TIRANA, March 9 (ATA) - By I. Paco: The German Foreign Minister, Joschka Fischer, criticized Tuesday the representatives of the Kosova Albanians, by considering "a big mistake their failure to sign the peace deal." "Unless the Albanians sign the peace accord, there are no possibilities to undertake any concrete action against Milosevic; he knows this very well and that's why he is trying to exploit it," the chief of the German diplomacy told a joint news conference on Tuesday with his Albanian counterpart, Paskal Milo. Joschka Fischer, who came from Prishtina in the afternoon and stayed in Tirana four hours, declared in the end of his visit that he has expressed to the leaders of the Kosova Albanians the opinion that "the failure to sign the accord would be a historic mistake." The German Foreign Minister declared his opinion that also "the Yugoslav party would soon sign the peace accord." "Belgrade knows very well that if he does not sign it, he would be at stake," said Fischer. "I call on the Kosova leaders, and mainly on the leaders of the Kosova Liberation Army, to sign the accord. They must do this as soon as possible, today or tomorrow," said the Albanian Foreign Minister, who did not give details whether there have been any sign for this to happen soon. Milo said that signing of the accord would put the Kosovars at favourable positions and would point out who caused the crisis. Both ministers said they were very pleased with the high level of bilateral relations. "We wish they (relations) continue to be in such levels," said Joschka Fischer.
TIRANE, March 9 (ATA)-By A. Haxhiu, President of the Republic Rexhep Meidani on Tuesday met with German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer and High Commissioner of the European Commission Van den Broek and analysed the situation ahead of the March 15 meeting, when an active reaction of the international community is expected for a political solution to the crisis in Kosova and the presence of the NATO troops there. Meidani regarded the situation in Kosova as very grave, with the Serbian forces increasing their military presence and provoking armed incidents to prevent the success of an agreement between the warring parties. Meidani expressed his conviction that the Albanians are very close to accepting the agreement and stressed that signing this agreement before March 15 would facilitate and focus the whole attention of the international community on Belgrade not to allow any more this war machinery to sow destruction and loss of human lives. Meidani and Fischer considered the presence of the NATO troops on t
he ground a determinant factor for the success of the agreement. Fischer said that the sooner the Albanians sign the agreement, the more does Milosevic's space for tactical games and movements narrow. He said that the International Community and the Contact Group do not in the least doubt the fact that without a military presence on the ground there is no peace and and if there is no peace bloodshed will continue. There is a unique thought of this, both of the Europeans and of the U.S., he said. During the meeting, which passed in a warm atmosphere and full understanding, they also exchanged thoughts on the role of the NATO forces on the ground and the commitment of the OSCE, EU and other international organisations in all the necessary aspects to guarantee the implementation of the agreement. Meidani availed himself of the opportunity to evaluate the bilateral relations with Germany and underlined the will of the Albanian authorities to further promote the relations with Germany in all fields.
TIRANA, March 9 (ATA) - By E. Nepravishta: The situation in Kosova, strengthening of bilateral relations between Albania and Germany, the relations of Albania with the European Union were the main themes discussed in the meeting between the Albanian Foreign Minister, Paskal Milo and the German Foreign Minister, Joschka Fischer, and the delegation accompanying him. Press and information office close to the Albanian Foreign Ministry reported to ATA that with regard to the situation in Kosova, the Albanian Foreign Minister, Paskal Milo, assured his German counterpart that Albania is working for a peaceful solution of the conflict in Kosova. "The Albanian Government has been and continues to be completely engaged to encourage the implementation of the accord, started in Rambouillet, near France," stressed Milo, by also asking that the Rambouillet accord must not be divided into political and military accords, as Belgrade claims. The German Foreign Minister, Joschka Fischer, expressed the thanks of his government
for the constructive stand and the help given by the Albanian government for the solution of the crisis in Kosova. Minister Fischer stressed that the international community, and especially the Contact Group, is very interested that the Kosova Albanians sign the accord as soon as possible, because it will be a base to force the Yugoslav party sign this agreement. "The Rambouillet accord is one. It cannot be divided into political and military accord, as a guarantee for its implementation. If Belgrade will not sign it unilaterally, then it will be subjected to all pressures of the international community, both political and military. We have clearly expressed this opinion more than once to Belgrade," said Fischer. Minister Milo also thanked the German government for the help given recently to the Albanian people in the consolidation of the democratic institutions in the country, as well as in coping with the difficulties of the transition period. Both foreign ministers considered the bilateral relations as v
ery good and agreed to strengthen the economic cooperation between the two countries. The Albanian party urged Germany to influence on a fruitful cooperation within the European Union to increase the level of relations between Albanian and EU. Albania on its side, is manifesting a maximal commitment in this direction.
