Under current conditions, talks between Belgrade and the Kosovo Albanians seem to have become a necessity for moving the situation created by the “neither war nor peace” deadlock forward. Recently, the launch of a dialogue between Belgrade and Prishtina has also received strong support from Tirana, which sees it, for its part, as a means of preventing the conflict that has erupted in the former Yugoslavia from spreading to Kosovo as well, where the chances of Albania also becoming involved would be high. It is known that the Serbian authorities themselves have expressed support for such a dialogue, but, unlike the Albanians, who are calling for a third party, the Serbs consider this unnecessary. Lately, there has been talk of the role Greece could play in a dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade. The many comments on this matter were prompted by a statement from Albanian President Berisha, in which he asked Greece “to urge Belgrade to begin dialogue with the leaders of the Kosovo Albanians.” Although Berisha asked Greece to play the role of “instigator” rather than “mediator,” the discussion has focused on the latter. But could Greece be the ideal mediator in the Serb-Albanian dialogue? Without the slightest hesitation, anyone would answer no. First, being a Balkan country, Greece would be more interested in a solution that suits its own interests—which, as is well known, coincide with those of Serbia—than in a fair solution. Even if the Greek side were to support some option that was partly favorable to the Albanians, there is no doubt that it would ask for the same thing for the Greeks living in Albania. Nor can the repercussions for our neighbors of assigning Greece such a role be ignored. But, bearing in mind Belgrade’s insistence on rejecting a third party, since that would deny the claim that “Kosovo is an internal matter of Serbia,” Greece’s role as supporter of Serb-Albanian dialogue could “tempt” Serbia to sit down for talks. However, Berisha’s aforementioned statement seems to be aimed more at other objectives. At the international level, the effort to involve Greece in the Kosovo issue would create the impression that Tirana has no prejudice against Athens, since it entrusts it with an issue of such importance. This would significantly reduce, in the eyes of the international community, the impact of Greek accusations against Albania should Greek-Albanian relations deteriorate in the future. At the domestic level, this move by Berisha is connected with hypotheses about the decisive role that the upcoming elections for the head of Greece will have in shaping Albanian political forces. In this regard, as a consequence of the policy pursued by this government, Berisha’s party itself, unlike the Left or the parties of the Center-Left, does not enjoy the status of “favorite” with Greece. Thus, such a step by Berisha toward Greece may be seen as an attempt to regain lost ground in this respect. Perhaps this was also influenced by a certain “abandonment” by the Greeks of some of their “anti-Berisha” friends. Viewed in this way, Berisha’s move—and the comments from the Left, which exaggerate it somewhat—may be seen as an effort to put him in a difficult position vis-à-vis the nationalist forces and the Kosovo Albanians themselves. And indeed, it is interesting to predict whether Berisha will be followed by pressure from the Right, or whether he will continue the race to grab the largest share of the Greek “cake.”

From Saturday… The Press and Information Office of PRSH announces that from April 15–19, 1995, the chairmen of the entities making up LDSH will undertake a tour of meetings with the public in several cities in southern Albania. The itinerary will be: 1. Saturday, April 15, 11:00 a.m., rally in Tepelenë. 2. Sunday, April 16, 11:00 a.m., rally in Përmet. 3. Monday, April 17, rally in Gjirokastër. 4. Tuesday, April 18, rally in Delvinë. 5. Wednesday, April 19, rally in Sarandë. The chairmen of the PR branches in these districts, in cooperation with the local chairmen of the other entities making up LDSH, should take all necessary measures to organize these rallies as well as possible. Gjirokastra, Delvina and Saranda should announce the times of their rallies. For any necessary clarification, branch chairmen should contact the PRSH central headquarters. Press and Information Office

At the PR headquarters, a friendly meeting was held on April 11 between the chairman of PRSH, Mr. Sabri Godo, and Ms. Barbera Shëfnagel, a deputy of the Austrian Freedom Party, with the mediation of Mr. Herman Fidler, VPL representative in Albania. The warm conversation that took place created the conditions for a better and fuller understanding of the views and party structures of both sides. A special place in the meeting was given to discussion of the current problems concerning land in Albania, the present communist law used by the government, the government’s claims about the percentages of land distribution and the inaccuracy of these figures, which represent differing percentages in land distribution, and the taking of the so-called title deeds. The honored deputy was continued on p. 4

Teodor Laço, the latest forecaster of election results, after an anonymous forecast under the pseudonym “Eu-robarometri,” has come out with a prediction of more than 10% for the entire Right. Although Mr. Laço is more generous toward “the Right” than the anonymous “Eurobarometri,” he is even more generous toward the BDNJ party, which he puts as high as 15%, seeing it as a future partner in government alongside people from the “big parties.” Although Mr. Laço is trying to sell us another fantasy about the size of the Right by telling us one truth (whether or not his party will get any votes). As for his own party, we tell him he has not made a mistake—but he should stop there and go no further if he wants people to recognize him as a good forecaster. We had thought that the thesis that one way to ensure electoral success is to flatter PBDNJ and Greece had been devised and promoted by parties a little further to the left than Mr. Laço. Be that as it may, we lack Mr. Laço’s forecasting abilities and cannot predict how much he will achieve with his allies. Nevertheless, one cannot help thinking that one needs something more than forecasting ability to “see” a Greek party in the next Albanian government. On the other hand, the question arises: how is it that from all sides we hear “serious predictions,” “leaks of secret polls,” and interviews with “experts” on Albanian politics, all just to find a reason to portray the Right as large as the Left would like? In any case, their fear is not unfounded. Nevertheless, the elections are very close—closer than Mr. Laço would like—and, if it proves worthwhile, we will go and ask Mr. Laço after the elections where the formulas he stole from Gjinushi failed him.

The heads of 15 Albanian newspapers, independent and party-affiliated, national and local, unionized and non-unionized in journalists’ associations, met yesterday to coordinate the necessary actions against unjustifiable taxes that burden and threaten the existence of the written press in Albania. At the conclusion of the meeting, it was decided: 1. To establish a committee for the protection of the written press, composed of: Nikollë Lesi, Carlo Bolino, Ilirian Zhupa, Shpëtim Nazarko, Luan Rama and Lutfij Dervishi. The committee was assigned responsibility for determining the actions needed to free the press from unbearable taxes and fees. 2. The committee, bearing in mind that pluralism of information is a supreme value of democracy, undertakes to act independently of the political interests of the parties. 3. Within the coming week, the committee will prepare legislative amendments to abolish turnover taxes, taxes on advertising and customs duties on the presses, printing equipment and raw materials for the press. 4. In the meantime, the committee will seek meetings with all political forces represented in Parliament, with the Minister of Finance, Mr. Dylber Vrioni, and with the Parliamentary Media Commission.

A delegation from the Foreign Policy Committee of the Albanian Parliament, headed by the committee’s chairman, Eduard Selami, traveled to Athens yesterday, becoming the first to respond to the Greek invitation. It is understood that during their two days in Athens, the Albanian MPs will be received at separate meetings by the Speaker of the Greek Parliament, by Foreign Minister Papulias, and by the chairman and counterpart committee on foreign policy in Greece. The delegations will discuss reaching agreements on several issues that were also raised during Papulias’s visit to Tirana, where cross-border problems and the legalization of Albanian economic migrants are expected to be among the most important issues. VOA

Mit ingi i LDSH në Shkodër On 9.04.1995, at the “Migjeni” Theatre in the city of Shkodra, LDSH held a meeting with the residents of the city. Attending the meeting were representatives of LDSH, the chairman of the Association of the Politically Persecuted, and the current chairman of the Albanian Right-Wing League, Mr. Kurt Kola; the deputy chairman of the Balli Kombëtar Party, Mr. Hysen Selfo; the chairman of the Legality Movement Party, Dr. Guri Durollari; the chairman of the Republican Party, Mr. Sabri Godo; the chairman of the Association of the Economically and Politically Persecuted, Mr. Haki Hajdari; the secretary of the Democratic Union, Harri Mandri; the secretary of LDSH, Mr. Besim Ndre Gjoni; and the son of the chairman of the Association of the Persecuted for the city of Shkodra, Mr. Nike Pavaci. Mr. Nike Pavaci delivered the opening remarks at the gathering. After introducing the LDSH representatives at the meeting, among other things he called the creation of LDSH a new and important covenant for the nation’s destiny, ranking it after the League of Lezha established by Skënderbeu and the League of Prizren. In his speech, Mr. Nike Pavaci stressed that now or never, for us as Albanian nationalists and anti-communists, this League can fulfil the wishes and dreams of this long-suffering people. Supporting and strengthening the right, he stressed, serves only the future of this people. On behalf of the organizing council, he called for the unification of nationalist right-wing forces and the formation of a common front, appealing to one another to pursue a single aim: to prevent the return of communism to Albania. He then gave an overview of the current political situation in Albania and focused on the law on the sale and purchase of land, which, he stressed, would cause social conflicts and could even provoke civil war in Albania. Selfo, gave a detailed explanation of the LDSH program of land. He stressed that this law could be fair, and the land could be sold and bought, only after the land had been returned to its owner—more precisely, its lawful owner. This law is being implemented solely in order to erase the traces of ownership; therefore, he stressed, we must tell Parliament and the Government, by means of a petition, that the people oppose the sale and purchase of land. Mr. Selfo then described the right to a referendum on choosing the form of government as an expression of the people’s free political will. He discussed the problem of clandestine emigration and its consequences, corruption, and organized crime. One of the most pressing problems at the center of LDSH’s attention is resolving the national question: the unification of our territories, unjustly divided. After Mr. Selfo’s speech, LDSH leaders Godo, Durollari, Kola and Hajdari answered numerous questions from the audience about the land-sale issue, early elections, the draft Constitution that was not approved, how to hold a referendum on choosing the form of government—Monarchy or Republic—and the Albanian Right-Wing League’s relations with Kosovo, among other matters. Asked whether the election campaign had begun, Mr. Godo answered in the affirmative, but stressed that it had not yet been officially announced. Regarding the percentages cited by Eurobarometer as possible election results for LDSH, Mr. Godo stressed that these figures were unfounded, since LDSH had not yet been formed when those conclusions were drawn. He added that the Government could conduct a poll through the Association for Democratic Culture, but apparently it was afraid to do so. Only March would show what percentage LDSH would receive, he said at the end of his answer. The meeting lasted about four hours. Shkodra expressed its enthusiasm for the creation of LDSH and, at the same time, showed its willingness and desire to support its program as the only alternative for preventing communism from returning to power.

The Executive Board of the Albanian Journalists’ Association considers the sudden increase in the price of newsprint a threat to the existence of the Albanian press. The Albanian Journalists’ Association has repeatedly asked the Ministry of Finance to work together to find ways to assist the Albanian press with regard to taxes and duties, particularly in the new situation that has arisen. The Albanian Journalists’ Association insists that a dialogue with the Government begin to reduce taxes and duties. We believe there is room to ease the financial burden on the press by reconsidering and reducing taxes and duties. At the same time, the Albanian Journalists’ Association regrets the repeated politicization of newspapers and their managers, who claim to be private enterprises while also seeking financial protection. In the great game of the market economy, the free press and all [unclear] must protect themselves from bankruptcy through their own [unclear] and [unclear]. The Albanian Journalists’ Association is opposed to the instrumentalization of budgetary appropriations in a matter as sensitive as the press. The Executive Board of the Albanian Journalists’ Association considers it necessary to request meetings with Government representatives to urgently examine the reduction of taxes and duties. Chairman of the Albanian Journalists’ Association YLLI RAKIPI

“The man who fell from the pear tree and climbed onto the wall” does not [unclear]; he claims he has eaten apples and has started selling fish. When he gets down from the fig tree, he will no longer be accepted in Dardhë. Those who fall from the fig tree are no longer accepted by the pear tree. They do not foresee a good future for those who have fallen from the pear tree. For the wood of the pear tree is not as valuable as that of the walnut tree. I agree that Greece should mediate to divide the Albanian nation in Epirus. Serbia can mediate so that Greece begins a dialogue with the Cham people about self-determination for Camëria, without the presence of any other party. Albania is breaking the blockade against Serbia. Thousands of tonnes of oil passed last night through the port of Durrës in a matter of minutes. We have declared that we are for strengthening the resistance. If the embargo on Serbia is lifted and it buys Greek fuel, it will not buy it from us. On the occasion of the commander’s anniversary, guards of honor will be posted by his grave for a month. The chairman of the commemorative commission, Fadil Namik Vehbie Hoti, made the following statement on this occasion: Namiku (Dokle) will be in the first building, as he will have some business with the chairman of the committee for verifying mandates and immunities, Comrade Fehmi Abdiu. Chairman Hoti foresees a place in the last building for Nano as well. The guards of honor will change every 25 hours. The Socialists who had supported early elections are now calling for elections at the proper time. The Socialists who once called for socialist democracy have changed their tune; now they call for democratic socialism. The price of paper has gone up, but words are still cheap. So it would be best for the responsible comrades to go, if possible, and listen to what people have to say and to the decisions made by the customs authorities and the people. KRONIKANI

How aggression in the media can take place Page 3

Regarding the Eurobarometer results for the elections in Albania, published by the newspaper “Koha Jonë” on 6 April 1995, the PRSH spokesperson contacted the newspaper’s editorial office. The editors of “Koha Jonë” explained that publishing the result of 1% for PR was simply a typographical error and that PRSH had been counted as included in LDSH. The PRSH spokesperson distributed a press statement declaring that the figure of 6% for LDSH was considered inaccurate, since the poll had been conducted when this League did not yet exist. In addition, the poll did not include the Association of the Politically Persecuted and the lah-Kulakëve. PRSH spokesperson

the ideal mediator in the dialo- effect of the Greek accusations directed G. LEVONJA