BELGRADE, Yugoslavia -- Yugoslavia accused Albanian strongman Enver Hoxha Tuesday of trying to turn the Balkans into a 'powder keg' by his support of ethnic Albanians living in Yugoslavia who rioted last spring.
'An unrestrained anti-Yugoslav campaign, which was expressed drastically at a recent congress of the Albanian Communist congress, is being waged from Albania,' Communist Party secretary Dobroslav Culafic told a session of the 165-member ruling Central Committee.
The Central Committee met to discuss a draft 'political platform' for further long-term activities in Kosovo province, the scene of violent anti-Yugoslav riots by ethnic Albanian extremists in the spring.
At least nine people were killed and more than 250 injured during the pro-Albanian riots in March and April in Kosovo, a province bordering Albania.
Culafic, 55, told the session Hoxha's idea of creating a 'Great Albania' that would include Kosovo and other Yugoslav lands actually supports plans of those 'who attempt to change the already established relations and cooperation in this part of the world, and to turn again the Balkan peninsula into a powder keg.'
He added that Hoxha's campaign is marked by 'rude interference in internal affairs of our country, condemnation of our socialist self-managing system and our non-aligned policy, open and unreserved support to (Albanian) nationalistic and irredentist demonstrations.'
He said Albania's anti-Yugoslav campaign, its support of rioters and 'subversive activities' in Kosovo province could only be harmful to the two countries.
The Albanian extremists in Kosovo demand the autonomous province, which is part of Serbia republic, be upgraded to a republic.
Yugoslavia is composed of six constituent republics and two provinces. The Yugoslav authorities bluntly reject the idea of Kosovo as a republic as an attempt to undermine and overthrow the independent Communist regime of multi-national Yugoslavia.
