CRO ALBANIAN COMMUNITY REQUESTS ASSISTANCE IN DEFENCE OF KOSOVO

( Editorial: --> 7418 ) ZAGREB, March 5 (Hina) - The Union of Albanian Communities in Croatia on Thursday called on Albanians in Croatia to assist the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) in its struggle against Serb aggression. At a rally organised at Europe House in Zagreb due to the incessant violence against the Albanian people in Kosovo, the Union requested Croatian Albanians to provide aid, as part of the "Kosovo Summons its Eagles" action, in men, money or other means of assistance. Union president Ton Marku read the organisation's declaration which stated that the Serbian occupation of Kosovo had been ongoing for ten years and all efforts of political factors aimed at resolving the issue of Kosovo in a peaceful manner had been futile. However, after the organisation of the KLA as the best organised power and most important political factor in Kosovo, the time of passive resistance is history, now the time has come for defence with all means, Marku said. The declaration underlines that the KLA has never been and will never be a terrorist army, but an organised army which is prepared for fierce defence if attacked. Representatives of the Union stressed that they were appalled by "statements of certain American and European factors that refer to the KLA as a terrorist organisation, and at the same time, they consider the situation in Kosovo as Serbia's internal affair, acclaiming its policy of repression". The Union called on all international factors to prevent bloodshed in Kosovo and to exert pressure on Serbia. They also called on all international humanitarian associations to assist the war-struck population of Kosovo. The protest rally was also addressed by Croatian Victimological Society president Zvominir Separovic and Croatian Christian Democratic Union (HKDU) vice-president Anto Kovacevic, who accentuated their solidarity with the Albanian people in their "justified struggle for liberty". (hina) lm jn /mb 051830 MET mar 98