According to the statement of the National Council of the Association of “Political Prisoners,” published in the newspaper “Liria” dated July 20, 1994, this association will begin a national hunger strike on August 5 if the authorities do not meet their 10-point demands. Regardless of the clarifications that need to be made on certain issues, such as points 5 and 9, the demands are generally justified. For a more precise conclusion, it is also necessary to know the authorities’ actual capacity; they have not yet given a response. What matters is that this confrontation takes place without proceeding to a hunger strike, which is an extreme measure within the framework of democratic freedoms. Everything that could be said about the former political prisoners has been said. Nevertheless, we must once again acknowledge that they were the first fighters for freedom. For 50 years they bore the struggle against communism on their shoulders and endured hardships that no material compensation can make up for. With patience and a nobility that inspires the deepest respect, they sought to reintegrate into life. It would be unfair to say that the democratic authorities have been insensitive to their demands, but at the same time it cannot be said that everything that should and could have been done in this regard has been done. Many have received nothing from democracy to this day except a certificate of innocence, and still remain without shelter and without the means to make a living. If this fact is acknowledged, then logic and a high moral obligation necessarily lead to the negotiating table, where many things can be put right and misunderstandings clarified. On television on July 22, it was announced that a meeting had been held between the Association and its members and officials of the Government and Parliament. There seems to be tension and anger. But even if this meeting had taken place, it cannot be said that a solution to the problem would have been found there. This can be achieved only through a direct discussion of the Association’s demands with the authorities. Considering this issue requires complete seriousness and responsibility. It is inconceivable in a democracy that those who were on a “hunger strike” against communism for a large part of their lives should now go on a hunger strike, putting into this struggle (continued on page 4)

Archive: A letter from Mitrush Kuteli to Mustafa Greblleshi “An old Greek historian named Phrantjes is said to have said: ‘The Albanians are the most evil and most useless people (Seplus inutile) in the world.’ That is what the Byzantine Phrantjes says. Of course, that is why he is an enemy, a wolf...” . An old Greek historian named Phrantjes is said to have said: “The Albanians are the most evil and most useless people (Seplus inutile) in the world.” That is what the Byzantine Phrantjes says. Of course, that is why he is an enemy, a wolf... But a person knows how to defend himself against one, with an axe, with a club. But how can one defend oneself against a blind wolf in sheep’s clothing? How can one defend oneself against that... (Shutja). Shutja—the devil, the black-faced creature with claws brought forth by the navel of the city. A chameleon, arrogant, a thief, a petty thief, a sneak thief, a branded robber of the spiritual world (alas, also of the material world), the filthiest little word-thief among all the failed little word-thieves. The subject is Prof. Dhimitër S. Shuterqi. The very honorable Professor Shuterqi, that is, the respected scholar, the celebrated writer, the laureate storyteller. The subject is that man, chairman of Albania’s writers and artists, the distinguished man, the eternal master of presidiums... But also the one who disappointed our Mitrush, who buried our Mitrush, and not only him. The subject is the Shuterqis who disappointed Albania... The editorial board decided to publish this letter by Kuteli, not to demand an apology from the Shuterqis. No apology!... Rather, let the veil of glory fall from the false idols, and above all let us not forget how dictatorships produce Shuterqis, how those who impoverished and disappointed Albania came into being. The point is to prevent us from being impoverished any further, and to prevent such intellectuals and professors from being bred again... Pogradec, August 28, 1961 Dear Mustafa and dear sister Merushe, This blessed letter became a letter with a beginning, but no end. On the way I met many acquaintances of mine and of Father’s. Among other things, we went to the ruined graves, waiting for the moon to rise, but it was late. Dorrintina was getting bored; the bath and the day’s journey had tired her greatly. I carried her for a while, then Efterpi took her. We came down. The moon rose while we were sitting by the great lake, red. Then it grew bright, gathered speed, and sailed through space. The children put one question after another to me: “What is the moon like? What is behind that mountain? Is there a moon in Tirana now? Is it big or small? (Afërdita). As big as a house, or smaller?” I was smiling to myself, thinking other thoughts: “What is this harmony, so perfect? Where do we come from and where are we going? How many streams of people have walked...” (continued on page 3) Mitrush Kuteli’s letter.

At the invitation extended to him, the President of Religious Affairs began a tour of religious visits to Bulgaria, Romania, Macedonia, Albania and Greece from July 15 to 25, 1994. As is customary during such a tour, the relevant countries were also notified. The Greek authorities, citing the preservation of public order as a pretext, prevented the President of Religious Affairs from travelling to Western Thrace. Efforts made with the Greek authorities to have this decision reconsidered also yielded no result. In recent years, during the month of Ramadan, Greece has prevented our preachers, who had been invited to Western Thrace, from going there. But this time, by not allowing the President of Religious Affairs to make the visit, Greece showed that it is determined to continue this mistaken stance. Such actions by the authorities are a concrete example showing that Greece continues to violate the rights of a minority whose rights and status are guaranteed by agreement. It gives one pause to note that Greece, a member country of the UN, has done this in the context of a visit that is exclusively religious in character. We are carefully assessing these repeated actions by Greece, which run counter to the aim of establishing good-neighborly relations in the region. The appropriate conclusions will be drawn from these actions.

Opinion

Misunderstandings with foreign investors The undersigned, Renzo Lauriti, in his capacity as administrator of INTERBGS s.r.l., a majority partner in the company Galanteria sh.p.k. Tirana, by letter dated 10.05.1994, asks the Mayor of Tirana, Mr. Sali Kelmendi, ... 1. The dissolution (closure) of Galanteria sh.p.k. 2. The creation of a new company. That was all the welcome visitor from Italy was asking for. To justify this outcome, which he desired, but about which Renzo complained to the 80 Albanian employees of this Galanteria, saying that everything in this limited liability company was going backwards, that productivity, quality and profits were going to hell, and that the Albanian workers were to blame for all of it. The request duly arrives at the Mayor’s office, which is required to send a team to investigate it. The municipal team was given a cold, even hostile reception in the Italian offices, and this led to the misfortune of the Municipality having to confront a problem... Briefly stated, the municipal team’s conclusion was that the legal procedures for establishing this company had been violated; that the company’s administrative bodies and the division of authority between the parties had been improperly defined; that the value of the Italian capital, which was being realized, gave cause for suspicion; that it was unlawfully making the rules there; and that all the profits went to its benefit, always unlawfully... A clear letter signed by the Director of Social Insurance, Mr. Fadil Kepi, proved that Galanteria sh.p.k. had not paid social insurance contributions for 1993 and 1994. There had been no attempt to sign a collective agreement, no investment in workers’ conditions, and workers were paid only once a month, although it had been agreed they would be paid every week or every 10 days, etc., etc. All this forced the employees to stop work. “Without any guarantee or social insurance, without any contract, under such discriminatory conditions, we could no longer continue with this. We can no longer agree to do black-market work in the middle of Tirana, while being an Albanian company,” the union chairwoman says of the matter. As an open country for all the citizens of the world, especially those of neighboring and friendly Italy, Albania gives Renzo the opportunity to throw the Albanian workers into a pit. There are misunderstandings in life, too, but it is not good when misunderstandings lead to court. This is well known. The day of the trial was set, as were the lawyers for both parties and the presiding judge, Ms. Zana Hasko, a citizen of a pluralist society, with its laws and independent judicial institutions. The 9:00 a.m. start dragged on until 1:30 p.m.; then the first hearing was postponed until the next day. All 80 employees turned up at the appointed time, 10:30, only for the delay to drag on again until 1:30 p.m. A psychological game, perhaps, but at last it was about to begin! The employees’ lawyer, Mr. Hektor Frashëri, presents a dignified defense grounded in the law, a defense that inspires confidence in the 80 employees’ success, and earns civic commendation as well. The Italian party’s lawyer, Mr. Arben Murra, says that professionally he will defend his client to the end, but cannot deny that this is only because of his position as a lawyer. “If I were a jurist in the courtroom,” he adds, “I would rule in favor of the employees.” The Ministry’s mediator between the parties also acknowledges that the Italian party has not guaranteed the employees’ safety and working conditions, but, according to the 80 workers, Ms. Hasko “doesn’t hear our demands”?! Misleading information, issued without authority and not registered, is circulated by the Regional Employment Office No. 1; signed by Ms. Violeta Kume, it is handed to the presiding judge, Ms. Hasko, in a strange move. Only 15 minutes before the delayed hearing is due to begin, for no reason...! The 80 employees produce many, many arguments; their lawyer informs the court that he has new documents and requests that they be examined. At last, the truth is preparing to come out. It is hoped that after Monday’s hearing, Albanians will no longer be forced to do black-market work in Tirana. Since Tirana is the capital of the Albanians. Faruk Myrtaj

William Perry has just left Tirana to continue his trip from Bosnia to Turkey, but his visit to our country, when set against the many diplomatic arrivals in a suitable review, can rightly be counted among the most important. The presence of the Pentagon’s No. 1 is the first major concrete step demonstrating the institutionalization of relations between the two armies and countries, and is meanwhile a success for Tirana’s policy. In the biblical chaos of the post-communist period, between 1989 and 1992, Albania was several times at risk of seeing history repeat itself, becoming part of an orthodox policy whose trauma we still experience today, just as we experience its presence. For Albania emerging from chaos, it would be of decisive importance who was chosen as the VIP to visit; once again, Albania’s geographical position must be considered, which is also of particular importance. Nevertheless, Albania can no longer recover through its own strength. It must undoubtedly be in someone’s sphere of influence and that of their allies. Albania’s foreign policy is now highly crystallized, without ambiguity or eclecticism, and Mr. Perry’s presence categorically confirms this. Until now, the Albanian army had not been put to the test, but Albanian policy had; and this test, which lasted nearly two years, was passed successfully. Naturally, it would be foolish to make political pronouncements at press conferences, and yet many would not interpret Mr. Perry’s expressed “impression” as merely a personal impression. In the modern history of the 20th century, the head of the Pentagon is visiting Albania for the first time. The preceding sentence is in the indicative mood. It lacks the pathos of storytelling, but the fact itself has significance for Albania’s benefit, for whose fate history had decreed a historical fatality up to the end of this century; and we must not forget that we Albanians ourselves have been the agents of this fatality.

Antiquities stolen in recent years from the country’s unprotected ancient sites and museums have now become a lucrative source of income for those who traffic them in foreign markets. At an exhibition opened in recent days at a hotel in Antwerp, Belgium, one of the exhibits offered for sale, identified as the “wrecks of Kavaja,” included two Illyrian amphorae, each bearing a price of 12,000 US dollars. The pages of “Republika” have reported the discovery by the Greek and German Interpol of several antiquities stolen from Albania some time ago. Will we this time have the good fortune to report the same from Belgian Interpol? A.SH.K.

Father Anton Harapi: “They never wanted our union to be achieved” Page 3 Extremist mentality and historical distortions about property Page 2 A revived national treasure Page 2 The world is growing and shrinking Page 3

On July 25, 1994, at 10:00, the National Council of the Albanian Republican Party will meet in the hall of the National Historical Museum.

Regarding what was published in your newspaper on 17.07.1994 about letter no. 91, dated 30.03.1993, I, the undersigned Kristaq Kola, in my capacity as chairman of the Church Council for the Orthodox Clergy of the Autocephalous Albanian Orthodox Church of the Gjirokastër Diocese, disagree with the contents of the letter, which are malicious, since it was not adopted by the council. The Metropolitan’s letter was drafted and signed without my knowledge or authorization by Mr. Mihal Masho, who is from the village of Dervican and serves only as the Metropolitan’s technical secretary. As regards matters concerning my identity as an Albanian, this issue troubles me most... (continuation cut off) Gjirokastër, 18.07.1994 KRISTAQ KOLA Your Eminence Kristaq, Although your rebuttal was sent to the newspaper belatedly, we are publishing it, while also acknowledging your right to a brief clarification. You surely understand that it is not our fault if a colleague or employee of yours has signed something without your knowledge, especially when you disagree with the contents of the letter. These are matters for your church, and under the laws on human rights, which also enshrine freedom of religious belief, we have no right to interfere in your internal affairs. Nevertheless, we think that, in order to restore your respected standing, you should lodge a complaint against your colleague, perhaps thereby identifying the real culprit. We kindly believe that this will also be sufficient proof on your part of your commitment to strengthening friendship with the Greek people. Respectfully, THE EDITORS

“Fatos Nano, hero of the people, hero of socialist labor; a silent hero! Fatos Nano—the greatest hero of this time! Fatos Nano, the greatest Albanian in international institutions”—these are the slogans the madwoman chants. In the capital, she threw herself down in front of Hotel Dajti on Friday evening, in the presence of dozens of foreigners who watched in astonishment, not understanding what was happening. To increase people’s amazement even further, she began throwing numerous newspapers into the air, whose headlines were the same as the slogans she had shouted moments earlier. After this action, she accepted the journalists. After a week... Everything after a week! The streets will fill up. We will march in REVOLUTION... I too, as part of the revolution, will be free. Long live Nano the hero—and me! The next day the madwoman walked along the entire parade route, shouting: — The “kids in my apartment building” and I demand the release of Fatos Nano. I am an academic and I demand his unconditional release. Our race has now been greatly destroyed. The state has allocated funds for another 2,500 academics and professors. All of them will be appointed within this year, because the funds are available. Next year, all 2,500 will demand Fatos Nano’s release. Long live Albania and the academics! ... My slogans have their own secret code. Although no one can decipher this code, I am obliged to make it public. In a week, Fatos Nano will mark the anniversary of his imprisonment. He is the greatest hero of this country and someone must rise up! He is the hero of this people, and this people must take to the streets in a week. You must save the great man Fatos Nano, but you must save me too. Others have always made me hope. If Fatos Nano is released, Albania will be liberated, and so will I. THE CHRONICLER