Seven Albanian Victims of Serb Repression Within Three Weeks

Following the expulsion of the CSCE Mission to Kosova (July 2, 1993), the Serbian repression against the Kosova Albanians has drastically increased. As a result of such repression, within the last three weeks only, seven Albanians died:

1. SEFER CUKOVCJ (16), was killed on August 25 by the Serbian police at the village Cernille of Ferizaj. He was killed during a Serbian police raid of his home.

2. GRISHA KAMBERI (80) from Caber village of Zubin Potok died on August 31, due to the shock she received during a police raid the Serbian police undertook at this village on August 26, 1993.

3. ARIF KRASNIQI (42) died on August 30 from the police tortures in jail in Prizren. He was arrested on August 29, 1993.

4. MISRETE VRANOLLI (41), died on September 5, 1993 in Gjilan on her home balcony. The bullets coming from a wedding party hosted by a Serb Blaza Stojanovic hit her.

5. BAJRAM MORINA died in jail in Prizren on September 7, 1993. He had been in jail since June 11, 1993.

6. BANUSH SADIKU (20), was killed on September 7, 1993 at the Firaje village of Ferizaj. Serb soldiers shot him dead.

7. MEHDI MAKSUTI (20), from Shtedim village of Podujeva, was killed on September 18, 1993 in Podujeva while travelling in a car together with his cousin.

KOSOVA INFORMATION CENTER

KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #194

PRISHTINA, 27 SEPTEMBER 1993

EXCERPTS FROM PRESIDENT RUGOVA'S INTERVIEW IN "BUJKU"

"The Balkans have once again returned to a position like that of 1918 in a political sense. It was Yugoslavia itself that brought it back to that point, as it was an artificial creation, as rightly emphasized by the US Secretary of State Christopher some time ago. This return suits us, but only in a positive sense, and not in the sense of having a similar situation of devastating wars that has occured at that time. Kosova will be first integrated within pan-Albanian porcesses, then in the Balkan processes, and in the European ones, with all its own features, human, natural, political resources, and it will not remain isolated. The activity we are engaged in now at the international, national, existencial, and human rights levels, we will have to be ensued by such an engagement at the economic and political levels. The efforts the Albanians have made will serve as an important experience tomorrow, and as an example of how to solve national problems through peaceful means," said Dr.Ibrahim Rugova, President of

the Republic of Kosova in an interview with the Prishtina-based newspaper in Albanian Bujku, published today (Monday). "Institutionalization of life [in Kosova] has become difficult", said President Rugova, adding that it requires executive power which we hope to achieve in the future. "Present situation would be best served by a combined organized system. The convention of the [multiparty] Parliament of Kosova is still open, but is shall be convened for it would facilitate further institutionalization of life", remarked Dr.Rugova. To the question whether the Palestinian-Israel agreement could serve as a model to the solution of Kosova issue, Dr.Rugova said that "this model can be applied to solve other crises in the world. The Kosova issue is a different one. Here we are dealing with a former federation which de facto has desintegrated. Kosova having been a constitutive part of this federation reserves the right to self-determination. We have said repeatedly that is was quite reasonable to ask that Kosova

has its own status and that it decides for its own fate." "In order to ensure human rights, certain framework and territorial, ethnic, state and political guarantee should be needed for Kosova. Kosova today represents a flashpoint risking the international peace, therefore based on the UN Charter it may be considered as a territory to be placed under UN protection. Naturally we have shown through our movement that we are very much interested not have an armed conflict here being aware of the consequences. We stand for peace, for a state and independence through political and peaceful means and agreement," said President Rugova. Commenting on the possibility of division of Kosova, Dr.Rugova said that this would be unacceptable "because there is no area in Kosova with a Serv majority which could represent an enclave". He said that "ethnic states that are emerging will surely have repercussions in other parts of former Yugoslavia as already indicated at international fora concerning Kosova. We have raised this

issue with the Geneva Conference and we hope that it will be dealing with it." Dr.Rugova also remarked that "a need for further organization and consolidation within the Albanian political parties in Kosova was felt not as a manifestation of a crisis in the movement but as an effort to find better forms of organizing life under current circumstances."

THE SERBIAN POLICE ARRESTED A FORMER YUGOSLAV ARMY OFFICER

The Serbian police has been continuing with arrests and persecution of former Yugoslav army officers of Albanian nationality from Kosova. Thus, the Serbian police arrested yesterday in the Hajvali village Zajm Berisha, a retired colonel and former commander-in-chief of the territorial defence of Prishtina. Before the arrest, the police searched Mr.Berisha's home and conficated a hunting riffle although he has possessed a permit for it.

THE SERBIAN POLICE SHOOTS AT THREE ALBANIAN CHILDREN

As reported the Serbian police shot today morning at the direction of three Albanian children (Durgut Krasniqi, Ymer Gashi, and Tahir Gashi, all from Landovica) near the Landovica's vineyards "Vreshtaria". The police reportedly shot at the children under the pretext that they were about to still grapes. Fortunately, the children were not hit.

KOSOVA INFORMATION CENTER