ALARMING SITUATION IN ALBANIA BECAUSE OF REFUGEES

AIM Tirana, 11 June, 1998

The first big wave of refugees from Kosovo, mostly women, children and elderly persons, had crossed the border and arrived in the villages of Tropoje. According to the organ of the Socialist Party Zeri i Popullit of 4 June, the number of the persons who arrived in the past two or three days is close to the figure of 10 thousand. Tirana daily Shekulli quotes an official from the foereign ministry who mentions the figure of 15 thousand refugees. Government officials in Tirana say that Albania is capable of receiving up to 20 thousand refugees. For anything above this figure, the country needs urgent aid from abroad.

There was no reason for either Albania or for the international community to be caught unprepared this time. There have been tensions in Kosovo for years, and all serious analyses predicted there would be an armed conflict. Bombing of Albanian villages by Serbian army and police have been going on for weeks. Therefore, it was quite expected that the unprotected population of Kosovo would seek refuge somewhere. And where that would be was also known in advance. But, no refuge in the sense of an appropriate infrastructure for reception of refugees was prepared, although missions of the High Commissioner for Refugees, OSCE and other international organizations, as well as the Albanian government visited Tropoje and other northeastern regions in the course of past spring. It is possible to learn that the refugees are mostly accommodated by inhabitants of villages close to the border with whom they have family ties. It is also possible to learn that about 200 refugees have gone in the direction of Tirana and Durres to stay with their relatives, it was stressed. Of course, the solution cannot be found in family solidarity. Especially when one knows that the population of Tropoje is the poorest in Albania and that it cannot economically stand the burden.

The alarm was sounded in the political circles in Tirana as soon as the situation deteriorated. Foreign minister Milo declared in the parliament that the "Albanian government demanded an urgent meeting of the foreign ministers of the Contact Group in order to have the situation in Kosovo evaluated". The government had an emergency meeting in order to adopt urgent measures. Deputy prime minisrter Fino is the head of a government team which visited regions where the refugees are staying. The government decided that drugs, food and clothing be sent there promptly.

In the meantime, prime minister Nano mentioned at the meeting of his cabinet the change of official policy of Tirana concerning the question of Kosovo, but failed to explain what this new policy would be. He made it clear, however, that Tirana would be much sharper than before. In a letter addressed to NATO secretary general, Javier Solana, Nano demanded that NATO carry out humanitarian operations in regions where refugees are located. In another letter addressed to the leader of Kosovo Albanians, Ibrahim Rugova, Nano invited him to visit Tirana after return from the USA in order to coordinate diplomatic and political stands with him.

At a press conference, Berisha sharply criticised the government for "failing to meet obligations" and expressed conviction that the Albanians would win this war, but only if they act in compliance with the platform "One nation - one stand" which he advocated in the very first days of the crisis in Kosovo in the beginning of the year. The Democratic Party sent a group of its deputies to Tropoja with a certain amount of food.

An emergency discussion took place in the parliament, in which ministers of local authorities, foreign and internal affairs, minister of health and agriculture and food took part. The discussion at the emergency session of the parliament was extremely sharp, with the phrase "the war has been declared" as the leitmotif. Deputies demanded creation of a special government commission which would offer aid to the refugees from Kosovo. Berisha called for organisation of a round table discussion of all political parties with the same aim. All politicians, both of the left and the right, without hesitation characterised developments in Kosovo as ethnic cleansing. It was demanded that, instead of applauding as before all the decisions of the Contact Group, the government raise its voice because of the destiny of Kosovo Albanians and exert greater pressure.

The public opinion was instantly electrified. In early morning 2 June, Radio Contact initiated a campaign of solidarity with the refugees. Only in Tirana where this radio station can be heard, just during few hours, more than 400 thousand leks was collected along with several ten tons of food and drugs. A few journals opened bank accounts for collecting aid for refugees from Kosovo. Generally speaking, newspapers stirred up nationalistic passions in their articles often criticising the Albanian government and the Contact Group.

It should be said that handling the situation in the north of Albania was accompanied by difficulties which simply have nothing to do with the arrival of a large number of refugees in just a short while. The Albanian politicians and state administration are generally speaking caught by surprise and confused which simply cannot be concealed by ardent rhetoric in the parliament. "Time has come for a decision what should be done, what actions should be taken in order to respond adequately to the developments in Kosovo", declared vice-president of the opposition Democratic Party Genc Pollo. Numerous proposals from all sides for establishing parliamentary commissions, organising round table discussions, nominating special government commissioners, etc., are more an expression of confusion and incapability to tackle the crisis than a true instrument for resolution of the crisis. Dramatic delays in preparation of needed infrastructure for this occasion is the result of this incapability. The Albanian state has no experience in overcoming similar situations, and moreover it seems that its morale is very fragile due to its exhaustion with its own economic problems, and energy wasted in political turmoil.

Lack of experience but especially the low morale of Albanian institutions are the factors which should be taken into account by the international community. It would be easier for the High Commissioner for Refugees and other non-governmental and humanitarian organisations to work if they had an efficient partner in the Albanian state. But, this is no reason for further delay. Their presence in the region where the refugees from Kosovo are arriving is irreplaceable not only in saving human lives. Albania still has not overcome the difficult crisis which had shaken it last year. This massive arrival of refugees, together with complex problems they are bringing, is seriously threatening to draw the country into a new maelstrom which would in new circumstances in the region be much more than chaos, it would be a real war. There is no lack of arms for that.

If the first Bosnia was "Words and Deaths", talks and bombing, threats at the table and ethnic cleansing in the field, what we are nowadays witnessing is Bosnia 2.

AIM Tirana

Arben KOLA