Serbian soldiers force Albanian civilians to dig trenches ON PAGE 4 Serbian soldiers force Albanian civilians to dig trenches Letaj and Qafë-Prushi are occupied ON PAGE 4

Parliament violated constitutional laws to satisfy the appetites of Meidani and Gjinushi ON PAGE 4 Parliament violated constitutional laws to satisfy the appetites of Meidani and Gjinushi The clique also takes over the Supreme Court ON PAGE 4

Untaxed imports into the country increase fourfold ON PAGE 5 Untaxed imports into the country increase fourfold Humanitarian aid, a dubious destination ON PAGE 5

By Shemsi PEPOSHI The past two days have offered the outlines of a possible peace agreement to end the West’s conflict with Sllobodan Milosheviçin. It is said that the framework of a resolution to be put before the United Nations Security Council, sponsored by the G-8, has taken shape and may be published as early as today. Saturday’s reactions from some NATO countries, which appear very eager in their repeated calls to stop the bombings against Yugoslavia and are drawing closer to the Russian position, have caused confusion in public opinion. An Italian initiative, rejected immediately upon publication, has not stopped the Italian prime minister from repeating calls for the suspension of the bombings. Supporters of this thesis are generally insignificant Western countries within the alliance, as well as the many communists around the world, including Fatos Nano and the pro-Russian lobby in Albania, which supported the “D’Alema” initiative. By now, the Italian, Greek or other NATO member country’s position in favor of suspending and stopping the bombings is neither news nor a problem. The Alliance’s official position, and the American, British and French positions, are that the bombings should not be halted; indeed, the British are also seeking the possibility of a ground invasion to force Millosheviçi to surrender, thereby remaining on the side of reason. In any case, this is the purpose for which the Atlantic Alliance’s air strikes began. This group of countries remains small in the eyes of international public opinion and Albanian public opinion, unlike the stated purpose of the bombing of Yugoslavia, declared on 24 March as an effort to stop ethnic cleansing and to protect the values and Western civilization shared by this civilization. At least so far, the Albanians of Kosovo believe that they must stand firm against the aggressor and ensure that a dictator and politician who carried out ethnic cleansing and the extermination of a European people gets what he deserves. Meanwhile, the revival of such voices in recent days seems to be especially conspicuous because of the intensified efforts to pass a UN resolution to end this conflict, as NATO’s operation enters its final phase: the deployment of ground troops in Kosovo. Wednesday’s talks between Millosheviçi and the Russian envoy revealed an important detail that at first glance seems to have no significance. According to the Russian peace envoy, the Serbs should be part of the talks on peace and Kosovo’s future, which are taking place intensively within the G-8 and among the representatives of the three envoys for Kosovo: the American Talbot, the Russian Çërnomër din, and the Finnish President. In fact, if this suggestion is accepted and Slobodan Milosheviçi becomes part of the talks from the preparatory stage, it would have to be acknowledged that NATO and the West have given way to a demand for an effort, the greatest cost of which was borne by the Albanians. It seems that throughout this turmoil surrounding the move to the final phase of the military operation, with global political and diplomatic consensus, there are titanic efforts—not only by the Russians—to make Serbia and Millosheviçi part of this phase as well. Fortunately, the firm statements by the American President in his comments yesterday make clear how little chance there is that the military process already under way will degenerate into a compromise at the expense of millions of Europeans and reward the aggressor. American determination, which underpins the main part of both the military operation and the diplomatic efforts, remains a guarantee of an outcome in favor of Western values and civilization, alongside which the Albanians are also aligned, in this conflict. But, unfortunately, throughout these developments, which will determine the future of the Albanian nation and Kosovo, the Albanian government is completely out of the game. Our government officials are merely ordinary functionaries and clerks who put their signatures on papers and smile. Indeed, the Serbian and Russian lobbies within Albanian diplomacy are working to weaken Kosovo by dividing its forces. Kosovo President Ibrahim Rugova is now better informed than other Albanians about what is being decided regarding Kosovo and is working to ensure that Albanian opinions and positions are taken into account. It is precisely for this reason that Tirana’s Russian and Serbian lobbies systematically attack and vilify him, seeking to keep him away from all the tables and decision-making centers where he is representing and defending the Albanians and their just cause. It is precisely the sidelining of the Albanians, now that their fate is being decided, that Millosheviçi is seeking; and for this, the Russian-Serbian lobbies in Tirana are helping him, although, given American and British determination, there is little chance that this will happen.

The presidency’s pro-Russian lobby, against the voice of the US in Albania Is being close to Meidani really enough to dare to challenge the United States in the most arrogant manner? The presidency’s pro-Russian lobby, against the voice of the US in Albania Meidani, war on the Americans ON PAGE 3 Is being close to Meidani really enough to dare to challenge the United States in the most arrogant manner?

The PD branch’s active membership meets in Elbasan. There are no values of freedom without national values. The paid-for three-symbol became an act of Albanian humiliation At a time when government officials called them terrorists, we called them heroes and stood with them. At a time when we supported them and described them as the pride of the nation, they wanted to

The Presidency’s mystery: Shehu and Koçi trade places with Kondi, Poçi and Islami The former communists chose the practice used last October to avoid a government crisis, which was expected to arise if Meidani did not sign Koçi’s removal and Poçi’s appointment. Back then, Meidani and Gjinushi agreed to let Gaqo Apostoli leave the Ministry of Tenders, but only after Majko was convinced that a social democrat—and nobody The Presidency’s mystery: Shehu and Koçi trade places with Kondi, Poçi and Islami Secret deals between Meidani and Majko The former communists chose the practice used last October to avoid a government crisis, which was expected to arise if Meidani did not sign Koçi’s removal and Poçi’s appointment. Back then, Meidani and Gjinushi agreed to let Gaqo Apostoli leave the Ministry of Tenders, but only after Majko was convinced that a social democrat—and nobody

The Speaker of Parliament backs thugs to fight the BSPSH The Speaker of Parliament, Skënder Gjinushi, is one of the main supporters of Fatmir Musaku’s gang and has taken part in all the secret meetings, financially supporting Musaku in order to fight the BSPSH, Labuni says ON PAGE 2

Serbia cannot change NATO’s fundamental conditions The U.S. president has reiterated NATO’s conditions: the return of refugees in “safety” and “self-government,” the withdrawal of Serbian forces from Kosovo, and an international security force “with NATO at its core” ON PAGE 7

Customs revenues have fallen short for the past four months ON PAGE 5

Talbot, Černomyrdin and Ahtisaari—the face of the Resolution on Kosovo

Today, 251 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 his successor in the crime that shook the entire Albanian world. The government of the former communists, which lets the criminals who took the December Leader’s life go free and enriches them, shows Albanians that it has been and remains on the side of the murderers, whose identities have been established but who are untouched by those in power. The Democrats and all Albanians who loved and honored Azem Hajdari can in no way tolerate this. The government must either bring the criminals to justice, or publicly declare that it itself committed Azem Hajdari’s murder.

ON PAGE 6

For the third time, the former socialist prime minister’s theft case is in court Enver Hoxha’s grandson, Kreshnik Omari, a judge at the Tirana Court of First Instance, appointed by order from above to “clean up” Nano, has still not decided when he will begin the retrial of the former socialist prime minister’s theft case ON PAGE 2

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