The newly formed Harvard Albanian Club invited people to learn more about the state of Albanians in Kosovo during their kickoff event in the Dunster House Junior Common Room yesterday afternoon.

Asti Pilika '99, one of the two cofounders of the club, said he feels there is a need for an Albanian Club on campus to educate people.

"After the current crisis started we noticed there was a lack of awareness about what was going on," he said. "We found misinformation and misinterpretation the information."

Pilika said he envisions the club as an organization to promote awareness.

"For now, our current concern is Kosovo and to provide students with the accurate information," co-founder Eriola Kruja '02 said.

There are only four Albanian undergraduates at Harvard, and of them only Pilika and Kruja are affiliated with the club. Pilika said their membership of 15 crosses lines of national origin.

"Even though there are not a lot of Albanians, there are people who are interested in knowing what is going on," he said.

Yesterday's event, which attracted about 20 people, featured four panelists who spoke on different aspects of the Kosovo situation.

The top-billed speaker was Department of Government Visiting Lecturer Noel R. Malcolm, author of The First History of Kosovo.

Kruja said the club was extremely pleased to have someone as knowledgeable and well respected as Malcolm speak at its first meeting.

Several audience members said they attended because they were interested in hearing Malcolm speak.

"I wanted to meet him," Ante Skrabalo '98-'99 said. "Of all of the scholars in this area, he is by far the best."

Malcolm addressed his area of expertise: historical myths.

He said the largest legend is that the Serbs and the Albanians have always been at war.

"Propaganda persuaded [Westerners] that you couldn't do anything about it because it's like a fire that's been going on for thousands of years anyway," Malcolm said.