Efforts by Meidani-Klosi to prevent the resistance of the Albanians continue ON PAGE 2

Gjinushi appoints at the head of Kavaja’s Health Department a man who stole Red Cross aid ON PAGE 5

The State Audit Office finds in the city of Berat ON PAGE 5

By Edi PALOKA What is happening in Albania right now goes beyond the bounds of reason. Albania and the Albanians are facing an extremely difficult situation. But what is most terrible, and can be called the Albanian marvel, is that Albania is being forced to face the crisis without having either a state or a government. There is war in Kosovo. There is war in Albania too. Milošević is killing and slaughtering in Kosovo. Hundreds of thousands of Kosovars, under pressure from Serbian terror, have crossed into Albania. The whole world, in one way or another, has become involved in what is happening in Kosovo and Albania. Paradoxically, it turns out that the only ones who have not seriously engaged with this issue are the Albanian rulers or, at worst, their “engagement” is on a side completely opposite to that of the whole world. Aid arriving for Kosovars who have died. Kosovars dying on Albanian territory, amid the government’s indifference. Serbian armies invading and burning Albanian villages without meeting any resistance. And facing them, government officials and MPs rushing to establish the hierarchy of thieves. All of these are only some of the most tangible facts showing the reality of Albania “governed” by the socialists. Kosovo has become a gigantic grave, and northern Albania risks suffering the same fate. Milošević’s terrorists are not content with the massacres, killings, burnings, rapes and destruction in Kosovo; they have also attacked the Albanian territory of Albania. Serbian armies enter Albanian soil, burn villages and mine Albanian land, but Albanian government officials continue to respond from their armchairs with statements alone. Interior Minister Petro Koçi continues to speak of Serbian “provocations.” It is called a provocation when the Serbian army deploys at Albania’s borders. It was also called a provocation when Serbian soldiers fired on and wounded Albanian soldiers. The heavy-artillery bombardments inside Albanian territory were also called provocations. It was a provocation when Serbian patrols entered Albania’s border. Now it is also called a provocation when Serbian soldiers enter Albanian territory, burn villages, shoot at Albanians and mine Albanian military posts. Does this country have a government? Hundreds of thousands of Albanians—women, children and elderly people from Kosovo—have crowded into Albanian territory, fleeing Serbian terror in the hope of finding safety. But they are dying here too, just as they are dying in Kosovo. In Kosovo there is Serbian terror; in Albania, the indifference of the rulers, or worse. Does this country have a government? At best, it can be said that this country has no government. This is what the rulers themselves are trying to show, although it may seem absurd. These are Musa Ulqini’s words—that aid is being stolen and the government does not know how it is being stolen—and this is exactly what he is trying to show. But the reality is much worse than that. The truth is that Albania has rulers, but they are engaged in other business. Kosovars are dying in camps because the aid intended for them is being sold in the markets by government officials. The Albanian rulers have hit the jackpot. To these rulers, the arriving Kosovars are not brothers massacred by the Serbs, but sacks of dollars that have arrived. To these rulers, Kosovars mean millions of dollars flowing through Europe; they are one more opportunity to steal. To these rulers, the arriving Kosovars are more merchandise to send across the sea in speedboats. Some were astonished that these government officials and MPs, in such a situation, were fighting one another over “unimportant” matters. The truth is that they were not fighting over unimportant matters, but precisely over the matters that, in themselves, are important to them. In this very situation, when money is being stolen by the sackful, MPs are also fighting to determine the hierarchy of smuggling and clandestine-trafficking clans. In practice, Albania is not simply without governance; it is worse. Albania has a government and officials who are adding further grave consequences to the current crisis. In this way, these rulers can not only do nothing to help the Kosovars, but will also drive Albania into catastrophe.

The influx of looted aid is driving down market prices Most camps are without food. UNICEF sounds the alarm: everyone is threatened by hunger

Mitrovica is displaced by Serbian massacres From our correspondent in Kukës, Shemsi PEPOSHI ON PAGE 2

“I was forced to give interviews and appear on television.” The German daily Tageszeitung publishes Gagja’s conversation with the President of the Republic of Kosovo Rugova: NATO should continue the bombings

NATO aircraft strike bridges and fuel depots in Yugoslavia NATO aircraft continued their attacks against various targets in Yugoslavia on Thursday evening and early Friday morning. NATO aircraft continued their attacks against various targets in Yugoslavia on Thursday evening and early Friday morning ON PAGE 2

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Kosovo Prime Minister Bujar Bukoshi visited yesterday afternoon the wounded UÇK fighters who have been at the Military Hospital in Tirana for several days. Prime Minister Bukoshi encouraged the wounded UÇK fighters in their sacred mission to defend the lands of their ancestors. The wounded fighters, in turn, thanked Prime Minister Bukoshi for his deep understanding and promised him that as soon as they recovered, they would return to the front.

Serbs attempt to enter Albanian territory ON PAGE 2 Serbs attempt to enter Albanian territory Fighting at the Zherkë border post ON PAGE 2

The government receives tons of aid from around the world, but gives crumbs to arrivals from Kosovo ON PAGE 4 The government receives tons of aid from around the world, but gives crumbs to arrivals from Kosovo Shortage of food for those housed in camps ON PAGE 4

Greece seeks a leading role in administering the international community’s aid to the region ON PAGE 3 Greece seeks a leading role in administering the international community’s aid to the region Kosovars kept away from southern Albania ON PAGE 3

Berisha meets Prime Minister Bukoshi At the meeting yesterday between PD leader Sali Berisha and Prime Minister Bukoshi, they discussed the situation created in Kosovo and Albania by Milošević’s genocide and ethnic displacement. Berisha emphasized that today, more than ever, he believes Kosovo needs broad representation, capable of mobilizing all material and human resources to support the freedom fighters who, through their battles, are demonstrating an indomitable spirit. Berisha emphasized that today, more than ever, he believes Albanians should unite, as they did in Rambouillet, and not miss any opportunity; they should take advantage of every representation crisis that favors Milošević and avoid any manipulation whatsoever, including by the authorities in Tirana, who, in order to preserve their power or gain the credibility they lack in Kosovo, have launched a campaign of division contrary to the national interest. They single out Albanians according to their ideological beliefs, use State Television to discredit the UÇK, issue condemnations and forms [?] with which they curse politicians and democratic forces in Kosovo. The blood of the boys and girls being shed in Kosovo’s villages and towns, the rivers of pain and tears, the sacrifices and suffering must unite us today more than ever, so as to make the UÇK an outstanding ally of NATO and win the battle on the Balkan peninsula. Mr. Bukoshi said that he was determined to cooperate with all of Kosovo’s political and military forces, to make all the resources available to his government available to the liberation struggle and the cause of Kosovo, to engage in dialogue with all political and military forces to overcome every kind of representation difficulty, and to increase the ranks of the UÇK fighters and strengthen its potential day by day.

If you wish to contribute money for the exhausted children of Kosovo, you may send your donation to account number 34220/00/0376 at “Dardania Bank” in the name of the association: “Children of Kosovo, our children”.

To help 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 via the telephone numbers provided: 303 29 and 323 55. THE EDITORIAL OFFICE