Daily News Summary from the Balkans
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NEWS SUMMARY FOR MARCH 16, 2000
www.balkan-info.com
Dateline: Mitrovica
Source: Associated Press (AP), Agence France Presse (AFP)
15/03/00
KFOR TAKES CONTROL OF MITROVICA BRIDGE
NATO-led peacekeepers (KFOR) on 15 March assumed control of the bridge
that divides Mitrovica in an effort to reinforce security in the
northern Kosovo town, wire services report. Within hours after
establishing a 100-metre security zone around the bridge on the Serb
side of Mitrovica, 250 armed French KFOR troops were met by an estimated
300 Kosovar Serbs attempting to cross into the secured area. A melee
ensued as French troops fired tear gas and stun grenades to disperse
rioters. Approximately six Kosovar Serbs were injured during the
incident. According to AP, only those Kosovar Serbs living within the
security zone are allowed access. Oliver Ivanovic, a leader of the
Mitrovica Serbs, believes this new effort by KFOR will lead to further
tension in ethnically divided city.
Dateline: London
Source: Reuters
14/03/00
KFOR TO STAY IN KOSOVO UNTIL MILOSEVIC GONE: HOON
British Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon stated on 14 March that
international peacekeepers (KFOR) will remain in Kosovo until Yugoslav
President Slobodan Milosevic is out of office, Reuters reports. "We
have to guard against a repetition of (Yugoslav President Slobodan
Milosevic’s) actions," Reuters quoted Hoon in a speech to the Royal
United Services Institute in London. Hoon also cautioned against
continued ethnic violence in Kosovo. "We will not stand by and watch a
new intolerance replace the old," he said, quoted by Reuters.
Dateline: Brussels
Source: Agence France Presse (AFP)
14/03/00
ITALY, FRANCE TO SEND 1,100 TROOPS FOR KOSOVO PEACEKEEPING MISSION
Italy and France have committed an additional 1,100 troops for
deployment to the NATO-led peacekeeping force in Kosovo (KFOR), AFP
reports, citing NATO sources. The wire service reports that French and
Italian battalions will work in the ethnically divided town of
Mitrovica. NATO ambassadors will vote on the additional troop
deployment at their next meeting on 15 March.
Dateline: Belgrade
Sources: Agence France Presse (AFP), Deutsche Presse Agentur (DPA)
14/03/00
YUGOSLAV MINISTER RENEWS THREATS AGAINST INDEPENDENT MEDIA
Yugoslav Telecommunications Minister Ivan Markovic, on 14 March,
threatened the country’s independent media with forced closure if
payment for use of its frequencies are not received by 31 March, wire
services report. Approximately 168 radio and 67 television stations are
currently operating without government licenses, alleged Markovic, and
are required to pay a total of USD 12 million in debt by the deadline.
The minister asserted that state police will be used to close those
media outlets that fail to meet the deadline, according to DPA. Serb
opposition parties have promised a resolute reaction to any further
crackdown on independent media by the government of Yugoslav President
Slobodan Milosevic.
Dateline: Belgrade
Source: Agence France Presse (AFP)
14/03/00
STUDIO B PAYS YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT USD 1.1 MILLION
Studio B, an independent radio station in Belgrade, announced on 14
March that the Belgrade city council paid the Yugoslav government USD
1.1 million to prevent the station’s closure, AFP reports. The Yugoslav
Telecommunications Ministry demanded payment for use of its wavelengths
by midnight 13 March. "The city council has paid it in order to avoid
provoking stronger conflicts between those who would shut down Studio B
and those who would prevent it," AFP quoted Studio B chief editor Dragan
Kojadinovic.
Dateline: London
Source: Reuters
14/03/00
BRITISH JUDICIAL EXPERTS TO AID KOSOVO MISSION
British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook announced on 14 March that 40
British lawyers will begin work in Kosovo to aid in strengthening the
province’s judicial system, Reuters reports. He also stated that U.K.
officials will be sent to Kosovo to manage the U.N. customs service.
"This further commitment demonstrates our resolve to help Kosovo towards
efficient government and a reformed economy," Cook said, quoted by
Reuters.
Dateline: Pristina
Source: Reuters
14/03/00
UNMIK INTRODUCES FIRST POST-WAR STAMPS FOR KOSOVO
The U.N. Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), on 14 March, introduced the first
postal stamps in Kosovo since the end of last year’s conflict, Reuters
reports. "There would be no other postal service here otherwise. It is
vital that people are able to communicate," Reuters quoted UNMIK deputy
Tom Koenigs. Five stamps of varying denominations will be sold with
images illustrating the theme "Peace in Kosovo," according to Reuters.
The Universal Postal Union approved their usage for international mail.
Dateline: Pristina
Source: Reuters
14/03/00
EU’S SOLANA CALLS FOR END TO VIOLENCE IN KOSOVO
EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana called for an end of violence in
Kosovo and urged the province’s leadership to take concrete action to
foster peaceful co-existence among ethnic groups, wire services report.
Solana on 14 March held discussions with moderate Kosovar Serb
leadership in the orthodox monastery of Gracanica. "The moment for talk
is over…this is the time for deeds," Reuters quoted Solana during a news
conference held after the meeting. According to DPA, Solana pledged to
boost the number of international police in Kosovo to reinforce security
throughout the province.
Dateline: Belgrade
Source: Agence France Presse (AFP)
14/03/00
DJUKANOVIC ACCUSES MILOSEVIC OF PROVOKING CONFLICT
Montenegro President Milo Djukanovic accused Yugoslav President Slobodan
Milosevic of attempting to incite conflict in Montenegro, AFP reports,
citing Beta. Djukanovic told Belgrade television channel Studio B that
Milosevic "is preparing provocations in Montenegro for the spring." The
wire service reports Djukanovic criticised the "show of force" tactics
by the Yugoslav army last month for setting up television transmitters
used by Belgrade at military sites in Montenegro.
Dateline: Kraljevo, Yugoslavia
Source: Reuters
14/03/00
ARMY RESERVISTS RALLY IN KRALJEVO
An estimated 2,000 people rallied for a second day in Kraljevo on 14
March to voice their support for army reservists protesting frequent
military call-ups, Reuters reports. The reservists accuse army
authorities of continually calling on the same people for military duty.
The demonstrators also demanded back pay for their service in Kos
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