NATO rolls up its sleeves; the “down payment” of Clark’s 300 aircraft gets underway; the Serbs will have nightmares P. 5

The EU formalizes the embargo, invites Ibrahim Rugova to Bonn, Albania and Macedonia become associate members of the EU. Draft resolution on Kosovo P. 5

The Atlantic Alliance countries are pinning their hopes on Russian diplomacy to end the crisis in Kosovo. Many NATO leaders are convinced that Russia can still play a constructive role, while expressing skepticism about the so-called “Slavic solidarity” in the East. At the head of NATO’s mission to Moscow, aimed at easing disagreements and asking Russia for help, is U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Talbot. Meanwhile, Russia has declared that it will not halt fuel supplies to the Yugoslavs, thereby ignoring the European Union’s decision on the fuel embargo. The Russians, who have not observed any kind of embargo against Serbia, will not allow their ships to be inspected. Could it be that NATO must declare war on Russia in order to enforce compliance with the embargo? Under these circumstances, Mr. Talbot’s mission cannot reduce tensions and resolve the confrontations. Russia and Serbia are united not only by a sense of “Orthodox fundamentalism” and “Slavic solidarity,” but also by the effort to reform the supranational empires that dominate. They are, however, falling apart. To be continued, page 3

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Marash Hajati Say a word, Ibrahim Rugova P. 12

A political science professor studies Nostradamus's writings The Kosovo conflict in the verses of the 16th-century French prophet World War III will begin in July, in the Balkans, and will end with victory for the US-led NATO, according to an analysis of Nostradamus, the 16th-century French prophet. “It's clear: the war will begin before the end of the century, during the period of Gafores (the horoscope sign corresponding to the period between June 22 and July 23), and in a triangle bounded by Greece, Italy and Turkey, which is the Balkans,” Stellenbosch University political science professor Uilli Brejtenbah told Reuters on Monday. “I must stress that I am skeptical. I am an academic, but what I found is so discouraging that I began to write,” he said. Brejtenbah said he found references to the conflict in 18 of the 950 quatrains written by Mishel de Notrë Dame in 1555, which, among other things, refer to the fire in London, Louis Pasteur and Page 6

• The trial of Zani i Vlorës resumes on May 5 — Page 15 • NATO lands in Durrës; Ahmetaj sues the state — Page 7 • Who supplies the market with aid? — Page 9 • Tears burn the angels' eyes — Page 11 • Miss Albania ’99 auditions begin — Page 13