Fan Noli offers this comprehensive view of the history of Christianity in Albania: “Christianity spread in Albania through missionaries from Rome. Almost all… FATOS ARAPI (F. Konica: “Albania, the Rocky Garden of Southeastern Europe”, 135). Christianity, then, came to Albania at its very dawn. 2. Almost all ecclesiastical terms in the Albanian language derive from Latin. Scholars noticed this very early. Noli, for example, notes that mesha (mass) derives from missam, shenjt (holy) from sanctum, altari (altar) from altarem, kreshma (Lent) from quadragesimam, kreshmëndella from Christi Natalia, kryqi (the cross) from crucem, etc. Shuflai tells us that “ecclesiastical terminology among the Albanians has come from Latin more than among the Romanians, who were the heirs of the Romans in the lands of the Lower Danube.” (M. Shuflai: “The Serbs and the Albanians”, 1927, pp. 121–122). Speaking about the general character of the Latin element in the Albanian language, Çabej concluded that it “holds an intermediate position between the Roman heritage of the East and that of the West.” This takes on paramount importance when it is necessary to explain a series of processes and phenomena “not only in the world of concrete and material things, but especially in the world of thought and society...” (E. Çabej: “Linguistic Studies”, vol. 4, p. 290). We are therefore faced with extremely important problems: the question of the history of our people itself, the history of religions among us, problems of the concrete and material cultural world, and then those of the history of the intellectual and social world of the Albanian people and the study of this position of… …2nd-century [figure] in the Paleo-Christian Church of Ulpiana; Saint Niketë Darani, author of the hymn “Te Deum Laudamus” and many other theological works; Saint Jerome of Stridon (347–420), a renowned saint who inspired so many artists of the era, and the first translator of the Old Testament into Greek and Latin; the Albanians gave the Church of Rome Pope Clement XI, who reigned for a good 21 years, as well as a whole line of bishops and priests, and, in modern times, apostles of Albanianism such as Gjon Buzuku, Pjetër Budi, Frang Bardhi and Pjetër Bogdani. The first known document in Albanian, the Baptismal Formula (1462): “I baptize you in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,” is the work of a Catholic bishop, Pal Engjëlli. What remained in Albania after the Great Schism in the Christian world was the existence of both Catholicism and Orthodoxy; Christianity was a mixture, an intermediary “Linguistic Studies”, vol. 4, p. 290). …the historical mission of Albania and its people, and whoever has not understood this has understood nothing of the history of our people or of the history of Europe in this part of the continent. Albania is not a Balkan country like Greece, Bulgaria or Serbia. Albania is the direct continuation of Europe into the Balkans, in that broad geographical space where struggles between East and West often take on the character of storms. And through those storms, the feeling of independence and the consciousness of the Albanian nation are forged. When Ohrid became a bishopric of the Bulgarian Empire and Klimenti, its first bishop, set his church the mission of addressing the Albanians in their own language as well, he encountered fierce opposition because, as Frommer says: “Albania was not a pagan country that could be converted to Christianity more or less easily thanks to the authority of the state, but a country with its own Christian tradition and its own hierarchy, which at that time may have been more independent and more Albanian than at any other time...” The subordination of this church to the missionary bishopric of Ohrid was a declaration of war—or at least that is how it must have been understood in Albania. The split in the Bulgarian Church meant that from then on the sacred writings and prayer books would be used in Slavonic. In this way, the church would become an instrument of the policy of Slavicization, against which, until… … in … things …, the millennium is … the re-Christianization in Albania is … of the Greeks. The beginnings of … of Saint Paul, since … the re-Christianization in the Balkans and … the Roman legions and …, therefore near … new, was free from Niš. … says to us: “As regards … in its true sense, there is no doubt … Christianity was accepted in … my … in the coastal regions and from there … spread inland. A … well known from the apostle … Paul (Rom. XV,19) has a somewhat obscure …: “From … and all around in …, I have preached … the gospel of Christ,” according to … the English version of … The Greek text … and means in Illyricum. Does … this mean that Saint Paul really … in the Illyrian regions, or that he … as far as their borders, remains … to be discussed. Saint … who is Illyrian, has … this because it would mean that … visited Illyria and … he was the one who introduced … P.P. V. [?][?]… Konica says — it is certain … the preaching of the Gospel in Illyria in … the first century of the … era, and perhaps it was … of the earliest apostles. 3. “In all those places where there was a strong urban population,” says Shuflaj, “Christianity retained a Latin character. It retained it even when Leo III the Isaurian separated New Epirus and Prevalitana, together with lower Italy, from the Roman Church and placed them under the Patriarchate of Constantinople. It retained it even when the open schism broke out (863, 1054), and also when the autocephalous Serbian Church was founded (1219). The bishops of southern Dalmatia and northern Albania became the Pope’s principal support in the great struggle against Byzantium and against Orthodoxy in the Balkans during the Turkish period” (M. Shuflaj, cited work, p. 123). Catholicism never disappeared in Albania. The Albanians gave the Church of Rome a series of saints, such as Lauri and Volpi in … … during the difficult historical times of our people; the history of religions among us; issues concerning the concrete and material cultural world; then those relating to Albanian people and the study of this “intermediate” position of our country and our people in the centuries-long relations between East and West. of saints, such as Lauri and Volpi in … We are therefore faced with very important problems; the question arises whether it is possible to create a church of our own, because even though the political border separating East from West was the Adriatic coastline, the religious and ideological border of the time—the real struggle between the Catholic West and the Orthodox East—continued within Albanian territory. Albania was continually Europe’s direct …, in this case that of Catholic Europe, in the Balkans. Albanians remained hostage to this Europe in the creation of their nation. Albanians could not, and still cannot, create a single church, …, Albanians remained hostage to this Europe. (continued on page 2)

AD moves toward consolidating its position on the Slavo-Greek axis Following the visit to Belgrade, it has been learned that the AD Party is making serious efforts to arrange further visits to the countries of this axis. It is thought that on its other visits AD will use the same tactical pattern as in Belgrade. Others will issue the invitation and they will simply go. The immediate target is Papandreu, followed by Jelcin, and then Mexhjer. These facts show that Belgrade’s assurances and guidance must have been highly successful. More refugees expelled from Greece In recent days, the new Greek government sent back another 3,000 Albanian refugees. As usual, they were subjected to violence, beaten and robbed. This old practice of the new government shows that Papandreu still has no new idea or position regarding Albania and the Albanians. The fever of the election campaign has now passed, and the Greek government and its officials have ample time to think seriously. MPs may be sworn in without their immunity being lifted The Italian Parliament approved a law allowing Italian MPs to be sworn in without needing authorization from Parliament itself. In other words, Italian MPs no longer have parliamentary immunity in investigations concerning corruption. President of ADA Firm arrested On 28 October 1993, the Tirana prosecutor ordered the arrest of the president of ADA Firm. It is reported that the reason for the arrest is that false information was submitted to state bodies regarding the storage of…

Asked in an ordinary setting whether he would or would not be a minister, Genc Ruli replied: “I don’t know.” This statement by Minister Ruli leaves room for many interpretations. Many malicious tongues, full of gossip, say that he will and will not, both this and that. Considered by anonymous sources to be the man behind the tobacco trade, a former adviser to ADA Firm and its president Marsel Skëndo—claims that have never been true—Ruli has been an important figure in the Meksi Government. He took part in, and opposed, the departure from the government of stability; without a shred of evidence, he has been described as the owner of “Kooperi” in Albania and as the signatory of a phantom mandate for Arsidin. None of this makes it possible to tell whether Ruli will remain a minister or not. In any case, the commitments of the young English-speaking Ruli, highly competent in financial matters and with indisputable merits in these matters in the reform process, mean he may be a minister, but he may also not be. This is because the above-mentioned conduct not only offers no solution, but further clouds the question. The uncertainty is compounded by the fact that even President Berisha’s intentions are extremely difficult to read in advance. Let us wait. P. SKENDERI

On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Turkey, a reception was held last night at Hotel ‘Dajti’ by the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey in Tirana, Mr. Metin Ornekol. Those attending included the Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Pjetër Arbnori, MPs, members of the Government, leaders of political parties, heads of diplomatic missions accredited in Tirana, journalists, etc.

Mr. Alain Lamassoure, appointed minister in Mr. Balladur’s government on 30 March 1993, is expected to arrive in Tirana on Tuesday, 2 November. He will hold meetings with senior state officials and will deliver a policy address. At the conclusion of his visit, Mr. Alain Lamassoure will hold a press conference.

the arrest was prompted by the fact that false information had been submitted to state bodies concerning the storage of 100 tons of tobacco. It should be emphasized that this firm has often been the subject of inspections by law-enforcement bodies, which have not reported anything specific.

More than 130 right-wing French parliamentarians proposed the death penalty as punishment for the murderers of children, hostage-taking, or the killing of police officers. The proposal followed the outrage caused by the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl by a man previously convicted of rape and murder. The death penalty—that is, execution by guillotine—was abolished in 1981, when the Socialists came to power. The 134 supporters of the hard-line stance from the centrist majority, who make up nearly a quarter of the 377 seats in the National Assembly (the lower house), proposed reinstating the death penalty in this case. The editor

In one of the … [part of the article’s text is illegible in the photograph] … the editorial office will do so soon, as soon as it is given the opportunity to avoid some obstacles that may be accidental, but also deliberate. Although this is widespread in this, a truly widespread issue, which has spread, has become submerged … … to be lively and quick, … the opportunity … to … to … [The bottom part of the article is cut off/unclear.] … so as not to … [text continues] (continued on page 2)

During the last three days of this week, named N. Kryeqyteti, unlike all the other times, was not seen in any of her favorite places. Only on Saturday evening did she appear quite suddenly on the main promenade, taking many walks and stirring up ordinary citizens. Later, after 9:00 p.m., when the crowds had thinned, she climbed the steps of the Palace of Culture and, facing the empty square, delivered this speech, which she said was extremely important. - Dear people of our race, both normal, living and dead! Fortunately, our high-quality race has grown so much lately that normal people, normal [unclear], have become a minority. So we must accept that, in addition to the Greek, Egyptian, Serbian, Montenegrin, Macedonian, Romanian, Aromanian, Russian, Cambodian, and dozens of other minorities, the minority of normal people is also growing. I want to assure you that if you respect everything in this way, things will go well. Because you have to do a very important job. You must immediately remove Abdi Baleta and Neshat Tozaj from Albania (perhaps send them to some embassy). After that, Albania will immediately explode and nobody will do any more … My concrete proposal is that this time you send Baleta to Moscow and Neshat to America. His professional ability as a criminalistics expert would be the envy even of the dreadful CIA. I can report to you that we, the thoughtful ones, although we are now the majority, will open the files of the spies who have been in our ranks. We will not denounce those who were both communists and spies. How can people be insulted when they perform two such duties? Do you know a person who is also a former …? This lad was very fond of Comrade Enver, too. He was both discreet and strong in character; he told Kadare he had at one time been a friend and an enemy. He is wrapped in a pair of prehistoric shells. There is a woman politician who is called … by both the opposition and … and who appears at cocktail parties. You should see how the very people in power who are not in the opposition curse her. A fellow who is a minister and a former minister has declared that his soul is … privatization. Privatization … [continues] I had A) … [unclear text] THE CHRONICLER

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… in … is … to …