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Show Alig The Salt Lake Tribune NATION/WORLD Ethnic Albanians Flee Buffer Zone NATOaccord created no-man’s land BY PAUL WATSON LOS ANGELES TIMES GRBAVCE, Yugoslavia — High ona breathtaking hill in southern Serbia, beyond the reach of foreign troops patrolling nearby Kosovo, the only soundin this ethnic Albanian village is of dried corn stalks rustling in the autumn breeze. Ethnic Albanianstilled this land for centuries before the Serbs gaveupcontrolofthe neighboring province to NATO-led peacekeeping troops about six months ago. ‘Then a silent exodus began, and all but oneof the village’s farm- houses were abandoned for fear that they might be the nexttargets of the Serbs, An estimated 85,000 ethnic Albanians still live in this region of southern Serbia, mainly in a 482square-mile area bordering Kosovo that many Albaniannationalists believe should be part of that province. But thousands havefled since the fate of the region’s people was largely forgotten in NATO's victory over Yugoslav forces. A buffer zone created around Kosovo by June’s peace accord with NATOprohibits Serbian police and Yugoslav soldiers from entering only a small part of the region, leaving mostof the ethnic Albaniansfeeling cut off and at risk, said Riza Halimi, president of the municipal assembly in Presevo, a city in southeastern Serbia. Slayings, robberies and arson carried out by federal and Serbian forces, and years ofpolitical repression under Yugoslav Presi- dent Slobodan Milosevic, have forced the continuing exodus, Halimi said in an interview at Presevo’s City Hall. “This situation is benefiting the Serbian authorities,” Halimi added. “Their deceitful measures are contributing to a silent‘ethnic cleansing.’ Ethnic Albanians in this region of Serbia received none of the benefits that came from NATO's bombing campaign butare suffering the consequences, Halimi said, because they aren't protected by almost 50,000 NATO-led peacekeeping troops just across the border in Kosovo — although it too remains a part of Serbia, Yugoslavia’s dominantrepublic. In one of the few significant concessions Milosevic won for withstanding 78 daysof airstrikes last spring, NATO agreed to shrink buffer zone along Kosovo border that Yugoslav troops and Serbianpolice are not allowed to enter. The Western demands that Milosevic had rejected at peace talks during the wintercalled fora “mutual safety zone” 15 miles deep, which would have protected most Albanians north and east of Kosovo's border. But under the accord that ended the air war, the buffer zone (ees concedes could lead to more violence if Kosovo moves closer to a complete break from Yugoslavia. “It is a commonfact that the Albanian population of this region makesa constitutive whole with the Albanian populationliv- living in a refugee camp in Mace- donia, Halim!said. His Party of Democratic Action wants to unite the mainly ethnic strip of southern Serbia with Kosovo, a demand that he “Nokia 6190-:99.99 ‘Nokia 5190-FREE! ‘Ericsson 768-FREE! ‘Motorola 3682-FREE! (msrp. $169.99) ing in Kosovo and Macedonia,” only by the NATO airwar. Seniorofficers at Serbia's Inte- rior Ministry police headquarters “valid for 12 months, same cestricions may apply. e OMNISERVE We Make It Easy!F tL goslavcapital, did not respond to requests for an interview on the physics teacherin Presevo, where before the war, about42,000 people — more than 90 percent of the city’s population — were ethnic Albanian. But Serbian authorities fired him and 11 other teachers in a purge of the Albanian-language education system, he said. This region is so poorly developed that only 500 workers out of an estimated 45,000 have jobs in industry, and they earn only $19 to $25 a month,Halimi said. The Yugoslav army eliminated some of the best remaining jobs by turninga local shoe factory into a military base after the NATO-led force entered Kosovo. Despite the campaign by Halimi’s party to combine the region with Kosovo, where the over- whelming majority favors independence from Yugoslavia, the Serbian government has allowed him to stay in power in Presevo VoreSfeanr $89.95 - 1000local min. + 500 free weekend minutes nationwide” in Belgrade, the Serbian and Yusituation in the borderregion. Halimiused to be a high school (msrp. $69.95) (msrp. $69.95) (msrp. $99.95) VoiceStream Wireless Monthly Rate Pians $39.99 - 600 local min. + 500 free weekend minutes nationwide” Halimi’s party said in a 1992 declaration. To Serbian nationalists, that translates into the same demand for ethnic Albanian independence thatled in 1998 to a vicious civil warin Kosovo —a conflict ended —E Ss § 80 ConvenientLocations In the Western US Sunset ‘Spanish Fork Park City 1400 Snow CreekDr. 435-667-3665 Sugarhouse 2223 S. 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But Milosevic makes sure that the city assembly that Halimi leads is weak. Its only authority is over sports, cultural activities, child care, garbage collection and street cleaning. Although Halimi is one of Milosevic’s many political enemies, his efforts to work against the system from within may have helped preventfighting in Kosovo from spilling into the rest of southern off ia. “Before and during the war, our opinion was that there was no reason for people to leave four region],” Halimi said. “Why? Here we are taking part in all the institutions of the system. There were no incidents here before the ways. Two Serbian police officers state-run news agency reported. NATO officials, meanwhile, confirm that the alliance is concerned about occasional skirmishes across the border from Kosovo. During the war and in the angry peace that followed, as many as 20,000 ethnic Albanians in the region fled to Kosovo or wentinto exile abroad;1,200 ofthem are still OR “FREE 4-Head VCR with activation of any phone at MSRP! Riza Halim! peacekeeping force and a U.N.civilian administration are fighting near the mainly ethnic Albanian village of Konculj, Yugoslavia’s *$20 off any purchase with new activation! Presevo Municipal Assembly president bombing. And ourofficial stand always concurred with the army’s were seriously wounded last month when gunmen opened on the Serbs’ vehicle in this area Omniserve Holiday Specials! “This situation is benefiting the Serbian authorities. Their deceitful measures are contributing to a silent ‘ethnic cleansing.’ “ bi Nope gel? Thatleft Yugoslav troops and Serbian po- lice free to harass ethnic Alba: nians, Halimisaid. Andthe violence has cut both Sunday, December26, 1999 Already reducced statements.” In Kosovo, the NATO-led whatincreasingly looks like a losing battle against ethnic Albanian prices extremists attacking Serbs and other minorities, who continue to flee almost daily slayings and kidnappings. Western governments, includae the United States, are still oflally opposed to independence Ss Kosovo, But ethnic Albanian leaders across the political spec- Remaining Inventory of Drexel Heritage Furniture trum are determined to break from Yugoslavia, making it all the more difficult for NATO to “win “If Kosovo ever becomes independent, and if present-day borremain, people here would feel like they were living in a ghetto, and they would silently leave," Halimi predicted. Mission Accomplished: Hubble Is Back at Its Scientific Routine on the Hubble Space “Thanks for the great Christmas present,” Mission Control told the astronauts. “It's just what we wanted.” Astronomers can't wait to begin using the Hubble again. The rst observations are expected in two weeks, ending a two-month biasesPe eenteren er ee ELDREDGE ¢ IMTERIOR DESIGN & FIME FURMISHINGS The astronauts replaced all six gyroscopes the first walk and each the batierles with voltage regulators to prevent overheating. 4750 South 9h Exet © Enter thru ly Place ot th East ©ne Arloeroere-termsakesoreFoal 13dearencesold POOR COP’ |
