Balkans: May 25, 2001

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More intrigue regarding the Serbs reoccupation of the GSZ. Serb revenge or a UCPMB hit on one of its own who helped negotiate the ceasefire agreement? On May 24, ethnic Albanian sources in Yugoslavia (ie, the UCPMB) claimed that Serb troops had killed Ridvan Cazimi (Commander Lleshi). Serb and NATO sources pegged Cazimi as the third most senior figure in the UCPMB. (Shefqet Musliu was commander in chief of UCPMB forces in Serbia.) A subsequent report said that Cazimi was head of the negotiating team representing Serbia's minority Albanian community at the NATO-sponsored talks with Serbia that sought to defuse the situation in south Serbia. Those talks ended with an agreement where the UCPMB would disband and disarm. (See report of May 21.) On May 25, Serbia confirmed that Rivan Cazimi (Commander Lleshi)was killed in an incident when Serb forces entered Sector B. The incident took place on Mount Guri Gat (northern part of Sector B). Yugoslavias Deputy Prime Minister, Nebojsa Covic, was quoted as saying Cazimi "came out from a bunker with three Albanian extremists. As he was getting to his jeep, he was shot in the head and killed." Covic expressed regret at Cazimis death because he had been involved in the peace negotiations.

 

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