Albanians and Their Neighbors - Project on Ethnic Relations

want to be compensated with further possibilities for communication.”
He could have been speaking for Serbs as well.
CARPE DIEM
More than anything, the meeting demonstrated, particularly in the terms
used by participants, that the search for compromise was in an early
stage. One American official said that he was worried about participants’
words but that the statement by a Montenegrin party leader to give the
“provocative view” of his Albanian colleague “much thought” provided
hope. On the other h<strong>and</strong>, deep differences emerged within ethnic <strong>and</strong>
territorial communities, particularly
You have the moment
now–-the international
community is paying
attention, but it is
unlikely to last.
the Kosovar <strong>Albanians</strong>, <strong>Albanians</strong> in
general, <strong>and</strong> the opposition Serbs.
In conclusion, one of the organizers
of the meeting offered two maxims
based on more than ten years’ work
on interethnic relations. First, “in
interethnic disputes, all sides are
right, because all arguments are emotional.” Second, “the timing for
compromise always seems wrong, <strong>and</strong> when the timing for compromise
seems right, it may be too late.” To the <strong>Albanians</strong>, she said, “you have
the moment now–-the international community is paying attention,”
but it is unlikely to last. And in the meantime, “your neighbors are
watching you, <strong>and</strong> are fearful.”
LIST OF PARTICIPANTS
Republic of Albania
Paskal Milo, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Fatos Nano, Chairman, Socialist Party
Adhurim Resuli, Ambassador to Hungary
Mirosh Sako, Director, Regional Department, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs
Republic of Bulgaria
Bobi Bobev, Ambassador to Albania
Hellenic Republic
Evangelos Kofos, Balkan Area Senior Adviser, Hellenic Foundation
for European <strong>and</strong> Foreign Policy
Alex<strong>and</strong>ros Mallias, Ambassador to Albania
Alex Rondos, Special Adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Michael Spinellis, Director, South Eastern Europe Department,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Republic of Hungary
Gabor Bagi, Deputy State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Zsigmond Dvorzsanszky, Ambassador, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Janos Hovari, Head of Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Rudolf Joo, Deputy State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Csaba Lorincz, Head of Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Jozsef P<strong>and</strong>ur, Deputy Head of Department, Ministry of
Foreign Affairs
Ferenc Poka, Ambassador, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Istvan Simicsko, Deputy Chairman, Defense Committee,
Parliament of Hungary; Deputy Head of the Fidesz-Hungarian
Civic Party Faction
Istvan Szent-Ivanyi, Chairman, Foreign Affairs Committee,
Parliament of Hungary
Italian Republic
Aless<strong>and</strong>ro Silj, Secretary General, Italian Social Sciences Council
Demetrio Volcic, Senator; Member, Foreign Affairs Committee,
Italian Senate
Arben Xhaferi
Fatos Nano
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