The Greek andartes have been revived Statement of the Albanian Republican Party The Greek andartes have been revived THE CRIME OF 10 APRIL CANNOT GO UNPUNISHED Statement of the Albanian Republican Party The attack by a Greek band on a military unit in the village of Peshkëpi and the killing of servicemen in their sleep is the gravest act by Greek circles against Albania. This open provocation is identical to that of the Greek andarte bands in 1913–1914 and pursues the same aims. But Albania is not the country it was during the First World War; it is an established state, a member of international organizations. The treacherous attack and killings came from a member state of the Atlantic Pact, one day after the visit to Albania of this Pact’s Supreme Commander for Europe. The Greeks hastened to create unrest in the southern Balkans to come to the aid of the Serbs in Bosnia and Kosovo. The strategy of the great Slavo-Orthodox conspiracy is becoming clear. Several Russian circles, Greece, Bulgaria and Romania stand in support of Milošević. The Balkans are digging their own grave. The means used so far, such as peace conferences, economic blockades, observers and blue helmets, have not stopped the Hitler of the Balkans; on the contrary, they have encouraged him to commit even more terrible acts, as is happening with the massacre of Goražde in Bosnia. Only the use of force against Serbia can save the Balkans and the continent from the madness of total conflict. We have no doubt whatsoever about the direct connection between the Serbian offensive against Goražde and the Greek provocation against Albania. Coordination has also been demonstrated in other cases over the past two years. Now the situation is sliding out of control. The European Community, in retreat, is answering with a “turning back,” as far as that is possible in today’s world. They present themselves as defenders of the underprivileged, the unemployed, human rights and pluralism, skillfully exploiting the difficulties of the times and the mistakes of the DP. This is the strategy of all the former Communist parties of the East. Their deceit goes so far that even when they win elections, they do not take the lead themselves, but appoint a prime minister from a small allied party, as long as they have a majority in parliament, as in Poland. We call on the People’s Assembly, the President and the Government to examine events calmly and courageously, strengthen measures to protect the border, explain to our allies the truth about what is happening in the South and the North, and have complete faith in the unity of Albanians in defense of the Homeland. The crime of 10 April can under no circumstances go unpunished.

Remarks by the Chairman of the ARP, Mr. SABRI GODO, at the meeting of the ARP National Council With the start of the year, political tensions rose further. According to the press, in this country the Democratic Party gets sunshine, while only hail falls on the opposition. The hardening is also evident in Parliament. The Socialist Party raised 131 questions about the Government’s program, in order to turn it into a sieve. Parliament will not reach agreement even on issues where a little tolerance could bring understanding. This increases confusion at home and raises doubts among investors abroad. It seems that great risks always weigh on countries with weak economies and weak governments. Do the Socialists and the others bear this in mind when they attack the program frontally and on every point? We are glad that the Government presented its program, albeit late; it is not an easy task either, unlike the old five-year plans. We wanted to see greater clarity in the program on the return of property and privatization, and on cooperation with foreign countries. On this last point, Mr. Meksi gives one somewhat the impression of a man who wants to keep waiting by the river. The Socialist Party’s demagoguery needs to be explained a little further. When we say that they want a return to Enverian communism, they reply that we are behind the times, and to some extent they are right. Only a few deranged nostalgics gathered around the Socialist Party still have such ideas. The neocommunists—that is, the Socialists—even if you handed Enverism to them on a plate, would not want it; they are not that foolish! Their trick is to “turn The transition to a free market and capitalism can be completed only by the right wing. In Italy, Germany and France, the economy developed further under centrist or center-right coalitions. But now, especially in Italy, these forces are suffering a serious decline, with voters shifting toward the right. The right wing is a necessity here. We come from an economy under an extreme-left dictatorship, which can be dismantled only by the right, based unequivocally on the recognition and implementation of private property. Secondly, the right can today be the counterbalancing opposition in Albania, helping to avoid the government’s mistakes, since the Socialists and their allies oppose everything that is done at every step. In short, the right wing in Albania is necessary for democracy and economic development. If we have [para…] [?] ... “Only with declared principles does the right wing become understandable to the electorate Photo: Armando Babani

...The Republican Party is in favor of cooperation with the Democratic Party if that party creates the conditions for cooperation... ... The Republican Party supports Mr. Meksi’s government, which guarantees the overall development of democracy in Albania... ... The Republican Party is in favor of talks with right-wing political forces, defining a clear anti-Communist direction (Continued on page 2) Photo: Armando Babani

At the beginning of this article, allow me to reiterate the fact that, for Albania, its neighborhood with Serbia has been a phase of deterioration, just as Turkey’s presence as a neighbor of the Greeks has been an attempt at balance—a presence the Greeks would much rather not have or, at least, have as far away as possible. But these have been the works of God! After the fall of the Berlin Wall, and likewise after the dissolution of the former USSR and former Yugoslavia, the map of Europe underwent changes that were reflected, first of all, in the breakdown of old alliances. The breakdown of these alliances respectively affected the dissolution and disruption of the balance between forces and, as a consequence of this disequilibrium, war was not long in breaking out. It lasted only six days in Slovenia, then moved to Croatia, with Bosnia-Herzegovina as its destination, before spreading further—only to the south, because it became clear that Milosheviç was no longer the force dictating war, and that his former republics now had new allies of their own. The fall of communism thus also changed the map of the Balkans, which historically has been, and remains, vulnerable to change. At present, we are witnessing the consolidation of alliances, which are of two kinds: peacekeeping and peace-disrupting, or war-provoking. Milosheviç’s recent visit to Romania clearly crystallized the Serbia-Greece-Romania triangle. It is precisely at this difficult moment for the Balkans that Berisha is visiting Ankara. Demirel’s presence in Tirana in 1992, immediately after democracy’s victory in Albania, was the prelude to this alliance, which would continue to grow stronger and reach a new peak with this trip. Foreign agencies also described Turkey as a mediator in speaking on behalf of NATO. This may be a rational compromise. But what was notable on the Turkish side was the exceptionally warm reception given to the Albanian president and his delegation. What was evident on both sides was a display of agreement and bilateral understanding, both on matters concerning only the two countries and on the problems of the crisis in the region. In this respect, the Albanian-Turkish alliance aims precisely to help minimize this danger. ELIDA BUÇPAPAJ

Supreme Commander of NATO Forces in Europe, in Albania Albania’s Minister of Defense, S. Zhulali, personally welcomed General Xhorxh Xhulluen at the airport. The Supreme Commander of the Alliance’s Forces in Europe was welcomed, in the words of our American friend, by all the country’s civilian and military leaders. Speaking to reporters, Xhorxh Xhulluen said that he had chosen Albania as the country (Continued on page 3) [They] answer that we have fallen still hold such ideas. Even if you handed the neocommunists—that is, the socialists—Enverism ready-made, they would not want it; they are not foolish enough to follow that path. Communism as an economic system was defeated throughout the world in its contest with capitalism. That is why the socialists declare themselves in favor of the free market. They cling to the market’s social policy, creating their own left-wing version. In essence, this social policy means that profits should go toward the public good, placing the economy under the direction of state institutions rather than the owner. In this way, the economy and democratic processes are held back, while their allies oppose [unclear in source] and, step by step, everything that is being done. Put briefly, the right wing is necessary in Albania for democracy and economic development. A year ago, we warned that the time for the grouping of parties would come. It seems this is happening, and that is a good thing, because voters want clearly defined orientations—to the right, the center, or the left. The Steering Committee discussed the political situation intensively and reached shared conclusions. It is for the National Council to examine these conclusions, conscious that what we determine today will guide the Republican Party until its second Congress, which we expect to hold in early October. The calls of recent months for Photo: Armando Babani

The capital’s madwoman N, seated at a table in the club-kiosk frequented by eminent intellectuals, had drunk several glasses of fërnet and was speaking in a calm voice, making all those intellectuals listen with extraordinary attention: “This shock therapy, it seems, was not well received by the people...” she said, setting down her empty glass. “Although our party didn’t criticize it, it seems that the comrades’ therapy has exhausted this people terribly. Now they can’t stand the comrades even in a single word. Perhaps the gentlemen’s therapy should be tried for once, too. Then again, it also depends on the comrades, since there are moderate comrades as well. For example, Comrade Nano’s therapy was very good, which is why I signed the petition for his release from prison. The petition didn’t state the date on which his release was being requested, but I imagine it isn’t all that urgent. An angel who visited me yesterday said he had just come from visiting the comrade in prison. He told me the comrade was perfectly all right—in fact, he didn’t have many problems, because he noticed the angel as soon as he appeared. He didn’t even suspect it might be some kind of hallucination. His mind was working very well. After ordering another glass of fërnet, madwoman N continued. “Albania has only one government and three oppositions. We should create two more governments. That way, every opposition will have its own government. It isn’t fair that the three oppositions have to take turns criticizing the government. We must meet all the opposition’s demands; otherwise, the Council of Europe will expel the only government we have from its group.” After these words, madwoman N changed the subject, saying: “The number of unemployed chairmen has reached 87.3%. This is a success! Greater than in the post-communist states of Eastern Europe. The Socialist Party’s chairman on duty for the next few weeks will be a well-known social-democratic personality, who always [unclear in source] the state in the provinces.” The Chronicler

përgjigjen se kemi mbetur prapa kohës dhe në njëfarë mase kanë të drejtë. Vetëm ca nostalgjikë të fandaksur, të mbledhur rreth Partisë Socialiste kanë ende ide të tilla. Foto: Armando Babani

The South is now making its accusation in blood. After the wanderings of the priests, after the democratic climate that allowed “Omonia” branches to open in Labëria, after the rose-colored accusations directed at certain Greek circles against Albania, after the tolerance that allowed hired hands to be called masters of Albanian land, the Albanians of the South now carry on their shoulders the first coffins delivered by open Greek aggression. Fatmir Shehu and Abron Gjinj were buried yesterday. A few days before them, something else was slowly being put to death. Special emissaries, now dressed in religious robes and carrying “pure” credentials, and politicians who have lost their heads refuse to acknowledge “Albanian extremism” and “behavior unbecoming toward the Greek government”; they had sent the obituary of these victims into the threatened ether of the South. The shadow of poverty, now trumpeted by the opposition as a calamity whose arrival in Albania nobody knows how to explain, has served as an iron curtain to prevent the dignified response of Albanians to Greek vileness. The thousands of Albanian refugees who work for their daily bread across the border constitute the arsenal of anti-Albanian blackmail that has been used to date, sometimes cruelly. After the economic or political damage caused by this conflict, it is now the turn of Albanians inside Albania to be victimized. Albanians are now dying for the peace and perversity of their neighbors. They are dying to lend dignity to Papulias’s statement against the Albanian government over the violation of their freedoms, and to the demands of the Greeks that he himself preaches at the head of Europe; Albanians are dying to lend dignity to his statements against Albanian justice over Nano’s trial; Albanians are dying to dignify the Greeks’ anger over the expansion of Albanian foreign policy with citizens that he himself advocates. With the Hellenization of the South, they have so far lost “everything.” Those living in Saranda, Delvinë, Tepelenë, Gjirokastër and Korçë have lost faith in local government, since it “risks relations with our neighbors.” Those living in Tirana have lost the chance to get rich from the spoils of Greek politics. Those who carry out policy have lost a resistance and the “moderate circles.” Meanwhile, others, entirely invisible and anonymous, manage to obtain licenses and set up fuel outlets on the outskirts of Tirana, writing the name “Shkumbini” in Greek to show the capital its southern border; others, behind the National Museum, write the names of their new kiosks in Greek, with permits from Tirana Municipality. Others run Albanian banks and embassies in the Balkans; while the South, still unable to believe in the tragedy of its slow death, makes its accusation in blood. It has been treacherously attacked and left for dead. Persistent and impoverished, at least now it must be heard by everyone. They fall for Albania (the first victims of peace and stability in the region).

Yesterday’s massacre by Greek military units in southern Albania is the Albanian press’s first confrontation with a conflict situation provoked by chauvinist designs against Albania. In these circumstances, which are extremely delicate for providing the Albanian public with accurate information, the League of Journalists of Albania calls on all its members, and especially the heads of newspapers and mass media, to commit themselves to raising national awareness by portraying the actual situation. The League of Journalists expresses its confidence that this time some newspapers that do not belong to this organization will also join their colleagues, putting their Albanian identity first. The Chairman Ylli Rakipi

Notice: Due to technical reasons at the printing house, the newspaper “Republika” No. 28 (275) is not being published on Sunday, April 10, 1994, but is being published today.