06/04/1995
Original newspaper scan
scroll · drag · double-click

Republika

6 April 1995

Strong support for the RIGHT-WING ALLIANCE

Korça and Pogradec welcomed the leaders of the Right-Wing Alliance following successful meetings in the cities of Elbasan, Durrës and Vlorë. On April 2 at 11:00, around 800 people from Korçë filled the premises of the “Çajupi” Theater, while many others remained outside its doors. After the chairman of the Korçë branch of the Association of Former Political Persecutees offered his greetings, the leaders of LDSH took the floor in turn: Kurt Kola, Sabri Godo, Guri Durollari, Hysen Selfo, Haki Hajdari, and the PBD representative Hajri Manzi. Just one day later, another equally successful meeting was held in Pogradec. The large turnout showed that LDSH also enjoys broad support in this gem of a city. Speech by Mr. SABRI GODO, delivered at the Korçë rally on April 2, 1995 ... and in Pogradec on March 3, 1995 People from various walks of life are becoming increasingly convinced that the country needs the Right in power. Although our Alliance consists of different entities, it expresses a single purpose: the struggle for the unity of the Nation, respect for the free vote, and an economy based on private property. These aspirations kept the people’s spirit alive under the dark communist regime, and these were the goals the people sought to achieve through the victory of democracy. Our current chairman, Mr. Kurt Kola, asked me to speak here about the Right-Wing Alliance’s position on property. But I cannot leave Korçë without also saying a few words about the national question, because Korçë has been at the forefront of the efforts for the independence of the Homeland and the liberation of the Albanians. The whole country owes a great debt to the patriots and chieftains of the Korçë district who gave their lives for the nation, under the enemy’s bullets, knife and poison. The bells did not ring for the death of Papa Kristo Negovani; Petro Nini Luarasi was [??]; Themistokli Gërmenji was treacherously killed on foreign soil. Their sacrifices, as well as those of hundreds of other patriots from this district, will live forever in our hearts. With this glorious tradition, Korçë continues to contribute to the democratic state. But, unfortunately, there are also people who forget where they come from and what they are, who incite crime and religious divisions, and are not ashamed even to deny their nationality. When bloody chauvinist wars are being fought in the Balkans, and the Albanian nation may achieve unity or lose it for a long time, we should join hands rather than tear apart what ... Five years ago, the authorities would declare you an enemy of the people and put you in prison if you spoke about private property. Three years ago, people began to raise their voices about the benefits of property and to demand it. Today, everyone is convinced that there can be no individual freedom or economic development without private property. This includes a large section of the Democrats and the Socialists themselves, who speak quietly about inherited private property but do not openly declare their position, because it would conflict with their parties’ policies. It is easier to talk about property in Pogradec than in any other city in Albania, because most of the citizens here have a job or a trade, and used to have a piece of land or a two-dynym vineyard for food and to make wine for the long winter. Communism could not tolerate this “bourgeois” life of the people of Pogradec, so it stripped them entirely of every kind of property. There was only one thing it could not do: uproot the idea of property from their minds, because it has been rooted in human beings since the beginning of time. Ownership of land is twice as important in Pogradec, because the areas around the city could flourish again, and tourism could also begin with foreign investment, since Pogradec is one of the most beautiful places in the Balkans and has the clearest lake in Europe. Land here is priceless. You have seen for yourselves what has been done across from you in Ohrid and especially in Prespa, even though they lived under a fading communism there. Here, some have returned to their land and may say they are no longer interested. But land ownership remains a problem for everyone, since our law is applied differently in different places: in some areas according to self-government, and elsewhere according to the current per-capita distribution law—not only from one region to another, but even within a single district. This creates uncertainty for everyone and affects foreigners in particular, who first want to see the private title deed, and then a legal framework and a banking system that will guarantee their investments. But today’s government, instead of moving in a European direction, continues to deepen the communist reforms. The people must not allow the government to lead them by the nose; rather, the people must tell the government what it should do. That is the fundamental law of democracy. For us, as a people, to be able to do this, we must understand the problems and know what to demand and how to demand it. That is why it is more useful to focus on substantive discussions and active measures rather than deal only in slogans. Continued on page 2 and those of hundreds of other patriots of this district will remain forever alive in our hearts. With this glorious tradition, Korça continues to contribute to the democratic state. But, unfortunately, I know that and what they are, incite crime and religious divisions, and do not blush even when they deny their nationality. When bloody chauvinist wars are being waged in the Balkans, when a long time, we should lend one another a hand and not be misled by the currents of the times. The Albanian Right-Wing League supports true friendship with Greece. You cannot be a man of this country if you do not get along with your neighbor. Today’s Greece ranks among the leading countries in the world in the development of democracy. But some circles, with considerable influence, whose bases are located around our land and sea borders, are doing everything they can to steer matters in another direction. We are pleased to see that the Greek government has recently taken some measures to curb these circles, something that was greeted with excessive enthusiasm by the Albanian government. Yet many problems remain. To this day, the Greek parliament has not signed the recognition of the state borders; the property of the Albanian population forcibly expelled from Greece has not been recognized; and, with emigration, it is often a game of cat and mouse. For our part, we are not seeking a change of borders; we recognize the full right of Albanian citizens of Greek nationality to their lawful property. continued on page 2

Albanians, pacifists and “pro-American”

According to American polls Last year, the research division of the American Department... Last year, the research division of the American Department of ... of the United States (Office of Research and Media Re-

Beyond the occupation

April 7: 56 years ago, Mussolini’s armies would attack Albania, which they would occupy without much difficulty. Aggression against other countries and occupations have been phenomena that, regardless of their character and scale in different historical periods, have accompanied humanity even in modern times. Small countries such as Albania were naturally suitable targets for the ambitions not only of great powers, but also of our neighbors. Viewed from this perspective, the fascist occupation of April 7 would not be considered a great “disaster.” Various occupiers would remain for a while, briefly or at length, and one day leave, compelled by internal struggles for freedom, or perhaps more as a result of international circumstances. Albania itself represents a special experience in this regard, having seen the most diverse occupiers on its soil. Historically, there have been cases in which an occupier was also a liberator. In this respect, it should also be noted that, regardless of its aims, fascism united the lands inhabited by ethnic Albanians. For Albania, the misfortune caused by the fascist occupation lay elsewhere. First, it cut Albania off from Europe, toward which it had made admirable progress in a short time. Second, it interrupted the operation of the mechanisms of a state governed by law, whose effectiveness had been steadily increasing. Along with this, the newly awakened desire of Albanians to cooperate with the state by obeying its laws also faded. And this was not a consequence of a monarchist or republican system, but simply of the state’s own conduct. But the worst of all was that what happened on that April 7, 1939, would pave the way for the establishment of the communist regime, which would violate Albania and the Albanians. These days, as we commemorate April 7, a poll has been published in which only 23% of the Albanians surveyed said they were in favor of defending the Homeland. It is enough to compare this fact with the fervent atmosphere that prevailed in the first days of that April, when Albanians were asking for weapons, to show what communism has done to the Albanian people. G. L.

SHIK’s eye and ear in the Northern Epirus associations

Greek newspaper “Ta Nea” mythologizes the Albanian Secret Service The penetration of agents of the Albanian state secret service into the mechanisms of the Northern Epirus associations in Ioannina took place during the Micotaqis Government. Thus, the famous SHIK not only knew of the existence of MABH, but also succeeded in bringing charges against five Omonia officials, having first monitored the activities of Northern Epirus organizations. Northern Epirus circles in Ioannina and Albania blame the Northern Epirus organizations and KYP (the Greek secret service) officials for the arrest of the five and their being sent to trial, which resulted in a worsening of Greek-Albanian relations. A large group of Albanian spies had infiltrated the bodies of various Northern Epirus foundations and organizations, which subsidized only the activities of Northern Epirus organizations, as well as the KYP office—which dealt with all the other matters of Epirus, especially those concerning Omonia and Akritas Northern Epirotes. These … While the Albanian press usually writes about SHIK with irony, the Greek press writes about it with respect and fear. According to the newspaper “Ta Nea,” SHIK had many Northern Epirus associations under surveillance, through which the trial of the five members of the minority was made possible. Here is what the article says, with some abridgment: …police officials and members of Northern Epirus associations pass through. Another reference to MABH concerns April ’93, when the Albanian secret service investigated two Northern Epirotes from Delvina, whom it arrested for writing slogans calling for autonomy. Its interest focused on whether any organization called MABH existed and what its relations were with the KYP officials in Ioannina. One of the seven arrested, Apostolos Karvelas, was one of Jorgo Papadhopulli’s visitors (the leader of the Unitarian Junta in Greece). It is also reported that Thoma Dhriaka, who dropped leaflets from his airplane over Albanian territory last November, had visited the same person. This discovery clearly points to MABH’s connections with people from the Junta. A young SHIK agent at the Greek Dejona Foundation … One indication of the penetration of the Greek services is the report that was successfully put together. In this way, the Greeks managed to gather information. Thus the Greek agents … Translated by: Ilir Pilo …Greek women who went to Albania acting as interpreters, and in this way she prepared detailed reports for her service on all meetings with members of the minority. The leaders of various organizations and senior KYP officials in Ioannina had such great confidence in this young woman that the intervention of an official from the New Democracy Party government got her a salaried position at the Foundation. At the same time, she enrolled at the University of Thessaloniki to study Greek and become fluent in the language. The strangest thing is that the agent took part in the high-level delegation led by Micotaqis during his visit to Tirana, including at the meeting with Ramiz Alia, in the role of interpreter. When the Greek secret services picked up the young woman’s trail, she was accused in a … manner. Her identity was kept secret within KYP and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Propaganda materials for the Socialist Party have begun entering at Greek customs checkpoints and will be used during the election campaign. At the same time, at border crossings with Greece, Greek customs forms have been “decorated” with the insignia of the sister Socialist Party. Nor are the Northern Epirus cries of those accused in the Albanian commercial area on this side of the border absent: Long live Northern Epirus, Sebastianos, PASOK–PS, etc.

PASOK and PS have begun the election campaign

PASOK–PS, etc. LONG LIVE NORTHERN EPIRUS! ... [illegible handwriting]. POSSH. (Mark on the sheet)

LDSH communiqué

The plenary meeting of the executive boards of the entities making up the Albanian Right-Wing Alliance, held on April 4, 1995, reviewed and approved the activities of March. It noted the further strengthening of the Alliance and complete mutual understanding. The plenary meeting adopted the following decisions: 1. To oppose with all its strength the criminal bill on the sale and purchase of land. The signing of a nationwide petition is to begin in all districts, using proper forms that will be sent from the central office. All citizens eligible to vote are to be included in the petition. The Coordinating Commission at the central office and the district commissions are charged with implementing this decision. 2. To demand full transparency regarding the privatization of national wealth and the distribution of securities. The Alliance will adopt its position on this major issue in light of further developments. 3. The Albanian Right-Wing Alliance will take part in the next elections with joint candidates. It will submit to Parliament an amendment to the electoral law providing for coalitions to be accepted as electoral entities. Alongside the name of the joint candidate, voters are also to vote for the party/coalition they prefer. 4. To establish the Alliance’s coordinating commissions in all districts. These commissions may accept the membership of other right-wing entities that wish to join the Alliance, subject to specified requirements and without changing the Alliance’s founding program under any circumstances. 5. The state bodies of the entities making up the Alliance are to coordinate their work at meetings every 15 days, to ensure the best possible presentation of the Alliance’s activities and to make readers familiar with its program. The current chairman of the Albanian Right-Wing Alliance KURT KOLA

Inside:

Albanians, peace-loving and “pro-American”

State conducted a survey in many Eastern European countries, based on a sample of 1,000 residents. This kind of survey, which had been classified as secret, did not make its way into the six-year-old sensations. This document was signed by the Office of Researchers and Media Reaction of the US Information Agency (Office of Research and Media Reaction at the US Information Agency, USIA). The document was published in the Croatian press, where it was presented in several sections analyzing Croatia. We are publishing the table in which Albania appears, with some notes relating to several issues. Continued on page 3

Inside: “REPUBLIKA” has always told the truth, it seems

— page 3

From the chronicles

“Today spring has begun. Three kinds of viruses have attacked our country. Three kinds of viruses against our fragile democracy. Not even America can help us against this calamity. The state budget does not include expenses to stimulate corruption in areas where it is not at the appropriate level. I am in favor of increasing the budget, but reducing taxes. We will make up the difference with the debts owed to us by the European countries and America. I propose that my budget be approved because it is the best, the most beautiful, and every bit of it is calculated in lek. My immunity not only saved me from the flu this winter, it also saved me from arrest. They wanted to arrest me, but could not because I had immunity. As for the party we are forming, I will make it public in the coming days. I don’t know whether to position myself to the left or right of the DP, the SP, and vice versa. There is room on the right, whatever for, since on that side there is a right-winger all by himself, and nothing is coming his way. What’s his name? No need to tell you! He says it himself in the newspaper… because he writes in the paper quite often, not just occasionally. Democratization will last as long as the dictatorship. Institutional reform will last as long as electrification. The fight against corruption as long as the class struggle. And the building of infrastructure as long as the draining of the marshes. Who caused the Greek-Albanian crisis? I don’t know, but I do know that a film will be made about this. If I don’t get the leading role in this republic, then I will surrender my immunity. What do I care? Is this what I’ve been fighting all these wars for? We are a very optimistic people; we don’t lose hope even after death. We are the hopes of defeat, but we don’t lose hope that they will return to us… C H R O N I C L E S N I”