KOSOVA (KLA political representative - briefing)

Demaçi: "The race for power, must not affect national interests"

Prishtina, 15 September (ARTA) 1500CET --

"The competition for governing, is understandable until it doesn't affect national interests", said the KLA political representative, Adem Demaçi at the beginning of his regular press conference. Speaking about the last events in Albania, Demaçi said that these days are decisive for the Albanian President Rexhep Meidani.

"President Meidani must ask for the help of the Albanian Assembly, and decide...to create a national Army, a national police as well as the Law Court and the Public Prosecutors Office which does not belong to any ideology", he claimed.

Furthermore, Demaçi proposed the Albanian president to establish a transitory Government comprised by personalities who are distinguished patriots and professionals.

"Albania has many such personalities, but they need the support of the people", he evaluated adding further that, it is very easy to propose, but difficult to realize such goals.

Demaçi also expressed his condolences for the death of Azem Hajdari, and stressed that efforts for getting power must not go beyond certain limits, because they will not be tolerated.

Asked about the eventual involvement of the KLA in the present turmoil in Albania, Demaçi replied that the KLA is not involved.

"But, the Republic of Albania, which is weak because of such a crisis, is not the backing Albanians expect it to be. We are against every form of crisis, because a state of crisis does not lead forward", he claimed.

Asked whether the crisis in Albania will draw the international attention from Kosova, Adem Demaçi responded: "Yes partly, but I think that things will settle down there very soon".

Asked to explain one of his previous statements that "his political fate relates to the one of Sali Berisha ", Demaçi emphasized that he proposed to Berisha to resign "because six years are enough for one to show his political abilities".

"I changed my mind in time. I am very adaptable to the conditions and circumstances", stated Adem Demaçi.

Concerning the issue of Fatos Nano's resignation, Demaçi said that he ought not to be dismissed. The KLA political representative also talked about the situation in Kosova.

He clearly opposed sending humanitarian aids through Serb channels.

"We have our humanitarian organizations, and assistance can be sent and distributed through them", claimed Demaçi.

He claimed that in the upcoming months, the Serb regime would try to neutralize every effort of the Albanians, in order to force them "to accept a cultural autonomy" in the future.

Demaçi claimed that the KLA is being restructured even during the Serb offensive. "Serbs are trying to prevent the KLA from consolidating by conducting offensives one after another", he claimed.

Concerning the KLA political statement that: "We will win or Kosova will be burnt to ashes", Demaçi claimed that this is just a rhetoric which express the determination of a soldier to achieve his goal.

Asked about his opinion concerning handing in weapons, Demaçi answered that only those who were unsure when they took weapons in the first place could hand them in. Those who took the weapons in their hands with full consciousness are aware that they cannot be given in as long as they are alive. "This will go on until one side is fed up", claimed Demaçi estimating that, the Serb side will be fed up fist because Albanians need freedom.

"In principle, I support the talks, but first the Serbs have to offer the necessary arguments before they take place", he claimed adding further that, the problem could be solved with military intervention from abroad.

"...The foreign forces ought to intervene.... attack some of the Serb military bases...", estimated KLA political representative Adem Demaçi.

KOSOVA (US Ambassador to Macedonia)

Rugova: "The American document of 3 September is not acceptable for Albanians"

Prishtina, 15 September (ARTA) 1700CET --

The American Envoy for the issue of Kosova, and the US Ambassador to Macedonia, Christopher Hill, returned to Prishtina, on Tuesday, after spending two weeks in Vienna and the USA.

The American mediator held a meeting with the President of the Republic of Kosova, Ibrahim Rugova, with whom he discussed, as he stated, the crisis in Kosova.

"We discussed the situation in Kosova, the humanitarian issues and the negotiating process", stated Hill, as he came out from the President's residency.

Sources close to the presidency, stated that during the meeting, Ambassador Hill and Rugova discussed the American project of 3 September, which was offered to the Albanian and Serb side.

There are claims that Rugova supported the American engagement in Kosova, but he did not support the American approach and the document of 3 September, which as it is stated, opposes the Contact Group decisions. They also talked about the letter the Albanian side addressed to Ambassador Hill, and about the objections that the Albanian negotiating team had toward the American project concerning the status of Kosova. Sources from the presidency claim that they had higher expectations from Ambassador Hill and the American side for the just contemplation of the future of the Kosova issue.

During his stay in the USA, Hill harshly criticized other US partners in the Contact Group for "Yugoslavia", particularly EU member countries, for what he calls "turning their back to the Balkans"

Europeans replied by announcing the appointment of the EU Envoy to Kosova, which should take place these next three weeks.

Now, Hill is back in the region again, to work on as he said the "negotiating process" and on the temporary solution, as he announced before going to Vienna.

Concerning the most recent turmoil in Albania, caused by the death of the MP, Azem Hajdari, Hill stated that, he did not discuss this with Rugova, and he had no comment in this regard.

"I would rather not comment the events in Albania", stated Hill, before leaving to Brussels, on Tuesday, where he is supposed to meet with the NATO Council.