Major abuses by the Prefecture of Shkodër in distributing aid ON PAGE 2

The Orthodox Church asks the prefecture where its aid has gone ON PAGE 2

No aid from the government for those housed in the southern districts ON PAGE 6

The Democratic Party yesterday announced its platform for dealing with the severe Albanian crisis as a whole, and the Kosovo crisis in particular. Its leader, Berisha, called for the formation of a broadly representative government, while stating that the DP would not abandon its role as the opposition. The DP’s call for such a government comes against the difficult backdrop of a left-wing government struggling to fulfil its functions, at a time when the Albanian nation’s very existence is at risk. After nearly three weeks of the mass displacement of Albanians by Millosheviç’s terrorists, the Majko government is facing a major humanitarian catastrophe within the country, owing to the enormous influx and the management of thousands of tons of aid arriving from many countries and associations around the world. Hundreds of tons of aid have been stolen, and some of it has become a source of profit for speculators, from the lower levels of the state administration to the highest echelons of government. The government has demonstrated its failure not only in the technical management of the crisis, but also politically. As a consequence of the anti-Albanian policies established under Fatos Nano’s government, the current government has failed in many respects to move beyond the tracks laid down by the former prime minister. A significant part of the state apparatus continues to operate according to the principles of Krijel. Through the official media, a grave effort has been sanctioned to undermine Kosovo’s political and military forces, even though the left-wing government itself and the coalition parties have favoured parallel elements of their own governance that have neither a historical nor a moral basis in Kosovo, restricting the ability of the political and military forces on the ground to act effectively and sustainably. The government also showed its inability to protect the country’s borders. It was unable to deal with several Serbian commandos who entered Albanian territory, setting fire to several houses and the Kamenica border post—a precedent not seen in Albania since 1921, excluding the five years of the Second World War. Because of this weakening of Albania’s defences in the north of the country, a large part of the population has been displaced. Given the geographical areas in which this population movement has taken place, it is entirely reasonable to think that the Albanian government is politically in step with the Serb attacks in Tropojë and Has. In the country’s most difficult days, political turbulence at home must be avoided; however, the opposition’s passivity in the name of the crisis could lead to an ever greater loss of the government’s control over the country, as well as its loss of control over the crisis. The formation of a broadly based government would precisely set all the country’s political resources in motion, not merely as an opinion or an intellectual presence, but as managers of the crisis through administrative instruments. In that case, the DP’s return to parliament would also become a necessity, giving Parliament the opportunity to shed the pallor that has settled over it and resume its work. A broadly based government would meanwhile be a practical example for Kosovo’s political and military forces of close cooperation among all parties to drive the Serbian occupiers out of Kosovo and secure the return of all displaced Albanians. In this way, Albania would take a major step towards definitively avoiding domestic destabilisation, whether caused by external factors or by political polarisation within the country. Acceptance of such a proposal by the opposition would be a wise move by the left-wing political forces. Yesterday, the DP also called for a state of emergency to be declared in the northeastern part of the country, where clashes with Serbian forces and casualties from bombardments have become daily occurrences. A state of emergency could put an end to the anxiety of thousands of residents of Tropojë, Has and Kukës. In this district and position, there is ample potential to secure the border’s defence and avert the dangers that could arise from a possible Serbian aggression on an even greater scale than in recent days.

The Democratic Party proposes an anti-crisis package to confront the war that Millosheviçi has declared on the Albanian nation Albanians must unite to stop the extermination. They must mobilise all material and human resources against genocide, deportation and aggression. The Democratic Party proposes an anti-crisis package to confront the war that Millosheviçi has declared on the Albanian nation Here is how to avert catastrophe Albanians must unite to stop the extermination. They must mobilise all material and human resources against genocide, deportation and aggression. ON PAGE 3

200,000–300,000 Kosovar Albanians are travelling to reach Albania From our correspondent in Kukës, Shemsi PEPOŞHI ON PAGE 2

The commander of NATO forces in Southeastern Europe visits Tirana. NATO will intensify its air campaign against Yugoslavia Regarding cooperation between the Apaches and ground troops in Albania, Clark said he could not give specif- The commander of NATO forces in Southeastern Europe visits Tirana. NATO will intensify its air campaign against Yugoslavia Clark: Millosheviçi must stop the aggression against Albania Regarding cooperation between the Apaches and ground troops in Albania, Clark said he could not give specif-

Bukoshi visits camps for those expelled from Kosovo Kosovo Prime Minister Bujar Bukoshi visited yesterday the Rroshbull camp and several other sites in Albania where people forcibly displaced from Kosovo are being accommodated. Mr. Bukoshi met firsthand with the many concerns of those who had arrived from Kosovo, expressing his solidarity with the pain and misfortune of Milosheviç’s victims. The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo stressed the readiness of all the structures under his leadership to assist the displaced, and said that very soon, thanks to NATO’s assistance, all those who had arrived from Kosovo would return to their homes. At all the meetings, Mr. Bukoshi said that at this moment the people of Kosovo must be more united than ever, because this historic moment demands that all divisions among political forces be set aside. Kukës, April 17, 1999 Photo: REUTERS Kukës, April 17, 1999. Photo: REUTERS

Lezhë: Abuses in the distribution of aid to families ON PAGE 5

Prefect Bardhi Aliçkolli at the head of the aid mafia’s leadership Yesterday, two trucks carrying aid intended for those displaced from Kosovo crossed the Kapshticë customs point. Sources in Korçë also report that this happened around midday yesterday, when, after a very brief stop at customs, the trucks headed swiftly onto Greek territory. This incident appears to mark the first case of aid leaving Albania’s borders, precisely at the height of the humanitarian catastrophe affecting those arriving from Kosovo. This is a new scheme for plundering foreign donations that have poured into Albania, but are being swallowed up by the greed of government officials and their associates in the prefectures. Yesterday, too, one of the authorities of the Orthodox Church of Korçë, Father Ilia Kotnani, denounced the theft of more than 30 tons of aid intended for tens of thousands of people who had arrived from Kosovo in this city. According to reliable sources from Korçë, Prefect Bardhi Aliçkolli and his assistant are at the head of the aid-plundering scheme. The Catholic Church of Korçë has also denounced similar problems with the aid it managed to collect. But while cases of aid disappearing inside the country have now become known, the flight of the trucks toward Greece raises great questions, since it points to a highly sophisticated scheme being used by the aid mafiosi. RD correspondent

Regarding the cooperation between the Apaches and the ground troops in Albania, Clark said that he could not give specifics about the Apaches or their future military operations. You must figure it out yourselves. Shemsi PEPOSHI ON PAGE 2 ON PAGE 3

Report

If you wish to contribute money for the exhausted children of Kosovo, you may deposit your amount into account number 34220/00/0376 at “Dardania Bank” in the name of the association: “The 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 by calling the numbers provided: 303 29 and 32 33 55. THE EDITORIAL OFFICE