As expected, the press and political circles in Albania devoted considerable attention to the visit to Tirana by the head of Greek diplomacy. This was natural after the year-long freeze experienced by Albanian-Greek relations as a consequence of the now familiar vicissitudes. A certain excitement, both among those who have seen Greece as the only gateway to Europe or elsewhere and among some who did not tolerate certain Greek attitudes toward Albania, was the main feature dominating the atmosphere surrounding this visit. It would be absurd to ignore or deny the importance of good relations with Greece for many reasons, among which stand out the situation in the Balkans, our country’s urgent needs in various fields and its efforts to integrate into the European community, as well as Greece’s strained relations with its neighbors. Bearing in mind the course of Albanian-Greek relations in recent years, it would be a mistake to fall into euphoria without considering the return of another winter in these relations. In this respect, more important than the issues discussed in Mr. Papulias’s talks with our government officials would [cut off at the lower edge of the image] be the institutionalization of certain parameters to avoid [unclear]. The answer given by the Greek foreign minister on this matter was also a reiteration of Greece’s previous positions. If we speak of stability in Albanian-Greek relations, it will never be achieved without equality and reciprocity.

At the Socialist Party (PS) meeting in Mat, the current PS leader, Servet Pëllumbi, among other things, challenged President Berisha to a televised debate over the latter’s accusations against the PS and its program, which he had described as neo-communist. Mr. Pëllumbi’s idea of an open televised debate should, on the one hand, be considered positive, since it represents an effort to democratize RTSH, which, despite a few minimal efforts, continues to serve the government and the ruling party. In addition, open debates, whether in the form of round tables or other formats on radio or television, would greatly help democratic developments, particularly in shaping new ways of thinking. At the same time, an open debate on a wide range of issues would undoubtedly also help find the best ways to address today’s problems and those of the future. But from another point of view, Mr. Pëllumbi’s idea of a televised debate with Berisha seems, in any case, [unclear]. The very wording “debate with Berisha” gives the impression that the Socialist leader conceives of the Albanian political scene as consisting of two poles: the Left, represented by the PS, and the Right, represented by one person alone, Berisha. Such a conception might have been realistic before March 22 and in the first months after the Democratic Party (PD) came to power, when all anti-communist forces had joined forces against the PPSH, the heir to Enver Hoxha’s Party. But today such a notion is far from reality. Over time, as a result of the PD’s inconsistent and superficial actions and positions in the fight against communism, as well as its shortcomings in governing, the right-wing groups that had supported it distanced themselves from it one after another, until the LDSH was formed. Thus, today the LDSH represents one thing and the ruling PD another. For this reason, returning to the idea of a televised debate, it would be incomplete, indeed useless, if someone were to casually leave out the right-wing groups. The aim of the left-wing forces in presenting the Albanian Right as a united front with the PD has two purposes: on the one hand, to deprive the Right of its right to criticize the PD’s mistakes, making this an exclusive monopoly of the PS, and, on the other, to undermine the credibility of right-wing forces among voters by portraying the PD’s mistakes as a consequence of “right-wing ideology.” It is understandable that such aims, which seek to take away other people’s right to speak and confiscate it for themselves, do not have the scent of democracy. The people of the LDSH also have the right to present their choices, together with their determination to implement them, as an alternative that would save the country from certain regressive processes.

According to the municipality... According to Decision No. 8, dated 15.03.1995, of the Regulatory Council for the Territory of the city of Tirana, signed by the Mayor, Mr. Sali Kelmendi, the administrative center of Neighborhood No. 5 and many other administrative centers in Tirana are expressly ordered, in cooperation with Police Station No. 2, to remove dozens of kiosks erected without permits, especially in the gardens along Dëshmorët e Kombit Boulevard. “Today we are issuing this notice in order to comply with the law,” says the chairman of Neighborhood No. 5, Mr. Androkli Xhaferi, “and tomorrow work will begin to remove them forcibly, by the local authorities in cooperation with the Police forces, using the many cranes and machines that have been procured to transport them.” “It was impossible,” says Mr. Besnik Petrela, chairman of the Municipal Council. “Tirana no longer has the capacity to accommodate kiosks. If action is not taken to prevent their proliferation, Tirana will be seriously endangered.” “Republika” correspondent G. L

The editorial team hosted a reception for intellectuals and contributors Quite naturally, the newspaper “Republika” and those who, for four years, have written in its pages under their own signatures with propriety and dignity gathered at the Writers’ Union for a free exchange of views on the newspaper’s position to date and what it should become in the future. The chairman of the Forum of Independent Albanian Intellectuals, Prof. Dr. Pandeli Cina, was also present at the meeting. “What the newspaper has done so far to become a newspaper readable by everyone has been to strive for a paper with culture, broad and contemporary information and, above all, truthful language on its pages,” said the editor-in-chief of “Republika,” among other things, in his opening remarks. The most important topic of this discussion was the newspaper’s future, which is closely connected with its intellectuals and closest contributors. The newspaper will soon come out three times a week, in a new, more suitable format, and with more ideas; soon it will become a daily, which means that it needs its intellectuals and all its well-wishers more than ever. Mr. Sabri Godo, chairman of the PRSH, spoke about the newspaper’s culture, the cultivated language rarely found in newspaper pages, and the issues troubling the nation today. He invited all Albanian intellectuals to find in “Republika” a newspaper in which they could freely express issues concerning the national question. “The newspaper must also boldly address the issues concerning Albania and the Albanians that are being discussed today in international organizations,” stressed the jurist Nafiz Bezhani. “We are the only nation in the world,” he emphasized, “whose borders on every side are with Albanians.” The writer Fatos Arapi also spoke about the nation and the Albanian question, which is in such a state today. “We must not allow the newspaper to descend into vulgarity,” he said, “but it should uphold the worthy signatures, as it has done until now, so that readers will buy it.” Those attending the meeting exchanged ideas about thematic relationships and a consistent political line. What was discussed there gives great promise that the intellectuals and contributors writing in “Republika” about everything that helps the Albanian media and concerns Athens will increase their commitment to ensuring that the newspaper’s future is a serious one.

The Chechen president, Dudajev, announced that he has formations of attack groups ready to launch concrete actions in Russia. In an interview, he added that “these groups have been formed to avenge the many people killed during the Russian bombings, and these volunteers have the addresses of the people responsible for the massacres of civilians in Chechnya.” Meanwhile, a “peace conference” opened in Moscow, organized by the Russian government, but [the participants] are pro-Russian, that is, in favor of the war.

The Association of the Union of Private Women of Albania, recognizing the current necessity and the particular importance borne by the LDSH, as the only force capable of cooperating in the political and economic fields to improve and strengthen Albanian democracy, as well as to fight corruption of any kind or color, and to wage a determined struggle against open or disguised communism. The executive board of this association was fully informed and studied the LDSH Declaration’s 14 points one by one. It declared, as its conclusion, that this League is the only driving and organizing force capable of lifting the country out of the political chaos and economic and social crisis that have engulfed it. We emphatically stress that the condition of Albanian women has fallen to the level of basic subsistence, and that their continuing deterioration is accelerating, simply because of the government’s incompetence and economic corruption. We unanimously decided to join the LDSH and strongly support this League’s ambitious program. All Albanian women are determined to continue fighting for their rights, which have repeatedly been denied them. This association will strive to be always present and ready alongside this League so that its program can be implemented 100%. Association of the Union of Private Women of Albania

Macedonia has erupted in ethnic discord. Its economy is declining as a result of the United States’ sanctions against Yugoslavia and the trade blockade imposed by Greece. There is also hostility between Macedonia’s Slavs, who make up the majority, and the minority of ethnic Albanians. Macedonia, this small country of 2.2 million people, independent for more than two years now, is heading toward a civil war that could easily lead to catastrophe—a regional war involving the former Yugoslavia, Greece, Albania and, inevitably, Europe, Russia and the United States. The issue that stands above all others is that of the ethnic Albanians. Since last October’s elections, relations between the two groups have steadily deteriorated; as a result, politics in Macedonia is beginning to resemble politics in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1990–1992. The dangers are evident, but the West has little interest in the internal balance in Macedonia because it is preoccupied with Bosnia. The main issue polarizing Macedonia’s Slavs and Albanians is a university. During the final years of the Yugoslav Federation, Macedonia’s communist authorities repeatedly denied Albanians the right to study in their own language. But after the breakup of the former Yugoslavia, the Albanians demanded the restoration of this right, as well as other rights through their participation in the new Government and Parliament, and they managed to secure some concessions. In the regions where Albanians predominate—in western Macedonia, which borders Albania, and in its capital, Skopje—students study in Albanian in a parallel system. Thus, over the past 30 years, only 100 of the 5,000 graduates of the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Skopje have been Albanians. The lack of access to education arose from an acute shortage of qualified Albanian teachers. Since Macedonia became a republic in its own right, the most influential Albanian party has forced the coalition government to establish a college to train teachers for Albanians. But Macedonia’s Slavs accuse the Albanians of trying to create political autonomy as a first step, by

The Cuban leader Fidel Castro began his tourist tour of Paris at Napoleon’s tomb. After a day of official meetings in the French capital, Castro “rediscovers” his traditional military uniform. After paying homage to Napoleon, a visit to the Eiffel Tower, and then to the Louvre. Castro’s visit has provoked considerable controversy among the political forces caught up in the election campaign for the presidential elections. “He is a dictator among us,” said Socialist candidate Jospin.

Yesterday in Kosovo The second secretary of the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade, Elisabet Bonkovsky, who visited Prishtina in recent days, was received by President Rugova. During the talks held on this occasion, she was briefed on the grave political, economic and social situation in Kosovo and on Serbian repression against Albanians. The meeting also addressed new regional developments. During her stay in Prishtina, Ms. Bonkovsky also met and held talks with representatives of several Albanian political parties, as well as directors of Albanian-language media outlets.

An Albanian is killed again The Kosovo Information Center reports that Serbian police shot and killed a young Albanian man from the village of Bunicë in Ferizaj. The Albanian Ejup Kasumi, 26, who had long been wanted by the Serbian police, was shot with a firearm on March 12 and died in the Prishtina hospital. He is the second Albanian victim in the first months of this year. Distorting the truth about this incident, the Serbian news agency TANJUG claims that the young Albanian “was armed with a hunting rifle and attacked the police patrol in the village of Greme in Ferizaj, forcing the latter to open fire.” But the Kosovo Information Center, citing statements by an eyewitness, says it appears that Ejup Kasumi was killed by Serbian police officers, who continued shooting at him even after he had fallen to the ground.

For our Noli—the icon of the Nation, p. 3 Schools are abandoned—no fines imposed, p. 2 PR activities in the districts, p. 2 Disappears along with 42 million lekë, p. 2 Crossword, football, curiosities... p. 4 Dudajev threatens Russia with attacks

On 22.02.1995, representatives of the Association of the Politically Persecuted, the Association of the Politically and Economically Persecuted, the Property and Justice Association, the National Front Party, the Legality Movement Party, and the Republican Party met to discuss the creation of the LDSH. The meeting unanimously decided to express its full agreement with the statement issued by the organizations in Durrës, dated 15.02.1995. Tregu Pana (chairman of the Republican Party branch), Vasil Logo (chairman of the Property and Justice Association branch), Ylli Kasa (chairman of the Politically Persecuted Party branch), Spartak Ismaili (secretary of the National Front), Kastriot Hasani (chairman of the Legality Movement), Mehmet Meco (chairman of the Association of the Politically and Economically Persecuted)

“We are of the opinion that the affairs of the Government are not going well. As an authoritative newspaper points out, the blame for this lies with the destructive, anachronistic, ruinous, obscurantist, undemocratic opposition. In the next elections, both voters and elected officials will have immunity, which, according to analysts, will strengthen internal democracy in Albania. Bravo to the journalist of the independent newspaper. He defended Albania like a man—and where? In the middle of Tirana! This shows once again that the brave have not died out in this ancient nation. It has happened before in the history of the transition that Albania has been defended, but it was defended in Bonn, New York and London, not in Tirana. There are also newspapers and journalists who openly defend Greece in the middle of Tirana, but that is not manly. Such a thing has become tiresome by now. My file is fair. Even if I have ever done any reporting work, I have told the truth. I haven’t made anything up. The day the files are opened, it will become clear that more than half of those who have files gave true information about what Uomosti-nin people on the streets and in cafés. They want to take away my kiosk. I will protest all the way to the UN. My kiosk, although unlicensed, has been permitted for ages. The future of the capital is kiosks. It is a great sin that they are tearing them down. Now that the kiosks are starting to become two-storey, they want to demolish them. In six months, even the 15-storey building will turn into a kiosk. The next Balkan war will be waged by the Socialists. Socialists are men of the gun. Their pistol goes off even without bullets. Why shouldn’t there be Greek schools in Bosë of Kukës? It has even been proved in court that in 1974 a judge passed through that area on assignment. Usually someone wants a university to be established here case by case, and will the irresponsibility give you? Greek nationalists, since you are here, let us break a few rules. Who do Albanians owe money to? The Chronicler