E-mail: inpres@EUnet.yu

38000 Prishtina, Belgrade street no. 41

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Prishtina, March 18, 1999

Daily independent informative newspaper "Kosova Sot" was launched on

September 11, 1998. Since the very beginning its editorial concept and

policy was impartial and it served in gathering of the civilization

values and presenting the reality in Kosova, which has been heavy for so

many years and is continuing to be even this year.

The newspaper appeared until March 17, 1999; respectively 180 numbers

were sold. Since November last year we have launched our newspaper

abroad and distributed throughout Western Europe. This was major

obstacle for Serbian regime. On December last year the Serbian Ministry

of Information threatened us.

On the first days of March, Serbian Minister of Information Aleksandar

Vucic raised indictment against publishing house "Interpress R. Company"

and its responsible persons, its publisher Ruzhdi Kadriu and chief

editor Ibrahim Rexhepi. According to Vucic, this newspaper "fomented

religious and ethnic hatred." There wasn't any concrete proof about

this, but overwhelmingly this thing had been done during December,

January and February. The newspaper was also accused of printing the New

Year's calendar. On March 11, 1999, District Prosecution in Prishtina

raised indictment at the DPC in Prishtina. In the same day this court

brought the decision which in Draconian way punishes the publishing

house "Interpress R. Company" with the total fine of 800000 dinars,

newspaper's publisher Mr. Ruzhdi Kadriu and its chief editor Mr. Ibrahim

Rexhepi with 400 000 each. It was even more absurd because non-of the

indicted individuals received summons from the court, respectively they

were not given the chance to defend themselves, thing that doesn't

happen elsewhere in the world. We must add that couple of days later

Serbian financial police brought the decision that requires the payment

of the penalty and at the same time announced that tomorrow (on March

17, 1999) they will confiscate the goods and printing machines. Although

they came at the printing house to accomplish their mission, they went

away because more then 50 foreign journalists were waiting at the site.

They started confiscate the newspaper "Kosova Sot" which was at the

selling places at the time.

For this reason me were forced to stop temporarily the publishing of the

newspaper in order not to endanger our readers because Serbian Security

inspectors threatened the sellers ordering them that they dare not

receive this newspaper because according to them this is a forbidden

newspaper.

Fully responsible, we declare that on the pages of our newspaper there

couldn't be found any arguments where the charges of Serbian minister

could be based. We always professionally had full access to the reality

of Kosova. We always served the truth and gave space even to

controversial thoughts whether they were from our counterparts in

Belgrade. Our journalists penetrated everywhere in the areas hit by war

in Kosova. We presented the hardship of the civilian population, which

were forced to flee their homes that were burned and looted by Serbian

forces. We had cases when even Serbian citizens came at our offices

which means that even they assessed in the right way our professional

efforts.

Honored gentlemen, we address to you with our plea in order to make

pressure on the Serbian regime which should give up of its unfair

prosecution toward us and which endangers our financial base, created

with our proper work and full responsibility.

We hope Your voice will create space to act, especially in these moments

while the international community is making efforts in resolving Kosova

crisis. We have highly appreciated Your engagement; therefore the

restriction of the newspaper "Kosova Sot" is another impossibility to

provide for our readers Your efforts you are making for Kosova.

Make efforts to create the possibility to work, for unfettered press and

guarantee basic rights in order we could go on with our work and

profession in these very hard times. We must say that we could convince

you that we are not a newspaper that evokes war and irritate our

population against anyone.

Perhaps, there is another reason why Serbian regime restricted our

newspaper.

All the 60 journalists working in our editing stay in hope that You will

find the best method to force Serbian regime give up from their aims

mentioned above. Besides, we swore we would respect all professional,

humanitarian and civilization standards, that at the end we could have a

democratic, human and civilian society in Kosova for all people,

notwithstanding their national and religious awareness.

Editorial staff of the daily newspaper "Kosova Sot"