Prishtina, 3 September 1993 - Kosova Information Center

PRESS CONFERENCE OF PRESIDENT RUGOVA OF KOSOVA

Speaking at a press conference today (Friday) in Prishtina, President of the Republic of Kosova, Dr. Ibrahim Rugova said that mounting repression has been taking place all over Kosova.

"A large number of Albanian household in Podujeva, Prishtina, Mitrovica and other towns of Kosova were subject to Serb police raids under diverse pretexts", said Dr. Rugova, adding that the number of the persons detained and maltreated is very large.

"The most recent manifestation of the Serb police brutality took place in Prizren. Arif Krasniqi, an ethnic Albanian, father to seven children, was tortured to death by the police while being held in Serb custody", said President Rugova, and added that the torture is also being used against other Albanian prisoners, as a means of physically and morally breaking them.

Commenting on the beginning of the new school year, Dr. Rugova said that the attempt of the Albanian students and teachers to peacefully enter their school buildings was, once again, met with Serb police repression, beating up and arresting teachers and students in several towns.

Speaking on the UN sanctions against Serbia and Montenegro, President of the Republic of Kosova said that they will not be lifted until all conditions are met.

"The solution of the Bosnia and Herzegovina crisis should satisfy the requirements of all parties. Aggression should not be rewarded" said Dr. Rugova commenting on the negotiations within the Geneva Conference. President Rugova hailed the letter of the US Secretary of State Christopher concerning this issue.

Dr. Rugova called upon the authorities of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to show more understanding for the problems the Albanians have been facing following the introduction of passport regime at the Kosova - FYROM border.

Continuing, President Rugova of Kosova hailed the visit of the former US President Carter to Albania. "He is a man of peace and understanding" said Dr. Rugova.

Dr. Rugova expressed appreciation to the UNICEF director Frederico Mayor for a recent letter of support regarding the Albanian education in Kosova, hailing Mayor's call for reopening schools and faculties to Albanian students.

Replying to a question put forward by a journalist related to the passport issue, Dr. Rugova said that he hoped the issue would be soon discussed with the FYROM authorities.

FORMER SERBIAN INTERIOR MINISTER THREATENS THE ALBANIANS

Radmilo Bogdanovic, former Serbian Minister of the Interior, now vice-chairman of the Chamber of the Republics in the parliament of the self-proclaimed federation of Serbia and Montenegro, in an interview with the Belgrade-based Borba, said the Kosova Albanians would have to recognize the Serbian constitution and laws. "Those Albanians who will not accept the Serbian citizenship, especially those who got it as if in a lottery in 1945 through a decree of the then authorities, will have now to declare themselves" said Mr. Bogdanovic adding that Albanians who accept Serbian citizenship will become citizens of the state, or otherwise will be considered as foreigners. "Moreover," said Bogdanovic, "if an Albanian is a separatist too, we will have to treat him/her as a foreigner-separatist who destroys the territory of Serbia and not as one who does not recognize the state of Serbia as his/her own."