TIRANA BETWEEN KOSOVO AND ITALY

AIM Tirana, 22 January, 1999

Before going to Italy to meet Italian prime minister Massimo D'Alemo for the third time in three months, Albanian prime minister Pandeli Majko had put the draft Law on Ships in an emergency parliamentary procedure in order to prove to Italy that Albania seriously meant to fight illegal transportation of refugees. Since opening of Albania to the world in 1991, illegal passage not only of Albanians but also of Kurds and Chinese has been the biggest problem for Italy which was forced to appeal on solidarity of the European Union several times to offer assistance in reconstruction of Albania. To this very day about 300 persons a day set out in ships from the shores of Albania towards Italy or other countries of the EU.

However, a day before Albanian prime minister left to Rome, two most significant members of the Italian cabinet, foreign minister Dini and defence minister Sconiamilio, had expressed concern in the Senate because of the official stand of Tirana concerning the Kosovo crisis. "Italian government is disappointed and concerned about the stand of Tirana towards Kosovo", Dini addressed the Senate with these very words. "We have encountered difficulties in convincing Tirana to accept the international view", Dini concluded. For Italian foreign minister the greatest responsibility for promotion of a political solution rests with OVK.

A few days prior to that, Albanian prime minister had met the main protagonists on the Kosovo political scene, political leader of the Liberation Army of Kosovo (OVK) Adem Demaqi, inclusive. All these meetings, open support that Albania is offering OVK and introduction of a new edge into the language used by Tirana after the statement of Yugoslav foreign minister that Serbia might attack Albania, caused panic not only in the political circles, but also in Itlian press which did not hesitate to warn that "Albania is heading towards a dangerous adventure by supporting independence of Kosovo". The immediate cause for such concern was especially the latest resolution of the Albanian parliament on Kosovo which clearly and explicitly says that Albania recognises the right of the Albanian people in Kosovo to self-determination. Certain data of the OUN also added fuel to the fire. According to them, there are many in Albania who believe themselves to be the partisans of the Kosovo issue. The fact that the stand on Kosovo of prime minister Majko and that of the leader of the opposition Berisha who is traditionally believed to be more radical are becoming closer is observed with fear in Italy.

Albanian prime minister Majko, who is contrary to former prime minister Fatos Nano believed to be Italianophile, has not lowered the patriotic tone even after he had been criticised by Italy. He tried to clarify the misunderstanding by opposing D'Alema resolutely connecting the issue of Kosovo with illegal passage of emigrants: "Mister D'Alema, do you know that you are speaking to the prime minister of a country which might be drawn into a war as of tomorrow? Do you know that each and every refugee who comes to Albania brings five Albanian refugees to Italy?" After this explanation Italian prime minister seems to have lowered his tone and Majko confirmed that Albania would intensify cooperation with Italy in seeking a peaceful solution for Kosovo.

A correspondent of ANSA in Tirana declared that there was a strong pro-Serb clan in Italy which due to common economic interests with Belgrade exerts influence on the Contact Group to mitigate its attitude and on the NATO not to take military action against Serbia. This clan which belongs to the left centre and which is headed by foreign minister Dini, believes that OVK bears greater responsibility for the failure of the October Milosevic-Holbrooke agreement and it is against NATO intervention in Kosovo. On the other hand, this group demands re-activating of the Contact Group in which Italy, along with France and Russia, has taken a soft stand, often irritating the Americans.

On the other hand, prime minister D'Alema was among the first to condemn Serb massacres in ethnic Albanian villages and just a day after Majko's visit declared that Italy was in favour of NATO intervention in Kosovo and that in case of an attack, Italian military bases would be at disposal of NATO troops.

The stand of Italy concerning Kosovo seems to be conditioned by two factors: the tide of emigrants who could cross the Adriatic and numerous investments it has made in Serbia. Italy is one of the countries of EU which has the largest investments in former Yugoslavia. Italian public company TELECOM has signed a contract with the government in Belgrade on investments which are several hundred million dollar worth. But Italy has also been the main donor of Albania in the past eight years, ranking the first among all countries of EU concerning humanitarian aid. After elections of 29 June 1998, Rome organised the international conference of donors for Albania trying to bring it closer to international financial institutions. It is offering significant assistance in reconstruction of the Albanian army and police. During the 1997 revolt provoked by the fall of pyramidal systems when military depots were broken into and millions of pieces of arms stollen, Italy has been closer to Albania than any other state. Former prime minister Prodi declared at the time that borders of Albania were unchangeable and multi-national forces were installed in Tirana at his initiative, which helped new elections pass in peace.

However, nowadays, Tirana is in a difficult position between Italy and Kosovo. On the one hand it needs Italian aid which is of votal interest for reconstruction of this country, and on the other it cannot turn a deaf ear to the demand of the Albanians in Kosovo who after Serb massacres in the course of the past year cannot accept autonomy under domination of Serbia as Italy requires. Being in such a position, economically and militarily demolished and faced with fear of possible conflict with Serbia, Albania can do nothing but act as a few days ago when Italian armoured vehicles sent as aid to the Albanian police changed destination and were sent to the northern border with Serbia.

The situation of prolonged anarchy in Albania and fear of spreading of the war in the region more than ever gave rise to clandestine debates on possibilities of Italian protectorate in Albania. Some suggest a typical protectorate, others a protectorate in which the prosecutors and customs officials would be Italians, and some a sort of a Marshall's plan, some a military protectorate and there are even a few who suggest deployment of NATO troops in Albania. Italian daily La Stampa wrote in one of its recent issues that "for quite some time now in the ambience of Farnezina, there has been muffled voices about some kind of Italian protectorate". Rome still does not seem to have a clear strategy towards Albania at the moment when the sea which connects the two coasts, as an Albanian poem says, may turn into "a mountain with people". On the other hand, Tirana does not at all seem ready to play the role of an obedient pupil because, as an Albanian diplomat declared, "Italy is not the decisive factor in solving the question of Kosovo".

AIM Tirana

Andi BEJTJA