KOSOVA (Contact Group proposal)

The Contact Group document has a few ideas that are not so relevant

Prishtina, 10 August (ARTA) 1715CET-

The American Ambassador to Shkup, Christopher Hill, who came to Prishtina once again, evaluated that "the document" which the British Ambassador, Robert Donelly, brought to Belgrade a few days ago, includes a few ideas that are not so relevant.

According to the American diplomat, the document contains "many ideas", some of which he evaluated as "very relevant" as the others "maybe not as much relevant".

The American Ambassador, who is mediating between Prishtina and Belgrade with the authorization of the Contact Group, met today Kosova Albanian leader, Ibrahim Rugova.

"We had highly significant conversations", stated Hill, concerning his meeting with Rugova.

We talked about the present situation, particularly about the situation in the field and about the ongoing problem of the displaced persons. We also had very important conversation about the negotiating process and the need to recommence with the negotiations as soon as possible", emphasized Hill.

Asked as to whether he also served as a mediator between the Albanian political parties and KLA, Hill replied: "I am here to look and see if I can contribute to finding a solution for this horrifying problem in Kosova, hence I am doing many things in this aspect".

On the question as to whether the beginning of the negotiating process is anywhere close, the mediator claimed that "during these two past weeks, the conditions to carry on with the negotiations were very difficult", however, he also claims that there is also the conviction that "there is no other solution but the negotiations".

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KOSOVA (health situation deteriorates - Suharekë)

Infectious diseases attack

Suharekë 11 August, (ARTA) 1500CET-

Different health associations inform that during their visits to the displaced families, they have noticed a large expansion of different infectious diseases such as scabies, diarrhea, variola, and lice. These diseases are particularly striking the young children, because of the catastrophic living conditions. The adults are not spared either.

The "Nëna Tereze" health facility in Suharekë has been notified about this alarming situation, and they are making maximal efforts to try and prevent the expansion, by engaging their mobile medical teams.

Rexhep Kuçi, head of the health facility, said among others: "we have alarmed the international humanitarian institutions in Prishtina. Subsequently, UNICEF has delivered a quantity of medicine and other hygienic items for the children. However, there is still great lack of antibiotics and other basic medicine, that could prevent the further expansion of these diseases".

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KOSOVA (large-scale attack - Deçan)

Large-scale Serb forces' operation in the villages of Deçan

Deçan, 11 August (ARTA) 1830CET--

Large Serb policemilitary forces headed this morning in the direction of the villages of Carrabreg, Prejlep and Gramaçel. Over 110 vehicles and 36 tanks, escorted by heavy weaponry, went from the direction of Pejë to the direction of Deçan, Albanian sources from the ground inform. These forces started shelling the village of Gramaçel, in the early morning hours. On the other hand, following the shelling of the villages Llukë e Epërme, Beleg, Carrabreg and Gramaçel, thousands of residents of this area, fled in the direction of the village Isniq and the surrounding villages.

LDK information sources in Deçan, state that the last offensive resulted with a high number of killed and wounded civilians from both sides. So far, Albanian sources managed to confirm the death of one person killed in Baballoç.

CDHRF in Deçan, stated that the target of the Serb forces' uninterrupted shelling, which engaged in this attack over 60 tanks, 40 APCs and many other fighting vehicles, were the villages of Gramaçel, Baballoç, Dubravë, Llukë e Epërme, Shaptej, Prejlep, Gllogjan and Irzniq.

Albanian sources from the field claim that the escapees, mainly women, children and elderly are in a very difficult situation and are sealed off from all sides, thus there is fear that a possible massacre could be conducted on them.

There are claims that over 15.000 people are presently living outdoors in the shelled villages of Gramaçel, Baballoç and Dubravë. They are under a constant threat from the Serb forces, which shoot at everything that moves. Over 80.000 people, the majority being children, women and elderly, from the municipality of Deçan, but also from Rekë e Keqe, Pejë and Malishevë, are now settled in Irzniq, Prapaçan and Strellc i Ulët.

ALBANIA/KOSOVA (Albanian Foreign Ministry - statement)

Belgrade has violated the Albanian air space

Tirana, 11 August (ARTA) 1815CET--

"In its aspirations to justify the military actions for the ethnic cleansing in Kosova, the Serb propaganda is carrying on with its attempts to disseminate as much misinformation as possible, including the direct accusation of Albania. The most current information, repeated dozens of times by the official informative Belgrade, was its allegation on the training of the troops that are fighting in Kosova, in special camps in Albania mainly in the northern part. Once again, we are forced to say that all these claims are based on false grounds.

The Albanian sources in the Public Order Ministry, that control the situation in the country and keep watch on the Albanian state border, denounce the accusations of the Serb propagandistic machinery, labeling them as ungrounded and with malicious background. There are no military camps in the north or the south, where the Albanian troops conduct their training to carry out fighting in Kosova. The senior officials in Belgrade, that direct the old imposed propaganda in "Yugoslavia", are still not aware or do not want to be aware that, it is precisely their military actions aiming at ethnic cleansing that are forcing the Kosova Albanians to defend their families, homes and land. Concerning the arms trafficking from Albania, the Albanian Government is completely engaged in preventing any kind of arms trafficking in the direction of "Yugoslavia", closely collaborating with the international bodies.

However, Belgrade's politicians and military, using the mentioned accusations, are trying to hide their provocative actions of the type of the bordering incidents with Albania. The best solution would be for them to give up their empty rhetoric and start immediately undertaking measures to stop at any price every violation of the Albanian space, as it happened this last weekend, when the "Yugoslav" military helicopters violated the Albanian air space. Such incidents could cause an escalation of the conflict. If Belgrade wants to impose such a conflicting policy with regional dimensions, then the responsibility and the consequences of this conflict will belong entirely to it", it is stated in the statement of the Albanian Foreign Ministry.