Congressional Press Releases
UNITED STATES SENATOR
LARRY
PRESSLER
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMarch 20, 1992
PRESSLER BILL RECOGNIZES VUGOSLVIA?S END
WASHINGTON, D.C Senator Larry Pressler (R-SD) today
introduced legislation that would require US. policymakers to end diplomatic recognition of a single Yugoslav state. According to Pressler, “Like the dinosaur and the Soviet Union, the Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia has ceased to exist. I have introduced the Former Yugoslavia Act of 1992 to encourage U.S. foreign policymakers to ad just to new realities.0
According to Senator Pressler, the ranking Republican member of the European Affairs Subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, “Yugoslavia was an artificial country, as was the Soviet Union.” Pressler stated, “As the winds of liberty blew through eastern europe, several republics and regions have voluntarily disassociated themselves from the former Yugoslavia. It is time United States foreign policy adjusted to real world conditions.
Pressler noted, ?As with the Baltic States, the U.S. has stood by while others extended full relations to new governments of the former Yugoslavia.
The Former Yugoslavia Act requires the President to report plans for recognition and representation as well as actions the
U.S. will take to prevent military and police forces in the former Yugoslavia from attacking any other area or from being stationed there against the will of the local people. ?Just as important,? Pressler added, ?the report requires a plan to bring to justice govermnent authorities who ordered military and police forces to take action against other areas of the former Yugoslavia.”
?The bill also calls on the President to report plans to reduce the influence and size of military and police forces in the former Yugoslavia which have attacked other areas,? Pressler said.
FROM:BOB DOLE
SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FEBRUARY 27, 1992
KOSOVA
CONTACT:WALT RIKER (202) 224-5358
THREE YEARS OF MARTIAL LAW NIGHTMARE
THIS WEEK MARKS THE THIRDOF MARTIAL LAW IN KOSOVA, A PROVINCE IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA WITH A POPULATION THAT IS OVER 90% .ALBANIAN. ? WHILE DEMOCRACY AWl) FREEDOM HAVE TRIUMPHED IN THE REST OF EASTERN EUROPE, THE FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM IN KOSOVA IS UNCERTAIN INDEED, IT IS ONLY A FADING HOPE IN THE HEARTS OF THE TWO MILLION ALBANIANS WHO LIVE THERE, IN THE POLICE STATE CREATED BY NARDLINERS SLOBODAN NILOSEVXC. FOR MORE THAN A ThOUSAND DAYS, THE ALBANIANS OF KOSOVA HAVE SUFFERED GREAT HARDSHIP UNDER THE CRUSHING WEIGHT OF MILOSEVIC?S REPRESS ION ? FOR MORE THAN A THOUSAND DAYS, ALBANIANS HAVE BEEN FORBIDDEN TO MEET, TO SPEAK THEIR ?MINDS, TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES POLITICALLY OR EVEN CULTURALLY, TO WORK PEACEFULLY, TO EARN A DECENT LIVING ? FOR MORE THAN A THOUSAND DAYS, THE ALBANIANS HAVE LIVED WITH MINIMAL FOOD AND VIRTUALLY NO MEDICAL CARE. BUT, WORST OF ALL, FOR MORE THAN A ThOUSAND DAYS, THE ALBANIANS OF KOSOVA HAVE HAD TO LIVE IN A STATE OF ABSOLUTE FEAR AND TERROR. 1000 DAYS OF TERROR & REPRESSION YOU NAY ASK, WHAT HAS LIFE BEEN LIKE FOR THE ALBANIAN PEOPLE IN KOSOVA DURING THESE PAST THREE YEARS? WELL, I ?D LUE TO SHARE SOME FACTS WITH MY COLLEAGUES: –ALBANIAN CHTLI)REN HAVE BEEN BARRED FROM SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN KOSOVA, AND ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF ALBANIAN CHILDREN MAY ATTEND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL; -— OVER 100,000 ALBANIANS HAVE BEEN FIRED FROM THEIR JOBS ON POLITICAL GROUNDS; -—OVER 2000 ALBANIAN MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, DOCTORS AND NURSES HAVE BEEN FIRED; –NEARLY 250 CIVILIANS HAVE BEEN WOUNDED BY POLICE DURING PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATIONS; — 103 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED BY POLICE SINCE JANUARY 1, 1989, INCLUDING 16 CHILDREN; –THE ASSEMBLY OF KOSOVA WAS SHUT DOWN AND KOSOVA LOST THE POLITICAL AUTONOMY IT HAD ENJOYED FOR NEARLY 3 DECADES. WHEN I VISITED KOSOVA IN JULY OF 1990, I WAS SHOCKED BY THE INHUMANE TREATMENT OF ThE ALBANIANS BY THE SERBIAN AUTHORITIES I SAW THE POLICE IN ACTION F PEOPLE WERE BEING TEAR-GASSED AND CLUBBED BY POLICE. AT THE TIME, I DID NOT BELIEVE THAT THE SITUATION COULD WORSEN; BUT, MR. PRESIDENT, I WAS WRONG. IT HAS WORSENED AND TERRIBLY SO. THE KOSOVA NIGHTMARE LIVING IN KOSOVA IS LIVING IN A NIGHTMARE. THE SITUATION HAS SO DETERIORATED POLIITICALLY, ECONOMICALLY, PHYSICALLY — THAT I DOUBT ANY OF US CAN IMAGINE THE TRUE EXTENT OF THE ALBANIANS? SUFFERING. IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER WHY THE ALBANIANS ARE SUFFERING. THE ALBANIANS OF KOSOVA ARE, SUFFERING BECAUSE THEY WANTED, AND STILL WANT, DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM. AND, UNDER SLOBODAN MILOSEVXC?S RULE, WANTING DEMOCRACY MID FREEDOM IS A CRIME PUNISHABLE BY DEATH.
THE DEATH OF YUGOSLAVIA
KOSOVA?S POLITICAL LEADERS -— DR. RUGOVA, BUJAR BUKOSHI — HAVE PURSUED TEE GOAL OF DEMOCRACY PEACEFULLY, SOMETIMES CLANDESTINELY; THEY HAVE NOT RESORTED TO VIOLENCE. NEVERTHELESS, THESE EFFORTS TO BRING DEMOCRACY TO KOSOVA HAVE BEEN MET WITH BRUTAL VIOLENCE AND SYSTEMATIC REPRESSION. ALBANIAN REPRESENTATIVES HAVE NO VOICE IN KOSOVA OR OUTSIDE IT. BECAUSE OF MILOSEVIC?S OPPOSITION, ALBANIAN REPRESENTATIVES FROM XCOSOVA ARE BEING EXCLUDED FROM THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY SPONSORED PEACE CONFERENCE ON YUGOSLAVIA — DESPITE THE FACT THAT ALBANIANS CONSTITUTE THE THIRD LARGEST ETHNIC GROUP IN WHAT USED TO BE YUGOSLAVIA. EVENTS IN SLOVENIA, CROATIA, BOSNIA AND MACEDONIA HAVE BROUGHT YUGOSLAVIA TO AN END. YUGOSLAVIA IS DEAD. THAT IS WHY IT IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL THAT ALBANIAN REPRESENTATIVES FROM KOSOVA BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN NEGOTIATIONS THAT WILL DETERMINE THE FUTURE OF THE TWO MILLION AI.BANIANS IN KO8OVA. US. ACTION TWO WEEKS AGO, THE DISTINGUISHED SENATOR FROM NEW YORK, SENATOR D? AMATO , INTRODUCED A RESOLUTION, 8RES. 257, REGARDING THE PLIGHT OF THE ALBANIAN PEOPLE IN KOSOVA; I AM PROUD TO BE A COSPONSOR. IN MY VIEW, THIS RESOLUTION IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT CALLS ON THE UNITED STATES TO;
(1)PRESS FOR THE IMMEDIATE INCLUSION OF AN ALBANIAN REPRESENTATIVE FROM KOSOVA AT THE EC PEACE CONFERENCE;
(2)CONDEMN THE GOVERNMENT OF SERBIA ON THIS OCCASION OF THE THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF THE IMPOSITION OF MARTIAL LAW ON KOSOVA;
(3)URGE THE UNITED NATIONS TO IMMEDIATELY SEND OBSERVERS TO KOSOVA TO MONITOR THE SITUATION THERE;
(4)STRONGLY SUPPORT THE ASPIRATIONS OF THE ALBANIAN PEOPLE IN KOSOVA FOR DEMOCRACY AND SELF-DETERMINATION. I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO COSPONSOR S.RES. 257. THE UNITED STATES MUST GET MORE INVOLVED ON TIlE SIDE OF FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY IN WHAT USED TO BE YUGOSLAVIA. AMERICA IS THE LEADER OF THE FREE WORLD AND THE ALBANIANS OF KOSOVA ARE LOOKING TO US TO HELP LEAD THEM TO FREEDOM.
Congressman
TCM LANTOS
Eleventh District, California
San Matea Office (415) 342-0300 Washington Office (202)225-3531
1707 Longwarth House Office BuildingJAN / 1992Washington, D.C. 20515
House Concurrent Resolution
Urging United States Diplomatic Recognition of the Republic
of Kosova
Mr. Speaker, today, a number of my colleagues and I have introduced
House Concurrentwhich expresses the sense of1 the Congress
that the President should recognize the independence , of the Republic of Kosova and extend full United States diplomatic recognition to that Republic. I have been joined in introducing this resolution a member of my distinguished colleagues in the Congress -. Mr. Broomfield, the Ranking Minority member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr Bonior, tile Majority Whip, Mr Gilman Minonty member of the Subçonrnitee pn Europe and the Middle East; and Mr. Swett of New Hampshire.
All of us in the Congress, Mr. Speaker, have witnessed with horror and dismay the tragic violence and bloodshed which has taken place as a resuk of the ethnic violence between Serbs and Croatians in the fomier Yugoslav Federation. That? bas taken place because of the failure to recognize the sovereign rights of the Yugoslav constituent republics and the failure to acknowledge and observe the civil and human rights of these people.
It is Important that this mistake not continue with regard to the Republic
of Kosova. There is no question that the Republic of Kosova has had a
sovereign and recognized identity in the past. The Yugoslav Constitution of
1946 recognized the special autonomous status of Kosova, and the 1974
Yugoslav Constitution continued to recognize Kosova as one of the eight sovereign constituent territorial wilis comprising the Yugoslav federation.
It has only been in the past few years that the status of Kosova has been suppressed and denied by the Republic of Seibia, In March of 1989, the Serbian Parliament denied the autonomous status of Kosova, and through action that was In violation of the Yugoslav Federal Constitution denied and suppressed rights of the people of Kosova. The suppression of the. elected government of Kosova and the imposition of martial law by the Repubije of Serbia foliowcd this illegal and unconstitutional action. The elected representatives of Kosova must function as a ?Govenmient-in-Exile” because of the reprássive actions of the government of the Republic of Serbia.
The Republic of Kosova is composed of roughly 90 percent ethnic Albanians, yet these Albanians arc repressed in their own land. The Republic of Serbia has imposed severn restrictions on freedom of speech, freedom of movement, freedom to work, and subjecte4. ethnic Albanians to illegal imprisonment and the violation of their fundamental civil and human iights.
These arc not unsupported assertions, Mr. Speaker. These are charges that have been documented by our own State Department in the annual Country Reports on Human Rights Pracikes for the past seveal years.
In the past two years1 we have witnessed The transformation of the former Soviet Union and of Central and Eastern Eumpe. The process that is taking place in Yugoslavia is simply another facet of tat great eruption of democracy. The United States government has welcomed the independence and international
Extension of Mr. Lantos — Page 3
sovereignty of Russia Ukraine, Byelorussia, Kazak stan, Uzbekistan, Armenia, and the three Baltic Republics of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, and other newly emerging peoples. It is essential that we also rccQgnizc. the sovereign will of the Albanian people of the Kosova by recogi:iizing Uietr right to determine their own future and status.
The people of Kosova. have expressed their wish for independence. In a popular referendum held in Kosova during the period September 26-30,. 1991, over 87 percent of the eligible voters of that Republic. expressed their opinion on.. independence for Kosova, and an astonishing 99.87 percent of those who voted favored Kosoya?s independence fmm Yugbslavia.
Mr. Speaker, the Final Act of the Heishiki Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe noted that ?all peoples have the right, in full freedom, to determine, when and as they wIsh, their internal and external political status, without external interference, and to pursue as they wish their political, economic, social and cultural development?
Mr. Speaker, the people of Kosova have clearly and unequivocally expressed their wish to be independent of Yugoslavia and become a sovereign state. We should recognize the will of the people of Kosova and extend to them. diplomatic recognition, just as we have extended diplomatic recognition to other peoples of the former Soviet Union. I urge my colleagues to join us in cosponsoring this resolution.
D?AMATO STATEMENT ON YUGOSLAVIA SANCTIONS BILL
Mr. President I rise today aLong with Mr. Pell, Mr. Dole, Mr. Glenn, Mr. Nickles, Mr. Pressler and Mr. Gore to introduce legislation imposing sweeping United States economic sanctions
against Serbia and all parts of Yugoslavia under Serbian control.
The massacre being undertaken by communist dictator Slobodan Mlosevic and Serbian guerillas against the innocent citizens of Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia is unconscionable. And, we all know about the repression of two million Albanians in Kosova, who have suffered under martial law for over two and a half years.
Over 1,000 Croatian citizens have been killed. Over 100 Slovenians have been killed. Foreigners have been killed. Churches have been bombed. Reports indicate that even chemical weapons have been used on several occasions. Over 100,000 people have been displaced. Mr. President, how long can the United Slates stand on the sidelines? How long- can we watch the killings, the tortures and the repression of a ruthless dictator?s on purge the innocent citizens of Yugoslavia. Milosevic and his killers belong in jail, not in power.
My bill, a bipartisan measure, will send a clear message to the powers that wage war in Yugoslavia; The United States has stepped off the sidelines, Congress has seen enough, we will act and we will act now-. We will not close its eyes to the brutal reality of Serbien sponsorship of civil war in Yugoslavia. We will not turn our hack on those who seek democracy, freedom and human rights in Siovenia, Croatia and Kosova.
Today, Congress puts down its foot. This bill will cut all.
aid and trade with Serbia and parts of Yugoslavia under Serbian control. will embargo the communists until they adhere to the principles of a new world order; Holding free and fair elections, ceasing armed conflict, ending- all human rights violations, instituting economic ref ore, and respect the internal borders established under the 1974 Yngoslav national constitution.
As I stand here before you today, at this very- moment, the Serbian controlled Yugoslav Federal army has broken another cease fire, their fiftlLr and vowed to destroy Croalia. Tanks are moving, artillery is flying and once again, innocent people are dying. To Just stand by and watch Ihe massacre taking place before our eyes is wrong.
Mr. President, Slobodan Milosevic is the Butcher of Belgrade. The reality is that Yugoslavia is dead. It has reached the point of absolute war. The United States has a moral obligation to do all it can to stop the killing and save the innocent Croatian, Slovenians and Albanians suffering under the sword of a communist dictator.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the tart of my
bill be printed in its entirety at the conclusion of my- remarks.
UNITED STATES SENATE
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASECONTACT:FRANK SIEVERTS
OCTOBER 1, 1991202 224—5220
PELL COSPONSORS BILL IXPOSING SANCTIONS ON SERBIA
Senator Claiborne Pell (D-RI), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, with Senator Alfonse M. D?Amato (R-NY) and others, introduced in the Senate today legislation enacting sanctions against Serbia for its military campaign against other Yugoalav republics.
In a statement in the Senate Senator Pell said:
?I am pleased to join Senators D?Amato, Dole, Riegle, Glenn, Nickles, and Pressler in introducing legislation that seeks to hold the Serbian government accountable for its egregious actions in Yugoslavia.
?Specifically, the bill would impose an embargo on the import of products from Serbia until Serbia has ceased its armed conflict with the other republics of Yugoslavia. It would also restrict U.S. assistance to Serbia until the President can certify that Serbia has met certain conditions, including that Serbia is not engaged in a pattern of systematic violations of human rights within the borders of Yugoslavia and that it has held free and fair multiparty elections.
?in Yugoslavia, the principles of freedom and self-determination are being severely threatend by the ongoing conflict. Long-held ethnic animosities and a dictator?s unjust struggle to dominate the entire country have thrown the country into a war that threatens security throughout the region. Serbian republic president Slobodan Milosovic and his band of despots are pressing an unacceptable agenda of creating a greater Serbia at the expense of other republics and ethnic populations.
?The Serbian-backed Yugoslav Army and Serbian renegades are waging war against Croatia, where regrettably, according to Croatian sources, approximately 1000 people have lost their lives since fighting broke out three months ago. Cities rich in history and culture, such as Dubrovnik, are reportedly at risk of being turned to rubble, and the new fear is that the conflict will spread to the republic of Bosnia-Hercegovina, where the potential for conflagration is extremely high.
?As war rages in Croatia, we must not forget the plight of the people in the rest of Yugoslavia, Particularly in Kosova where the Serbian government?s repression against the Albanian population is intensifying. Albanian citizens are being deprived of their civil rights, and are subjected to beatings, police violence, arrests, and detentions.
?I believe that we who value freedom and self-determination principles which are so severely at risk in Yugoslavia must take action to bolster those who share our values. Last week at the United Nations, Secretary of State Baker issued the Administration?s toughest statement yet on the subject of Yugoslavia, finally coming around to the view which many of us in Congress have held for weeks that ?the Serbian leadership is actively supporting and encouraging the use of force in Croatia by Serbian militants and the Yugoslav military.? The Secretary also asserted that ?the apparent objective of the Serbian leadership and the Yugoslav military working in tandem is to create ?small Yugoslavia? or ?greater Serbia? . .This new entity would be based on the kind of repression which Serbian authorities have exercised in Kosovo for several years.?
?I commend Secretary Baker for his strong stance, and agree that the Yugoslav war poses a direct threat to international peace and security. The United Nations Security Council, recognizing that threat, last week adopted a resolution strongly urging the parties in the conflict in Yugoslavia to observe the EC-brokered cease—fire and to settle the dispute through negotiations. The U.N. resolution also imposes an embargo on all deliveries of weapons and military equipment to Yugoslavia.
?I believe that these are steps in the right direction, but the world must do more to focus on the dreadful situation in Yugoslavia. The United States, for its part, must continue to condemn in the strongest manner possible the violence in all of Yugoslavia. I would hope that the U.S. Administration would take a more active approach in breaking the cycle of violence gripping Yugoslavia. The legislation that we are introducing today seeks to do just that by ensuring that the United States does not aid — directly through our assistance program or indirectly through trade the Government of Serbia as long as it continues on its present reckless course.?
BOB DOLE
NEWSU.S. SENATOR FOR KANSAS
FROM:SENATEREPUBLICAN LEADER
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASECONTACT: WALT RIKER
AUGUST 30, 1991(202) 224—5358
YUGOSLAVIA
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MUST BRING PRESSURE TO END AGGRESSION AGAINST FREEDOM-MINDED REPUBLICS; MILOSEVIC AMONG WORLD?S LAST HARDLINE COMMUNISTS
WASHINGTON — SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER BOB DOLE (R-KANSAS) TODAY ISSUED THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT REGARDING THE DETERIORATING POLITICAL SITUATION IN YUGOSLAVIA:
?THERE ARE ONLY A HANDFUL OF HARDLINE COMMUNISTS LEFT IN THE WORLDAND LOOMING LARGE AMONG THEM ARE SERBIA?S SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC AND CUBA?S FIDEL CASTRO. EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE NOW ISOLATED AND CAN NO LONGER CAN RELY ON SUPPORT FROM SOVIET HARDLINERS, THEY STUBBORNLY CLING ON TO POWER, NEVER FLINCHING FROMTHE SEVERE REPRESSION THAT IS THEIR TRADEMARK. ?TRAGICALLY, UNDER MILOSEVIC, THE BRUTAL REPRESSION WE FIRST SAW IN KOSOVA HAS MUSHROOMED INTO AN ALL-OUT WAR AGAINST ANYONE WHO WOULD STAND IN THE WAY OF COMMUNISM AND A ?GREATER SERBIA.? SLOVENIA WAS THE FIRST TO COME UNDER ATTACK AND NOW CROATIA IS UNDER SIEGE. YESTERDAY, THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY?S MONITORS IN CROATIA CONFIRMED THAT DESPITE THE YUGOSLAV ARMY?S CLAIMS TO THE CONTRARY, ARMY AND AIR FORCE UNITS ARE ACTIVELY SUPPORTING SERB GUERRILLAS BY BOMBING CROATIAN CITIES AND VILLAGES. THE MONITORS ALSO CONCLUDED THAT THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT IS ENCOURAGING THE USE OF FORCE BY THE ARMY AND SERB MILITANTS. ?I COMMEND THE STATE DEPARTMENT FOR ITS STRONG SUPPORT OF EC EFFORTS TO ESTABLISH A GENUINE CEASEFIRE AND I HOPE THAT THIS IS A STEP TOWARD GREATER U.S. INVOLVEMENT IN BRINGING THIS UNJUST WAR TO AN END. ?THE UNITED STATES, EUROPE, THE REST OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS THE DEMOCRATIC-MINDED CITIZENS OF SERBIA — MANY OF WHOM COURAGEOUSLY PROTESTED AGAINST THE MILOSEVIC REGIME LAST MARCH — NEED TO JOIN TOGETHER TO PUT ALL MEANS OF PRESSURE ON SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC TO BRING HIS REIGN OF TERROR TO AN END. AT STAKE IN THIS WAR ARE FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY.?
BOB DOLE
NEWSU.S. SENATOR FOR KANSAS
FROM:SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASECONTACT: WALT RIKER
AUGUST 28, 1991(202) 224—5358
YUGOSLAVIA
DOLE: TIME FOR SERBIAN COMMUNISTS
TO LEARN LESSON OF FAILED SOVIET COUP
WASHINGTON — Senate Republican Leader Bob Dole (R-Kansas) today issued the following statement regarding the unstable political situation in Yugoslavia:
?Communism is crumbling in the Soviet Union by the hour. Unfortunately, the hardline Communists in Serbia apparently haven?t noticed. Despite the failure of his ?Big Brothers? in the Soviet Union, Slobodan Hilosevic and his communist cronies are waging a bloody war against the democratic government of Croatia and its citizens all with the help of the Yugoslav army and extremist Serbian guerrillas, arid in the name of communism and a ?greater Serbia.?
?There are real ethnic tensions throughout Yugoslavia, and some legitimate grievances on all sides, but the bottom line is Milosevic is implementing a conscious policy of repression, violence, intimidation and killing. It began in Kosova over two years ago, and now we see it in Croatia and Slovenia. Bosnia— Hercegovina and Macedonia are no doubt next on the MiloseviO hit list.
?But the people of Croatia, Slovenia, Kosova, Vojvodina, Bosnia—Hercegovina and Macedonia won?t cave in to communism. And the people of Serbia the majority of whom want just as much as the other people of Yugoslavia freedom and a peaceful resolution of Yugoslavia?s problems earlier this year took to the streets in Belgrade to make it clear that they, too, are fed up with Milosevic. Moreover, Europe and the United States have made it clear that they won?t tolerate the realization of a ?Milosevic doctrine.?
?It?s time for Milosevic and his hardline communist cronies to take a cue from their Soviet buddies and make their final exit and allow the popular forces of independence and democracy to work their will.
?The writing on the wall is clear —— communism is not welcome in Europe anymore.?
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FRIDAY, MAY 17th
CONTACT?JOSEPH J .Dio GUARDI (914) 967-741O or (914) 472-6872
?
Albanian American Civic League
T7 Second Sreet . Suite 303 Washington D.C 20002
PRESS RELEASE
Does our State Department ever pay attention to the lessons of history? Today Serbia and its communist surrogates in the 8-member state presidency rejected Stipe Mesic, a non-communist from Croatia who had been due to take over as president of Yugoslavia under an annual rotation. The present crisis in Yugoslavia has been simmering for over two years and is now reaching the boiling point. The Serbiari communist dictator, Slobodan Milo&evic, has engineered the current national crisis for personal political gain and is making Yugoslavia the Lcbanon of the 1990s in the process. There have been many congressional warnings and public indications of the current mayhem for the last two years.
Milosevic began his dangerous venture by crushing the autonomous province of Kosova and subjugating the Albanian majority of nearly 2 million people there. Albanians in Kosova were jailed, beaten, tortured. poisoned and even murdered merely for peaceful expressions for their national self-determination within Yugoslavia as the third largest nationality in the country of six Republics and two formerly autonomous provinces, one of them Kosova, The Kosova parliament was even disbanded and the Albanian Members indicted at the direction of the Serbian stronginan.
There was little condenmation for these acts of wanton human oppression and utter disregard for human rights and the rule of law. Our State Department seemed more concerned with maintaining the status quo than speaking out for the brutally oppressed Albanian minority the little guy under Milosevic?s boot. We are now witnessing the result of our insensitivity and inaction.
Milosevic has totally disregarded Yugoslav law once again and Is now trying to do to Croatia what it did to Kosova. Croatia and the other Republics want to move to a decentralized confederation of the Yugoslav Republics, while Serbia under the brutal hand of Milosevic wants an old style, Stalinist-ilke central government which can be controlled and bullied at will from Belgrade. Given Yugoslavia?s ethnic and national make-up, a confederation seems like the only workable solution at this time. ?Unfortunately, Milosevic is willing to see Yugoslavia turned red with blood rather than relinquish total control of all the other nationalities through Belgrade. While ethnic strife and ultra-nationalism arc nothing new to Yugoslavia, the fact remains that Milosevic is fueling these fires and is hoping to come out on top after the bodies are counted. If there is any hope for a peaceful solution, it lies with Out State Department and the European community who have been indirectly supporting Serbian chauvinism for years by giving financial aid to Yugoslavia through Belgrade. This must stop now!
We must take a strong and loud stance against Milosevic and expose his communist charade and propaganda machine. We must encourage cooperation among the Yugoslav republics and aid them in reigning in Milosevic and his KGB-style secret police (known as UDBa). We must prevent all aid from going to Serbia or any other communist republic in Yugoslavia, as proposed recently by Senator Bob Dole, the Republican minority leader.
Finally, it is absolutely essential for us to demand that the autonomous status of the province of Kosova be immediately restored and Its legitimate local government returned to power so that the quest for self-determination by this large and compact Albanian minority be allowed to resume under both the Yugoslav constitution and international law.
With that done at least Miiosevic cannot use Kusova?s vote to block the election of a legitimate president for Yugoslavia as he just did.
Will the State Department peel its eyes off the Gulf for a moment and focus on the gathering storm in Yugoslavia? It may already be too late. If action is not taken and taken soon, the entire Balkan peninsula will erupt and Yugoslavia will become another Lebanon. Let?s shape history under the rule of law and with respect for human rights — less it return to haunt us.
NEWSU.S.SENATOR FOR KANSAS
FROM:SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASECONTACT: WALT HIKER
APRIL 18, 1991(202) 224—5350
YUGOSLAVIA
DOLE RESOLUTION SENDS TOUGH MESSAGE TO COMMUNIST HARD LINERS: SENATE SThNDB ON SIDE OF FREEDOM. DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS.
TUE U.S. SENATE ON APRIL 17 UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING FREEDOM, DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS FOR ALL OF TUE PEOPLE OF YUGQSL)WIA. F0LLOWING IS THE STATEMENT OF SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER BOB DOLE AND THE TEXT OF THE RESOLUTION:
IN SHORT, THIS RESOLUTION PUTS THE SENATE ON RECORD IN SUPPORT OF DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN YUGOSLAVIA. I AM PLEASED THAT THE DISTINGUISHED CHAIRMAN AND RANKING REPUBLICAN OF THE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE AND THE DISTINGUISHED SENATOR FROM IDAHO, SENATOR SYNMS, HAVE COSPONSORED THIS RESOLUTION. THEY ALL AGREE WITH ME ON THE IMPORTANCE OF SENDING A STRONG SIGNAL TO THE PEOPLE OF YUGOSLAVIA, THAT TilE SENATE STANDS ONE HUNDRED PERCEW ON THE SIDE OF FREEDOM, DEMOCRACY, AND HUMAN RIGHTS ? THEY ALL AGREE THAT SUCH A MESSAGE NEEDS TO BE SENT NOW–NOW WHILE THE SITUATION IN YUGOSLAVIA IS FLUID AND SO UNCERTAIN. YUGOSLAVIA HAS BEEN IN THE NEWS A GREAT DEAL OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS, TEETERING ON TIlE BRINK OF A MILITARY CRACKDOWN. THE SIX REPUBLICS AND TWO PROVINCES HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN A SORT OF TUG-OF-WAR. THE FOUR DEMOCRATIC REPUDLICS ARE TRYING TO RENEGOTIATE THE STRUCTURE OF YUGOSLAVIA, BUT ARE MEETING RESISTANCE PROM THE HARDLINERS, LED BY THE SERRIAN GOVERNMENT, WHO WANT TO PERPETUATE A CENTRALIZED SYSTEM AND RETAIN A SIGNIFICANT ROLE FOR THE HARDLINE YUGOSLAV ARMY. MEANWHILE, HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES CONTINUE IN PARTS OF YUGOSLAVIA UNDER THE CONTROL OP THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT. ACCORDING TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT, IN THE PROVINCE OF ROSOVA, REPRESSIVE MEASURES CONTINUED AND INTENSIFIED OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST YEAR. TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ALBANIANS HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS, HUNDREDS HAVE BEEN BEATEN AND ARRESTED. AS I SAW FOR MYSELF, LAST YEAR, KOSOVA IS A POLICE STATE. BUT, WE HAVE SEEN THESE POLICE STATE TACTICS USED IN THE CAPITAL OF
SERBIA, BELGRADE. JUST LAST MONTH, SERBIAN AUTHORITIES, UNDER THE DIRECTION QP SERBIAN PRESIDENT SI.OBODAN MILOSEVIC AND IllS CRONIES, FIRED UPON A LARGE CROWD OF ANTI-COMMUNIST PROTESTERS–THEY FOLLOWED UP WITH TEAR GAS AND CLUBS. MOST OF THESE PROTESTERS WERE YOUNG SERBS WHO ARE FED UP WITH COMMUNIST POLICIES AND WANT THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT COME WITH DEMOCRACY–THEY ARE THE EMPTINESS OF COMMUNIST PROMISES. MR. PRESIDENT, THIS RESOLUTION CALLS ON THE HARDLINERS TO CEASE THEIR REPRESSION AND REFRAIN FROM THE USE OF FORCE AND COERCIVE TACTICS. IT ALSO NOTES THAT IN VIEW OF TUE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES THAT CONTINUE IN PARTS OF YUGOSLAVIA, THAT THE CRITERIA ON AID TO YUGOSLAVIA ESTABLISHED IN SECTION 599A OF THE FY 1991 FOREIGN OPERATIONS APPROPRIATIONS BILL HAS NOT BEEN MET. FINALLY, THIS RESOLUTION SENDS A WARNING TO THE COMMUNIST FORCES IN YUGOSLAVIA:IT STATES THAT IN THE EVENT OF A MILITARY CRACKDOWN AGAINST TIlE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC GOVERNMENTS THE SENATE URGES THE PRESIDENT TO SUSPEND ALL ECONOMIC AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. MR. PRESIDENT, THIS RESOLUTION DOES NOT SEEK TO INFLUENCE THE FUTURE STRUCTURE OF YUGOSLAVIA THAT IS FOR THE PEOPLE OF YUGOSLAVIA TO DECIDE AND THEY WILL–IN REPUBLIC REFERENDUMS TO BE HELD BY THE END OF MAY. INSTEAD, THIS RESOLUTION SEEKS TO SEND A MESSAGE OF SUPPORT TO DEMOCRATIC FORCES WITHIN ALL OF TIlE REPUBLICS AND PROVINCES OF YUGOSLAVIA. IN YUGOSLAVIA, WE ARE WITNESSING A STRUGGLE BETWEEN DEMOCRACY AND COMMUNISM AND WE NEED TO TAKE A STAND FOR DEMOCRACY.
BOB DOLE
(R - Kansas)SH 141 Hart Building, Washington, D.C. 20510
FOR IMMEDIATE REASECONTACTs WALT RIXER MARCH 12, 1991(202) 224—5358
YUGOSLAVIA PROTESTS
SERBIAN DEMONSTRATOR5 GET TASTE OF COMMUNIST BRUTALITY: KOSOVA NIGHTMARE CONES TO BELGRADE
FOR OVER A YEAR NOW WE HAVE WATCHED AS THE HARDLINE COMMUNIST GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA HAS BRUTALLY REPRESSED THE ALBANIAN POPULATION OP KOSOVA. NUT, LAST WEEKEND, THE WORLD WITNESSED THE SAME BRUTALITY IN BELGRADE, AS SERBIAN POLICE — JOINED BY YUGOSLAV FEDERAL TROOPS — TRIED TO DISPERSE A LARGE CROWD USING THE SAME VIOLENT TACTICS I WITNESSED IN THE STREETS OP PRISTINA LAST SUMMER — CLUBS, TEAR GAS, RUBBER BULLETS. OPPOSITION LEADERS WERE ARRESTED. TWO PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND MANY MORE WERE INJURED. ? SERBS CLUBBED ON SATURDAY, TENS OP THOUSANDS OF SERBS -~ MOSTLY YOUNG SERBS -~ TOOK TO THE STREETS OP BELGRADE TO SEND A MESSAGE TO SERBIAN PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC. THESE STUDENTS, PROFESSORS, OPPOSITION PARTY MEMBERS, AND INTELLECTUALS, MADE THEIR WAY TO BELGRADE?S MAIN SQUARE TO SAY THAT THEY WERE FED UP; FED UP WITH COMMUNISM AND ITS CONTROL OVER THE ECONOMY, WHICH IS IN RUINS; FED UP WITH W AND RADIO CENSORSHIP AND ONE-SIDED MEDIA REPORTING; AND FINALLY, THAT THEY WERE FED UP WITH HARD-LINER MILOSEVIC AND HIS HENCHMEN. SERBIANS FWD UP WITH HARDLINERS TODAY, A GROUP OF OPPOSITION PART! LAWMAKERS LEFT THE SERBIAN PARLIAMENT TO JOIN ANTI-COMMUNIST PROTESTERS IN YET ANOTHER DAT OF DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST MILOSEVIC S HARD-LINE GOVERMMENT. AND, ACCORDING TO PRESS_REPORTS, THESE DEMONSTRATIONS ARE SPREADING TO OTHER CITIES. DESPITE MILOSEVIC? S FINGER-POINTING, THESE PROTESTERS RECOGNIZE THAT THE BLAME FOR SEVERE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC PROBLEMS IN SERBIA DOES NOT REST ?KITS THE OPPRESSED ALBANIANS IN KOSOVA, OR WITH THE DEMOCRATICALLY-ELECTED NON-COMMUNIST REPUBLICS OF CROATIA AND SLOVENIA; THEY HAVE NOT BEEN PERSUADED BY THE ALLEGATIONS THE SERBIAN PRESIDENT MAKES IN HIS SPEECHES AND REPEATS THROUGH HIS PUPPETS IN THE PRESS ? THESE THOUSANDS OF SERBS REALIZE THAT MILOSEVIC HIMSELF IS TO BLAME. THEY KNOW THAT NILOSEVIC AND HIS 1950$ STYLE COMMUNIST POLICIES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LACE OP BASIC FREEDOMS AND THE ECONOMIC. TURMOIL THAT HAS AFFECTED THE LIVES OF MOST SERBS ? THE MILOSEVIC MYTH OF ?ANTI.-SERBIAN FORCES? AND “ENEMIES 0F SERBIA? IS MELTING ANAl AND REALITY IS TAKING ITS PLACE. THE REALITY IS THAT MILOSEVIC AND HIS SUPPORTERS WHO ADVOCATE HARDLINR COMMUNISM ARE THE REAL ?ENEMIES OF SERBIA.?
MILOSEVIC STRANGLES PRESS MILOSEVIC SENT SERBIAN POLICE TO THE STREETS WITH ORDERS TO USE VIOLENCE. MILOSEVIC HAS STRANGLED THE PRESS AND WIPED OUT FREEDOM OF SPEECH. MILOSEVIC HAS BROUGHT THE ECONOMY OF SERBIA TO NEAR RUIN — DESPITE THE FACT THAT HE STOLE $13 BILLION IN DINARS PROM THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT, THERE ARE STILL THOUSANDS OF WORKERS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN PAID IN A MONTH, TWO MONTHS OR MORE. AS THESE DEMONSTRATIONS HAVE SHOWN TO TEE WORLD, THE SERBIAN PEOPLE WANT TO GET RID OF COMMUNISM. TEE SERBS WANT THE SANE FREEDOMS AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT THE PEOPLE IN SLOVENIA AND CROATIA. ARE CREATING FOR THEMSELVES IN THEIR NEW DEMOCRACIES AND PEER MARKET ECONOMIES. THE EVENTS OF THE PAST FEW DAYS HIGHLIGHT ONCE AGAIN WHO TEE ENEMIES OP DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN YUGOSLAVIA REALLY ARE: THE COMMUNISTS IN THE SERBIAN GOVERNMENT AND IN THE YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT. THESE COMMUNISTS MAY HAVE CHANGED THEIR NAME TO ?SOCIALISTS?, BUT THEIR METHODS AND POLICIES REMAIN THE SAME