Five thousand Albanians launch a hunger strike: We will not return to Albania alive TIRANA - “We will return to Albania only dead.” The sorrowful appeal [?] comes from Albanian refugees in Italy, who have barricaded themselves in a hunger strike. For three days, around 400 families have been shut inside their sleeping quarters with their children; under Prime Minister Prodi’s decree, they are supposed to set off for the Land of the Eagles. Last night, the first ship set sail from Trieste carrying the first refugees who had agreed to return. Their exact number is not yet known. Meanwhile, in Lecce, the Italian state has refused political asylum to political [?] Ardian Elezi, who fled to Italy in March this year aboard a “Mig 19” military aircraft. As of today, he will no longer be able to stay at the assistance center, where he has been for nearly eight months. Elezi says that it is impossible for him to continue living in Italy under the conditions offered to him. “I have been guaranteed none of the protections provided by the law for political emigrants in Italy. Being sent from office to office and from meeting to meeting has wearied me greatly.” The Prodi directive is meant to explain to Albanians in the camps what assistance can be made available to them, but this has not been made possible in any camp. The Albanian government, through its spokespeople, has appealed [?] again [?] for the settlement of all the barricaded families. “This,” the statement emphasizes, “will encourage the European Community’s support for Albania.” On page 5 Albanian and Italian authorities, alarmed, appeal: “Refugees, go home, this is the law” Monday’s protest by Albanians in Italy

FLEEING THE WAR We all have only one life left. Better to die than to be disappointed like this: 5,000 Albanian emigrants, forced to abandon their towns just to put food on the table, or simply because in another country, in Italy, they have their loved ones, decided on Monday to use the highest form of protest: suicide by starvation. Scattered [?] throughout the camps, they feel abandoned and despised to the utmost degree. The attention they have received in the Italian or Albanian media seems far too little to them to count as a meaningful achievement. In a word, politics—and sometimes those who claim to understand it. Preoccupied, apparently, with other and more serious issues, it sometimes forgets that it is precisely ordinary people, people like all 5,000 protesting emigrants, who have shaped their dreams and who also determine its fate. Yesterday, politics was also forced to speak. A person? [?] The government in Tirana has... Yesterday, politics went completely haywire. At one point, the Government in Tirana said that every emigrant would be [unclear] and that their ill fate would be sealed. Such a thing cannot happen. In Albanian politics, there is still, who knows, belief in a “magical solution.” There is no such magic; it has not happened and will not happen. The anti-exodus operations have apparently been dictated. A fine thread runs through this account, which also involves the 5,000 emigrants who went [there] on Monday, and the harsh words: “Either we stay here, or we go on a hunger strike.” Just a few days ago, one of our colleagues at “Gazeta” had written that “Adriatiku” [text cut off]

WE WILL NOT RETURN TO ALBANIA ALIVE Monday’s protest by Albanians in Italy

Tirana withdraws from the League AT THE CONFERENCE, ONLY OFFICIALS TIRANA - Albania is saying farewell to the Islamic Conference. An invitation from the Arab world to attend the summit of the leaders of this Conference appears to have been rejected by Meidani. “The President has other commitments and cannot attend,” sources close to the head of state have said. An evasive response has also come from the Foreign Ministry, from Milo. According to him, the invitation is being reviewed by his department and a response is expected. But information from the department indicates that there is at least a chance that the Albanian delegation will be at a high level. A mid-level or low-level delegation may be sent to Tehran. Meanwhile, Minister Milo has also revealed the mysteries surrounding Albania’s accession to this Conference. On page 3 Ngjela: The first meeting will be held in two days

Ngjela: The first meeting will be held within two days TIRANA - The former state apparatus will soon be under investigation. The law establishing the “Ngjela” commission has entered into force after its publication in the Official Gazette. Meanwhile, deputy Ngjela himself told the newspaper yesterday: “Within two days we will hold the first meeting, and my experts will request the materials from the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Interior and SHIK.” For his part, State Secretary for Defence Perikli Teta said, “We will denounce all the former heads of the Ministry and the General Staff.” Safet Zhulali, Bashkim Gazidede, Armando Vinqani, Agim Shehu, Leonard Demi, Adem Copani and several others are the main names to be included in the commission’s secret documents. While the law gives the go-ahead for the work, controversy is breaking out among institutions. What will happen to the “March dossier”? Agim Shehu Safet Zhulali

TIRANA - Miq Papadhopulli is President of Albanian Football. After three consecutive rounds of voting (under the statute, the candidate had to receive 3/4 of the votes) and his duel with Birca, he won the highest position in the most popular sport in Albania. At a tense Assembly, which was mostly dominated by “ghost” club secretaries, but ultimately achieved its purpose, the Executive Committee of the Albanian Football Association was also elected, and it too breathed a sigh of relief. Sulejman Starova received the most votes and, according to them, was expected to become the General Secretary of the AFA. The current Partizani coach received 51 preferences, compared with 42 for the current Secretary, Skënder Hyka.

REPORTAGE BERAT - On top of the burned and rust-covered wreckage, three families living in tents admired it. Two of them are together, huddled in one of the spaces between the huge iron blocks. The other stands alone, with the same rhythmic swaying beside the heavy side of the war machine. The people of Shëngjin walk along the pavement with its broken slabs; the blood around them... Ura Vajgurore greets you this way in its heart, with a mass of concrete ruined from above and its “birthmark” beside it: the burned tank.

Lawyers offer their help free of charge TIRANA - “Reconciliation of conflicts. We’re here now.” For two months, anyone seeking to resolve a dispute has been able to receive help free of charge from qualified mediators. The lawyers of the Albanian Foundation for “Reconciliation of Disputes” are now also based in Shkodër and Vlorë. “To err is human, to forgive divine.” This is the idea that every day leads thousands of people caught up in blood-feud and property disputes to put aside their pride and shake hands. But who will take the first step? That is precisely when mediators serve between the two parties. Albanian tradition is rich in such examples. Elders and younger people whose word was never questioned took the first step toward ending blood feuds that had lasted for decades. The old and varied customary laws themselves recognize these peacemakers who calm heated minds. It is precisely this old tradition that the “Reconciliation of Disputes” Foundation now combines with the experience of other countries. “We have already mediated in many revenge-related conflicts or disputes caused by property problems,” says the foundation’s director, Rasim Gjoka. The foundation’s lawyers provide their advice or mediation free of charge to help reconcile the parties and resolve disputes. These specialists, trained using experience from European countries, support the customary mediators and provide their assistance without being paid by the foundation. For two months now, the lawyers have also established centres in Shkodër and Vlorë. People known for their work have mediated blood-feud reconciliations in this area. The experience gained so far is intended to be extended to six other districts of the country. When all of us seek reconciliation and an end to quarrels, these messengers of peace are closer to us than ever, carrying out their noble duty. er.ta

FIER . On page 6

TEPELENË On page 6

FOOTBALL Papadhopulli REPORTAGE

. Winning prizes in the draw dated November 30, 1997, of the NATIONAL TELE-BINGO. For this draw, 80 series had been put on sale, from No. 481 to series No. 560. The winner of the MINI-BINGO prize was ticket 7671. The winner of the STAR-BINGO prize was ticket 767, series No. 524. The winner of the MAGIC-BINGO prize was ticket 767, series No. 519. The winner of the TELE-BINGO prize was ticket 767, series No. 511. The Company announces that for next week it has put another 80 series on sale, from series 561 to 640. The Company announces that it will make the announcement every Sunday through the public information media. These announcements can be read on page 531 of the TELETEXT service. CENTRAL OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL TELE-BINGO (Palace of Culture, Tirana)