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Kosovo Update Released by the Bureau of European Affairs, Office of South Central European Affairs, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC, February 18, 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(Editor's Note: With the progressive changeover of responsibility from KDOM to OSCE/KVM, the KDOM Daily Report has been replaced by this Update, which is published as material becomes available.)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 18, 1999

Kosovo remained generally quiet over the past 24 hours. There were some reports of minor clashes near Podujevo and Donja Penduja late yesterday but no major fighting erupted. Tensions remain high in many places, namely around Luzane on the Pristina-Podujevo highway where Serb forces fired on KLA positions yesterday and in the Stimlje, Glogovac, and southern Drenica regions where VJ troop and equipment movements have been on the increase.

The intensive investigation by KDOM and KVM of the February 9 kidnaping of two Serbian railway policemen continues. Yesterday two bodies -- initially believed to be those of the missing pair -- were found near the village of Dubdevik in the Drenica area. Further investigation has determined these to be bodies of two ethnic Albanian men, not known to be connected with the kidnaping. KDOM and KVM defused another intermediate crisis in the kidnaping case when they arranged to inspect the KLA headquarters premises in Lidovica which was believed by Serb Police General Lukic to be the location in which the missing officers were being held. KDOM/KVM personnel searched the buildings and found no evidence of the missing men. The joint investigation continues today.

According to media and other sources, five KLA soldiers, reportedly off duty, were arrested by Serbian police in Podujevo yesterday. Their whereabouts are unknown today.

Senior KLA officials expressed their continuing optimism today for a "favorable" agreement coming out of the Rambouillet talks. Local media within Kosovo, however, were decidedly less optimistic today in their coverage of the conference. The negative aspects emphasized by local commentators included Milosevic's refusal to permit NATO troops on the ground and the KLA's continuing resistance to disarming in the short time remaining before the Saturday deadline. The firmness of that deadline has been reiterated to both sides, according to local and international media coverage of the talks.

KDOM has noted reports from civilians and KLA soldiers in Dragobilje indicating a healthy increase in new recruits joining the KLA there. The reports say that the new fighters joined out of a compelling desire to help, not out of any intimidation or force having been applied. KLA leaders in Malisevo told KDOM they are ready to lay down their arms and take off their uniforms if ordered to do so by their general staff.

Villagers continue to return to Malisevo where, according to Serbian police, they tend to take their problems to the KVM office rather than to the police station. Despite the villagers' return, the F.R.Y. humanitarian assistance center and the government hospital in Malisevo remain locked up. Shops in Dragobilje are now much better stocked with goods than they have been for months, according to KDOM. Shopkeepers report increased supplies available of most goods and prices seem to be remaining stable. One villager told KDOM he is preparing to reopen his bar in the next few weeks. (Nightlife in Pristina and in the villages has been nonexistent recently as people, fearing violence, stay home in the evenings.)

A U.S. Congressional delegation headed by Congressman Wolfe visited Kosovo yesterday. Delegation members called on NGOs and visited the Gracanica Monastery and the villages of Malisevo and Dragobilje before leaving for Skopje.

[End of Document]

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