CONTENTS:
ROBERTSON IS OPTIMISTIC REGARDING PRESEVO
VALLEY
ITALY IS NOT AGAINST HOLDING THE GENERAL ELECTIONS IN
KOSOVO
BRITISH KFOR SUPPORT AMERICAN TROOPS ALONG PRESEVO
VALLEY
MEMBER OF LDK CHAIRMANSHIP WOUNDED
ROBERTSON IS OPTIMISTIC REGARDING
PRESEVO VALLEY
NATO Secretary General Sir George Robertson is optimistic after returning from Kosovo, where he met Albanian political representatives and KPC General Agim Çeku to discuss the situation in Presevo valley, reported Zëri on page five.
According to NATO officials, NATO's messages, which Robertson passed on to PDK chairman Hashim Thaçi, AAK chairman Ramush Haradinaj, KPC General Agim Çeku and others, were important and obviously successful as well, because the Albanian leaders have decided to influence UÇPMB members for solving the problems in Presevo valley through political means and dialogue. "Çeku and others have confirmed that the incidents in Presevo valley do not help the situation in Kosovo", said a NATO official.
After last week's tensions in eastern Kosovo, specifically along the Kosovo -Serbia border, NATO has revealed a plan consisting of six points, which mainly intend to stop the struggles between UÇPMB and Serb troops. However, this plan does not foresee anything about returning the Albanian refugees in Presevo, Medvedja and Bujanovac.
"According to KFOR statistics, since this problem exists in these three municipalities, around 12000 refugees have come to Kosovo", stated NATO officials for Zëri, adding that this plan is only a temporary one for lowering the tensions that have been increasing lately. They said that NATO and KFOR's competences are limited only in stopping and preventing these struggles and that no other plan for solving the problems in Eastern Kosovo has been foreseen because "this is in Belgrade government's competences".
Robertson in the third point of the presented plan, stressed that NATO encourages the dialogue for solving the problems in these three municipalities, where Albanians inhabit the greatest part.
In response to Zëri's question if any other additional plan has been foreseen regarding Presevo valley, a NATO official said "We are not competent for anything else except to ensure that the Serb forces respect Kumanova military technical agreement, in the five kilometer security zone and to avoid UÇPMB members from Kosovo infiltrating in this zone".
ITALY IS NOT AGAINST HOLDING GENERAL ELECTIONS IN KOSOVO
Italy is not against general elections to be held in Kosovo, however it believes that it should have a common position with the countries of the European Union, reported Zëri on page three. "Italy does not have a different position from the European Union", stated a diplomatic source in Pristina, affirming that in spite of that, the European countries have debates. Italy wants the process that started with local elections, which went very well, to continue as a "mature" process with the general elections, which means that the issue is not whether the general elections should be held or not, the issue is when are they to be held and for what.
"To be done with a method, the resolution 1244 should applied, but it should have a common position with the European Union", said the source. SRSG Bernard Kouchner suggested to the Security Council for the general elections be held in spring, but only Richard Holbrooke supported his suggestion, concluded Zëri.
BRITISH KFOR SUPPORT AMERICAN TROOPS ALONG PRESEVO VALLEY
Koha Ditore carried a report on page three regarding KFOR increasing the security throughout Kosovo, especially along the Kosovo -Serbia border in order to avoid the violence and to demonstrate the determination of creating stability in the region and a safe environment for all Kosovars, a KFOR spokesman said.
Superior KFOR officials affirmed that KFOR operational reserve units, which consist of Princess of Wales' first Battalion Royal Regiment of British KFOR troops, have settled in MNB east sector on Friday morning to help prevent the rebels' acts in Presevo valley.
KFOR spokesman Lt. Mark Whitty said that this act has been taken in order to prevent and stop the rebellious acts in Presevo valley and to minimize their threatening Yugoslav authorities in the security zone. According to KFOR officials, these troops have been sent due to the increasing violence and incidents on the security zone in and around the village of Dobrosin.
The decision to deploy this unit has been taken by COMKFOR Gen. Carlo Cabigiosu, and it serves for fast reaction in special cases. As the KFOR spokesman said, KFOR troops will prevent every act of the extremist groups that will turn Kosovo into a scene of violence exportation.
4,600 refugees from Presevo valley are located in Kosovo
UN Refugee Commission officials said the general number of refugees, due to the latest escalation of violence has reached 4, 600. According to UNHCR, 1000 persons have crossed the border of Presevo valley on Wednesday, whereas on Friday 250, given these numbers six percent of the population has abandoned their homes.
UNHCR spokeswoman Astrid Strod affirmed that the greatest part of the refugees is from the village of Ternoc I Madh, Lucan, Koncul, Mucibabe and Smolice. Thirty two percent are from Bujanovac, eighteen percent from Presevo, eleven percent from Lucan, seven percent from Rajinca and four percent are from Smolica. Strod said that the Serb police has unblocked the border crossing near the village of Koncul, however they have under control the road that leads to the boarder crossing Lucan.
The spokeswoman continued by saying that a majority of the refugees are women and children, who declared that they have left their homes because of fear from new conflicts. "According to Konculi villagers, they are concerned about the food reserves having decreased visibly - they cannot go to the market of Bujanovac, therefore they rely on their relations with Kosovo", stated Strod, adding that none of these interviewed villagers declared mistreatment by the Serb military forces.
The refugees from Presevo valley supported by UNHCR's affirmations are located in various parts of Kosovo.
MEMBER OF LDK CHAIRMANSHIP WOUNDED
On Friday, the police and peacekeeping troops reported on unidentified persons shooting with fireguns at Ejup Visoka (40) member of LDK chairmanship in Besiane, reported Koha Ditore on page two.
UNMIK police reported that Visoka, the director of Finance Council in Podujevo was wounded while traveling alone in his vehicle in the direction of Podujevo. Visoka has been sent to the hospital, where he is now recovering and the wounds that he received do not seem fatal.
UNMIK police spokesman Derek Chapell said that the police will protect the members of LDK, but he did not say how, if they will offer bodyguards or people following.
UNMIK spokeswoman Claire Trevena said that many LDK members throughout Kosovo have been threatened, adding that the unit that has to do with political violence is working with political parties, UNMIK police and KFOR in order to increase the people's security, including the security of LDK members.
In a press briefing in Podujevo, KFOR representative Harry Hanscomb said the incident happened on Thursday night at about nine, on Pristina - Podujevo road, at Konusevci Bridge. According to him, unknown persons shot at Visoka with a 9 mm and wounded him on his leg and abdomen. Now, Visoka's condition is stable and he is recovering at the hospital.