[ALBSA-Info] INTERVIEW-Albanian Govt Leader Warns of Danger in Montenegro

[Gazhebo at aol.com]

INTERVIEW-Albanian Govt Leader Warns of Danger in Montenegro

By David Storey

  
WASHINGTON, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Albanian Prime Minister Ilir Meta said on 
Thursday it was vital for Balkan peace to continue support for the democratic 
government in his northern neighbour Montenegro against manoeuvring by 
Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic. 

Meta, speaking after talks with U.S. leaders including Secretary of State 
Madeleine Albright, said the Montenegrins should refuse to succumb to 
Milosevic but should at the same time avoid provoking the Serb forces. 

In an interview with Reuters, he supported the position of Montenegro's 
President Milo Djukanovic that recent changes to the Yugoslav constitution 
were illegitimate, aimed at destroying the legal foundations of the 
federation that groups Serbia and Montenegro. 

He implied sympathy with Djukanovic's decision to resist pressure from the 
United States and boycott Yugoslavia's September 24 election, although he 
declined specifically to back the decision. 

``If the government of Montenegro would accept these constitutional changes 
it would legitimise the loss of the existing autonomy and position of the 
republic in the federation,'' he said. 

``It is very important that the government of Montenegro be patient and 
determined to develop democracy,'' Meta said. 

MILOSEVIC MAY PROVOKE CONFLICT 

He added: ``And it is very important for the international community to 
follow with great concern and care the developments in Montenegro in order 
not to be unprepared if Milosevic were to provoke another conflict there as 
it looks (like he will),'' he said. 

Meta said if Milosevic, a man ``who cannot stop in his criminal course,'' 
eliminated democracy in Montenegro, ``he would kill for a certain period the 
hopes of the Serbs and Montenegrins for democratic change in Yugoslavia.'' 

He added this would ``leave the international community without a party in 
existing Yugoslavia for working for democracy, for peace, stability and for 
regional cooperation.'' 

Meta said it was crucial for democracy in Montenegro to survive ``before 
another conflict will explode the plans of the international community and 
the Balkan countries for succeeding in implementing the (international 
Balkan) stability pact.'' 

Washington has strongly supported the Western-leaning government in 
Montenegro and has joined in warnings by NATO to Milosevic not to provoke a 
conflict over the republic. 

Albania, the poorest country in Europe trying to construct a law-abiding, 
democratic society out of the ruins left by 40 years of hardline Stalinism 
that collapsed in 1991, has had its efforts disrupted often by Milosevic's 
Balkan adventures. 

The Serb leader created a series of conflicts as the former Yugoslavia 
disintegrated in the 1990s and last year prompted NATO's first out-of-border 
bombing action to protect ethnic Albanians against Serb forces driving them 
out of Kosovo. 

FORMER STUDENT ACTIVIST 

The 31-year-old Meta, a former student activist who took part in the 
agitation that brought down the old communist rulers, has pushed forward 
reforms of the government, the judiciary and the economy in his 10 months in 
power. 

He drew warm praise from Albright at a news conference on Wednesday, when she 
said he ``represents an energetic new generation of Albanian leaders.'' 

The United States gives Albania more than $30 million dollars in aid annually 
to help in democracy and government building and some trade development. 

A 19-member Pentagon team is in the small Adriatic Sea state this week as 
part of a long-term programme to help build up the Albanian military. Meta 
said his forces were struggling to eventually become compatible with NATO. 

Belgrade severed diplomatic ties with Tirana after Albania sided with NATO 
over Kosovo, but Montenegrin leaders have promoted links with Tirana. 

Montenegrin Prime Minister Filip Vujanovic told reporters after meeting Meta 
in Albania in May that he wanted cooperation with the southern neighbour 
despite Belgrade's objections. 

Up to 300 Albanians cross daily into Montenegro, some of them bringing back 
cheaper goods that have helped reduce prices. But trade is restricted by the 
Yugoslav army, which polices Montenegro's frontier.