Dioguardi? and others leave the meeting with the Albanian prime minister halfway through Xhenis Trafikanti: “When even the Prime Minister of Albania does not declare himself in favor of Kosovo’s independence, it is clear that the group of 17 congressmen feels that the international community? and Kosovo is thus in a bad way...” Xhoyf [?] Engelmand Xhord Bërdumel Yesterday, a delegation of 17 American congressmen arrived in Albania and, after a meeting with the chairman of the PD, Mr. Berisha, met with the President of the Republic, Rexhep Meidani, and Prime Minister Majko. The meeting with Mr. Majko did not last more than 15 minutes, as the American congressmen left immediately, cutting the meeting with the Albanian prime minister short. According to a telegram transmitted by the ATSH agency, during the meeting with the Albanian prime minister they discussed the latest dramatic developments in Kosovo and the positions that the Albanian factor should take in resolving the Albanian issue in Kosovo. In their conversation with the Albanian prime minister, the delegation of American congressmen declared that they felt very shocked by the daily massacres committed by the Serbs in Kosovo. They stated that they felt disappointed with the position of the Albanian government regarding the dramatic events in Kosovo, which constitutes a serious problem. According to ATSH, the Albanian prime minister informed the American congressmen that the official position of his government regarding the events in Kosovo is the same as that of the Contact Group, the European Union and the United States of America. “The solution to the Kosovo issue must be sought within the framework of Yugoslavia,” said the Albanian prime minister, adding that “expanded autonomy within Yugoslavia remains the most acceptable solution for the Albanian government,” implying that the Albanian government does not accept Kosovo’s independence. Such a stance by the Albanian government, expressed by its head, Prime Minister Majko, seems to have angered all 17 American congressmen. After the meeting with the President of the Republic, Rexhep Meidani, and the Albanian prime minister, the members of the American delegation left Albania for Macedonia. Meanwhile, it is learned that in Tirana the American congressmen held a meeting with the chairman of the Democratic Party, Mr. Sali Berisha, and at that meeting the situation in Kosovo and the need to support its independence were mainly discussed. At the end of his visit to Tirana, the congressman of Albanian origin, known for his pro-independence stance on Kosovo, Mr. Joseph Dioguardi, made a very harsh statement to the press. “We have come to Albania with a clear message. We feel very shocked by the daily massacres committed by the Serbs in Kosovo and we are also disappointed by the fact that the Albanian government has not declared itself in favor of Kosovo’s independence. If even the Prime Minister of Albania speaks out against Kosovo’s independence, then this means that Kosovo’s future is bleak...” See the answers ON PAGE 3 Xhoyf [?] Engelmand; Xhord Bërdumel

The Swiss: We have no intention of leaving our skin in Albania According to the newspaper “Blick”, the head of Swiss diplomacy, Flavio Cotti, has asked the Federation of Swiss entrepreneurs to stop sending investors to Albania, because their abduction seriously endangers their lives. “As long as bandits and kidnappers lie in wait for businesspeople in Albania, we will no longer send people there,” writes “Blick”. ON PAGE 5

Kosovo and order in the pendarët were discussed The chairman of the Democratic Party, Sali Berisha, together with the deputy chairman of the Democratic Party, Genc Pollo, met in the offices of the PD headquarters with the ambassador of the Conference of Ambassadors? of the Balkans and of Southern Europe, Xhez [?] Uthon. During this conversation, and mainly the talks were focused on the Kosovo issue and on the stability of the whole Balkans. ON PAGE 8

ON NEWSPAPER PAGE (Republika, 16 February) Yesterday’s statement by the foreign minister continues to concern the official position toward Albania as Kosovo’s ally. According to it, Prime Minister Majko is determined that, regardless of international and domestic pressure, he will not depart from the official line of the Contact Group on Kosovo. Below follows the full article from “Republika”, which warns that such a stance could bring serious consequences for the future of Kosovo. Kosovo and the Kosovo Albanians are today facing a grave political and national crisis. All signs show that in fact the countdown has begun for their tragedy. In recent days, warnings have become increasingly clear that there are serious projects for the partition of Kosovo and that Albania is moving toward a dangerous position of reconciliation with this scenario. Instead of being the voice of Kosovo’s independence and the defender of the national rights of the Albanians there, official Tirana seems to be adapting to the formula of “expanded autonomy” within Yugoslavia. This position is not simply a diplomatic mistake. It represents a grave departure from the Albanian national interest and gives strength to those who have worked for the dismemberment of Kosovo. If Tirana does not take a clear and public stance in favor of self-determination and independence, then it not only weakens the Albanian cause, but also legitimizes foreign plans for an unjust solution. Today, when entire villages are being burned, when civilians are being massacred and when the world is talking about “compromises”, the silence or ambiguity of the Albanian government is unforgivable. Kosovo cannot be saved with ready-made diplomatic formulas on the tables of foreign chancelleries. It needs a determined stance, a national strategy and clear political support from the mother state. If the political class in Tirana continues to think that the solution to Kosovo must be sought only within the frameworks of Yugoslavia, then it is objectively helping the partition process. And that would be a historical responsibility. ON PAGE 6

Albanian for the parliamentary secret service causes bloody scenarios SHIK-u: Is a controlled clash being prepared by 15 so that Sal[?]ore can escape through fire? People close to the current prime minister are rapidly preparing destabilizing and bloody scenarios. According to information from SHIK structures, a group of leaders and officials linked to the government have intensified their activity toward organizing new political provocations. According to this information, the objective is to create an atmosphere of terror and chaos through violent events, in order to justify a new wave of political repression against the opposition. Various sources speak of secret meetings, suspicious movements of people and contacts with criminal elements that may be used as instruments of these plans. At the center of this scenario, it is said, is also the incitement of a clash with serious human consequences, in order to divert public attention and strike political opponents. The warning is serious and is linked to recent developments that have created high tension in the country. If these data are confirmed, then we are dealing with an extremely dangerous situation for the constitutional order and for the safety of citizens. The opposition and the institutions must show high vigilance and demand full transparency about any suspicious movement that could lead the country into a new tragedy. ON PAGE 3

Berisha meets with the well-known international analysts and historians Bugajski, Stone and Veremis Today, at the PD headquarters, the chairman of the Democratic Party, Sali Berisha, met with the well-known American analyst Janusz Bugajski, the American historian Norman Stone and the Greek historian Thanos Veremis. The discussion focused on the dramatic developments in Kosovo and the prospect of a fair solution to the Albanian issue there. During the meeting, the interlocutors assessed that Kosovo’s independence is the most sustainable and realistic solution for long-term peace in the region. They emphasized that any other formula that keeps Kosovo under Serbian sovereignty or within Yugoslavia will produce only instability and new conflicts. According to them, the international community must understand that the self-determination of the people of Kosovo is not an extreme demand, but a historical and political necessity. The meeting also focused on the role Albania should play in supporting this cause. ON PAGE 3

Massive Kurdish protests after the capture of the PKK leader All agencies report that the leader of the Kurdish separatists Abdullah Öcalan, known by the nickname “Apo”, has been arrested by Turkish secret services in Nairobi, Kenya, and later taken to Turkey. According to the first reports, his capture has triggered immediate protests by Kurds in several European countries. The news has brought strong political and diplomatic reactions. Kurdish organizations and their supporters have accused several European governments of cooperating in his arrest, while the Turkish authorities have presented the operation as a major success of the Turkish state against terrorism. ON PAGE 2 The government arrested Öcalan in Kenya

Llapajësi, Llallasjko? and the allusions to the “armed uprising” Today around 09:30, a police group stopped Mr. Dhiver Mar[?], a Democratic Party activist, at his home. He was taken to the police under the pretext of investigations related to the accusations of “armed uprising.” According to opposition sources, this action is part of a new wave of political pressure against its structures and aims to create an atmosphere of fear. ON PAGE 6