The President of Parliament rejects the accusations against him and speaks about infiltrators in prison Arbnori: Publish the secret files The President of Parliament rejects the accusations against him and speaks about infiltrators in prison “I was not the Sigurimi spy” Arbnori: Publish the secret files CARLO BOLLINO TIRANA — “Me, an agent of the Sigurimi in prison? That’s false. I would not have lived 25 years behind bars, and the socialist press would not be attacking me today, if I had been one of them. No, it isn’t true. And I’ll tell you more: I am once again calling for the secret archives of the Sigurimi to be opened. The files of all politicians, members of parliament and judges must be made public: this is a decision the government must make. And I am convinced that it will happen.” Pjetër Arbnori, President of Parliament, rejects the accusations made by former Sigurimi employee Luan Pobrati, who, from New York, calls him an agent of the communist secret service known by the pseudonym “Koromania.” And he takes the position that the secret archives of the Ministry of the Interior should be opened. With a plan: “An investigative commission must be set up,” says Arbnori, “to punish all those who have manipulated or destroyed the files.” Do you perhaps mean that someone has falsified the Sigurimi files? “I know for certain that even files belonging to employees of Parliament, who have nothing at all to do with the Sigurimi, have been destroyed. Just imagine, then, what may have happened to other, more confidential documents.” Pjetër, regarding the accusations made against you, do you know whether there were Sigurimi collaborators among the political prisoners? “Of course. I myself was made offers of this kind, and I was persecuted even more because I refused. Once, in Burrel prison, we found outside a letter addressed to the Sigurimi, denouncing Gjet Kadeli, Eduard Marashi and other cellmates, including me. That man is now among those accusing me of having been ‘Koromania,’ you understand?” Do you believe it is right to make the Sigurimi files public? “I am convinced that it is right. But not those of ordinary people. The files of members of parliament, judges and people involved in politics should be made public. Not those of just anyone; that would only cause hatred. During my imprisonment I learned some shocking, chilling stories. I remember a man who was convicted because his son had been a witness. The testimony was forced through violence: after leaving the courtroom, the son threw himself under the wheels of a car.” Is it true, as some observers say, that Albania today needs national reconciliation more than anything? “Look, the strangest thing is that today the first to call for national forgiveness in Albania are the criminals of the past. I believe national reconciliation has been achieved; only the criminals, who were and remain outside the nation, have not been reconciled. And one principle must be clear: I can forgive only someone who acknowledges his own mistakes and repents.” So you are in favor of political trials? “I am in favor of trials against anyone who has committed crimes. If someone prefers to call it a political trial, let them. Every day we see people on our streets—former prison directors, former police officers, former judges—stained by terrible crimes and atrocities. Any law in the world would condemn them for what they have done.” Albania is a country still without a Constitution. When will the new one be approved? “We have set a deadline, which is June 16. A commission is working at a rapid pace, but it does not depend on me. I believe the main work has been done; some principles are clear. For example, Albania will not be a presidential republic but a parliamentary one. I mean that the president will not be a puppet, but neither will he have unlimited power. The problems lie elsewhere...” Such as? “The opposition. This happened with the Law on Justice and Human Rights. It is unbelievable, but it was precisely the opposition that fought it. There must be full consensus on the Constitution. But we think they are preparing for a great battle, because they do not want a Constitution; they want a parliamentary crisis.” President of Parliament Pjetër Arbnori

Tension in Tirana and Shkodër: organizers detained Government: “We will tolerate no more” Tension in Tirana and Shkodër: organizers detained Police break up former owners’ hunger strikes Government: “We will tolerate no more” The compromise reached in recent days between representatives of the authorities and the former owners, who had been on hunger strike since May 20, came to an end very quickly. Rapid intervention police forces in Shkodër and Tirana intervened and forcibly dispersed the hunger strikers. There were also moments of tension during the police operation. Police detained the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the “Pronësi me Drejtësi” Association for eight hours. The government spokesperson stated that the police intervention had been carried out in order to protect the lives of the hunger strikers, who were on the verge of self-sacrifice. The government warned that it would not tolerate any kind of pressure that puts people’s lives at risk. TIRANA — (Fa.Ba.) — The police intervention to disperse the former owners and former kulaks, who had been protesting in a hunger strike for more than two weeks, provoked a reaction from the Association of Former Kulaks and the “Pronësi me Drejtësi” Association. A protest statement was delivered to the President and to foreign embassies in Tirana. The Secretary of the “Pronësi me Drejtësi” Association, Çamil Hamzaraj, denounced the actions of a special headquarters operating in one of the premises of the Republican Party headquarters. The head of this headquarters, Abedin Preza, explained the Association’s position in the new situation to the “Gazeta”: “We consider the police intervention brutal and have protested forcefully against it. Some hunger strikers had to receive treatment in hospital after the intervention. We have received reports that the police will soon act in the same way against hunger strikers in other cities, such as Vlorë and Elbasan. Many of the hunger strikers whom the police sent back to their districts have said they will return to resume the protest.” SHKODËR — (Ar. Ça.) — The hunger strike in Shkodër, which was at risk of becoming a “death strike,” ended with police intervention late at night. The building where the protest had been taking place since May 20 is now empty. The former owners and former kulaks of Shkodër, who had been the first to begin the hunger strike, reacted angrily to this action. Burhan Ulqinaku, head of the strike, currently in hospital because of his deteriorating health, told the “Gazeta”: “It was an inhumane act, one we did not expect from the new democratic government. If the strike was illegal, then the police, with their batons and helmets, could have done their job two or three days earlier instead of waiting until its twentieth day.” The hunger strikers say they will leave the building where they had barricaded themselves the following day, a day after the police intervention. This will be followed by a rally in the square in front of the former atheist museum. Why so late, when hunger strikers in other cities had decided to end their protest? “Because most of us are from villages around the city,” replies Burhan Ulqinaku, “and our families needed time to come to Shkodër.” they had barricaded themselves after a day. to come to Shkodër.”

. SHKODËR — (Ar.Ça) - Another car accident in Shkodër. This time Roza Pepaj, 24, a mother of three, lost her life. The vehicle, which had set off from Shkodër for Tirana, crashed near Bushat after the front two tires blew out. The person accompanying the victim in the car, Hilë Zali, 50, was also seriously injured and is in hospital today. Another person happened to become a victim of the accident while crossing the road: Loro Doda, 33. Shkodër Traffic Police immediately detained the driver, Dedë Laci. According to the hospital doctors, the condition of the two injured people is very serious. This accident adds to the many incidents in Shkodër this week.

The graves of those killed during the Second World War are being sought . Appeal from the Italian military mission: “Help us find the remains.” TIRANA — (Fa.Ba) - A three-person delegation from the General Commissariat for “Honouring the Fallen” of the Italian Ministry of Defence has begun excavations to find the remains of Italian soldiers killed during the Second World War. The commission, headed by Major Ciro Cantore, is appealing to all Albanians who can contribute to the recovery of the remains of Italian soldiers. “If anyone knows anything, let us know. You will help us carry out our duty with honour,” Cantoro appeals through the “Gazeta,” giving his address in Albania as well: the Italian Embassy in Tirana. Yesterday Major Cantore’s mission began excavations in a village near Tepelenë to find the remains of two Italian soldiers. The information had come from Albanian citizens, and the identification of the graves is almost certain. On Monday the Italian military mission will begin searches in the Çermenikë region to find the burial place of 129 carabinieri who were captured by the partisan forces of the First Brigade, commanded by Mehmet Shehu, in October 1943, after being occupied by the fascists. This episode came to light after the moving testimony of former partisan commander Kadri Hoxha, who, after many years, told the Italian Commission for the Fallen everything he knew about this tragic event. A group of Albanian partisans

Conference at the university by Deputy Minister Giacovazzo . How can democracy be achieved? By doing good journalism. TIRANA — Lessons about democracy, but also about journalism. As if they were the same thing. In a hall at Tirana Polytechnic University, Giuseppe Giacovazzo, journalist and deputy secretary of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, spoke at length to students and intellectuals. He began with an introduction: “We had been told that there are two democracies in the world: the first—the liberal one—and the other, the popular one. But in fact it was not so: popular democracy has never existed.” With the fall of communism, Giacovazzo explained, liberal democracy, the only possible kind, triumphed to such an extent that today it no longer has any external enemies—democracy is beginning to turn toward its internal enemies. And Tangentopoli, uncovered in Italy, is nothing but one of many complicated problems. So it is clear: democracy is nothing other than a long road that leads to the common good. It is a long road that increases information. “The only legitimate power is that produced by public opinion,” the Italian senator continued, “but who shapes public opinion if not the press?” But for the press to be free, it needs two other essential things: the freedom to act and economic freedom. Political freedom, because in a democracy the intellectual (and a journalist should be one) is an expression of misunderstanding, never of understanding. Economic freedom, because news is a product that ends up on the market, like any other commodity. “Today, on the contrary, in Albania,” Giacovazzo admits, “a kind of journalism is being produced that seems to have no need for news. But it is only a matter of time: as the Albanian example shows, this too will change.” And what should be done for equality and greater freedom? an Albanian journalist asked Giacovazzo. And he replied as a former newspaper editor: “The press is an instrument created specifically to uncover all secrets. It is an instrument through which people are torn away from the concealment of secrets. But this, ultimately, shows nothing other than democracy.”

We continue to examine, with Dr. Edmond Haxhëri, how other countries are addressing the problem of protecting the sea. The most appropriate solution is that of marine “parks,” that is, extensive coastal areas or entire islands placed under protection. We will discuss what can be done in Albania to address this problem in the next installment. Greece has 3 marine parks established on the basis of a special law. Very good results have been achieved in them in protecting the monk seal Monachus monachus (M. albiventër) in the marine parks of Zantë and the Sporades. In Zantë, particular protection is given to the sandy beaches where the sea turtle Caretta caretta lays its eggs. Cyprus, too, has taken important measures to protect the sea turtles Caretta caretta and Chelonia mydas, the latter of which is in danger of extinction. The breeding range of these two species, located in the western part of the island, is fully protected, and special conditions have been created to facilitate the hatching of the eggs. In Italy, under a special law passed in 1982, 20 areas have been designated for the establishment of marine reserves, including Medes and Columbretes. In Ukraine, marine protected areas are included in terrestrial parks. In Crimea there are 3 marine parks covering considerable stretches of coastline, in which only educational and scientific research activities are permitted. Spain still has no specific laws for marine protected areas. A 1975 law on the protection of the marine environment does not distinguish between terrestrial and marine areas; the regulations are common to all types of protected areas, divided into reserves, coastal national parks, regional natural parks and natural areas of national interest (Zebút and a designated forest, restricted areas of particular ecological importance and quite unusual, such as fish). Another law that also covers the preservation of special marine areas is the 1985 law on the protection of nature reserves. The most important marine parks are those of the Tabarca Islands (Alicante), Ramare and Ustika, and those of the Tremiti, Eolie and Egadi islands are nearing completion. In Spain, specific laws for marine protected areas still do not exist. also covers the sea coasts and of national interest. parks covering considerable stretches of coastline; In Spain ... [the text is blurred and partly repeated in the image]

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