In the April 4, 1998 issue of the Belgrade weekly "Vreme" , Zoran B. Nikolic wrote the following report from Pristina on the current developments within the Albanian political circles in Kosovo.
As far as the "advisory body of president Ibrahim Rugova for the preparation of the platform for negotiations with Serbia , which is called G-15 in Pristina, things are not going well. The members of this body gathered three times, but never in full strength. Adem Demaqi, leader of the Parliamentarian party of Kosovo, which is in the opposition towards Rugova's LDK, was the only one who could allow himself to flatly refuse the offered honor. Buyar Bukoshi, president of the Kosovo government in exile, has a strong excuse for not coming. A warrant for his arrest has been issued by the Yugoslav authorities, as far back as nine years ago. Some of the members of the G-15 have only recently decided to travel abroad. The reason for this evasion of the G-15 is that it is not clear to any of its members what the function of this body is.
Do they only have to state their coordinated opinion to Rugova, or, will the members of the negotiating team be chosen from their ranks, which is quite probable. There are signs that in the latter case, Adem Demaqi would accept the membership in the G-15. During the meetings so far, there was no chance to clear up anything. Rugova was presiding over the first, purely formal meeting, while all other where quite reserved. Second time they gathered to meet with Robert Gelbard, and then there was even less chance for a debate. They were only able to agree not to give statements to the press, which even makes the situation for some of them even more unpleasant. "Are we now to fade out the ?'Zeri' magazine?", asks only half-jokingly Shkelzen Maliqi, analyst of this magazine and a member of the G-15. The problem is that, along with him, members of the G-15 are also Blerim Sala, editor-in-chief of 'Zeri' and Hydaet Hyseni, who also writes for this paper. It is estimated that by April 22, when the Contact group meets again, G-15 will have to come to some conclusions.
Although nobody knows, it is estimated that there will be soon a session of the new parliament of the "Republic of Kosovo", where there will be almost solely representatives of the LDK. It is also estimated that there will be no insistence on the formation of a new government, since Byar Bukoshi is sending signals from abroad that he is willing to co-operate with the new/old president. At least until the first occasion. There are no new conflicts in Kosovo. Still, those that know the situation in Kosovo are convinced that clashes around Djakovica and along the Yugoslav Albanian border "have not started yet," and also worrisome is the situation in Lab, an area around Podujevo. It is probable that a new wave of violence can be expected in the days before the next meeting of the Contact group.
Source: Belgrade weekly "Vreme," April 4, 1998