The peace agreement is reached after 77 days of NATO bombardment of Belgrade The Serbian army withdraws, killing the Kosovars who have survived page 2

Last night, senior Serbian military officers signed their act of capitulation to NATO in a tent in Kumanovo, in the war that began sometime toward the end of March. This was a war which, in its character and motives, was unique in the history of humankind. Specifically, unlike other wars, this time we were not dealing with the conquest or liberation of territories, much less with an attempt to subjugate a people. This war, which lasted 78 days, was directed against one individual and his circle, who, from the moment he appeared on the scene, brought back the ghosts of the Middle Ages, reviving old hatreds among the peoples of the territory of the former Yugoslavia and casting them into an absurd war at the end of this century. With last night’s signing of the agreement between representatives of NATO and the states of the Yugoslav army, the most important step was taken, marking the beginning of a new era for Kosovo, first and foremost for the Albanians there. As of today, the forced and verifiable withdrawal from Kosovo’s territory begins of all Serbian forces, which, through their campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Albanians, have been branded once and for all as “the forces of evil.” Thus, under the terms of the agreement, after 11 days, for the first time in this century, the boot of a Serbian soldier will no longer tread the long-suffering soil of Kosovo. What matters most is that NATO soldiers will take the place of Serbian forces; destruction will be replaced by reconstruction, violent rule by democratic institutions and, in general, death by life. It is significant that, with 50,000 foreign troops, mainly from NATO, accompanied by civilian personnel and under the leadership of America, the friend of Clinton, Kosovo has every chance of becoming an oasis of democracy for the Balkans, where, it seems, democracy too has to be imposed by force. But it is impossible even to imagine this being achieved without the return of all the expelled Albanians. The return of Albanians to their homes is also the principal challenge for the official authorities in Tirana throughout the developments of the Kosovo crisis. Unlike until now, when our officials have considered their duty fulfilled simply by applauding other people’s decisions, we must now raise our voices as never before to ensure that not a single Kosovar Albanian is left outside Kosovo.

British NATO General Mike Jakson after the signing. Jakson will lead the Alliance troops in Kosovo

Serbian General Zvetozar Marjanoviç speaking to journalists after signing the peace agreement. Photo: REUTERS

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Gjirokastër page 9

Drugs page 8

Tirana page 11

Politics page 7