Albania must denounce Macedonia for the massacre of war refugees, and not shamefully conceal the facts Minarolli: “We believe there has been a connection between the governments of Serbia and Macedonia over the mistreatment and delayed release, and the disappearance of around 25,000 Albanians from Kosovo in the camps in Macedonia” ON PAGE 3

They have been sheltered in citizens’ homes, but are short of food ON PAGE 7

By Pjetër ARBNORI Every foreign occupation is bad, but when you subjugate a people who suffer from an inferiority complex because they are weaker than your people, then you should expect every kind of evil from them. I want to be clear: when I say the Serbs are weaker than us, I am not claiming that they are inferior in every quality and ability. They are more united than we are, more sociable, more cruel toward foreigners (we are cruel to one another); they have stronger ties with the outside world; they have a more capable and cunning diplomacy (their deceptions know no bounds), and they have had and still have a far more active presence in Albania’s troubles (it must never be forgotten that the three-fingered Serbian salute marked the beginning of the rebellion in Ismail Qemali’s Vlora, and that the Slavic politicians rejoiced at gaining an ally who would help them overthrow Berisha). On 4.12.1993, speaking at the Second National Congress of the Democratic Party, I said: “Fatalistically, in the great divisions of the world, Albania has been allotted a place forever in the hemisphere of shadow, of night ... The Byzantine Empire, the Ottoman Empire, the Russian-Soviet Empire. Apart from the politics of global divisions, during these years of our independence the Serbo-Slavs have made a frenzied effort to occupy us, as they have always done to our people, or, when they have been unable to place us under their tutelage, they have tried, not without success, to have a government in Tirana that would say amen to Belgrade. The main aim of Slavic policy is for Albania not to unite with the West, because if that happens—and this is the reality—Albania has the human resources, intellectual abilities and natural resources that would soon enable it to advance faster than the Serbs themselves.” I have always held, and continue to hold, the firm conviction that the overthrow of democratic governments, in addition to other real reasons, was fundamentally driven by this desire of the Serbo-Slavs (and their allies) to delay Albania’s integration with the West as much as possible and, as a result, hinder its progress. They do not want Albania to become a model for the Albanians living in their own lands in what remains of Yugoslavia. The obstruction, delays and diversion of the corridor are also part of this strategy. The sabotage of the revival of Via Egnatia, which will connect Durrës with the East, is not something that began only today. For more than a century, since the railways began to be built, terrible propaganda was spread among the peasants of Central Albania against the iron monster that spews fire and [unclear in source] ... when that spews fire and [unclear in source]. Instead of this giant lifeline for Albania, they built the north-south Orient Express, and the “monster” spewed not fire but gold for the countries it passed through. As a result of this loss, Durrës, the tavern of the Adriatic, was reduced to a village of 100 houses. It is for historians to search the pages of the old press and the documents that prove history is repeating itself. Either Corridor 8 will never be built, or it will go onto the Greek calendar, while other arteries will quietly spring up and grow. Albania must support both the West-East corridor and the North-South one. But we don’t have the strength. Italy is a great power, without [text missing or garbled], and perhaps both the West-East corridor and the North-South one [text garbled]. without [text missing], while the USA is a powerful bulldozer that opens every road if it so wishes. Thus, the political aim has been to leave Albania a disabled invalid without limbs, so that even if it makes progress, people will say with pity: “Poor thing, the wretched country—look, it’s moving well.” The foundation of Albanian politics and anti-politics remains Kosovo. During the five years of democracy, I believe the right course was set on both sides of the border: make Kosovo known in Albania, establish democratic institutional structures on both sides, and raise awareness of the Albanian question in world politics. Meanwhile, our opponents also sought to prevent recognition and progress, facilitate economic and institutional reform, and establish unequal relations between Albania and its neighbors. Peaceful policy, free elections, not changing borders by force, and Albania’s recognition of the Republic of Kosovo were good things. Cursed be he who does not want peace, but cursed also be he who does not want what is good and just. The ideal is when peace, goodness and justice are combined. But sometimes all three cannot be achieved together. Then the old saying comes into play: “Si vis pacem, para bellum”—“If you want peace, prepare for war.” First, Albania has no strength; second, even the strength it had was destroyed in mid-1997, so as to leave hands free to bloodily attack Drenica and Deçan in 1998 and carry out the most brutal ethnic cleansing known to European history in the past 50 years. We speak of peace also because we have never occupied a single inch of foreign land. (Continued on page 2)

The Atlantic Alliance ready for the humanitarian operation in Albania: 8,000 NATO troops to protect aid The thefts are covered up by dismissing a chief customs officer. Minister of Information: NGOs are stealing too The thefts are covered up by dismissing a chief customs officer. Minister of Information: NGOs are stealing too The Atlantic Alliance ready for the humanitarian operation in Albania: 8,000 NATO troops to protect aid Here is the scheme for stealing aid The thefts are covered up by dismissing a chief customs officer. Minister of Information: NGOs are stealing too ON PAGE 7 Figures according to Minister Ulqini: 150,000 arrivals from Kukës; 54,000 accommodated in families, 76,000 in around 80 public facilities and 20,000 in campsites Actual figures: 150,000 arrivals from Kukës; 99,650 accommodated in families, 36,548 in public facilities and campsites (data from some districts are missing) ACCOMMODATED CITIES WITH FAMILIES IN CAMPSITES AND PUBLIC FACILITIES SHKODRA 7 100 4 507 2 593 TIRANA 27 000 19 000 8 000 DIBËR 2 050 1 600 450 KAVAJË 8 700 4 790 3 910 FIERI 7 000 4 800 2 200 DURRËSI 14 154 13 600 3 500 KORÇA 10 000 9 000 1 000 BILISHT 1 000 1 000 - ELBASANI 5 111 698 The massive scheme for stealing aid brought into Albania for displaced people fleeing violence from Kosovo has been exposed. The government has manipulated the number of arrivals accommodated in state facilities, as well as the theft scheme, which begins with false figures for the displaced and ends with money being taken from the police officers of the Kosovo [text unclear in source], in an operation directed from Kukës to other Albanian cities. The publication of this list, which is not complete ... [Text continues beyond the edge of the image] DIBËR 2,050 1,600 450 KAVAJË 8,700 4,790 3,910 FIERI 7,000 4,800 2,200 DURRËSI 14,154 13,600 3,500 KORÇA 10,000 9,000 1,000 BILISHT 1,000 1,000 - ELBASANI city 5,809 5,111 698 village 1,735 642 1,093 LIBRAZHDI 1,420 - 1,420 PËRRENJASI 105 - 105 PEQINI 1,385 500 885 GRAMSHI 323 - 323 LUSHNJA 6,800 4,100 2,700 POGRADEC 2,000 500 1,500 KOLONJË 300 300 - LEZHA 2,200 700 1,500 PËRMET 300 300 - GJIROKASTËR 1,517 1,000 517 MAMURRAS 1,300 1,100 200 VLORA 6,700 3,600 3,100 SARANDA 800 - 800 DELVINA 500 - 500 BERAT 5,000 2,200 2,800 PUKA 1,000 1,000 - Total 116,198 79,650 36,548 Note: There are around 20,000 unregistered people who have been taken in by local residents.

The city has exceeded the bounds of a state of emergency; 25 people have died ON PAGE 5

The Prefect of Korçë calls for the Kosovars to leave Korçë ON PAGE 3

PD MP Xhevdet Mehmeti speaks about the severe humanitarian crisis ON PAGE 5

Chairwoman of the Tirana District Council: “All powers have been taken away from local government” At the camp set up in Mullet, arrivals from Kosovo complain that they lack food, milk is not provided for children under three, sanitary facilities are lacking, complete information blackout prevails, etc. ON PAGE 5

If you would like to contribute money for the displaced children of Kosovo, you can deposit your donation into account number 34220/00/0376 at “Dardania Bank,” in the name of the association “The Children of Kosovo, Our Children.”

To assist those expelled from Kosovo, the newspaper “Rilindja Demokratike” is making its pages available free of charge for various notices, such as requests and offers for accommodation, messages from arrivals from Kosovo to other members of their families, etc. You are welcome to visit the editorial office or contact us by calling the telephone numbers provided: 303 29 and 323 55. THE EDITORIAL OFFICE