The hearing against the “criminals” fails. Justice in a major institutional crisis Police forcibly remove Spahia from the courtroom ON PAGE 4

13 judges removed from their posts, a list for another forty is ready Meidani and Kondi attack the judges ON PAGE 4

By Sami NEZA The magnificent welcome given by thousands of refugees at the Stenkovec camp to President Ibrahim Rugova guaranteed him their support for Kosovo’s political future. Neither the citizens expelled to Macedonia nor those expelled to Albania have been affected by the massive propaganda virus unleashed some time ago by politicians, government officials and others against the President of Kosovo. This shows how important the vote is when it comes to people with democratic culture and state-building aspirations, and also how ineffective propaganda and the people fashioned by it can be. Rugova truly stands ready to lead Kosovo under any circumstances, as he did a year ago; just as he has not stopped his voters from joining the ranks of the KLA to liberate Kosovo. But the relationship between Rugova and his own citizens naturally cannot be damaged by the relationship of the official authorities in Tirana or Skopje with Kosovo’s problems and its institutions; nor can these relationships prevent political action that turns accusations against him into victories in the offices of Albania’s President or those of the Albanian party participating in Macedonia’s governing coalition. As in the past, for some time now leaders of the Albanian Democratic Party, based in Tetovo, have been expressing their disagreement with Rugova’s statements or positions. This is a milder form of the accusations of treason directed at him. A declaration of disagreement has more to do with what one does not understand, but within the lack of understanding of some leaders of the FYROM Albanian Democrats lies an unexpected surprise, particularly because of their alignment with Albania’s left-wing government. Among other things, that government has repeatedly spoken out against Kosovo’s institutions and the parallel state, accused the KLA of being terrorist, designated Belgrade as the capital of the Albanians, made an agreement with the socialists of Greece on diplomatic consultation in the Balkans, sworn to take the same positions, linked freedom fighters with Islamic terrorists, and so on. The formation of a Kosovo government in Tirana without prior consultations; the invention of Rambouillet No. 2, or Meidan 1; the attempt to create an Assembly in which Qosja’s position on the elections of 22 March is entrenched; bypassing the Security Council in Milos’s manner; the resolution of the Gjilan parliament; non-recognition of the Republic of Kosovo and its institutions; threats against part of the command directing the fighting in Kosovo—all of this seems to have little to do with Kosovo and more to do with power bridges built solely to keep off those bridges people who have proved themselves in the cause of Kosovo’s freedom. What a country suffers from belated democratic revolutions has been seen in Albania. Even Qosja himself, the proponent of this term for the communist rebellion of ’97, finds it difficult to explain things in Tirana without at least the KLA Commander or a prime minister by his side. Just as it is difficult for him to remain silent or meet people who are themselves in an insecure position, such as Qosja’s president, Rexhep Meidani. The deliberate attacks on Rugova in Tirana and the statements made in Skopje are not simply about Rugova as a person. On the contrary, many Albanians will rejoice at this attack, as happens when a TV station in Tirana demands an accounting from him for the stars on the flag that he did not bring out of Serbian isolation, even though they had died many years earlier.

Berisha in Gjirokastër and Mallakastër, visiting arrivals from Kosovo The Democratic leader attends the meeting of the Gjirokastër DP and lays flowers at Hajdari’s memorial in Lazarat Berisha in Gjirokastër and Mallakastër, visiting arrivals from Kosovo Return to Kosovo, the victory of the Albanians ON PAGE 3 The Democratic leader attends the meeting of the Gjirokastër DP and lays flowers at Hajdari’s memorial in Lazarat

The mechanism for stealing aid: Customs – NGOs – Tax Authorities Washington — The IMF protests to the Albanian delegation from the Ministry of Finance: Our aid has been stolen right under your noses ON PAGE 5

Serbs launch unsuccessful attacks in Podujevë, Kaçanik and Drenicë ON PAGE 5

With the Socialists in power, Albanians are losing everything their future holds During these two years of rule by the left-wing coalition, fundamental human rights, the justice system, and the persecution of regime opponents have regressed to the standards of dictator Hoxha’s era ON PAGE 2

The Supreme State Audit Institution finds serious violations and dismisses the executives ON PAGE 5

Heavy fighting with artillery and mortars in Kukës, Tropojë and Has At 10:30, heavy fighting took place in the village of Cahan in the Has district. The Serbs fired dozens of mortar shells, killing two people: Musa Cahan and his daughter, Merita. ON PAGE 4

Today, 257 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 leaves the criminals who took the December Leader’s life free and undisturbed, shows Albanians that it has been and remains on the side of the killers—people who enjoy special privileges but are untouched by those in power. Democrats and all Albanians who loved and honored Azem Hajdari cannot tolerate this under any circumstances. The government must either apprehend the criminals and bring them to justice, or publicly declare that it itself committed Azem Hajdari’s murder.

The International Federation of Journalists will suspend the membership of the Association of Journalists of Albania until it is reorganized ON PAGE 2

A KLA volunteer from Arrni i Kukësit falls in the fight to liberate Kosovo ON PAGE 2

Rugova, yesterday at the Stenkovac camp in Macedonia

The Presidium of the Democratic Party is organizing a National Seminar on Saturday, 29.05.1999, at 10:30, on the topic “The involvement of local elected officials in addressing issues concerning arrivals from Kosovo: problems, solutions, experience”. All chairpersons of district, municipal and commune councils, representatives of the political grouping “Union for Democracy”, as well as DP members of parliament, are informed that their participation in the Seminar is essential. PRESIDIUM OF THE DPA

If you wish to contribute financially to the children of Kosovo held captive, 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”.