koha digest 94 (1996)
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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
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