Epitaph for the stolen museum These days, following the announcement of the theft at the National Historical Museum, increased police forces have been seen around this building. Now, when what should not have happened has happened, it seems that reinforcing the guards at the Museum safeguards the theft, guarantees the thieves. We hope we are wrong…! But, strangely, only the thieves are being sought! There is a Director who should at least have performed the guards’ duties, if he could not manage them; there is a State—which is called a State for this very reason—whose responsibility it is to ensure that such duties are not shirked; there is a Law under which the Ministry of Public Order designates Objects of Special Importance to be guarded! But, strangely, we continue to mention only the price of the stolen epitaphs, when it is clear that no price can pay for what has happened. The stolen revolver of Enver Hoxha is mentioned to lend a little political grotesquerie to an act that, in this case, cannot possibly be funny. Theft and corruption and crime. Only by calling it and acknowledging it as such can what happened be uncovered in the place and building that is still called the National Historical Museum! A Museum with its museum stolen, a History with its symbol insulted, a Nation wounded in an ordinary, vulgar way… And, strangely, we all put forward theories: Who might have taken them? Where did they enter? Where did they leave from? Where might they have gone? The Republic’s borders are even being reinforced, hundreds of kilometres of borders… when we could not guard the stolen objects in the centre of a single building!! Nevertheless, the borders must be guarded. There is still much to steal from this culture, from this history. There are also quite a few other objects that should unquestionably be designated Objects of Special Importance; there are quite a few such directorates and state offices that… steal from the State and the Nation. FARUK MYRTAJ

Mero BAZE An unusual and frightening alarm brought this phenomenon to light at the “Fan Noli” school. The teachers in charge notified the parents of children from Kosovo who are temporarily living in Tirana to come and collect their children from school. Some anonymous thugs have threatened, for the umpteenth time, to abduct the children from Kosovo. This scene, repeated dozens of times in Tirana’s secondary and eight-year schools, always by anonymous hooligans, always by people nobody knows, always involving children from Kosovo, can no longer be dismissed as an adolescent prank. The anti-Kosovar predisposition spread so delicately by some press outlets and political forces in Albania—a predisposition that commonly starts in expensive cafés and goes all the way to modern hair salons—has now become a motive for certain irresponsible sections of society, which are not infrequently used as foot soldiers by political forces. To inflict violence on children who fled in terror from the Serbian regime in Kosovo, to terrorize the terrorized, to kill and plunder the victims of a barbaric regime, means bringing this phenomenon to light. And if our policemen, so highly praised for restoring order, objectively fill out a fine before even checking as soon as they stop a car with Prishtina or Prizren plates; if someone cuts the telephone connection of the “Rilindja” newspaper for a month and those interviewed have no way to deal with the “Kosovars” [sentence unclear in the original]. But it is worth speaking now precisely to appeal to the state, our state, which is at the same time the only state of all Albanians, to take notice of the people on the street who damage its image as the Albanian state. It is true that the work of the Albanian police cannot be judged by the sensational front-page headlines of some sensationalist newspapers, but it is extremely delicate when it has the power to damage or repair the image of the state. No one has the right to claim that in our state, in its administration, there are no people with an “anti-Kosovar” predisposition, as long as there are such parties and newspapers, as long as there are middle-ranking, and even senior, officials who shut every door if they suspect they are dealing with “Kosovars.” [The source text is corrupt here.] The alarm was raised one day by an eight-year school in Tirana, where children were distressed by their parents at home. But this alarm must be raised by the state, by the police, by its administration, which must take responsibility for protecting the dignity of its people, of Albanians. It is an alarm that must be raised throughout the system, in legislation, in its institutions, which must confront and block every manifestation by the Albanian administration that has an “anti-Kosovar” predisposition—which in itself is a predisposition against more than half of the Albanians. irresponsible [groups/individuals] in society, which are not infrequently used as foot soldiers for terrorized, to kill and wound the victims of a barbaric regime, means that the modernization and anti-nationalism preached as modernism do not go beyond the motives of the dependents and their true terrorizers. It would not be worth raising the alarm in the press about this street phenomenon if that were all it was. There is everywhere a difficult awareness that is being made even more difficult by “anti-Kosovar” sentiments, expressed artfully in snippets of newspapers, where an Albanian soldier is in one account said to have been killed by a Kosovar, and in the next issue it is clarified that he died of a heart attack, but it is not clarified that the “Kosovar” had nothing to do with his death. It would not be worth

Athens, February 9, /AFP/— Greece boasted that, as president of the European Union, it had “cool-headedly” shaped the latest developments in the Bosnian crisis on Monday in Brussels, confirming that it had prevented the “hysterical improvisations” of supporters of the use of force. “Greece has demonstrated cool-headedness and responsibility, unlike the hysterical improvisations of many others,” the Greek government spokesman declared. “The ministers did not understand [?] Alain Juppé, who declared that ‘statements or words matter little’ and that France would not give up ‘under any circumstances’ on such an initiative. “The Greeks, who are pro-Serb, are of the opinion that the Bosnian Muslims may want [this]; it seems the Serbs had no interest whatsoever in carrying out the massacre,” Greek State Secretary for Defence Nikolaos Kouris assessed on Sunday, considering that this drama “seems to serve the plans of those who want a military intervention in favour [of the Bosnians], just as the French are reminded of the Indochina war.” In the event of intervention by the Atlantic Alliance, Greece would not agree, according to Pangalos, to the use of the base at Preveza, near Akrotiri [?], for NATO supplies. Greece has demonstrated restraint Greek government spokesman declared. “The ministers did not understand that it was the right solution,” said the head of Greek diplomacy, Karolos Papulias, provoking a retort from his French counterpart, Alen Zhype, who declared that “the statements of so-and-so or so-and-so are of little importance” on such an initiative. “The Greeks, who are pro-Serbian, believe that the Bosnian Muslims may be responsible for last Saturday’s slaughter in Sarajevo, which left 68 dead and around 200 wounded. ‘At first glance, it seems the Serbs had no interest in causing the massacre,’ Greek Secretary of State for Defence Nikolas Kuris said on Sunday, adding that this tragedy ‘seems to serve the plans of those who want military intervention in favor of the Muslims.’ Pangalosi assessed that the Americans could put the Vietnam lesson into practice. just as the French should remember the Indochina war. In the event of an air operation Pangalosi, to NATO using the base at Preveza, near Aktion, opposite the island of Corfu, for supplies. The Greek army would thus withdraw its personnel serving on NATO’s Awaks aircraft.

In the wake of the terror and brutal violence inflicted by Serbian chauvinists on the Albanian people of Kosovo, and particularly on its best-known figures, the fascist regime in Belgrade is now preparing a show trial against the well-known poet and prose writer Myrteza Nura. The ordeal of this steadfast intellectual and patriot has taken him through the gauntlet of several imprisonments by the Titoist Slavocommunists and now by today’s Serbian dictator. It is highly significant that, alongside its successive blows against Albanians in the economy, education, culture, information, etc., Milošević’s regime seeks to silence brilliant minds who never cease to fight by democratic means for national and human freedom and rights. We, the writers, artists, journalists and publishers of Albania, raise our voices in indignation against these savage attacks on the Albanian intelligentsia in Kosovo and appeal to all democratic and progressive public opinion throughout the world to stop these monstrous crimes, which are a disgrace to civilization at the end of this century. Myrteza Nura, this poet and writer, pioneer of modern Albanian literature in Kosovo and, at the same time, a fighter and patriot, cannot be kept behind the bars of medieval prisons, just as the light of freedom and humanism cannot be imprisoned. The radiance of his work has by now become part of the soul of the Albanian nation. Freedom for Myrteza Nura and for all those intellectuals languishing in the hell of the Serbian occupier’s prisons! Writers’ and Artists’ League of Albania Association of Independent Writers of Albania Journalists’ League of Albania “Naim Frashëri” Publishing House Albanian Radio and Television Tirana, 7.02.1994

On the deployment of two American reconnaissance aircraft in Albania Following an agreement with the United States, the Albanian government decided to install on our territory an observation base administered by the CIA, intended to monitor military movements and developments in general in the territories of the former Yugoslav republics of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, Serbia and Macedonia. It is now widely known that the areas mentioned above are flashpoints where fighting is currently taking place or where the risk of this conflict breaking out is imminent. In this respect, the American step of installing an observation base in Albania is a measured action, serving both to prevent the conflict from spreading to other parts of the territory of former Yugoslavia and to place developments in the fighting in Bosnia-Herzegovina under maximum surveillance. As this is a positive initiative in relation to what was stated above, our country too, which is deeply concerned by developments in the former Yugoslavia, supports the American action by making one of our airports available to serve as a base for American surveillance aircraft. The aircraft to be used will be two miniluks [?] aircraft, unmanned, which will conduct reconnaissance flights over the aforementioned territories from an altitude of 7,600 metres. Through a satellite antenna, the images they photograph will be transmitted to Washington. As is known, some time ago our country, in relation to this surveillance activity, expressed its full support for the initiative proposed by Washington, “Partnership for Peace”, through the US representative at the Joint Committee, Ollbrajt [Albright]. This initiative will serve as a prologue to the inclusion of other European countries in NATO. One of the fundamental elements characterizing the American initiative is precisely the coordination of actions between the North Atlantic Alliance and the countries of Eastern Europe to stop or avert various conflicts, which are characteristic of this period in Eastern European countries, where nationalisms are also particularly intense. For this reason, the agreement reached between Albania and the United States to make our territory available for the American action monitoring developments in the territories of former Yugoslavia should be considered cooperation within the framework of the “Partnership for Peace” initiative. Thus, while Poland, Romania, Estonia and some other Eastern European countries joined this political initiative on paper, the step taken by our government in this case constitutes concrete participation—in deeds. In this respect, it is a concrete contribution to the initiative that is intended to lead to the enlargement of the North Atlantic Alliance to include the countries of Eastern Europe. Furthermore, cooperation in an operation with the world’s sole superpower is entirely logical, especially when it serves to bring an end to a conflict that for more than two years has been claiming thousands of lives, and to prevent its spread to the rest of the Balkan region. In recent years, during which Albania has opened itself fully to the world without any restrictions and has had an urgent need for humanitarian aid, technical assistance and political support, the country has come to understand the principle that the chances of securing the necessary support or assistance increase considerably when you yourself are needed by others and also have something to offer. Nevertheless, in this case negative reactions were bound to occur as well. But what is positive in this respect is that they came only from the Serbian side, and indeed from people among the Serbian military leadership: General Perishiç, deputy chief of staff of the Yugoslav army. General Perishiç told Radio Kragujevac that “the United States, by deploying aircraft in Albania to carry out reconnaissance and gather information on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, have decided to involve countries that have territorial claims against Yugoslavia as well.” He went on, seeking to exert pressure on public opinion, to say that “Albania has now become involved in a war against the FRY, seeking to achieve its aims regarding parts of Yugoslav territory.” Following Perishiç’s logic, one would conclude that Albania has declared war not only on the self-proclaimed Yugoslavia, but also on Bosnia and Macedonia, and even Croatia. Likewise, Germany, where an American reconnaissance aircraft is based, or any other country where there is an American base, should be considered to be at war with the countries against which these bases are being used. But in truth, neither the Serbian general nor Belgrade is worried about the possibility of Albania becoming involved in a potential war against the self-proclaimed Yugoslavia, since the Albanian government is engaged in broad-based peaceful efforts former Yugoslavia and to bring the Bosnian slaughter to an end as soon as possible. Belgrade is not concerned with Albania’s participation in joint action with the United States because this represents a powerful and concrete step in breaking the isolation—or self-isolation—that the Serbian leaders desired, the details of which were devised in Belgrade. But there were more negative reactions inside the country than abroad, from certain political forces which, more than concern about the “danger” of involving the country in a conflict, are driven by a passion to criticize and attack every action of the government. Somewhere, it is suggested that the agreement was not reached with the American government, but with the CIA. This would mean either that the CIA is not subordinate to, or at least has no connection with, the US government, or perhaps the concern is that the aircraft are administered by the Intelligence Agency and that the base is at the airport. [The source text is corrupt in this passage.] GAVROSH LEVONJA (continued on page 4)

Following the publication of an open letter: Replies: Preç ZOGAJ Responds: Ylli RAKIPI p. 2 “I will leave this country when ‘Gazeta Shqiptare’ moves forward without me” Interview with the editor-in-chief of “Gazeta Shqiptare”, Carlo BOLINI p. 3

Because of the many criticisms, the capital’s madwoman N this time publicly blurted out that for 10 days she would not deal with politics, but only with economic and socio-cultural problems. “On the world currency exchanges, the Swiss franc and the French franc recorded a marked decline as a result of the absence of Aleksandër Frangu. The lek did not fluctuate,” the madwoman N said on Tuesday before the Confederation of Democratic Businessmen. The turnover of brothels in Greece rose considerably after the advertisements in the newspaper “Koha Jonë”. There are no accurate figures for turnover in Pigal. At its second national conference, PS managed to steal the phrase “social market economy” from PD. They say PD had done this at its second national congress. The authorship of the phrase will have to be settled by the president of the copyright agency, Neshat Tozaj, in an upcoming court case. We ask Radio Tirana not to read the above information aloud without identifying the source of the news. “Gazeta Shqiptare” says that the drachma’s exchange rate has been falling for the past three days. It knows the reason but does not say it. Generally speaking, the director of ATSH has had a beard. The source of the information had confused him with the singer Agron Berisha. This confusion often happens to the newspaper “Zëri i popullit”. The revolver of Enver Hoxha in the National Museum was stolen by a TV ZP journalist who supposedly intends to sell it to Avni Rustemi. THE CHRONICLER