End Of Hostage Crisis: The Kidnapped Released Alive.
MIA - Reality Macedonia
The bad news: Albanian terrorists severely tortured one of the hostages; the kidnappers walk out free.
The good news: all kidnapped Macedonians are alive, released thanks to international mediation.
PS. "It could have been worse" is not good enough of a comfort. What's next?
Translated by F.S
Albanian terrorists released the five kidnapped Macedonians early this morning, without police intervention, following the mediation effort by the international organizationsEU, OSCE, NATO, American Embassy, International Committee of the Red Cross. The police received the hostages around 4 am today.
According to Voislav Zafirovski, the spokesperson of Ministry of Interior, all hostages except one are in good condition in regard to physical health. The kidnappers tortured one of them, and the authorities placed him in one of Skopje's clinics to heal his wounds.
Zafirovski also informed that the police removed the blockade, making road Skopje-Tetovo-Gostivar free for traffic.
"Ministry of Interior would like to emphasize the cooperation and joint effort of the international organizations, the professional engagement of all the members of the police and the proper conduct of the citizens of the Tetovo-Gostivar region who condemned the criminal act, did not support the terrorists and respected Police's instruction to remain in their homes," said Zafirovski.
"Ministry of Interior will press charges against the perpetrators of this wrongdoing, which includes search and apprehension," concluded Zafirovski.
Internationals Salute Liberation Of Kidnapped Macedonians.
MIA
EU Special Envoy Alain Le Roy, Greek Ambassador Yoanis Economu as EU representative, US Ambassador Lawrence Butler, Chief of OSCE Mission Craig Jenness and NATO Ambassador to Macedonia Nicolas Biegman issued a joint declaration Saturday that greeted the liberation of the 5 kidnapped Macedonians.
The international representatives express their satisfaction due to the peaceful epilogue of the hostage crisis, without any consequences on the kidnapped, the local population and the members of the security forces.
"The Government and all other factors that were involved in the problem acted with restraint. We highly appreciate their efforts, as well as the efforts of the local Albanian population and its leaders for peaceful solution to the problem", the declaration states.
Furthermore, Le Roy, Economu, Butler, Jenness and Biegman estimate that the situation in Tetovo-Gostivar region is stabile and back to normal, and call upon restraint from provocations that can lead to new tensions and violence.
At the end of the joint declaration, the international representatives express their hope that the campaign for the upcoming elections on September 15 will go on in a peaceful and democratic atmosphere.
Albanian Terrorist Gang Tortured A Worker In Tetovo School.
MIA - Reality Macedonia
In his interview for Telma TV, the blue-eyed Tiho Kostovski explained that the torturers (whose methods included stomping on his head) belonged to an Albanian gang composed of about 40 persons, armed with machine guns and wearing uniforms (black shirts, black trousers, insignia). He supposed some of them were from Kosovo, because they spoke in Serbian language amongst themselves. He also maintained that there was inter-Albanian shoot out prior to his release, and did not confirm receiving police help.
The special unit of the Ministry of Interior succeeded in banishing an Albanian terrorist gang at 01,00h Saturday, which took over the State Secondary School "Mosa Pijade" in Tetovo, resulting in liberation of Tiho Krstevski, who is an employee in the security service of the school facilities.
A 30-member terrorist group, which also included persons from Kosovo that were armed, entered into the school Friday at 20,00h and tortured and beat Kostovski. After the freeing, he was given medical assistance, after which he was released on domestic care.
The special unit intervened after it had been informed by the school director Ace Bacev. The OSCE Mission was also informed about the event.
According to Tetovo police department, part of the perpetrators have been identified and criminal charges will be pressed against them.
Rebel splinter group takes responsibility for kidnapping in Macedonia, threatens more abductions.
By ALEKSANDAR VASOVIC, Associated Press Writer
SKOPJE, Macedonia - In what appeared to be at least a temporary reduction of tensions ahead of crucial elections, ethnic Albanian gunmen early Saturday released five Macedonians abducted three days earlier.
An ethnic Albanian rebel splinter group took responsibility for the kidnapping and threatened more abductions.
No one was harmed during the release, which came after negotiations between the kidnappers and representatives from international groups, including the European Union and the International Red Cross, Interior Ministry spokesman Voislav Zafirovski said.
The five hostages had been held since late Thursday, when gunmen stopped a bus near Gostivar, some 60 kilometers (40 miles) west of Skopje. The kidnappers demanded the release of three ethnic Albanians arrested earlier in the week on charges of killing two Macedonian police officers.
The hostages "are alive and in good health, apart from one person who was beaten during the kidnapping," Zafirovski told The Associated Press.
He also said that "there was no police action in the (northwestern) Tetovo area where the hostages were taken, and the kidnappers managed to get away."
The peaceful solution offered temporary relief in a country where tensions have soared recently ahead of general elections, scheduled for Sept. 15.
But the group that claimed responsibility for the kidnapping the Albanian National Army, an ethnic Albanian splinter rebel group opposed to an August 2001 peace deal that ended a six-month insurgency threatened more abductions unless former rebels held in jail are released.
In statement signed by a rebel leader who identified himself only as "commander Drenica," the group warned the government to "take this warning seriously" and announced more "concrete actions" against a Macedonian special police unit known as Lions.
The group also has taken responsibility for the recent killings of two Macedonian policemen in the Gostivar area.
The kidnapping was part of a series of incidents adding to tension here ahead of the elections, which will be the first since the insurgency ended. Ethnic Albanian militants launched the insurgency in February 2001, saying they wanted more rights for their minority, which makes up a third of Macedonia's 2 million people.
The EU, U.S. and NATO envoys in Skopje welcomed the release of the hostages in a joint statement that praised the efforts of "the government and all the parties involved."
"We also appreciate ... efforts of local Albanian leaders and (the ethnic Albanian) population who worked diligently in helping to resolve the issue," the statement said.
Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski announced that he was "pleased with the release of abductees and peaceful outcome of the hostage crisis."
Under the Western-brokered peace deal signed last year, the Macedonian parliament amended the constitution and enacted laws that gave ethnic Albanians more rights and the rebels amnesty. The rebels surrendered their weapons to NATO, but several splinter groups remain.
SESSION OF MACEDONIAN STATE-SECURITY HIGHEST OFFICIALS.
MIA
Having in mind the latest armed attacks and kidnappings, and the threatening of the security of citizens, as well as the violation of public order and peace in the Tetovo region, Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski called for a session of the state-security highest officials, with the agenda being the current political-security situation in the region, as well as the measures and activities of the authorised organs for its calming down and stabilisation.
As announced from the President's Cabinet, it was concluded that a joint headquarters should be immediately established, along with the participation of representatives of authorised organs and ministries, as well as the State Election Commission. The headquarters would follow the situation in the security-critical areas on a daily basis, and along with the cooperation with the EU, OSCE and NATO representatives in the Republic of Macedonia would carry out the necessary legal measures.
In the framework of these activities, it was concluded that it was necessary to give a special priority to the securing of the highway Skopje-Tetovo-Gostivar.
The highest state officials pledged for maximum support to the keeping up of the democratic character of the election process, as well as a fair and dignified election campaign by the political parties. The speculations that Government structures were the background of the last events were seen as unfounded and counter-productive.
In that sense, the position and opposition are called upon an election fair-play, without mutual ungrounded accusations, including mutual transfer of guilt on events that are prepared by criminal structures, which interest is to destabilise the country, the announcement states.
GERMAN DEFENSE MINISTER PETER STRUCK VISITS MACEDONIA.
MIA
