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The weekly Koha (The Times) was published in Prishtina (Kosovo) between 1994 and 1997. Edited by VetonSurroi, a young Kosovar jou rnalist and one of the pioneers of democratisation in former Yugoslavia, Ko ha

soon becam e a symbol of quality among the region's media. In 1997 it started to be pub lished daily under the

name of Ko ha Ditor. With the kind perm ission of Mr. Surroi, Koha digests were originally posted on

http://koha.estudiosbalcanicos.org.

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KOHA SUMMARY # 94

FRONT PAGE: POLITICS, TERROR, BLASTS

DATE: 6 MARCH 1996

EDITORIAL

THE MONUMENT, THE WALLS AND HELSINKI

by VETON SURROI

In the opposite side of the French Embassy in Belgrade there is a monument of gratitude of

the Serbian people to France for joint friendship activities during World War I. During the

disintegrating wars in Yugoslavia, not only once one could read in Serbian media that the

monument should be destroyed, and "real Serbian patriots" gave ideas, not only once, todesecrate the monument. Recently, France became the first big Western state to have

diplomatic relations in the level of ambassadors with the self-proclaimed Federal Republic of

Yugoslavia.

The monument remained where it used to be, and it was not important, neither in the first

case when the attack on it was requested, nor now when someone might be proud that it is

still there. The Serb-French friendship or enmity are completely irrelevant, as it usually

happens in politics, and the fact that France raised their relations to the level of ambassadors

with Belgrade, tells more about concrete issues in the level of international relations. I was

recently told by some people abroad that this gesture meant paying back debts for Milosevic'sinfluence on Mladic to release the French pilots. My personal opinion is that reasons are

stronger, and this is the need of some European states, France being one of them, to provide

better political positions in Belgrade (looking towards economic advantages, eg. investment

contracts), but the most important thing is that they aim to provide for themselves better

political positions within European Community. France, and probably Britain will

demonstrate their political power within European Community and Western Alliance of

Atlantic in the way, as it was said recently, Germany demonstrated its power by recognising

Croatia. Spain and Italy have made it known that they will do the same thing. Slovenia, and

this example shows that this is not only a matter of great countries, will also provide

themselves their place.

The outer wall of sanctions imposed against Belgrade is slowly falling down, and the first

phase when Belgrade should be recognised by individual great powers is entering the second

stage when this is supposed to be done by international organisations. In this way Belgrade

will also have to face the German position, and at last the American one, before it is in

stepdoor of the international organisations. But the fact that a state raised without legality and

legitimacy is being recognised so hastily, tells much about the unity of the western front

which should condition Belgrade to return towards democracy.

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Kosova, an open issue tied to outer wall of sanctions, is dawning even deeper with its

position for negotiations. We are having negotiations soon, this is what we prefer to think.

Yes, this is true, but it is also true whether these negotiations will be by the first, second or

the last dinning table when leftovers are collected. A western official, a few days ago,

expressed his fear that the issue of Kosova could be gradually turned in one of "internalproblems" of the long list of OSCE. Thus, Kosova could enter with Chechnya, Moldavian

Transdnyestre, Nagorno Kharabakh in Azarbeyjan, Crime of Ukraine... Problems for which

regrets are expressed, work groups and missions of OSCE are formed, and which are neither

solved nor have effect in international relations.

(Russia was admitted in the European Council, the first European post war association

dedicated to democracy, despite mascaras in Chechnya).

If West wanted to do something about Kosova with these gestures, then all they did was

radicalisation of the Kosovars vocabulary. "We demand that Serbs and Albanians talk, but

within the framework of Helsinki Chart" told me the same official. Helsinki Chart, however,mentions that borders are not to be changed by force. And it is firm here; but is there

something similar and firm to prohibit repression of peoples? What will Albanians concretely

gain if they accept to embrace Helsinki principles as precondition for discussions, as they

have proclaimed several times so far?

"BOMB" THAT CONTINUES TO KILL EVERYDAY

What will be the truth of the car-bomb in Tirana? Political crime?Foreign agents? "Enemies" surrounding us? Or, the aggravation of

the political life before elections?

by AGIM ISAKU / Tirana

Chronicle: Monday, February 26, 1996. Sunny but cold day. Few days

ago, in the cross road known as "barricades" which reminds of World

War II and "Rruga e Dibres", in the first floors of one of nine

floor buildings, is located a new supermarket, owned by probably

largest Albanian company called VEFA, the most likely property of

former army lieutenant Vehbi Alimuca. It was opened as a jointsupermarket of Italian-Albanian firm Vefa-Aldos.

In any case, it is Monday and people have begun to "populate"

streets, squares, corners and the few supermarkets of Tirana.

Many people enter VEFA-ALDOS. It is 9.7 A.M.. A Fiat Tipo, without

registration plates is stopped in front of the supermarket. A

watchman engaged by VEFA, latter to be found in hospital covered in

blood, said that he had noticed an Italian made car and that he had

told the driver to remove the car because it was not allowed to

park there. "Just two minutes", had replied the man who is supposedto have put the bomb in the car which has been completely

destroyed, leaving the engine on and making him believe that he

would be back soon. But this did not happen: the fatal bomb

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exploded five or six minutes later, and in its explosion it blew

off the watchman, and killed four persons and wounded at least 28

others. Other explosions were heard inside, and it is witnessed and

supposed that they came from gas vessels from the supermarket.

Blast affected the surroundings damaging higher floors andbuildings around.

A bitter fate had window glasses in houses of the writers Ismail

Kadare and Dritero Agolli, about 200 metres away from the place of

the blast.

Immediately after the blast, strong police forces came on the spot

(February 29, in its interpellation in the parliament Interior

Minister Musaraj declared that it was within only 7 seconds). More

than 20 ambulances transported the wounded. After few minutes the

whole government of Albania, TV, photo-reporters, radio-reportersand so on were on the spot, while, round 10.30 p.m. in an upset

step and angry appearance, in the square, now fully controlled by

police, arrived president of republic himself. His first

statements, before they were heard on radio, were transmitted in

cafs of Tirana. Bombs are "red". Segments of former secret police

"Sigurimi", used to planting terror and destruction want to stir up

life and darken the image of new Albanian democracy. It is not

accidental that this bomb blasted, since they had warned in their

media with the Night of Saint Bartholomew, breaking of skulls,

civil war etc, etc. In the meantime, people of Albanian parliament,of different political parties and associations flew in hospitals

to meet and convey condolences to relatives of victims. How many

casualties are there, people ask. First figures are dizzying: 20

dead and hundreds of wounded. Someone of the wounded has seen and

knows the one who has put the car bomb. Thank God! The government

has taken all measures and the criminals will be in hands of

justice and ... of peoples revenge (TV) very soon. More than 500

people arrested. Really? Who knows, but anyway, two former

employees of Sigurimi who happened to be there were detained. It

was them... it was not them. It was them... Peoples gossip revived

in a scaring reproduction. Car bomb. First car bomb in Albania. Atlast we are a place not much different from other places, since we

have our car bomb now.

Next day, the rumor about the crime goes up and down. Newspapers,

generally from political positions, turned into bunkers again and

started to through stones on each others. "Albania", known to be

pro governmental newspaper, "RD" pro Democratic Party and

satellites call the bombs "red". "Zeri i Popullit" tries to remove

the shade of suspicion from its socialist party.

The scandal has happened with journalists of the largest daily

"Koha Jon" (Our Times): all journalists, typists, cleaners,

watchmen and drivers were "captured" by police around 10 pm and

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interrogated. Where have you been at the time of the blast?

Journalists were released around 4 a.m. and rushed to close their

daily which opened with the news on the scandal. However, six

persons were kept in police, mainly drivers and the personal guard

of the manager of the newspaper, Nikolle Lesi. Also the sixvehicles used to distribute the newspaper were blocked.

The free lance journalist of left orientation Ylli Popovina was

arrested in Berat. He had published on November 29, 1995 in the not

very popular newspaper "Populi PO" an article titled "Car Bomb from

Shkup could be 'reallocated' in Tirana", which was broadcasted on

TV the first day of the crime.

TV started broadcasting by showing families of victims and passers

by in streets, who added to the already the tense situation. Calls

such as: "They should be cut into pieces", "They should be burnt

alive", "They should be hang in the middle of the square so thateverybody can see them" and similar ones replaced the need for

reasonable call for peace and action in conformity with law. All of

sudden in scene appeared 23 old Pietro Zanone "in charge of press

office" from Bari, the one who had made accusations for Serbian

financing of left hand political and public Albanian life who,

thinking of himself to be a hero, declares: car bomb in Tirana was

placed by former Enverist Sigurimi collaborators who have done this

to threaten me (!!!??)

It seems that logic is lost in the other side of the sea. Gossipand rumors revive. This time it is Serbia (not Greece, since at the

moment we have good relations with them!!) It must be them. By all

means.

Who knows why owner of VEFA, who happened to be in Greece on the

day of the crime, came back and stated that the crime had nothing

to do with his company and it was a political crime conducted

against new Albanian capitalists.

Many people speak, but it is strange that the most logical thing

lacks: opinion is not given up to date information by competentorgans who, either speak too little, or are politicized or most of

the time say nothing.

It was not difficult in the politically heated preelection

political grounds in Albania to dye the crime with highly political

colors. After the president, who decreased the political burden

with his words, other political forces and their newspapers

followed and continued to blow to the fire. This changed its

direction from open competition on accusations, and was transformed

into a competition of statements against the terrorists act. Hereare some of the statements, not differing much from each other,

made by political parties immediately after the event:

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PRESS OF PRESIDENCY OF REPUBLIC:

"Today, headed by President of the Republic Sali Berisha emergency

meeting of the government was held where the terrorist act was

discussed in which 3 persons lost their lives, 27 were wounded, 5of them in serious condition.

The government condemns this barbarous act which claimed lives of

innocent people and aimed destabilisation of the country.

Government guarantees citizens that all necessary measures have

been taken to identify criminals and take them before justice. It

is confident that Albanian justice will give them the maximal

punishment according to Albanian law...

Government will put in disposal the amount of 5 million new leks

(50.000 dollars) to individuals who will render concrete assistancein identifying authors of this barbarous crime, behind which stand

certain professional segments of former secret police and apologets

of crime".

DEMOCRATIC PARTY:

"The Albanian Democratic Party condemns the cruel and ugly

terrorist action of today when 3 citizens died and 26 were wounded

from a blast of a car bomb. We also express our condolences to

families of victims and wish fast recovery for the wounded.Condemning this act as a deed of segments of former secret police,

democratic Party believes in measures that the government will take

to identify organizers and designers and executors of this act and

give them maximal condemnation according to Albanian laws..."

SOCIALIST PARTY:

"News of the terrorist act of the blast... have deeply shocked the

Albanian opinion. This was an extraordinarily heavy and barbarous

assassin against peace of people... PSSH (Socialist Party of

Albania) is very much determined in condemning this terrorist actin our country. We demand and will support efforts by the

government and its specialized organs to discover organizers and

executors of this massacre and give them the punishment they

deserve... It is a duty to everyone to prevent any action of

violence and terror ..."

DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE PARTY:

"The Democratic Alliance Party is deeply shocked and indignated by

the unseen terrorist massacre in the center of capital... whichcaused a real psychological shock of fear and insecurity among

citizens of Tirana. This monstrous crime is not only an anti human

act, but it is also an outcome of extremist anti-Albanianism

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without any precedents in centuries long Albanian tradition..."

* * *

These institutional statements were followed by a long series ofstatements made by different associations and individuals who used

the opportunity to show their devotion towards respective parties

and policies. For a moment it seemed as if blood was used to

convince voters...

Many parties convoked meetings. Socialist Party in their press

conference stated that it would be good to find criminals first and

not hasten making premature judgements. People were detained. Many

reporters were interrogated: where do you get the information from?

Where do you verify them? Correspondent of "Voice of America", Mero

Baze, was put such questions, as well.

There is only one man who was not interrogated, or who is not

reported to have been questioned. He is the Albanian owner of VEFA.

Perhaps they consider his statement made few days ago to be

sufficient. But, let us see briefly, without putting any kind of

suspicion whatsoever:

What is VEFA?

In order to avoid any misunderstanding, we will explain that datahave been taken from the Italian newspaper "Il Corsivo" who

classifies this company as "a state within a state". Its boss,

Vehbi Alimuca, today is known to be the richest man in Albania and

different sources estimate his property amounting to about US$ 250

million, and more than 150 facilities throughout the country. His

firm had started as a small business in 1991 and it gradually

expanded until it reached the shape of a holding company. He holds

exclusive rights for Heineken beer, all types of Wiskey, South

Korean tires, Fiat products and spare parts etc. It covers

activities in tourism, mining, maritime transport, trade of food

stuff, refreshment and alcoholic drinks, production. It has 7supermarkets in the country and abroad and is building up two more.

Apart from this there are about 7000 persons who credit his trade

activities on an incredible interest (of 6-8 % per month).

This was the third time that such acts were carried against VEFA.

Last spring one of their agents, 19 years old Piro Konini was

killed, and the second time, only two months ago, in one of their

shops in Vlora a considerable amount of money (cca US$ 150.000 was

stolen). In none of these cases, authors were caught.

Immediately after he found out about the crime, Mr. Vehbi,condemned it stating that it was not conducted against VEFA, but

against peace of citizens, and that this criminal act would not

harm the good reputation of his firm. Later, we learned from media

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that the family of one of victim, Vera Duma, employeed with VEFA

was granted life pension. The damage caused of about US$ 80.000

does not threat the continuation of work of this powerful firm.

In margins:

It is true that few people have paid any attention to a simple

fact, which is not noticed even today. Among wounded Albanians was

the Italian citizen Lamberto Pani who was working in his office at

the moment. "At the beginning I saw my secretary under a big flame

and her hair burning, - he stated the very same day for daily "Koha

Jone", in hospital. I tried to put off the flame from her hair and

took her out of the office. Latter other people came and 2 - 3- 4

blasts followed....". This was only a part of his story. Then,

unconfirmed voices say that he flew back in Al Italia the very same

day, shocked from the blast. In any case none mentions him any

more.

This was only a moment, which, let's say was missed by analysis so

far. How many more have leaked through margins of the event,

through political noises and counter-noises?

In any case, the engagement of the police, investigation and other

organs is full. Foreign experts are working with them. Identikit

was handed to newspapers and police.

Certain, unofficial voices have already started to claim that firstthreads leading to crime are in the hands of the police.

Still, media continues to give a political color to the event. Four

days ago "Koha Jon" published an article by Emin Barci alluding

that Berisha was using the event the way Hitler had used the case

of burning of Reichstag. Counter reply followed immediately:

"Albania" demanded to arrest him. On 29 February, the first

instance court issued the warrant to arrest journalist Ylli

Popovina under the accusation that he had induced terrorism.

Nothing is known of the fate of two former employees of the secrete

police. Certain voices say that number of people arrested isincreasing. Identikit, produced by Italian experts based on the

descriptions of the eyewitnesses is perhaps taking in, together

with the criminals, unlucky people who resemble of him.

These were the data we have until now, March 1, 1996. What will be

the truth? Political crime? Foreign agents? "Enemies" around us?

Aggravation of political live before elections?

Skender Gjinushi, president of Social Democratic Party of Albania,

recently re-elected, says that all these are possible: it could

have been political, as well as economical, as well as simpleterrorist act or even worse, an act of a mad person!

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BOMBS FOR "DOMESTIC USE"

Events in Tirana and in Shkup some time ago, and maybe blasts in

Kosova, suggest that terrorism as political means in Balkanian

south made the first successful premiere!

by YLBER HYSA \ Prishtina

The noise of car bomb in the center of Shkup, which was heard last

October and wounded president Gligorov, has not only upset the

opinion and people who follow up the situation in the Balkanian

south. Until then one could expect a different expression of

political disagreement. There have been speculations about what

kind of insecurity or threat could an eventual burst of ethnic

conflicts in the region create, but there was, by no means, any

word of terrorism as means of internal policy of a state entity.Perhaps blasts in a refugee camps in Kosova could be considered of

a different type not only because they did not claim victims, but

also because they were directed against the policy of another

nationality. Except for this, blasts in Kosova are the only ones i

which an organized group tends to admit the authorship, which was

not the case with Shkup (where real authors have not been

discovered yet, although there are some accusations for a

"Multigroup" and the same thing has happened with Tirana where none

claims to be author, but state organs have accused former officers

of SIGURIMI (according to a Reuters report for one of the arrestedpeople state organs say to be known for his connections with KGB

and even with Serbia)!

In fact, the blast in Tirana was the most terrible one. Car bomb

containing 50 kg explosives in the center of Tirana, near the

supermarket Vefa claimed 5 victims, and about 30 other persons were

wounded. But, horror of this blast lies not only in large number of

victims, but also in the place, time and in the way it happened. It

happened in the very center of Albanian capital, and it apparently

aimed to demonstrate the political terror, violence and fear; and

finally, it happened at the time when new parliamentary electionsin Albania are to be held. All these characteristics give the blast

in Tirana the color of a political demonstration targeting not only

to bring fear and terror among Albanian citizens, but also to

affect the election situation (and perhaps the stability in the

region, too). In fact, after six years from the fall of communism

in Albania and when the expiry of mandate of first post-communist

government (not counting first government socialist-democrat

coalition), next elections should be a general proof that rotation

in Albania is understood as something very natural in plural

political life. The Tirana case, regardless of who really standsbehind this terrorist act, proves that Albania has not passed the

first transition phase successfully. The event in Tirana and the

one in Shkup, and perhaps blasts in Kosova, suggest that terrorism

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as political means in South Balkans had its first successful

opening! Were these blasts isolated cases from each other, are

there connections between these blasts, especially the ones in

Kosova and in Tirana? This is a very hypothetical question that

according to which opinion could suggest that a second blast couldbe retaliation to the first one, or a kind of "message"... For the

moment being this cannot be known, especially now that accusations

are directed towards an internal political factor "former forces of

Sigurimi", although "ties with KGB" and Serbia were mentioned after

the arrest of the three suspected persons.

In any case, the introduction of a new method in the political life

in Southern Balkans, ie. in the soil inhabited by Albanians is not

only a negative precedent, but it can easily be turned into a

domestic means of behavior in politics and way of having the power!

Taken from this aspect, echoes of explosions in our surroundingcarry a very negative message, which apart from bringing damages,

could announce the introduction of a new political discourse in the

region. And it is difficult to understand such a thing while of

Kosova is spoken to be a timed bomb that can explode with a force

one million time more destructive than the A bomb. Or maybe, Kosova

time-bomb is "overcome" according to those that use "comfortable"

blasts in their gardens and know exactly what is their destructive

force and the calculated political effect...

LKK DENIES ANY CONNECTIONS WITH "LIBERATION ARMY OF KOSOVA"!

Our editorial board has received an "explanation" of "who has

thrown bombs", signed by "The General Council of National Movement

for Liberation of Kosova", in which was virtually denied any

responsibility of LKK as the author of blasts in the refugee

camps.

"`Uniformed` reporters 'used' a 'statement made by an unidentified

person' who 'went in public' as a member of LKK and from Tirana'stated' that 'Liberation Army of Kosova' is the armed wing of

LKK. 'For the sake of the truth and to settle the opinion' - it is

written in this the letter - 'General Council of LKK states that

such a statement was not made by any member of LKK. Albanian

opinion already knows that the representative of LKK, who is

entitled to express legal posture and to inform the public about

activities of LKK is Sejdi Veseli, who, on the occasions of blasts

stated for BBC: `It is necessary to explain to public that the

National Movement for Liberation of Kosova cannot be identified

with 'Liberation Army of Kosova'. LKK has all necessary mechanismsto inform public opinion about their activities on due time`" it is

written in the "explanation".

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At the very end it was stated that 'LKK has declared many times

that, as long as the war is inevitable and necessary, it will make

attempts so the war will be organized, and our victory will be

undisputable.'

In other words, this "explanation" makes one understand that LKK

does not admit to be author nor to have any connections with

"Liberation Army of Kosova" who tried to undertake recent blasts in

refugee camps in Kosova!

USIS OFFICE IN COMPETENCIES OF THE KOSOVA PARLIAMENT!

By B. Haxhiu \ Prishtina

The Christopher-Milosevic meeting in Belgrade resulted with three

joint conclusions which are to be realized as soon as possible so

Serbia and Montenegro could be included in the international

system. An important issue of talks was the opening of the U.S.

Information Office in Prishtina. Although it was mentioned several

times that it would be opened very soon, and Charge d'Affaires of

the US embassy, Rudolph Perrina, visited Prishtina, this was not

done because of calculations made by Serbian side. The well-

informed sources, which are not confirmed, it is made known that

the Serbian president Slobodan Milosevic has sent a letter to theU.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher informing him about the

establishment of the U.S.Information Office in Prishtina. According

to these sources, it is said that Milosevic has discharged himself

from the responsibility writing that what was asked from him for

the opening of the office in Prishtina is not in competencies of

the president of the republic nor of the Serbian Parliament.

According to the same source, Milosevic wrote in his letter that

the matter is in competencies of the Kosova Parliament, which is

not functioning as it is boycotted by the Albanians.

This info can be added by the statement made by Richard Holbrooke,

who, to the question addressed to him after the Rome Conference,

regarding the Office in Kosova, answered that he did not want to

reveal more diplomatic details. Asked by us, Mr.John Brown, in

charge of contacts with public opinion with U.S. Embassy, told us

that he had no comment on this issue!

Asked by us to comment this information, the vice chairman of LDK,

Fehmi Agani, told us that this initiative by Milosevic would be a

good one, if he had in mind our Parliament of Kosova!

If the above information is true, then it results that Americans

are facing one more of Milosevics tricks, known for delays and

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promises never fulfilled. In fact, such delay could be interpreted

as Milosevic's effort to include the USIS Office in the "parcel of

discussions for Kosova".

AIMS OF EARLY ELECTIONS

Opposition in Macedonia, after reconstruction of the government

that followed the divorce of League of Social Democrats of

Macedonia and Liberal Party now came up with the initiative to

collect 150 000 signatures for early elections. Where are Albanians

in this initiative?

By DAN SEJDIU \ Shkup

Political games inside and around League for Macedonia which

escalated into governmental crisis and ended in "divorce" between

LSDM and PL (which used to be backbone of this election alliance)

apparently had its effects in awakening the out-parliamentary

opposition. This goes even more for the largest opposition party in

Macedonia, VMRO-DPMNE, which from October 1994 (after first round

of second parliamentary elections) is out of Macedonian Parliament.

Delegation of League for Macedonia, which after elections 1994

practically "occupied" the general power in the country, seemed to

be a signal but also an inducer for this party to part from thepost-election lethargy which threatened with full dissolution of

"the most Macedonian" party. Thus, after several days of silence

VMRO-DOMNE recently came out before the opinion with public

initiative to collect 150 000 signatures for early elections.

Connections between dissolution of the League for Macedonia and

awakening of VMRO is revealed by the fact that Central Committee of

this party has reached this decision on January 20, and it has made

it public only after formation of the new Government (without

liberals). Apparently, they had waited for the outcome from quarrel

between partners in coalition, which was certainly one of basicconditions to publicise such an important and basic decision, if

circumstances under Macedonian political sky are to be considered.

As regarding courage, it could be placed in the field of practical

realisation of this initiative with appearance of a citizen of

Republic of Macedonia before the official organ, which in actual

political vocabulary means inevitable presence of police (whatever

form it may be). And this step may be called a courageous one in

the sense that for an average citizen of Macedonia, such a thing

represents a real riddle, because there is no doubt that signing anappeal for early elections will be commented or felt as an act

against state and authorities. Because of this reason, giving

support to one party which "until yesterday" was in power will mean

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a great alleviation for citizens and also increase their courage to

freely express their dissatisfaction with the actual government.

Simultaneously, with such dilemmas, organisers of this initiative

are concerned by something which could directly influence the

ending of the initiative. According to representatives ofDemocratic Party, which in the context of the out-parliamentary

opposition represented the "brain" of this opposition (while VMRO

is known because of its body, ie. number) so far realisation of the

initiative faces many problems every day because of the procedure

which was not defined for this task. Thus, it came out that

Democratic Party could not get an answer from State Election

Commission, nor form Constitutional Court or Ministry of Law to the

question in what way are signatures to be collected. However, DP,

which will in fact be the main organiser of this civil initiative,

are determined to continue their work and for this purpose they

will use the model copied from USA. President of this party was aguest to American government few months ago.

Regardless to the outcome of the initiative to collect 150 000

signatures for which both parties publicly stated that they need

support of Albanian opposition parties, Democratic Party lately has

been thinking aloud about the election model in the future

elections. According to DP, next elections in Macedonia should be

carried according to the model of proportionality and not majority

as the case was with the existing law. In this way this party is

the first Macedonian party that supports such an idea, whichAlbanian parties have been supporting for long time now, but

without success. Let's remind that the main argument of Albanian

parties is that the election units with majority of Albanians are

too large so the average of votes for Albanian deputies is much

larger that the one for their Macedonian colleagues. Manastir

[slavic: Bitola] (a city with Macedonian majority) and Tetova who

have same numbers of deputies (each 9) are taken as concrete

examples although the number of voters (and of citizens in general)

is almost twice larger in Tetova. For the very this reason,

regardless to "delayed consciousness" of DP regarding this issue,

it is believed that Albanians will support the idea.

In any ways, it is worth while mentioning that an important

influence of Liberal Party which is in opposition now is expected.

No matter to what extend and how will the projects of the out-

parliamentary opposition be realised for the moment being it

remains to be seen how much will this party be able to articulate

demands of opposition in general. It is likely that Liberal Party

will support early elections, but it is not known if they will

support the model of proportionality suggested by Democratic Party.

If liberals agree with such an idea, then it may be freely saidthat Macedonia has entered a completely new political phase which

will be essentially different from the one in the last five years.

It is interesting that a polarisation between political parties on

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political basis is apparent, and this might lead to the creation of

two main political blocks. Thus, there is a tendency of creation of

right and left blocks, but in the way that both blocks will be

participated by Albanian and Macedonian political parties. It is

assumed that a certain time will pass before the presentsituation is crystallised. And much more time will be needed to

explain many questions, either global or the ones related to

relations between parties out of assumed blocks. Perhaps beginning

of explanation of such situation would be proclamation of early

elections, but if it does not happen this way then the new

elections in 1998 should be waited for. Of course, disorganised

Albanian opposition in Macedonia is expected to give "their

support". Some of their circles have already started sending

signals for cooperation with Macedonian opposition. Cooperation,

they say, would be in the function of challenging new elections and

the election system on proportionality basis. Nothing more can beexpected.

ATTITUDES

"POLITICAL SCHIZOPHRENIA"

"Those of PPD (Party of Democratic Prosperity) are cute, but don't

they have more capable people", was the question of Mr. BlagojaSiljanovski, deputy of LSDM (Social Democratic Union of Macedonia),

aiming to generate a new code for Albanians; destructive always,

because they always seek the impossible, and incapable whenever

they agree with the possible. What does the inclusion of Albanians

in the government mean?

by ALAJDIN DEMIRI \ Tetov

Last week, the way of the non-transparent - or better to say the

clandestine - policy, in political scene of FYROM was inaugurated

and this was decorated by the final public act in the Parliament,already divided into position-opposition.

The line of demarcation between the position and the opposition was

shown so thin, that hardly anyone could understand what really

happened to bring the divorce between liberals and LSDM or what

made PPD enter one more travestied marriage. If it is supposed that

the party interests dominated during the divorce then analogically

it may be said that same interests dominated during their marriage.

What about national interests?

Five Albanian ministers and four vice ministers were included in

the newly formed government of premier Crvenkovski, which appears

to be a rather solid team to implement Albanians' interests in

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of a unitarian state.

Democratic values are also civilized values, but the democratic

heritage is also a reality before which one should not close his

eyes. The state was build inversely, on the mental structure whichhas permanently seen Albanians as enemies, and this lead to easy

installation of Unitarianism. Thus, of the matter of how Albanians

lost their constituency is not a result of the Albanian romantism,

or some other banal reasons such as careerism, interference of

forces from abroad etc, but it is something that regretfully has

already happened: Albanians lost the constituency in "democracy".

This is a fact to be faced politically to be faced.

It is difficult for the government team to hold democratic speeches

of the human right or international relations type, as was the

recent case with the former-minister addressed to Ms.Elizabeth Rennto whom Crvenkovski team wanted to teach the lessons of rights here

in Balkans where they are violently broken. These lectures are in

confrontation with reality.

The reconstructed government will work 24 hours a day in different

channels, but the worm of suspicion will be eating them more and

more: will the mere verbalism be sufficient for the west to be re-

educated and accept the FYROM criteria of democracy. Carriers of

the easy way to pass the inter ethnic and social, cultural and

civil contradictions in general are terrified by weak results,inefficiency of words and charm which resulted to non-seriousness

of this generation of politicians who posses no force to face

problems.

Dissolutions are evident from the Government to the Soros

Foundation because there is a wide discrepancy between reality and

ideas. Government reconstructed was an outcome of the Sojuz (union)

for Macedonia which defined the task in a romantic way: everything

for Macedonia. Albanians were included, the flag changed,

corruption was given room, an assassination was carried, some

rushed to replace the president while he was in agony and some usedintellectualist' schemes to hide the inefficiency of police, and so

on and so forth.

Soros Foundation was turned into an Open Society Institution. This

Open Society was to be changed by Gligorov's charmers, familiarized

by blood and ideas. A great idea caught between intestines of the

family and the establishment recruited by LSDM which revealed their

faces when Iso Rusi, in his article in "The New York Times", named

Macedonia with the official name FYROM. Unconsciousnessly, he took

of the shine of the Open Society and got hit back by a ClosedSociety, which is closed in the cage of the national idea.

Hypocrisy was transparent here: Macedonian diplomats can attend

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international conferences under the name FYROM but an Albanian

journalist is not allowed to use this name in an international

magazine. Breaks and dissolutions are wide and deep, there is no

way to hide the schizophrenia, although mass media made great

efforts to hide the family shame. Some Albanians are involved inthis like beggars who profit from death ceremonies and wedding

parties, but do not change their social status.

The actual period is called transition, ie. it leads somewhere, but

it is this very government who should tell us where to?

Transition in FYROM will be difficult and painful if it is made

under unitarian paranoia and spacial complexities because everyone

tries to defend a share of his sun under this sky.

There cannot be an idealist transition in Macedonia such as: the

multi ethnic state to become state of one nation; a closed Societyto become an Open Society; the province to become a metropole; ill-

humored to become charming. Here is only one transition needed to

happen in Macedonia - form needs to conform with the reality.

MONTENEGRO

GETHOISATION OF ALBANIANS

Montenegrian government, as before, does not invest in building any

facilities in Albanian regions, while political parties accuse

Albanians for their desire to be "self-gethoised"?!

by NAIL DRAGA \ Ulqin

In the economic aspect, Albanian regions in Montenegro have been

experiencing the same fate they used to experience before because

state investments for this region are lacking. Many Albanian

analysts characterize this behavior of government as a perfidious

form of pressure aiming to make as many Albanians as possibleemigrate, by the fact that Albanian regions in Montenegro continue

to be regions enjoying the least amount of investments.

As media inform, Republican Administration for Public Affairs,

created in 1993, plans to invest 103 million dinars in 1996. The

largest amount in the structure of these investments is planned for

roads - accounting for by 31 per cent, and housing and business

buildings - accounting for by 19 per cent. Except for regional

water supply network for the Montenegrian coast (7% of total

investments) and water supply system (about 4%), the projectincludes facilities for other spheres of public sectors: education,

heath, culture and sports.

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Such an activity of the republican government was not a surprise

for wider opinion because during last year, when 78 million dinars

were invested, not even a single dinar was invested in the Albanian

regions, so this year could not be expected to be exception.

Referring to this issue, the Secretary of the Democratic League of

Montenegro, Muhamet Nika, in a press conference held in Ulqin,

among others spoke of the republican investment policy and its

regional allocation, mentioning that "Albanian regions such as

Ulqin, Tuzi, Plava etc. in the monist period were at least formally

included in the development plans, having the treatment of

underdeveloped municipalities or municipalities in border zones,

but in the actual period even such cosmetics lack." "By this

discriminatory policy," continued Nika, "Montenegrian government is

gethoising Albanians, and the gethoisation is assisted by the half

opened border with Albania." Therefor special status for Albaniansin Montenegro is an appropriate solution, because, according to

him, it would lead to defining investments for Albanian regions.

Speaking of economic policy pursued by Montenegro regarding Ulqin,

Nika said that "republican government is carrying a continuous

economic repression. Sea wealth was taken away from Ulqin, and if

military port is built up in Valdanos, then Ulqin will have three

administrations: tourist-republican, military and municipal-local

ones".

Referring to investments for this year, published by RepublicanAdministration for public Affairs, opposition political parties in

Montenegro reacted, too. Thus, in a statement for the public,

League of Liberals of Montenegro, among others said that "North of

Montenegro has again been left to better times". This party adds

that "no parliamentary evaluation was done in terms of development

of Montenegro, and on the other side the development program was

designed by close government circles, for their own political

interests." This party demands from state media, especially from TV

Montenegro, to open a debate regarding this vital problem since

this was not done in the parliament where professionals would face

economic facts. This is a duty for all citizens of Montenegro. Anyone-sided presentation of the problem, will be treated a political

abusage by Democratic League of Montenegro."

It is a legitimate right of any county to decide when and where

will make their investments, but in countries claiming to be

democratic, these issues are debated in parliament and decisions

are reached on consensus. When multi-ethnic, multi-national and

multi-religious countries are considered to be democratic, as is

the case with Montenegro, than such zones, especially inhabited by

people who are smaller in number should be taken intoconsideration. Economic development is main precondition for social

differentiations of every region, where, like in this concrete

case, Albanian regions used to be and remained most undeveloped

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regions in Montenegro.

Such unfavorable economic state, constant lack of investments and

perspective, has led to emigration of Albanians to become an almost

normal phenomenon, continuing even today. So, based on existingsituation, it is not the Albanians who gethoised themselves or that

they preferred such treatment, as they were accused by political

parties in Montenegro, when the Memorandum for a Modern Autonomy -

Special Status was adopted (12 November 1992), but it is the

Montenegrian state with their behavior conducting against them.

Albanians have, therefor, with reason been irritated by policy of

economic development decided by actual authorities. It is illusory

to expect substantial changes unless there are changes in the

policy in this multinational community. Montenegro could tend to be

a civilized and democratic community without economical and

political discriminations only after it accepted such an approach.

LETTER FROM LONDON

TELL ME, WHERE DO I RETURN...

It is supposed that there are 8.000 to 10.000 of them mostly from

Prishtina and surroundings and almost all of them work in catering,

most with false papers, mainly Italian, because being asylumseekers, they are officially not permitted to work, and thus Agron

in London, becomes Giovanni, Hekuran becomes Pietro, Ekrem become

Massimo...

by DUKAGJIN GORANI \ London

Perhaps Dardan, an 18 years blond of summer 1992, Ulpiana,

Prishtina, today 23 old barmen in a London restaurant whose owner

is an Italian, gave a very descriptive answer to the prosaic

question asked by his fellow countryman journalist, "... when will

all this youth from Kosova, from Prishtina, return home...? Inhomeland...?"

"Return where? Home... What home? To what friends?... All my youth

is here. All my friends from my childhood, from school are here. To

me London of Albanians from Prishtina has become my birthplace...

I have forgotten to think in the language you speak..."

The unified Albanian of London

There is so much truth, indefinitely sad, in such a sentence, saidas a matter of course, walking in the streets of famous London Soho

in early morning hours, the only time interval when Dardan and his

friends can go out "for their own pleasure", not needing to serve

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someone, not needing to repeat for the one hundredth, thousandth

time "thank you, sorry, please, no, yes, maybe..." to an indefinite

mixture of races, languages, convictions and wills - to night

costumers of the capital of the kingdom full of weather forecast,

football and news on terror. "Today is my day OFF. Yesterday I wasBUSY..." Perhaps Albanian should be added another dialect: the

London Albanian - of an "Afrikaner" Albanian, like the mixture of

French-Dutch-Zulu of the colonisers and the colonised Africans in

the "Stories from South Sea" by Jack London. Inevitably, the

Albanian of young London "Prishtinalis" - most of which entered

Great Britain at the ages of 17 or 18 when terrors of war stared in

former Yugoslavia - make you think of alienation and assimilation

as a secret rust of brain, and speed up ageing of the spirit; while

you are lost in steps and in front of doors of Home Office - an

immigration office specialised to recruit cheap labour force and

use it to illustrate the glorious royal humanity.

I wonder how many of them are there? What do they do? What do they

think? The largest number of asylum seekers in Great Britain is

focused in London. It is supposed that there are between 8.000 and

10.000, most of them from Prishtina and vicinity. Almost all of

them work in catering: in restaurant kitchens; waiters, barmen,

ice-cream sellers in underground stations, flower and hamburger

sellers.... And almost all of them have been given apartments

(often luxury ones) by the Immigration Office, and rent is paid by

state. This was as regarding refugees' benefits. Most of them workunder false documents, for being asylum seekers, they are

officially not permitted to work. Thus, Agron holds the name of

Giovanni, Hekuran is called Pietro, Ekrem is Massimo... They all

aware of this, and all of them are careful. "Listen, if you go to

see Labinot at his work place, don't forget to call him by his name

from "papers" - Giuseppe Rambaldi..."

"KOHA"

In Leicester Square, which is probably the centre of night life in

London, Enis and his brother from Prishtina opened their modestcafe "KOHA" two years ago, a meeting place for young, old... all

Albanian emigrants. A small TV set, placed on a shelf near foreign

drinks and "Budweiser" and "Jack Daniels" adds plays only one three

hour video tape showing Prishtina. Their town. By summer.

Soundless, from a car or walking, the cameraman has recorded a

brother, a relative, a parent with broken heart, sights of their

capital: Ulpiana, Dardania, Taslixhe, Bregu i Diellit (Sunny Hill),

Dragodan, Germia, The Spine, The Neck, passers-by, citizens,

policemen, You, me, all of us..., the ones they miss, faces and

smiles they try to remember, while sitting in underground to go towork in endless rainy mornings.

Any guest from Kosova will be bombarded by questions, cigarettes

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and drinks. There is only one question: "How is Prishtina?" And all

of them, deep somewhere in their ages, hide the hope and

homesickness: if Prishtina is still the old one, the one they

remember, with the same people, with all her good and bad sides -

if she is still somewhere in their youth, waiting for them toreturn... What would you tell them? Yes, she is? No, she is not?...

What would you answer them; the ones who got some more inches in

their body height in streets of West and kitchens and restaurants

owned by Jews and Lebanese, the ones who got first wrinkles in

their faces, the ones who died every day longing for their homes,

before they got used to living alone. But at the same time,

together. They understand that they make community in itself today:

they are London Albanians. They have grown up and become mature

there. They have their own mentality, their own ambitions. Their

desires, problems, love...

The placate of LDK branch in London - hung on a wall beside the

London Albanian rock-band "ODA" and their first CD "Have a good

trip..." - an appeal to attend the political protest-march in mid-

March "because of the neglection of the Kosova issue", does not

raise any interest. Although all of them will participate. Of

course. This is their obligation. Almost all of them pay the 3% to

our government, but none of them discusses its importance or non-

importance. Simply, they are busy. Daily things. There is no

Prishtina like idleness cliche among them: "See you tonight". Withthem, it goes "See you on Monday" or, "...on Sunday, since I have

work to do before then". My boss cannot stand being late. Being

without a job is even less bearable. They learned this as

teenagers. The traditional western apathy, which has gradually

become part of their soul, finds it difficult to conform their

mentality of Albanians. Balkanians. Young people.

Sinan and Florent from well-known "BESNIKET" (Kosova popular band),

who happened to be in London, for several Sundays played Albanian

national music in restaurant "Kosova" run by 40 years old Faruk,

who is here with his family. He has been here for four years. And,

he is thinking of going back.

Cigarette smoke, dances, girls' shoe heels and menus full of

spelling mistakes and Balkan meals certainly prove the Albanian

atmosphere. The Kosova one. Songs are ordered. People greet each

other. They all insist to feel Albanian.

Sinan asked me if I would like to greet my friends, guests of the

restaurant that evening, my fellow countrymen: our children in

England, on behalf of editorial board of KOHA...

What should I tell him? That Nexhmie Pagarusha (famous Kosova

singer) and her song "Fields are in blossom, mountains are in

blossom..." come to my mind...

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APPENDIX

J A V O R E / Albanian weekly

P.O. BOX 202

38000 PRISHTINA

Issued by the KOHA Editorial Board

English Edition: KOHA

Contact Person: Filloreta Bytyqi

Phone & Fax: +381 38 31 031

+381 38 31 036

Modem: +381 38 31 276

E-Mail: koha_pr@zana-pr.ztn.zer.de