Fifteen minutes before the US Secretary of State, Albright, was to enter the parliamentary chamber, the leader of the DP and MP Genc Pollo publicly quarrel in the presence of all the foreign ambassadors Pages 2–3

ALEKSANDËR ÇIPA The authoritative woman of Washington diplomacy, Ms. Albright, yesterday delivered to Albanian politics, through her speech before the Albanian Parliament, the clearest and most directly nuanced messages. As never before, Albright openly announced the reason for her return visit to Tirana after six years, underscoring that what matters most to American concerns today is: “...you and your neighbors...” As a prescription for overcoming the tense situation at the two hottest points in today’s Balkans, namely Mitrovica in northern Kosovo and Montenegro near Albania, a few hours after this speech in Tirana, around 350 new soldiers joined the multinational force in Mitrovica. They began serving where, just days earlier, a bloody incident had taken place between Albanians and Serbs. Unlike on other occasions, the American message in this speech, blended with gratitude and courtesy for Albania’s stance during the Kosovo crisis, was also accompanied by the formulation: “The future of Southeastern Europe depends on your tolerance and cooperation, and that of your neighbors...” Taken in its entirety, therefore, Ms. Albright’s speech in Tirana amounts to advice urging official responsibility from all Albanian actors in the region. This explains the unexpected presence in Tirana on the same day of Hashim Thaçi, the political leader of Pristina. At this point, to leave no doubt about how her mission should be understood, Ms. Albright clarified: “Each of the Albanian leaders must make a contribution...” But as part of this agenda, the head of American diplomacy also reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to suggesting solutions to contentious issues that are consuming the energy of Tirana’s political parties, such as corruption, electoral law and the CEC. In her remarks, the US chief diplomat expressed herself precisely, leaving neither side room for misinterpretation or political use. The precision and phrasing went hand in hand, making it possible for both the government and the opposition to reach a common understanding. The compliment to the Prime Minister for the 40 organized-crime groups dealt with was accompanied by official confirmation of $9 million in American aid and the statement: “As we look ahead to a bright future for Southeastern Europe, we must think about how to help Albania move along this path.” This means that the aid is directed to Albania’s institutions, not to the political party holding the governing mandate. Returning once again to the American woman’s words, “You and your neighbors...,” we should be clear that her arrival in our capital is connected solely with the pressing issue of Mitrovica, which, given its current situation, is rightly described as “the most dangerous city in the region.”

Pages 2–9 photo P. ILO Albright and Meta yesterday at the rally in front of the Prime Minister’s Office

Humor by Filip Çakuli, pages 30–31