Diplomacy Developments in Kosovo and the events there have led to a rise in interest and a positive phase in relations between Albania and Montenegro’s newest center. Last Wednesday the first Albanian ambassador to this country, Macedonia and Montenegro, also arrived in Montenegro. Twenty years ago, the highest-ranking official from Tirana after the embassy staff was the radio-telegraph operator. The present situation seems to have been overcome. On Thursday morning, Albanian President Rexhep Meidani was among the first to make this state visit and also met with the President of Montenegro, Milo Gjukanović. Other undeniable facts in the region, of course, have made this relationship stronger, and it appears as another sign to strengthen the whole of Albania. The American president and other Western officials have not hesitated to joke with the two leaders, placing them at the center of its rehabilitation. Albania and developed Kosovo, accompanied by it, led to an increase in the positive phase of relations between Albania and the new Montenegrin center. The words of President Meidani and Albanian Prime Minister Majko: Conjureski, Gjukanović [?]. While they can be considered as three characterizations of relations between Tirana and Skopje, which need to be discussed more in support of the Albanian dissident in Preshevo, part of a geopolitical pact, it is acknowledged that relations continue to be shaped by such an idea. The suggestion that Kosovo should quickly create such a scenario has recently circulated among Albanian experts, but has not yet been made public and, moreover, the voices of senior state officials are often skeptical. Such an idea was also put forward a few days ago by the Serbo-American professor [?] Prvosi at a conference with Kosovo diplomats in Podgorica, arguing that with the departure of Milošević, the division of Kosovo and the Macedonia-Montenegro-Tirana project could be drawn into a confederation idea. Tirana called the Serbo-American professor's words misplaced, but by no means expressed opposition to the future model of the past, which is circulating through diplomatic offices. The event, with all its twists and turns, shows that Albanians still have not managed to explain what they expect from the region. Relations with Slovenia are clear, but relations with Montenegro, as the head of protocol at the Albanian ministry, diplomat Çitaku [?], explains, are instead approached on two levels. First, there is the time of postwar calm. Second, the stabilization of relations with neighbors. Both are necessary. As a still young Albanian state, having a peace-loving neighbor is also a solution for the future." [partially unreadable text]

Zani (right) and Luçiano (left), in a half-joking scenario against their gang, in Vlora and Tirana Luçiano is killed in Vlora, Zani's right-hand man Police accuse Zani of killing his friend page 7

page 8

page 8