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KDOM Daily Report Released by the Bureau of European and Canadian Affairs, Office of South Central European Affairs, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC, October 16, 1998

Compiled by EUR/SCE (202-647-4850) from daily reports
of the U.S. element of the Kosovo Diplomatic Observer Mission

October 16, 1998

KDOM teams visited Srbica, Orahovac, Suva Reka, Prizren, Urosevac, Pec, Djuranovic, Istok, and Podujevo today. Security was excellent but freedom of access for KDOM teams was spotty.

Overall, the situation in Kosovo remains much as it has been recently. Both the Serbs and the KLA continue to observe the cease-fire, although KDOM did see some skirmishing near Malisevo. The Prefect of Kosovo told KDOM that one Serbian policeman had been killed in a fire fight with KLA on October 15 near Malisevo. KLA personnel confirmed that Serbian police have largely been withdrawn from the Malisevo/Orahovac area. They insist, however, that the Serbian police continue their tight grip on the Drenica region.

KDOM reports the probable withdrawal of a VJ armored brigade from Podujevo and a military police battalion from the Urosevac region. KDOM also confirmed the continued presence of a special police unit at Ajvalija barracks near Pristina. While investigating the presence of this latter unit, the KDOM team was detained by VJ personnel who attempted unsuccessfully to arrest the team and search their vehicle.

KDOM saw a small convoy of approximately 200 troops pass through Pristina this evening, headed north. No overall decrease in police or military units was noted, however.

A KDOM team visited the area south of Urosevac, the previous site of the 3rd VJ military police battalion. There was no VJ presence in the area, and ethnic Albanian residents reported that the army had departed 3 days earlier. KDOM tried to check the reported presence of JSO (Special Police) operations at the prison outside Istok. The team was prevented access, however, by a Serbian police unit which said they were in a "forbidden area."

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