Kukës is overcrowded. The population has reached 160,000 ON PAGE 5

By Robin COOK, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs ON PAGE 3

Father Don Karmelo les Roza, representative of the Mamuras church, speaks ON PAGE 5

By Bardhy LONDO Serb attacks in Northern Albania have continued almost every day. At times, they have even reached such proportions that they bring to mind a real war, and there have been dead and wounded among the Albanian border forces, as well as frequent destruction caused by Serbian shelling. The position any free and sovereign state would take in such a situation is well known. In most cases, Albania has either failed to respond to the Serbian attack, letting the aggressors understand that they can do whatever they want on our land, or has demonstrated an inability or immaturity to defend itself. The Albanian authorities have justified this inferiority with the need to “keep calm” and with the fact that every move must be coordinated with NATO. Of course, no one is asking the Albanian government to embark on an adventure and shed blood for nothing, given that it has a completely irresponsible neighbor, ready to commit the most horrific acts of bloodshed at the expense of Albanians. But Albania’s sovereignty and inviolability are sacred and must be safeguarded with honor and dignity. Albanians have enough strength and ability to keep their land untouched by the desecration of the barbaric Serbian boot. The Albanian government must know this well and be convinced of it, because Albanians believe in themselves. On the other hand, NATO does not prevent anyone from defending their country’s borders; indeed, such an action would be of great help to NATO itself and the KLA. But what is most astonishing about the Albanian government’s stance toward the Serbian aggressors is its propaganda. This propaganda irresponsibly downplays these attacks, calling them almost routine and insignificant “incidents,” while the world media are raising the alarm about this Serbian barbarity. In Tirana, people learn about Serbian attacks on border posts and Albanian villages from foreign television channels, which even show more footage from the scene. Meanwhile, the Albanian media broadcast them several hours after the foreign television channels, without footage and with an incomprehensible downplaying of their danger. It is understood that all Albanians must defend the border, but the current Albanian government’s stance raises the question: who will defend Northern Albania? It seems that the Albanian state structures have demanded this only of the inhabitants of the North. So far, recruits for compulsory military service, or reservists to be called up in emergencies, have been sought only in the northeastern regions. Such an approach to the defense of the country is not only unacceptable but also extremely harmful. Every inch of the Albanian border belongs to all Albanians, and everyone is ready to defend it. When Tropoja and Kukës are at war, Saranda and Pogradec are at war too. To adopt a policy in which the North and the South defend only the North, while the South defends only the South, is to leave Albania to the mercy of fate and make it easy prey for the first aggressor who might invade its borders. This is not the first time that the Socialist-majority government has been criticized for its differentiated policy between the South and the North, and for its composition, in which ministers of southern origin and outlook predominate. But to go so far as to leave the state border in the hands of Northern residents alone, even in a matter such as resistance to Serbian aggression, means leaving the country without proper defense and encouraging national division. So far, reservist mobilizations and calls for soldiers have taken place only in the North, while the rest of Albania continues its daily life and routine, to such an extent that it is very difficult for people in these areas to understand that Northern Albania is not only under threat, but that exchanges of fire lasting several hours take place almost every day, using every caliber of weapon available. But does this division and separation exist among the people? Recent events, and the way Albanians expelled from Kosovo were received as far away as Albania’s southernmost reaches, show that the idea of a geographical division among Albanians does not exist at all in their mentality; indeed, this positive outlook extends beyond today’s state borders. (Continued on page 2)

Petition from the border villages of Has to the government: “You left us at the mercy of the Serbs. Our homes have been destroyed and people are being killed. Our children have become war refugees.” “In Vlahën, Serbian forces have entered our territory and built positions facing the Kovaç and Goçaj neighborhoods. At Livadhi i Delrecit, in the Muhadër neighborhood, Serbian forces have pitched their tents on our land. The Serbs have occupied our observation post” ON PAGE 2 “ In Vlahën, Serbian forces have entered our territory and built positions facing the Kovaç and Goçaj neighborhoods. At Livadhi i Delrecit, in the Muhadër neighborhood, Serbian forces have pitched their tents on our land. The Serbs have occupied our observation post.”

Kosovo’s Minister of Defense refutes Thaçi’s office ON PAGE 3

Mystery surrounds the motives for the killing in the city center. Terror and panic among the citizens of Durrës ON PAGE 4

Democrats should not become accomplices in this dirty game ON PAGE 2

Those gathered in the camps express dissatisfaction with the government over aid ON PAGE 4

The Flemish members of the Belgian parliament proposed yesterday that Ibrahim Rugova, President of the Republic of Kosovo, be awarded the “Nobel” Peace Prize. The only exceptions to this proposal were a few Belgian far-right MPs, who declared themselves opposed to the statement made by the majority of Belgian parliamentarians. The Belgian MPs have greatly appreciated the role Ibrahim Rugova has played and the options he has pursued for resolving the Kosovo issue throughout his political career. The Belgian MPs’ proposal is also particularly significant given the moment at which it is being put forward. Kosovo’s President, Ibrahim Rugova, is currently being held hostage by Milošević’s barbaric regime. He has chosen to be held hostage in Kosovo and to share Kosovo’s fate, just as a ship’s captain does not abandon it in its most difficult moments, even if the ship is sinking. Ibrahim Rugova was the first leader to publicly call for Kosovo to be placed under NATO protection and for these military forces to intervene on the ground in Kosovo. The proposal to award Rugova the “Nobel” Peace Prize comes at an extremely difficult time for him, when he is being attacked and accused of being a traitor—not only by Milošević, but also by certain factions who look toward Tirana’s luxury hotels. Ibrahim Rugova’s contribution to the Kosovo issue is beyond dispute, and the most fitting recognition of this contribution is the Belgian parliament’s proposal to award him the “Nobel” Peace Prize.

Aid distribution resumes. An entire day for one box of food ON PAGE 5

Gruesome murder in the center of the city of Shkodër. A 25-year-old man is taken hostage Yesterday at 11:00, armed individuals opened fire, killing Zeqir Sulejmani, 50, and his daughter, Majlinda Sulejmani, 29. ON PAGE 4

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo continues his visit to the USA Kosovo Prime Minister Bujar Bukoshi and his team also met Senator Bob Doll, a former US presidential candidate. Senator Doll was briefed by the Albanian government of Kosovo about the campaign of ethnic cleansing in Kosovo and the humanitarian catastrophe facing those deported from Kosovo. Mr. Bukoshi expressed his deep gratitude to the USA for its political and military initiative in helping resolve the Kosovo issue. He said that Albanians look to NATO and the USA as their historic allies in the cause of a free Kosovo and a Western society. Senator Doll expressed his appreciation of the fact that the Albanians signed the Rambouillet agreement and are cooperating with international actors to resolve this crisis. Bukoshi is in the USA on a visit lasting several days, during which he will also hold talks with officials from the State Department, as well as US congressmen and senators. Mr. Bukoshi also held a meeting with journalists.

Today marks 234 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 successor in the crime that shook the entire Albanian world. The governments of the former communists, by allowing the criminals who took the life of the December Leader to remain free and unpunished, show Albanians that they were and remain on the side of the killers, who are known by name but are not touched by those in power. Democrats and all Albanians who loved and honored Azem Hajdari can in no way tolerate this. The government must either capture the criminals and bring them to justice, or publicly declare that it itself committed the murder of Azem Hajdari.

If you would like to contribute money for the exhausted children of Kosovo, you can send your contribution to account number 34220/00/0376 at “Dardania Bank”, in the name of the association: “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 numbers provided: 303 29 and 323 55. THE EDITORIAL OFFICE