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February 24, 2003
ERP KIM Newsletter 24-02-03
CONTENTS:
SNC KM: PREMIER REXHEPI'S STATEMENTS REPRESENT
BLACKMAILING OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
ERP KIM: Diocese of Raska and
Prizren condemns the latest Albanian terrorist attack in Mogila, nr.
Kosovska Vitina
AFP: One policeman killed and two injured in a mine blast
in Southern Serbia
BETA: Kosovo Albanians organizing armed formations near
Prizren
BLIC: United Balkans Against Greater Albania
RADIO YUGOSLAVIA: Kosovo and
Metohija News
Serb National Council of Kosovo
and Metohija
Communique
SNC KM: PREMIER REXHEPI'S
STATEMENTS REPRESENT BLACKMAILING OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
Through their immoderate statements in defense of war crimes suspects
some Kosovo Albanian leaders are openly siding with criminals
TOP
SNC KM
for immediate release
February 23, 2003
(Photo: Kosovo premier Bajram Rexhepi)
 The
Serb National Council of Kosovo and Metohija expresses its serious
dissatisfaction with recent statements by some Kosovo Albanian leaders
that members of the KLA during the war and immediately after it committed
no crimes. Through such irresponsible statements Kosovo officials
are openly justifying crimes committed during and after the war not only
against Serbs, Bosniacs and Roma but also against many Kosovo Albanians.
The SNC KIM has always openly admitted and condemned crimes committed by
members of Slobodan Milosevic's regime against Albanian civilians and
expressed its deep regret for the suffering imposed by an undemocratic
regime not only on the Kosovo Albanians, but also on the Serb people who
after the war became victims of blood revenge as a result of that regime's
actions. For a long time it was expected that the Kosovo Albanians would
also confront the crimes committed by those among their ranks; however,
the most recent statements of some Kosovo officials represent a serious
disappointment further widening the gap between the ethnic communities
in the Province.
Premier Rexhepi's statement that possible new arrests will destabilize
the Kosovo government represents open blackmailing of the
international community. If the government and institutions of Kosovo
and Metohija can only survive under the condition that certain former
leaders of the KLA are not brought to justice, then such a government and
institutions will never have moral credibility among either the Serbs
and other non-Albanian or the international community. No one can be
above the law, regardless of his/her ethnic origin or political position.
The new democratic government in Serbia has turned over its leading
statesmen to the Hague tribunal and it is completely illogical that in
Kosovo officials in high positions who are justifiably suspected of having
committed or ordered crimes against civilians remain free in order to
allegedly preserve the so-called political stability of institutions.
Kosovo institutions in fact will never be stable as long as they are run
by individuals who have no moral credibility before all the citizens of
the Province. The only path to stable and credible institutions is to
ensure they are led and comprised of men and women of scrupulous
democratic orientation who will treat all citizens equally and who will
readily condemn every crime regardless of who is the victim.
Therefore, possible new arrests of certain key Kosovo Albanian leaders
will not lead to a destabilization of institutions in Kosovo and Metohija
but will represent the only path to the creation of a multiethnic and
democratic society based on the rule of law.
The second statement of premier Rexhepi that NATO will find itself in an
uncomfortable position through possible new arrests of former KLA leaders
because in 1999 it waged war in alliance with the KLA represents a
highly imprudent political move. The NATO alliance did support the
battle against the regime of Slobodan Milosevic but it did not support
nor can it cover up the crimes committed by the KLA against the Serb
people and other innocent civilians. If NATO and the international
community were to protect KLA criminals from justice for the sake of
preserving their own credibility, it would indirectly encourage the
suspicion that all war and post-war crimes of the KLA were condoned by the
NATO alliance. For this very reason, the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization should take additional steps to ensure that those responsible
for crimes from the ranks of the KLA are brought to justice in order to
affirm that NATO did not wage war against the Serb people but against an
undemocratic and anti-national regime. It is absolutely unacceptable
that people who killed, tortured and committed crimes against innocent
civilians are now hiding behind the NATO alliance and Western democracy
and attempting to draw the Western alliance into the disaster they
created. Former KLA leaders have proven very clearly and unambiguously
by their behavior after the war that their orientation is not European
democratic society but the rule of violence and organized crime, which is
incompatible with the proclaimed goals of the international community and
the NATO alliance.
Premier Rexhepi has deeply compromised himself morally and politically by
these two statements not only before the Serb people but also before the
international community. It will be very tragic if the international
community, especially the NATO alliance, remains silent before such
examples of blackmail.
The SNC KIM appeals to the UN international mission, the NATO alliance and
the Hague tribunal to continue their investigation of all crimes
committed in Kosovo and Metohija regardless of whether they involve Serbs
or Albanians. This is the only sure path to the establishment of
interethnic confidence and the building of a truly democratic and
multiethnic society.
TOP
Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Raska-Prizren
Kosovo and Metohija
DIOCESE OF RASKA AND
PRIZREN CONDEMNS THE LATEST ALBANIAN TERRORIST ATTACK IN MOGILA, NEAR
KOSOVSKA VITINA
Kosovo Albanian extremists increasingly destabilize security situation
in the Province confirming that their goal remains to expel the remaining
Serb population
TOP
ERP KIM Info-Service
February 23, 2003
 A
Serb man, Dragan Djokic (29) was seriously wounded in the latest Albanian
terrorist attack on Saturday evening, February 22, 2003, in the village of
Mogila near Kosovska Vitina. At 21:15 hours the attackers fired multiple
bursts of gun-fire from automatic weapons at a shop owned by Slobodan
Nojkic in Mogila. Djokic was hit by two bullets in the chest and after
receiving emergency care in a nearby village primary care facility was
transferred to the hospital in Vranje (Southern Serbia). Kosovo police and
members of U.S. KFOR arrived at the scene of the crime shortly after the
attack.
The Diocese of Raska and Prizren most strongly condemns this terrorist
attacks and expresses its solidarity with the Djokic family. This is yet
another attack on the entire Serb people, on the peace and stability of
the entire Province, and it deserves the condemnation of the entire Kosovo
public. As well, this attack is another warning to the international
community that there can be no stability in the Province and KFOR and UN
mission success as long as armed Albanian extremists are freely carousing
through the Province sowing death and violence against the unprotected
Serb and Albanian population. The Diocese of Raska and Prizren expresses
the hope that those responsible for this perfidious attack in Mogila will
be brought to justice in a timely manner.
TOP
ONE POLICEMAN KILLED AND
TWO INJURED IN MINE BLAST IN SOUTHERN SERBIA
TOP
AFP
February 23, 2003
BELGRADE, Feb 23 (AFP) - One Serbian policeman was killed and two were
injured when their vehicle drove over an anti-tank landmine in tense
southern Serbia on Sunday, Belgrade radio B92 reported.
'This was a terrorist act and our security forces will respond
adequately,' Nebojsa Covic, Belgrade's top official for Kosovo, told the
radio.
Covic blamed former rebels from now the disbanded Presevo, Medvedja and
Bujanovac Liberation Army (LAPMB), hiding in neigbouring Kosovo, of being
behind the incident.
He said that UN mission in Kosovo and NATO peacekeepers in the
UN-administered Serbian province should 'arrest and hand over' the
suspects to Belgrade.
'We will not tolerate such gangs of criminals,' Covic said.
Ethnic Albanians in southern Serbia, the region bordering Kosovo, led an
insurgency against Belgrade troops in early 2000. The fighting ended after
a western-brokered deal gave the ethnic Albanian minority more rights and
representation in the local government.
The rebels have since disarmed, but the area has remained tense.
Earlier this month, Serbian police arrested 12 ethnic Albanians near
Bujanovac, in the area with a large ethnic Albanian population. A large
amount of weapons, ammunition, uniforms and flags was also seized.
Five people were immediatelly released, but seven others have remained in
detention pending a judicial investigation for 'terrorism and conspiracy
to act against the state.'
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said last week he was 'deeply
concerned by serious attempts to undermine the rule of law and to
destabilise the situation in southern Serbia.'
'Any use of violence is completely unacceptable and will not be
tolerated,' Solana said.
Kosovo, formally still part of Serbia, has been under UN and NATO control
since June 1999, after the Atlantic alliance's 78-day bombing campaign
aimed at ending former president Slobodan Milosevic's crackdown on
independence-seeking ethnic Albanians in the province.
TOP
KOSOVO ALBANIANS
ORGANIZING ARMED FORMATIONS NEAR PRIZREN
TOP
BETA
February 22, 2003
 FRANKFURT
(Germany) - The Kosovo Albanians have trained an armed formation in
response to police action in southern Serbia resulting in the arrest of 12
Albanians who were found to possess large quantities of weapons and
military equipment, writes today's Serbian language Frankfurt daily
"Vesti".
The so-called Adem Jashari division was mobilized in response to police
action in southern Serbia, claims "Vesti", citing senior military sources.
The paper adds that the unit has been seen near Prizren, and that this is
also confirmed by confidential UNMIK field reports.
"This is a newly formed unit of the so-called Albanian National Army,
which together with the Albanian Unification Front is calling on all
Albanians on both sides of the administrative border between Kosovo and
Metohija and central Serbia to take up arms without delay and join their
ranks," writes "Vesti".
Sources in the Serbia and Montenegro Army have confirmed that most of the
members of the former Liberation Army of Presevo, Medvedja and Bujanovac
have moved to the eastern part of Kosovo where they are awaiting new
orders from their leaders, emphasizes the daily.
"The so-called Albanian National Army is passing from a phase of guerrilla
activity into a state of combat readiness which leads to open war, an
all-Albanian armed rebellion. This invitation was extended to his
compatriots by the chief commander of the ANA, General Vigan Gradica," an
anonymous source told "Vesti".
Military sources explain that the chief centers for training this and
other ANA units are located in Kosovo and Metohija in the region of
Prizren, in the foothills of Mt. Sara and Kosovsko Pomoravlje, in Albania
in Kukes and Tropoja, and in Macedonia in the Tetovo area.
"This most powerful weapon is the exceptional support they have in the
Albanian emigrant community which generously supports them with financial
donations, and frequently also directs the activities of these groups,"
reports "Vesti", quoting sources in the Serbia and Montenegro ministry of
defense.
TOP
UNITED BALKANS AGAINST
GREATER ALBANIA
Will future bring making of one state of Albanians and what are Albanian
national interests?
TOP
BLIC (Belgrade Daily)
February 24, 2003
Belgrade - Activities by Albanian extremists in Macedonia and Kosovo and
announcements that terrorist groups are preparing actions in the south of
Serbia, are actually preparations of Albanians for as good as possible
starting position in the region, especially for settlement of final Kosovo
status. This is opinion of experts from Forum for ethnic relations and the
Institute for the Balkans by the Serbian Academy of Science and Art.
In recent times the story about independence of Kosovo is being
increasingly repeated. On the other hand Serbian authorities insist on
implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1244. Serbian Prime
Minister Zoran Djindjic said that Belgrade would not hesitate to support
division of Kosovo and Metohija if international community fails to
provide protection for Kosovo Serbs.
Albanian National Army says it 'will fight against Orthodox religion'.
Some Albanians in the south of Serbia renewed request that Presevo,
Bujanovac and Medvedja should join Kosovo. These facts lead us to question
will the future result in making of greater Albania. Another question is
what Albanian national interests in the Balkans are?
Experts think that greater Albania is the key idea of Albanian national
program. However, they do not believe that the idea of greater Albania can
be realized. This idea makes Albanians unique but if realized, it will
bring Albanians to the verge of civil war because in spite of general
opinion, they are very much divided. Some other experts believe that
Albanian national interest is independent Kosovo but not greater Albania.
Ramush Tahiri, member of Alliance for future of Kosovo led by Ramush
Haradinai, says for 'Blic' daily that the basic idea of programs of almost
all of Albanian political parties is independent Kosovo, while only few
minor parties are still supporting the idea of great Albania.
Some experts strongly believe that Albanians will never be allowed to make
greater Albania because that would result in uniting of all Balkan
countries against Albanians. Changing of borders would create serious
problems in the region.
TOP
RADIO YUGOSLAVIA: KOSOVO
AND METOHIJA NEWS
TOP
Radio Yugoslavia
February 23, 2003
The President of the Coordination Body for the South of Serbia Nebojsa
Covic confirmed that one police forces member who was injured in the
explosion of a mine between the villages Mihovac and Breznica had died in
the hospital, while two of his colleagues were injured. He said that this
terrorist attack was undertaken by Sefcet Musliu, Besim Tahiri called
CheChen and Ljirim Jakup - called Nacist, all three well known to the
police. We expect that UNMIK and KFOR arrest the trisome and to hand them
over to us, since they are presently in the territory of Kosovo and
Metohia, said Covic. He said that if it is not done, UNMIK would be
considered as an accomplice in organized criminal, terrorist attacks and
violence.
===================================
One member of police forces died in a hospital upon being injured in an
explosion of a mine placed on the motor-road between villages Muhovac and
Breznica, 10 kilometers to the North-West of Bujanovac, close to the
administrative line with Kosovo, sources close to police reported to the
Beta news agency. The police member who died was travelling in an
official vehicle when the accident happened, accompanied by two of his
collegues who were lightly injured in the explosion. An investigation has
been opened to determine the exact circumstances of the accident.
===================================
The vice-president of the Serbian government and the president of the
Coordination Center for Kosovo-Metohija, Nebojsa Covic, announced that the
Serbian government is ready for a dialogue with Pristina, though not on
the initiative for the province’s independence. If the international
community endorses this initiative, Serbia is immediately to demand the
division of Kosovo-Metohija, based on two entities and local
self-governments, Covic said. He added that the putting of the entire
Serbian cultural heritage under the protection of the international
community would also be demanded. Covic also pointed out that the
authorities in Serbia would not forget the problem of the return of 230
thousand of displaced persons from Kosovo-Metohija.
===================================
The issues at stake in the areas of Bujanovac, Presevo and Medvedja are no
longer issues of national interest, but the problems of a multi-national
organized crime network, violence and terrorism, the vice-president of the
Serbian government and the president of the Coordination Body for the
south of Serbia, Nebojsa Covic announced. Covic pointed out that shortly
Interpol will be sending wanted circulars against those leaders of crime
who are based in southern Serbia and who use national symbols as a cover
for manipulating people while protecting their own interests. Covic added
that there is no real fight against organized crime, violence and
terrorism without wider regional cooperation.
===================================
Today, two members of the gendarmerie were injured when they drove over a
mine near the village of Muhovac in the municipality of Bujanovac,
southern Serbia, according to BETA agency’s police sources. One member is
gravely injured, while the other has light injuries. An investigation is
underway.
===================================
Last night, Dragan Djokic was injured in an assault at a shop in the
Serbian village of Mogila near Kosovska Vitina. He was hit in the chest by
two shots fired from an automatic weapon, and has been hospitalized.
Members of the Kosovo police and the KFOR visited the place of the
assault. The UNMIK police spokesperson in Pristina, Barry Fletcher,
announced that an investigation is underway.
===================================
The head of the UN civilian mission Michael Steiner announced that there
is no choice about who will be indicted in front of the Hague Tribunal for
war crimes, adding that nobody is above the law. I think that the
institutions in kosovo.netprehend that there cannot be two options,
Steiner announced for Radio UNMIK. Steiner also pointed out that the
issues of arresting and extraditing are in the jurisdiction of the courts
and the police. The UNMIK head added that it is necessary to resolve the
issue of organized crime in Kosovo, in order to make the province a secure
environment. He especially stressed the significance of the role of the
population and cooperation with the authorities in the battle against
organized crime.
===================================
Following the arrest of four Albanians accused of war crimes, the
president of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, Hashim Tachi, announced that
Kosovan institutions will not cease to cooperate with the Hague Tribunal.
The Kosovan institutions do not dispute cooperation with the court in the
Hague, though they disagree with the most recent indictments, as well as
with the method of taking the accused into custody, Tachi said in an
interview to the Podgorica daily, DAN, commenting on the arrest of the
vice-president of his party, Fatmir Limaj. Limaj and another three
Albanians, former KLA members, were charged in front of the Tribunal for
crimes against humanity, illegal arrests, torture and the murder of 23
persons of Serbian and Albanian nationality, in the period between May and
June 1998.
TOP
ERP KIM Info-Service is the official
Information Service of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Raska and Prizren
and works with the blessing of His Grace Bishop Artemije.
Our Information Service is distributing news on Kosovo related issues. The
main focus of the Info-Service is the life of the Serbian Orthodox Church
and the Serbian community in the Province of Kosovo and Metohija. ERP KIM
Info Service works in cooperation with
www.serbian-translation.com as well as the
Kosovo
Daily News (KDN) News List
Disclaimer:
The views expressed by the authors of newspaper articles or other texts
which are not official communiqués or news reports by the Diocese are
their own and do not necessarily represent the views of the Serbian
Orthodox Church
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Copyright 2003, ERP KIM Info-Service
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