8 dead and 12 injured after a boat carrying illegal migrants collided Yesterday at around 03:00, thirty miles off the coast of Otranto, a boat carrying illegal migrants, mostly Albanians from Kosovo, suddenly collided with an Italian ship. As a result, eight people died, dozens were injured, while many others are considered missing. ON PAGE 4

Message from the American president to the people of Kosovo By Bill KLINTON On behalf of all Americans, Hillary and I are sending the people of Kosovo a message of hope and solidarity. Over the past several months you have been forcibly driven from your homes, you have experienced terrible violence, and many of you are still searching for friends and family members. During the tragedy that unfolded in Germany, I met with refugees from Kosovo. My wife recently met with refugees in Macedonia. Your stories fill us with sorrow. Stories of dignified people whose lives were violently uprooted in scenes we thought we would never again see in Europe. Stories of innocent people, beaten and brutally mistreated without regard for nationality or religion; people rounded up in the middle of the night, forced onto trains without knowing their destination and separated from their families. Stories of people arriving at refugee camps with nothing but an unbreakable determination to find their relatives and return to their homes while preserving their culture intact. You did not give up, you did not surrender to despair, and you did not let the darkness you have seen ‘harden’ your hearts or destroy your faith in a better life in your homeland. You left Kosovo with one goal: to return in safety. The United States and NATO allies are committed to this goal. It will take time, but with perseverance and our determination, the president said, there is no doubt about the outcome. “The campaign of ethnic cleansing in Kosovo will be stopped. You will return there. Our military campaign is increasing the pressure on the Serbian leadership and forces in Kosovo every day. They know that we will not stop until the Serbian forces withdraw and you return home, where NATO troops will be present to prevent the violence from starting again.” Meanwhile, countries around the world have joined together to bring assistance to you and your families. The United States has just completed setting up a camp in Albania, called Camp Hope, where 20,000 people will be accommodated. The U.S. Congress has just approved more than 700 million dollars in humanitarian aid to meet your needs now and when you return home. “We thank the people of Albania and Macedonia for welcoming refugees into their countries and homes. It is not easy for any country to receive a large number of people, and it is certainly not easy for these two countries, which are still struggling to meet the needs of their own peoples. We are mindful of your sacrifices and are determined to help you, to ease your burden and help you establish security, prosperity and democracy in your homes and neighborhoods.” A great challenge can bring people together. The 19 NATO member countries have their differences, but, President Clinton said, they share the same fundamental values. “On the threshold of the new century, we refuse to bow before a dictator who is trying to revive a terrible [legacy] of the century we are leaving behind. Thank you for your endurance, and I want to thank you for your sacrifice.” The United States and NATO are with you, and we will remain with you even after you return to your homes.

French foreign minister talks with Thaçi about the disarmament of the UÇK ON PAGE 2

The Serbian president and his associates—war criminals

Berisha welcomes The Hague Tribunal’s decision to try Milošević “The decision of The Hague Tribunal” to indict [him] for crimes against humanity, as well as the issuance of an arrest warrant for Milošević and his closest associates, constitutes a historic decision in the defense of fundamental human values and a substantial contribution to a just resolution of the crisis in the Balkans. The charge of crimes against humanity against Milošević over Operation “Horseshoe” and the atrocities committed during this operation against two million Albanians in Kosovo is also a tribute to the suffering, torture and lives lost by a martyred people. This decision is further evidence of the International Tribunal’s determination to deliver justice for crimes against humanity by first punishing the highest-ranking leaders of the dictatorship, who are responsible for these crimes. I am convinced that Milošević and his regime bear responsibility for all the major, monstrous crimes committed in the Balkans over this ten-year period. A year ago, I signed the petition calling for Milošević to be charged with crimes against humanity. The Hague Tribunal’s decision thus also fulfills the demand of the petition signed by hundreds of thousands of citizens, Albanians and non-Albanians alike.

Serb artillery bombardments continue incessantly in the Has district ON PAGE 4

Serbs seriously wound a foreign journalist in Morinë ON PAGE 4

Political prisoners are being tried behind closed doors, as under dictator Hoxha’s regime ON PAGE 4

A meeting under the supervision of Tirana’s rulers would seal the division, not unity ON PAGE 3

Today, 258 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, who are free and undisturbed, while the criminals who took the life of the December Leader remain so, shows Albanians that they have been and remain on the side of the murderers, who have names and surnames but are untouched by those in power. Democrats and the whole society who loved and honored Azem Hajdari cannot tolerate this fact under any circumstances. The government must either apprehend the criminals and bring them to justice, or publicly declare that it itself committed the murder of Azem Hajdari.

The leader of the PD and Kosovo’s prime minister welcome Clinton’s message to the Albanians, value the Rambouillet representation, and voice support for the continuation of NATO’s bombings and a ground intervention Berisha - Bukoshi: Let us overcome the problems of representation Prime Minister Bukoshi is expected to meet today with Tirana’s highest state authorities The chairman of the PDSH, Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha, received Kosovo’s prime minister, Mr. Bujar Bukoshi, yesterday. They discussed issues surrounding the crisis in Kosovo and debated the political situation. After the meeting, they appeared before journalists at an improvised press conference, where the chairman of the PD, Prof. Dr. Berisha, declared: “We welcome the firm decision of the Hague Court to indict and then arrest the head of the Belgrade dictatorship and his closest associates for crimes against humanity. This is an extremely important and substantive development in the international community’s response to preserve values and punish those responsible for Operation ‘Horseshoe’ and the atrocities that operation inflicted on the martyred Albanians. Prime Minister Bukoshi and I agreed that it is essential to overcome the difficulties that have arisen over the issue of representation, and that this must be achieved through recognition of the legitimate institutions, the responsibility of the political forces and the representatives of the UÇK. Bukoshi and I believe that the Rambouillet representation was a very valuable thing. The overriding concern of Kosovo’s legitimate leadership and all the Albanians of Kosovo must be the swiftest possible return of people to Kosovo. We have reason to be concerned about certain developments that are not very favorable, but the main premise is that the dictatorial regime in Belgrade is nearing its end. My government of accommodation has been very willing to build bridges and is ready to contribute to overcoming the internal differences among Albanian forces. Personally, I think these differences are being exaggerated to some extent. My message would be to let us overcome these differences calmly and not try to impose this phenomenon on us at all costs; it is not new among Albanians. I am very open and ready to contribute so that we can meet urgently, taking this grave situation into account, and create a common platform on the political positioning of the Albanians of Kosovo, our strategy, and how we can become a subject in international politics for resolving the Kosovo issue rather than an object.” If you wish to contribute money for the expelled children of Kosovo, you may deposit your contribution into account number 34220/00/0376 at “Dardania Bank,” in the name of the association: “The Children of Kosovo, Our Children.” Meanwhile, the prime minister of the Kosovo government, Dr. Bujar Bukoshi, stated: “This was a working visit, as on previous occasions. I intend to meet people who have been dispersed across Macedonia and Albania. It is a tragic situation for the people of Kosovo. We had a good piece of news—the Hague Court’s indictment of Milosheviç as a war criminal. The conditions for a swift resolution of the Kosovo crisis are now in place. In this context, object.” Prepared by: Z. LLESHI

Luiz Arbur and the 5 Serbian criminals, including Milosheviç

The Presidium of the Democratic Party is organizing, on Saturday, 29.05.1999, at 10:30, the National Seminar on the topic “The involvement of locally elected officials in support of 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 hereby informed that their participation in the Seminar is essential. PRESIDIUM OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF ALBANIA