PROPAGANDA Several local leaders of the organization are in jail. Documents, maps and books on “Greater Greece” seized “Omonia,” suspicion lifted Detentions for anti-constitutional acts TIRANA — Suspicion of involvement in anti-constitutional activity by some activists of Omonia in the south of Albania. The news was confirmed on Wednesday afternoon by the spokesman of the Ministry of Public Order, who said that after several surprise checks in a number of districts in Albania, “a large amount of anti-constitutional documentation has been found and seized, proving the expansionist Greater Greece aims of certain Greek chauvinist circles.” As part of this operation carried out by the police, under the command of the prosecutor’s office, at least six people linked to Omonia activities have been detained in Gjirokastër, Sarandë, Delvinë and Përmet. Among those detained are the head of the “Omonia” branch for Sarandë, F. Poja, the head of the Gjirokastër branch, S. Nika, and several other local figures. The seized materials include maps of “Northern Epirus,” books and brochures with propaganda content, as well as organizational documents considered illegal by the Albanian authorities. VORIO EPIRI The cover of one of the seized books. The surprise checks organized by the Ministry of Public Order, according to its announcement, were carried out after information about illegal possession of weapons and anti-constitutional criminal activity. It is also understood that during the searches lists of names, seals, notes, press materials and internal correspondence of the association were found. Other people have also been questioned by the police in connection with this matter. The Albanian authorities stressed that this is activity that undermines the country’s territorial integrity and constitutional order. Edmond Laçi

Albanians and Greeks confront their contradictory claims The first meeting in Ioannina TIRANA — A mixed commission of Albanian and Greek police experts has begun preliminary talks to determine responsibility for the recent incidents recorded on the border between the two countries. After Tuesday’s terrorist attack on the border, in which Albanian soldiers lost their lives near the village of Peshkëpi, on the border, tensions between the two countries rose to the highest level. The mixed commission of experts began work on Wednesday morning in the city of Ioannina. The Albanian side was represented by the Director General of Police, Agim Shehu, and the Director of Investigative Police, Vexhi Muça[?]. “We agreed on another meeting to exchange material evidence gathered on both sides of the border,” the press secretary of the Albanian Embassy in Athens told Gazeta Shqiptare, explaining that “this mission is technical and not political.” The meeting apparently did not change much in the strained situation between the two countries. “The Greek side has insisted on the irresponsible view that the attack was carried out by Albanians dressed as commandos,” Albanian sources said, adding that the Greek authorities are trying to present the event as a bilateral incident. The proposal to set up such a commission had come from Athens after the news of the Albanian casualties in Peshkëpi. A proposal that Albania initially rejected, first demanding the condemnation of the creation of a commission of inquiry. Tirana reacted sharply to the Greek government, calling it the main party responsible for the attack. The frequent friction of recent weeks has further worsened diplomatic relations between the two countries. (c. bax. ar. me.)

The old ones were easily forged The government approves funding TIRANA — Soon Albanians will have new passports for traveling abroad. A government decision — at its last meeting on 17 April — has already set the sum to be used for their production or purchase. It is 100 million lek, to be taken from the state reserve fund for 1994, which will be made available for 700,000 new passports. This sum will be given to the company that wins the specially organized tender. In the first years after the new passports for Albanian citizens came into force, according to experts, a large number of forgeries were noted. The low technical level of production of the current passports has often made them insecure and easily tampered with. Also influenced by their use by various criminal elements and by the increase in cases of reports at customs, the authorities have decided to intervene with a full replacement of the existing model. (p. re.)

TIRANA — Only the miraculous intervention of an officer from Police Station 2 in the capital had managed to save the life of a child during a sensational robbery that took place in a venue in Tirana. The incident, according to police sources, occurred in a bar, where an armed man, in order to frighten those present, had placed the barrel of a pistol over a child’s head. At the moment of the police intervention, the perpetrator attempted to flee, but was neutralized after brief resistance. The police are investigating the motives and the full circumstances of the incident. (e. l.)

KRUJE — The road accident that occurred on Tuesday near the village of Borizanë in Krujë sent seven people to hospital. A bus from Durrës that, according to preliminary checks by the road police, had left the road on a bend, collided with a minibus, inside which there were seven people, who were immediately after the incident transported in serious condition to the Military Hospital in Tirana. Immediately afterward, the Public Order authorities took the measure of detaining the bus driver, pending full investigations into the incident. (e. l.)

The displaced people want help After land collapses they left Kukës TIRANA — “Help us [?] quickly, because our hopes are running out.” This is the appeal of dozens of families who came from Kukës after land collapses and who have been living for nearly 300 days in tents erected near Tirana. Residents say the conditions are extremely difficult, with food, clothing and medical assistance lacking. Many of them say the children are sick because of the humidity and the cold at night. According to their testimony, promises of housing or other aid have come to nothing. The families are asking for the intervention of state institutions and humanitarian organizations. The photograph shows one of the families sheltered in tents on the outskirts of the capital. (i)

A postcard with best wishes for the readers CARLO BOLLINO TIRANA — Gazeta Shqiptare turns one year old today, even though in reality it is a birthday with only a few days since its birth. This newspaper was born and reached the bookshops of Tirana and the most important Albanian cities every day, at least when the small importer that carried it from Bari to Durrës arrived by motorbike. Its founder, Rafaele Gori, now the father of Gazeta del Puglia (later Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno), had wanted this newspaper to carry out a continuous information function between the two shores of the two countries, linked also by deep commercial exchanges. Then Albania was occupied by the fascists and Gazeta Shqiptare was shut down because of censorship. When the fascists were driven out and the country fell into the hands of the communist regime, Gazeta Shqiptare, once again struck by censorship, could not be reopened. And so its rebirth was postponed until 22 April 1993. Exactly one year ago now. It is precisely for this reason that the free world is here today and that is why we like to call our newspaper a daughter of democracy. Democracy means many things, but for a newspaper it must mean above all freedom and autonomy. Freedom of publication (because this is not the case in all countries) and autonomy from any kind of power. Debate about press freedom (is it there or not?) is frequent enough, but sometimes it must be stressed that it is pointless to talk about freedom without autonomy. A newspaper can in fact be free and independent only when it does not belong to any party or to any group of money and interests. In one year of work, through news reports, features, analyses and debates, Gazeta Shqiptare has carried a significant part of our recent history across its pages. And if we want to explain it with an image, this newspaper has tried to be a bridge, a light cardboard bridge, between the two shores of the Adriatic, a daily postcard with best wishes for its readers. Here is the most beautiful expression we hear every day, which comes from many readers: “Your newspaper.” And when the reader calls the newspaper “yours,” it means that he is giving us the greatest possible compliment. And on this first anniversary we want to thank everyone: our Albanian readers, our collaborators and friends in Albania and in Italy. Thank you for your trust, for your criticism, for your advice and for your patience. For this first year we have no wish for ourselves, but only for you: may this postcard continue to reach you every morning.

Historical texts are preferred INSIDE ON PAGE 3 Italy’s hope can beat Portugal’s squad Wins the European Championship ON PAGE 2

PRESS CONFERENCE OF SELAMI, CHAIRMAN OF THE PD “We will have preserved results like those of 22 March, and elections are being held again,” said Selami, Chairman of the Democratic Party, with optimism at the conference organized by the journalist. During this conference he spoke about the Government’s achievements in its first two years and about its prospects. IN GJIROKASTËR HUNDREDS OF METERS OF TELEPHONE LINE WIRE STOLEN At least 300 meters of telephone line wire connecting Gjirokastër with other centers have been cut and stolen. The interruption has caused communication outages. BERAT, FIRE AT [?] AGRICULTURAL ENTERPRISES PLANNED BY [?] Several warehouses and equipment have been damaged by fire. PARLIAMENT APPROVES THE DRAFT LAW “ON DRUGS” The Assembly has approved the draft law regulating the import and trade of medicines in the country.

DUVAS LINE s.a. Ro / Ro TYRSUS THE FIRST FERRY WITH AN ALBANIAN CREW The joint venture «Duvas Line» at the Merchant Marine of Durrës begins its activity with the ferry «TYRSUS» for transporting passengers and cars on the DURRËS-VASTO route (and return) twice a week and DURRËS-BARI (and return) once a week. Vasto is a port in central Italy, a tourist place, quiet and safe, which gives the possibility of continuing the journey by railway and motorway toward the North and the South of Italy. It is the eastern port closest to Rome and Naples. The ferry «TYRSUS», the first with Albanian crew and staff, guarantees you a safe, fast, comfortable, modern journey, with pleasant communication and service for you. Companies, freight forwarders, passengers and tourists, do not hesitate to contact the office of this agency in Durrës with telephone and fax no. 00355/52/23627. We offer you convenient prices with some of the lowest fares to date. Ticket sales point in Durrës at the Merchant Marine; in Tirana: at the Adria, Albania Air Lines and Skanderbeg Travel agencies. Also in Skopje, in Gostivar in Macedonia.