LATEST NEWS / ITALY MAKES THE VISIT POSSIBLE Today Rugova in Tirana Bledar Zaganjori Ibrahim Rugova will come to Tirana,” several Albanian official sources have announced. The Kosovo leader sets foot on Albanian soil today on his first visit since [text unclear] Albanian as in Rambouillet will seek a period of time. But, in any case, a meeting between Thaqi and Rugova could be held within a few days. So far, all efforts to unify the fac- [text cut off] many, many invitations issued by the Albanian Government as well as by the other Kosovo leaders. But Rugova’s arrival in Tirana appears not to find Hashim Thaçi, Prime Minister of the Provisional Government, in Albania today, as he is engaged in a diplomatic tour of several European countries. Nevertheless, he will hold separate meetings on Saturday with all the heads of the Albanian state: Meidani, Majko, Milo. The President of Kosovo and chairman of the Democratic League is accompanied on this visit by Minitti, Secretary-General of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers of Italy. However, there are reports that Umberto Ranieri, Undersecretary of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will also arrive. Rugova’s visit to Albania is part of the Italian initiative to mediate the unification of the Albanian political and military factor, announced a few days ago by Ranieri during his visit to Tirana. This is further confirmed by the fact that Rugova will be accompanied by one of the senior officials of the Italian Government, Minitti, with whom Rugova will descend the aircraft steps at Rinas. Contrary to what might have been expected, Rugova will stay in Albania for only a few days, official sources assure. Perhaps this is because Thaçi and some of Kosovo’s leaders are absent from Tirana. And a meeting that would make possible the recomposition and unification of the Albanian political-military factor, [text cut off] …which require between Thaçi and Rugova could be arranged within a few days. So far, all efforts to unite the Albanian factor have failed, as have several opportunities for Thaçi and Rugova to meet, such as in Tirana and Paris. This time, the first step taken by Rugova makes one think that everything will go in the right direction, all the more so because this is precisely the time for the Albanians of Kosovo to be represented by a single voice, since the opposite would cause very serious and major problems to the detriment of the national cause. Today, Rugova will meet with the main leaders of the Albanian state, beginning with the President of the Republic, Rexhep Meidani, Prime Minister Pandeli Majko, and Foreign Minister Paskal Milo. However, it is not yet known whether he will hold separate meetings and talks with PD leader Sali Berisha, one of Rugova’s most ardent defenders when Rugova was being attacked as a traitor and held hostage by Millosheviç in Prishtina. Rugova will also visit one of the camps for Kosovo refugees from the war, located near Lezhë, where he will meet his people, displaced as a result of the conflict in Kosovo. Today, however, his statements about what was achieved in Belgrade two days ago will also be important; it has been regarded as a concrete peace plan for Kosovo. Rugova has been the only Kosovo leader who has not spoken about the agreement reached between the international mediators and Millosheviç.

Washington Post NATO’s and President Clinton’s determination in Kosovo may now be rewarded. The Yugoslav government accepted an agreement two days ago which, if implemented, could bring the war to a satisfactory end. All the concerns that accompanied this war, as well as those that will follow it, are on the way to being resolved. The accord is unclear in some respects, and Slobodan Milosheviç may try to violate the agreement, just as he has broken his word before. NATO is ready to continue the bombing until he truly fulfills the conditions it has set. But if the troops of — Continued on page 8 Ibrahim Rugova

US–Russia: now the real battle begins On page 5 Kukës: an Albanian girl is killed On page 6 Ilir Panda, the new Justice Minister On page 2 Poçi dismisses his first three subordinates On page 9

Experts have arrived at government offices Albanians are expected to have another “government” made up of experts from the largest donor countries, who have begun arriving one after another in the Albanian capital. The Priority Projects Unit is the name given to the team that the governments of the most industrialized countries, including faraway Canada, have made available to the Albanian Prime Minister. “Intensive work is under way to create the conditions for this unit to begin operating as soon as possible,” says Information Minister Musa Ulqini. For the Marshall Plan

GUIDE: DISCOVER DURRËS BEACH THIS YEAR On pages 12–13