From boni98 at hotmail.com Mon Mar 4 14:19:00 2002 From: boni98 at hotmail.com (boni) Date: Mon Mar 4 14:19:00 2002 Subject: [Prishtina-E] Hi Entrit , I need help of you. Message-ID: My name is Driton I am sending this email from Canada so I just want some info . for Unmik passport for my wife she is in Kosova so I like to know what is going on there . She sent a applications five month a go, but somthing was wrong so I need some help of you. How can I contact the passport office to ask them about this problem and when they can make the passport becouse Five month it's to long the canadian embasy is waiting for the copy of passport so pleas , pleas pleas , do something and send me back the email to dritoni90 at hotmail.com and tell me what can you do or give me any tel - number Thank you . -------------- next part -------------- HTML attachment scrubbed and removed From Fdcleis at aol.com Mon Mar 4 14:19:04 2002 From: Fdcleis at aol.com (Fdcleis at aol.com) Date: Mon Mar 4 14:19:04 2002 Subject: [Prishtina-E] NEW BOOK ON KOSOVO Message-ID: No Place Like Home Echoes from Kosovo By Melanie Friend Current Events/Photography CONTACT: Fr?d?rique Delacoste In the U.S: (415) 575-4700 or FDCLEIS at aol.com Publication Dates: November 1, 2001 in U.S. November 15, 2001 in the U.K. "The power of No Place Like Home doesn?t come from obviously shocking pictures; the shock is the realization that these suddenly-changed and cancelled lives were once so like our own." ? GRANTA Midnight Editions is pleased to announce publication of No Place Like Home: Echoes from Kosovo. Through 75 color photographs and 50 accompanying personal testimonies, No Place Like Home offers an extraordinary insight into how history is lived by ordinary citizens. How do people persist with the chores of daily life, knowing that at any time their villages, or even their own homes, may be targeted for terror? How do they survive the murder of entire families? Or the hope of ever finding loved ones who have disappeared? How do they live in the landscapes where massacres took place?and reconcile the thirst for revenge with the need for peace of mind? These questions, which can be asked in the aftermath of any act of violence, are the subject of No Place Like Home: Echoes from Kosovo. British photojournalist Melanie Friend has covered the Balkans since 1989. Well before Kosovo began to make headlines, she was gripped by the region, whose autonomy was revoked by the government of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic that same year. Friend became familiar with the tactics of the Serbian police, who spread fear through the predominantly Albanian Muslim population. Her visits were brief, often subject to surveillance and film confiscation. "Everyone had a story to tell, but it wasn?t always easy to find publishable newspaper photographs," Friend writes in the introduction to No Place Like Home. "Repression was hidden, dramatic visual images rare. Police frequently cordoned off whole villages in the aftermath of police raids and beatings. How could you visually represent fear and repression in picturesque villages where roadblocks and surveillance of foreigners? movements made it impossible to witness such events? I wanted to try a different strategy from straightforward photojournalism. I began photographing the rooms and gardens where police raids had taken place." Friend conducted taped interviews with the inhabitants of those rooms and gardens. In 1999, when thousands of Kosovo Albanians fled large-scale reprisals and killings of civilians by the Serbian police and paramilitaries in the wake of the NATO bombings, Friend traveled to Macedonia and interviewed refugees. "I knew I could not photograph nameless people crying as they streamed across the border on tractors, as in so many newspaper images I had seen. These pictures may have been necessary, but I could not bring myself to take them," she writes. Instead, Friend took dignified studio-style portraits of refugees. Later, when the refugees returned to Kosovo, she sought out and re-interviewed all the people she had met in the refugee camps in Macedonia. In some cases, she had only the name of a village for an address. She visited massacre sites in Recak, Lubizhde, and Celine, where Albanian survivors walked with her through beautiful landscapes, now haunted by the memories of those who were killed there. She also interviewed Serbs, Roma, Turks, and other minorities, who, fearing revenge killings, did not wish to be photographed for publication. Melanie Friend?s photographs and interviews span the past decade and offer a profound and original look at repression, war and its aftermath, and their effect on the lives of ordinary citizens. No Place Like Home not only "shows us the human particularity that lies within phrases such as ?ethnic conflict? and ?civil war? " (Ian Jack, Granta), "it enriches our knowledge of Kosovo and inspires deeper reflection about the wider Balkans"(Gabriel Partos, BBC World Service). ADVANCE PRAISE FOR NO PLACE LIKE HOME "Melanie Friend?s remarkable photographs and interviews show us the human particularity that lies within phrases such as ?ethnic conflict? and ?civil war? ? and help us understand how communal hatred and savagery can break out of (and into) the most peaceful field, the most ordinary living room, and what happens after it does. The power of her book doesn?t come from obviously shocking pictures; the shock is the realization that these suddenly-changed and cancelled lives were once so like our own." ? Ian Jack, GRANTA "Melanie Friend?s volume of photographs and accompanying personal testimonies provides an extraordinary insight into Kosovo?s turbulent recent history through the eyes of its ordinary people. Albanians, Serbs, Roma, Turks and Kosovo?s other ethnic communities tell their stories of suffering, flight, resistance, intolerance and comradeship against the backdrop of an often hostile political and social environment. The understated, even restrained imagery - portraits, homes and landscapes - is in sharp contrast with the atrocities chronicled by the victims or their close relatives and friends. It is a book that enriches our knowledge of Kosovo and inspires deeper reflection about the wider Balkans."?Gabriel Partos, BBC WORLD SERVICE "These are not war photographs in the way we would expect, but calm statements of witness, filled with a pathos which even the best of photojournalism could not hope to convey ." ? Val Williams, Curator, THE HASSELBLAD CENTER Melanie Friend?s work has appeared in NEWSWEEK, THE GUARDIAN, THE INDEPENDENT, GRANTA, and MARIE CLAIRE among other publications. Her photographs of Kosovo have been exhibited at Camerawork, the National Portrait Gallery in London, The Houston Center for Photography, and are currently showing at the Hasselblad Center in Sweden. She lives in London. NO PLACE LIKE HOME: ECHOES FROM KOSOVO by Melanie Friend Current Events/Photography 75 Color Photos, 10x11, 160 pages, Midnight Editions. ISBN 1-57344-119-8 U.S. Price: $39.95 U.K. Price: 30 Pounds Sterling TO ORDER IN U.S. CALL 1-800-780-2279 or email:fdcleis at aol.com TO ORDER IN U.K. CALL 020-8829-3000 or email: orders at turnaround-uk.com From Fdcleis at aol.com Mon Mar 4 14:19:08 2002 From: Fdcleis at aol.com (Fdcleis at aol.com) Date: Mon Mar 4 14:19:08 2002 Subject: [Prishtina-E] Melanie Friend West Coast/East Coast Tour Message-ID: <176.47ef5d4.29b51941@aol.com> Please come and feel free to pass on, or announce that On Tuesday March 19 at 7pm Melanie Friend will be in San Francisco at Modern Times Bookstore 888 Valencia Street San Francisco, ca 94110 Phone 415 282 9246 On Thursday March 21 at 7:30 Melanie Friend will be in Berkeley at Black Oak Bookstore 1491 Shattuck Berkeley, Ca 94709 Phone 510 486 0698 On Friday April 5 at 7pm Melanie Friend will be in New York at Bluestockings Bookstore 172 Allen St New York, New York 10002 Phone 212 777 6028 Bluestockingsevents at hotmail.com On Tuesday April 9 at 7pm Melanie Friend will be in Boston at New Words Bookstore 186 Hampshire Street (Inman Square) Cambridge, Ma 02139 Phone 617 876 5310 newwords at world.std.com British photojournalist Melanie Friend will discuss and show slides from her powerful and haunting book, No Place Like Home: Echoes from Kosovo. The personal testimonies of Albanians who fled Serbian repression and systematic violence are strikingly juxtaposed against her dignified studio-style portraits of the refugees and the very ordinary homes they eventually returned to. Ian Jack, editor of Granta, observes that "the power of her book doesn't come from obviously shocking pictures; the shock is the realization that these suddenly-changed and cancelled lives were once so like our own." No Place Like Home Echoes from Kosovo By Melanie Friend CONTACT: Fr?d?rique Delacoste (415) 575-4700 Publication Date: December 2001 Current Events/Photography "The power of No Place Like Home doesn?t come from obviously shocking pictures; the shock is the realization that these suddenly-changed and cancelled lives were once so like our own." ? GRANTA Midnight Editions is pleased to announce publication of No Place Like Home: Echoes from Kosovo (ISBN 1-57344-119-8, $39.95). Through 75 color photographs and 50 accompanying personal testimonies, No Place Like Home offers an extraordinary insight into how history is lived by ordinary citizens. How do people persist with the chores of daily life, knowing that at any time their villages, or even their own homes, may be targeted for terror? How do they survive the murder of entire families? Or the hope of ever finding loved ones who have disappeared? How do they live in the landscapes where massacres took place?and reconcile the thirst for revenge with the need for peace of mind? These questions, which can be asked in the aftermath of any act of violence, are the subject of No Place Like Home: Echoes from Kosovo. British photojournalist Melanie Friend has covered the Balkans since 1989. Well before Kosovo began to make headlines, she was gripped by the region, whose autonomy was revoked by the government of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic that same year. Friend became familiar with the tactics of the Serbian police, who spread fear through the predominantly Albanian Muslim population. Her visits were brief, often subject to surveillance and film confiscation. NO PLACE LIKE HOME, 2 "Everyone had a story to tell, but it wasn?t always easy to find publishable newspaper photographs," Friend writes in the introduction to No Place Like Home. "Repression was hidden, dramatic visual images rare. Police frequently cordoned off whole villages in the aftermath of police raids and beatings. How could you visually represent fear and repression in picturesque villages where roadblocks and surveillance of foreigners? movements made it impossible to witness such events? I wanted to try a different strategy from straightforward photojournalism. I began photographing the rooms and gardens where police raids had taken place." Friend conducted taped interviews with the inhabitants of those rooms and gardens. In 1999, when thousands of Kosovo Albanians fled large-scale reprisals and killings of civilians by the Serbian police in the wake of the NATO bombings, Friend traveled to Macedonia and interviewed refugees. "I knew I could not photograph nameless people crying as they streamed across the border on tractors, as in so many newspaper images I had seen. These pictures may have been necessary, but I could not bring myself to take them," she writes. Instead, Friend took dignified studio-style portraits of refugees. Later, when the refugees returned to Kosovo, she sought out and re-interviewed all the people she had met in the refugee camps in Macedonia. In some cases, she had only the name of a village for an address. She visited massacre sites in Recak, Lubizhde, and Celine, where Albanian survivors walked with her through beautiful landscapes, now haunted by the memories of those who were killed there. She also interviewed Serbs, Roma, Turks, and other minorities, who, fearing revenge killings, did not wish to be photographed for publication. Melanie Friend?s photographs and interviews span the past decade and offer a profound and original look at repression, war and its aftermath, and their effect on the lives of ordinary citizens. No Place Like Home not only "shows us the human particularity that lies within phrases such as ?ethnic conflict? and ?civil war? " (Ian Jack, Granta), "it enriches our knowledge of Kosovo and inspires deeper reflection about the wider Balkans"(Gabriel partos, BBC World Service). NO PLACE LIKE HOME, 3 SELECTED REVIEWS NO PLACE LIKE HOME WAS SELECTED AS ONE OF THE "BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR" IN THE GUARDIAN (UK), THE INDEPENDENT (UK), TIME OUT (UK) AND THE FINANCIAL TIMES (GLOBAL EDITION) "Melanie Friend?s remarkable photographs and interviews show us the human particularity that lies within phrases such as ?ethnic conflict? and ?civil war? ? and help us understand how communal hatred and savagery can break out of (and into) the most peaceful field, the most ordinary living room, and what happens after it does. The power of her book doesn?t come from obviously shocking pictures; the shock is the realization that these suddenly-changed and cancelled lives were once so like our own." ? Ian Jack, GRANTA "Melanie Friend?s volume of photographs and accompanying personal testimonies provides an extraordinary insight into Kosovo?s turbulent recent history through the eyes of its ordinary people. Albanians, Serbs, Roma, Turks and Kosovo?s other ethnic communities tell their stories of suffering, flight, resistance, intolerance and comradeship against the backdrop of an often hostile political and social environment. The understated, even restrained imagery - portraits, homes and landscapes - is in sharp contrast with the atrocities chronicled by the victims or their close relatives and friends. It is a book that enriches our knowledge of Kosovo and inspires deeper reflection about the wider Balkans."?Gabriel Partos, BBC WORLD SERVICE "These are not war photographs in the way we would expect, but calm statements of witness, filled with a pathos which even the best of photojournalism could not hope to convey ." ? Val Williams, Curator, THE HASSELBLAD CENTER LIBRARY JOURNAL (MARCH 1st 2002) Those who study world conflicts from afar tend to portray both the perpetrators and their victims through a series of politically correct phrases, often masking just what years of oppression, ethnic cleansing, and nationalistic intolerance (to name just a few terms often used to describe Kosovo) mean for the common people who must bear the consequences. This remarkable collection reveals how easy it is for those in power to manipulate the feeling of nationalism and systematically create an environment in which brutality becomes part of life. Friend, a British photographer who has covered Kosovo?s political turmoil since 1989, has collected some 50 interviews. The compelling and often disturbing photographs that accompany them serve not only to document the actual experiences of Kosovo?inhabitants but to help us understand why the region must remain multiethnic for the good of all. Highly recommended for all interested in international conflicts. ?Natasa Musa, New York Melanie Friend?s work has appeared in NEWSWEEK, THE GUARDIAN, THE INDEPENDENT, GRANTA, and MARIE CLAIRE among other publications. Her photographs of Kosovo have been exhibited at Camerawork, the National Portrait Gallery in London, The Houston Center for Photography, and are currently showing at the Hasselblad Center in Sweden. She lives in London. NO PLACE LIKE HOME: ECHOES FROM KOSOVO by Melanie Friend Publication Date: November 2001 Current Events/Photography 75 Color Photos, 10x11, 160 pages ISBN 1-57344-119-8, $39.95 Midnight Editions, an imprint of Cleis Press Distributed by Publishers Group West You can listen to Melanie Friend?s interview on Woman?s Hour (BBC radio 4) on the web: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/19_11_01/friday/info2.shtml From dbein at bndlg.de Sat Mar 9 08:20:05 2002 From: dbein at bndlg.de (Divi Beineke) Date: Sat Mar 9 08:20:05 2002 Subject: [Prishtina-E] Three more weeks until the March 31, 2002 deadline Message-ID: <3C8A0B24.82F0890A@bndlg.de> Dear friends, This is a big month for us! March 31, 2002 is the date set by the US Congress over three months ago. By this time, the Serb government should have released or transfered the Albanian prisoners and various war criminals arrested. Future aid will be conditioned on those requirements. Please support our efforts and go on to send your emails! (new letter see below) Visit: http://www.dbein.bndlg.de/APP choose one of the links to "SEND EMAILS NOW! ------->>> and go for it!! At "THANK YOU" on the website you?ll find the new lists of our best email-activists -- thank you all so very much for your support!! Regards Divi Beineke -- EMAIL-ACTION: RELEASE THE PRISONERS NOW! TE LIROHEN MENJEEERE TE BURGOSURIT! LASST JETZT DIE GEFANGENEN FREI! ODMAH OSLOBODITE ZATVORENIKE! http://www.dbein.bndlg.de/APP +++ new letter +++ Three more weeks until the March 31, 2002 deadline! Dear Ladies and Sirs, Three weeks before the deadline set by the US Congress last December there is still no official information about when the remaining Albanian prisoners will return to Kosova. Even the number of prisoners remains unclear (200 according to ICRC, 155 according to the EU and UNMIK, and 175 according to Svilanovic). The implication in Foreign Minister Svilanovic's latest quote in B92 is that the conditioning of aid relates only to the war criminal extraditions to the Hague, saying that acceptance into Council of Europe will depend on the transfer of prisoners. This is not true. The conditioning of US aid includes the transfer of the Albanians to UNMIK by March 31, 2002. We are dismayed by evidence of further equivocation at this point, as once more Serbia/FRY officials try to downplay and delay cooperation on the prisoner issue. They all must be in Kosova by March 31, 2002. Sincerely, From dbein at bndlg.de Tue Mar 12 19:29:02 2002 From: dbein at bndlg.de (Divi Beineke) Date: Tue Mar 12 19:29:02 2002 Subject: [Prishtina-E] Reminder: 18 days until the March 31, 2002 deadline ...! Message-ID: <3C8E8F8E.EBB943C@bndlg.de> Dear friends, Remember: this is a big month for us! March 31, 2002 is the date set by the US Congress over three months ago. By this time, the Serb government should have released or transfered the Albanian prisoners and various war criminals arrested. Future aid will be conditioned on those requirements. Let us keep the pressure up and go on to send your emails! Visit: http://www.dbein.bndlg.de/APP choose one of the links to "SEND EMAILS NOW! ------->>> and go for it!! Regards Divi Beineke -- EMAIL-ACTION: RELEASE THE PRISONERS NOW! TE LIROHEN MENJEEERE TE BURGOSURIT! LASST JETZT DIE GEFANGENEN FREI! ODMAH OSLOBODITE ZATVORENIKE! http://www.dbein.bndlg.de/APP From mentor at alb-net.com Fri Mar 15 14:33:01 2002 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Fri Mar 15 14:33:01 2002 Subject: [Prishtina-E] Repatriated Kovoso-Albanians from Denmark (fwd) Message-ID: If you can help with the inquiry [see below] please contact them directly at gad at dr.dk . -- Mentor ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Wed, 13 Mar 2002 16:44:58 +0100 From: GAD at dr.dk To: staff at alb-net.com Cc: GAD at dr.dk Subject: Repatriated Kovoso-Albanians from Denmark Dear Sirs, The Danish Broadcasting Corporation is currently producing a television documentary about the European and the Danish asylum policy during the past 15 years and its consequences. During our research we are investigating the many Kosovo-albanians who fled to - among other places - Denmark. Several of them were denied asylum on the grounds that they personally were not threatened by persecusion by the Serbs and the fact that the Albanians as a whole population were being persecuted did not constitute any personal danger for any particular asylum seeker in Denmark. >From our Swedish collegues I know that several Kosovo-albanians, who were sent back, were in fact killed by the Serbs after having been denied protection by Sweden. I am wondering if you have heard about Kosovo-albanias who wanted asylum in Denmark and after having been rejected from Demnark were beaten, persecuted, tortured or even killed by Serbs upon their return? Sincerely Thomas Gade Producer DR Documentary Danish Broadcasting Corporation DK - 2860 Soborg Denmark Tel: +45 35 20 22 27 Mobile: +45 21 29 70 17 email: gad at dr.dk From dritoni90 at hotmail.com Mon Mar 18 11:05:02 2002 From: dritoni90 at hotmail.com (Driton Kozhani) Date: Mon, 18 Mar 2002 11:05:02 -0500 Subject: [Prishtina-E] Hi there.... Message-ID: Hello I'm trying to find out in which countries the UNMIK passport for Kosovo people is valid. As it almost impossible to get any informations about it, I'm asking you - maybe you know something about it: Do you have any experiences with this passport? Can it be used to Canada? I'm looking forward to your answering. Thank you very much! Yours sincerely Driton Kozhani -------------- next part -------------- HTML attachment scrubbed and removed From ulushi2 at msn.com Fri Mar 8 11:48:22 2002 From: ulushi2 at msn.com (Uk Lushi) Date: Fri, 08 Mar 2002 11:48:22 -0500 Subject: [Prishtina-E] Leter Falenderimi Message-ID: Shoqata Atlantiku-Atlantic Association Inc. 2322 Arthur Avenue, Suite 2, Bronx, NY 10458 Phone/Fax: (718) 563-7080 6 Mars 2002 New York, SHBA Me rastin e percjelljes madheshtore dhe ceremonise mortore te nderimit te eshtrave te vellezerve Bytyci ne Prishtine (27-28 shkurt 2002) dhe New York (1-4 mars 2002) Shoqata Atlantiku- Atlantic Association u dergon kete leter falenderimi: Departmentit te Shtetit te SHBA-ve, Ambasades Amerikane ne Prishtine, Shtabit Suprem te Ushtrise se Kosoves (TMK-se), Redaksive te mjeteve te informimit ne gjuhen shqipe ne Kosove, Maqedoni, Mal te Zi, Shqiperi dhe Diaspore: Sigurisht qe nuk ka asnje lloj zevendesimi, vecanerisht per familjen dhe ish-bashkluftetaret e tyre nga UCK-ja te tre vellezerve Bytyci- Yllit, Agronit dhe Mehmetit per humbjen e tre djemve dhe shokeve te tyre. Dhimbja per keputjen e jetes se tyre nga dora kriminele e regjimit te Milosevicit do te jete e pergjithmonshme, por te perhershme do te jete edhe respekti dhe krenaria. Pas gati tri vitesh eshtrat e tyre me ne fund prehen te qete ne token e SHBA-ve, ne vendin e tyre te lindjes. Tre vellezerit Bytyqi si djem te vertete te Kosoves u nisen nga atdheu i tyre SHBA-te qe ne Kosove te vendosin idealet amerikane te lirise, demokracise dhe tolerances. Me rastin e nderimit dhe percjelljes madheshtore te eshtrave te tre vellezerve Bytyci, ketyre heronjve te UCK-se ne Prishtine, Shoqata Atlantiku falenderon te gjithe qytetaret e Kosoves qe shprehen respekt dhe homazhe per vellezerit Bytyci. Falenderimet me te sinqerta dhe me te thella i drejtojme mikut te madh te shqiptareve, Ambasadorit William Walker, per perkrahjen e familjes Bytyci, si dhe punen dhe kontributin e jashtzakonshem ne ceremonite ne Prishtine dhe New York. Falenderojme Ambasaden Amerikane ne Prishtine dhe posacerisht Ambasadorin Amerikan, John K. Menzis, per perkrahjen dhe punen e madhe ne ndricimin dhe premtimin per hetimin e rastit me tutje derisa vrasesit e vellezerve Bytyci te dalin para drejtesise. Falenderojme Deprtmentin e Shtetit te SHBA-ve per punen e madhe dhe perkrahjen gjate gjithe kohes prej kur Gjenerali Wesley Clark ne bashkpunim me Ambasaden Amerikane ne Beograd e filloi proceduren per identifikimin e trupave te vellezerve Bytyci te gjetur ne nje varreze massive ne Serbi. Falenderimet me mirenjohese per organizimin dhe nderimin e mrekullueshem dhe madheshtor te ceremonies ne Prishtine i drejtojme Ushtrise se Kosoves (TMK-se), pjestareve te Gardes se TMK-se dhe vecanerisht Shtabit Suprem te TMK-se dhe komandantit te Ushtrise se Kosoves- Gjeneral Agim Ceku. Ne fund, por jo me se pakut, falenderojme per percjelljen e vazhdueshme dhe dinjitoze te ceremonise mortore ne Prishtine te gjitha mediat e informimit te Kosoves, Maqedonise, Malit te Zi dhe Shqiperise, si stacionet televizive, radiot, gazetat ashtu dhe mediumet elektronike ne Internet. Me rastin e nderimit dhe percjelljes madheshtore te eshtrave te tre vellezerve Bytyci, ketyre heronjve te UCK-se, ne New York falenderojme per ndarjen e dhimbjes dhe perkushtimin per mirevajtjen e ceromonise Ambasadorin William Walker, mikun tone, Kongresmenin Eliot Engel dhe policine e distriktit te Yonkersit per percjelljen nderuese te arkivoleve dhe kortezhit. Falenderojme poashtu te gjite pjestaret e komunitetit shqiptaro-amerikan per nderimin qe iu bene eshtrave te vellezerve Bytyci gjate ceremonies funerale si dhe me pjesmarrjen masovike gjate varrimit. Falenderojme te gjitha shoqatat dhe asociacionet e komunitetit dhe posacerisht Shoqaten ?Miqte e TMK-se per Amerike dhe Kanada? me seli ne New York per venien ne dispozicion te krejt anetarsesie ne informimin dhe organizimin e ceremonise ne Prishtine dhe New York. Ne fund por perseri jo me se pakut falenderojme per prezentimin dhe informimin mjetet e informimit ne SHBA, edhe ne gjuhen angleze edhe ne gjuhen shqipe, vecanerisht gazeten The New York Times, kanalet televizive, CBS, Channel 11, Channel 12, gazeten ?Illyria? dhe stacionin televiziv Albanian Culture, per te mos harruar te falenderojme me mija individe nga mbare bota qe na derguan telegrame ngushellime dhe mbeshteteje dhe ish-bashkluftetaret e vellezerve Bytyci nga Batalioni Atlantiku per dinjitetin me te cilin qendruan roje nderi dhe me qendrese percollen vellezerit Bytyci ne banesen e fundit. Shoqata Atlantiku-Atlantic Association Inc. me kete rast edhe njehere therret autoritet amerikane qe te bejne gjithcka deri sa te identifikohen kryesit e krimit ndaj vellezerve Bytyci dhe derisa te vendosen para drejtesise. Kryesia e Shoqates Atlantiku-Atlantic Association Inc. _________________________________________________________________ MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos: http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx From naac at naac.org Tue Mar 5 14:01:04 2002 From: naac at naac.org (National Albanian American Council - NAAC) Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2002 14:01:04 -0500 Subject: [Prishtina-E] NAAC Open Letter to Ibrahim Rugova, Hashim Thaci, and Ramush Haradinaj Message-ID: <00a001c1c478$3cee89f0$0301010a@sokol> National Albanian American Council 1700 K Street, N.W., Suite 1201, Washington, DC 20006 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: www.naac.org Email: naac at naac.org _________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release: March 5, 2002 Contact: Sokol Shtylla (202) 466-6900 PRESS RELEASE Open Letter to Ibrahim Rugova, Hashim Thaci, and Ramush Haradinaj Washington, DC, March 5, 2002: The National Albanian American Council issued the following open letter to the political leaders of Kosova. On November 17, 2001, the people of Kosova participated in one of the best run, most free and fair elections ever held in the Balkans. Albanians worldwide shared a great moment of joy and pride, and felt optimistic about Kosova's future. After meeting with each of you on November 18th, we also felt optimistic. Each of you expressed to us a strong desire to work for the good of Kosova. Each of you stated that in your actions for and on behalf of your constituents, you would place national interests above party politics and personal ambitions and would reach a compromise when forming a government. Now, nearly three months later, a government has been formed. For that we congratulate each of you and UNMIK Special Representative Michael Steiner, US Ambassador John Menzies, and others who helped the three of you find a compromise. Like most Albanians, however, we are very disappointed with how long it took to achieve this goal and the tension that it created. The impasse undermined Kosova, at least in the short term. That means that each of you will now have to work harder to repair the damage and to make a multi-party government function efficiently and effectively. Your abilities to compromise with each other will be the critical factor in your success. As you know, there is much to be done. You must lead the way in rebuilding an economy, the infrastructure, and the government and civic institutions of Kosova. We will try to do our part in the United States by keeping Kosova on the US foreign policy agenda and involved in region. For its part, the government of Kosova should establish formal channels of communication and perhaps establish an office in the United States as soon as possible, so that it may interact directly with the United Nations, the US Congress, the Bush Administration, and the Diaspora. We hope that the political impasse will now be relegated to history and that very soon the government will become busy working to improve Kosova's future. 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 ### You are receiving this message because you have requested information about our organization directly from us or through an internet listserv. If you no longer wish to receive such information and would like to be removed, please notify us at naac at naac.org or the listserv that has distributed this information to you. -------------- next part -------------- HTML attachment scrubbed and removed From bekim_mahmuti at yahoo.com Thu Mar 21 06:53:46 2002 From: bekim_mahmuti at yahoo.com (Bekim Mahmuti) Date: Thu, 21 Mar 2002 03:53:46 -0800 (PST) Subject: [Prishtina-E] Hi there.... In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <20020321115346.97100.qmail@web13205.mail.yahoo.com> Ja nje lajm i vjeter diku rreth nje muaj i marrur nga Kosova.com: Sllovenia ?sht? shteti i 28-t? me radh? q? ka njohur pasaport?n kosovare. K?shtu ka b?r? t? ditur Sunil Marula, p?rgjegj?s p?r informim i UNMIK-ut. Risi tjet?r p?r qytetar?t e Kosov?s ?sht? edhe lajmi se gjat? k?tij muaji dokumentet e tyre t? udh?timit do t? shtypen n? Kosov?, gj? q? do t? leht?soj? dhe p?rshpejtoj? mund?sin? e pajisjes me to t? secilit prej tyre. Shtypja e dokumenteve t? udh?timit n? Gjermani ka b?r? q? deri m? tani me vonesa e v?shtir?si t? pajisen m? t? tilla qytetar?t e Kosov?s, ka shtuar Marula. Deri m? tani me dokumente t? udh?timit apo pasaporta t? UNMIK-ut jan? pajisur gjithsej 120 mij? kosovar?, nd?rkoh? q? 20 mij? aplikacione t? tjera presin n? radh? p?r t?u kryer brenda k?tij muaji. Dokumentin e udh?timit t? UNMIK-ut p?r qytetar?t e Kosov?s deri m? tani e kan? njohur vendet e BE-s?, SHBA-t?, Zvicra, Suedia, Rumania, Danimarka, Islanda, ?ekia, Kroacia, Hungaria, Holanda, Shqip?ria, Maqedonia, Bosnja e Hercegovina, Turqia dhe Sllovenia. --- Driton Kozhani wrote: > > Hello > I'm trying to find out in which countries the UNMIK > passport for Kosovo people is valid. As it almost > impossible to get any informations about it, I'm > asking you - maybe you know something about it: > Do you have any experiences with this passport? Can > it be used to Canada? > I'm looking forward to your answering. Thank you > very much! > Yours sincerely > Driton Kozhani > > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Movies - coverage of the 74th Academy Awards? http://movies.yahoo.com/ From kosova at jps.net Thu Mar 28 00:54:30 2002 From: kosova at jps.net (kosova at jps.net) Date: Wed, 27 Mar 2002 21:54:30 -0800 Subject: [Prishtina-E] Alice Mead: Today I Am Really, Really Happy... Message-ID: Today I Am Really, Really Happy that Everyone Made It Back to Kosova By Alice Mead Special to Zeri, Prishtine March 27, 2002 I went to a hunger strike in Prishtine next to the Grand Hotel in September, 1999, at the time when it still wasn't known exactly how many prisoners were taken. Estimates ranged from 3,000 to 5,000. Not one official from any international organizations came to that strike. It was obvious to me then that the only way to negotiate for the release of the prisoners would be through pressure from outside Kosova. Naida Dukaj, an Albanian-American activist, and I started the Albanian Prisoner Advocacy project in October, 1999, with help from Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY) and some NGO's in Washington. People began contacting us from all over the world -- Mexico, Indonesia, India, Sweden, France, Switzerland in support of the prisoners. Even the NATO wives group in Brussels joined us, buttonholing NATO leaders at fancy dinners and parties. Our first goal, working with Natasa Kandic at HLC Belgrade, was the release of the 40 children from Gllogovc, which took place in November, 1999. Officials told us that without outside pressure and exposure, this wouldn't have happened. But there were still 2,000 others we needed to help. By November, 1999, we were joined by Wolfgang Plarre and Divi Beineke in Germany, and Anders Wessman and Idriz Zogaj in Sweden. Our goal was to keep the issue of the prisoners (or hostages, as they prefer to be called) in the forefront of international politics in Serbia and Kosova. So for nearly three years, that's what we did. We documented their arrests, detentions, torture, false trials -- by that time many NGO's were involved as trial observers -- and submitted our findings to the US State Department, the Hague Tribunal, UNMIK officials, European Parliament, and the UN Security Council. Families continued weekly demonstrations in Kosova and met with visiting officials whenever they could. First we tried for a broad amnesty, as stipulated by the Geneva Conventions. But Serbs used that to release only two hundred prisoners and thirty thousand Serb draft evaders. So we had to start again and bring more pressure. This time we emphasized to the public the torture, degradation, and multiple violations endured by the prisoners, as well as the Dubrava Massacre. By now, we had the help of Valerie Hughes of Kosova Ireland Solidarity. And we had now a lot of help from a number of Serb NGO's in Belgrade, who helped as trial observers and had pushed the idea of amnesty in the Parliament. We assisted with some OTPOR releases. Divi Beineke's email action campaign, which has 1,555 advocates, sent over 38,000 emails to over 300 Serb officials, media, and international leaders in Europe and the USA. Our A-PAL newsletter was sent to 2,000 political leaders, media, and NGO's. Following the failure of amnesty as a solution, high-level international officials told us that the prisoner issue would now be second in order after the arrest of Milosevic and the beginning of his trial. At that point, high-level pressure would increase. In December, 2001, the US Congress followed through with its second attempt to condition aid to FRY based on the release of the prisoners. Top-level European officials, and efforts coordinated now by the UK foreign office in London, and the political office of the EU stuck by this deadline in their efforts to pressure Vojislav Kostunica. They also added the stipulation that FRY couldn't enter the Council of Europe until this was resolved. We are still working on providing assistance to victims of torture. There has been practically no help for returning prisoners in terms of medical care or rehabilitation from UNMIK. However, UNMIK officials, especially since the arrival of John Christian Cady and Elizabeth Presse last summer, deserve a lot of recognition for persisting in the face of the egregious evasions, delays, excuses, demands for exchanges that they continually faced from Serb officials. Every single step of this process -- from demanding better food, stopping the daily beatings, finding transferred prisoners, keeping the Albanians safe during the prison riots, getting access for family members and doctors -- has been extraordinarily time-consuming and difficult. I have learned that policy for Kosova is most often determined outside Kosova itself and that the citizens of Kosova have little access to international governing bodies, justice systems, and supranational organizations like the EU, UN, or international courts. As for our A-PAL effort, we are still working on compensation for torture victims as well as the return of the 800 bodies found in mass graves in Serbia last April, 2001. We have also begun a new initiative -- advocacy for increased civil rights for Kosova citizens. Without this kind of scrupulous, non-stop advocacy, even the most basic problems in Kosova are in danger of not being fairly resolved. But for today, I am really, really happy that everyone (EVERYONE!) made it back to Kosova and that no one (NO ONE!) was left behind. I am sorry for the six who died and for the outrageous ransoms that families paid. But I am so relieved and delighted that over 2,000 people including women and children, made it home. Alice Mead is an American author and human rights activist. From jeton at hotmail.com Sat Mar 30 13:07:27 2002 From: jeton at hotmail.com (Jeton Ademaj) Date: Sat, 30 Mar 2002 13:07:27 -0500 Subject: [Prishtina-E] Fwd: [Fwd: 1024-bit RSA keys in danger of compromise] (fwd) Message-ID: hi all, this is from a friend who's a tech consultant. a bit off-topic, but i figure some of u would wanna be informed, so... >Lucky Green wrote: > > > As those of you who have discussed RSA keys size requirements with me > > over the years will attest to, I always held that 1024-bit RSA keys > > could not be factored by anyone, including the NSA, unless the opponent > > had devised novel improvements to the theory of factoring large > > composites unknown in the open literature. I considered this to be > > possible, but highly unlikely. In short, I believed that users' desires > > for keys larger than 1024-bits were mostly driven by a vague feeling > > that "larger must be better" in some cases, and by downright paranoia in > > other cases. I was mistaken. > > > > Based upon requests voiced by a number of attendees to this year's > > Financial Cryptography conference , I assembled and > > moderated a panel titled "RSA Factoring: Do We Need Larger Keys?". The > > panel explored the implications of Bernstein's widely discussed > > "Circuits for Integer Factorization: a Proposal". > > http://cr.yp.to/papers.html#nfscircuit > > > > Although the full implications of the proposal were not necessarily > > immediately apparent in the first few days following Bernstein's > > publication, the incremental improvements to parts of NFS outlined in > > the proposal turn out to carry significant practical security > > implications impacting the overwhelming majority of deployed systems > > utilizing RSA or DH as the public key algorithms. > > > > Coincidentally, the day before the panel, Nicko van Someren announced at > > the FC02 rump session that his team had built software which can factor > > 512-bit RSA keys in 6 weeks using only hardware they already had in the > > office. > > > > A very interesting result, indeed. (While 512-bit keys had been broken > > before, the feasibility of factoring 512-bit keys on just the computers > > sitting around an office was news at least to me). > > > > The panel, consisting of Ian Goldberg and Nicko van Someren, put forth > > the following rough first estimates: > > > > While the interconnections required by Bernstein's proposed architecture > > add a non-trivial level of complexity, as Bruce Schneier correctly > > pointed out in his latest CRYPTOGRAM newsletter, a 1024-bit RSA > > factoring device can likely be built using only commercially available > > technology for a price range of several hundred million dollars to about > > 1 billion dollars. Costs may well drop lower if one has the use of a > > chip fab. It is a matter of public record that the NSA as well as the > > Chinese, Russian, French, and many other intelligence agencies all > > operate their own fabs. > > > > Some may consider a price tag potentially reaching $1B prohibitive. One > > should keep in mind that the NRO regularly launches SIGINT satellites > > costing close to $2B each. Would the NSA have built a device at less > > than half the cost of one of their satellites to be able to decipher the > > interception data obtained via many such satellites? The NSA would have > > to be derelict of duty to not have done so. > > > > Bernstein's machine, once built, will have power requirements in the MW > > to operate, but in return will be able to break a 1024-bit RSA or DH key > > in seconds to minutes. Even under the most optimistic estimates for > > present-day PKI adoption, the inescapable conclusion is that the NSA, > > its major foreign intelligence counterparts, and any foreign commercial > > competitors provided with commercial intelligence by their national > > intelligence services have the ability to break on demand any and all > > 1024-bit public keys. > > > > The security implications of a practical breakability of 1024-bit RSA > > and DH keys are staggering, since of the following systems as currently > > deployed tend to utilize keys larger than 1024-bits: > > > > - HTTPS > > - SSH > > - IPSec > > - S/MIME > > - PGP > > > > An opponent capable of breaking all of the above will have access to > > virtually any corporate or private communications and services that are > > connected to the Internet. > > > > The most sensible recommendation in response to these findings at this > > time is to upgraded your security infrastructure to utilize 2048-bit > > user keys at the next convenient opportunity. Certificate Authorities > > may wish to investigate larger keys as appropriate. Some CA's, such as > > those used to protect digital satellite content in Europe, have already > > moved to 4096-bit root keys. > > > > Undoubtedly, many vendors and their captive security consultants will > > rush to publish countless "reasons" why nobody is able to build such a > > device, would ever want to build such a device, could never obtain a > > sufficient number of chips for such a device, or simply should use that > > vendor's "unbreakable virtual onetime pad" technology instead. > > > > While the latter doesn't warrant comment, one question to ask > > spokespersons pitching the former is "what key size is the majority of > > your customers using with your security product"? Having worked in this > > industry for over a decade, I can state without qualification that > > anybody other than perhaps some of the HSM vendors would be misinformed > > if they claimed that the majority - or even a sizable minority - of > > their customers have deployed key sizes larger than 1024-bits through > > their organization. Which is not surprising, since many vendor offerings > > fail to support larger keys. > > > > In light of the above, I reluctantly revoked all my personal 1024-bit > > PGP keys and the large web-of-trust that these keys have acquired over > > time. The keys should be considered compromised. The revoked keys and my > > new keys are attached below. > > > > --Lucky Green > > > _________________________________________________________________ Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com From mentor at alb-net.com Wed Mar 20 13:11:28 2002 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Wed, 20 Mar 2002 13:11:28 -0500 (EST) Subject: [Prishtina-E] [AMCC-News] (1) A Network of Minoprity Rights Organisations established in Macedonia; (2) Finance peace in Macedonia, not corruption; (3) Donors pledge $515 mln aid for Macedonia; (4) Opening of ECMI NGO Resource Centres in Tetovo and Bitola, Macedonia Message-ID: >>>>>>>>>>>>> PLEASE READ & DISTRIBUTE FURTHER <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< --------------------------------------------------------------------- Human Rights Violations in Macedonia http://www.alb-net.com/amcc/humanrights.htm Macedonian police brutality, abuse and massacres http://www.alb-net.com/amcc/abuse_violence.htm --------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. A Network of Minority Rights Organizations established in Macedonia 2. Finance peace in Macedonia, not corruption 3. Donors pledge $515 mln aid for Macedonia 4. Opening of ECMI NGO Resource Centres in Tetovo and Bitola, Macedonia ### (1) ### Betreff: [balkanhr] A Network of Minority Rights Organizations established in Macedonia Datum: Mon, 11 Mar 2002 20:29:16 +0200 Von: "albert" (by way of Greek Helsinki Monitor ) Established the Network of Minority Rights Organizations in Macedonia On the 04-07th of march 2002 in Ohrid, a seminar on "Increasing Knowledge on Minority Rights Standards" was organized by the Association for Democratic Initiatives-ADI in cooperation with the Council of Europe's Secretariat of the FCNM in the framework of the Stability Pact project concerning Minorities Acceptance and Implementation of existing standards with a voluntary contribution of the United Kingdom. After a three days intensive meetings, the 34 participating NGO's from all the regions of the country, representing organizations working in the field of minority rights as well as minority based organizations decided to establish a Network of Minority Rights Organizations in Macedonia. The Network decided upon the activity plan for the following two years and it's long term strategy, while two immediate tasks resulted at the end of the seminar. The appeal of the network to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Skopje to submit the State report on the Implementation of the Provisions of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities in Macedonia, which report was due to be submitted in 1999 by the Government of Macedonia. The network adopted a strategy for an Advocacy Campaign for Ratifying the Charter on Regional and Minority Languages by the Macedonian Parliament. which was signed by the government of Macedonia 6 years ago, but not yet ratified. The report from he seminar with the list of participants and lecturers will be available at the beginning of April 2002, for any further information, please contact the Association for Democratic Initiatives ADI B. Jovanoski St. 61 1230 Gostivar Macedonia tel: +389 42 22 11 00 fax: +389 42 22 11 02 e-mail: albert at adi.org.mk URL: http://www.adi.org.mk ### (2) ### http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/480fa8736b88bbc3c12564f6004c8ad5/8357c4d90cd7dd3dc1256b7a004c64c4?OpenDocument Source: International Crisis Group (ICG) Date: 11 Mar 2002 Finance peace in Macedonia, not corruption Skopje/Brussels, 11 March 2002: As EU, U.S. and World Bank officials prepare to meet tomorrow in Brussels at a donors' conference for the Republic of Macedonia, the International Crisis Group urges them to be vigilant on two key issues that threaten the fledgling peace effort: endemic corruption and economic reform. ICG calls for the joint appointment of an anti-corruption adviser to assist the Macedonian government and monitor spending of donor funds. Macedonia's leaders deserve generous support to re-build their country and pay for the costly reforms that were the key to getting Albanian insurgents to lay down arms. However, ICG President Gareth Evans warned: "The target for the aid package is not small, a quarter of a billion dollars, and it should be met. But if donors commit this sum without demanding serious anti-corruption and reform efforts, they will put at risk the investment they have made in peace." Corruption plagues all transition countries, but in Macedonia it threatens the viability of the state. Albanian minority participation in today's government rests on a simple principle: they get one third of the spoils enjoyed by the Macedonian leadership. At the same time both Macedonian and Albanian political leaders flirt cynically with ethnic extremism, deepening communal divisions and corroding the rule of law and public trust in institutions - as they connive at siphoning off national assets. The corruption concerns include reports of kickbacks, customs and licensing rackets, cigarette smuggling and illegal privatisation deals that benefit government insiders. The stories are not - as some politicians claim - simply anecdotes. The Macedonian media is replete with detailed, credible allegations that are privately corroborated by diplomats. The Macedonian leadership is also seeking leniency on important IMF targets. The Prime Minister is reportedly balking at a follow-on IMF credit arrangement that would replace the current, voluntary set of spending criteria. With an election due this year, he seeks more relaxed terms. However delaying reform will only protract economic transition. Where donors need to channel attention is on creating and sustaining jobs for both Macedonians and Albanians, especially in rural areas and regions that were affected by fighting. Applications for emigration by Macedonians have soared, while the unemployment rate for rural Albanians remains alarmingly high. The job base is shrinking as loss-making enterprises close their doors and otherwise profitable private firms lose their credit rating due to bank-perceived "risk". More re-training is needed for laid-off workers, as well as credit incentives for Macedonia's banks to lend to private firms located in these crisis zones. Otherwise, Macedonia risks further ethnic division due to economic circumstances. But these measures will mean little if the international community does not insist that Macedonia tackles corruption. Traditional prescriptions - regulatory reform, conferences, legislation - have had paltry results, as international officials concede. The knowledge that corruption is rampant has eviscerated trust in all levels of government and created cynicism toward "institution building" efforts. Civil society groups like Transparency International show promise, but they depend on a critical mass of citizens who believe their efforts will result in change - something utterly absent in Macedonia. An outside catalyst is needed to demonstrate international seriousness and give ordinary Macedonians confidence that change is possible. ICG therefore recommends that the donors and the Macedonian government jointly ask the European Commission to send an anti-corruption adviser to Macedonia. The adviser's role would be to activate moribund checks against corruption, and stimulate the efforts of government and civil society to develop and implement an anti-corruption strategy. Stonewalling by the authorities should incur the suspension of EU funding. ICG believes that the government could be persuaded to accept such an adviser, if only the international community would insist. ICG also urges donors to fund fully watchdog and oversight mechanisms for the nation's heath fund. Raising the profile and effectiveness of the fight against corruption, and insisting on economic reforms, could reorient politics away from a zero-sum tussle over resources and ethnic rights into a joint struggle against a common opponent. ICG's Macedonia Project Director Edward Joseph said: "Ethnic Macedonians and Albanians alike are fed up with 'the way the game is played' and are eager for the rule of law. But they can't achieve change on their own. As Macedonia seeks generous international support at this donor's conference, now is the ideal time to demand economic reform and serious measures to combat corruption." ### (3) ### http://famulus.msnbc.com/FamulusIntl/reuters03-12-033537.asp?reg=EUROPE Donors pledge $515 mln aid for Macedonia BRUSSELS, March 12 - International donors approved a $515 million aid package for Macedonia on Tuesday, more than double the amount expected, to help it recover from last year's fighting between government forces and ethnic Albanian rebels. The European Commission and the World Bank organized the one-day pledging conference to reward authorities in the tiny ex-Yugoslav republic and ethnic Albanian leaders for respecting a peace deal sealed last August to end seven months of violence. ''This meeting has demonstrated strong and continuing support for Macedonia and gives the country and its people a chance to move forward,'' Reinhard Priebe, a senior official of the EU's executive Commission, told reporters. Monies pledged include $274 million for macroeconomic assistance, support of reconstruction and implementing last August's framework agreement. Donors promised a further $241 million for ''general economic development purposes in 2002,'' the Commission and World Bank said in a joint statement. Macedonian Prime Minister Ljubco Georgievski, regarded as one of the hardliners in last year's conflict, welcomed the pledges, which in total would mean every inhabitant of the small land-locked state receiving more than $250 each. LOOKING TO FUTURE ''I am convinced that by virtue of this donors' meeting we will leave behind us political and economic insecurity and turn a new page of economic prosperity and accelerated economic development in our country and the region as a whole,'' he said. The Commission alone contributed 104 million euros and the 15 member states of the European Union a further 103 million euros in total. The World Bank provided $50 million of aid. Some 38 countries and 19 organizations attended the meeting. The aid scheme is to help Macedonia rein in its ballooning budget deficit and huge current account gap, rebuild damaged homes and infrastructure as well as to create institutions needed to maintain a multi-ethnic democracy. Donors stressed the assistance would be conditional on Macedonia implementing last year's peace accord and pushing ahead with economic reforms to create jobs in the private sector and make the state more efficient. Macedonia has already ceded more powers to local government to improve the status of ethnic Albanians, who make up about a third of the country's two million population. Skopje approved an amnesty for the rebels last week in a move hailed by the EU and NATO, which maintains a 700-soldier peacekeeping mission in the country. SCOURGE OF CORRUPTION But many Western politicians and international organizations say there is rampant corruption in Macedonia and strict measures are needed to prevent the aid going into the wrong pockets. ''We will continue to link the delivery of (European) Community assistance to the efficient implementation in good faith of...the peace agreement,'' the Commission's Priebe said. This week, the International Crisis Group (ICG), a respected Brussels-based think-tank, urged the EU to send an anti-corruption adviser to Skopje. ''Corruption plagues all transition countries, but in Macedonia it threatens the viability of the state,'' the ICG said in a statement. ''The corruption concerns include reports of kickbacks, customs and licensing rackets, cigarette smuggling and illegal privatisation deals that benefit government insiders,'' it said. About $165 million of the cash pledged on Tuesday is to help Macedonia reduce its budget deficit, which soared to six percent of gross domestic product last year from a surplus in 2000. The sum is also to be used to lower the current account shortfall, which widened to nearly 11 percent of GDP last year. Copyright 2002 Reuters Limited ### (4) ### Betreff: [balkanhr] [mkakademija] Opening of ECMI NGO Resource Centres in Tetovo and Bitola, Macedonia Datum: Wed, 13 Mar 2002 19:01:00 +0200 Von: office at greekhelsinki.gr Subject: Opening of ECMI NGO Resource Centre Tetovo, Macedonia The ECMI Regional NGO Resource Centre opened in Tetovo on Monday 1st March 2002 at 1200 hrs. The Regional Centre is located on Street Ilindenska 97,Tetovo. The opening ceremony was attended by representatives of Non-Governmental Sector in Tetovo, Local Government, International NGOs and Inter-Governmental Organizations and Media. Present were also the Chairperson of the Coordinating Body of the ECMI NGO Network for the Improvement of Inter-Ethnic Relations in Macedonia and Members of the Coordinating Body. Mr. Nader Redjepi, Representative of the Tetovo NGOs in the National Coordinating Body of the Network welcomed the guests and introduced the Action Plan of the Tetovo Centre. This was followed by a brief address with an overview of the project by the ECMI Regional Representative Dr. Sunoor Verma. Ms. Suncica Milkovic, Member of the National Coordinating Body of the Network cut the ribbon and declared the ECMI Regional NGO Resource Centre open. This was followed by cocktail. The Regional Centre has a conference room with a conference table for 20 and 20 chairs, one flip chart board, one bulletin board. The office room has one PC, one laser printer, one fax machine and internet access (telephone connection being activated). Background Information ECMI NGO Network exists to enhance the cooperation of the member NGOs towards the development and improvement of interethnic tolerance, respect for differences and dialogue among all those living in the Republic of Macedonia. In particular, this NGO Network aims to strengthen the capacities of the participating NGOs to generate joint projects and other initiatives with a strong interethnic dimension and to implement such initiatives (For details please visit the Network Web site www.ecmingonet.org.mk). In the framework of the concept of the ECMI NGO Network for improvement of interethnic relations (Enclosed list of Members) in Macedonia six ECMI Regional NGO Centres will be established and will function in the following cities: Kumanovo, Bitola, Stip, Tetovo, Gostivar and Skopje. These Regional NGO Centres shall serve the aim of improving interethnic tolerance, respect for differences and dialogue among all communities living in the country. They shall enhance the capacity of member non-governmental organizations (NGOs) subscribing to these aims and facilitate the development and implementation of joint interethnic projects on the basis of locally established priorities. The Regional NGO Centres shall also seek cooperation of local administration, while maintaining full independence in the design and execution of the projects. The Network will also provide a means through which the strong contribution that NGOs can make to the development of civil society in the Republic of Macedonia can be highlighted. This includes joint lobbying for an environment in which NGOs dedicated to the principles of this Network can flourish and effectively deliver their mandates. Sunoor Verma Regional Representative European Centre for Minority Issues Branch Office Skopje Street Dresdenska No. 9, Skopje 1000, Macedonia. Telephone and Fax 00389 2 361 379, 367 688 sunoor at ecmingonet.org.mk www.ecmingonet.org.mk www.ecmi.de Subject: Opening of ECMI NGO Resource Centre in Bitola, Macedonia The ECMI Regional NGO Resource Centre opened in Bitola on Thursday 7th March 2002 at 1200 hrs. The Regional Centre is located on Josif Josifovski str. 4/4. (Building- Grozd). The telephone and fax number of the Regional Resource Centre in Bitola is 00 389 47 236 874. The opening ceremony was attended by all members of the Bitola Regional Resource Centre, representatives of Non-Governmental Sector in Bitola, Local Government, Police Authority, University of Bitola, City Library, Social Welfare department, City Hospital, International NGOs and Inter-Governmental Organizations, electronic and print media. Present also were Members of the Coordinating Body of the ECMI NGO Network for the Improvement of Inter-Ethnic Relations in Macedonia. Dr. Dijana Georgievska, Representative of the Bitola NGOs in the National Coordinating Body of the Network welcomed the guests and introduced the Action Plan of the Bitola Centre. This was followed by a brief address with an overview of the project by the ECMI Regional Representative Sunoor Verma. The Mayor of Bitola was represented by his advisor on NGOs Ms. Violeta Nalevska. She assured those present of the full support of the Municipality of Bitola and its Mayor to the ECMI Regional NGO Resource Centre initiative. Mr. Senat Beqiri, Member of the National Coordinating Body of the Network greeted the Bitola Members on behalf of the National Coordinating Body, then cut the ribbon and declared the ECMI Regional NGO Resource Centre in Bitola open. This was followed by cocktail. At 1400 Working lunch of the Coordinating Body was held. The dates for the opening of the Gostivar and Shtip Centre were discussed. The two Centers are expected to open between the 15th and 20th March 2002. The Regional Centre has a conference room with a conference table for 20 and 20 chairs, one flip chart board, one bulletin board. There are two office rooms and are furnished with two desks, lockers for members, two PCs (with in-built fax capability), one scanner, one laser printer, and internet access. Background Information on ECMI initiative in Macedonia ECMI NGO Network exists to enhance the cooperation of the member NGOs towards the development and improvement of interethnic tolerance, respect for differences and dialogue among all those living in the Republic of Macedonia. In particular, this NGO Network aims to strengthen the capacities of the participating NGOs to generate joint projects and other initiatives with a strong interethnic dimension and to implement such initiatives (For details please visit the Network Web site www.ecmingonet.org.mk). In the framework of the concept of the ECMI NGO Network for improvement of interethnic relations (Enclosed list of Members) in Macedonia six ECMI Regional NGO Centres will be established and will function in the following cities: Kumanovo, Bitola, Stip, Tetovo, Gostivar and Skopje. These Regional NGO Centres shall serve the aim of improving interethnic tolerance, respect for differences and dialogue among all communities living in the country. They shall enhance the capacity of member non-governmental organizations (NGOs) subscribing to these aims and facilitate the development and implementation of joint interethnic projects on the basis of locally established priorities. The Regional NGO Centres shall also seek cooperation of local administration, while maintaining full independence in the design and execution of the projects. The Network will also provide a means through which the strong contribution that NGOs can make to the development of civil society in the Republic of Macedonia can be highlighted. This includes joint lobbying for an environment in which NGOs dedicated to the principles of this Network can flourish and effectively deliver their mandates. Sunoor Verma Regional Representative European Centre for Minority Issues Branch Office Skopje Street Dresdenska No. 9, Skopje 1000, Macedonia. Telephone and Fax 00389 2 361 379, 367 688 sunoor at ecmingonet.org.mk www.ecmingonet.org.mk www.ecmi.de ________________________________________________ To unsubscribe from this list visit: http://www.alb-net.com/mailman/listinfo/amcc-news From mentor at alb-net.com Thu Mar 28 09:14:49 2002 From: mentor at alb-net.com (Mentor Cana) Date: Thu, 28 Mar 2002 09:14:49 -0500 (EST) Subject: [Prishtina-E] [Kcc-News] KOSOVA PRISONERS TRANSFERRED: HOME AT LAST! (A-PAL NEWSLETTER 3/26/02) Message-ID: >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> READ & DISTRIBUTE FURTHER <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< --------------------------------------------------------------------- Kosova Crisis Center (KCC) News Network: http://www.alb-net.com --------------------------------------------------------------------- -------- Original Message -------- Betreff: [A-PAL] A-PAL NEWSLETTER 3/26/02: KOSOVA PRISONERS TRANSFERRED Datum: Tue, 26 Mar 2002 14:20:25 -0500 Von: Alice Mead A-PAL (ALBANIAN PRISONER ADVOCACY) March 26, 2002 A-PAL STATEMENT HOME AT LAST! At long last, the remaining Albanian prisoners crossed the border into Kosova today, ending nearly three years of intensive international advocacy on their behalf. We can only imagine the relief the remaining families must feel at this moment to finally have contact with their loved ones again. We want to thank all the families for their extraordinary patience during this period. *** THANKS TO EVERYONE EVERYWHERE WHO HELPED **** The European A-PAL email action campaign--run by Divi Beineke in Germany and her team of translators- sent over 38,000 emails to world leaders on the prisoners' behalf. Wolfgang Plarre compiled daily articles and reports on human rights, missing and detained. In the USA, Naida Dukaj set up the first A-PAL website and ran the mail list for two years. Mentor Cana set up the mail administration. In Washington, Richard Lukaj and Ilir Zherka met with State Department staff and Senate foreign affairs staff. In Ireland, Valerie Hughes was our most resourceful campaigner, calling members of EP and UK and Irish foreign offices and embassies. Brendan Moran of Ireland Foreign Office assisted in raising the issue with other foreign offices. Bernie Sullivan of UK followed the UK foreign office and NATO. Suzy Blaustein wrote the first comprehensive report for ICG in 1999. Laura Rozen wrote articles. Bob Hand. Jason Steinbaum, and Kelly Siekman staff members from the House and Senate, were supportive in raising the issue at OSCE and State Dept meetings. Albert Cevallos and Kurt Bassuener helped advance awareness both in DC. Eric Witte and Nina Bang-Jensen led the difficult effort to include the transfer of prisoners in the bill passed by the US Congress to condition future aid to the FRY. In Serbia, Natasa Kandic and Teki Bokshi of the Humanitarian Law Center visited prisoners, defended the 143 member Gjakova group, and monitored trials. Teki Bokshi also managed the arrangments in releasing nearly forty minor children in November, 1999. Fred Abrahams and Bogdan Ivanisevic of HR Watch monitored trials. Paul Miller and Sian Jones of Amnesty helped monitor trials. Jovana Krstic and Jelena Milic of Grupa 484 assisted A-PAL frequently. Patrick Gavigan of UNHCHR helped keep track of prisoner transfers and conditions. Stefano Valenti of Council of Europe helped forward information on trials. MP Bart Staes was our most dedicated EP member. MP Emma Bonino and Olivier Dupuis also forwarded resolutions and sent letters. In Sweden, Anders Wessman and Idriz Zogaj provided early support in Brussels, ran four hunger strikes, and filed suit for kidnapping against President Kostunica. Judge Richard Goldstone included the prisoner issue in his report on Kosova. Mary-Teresa Moran in Chris Patten's office followed the situation diligently and persistently. MP's Doris Pack and Elmar Brok passed a resolution on prisoner release in EP Brussels. In NY, lawyers Lisa LaPlante and Marko Maglich worked on the Albanian Prisoner Advocacy Guide and wrote the comments of Flora Brovina's trial. Also, Ambassador Ryan of Ireland and the Ambassador of Bangladesh raised the issue in the UN Security Council. In DC, Senators Smith, Leahy, Helms and McConnell repeatedly raised the issue in Congress and coordinated the effort to condition aid if the prisoners were not transfered by March 31, 2002, as did Reps. Engel and Cardin. At the US office in Prishtina, Julie Winn, Karen Levine, Laurie Dundon,and John Menzies offered support along the way. At the UK office, Victoria Whitford coordinated efforts in Belgrade and Prishtina. US A-PAL advocates Jane Stevenson and Trish Porter wrote to prisoners in Sremska Mitrovica and assisted in advocating the release of Bedri Kukalaj. Madeleine Albright and Colin Powell of the US State Dept. supported our efforts at crucial moments. In Kosova, we want to thank Rizah Xhakali, Gani Krasniqi, Avni Klinaku, and Nexhmi Kelmendi of the APP office, and Ibrahim Makolli, Payazit Nushi, and Adem Demaci of the CDHRF office, as well as Shukrie Rexha who represented the prisoner issue on KTC. At UNMIK, Elizabeth Presse, John Christian Cady, and Clint Williamson were negotiators. Sarah Bascheti and Mary Elena Andreotti were helpful to families in need and to the Dubrava hunger strikers. Albin Kurti wrote letters to foreign governments and met with foreign office officials. Liburn Aliu helped ill prisoners who had returned home. Enver Dugolli met with UNMIK officials. The Gjakova Families petitioned internationally and did a lot to raise awareness. The Released Dubrava Prisoners insisted on the creation of an UNMIK department of Missing and Detained and the repair of the mass grave at Dubrava. Blerim Shala, Isuf Hajrizi and Halil Matoshi kept the prisoner issue alive and in the news. Over 75,000 Albanians signed the first petition we delivered to NATO. Thousands demonstrated in rain, heat, and snow. Six prisoners died in detention. But the other 2,000 plus have now returned home. Best wishes to this last group, Your A-PAL Coordinators- Alice Mead Mentor Cana Anders Wessman Divi Beineke Valerie Hughes Naida Dukaj Wolfgang Plarre ***************************************** Agence France Presse March 26, 2002 Tuesday Belgrade turns over Kosovo prisoners, meeting US condition for aid DATELINE: NIS, Yugoslavia, March 26 Serbian authorities on Tuesday began a transfer of ethnic Albanian prisoners held in Serbian jails to Kosovo, meeting a key US demand for extending aid to Yugoslavia. A convoy of four buses, escorted by two UN vehicles and Serbian police cars, was seen leaving a prison in the southern Serbian town of Nis around 2:10 pm (1310 GMT). A total of 145 ethnic Albanian prisoners, 104 from Nis prison and 41 from Sremska Mitrovica, were to be transferred to Kosovo, the Beta news agency reported quoting the Serbian justice ministry. Seven ethnic Albanian prisoners wanted to serve their sentence in Serbia and not to be transferred to Kosovo, Bruno Vekaric of the ministry told Beta. The US Congress had made the transfer of ethnic Albanian prisoners to Kosovo from other parts of Serbia before March 31 a condition for receving 40 million dollars in aid to Belgrade. Washington is also demanding cooperation from Belgrade in arresting and turning over suspects wanted by the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague. The transfer was in accordance with an agreement reached last week by the Serbian government and the UN mission in Kosovo on an exchange of prisoners captured during the Kosovo war. Under the agreement ethnic Albanian prisoners held in Serbian prisons will continue to serve out their sentences in Kosovo, while Serb prisoners held in Kosovo will in return be sent to jails elsewhere in Serbia. The agreement was signed Friday by Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, Deputy Prime Minister responsible for Kosovo Nebojsa Covic and Yugoslav Prime Minister Dragisa Pesic, and the UN administrator for Kosovo, Michael Steiner, signed the accord on behalf of the province. Over 2,100 detainees were sent to central Serbia during the June 1999 pullout of Yugoslav forces from the southern Serbian province of Kosovo. Most of the prisoners stand accused of terrorism and murder during the 1998-1999 war in which Yugoslav forces fought ethnic Albanian guerrillas in Kosovo. Some prisoners were released due to lack of evidence or after serving some time and others were sentenced to prison for 10 years or more. ______________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe please send a blank message to: kcc-news-unsubscribe at alb-net.com , or visit KCC-NEWS's page at: http://www.alb-net.com/mailman/listinfo/kcc-news