Guyana promises to help Kosovars
by Linda Rutherford
PRIME Minister Mr Sam Hinds on Friday confirmed meeting with Kosovar envoy, Albanian-born Mr Burhan Al-Din Fili, while the latter was here on a goodwill mission almost two weeks ago. The Prime Minister promised then that the Guyana Government would do everything in its power to further the Kosovo cause. Fili said in an interview before leaving on Sunday, June 13, that his meeting with the Prime Minister was "very friendly and very good" and lasted a little over half an hour. He said that in addition to indicating that he was au fait with the situation in Kosovo, Mr Hinds pointed out that the Guyana government had already issued a statement condemning President Slobodan Milosevic's actions, and also supporting the relief efforts in train to alleviate the suffering caused the people of Kosovo. The Prime Minister confirmed this too on Friday, referring to a statement issued in April through the Foreign Ministry. In that statement, the Guyana Government urged, among other things, the cessation of hostilities in Kosovo and the early repatriation of those Kosovar Albanians who were forced to seek refuge in neighbouring countries. At the time, the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) had estimated that more than 530,000 people had fled Kosovo since the conflict between Kosovar (ethnic) Albanians and the Serb Yugoslav forces had erupted more than a year ago. Th Guyana Government, in its missive, had expressed profound regret, however, at the US-led action taken by NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) - of which Guyana is a member - without approval from the UN (United Nations) Security Council to strafe Kosovo in an attempt at resolving the conflict. But Fili, like his fellow Albanians, believed, that in spite of the losses they too have suffered, NATO's actions were justified, and he fully supported it. Guyana, by contrast, was all for seeking settlement under the auspices of the UN Security Council based on the very principles on which the UN Charter was founded. Fili said through Prime Minister Hinds, he asked that the Guyana Government help Kosovo gain full independence from Serbia and not just autonomy, and bring Milosevic and his gang to justice. He said Mr Hinds promised that his Government would pursue these things under the umbrella of the United Nations. The scholar said he particularly liked the firm stance NATO took with Milosevic, not asking him to negotiate this time around but presenting him with a number of demands, among which were the withdrawal of his troops from Kosovo within a given time-frame and allowing the deployment of international peacekeeping forces. Pressed into disclosing what his reception was like in the two Caribbean countries he visited before coming here, Fili said while his stay in Barbados was brief - having only transited there, in Trinidad and Tobago, where he spent almost a week, he was warmly received by President ANR Robinson and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Ousman Ali. Fili said he was told that both Prime Minister Mr Basdeo Panday and Foreign Minister Mr Ralph Maraj were away on business. He said his discussions with both Robinson and Ali were "very fruitful", adding that they, too, promised to do the best they can by Kosovo. As such, Fili said "I can see a unique position in the Caribbean states I have visited so far". As to who handles the monetary aspect of his support campaign for the Kosovar Albanian cause, Fili said Mercy International, the Michigan-based United States humanitarian organisation to which he belongs, which has offices in both Bosnia and Albania. Fili said he always advised that the best kind of tangible support anyone can give the cause is cash. It is quicker and more practical than sending them foodstuff. Supplies can always be purchased locally in Albania or in neighbouring countries like Italy, Greece or Turkey. The Guyana Islamic Trust (GIT), at whose invitation Fili spent four days here, has to date amassed close to G$5M (a little under US$30,000 at today's rate of exchange) since launching a campaign here late April in aid of the Kosovo crisis. The organisation said yesterday it is about to wrap up the campaign, but that persons still desirous of supporting the cause can do so through an account at one of the local banks.
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