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KDOM Update Released by the Bureau of European Affairs, Office of South Central European Affairs, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC, February 10, 1999

(Editor's Note: With the progressive changeover of responsibility from KDOM to OSCE/KVM, the KDOM Daily Report has been replaced by this Update, which is published as material becomes available.)

Compiled by EUR/SCE (202-647-5624) from daily reports of the U.S. element
of the Kosovo Diplomatic Observers Mission and other sources

February 10, 1999

The province has remained generally quiet for another day, with no significant confrontational incidents reported. All eyes remain on Rambouillet where talks continue with representatives of the F.R.Y. and the ethnic Albanian Kosovars.

In a reversal of their previously announced policy, Serbian authorities have now agreed to release all 40 of the bodies of the ethnic Albanians killed in the Racak massacre to their families. The turnover will be today and the burial reportedly will take place tomorrow.

KDOM reported that yesterday they responded to a request for assistance from a KVM patrol which had been detained by F.R.Y. military (VJ) forces at the Pristina airport. VJ authorities said they had detained the party due to one member's refusal to show an identity pass. After some discussion, the Serb authorities relented and released the OSCE personnel and their vehicle.

KDOM and KVM are investigating a report from the village of Dramnjak (near Stimlje) that yesterday four village men were "abducted" by Serbian police. No further information on the incident is yet available. KVM will continue its investigation of the incident.

Dramnjak residents also told KDOM that they continue to assist and shelter some 700 IDPs (from the Racak/Petrovo area) created by the Racak massacre. The villagers said they have urgent needs for food to feed these extra mouths. KDOM will alert appropriate NGOs to this special problem.

Many of these IDPs (especially from Malopoljce, Racak, and Petrovo) claim they cannot go home as Serb police snipers continue to fire on villagers who go back to their homes to feed animals and check on their property. Police report they discovered an unidentified body on February 7 at about 10:30 PM in the village of Livadje (Lipljan). The apparently ethnic Albanian man had been killed with a 7.62 MM machine gun. Police also found two other male bodies in Kriva Reka. Investigation showed these were two Albanian men who had been reported missing early in February.

On February 8, Medi Smaci reported to police in Djakovica that he had found the bodies of his brother and sister-in-law under a bridge. Both had been killed with a 7.62 MM machine gun.

[End of Document]

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