After Tirana’s protest, member states put the Albanian-Greek border incident on the agenda The issue reaches the Security Council TIRANA — The contradictions between Albania and Greece, sharpened after Sunday’s serious terrorist attack in which two Albanian servicemen were killed and three others were seriously wounded, have urgently entered the agenda of the Security Council’s work. After both sides’ protest notes, the Security Council first discussed the tense situation between Athens and Tirana. The official decision of the Security Council came from the 5 permanent member states and the 15 countries that rotate on a basis of rotation — they have asked the current chairman of the Security Council to gather the necessary material needed to then determine the agenda that the powerful United Nations body will follow. According to sources from New York, the Prague representative has been the most active in the preliminary discussion of the issue. The small Czech state, located near the Balkans, has consistently shown interest in containing new sources of tension in this region. The final decision of the Security Council is expected to be discussed soon, once the time needed to collect the materials requested by the member states has elapsed. On Tuesday the Albanian government had asked the Security Council, through a letter from Foreign Minister Serreqi, to “reaffirm” Greece on the list of countries that practice state terrorism. In Serreqi’s letter sent to all member states of the Security Council, the incident was defined as a “terrorist act” and a “grave violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Albania.” One day later the first note from the Greek Ministry of General Public Order and Foreign Militia, Christos Zacharkis, had arrived in New York — the Greek response opposing Tirana’s accusations. In recent days the Greek position regarding the terrorist attack against the Albanian military barracks has changed. After conciliatory and polemical statements came the relatively calm statements of the government spokesman, and then the responsibilities of the Greek ultranationalists and the propaganda of the Tirana government set up a joint commission of experts to clarify the issue. Fotos Baxhaku

CARLO BOLLINO TIRANA — Dark times for Andreas Papandreou’s Greece. As of today, he is being called to confront a new and unheard-of challenge: that of national identity, speaking before the PASOK Congress, where “the Greek socialist path in government” — Papandreou called for a return to a more prestigious position with greater influence. “Greece must play in the Balkans an inspiring role for peace and for the protection of the European Union in this area.” But this very main function is, on the contrary, denied by the international community. And the reasons are many. The first, and the clearest of all, is the official stance Athens holds in relation to Belgrade. The affinity with the Serbs, and Papandreou’s firm opposition to NATO attacks in Bosnia, risks seriously compromising Greece’s image in the world. But it is a risk Athens accepts paying. Again Papandreou accused the European Union of bearing “great responsibility” for the crisis in the former Yugoslavia, and accused the major neighbors of destabilization while vying for an area of influence. A false statement, very serious for a peace-oriented camp that has directly compared the president of the Community. The second shadow darkening Greece’s image is the Macedonia issue. For this reason the European Court accuses Greece, and in a few weeks it will issue a decision. And finally — more recently — the new crisis erupted with Albania after the terrorist attack at the Peshkëpi barracks. A very serious matter being handled by the United Nations Security Council. “We do not want any more fires of war in the region,” Papandreou said, openly alluding to the recent incident on the Albanian border. What matters most is the international multilateral framework, which stands precisely as a guarantor of peace.

TIRANA — Soon Tirana will also perhaps have a small civil airport. The known Fusha e Aviacionit, near the Lapraka area, is thought to be the runway that will serve in the future for this type of transport and will open the service to and from Albania. Some time ago a decision was taken to reactivate several small airfields in different cities of the country. For Tirana, Fusha e Aviacionit is considered the most suitable for use because its runway is almost ready. This airfield is expected to operate for small aircraft that could be used for domestic intercity routes or to allow the landing of private planes. The project was viewed with prejudice in order to allow the landing of private aircraft. The project was viewed with prejudice in order to allow the landing of private aircraft. The project was viewed with prejudice in order to allow the landing of private aircraft.[?] Fusha e Aviacionit was built in the 1920s, when it was used for postal and air transport services. Later, after a partial expansion, it was used in the Second World War. Later still, it was used by military units for helicopters, while now it has remained out of use. Ar. Me.

Explains Hafiz Sabri Koçi. “We do not want division among religions” The Islamic Committee seeks approval from the authorities TIRANA — Separate cemeteries for Muslims are being requested in Albania. In the letter from Hafiz Sabri Koçi, Chairman of the Islamic Community, sent earlier to the government and recently also to the municipality of the capital, this desire has just been confirmed. “Now that we are free,” Hafiz Sabri Koçi tells Gazeta Shqiptare, “we want all Muslims to gather in a special place.” Meanwhile, no concrete answer has yet been given by the Tirana Municipality, despite the positive position in principle. But within this institution it is also not known whether any request analogous to that of the Muslim Community has reached it from representatives of other religious beliefs — they explain that the realization of this request requires an entire and difficult procedure, which of course is also accompanied by a loss of time. All the more so since Muslims are also asking for a new plot for their future cemeteries. “We ask that each religion bury its believers where they wish,” explains Hafiz Sabri Koçi to Gazeta Shqiptare, “therefore we also want to return to our own, separate place.” In fact, in recent months Muslim cemeteries in Albania — destroyed and separate cemeteries for Muslims, Catholics and Orthodox Albanians — have been seen. But after the violent imposition of atheism, the phenomenon of separate cemeteries would disappear, as would the cult-related object of worship. “It is not so easy to make an immediate division of cemeteries according to religious affiliation,” explains an official from the Municipal Sector of the Tirana Municipality to Gazeta Shqiptare, “however we also exclude the possibility of implementing burial together and not in different cemeteries... At present the Municipality has accepted the request of the Islamic Community of Albania, but we are studying a solution, so that we can help later they study this request.” “For its realization, a rather long procedure is needed,” continues the official, “which of course also requires such a long time.” But while the Chairman of the Islamic Community of Albania states that the Municipality has brought approval, he also seeks to avoid misunderstandings or doubts about this request: “We do not intend and do not ask to move those things in cemeteries,” admits Hafiz Sabri Koçi, “recently many cemeteries were transferred from the city to the village because of lack of space, but we have never asked for cemeteries to be destroyed according to a change of religion. The new request has nothing to do with that. It simply aims to make it possible to meet the needs of Muslims.” “This can by no means be called a division among religions,” says Hafiz Sabri Koçi to Gazeta Shqiptare, “because the debates are really about types of burial. Just as places of worship have been separated, in other words, it is entirely right to ask for cemeteries to be separated too.” But according to the Chairman of the Islamic Community of Albania, the motives that led to the request for cemeteries according to religious belief are different: “When we have seen the truth, we see that the dead are also being placed mixed together, without criteria and without order, and this goes against our tradition.” So only a final decision is now expected. That naturally also requires a review of the procedures that local bodies may follow. Next week they may make contact in a joint meeting with the Albanian Islamic Community — to study and find ways for approval and a final decision on this request. By then, perhaps representatives of other religious faiths will also have reacted with their own requests, in order to return definitively to the old tradition. The Muslim leader Hafiz Sabri Koçi Edmond Laçi

Inauguration TIRANA — The Journalists’ Training Center has just been inaugurated by the Soros Foundation. It will offer Albanian and foreign journalists a series of facilities and opportunities for their daily work. In addition to a wall of newspapers and magazines from the country and abroad as well as AP and AFP news service, the new center has ASNX, this center will be digitized by Albanian and foreign newspapers. Its program also includes seminars with well-known specialists from around the world, who will address topics centered on press issues. A. S

Berat, municipal decision BERAT — The “war” against kiosks begins in Berat. Dozens of them, sprouting here and there throughout the city, will now cease to exist. In this way Berat will finally be freed from these sheet-metal structures that have practically taken it over. As in many other cities of the country, the problem of the unchecked spread of kiosks had also worried Berat. It was the city municipality that, by a special decision, ordered the immediate clearing of the center of all kiosks built without permits. The effect of this decision was felt already yesterday. In just one day, as many as 14 different kiosks were demolished. But this operation — according to urban planning specialists — will not stop here. It will continue on Saturday and beyond, making it possible to remove all the kiosks built without permits in this city.

SHKODER — A 17-year-old has been killed by gunfire near the village of Barbullush in the Shkodër district. The victim, R.G., a resident of the same village, was shot with a submachine gun by unidentified persons and received several serious wounds that caused his death. The killer fled quickly from the scene. After the crime scene was checked by forensic experts, the police are searching for the perpetrators of the murder.

“But not everything is secret” Seminar in Tirana, American expert speaks The state and information “But not everything is secret” TIRANA — Who needs to protect the freedom of information from the memories of a secret state, or the state secret itself demanded by the freedom of information? This was the issue discussed at the round table organized at the International Cultural Center by the United States Information Service (USIS) and the Journalists’ Training Center of the Soros Foundation, regarding the protection of official secrets and informing the public about government. In his first statement William H. Luers said that a state that keeps too many secrets cannot be a true democracy. “In a democratic state, citizens must know what their government is doing,” said Luers. “Of course there are things that must remain secret, but not everything is secret.” Representatives of the Albanian media, Albanian politicians and jurists took part in the discussion. Luers argued that concealment by governments should be the exception, not the rule. He said that freedom of information is a necessary condition for democratic oversight and that public opinion has the right to know how institutions operate. The debate organized in Tirana also emphasized the need to draft clear rules regarding state secrets and public access to official documents. Andrea Stefani

UN soldiers as a human shield Bosnia, fighting still in Goražde ON PAGE 2 The Kavajë and Lezhë teams promise: “There is no kind of compromise” ON PAGE 3

IN FIER AND TEPELENË MANY UNAUTHORIZED CONSTRUCTIONS HAVE VIOLATED SAFETY RULES — Unapproved constructions along urban power lines and dangerous to life. Many of them in Patos, Tepelenë and Kuçovë have been built without permits[?] and without safety rules. They have been erected almost carelessly and even near a fuel station. IN DURRËS, YOUNG COOKS BEGIN INTERNSHIPS AT RESTAURANTS — The first concrete contacts with the profession have already begun for the young cooks of the technological school in Durrës. There are 60 students who were sent to do their practical training in restaurants. 8 THOUSAND DOLLARS OF AID IN ELBASAN FROM AN ISLAMIC ASSOCIATION — More than 8 thousand dollars in aid have been brought for the residents of Elbasan by the Islamic association “Relief.” This aid belongs to poor families in Elbasan and is being distributed according to religious affiliation[?].

Announces operations to two new destinations TIRANA - BOLOGNA - TIRANA TIRANA - SKOPJE - TIRANA TIRANA - BOLOGNA - TIRANA Operations on this new direct route begin on 19 April 1994 Every Tuesday and Thursday Departs from Tirana at 16:35 and arrives in Bologna at 18:50 Departs from Bologna at 19:20 and arrives in Tirana at 21:35 TIRANA - SKOPJE - TIRANA Operations on this new direct route begin on 27 April 1994 Every Wednesday Departs from Tirana at 22:15 and arrives in Skopje at 22:45 Every Thursday: Departs from Skopje at 07:10 and arrives in Tirana at 07:50 Every Friday: Departs from Tirana at 21:50 and arrives in Skopje at 22:20 Departs from Skopje at 05:50 and arrives in Tirana at 06:30 Note: Albanian Airlines offers an information service for passengers who wish to use the Tirana-Bologna air route, with prices and train timetables from Bologna to various destinations within Italian territory. For further information you may contact the Albanian Airlines booking office at telephone number 42857.