Talks chaired by Fehmi Agani PRISHTINA - Secret face-to-face talks have been held in Kosovo between Serbs and Albanians. Regarding this, the head of the Albanian delegation, Agani, who at the beginning of the week postponed the dialogue because of the non-participation of the Ser- [sic]bs, told “Koha Ditore” that “the talks were held on the same day that the head of the Serbian side sent him a letter offering dialogue, a letter to which Agani had replied negatively, since, according to him, there could be no talks without an end to Serbian violence”. The newspaper, meanwhile, reported details of what was discussed in these secret talks between the teams of Albanian and Serbian negotiators in Prishtina. On page 8 From the first meeting between Rugova and Millosheviç

Attack on terrorist bases in Sudan and Afghanistan halts the exercise NATO maneuvers at sea fail. The planes leave Americans withdraw warships from the Adriatic Attack on terrorist bases in Sudan and Afghanistan halts the exercise USA abandons Bizë NATO maneuvers at sea fail. The planes leave Americans withdraw warships from the Adriatic TIRANA - NATO’s largest maneuvers in Albania have been halted one day before their scheduled end. Sources from the Albanian Ministry of Defense announced yesterday that the joint military training operations “Cooperative Assembly” would not take place, one day before their official conclusion. Three warships belonging to NATO allied forces, which had been anchored off the coast of Durrës for days awaiting the American aircraft carrier, have “evacuated” during the past two days in its absence. Meanwhile, a notice from NATO’s own high command would suspend the arming of warships in the Adriatic Sea, as the US naval fleet had been placed on alert following the American attack on several terrorist bases in Sudan and Afghanistan. American warship in the waters of the Mediterranean

Skifter At the start of his remarks at the government meeting, Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano said that Albania was facing two main problems that threatened the country’s stability: the Kosovo issue, and in particular Serbian provocations on the Albanian border, and Islamic terrorism. Nano presented Kosovo as the primary problem, but meanwhile the American attacks on some Islamic terrorist bases have prompted a counter-response in turn. [text cut off/illegible] As if Kosovo were not enough, as Nano put it, the file on Islamic terrorism has once again been opened for Albania. Nano laid the blame for this entirely on Berisha. The Albanian government immediately hurried to welcome the American attacks on terrorist bases in Afghanistan and Sudan, while other Western countries, which have no Muslim population at all, showed themselves to be more cau- cautious[?]. While the Americans have made it clear that the war is not against Islam, but against terrorism, this battle is crossing the boundary between terrorists and the USA and is now, unintentionally, turning into an Islam-USA conflict. The many anti-American demonstrations in Islamic countries are clear evidence of this. Albania not only has a Muslim majority, but above all does not have the strength to become part of these global conflicts. The demonstration a few days ago in London outside the Albanian embassy, where Muslims from various countries around the world called for the overthrow of the Albanian government, should not be underestimated. While, on the Kosovo issue, it can be said that the Albanian government cannot do anything more, regarding the “Islamic terrorism file” it could have been more cautious: it is an issue where words can easily turn into bombs. the Islamic terrorism. Nano presented Kosovo as the foremost problem, but meanwhile the American attacks on some of the Islamic terrorist bases have eclipsed many other issues around the world, including the Kosovo issue. The Americans withdrew their warships from the manoeuvres in the Adriatic yesterday, making it almost clear that, in the face of U.S. national interests, neither NATO, nor Albania, nor Kosovo matters. Meanwhile, pressure from within is growing in Tirana, especially from opposition parties, for a tougher response to the Serbs. The Albanian prime minister says that the Albanian Government had done everything possible regarding the Kosovo issue and stressed that he did not understand “how the word ‘more’ should be translated into concrete terms”. In fact, none of the politicians says exactly how one should respond when Serbian forces set foot on Albanian soil, but indif-

The Constitution will “make them disappear” TIRANA - If Albanians do not say “NO” to the new Constitution, then the Parliamentary Presidium will disappear. After 22 November, Namik Dokle and Jozefina Topalli may be ordinary members of parliament, i.e. without mobile phones, cars, bodyguards, etc. But Gjinushi’s two deputies came to the aid of Sabri Godo, co-chair of the Parliamentary Commission for drafting the Constitution. According to him, Topalli and Dokle may remain in office during this legislature as well. But this may only be a concession provided for through transitional provisions that will grant the two current deputy speakers the right to remain in this Parliament. “Normally, Parliament should have a presiding officer who will be called a speaker,” Godo told Gazeta Shqiptare yesterday. On page 2

INTERVIEW / Jospin’s Political Adviser speaks: Kosovo, you decide “They no longer have any value” TIRANA - “The proposals of the Contact Group, and of France, for enhanced autonomy for Kosovo, in my opinion, can no longer be practical or reasonable; that is, they cannot be accepted as a solution.” One of the French Socialist Party’s most specialized advisers on the Balkans, and particularly on Yugoslavia and Albania, Castagna, is the one who has opposed Western policy and the options it currently offers to calm the situation in the Albanian province of Kosovo. Christian Castagna is a political adviser specializing in Balkan affairs, and particularly the region of Yugoslavia and Albania, for the French Socialist Party, and naturally is close to its leading figures, including Prime Minister Lionel Jospin. He is currently on a visit to Albania lasting several days, where he will meet not only with his fellow Socialists, but also with the Albanian head of state, as well as Gjinushi and Islami, with whom he has also formed friendships. On page 2

Blue uniforms seal off the border while waiting for the phantom ship On page 7

From CIA arrests to anti-U.S. bombs WASHINGTON - There is an international terrorist organization with between 4,000 and 5,000 militants in its ranks, whose stated aim is to damage the interests of the United States of America around the world. This organization was first discussed by Palestinians arrested in Pakistan, who were suspected of having links to the attack on the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi on August 7. They also gave the name of the man at the head of this terrorist army: the Saudi-born Osama Bin Laden. According to U.S. intelligence agencies, Bin Laden is the biggest financier of international terrorism and played a leading role in the attacks on the embassies. He lives in Afghanistan, protected by the Taliban—Islamic fundamentalists who the day before yesterday rejected the U.S. request for extradition. On page 10

American warship in the waters of the Mediterranean

Tirana GAZETTE Insurance alarm: Pensions are disappearing On page 5 Durrës GAZETTE Protest over electricity City Hall is “surrounded” On page 7 Shkodër GAZETTE PS: “No one knows how to run the city” On page 6