Albania is going through a genuine tragedy these days. Thousands upon thousands of its sons and daughters think only of how to leave the country, how to cross the sea so they can secure a job, a life over there. The stages of the tragedy are playing out at the southern and northern borders, in the ports of Vlora and Durrës, on every rooftop, in every family, in every Albanian heart. A parent blesses their child’s departure, the apple of their eye, even when the means of crossing are unsafe, overloaded to the extreme and, not infrequently, lacking even the minimum operating crew. A parent blesses the departure even though they know that across the Adriatic their child will not even have a refugee camp assured. Still less will they have a place in the European labour market, already saturated with cheap labour from the East, Africa and Asia. The exodus continues. I agree with my colleague at “Zëri i Rinisë” who blames the silence of the journalists. At the same time, I have reservations about the tone of the new Council of Ministers’ communiqué, which links legitimate concern about this exodus to very old slogans about external and internal enemies and plans prepared to destabilize the country. I have the impression that the time has come to say: enough. Without excluding external factors, let us try to uncover and understand the wound here inside the country, within ourselves. Let us look the truth in the eye. Let us create as healthy a climate as possible in the country. Let us reassure people that on 31 March we will all go and vote freely and independently, each expressing the opinion and making the choice they have reached, without pressure. Let us convince the world that Albania will not turn back from the path of democracy and free, pluralist elections. There is no shame in openly asking the world for help. Let us ask its representatives to accept workers from Albania, even for seasonal work. Even a three-month seasonal job would be a great help to thousands upon thousands of families. Enough announcements about setting up migration directorates and offices of that kind. Let us tell the people concretely what these migration offices do and how many jobs they secure. So let us roll up our sleeves and get to work; let us put a stop to these terrible exoduses. It is our blood. It is our open wound. Let us create the necessary climate for everyone to think and work, to plant even for tomorrow. Let us therefore give people greater security. We have the potential. Albania can and must become a prosperous country. But let us face our problems head-on, exchange our views, and be tolerant of other people’s opinions. NAPOLEON ROSHI

Yes! There are. I saw one of them the day before yesterday here, in Tirana. Her name is Anjeza Bojaxhiu, the Albanian woman from Prizren. Anjeza is little; her mother, Roza, used to call her Gonxhe. She is still a bud today, although she is over eighty. She is a wonderful bud, whose spiritual fragrance spreads throughout the world, spreading love, compassion, kindness and nobility on an immense scale. And the world will call this Gonxhe of Roza, this rosebud, Mother Teresa, because, denying herself the joy of being a mother to her own children, she gained the glory of becoming the Mother of all the children of the world. But like a true mother, she decided to spend her whole life caring for those who need her most: the poorest of the poor. She has come down from heaven to inspire and organize the three million members of her associations, sisters and brothers from more than a hundred nationalities around the world, who volunteer in more than 450 charitable homes, in hospitals that treat the unfortunate whom hardly anyone else will approach: the lepers of India and those infected with AIDS in America. And Mother Teresa is Albanian; Indira Gandhi said of her: “Blessed be Albania and its people, who gave the world this daughter!” A Hungarian cardinal, meanwhile, said: “A people that has produced a daughter like Mother Teresa cannot be called a small people!” She possesses qualities that are “typical of the Illyrian-Albanian generation,” as one of her biographers put it. She is a typical example of an Albanian woman, conscious in suffering and unbroken in her highland character. Let us take pride in our Mother Teresa and bow with deep respect and love before her small stature, which houses such a brilliant mind and such a great heart! Let us also admit a mistake: that this noble mission entered her homeland far too late! We owe our Mother Teresa a debt: from now on, let us repay it with love, respect and obedience to her teachings, which are universal! A teacher and headmistress at a prestigious school for the rich of Calcutta, she came to know the lives of both the well-fed and the destitute. And she became convinced that much must be done to eliminate hunger for food, but no less to eliminate hunger for human love. “Then you will love more, if you love one another,” Mother Teresa says. This is the first lesson, as important as it is timely. She has gone deep into the human heart and seen there that it has no colour. Skin has colour; the heart does not. Hearts are all the same. Therefore people are equal. And that is how we must treat one another. This is the second lesson, just as important and just as timely. Are there angels? I cannot speak for others, but Mother Teresa, I think, hates. She hates material and spiritual poverty; she hates the nakedness of the body and of human dignity. I understand that the word “hatred” does not exist in her vocabulary. And precisely for that reason her hatred is sublime, because it is expressed through love. She hates poverty, but loves the poor person; she hates nakedness, but loves the one in rags. These feelings are monumental in her work. Love serves peace. She deserves the Nobel Peace Prize. But which Nobel laureate can compare with Mother Teresa in the scale and worth of her work? I think she is not merely a Nobel laureate. She is the dean of Nobel laureates. Mother Teresa is an admirable believer, because she has shown love and respect for everyone’s fate while maintaining her preference for her own faith. This is a lesson for all believers: tolerance in thought and feeling for the person beside you and for every inhabitant of the globe. It is a lesson for believers and atheists alike. I saw Mother Teresa. Her eyes radiated kindness, love and devotion to people. Something changed inside me, too... Thank you, Mother Teresa!

Members of the initiative committee for the creation of PRSH, Sabri Godo and Agim Zeka, met with the Italian parliamentary delegation headed by Mr. Flaminio Picoli, a Christian Democrat and president of this parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee. F. Pikoli, a graduate in modern languages and literature, began working as a journalist at a young age. In 1945 he founded and edited the newspaper “Liberta Nazionale” and the daily “Il Popolo Trentino,” which he transformed into “L'Adige” and directed for more than 20 years. He is president of the democratic parties of Europe and the countries of Latin America, and secretary-general of the International Federation of Catholic Journalists. A Christian Democrat MP in 1958, 1963 and 1968, he was re-elected in 1972 and 1976. In 1978 he was elected president of the national council of Christian Democracy. He was elected MP again in 1979, 1983 and 1987. He is the author of several books. During the conversation with PR representatives, F. Pikoli stated, among other things, that we are close on many issues and that we want Albania to be free of wounds and bloodshed, and a friend of democratic Italy. He praised PR’s current stance in support of the Presidential Council and President Ramiz Alia in securing and preserving social peace. For their part, PRSH representatives emphasized the need for fruitful and swift cooperation with Italy to overcome the current serious economic difficulties. PRSH representatives also met and held talks with another member of the Italian parliamentary delegation, Mr. Xherolamo Pelikano, an MP from the Italian Republican Party. The talks, held in a spirit of understanding, addressed the possibility of future cooperation between the two parties. “Republika” correspondent

On 22 February 1991, the Ministry of Justice recognized the establishment of the social organization “Democratic Union of the Greek Minority.” On 22 February 1991, the Ministry of Justice recognized the establishment of the social organization “Democratic Union of the Greek Minority,” abbreviated as “Omonia.” The Gjirokastër branch of this organization held a rally on 28 February in the village of Jergucat, in Upper Dropull, attended by members from Dropull and Pogon. The acting chairman of the Gjirokastër branch, Thodhori Bezhani, also spoke at the rally. Slogans were raised at the rally, including “Long live the friendship between the Albanian people and the Greek people,” “Long live Omonia,” and others.

A few days ago, pursuant to an order by the Minister of Justice, the establishment of the patriotic association “Kosova” was approved. The initiative committee of this association includes: Murat Gjonbala, Husamedin Feraj, Ibrahim Shatri, Agim Haxhia and Shkëlzen Berisha. “Republika” correspondent

The chairman of the Initiative Committee for the creation of PRSH, Sabri Godo, and a member of this committee, Agim Zeka, met and held talks with Mr. Guido De Marko, president of the 45th session of the UN and Malta’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. After expressing their pleasure at his visit to Albania at this important time, Mr. Guido de Marko stressed that political pluralism is a great and necessary force for the development of society, and that Albania would benefit greatly from genuine democracy. Democratic developments in Albania are important for Europe as well. He praised PR for its sound stance on issues and its commitment to participating in the free elections of 31 March. The Republican side stressed the need for Europe to understand Albania’s situation better; unlike other Eastern countries, Albania has its own specific circumstances. Europe and the UN, together with its organizations, should help Albania before and after the elections to overcome its serious economic difficulties by selling it food at low prices and on long-term credit. Both sides reached a shared assessment of the situation and stressed the need to support the Presidential Council in order to maintain the country’s political stability. “Republika” correspondent

The first attempts at an exodus began on Thursday and Friday, the 28th and 1 March. Many people fleeing boarded the “Teuta” but could not leave for Italy, as the ship ran aground in shallow water. This failure did not discourage them. Everything started all over again, but this time completely differently. On 5 March, at dawn, Durrës, by now accustomed to every kind of oddity, presented a scene of exploitation. From every direction, crowds rushed towards the port or other places where ships were moored, such as the Maritime Channel, the fishing harbour, etc. They had no particular preference; they just wanted to get aboard, embark and leave as soon as possible. The refugees were not cheerful, and those gathering were particularly aged 16–30. In other words, young people, very young indeed, even children aged 10–12. From the apartment blocks, rooftops, balconies and windows, people watched anxiously—not taking notes, but weeping as they saw their children, husbands and brothers off. One after another, over two consecutive days, 14 of the largest ships left the rugged coast. The ocean liner TIRANA departed, said to be carrying thousands of people, along with “Libra,” “Kavaja,” “Apolonia,” “Teuta” and “Ismet Zhura.” All belonged to the merchant fleet. In this way, for the first time in their lives, they had loaded the most paradoxical cargo: human beings. One after another, the ill-fated vessels continued to flee the coast: “Liria,” “Kalendari,” a tugboat, and a pilot motorboat (continued on page 4)

We believe that the Ministry of Education’s decision to continue classes at UT and other higher-education institutions through the correspondence system was not made for economic or ideological reasons, as stated in its summaries, but for political reasons. This decision deprives those who initiated the democratic movement of the right to take an active part in the democratic processes that have swept through every aspect of the country’s life. Some bureaucrat may say that students can take part in the election campaign and, while staying with their families, vote; but this is a ... [statement by the Minister of Education to television] and vote in “Qyteti Studenti” or in the press...? But how will they become acquainted with the candidates for parliament from the opposition parties or the other new parties in the electoral districts of “Qyteti Studenti” or the newspapers “Studenti,” when ... the University will take an active part and they still have not announced their candidates? Students have the right to continue their collective life in the dormitories and lecture halls with galleries...

The poet Xhevahir Spahiu also ... had a debt to repay, but our greatest debt is to our parents, who gave us life—and all the more so when we have so much to say about them. For history does repeat itself. Once, my father wrote about his father, Petro Nini Luarasi. This is what I am doing today, when the story of the illustrious Albanian-language teacher is so relevant: “Let us not be afraid of the babble and tales of those who, in their own courtyard, ... the protection of people and ... of writers and thinkers want to mislead us. Let us know that whoever is a coward in supporting justice becomes a traitor to their country and to themselves.” I read with a shudder the interview with Drita Kosturi, Qemal Stafa’s fiancée, who was murdered heroically, and my mind became clouded by so many events, names, killings and “...” physical and moral disappearances... I remembered a family paradox: every pupil associates the lines “The old is collapsing, times are changing...” with Qemal Stafa’s famous essay, but no longer with the name of the teacher who assigned the topic (taken from his translation of Schiller’s “Wilhelm Tell”), encouraged him and read it aloud as an example in class, and who... A name covered by no “was forgotten,” and not by Zog’s government, which put him in prison, nor by Qemal Stafa, who mentioned him ... Perhaps this article has brought a ray of the sun of truth; let us recognize ... the tears of my ... and the whole ... of democracy, by offering a few “fragments” of Skënder Luarasi’s thoughts, since it is impossible ... (continued on page 4) Photograph of a man.

In one of the halls of the “Lasgush Poradeci” Palace of Culture... In one of the halls of the “Lasgush Poradeci” Palace of Culture in Pogradec, a conference of the PR branch was held. Fejzi Collaku, chairman of the branch’s initiative committee, said, among other things: “We created the PR branch in the hope that we could make our modest contribution to the efforts our people are making for democracy and prosperity. It is the duty of every honest Republican to do everything possible to expand freedoms and build the framework of a free and independent country. Through free debate, equality, fraternity, justice and culture, we will be able to solve all our problems. Members of the initiative committee of this ... also spoke at the conference (continued on page 4)