Will the situation be normalized? Today more than ever, Albania needs a prudent, serious and intelligent policy After the tension that arose, and with the Orthodox priest, excessively in the media such as RD and TVSH, it seemed in the first days between the two Balkan countries that the situation was finally moving toward normalization. The number of refugees returning continued to increase, and the Albanian side asked for this normalization. At precisely such a moment, the Albanian Government issues a statement saying, among other things, more or less, that the cleansing operation undertaken by the Greek government aims to destabilize Albania and overthrow the Albanian Government. It goes on to say: «We express the suspicion that a role here is played by the feeling of a historic alliance between Greece and Serbia, and the pursuit of a pan-Balkan theocratic policy by Greek political and clerical circles» (this refers to the situation in the region). According to the Greek press, Greece for its part said on Saturday that what had taken place... [cut fragment] hundred...critic? Kristosomos «for anti-Albanian activities» is completely fabricated. A statement of this kind was made by the spokesperson of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also pointing out that throughout these days the Albanian side had not even correctly stated the name of the Orthodox priest Krisostomos and had used the name Kostas Stamos instead. Although the issue in question is serious, whether deliberately or not, our officials give it a «humorous» tone. What impression can be created by a state that issues statements and protests, even to the UN, etc., about the incident involving the Greek priest without knowing the latter’s name? Moreover... [cut fragment] Me[s]ur? Immediately you look at the «...», the leaders’ policy. They are so preoccupied with the country’s interests that they do not even know the name of the priest who caused all this tension. As if all this were not enough, TVSH’s television reporters, while we are declaring that the Greeks are breaking the law by sending illegal emigrants back, interview refugees who describe how they crossed the mountains to enter Greece. intelligent policy. Those who feel incapable of doing such a thing would do no harm by resigning.

Note: Following our Government’s statement on the problems between Albania and Greece—a statement we are not publishing because it was broadcast on TV and published in the press—the Greek Government spokesperson made another statement on Monday afternoon. We are making the latter known to our readers. «The problem of Albanians who have irregular documents and are illegally in Greece is a major problem for us, and one that we must address. We believe that dealing with these kinds of problems should take place through cooperation between both sides. The objective is to reach a basic agreement on how Albanians coming to our country can enter legally. It is the established status of visas and their seasonal employment. These are things we have emphasized in the past and continue to insist on. But what is not possible is accepting the de facto situation that exists today, namely tens of thousands of Albanians who are in Greece illegally. Which civilized European country could accept such a situation? This does not mean hostility or anything else. We want to solve the problem through cooperation between the two sides. It will not take much time, but political will is needed.» Note: Following our Government’s statement on the problems between Albania and Greece—a statement we are not publishing because it was broadcast on TV and published in the press—the Greek Government spokesperson made another statement on Monday afternoon. We are making the latter known to our readers. «The problem of Albanians who have irregular documents and are illegally in Greece is a major problem for us, and one that we must address. We believe that dealing with these kinds of problems should take place through cooperation between both sides. The objective is to reach a basic agreement on how Albanians coming to our country can enter legally. There is the established status of visas and their seasonal employment. These are things we have emphasized in the past and continue to insist on. But what is not possible is accepting the de facto situation that exists today, namely tens of thousands of Albanians who are in Greece illegally. Which civilized European country could accept such a situation? This does not mean hostility or anything else. We want to solve the problem through cooperation between the two sides. It will not take much time, but political will is needed.» Greek Government spokesperson VASIL MAGJINOS

— OPINION OF THE PRESS COUNSELOR AT THE GREEK EMBASSY, MR. KRISTO FAILIADHIS. I believe that reason will prevail very soon in bilateral relations. I say that crises like these usually end well. I think this crisis, too, will prove doubly beneficial for both Albania and Greece. We must work together for all the good things the future has in store for us.

ALBANIA’S PRESENCE IN THE MUSLIM AXIS, EVEN IF MERELY ASSUMED, AMPLIFIED AND PERCEIVED BY OUR NEIGHBORS AND BEYOND, UNDOUBTEDLY EXPOSES OUR COUNTRY TO REAL RISKS THAT APPEAR TO BE INCREASING. — INTERVIEW WITH PSD VICE-CHAIRMAN PASKAL MILO, GIVEN TO JOURNALIST PLATOR NESTURI. READ ON PAGE 5