RUDOLF MARKU When the distinguished writer Aleksandër Sollzhenicin was leaving his homeland (expelled, according to the official version), many people thought he would express his gratitude to the Western states. In fact, the West had followed the fate of the great writer closely, publishing his books, appreciating him in hundreds of articles and television programs, and organizing solidarity meetings attended by the highest figures in culture and politics. All this had done wonders to ensure that the writer did not suffer the fate of Isak Babel, Mandelstam, or Sakharov. At long last, the Russian totalitarian state had surrendered before Sollzhenicin (in exchange, the Russians had asked the Western states for a former party secretary of the Chilean communist movement). Now, at Frankfurt airport, Sollzhenicin’s expression of gratitude was expected. Curiously, the great writer (as if wishing to prove that writers really are the strangest breed of people, that in the end they are against everyone, while feeling pity and love for everyone) said that Western civilization, unfortunately, at this end of the century, seemed to have lost its primordial ability to feel the suffering, hunger, hardships and miseries of others. Western civilization, according to Sollzhenicin, had lost its sensitivity to the pain of others. This statement by the writer—dismissed as an ungrateful whim or, at best, a writers’ fancy—is being recalled more and more today. The destruction of the communist totalitarian system revealed a new phenomenon, especially to people who had lived within the iron confines of isolation. Western civilization, by standing in hostile opposition to the totalitarian system of the East, had unwittingly acquired many traits of its adversary. In biology this is called symbiosis. In psychoanalysis it is called displacement: the personality, through the sublimation of the energy of a long-standing hatred, onto your adversary. In short, Western civilization, which had become a cult for opponents of totalitarian regimes living in isolation in prisons, concentration camps, and the fear and anxiety of everyday life, was seen, precisely after the dictatorships fell, not to be made of gold. Living isolated, more isolated than anyone else, under one of the harshest and most shameful dictatorships, Albanians projected the dream of a free, prosperous, cultured country. For Albanians, that country was the West... Naturally, every idealization has its price: disappointment. It is true that the West has inherited and once again taken up the ideals of Freedom and Justice, and in their name helped oppressed peoples to free themselves from dictatorships. But it is just as true that these peoples were often placed under dictatorial systems as a result of calculations by Western politicians. Ultimately, liberation from dictatorship was an expression of the repressed energies of these peoples themselves. First East Germany, Hungary, Czechoslovakia. Then Romania. The response of people in the streets. Then Albania, with the overthrow of the buffoon dictator. It was no coincidence that the cry best able to touch Albanians’ deepest feelings was: “Towards Europe!” But was Western Europe itself prepared for the great collapse of the communist dictatorships? Unfortunately, post-dictatorial events show that Western civilization was not entirely prepared... It seems that a paradox occurred of (continued on page 2)

“When you shake hands with a Greek, count your fingers,” goes an English proverb. And when this saying comes from a distant island, one can imagine what Albanians should say about their old neighbor! About the neighbor who, historically, has thought only of devouring its neighbor. And today, especially today, Greekness in Greece has become more ferocious, more fully declared. It has been declared in newspaper pages and rally scenes, on congress platforms and in consular corridors, in commando camps and at priests’ altars. In all these places, then, Greekness in Greece is taking its seat. The term “Greek chauvinist circles” is now hopelessly outdated. The phrase “certain groups” has faded. The madness of the old man Sebastiano can no longer be called merely that. The anti-Albanian activity of the criminal organization Omonia, the murders of Albanians at night, in their sleep and shot in the back; the mistreatment of refugees—all these and many other things, said and unsaid, show that Greece has turned its efforts to Hellenize Albania into state policy. Hundreds of thousands of bulletins, books, maps and calendars against Albania are printed; dozens of rallies and protests are organized, calling for the liberation of so-called Vorio-Epir. All this happens in Greece, and the Greek state “knows nothing.” The saintly Greek state is not responsible even for armed servicemen who cross the Greek border and kill Albanians at night (as though they were not soldiers, but a rain shower passing from Greece into Albania). The Greek state knows nothing and bears no responsibility for what is done and plotted in Greece against Albania and the Albanians. But does the Greek state know what the 50 thousand pampered Greek-minority members do in Albania? Does it know what the Omonia members and the men of God, the priests, are doing? The Greek state does not know these things either. Perhaps it does not know because, while making up its European 12, it has been overwhelmed by its big problems! Let us inform the Hellenic state that a good many of the 50 thousand Greek-minority members in Albania, pampered by the Albanian state and the Albanians, illegally distribute maps, bulletins, books, appeals and calendars calling for Vorio-Epir. Let Greek statesmen know that the Omonia Association is a criminal organization that engages in unconstitutional and anti-Albanian activity! Let Greek officials learn that the angels of the Orthodox Church in Albania want this church to be Greek only! All these things need to be taught to Greek statesmen. They need to be taught, even though they know them. But first they need to be taught that the 40–50 thousand Greek newcomers, who came to Albania for a morsel of bread, cannot Hellenize this country. goes an English proverb. Ylli RAKIPI THE GREEK IDENTITY Subnationals M. M. Drossilis VORIO EPIRI ΚΑΝΩΝ ΠΑΡΑΔΟΣΕΩΣ ΒΟΡΕΙΟΣ ΗΠΕΙΡΟΣ V. EPIRI GREECE

the United States fleet T he Spartanburg County ship provides the opportunity for loading and

The Spartanburg County ship of the United States fleet will make a courtesy visit to the port of Durrës from April 25 to 27, 1994. During the visit, their balancing as offensive forces at home or support missions in peacetime. The ship is the 14th of a class of 20 high-speed ocean-going tank-landing ships built for the United States fleet. It serves to transport troops, tanks, amphibious vehicles and heavy equipment for the ground assault force, and to land them as rapid offensive forces or support missions in peacetime. These forces can be put ashore directly using the ship’s movable stern gate or through the rear gate while the ship is underway. The ship is capable of carrying out offensive assault operations in wartime, humanitarian rescue operations, or support missions in peacetime. Spartanburg County is powered by six diesel engines, three for each propeller. At the stern of the ship there is a small engine used for close maneuvering when arriving at any port and carrying out procedures there. The arrangement of the installed cables makes it possible to load and unload cargo quickly even in ports where a lack of equipment would otherwise cause problems. The ship’s design features make loading and unloading fast and safe. The ship can land assault troops for long periods and be reloaded at sea to meet the needs of a long period underway. The Spartanburg County ship has taken part in operations (continued on page 4)

All the professional experts had predicted this. And yet, after two years of bloody fighting, it seemed as though this shameful story had come to an end. It seemed as if 200 thousand dead, cities destroyed into ghost towns, mass graves, murdered children, children left orphaned had been enough for the cream of world diplomacy. Thus all the bodies and institutions of international organizations, such as the UN, NATO, the EC and other major organizations, were so badly discredited—generally by initials such as EC—that in the end they succeeded. Although it should not be forgotten that it was a success overturned in the blood of innocents, a success steeped in blood like Lady Macbeth’s hands. I am convinced that one day, when history is judged, these macabre periods will be marked in black as the most symptomatic periods of high-level world diplomacy, filled with apocalyptic challenges posed by human beings against other human beings: the powerful, armed with tanks, rockets and shells; people armed with the initials mentioned above against the unarmed, undefended and innocent—the sick, children, those who still cannot walk, who run to hide and save their lives, but are still struck down, their legs or arms severed, or their lives so easily taken altogether. After Sarajevo came Gorazhda. Gorazhda was expected, but the humane world, unsophisticated as it was, believed it would now offer a response, since yesterday it had started all over again. The humane world was left stunned when catastrophe in the heart of Europe began anew, while Yasushi Akashi, as the mediator of the peace agreement, just like his predecessors Owen, Vance, Stoltenberg and Gal, failed disastrously. The UN failed too, together with NATO—or else they failed, or were accomplices in the crime—because at the first takeoff of NATO aircraft from Aviano, Milošević made it perfectly clear that if NATO renewed such attacks, he would attack Italy! Does the logic of the Serbian leader not seem insane and strange to you? After this, he was soon visited by the head of Russian diplomacy, Kozyrev, and I believe he did not pay him a friendly visit just to assess the degree of his madness! After that, everything remained suspended or was put on hold in unison. It seems that this time, following NATO’s example, another high-level security body issued an ultimatum! By all indications, it was Russia, because even the only positive initiative of Boutros-Ghali, the letter addressed to Werner, the Russian ambassador to the UN, was categorically opposed—and succeeded! Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to hold talks begin, and the idea of lifting the embargo on Belgrade is even floated! Lifting the embargo would mean that the war continues, that Gorazhda, with its 65,000 inhabitants, becomes a deserted ruin filled only with graves. Psychologically, this is a revanche for Belgrade and its allies. Gentlemen, those dead people you see on screen, lying face down and brutally shot in the back, are your fellow European citizens, while your symptomatic indifference will kill us all in turn, according to rank. Since you hold the highest rank in this unfortunate community, even if last, you too will be included: the highest-ranking figures in the highest international organizations. Even after this, will you continue to act this way?!

Just back from Greece, MP Rifat Peshkëpia, publishing his opinions on what happened in the (Albanian) village which, quite by chance, bears his name: Peshkëpia. This young man is worth listening to carefully! What frightens the (Albanian) Parliament’s MP more than anything else is Albanian nationalism! Has our MP really become convinced that it is Albania that suffers from nationalism? He is kindly asked to present Albanian readers with at least some evidence that Albania or its Government pursues an openly or covertly nationalist policy. Meanwhile, being also an MP in the south of Albania—which, at least by the Albanian parliamentarian, is called Southern Albania and not Vorio-Epir—he has the mission and duty of knowing the geography and the recent and distant history of his country. He ought perhaps to know, for example, that there are Albanian lands outside Albania’s state borders, and it would be entirely natural for Albania and its Government to raise their voices on their behalf. Its MPs could naturally do so as well. The fact that they have not done so proves, at the very least, that they do not suffer from nationalism. Perhaps from its opposite, yes. After all, in our MP’s opinion pieces, he too tries at all costs to absolve the Greek side of responsibility, at a time when Greece itself accepts responsibility for the crime against the Albanian border guards...! It is another matter if the act was committed simply by Greek terrorists, or by people incited by someone else. Perhaps this will be discussed further and clarified at the beginning of May by the two foreign ministries, Greek and Albanian. The publisher of the opinion piece wishes to inform whoever it may concern that uniforms such as those worn by the men who masked themselves as the killers of Fatmir Shehu and Arsen Gjini are sold every day at the stalls in Tirana! Were the killers of the Albanians themselves Albanian? If this is really so, let our MP publish the evidence. Otherwise, the purpose of his opinion pieces leaves much to be explained. We do not think that the label “Greek terrorist attack,” applied to this incident in Peshkëpi, accuses the entire Greek people, as Mr Peshkëpia is concerned. But our MP himself acknowledges that “ultranationalist groups and organizations exist and operate there, and have influence even in the governments that take turns governing Greece.” MP Peshkëpia also acknowledges that “to date they have had the

On April 19, Mr. Sabri Godo, Chairman of the Republican Party, received the student group of the Kin... Association and presented the PR’s position in the political sphere, its aspirations and objectives in relation to democratic changes in Albania. He outlined the PR’s views on reform, the coalition and the crystallization of the right wing, touching on the most pressing problems of Albanian post-communist society, among which the issue of the Law on Land certainly stands out. The Chinese gentlemen, after expressing their appreciation for the presentation, answered Mr. Godo’s questions about developments in China and the prospects for the Association’s activities in Albania. The meeting took place in a warm and friendly atmosphere. Correspondent of “Republika”

“I’m going to open a shop, but I’ll sell only for drachmas,” said the madwoman N. from Kryevgjat in front of Flores the pastry chef, in the afternoon. Do you hear Greek songs in the middle of Tirana? They’re talking about Albanian nationalism. Ridvan Peshkëpia has made them Albanians. The chairman of the SP, Comrade Fatos Nano, is running the party from prison better than when he was outside. Namik Doklaja will become chairman of the Communist Party once the Socialist Party is outlawed. The intellectual-MP Shaban Memia has gone missing! A 40-year-old woman who can cook stole his comb and handed it in at the Military Hospital. An Albanian correspondent for the foreign press has appeared before the Tirana prosecutor to obtain permission to continue teaching Lenka Çuko, in prison, Lesson No. 4 of the regulations. ZP has been the organ of the Communist Party, the Party of Labour, the Socialist Party. Bashkim Zeneli has been seen dancing rock. Servet Pëllumbi’s hair has turned grey. Since no one has been selected for the post of SP chairman, a tender will be held this week. The candidates must be calm. I’ll look at the documents myself. There is no Albania without Kosovo and Çamëri. Prophet Bashkim Gazidede! Down with Samaras! Down with Sebastianos! Down with Janullatos! United Europe, the United Nations, NATO, Russia and America are discussing the adoption of a new resolution. If the Serbs violate this resolution too, then the Great Powers will mobilize to discuss it. the Socialist Party is outlawed. must be calm. I’ll look at the documents myself. The chairman of the Republican Party, the Communist Party once the Socialist Party is outlawed. again to discuss it. the Socialist Party is outlawed. New jobs: two honest, unbiased mutes are to start work as press spokespersons. On this occasion, newspapers will have the opportunity to publish white sheets. OMONIA representatives are distributing maps of Greater Albania. The Greeks will have to face another trial for slander, since Europe says the borders are unchangeable. Those detained by the police, the OMONIA chairman among them, are said to have shouted: “Long live Ethnic Albania!” THE CHRONICLER