Today in SHKODER ... Today in Shkodër, the trial concerning the tragic events of 2 April is taking place. As far as we know, the killings in Shkodër have been legally described as “indirect killings.” If that is the case, the martyrs of democracy will be declared by the court to be victims, not martyrs. Will public opinion allow this?

According to one of the nurses at Tirana Military Hospital, the Minister of Economy and Finance, Genc Ruli, has been hospitalized there since yesterday as a result of a car accident. We learn that at this moment the minister is out of danger.

According to an internal source within the PD, who did not wish to be identified, at the meeting of this party’s National Council, President of the Republic Sali Berisha disagreed with the PD’s attempt, proposed by Eduart Selami, to remove six independent deputies from parliament. “I am here to defend the constitution,” the president said, according to the person who gave us this news.

Prime Minister Meksi, whom Albanian radio and television have shown mainly at Rinas Airport in recent months, seeing the president off and welcoming him, appeared on the small screen four nights ago to express his enthusiasm about Albania joining the Conference of Islamic Countries. Asked by the journalist what he thought of the great success of our diplomacy, the prime minister gave a very positive response. In this way, RTV seems to have confined the political opinion on the country’s entry into an organization with a religious basis to the circle of today’s governing officials.

During an interview with RTV on his return from Saudi Arabia and Egypt, President of the Republic Sali Berisha stated that the latest moves in our diplomacy had been received negatively only by “some politicians in Europe who are hostile to Albania.” The statement did not specify which European politicians were meant; nevertheless, it implied that Albania’s democratic action would once again encounter the hostility of some European politicians. This idea was reinforced by the programme about the president’s visit to Saudi Arabia and Egypt, entitled “Among True Friends,” creating the impression that our European partners up to now had not been such. In any case, the public, which has so far been informed about the assistance provided by the Group of 24 to ensure our survival—with Italy and Greece standing out in this regard—is able to distinguish Europe’s position toward Albania from its position toward certain Albanian politicians.

In recent days, amid the Albanian government’s adoption of a new Islamic religious course, the Greek newspaper “Eleftereo Vima” has printed in large letters on its front page: “THE TURKS WILL SEND AN ARMY TO ALBANIA” In recent days, amid the Albanian government’s adoption of a new Islamic religious course, the Greek newspaper “Eleftereo Vima” has printed in large letters on its front page: “THE TURKS WILL SEND AN ARMY TO ALBANIA” “The Turks will land in Albania shortly,” the Turkish prime minister declared provocatively, following a request made by the democrat Berisha. And the Turks’ aim, as we all know, is Greece—not that they are burning with desire to help the Albanians. The Turkish hierarchy will establish itself in Albania under the pretext and promise of “protecting the Muslim population”; it will do the same in other countries (Serbia, Bulgaria), and at the first outbreak of war will seek to put into practice the “Greater Turkey” dreamed of by Turkish militarists... 1. The course of our foreign policy must change immediately. 2. Aid to Berisha must be halted now. 3. The Albanian refugees must be removed from Greece. 4. The emerging new political force in Albania must be sincerely supported. 5. Our borders must be strengthened.