Italy deploys the army on its shores . The danger comes from Albania. The Albanian government should at least turn back the Asian pilgrims. Starting tomorrow, Italy will deploy the army to protect its southern shores from the wave of illegal migrants setting out from Albania; this migration is organized on both sides of the Adriatic. Such a measure was taken following the numerous waves of illegal migrants. In the past few months alone, the Italian coast guard has repatriated around 8,000 undocumented Albanians. The presence of Italian soldiers on the shores facing Albania gives a completely different impression from the one created by the presence of the military contingent of Operation Pelican in Albania during the difficult years of ’91–’92. Such a measure is indeed an internal administrative measure by the Italian state, but the problem certainly cannot be solved unilaterally. Albania and Italy are two countries that his- [map] Nor should the friendly attitudes of Italian local authorities in some provinces be denied; they have not failed to find jobs for Albanians and, in some cases, even provide them with documents. It should also be mentioned that Italy has never used the Albanians living there as political hostages, as Greece has now made standard practice. The Italian government’s latest measure, deploying the army on its own southern Adriatic shores, should make the Albanian government think seriously. The fight against illegal migration to Italy must begin on our shores. The press has for some time reported on the “export” of smuggling, drugs, and organized prostitution carried out by gangs with networks on both sides of the Adriatic; nevertheless, our government’s measures to curb a phenomenon whose “smoke” will rise tomorrow can be equated with zero. The relevant Albanian authorities must be more rigorous with the Asian “pilgrims,” for whom the Albanian coast has become a place of pilgrimage. Such a responsible stance by the Albanian side would make Italy more willing to help settle Albanian migrants in Italy and, why not, in the near future also ease procedures for organized employment, such as seasonal work. Albania in the difficult years of the Italian state, but the problem can in no way have historically helped one another since the Middle Ages. During the Second World War, the 25,000 Italian soldiers who remained in Albania were treated with great kindness by the Albanians. Italy is Albania’s main trading partner, and relations with Albania should be strengthened. Italy, a member of the G-7, is Albania’s true gateway to Europe. Therefore, a greater presence of Italian investment in our country is necessary. This is dictated by geographical proximity, historical ties, language, temperament and, above all, political interests. To give impetus to the development of bilateral trade, it is essential to create facilities for long-term visas for Albanian traders. The establishment of several consulates in coastal cities, whose ports also handle the largest volume of traffic between the two countries, would also help in this regard. A significant new element in strengthening relations between the two countries is emigration. And when it comes to the problems of Albanian emigration, Albanians should not be put on the same footing as others. The fact that many young people who go to Italy find work shows that there are opportunities to legalize emigration. Nevertheless, it is not possible

This conference is being followed with interest not only by political forces but also by ordinary citizens. Your presence and participation in solving the problems weighing on our society are of the utmost importance. Any attempt to diminish the Association’s role or change its direction is both harmful and futile. Your Association has a specific political function, which it took upon itself long ago. The first opponents of communism were those executed, imprisoned, and interned in 1945; their numbers grew year after year, in proportion to the intensifying pressure of the dictatorship, reaching hundreds of thousands by the victory of democracy. It can be said that the roots of the Association go back even further, to 1941, when Enver Hoxha’s Communist Party was founded. Even during the war, and especially as it drew to a close, it began eliminating everyone it regarded as dangerous once the dictatorship had been established. With such origins, your Association is undoubtedly the backbone of the entire people’s struggle to resist communism. Through your actions and your lives, you kept the feeling for freedom alive among the people. Even when most people were losing hope, through self-sacrifice you told them that the people could not be enslaved forever and that democracy would come one day. You emerged from the long, more than 50-year struggle with enormous losses, which must be compensated, but Continued on p. 3 Godo greets the proceedings of the National Conference of the Association of Former Political Persecutees

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All those who are aware that their creative abilities are at Konica’s level or greater should immediately present themselves to the competent authorities to be registered, so that they may be treated appropriately in the future. Taking into account the arguments recently put forward by some intellectuals, who used the latest event as a pretext to point out their discrimination as intellectuals, with the idea that... When this registration of intellectuals is carried out, we ask you not to be modest in any way. In this case, their modesty would be a betrayal. Sponsorships for their salaries may be delayed. Following the reworking of Zululand, the authorities have agreed to rework the other works. A competition is announced for the reworking of the Rocky Garden... Taking into account the increasingly frequent attacks by the socialists against Marxist, the authorities have decided to issue a law to protect distinguished personalities. The competent authorities have been informed by other competent authorities that, in moderate socialist circles, an even more scandalous attack is being prepared against another great figure... However much everyone may guess, the person in question is the great E. H. We call on the population not to fall for provocations.

p. 2

By Jerina Zaloshnia p. 6

By Baton Haxhiu p. 4

Interview with R. Baxhios p. 7

By Ian Tickle P. 6

P. 7–8