The Albanian parliament calls for NATO to be deployed in Albania Pages 2–3

BY ANDI BETJA The status quo and patience in Kosovo have reached their end. The Albanian dream of independence and the Serbian dream of keeping the Albanians subjugated forever have collided, exposing a potential conflict that would unsettle the whole Balkans. The Belgrade regime seems determined to crush every “Albanian obstinacy” with fire and iron, while Kosovo’s 2 million Albanians will not give up their idea of independence. What may happen can only be a massacre of the Albanians, since despite the KLA’s appearance on the scene, the Albanian population is almost unarmed against 45,000 Serbian soldiers. The mother country, Albania, has been devastated by last year’s unrest and cannot exert influence on anything, except by calling the world’s chancelleries. The Albanian Prime Minister can no longer make a declaration like Berisha did years ago, when he said, “if conflict breaks out in Kosovo, we will respond as a nation.” The only thing he can do is hold press conferences without questions and answers, playing the role of an observer while at the same time raising international public awareness. In this situation, intervention by the International Community is essential; otherwise the conflict could spread throughout the Balkans, rendering efforts to stabilize Bosnia futile and, at the same time, nullifying America’s efforts and the millions of dollars earmarked for Bosnia’s reconstruction. President Clinton, after being re-elected for a second term as President of the United States, said, speaking about American foreign policy, that America would work like crazy in the Balkans next year to stabilize the entire region. Time is showing that Kosovo’s non-inclusion in the Dayton Agreement was a diplomatic mistake, and if the conflict is not contained in its first phase, far more effort than in Bosnia will be needed to neutralize it, and much innocent blood will be shed. Dialogue between Albanians and Serbs in the presence of a third party can no longer be postponed. Both sides must sacrifice something of their dreams and look, among other things, at reality for their mutual benefit. Pressure on Serbia must not consist only of words and statements. Nor does the policy of corridors for the passage of Albanian refugees from Kosovo through Macedonia to Albania work. It is inconceivable that while Kosovo Albanians pass through the Gjilgov corridor, Macedonian Albanians are dozing in bed or watching the news on Macedonian TV. The International Community must bear two priorities in mind: containing the conflict, applying pressure to resume talks, and at the same time preserving stability in Albania. In this light, yesterday’s statement by the Albanian parliament should be considered useful; it said that Albania welcomed the deployment of NATO forces in the region. At a time when Europe is paralyzed over the Kosovo issue and unable to intervene directly in the Albanian-Serbian conflict, the deployment of a military peacekeeping force such as NATO is essential; otherwise, everything is unpredictable.

An injured Albanian demonstrator yesterday during the demonstration in Pristina Photo: REUTERS

Italian police manage to intercept them off the coast of Puglia Italy, 336 Albanians land Events in the North and the tense situation increase departures for the neighboring country A total of 336 undocumented migrants—all Albanians of the same Kurdish origin—were apprehended on Monday morning in Puglia during various control operations, according to a police source. A total of 317 Albanians were discovered after numerous patrols along the coast of the Brindisi region. Six other Albanians, who had landed in Italy many hours earlier, were apprehended at the Monopoli train station, about 50 kilometers north of Brindisi. P. 11

Higjen, the dangerous detainee from 313 Zani “escapes” from prison P. 7 For and against: should reshuffles be made? Changes, not in the government P. 4 Lists for the local elections are being prepared Albanians go to the polls P. 5 Suspected of having sheltered the wanted man House searched at Maks Hasani’s P. 13 Berat: handcuffs for those who shot at the police Brisku catches the attackers P. 9 Police: Mafia agents have entered Checks on foreigners P. 9