ARMBRUST rocket launcher seized from the "KLA" terrorists
31 December 1997
In his New Year's message, President Rexhep Meidani of the Republic of Albania "expressed expectations that the voice of Albania will echo strongly in international mechanisms with a view to attracting more concrete assistance towards settlement of the Albanian issue and to the endeavours of our brothers in Kosovo".
5 January 1998
On being asked to comment on the situation in Kosovo at a press conference reported on by the Shekulli on 6 January 1998, the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Albania P. Milo "confirmed that there has been some sporadic violence there and that a guerrilla group has been formed, which is acting from the shadow under the name of Kosovo Liberation Army..." and he added: "We have nothing to do with "KLA" and we reject any insinuation that its members have been trained in Albania".
13 January 1998
In a press statement issued by a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania, Sokol Gjoka, which was published in the Republika on 14 January 1998, it was said that "Belgrade officials should start up a dialogue with Pristina, as well as Tiranė". The precondition for the establishment of contact between Albania and the "Serbian-Montenegrin federation" is a "change of the situation in Kosovo and in the relations between Belgrade and Pristina". As for the settlement of the Kosovo issue, he said that "consideration is being given to possibilities of an international nature".
14 January 1998
In a statement published in the Zeri i populit on 13 January 1998, concerning relations with the FR of Yugoslavia, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania P. Milo said that "the future of the Albanian-Yugoslav talks depends on the situation in Kosovo".
17 January 1998
The "Protocol on Co-operation in the Fields of Education, Science, Culture and Sports" between the Republic of Albania and the "Republic of Kosovo" was signed in Tiranė. The "Protocol" was signed by Minister Arta Dade on behalf of the Albanian side and by "Minister" Muhamet Bicaj on behalf of the Kosovo side.
28 January 1998
According to the Koha Jone daily of 29 January 1998, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania P. Milo said at a press conference on his return from Brussels that "the Kosovo issue should be treated as an issue of national concern and that it should not be taken only as an issue of human rights or an internal issue of Serbia". He stressed that "our concept of the settlement of the Kosovo issue is a maximalistic one. We should take advantage of the international situation."
February 1998
In an interview given to the Delo during his visit to Slovenia, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania P. Milo said that the official position of the Albanian Government is that the "two million Albanians living in their own land are not a national minority and should not be treated as such, since they make up the majority which wants the status of a divided nation pursuant to international law". He said that in the event of war, Albania would give humanitarian aid to the Kosovo Albanians and accommodate the refugees" and added: "Although we do not believe that a war will actually break out, we are also prepared to help the Kosovo Albanians in other ways".
12 February 1998
The Albanian delegation to the OSCE Permanent Council stated that "the problem of Kosovo is not an internal issue of Serbia", as well as that it is "very likely that the Kosovo Liberation Army serves more as an excuse for Serbia to intensify violence and violation of human rights in Kosovo".
3 March 1998
At the request of the Delegation of the Republic of Albania, the "Statement of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo" of 1 March 1998 concerning the "latest developments in Kosovo" was distributed to all other delegations to the OSCE. The letterhead on this document was as follows: "Republic of Kosovo, Government of the Republic".
Supplement 6 Statement
3 March 1998
The Delegation of the Republic of Albania to the OSCE distributed a statement made by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania F. Nano in which he stressed "his personal compassion for the difficult times our Kosovo brothers are experiencing" and that the "Albanian Government is keeping in touch with president Ibrahim Rugova all the time".
4 March 1998
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania P. Milo addressed a letter to the UN Security Council requesting that a session of the Security Council be held urgently in connection with the "bloody events in the Kosovo region".
3/4 March 1998
Eighteen Albanian political parties and nine associations adopted a declaration calling upon Albanians "wherever they might be, to be resolutely and prepared to react with cool heads, as one people, to the Serbian aggression in Kosovo..."
Supplement 7: Declaration
6 March 1998
In his report presented at a session of the Government and published in the Zeri i populit daily, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania F. Nano said, among other things, that the Albanian Government, diplomatic service and other agencies of the state are fully preoccupied with information and search for equitable and quickest ways of stabilising the situation..."
Supplement 8: F. Nano's Report
16 March 1998
Leaflets concerning the activation of the "Council for National Defence of Kosovo" (SNOK) were distributed in Tiranė.
19 March 1998
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania F. Nano addressed a letter to Ibrahim Rugova stating that the "thoughts and hearts of all Albanians are with you in the occupied Drenica... and wherever the united Albanians are standing up to the Serbian state violence and terror". In conclusion, he said that the "parliamentary and presidential elections make up a mile stone on your way to your European future, democracy and self-determination..."
21 March 1998
The representatives of the National Union of Kosovo (NSK), a Kosovo Albanian party introducing itself as the "mother" of the so-called "KLA" (Kosovo Liberation Army), held a press conference in the Rogner Hotel in Tiranė. The attending leaders of this party, Xhemail Muhameti, Ermush Xhemali and Rexhe Iberdemaj, stated on that occasion that "Kosovo is in a state of war and that it is not time for political activities, but for "KLA"". It was said at this conference that NSK was established in 1993 and they have launched 130 attacks on the Serbian authorities. The "first battle" was fought in the villages of Lausa and Vojnik on 25 and 26 November 1997.
22 March 1998
At a Government session concerning the action to be taken towards having the Kosovo issue settled, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania said, among other things, that "we are at a point in our history when we are required to take a step forward and I am pleased to be able to say that help is a certainty at this point". He requested that "Albania be recognised as a preferential party to negotiations concerning Kosovo" and "strongly condemned the Serbian state terrorism". He stressed that the "observance of the will of the Albanian population there, expressed in the parliamentary, presidential and local elections, should serve as the basis for international legalisation, recognition and establishment of future institutions. He added: "... I wish to stress that the maximum demands Ibrahim Rugova is obliged to make, which I appreciate, can impede the achievement of a lasting and peaceful solution for Kosovo". He concluded by saying: "Regardless of how tired and impoverished they might be because of Bosnia and sanctions, Serbians still have a well-oiled war machinery".
Supplement 9: F. Nano's Speech
25 March 1998
The Government of the Republic of Albania adopted the Declaration on Kosovo, which was presented at a press conference by V. Prela, chief adviser to the Prime Minister F. Nano. It was said in that declaration that "despite the difficult situation and reign of state terrorism throughout Kosovo, the elections were conducted properly there" and that the "elections have confirmed once more the resoluteness of the Albanian people in Kosovo to strive for lawfulness, peace and dialogue, towards the materialisation of their inalienable rights".
Supplement 10: Declaration
31 March 1998
The Albanian Academy of Sciences presented to the President of the Republic of Albania Dr R. Meidani the draft of the "Project concerning the settlement of the Albanian national issue", which was prepared at his request. The draft was forwarded "to the Academy of Sciences of Kosovo for harmonisation", after which it will be considered at the "All-Albanian Assembly" which will be attended by representatives from "all Albanian lands".
1 April 1998
In the report he presented to the Albanian Assembly, the Albanian Prime Minister F. Nano said, among other things, that "the foreign policy of this Government has been conducted exclusively with national interests in mind, in the interest of all Albanians wherever they live". On the subject of relations with the FR of Yugoslavia, he said that the "actual realisation of legitimate rights of the Albanians in Kosovo should be a condition for the expansion of such relations" and that the Albanian Government "has considered the Kosovo problem as an international priority issue and that it has been working in favour of the establishment of a coherent all-national policy". He stressed that the "Kosovo problem is not an internal problem of Serbia, but a problem of Yugoslavia and the international community, since Kosovo is not the cradle of Serbia, but a part of the new Balkan and European family". He continued by saying that "Kosovo is in a very difficult state now in consequence of the Serbian medieval nationalism". F. Nano said that "from the very onset of the Serbian aggression against Drenica and Kosovo as a whole, the Albanian Government has been intensively and systematically involved in the defence of our Kosovo brothers and sisters, in an effort to have the Serbian aggression stopped as soon as possible and for good".
Supplement 11: F. Nano's Report
April 1998
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania P. Milo said at a press conference held during his visit to Bulgaria that "the Kosovo Albanians no longer accept to live under Serbian terror" and that their refusal to negotiate with Serbian authorities is "natural and legitimate". On that occasion, P. Milo called upon the "ethnic Albanians to request dialogue with authorities of the FR of Yugoslavia, not only with the Serbian ones".
14 April 1998 In his speech at the 54th Session of the UN Commission for Human Rights, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania P. Milo "gave information" about "the difficult situation of the two million Albanians in Kosovo".
Supplement 12: P. Millo's Speech
17 April 1998
The Albanian Assembly adopted the Resolution on Kosovo "requesting that NATO forces be deployed in the territory of Kosovo".
Supplement 13: Resolution
23 April 1998
The Albanian television reported on 24 April 1998 that the Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania F. Nano said at a Government session that the "armed action taken by the Kosovo Albanians is a self-defence reaction to the violence used by the Serbian regime, the pathological and traditional Serbian violence". He said that "Kosovo has become a priority for the Albanian diplomatic service, administration, police, secret service and for all of us" and that he is hoping for "active international support in Kosovo".
25 April 1998
In its statement occasioned by the protest lodged by the FR of Yugoslavia with the Republic of Albania in connection with border incidents, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania stated that "all actions taken in the last few weeks by the Belgrade authorities are fake steps towards establishing a dialogue with Albanians; the organising of the provocative Referendum and the growing number of "incidents" on the Yugoslav-Albanian border are intended to deceive the international community on the one hand, and prepare grounds for the implementation of their strategy of ethnic cleansing, on the other."
Supplement 14: Statement
29 April 1998
At the session of the Assembly convoked for the purpose of approving the composition of the reshuffled Cabinet, the Prime Minister of the Republic Albania F. Nano said that "a special working group for Kosovo has been formed in the Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with a view to having the national issue settled. This group is answerable to the Prime Minister and it consists of specialists in defence, public order and intelligence and career diplomats." F. Nano stressed that "the Albanian Assembly adheres to its anti-terrorist position and is taking action towards curbing the arms trafficking".
Supplement 15: F. Nano's speech
30 April 1998
The Kombi weekly in Albanian, Pristina: We, the Albanians of Kosovo, as well as those of Macedonia, cannot regard ourselves as a national minority, in view of the fact that an old authentic entity is involved. The Albanians have a historical yearning for an ethnic state of their own, i.e., an ethnic Albania, so that this should not be hidden from anybody... Also from the aspect of international law, the Albanians of Kosovo, as well as those of Macedonia, have the right to self-determination, since they meet all of the criteria for determining and guaranteeing that right. However, the right of self-determination either exists or does not, i.e., it can be lost! For, the question of self-determination is a factual matter and it can be acquired on the basis of war or political right.
According to the international order, if you are deprived of the natural right to self-determination, you have the right on the basis of natural law to resort to an uprising which will lead you to your objective: victory". Quoted from the article "Will Rugova and "KLA" Get Closer?" by Haqif Mulliqi).
5 May 1998
In the speech he delivered at the conference entitled "Democratic institutions and civil society in South Eastern Europe" held in Strasbourg, President of the Republic of Albania Dr Rexhep Meidani accused the FR of Yugoslavia of "genocide, repression, violation of human rights, posing a threat to peace, endangering the region and Europe as a whole, fascism", etc. He reiterated the demand for the international community's intervention in the form of military presence and involvement, isolation of the FR of Yugoslavia and Kosovo's self-determination.
26 May 1998
The Gazeta Shqiptare daily of Tiranė published the following statement by the former president of the Republic of Albania Sali Berisha:
"We are calling onto the "KLA" to co-operate with Ibrahim Rugova. I don't know whether the "KLA" exists as a military unit, but I think that a whole nation, which is defending itself against Serbian terror, has a name of its own now... Negotiations should involve people who have always been opposing the Serbian aggression". (Quoted from the article "Berisha: "KLA" should meet with I. Rugova")
27 May 1998
In an interview given to Reuters, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania F. Nano said, among other things, that "international presence is essential in the dialogue concerning Kosovo" and that "a compromise could be reached by giving Kosovo the status of the third republic without the right of secession from the FR of Yugoslavia, under international guarantees". He made the discontinuation of the activity of "the Kosovo Liberation Army guerrilla conditional on the termination of the police force's attacks on the Kosovo Albanians". F. Nano reiterated the call for "the Western Military Alliance to deploy troops on Albania's northern border".
Supplement: 16: An excerpt from the interview given to Reuters by F. Nano (Julia Ferguson)
27 May 1998
The Koha Jone daily of Tiranė published an article entitled "Three IFAs with arms captured", which reads as follows:
"Trucks carrying arms and going to the north are being captured continuously. The day before yesterday, the blue uniforms (police) from Krujė captured three trucks carrying more than 500 submachine guns, hundreds of grenades and bombs, and mortars. The drivers left their vehicles and ran away. They had bought the arms cheaply on the Albanian black market and were driving them for the purpose of having them transferred across the border where the owners of the arms purchased were waiting - announced the Ministry of Public Order. This was the police force's second success after that achieved in Lezhė, when more than 200 submachine guns and hundreds of thousands of cartridges were seized... Some time ago, international officials presented an ultimatum to the Albanian Government to prevent arms from being transported to the north, given the state of war in Kosovo. Unofficial sources claim that the arms were dispatched from the country's capital".
2 June 1998
In its "Appeal to the international factor" published in its Zeri i populit daily, the ruling Socialist Party of Albania (SPA) "condemned the criminal acts committed by the Belgrade authorities and their intention to cleanse Kosovo of Albanians" and called upon the international community to "continue exerting pressure and intensify and expand the spectrum of mechanisms available to it, in relation to Belgrade..."
Supplement 17: Appeal
2 June 1998
The Zeri i populit daily, the SPA organ, reported what the Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania F. Nano said at the Government session of 1 June 1998: "People took up arms in Kosovo for self-defence purposes and their organisation is now a reality which should not be ignored. I. Rugova certainly remains the chief factor in the negotiations, for which he was also authorised at the elections conducted in Kosovo on 22 March. The Albanian view that the crisis should be settled peacefully has not changed, although it should not be a rigid one. It should be adjusted to the newly created situation and realities on the ground".
3 June 1998
Maqo Lakrori, SPA Secretary for International Relations, disclosed a view about the Kosovo Liberation Army: "The natural resistance under the conditions of justified self-defence against Serbian repression and killing, the resistance which is acquiring large proportions and a popular nature, is the chief internal obstruction to the ethnic cleansing of Kosovo in relation to Albanians".
4 June 1998
In his letter to Ibrahim Rugova, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania F. Nano expressed his feeling "of the need for as close as possible contacts between us, not only for the purpose of exchanging views and opinions, but also for the purpose of harmonising our political and diplomatic positions, so that we could stand up to the newly created situation in the best possible way and do away with the crisis in favour of a quick, peaceful and lasting settlement of the Kosovo issue".
7 June 1998
The Rilindja daily of Tiranė published the following statement of the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania Arian Starova: "We Albanians never knew how to adjust ends to means in playing politics. We always want the best without taking into account the available means or we ask others to supply the means. For instance, is it not significant that the Kosovo political leadership is seeking independence and asking the international community to give it to it as a gift. Does that leadership not realise that the independence of Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina did not come as a gift, but that it was fought for, regardless of the fact that all three of them had the status of republics of the former Yugoslavia, in contrast to Kosovo? Has it still not been realised that history has shown that independence is not won only at the negotiating table? There is a new reality in Kosovo now; its name is "KLA". Regardless of the fact that Rugova does not recognise this reality, it is a product of his policy. "KLA" should show Rugova that his people are tired of waiting and that it has assumed their fate, since there is no alternative. The Albanian SDS is of the opinion that it is about time for Rugova to establish ties with "KLA", so that the policies of our brothers in Kosovo could be reconciled and blood is not shed in vain, although we should not daydream that one day, somebody will bring to us the keys to Kosovo's independence".
8 June 1998
In a statement published in the Gazeta Shqiptare, the Minister of Foreign Affairs P. Milo stressed that "Albania gives its support to all activities and views of all international organisations, particularly NATO, because it realises that it is being increasingly opted for non-political and non-diplomatic solutions. The Albanian Government will support any option deemed justified by NATO and which is geared to a lasting and equitable resolution of the Kosovo problem. The international presence has become the key factor for future talks, should they be started up on reasonable and equal terms".
12 June 1998
In his letter to the NATO Secretary General J. Solana, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania F. Nano interceded in favour of NATO presence in Albania, "on the border with Kosovo, for the purpose of preserving stability in Albania and discouraging and arresting the policy of violence in Kosovo" and suggested the launching of a "peaceful operation of the Support to Diplomacy type". He underlined that the "continuation of clashes in Kosovo and the increasing number of refugees from the war-afflicted localities reaching Albania are creating conditions for emotional strain with people because of violence, revival of arms trafficking and smuggling, possible breaking into and pilfering of arms depots and risen crime rates, creating thus a region of tensions with hazards for Albania".
12 June 1998
In an interview given to the Zaman of Turkey, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania said the following among other things: " Kosovo should decide on its future alone. We, as Albania, want it to be given the status it deserves. The proper solution would be to give it the status of the third republic of the FRY. In that way, the Kosovo Albanians would be able to decide on their own fate and the territorial integrity of Yugoslavia would not be affected. The Albanian Army has been placed on alert". Having said that also some countries in the neighbourhood would be affected, should an embargo be put on Yugoslavia, he added: "If we don't pay the bill today, the price will be much higher tomorrow".
14 June 1998
An article entitled "More than 50 men from Shkodėr mobilised for "KLA"" was published in the Koha Jone daily of Tiranė, in which the following was written among other things:
"A slim, tall 22-year old who is to move this morning with a group of men about his own age to the "KLA"-controlled territory, agreed to speak for the newspapers, though insisting that only his initials, H.B., be printed. He said that about two weeks ago, a group of "KLA" representatives from Kosovo came to Shkodėr in order to recruit local young men for combating the Serbs. He further said that he is going to be paid DEM 1000 a month and that they had received two monthly pays in advance. He said that although it is true that some of the recruited young men decided to join also because their families are in a bad financial situation, it is an honour for any man from Shkodėr to fight the Serbs."
16 June 1998
In the declaration issued by the Government of the Republic of Albania following the completion of the Resolute Falcon manoeuvres, which began on 15 June 1998 over the territory of Albania, the manoeuvres were described "as a repeated expression of the Albanian Government's desire for the involvement of NATO in the settlement of the crisis in Kosovo, when diplomatic means are not producing the desired results".
Supplement 18: Declaration
18 June 1998
In an interview given to Le Figaro of France, which was taken over by the Albanian Gazeta Shqiptare, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania F. Nano said that "the Kosovo crisis has now spread also to Albania directly. All information and analyses available to us and the close consultations with our Western allies show that this conflict is comparable to that before Bosnia. It is easy to hear from the Albanian state border the sound of artillery and aircraft bombing lasting as much as 24 hours continuously from time to time. In a bloodied land like Kosovo, diplomacy is showing that it is very difficult for it to intervene. The Government has suggested to NATO a plan of presence that can be simply termed as support to diplomacy. This situation certainly calls for international presence. We have now come to the conclusion that such presence is more than essential, if we don't want Albania and Macedonia, as well as lands elsewhere, to turn into a theatre of war. We are persistent in our belief that a democratic cordon around Serbia is a good and lasting solution, followed by the enhancement of the international community's sanctions against the crisis-causing factors..."
Supplement 19: Interview published in the "Gazeta Shqiptare"
18 June 1998
The Albanian news agency ATA announced that at the UN Conference on the Establishment of a Permanent International Criminal Court held in Rome, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania said that the "situation in Kosovo is a repetition of the Serbian scenario in Bosnia and that the Albanian people of Kosovo are becoming the victims of an ethnic cleansing policy".
18 June 1998
The Rilindja Demokratike daily of Tiranė published an interview with the former minister of foreign affairs of the Republic of Albania A. Starova, in which he said the following among other things:
"I think that the international community has been charged with the duty of showing to this alliance (FR of Yugoslavia and Russia) that the problems of Kosovo should be treated before some values of peace and democracy for the sake of partial interests. This joint declaration (by presidents S. Milosevię and B. Yeltsin) is worthless also because of only one sentence in which Milosevię stated that he does not think it necessary to withdraw armed forces from Kosovo and that he will have them withdrawn only if also the Albanian terrorists withdraw. The international community could not have been ignored more than this. The USA and European countries themselves do not regard the "KLA" as a terrorist occurrence; they are taking it as a natural act of self-defence of a community and a people...
Talks between the Albanians and Serbs are absolutely impossible. I was also against the first meeting of Milosevię and Rugova, in view of the fact that a basic mistake was made, because talks were conducted while ethnic cleansing was under way in Kosovo. That was an inexcusable blunder of the Albanians, i.e., Albanians in general, because I think that the Albanian policies on the both sides of the border are co-ordinated...
Although the national element is very strong, you cannot unite into a major community without forming the nation again, whereas our people have still not formed certain characteristics of theirs; they are a people without a form and essence."
19 June 1998
The Koha Jone daily of Tiranė published an article entitled "Bukoshi heading the "KLA"", in which the following was said:
"In the struggle for the province of Kosovo, which is inhabited by ethnic Albanians almost wholly, many things depend on the "KLA", how strong it is, response to its call to ethnic Albanians and its political aims. One thing is quite clear. The various "village vigilante" groups have turned into an organised armed force, which is being heard about as of late through its "spokesman"... It has been estimated that the "KLA" comprises about 6,000 fighters and that a third of their arms are those stolen last year and smuggled across the border... Officially, the Albanian government in exile, headed by Bujar Bukoshi, is responsible for the collection of funds for the illegitimate state of the ethnic Albanians in Kosovo. According to some Western intelligence, Bukoshi is playing one of the leading roles in the "KLA"."
23 June 1998
The following was published in the Zeri i populit daily (organ of the SPA) in the article entitled "Albanian terrorism - a Serbian concoction":
"For as long as Kosovo and Albanians are in Serbian shackles, the "Albanian terrorism" will be concocted as an excuse; even if all Kosovo Albanians were to join the ranks of the "KLA" for the purpose of surviving, they would still be referred to, by Serbian logic, as a terrorist nation".
4 July 1998
The Albanian news agency ATA reported that the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Albania Luan Hajdaraga said the following at the SPA conference in Durrės:
"Albania has openly stated that the Kosovo issue should be settled peaceably, by diplomatic means, but if that fails, war is the possible alternative. Kosovo will certainly be given its rights and freedoms... Kosovo cannot be reclaimed, although Serbia is using tanks, artillery, army and police. It cannot suppress the resistance of our brothers and fighters of Kosovo, either as members of the "KLA" units or as individuals."
8 July 1998
In a statement made for the Albanian news agency ATA, the commanding officer of the Second Infantry Division stationed in Kukės, Brigadier General Kodusi Lama, denied the possibility of organised transfer of arms to Kosovo, but he did not rule out the possibility of arms being sold by individuals, mostly inhabitants of villages in the vicinity of the border, to people "on the other side of the border".
16 July 1998
In an article published in the Koha Jone daily on 16 July 1998, it was said that "Faruk Mazreku, a 19-year old Kosovo Albanian with residence in Belgrade, was arrested on Tuesday evening (14 July) in the garden of the Prime Minister F. Nano's residence". Although no particulars about the investigation were disclosed, the arrest of F. Mazreku is associated with an attempt to assassinate the Prime Minister or members of his family. It was said in that article that Mazreku was hired by a "foreign agency".
17 July 1998
The Speaker of the Assembly of the Republic of Albania sent a congratulatory message to the "Assembly of Kosovo", in which he said the following: "For all Albanians wherever living in their territories, the 15th of July this year marks a new institution voted for by the entire Albanian population of Kosovo".
18 July 1998
The Permanent Mission of the Republic of Albania to the United Nations circulated the Statement of the Government of the Republic of Albania expressing "astonishment at the acts of barbarism and genocide and Belgrade's continued strategy of mass ethnic cleansing of Albanians from Kosovo" and "urging the international community, including the governments of the USA and other Contact Group members, UN, NATO and OSCE in particular, to take without any delay all necessary steps available to them towards stopping the Belgrade government's fascist aggression against the Albanian population".
Supplement 20: Statement
19 July 1998
The Government of the Republic of Albania adopted a declaration concerning the latest developments in the north of the country, "addressing an urgent appeal to the international community, including the governments of the USA and Contact Group countries, UN, NATO and OSCE in particular, to immediately apply special measures towards stopping the typical fascist aggression of the Belgrade government against Albanian people, using all effective means available to them". It was added that the "Serbian war machinery cannot be stopped by declarations and resolutions, but only by concrete and unambiguous acts".
Supplement 21: Declaration
20 July 1998
According to the Albanian Gazeta Shqiptare, in his meeting with a delegation of the West European Union (WEU), the Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania requested that the international community launches military operations for the purpose of bridling the "Serbian war machinery". He stressed: "It is clear that under these circumstances, the KLA - which is trying to defend endangered lives - remains as a factor for the settlement of the crisis, which must be taken into account by the international community".
20 July 1998 According to the Albanian Koha Jone newspaper, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania P. Milo said that "diplomatic means are ruled out now".
21 July 1998
According to the Albanian Koha Jone newspaper, the Vice-Chairman of the Defence Commission of the Assembly of the Republic of Albania Arden Qilimi headed a delegation that visited the "wounded KLA fighters" accommodated in a military hospital in Tiranė. The following was also said: "Now that the Serbian threat to the Albanian borders is greater than ever before and that the Albanian Government has stated that it is ready to respond to Serbian provocations, the possibility of the deputies consulting with the KLA concerning measures to be applied on the border and co-ordination of activities between the two sides, is not ruled out".
21 July 1998
According to the Albanian Koha Jone newspaper, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania P. Milo made a press statement prior to his meeting with the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs, in which he said that "if the conflict escalates, the Government will use all infrastructure available to it for the purpose of preserving the country's sovereignty".
21 July 1998
The Koha Jone daily published a statement made by Spartak Brahu, who is a deputy to the Assembly of the Republic of Albania and chairman of the Immunity and Mandate Committee.
Spartak Brahu, stated that on Saturday (25 July 1998), he will go to Kosovo in order to give support to the "KLA" and stay there until the situation changes. He said that the liberation of Kosovo is one of the most direct duties of the Albanian people "because not only Kosovo is endangered now, but also Albania and Albanian people". He concluded by saying: "I am not calling only them (deputies), but also all intellectuals and particularly the available military personnel, to make a contribution to Kosovo".
23 July 1998
The "Albania" daily published the "Declaration of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo in an article entitled "Let us unite for the sake of Kosovo's liberation". An emphasis was placed on the resoluteness of the people of Kosovo in their strive for freedom and independence. The "Assembly" is, among other things, also the institution that co-ordinates general political and military efforts made towards achieving independence of Kosovo.
23 July 1998
An article entitled "Islamists being screened: going to the KLA?" was published in the Koha Jone daily. This is what was written in it: The police force has started up operations in Albania for the purpose of checking up all foreigners. All Islamists trying to enter Albania and those already in Albania will be checked up very thoroughly. What is involved is not only the problem of terrorism, but also the international concern over their passage through Albania to the "KLA" ranks. Consequently, a relatively large number of persons originating from Arab countries is not allowed to enter Albania. The Albanian police and intelligence service have secured enough evidence in connection with some suspicious activities engaged in by Islamists in Albania, including narcotics and arms trafficking. Neither is ruled out the involvement of Islamists in the latest developments in Kosovo. There is also evidence of the presence of Islamists in the "KLA" ranks and international sources claim that they are coming from Albania.
24 July 1998
According to the Zeri i populit daily, the organ of the ruling SPA - in the article entitled "Kosovo Parliament recognises the KLA" published on 24 July 1998 - the "Assembly" recognised the "KLA" as the Albanian armed force in Kosovo.
25 July 1998
The Zeri i populit daily, the SPA organ, published the following part of the speech delivered by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania at a session of the General Committee of Administration:
"The national issue is nowadays a priority of the Government and the state of Albania as a whole. The whole world is following with great anxiety the armed conflict under way throughout Kosovo. In any case, it is clear to us, as Government, that Kosovo is the top priority. We have adopted clear positions, measures and plans geared to the settlement of the Kosovo issue. The most important ones relate to the overcoming of the situation on the northern borders, preparation of the defence structure for any kind of situation, like the one when the Serbian shells violated the Republic territory, maintenance of close contacts with the Kosovo leadership, where we are prepared to play our role, without any paternalism or imposition; and involvement in the international diplomatic efforts geared in the first place to the elimination of the current crisis and equitable peaceable resolution of problems, in conformity with the Albanian people's will and international documents.
I read in the newspapers that our comrade Spartak Braho intends to go to Kosovo in order to fight there. Of course, I took that with a big reserve, but I want to draw a very important conclusion. We should act responsibly. Although I don't doubt that there exist Albanians who would be prepared to join their brothers, this kind of patriotism demonstrated by a representative of the Government, a deputy and a party leader, leads in a different direction, it acquires a certain political connotation and arouses suspicions about Albania's position. I want to make myself clear: when I say this, I have nothing against anybody else's views. However, the responsibility of a deputy is not the same as that of a free citizen".
25 July 1998
The following was written in an analytical article entitled "Albanian Government is interested in the prolongation of conflict" and published in the Albania daily:
"The USA is of the opinion that the political process cannot be started up without the "KLA". However, the presence of a Marxist-Leninist group and its fostering in the "KLA" appear to be the cause of the increasingly passive attitude shown by the West and its institutions. The effort to form a national movement on ideological grounds with the aid of the Marxist Party of the Kosovo Albanians is nothing new. This party and the Popular Movement of Kosovo are the sole allies of the Socialist Party of Albania and it is thought that they have contributed to the emergence of an extreme left platform in the resistance movement of Kosovo. Local observers are confirming that the Albanian Government has provided all facilities for members of the Popular Movement in the north of Albania and that they are protected by the Albanian secret services. Prime Minister Nano met with them personally in Switzerland while he was taking part in the Crans-Montana Forum. The statements of radical Marxists that after Kosovo, they will liberate Macedonia and Montenegro, followed by unification with Albania, while in the meanwhile they are unable to defend Orahovac, are not only making the international factors hesitant, but are, at the same time, another valuable service to Milo{evi}. The "KLA" is a reality that is crumbling because of its Marxist indoctrination and orchestration by the Tiranė Government".
27 July 1998
At a press conference held in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs concerning border incidents, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania P. Milo stressed that the "Serbs are deliberately provoking these incidents at weekends when the attention of the international public diminishes".
27 July 1998
The Koha Ditore daily in Albanian, Pristina, taken over by Beta news agency:
Unofficial sources claim that the parallel parliament constituted on 16 July has conducted consultations about the formation of a government with representatives of the underground "KLA", but the results of such negotiations are still unknown. Koha Ditore discloses that in an effort to institutionalise the underground "KLA", its members will be offered the posts of ministers of defence and, perhaps, police.
29 July 1998
The Albanian Koha Ditore daily of Pristina published the interview the vice-chairman of the DSK Fehmi Agani gave to the German Junge Welt newspaper:
J.W.: The Kosovo Albanians are being increasingly dissatisfied as of late with the Contact Group's decisions. Why?
F.A.: We are not satisfied with the Contact Group because as of late, they are condemning neither Belgrade nor the terrorisation of the Kosovo Albanians. That is not fair. Belgrade carries the chief blame. The Albanians had to defend themselves, so that the Kosovo Liberation Army ("KLA") was established. Then, we are neither satisfied with the fact that the Contact Group has much confidence in the Yeltsin-Milosevi} agreement. That agreement is contrary to the earlier statement of the Contact Group, which is more concerned with the question of how can the financing of the "KLA" be stopped.
J.W.: Belgrade is claiming that the Kosovo Albanians are terrorists who are killing not only members of the police and armed forces, but also the Serb and Albanian civilians who disagree with the "KLA"?
F.A.: There certainly are such cases, but they are very rare. The Kosovo Albanians are not fighting against the Serbian people, but against the Serbian government, which is against Kosovo's independence.
J.W.: Not only Belgrade is against independence. The international community is also against it?
F.A.: That is correct. However, should we become the third Yugoslav republic in addition to Serbia and Montenegro, we would be simply getting closer to that goal. We could then exercise our right of self-determination better.
J.W.: What is actually your connection with the "KLA"? F.A.: We believe it to be an important reality and therefore, that the "KLA" should take part in the negotiations. I know that Europe is against that, whereas the USA is showing a much more realistic attitude in that respect.
30 July 1998
In an article entitled "Albanians, join forces against Serbian aggression", the Shequlli daily published an appeal made by the ""KLA" spokesman" Krasniqi:
The "KLA" has called onto the Albanians to join forces in the "fierce struggle against the Serbian enemy, who is unable to stand up to an entire nation". "The enemy is using hundreds of armoured vehicles, tanks and heavy artillery in this struggle", said Krasniqi. "In order to put up the best possible resistance to the Serbian offensive, the "KLA" will employ two tactics, involving: active defence and displacement of women and children from the places menaced by the Serbian artillery", went on the spokesman. The spokesman said that the "KLA" killed a Serbian commander and seized substantial military equipment in Orahovac and that "although detonations and other sounds of war can be heard in Pristina, people lead quite normal lives there, just as if the war is being waged in some remote region of Africa. He alluded to the Albanian leader Ibrahim Rugova who is being criticised by the "KLA" because of his peaceable quest for independence, which in their opinion is ineffective. Krasniqi called upon "all Albanians, all political and intellectual circles to join forces with the "KLA"" and unite in the "National Front", which according to him, will be established soon. It let it be known that the "KLA" will carry on fighting and achieve victory.
30 July 1998
The following was said in the article entitled "Albanian Army will stand up to territorial violation at any cost" published in the Shekulli daily:
"Albania is ready for war. The intensity of the clashes in Kosovo is increasing and the international community is unable to talk Milosevi} into stopping the aggression against the innocent population of Kosovo, as well as the violation of the Albanian border from time to time, in consequence of which Albania is in the concluding stages of preparations for standing up to any dangerous situation which could pose a threat to the country's territorial integrity. The Albanian Army will resolutely stand up to any provocation by the Serbian military posing a threat to the territorial integrity of the republic of Albania", stated the Ministry of Defence of Albania. Following the incidents of 26 June, when the Serbian troops shelled the Albanian territory, the Albanian armed forces stationed in the northern and north-eastern parts of the country were placed on full alert. This was also made possible by the urgent recruitment of all young men old enough for military service. A law governing the establishment of a professional army the ranks of which are to be filled with paid soldiers, came into force in the meanwhile.
On the other hand, many measures have been introduced towards coping with this very dangerous situation, where a war is imminent and the Serbian army supported by its artillery and other lethal devices has launched an offensive against the "KLA", shelling also the Albanian territory from time to time in the process. Consequently, the entire defence system has been placed on full alert. All government structures have prepared themselves for responding to such a dangerous situation. A few days ago, President Meidani called the management of all Albanian media to discuss this difficult situation with him. In the meantime, President Meidani convened the Supreme Defence Council in order to consider the very difficult situation and decide what action should be taken towards dealing with the consequences of any act the Serbian military machinery might commit.
The Albanian Parliament had a session behind closed doors yesterday, at which the Minister of Foreign Affairs Paskal Milo and Minister of Public Order Perikli Teta presented reports on the measures applied and the diplomatic action taken towards safeguarding the border. However, the heaviest burden has been placed on the army because of its duty to defend the country's territorial integrity. In view of the recent Serbian provocations, unconditional orders have been issued to the effect that the border must be defended at any cost. The Ministry of Defence has issued orders that no violation of the border may be allowed and that in the event of any violation, the border must be protected with all means available, i.e., with weapons.
Special measures have been applied towards safeguarding the military depots that could become the targets of arms traffickers. Everything has been placed on full alert with a view to curbing the provocations on the border. The capacity for the reception and accommodation of refugees has also been increased.
30 July 1998
The Koha Jone daily published the following article about a meeting held in Tiranė in which the "commanders of the "KLA"" took part:
"The commanders of the "KLA" came to Tiranė. They were also received in the Presidential Palace by its General Secretary Daut Gumeni and President Meidani's political adviser Preq Zogaj. A member of the "KLA" General Staff made a public appearance for the first time in the National History Museum (where he entered history yesterday), at a session of the Dhimiter Shuteriqi National Movement.
This commander was presented by vice-chairman of the Movement Idajet Beqiri simply as Skender, since nothing else is known about him...
While he was walking to the rostrum, two fighters from the rear two rows (one of them was the one without an eye) went through the reporters who were ready to take notes and put up a red flag (with "KLA" inscribed above the eagle). After that, they stood behind their commander. War has its rules. Skender then said a few words: "Thank you for this session and I am asking you to help and join us in our struggle for national liberation from the occupiers". The audience stood up and gave him a big applause. The commander returned to his seat on the wide podium, the two fighters folded the flag and went back to their seats in the back rows.
The National Movement called upon all Albanian political forces and associations to unite in the "Front of National Unitu" that will prepare a "Joint Platform" for the solution of the crisis in Kosovo.
President Meidani, who came up with the idea of a common institution of the Albanians already at the beginning of his term of office, conveyed through his General Secretary his wish that "this movement carries on co-ordinating forces". However, the president also criticised the Government somewhat: "This movement will make up for some natural deficiencies of the Government. It is well known how complex are the relations between our Government and the governments of other countries, so that it is up to the people to do what the Government is unable to do, despite its good will".
7 August 1998
The Albanian news agency ATA transmitted an article entitled "Berisha wearing the KLA uniform", which was published in the Gazeta Sqiptare. It was said that "Berisha has still not made up his mind whether to join the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) and if he decides to do so, he would be joined by more than a half of the DPA deputies, who have already expressed their readiness for that".
It was also said in that article that this was the idea of the chairman of the Defence Committee of the Albanian Assembly and president of the DPA Security Department Azem Hajdari, who "began to register volunteers for fighting in Kosovo a long time ago".
7 August 1998
In the Declaration published in the Zeri i Populit daily, the National Assembly of the Republic of Albania "expresses its conviction that for the sake of the big common interest of all Albanian factors acting in Kosovo, both the political and social ones and the "KLA" forces which are protecting their people self-sacrificingly, they will be able to establish very soon the necessary co-operation and co-ordination of views in all fields, including communication with the international factor, with the means of an all-inclusive structure of the Kosovo Albanians, which would help in the performance of the historical national mission, so that Kosovo would be successful in political self-determination".
8 August 1998
In the article entitled "Top Kosovo Diplomat in Tiranė", the Shekulli daily published the statement made by I. Ramajli, stressing that the "KLA" has agreed in principle to unite with the administration headed by I. Rugova, which would mean progress for the guerrillas who are calling for full independence of Kosovo and who have rejected Rugova's non-violence option.
11 August 1998
In a statement published in the Koha Jone daily, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania Paskal Milo denied any Albanian involvement in the incidents affecting the American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. He said that the "story about alleged Albanian involvement could also originate from a neighbouring secret service wishing to involve Albania for the purpose of creating a difficult situation in Albania and outside it", and stressed that "this is happening so as to impede even more the efforts made by the Kosovo Albanians in their struggle".
11 August 1998
In an interview given to the Republika, the chairman of the Democrat party and former President of the Republic of Albania Sali Berisha described the situation in the north-east of Albania as follows: "There is no government there; it's an anarchy. The political Mafia controls Albania nowadays. Bajram Curi and Tropojė in particular are controlled by bands connected with the police. Arms trafficking is going on with government approval. Albania has become the chief narcotics trafficking country in Europe".
11 August 1998
In an interview given to the Koha Jone daily, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania Paskal Milo said that "... in Albania, there are some fundamentalist elements wishing to destabilise the country in co-operation with elements in the country. Albania has been reached by a wave of terrorism, as well as by people engaging in suspicious and unlawful business, since elementary control is lacking. The liberal policy conducted over the last few years concerning the entry of foreign nationals into Albania has created the possibility of centres of terrorism being created".
21 August 1998
The President of the Republic of Albania F. Nano said at the latest government session that "unfortunately, there is a terrorism file an Albania now. What is involved is a concrete file, as the one relating to the terrorism using Islamism as coverage". F. Nano stressed that the "combat with terrorism has now begun and that it will go on without any slackening. We are giving strong support to the curbing of terrorism".
22 August 1998
The following was published in the Zeri i Populit daily:
"The Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano confirmed yesterday that his Government is faced with the problem of terrorism. He said at yesterday's session of the Government that "unfortunately, a terrorism file exists in Albania now". The Prime Minister said that he does not have in mind the fabricated file believed in by the Dpists (members of the Democrat Party), but a concrete file as that relating to the terrorism using Islamism as coverage.
Albania experienced last week a series of developments, starting from the arrest of a number of fundamentalist militants of the Islamic jihad to the departure of some members of the American Embassy diplomatic staff for reasons of security. All Albanian military and national security structures have carried on their terrorist control activity in the meanwhile.
The Prime Minister stressed that that the combat with terrorism has now begun and that it will be carried on without any slackening. He added that the USA Ambassador to Tiranė informed him yesterday about the American military strikes carried out the night before against terrorist centres. "I am taking this opportunity to say that the Albanian Government fully understands the problems and motives for this action. We strongly support all efforts made towards curbing terrorism. Such efforts are made in the name of democracy, peace and observance of human values", said the Prime Minister Nano on behalf of his Government.
However, he did not shun the efforts being made by Albania and said: "We are joining all those who believe that there is only one possible way of responding to terrorism, which boils down to continuous and uncompromising striking at it."
22 August 1998
In an interview given to Der Frankfurter Rundschau and taken over by the Zeri i Populit daily, the President of the Republic of Albania Dr R. Meidani said: "I don't think that a rebellion is involved here. The Kosovo Albanians are struggling for their rights and freedom. In my opinion, the final solution is clear: there can be now Kosovo under Serbian regime, meaning that a form of independence is necessary. Autonomy cannot be a solution either for today or for tomorrow."
23 August 1998
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania Paskal Milo said the following in an interview given to the Zeri i Populit daily: "Kosovo can be outside Serbia, though within the Yugoslav federation. I think that it would be important to stress that the future of the Kosovo Albanians will depend on themselves. We respect their right of self-determination."
25 August 1998
In an interview he gave by telephone to the Albania daily, the ""KLA" spokesman" Jakup Krasniqi said the following: "The negotiating team designated by I. Rugova is lacking the necessary political and military support and its fate will be the same as that of the previous one. Adem Demaqi is competent for work on the institutionalisation of life for which he enjoys the full support of the "KLA" Main Headquarters and others."
26 August 1998
In an article entitled "Let us unite for the sake of Kosovo's independence", the Albania daily published the "appeal" made by B. Bukoshi, the so-called prime minister of the Republic of Kosovo, for Albanians to take a common position on Kosovo's independence.
27 August 1998
Adem Demaqi, political representative of the so-called "KLA", said in a statement addressed to AFP, which was taken over by the Shekulli, that "the "KLA" will carry on guerrilla warfare against the Serbian forces until the Albanians achieve victory in the province" and that the "KLA now consists of about 30,000 armed persons".