CONTENTS:

IBRAHIM RUGOVA RECEIVES A LETTER FROM HASHIM THAÇI
FAMILY MEMBERS INFORM OF ANNULLED VISITS IN SERB JAILS
POLICE HAS INFORMATION ON THE KILLING OF EKREM REXHA
KOSOVO'S CUSTOM SERVICE DEPUTY DIRECTOR ATTACKED
KOSOVO'S CUSTOM SERVICE DEPUTY DIRECTOR ATTACKED

IBRAHIM RUGOVA RECEIVES A LETTER FROM HASHIM THAÇI

Koha Ditore reports on page three on a possibility of a direct meeting between the chairmen of the two biggest political parties in Kosovo.

Coordination of main issues that regard Kosovo is the main emphasis of the invitation by PDK (Kosovo Democratic Party) to LDK (Kosovo Democratic League) last week. These official invitations have been handed over to LDK Chairman Dr. Ibrahim Rugova by PDK Chairman Hashim Thaçi and to LDK Deputy Chairman Kolë Berisha by PDK Secretary Fatmir Limaj after the Kosovo Transitional Council meeting last Wednesday. In the invitation, issues to be discussed are emphasized, however LDK chairmanship has not confirmed their participation yet. The meeting place has not been determined and if the biggest Kosovar political party agrees to meet the opposition the meeting is planned to be held during this week.

According to a source, issues to be discussed are security, functioning of the institutions, and preparation by the Albanian side for the newly formed political circumstances in the region and the possible talks with Serb side. It is expected that a focus is placed on general elections, with aspirations to be held during the middle of next year.

Last Albanian meeting was held in September 1999 in Lansdowne USA with the mediation of the Americans.

To remove all doubts and speculations that these two political parties are enemies, to create a positive opinion which has never been present in the after war Kosovo political scene, the meeting between two main political forces is evaluated to be approved of by the society.

The idea of the meeting said an analyst that this would be a strategic preparation between the position and the opposition respectively between LDK and PDK in creating joint opinions, which would not be easily changed in the new phase that awaits Kosovo. 

FAMILY MEMBERS INFORM OF ANNULLED VISITS IN SERB JAILS

ICRC informs that 12 Albanian families successfully met with their loved ones in Serb jails report Zëri on page four.

A group of women that traveled on Saturday from Kosovo to the Serb town of Nis did not get to meet their loved ones. They were not allowed to enter the jail.

"I could not sleep. I did not see my son" - said a woman from the Deva family in Gjakova who did not want to identify herself in fear of her son's security. She told of prepared packages, for food she made for her son that she was not allowed to see.

ICRC notified her days before that apart from the food packages she could spend sixty minutes with her son. This visit was organized for another 16 family members. Not one of them met with their loved ones.

ICRC explains that the visits were impossible "because of security issues". "We informed the family members that the pre-announced visit could not be realized because of some turmoil in the Nis prison. Family members organized and tried to enter the prison on their own".

On Saturday ICRC information office notified that "a successful visit to the central prison in Belgrade".  

POLICE HAS INFORMATION ON THE KILLING OF EKREM REXHA

Ulrich Siegbert UNMIK police regional commander in Prizren held his farewell press briefing with members of the press reported Bota Sot on page three.

He first made a chronological presentation of events from the end of the war until present day he said that a great deal has been done in consolidating every day life and especially in the security of the citizens. If compared to other towns in Kosovo Prizren could become a model for most of the centers in Kosovo. For the moment 420 international police officers, a special unit from Poland and 370 KPS members are serving in Prizren.

He added that some violent killings of Ekrem Rexha, Skender Gashi and others. However, police is continuing investigations and has considerable information regarding the killing of Ekrem Rexha - Commander Drini. On the killing of KPC member Skender Gashi police arrested few days ago two suspects and investigations are at their peak. At the end of the briefing, Mr. Siegbert pleaded with the people of Kosovo to give a real chance to democracy, freedom and future for our children. He commented on the killings that are happening in Kosovo saying that they are surely deeds of professionals, however he could not say more because there is an ongoing investigation.

He finished the briefing by calling the local population to cooperate with the police services because if there were lack of cooperation then the problems would unfortunately be bigger.  

KOSOVO'S CUSTOM SERVICE DEPUTY DIRECTOR ATTACKED

Zëri on page four carried a report on a group of persons having physically attacked Kosovo's SHD (Custom Service) Deputy Director Bashkim Stavilevci who suffered severe bodily injuries.

"Around 16:30 on Monday, several persons committed an attack on our colleague, Bashkim Stavilevci, who has been badly mistreated", informed the director of SHD, Ylber Rraci. Condemning this heavy act, Rraci says that this crime committed by unidentified persons occurred in front of his apartment, located between the new Post Office and Heating Plan, therefore because of the injuries, he has been sent to Prishtina's hospital.

SHD released a communiqué ion which they condemned this brutal act the motives and reasons of this attack on the deputy director and the responsibility for custom contradictions, cannot be anything else but oppositions of various persons toward his way of work. "Without wanting to accuse anyone intentionally, it must be stressed that Stavilevci was always a rare expert not only of the subject matter, but also as professional in preventing these negative phenomenon which disturb the society. He was faced daily with the most undisciplined importers".

The communiqué goes on by saying that this is not the first attack against members of SHD, unfortunately they have to face daily dangers and such situation are being repeated. It is now clear that the most professional public service bothers someone in Kosovo. This service provides 98 % of the money for Kosovo's consolidated budget. However, SHD ensures the citizens that this is not the last sacrifice they face, on the contrary this encourages the efforts for insuring the funds for Kosovo's budget, for its teachers, doctors, the retired and children.

PRE-ANNOUNCED DIALOGUE INCREASES HOPES

The Political Council for Presevo, Medvedja and Bujanovac affirms that the displaced from Presevo valley who have settled in families of Kosovo's various municipalities, have begun to return to their homes, reported Koha Ditore on page three.

Political Council representative from the Interior Affairs Ministry explains this return with the fact that during the next 2-3 days there will be talks between the political and military Albanian factor with the Serb one, where the mediation of the international factor. Humanitarian organizations such as UNHCR, ICRC has contributed that the citizens' trust to return to their homes. They have visited the villages of Presevo valley several times during these days and have talked to the citizens and given them moral and material aid.

The fact that "25 Maji" Primary School in Bujanovac was closed down a few days ago and is now open with a full classroom proves the massive return of the displaced. "Worse conditions for the return are in the village of Llucan in Bujanovac, which has been completely militarized by Serb police and military forces, which are located in thirty Albanian houses" it was said in the council. UNHCR say, "There has been no other information from Presevo valley, except that there are many citizens returning". This proves the humanitarian organization "Mother Theresa" and the Municipal Red Cross. Ruzdi Rasiti president of "Mother Theresa" said that during these days no one has showed up in its headquarters.