Albanian separatists receive financial support from Albanians abroad. Large numbers of Albanians from Kosovo and Metohija — who have falsely claimed the right to asylum in Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, and Belgium — have the assignment of providing the resources necessary to achieve separatist goals. Criminal activities (arms smuggling, drug traffic, and so forth) by Albanians in West European countries provide the material basis for separatist politics.

"CORRIERE DELLA SERA" wrote on March 6, 1998, that Albanians from Kosovo who live in Switzerland, Germany, and the USA and are involved in illegal activities (mainly drug smuggling), provide the basic source of financing for terrorist activities.

On April 3, 1998, the German radio station "DEUTSCHE WELLE" broadcast a denial, by the Defense Ministry of the Republic of Macedonia, of reports that 10,000 fighters of the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army were stationed on Sar mountain. The Ministry asserted that the information was pure speculation, pointing out that the elementary logistical preconditions for such a large formation were non-existent, and that it would be impossible for so many people to go unnoticed.

According to "DEUTSCHE WELLE", the Defense Ministry of the Republic of Macedonia reported on "organized arms smuggling from Albania to Kosovo and Macedonia that started at the beginning of 1992, when the Democratic Party of Albania came to power, headed by Sali Berisa." The report mentioned that part of the weapons intended for Kosovo remained in the western part of Macedonia.

Military analysts state that most of the weapons originated in Albanian Army storehouses, but were not returned after last year's disturbances in that country. The armaments involved are infantry weapons that can be transported easily and inconspicuously.

"DEUTSCHE WELLE" also cited information about the financial services of Albanian emigrant circles, including the Albanian narcotics mafia on the Zurich-Brussels-New York route. Military experts claim that, in addition to the transport of weapons across Sar Mountain, organized paramilitary groups of Albanians who were trained in centers near the Albanian cities of Elbasan and Kuks also used that border crossing.

The Hungarian newspaper "MAGYAR HIRLAP" wrote, on November 15, 1997. that Albanians from Kosovo and Metohija control almost the entire heroin market in Hungary. They send part of that money to separatists fighting for "Greater Albania," according to that newspaper.

Albanian terrorists are trained in military camps in Albania and Turkey, as well as in other Islamic countries. The Italian newspaper "IL MANIFESTO" reported, on March 7, 1998, that terrorism in Kosovo is "imported from Albania" and that hundreds of young Albanians from Kosovo were trained for guerilla actions in a special military camp in Albania.

On March 5, 1998, "LA REPUBBLICA" similarly reported on a top-secret base of the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army in Albania, where terrorists are trained by Iranian instructors.

The German weekly "FOCUS" cited foreign intelligence reports that Albanian organizations in Kosovo and Metohija were led and trained by former Yugoslav Army officers of Albanian ethnicity.

The need for publicity is characteristic of terrorist organizations. Albanian separatists use the media, mainly Albanian-language newspapers in Kosovo and Metohija, to speak about attacks and take responsibility for actions completed. The leadership of the Kosovo Liberation Army has thus far publicized about 40 reports about its activities which it sent to the news editors, including the "DEUTSCHE WELLE" radio station and the more influential news media in Germany. Besides assuming responsibility for "acti- ons" completed, the "Koso- vo Liberation Army" regularly announces new ones.