Koha Digest # 107

FRONT PAGE: THE AMERICAN GUARANTEE OF FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY

DATE: 12 June 1996

EDITORIAL

ACTORS SEARCHING THE SCREENPLAY

by VETON SURROI

The number of foreign visitors in Kosova has increased. Their relative importance increased
as well: from ministries to various European parliaments and, of course... to Hoolbroke's
successor, Cornblum, who opened the American Office in Prishtina last week.

Simultaneously, in Europe, at the end of each June an evaluation of the EU policy takes place,
on the occasion of the new chairmanship. There are premonitions that during this week, in
Florence, the Kosovan issue will also be appraised.

Everything is already known inside this political scene - except the screenplay.

Here are some elements:

ALBANIANS: Rugova gained a huge injection of support with the opening of the American
office, exactly when his leading abilities were seriously questioned. Adem Demaçi will
continue his inclusion in the politics, and this could become more vivid during September,
when the American injection to Rugova will start losing effect. Those responsible for the
violence during the last April, if assumed to be a part of some Albanian organization, will
carefully follow the internal Albanian developments, as well as the foreign reply to the
Kosova issue.

SERBS: Milosevic is not anxious to open the dossier of Kosova. His hands are full of Bosnia
and internal economic problems, and he will buy time until the end of this year, i.e., till the
elections in his country take place (moreover, he has to clarify whether he will become FRY's
chancellor). Instead of orientating himself to Kosova, he will aim through his wife's party to
corrupt Albanians politically, as well as in every other possible way.

Other actors of the political scene in Serbia have no importance when Kosova issue is
addressed.

THE EUROPEANS: The Bildt's crew will attempt to initiate a process of "returning the
mutual trust" between Serbs and Albanians. Initiated at the time when Milosevic is not really
interested for Kosova, mentioned process could be destined to failure, as numerous European
initiatives. The positive side: it could serve for initiating another process.

The weekly Koha (The Times) was published in Prishtina (Kosovo) between 1994 and 1997. Edited by Veton
Surroi, a young Kosovar journalist and one of the pioneers of democratisation in former Yugoslavia, Koha
soon became a symbol of quality among the region's media. In 1997 it started to be published daily under the
name of Koha Ditorë. W ith the kind permission of Mr. Surroi, Koha digests were originally posted on
http://koha.estudiosbalcanicos.org.
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THE AMERICANS: The USA opened its Information Office in Kosova, therefore the
Department of State could face the Congress by stating that it has not lost the sight of
Kosova. While awaiting the elections in Bosnia and USA, the official Washington will
observe cautiously the happenings in the Kosova scene: the way the Albanians, Serbs and
Europeans behave. In this, the relation Washington-Belgrade-Dragodan will offer a suitable
observing position.

KOSOVA

Challenge Day!

THE AMERICAN INFORMATION HIGHWAY

by YLBER HYSA / Prishtina

The opening of the American Information Center in Prishtina, an

idea launched ten years ago in the American circles, became true
on June 5th, 1996. The first time the Albanian lobby in USA
addressed president Bush in regard to the opening of an American
office in Prishtina happened in 1986. Later, at the beginning of
the '90s, when the Yugoslav crisis escalated, this idea
reappeared, this time supported by high political circles in the
US - in order to explain the fact that similar offices in the
world are facing the close-down due to budgetary reductions, as
it was stated a year ago by Richard Holbrooke, replying to the
question in this regard he was asked at the American Congress.

However, in the past months, the proceedings for the opening of

this office were visibly accelerated, until finally 5 June came,
when the USIS office in Prishtina was opened by the Assistant
Secretary of State for Canada and Europe, John Cornblum,
accompanied by the US deputy-adjoint secretary, Rudolph Perina,
Assistant US Defense Secretary, Jan Lodal and the head of the
USIS for the Eastern Europe, Anne Siegmund.

The senior US delegation had previously visited the local Serb

authorities in Prishtina, being received by the "administrator"
Aleksa Jokic and his deputy Nesovic, who were accompanied by the
Head of the Cultural and Educational Cooperation Department of
the Federal Foreign Ministry, Stanojevic.

Among others, during this short visit, Cornblum said to Jokic and
others that since the United States represent a conglomerate of
various cultures and entities, there is a belief that a proper
informing focused on the manners of solving the national problems
in the country could help the solution of actual problems in
Kosova, as well.

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After this, the American delegation lead by Cornblum visited
president Rugova, where among others, it conveyed the message of
US president Clinton that the United States will engage for the
rights of the population of Kosova, for peace and prosperity in
the region.

After the short visits in Prishtina, the American delegation

headed for the "Dragodan" quarter, to promote the American
Information Office. In a ceremonious atmosphere, in front of the
rented building where the US flag fluttered, few hundreds of
spontaneously gathered citizens were cheering: "USA, USA", "Free
Kosova", Rugova, Rugova!"

Thus started the ceremony of the opening the office.

After introducing the guests, in his opening speech, Perina said,
among others, that the opening of this office was a long-term
preoccupation of the US Government. Siegmund informed the guests
of the function that the US office in Prishtina will exercise,
emphasizing the possibilities offered by the office library,
equipped with the latest computer technology. Hoping that this
center will accomplish the exchange of experiences and cultural
values, Siegmund, on behalf of the USIA, expressed her gratitude
for the warm hospitality offered in Prishtina.

In his central speech during the inauguration of the office,

deputy to the Secretary of State, Cornblum, stated firstly that
through enabling the possibility for such an approach to the
information circulation, open to all people, we generate the
possibility that rests on democratic grounds towards prosperous
and just future of the region.

Recalling the American attention on human rights in Kosova,

Cornblum added that "also, our presence is an indication of the
American engagement in the area. We plead for the constant
dialogue with all parties in this part of the world, in order to
convince ourselves that stable peace and democracy in the Balkans
can stand; we plead for the constant dialogue with the Yugoslav
authorities, in order to convince ourselves that the future will
be luminous for Kosova, as well as for the others in this part of
the world".

Cornblum, as noticed in the first press communique of the USIA

Office in Prishtina, highlighted that the "main aim of the center
will be the informing of people on the American society and
culture, employing in this the technology that what was by the
vice-president Al Gore once named 'the information highway'". He
also added that the USIA office "stands as a concrete proof of
permanent US interest and its concern about the nations in the
region"!

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It was not only the presence of the high American guests that so
visibly highlighted the opening of the office. At the local
level, it was the presence of the highest political
representatives of Albanians headed by Ibrahim Rugova, and, on
the other side, the presence of the Serb officials lead by the
"administrator" Jokic, his deputy Nesovic, the information
secretary Drobnjak, etc.

In fact, this seemed to be the hardest part of the "protocol" of

the promotion. There were rumors that Rugova will not participate
in the manifestation because of the presence of the Serb
officials (even the presence of the Minister for Minority Issues,
Margit Savovic was also rumoured!) and because of some potential
Serb signs or even a Yugoslav flag at the building. Frictions
were to be expected on the other side, as well, after realizing
that at the promotion of the American Office, the Serb
authorities will be meeting with Rugova.

However, it was the Serbs that firstly entered the place of

ceremony, headed by Jokic and taking the left side of the
American flag, located at the place where the ceremony and the
speeches were to be held. The right side, in front of the
Americans, was taken by Rugova.

And this would be the beginning of the inauguration.

It was the impression of the majority of those present that the
Serb delegation was not really sharing a cheerful mood, what
could not be said for the constantly-smiling Rugova, who (as his
assistants commented) seemed to have received the strongest
ampoule of optimism in the form of direct American support
(Cornblum conveyed him the message of the US president Clinton)
since the first visits of American delegations at the beginning
of '90s. Rugova even declared that this is a historical day for
Kosova.

In fact, Americans wisely avoided some unnecessary situations:

they spoke in their language only, not greeting anyone in
particular and concluding that they succeeded in gathering Serbs
and Albanians in one place!

However, the toughness of putting Serb and Albanian

representatives together in a same place - personalities who have
never met each other, although living in the same city - could be
illustrated by the fact that while the Serb delegation was
entering the room, one of the aged chairmen of one Albanian
political party, started applauding probably convinced that this
was the American delegation entering the room! One could guess
that this might have confused "administrator" Jokic even more,
who found himself and his associates in a tight room with
Americans and Albanians unable to avoid shaking hands with Rugova

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and his people.

"They've shaken hands", stated Cornblum to "KOHA", when asked

whether this office could offer itself as a place for future
Serb-Albanian dialogue. "We do not perceive this office as an
official place where dialogue or talks could take place... We
hope that this house will be at the service of both sides. Today,
we have received the Serb and Albanian guests, officials who met
and even shaken hands. Eventually, this is our small contribution
towards sustaining the dialogue" - continued Cornblum, adding
that the US Secretary of State, Warren Christopher, during his
last meeting with Milosevic, among others, highlighted the issue
of Kosova.

There is another significant thing to notice in regard to these

rare multi-party meetings. At the office and around, the security
personnel worked jointly: American guards, Serb state security
and the Rugova's bodyguards! A thing worth of memorizing...
Also, in order to describe various moods of Kosova entities in
regard to the opening of the American office in Prishtina, we
will use authentic cases one could notice during the solemnity.
When a security officer specially designated for guarding the
meeting was asked by a journalist for the place and the house of
future American center, the officer simply answered: "I don't
know what are you talking about". On the other side, one could
see Rugova's chief of security staff and head of protocol, Adnan
Merovci, busy inside the building, wearing a festive tie with an
artistic image of the Washington White House and the American
flag! Finally, there were some Serb correspondents, who, while
following the meeting and hearing the inevitable crowd cheering
"USA, USA" - comforted themselves by saying that "What the heck,
they'll see us applauding when the Russian consulate will open in
Prishtina!"

In fact, the 5th of June was the day of many shows in Prishtina.
It was the opening of the USIS Office in Prishtina, an event
followed sensationally by Albanian media and minimized on Serb
ones - and by the other manifestation of the day, the official
one, located at the Prishtina hotel "Bozur" (presently resided by
numerous Serb refugees) - Challenge Day! Moreover, this jogging
international event was propagated all over the city with
placards in English...

Will 6 June look like this...

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BOSKO DROBNJAK, Secretary of Information of the Serbian
Government in Kosova:

THE OPENING OF THE AMERICAN OFFICE - POSITIVE

"The main task of centers of this kind is to inform the citizens

of the host state on the situation and the processes in the
American society, to approximate the American culture to them.
They are also catalysts of the links between different states.
I hope that this Center will be the place that will gather
Albanians, Serbs, Turks, etc. Therefore, I look upon the opening
of this office in a very positive way. I am convinced that the
center will work in accordance to the previous agreement,
respecting the positive laws of this country. In this aspect, we
will cooperate", - says the Secretary of Information of the
Serbian rule in Kosova.

In regard to the casual meeting with Rugova on the day of the

inauguration, Drobnjak said: "It is good to have met Mr. Rugova.
I consider this to be a very important step towards establishing
the dialogue which is inevitable. This is also where I see the
positive role of this center. Although, personally I believe that
we should have had these kind of meetings even earlier, without
waiting for any mediators".

Our collocutor considers Cornblum's speech to be correct, and

adds: "The relations between Serbia and USA have existed for over
a century, and most of the time they have been good. This is a
continuation of the good relations...

We highly evaluate the efforts of the international factors to

establish the dialogue and to find a peaceful solution for
Kosova's problems. This assistance is really welcome, if it is
expressed in the way that respects the sovereignty and integrity
of Yugoslavia" - concluded Drobnjak.

MOMCILO TRAJKOVIC, Leader of the Serb Resistance Movement:

"THE OPENING OF THIS OFFICE IS LOOKED UPON WITH RESERVES BY THE

KOSOVAN SERBS"

In regard to the opening of the American Office in Prishtina and

the others that could be opened later, I must say that our
provisions were fulfilled. Despite the efforts of our government
to convince the public that Kosova remains an internal problem of
Serbia, this is an act that proves that it is not a Serbian
problem alone. The sole fact that the inscription states:
"American Information center - Prishtina, Kosova", proves that

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they ignore the Serbian, Yugoslav state. We have nothing against
those who are well-intentioned, but we do have much against those
who wish to interfere directly in our internal affairs and incite
the situation even more and thus cause serious consequences.
After all, we can't decide about it, for this is an issue
concerning the government. However, the opening of this office
should be an additional reason for Milosevic's arrival to Kosova,
and his explanations to the members of the SRM in the meeting
scheduled on June 20! He should explain to us whether Kosova
continues being part of Serbia: what does first, the expulsion of
the CSCE Mission and then the opening of the US Office in
Prishtina mean? If this started thus, why shouldn't other
centers, as the Russian or that of the EU, open then...?

What is annoying us, members of the SRM, is how was the decision
made, how was the location, the building, etc. chosen for it? The
impression among Serbs and Montenegrins is that the American
Center is lobbying for the Albanian cause. A wise American
diplomacy should be careful to give the impression that it wishes
to help all the people living here...

All of these acts are taken with a lot of reserve from the Serbs!
I don't wish to say that there is an anti-American disposition
here, but...if this issue has got the consent of the Serbian
government, then this was not made quite clear to the people, the
public is confused and all of this looks as if it were almost
illegal!

Further on, the Serbian side has not been invited. It is very
unclear whether Rugova was invited to the ceremony as the
President of the so called "Republic of Kosova" or as chairman of
a party. If he was invited as chairman of a party, then the
chairmen of the Serbian parties should have been invited as well.
The Serbs that participated in the ceremony are not from Kosova,
but they are from Kraljevo", says Moma Trajkovic.

INTERVIEW

MICHAEL McCLELLAN, Acting Director of the USIS in Prishtina

"WE WERE ALLOWED WHAT WE WANTED!"

Interviewed by DUKAGJIN GORANI / Prishtina

KOHA: Tell us about the purpose and the profile of the US

Information Office here in Prishtina - a center whose opening was
eagerly expected for almost ten years now by the local Albanian
populationin particular?

-7-
McCLELLAN: The United States Information Office in Prishtina will
provide information about American life and institutions to
residents of Kosova who have an interest in those subjects. For
the most part, that would be an English-speaking audience,
because our materials will be in English. There will be a very
limited number of pamphlets in Albanian and Serbian. But,
obviously, when you run a library with information on United
States, you just cannot publish everything in other languages.
And, the amount of the information that will be available here
will be truly enormous, because we will have a CD-ROM collection
of magazines, going back several years updated periodically
containing literally tens or thousands of articles covering
almost any subject you want.

KOHA: However, we are referring to Kosova and its capital - by

large considered an extremely tense environment. What was the
initial idea for establishing an office in Prishtina?

McCLELLAN: We had an interest to have this center in Prishtina

for some time, and the Secretary of State, Warren Christopher,
raised the issue with President Milosevic - and President
Milosevic agreed. We also have an information center in
Podgorica, however there is no American running the office. It is
a small center run by local staff and it is visited by the Public
Affairs Officer in Belgrade from time to time.

KOHA: There are opinions that this center will represent a

certain mixture of American Cultural Center and a sort of remote
active US diplomatic office...

McCLELLAN: Well, there will be one American diplomat stationed

here who is an employee to the United States Information Agency -
USIA, commonly known overseas as the United States Information
Service - USIS. The USIS does the work in the area regarding
press and culture. And, providing information about the United
States and organizing cultural exchange program. That is our job.
that is what we do. And, we will be providing those services here
in Kosova.

KOHA: Isn't it peculiar for a cultural center to have a diplomat

running the office?

McCLELLAN: No, it is normal for the US cultural centers.

Overseas, the press attach‚ or the cultural attach‚, typically,
is usually the US Information Agency official.

KOHA: What do you see in the future of Kosova and the best
possible outcome for Kosova?

McCLELLAN: We would like to see a solution to the situation in

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Kosova that would leave all of its citizens free to exercise the
full range of civil rights inherent in any democratic society. We
believe that an atmosphere of mutual respect and tolerance among
people is basic for the development of peace and prosperity not
just in Kosova, but throughout the Balkan region. The United
States stands ready to help foster the development of democracy
in any way it can. We hope the American Center in Prishtina can
play a constructive role in this regard. Our doors are open to
all the residents of Kosova and we look forward to sharing the
experience of the American life and culture with our new
neighbors.

KOHA: Again, there are opinions that the US Information Office in

Prishtina could be a useful location for initiating future talks
or negotiations between Serb and Albanian opposed parties, about
the political problem of Kosova.

McCLELLAN: Well, obviously, we would like for our presence to be

a positive factor in relations between the people of Kosova. As
for future possibilities, we do not speculate on what the future
may hold on that. Obviously, our center is here for all the
residents of Kosova; it is certainly our hope and our expectation
that this would be a place where both Serbs and Albanians and
other people will come to learn about the United States, to learn
from our experiences, to learn more about us and to share that
information with each other. And, we hope that people will feel
comfortable to come and talk together about that. I see no reason
why Serbs and Albanians, for example, cannot come to our center
and have a discussion about American institutions, the American
processes or American education.

KOHA: The opening of the office was probably the first occasion
to see both the Albanian political leadership and the local Serb
authorities in the same place...

McCLELLAN: I think of this as the evidence of the importance that

both groups of people give to this center. I mean, this is the
first diplomatic establishment in Prishtina. And the fact that
both Serb and Albanian officials came, shows that they consider
it as important.

KOHA: Do you fear possible misinterpretations on the purpose of

your office, having in mind the tense atmosphere and the ongoing
political conflict in Kosova?

Mc CLELLAN: Anybody who wants to learn the truth about our

purposes and our activities is welcome to come and talk to me.
What we do here is completely open. It is completely "above
ground", as we say. There are no secrets here, I am happy to show
anybody who comes here what the place looks like, what we are

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doing; to talk about the programs we expect to have, and, when
the center is actually open, anyone can come and see for
themselves. Obviously I cannot stop people from misrepresenting
things: if people want to say bad things, they will say them.
But, if they want the truth, it is here.

KOHA: Is this assignment the first of the kind for you?

McCLELLAN: No, I was actually director of the cultural center in

Egypt, where I worked for three years. So, I am familiar with the
kind of program that a Cultural Center does, and one of the
reasons why I'm here is that because I do have the cultural
center experience.

KOHA: But then, the overseas US Cultural Centers are not in their
expansion. There is a policy in Washington aiming at their close-
down because of various reasons. Due to this, how would you
comment the opening of this office in Prishtina?

McCLELLAN: Well, cultural centers open and close depending on the

political and budgetary realities that prevail at that time.

Obviously, the US budget has been one of the biggest stories

during the whole year. Our president and Congress were arguing
over the budget. And a lot of the budgetary decisions that were
made, came down to political decisions and the philosophical
decisions about the role of the government and the role of the
foreign policy. And, when a government agency is given a certain
amount of money, it has to decide about the most effective way to
spend it. You have to realize that our priorities change over
time and at some places you reach the point where the cultural
centers are simply no longer needed due to the development of
other local institutions.

KOHA: There are reasons to suspect that by both the Serbian and
Albanian side, this office will be displayed as an engagement for
the normalization of the political life in Kosova. Do you fear
the burden of defining you as an official exercising a political
task?

McCLELLAN: I am going to pass on this question. It is because,

finally, I have only been in Kosova for two weeks. And, I am a
specialists in Russian affairs, not Yugoslav affairs. I am here
only to set up the center. What you have asked gets into a much
larger question which you might pose to Belgrade. It is simply
not a question that I can deal with at this time. As far as it
could be seen at the day of the opening, the political leadership
of both sides made an effort to be sure that everything was calm.
That is good. Neither side wanted to have provocations of
violence or anything like that. It was the effort to have a quiet

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and pleasant opening. And it was a very happy occasion.

KOSOVA

Kosova Serbs:
AGAINST MILOSEVIC?

by KOHA / Prishtina

The distress among Kosova Serbs is increasing. None of them

really realizes what will happen with Kosova. Recent manoeuvres
in Kosova and the newest reflection of the events during May and
June, inspired the Kosova Serbs to reconsider their present
position. "There are some 35.000 signatures collected by the Serb
Resistance Movement and we expect to collect up to 60.000" -
claims Momcilo Trajkovic. "They will present an adequate argument
to request Milosevic's presence on 22 June in Prishtina. The
appeals of so many people should not be ignored by any wise
president" - adds Mirko Cupic of the Movement.

"Our argument", emphasizes Moma Trajkovic, chairman, "is the

political way of solving the problem of Kosova, therefore the
efforts tending to present us as Serb nationalists and extremists
appear vane. Albanians and Serbs", continues Trajkovic "should be
the ones to discuss the future of Kosova, however, this would
take place after reaching an internal Serb consensus over what
are they willing to do with Kosova! For us, this is primarily the
national and statal Serb issue!"

"We will not allow things to develop behind the back of Serbs and
Montenegrins of Kosova, inside some office and under the pressure
of great powers", expressed directly Cupic. "Therefore, we refuse
to participate passively. This is the reason why we insist on
Milosevic's visit to Kosova. He should explain to us clearly the
dilemmas and rumors related to Kosova", emphasized Trajkovic. The
last maneuvers of the Serb "realpolitik" after Dayton -
concessions in Bosnia and Krajina, seems to have disturbed
extremely the Kosova Serbs, and it seems that this distraction
culminated with the opening of the American Information Office in
Prishtina. "Nothing is being communicated, nobody informs anybody
on what is going on, and Serbs here don't even listen music on
the statal TV!" - says Trajkovic, the leader of the Serb
Resistance Movement.

Trajkovic stated clearly that they decline to even suspect that

Milosevic will refuse to visit Kosova! "We were thinking of
celebrating the meeting in the assembly hall of the Kosova
Parliament building which has 400 seats, to be attended by the

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Kosova Serb representatives, but also the Serb refugee
representatives.

"This is an all-Serb issue", stated the Serb Resistance Movement

leaders, ignoring the reactions of some of the central officials
of the SPS, as Tomica Raicevic, adding that "among 35.000
signatures, one can find at least 700 of those signed by the
employees to the Kosovan Secretariat of Interior, and also of
members of the Yugoslav Army! In fact, even the Kosova SPS
members themselves support us. Moreover, one of the high
officials of the SPS participated our conference held on the 18
May in Prishtina" - explains Trajkovic.

The leaders of this movement are not infuriated only with some
high representatives of the ruling party, but also by JUL, which
is engaged in "correcting the SPS and the LDK". "This is,
therefore a policy of failed brotherhood and unity!"

On the question regarding whether Kosova Serbs would accept to

negotiate their future inside the Republic of Kosova, Trajkovic
replies: "I cannot perceive the position of Serbs in such Kosova.
If something of the kind would take place, Serbs will abandon
Kosova". What will then happen if the Milosevic couple ignores
you, was the next question to be answered: "Then, they are free
to come and live in Kosova, after we abandon it!"

However, the leaders of the Serb Resistance Movement emphasized

that there will be no more mass meetings of Serbs and
Montenegrins, as it was trend in the late '80s.

What formerly seemed a bashful effort to come out in public,

seems to be a defined emotion of fear and despair towards the
policy conducted by the Serb leadership in Belgrade after Dayton,
something that has extremely upset Kosova Serbs - particularly
after the shameful defeat in Krajina. "We don't want the
repetition of Bosnia here, and we do not want bloodshed" -
concluded finally the Serb Resistance Movement leaders, those who
actually started the so-called "yoghurt-revolution" and those who
promoted Milosevic into the leader of all Serbs.

It appears hard to believe that their former sympathetic leader

will make up his mind to visit Kosova by midst summer. However,
if he is decides to do that, he will surely tell his compatriots
about things that his wife talks about - brotherhood and unity...

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MACEDONIA

THE FATAL PARALLELS

by ISO RUSI / Shkup

"The Parliament has no competence to proclaim the referendum",

was the short reply of the Parliament of Macedonia regarding the
demand of the two non-parliamentary opposition parties VMRO-DPMNE
and the Democratic Party, which succeeded to collect over 220.000
signatures for a referendum that should bring the solution to the
dilemma whether new parliamentary elections should take place or
not. Such a course of events appears to have been predicted,
considering the way this initiative was treated by the ruling
governmental coalition. At the very start of the collection of
signatures, the government announced the approval of the law that
would precise the practice and the way in which the signatures
should be collected.

In the race with time, the initiators of signature collecting,

those who succeeded to gather over 220.000 signatures and submit
them to the parliament before it conditioned the entire procedure
with the mentioned law, were much faster. Moreover, during the
interval of verifying the status of future voters - of those who
had signed the initiative - the Minister of Justice, interpreting
the constitution, claimed in several interviews that the
collection of signatures does not constrain the parliament to
announce the referendum on anticipated elections. Also, the
president of the republic stated his conviction that "during the
past hundred years, there has been no democratic country that
announced the parliamentary elections in a national
referendum..."

Finally, when the initiative reached the parliamentary procedure,

the parliamentary commissions had already approved the verdict
that stated the absence of constitutional grounds for announcing
the referendum and this was supported by the majority of the MPs.
The entire case could be looked at from two angles. The first one
would be that of the formal/juridical nature, deciphering that
the Constitution of Macedonia defines the referendum as a
practice to realizing the government, enabling the parliament to
proclaim it any time it regards the issues under its
competencies. This is the place where the "Catch 22" appears,
allowing different and opposite interpretations. In fact, the
intermittence of the MP mandates before the expiration of the
four years' period can take place in cases of individual
resignations or after the collective abandonment of the
parliament. Thus, the collection of 150.000 signatures in favor
of the announcement of the referendum on anticipated elections
is, on one hand interpreted as a legal way of enabling the

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referendum according to certain automatism (the number of
collected signatures); while on the other hand, the ruling
coalition, considers this impossible, because the announcement of
new elections does not belong within the Parliament's
competencies (disregarding the possibility of its own
dissolution!).

The other angle, naturally, is that of the political nature.

Allegedly, the inaccuracy of the Macedonian Constitution serves
only as a cover for failing to realize the will of at least 1/5
of the electoral body. This is best perceived in the
parliamentary debates. Shortly, all of the ruling coalition's
MPs, as if they were the highest experts on Constitutional Law,
said that there are no constitutional grounds to call for the
referendum. There were also several discussions qualifying the
non-parliamentary opposition as a strive for destabilization of
the "oasis of peace"!

The discussions were utilized for a new disqualification of the

political opponents. This was done by the Socialists and the
Social-Democrats towards the Liberals and the initiators of the
action. The level of discussions was astonishing, since it
revealed that the majority of MPs are "old-timers" with archaic
perceptions of democracy. The spirit of Kardelj levitated inside
the assembly hall although the "New Central Committee" that would
approve the decisions was lacking! The arguments didn't make the
decisions, but they were made by the party viewpoints, "as during
the good old times" - stated the leader of the Democratic Party,
Petar Gosev. In this chaos of exchanging political etiquettes,
the ruling coalition was forced to demonstrate the "power". In a
disciplined manner, its MPs voted the decision according to which
the parliament has no constitutional grounds for announcing the
referendum. Simply, the regime ignored the fact that 220.000
persons, during four days, signed their demand on the referendum,
an act that at some point expresses their dissatisfaction with
the events in their country. An incomprehensive arrogance that is
likely to reflect the confidence of the regime that it has full
control over everything.

The only thing remaining now, for the initiators of the

collection of signatures is to file a complaint in the
Constitutional Court which can overrule the decision of the
Parliament. If this happens, then the referendum should,
inevitably, take place. However, this solution is hardly
possible, simply because of the court's composition, made up in
accordance with the will of the ruling coalition. "Normally,
there is a little room for optimism, since the state is facing a
huge problem, whereas the majority of courts is subjugated to the
control of the government", says VMRO-DPMNE's leader, Ljupco
Georgijevski. Being asked of some other activity except that of

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alerting the international institutions, Georgijevski says: "I
could tell you that we are stifled with the calls by the citizens
of various groups, the unemployed, subsidized workers, retired
persons, students, as well as the political parties'
representatives we negotiate with - who demand the realization of
justice through `street-democracy'".

The analyses about the possibility of this "Macedonian happening

of people" appear opposite. Those counting that at least the ones
who have signed the initiative will continue to demand the
realization of their right - consider that anything can happen.
Opposed to them are those arguing over the, rather small, number
of persons that gathered in front of the Parliament during the
debate on the referendum initiative - accentuating that the
population is used to sufferings and there is no chance for some
stronger protest.

The parliamentary debate over the referendum initiative

"coincided" with what could be called the news of the week. The
Ministry of Health confirmed that the intoxication of the Tetova
Medical High school students in excursion to Strugë, was not
alimentary, but it was a "mixed intoxication", since the analyses
of biological material of the intoxicated confirmed the presence
of "amino-phenazine" and "phenazine", substances that were
formerly used as anaesthetics and were banned twenty years ago.
If consumed in huge amounts, these substances could bring serious
health problems, even death! The presence of huge amounts of
nicotine and caffeine was also confirmed. Thus, the ministry
practically did its obligation - the cause of the intoxication of
more than 300 students, a certain number of which still remain
under intensive medical care at Shkupi and Tetova, was
deciphered. Another ministry, that of Interior, now holds the
heaviest burden - to conclude how and which poisoning substances
were given to the students. Tetova is these days elaborating a
series of endless options and suppositions, while each one of the
"reliable sources" emphasizes what was this all about - from the
involvement of former KOS (Counter Espionage Service within the
former Yugoslav Peoples' Army) and the Macedonian nationalism, up
to the involvement of the actual secret services and regimes - as
well as highlighting the possibility that Albanians and their
(sexual) sins are the cause of all this.

Numerous parties and societies organized the protests in this

regard. Media in Macedonian informed and commented the events in,
for Albanians, a well-known manner - as genuine enemies of
Macedonian state. Even more, because of the speeches delivered by
the renowned enemies such were Myqereme Rusi, Fadil Sylejmani,
and the radical Arbën Xhaferi (whose widely commented statement
that "Albanians will accept to study in Tirana and in Prishtina
if the western parts of Macedonia are annexed to Albania")!

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Another parallel we would add, according to Gosev, over the
"party arguments and attitudes"! On the one side the general
distress appears very normal, since everyone aspires an
elementary safety for themselves and their relatives. The present
situation in the country results inevitably in measuring any
event through the political prism, with the accent on the
aggravation of the inter-ethnic relations. Furthermore, what was
on the Macedonian side until recently considered a "national
treason" - the engagements on sustaining dialogue with Albanians -
on the Albanian side, however, it is evolving in an internal
differentiation among those who participate in power and those
who refuse it. In the case of intoxication of students, the
warnings were addressed to the Deputy-Minister of Health - Ilir
Luma, who during a special broadcast by Tetova's TV-Art, stated
that the unusual behavior of students could be commented as
psychosis, the fear that evolves from panics, emphasizing that it
is almost completely sure that this is an alimentary
intoxication. In the Macedonian Parliament, during the debates
on the referendum for new elections, the PPD deputies utilized
the given chance for confrontation with those of opposite
positions - the PPDSH and the PDP. However, they have chosen the
wrong grounds. Supporting the thesis that regarded the absence of
constitutional grounds for announcing the elections, it is said
that they played the role of "the honest Albanians"... They have
lived to see the major columnist of the weekly "Puls"
acknowledging them in her commentary "Parallels", thus: "We have
seen and listened to the parliamentary debate over the initiative
of two extra-parliamentarian parties... It is to be concluded
that the `stand was held by the PDP, PPD and the PPDSH. The MPs
to the Social-Democratic League of Macedonia were not motivated,
they were pale, apathetic and with no inspiration. Frightened by
constant insisting to detach from the nature of their own party,
they have missed the chance to score as a political party. The
scores were maximally earned by Hysen Ramadani, Mersel Bilalli,
Ismet Ramadani and Sali Ramadani. The rights of these four had
bravely drawn the parallels. Their stories bore the message, as
well as the clarity of attitudes. They created the rare moment,
when a member of an entity could feel as a citizen-gentleman. I
would gladly like to see them on some of the highest statal
functions..."

As for the behavior of the deputies of PDP, nothing is really

disputable, we would say - all of them behaved in a complete
correlation with their attitudes. What is itself respectable,
because the collectiveness - particularly the one perceived
romantically, ethnically - should be detached in a concrete
example. The dilemma that is imposed here is whether there should
be a "the party differentiation" within ethnic groups. And all
this in the name of the "good old differentiation", in those
"honest" and "statal enemies". The ancient political mentality

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knows no ethnic differences!

MACEDONIA

FOR JOURNALISTS, HITHER AND THITHER...

by SELADIN XHEZAIRI / Shkup

For fifteen months, my colleague Panta Dzambazovski dwelled in

Tirana as a special correspondent of the daily "Nova Makedonija"
from Shkupi. Finally, he was informed by the Press Directory of
the Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs that his demand for
accreditation was rejected. "Despite the negative response of the
Albanian authorities, I left Tirana with pleasant impressions",
says Dzambazovski, acknowledging that this was taken very
seriously by the Macedonian side.

In this regard, his main office recently published a long

commentary evaluating the decision made by the foreign ministry
of the country with which, as claimed so far, Macedonia has no
problems nor open disagreements, as rather odd.

The Albanian side is being accused of disrespecting the standards

and the international covenants that regulate the presence of
foreign correspondents (colleague Dzambazovski states that there
is only one foreign correspondent, a Chinese). "Nova Makedonija"
recalls that regardless of the fact that USA and Iraq were at war
for many years, American journalists reported from Baghdad!
There is no doubt that there are reasons to explain this.
However, the Macedonian press, including its main daily, has been
ignoring for the second year in a row the decision of the
Macedonian authorities that declared two correspondents of
"Rilindja" in Shkupi as "personae non gratae", as well as the
denial of the accreditation to the (Albanian) correspondent for
"Voice of America". The justification was too "dry": the
authorities claimed that besides journalism they were exercising
other activities...

Secondly, the authorities that cover the so-called "informative

talks", have recently increased their interest for journalists.
In Tetova alone, three journalists were interrogated, and a phone
message was left to the author of this article, as well. There is
a philosopher, I believe to have said that a heretic is the one
who has personal ideas - while in this case heretics
(journalists) seem to represent the equivalent to the "internal
enemy".

It is said that the verbal delict no longer exists. Are we are

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talking democracy here, or are we not?!...

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