RD FREE Serbian massacres continue in Drenica. Albanian sources deny the killing of Adem Jashari They are not afraid of war in Kosovo “One nation, one stance” is sweeping across every part of the globe where there are Albanians. Protests by Albanians in Shkup and Tetovë are shaking the Macedonian state. International pressure is mounting on the butcher of the Balkans, Sllobodan Millosheviç NATIONAL LIBRARY TIRANË SPECIAL FEATURE ON PAGES 2-3-4-5

The Serbs have dug trenches in the border area with Albania. Tirana prepares for war The first mission of the special forces is to protect Albania’s border from attacks, but if the Serbian massacres continue, they may intervene, sources from the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Defence said

Berisha reiterates appeals to the International Community to stop Serbian violence in Kosovo

The Union for Democracy condemns the massacres and ethnic cleansing in Drenica The Union for Democracy strongly condemns the massacres and terror perpetrated by the Serbian army and police, and the ethnic cleansing continuing in Drenica. We demand, Mr. Berisha stressed: - the immediate cessation of these massacres and of the ethnic cleansing - the imposition of severe sanctions against Serbia - an international investigation into the crimes committed in Kosovo by the Serbian army and police - the complete demilitarization of Kosovo - the establishment of an OSCE civilian or military presence in Kosovo - airport facilities in Albania for NATO and the EU so that they can protect the unarmed civilian population in Kosovo - the organization of an international conference on Kosovo in close cooperation between the USA and the EU. ON PAGE 3

Democratic Party Chairman Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha received Italian Senator Xhulio Andreoti Yesterday, DP leader Sali Berisha described Senator Andreoti as a friend of the Albanians during a meeting between the DP chairman and the well-known Italian politician. “I am pleased to meet you in Albania, a friend of the Albanians,” Berisha told Senator Andreoti at the beginning of yesterday’s meeting. For his part, Andreoti, expressing his pleasure at the meeting, told Berisha that we had cooperated well during difficult times for your country. “Unfortunately, at present,” Berisha said, “Albania is experiencing even greater difficulties, and this time under exceptional circumstances. But I hope that the Albanians will manage to overcome them.” “Without wishing to preach,” Andreoti said, “the pacification of political life will help overcome this extremely difficult situation. I do not know the difficulties faced by the opposition, but I think its activity in parliament would somewhat prevent violations by members of parliament and the governing coalition.” Berisha stressed that we have been and remain opposed to a permanent boycott, but our absence has been made conditional on respect for our rights. I was the first to welcome and support the statement by the European parliamentary delegation, and we first committed ourselves to implementing its recommendations. But the governing coalition has taken no concrete steps to implement the demands addressed to it in that statement. While the situation remains tense, we are determined to contribute to de-escalating it. Yesterday’s gathering of all political forces on the issue of Kosovo was also evidence of this position. The meeting was open, friendly and held in a spirit of understanding.

Berisha Welcomes Ollbrajt’s Firm Position The chairman of the DP, Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha, yesterday welcomed the firm position of Secretary of State Ms. Madlen Ollbrajt, who strongly condemned the military and police operations undertaken by Millosheviçi in Kosovo and his direct responsibility for these massacres, as well as the determination of the American Government to punish Serbia with sanctions if the massacre of the unarmed civilian population in Kosovo continues. Berisha said he had great confidence that the red line declared by President Bush and later by President Klinton represented an unwavering position of the US Administration as a means of preventing the conflict from spreading in the south of the Balkans.

Berisha Responds to Statements by Russian Officials The Albanians are the oldest nation of the West, and the West must protect them The chairman of the DP, Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha, stressed that statements by Russian officials that Russia would oppose sanctions against Serbia and Western intervention to protect the unarmed civilian population in Kosovo were a direct encouragement to Serbian nationalists to continue the massacres in Kosovo and to carry out the Bosnia scenario there, which serves to destabilize the south of the Balkans. These statements are incompatible with the role Russia should play in the peace and stability of the continent. The Albanians are the oldest Western nation, and it is the duty of the West to protect them when they face the barbarity of Greater Serbian chauvinists while unarmed. I have complete confidence, Mr. Berisha stressed, that Western countries will not tolerate Kosovo being left without protection for its unarmed Albanian population.

VEFA Hunger Strikers: “Malaj Is Confusing Us with the Rescue Committees He Himself Set Up” The hunger strikers reminded Minister Malaj that his report should include all the damage suffered by the VEFA company during last year’s unrest ON PAGE 7

PD Chairman Berisha Sends March 8 Greetings On the occasion of March 8, I wish all Albanian mothers, sisters and women a “Happy holiday.” Now more than ever, mothers are bearing the burden of life’s hardships and the difficult circumstances we are currently experiencing. With courage, they are facing them while constantly passing on to their children the dignity and finest virtues of our nation, as well as hope for the future. I am convinced that Albanian mothers and sisters in Albania, together with Albanian women in Macedonia, Montenegro and throughout the diaspora, are on this day closer than ever to Albanian mothers and sisters in Kosovo, sharing with them their concerns and sorrow over the aggression, as well as the hope that this dire situation in their homes will pass as soon as possible.

Senior government officials inspect the military forces deployed in Kukës

On Sunday, March 8, 1998, at 11:00, on Skënderbej Square, on International Women’s Day, women’s organizations belonging to the parties of the “Union for Democracy” will hold a peaceful rally in support of Kosovar mothers and children and, at the same time, to protest the barbaric violence recently perpetrated in Kosovo by the Serbs. We invite all the women and mothers of Tirana to join us in the call: “One nation, one stance.”

Tomorrow, March 9, 1998, at 11:00, a meeting of the National Council of the Democratic Party will be held. Members of the National Council are hereby informed that the meeting will take place at the PDSh central headquarters. THE PDSh PRESIDIUM