On Tuesday Clinton in the Balkans: I don’t have time for Tirana American President Bill Clinton invites President Meidani to ... Macedonia page 2

Diplomaticus

page 7

Diplomaticus With the intensification of the crisis in Kosovo, especially after the start of the bombings against Millosheviç and the developments that followed, hopes were fully justified that Albania would become an epicenter for resolving the crisis, a place of pilgrimage for the “great ones” of international politics. It was enough to consider the fact that the Albanian national question was at stake. However, as time passed, these hopes and illusions gradually began to fade. Following the itineraries of visits to the Balkans by most Western politicians, one could not help getting the impression that they did not like Tirana’s climate. Westerners seemed to prefer Skopje to Tirana, as if Macedonian politicians carried more weight in deciding the future of Kosovo and the region. Yesterday it was announced that American President Bill Clinton would visit Macedonia. But the head of the White House, like the other leaders, will not land at Rinas either. Yesterday, for example, American Secretary of Defense Cohen landed in Skopje, then continued to Kosovo, leaving Tirana aside. Specifically, the route of Clinton’s Balkan tour begins in Ljubljana, then Skopje, where he will also visit Albanian refugees, and ends in Aviano, Italy, with the pilots who brought Millosheviç to his knees. In an effort to fill the latest gap, it is reported that the Albanian president will set off for Skopje to meet the great ally. This is Tirana’s “plan B”; it is nothing other than the consequence of a foreign policy poor in ideas and initiatives for Kosovo. Specifically, throughout this period, Albanian politics has consisted almost entirely of statements full of epithets against Millosheviç and those in Vienna, while its declarations have essentially repeated decisions made by others, without supporting ideas and decisions of its own. Thus, [unreadable words] we have not heard anyone speak, for example, of an option such as the “Majko plan,” the “Meidani doctrine,” or the “Milo formula” for Kosovo. Tirana’s foreign policy also demonstrated its ineffectiveness through its inability to influence the Albanian crisis, as it was unable to bring together the well-known figures of Kosovo politics. It is enough to mention Mito’s failed mission in Rome to bring Rugova to Tirana. And perhaps, comparing themselves with the West’s efforts to manage the distribution of those expelled from Kosovo—a task that is not the merit of the political class in power, but of all Albanians—our leaders thought they were in the clear, despite their two-facedness. And all the greater was this—[repeated and garbled text in the source: “E kaq më e madhe është kjo ka qenë më e madhe me dyfytyrësi e tyre” repeated several times]. The outbreak of the wave of violence from the aid being provided for the Balkans. The only positive fact worth pointing to concerns the military factor. Albania is of interest to American generals and those of NATO. Specifically, while the American and NATO bases were being recognized, specifically, there was the headquarters of the American [unreadable: “Shtabit i urtisë”], General Shelton.

After buyers panicked and genuine producers filed a complaint, investigations begin The prosecution has launched an intensive investigation to identify and apprehend those responsible for producing counterfeit soft drinks, which were discovered by the Tirana Tax Directorate in connection with “Glina,” “Coca Cola,” “Tepelena” waters, etc. As is known, a few days ago, in a swift operation on the outskirts of the capital, the illegal producers of these soft drinks were caught. They had put counterfeit drinks on the market, putting the health of consumers at risk. According to the information gathered in the investigation, it is thought that there may be other “factories” in Albania producing these drinks illegally, endangering not only consumers’ health but also placing legal producers, who want support from the state, in a difficult position.

The week’s scan: The American “fasetku” consolidates in the Balkans. Analysis by Koco Danaj, page 15. PAD, [qati?] the [?] new political movement. Zogaj: A new government in the autumn, page 3. PD calls for all those expelled to be reinstated as before, page 4. Vlora, the battle with the speedboats. Traffickers fire on the “Guardia di Finanza,” page 8. Special units urgently sent to Shëngjin. Attempt to hijack the ships in the port, page 8.

NATIONAL LIBRARY TIRANA