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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, March 2, 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(Editor's Note: With the progressive changeover of responsibility from KDOM to OSCE/KVM, the KDOM Daily Report has been replaced by this Update, which is published as material becomes available.)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

March 2, 1999

Ambassador Chris Hill and his team were in Pristina yesterday for talks with the Kosovar Albanian political leadership. There appears to be broad -- but not universal -- support within the ranks of the Kosovar Albanian leadership for approving the accord worked out at Rombouillet.

Following what was apparently a loss of support among KLA general staff members, Adam Demaci has reportedly resigned from his leadership role in the Kosovar Albanian political structure. Hill and his associates plan to visit Belgrade on Thursday for parallel discussions with the FRY. President Milosevic, in a meeting with Norwegian Foreign Minister Vollbaek yesterday, again totally rejected any NATO military presence in Serbia (as part of a Kosovo settlement.

At the request of Secretary of State Albright, former U.S. Senator Robert Dole will visit the region in the coming days to support a settlement agreement at resumed talks on March 15. Dole plans to visit Kosovo to encourage support for the Rambouillet accord by all facets of the Albanian leadership. Prizren remains tense following the turnover to the KVM yesterday of the two Serb woodcutters kidnapped earlier. One of the two was dead and the other badly beaten. A third Serb hostage had been released earlier unharmed.

There are reports today of tank, mortar, and rocket fire taking place west of Vucitrn in the Mitrovica region. Some firing was also heard very early this morning around Glogovac. KVM also reports today that fighting continues near the Macedonian border, between Kacanik and Deneral Jankovic.

Incidents of harassment of OSCE verifiers continue. One KVM vehicle was delayed for half an hour at a border crossing yesterday for refusing Serb demands for a search of the car. At the same time a second OSCE team did allow their vehicle to be searched in order to avoid delay. In a later incident an OSCE/KVM vehicle was detained for an hour and a half for refusing the search. In two incidents in the Prizren area Serbian civilians brandished weapons and grenades before KVM personnel.

An Albanian family in Osek reported to KVM that local police (ethnic Albanian officers in the employ of the Serb authorities) entered their house on February 28 and shot dead a resident who they claimed was an LDK member. Additional Albanians were beaten outside the house.

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