The “trial of the five” has ended 35 years in prison, 35 million ECU frozen, around 35 thousand refugees returned... Will it end here? The “trial of the five” has ended 35 years’ imprisonment for the 5 OMONIA leaders 35 years in prison, 35 million ECU frozen, around 35 thousand refugees returned... Will it end here? The panel of judges at the moment it delivered its verdict yesterday photo R. TASHO page 3 The panel of judges at the moment it delivered its verdict yesterday — photo R. TASHO

“Border protection has nothing to do with political relations between Greece and Albania,” declares the Greek Minister of Defence Greece announced that it intends to send troops to the border with Albania to prevent illegal Albanian refugees from entering the country. The news was announced by Greece’s Minister of Defence, Jerasimos Arsenis, who said that Greece is currently unable to mobilize the troops stationed on the border with Turkey, and has therefore been forced to send garrisons from the cities, especially those of Athens, to the northern borders. The minister added that all reservists would have to serve the 18–22 months of compulsory military service in the border areas. Arsenis did not, however, specify how many troops would be sent to the Albanian border. Recently, the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of the Interior have sent forces to the northern border to cope with the wave of refugees attempting to enter Greece illegally. Arsenis stressed that these measures would be taken to protect the border, not to intimidate the neighbour. “I must stress that border protection has nothing to do with political or diplomatic relations between Greece and Albania,” Arsenis said. The Defence Minister’s decision nevertheless coincides with a period of tensions between Tirana and Athens over the trial of the five.

An accident was narrowly avoided Just as he had done several years ago, when he was not president, he continued to greet passers-by on the sidewalks, raising his hand and bowing his head slightly. But the protection provided by his personal guards, who were trying to keep up with the fast-walking President, and the police cars had not been enough to ensure his safety completely. As soon as he crossed the sidewalk from the Ministry of Justice into the park of the former “Skënderbej” Square, a green Benz that had slipped past the police checkpoints realized too late that it had to stop in front of the President. But it was Berisha who yielded to the Benz, avoiding a possible accident. page 4

Durrës page 2

Interview with Mr. Kristaq Traja, member of the commission for drafting the Constitution page 4