His Excellency, Mr. Butros Butros Ghali Recent developments in the crisis of the former Yugoslavia give hope that a turning point is being reached in resolving the Bosnian crisis. The creation of the Croat-Muslim Federation is a good omen, a sign of serious approaches that may open new paths and horizons for world diplomacy toward a just and lasting solution to the problems throughout the Balkan region. Albanian intellectuals believe this is a crucial moment for the Albanian question, which must mark its return to the agenda of international politics and the consideration of historical truth with renewed attention and greater sensitivity to the principles of the UN Charter. It is the aspiration of the Albanian people on both sides of the border, but it is also in the interest of all the peoples of the region and of pan-European peace that this ray of light appearing on the horizon of international politics should not pass without exerting its influence to reopen the Albanian dossier. Under present circumstances, the problems left unresolved by the breakup of the Yugoslav federation can be settled only through a realistic perspective, taking concrete situations into account and adhering to international law, as set out in a series of multilateral acts. The question of Kosovo, as one of the essential components of the Yugoslav crisis, which is by no means, their..., they freely determine their political status...” The principle of peoples’ self-determination has received a new and meaningful confirmation in the CSCE acts and in the documents of the European Community. The international community is currently directly engaged in resolving problems arising in relations between nations and states. Clearly, there can be no solution outside the principles enshrined in a whole series of international instruments. The UN is both their initiator and their depositary. Viewed through the lens of these instruments, the question of Kosovo cannot be forced into the Procrustean bed of a minority regime. In terms of its scale and complexity, it constitutes a typical case of colonial rule, accompanied moreover by violations of individual and collective rights that are nothing other than apartheid and segregation against the Albanian population. In these circumstances, UN intervention is absolutely essential because of the danger that a further escalation of the current Albanian-Serbian crisis could bring, with repercussions in the region and beyond. If the occupying Serbian hand is not stopped in time, they will perpetrate a veritable holocaust against the Albanian population of Kosovo. In view of the above situation, we Albanian intellectuals, divided by borders but united in our efforts, call on the UN to do everything possible to stop the bloodshed and oppression of Albanians in Kosovo. The problems of the Yugoslav federation can be resolved only through a realistic perspective, taking the concrete situation into account and adhering to international legislation Kosovo issue, as one of the fundamental components of the Yugoslav crisis, which is in no way an internal Serbian matter, unquestionably requires reconsideration and a just solution in the spirit of and on the basis of new democratic principles. In the face of this situation, it is essential that the wider official and unofficial public have all the elements of the Albanian issue before them. The fundamental guiding criterion for addressing problems of this nature at this end of the century, a time of global reassessment of values, is the principle of the self-determination of peoples. International law places a precise obligation on the United Nations. In our view, this obligation derives from the UN General Assembly Resolution of December 1960 on the granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples, whose first clause states: “The subjection of peoples to foreign subjugation, domination and exploitation constitutes a denial of fundamental human rights, is contrary to the Charter of the United Nations and compromises the cause of peace and world cooperation.” And further, in clause 2, a formulation that leaves no room for equivocal interpretations: “All peoples have the right freely to determine their own fate.”

On the eve of the trial, Ramiz Alia had met Fatos Nano in prison. The meeting was first confirmed by “Gazeta Shqiptare” and later by RTV and RD. Following this report, the newspaper ZP, now elderly, does not deny the meeting, but says it is an “alibi for the Berisha regime.” But why did Ramiz Alia meet Fatos Nano in prison? Perhaps, someone might say, to ease each other’s miseries and sorrows, because prisoners—and especially prisoners of this stature—are deeply miserable and grief-stricken. It could be said that they met to recount their memories to one another. For memories feed sorrow. When a person has nothing with which to make life more beautiful, they sink into memories. Many things have been thought and said about this meeting... In any case, let us set all that aside and consider the matter seriously: Ramiz Alia and Fatos Nano could not have broken the law to meet one another because they missed each other, or to give each other hope and courage. Serious, extremely important reasons must have compelled former President Alia to order the guards and go to the cell of former Prime Minister Nano. Let us try to put things simply: First, a small correction is needed. It was not the prisoners Alia and Nano who met in Tirana prison; it was former President Alia who met former Prime Minister Nano. What weighs on the shoulders of the most important former state officials of that time? Ramiz Alia is burdened not only by the great crime of the dictatorship. The crime of more recent days is even greater. Ramiz Alia and his closest associates were the masterminds and perpetrators of April 2. And April 2 had been foreshadowed. The first warning was the coup d’état, which began with the uprising of United Shkodra and then led directly to the full-scale coup—the crime of the fall, the so-called Presidential Council. The second warning was the Plenum of the Central Committee of the PPSH, held one day after the March 31 elections and one day before the April 2 massacre. Ramiz Alia convened this Plenum to protect his power. The following day, April 2, the power of the PPSH and Ramiz Alia was drowned in blood in Shkodra. Under dictatorship, the police, the army, the general, open fire not in the name of the law but only on orders. In Albania, that order had a specific source. It could be issued only by the First Secretary. Did Ramiz Alia issue that order, and who were his closest associates in this massacre? Today, this is being asked not only by Shkodra, but by all of Albania. The real perpetrators must be brought before the law. Former President Alia and former Prime Minister Nano met in prison. More than anything else, they are linked to each other by the dark dossier of April 2, which is waiting to be brought to light... YLLI RAKIPI

On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, President Berisha sent his sincere greetings to the journalists of Albania and invited them to use their freedom of expression to discover and affirm the truth, advance the values of democracy, respect the human being and their dignity, and build a society based on the rule of law and free enterprise. He also, as a tribute to the work of the 80 journalists who were killed over the past year in the name of free and truthful expression in this part of the globe, decided to pardon the prison sentences of journalists Martin Leka and Aleksandër Frangaj, the suspended prison sentence of journalist Ilirjan Zhupa, and the fine imposed on journalist Shkëlqim Meka. The journalists named above were convicted by the courts of revealing state secrets, defamation, and violating provisions of the Press Law, etc. YLLI RAKIPI

GREEK IRRESPONSIBILITY

Against the backdrop of a foreshadowed lack of responsibility, Papulias went to the Office to declare the Greek side’s “irresponsibility” regarding the crime of April 10. After clarifying the misunderstanding about Orthodox Albanians’ Easter, Greek diplomats seem to have overloaded their files with other micro-accusations which, in any case, they are trying to use to toughen their stance or balance the Albanian side. According to the Foreign Ministry’s statement, the Albanian side has consistently adhered throughout the talks to the fact that it has no concern about any Albanian citizen—a weapons smuggler or common thief—who should be released from prison merely because of Greek origin; this is a sound statement of responsible policy. Faced with such a reality, the Albanian side must prepare from now on to resolve problems between Albania and Greece through the precedent created by political responsibility— …Orthodox, the minor accusations, escalate matters or put the Albanian side on the defensive. According to the Foreign Ministry’s statement, the Albanian side maintained throughout the talks that it bears no responsibility for the tense situation between the two countries. Put simply, this means that the Greek side, if it is truly interested in easing tensions between the two countries, should at least accept responsibility for the crime committed by the Greek government. The armed Greek gang that entered Albania and its statements in the Greek press claiming responsibility are physical evidence of the crime. Diplomats may be able to evade it by playing the role of the irresponsible, but an ordinary citizen, whether Greek or Albanian, cannot. If this is how everything that happens between Albania and Greece is characterized, then the current holder of the rotating presidency of the European Union may consider irresponsible any state that directly violates the sovereignty of a neighboring state in Europe. The president, with this diplomatic [unclear] policy, naturally creates [unclear] in the Balkans, where everything is entirely arranged for war. In any case, Greek citizens should feel more alarmed. Their country’s foreign policy has now been saddled with a lack of responsibility for every crime that comes across the border from a neighboring country. Imagine if Macedonian nationalists, who claim Thessaloniki as their capital, were to attack Greek citizens, telling them they have not forgotten Southern Macedonia. The precedent of Greek irresponsibility, created to evade responsibility for a crime, will of course not be used by Greek policy. But it could be used by others, by those who really might have [unclear] in such cases. Created in the wake of a heinous crime that is at the same time dangerous to coexistence between the two peoples along Albania’s southern borders, this precedent risks turning into a boomerang for Greek policy itself. To openly declare that Greek policy is a crime committed and declared as such in your own state, and then try to cover it up…

All life is sustained by births and deaths. The life of the individual and the life of peoples, the life of peoples and that of nations. All peoples have experienced periods in which, over short intervals, there were more deaths than births, but among small peoples the consequences are more painful. Among small peoples, deaths are the deaths of children. Albania has often experienced this pain. It has sought freedom more than it has enjoyed it. Its martyrs and fallen, the whole people in general, have barely reached the age of freedom’s youth—a youth they were never able to live. And there was also the impossible Freedom. Since, perhaps because of this, we felt more unfortunate than the dead. The dead were of every kind, and so too were the deaths and the living. They were separated from one another and from the dead, again for the same reason, inevitably: Freedom. They were also divided, not according to the kinds of deaths, but according to the kinds of victors. Freedom felt even more incomplete. Worse still, it was disrespected. Albania was one. Only one, and it continued, almost universally, to experience deaths (all of them, and people in war) as the deaths of children. Perhaps more than ever before, a May 5 has come when what should have happened ever since the first Fallen and Martyrs must finally happen: let All Those who had their lives cut short for the Freedom of Albania and the Albanians be honored and respected. Faruk MYRTAI …among small peoples, the consequences are more painful. Deaths among small peoples are like children’s deeds. more often than it has enjoyed it. Its martyrs and fallen, and the entire people in general, barely reached the youthful age of Freedom. To such an extent that it is hardly surprising that this people has always had a young average age. Perhaps this is why renewal and respect among us were bestowed mostly on the living, rather than on the dead. The dead for what was called Freedom, which, in truth, could never be attained. The living, since they did not share the fate of the Fallen, carried on their shoulders the burden of…

Xhonatan Ejl says Tirana, May 4 (ATA) — Xhonatan Ejl, director of the Royal Institute in London, known as one of the leading experts on Balkan issues, says that granting autonomy cannot solve Kosovo’s problems and that, in his view, Kosovo should be independent or unite with Albania. The British expert on Balkan affairs gave an interview to the newspaper “Zëri” today, in which he emphasized, among other things, that the people of Kosovo should decide their own future and make their own choice, regardless of major developments. The only argument is that one thing is certain and clear to everyone around him: Kosovo can no longer be held. Regarding a solution to the problem of (continued on page 4)

Statement by the Republican Party Archbishop Janullatos’s request to grind around the main streets of Tirana for days was unacceptable and another incident in Albanian-Greek relations. The propriety of our law-enforcement authorities left the Archbishop no grounds to complain to the relevant Ministry or the Government. His Grace did not even pursue such a course, but complained in Athens, plainly revealing his premeditation of the incident. The question is: On what right does the Greek government interfere in the affairs of the Albanian Autocephalous Church? Such acts show the impatience of certain Greek circles to provoke tension by any means. As for His Grace Janullatos, from the very beginning he has not acted as the head of the Albanian Autocephalous Church; he neither wants to nor can do such a thing. This matter should be examined by the Albanian Government. The Republican Party has called the appointment of a foreigner to head our Autocephalous Church unacceptable, as it violates its statute. The Republican Party considers it essential to improve relations with Greece and hopes that tomorrow’s meeting between the two ministers in Switzerland will move in that direction. But no one in Greece should entertain the idea that we can make concessions when defending our independence and territorial integrity. THE LEADERSHIP OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY “I believe that Albanians in Albania have many capable people who will take the reins of their Albanian Orthodox Autocephalous Church.” Taken from the interview Frango Egro of the BBC conducted yesterday with Bishop Father Arthur Lion, of the Albanian Orthodox Autocephalous Church in Boston, regarding the request submitted by the Committee for the Defense of this Church for the Greek Archbishop, Janullatos, to leave Albania. …to have a way forward. integrity. THE LEADERSHIP OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY Archbishop, Janullatos, to leave Albania. Everyone should, through a declaration, [support] a good policy of independence. Deaths among small peoples are like children’s deeds.

The Helsinki Canary Committee is protesting vehemently to the highest Albanian state authorities over the tragic killing of Arben Imam[it?]’s canary. The report concludes that “this is a terrorist act of repression by which Berisha’s regime seeks to restrict free chirping.” “I don’t want to keep you today, because I see you’re in a hurry…,” the madwoman N. told a group of citizens waiting for the Kinosudio bus. I want to tell you that there will be no prefabricated elections in 1996. The people’s wish is to see those elected, not to have elections. The residents of Kucova, yes, they will hold elections ahead of schedule. They want their new MP. You know, the madwoman continued, that their MP thinks day and night about how to meet her husband, who was the communist Ramiz Alia, and the electorate that elected her. “ZP” has started getting its information faster from Athens than from Tirana. “ZP,” “Koha Jonë” and “Albanica” are playing wholeheartedly with Albanian-Greek issues. These days, ZP will publish the novella “I - N” “Two Friendly Peoples.” Some Albanian citizens of Greek origin held in cells are said to have “high [connections/status].” “We don’t work as ASFAIL agents. We’ll work for SHIK.” “We are protesting to the Greek government over the issue of the Cham people’s return to their lands.” Pjetër Arbnori threw Ridvan Peshkëpi out of the Parliamentary chamber for high-level hooliganism. There are no more Houses of Education, so the problem is educating Ridvan, who still hasn’t understood the rules of the game. For the elections in the municipalities of Reç and Mallakastër, the PS will raise awareness among world opinion. The leadership of this party has prepared a three-page document denouncing these elections as manipulated by the PD and its allies, PR and PSD. A letter has also been prepared for the Constitutional Court, requesting that the elections in these municipalities be repeated. For its part, ZP has run the article, “You won in this municipality. But you’re afraid to hold early elections throughout Albania.” The Greek embassy is expecting condolences over the tragic loss of Arben Arben Imam[it?]’s canary. If Janullatos leaves the post of Archbishop, the chairman of the PS will be elected. THE CHRONICLER

The great BBC radio station made no announcement about the celebration of Easter in Albania. It reported May 1, Workers’ Day, May 5, Martyrs’ Day, and everything that happened in the streets and alleyways of Albania, but as for the Easter holiday—not a word?! Greece, too, learned of the celebration of Easter in Albania only with great difficulty. If the great BBC radio station had announced this celebration, perhaps Greece would have learned about it sooner... Happy Easter, gentlemen of the BBC! Yours sincerely, “REPUBLIKA”