[Prishtina-E] Interview with Janusz Bugajski

[National Albanian American Council - NAAC]

National Albanian American Council
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For Your Information

Dear Friends,
We wanted to share with you an interview that Janusz Bugajski, Director of the  Eastern Europe Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, gave to the Albanian daily Koha Jone. 
 
Bugajski: 'The anti-Albanian campaign aims at discrediting the US in the Balkans'
October 11, 2001
Interview by Keida Kostreci, Koha Jone
 
1. In a recent article, you have warned for the Balkans to be careful in their approach of the terrorism issues, in the aftermath of the attacks in the US. Could you be more specific on this topic?
 
Balkan states must be careful not to manipulate the threat of international terrorism to try and gain advantages over their neighbors. Unless proven, provocative accusations of alleged ties between some activists in the region and the Bin Laden network should be viewed as deliberate disinformation that actually undermines US efforts to eradicate the scourge of organized terrorism. On the other hand, Balkan governments must cooperate fully in the struggle against terrorism and assist the U.S. and NATO in every conceivable way. Ultimately, this is to everyone's advantage. 
 
2. How would you characterize the position taken from Albania and Albanians, after the attacks?
 
Albanians in Albania, Kosova, and elsewhere have taken a stellar position in support of the United States. This was visible not only in government statements but in the actions and expressions of ordinary citizens. Such support will long be remembered and appreciated by Washington. In the long struggle ahead, verbal support must turn into concrete actions in several areas: crime fighting, intelligence work, penetration of militant cells, and so on. 
 
3. Would you consider Albania more risky than other countries in Europe, regarding the presence of fundamentalists?
 
Religious fanaticism is not a significant phenomenon anywhere in the Balkans. Certain political interests in the Middle East tried to plant fundamentalist cells in places such as Bosnia, Kosova, and Albania. But their efforts did not fall on fertile ground. Nevertheless, the links between terrorists and criminals need to be comprehensively monitored and severed as both phenomena are a threat to democracy and security. In this respect Albania must eliminate its "criminal fundamentalists" who ultimately play into the hands of anti-American terrorists. 
 
4. Which would be your comment on the campaign that some of Albania's neighboring countries, such as Greece, Serbia and Macedonia, have recently undertaken, in order to present Albania as a terrorists' "nest" and Albanians as supporters of fundamentalism?
 
Unfortunately, certain political leaders in the region have deliberately scapegoated Albanians as terrorists because this conveniently shifts attention from their own failures to control domestic radicalism and criminality. The notion that Albanians are "fundamentalists" is clearly seen in Washington as a forgery. The authors of such disinformation campaigns are increasingly viewed as opportunists who seek to distract America from its mission to eradicate international terrorism. 
 
5. Do you think these positions aim at dismissing the Albanians' claims for more rights in Macedonia and also the reasons of fighting against the Milosevic regime in Kosovo?
 
Clearly, the anti-Albanian campaign is intended to diminish the position and aspirations of the Albanian population throughout South East Europe. It is also aimed at discrediting the NATO missions and American leadership while assisting Russia in its efforts to regain influence in the region. 
 
6. Is the decision of the Clinton administration in 1999, to support the war of Albanians in Kosovo, to be seen under a different approach, after the recent developments?
 
I don't think so. The Clinton administration supported full rights for the Albanians in Kosova and sought to eliminate the chief state terrorist, Milosevic. No one in the Bush administration has seriously opposed this approach. Recent developments have not changed the equation. 
 
7. Do you think that the US needs a presence in the Balkans (such as the ones in Bosnia, Kosovo and Macedonia), also to gather necessary information on terrorism activities, as part of the global campaign with this regard?
 
The US needs a long-term presence in several global trouble spots not only to gain information on terrorism but to prevent any territory from becoming a haven for terrorists. In this respect, the construction of credible institutions and authoritative and legitimate governments is essential in the campaign of " terrorism prevention." 
 
8. What the Balkans ought to do in order to comply with the need of as less as possible conflict hot spots in the world?
 
Balkan governments and all major political players need to find points of collaboration in a number of areas such as institution building, economic cooperation, crime fighting, minority rights, and the marginalization of political, ideological, and religious radicalism. Such initiatives will help to cool down the Balkan "hot spot."  This is essential in order not to distract American attention away from the broader struggle against international assassins and murderers. 
 
9. How would you comment on recent protests in Greece against US military actions against terrorism?
 
In one word: shameful. One wonders where Greece will turn if the upcoming Olympic Games in Athens were shattered by a murderous terrorist attack that left thousands dead and mutilated. I am certain that in such a disaster America would be first in line to assist the Greek government and population in hunting down the culprits. All Greek people should try to distinguish between friends and enemies. 
 
10. Sen. Hillary Clinton has said in a recent interview at CBS's Late Show with David Letterman that the two last US wars in Bosnia and Kosovo, were to protect the Muslims. Do you have any comment on that?
 
The US interventions in both Bosnia and Kosova were designed to end wars that were targeting nations in which the majority are Muslims. America does not discriminate according to religion but it discriminates between the guilty and the innocent and it supports the innocent. 

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