GREEK HELSINKI MONITOR
(Greek National Committee of the International Helsinki Federation)

& MINORITY RIGHTS GROUP - GREECE
(Greek Affiliate of Minority Rights Group International)

P.O. Box 51393, GR-14510 Kifisia, Greece Tel. 30-1-620.01.20; Fax: 30-1-807.57.67; E-mail: office@greekhelsinki.gr

PRESS RELEASE

23/1/1998

Topic: Serious Human Rights Problems in Kosovo and Montenegro

We distribute the latest press release of the International Helsinki Federation on Kosovo and Montenegro.

Kosovo: Urgent Appeal For Courage, Leadership, and Cooperation

Belgrade, Pristine, Podgoriza, 21 January 1998

The situation in Kosovo has reached an unprecedented danger level, which requires urgent, determined efforts to convince FRY President Slobodan Milosovic to agree to a process of international mediation about the future political status of Kosovo.

A delegation of the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights and its affiliates in Kosovo, Montenegro, Norway, and Serbia* , recommend an immediate initiative to convene an international, "Dayton-like" conference to resolve the present crisis, which threatens to escalate into a bloody military confrontation.

As an expert observer in Kosovo remarked, "Concern is not a policy.

" Our organizations urgently call attention to the following:

	The resolve of Kosovo Albanians to deal non-violently with Serb oppression is reaching the point of exhaustion. Other ominous indications of possible forthcoming dangerous escalation of violence are the appearance of the so-called "Kosovo Liberation Army" that has assumed responsibility for at least 17 killings of Serbian related targets, as well as the massive and peaceful protests of Albanian students, which have been violently broken up by Serbian police.
	The IHF held discussions with numerous observers and leaders, including President of the self-proclaimed Republic of Kosovo, Dr. Ibrahim Rugova, and other prominent figures, as well as interviews with local human rights defenders and villagers from the region of Drenica, where a Serbian police convoy was ambushed in November 1997. The IHF has been given three possible explanations for acts of armed violence in this region: acts by a coherent organization, referred to in the media as the "Kosovo Liberation Army"; cases of individual armed resistance by desperate groups, defending their homes and families; and acts perpetrated by Serbian secret police as a pretext for increased military intervention in Kosovo, in order to tighten their grip on the already oppressed region. In any event, the level of violence has increased dramatically, and there are areas, visited by the IHF delegation, which are now avoided by Serb police.
	The IHF delegation received numerous reports of preparations by Serbian military and police forces, including special police exercises in the Denica villages of Kuchiche and Golesh, and in the vicinity of the villages of Peja and Lipjan, as well as the special police training site at Ajvalia, apparently aimed at intimidating the Albanian population, and in preparation for a large-scale military crack-down. Increased militarization of Kosovo reportedly includes arming of Serb civilians with additional weapons. Notorious Serb paramilitary leader "Arkan" has also reportedly been observed in the area, an indication of possible violence against Albanians.
	Organizations of Albanian students plan more non-violent demonstrations, which the IHF commends as a brave and peaceful approach, but which must not be broken up by violent intervention of Serbian police forces. The IHF recommends that international organizations express their solidarity with these students and their legitimate demands for release of the premises of the university. The Education Agreement must be implemented immediately as a first step toward normalization.

Furthermore, international institutions should support confidence-building measures on the level of civil society, which will facilitate implementation of an international political solution.

Montenegro:

The IHF delegation urges respect for the outcome of the recent Montenegrin Presidential elections, which were found to be fair by OSCE and other international observers.

We strongly recommend that OSCE monitor the upcoming parliamentary elections. Representatives of the People’s Party (Novak Kilibarda), the Liberal Alliance (Ranco Demovic), the Democratic Union of Albanian’s (Ferhat Dinosha) and the Bulatovic fraction of the Democratic Party of Socialists (Milatin Ojdanic), as well as the Montenegrin Minister of Foreign Affairs (Branko Perovic) all expressed support for this recommendation.

Furthermore, the IHF urges an OSCE presence in Montenegro aimed at strengthening democratic institutions and the rule of law.

We believe a positive process has begun, under which minorities in Montenegro can begin more fully to exercise their rights and participate in political life. We reject efforts by some media to mobilize Montenegrins against their fellow citizens through "hate speech."

At this time, the freedom of movement of Montenegrin citizens is limited by the closure of borders with Albania and Croatia. This policy of the Federal authorities is baseless and suggests political manipulation.

All the political figures with whom the IHF spoke, including the representative of the Bulatovic faction, supported a negotiated political solution to the "Kosovo problem."

The delegation included Aaron Rhodes, Executive Director of the IHF; Jennifer Lincoln-Lewis, IHF Secretariat; Bjorn Engesland, Secretary General of the Norwegian Helsinki Committee; Sonja Biserko, Chairman of the Serbian Helsinki Committee; Gazmend Pula, Chairman of the Kosovo Helsinki Committee; Slobodan Franovic, Chairman of the Montenegrin Helsinki Committee; and Branislav Pantovic, Montenegrin Helsinki Committee. Obrad Savic of Belgrade Circle also took part.