For a moment, one morning, I was stunned. I was watching young people running toward the train station. Some were heading for a bus. There was a dizzying, almost feverish tension in Tirana. What had happened? People were going to Durrës because ferries had arrived to take refugees. I felt a great pain in my heart. Oh God, the specter of the exodus again! And the wretched people—the young, the very heart of their heart—who have no jobs, no hope, no faith in the renovated Communists who want to prolong their time in power by continuing to govern, and who have little hope in the other parties too, are seeking salvation in the wider world. They go willingly, to be called refugees, hoping for a job somewhere, for Christian charity—if not in Italy, then this time as far away as Malta. Where has the rule of the Labour Party and its leaders, the great architects of socialism, brought us? And while people rushed toward vehicles, in some cases forcing the driver out and taking the wheel themselves, my professional conscience began to immerse me in thoughts about finding the causes. Of course, not the cause of economic misery, because that is tiresome, but to speculate about who opened the gates and made ships so readily available. Let me refer briefly to the chronology. After 2 July, when the killings that night—we never learned how many there were—shook the summit of our state and party Olympus, the embassy doors were immediately opened, so that popular hatred would not be directed at the summit of Olympus. The plan was masterful. The authorities smothered us. When it came to the 31 March elections, in order to have as few opponents as possible (and they knew that the young were at the forefront of democracy, because they were suffering unemployment and saw a dark horizon), another kind of embassy opening took place. This time on a much grander scale: the ports were opened and ships left there so that the cream of Albania could depart for foreign lands. The “electronic” brain behind this policy did not fail. The editorial office where… …confidence had not yet been built, employment had not begun, and half the desire to leave this accursed country—though it is so beautiful and so rich—had not yet faded, when it was trumpeted that the army had been withdrawn from the ports. Why? Who guaranteed there would be no more mass departures, so that the ports no longer needed to be military zones? Why, then, did Mr. Bufi’s government, led by a Communist turned Socialist, take that step, if it really was only its own doing? How is it possible for a ship to go to Vlora and invite people, in broad daylight, to set off for the refugees’ “bridge of Qabë,” and for everyone to remain silent? When it happened in Vlora the day before, with two ships, why was no alarm raised, and why was Durrës not turned back into a military zone for two or three hours? Why were the ship “Vlora,” supposedly defective, and other ships left there at the edge of the pier, so that more than ten thousand people could board? Do we not have the right to think that someone is helping it along, that there is an anti-Albanian scenario, solely so that this or that party or state leader can escape being held accountable for grave offenses against this people? The summit of Olympus knew, and knows well, that the thousands who have set their sights and hearts across the sea will be sent back. But the event is useful to them: they can say, “Look what democracy does.” Those who could not leave from Vlora burned down the Party Committee building; others in Durrës (the latecomers, of course) clashed with the police or army forces, which are always late; there were even people killed and several injured. Why should democracy be blamed? Is it these people who are at fault for wanting to go to Europe unlawfully, when the state gives them both passports and visas? The trouble is, Europe does not hand out visas easily, and people are so poor they have no means to travel. It is precisely these people who fall victim to the calculations of the Machiavellian “brain” at the summit of our Olympus, which uses such methods to prolong its hold on power, while in reality the countries of the former Communist people’s democracies are at the forefront. Are we really so foolish? …for and saw a dark horizon), another shadowy embassy operation took place. This time it was depart for foreign lands. The “electronic” brain at the summit of Olympus did not fail. Victory smiled upon them, even if it was a Pyrrhic victory. At least they held on to power. It is another matter that the ports were then declared military zones and the situation stabilized. They thought that would also silence the foreign radio stations. The Italian side was even given assurances that there would be no more exodus. But when have Communists ever been known for keeping their word? Do you not remember how Enver changed his skin, to the point that we published photographs of him dressed even as a Mongol? So the promises were forgotten when the situation once again became tense for the summit of Olympus. Yes, indeed. The great scandal over the appropriation, abuse—or, if you prefer the true name, theft—by the entire former Political Bureau once again put the very summit of the leadership at risk, revealing that it was not as clean as it tried to portray itself. It became clear to the people that the theft had started with number one. And what people would accept an embezzler or a thief as their leader? But when was this announcement made? At a very delicate moment in the Balkans, when the Slovenes and, especially, the Croats were being bloodied as they fought to escape Serbian occupation. Meanwhile, the waves of repression in Kosovo intensified, and not only that: certain Serbian chauvinist circles were sharpening their knives for a mass bloodbath among the Albanians. It was an excellent opportunity to call for unity and to reinforce the border with troops, as if we were not an independent state and were not in the SHBE. Nevertheless, this action was also prompted somewhat by the [text unclear], and justified by patriotic feeling, despite the fact that the economic situation is currently miserable and [text unclear] with old military conditions and [text unclear]. With this zero-level equipment for the young, how can we, relying only on morale, measure ourselves against an army up to four times larger, equipped with modern weapons and military equipment, [text unclear] Soviet-made [text unclear] and also equipped with the latest [text unclear]? Why, nevertheless, if they attack us, are we supposed to die over our rifles, rather than live in captivity? Would Europe allow a medieval occupation? Could it be that the USA has seen this, although the president is red and the Communists still hold power? But this action, which was also intended as an appeal for unity, was not enough. At every moment, the people are demanding that those who have fleeced them be brought before a court—not only through economic and political rule, but also directly, at the lowest level, and directly with the money taken from the earnings of workers and peasants. This wave of demands for accountability aims to bring justice to the half-rotten summit of Olympus. Therefore, without an improvement in the economic situation, without…

DECLARATION OF THE ALBANIAN REPUBLICAN PARTY The grave Yugoslav crisis is becoming increasingly acute, thereby posing a threatening danger to all the nations living in this federation. Consequently, recent dangerous developments threaten even more unexpected events and grave consequences for our Albanian brothers living in their own territories. It is evident that the situation is slipping beyond the control of the Yugoslav leadership, and for precisely this reason Yugoslavia may very soon find itself caught up in a spiral of social and ethnic war, with unforeseeable negative consequences for international politics and the economy. The Albanian Republican Party calls for relations to be established immediately with the Republic of Croatia and beyond. It also reiterates its recent declaration calling on the chauvinist Serbian leadership of the dictator Milosheviç to stop immediately arming thousands of Chetniks, who threaten to unleash a mass massacre. The policies of Milosheviç, this Stalinist-fascist of the Balkan Peninsula, who orders the bombing of Albanian villages in Kosovo, the wounding, killing, raids and mistreatment of Albanians, and the concentration of over 40,000 armed forces of his Red Army in Kosovo and in the Albanian border district, cannot and should not be a source of pride for the Serbian people. The Albanian Republican Party calls on the Serbian people to resolve conflicts by democratic means, so that they may integrate normally into a united Europe alongside the Croatian, Slovenian, Albanian and Macedonian peoples. Now, more than ever, it is time for Serbia to abandon the medieval chauvinist-totalitarian rule promoted by its blinded leadership. In the context of the right to self-determination of the Albanian population in Kosovo, the Albanian Republican Party once again reiterates its declaration that the Republic of Kosovo was proclaimed by the Assembly of Kaçanik on 7 September 1990, and firmly again calls on the Albanian government to recognize as soon as possible the Republic of Kosovo, proclaimed by the legitimate representatives of the people of Kosovo, and to call on all the democratic governments of the world to recognize it and the rights of Albanians, just like those of all the other republics. In the name of the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act, it must struggle in all international forums and organizations for all Albanians living in their own territories in Macedonia, Montenegro and southeastern Serbia to be recognized as having the right to self-determination. Kosovo is a Republic. No one can deny this historical reality. The declaration by the coordinating council of Kosovo’s political parties, by the Democratic Party of Albania and by the Socialist Party, which recognize the Republic of Kosovo, supports the petition distributed throughout Albania by the Republican Party. Albanian people! Sign the Petition. This moment is a historic one in your life and in the life of our nation. No party deserves the credit. The credit belongs to the people, and only to them. Political parties and trade unions! Give your support by mobilizing all free citizens to sign the petition, which hundreds of thousands of Albanians have already signed. And if documentation is required, more than half the population will sign it… then it will take on the character of a nationwide referendum, which will serve to compel the Albanian government to recognize the Republic of Kosovo. Tirana, 10.8.1991

— FROM MR SABRI GODO’S VISITS TO THE USA — Albanians began emigrating across seas and oceans long ago, but it seems they have never been as cut off from their Homeland as they have been during these last four or five decades. Those who, for various reasons, emigrated to America from the lands of the East were separated not only by the cold Atlantic, but also by many other seas, walls and borders, which have nevertheless begun to crumble in recent times. In their place, bridges now seem to be emerging, connecting their hearts with their birthplace and their relatives, bringing them closer to the lands that also belong to them. Visits by delegations, intellectuals and politicians from Albanian territories, who are reaching the USA ever more frequently, have begun to make a significant contribution in this regard. Sabri Godo’s visit to the USA served precisely such a purpose. Mr Godo himself began [text unclear] for several days’ stay in this city. Questions and answers, all kinds of information, news and promises flowed, along with a willingness to help Albania. After the meeting in the Bronx, which lasted several hours, the guest from Tirana spent the evening of 2 August with another group of emigrants. They had organized a reception for him at the “Liria” club, where they often meet, catch up with one another and sing a song now and then so as not to forget the homeland of their forebears. They also offered Mr Godo some pleasant moments, while expressing their interest in learning about everything happening in Albanian territories. The desire to meet as many Albanians scattered across America as possible prompted Mr Godo, together with Xhozef Diogu- ... (Continued on page 3)

— “RENDER UNTO CAESAR THE THINGS THAT ARE CAESAR’S” — The word “amnesty” became part of the everyday vocabulary of Albanian life, particularly during the last decade. Two successive amnesties were followed by the question: Will there be another amnesty? Not many days ago, the government presented parliament with a draft law on amnesty for political prisoners. On the face of it, parliament was dealing with a formality. Yet the fact is that the draft law has now been returned to the government as it stands, for it to be… And the problem lies right at the beginning, in the word amnesty. Every dictionary explains amnesty as forgiveness. But in this particular case, should innocent people, people unjustly convicted, be granted a declaration of innocence or an amnesty? There was much discussion and debate, and it is regrettable that such a delicate law was not treated with the care it deserved, because the Minister of Justice had not consulted with representatives of… Those who were unjustly convicted, because not all members of parliament have the moral authority to raise their voices about their suffering—only one or two do—it is regrettable that quite a few MPs were not in the chamber with a clearly formed view; during the debate on this law, one MP, as if by chance, informed the Assembly about the problems in his constituency, while another reminded us that we must not forget electrification. Who raised us? Who educates us? Because… when one MP took the floor, he found an opportunity to settle scores with a colleague using insulting language unbecoming of parliament; because there was abuse and distortion in the debate, at the expense of those who have been exploited all their lives; and, worst of all, the MPs—with rare exceptions—could be heard and judged according to which “camp” they belonged to. Among the few speakers who said little but meant a great deal was Lufter Xhuveli. It was a discussion without… paper and realism. In essence, he said: “Let us speak with heart and reason about prisoners of conscience. The law was wrong, and as a result people were unjustly convicted. There is no doubt that they are innocent. And since they are innocent, they deserve to be declared innocent. One way or another, they will receive what is due to them. Is it fair to put an honest person through the process of going to a new court and obtaining a declaration of innocence?” In the end, Lufter Xhuveli proposed that the relevant committee offer an acceptable solution to the issue of the confusion of jurisdictions. Other MPs also offered solutions, but the problem remained unresolved (up to now). One idea was to divide the cases into two groups, with some receiving amnesty and others a declaration of innocence. The debate about the past also took up a great deal of time. The opposition expressed its view of the Anti-Fascist National Liberation War, ... LUTFI DERVISHI (Continued on page 2)

Zef Bushati, deputy chairman of the Steering Committee, whose chairman was Ahmet Hasani; a member of the Steering Committee; and the Italian friend from Brindizi, Rafele De Nikoli. The report was delivered by Mr Pal Pali. The conference elected the Steering Committee, with Mr Pal Pali as chairman and Mr Nikoll Nikolli as secretary. Correspondent of “Republika” These days, in one of the halls of the «A. Aliu» Palace of Culture ... the conference of the council of the ... district was held, where ... and ... were elected. The council’s work to date ... At the conference ... gentlemen also took part