From the meeting of the PR Steering Committee with branch chairmen On Wednesday, June 8, a meeting of the Steering Committee with the branch chairmen from the districts was held. The topic of discussion was an analysis of the elections in five municipalities, in four of which the PR competed with its own candidates. At the start of the meeting, where organizational issues were also discussed in addition to the elections, PR Chairman Mr. Sabri Godo presented a brief analysis. “The local elections held in these municipalities,” he said, “showed that the electorate no longer accepts this monopoly over political life, divided into two blocs, and is not inclined to vote entirely in black and white. The electorate has begun to think that a new element may also enter Albanian politics. The electorate has understood that dividing the votes between two blocs has produced this parliament, which is unable to solve the country’s problems and has lost much of its credibility, both at home and abroad. It seems that the electorate is conscious of a demand to change this political situation by bringing in new elements, and apparently it is well disposed toward the PR. The electorate proved more receptive and responsive to us and, if we compare ourselves with the Social Democratic Party, which is roughly our size, we see that it has declined while we have risen. As for the other parties, such as BK and PD, it seems they are not in a position to offer any noticeable competition, either real or unreal. The forecasts and assessments given by our people in these areas were a little too optimistic and put the figure at 30%. To tell you the truth, I would have cut that by 50%, but I could not say that we should not aspire to these quotas in these areas, because anyone who enters a battle does so to win, not to lose. Reality showed that calculations must be made on a sound basis and with a cool head. The municipality of Zall-Herr came out best, even though I had been most worried about it. During my visits to these municipalities I noticed several things. One comment I often heard was: ‘You have come late.’ Then I was asked questions that made me wonder whether any Republican had ever made an impression in those areas. ‘Are you for the landowners?’ ‘Are you for removing those who have moved onto other people’s land?’ It is enough for us to exist in their minds for the Republican Party to be neutralized. If we have not managed to explain what should have been the fundamental principles of our Party, that means we have scarcely introduced ourselves at all. Another observation is that our decision to establish a structure throughout the country has stalled, with some progress, largely the result of spontaneous rather than organized work on our part. I want to say that the result we achieved is the result of the general view of us as a party, of the view of the PR, and of a kind of disgust with the PD over the time of a national democratic party acting in the country and abroad concerning Northern Epirus. “The various organizations and associations operating in Greece or elsewhere abroad are not only failing to help this great national cause, as they are acting now, but are also greatly harming it in many ways, because they ignore or fail to properly assess the conditions in which the struggle must be conducted. All external efforts help our struggle, or help shape its form, when they are coordinated and approved by the internal front of Northern Epirus and are directed toward the outbreak of the struggle.” The Greek government is responding in a mild tone, generalizing the aims behind taking such a step, and assuring that it has no intention of further aggravating the climate of tension. It seems that for some time Greece will have to be content with its current borders, at least until the bitter taste left by the waters of the Aegean Sea wears off. be conducted. (Continued on page 2) The electorate proved willing and more receptive Democratic Party, which is roughly our size, we can see that it is declining while we are rising. As for the other parties, such as BK and PL, any significant competition, except in selected areas. This does not mean that things will remain this way until the next elections, because these parties exist and will compete to be represented in Parliament and to take government. So this does not mean there will be no serious competition in the future. I will try to analyse PR’s work during these elections. The whole effort began with a kind of enthusiasm and optimism that I would call excessive— (continued on page 2)

Letter from the national committee to the prime minister of the DHKΟΕΜΑ party To the Central Committee of “New Democracy” (Secretary-General of the parliamentary group of “New Democracy”) Kostandin Simeoforidhi ATHENS Introduction — The people greatly appreciate your position on the national question of Northern Epirus (the Greek minority in Albania), both when you were in opposition and now that you are the government in power, regardless of the disadvantages and the various circumstances that arise in the world, and regardless of your party’s ideological positions and convictions. Northern Epirus is a national question. It is an issue that every Greek government should use not in the same way as other party-political issues that concern it, but as a common national policy, with advantages based on a long-term programme of 30 or 50 years, embraced by all of us—the parties of Greece—at the national level, with long- and short-term objectives, in a concrete plan with tactics and strategy, within the framework of a policy jointly determined also with the people of the region represented (the people of Northern Epirus), and by all national democratic parties operating in the mother country so that they act in their own country and not outside or elsewhere abroad are not only failing to help... only here is a great need to establish a minority (in Northern Epirus), a national party, whatever name it may take, whose Central Committee would operate within Northern Epirus and direct from there all the activities of the movement (struggle), while also having a “secret” branch that would be the future Central Committee, but unpublished, which would help and coordinate specific actions among the masses for the proper understanding and clarification of the party leadership and the motherland. Many such efforts have been made in our country in the past, especially over the last 50 years, but they all ended in tragedy, not only for the initiators but for others as well: many lost their lives, others were executed, and others imprisoned and deported, suffering the most severe torture at the hands of the Albanians. The same happened to a group from Vurg of Saranda, 5–6 years ago, which formed “ΒΗΚΑ” (the Northern Epirus Liberation Movement). The same would have happened to another group from Saranda which, in December 1990, created DH-KOEMA (the Democratic Party of the Greek Minority in Albania), had pluralism not also been established in Albania. DHKΟΕΜΑ—based on a programme, a copy of which we sent to Office A of the service at the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs—requested your support and recognition, which, unfortunately, you did not provide. Continuing our efforts today, this group of movements operating in Northern Epirus is trying to organize and strengthen the Greeks of Albania for a reorganization of Greek forces in Albania in a more radical form. Its signatories ask Athens for a more careful and more resolute policy, and for much greater attention to the issue of the Hellenization of southern Albania. They do not hold back in their proposals, going so far as to demand technical equipment, weapons for self-defense, money for self-organization, a headquarters in Athens, a radio station in Northern Epirus, and so on. All these demands are accompanied by a propaganda offensive against the Western countries that are allies and friends of Albania. Thus, Athens is being advised that its first consideration in the future should be to make Albanians aware that Italy and other Western countries are not friends of Albania. Seeking to create a climate of isolation around Albania, efforts are being made to make Albania’s entire recovery dependent on Greece, so that it will then be easier to impose a policy of diktat. Leaving it to the readers to make their own further judgment of the contents of this letter, we feel obliged to remind them that many of these ideas have now become reality, which on the one hand demonstrates the extremely tolerant climate that exists for the Greek minority in Albania and, on the other, the danger posed by the destruction of democracy and the rule of law by an unforgivable national minority that fate has placed on Albania’s southern borders. To the Union of Emp... [?] Secretary-General of the parliamentary... ... the last 50 years ... ... and ...

Tomorrow in Tirana The Prime Minister of Montenegro, Milo Gjukanoviç, will be in Tirana tomorrow and in London on Wednesday, AFP reported, citing sources at Montenegro’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Gjukanoviç, who will also be accompanied by his deputy prime minister, Krunoslav Vukçeviç, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Miodrag Lekiç, is due to meet in Tirana with the Albanian Prime Minister, Aleksander Meksi, as well as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alfred Serreqi, the same source said. In London, Gjukanoviç will meet the Foreign Secretary, Dugllas Herd, and visit the British Parliament. According to reports from Podgorica, discussions in London will concern the speedy opening of a British cultural center in the Montenegrin capital.

Arbnori meets Valesa The Albanian parliamentary delegation, led by Mr. Arbnori, was received on Friday by Polish President Les Valesa. President Valesa, after pointing out the transformations made in his country, stressed that communism was a great evil and that it is now irreversible. This is the greatest success of our two countries. He praised the pace of democratic reforms in Albania and offered comprehensive cooperation between the two countries. For his part, Mr. Arbnori emphasized that Valesa’s personality reflects the values of the anti-communist movement, making him a symbol for the entire Albanian dissident movement. Conveying President Berisha’s greetings and invitation to visit our country,

The night before last...

The night before last... The deputy of the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo, Dr. Fehmi Rexhepi, was arrested on Friday by Serbian police in the village of Pasjan in Gjilan. He was forcibly taken off the bus he was traveling on to Gjilan and taken to the police station. Dr. Fehmi Rexhepi is also deputy chairman of the Executive Council of the trade union for education, science and culture. In a written statement, the union strongly protested his arrest. ATSH

The trial of Ramiz Alia and the other members of the criminal former PPSH leadership, after hearing the witnesses, seems to complete yet another sad and harmful little spectacle by the PPSH. At any rate, there is a small difference: the sham, irony, swagger and pretence have today appeared more naked than ever. The mediocre Alia still takes part today in the great and second nakedness. Hekuran Isai continues to permit those old drafts with pagan motifs. Rita Mar- ko still bears responsibility for the Professional Union, electric light and the country’s bread supply. Meanwhile, the criminal Zylyftar Ramizi still has the energy of the old days moving through his spirit and face... Dozens of witnesses tried to lift the veil on the crime, at least a little; nevertheless, not one of the criminals so much as twitched a muscle in his face. The criminals cannot understand the crimes they committed. Otherwise, they would not be what they are. At any rate, these soulless and profoundly mediocre people should not be regarded only as such. The regime that gave birth to them could not do without them. If they did not exist, then the regime, too, would have been different. No country in Eastern Europe after the 1960s had to endure people like these. Albania (as they themselves have declared) is neither East nor West. Then let them be sentenced as a special case. P. Shkëndëri Photo: Armando Babani

“If Greece tries to turn the Aegean into a Greek sea, the Turkish army will land on the Greek islands within 24 hours,” was the warning issued by Turkish Prime Minister Tansu Çiller, which made the Greek government recoil from the idea of expanding its territory, especially farther out to sea. Turkey made it clear to Greece that such a step, such as extending its territorial waters, would be “a rea- “If Greece tries to turn the Aegean into a Greek sea, the Turkish army will land on the Greek islands within 24 hours,” was the warning issued by Turkish Prime Minister Tansu Çiller, which made the Greek government recoil from the idea of expanding its territory, especially farther out to sea. Turkey made it clear to Greece that such a step, such as extending its territorial waters, would be “a reason for the outbreak of war.” The Greek government responded in a mild tone, downplaying its intentions to take such a step and assuring everyone that it had seems that for some time yet Greece will be forced to make do with its current borders, at least until it gets over Sea.

The former Minister of Agriculture, Themie Thomai, finally managed to join the state workforce, having been appointed a specialist in the Directorate of Farnavë, Tirana. The state, which has opened its doors to everyone, must now, naturally, also think about those who have never worked. How many other specialists are unemployed is of no interest to anyone. Unfortunately for the Ministry of Education, comrade Telta Cami retired. Otherwise, she too would have had to be included in the state workforce.

… in the lecture halls of the Faculty of Medicine … The examination season has now begun at the Faculty of Medicine. So far, there is nothing new. Nor is it worth saying that most students are preoccupied and anxious, because, after all, the great Bonaparte rightly declared, “better a battle than an exam.” There is nothing new here either. In the corridors and lecture halls you see tense crowds, girls and boys sitting on the stairs, huddled in classroom corners, bubbles on the desks at the end. The girls seem to have somewhat given up on studying and the frills that make life lovely, but in fact fear makes them even more beautiful. In this parade through the corridors you also come across Don Quixote-like horsemen imitating the most famous names in this kind of education. Shhhhh, up to this point it is acceptable, natural, beautiful, acceptable, all right. But amid this range of psychological, ecological, etc. states, you yourself find yourself wandering about, as if in a stupor. And, ultimately, you use a vocabulary and slang that cannot be found in any dictionary in the civilised world. ELIDA BUÇPAPAJ (continued on page 2)

Yugoslavia: A means of keeping Serbian extremism in check, p. 4 The poet of the “March of Barabaj,” p. 3

The madwoman N of the capital roamed around in front of the massive building of the Ministry of Public Order all day Friday, shouting: “Let me take a look at the files. Just one look, for filing purposes. Namik Dokle and I will get to the bottom of this world. If you don’t let me, I’ll make the residents conspire. Do you know who the residents were? One resident was ‘equal to three thousand ordinary informers.’ One resident was equal to a colonel in peacetime, to a general in wartime! The residents... I’ll tell you about the residents...” After a while, the madwoman N calmed down and left in the direction of the railway station. On Saturday morning, followed by a large crowd of curious onlookers, the madwoman made two quick circuits around the PS headquarters, then climbed the steps of the Palace of Culture and began reading some crumpled scraps of paper: “Soon Namik Dokle will announce the lists of State Security spies. To burn all the lists in his hands, today I will announce the lists of all the politicians who were not informers for the State Security.” “And what do we need those who weren’t for?” asked one of the curious onlookers. “They’re needed,” said the madwoman, “but you can’t understand things. That’s why you interrupt me.” There was a brief silence, and the madwoman continued: “First I’ll announce the lists of those who were not residents.” “What does ‘residents’ mean?” someone interrupted. “Much more important than operatives,” said the madwoman. “In fact, the residents were not Bashkim Lalo Zeneli, Luan Hadaraga, Moikom Zeqo, Hekuran Isai, Perikli Teta, Arben Imami, Abdi... Ali...” At this point the madwoman began to muddle things, rattling off a jumble of names. “What are you doing?” one of the listeners said to her. “Things are confused,” said the madwoman, and in an instant she vanished. In the evening she appeared again in front of Hotel Dajti, shouting: “The rights of Dr. Servet Pëllumbi and Vorio-Epiri have been violated. Rights must be expanded. The PS and PSD will expand them. Rights must go beyond the Shkumbin.” THE CHRONICLER