PRISHTINA, 17 SEPTEMBER 1993

FROM THE PRESS CONFERENCE OF THE KOSOVA PRESIDENT DR.IBRAHIM RUGOVA

"Repression in Kosova has been going on unabated", said Dr.Ibrahim Rugova, President of the Republic of Kosova at a press conference today in Prishtina.

Home searches took place in several towns and villages throughout Kosova, said Dr.Rugova, adding that many persons have been arrested, former Yugoslav Army officers of Albanian nationality being especially targeted. Thus, Agim Krasniqi, LDK-branch chairman from Prishtina was arrested yesterday, although several days ago he had been sentenced to 60 days in jail and conditionally released.

"The police repression has increased on the eve of the LDK party elections. Political activists and LDJ officials are being kept in custody, including four members to the Kosova Parliament. They are subjected to severe and brutal tortures in Serb custodies", said Dr. Rugova calling for their immediate release. This campaign aims at provoking the Albanian population in Kosova, Dr.Rugova continued.

President Rugova pointed out a new form of repression and pressure over the ethnic Albanian population in the areas bordering on Serbia, taking mention of the case of the Cabe village, Zubin Potok municipality, where the local residents were ordered to produce the title deeds for their land estates. This is being done in order to make them flee.

Continuing, Dr.Rugova hailed the CSCE delegation that visited Kosova yesterday, and their readiness to contemplate the situation in Kosova.

Commenting on the visit of the Montenegrian president Bulatovic to Albania, Dr.Rugova assested it as in important step towards the establishment of the first contacts between the two states.

Replaying to a question related to the arrest of two alleged clandestine groups, Dr. Rugova said that it is the continuation of the, in Kosova widely spread, forged and fabricated political prcesses. "All this is aimed at arresting many persons as possible and at planting fear among the Albanian population", said President Rugova.

Asked to comment on these arrests of Albanians, while the Serbs are being armed in public, Dr.Rugova said "Unfortunately the Serbs are permanently being provided weapons, while the Serbian police carries out raids on the Albanian homes, apparently in order to disarm completely one side - the Albanian, at a time when the other side - the Serbian - is being heavily armed."

In a response to a question on the Kosova issue within the Geneva Conference on former Yugoslavia, President Rugova said: "The Kosova issue has been discussed in the Special Group on Kosova, and as Ambassador Masset said recently, the Kosova question was not ignored. It will be opened step by step within this Conference as well as within other international institutions", President of the Republic of Kosova, Dr.Ibrahim Rugova concluded.

LDK VICE-CHAIRMAN MET WITH CSCE AND UNPROFOR REPRESENTATIVES

Dr.Pehmi Agani, Vice-Chairman of the Democratic League of Kosova met Thursday in Shkup with Norman Anderson, CSCE Ambassador and UNPROFOR representatives in Former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Janosch Scneider, Mark Penn and Tom Greko.

Dr.Agani briefed them with the grave situation in Kosova which has particularly aggravated after the expulsion of the CSCE Mission to Kosova (...) repression against Albanian political and educational activists.

The CSCE and UNPROFOR representatives acknowlwdged that they will customary contemplate the situation in Kosova and maintain contacts with institutions and political representatives of Kosova.

MOBILIZATION OF 'GORANS' CARRIED OUT IN DRAGASH

Today's Bujku reports that the Serbian authorities have recently commenced to carry out mobilization of men in the region of Goran of Dragash (area bordering on Albania). The Serbian authorities are apparently testing loyalty of the people to Serbia in case is needed to safeguard this border zone. But also reveals that a great number of men in this region have already been given military uniforms and equipment which thy are to keep at homes and be on the alert.

MP TO KOSOVA PARLIAMENT ARRESTED IN FERIZAJ

The Serbian police raided on Thursday the home of Adem Salihaj, chairman of a local LDK in Ferizaj and member to Kosova Parliament. After thoroughly searching the home the police arrested Mr.Salihaj who is reported still in custody.

Lijewise, the police detained Rexhep RExhepi, an LDK activist from Shicipce. Mr.Rexhepi was held at the police headquarters in Ferizaj for over two hours where he was interrogated about casual that occurde 10 days ago at the hillsides Sharr Mountains. (On September 7, when the Serb soldiers shot dead Fakir Selimi (19) and wounded Babush Sadiku (20).

ALBANIANS DENIED ENTER THE SCHOOL BUILDING

After the Serbian police found out that Albanian secondary school students were entering the building of the elementary school "Shtatori" in Rahovec, they surrounded school building not allowing the students to enter. The police also threatened them that if they did so they would completely ban the enter of this school even for elementary school children.