Presevo-Medvedja-Bujanovac and

Macedonia

KosovoWatch

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March 2001.  The so called National Liberation Army has taken up arms in the hills above Tetovo, Macedonia. The Macedonian Army flushed them out of the hills by the week of March 25, 2001.

December 2000: More continuous noticeable clashes and violent confrontations have occurred in

Southern Serbia Bordering Kosovo where large Albanian communities live.

However Albanians living in this border region have reported mistreatment and abuse at the hands of Serbian officials. 

The UN estimates that 70,000 Albanians live in Southern Serbia.

It is worthwhile to note that this region lies in the so called 5 mile demilitarized zone.

Will this grow into the..

2nd Albanian War and Genocide

What follows in a news and information roundup intended for private use.

UCKMB: The UCK of the Presevo Valley, Medveda and Bujanovac

This new army claims to be a security force for the 7,000 Albanians living in Southern Serbia.  Although some claim its is an offshoot of the UCK of Kosovo, it is denied. 

NLA: the National Liberation Army

December 25, 2000

Yugoslav Patience in Running Out 

RFE/RL reported that the Yugoslav Supreme Defense Council called on the UN Security Council to set a deadline for the Albanian rebels to leave the demilitarized zone or Belgrade would take unilateral action. One December 24, Yugoslav forces took control of St. Ilija Hilltop. 

December 21, 2000

NATO Warms to Serbs

RFE/RL reported that NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson stated that in order to end the violence NATO and KFOR might associate with the Yugoslav forces. 

December 19, 2000

Cleanse the Zone of Rebels 

RFE/RL reported that President Kostunica stated that it was in his country's interest to "cleanse" the demilitarized zone of Albanian rebels. He also wants to reduce the size of the demilitarized zone between Kosovo and Southwest Serbia. 

UN Security Council Condemns Violence in Presevo Area by Armed Albanians. 

December 7, 2000

How Many Rebels? 

RFE/RL reported that Yugoslav Defense Minister Slobodan Krapovic stated that over 1500 rebel fighters are operating in the demilitarized zone. 

December 5, 2000

Albanians in the demilitarized zone Fire on Yugoslav positions   

December 3, 2000

Kostunica Calls for Restraint  

RFE/RL reported that President Kostunica stated that, "...it is dangerous and irresponsible to respond to one extremism with another..."

British Deploy 

RFE/RL reported that 2 British companies have taken up positions in the US sector of Kosovo near the village of Dobercan. 

5 Mortar fired at Serbian patrol in demilitarized zone 

November 28, 2000

Albanians Flee 

RFE/RL reported that the UNHCR reported that in the previous 4 days over 3,000 Albanians have fled southwest Serbia for Kosovo.  On November 27, 800 Albanians crossed into Kosovo at one checkpoint alone. 

November 26, 2000

1,200 Albanians Flee SouthWest Serbia for Kosovo  

August 2, 2000

NATO Reports More Maneuvering  

NATO reported that Albanians are building up their positions around Dobrosin.  The Serbs for their part have extended trenching and checkpoints.  Mortar fire continues to be exchanged. 

July 31, 2000

NATO Moves Security to Southwest Border 

Reuters reported that NATO is moving more security to patrol along Kosovo's southwest border. The UCKMB has been reported to be freely moving in and out of the Kosovo border at will. NATO also reported increased gunfire on the Serbian side of the Presevo-Kosovo border.

July 17, 2000

More Violence, More Serbs 

This region of Southern Serbian has undergone several bombings near Serbian facilities.  The Albanian Mayor of Presevo stated that Serbs are increasing their presence in the region.  

July 13, 2000

No Aid for  Presevo 

RFE/RL reported that Major Riza Halimi of Presevo stated that the Yugoslav government refuses to allow the EU to provide reconstruction and education aid to his Albanian community. Belgrade states that all funds must come through the Education Ministry.  

May 25, 2000

More Violence in Presevo 

RFE/RL reported that US military sources reported gun and mortar fire in the Presevo Valley. Albanians reported that Serbs are starting an offensive against 4 villages in the valley.  

May 24, 2000

New Violence in Presevo 

RFE/RL reported that Serb radio reported that a police checkpoint near Bujanovac came under mortar fire.  The shells came, they said, from the direction of Dobrosin.  

US Apache helicopters were reported to have over flown the area.  

April 4, 2000

Snipers in Presevo 

A sniper shot and killed a Albanian man in the town of Dobrosin. 

March 27, 2000

Presevo Albanians Still Arming

The Washington Post reported that the Albanian Militia in the Presevo valley continues to wear military uniforms, conduct exercises and cross the Kosovo-Serbia border at will.

The Post reported that KLA Leader Hashim Thaqi's reputation may be staked on his ability to get the Albanian militias in the Presevo valley to follow the agreement they made with the US. Thaqi brokered the meeting between US and milita leaders at Gnjilane on Thursday. 

March 24, 2000

Albanians Renounce Violence

Presevo Albanian leaders meeting with US State Department officials have agreed to renounce violence. The pledge was made in a meeting in Gnjilane this month. US State Dept spokesman Jamie Rubin stated, "We told them bluntly that Kosovo was one thing, that the Presevo Valley was something else."

March 16, 2000

US Troops Seize Weapons on Kosovo-Serbian Border

RFE/RL reported that the US 1st Infantry Division under Task Force Falcon had captured 200 uniforms, 22 crates of ammunition, 2 motars and other small weapons. 

March 14, 2000

NATO Warns All

Nato Spokesman, Jamie Shea warned of starting new violence in Southern Serbia in an interview with the BBC. He stated, "We do have levers and, believe me, we're going to use those levers."  Shea warned the Albanians to remain the solution to the problem, "They are really shooting themselves in the foot if they try to conduct provocations and not co-operate with us."

March 8, 2000

UNHCR Estimates that 6,000 Albanians have fled the Presevo Region Since June 1999

March 7, 2000

UNHCR Report

The UNHCR reports that 630 Albanians have fled the Presevo region and applied for refugee status in Kosovo in the last 24 hours.

NATO Commander Chimes in

The NATO commander in Kosovo, General Klaus Reinhardt stated," we cannot support any adventurism which might lead to new atrocities in the Presevo
Valley." RFE/RL reported

Yugoslav Army Starts Maneuvers

Yugoslav's Prishtina Corp have begun so called regular maneuvers in the South of Serb 9 miles off the border with Kosovo.

March 6, 2000

New Albanian Resistance Movement?

The Liberation Army of Procovo, Medvedja and Bujanovac has emerged.  It stated goal is the protection of Albanians in Southern Serbia.

March 4, 2000

Dobrosin Incident

Dobrosin is inside the 5 mile demilitarized zone. Fighting broke out between Serbian forces are Albanian rebels in the early dawn. The Major Rabit Saqiqi stated that around midnight, unknown peole started firing.  It is unclear if it began as a direct Serb-Albanian fight. Some stated that it could have been started by someone firing at a wild boar.  But the results were final.  Villagers fled by car into Kosovo's Malishevo region leaving the town of Dobrosin completely abandoned.

February 29, 2000

UN worker Shot near Bujanovac.

Marcel Grogan, driving in a clearly marked UN car was stopped by unidentified men and shot in the leg.  He was treated at the US Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo.