A silent procession in honor of the murdered student, Kozeta Hyseni A petition has been signed by more than 300 students, and the signing will continue in the coming days ON PAGE 6

Gangs attack a lawyer[?] in the middle of Tirana ON PAGE 4

The Albanian delegation is nearing approval of the political section, under American pressure and guarantees ON PAGE 2 The American side has taken responsibility for the Albanian delegation, while the Europeans have taken responsibility for the Serbian delegation. The Serbs are proposing to split the agreement, but Albright objects. The official authorities in Tirana have been urgently summoned to Paris to persuade “those who listen to them.” The KLA is wary of an uncertain tomorrow. By Mero BAZE Rambouillet, 22 February

By Mero BAZE The diplomatic bustle of the last few hours in Rambouillet has focused on persuading the Albanian parties on the issue of the referendum, and persuading the Serbian side about NATO’s presence in Kosovo. The parties have been clearly divided. The US has taken it upon itself to persuade the Albanians to accept the political package as it was most recently offered, in Saturday’s version, in which the referendum is not explicitly mentioned but is understood as the Albanians’ right to express their will. The other countries of the Contact Group have taken it upon themselves to persuade the Serbian side to accept NATO’s presence in Kosovo. Despite this division, the issue is in fact neither so diffuse nor so difficult. The main outcome of this agreement will not be the issue of the referendum, nor the question of Kosovo’s institutions and their powers, but NATO’s presence in Kosovo. As envisaged, the condition for NATO’s deployment in Kosovo, in all versions, leaves open the physical possibility of Serbia retaining sovereignty over Kosovo. When the US declared NATO’s presence to be part of the agreement, it effectively declared the conference’s principal aim. The only sure element of it, which can remain in force after it ends, is precisely the guarantee of NATO’s deployment in Kosovo. This is because, whatever Milosheviç does, NATO will be in Kosovo, either as a force to maintain peace or as a force to destroy the Yugoslav army. The Albanian side’s signature on this matter is secondary, since it has nothing to do with the fundamental condition set after the conference: NATO’s presence in Kosovo. Thus, even if the Albanian delegation does not sign, that does not release Belgrade from the demand for NATO’s presence—because it is Milosheviç, not the Albanian delegation, who must give the green light for NATO to enter Kosovo. In other words, the pressure on Belgrade is fundamental and directly tied to a condition that is, in fact, the Albanians’ principal demand. If NATO is accepted by Belgrade, the Albanians’ problem will have a clear solution; if Belgrade does not accept it, the Albanian side will likewise gain a new advantage, since it will retain international support and prepare for a new battle with the Serbs. On the other hand, the Albanian delegation’s resistance on the referendum issue is a good tactic for demonstrating the importance of the negotiations for the Albanian delegation, but the conference’s essence is its success or failure. Its essence is NATO’s deployment in Kosovo, and this depends on Belgrade’s position, not Pristina’s. On the other hand, the Albanians should preserve the wording of the resolutions and their rejection, perhaps withdrawing from the referendum issue; this is how they have understood the matter of NATO in Kosovo, since in this way they are not considered refugees, but fellow fighters. The international community is putting pressure on Belgrade to sign the agreement, while it still has not signed. Tuesday, announced as the final day of negotiations, may not be the day that brings them to a close, since signs of European delay have appeared within the conference. For this reason, the Albanians should not be troubled by the idea that they are the authors of a historic process that will decide everything for Kosovo. In reality, this is an international conference that will bring NATO into Kosovo. National composure will be needed for NATO to fulfill their hopes and bring about one outcome or another that will complete those hopes. If this conference does not that will complete them. If this conference does not fulfill their hopes, despite all the efforts and the attempt to achieve this, it has been declared today that there is no day. For the Albanians, the only diplomacy in Rambouillet is also the final day of this conference, when “the Albanians will not receive the means to bring their journey to an end, but the means to make that journey.” For this reason, what must not be lost is international support, especially the American focus; what must be avoided is the idea that this conference must end one hundred percent in the Albanians’ favor. The talks are part of the road toward independence. Until the process of independence in Kosovo is complete, there will be further developments and other concrete changes. If this conference ends as favorably for the Albanians as Rambouillet has offered, including NATO’s presence in Kosovo, that will be achieved sooner and at a lower cost, regardless of the reality that will be encountered.

Berisha on the Rambouillet talks: Albanians will not accept any signature that sanctions injustices against them We will support only

Dozens of people politically arrested by the prosecutor’s office have turned out to be innocent. Who will answer for their imprisonment? Nano’s political prosecutors are being exposed as a sham more and more with each passing day. Other political prisoners, arrested and jailed on false charges, are being released for lack of evidence. This is not just about the six, who remain under investigation on the absurd charges brought by the prosecution, but about dozens and dozens of political prisoners who have turned out to be innocent. Most were abducted from their homes or in the street under threat from monsters, but after spending between several months and a year in prison, they were released as innocent. Thus, dozens of Democrats were arrested before and after the events in Shkodër, accused of crimes they had never committed. Others were arrested over the Milot incident... ON PAGE 6

The European Commission injects funds into the state budget after two years of silence The European Commission has expressed dissatisfaction with the Albanian government’s progress in the areas of privatization, reforms in the justice system, public order, public administration reform, and key public services...

Berisha welcomes the role of the U.S. in Rambouillet ON PAGE 3

The government considers NATO’s presence in Kosovo a necessity ON PAGE 3

Balli Kombëtar Demokrat becomes a member of the political grouping “Union for Democracy” As of yesterday, the political grouping “Union for Democracy” has gained a new member, the Balli Kombëtar Demokrat Party, an old Albanian nationalist party founded 57 years ago by Mithat Frashëri. ON PAGE 3

The meeting of the WDU Foreign Affairs Committee was held in London. Arbër Xhaferi’s PDSh submits an application for membership in the EUCD One of the meetings of the WDU Foreign Affairs Committee will be held in Tirana. This was decided at the meeting of this committee held in London on February 18–19, attended by the heads of international relations of the WDU parties. The meeting was attended by... ON PAGE 4

The miners warn the government that strikes will intensify if their demands are not met On Miners’ Day yesterday, miners, metallurgical workers, and other employees affiliated with the Trade Union Federation of Mines, Geology and Energy celebrated with a one-day strike, which included metallurgical workers in Burrel and Elbasan; miners from Përgjithësi and Poçan, from Rehovë in Korçë, from the coal mines in Memaliaj, miners from Kalimash in Kukës, and those from Has. ON PAGE 4

Today marks 164 days since the murder of the December Leader Every day that passes since the murder of Azem Hajdari, the symbol of democracy and pluralism, proves the involvement of Fatos Nano’s government and its incompetence in the crime that shook the entire Albanian world. The communist government, by leaving free and undisturbed the criminals who took the life of the December Leader, shows Albanians that they still suffer from amnesia about the killers, whose identities are known, but who remain untouched by those in power. Democrats and all Albanians who loved and honored Azem Hajdari cannot under any circumstances tolerate this. The government must either arrest the criminals and bring them to justice, or publicly declare that it itself committed the murder of Azem Hajdari.

The government ignores the demands of the Albaftilm Studios union The third point of the petition states: “If our demands cited above are not met by 22.02.1999, we request the resignation of the Minister of Culture, Edi Rama, who is primarily responsible for the current crisis facing Albaftilm today.” ON PAGE 8