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"The First Republic": The cold war between Sali Berisha and Ibrahim Rugova

2022-11-25 22:42:18Histori SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
"The First Republic": The cold war between Sali Berisha and Ibrahim
The cold war between Sali Berisha and Ibrahim Rugova

The crisis between the President of Albania Sali Berisha and the leader of Kosovo, Ibrahim Rugova, is one of the most important political developments in the mid-90s. It was neither episodic nor momentary, but a political process that had its own causes and amplitudes. It is given in detail in the book "First Republic" by Mero Baze, where there are previously unknown episodes about this clash. In this part of the book that will be published today, the intervention of Sali Berisha using Adem Demaç as a factor against Rugova is reflected, as well as the mysterious role of a strange actor-the head of the secret service of that time, Bashkim Gazidedes.

By Mero Baze

Cold war Berisha - Rugova

Sali Berisha was moving further and further away from US politics. The victory of the local elections of October 20, 1996, had completed his full power and at the same time his drama. He added political enemies in Albania and lost the most important ally in the world, the USA. The pressure to shut down the pyramid companies had begun. The government's relations with the IMF had deteriorated. His Minister of Finance, Ridvan Bode, and the Governor of the Bank, Kristaq Luniku, made statements that proved that they were not so friendly with Sali Berisha's determination not to touch the pyramid firms.

In this tense situation, the first pyramid schemes were gaining ground. Convinced that the only way to get the USA back on its side was Kosovo, Sali Berisha invested in getting involved in that battle.

Sali Berisha uses Adem Demaç against Rugova

Sali Berisha turned his eyes to Adem Demaçi, a leader he hadn't considered until those moments. Demaçi, who had made gestures of involvement in politics by joining the Kosovo Parliamentary Party, was invited to Tirana at the end of November.

The press attention to this situation was extreme. As a journalist of "Voice of America", I tried to interview Adem Demaç. The problem was that he couldn't find where he was. The Kosovo representation in Tirana did not have any information. He only knew that he was a guest of Sali Berisha. Berisha wanted certainty about the topics of conversation with Demač. There was especially curiosity as to whether the idea for the interview was mine or the editor's. Then he offered me one of his guards, to connect me with the guards of Demachi. Finally, they told me to go to the former hotel "Vjosa", ("Miniri"), a small hotel, on the corner of "Skenderbej" square. There they told me that someone will give me a phone to connect with Demaç.

I stayed for half an hour, but no one was coming. I asked the receptionist if she had any orders for me. After asking for the name, he said "yes." After a while, a tall guy from Mr. Demaçi's security came to the lobby and told me that he would give me a phone, where I could call Mr. Demaçi in half an hour. It took me an hour to meet someone who was hiding in the middle of Tirana. The phone number he gave me was a landline, not a mobile. It looked familiar to me because it had some of the same numbers. As soon as the guy left, I rang the phone and saw the reception girl grab and pick up the receiver. I understood. Adem Demaçi was in the hotel. The vice of "illegal" had not come out yet...

We started the interview in the lobby of the "Vjosa" hotel. During the interview, two things were clear. First, the protests in Serbia had to be supported. The second is that the government in Tirana had not made any mistake in supporting them and criticizing Pristina for passivity. The interview was as Sali Berisha wanted. He demanded a meeting of the parliament in Kosovo, dynamization of the institutional resistance, support of the protests in Serbia. Diametrically opposed to Rugova's attitudes. Two of his questions and answers explained everything.

- Recently, the official press of Tirana, but also politics

official is calling on Kosovo Albanians to support the demonstrations of the Serbian opposition. Do you agree with this position?

Demaçi: As you know, I also sent a message in support of these demonstrations. The message has met with support and has made a great echo, both among the demonstrations and among the Serbian intelligentsia.

I think that we should support these demonstrations, because the democratization of Serbia is a condition that would make Kosovo free at a lower price and with a greater speed.

- Is there any change in the official policy of Tirana compared to today's political discourse in Kosovo?

Demaçi: Tirana's policy has been constantly in support of the Kosovar movement, in support of Kosovar independence, and this policy has had very small oscillations. However, recently, Albanian politics, that is, of the Albanian state, has completely crystallized. The last statements of Mr. Tritan Shehu and the last statements of President Berisha are very favorable and are just what the support of the Albanian movement needs..."

He met with Sali Berisha on November 24, at noon. Berisha appreciated the fact that Demaçi had remained "a symbol of our national resistance", an appreciation that exceeded the weight of Ibrahim Rugova in the history of peaceful resistance. Berisha's official announcement states: "He confirmed to President Berisha his opinion on the education agreement, that the problem of the schools could be solved by the Albanian students themselves.", This meant a movement of protests by students and students in Pristina, if the agreement was not implemented . It was also the motive of the student protests in October 1997, in Pristina. Berisha also underlined his support for the education agreement, "as proof of President Milošević's will to respect what he signed."

Berisha requested that while Kosovo convenes its Parliament, it should function normally. "Parliament and other institutions that not only would not complicate, but on the contrary, would contribute to the stability and peaceful solution of the Kosovo issue, this issue is the most complicated factor of the Balkan crisis." The support for the Serbian opposition, the attempt to constitute the still unconvened parliament of Kosovo and the formation of legal institutions in Kosovo, were the theses that ignited his silent battle with Rugova. In fact, they were all utopias. Ibrahim Rugova had not been able to protect the deputies from arrest without being constituted, let alone gather them.

Berisha knew this very well. He was simply telling Rugova, "do this, or leave because others are doing it." The irony was that Rugova would come to Tirana one day after Demaç. He would go after Albania to Norway, to continue in the USA to meet with Warren Christopher, then on his return to France he would receive a medal from the Sorbonne University, in Paris. After a month he would return to Tirana and then to Pristina.

Sali Berisha's drama was very big. Ibrahim Rugova, who until then had been considered his wingman, was now received three times a year by the Secretary of State, Warren Christopher, while Berisha had not been seen by anyone except Adem Demaçi for months. Rugova's meeting with Sali Berisha took place on November 25, one day after Demaç. In the statement of Berisha's office, it seems that no one touches on the hot topics. "Presidents Berisha and Rugova emphasized that the beginning of the work of the Parliament and other institutions in Kosovo constitute important factors of stability that contribute to the peaceful solution of the Kosovo issue." This was definitely Berisha's most difficult sentence to put into conversation. Ibrahim Rugova passed it without much emotion.

Speaking to the BBC in Albanian during the ceremony of being awarded an "Honorary Doctor" by the Sorbonne University in Paris, Rugova explained why he was not involved in supporting the protests in Serbia, as Tirana requested. As soon as he arrived in Tirana, Berisha made sure to meet Rugova again. He was the only interlocutor of the Albanians with the USA and Berisha needed to appear involved.

In the announcement of Berisha's office, it is stated: "The presidents thanked the USA and assessed as very important the meetings that Mr. Rugova met with the Secretary of State, Christopher, with the congressman and other senior officials of the American administration and considered them as consolidation of the commitment and interest of the USA in solving the Kosovo problem. Presidents Berisha and Rugova emphasize that the democratization of Serbia through democratic and peaceful means is an important positive development not only for Serbia, but also a direct and real contribution to peace and stability in the region."

The announcement of Berisha's press office was careful to present "both presidents" in every case, especially in the point where the protests in Serbia were talked about. But separately they had different public attitudes. This was clearly seen in an interview that Ibrahim Rugova gave to the prestigious French newspaper "Le Figaro." Rugova's last night in Tirana at the end of December was very tense. I myself did not expect that things had gone so far. While I went to Villa 31 again, hoping that this time he would give an interview after his visit to the USA, I saw that in the lobby of the villa the situation seemed tense. His companion, Adnan Merovci, had left a guard officer who did not allow you to go upstairs without notifying him. Bashkim Gazidede was sitting on an armchair a little further away, sulking. I greeted without knowing why he was there.

- Where are you going?

And then he nodded in the direction of the floor above, as if to say "to Him?"

- Yes. - I told. - I left half a word for the interview...

He shook his head disappointingly. It seemed as if he was about to tell me "why do you go to him..."

Ibrahim Rugova was alone in the room watching TV. He gestured for me to sit down. I told him that Bashkim Gazidede was waiting downstairs. Maybe it was for you...

- I told Adnan I'm busy. They are all work that I have to do with other levels.

From the annoyance with which he spoke it seemed that I should change the subject, while he was pretending to ask for the bottle of whiskey.

This whole scene inside his room and the tension that the one waiting in the hall might even knock seemed to be strong. Then the conversation drifted off into paths of no real importance. I saw that I was failing. There was no question of giving an interview.

- Are you giving an interview for "Voice of America"? - I repeated awkwardly.

- No, no! What an interview! Good to see you! Well, I also found whiskey! We're having a glass...

And then the conversation changed completely. I couldn't include Berisha, Demači, Bukoši, nor the Tirana-Prishtina quarrel in it.


Në përputhje me standarded JTI

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