EUROPEAN BRIEF (DELETED) FOR 3 MARCH 1989.

Created: 3/3/1989

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

SUBJECT: EUROPEAM BRIEF

3 MARCH

YUGOSLAVIA: ETHNIC ALBANIAN OFFICIALS ARRESTED

KOSOVO PROVINCIAL AUTHORITIES HAVE ARRESTEO THREE OFFICIALS ALLEGED TO HAVE LEO THE RECEKT ETHNIC ALBANIAN PROTESTS, INCLUDING THE POPULAR AZEM VLASl . ACCOROING TO BELGRADE PRESS REPORTS.N DEMONSTRATORS EARLIER THIS WEEK DEMANDED THEY BE ARRESTED- WESTERN PRESS REPORTS INDICATE THE SECURITY SITUATION IN KOSOVO REMAINS TENSE. AND KOSOVO OFFICIALS HAVEURFEW TO RECENTLY ANNOUNCED EMERGENCY MEASURES. YUGOSLAV AUTHORITIES BELIEVE THE RESTRICTIONS AND THE MILITARY'S PRESENCE HAVE INTIMIDATED THE >NS_BUT WILL USE FQfiC-6 iF NEJL DEMONSTRATIONS BREAK OUT,

l^fMB VLASl'S ARREST AND INDICATIONS [HAT SERB-BACKED KOSOVOCIU MOH'.Nft WILL STAY IN OFFICE MAY INITIALLY LEAD KOSOVO ALBANIANS TO PROTEST THROUGH SIT-INS. WORK STOPPAGES, ANO BOYCOTTS, WHICH WOULD BE MORE DIFFICULT THAN VIOLENT DEMONSTRATIONS FOR AUTHORITIES TO COUNTER. THE ARRESTS MAY FORESHADOW EVENTUAL RESIGNATIONS BY OTHER ETHNIC ALBANIAN MODERATES, WHICH COUlO RADICALIZE KOSOVO AL8AIII AN LEADERS AND INCREASE THE PROSPECTS FOR VIOLENCE. THE LATEST MOVES ALSO INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD THAT SERBIAN LEADER MILOSEVIC WILL TRY TO FORCE THE KOSOyOLEGISLATURE TO GIVE

MORE POWER OVER THE PROVINCE 4WQ Ciirr TO RENEW HIS DRIVE TOR NAT IONH POWER ^tfl

WOULD EMBOLDEN HIM