The man of the boss is killed
Bullets to the head of the imprisoned capo’s right-hand man
Page 7
war and talks
BY ANDI BEJTA
The Yugoslav president, Milošević, and the leader of the separatists in Kosovo, Rugova, were yesterday scheduled to discuss the future status of Kosovo. This move from Pristina is not surprising at all, but exactly as our daily newspaper had previously stated. Not only from Tirana, where everything was followed with a high degree of security, but also because in the Kosovar political scene it is by no means unknown that, through his appearance in Belgrade, the ceasefire in part of Kosovo and the withdrawal of the Serbs from the Drenica center were announced as a surprise. In any case, as bloodshed continues to subside also thanks to the Albanian government, which has been interested in pushing developments in Kosovo toward a climax. Albanian leader Adem Demaçi, who once during the war had ties with Milošević’s hard-line wing, has a clear statement. By now, a name in Kosovar politics that carries a strong principled and internationally engaged influence. Now, it is enough to recall that not long ago and three years earlier, the Serbs had massacred and killed the son of the LDK activist, Dr. Bujar Bukoshi. At present, from what appears, there is a certain orientation and situation regarding the Kosovar political platform. Now, not only toward Belgrade does it seem that there will be no more than a talk, but perhaps even less than an agreement. This makes the influence of the opposing side even harder. Now, once again for a short time in a row, it seems that the claims of Kosovar politics and its radicals are aligning under a kind of discipline and responsibility. The difference between the Serbian side had been evident and precise. To achieve this, in recent days the stances and resistance have changed. What could be sought today is stronger pressure from the international community so that it does not fall into the trap of the Serbian game. It would even not be surprising if U.S. President Clinton, should he arrive at the Oslo conference in Istanbul at the end of this May, were to announce some initiative sponsored by the Americans. It is an American preference for the Kosovo issue to be resolved under American pressure, so that if Milošević fails to produce results after the secret U.S.-Russian summit in Crete, the Americans do not appear powerless before Moscow. The urgent meeting last week between the Serbian president, Slobodan Milošević, where the first agreements and closures were reached, seems likely to lead to a second meeting, with the warning that American pressure will be stronger. However, despite all this, in this new climate of visits, talks, and pressure, it can now be said that the key to solving the crisis also depends on Tirana, as we have said before. Now it can be said that the least the Tirana government should do is ask more of Kosovar politics not to lead itself into the trap of the government’s show. First, Demaçi is obliged not to have under any circumstances the status of a possible force as the Tirana government, by aligning itself entirely with it in some kind of organization. Now, again under the background of independence, the risk of a high level of international non-acceptance. It should no longer be said that only a platform with a high degree of pragmatism is needed, but above all political clarity is required. By now, it seems that not only the interests of the Albanian factors in Kosovo are being calculated, but also those of Albanians in the region itself. The Serbs have no chance of any military victory in Kosovo and the government in Belgrade appears compelled to give way. This, on one hand, with a renewed engagement from Tirana, will apparently be the challenge of the coming days. Perhaps the foundations of that compromise have now been laid, and if it is honest it would be in everyone’s interest. In the end, all this behavior by Tirana and by all Albanians in the region is of great importance. For as has been said many times, Albanians in Kosovo no longer need bravery, but wise politics.