Is “everything” being done? The Forum of Independent Albanian Intellectuals, at a gathering organized a few days ago, condemned the forced displacement of Kosovo Albanians from their ancestral lands. Among other things, the gathering sent a telegram to the UN Secretary-General, Butros Ghali, protesting the policy of ethnic cleansing pursued by the Serbian authorities in Kosovo. Experience has shown that initiatives of this kind achieve modest results, if not negligible ones, unless they are amplified and receive broad support from other forums, first and foremost from the principal bodies of the Albanian state. In the face of the ethnic-cleansing campaign, which began in Kosovo several years ago in many different forms and has made permanent residence there impossible, the response of the Albanian state has been inadequate. The fact that the forced displacement of Albanians is still continuing to this day, perhaps with even greater intensity, bears witness to this. It would be a mistake to think that “everything has been done” merely because a protest statement has been issued, the matter has been mentioned in passing at some international forum, or it has come up in various talks with representatives of another country, and so on. The final goal—the achievement of a satisfactory solution to the national question—cannot be attained immediately under any circumstances. This depends not only on Albania’s position and its domestic situation, but also on international circumstances. Bearing this in mind, Albanian policy should aim to prepare the ground for an appropriate solution, one sought by the Albanians of Kosovo and the other regions of the former Yugoslavia, as well as by the mother country itself. However, looking at what is happening in Kosovo with regard to the mass departure of Albanians, I do not know whether, instead of gaining ground, we are losing it. On the other hand, it seems somewhat absurd that Serbia, engaged in fighting in other parts of the former Yugoslavia and facing domestic problems, and under the scrutiny of the international community, should be able to act so freely in Kosovo, while Albanian diplomacy is unable to urge the Great Powers to restrain Serbia’s action to dispossess the Albanians of Kosovo. The very failure to link the problem of the Albanians in Kosovo with the other problems in the former Yugoslavia, where Serbia will be forced to confront several fronts and to maintain a contradictory situation, is a failure of Albanian diplomacy. It seems that our state is content with the “empty struggle” of presenting itself to Europe and the United States as a “factor of stability” in the Balkans. But what has been gained by being a “factor of stability” today? In this way, we resemble that quiet boy whom his brothers beat, but who does not complain about their big quarrels, let alone answer them. Should we perhaps give up a little on being a “factor of stability” and become a bit of a “troublemaker”? Let us look at our neighbours: perhaps we are not in a position, like Serbia, which set Yugoslavia on fire, to embark on a military adventure; perhaps we do not carry the weight of Greece, which challenges its European partners with its embargo against Macedonia. We should not act like Don Quixotes, but it is nonetheless undeniable that, in the name of stability, too much is being conceded to Macedonia. If today we cannot demand Kosovo’s separation from Serbia, a Republic of the Albanians in Kosovo, or something else, it would be fatal not to engage over the exodus of Albanians from Kosovo. If today, with 90% of the population there being Albanian, we are unable to realize the Albanians’ aspirations and ensure respect for their right to self-determination, what can be done tomorrow, when the population balance is different? G. LEVONJA

What is hidden behind the cover of the reconstruction? For 13 days, fuel stations in Tirana have not been selling gasoline. The four state-run sales outlets sell only diesel, and the four private outlets sell only benzol. Employees at these outlets say the supply was interrupted for costly reasons; apparently it came from somewhere and there is nowhere to store it. They say blockages of this kind have occurred before, with other hydrocarbon products as well. On Friday afternoon, a long line of cars had been waiting for gasoline at the fuel station in Qyteti i nxënësve since morning, and it was unlikely that gasoline would arrive. This blockage has caused the price of benzol to rise; it now exceeds 85 lek, compared with 82 before. The people harmed by this game are the passengers, whose travel costs have increased. Albim-pekasi, which supplied the private fuel sales outlets, has begun competing with Alpetrol, which supplies the state-run outlets. According to Mr. Anesti Moci, Director of Hydrocarbons at the Ministry of Mineral Resources, “it is true that the situation at the state-owned sales outlets is …” but it will soon be fixed. “We stopped supplying gasoline in order to carry out reconstruction at the Ballsh refinery and improve the quality of the gasoline produced, increasing its octane rating. But we will take measures to compensate for the gasoline Ballsh will produce from the state reserves, because its reconstruction will continue until February 10. We are carrying out this reconstruction so that our gasoline will be of the same quality as European gasoline.” We asked many drivers, and they said that Ballsh gasoline is normal and they had no complaints, but from what they had heard, this has been done so that foreign gasoline can be sold. That this is so is suggested by the statement of a senior Dika official as well: if the reconstruction at Ballsh had been completed, gasoline would have been brought in on the second or third day after production was stopped. But now even the 13th day has passed? All they say is, “It will come.” But in 13 days, given the number of vehicles in Albania, it is logical that a very large quantity of benzol has been sold. What is being concealed behind the failure to carry out the reconstruction? ALBANIA WITHOUT GASOLINE / THE QUEUES ARE DRAGGING ON, BECAUSE [?]

ALBANIA WITHOUT GASOLINE / THE QUEUES ARE DRAGGING ON, BECAUSE [?]

The crime is suspected not to have been committed for personal reasons On Friday, at around 8:30, at the headquarters of the National Association of the Politically Persecuted, an unidentified person entered the office of the secretary of this association, Mr. Engjëll kokoshi, and struck him in the face with a stone wrapped in newspaper, causing a severe fracture of the bones. The persecuted have protested and called on the authorities to find the culprit. “The incident took place before a meeting of the association’s general leadership. One of the issues to be discussed was the association’s privatization board and securities, and I think it may be connected with this, because of my appointment to this board,” said the injured man, Mr. Engjëll Kokoshi, at Hospital No. 1 in Tirana. “At around 8:30, one of the people known to this board comes, opens the office door, looks in, says nothing and leaves. Ten minutes later, a person I knew comes in, because he had previously come and collected other papers, and I remember that I gave him a certificate for his years in prison. I wanted to shake his hand, but he immediately hit me with a hard object wrapped in newspaper. As I was, I went out to the door, where my colleagues were, including a police officer in civilian clothes. I said to him: ‘Did you see the person who came out?’ ‘No,’ they told me, ‘we didn’t see him.’ I looked at the cleaner and asked her too who it was. She hadn’t seen him either; she had …, but was carrying books and … on her back. Perhaps what they are doing today will determine their future. But the bargain being made with a person’s life is painful. They are leaving their future as a pledge. A pledge they cannot take back with them…” Was that a shooting? A report by the US State Department states that during the past year 5–6 of them were killed? These are the ones who, in the past month, were also involved several times in torture, in his unfinished or unexpected life. The Human Rights Protection Organization reported that the police beat people, while other groups came to their defence?

Children who sell in the streets... Almost every afternoon, at the café where I drink my coffee, a boy of about 10 comes up to me and offers me packs of cigarettes. Although I have never bought any so far (I don’t smoke), the boy, always eagerly, mechanically repeats, “Would you like LM with a lighter?” The straps of his bag hang from his shoulders, while his tired eyes are … with naivety. There are dozens of schoolchildren who spend their afternoons in the capital’s cafés, trying to earn a little money. With their bags on their shoulders, they move about to ease their families’ hardships a little. And for themselves, … Not money. They, too, are learning about the market economy. Spending a few moments with the boy who offers me cigarettes every day, he is the one who will say that he sells them wholesale and by the pack. What does it mean to be a market assistant? How much do I have to buy, and for how long does he keep up the conversation? He has learned things his peers do not know. His friends… They also walk around with bags on their shoulders, but carry books and … on their backs. Perhaps what they are doing today will help them gain a future. But the bargain being made with their lives is painful. They are leaving their future as a pledge. A pledge they cannot take back with them… Photo of the boy with books and a bag in his hand

According to a study of longevity in Albania covering 1985–1995, 42 were women and 28 men. The study found that 34 were villagers who had worked in agriculture or stayed at home, 22 were urban workers and clerical employees, and only 4 had lived in abundance. All those who reached this age were short in stature, under 1.70 cm. Of these 60 centenarians, 38 ate meat, 24 ate meat rarely, 10 did not eat meat at all, and 1 ate as much as they liked. Of the 60 centenarians, 6 drank alcohol, while 54 had not used it. According to this study, a 110-year-old in Kuçovë walks 4 km without the aid of a stick. A centenarian in Përmet could read at that age without glasses. Almost all 60 centenarians came from families of 40–60 people. Prepared by: B. MALO

The US State Department Report The report by the US State Department states that during the past year the Yugoslav government continued to flagrantly violate human rights, those of the country’s Serbian population, and that government officials authorized extrajudicial killings, torture, ill-treatment and arbitrary arrests, and undertook large-scale measures to keep the Serbian population repressed. The most severe abuses, the report says, were suffered by the Albanians of Kosovo and the Muslims of Sanxhak. According to the report, last year alone the police killed 17 Albanians; 11 were shot with firearms, while the rest died in custody as a result of ill-treatment or beatings. The report mentions the shooting death of a 6-year-old child, while the leaders and parents of the perpetrators? In Tezë, the notes? As they came out? ... According to a study of longevity in Albania covering 1985–1995, 42 were women and 28 men. (Continued on page 4)

How do we assess our national wealth? p. 2 Plan for the “quiet” ethnic cleansing of Kosovo p. 3 The show ended with a secret vote p. 3 Where the Cham Albanians lived p. 3 The Hiroshima bomb: merely a warning to Moscow? p. 4 Historic editorial for “Shkumbini”; “Partizani” can win p. 4 The editorial staff wishes all Muslim believers a happy month of Ramadan

“Many people tell me I am extreme in my opinions,” she said, looking at herself in the mirror. “It’s true that I am extreme in my opinions. But my actions are gentle. Some others are very moderate in their opinions, but heaven help you if you fall victim to their actions. By logical reduction, it follows that I am simply a true fundamentalist. I can’t hide it. Logical deduction has exposed me.” “They have reached the highest levels in percentage terms in all of Europe. The West, to which we historically belong. All the democratic institutions of the most advanced Eastern states have expressed their amazement at these achievements.” “Selman Ruzhdiu has decided to go and live in the US... He likes the harmony with which the three religions here coexist. He first heard of it through our press, which, he says, he reads regularly. Nature, in his country, has also been influenced by the fact that the country is very tolerant. In America, for example, one person is killed every minute. Whereas here a person is killed only once. Apparently, once dead, you aren’t killed again.” “I will go and live in a country where corruption is not done openly. I don’t want the newspapers to find out about corruption. That takes all the fun out of gossip. One can’t live here! The newspapers are killing gossip. The written word is destroying popular folklore.” THE CHRONICLER