A Positive Assessment of Mr. Panic

Mr. Berisha, how do you view the latest developments in the Balkans, in light of your advocating a free Balkan Peninsula and the third Yugoslavia's Prime Minister Milan Panic the forming a Balkan economic confederation?

The situation in the Balkans is extremely difficult. The Balkans is a region with the most concentration camps, a region where ethnic cleansing is practiced. The policy of ethnic cleansing, which Milosevic is pursuing in Bosnia, is a great threat. The occupation of the Albanians in Kosovo is absolutely unacceptable. I believe it is the duty of all people, of all democratic forces, to contribute toward stopping the clashes and resolving problems peacefully. We, Albanians, must remain composed. The Kosovo Albanians are on their own land. They should not be the victims of calculated policies that consider war a handy means for resolving problems. I, personally, have acclaimed and do acclaim the orientation and options of the Democratic Alliance of Kosovo and President Ibrahim Rugova. Albania strongly supports this. We have assessed positively Milan Panic's visit to Kosovo and his meeting with Rugova. If Milosevic tries to curtail the space for Albanians, well then, there are others who consider that something can be accomplished through talks and that this road of dialogue must be followed. I consider that Albanian political forces in Kosovo should not lose patience, but use all peaceful means to realize their goals - their human and ethnic rights. Mr. Rugova has quite a real approach to this problem. It is my opinion that some problems must be resolved immediately, such as the special measures, dismissals from work, the situation in the mass media, abolishing the law which revoked autonomy, with the goal of gradually resolving the problem of Kosovo's political status. Therefore, I am for a peaceful solution of the Albanian issue. A solution acceptable to all ought to be found. For now, the main thing is to avoid a conflict, but this does not require only the will of the Albanians, it also necessitates certain concrete measures by the international community: placing Kosovo under international supervision, removing weapons, guaranteeing neutrality - these would be very useful measures for achieving a final solution to this problem.

The Serbian regime will not hear of these solutions. What if a conflict does break out?

The important thing is that we are working intensively with the international community on not allowing the Serbian regime to spread the conflict. I am convinced that the international community would strongly condemn a conflict in Kosovo which could be started by Milosevic in order to flare up again Serbian national emotions and to strengthen his position, or which could be provoked by circles whose goal is the ethnic cleansing of territories.

May one presume then that the talks with the co-chairmen of the Geneva Conference on Former Yugoslavia, Mr. Vance and Lord Owen, proceeded in this light?

Certainly. We endeavored to achieve progress in resolving problems. We agreed that it was necessary to prevent a conflict and resolve Kosovo's political status. We, on our part, are resolute in contributing to a peaceful solution which will respect the human and national rights of Albanians living on their territories in the former Yugoslavia.

In that respect, what is the future of Albanian-Serbian relations, that is relations between Tirana and Belgrade?

Albania is and will be interested in promoting good relations with all countries in the region. Relations between Serbs and Albanians, which were highly fraught in the past, should have a future, but this primarily depends on the attitude of the Serbs to the Albanians who live in the former Yugoslavia. I assess that it is in the interest of Serbia, both ordinary people and political circles, to accept a just solution to the Kosovo problem, in accordance with international regulations.

The Albanian Government recently expressed readiness to help Macedonia in its endeavors to mitigate, as much as possible, the consequences resulting from the economic blockade of Serbia and Montenegro. How do you describe Albanian-Macedonian relations?

We will try to promote good relations with Macedonia. However, we insist and will continue to insist on Macedonia fully respecting the human and ethnic rights of Albanians living there. I support the stand of the Albanian political forces in Macedonia, which is very constructive and in the interest of that state. The fact that they entered government today, in what is a highly complex period for Macedonia, means that they are also interested in working for its stability, and not for Macedonia's instability. On the other side, the state of affairs in the eduction system is to me inconceivable - the lack of schools for higher education for Albanians. Still, I hope that dialogue and understanding will resolve these problems.

When is Macedonia's recognition to be expected?

The question of recognizing Macedonia is, I may say, a formal one, because we were among the first to speak in favor of this state's independence. I will repeat: no one can deny the existence of one's neighbor!

Let us conclude this talk with the London Conference. Some Albanian political and intellectual circles in Kosovo objected to the participation of Albanian delegations from Tirana, Kosovo, Macedonia and Montenegro at this conference. What is, in fact, being criticized is a lacking joint strategy in presenting the pan-Albanian problem at this meeting!

Naturally, there are many different opinions, but I must say that the London Conference was not organized by the Albanians, but by the European Community and the United Nations. The organizers had invited to the Conference the Albanian delegation and the delegations of those political forces and peoples living in the former Yugoslavia. Politics, I believe, are not created by romanticism. It is a reality that the Albanians went in separate delegations, but it is also a fact that they cooperated closely in London, as well as before and after London. I know that there are different opinions about the current developments, but I believe that here in Albania at least, the political forces are united as regards the way in which to resolve problems! There is no difference between us and the main political forces that rally Albanians in Kosovo, Montenegro and Macedonia.