Letter from OMONIA chairman Sotir Qirjazati sent to the Greek Prime Minister To Mr. Kostandin Micota-qis, Prime Minister of the Greek Government Sarandë, 8.04.1992 Mr. Chairman, The General Council of Omonia, the organization representing the Greek minority in Albania, feels it necessary to thank you in particular, personally, the Greek government and the entire Greek people for their comprehensive and continued support for the Hellenization of the much-suffering Vorio-Epir. On this occasion, Mr. Prime Minister, allow us to set out and express some of our views within the framework of the general problems concerning the Hellenization of Vorio-Epir, on whose resolution further progress undoubtedly depends. First: I believe that today’s international conditions now allow the issue of Vorio-Epir to appear on the international stage (arena) as well. We are certain that the government in Athens can and will exploit to the fullest all the opportunities available today to resolve this national issue. Second: From the very first moment of its operation, our organization adopted as its objective ensuring the realization of the Hellenization of Vorio-Epir. We are creating the conditions—the first major step—for the revival of the Hellenism living in Albania, as well as for its religious, national, spiritual, cultural, economic and social development, because it believes that in this way Hellenism will remain in its own homes and will also recover and flourish with evident clarity. To achieve this very important objective, zeal, effort and the work we ourselves can undertake are not enough; we also need the support and love of the motherland, as well as planned political, economic and moral assistance and help from the Greek government. Specifically: 1. It is necessary for Omonia gradually to organize itself as a small, undeclared government, with corresponding departments modeled on the Greek ministries, with officials, offices and a budget, since the conditions prevailing in Albania also give it the opportunity to conduct policy and carry out the functions of government on the land of Vorio-Epir. If this objective is achieved, we will create the conditions, step by step, for the region’s autonomy, its recognition, and its development as an internal national, political, cultural, economic and governing force in the country. To advance in this direction, we need experience and special advice, and at the same time a sum of money. 2. It is necessary to coordinate the efforts of the Greek government through every min (continued on page 2) Republic of Albania Democratic Union Greek Minority “OMONOIA” Agioi Saranta, 8-04-1992 TO: Mr. Konstantinos Mitsotakis President of the Greek Government ATHENS Mr. President, Minority in Greece, wishes to express its heartfelt thanks to you personally, the Greek government and the Greek people for the support you provide to the Hellenism of Northern Epirus. To achieve this objective, we must all work together toward the realization of our goals. [part of the Greek text is illegible]

The painful transition of the Albanians, in which the Albanians’ Ethiopian ambitions and the Greeks’ dispersal of this aspiration were tragically intermingled, brought forth, like a [kupërdhë] above the rubbish of the dictatorship, the structures of the Greek unit in southern Albania. With formal approval from the post-communist Albanian administration, the Greeks of southern Albania immediately turned toward Athens to seek the Greek state’s help for this project. The letter you are reading on this newspaper page is irrefutable evidence of secessionist activity whose ultimate aim is the creation of a local government for the 40,000 Greeks of the South. Mr. Qirjazati, who a few days ago repeated the demand for local self-government at a press conference in Tirana, is one of the first initiators of this project drafted in Athens. Micota-qis’s deputy, Evert, who a few days ago—two days ago—threatened Albania with war, has this letter in his sights. Measuring the situation in the Balkans by the Greek yardstick, he has now concluded that the final hour has come to realize the “ideas” of this project. Another group of Greek-minority members in southern Albania had warned of this danger some time ago. Linking their fate to that of the Albanians, who have sheltered them in their homes for an entire lifetime using every opportunity honestly. This opportunity, the chairman of OMONIA, Qirjazati, is seeking to distribute among his 40,000 compatriots by offering them the project of a satellite microstate that would be an appendage of the Greek state in Albania. By seeking to attach this project to Albania’s economy in Athens, he seeks to secure economic and propaganda priorities that weigh heavily in the outcome of such battles. Thus, the first loans have now been made. Mero BAZE (continued on page 2)

An official of Omonia, the political organization of the Greek minority in Albania, was held responsible in Tirana on Friday, in a statement to AFP, for new arrests of members of the Greek minority in Albania. “Besides the six people who were arrested and charged, there have been no new arrests,” the official, who declined to be identified, told AFP. “Various people have been summoned as witnesses in this matter, but there have been no new arrests,” Hasan Mehmet, prosecutor in Gjirokastër, said in turn. The Tirana court also held these reports of new arrests responsible on Thursday. For his part, the Albanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, in a note delivered to the Greek ambassador in Tirana, expressed regret over “the spread of false reports and the Greek government’s making of threats,” pointing to a “lack of willingness” on the part of the Greek authorities to overcome the current difficulties between the two countries.

Captured Kurdish separatists have testified that they were trained in neighboring Greece for sabotage missions in Turkey, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said yesterday. “The terrorists admitted that they came from Frankfurt to Athens and underwent training for terrorism at a camp in Greece,” ministry spokesman Ferhat Ataman said. He said the Greek ambassador in Ankara was summoned to the Foreign Ministry on May 18 and confronted with information obtained from the Kurds’ testimony. “We have emphasized the importance of the fact that the PKK is preparing in Greece for attacks against tourist centers,” Ataman said. “An explanation,” he stressed. Greece gave no response. Turkey said that the guerrillas were captured by Istanbul police more than a month ago after crossing the Meriç River on the Turkish-Greek border; he said the statements of about 20 PKK members were recorded on video by the police. “They admitted that they would sabotage tourist, economic and military targets,” Ataman said. Police in the western coastal city of Izmir also said on Thursday that they had captured 16 men and one woman who had trained at a PKK camp in Greece for attacks against tourist centers. [well-known Greek?] and we are asking [for action?] against tourist centers. ATSH

Protest by the Republican Party Contrary to the law “On certain amendments to Law No. 7491, dated 29.04.1991, on the Main Constitutional Provisions,” Chapter II, Articles 12 and 13, on May 27, 1994 (two days before the elections), the lists of eligible persons who would participate in the elections for the chair of the Zall-Herr commune were published. The lists of civilian voters were also published on May 25, 1994, four days before the elections. Under the aforementioned law, the voter lists should have been published 15 days before voting day, that is, on May 14, 1994. This flagrant violation of the law compels us to protest strongly and, at the same time, to demand compliance with the law—that is, disregard for the publication of any list that does not comply with the requirements of the law. Otherwise, we reserve the right to seek, through legal channels, the annulment and repetition of the elections for the Zall-Herr commune. For the Steering Committee of the Albanian Republican Party Chairman Sabri Godo

Yesterday afternoon, the Republic Cup final football match was played at the capital’s “Qemal Stafa” Stadium. The match ended with a score of 1–0 in favor of the capital’s team. Since the first match had ended in a 0–0 draw, Tirana was declared the winner of the Republic Cup for 1994. The President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, also attended the trophy-presentation ceremony and handed the trophy to the Tirana players. “Republika” correspondent

Ramiz Alia: He is 70 years old, the average age of the defendants. The average age of those they persecuted is even lower, because children were persecuted too. After seeking to keep an entire people asleep, even in the 1980s, he himself got a little sleep too! Enver Hoxha was the same. After every crime, he slept perfectly peacefully. He sees nothing at all from the day. Aranit Çela: Entirely peaceful! “I have never broken the Law. It is 100 times better to apply a bad law than to leave the state without laws. The Political Bureau carried laws too, and so did State Security!” “Gëringu kishin të pa aftë sentencë”. “Merre të vërtetë një i pafajshëm, se sa të akuzuar një i pafajshëm”. “Hetëdosh një i fajshëm?” “A ta nakassh atë? Për pak njekë kush që parulla, si na vujtë ngafta atërrehtë, e?” Hekuran Isai: “The dictatorship was brought about because the enemies were difficult,” that is all that… Ramiz Alia: He is 70 years old, the average age of the defendants. The average age of those they persecuted is even lower, because children were persecuted too. After seeking to keep an entire people asleep, even in the 1980s, he himself got a little sleep too! Enver Hoxha was the same. After every crime, he slept perfectly peacefully. He sees nothing at all from the day. Aranit Çela: Entirely peaceful! “I have never broken the Law. It is 100 times better to apply a bad law than to leave the state without laws. The Political Bureau carried laws too, and so did State Security!” “Gëringu kishin të pa aftë sentencë”. “Merre të vërtetë një i pafajshëm, se sa të akuzuar një i pafajshëm”. “Hetëdosh një i fajshëm?” “A ta nakassh atë? Për pak njekë kush që parulla, si na vujtë ngafta atërrehtë, e?” Hekuran Isai: “The dictatorship was brought about because the enemies were difficult,” that is all that… Photos: Ramiz Alia, Adil Çarçani, Manush Myftiu, Hekuran Isai, Simon Stefani, Rita Marko, Aranit Çela, Zylyftar Ramizi, Rrapi Mino, Veli Haxholli. Rita Marko: “We planted the vineyards here, built the irrigation channels too, and brought the Party’s light as well. We shed sweat in torrents…” but we did it in the good years. Enver had had this in mind; we are innocent…” Simon Stefani: If it had been up to me, I would have soldered them all. Enver left the Party strong, but had no time to deal with the people. The monument had to be defended with blood, but… the trial is political. We have applied the Law. Zylyftar Ramizaj: So what is it with these people that they don’t put me on trial as a criminal behind the hall where we used to receive the people. The working class had power; we opened their eyes for nothing, and now, instead of being decorated, we are on trial! Rrapi Mino: I was a prosecutor of the Republic only for the last 15 years. What other fault have I committed…? Veli Haxholli: …me?! I don’t understand! Until yesterday everyone was cursing me; they wanted to tear me to pieces. Today… I’m telling them that I applied the Law, and they listen calmly. Photos: Armando Babani. Ramiz Alia; Adil Çarçani; Manush Myftiu; Hekuran Isai; Simon Stefani; Rita Marko; Aranit Çela; Zylyftar Ramizi; Rrapi Mino; Veli Haxholli.

We announce that on 8 June 1994, at 10:00, a joint meeting of the chairmen of the Republican Party branches in the districts and the members of the Republican Party Steering Committee will be held at the Republican Party Central Headquarters.

“Glory to Marxism-Leninism!” shouted the madwoman N in the capital on Friday morning in Skanderbeg Square, holding aloft a placard that read: “All the old men of the Bureau are innocent.” After making several circuits around the square, followed by numerous onlookers, she climbed the steps of the building and delivered this speech. “As you know and as you are following through the media, these days the 12th Congress of the Party of Labour is proceeding with complete success. So far, the speeches by Comrades Hekuran Isai and Rita Marko are in first place. Comrade Ramiz has not yet shown his ideological merits. Comrades Simon Stefani, Aranit Çela and Zylyftar Ramizi, with accurate testimony, proved that they had not been criminals for a single day. The killings at the border and all the other crimes were committed on ORDERS from BELOW. Because of the tedious, lofty topics, the Congress proceedings will continue until the end of June.” After these words, the madwoman, followed by the onlookers, left in the direction of Durrës Street. On Saturday afternoon, in front of the former Enver Hoxha Museum, the madwoman was seen selling opposition, anti-trial newspapers. Her sales pitch was very interesting: “Buy the newspaper Koha jonë,” she kept repeating. “It has rare news. It covers the Greek national question better than anyone. This newspaper says that after Fatos Nano’s presidential term ends, Frok Cupi will be elected in his place. Then his children will have been raised. And Frokka will have it easier…” The intellectual MP Shaban Memia has still not been found anywhere during these hot days. The Tirana Municipality will organize a tender for the mayor’s outing. There is talk that the tender may be won by people from within the Municipality. The elections in five municipalities are of no importance to Arben Imami’s party. This party is aiming only for central elections, central power and a central chair. It is much debated whether it will take the role of the chairman and of the SP this hot summer of 1994. THE CHRONICLER