PAN-SLAVISM RETURNS Fatos Baxhaku Yesterday and the day before, one of those rare events took place, the kind we have often read about in history books. The “big Russian brother” has come out quite openly in defense of his “little,” but boisterous, Serbian brother. The first, the Kremlin’s diplomacy, has aimed its arrows at the poor, tired and exhausted Albanians of Pristina. “Withdraw your troops from the border, otherwise...” This was the tone used by the leader of one-sixth of the world toward the poorest country in Europe. An enviable show of force, at a time when terms such as “Europe of Peace” and “a society without borders” are being used. The shocking images of civilians killed in the villages of martyred Drenica, an entire nation protesting with tears in its eyes in favor of its elementary rights, and children crying in terror while the horrific sight of their people massacred by the heavy weapons of the Serbian army and Arkan’s men is still before their eyes—all this made no impression on the diplomacy of the ancient Kremlin. And the same story was repeated at the Contact Group, where the Russians were once again the only “stubborn” ones who did not agree with the position of the whole world. Watching the many reports arriving on our television screens at that time, we recalled an entire history, often repeated: a history showing what is brought back onto the stage through religious revivals, other ties that flourish from the steppes, geopolitical reasons... “Pan-Slavism.” This word had begun to be forgotten. But perhaps precisely these words that begin with “pan...” are the ones that begin to unsettle peaceful Europe. In the long polar dawn of St. Petersburg, old resentments are still difficult to resolve, even among the most indifferent of the Balkan peoples. But indifference on one side of life in this region, and other resentments, are also fed by those who today consider themselves champions of liberalism. Russian historians will remember very well how their country opposed every Albanian movement, how it used every means to erase from its maps any movement by a small mountain people, whose only “fault” was that they were not Slavs. They know very well the contents of the Secret Treaty of London, signed with their political brothers by another well-known Russian, Lenin. They will then recall the Russian position in the other stages of history: “In every case, being alongside the Slavic brothers outweighs any other argument.” All these historical events are laid bare together with the old pages of history books. Stories of shared suffering under communism had begun to unite all the peoples of the East—Slavic and non-Slavic, Christian and Muslim—in a feeling of friendship that was finally sincere. A faint hope, endangered by the tragedy of Bosnia, had begun to take root, especially in the minds of young people who had no connection with hostile nationalist relations. After Bosnia’s exhaustion of prejudices, no one feels renewed. Many fear Kosovo and the violence with which Milošević continues to “entertain himself” there, but international diplomacy and Balkan public opinion had finally begun to look toward peace. But these days brought a response in the form of hundreds of innocent civilians attacked with every kind of weapon. The terrible images... ...religious, old ties that stem to be forgotten. But perhaps the words of the whole game that grew with “pan” have been translated into those that continue to shake a peaceful Europe. In the polar amusement park of St. Petersburg, a hunched man sat sewing, while turning over thoughts about politics. He was no ordinary man, but at the time the many passers-by did not even imagine that they were walking past one of the greatest minds of all time: Fyodor Dostoevsky. To many, even today, the connection between his genius and his ideas about the expansion of Russian imperialism may sound strange. “Russia is a giant whose feet must be in the warm seas of the South and whose head must be in the ice of the North,” Dostoevsky wrote in his youth. Ever since Albanians had dealings, on many occasions, with Russian diplomats—always ready to decide “without batting an eye” in favor of the slaughter of Albanians, who were “mostly Muslim”—this history has often been covered in blood, as has happened with all the Balkan peoples. The facts differ; various cultural and political influences—all of this has mixed together so badly the peoples that make up the “power of the …” [text unclear]. Who feared Kosovo and the violence with which Milošević continued to “entertain” himself there? Yet take some notice. But in recent days, hundreds of innocent civilians have been massacred, attacked with every kind of weapon. The shocking images and the bleak prospect of an escalation of the war in the Balkans have set a gigantic diplomatic and media machine in motion. Everyone has read, each in their own way, the images showing charred people, children left orphaned and homeless, and houses that are now nothing but ruins. Primakov and his people seem to have remained completely unmoved by this agonizing pain. It would be understandable if only Arkan and his snipers had felt this way. But that is not what happened, and this has shaken many people. First of all, many Albanians, who saw the Russians as a people with whom they were connected by a thousand and one threads. When Yeltsin was carrying out his reforms, millions of Albanians followed the fate of democracy in Russia with concern. The truth was not understood. At least this is the impression left by the prime minister’s… [text unclear]. And this is sad, terribly sad, and dangerous.

TIRANA - The Contact Group met urgently in London yesterday following the bloody events in Kosovo. Hours of talks on what, in the eyes of the world’s Great Powers, risks becoming another Bosnia have brought to light a package of sanctions and restrictive measures to be imposed on Serbia. Identifying Belgrade as the main cause of the bloodshed and the excessive use of violence against the Albanians, who make up the majority in Kosovo, was apparently the major achievement, since military and economic sanctions were opposed, as always, insistently by the Russian envoy at the meeting. But the situation in Kosovo remains dire and tense. Despite the relative easing of the situation in Skenderaj, heavy gunfire continued throughout the day in the villages that have been under attack for ten days. The bodies of at least 46 women, children and elderly people massacred during the Serbian operation were transported from the Pristina morgue to the Drenica region. Today, when the burial is to take place, further tensions are expected. On pages 3, 9 The Contact Group decides in London: Ten days for Pristina-Belgrade talks. Otherwise...

On page 12 Hygerta Sako hands the crown of Shqipëria ’98 to Alda (Miss Eliz... [the end is cut off] (Photo: Hek... [cut off])

FIER On page 7 ELBASAN Ferro-chrome ultimatum On page 7 NEW INVESTIGATIONS Ngjela gets the Guard’s file On page 8 TIRANA Velia: Why they attacked us On page 8

VLORE / Cause a mystery VLORE - A police officer has been massacred in Vlore. An immense hail of bullets killed Bashkim Bitaj, a rapid-intervention police officer at the Vlore police station, at dawn on Sunday. So far there is no trace of the killer or the group that may have eliminated him, but two theories about the horrific murder are being discussed in Vlore: the first is revenge, while the second concerns a robbery committed at the scene of the killing, which the police officer may have witnessed. The incident occurred on the road leading to the Soda factory, near a pumping station. Residents of the surrounding area heard the burst of gunfire and immediately alerted the police. But the darkness enabled the attackers to get away and made it difficult for the police to find the body. The latter was found as soon as day broke. A theft had taken place at the spot where the officer’s body was found, and the police’s first suspicion is that Bitaj may have encountered the robbers. The other theory is revenge: Bitaj had been an officer in the rapid-response forces at the Vlore police station, and the murder may be connected precisely to that period of his service. On page 5

VISIT TODAY TIRANA - Fatos Nano will travel to Israel today. The Albanian Prime Minister will meet the two rivals of the Middle East, Prime Minister Netanjahu and the leader of the Palestinians, Jaser Arafat. Nano will meet and hold talks with his Israeli counterpart in Tel Aviv and with the Palestinian leader, Arafat, in the Gaza Strip. The high-level Albanian delegation also includes the Minister of Public Economy and Privatization, Ylli Bufi, as well as other members of the Prime Minister’s staff. On page 9

THE CLUB PRESIDENT IS EXPECTED TIRANA - Partizani is determined to boycott the championship. There was no reaction yesterday from the Reds’ management. Nevertheless, under the direction of Musta and Duro, they continued training. It was more of a loosening-up session, perhaps also due to the bad weather. However, a glimmer of hope, strange though it may seem, came from them: “We want the Government to intervene.” A strange hope, based on a very simple fact. In no country in the world does the Football Federation depend on the Government; on the contrary, it is independent. Our country is no exception to this rule. So, at first glance, their request seems somewhat absurd and unjustified. Perhaps something could be resolved with the support of the team’s President, Antonio de Simo- ne, who had announced that he would be in Tirana last night, but postponed his departure until Wednesday. Nevertheless, one thing saddens us. The team that has set the tone in football, the one with the most national-team players, if it does not turn up, automatically drops to the division below, and that is no small matter. On page 11

A new bill is ready TIRANA—Funding for political parties will be cut by Parliament. Following a draft bill prepared by the government in recent days, the People’s Assembly is expected to regulate the procedures for state financing of political parties. But that is not all, since the draft submitted by the government contains many changes to the current version of the law on the activities of political parties. As part of these changes, it is also expected to become more difficult to establish a communist party of the European model, rather than one with a conservative-style Marxist program. The proposal by independent communist MP Hasani to legalize the communist party operating underground has been rejected and, speaking on behalf of the Socialist MPs, Ruci has declared that Parliament will discuss only the version of the law on political parties proposed by the government. On page 2

ATHENS - Broad autonomy for Kosovo. This is the only promise Albanian President Rexhep Meidani received in the Greek chanceries regarding the crisis in Kosovo. The common position was expressed by Greek President Stefanopu- los and Prime Minister Kostas Simitis during their direct contacts with the President and the delegation accompanying him during his three-day visit to Athens. Greece has also called for broad autonomy for Kosovo. At the meetings held yesterday in Athens by Albanian President Rexhep Meidani with his Greek counterpart Stefanopu- los and Prime Minister Si- mitis, the urgent need to stop the bloodshed and to sit down at the negotiating table was emphasized. On page 2