TERRORISM After the Greek massacre at the border barracks and the reciprocal expulsion of diplomats, the son of Prime Minister Papandreu, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, speaks... “Perhaps it was one of our military personnel” Let diplomacy triumph FATOS BAXHAKU TIRANA — The conclusions of the surveys of all the images and events surrounding the two innocent victims of Sunday’s serious terrorist attack have still not been clarified. Once again, they came to the fore, and as always left blood and tears behind. Alarmed by the latest deterioration in relations between Greece and Albania, public opinion is anxiously awaiting what happens next. The two neighbouring Balkan countries have become embroiled in a dispute over a few kilometres of sea, the Bosporus and Qafë Thanë. An unavoidable war would cause new tragedies. People on both sides of the border are therefore waiting anxiously—above all Albanian emigrants living and working in Greece and their families in Albania—but the international community is also concerned, still unable to find its way through the tangled Balkan situation. After the gunfire unleashed by a deranged ideology, the floor must be given to diplomacy. Diplomacy’s “weapons” are words and dialogue. And dialogue means, first and foremost, sitting down to talk and resolving problems through understanding. Only in this way will the guns fall silent. In the face of dialogue, they will become units that cannot be pacified, and the collective madness of violence will... TIRANA — Relations between Greece and Albania have fallen to alarming levels following Sunday’s serious incident, which left two servicemen dead and a large number wounded. Albania and Greece have reciprocally expelled two diplomats from their territories. But finally, Athens is acknowledging that it cannot in principle rule out Greek nationalist responsibility for Sunday’s attack. Georgios Papandreu himself, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and son of Prime Minister Papandreu, has stated his position. While nevertheless ruling out responsibility on the part of the Greek government, Papandreu told a newspaper correspondent accredited in Athens: “It is true that there are extremist elements in the Northern Epirus issue, and no hypothesis can be ruled out, not even that of the individual participation of some Greek military officer in this act.” Papandreu’s statement was followed by that of official Greek spokesman Venizellos—previously very firm in rejecting Tirana’s positions—who proposed joint investigations with Albanian specialists, “if necessary”, to shed light on the true causes of the tragic incident that led to the killing of the marines and the conscripts. Greek consul in Gjirokastër Christos Iacovou. In a reciprocal move, the Greek government declared Kastriot Robo, First Secretary of the Albanian Embassy in Athens, persona non grata. Tirana’s decision to expel the Greek Consul in Gjirokastër was conveyed to the Greek Ambassador in Tirana on Tuesday evening. Iacovou must leave Gjirokastër today because—according to Tirana’s note—he has carried out acts incompatible with his diplomatic status.” Reports from Gjirokastër say that accounts are contradictory. Many citizens testify that the consulate remained closed on Tuesday—the day on which visa applications are usually processed—in accordance with reciprocity. “No other reason was given by the Greek side,” one of the Albanian diplomats remaining in Athens told Gazeta Shqiptare. The same source said that the situation at the Albanian mission was calm: “Apart from the very large number of requests we have received from the local and foreign press to speak about Sunday’s events, the situation at the embassy is normal.” The strong reaction of all political forces and Albanian authorities has continued. In a declaration unanimously approved by deputies from all parliamentary parties, the Greek government was urged to punish those responsible for the serious terrorist act. Foreign Minister S. S. has asked the Security Council to put Greece on the list of countries that practise state terrorism. The Albanian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg informed all member countries of Albania’s position regarding the situation along its southern borders. Meanwhile, President Berisha once again reaffirmed Albania’s policy toward the Greek minority. He stated that the serious terrorist act would not shake the Albanian government’s commitment to guaranteeing all the rights of the minority... “We issued visas normally today as well,” the Greek Consulate Attaché told Gazeta Shqiptare. Just four hours after Tirana’s decision to expel the Greek diplomat, Athens responded by expelling the Greek diplomat from the country. He was declared “persona non grata” and had 48 hours to leave Greek territory. “Our diplomat was...” of diplomats. Diplomacy has words and dialogue as its “weapons.” And dialogue means, first and foremost, sitting down for talks and resolving problems through mutual understanding. Only in this way can one achieve a solution to all the problems encountered. Faced with dialogue, they will become entirely pacifiable, and the collective madness of violence will remain only a bitter memory in our conscience. Tirana — has carried out actions “incompatible with his diplomatic status.” Reports from Gjirokastra are contradictory. Many citizens testified that the consulate was closed on Tuesday — the day on which visa applications are usually processed. On the other hand, there is a response from the Greek diplomats, who, along with the consulate’s A view of Gjirokastër

The number of couples getting married has fallen sharply Albanians: marriage is now out of fashion During 1993, over 6,000 fewer weddings than in 1990 TIRANA — Marriage is becoming a less important phenomenon in Albania as well. The number of people getting married is steadily declining. Apparently, Albanians too are abandoning the desire to form serious relationships in life. Whereas until the end of the 1980s statistics showed an increase in the number of couples marrying at civil registry offices, the figures began to fall and have decreased year by year. The bitter marital experiences of couples who are divorcing in ever-increasing numbers may also have negatively influenced this new phenomenon among Albanian families. The year 1990 marked the peak of marriage in Albania, approaching the figure of 30,000 cases. It remains the happiest year for Albanians, who in the following months seem to have reconsidered married life and began visiting civil registry offices less and less. In 1992, according to data from the Institute of Statistics, only 26,405 couples appeared before the staff of these offices to pledge eternal fidelity to one another. The number fell further in 1993, when just over 24,000 marriages were registered throughout Albania. The capital’s residents rank first in the country for marital unions, continuing to account for almost a third; indeed, in 1992 the number of marriages rose to 3,392. However, this situation is mainly the result of the large number of people arriving from other districts. Elbasan ranks second in this structure and, unlike the capital, recorded a decline. Thus, while more than 2,600 people from Elbasan married in 1990, in 1992 the number fell to 2,500 and declined further... SAJ, 1990, in 1992 the number fell to 2,500, declining even further compared with 1990. The time of year and the seasons also affect marriage. For Albanians, the end of September and the month of October seem to be the most popular times to make the important decision of a lifetime. In addition to the decreasing number of weddings, the number of marriages is also reduced by divorces, which are becoming more frequent in Albania. According to statistical data, there is one divorce for every nine marriages. Armand Mero 37 years old and living in Athens for three years, was called upon to be found and established on its southern borders. On the other hand, still in 1993 the Greek government ... for which just over 24,000 marriages were registered throughout Albania. The residents of the capital rank first in the whole country in terms of marriages, continuing to account for almost one tenth of the overall total. And, unlike the general trend, Tirana has maintained the level of

New order from the Municipality SHKODER — “Stop damage to the cemeteries.” This is the forceful new order issued by the Municipality of Shkodër, restoring citizens’ confidence in the civic-mindedness and humanism for which the city is known. Protection against damage and cemetery maintenance will also be supported by the Financial Police or the Public Order Police. SHKODER — “Stop damage to the cemeteries.” This is the forceful new order issued by the Municipality of Shkodër, restoring citizens’ confidence in the civic-mindedness and humanism for which the city is known. It concerns protection against damage and the maintenance of the cemeteries; following this order, enforcement will also be supported by the Financial Police or the Public Order Police. The order also provides for fairly heavy fines, under which no one may work—as has been done until now—without first obtaining a licence from the company authorized to administer the city cemeteries. It also prohibits opening or transferring graves before a five-year period has elapsed. Most importantly, this order—signed by Filip Guraziu, Mayor of the city—sets out steps to ensure that all those bound by it comply, with offenders to be dealt with by the competent authorities. The right to burial in these cemeteries is granted only to families from the city of Shkodër and the surrounding municipalities. The latest measures are expected to be followed by… the recent initiative, which would also see the construction of walls around the two or three cemeteries.

Two articles on property are repealed; new owners escape co-ownership TIRANA — The new owners win. At the end of last week, the Constitutional Court had decided to definitively repeal two articles of the Law on Compensation for Property and Former Owners. TIRANA — The new owners win. At the end of last week, the Constitutional Court had decided to definitively repeal two articles of the Law on Compensation for Property and Former Owners, approved in April ’93 by the Albanian Parliament. Thus, more than 40,000 new owners, along with their 20,000 employees, escape the co-ownership imposed—with the old owners, they say—under Articles 12/1 and 17. Perhaps drafted to balance the interests of old and new owners, the Law immediately earned the “hostility” of both sides. On one side stands the Association of Free Private Owners, which represents private individuals who have bought plots and premises since 1991; on the other are the former owners, those who were in fact the lawful owners of these properties but had them forcibly taken from them by the communist regime. Although the Constitutional Court has now ruled in favour of the new owners by repealing these two articles, the situation remains unclear. The “Property with Justice” association has long since filed complaints with the same Court concerning the Property Law and the Land Law. (Ed. La.) the director of the Free Private Owners Association — which represents the category of private individuals who had bought plots of land and business premises after 1991 — and, on the other side, owners of these premises, but from whom they had been forcibly taken by the communist regime. Although the Constitutional Court — by repealing these two Articles — has now ruled in favour of the new owners, long since submitted its appeals to the same Court regarding the Property Law, as well as the Land Law. (Ed. La.)

TIRANA — A 67-year-old monastery worker is sent to prison. On Monday—after a successful operation—the Tirana Public Order authorities arrested an elderly man who, after deceiving a 13-year-old boy from Shkodër on a train, had sexually assaulted him by force. — A 67-year-old monastery worker is sent to prison. On Monday—after a successful operation—the Tirana Public Order authorities arrested an elderly man who, after deceiving a 13-year-old boy from Shkodër on a train, had sexually assaulted him by force. According to still confidential confirmations, the forensic examination confirmed everything the boy had reported about the terrible violence committed against him. In any case, the charges are now expected to be clarified by the Prosecutor’s Office, which has immediately begun criminal proceedings. (e.l)

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ALBANIA RECOGNIZES THE IMMUNITY OF THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT SOCIETIES — An agreement was signed in Tirana between the Albanian Government and George Veber — Secretary-General of this humanitarian organization — and Alfred Serreqi, Albania’s Foreign Minister, signed the agreement, which, among other things, also regulates the legal status for the activities of the organization’s delegation in Albania. DURRES, A NEW INFORMATION BRANCH — “Information Office ’93” has just opened in Durrës. It is a branch of the office previously opened in the capital, established in cooperation with a leading Italian firm. According to the office’s managers, this new service undertakes to provide information on all purchases and sales, rentals and sales of plots of land, shops and warehouses, as well as all advertising. To achieve these aims, “Information Office ’93” is equipped with all modern tools, such as computers, cameras, etc., and its services are provided by specialists in this field.