The first four people infected with cholera came from Greece, while the presence of the cholera vibrio has been confirmed in fruit imported from the southern neighbors The preliminary cholera outbreak in Kuçovë has now been narrowed down to four emigrants who arrived from Greece, following the mass return at the height of the tension between the two countries. All four, infected with the cholera virus, were isolated before returning to Albania, in animal-like conditions in the basements of the Greek police and forced to endure an unhygienic regime. The optimism officially conveyed by official information media on Friday is reinforced by reliable health-sector sources in Kuçovë and Berat, which confirm that work has now begun to identify other emigrants who arrived from Greece over the past week and who may be potential sources of the microbe’s spread. At the same time, fruit imported from Greece, whose sole destination is Albania, have, according to these same sources, been found infected with the cholera vibrio in quantities that could trigger an epidemic. The first tests carried out on fruit imported from Greece, especially those produced on special lines for Albania in northern and northeastern Greece, have tested positive for the cholera vibrio. Faced with a completely new situation in containing this epidemic, our doctors must now place all returning emigrants in quarantine, while the customs and health authorities must block imports of fruit from Greece; the trucks carrying them were the only ones the Greek state allowed to cross at the height of the crisis between the two countries. Although there is still no sign of an alert in Greece about the spread of cholera, all the facts point to a bacteriological landing in Albania which, even if it does not serve as a full-scale bacteriological war, is a major opportunity to draw the world’s attention to the Albanian-Greek confrontation, which is definitively discrediting Athens’ policy toward its neighbors in the eyes of Europe. The fact that the emigrants carrying cholera were treated in animal-like hygienic conditions, forced to sleep in cells contaminated with urine and to eat food of questionable cleanliness, is evidence of a special military operation by Greece against Albania. Scientifically established as fact that the cholera vibrio cannot originate in Albania, the wishful conjecture that it was imported from Asian countries has been implausible, since emigrants from those countries have never been seen in Kuçovë and Berat. In any case, Greece’s efforts to bring along with cholera the pretext that it was imported by “Islamic fundamentalism” have now been exposed. By stopping Greek vaccination, which was originate in Albania, the desired conjectures about an import from Asian countries have been implausible because fundamentalism” have now been exposed. no sign in Greece of an alert vibrio cannot Asian countries have been implausible because fundamentalism” have now been exposed.

... Excellent relations between the members of the minority and the Albanians President Berisha meets with residents of Livadhja, Sarandë From the outset, the president stressed: “I have come here to express my deep esteem and respect, and that of the Albanian nation, for your conduct, for the harmony, tolerance and understanding that you have shown and continue always to show among all the Albanian people.” “I want to point out,” the president continued, “that tolerance and understanding are an excellent example not only for our region, but also the greatest and most powerful message that Albania, this poor country, conveys to Europe and the world. It is precisely in Albania’s interfaith tolerance and the interethnic tolerance of your areas that our great strength lies, one of the powerful sources of our present and future development. No one,” President Berisha continued, “can identify the minority with extreme nationalism. Speaking about coexistence and understanding, Mr. Berisha said: ‘I am convinced that harmony and understanding have deep roots. There is undeniable evidence that Greeks and Albanians, as perhaps the oldest neighboring peoples on this continent, have far more things that unite them and far more cooperation than division and misunderstanding. Harmony, cooperation, coexistence and understanding are based on our common wars, our joint efforts for freedom.’” “Nothing has been able, or will be able, to shake this tolerance and understanding,” the president said. “Your great merit is that you had the wisdom, maturity and patience necessary to preserve this tolerance among Albanians, as the most precious values during this period of crisis in Albanian-Greek relations. It was precisely in their tolerance and in Albanian-Greek relations that they proved they could not destroy the excellent relations between the minority and the Albanians. And I will assure the people of the minority that, regardless of the nationalist and extreme positions in Athens, I will continue to insist on dialogue; once again I will invite the Greek government to dialogue, because I remain convinced that, within the broad space offered by the ancient tradition of cooperation and coexistence between the two countries, there are many possibilities for understanding and many possibilities for resolving disagreements through dialogue.” Correspondent of “Republika”

“The situation is relatively mild,” confirmed yesterday Ms. Maria Neira of the WHO’s General Directorate for Cholera. At the meeting of the task force set up to address this issue at the Ministry of Health and Environmental Protection, Ms. Neira also confirmed that the measures taken by the Ministry of Health had been correct. “The cholera outbreak is not spreading on a massive scale.” Ms. Neira of the WHO’s General Directorate for Cholera stated at the task-force meeting that “cholera is now treated throughout the world like all other epidemics. The cholera epidemic lasts up to 8 weeks, and its ‘peak’ is in the first weeks.” She also recommended that “ampicillin is more effective than tetracycline in the fight against cholera.” will confirm these and other matters concerning “cholera” at the press conference she will give at 10:00, together with the Minister of Health and Environmental Protection, Mr. Maksim Ciku- A KOPANI

Chronicle of the state of the cholera epidemic in our country

A report on the cholera epidemic situation in our country The spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, Dr. Petraq Cama, announced at midday today that, at the extraordinary meeting organized by the Council of Ministers, a sum of 5 million lekë had been allocated to help address this situation. According to the same source, the Ministry of Health will also release 10 million lekë from its reserve fund. ATSH

In the search for a “cholera-free drink” During these days, when fear of cholera has increased sales of imported drinks, especially mineral water, the “Coka-Cola” factory, which produces soft drinks, assures consumers that it makes safe drinks of the highest standard. “We do not get our water from the water supply system; we have our own wells, and we disinfect the water from the outset, and then in other ways as well. The disinfection is completely safe,” says the director of “Coca Cola,” Alberto Gut. The rest of the Coca-Cola production process is completely safe from any possible contamination, and human involvement plays a very small role in it. From cleaning the empty bottles to filling and sealing them and putting the caps on, the process is highly automated. Nothing is touched by human hands that could contaminate the drink. Thus, the product is completely disinfected. “Furthermore, at the end of production, samples of the filled bottles undergo quality checks, both for quality parameters and bacteriological control.” “Despite the high level of safety, as soon as we received news of the appearance of cholera cases, we took additional measures and held several meetings with workers to raise hygiene standards and prevent infection from being brought in from outside,” says the quality controller at the factory, Emira Pelingu. At first glance, “Coca-Cola” seems to be just as safe a drink as other imported beverages. “You’ll be giving us some free advertising by writing about the production conditions here,” Selimio Farini, the factory’s sales director, jokes. E. TUPINA

Parliament and the Republican Draft Law on Land It is true that the Republican Party has only one of its own deputies in Parliament. A deputy who, by nature, does not “know how” to shout or speak very loudly. But that does not mean that his request for Parliament to consider the Republican Draft Law on land should be passed over in silence, as has happened until now. Nor should it be allowed to drag on. The Draft Law on Land is undoubtedly a piece of legislation that deserves the greatest attention, perhaps more than most of the laws passed by our esteemed Parliament, if it deserves to be called that. There have been quite a few occasions when Parliament has ignored the request to consider and reconsider many laws and bylaws, which may even be harmful. The leadership of our Parliament must become aware of its actions; at the very least, it should allow its deputies’ request to make such an issue a subject of discussion. Even if that means voting it down. The Land Law currently in force is proving increasingly unacceptable—that is, undemocratic. It was adopted by a Parliament whose majority consisted of former Communists, and it is also not being accepted by the broad mass of the Albanian peasantry. The DP should not also bear the responsibility of others, that of the PPSH-PPS. Or, if it is conscious of what it is doing, let it say so openly. Law 7501, while claiming to make most Albanians landowners, in reality definitively prevents Albanians from becoming true owners; now the Republican Party itself supports this. The main point is that an ever-growing conviction is taking hold among the peasantry, and not only among them, that “the peasant will accept from the state nothing but his own property, what his parents and forebears bequeathed to him.” Plans to force people, through the power of the law or the authorities, to become owners of someone else’s land are increasingly proving unacceptable. On the contrary, in many cases, in most districts of the country, in the North and the South, peasants are dividing land according to the old boundaries, regardless of Law 7501. And none of these actions has given rise to any dissatisfaction, unlike when an attempt is made to apply this post-Communist law. Insistence on implementing the Land Law under Law 7501, passed by the neo-Communist Parliament, does nothing but keep old tensions alive, encourage blood feuds and, worst of all, seriously hinder the possibility of thinking carefully and cultivating the land properly. Without resolving the question of legitimate owners, the land will continue to be an example of conflicts over agricultural or pasture land. It is undoubtedly positive that many DP deputies, too, support the process alongside another political force, or act in favor of the Republican Draft Law on land. Faced with the concerns of the peasants, they can do no other than seek real solutions, without engaging in demagoguery and arguments and interpretations of the Republican Draft Law. This is a middle-ground approach, suited to the conditions of the villages. But it would be much better if these deputies made these practices known in Parliament as well, when this Draft Law is presented there for consideration. The whole point is to help get things done, not for the PR or any other political force to score points. Unless the land issue is settled, Albania has no future. At least this much should be learned from the problems brought to light by the trial of the five members of the minority in the South. If they had become legitimate owners of Albanian land belonging to Albanians—or if they never will be protected as owners of precious land. That happens only when one feels that way. A late or delayed consideration of this Draft Law in Parliament will only make solutions even more difficult. FARUK MYRTAJ

The Conference of Alternatives serves democracy Page 2 Greek nationalism and its efforts to install itself in Albanian politics Page 3 Çamëria in the great Hellenic encyclopedia Page 3 Macedonia heading toward elections ... without the Albanians Page 4

All chairpersons of FRRSH and PRSH branches are hereby notified that the date of the General Conference of the Albanian Republican Youth will be postponed until the earliest possible date. The sole reason the Conference will not be held on the scheduled date is that, in the current cholera situation our country is going through, a large gathering of people is not at all advisable. We cannot ensure clean hygienic conditions, starting with the water and extending to the food, which is not entirely clean either. We hope this situation will pass very quickly, but for now we cannot take it upon ourselves to risk anyone’s health, even that of a single person. Albanian Republican Youth Forum

On Friday afternoon, the madwoman N from Tirana walked around the capital’s cemetery holding a placard that read: “Beware of cholera.” It was unclear why the madwoman preferred the outskirts. “Beware of cholera from the parties,” the madwoman said. The first person with cholera in Tirana is still free and roaming the streets of Tirana, she said. He is an actor. “Beware of cholera! The other actors have no chance of getting cholera,” said the madwoman, because they have suffered from another kind of cholera, the shameful kind, ever since they were young. Cholera affects certain types of people. Please take note. For example, those with cholera who act like megalomaniacs and give interesting interviews are not all that dangerous. They themselves, seeking to stroll through the great cholera of the Sigurimi, wanted to be infected by it. Another category, who imagine they are different-minded intellectuals and are being persecuted, are not dangerous either. This game has been going on for a whole lifetime, with cholera and with people who never thought about it. Those infected with cholera spent their days in prison so as not to spread it. But they are not dangerous either. The cholera epidemic is nevertheless very dangerous. In some parties and associations, cholera is longstanding. Beware of these sick people. Cholera threatens to spread to some foundations too, and in one of them it is highly concentrated. The issue, said the madwoman, is not to mock the patients at these foundations, since their cholera is longstanding. But their employers can be helped to avoid being tainted by cholera. Those who claim to have an impenetrable immunity to cholera also seem very dangerous. They are not only revealing themselves. Those who declare themselves cured of cholera are dangerous too, even though they have been wallowing in cholera for the last two years and forget that for years they carried gunpowder and signed up many people. Cholera alliances are nothing new. Neither prosecutors, nor mayors, nor heads of control have been infected with cholera. Be careful of these people and don’t stay near them, said the madwoman. [Text corrupted/illegible: “Kon-rar e gazetave dhe në reamb të .. blervërim qendror. Mund të njoftohen skamë shëndeti”]