KOSOVO: LEFT AND RIGHT
(Views of major political parties in Albania on Kosovo)
AIM, Prishtina, October 26, 1995
The issue of Kosovo with no doubt forms an essential element of Albanian policy in general, but of each political force in Albania, too. Considered as a state monopoly during the years of rule of the Communist regime, the issue of Kosovo reappeared as one of the fundamental thesis of the anti-communist opposition which was established in Albania after the fall of the Berlin wall. Albanian intellectuals on both sides of the border, developed theses according to which "democratization of Albania would be in the service of resolution of the issue of Kosovo" and "open and democratic Albania would be a powerful support to Kosovo". It is a well known fact that in the first rallies, anti-communist opposition used the Kosovo "trump card" as one of its most powerful arguments, and on the other hand, one may state with certainty that the support intellectuals and leaders from Kosovo, such as Ibrahim Rugova, Redxep Qosia and Veton Suroi offered the opposition, greatly influenced Albanian voters.
It is also a well-known fact that the issue of Kosovo and its resolution have been included in programs of all Albanian political parties. A common denominator of all political parties in Albania is constant condemnation of Serb violence in Kosovo. This is quite obviously shown by the fact that the Albanian Parliament has unanimously reached the Decision on Recognition of the Republic of Kosovo.
However, along with the joint stances which are only natural when related to a national problem, certain differences and nuances can be observed in the views of political forces in Albania, which are sometimes quite distinct, sometimes quite pale, due to elections or demagogical reasons. Nevertheless, the Kosovo "trump card" does not seem to carry such weight as it used to in the very beginning of pluralism, although one may say that this issue has become a subject of bitter political struggle, like at the time of the Referendum concerning Draft Constitution of Albania last year.
The ruling Democratic Party, in its propaganda concerning Kosovo, continues to use a less moderated terminology than the Democratic Government which emerged from it. Party leaders do not hesitate to speak about the Republic of Kosovo, about aspirations of the Albanians for a union, they make declarations which are conspicuously moderated in the speech of the officials and diplomats. In fact, the impression is that the Albanian policy is in difficulties, and having adopted some of the maximalistic options, now it is forced to operate with somewhat different ones, which can be marked either as minimalistic or just slightly higher than that. In other words, after recognition of the Republic of Kosovo, nowadays other terms are used in negotiations with big powers and international institutions, such as autonomy, special autonomy, 1974 autonomy, independent and neutral Kosovo, Kosovo under international protectorate, etc.
President Berisha in whose political vocabulary Kosovo is one of the most frequent terms, presented official options concerning Kosovo of the ruling party in Albania. It seems that Berisha sticks to the concept of resolving this issue in phases. The Albanian President stressed several times that Albania does not demand a change of borders by force and that it abides by the Helsinki document. He demanded that the issue of Kosovo be considered within global resolving of the crisis in former Yugoslavia. Berisha unreservedly supported the political trend of non-violent resistance followed by Rugova, but he did not hesitate to sharply condemn ethnic cleansing in Kosovo, announcing that Albania would by no means tolerate anything of the kind. "If the conflict moves to Kosovo, the whole peninsula will be involved in a total war", the Albanian President warned a few times.
A plan consisting of six items for resolution of the problem of Kosovo which was presented more than a year and a half ago by Berisha, demanded independent and neutral Kosovo under internationl UN or NATO protectorate. For the first time, Albania made a proposal for talks between Belgrade and Prishtina in the presence of a third party. This proposal was supported by the leader of the Albanians in Kosovo, Ibrahim Rugova. In this same plan, the Albanian President presented his concept of "a democratic space for all the Albanians", which implied free communication between Albanians on both sides of the border, expansion of economic exchange, cultural integration, etc.
After that, during a meeting with Rugova in Tirana, Berisha declared that "if Belgrade would abolish exit visas for the Albanians, it would be a welcomed gesture"; this proposal was criticized by nationalistic Rightists in Tirana and met with silence of the official Belgrade.
The latest political standpoints of Tirana were pubilicized in the course of Berisha's visit to Brussels, where he presented a new Project of five items in the seat of the NATO:
Putting the issue of Kosovo on the agenda of the Contact Group and its consideration as one of the biggest and most delicate problems of former Yugoslavia.
Reestablishment of all Albanian institutions as well as reassertion of human and ethnic rights which the Albanians in Kosovo were deprived of.
That all efforts to change ethnic composition of Kosovo be immediately interrupted, but also all conditioning of lifting of the embargo against Serbia by resolution of the issue of Kosovo.
Initiation of a dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade in the presence of a third party, such as the USA, the European Union or the UN.
Resolution of constitutional issues and determination of the political status of Kosovo in accordance with international documents.
If expressed in a less diplomatic tone, with his latest Plan, Berisha demands that the autonomy it had in 1974 be returned to Kosovo, as the basis for further negotiations in seeking an acceptable solution for all parties. Political theses and standpoints of the Democratic Government which were assessed as realistic and welcomed with understanding in European offices, which after all were those who influenced Albania to adopt these moderated stances, met with criticism within the country.
The Socialists are among the severest critics. Their propaganda used more dye and paper for criticising Berisha and Rugova than for advocating their, socialist options. What the Socialists have in their Program and speeches of their leaders does not differ much from the official stances. The Socialists speak in favour of respecting the right to self-determination and in favour of finding the way to dialogue in resolving the problems of Kosovo. Generally speaking, they supported Berisha's options, but proved to be severe critics of the terminology of the Draft Constitution which was presented at the referndum a year ago. In this project presented by the majority in power, for the first time it was stressed that the Albanian state must be engaged and responsible for the Albanians wherever they were. This formulation met with harsh criticism of the Socialists, because it did not take into account aspirations of the Albanians for union of the nation. The Socialists at the same time criticized Rugova as well for his public support of the Project. This led to a period of estrangement between the Socialists and Rugova. In their press, the Socialists prefer to give room to critical stances and interviews against Rugova, such as those by Qosia or Demaqi, than to Rugova himself.
In the meantime, some anti-American stances demonstrated occasionally by the Socialists, as well as the joint declaration with the Greek Pasok party concerning resolution of the crisis in the Balkans, were criticized by rightist forces as stances which were directed at the expense of the national issue. On the other hand, the Socialists presented themselves as ardent supporters of the idea of convening an All-Albanian National Assembly which would determine a strategy of resolving the Albanian national issue.
Social Democratic Party, the third largest party in the Albanian Parliament, supports the stance that the basis for seeking a solution for Kosovo should be reestablishment of its autonomy. Vice-President of Social Democrats declared a month ago that they "want to be realists, the issue of Kosovo should be resolved gradually, and the first step should be reestablishment of autonomy and protection of human rights".
Stances and views of the Democratic Alliance are stances which were commented on and criticised the most by the ruling Democratic Party and the Rightists. The visit of the leaders of this party to Belgrade in autumn 1993 stirred up much ctriticism in Tirana and in Kosovo. The head of the Alliance, Neritan Ceka declared himself in favour of negotiations between Tirana and Belgrade concerning Kosovo. Ceka also spoke in favour of Albania receiving Serb refugees after Krajina was occupied by the Croat forces. This statement was criticized even by the Socialists themselves. Practically, after their visit to Belgrade, Rugova and the leaders of Kosovo broke up all relations with this party.
Terminology of the Party for Human Rights which represents the Greek minority in Albania is also quite moderate. It too, declared that it was in favour of Rugova and resolution of the problem of Kosovo in accordance with Helsinki documents, without specifying what specific political formula it advocated.
A number of right-oriented parties, such as the Republican Party, the Rightist Democratic Party, the Balli Kombetar Party, Legality, etc. declare that they are in favour of the resolution of Kosovo, but express their reserves concerning Berisha's and Rugova's policy. The Republican leader Sabri Godo is in favour of Kosovo becoming a state warranted by the UN, but lately supported the idea of autonomy of Kosovo, which would be under civilian UN administration.
The Rightist Democratic Party, sharp critic of the Democratic Party, openly advocates national union of all Albanians and does not hesitate to criticize European institutions and great forces which use double standards when speaking of the Albanians. In the meantime Balli Kombetar, who represents historical nationalistic Rightists, declares himself in favour of ethnic Albania, just like numerous legalistic fractions. According to them, the only just solution is for all Albanians to live in a single state. These parties do not agree to gradual solutions or resolution in phases.
On the other hand, another party acts on the left wing, the Party of National Unity which is also in favour of a union of the Albanians in a single state. The Party of National Unity is among the severest critics of Berisha and Rugova who are openly accused of treason of national interests. Its stances resemble more nationalistic communist propaganda than policy. Aggressive language, anti-American and anti-NATO stances outline the profile of this party.
Remzi LANI / Tirana AIM Prishtina