Rights body condemns arrests of Kosovo citizens in transit through Montenegro
BBC Monitoring Europe (Political) - July 13, 2006 Thursday

Text of report in English by independent internet news agency KosovaLive

Prishtina [Pristina], 12 July: The Council for Defence of Human Rights and Freedoms of Kosova [Kosovo] [KMDLNj] called on the Montenegrin authorities to end the arrests of the Albanians who use Montenegro as a transit country, whereas it is recommending the Albanians to be more careful before they decide to travel through Montenegro.

The KMDLNj released a statement, reading that the arrests of the Kosovar Albanians by the Montenegrin police and their handover to the Serbian authorities have become a frequent issue.

According to the KMDLNj, the Montenegrin police in Herceg Novi have arrested Shpend Musliu, travelling from England to Kosova. Afterwards he was handed over to the Serbian authorities, whereas his fate is unknown for the moment.

"This is not the first time that the Montenegrin authorities have arrested Kosovar citizens, because they arrested another citizen from Kosova and handed him over to the Serbian authorities. These arrests are taking place regardless of the facts that the Montenegrin authorities have stated that Kosovar citizens should feel free and safe to travel within the Montenegrin territory," reads the statement.

KMDLNj evaluates that these acts do not contribute to the building of trust between the two countries.


Source: KosovaLive website, Pristina, in English 12 Jul 06

Copyright 2006 British Broadcasting Corporation
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