EXCLUSIVE

I AM INFORMED ABOUT THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN KOSOVO. THEY, IN A COHERENT WAY, REFLECT THE EVOLUTION TO DATE OF THE STILL DIFFICULT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN REPRESENTATIVES OF THE POPULAR MOVEMENT AND POLITICAL REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MOVEMENT FOR THE STATE-FORMING IDENTITY OF ALBANIANS IN KOSOVO. I CAN SAY THAT I APPRECIATE MR. RUGOVA’S COHERENT STEP OF JOINING THE NEGOTIATING TABLE FOLLOWING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NEW PARLIAMENT. I CAN ONLY URGE MR. RUGOVA AND ALL THE OTHERS WHO CONTEST THIS STEP—A STEP THAT IS UNCONTESTABLE FROM A POLITICAL POINT OF VIEW AND A PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO THE CRISIS IN KOSOVO—to CONTINUE ALONG THIS PATH, SET ASIDE THE SENSIBILITIES OF POLITICAL GROUPS OR OF INDIVIDUALS, AND FILL THE VACANT SEATS IN THE REPRESENTATIVE BODY OF THE ALBANIANS, WHICH IS STILL NOT INCLUSIVE OF EVERYONE. This is not about filling empty chairs at an empty table. It is about continuing the efforts, with tolerance, generosity and principle, for the nation, for the victims who continue to perish as a result of Milošević’s fascist violence, and along the path toward establishing genuine democratic, inclusive institutions that give contemporary substance—or a European orientation—to Kosovo’s politics. What does that mean? I would consider seats vacant not only in the negotiating group, but also in the Kosovo parliament and in the government that will represent Kosovo’s local self-government. Naturally, there are also seats to be filled in relations with important international actors, especially the Contact Group, which are indispensable to a sustainable, long-term resolution of this process. I would hope that, without delay, fruitful discussions among Albanians once again take the place of political polemics among Albanians, strengthening the representation of the issue and addressing the proposed packages for defining or shaping Kosovo’s future status. They are very promising. They are even original, because they bring together in one model experiences that have worked in several other models for resolving violent and bloody interethnic conflicts. Naturally, I remain of the same view that the Albanian government has long expressed: I share the same concern as my Kosovar brothers and their political representatives that autonomy for Albanians in Kosovo, however broad and self-governing, and while respecting the principle that borders must not be changed by force, cannot work without a democratic Serbia. A Serbia with Milošević is an illusion if it is called democratic. So I believe in the same standards for guaranteeing fundamental freedoms—that is, self-determination and self-government through democratic institutions—for Albanians and Serbs alike. Milošević is violently killing Albanians in Kosovo, and is also violently and unjustly killing Serbs in the former Yugoslavia. And the most costly killing is the stifling of the potential for development, progress and civilization that all peoples possess, if they win the freedom to institutionalize democracy and create civil societies in which enterprise is the engine of development.

We are cooperating and will continue to provide all necessary support to the specialized authorities in the fight against international terrorism, whether it wears Islamic garb or not PAGE 3

MINISTRY OF PUBLIC ORDER ON THE OFFENSIVE AGAINST CORRUPTION PAGE 6

THE AMERICAN EMBASSY IS HERE PAGE 3

HEAVY FIGHTING BETWEEN SERBIAN FORCES AND THE KLA IN SEARCH OF A SOLUTION Here are five models for resolving the Kosovo issue PAGE 9 THE EMPLOYMENT CURVE IS RISING, BUT SLOWLY Inherited unemployment is beginning to be chipped away PAGES 10–11 FOLLOWING APPROVAL OF THE DECREE ON THE FREE MOVEMENT OF ALBANIAN EMIGRANTS IN GREECE Kakavië–Kapshicë, the white card arrives PAGE 7 TIRANA, THE BANKING METROPOLIS Banks, monetary institutions spur activity PAGE 4 SPECIAL THE MAKSIS-BUTIKICA INTERNATIONAL PATENTS SCANDAL TETA ANDREO MARREZINË PAGE 16 PRICE FOR GREECE: 250 DRX