   Fax: (202) 466-5593
Web: 	http://www.naac.org
Email:	naac at naac.org

________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release: August 15, 2002
Contact: Valbona Sherifi (202) 466-6900

 PRESS RELEASE

 NAAC, Disturbed by UNMIK Bias, Calls for Calm

 Washington, DC, August 15, 2002: The National Albanian American Council
 (NAAC) issued the following statement regarding the recent developments in
 Kosova.

 The National Albanian American Council (NAAC) is deeply disturbed by the
 recent events in Kosova and the undeniable pattern of bias displayed by
 UNMIK against Albanian Kosovars. NAAC fears that UNMIK is succumbing to
 the pressures of those nations that allied themselves with the aggressors
 during the recent wars and who are attempting to discredit Kosova and her
 institutions' rightful claim to independence.

 Over the last two months the United Nations Mission in Kosova (UNMIK) has
 engaged in a rash of arrests of former Kosova Liberation Army leaders
 totaling nearly sixty in all.  Most recently, the campaign was intensified
 through a series of arrests culminating in the public arrest of one of the
 principle former KLA figures and the indictment of a prominent Kosovar
 politician for "endangering the safety of others."  These actions by UNMIK
 are taking place at a time when Serb war criminals, responsible for
 engaging in genocide, ethnic cleansing, murder and rape, are allowed to
 openly stroll the streets of northern Mitrovica, a Kosovar region which
 falls under UNMIK jurisdiction pursuant to U.N. Resolution 1244.
 Furthermore, UNMIK permits some of these same criminals to defiantly
 thwart UNMIK authority and control access to Mitrovica, through the
 establishment of their own "check-point controls" on the Iber River
 Bridge.  This situation has existed for over three years and continues to
 be a principal cause of destabilization in Kosova.

 NAAC calls on UNMIK to carry a fair and just process and become even
 handed in its prosecution of suspected criminals.  "We support the arrest
 and prosecution of any individual suspected of crime, particularly a war
 crime.  However, UNMIK has demonstrated a strong bias with a clear pattern
 of arrests of Albanian leaders in Kosova.  An indictment against an
 individual for endangerment in the face of war criminals walking freely in
 Mitrovica demonstrates poor prioritization.  Furthermore, the removal of
 detainees to a prison in Serbian controlled Mitrovica is not only ill
 conceived, but an open insult to all those who fought for freedom,
 including NATO forces and Albanians everywhere." stated Executive Director
 Martin Vulaj.

 The recent arrests have resulted in the people of Decan and other areas
 taking to the streets in protest, which led to injuries to both Kosovars
 and UNMIK police.  Kosovars have a proud tradition of peaceful protest.
 NAAC supports the right to protest, but calls for calm and for the
 Kosovars to engage their leaders and utilize their institutions to reach a
 resolution of the present situation.  NAAC further urges the United States
 Government to utilize its influence as a credible broker to pressure UNMIK
 to display fairness and restraint.

 ** 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. For more information on the National Albanian
 American Council please visit us on the web at www.naac.org