The editorial of the Tirana daily, "Koha Jone", of June 3 1998, analyses the stand of the political forces in Albania towards the KLA.

The coming into existence of the UCK and its concrete actions were received with hesitation and scepticism by most of the sides of the conflict in Kosova. Some circles did not hesitate to label it a "terrorist group." By Rugova and other politicians in Kosova, KLA was even qualified as the " Serbian hand." At the present moments, considering i) the way Belgrade is energetically mobilized in order to extinguish the organization, ii) he proportions of the conflict, and iii) the people/forces involved the "terrorist" label does not hold any longer. In other words, the harder the attacks of the Serbian forces, the wider the region involved, the greater the number of people left homeless, seeking refuge in the mountains and on the way to Albania, the less the "terrorist group" notion responds to the reality. Nowadays, in one way or another the Albanian politicians are not hesitating to express their recognition and support for the KLA. Another factor that influences this stand is that the coming into stage of KLA, resulted in intensification of efforts on various sides to choose and sit to negotiate. Holbrook would not have left Cyprus, in case the KLA pressure was not felt. Against this backdrop, the intensification of Belgrade actions is creating a massive support for KLA option, and NATO intervention is no longer a unrealistic demand on the part of the Albanians of Kosova and Albania.


Source: Tirana daily "Koha Jone," June 3, 1998