THE BOMBING DEADLINE IS EXTENDED. NATO’S PRESENCE ALSO IN DOUBT On pages 2–5 The Referendum on Independence disappears from the text DOSSIER

EDITORIAL Carlo …iment of European politics, that is, of the entire negotiations. That failure which perhaps, in a

With the faded smile of someone who has to proclaim a victory that even he does not believe in, European diplomacy appeared before the television cameras of the whole world last night to declare that the Rambouillet Conference would be extended. “We extended the deadline,” the French foreign minister declared, “because of the ‘substantial progress’ made during the previous day, although the ultimatum had expired.” Carlo BOLLINO With the faded smile of someone who has to proclaim a victory that even he does not believe in, European diplomacy appeared before the television cameras of the whole world last night to declare that the Rambouillet Conference would be extended. “We extended the deadline,” the French foreign minister declared, “because of the ‘substantial progress’ made during the previous day, although the ultimatum had expired. We would like to know what ‘progress’ has been achieved in order to be optimistic, as Vedrine said. But there is a fear that behind diplomacy’s somewhat hypocritical face lies the failure of European policy, secretly, the Americans have factored in so that they themselves can intervene afterwards with planes and missiles, to show that decisions of the international community in Belgrade are accepted only when accompanied by bombardments. As happened at Dayton, where Richard Holbrooke was content to achieve a victory on paper, which in reality had been achieved on the ground by NATO’s army. It is now clear that the thousands of pages of proposals from the Contact Group and their complicated annexes will have value only if an exchange is achieved: the Albanians will have to give up the referendum. Continued on page 3

On pages 12–13 How NATO aimed nuclear missiles at Albania

BEGINS THE TOUR Fatos Nano is preparing to campaign ahead of the SP Congress. The former Socialist Party leader will begin a tour of several of the country’s main cities, invited by the SP grassroots, just as he had promised on the day he resigned. “However, there will be no idea of revenge.” On page 6

Democrats react: But this is not enough A decision signed by Chief Prosecutor Rakipi was sent by mail yesterday by the General Prosecutor’s Office to the addresses of the six residences where former senior state officials of the PD government are under house arrest. On page 7

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