While the threat hangs over the entire population, no individual can consider themselves beyond danger. While the great debate between political groups over taking power is unfolding in Albania, a third force is working underground, completely freely, and the day will come when it takes power itself. This force is drugs, the smuggling of weapons and fuel oil, prostitution, and the monstrous crime of selling children for organ transplants. All of this is summed up by the conventional name “Mafia.” That this force has taken root and is developing rapidly in Albania is something foreigners tell us, while we ourselves know nothing anymore, or pretend not to know anymore. During Presidency briefings, they tell foreign journalists that “the situation is under control,” and that is the end of the matter. But the truth is different. According to several foreign newspapers, as they report, Albania has become a transit hub for drugs, the raw materials for which are produced in the Black Delta region, in Iran, Afghanistan, and elsewhere, refined in Turkey, and from there brought to Durrës, by sea and land, to be transported on to Italy, Switzerland, Germany, etc. The newspaper “International Herald Tribune” wrote on September 22 that Albanians, in close cooperation with the Italian mafia, are emerging as key figures in the international drug trade. “The Times” wrote on October 22 that Albania is rapidly taking on the role of a new hub on the route for distributing drugs to Western Europe. “Economist,” “The Guardian,” “The Geopolitical Drug Dipatch,” etc., write that Albanians are becoming drug couriers and bosses in several European countries. This development also involves the machinations of Belgrade, but that Albania is becoming a cause for concern is confirmed by the United Nations International Drug Control Programme agency, based in Vienna, which has declared that “Albania is becoming our priority.” Albania is becoming a “priority” because of the war in the former Yugoslavia and the Greek embargo on Macedonia; it is becoming a “priority” because it is one of the closest crossings between East and West and, finally, because, given the way things are in Albania today, any quantity of drugs one wants can be transported through here without difficulty. By moving drugs through the country, they will also create their own network of users here, with the same destructive effect as the devastating spread among the Indians of America, since we lack protective measures, even as basic as anti-drug propaganda. The second thing foreigners have been telling us for some time, and which we can see, (continued on page 2)

Recently, there has been a report by the Greek section of Helsinki, which informs Greece about its attitudes toward minorities in Greece, including the Albanian minority. Greece’s attitude toward minorities has long concerned specialized human-rights organizations. Repeated requests have been made to Greece to improve the position of minorities, especially that of the Albanian minority there. Since 1991, the Greek state has convicted 18 Greek citizens because they criticized Greece’s position and theses on minorities, as well as its Balkan policy. The latest report by the Greek Helsinki Commission concludes that minorities in Greece make up 10% of the population. Albanians make up 2% of them, and the attitude toward them is extreme and continues to worsen. “Republika” correspondent

The meeting between Serbian President Milosheviç and Greek Foreign Minister Papulias focused mainly on issues relating to Bosnia. The Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs was received by the Serbian president, also in the presence of Foreign Minister Jovanoviç, but well-informed sources do not rule out the possibility of a tête-à-tête between Milosheviç and Papulias, during which issues other than those concerning Bosnia may have been considered. “Republika” correspondent

In the book by the Greek author Mihal I. Miridhagi, entitled “The Struggle of the Nation and the National Resistance - EDES-EOEA, 1941-1944” (or in Greek AGONES TIS FILIS I ETHNIKI ANTI-STASI), Athens Edition 19, Volume 2, page 274, second paragraph, it is attested: “Alongside these formations of groups within the framework of the general Greek resistance against the Nazi-fascist occupier, there were also the Albanians of Çamëria, especially the Muslims among them. And what is important, as also emerges from this author’s statement, is that this very assemblage of forces operating along the line described in the book (Filat - Kalamas (river) - Muçiqel (mountain northeast of Ioannina)) included precisely the 7th and 9th Divisions and the 7th Brigade with Regiments 15, 27, 52, 53, the Albanian Band Brigade, and a mixed unit from EAM and the Çam, both of which formed part of the Command of the 8th Division.” Note: In this book, the author Miridhagi, as a member of the EDES staff, which was led by General Napoleo Zerva, ... [The] members had gathered and the following formations had lined up: From Filat and along the Kalamas as far as Muçiqel, [whoever] writes the history of this front cannot conceal the truth and bears witness that, facing the ultra-chauvinist extremist right-wing forces, formations had been deployed in the territory of the region of the Cham Albanians, where battles against the occupier were also fought. M.E. Photograph of a historical document with text in Greek. The image shows the Greek title: “ΜΙΧΑΛΗ Ι. ΜΥΡΙΔΑΚΗ / ΑΓΩΝΕΣ ΤΗΣ ΦΥΛΗΣ / Η ΕΘΝΙΚΗ ΑΝΤΙΣΤΑΣΗ / ΕΔΕΣ-ΕΟΕΑ 1941-1944 / Τόμος Β”.

No one is held responsible The reports about cholera have now grown colder. It is spoken of as though it were happening somewhere far away from us, far from our country, far from our responsibilities. Meanwhile, in Elbasan district alone, there are more than 15 dead at the psychiatric hospital, while the latest report to the newspaper “Republika” stated that one person has died in the village of Lixhë, also in Elbasan district, 25 others have been infected by the virus, and public-service establishments and the school have been closed for 3 days. It is to be expected that cholera will have outbreaks spreading from one place to another. An important source who does not wish to be identified says that the true number of those infected is not being disclosed, and the prospects for isolating cholera are bleak! People are being divided by it and are suffering its consequences. The outbreaks move from one city to another, from one village to another, but all within Albania. Political parties exploited it only to gain political credit, and that was all. The government took measures and gave us the impression that the disease had become controllable, that the risks from it had been minimized, that measures had been taken to chlorinate [the water], and so on. And that was all. Yet the reports are not ending. More areas, more infected people, more victims... They are all people; they are human lives that we are watching pass in silence. But is silence alone enough? If there is a government that includes a Ministry of Health, several institutes and district directorates, and hundreds or thousands of people who are paid to protect the health of the population; if people hope and have the right to believe that there is a state from which they can seek protection for their health (in addition to whatever care they can provide themselves), then is none of them responsible for what continues to happen? “Republika” came out in defense of calm and against the artificially heightened alarm that appeared at the beginning of the cholera outbreak, believing that not only would the situation be brought under control, but that duties and responsibilities would also be established, but PELLUMB LUSHAKAJ (continued on page 2)

FATMIR MEDIU—PR deputy chairman The nation and property, the basis of PR’s judgment In light of the political developments of these years, for PR the issue of private property has been the basis for the development of its political thinking, which was right-wing, and at the same time for putting Albanian economic practice and democracy into effect, grounded in respect for fundamental human rights. These ideas found expression in PR’s practical activities, and ultimately in the implementation of the acts envisaged in the party’s program. The Parliament, with the authority of its more than 60 deputies, continues its boycott of sessions for discussing laws that are expected to define and develop [them], with extraordinary persistence. Nothing will happen unless everyone understands that, in constitutional practice, it must remain as a referendum, find expression as political practice, and also be applied in property projects. Cooperation with the association of the dispossessed and those former kulaks, through mass rallies, raised public awareness of the possibility of resolving the property problem in Albania, thus bringing property owners together to pursue their demands for resolving this conflict through political channels and in the Constitutional Court. They appealed to the Constitutional Court, which, since the political arrangement of March 22, had been bound in its judgment by political pressure from the authorities who had appointed its members and could replace them. But this is only if one considers the evil in constitutional judgment against duplicity, because at the same time they brought about the division of the group of judges into two; this court issued a decision against the old/foreign (?) owners, corporations, and the right to a hearing, while in the court of... Judgment in the ordinary court of fundamental freedoms is merely an innovation in the judiciary, intended to bring it closer to the rule of law, but also to enable individuals independently to resolve the issue of a right violated under the law through the courts. PR is a right-wing party. Its work is based on the constant evaluation of the law and institutions, but its foremost concern is fundamental human freedoms and rights. By restoring their people, not through interference with [unclear], but by taking an interest on the same side in the possibilities and projects, a new opportunity opens up for the return of properties, as is clearly stated below. Article 45/2: The right to private property and inheritance, which states: No one may be expropriated except for a public interest and against fair compensation, in such a way that the right to benefit from ... (continued on page 2) Lines of text can be seen around the middle of the page, cut off at the top edge and not fully legible.

Van der Stoel reports to the CSCE The CSCE should examine the position of the Albanian minority Yesterday, the 29th meeting of the Committee of Senior Officials was held in Budapest as part of the CSCE Review Conference. The delegation of Albania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also took part, headed by Deputy Minister Arjan Starova. One item on the meeting’s agenda was the report by the High Commissioner on National Minorities, Mr Maks van der Stoel. Van der Stoel presented a brief summary of his report on the situation of minorities in Albania, a report distributed as an official document at the conference ... Among other things, Mr van der Stoel said: “First of all, I would like to express my high appreciation for the efforts undertaken by the government, both during my mission to Albania on October 17–23 and during my earlier visits, which helped me in my efforts to gain comprehensive knowledge of minority issues in Albania. We were completely free to meet with any member of the minority, while all discussions with government representatives were held privately and without the presence of any government representative. We noted with satisfaction that both representatives of the Greek community and those of the Albanian communities with whom we spoke in southern Albania told us, without exception, both at the local level and in individual contacts, that there are no signs of tensions (continued on page 2)

The President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, also takes part On the afternoon of November 18, the international conference entitled “International and Atlantic Institutions: The Need for a New Integration Strategy for the Countries of Eastern Europe” began its work at the Palace of Congresses. It was organized by the Albanian Institute of International and Strategic Studies, together with the Institute of International Research in Rome, in cooperation with the Hellenic Foundation for Policy Protection and the Institute of Policy. On the afternoon of November 18, the international conference entitled “International and Atlantic Institutions: of Eastern Europe” began its work at the Palace of Congresses. It was organized by the Albanian Institute of International and Strategic Studies, together with the Institute of International Research in Rome, in cooperation with the Hellenic Foundation for Policy Protection and the Institute of Policy... Later, the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, the Minister of Defense, Safet Zhulali, and others [were present]. The Italian Ambassador to Albania, Paolo Foresti, and others were also present. In his greeting to the conference, Mr Cezare Merlin, president of the counterpart institute in Rome, expressed his confidence in the support that the Albanian Institute would receive today and in the future— (continued on page 4)

From November 20 to 22, 1994, the international conference “Freedom of Expression in Post-Communist Countries” is being held at the Palace of Congresses in Tirana. The conference is organized by the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights, the Soros Foundation, and the Civil Press Freedom Foundation, based in New York. Journalists, human rights activists, lawyers, media specialists, and well-known public figures from Albania, Romania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Austria, the USA, Great Britain, France, etc., will take part in the conference. “REPUBLIKA” correspondent

In the photo: General Zerva (right), who carried out the massacre against the Cham

From Filat and along the Kalamas as far as Muçiqel,

The madwoman N from Tirana was seen calmly [unclear] on Bami Street, spitting. I feel like crying. I don’t understand what’s happening. This is a great loss for the party of the National Unity. “Ah, how few sensible people Albania has,” the madwoman began shouting, heading toward the city center. “So few. One of them is becoming handsome. He is becoming president. Albania is full of presidents. Why should academician Bedri Dedja choose Hudajet Beqiri as president? It’s true that this Hudajeti is, as Bedriu says, the revolutionary of the pan-Albanian and international masses, but why ignore comrade Ramiz, whom he made the third one to be [unclear]? And comrade Fehmi Abdiu, whom he made the fourth? I feel like crying,” the madwoman shouted. “Comrade Haxhi is disqualified from the possibility of becoming president only because this dog is mad.” “It’s true, madwoman, that Namik Dokle is brave. It seems the academician has written this compliment for you, Namiku, only in the last two or three years. Namiku should be president, but don’t forget the other Namik. Namik Hoxhi. Why didn’t Academician Dedja consider Namik Hoxhi for president? That isn’t fair,” said the madwoman. “During the dictatorship, Namik Hoti never filled ... anyone in. Now other Namiks are turning up who have always filled their b... before. Now they want to become presidents. Well, why shouldn’t they? Let them. Just not Hyrdjeti, or the nation will disappear. Are you with Bedri against the nation, or are you with the nation? Ah, we forgot the mad corruptor. This corruptor, comrades—he must have been powerful. More powerful than cholera. It gets hold of you and won’t let go. Even if you want to leave, it won’t let you. At least, for the good of the Albanian parliamentary and non-parliamentary parties, and the non-anti-Albanian, non-Albanian [parties], he has apparently ensnared the children too. ‘I’ve decided to become a minister, no matter what,’ says the madwoman. ‘Well, sometimes you have to wait to become a minister, or for some mayor or ambassador to resign. You’ll never become a minister,’ and the madwoman... THE CHRONICLER