Statement by the Albanian Helsinki Committee The release of Mr. Nano would be a message that would help reduce tensions Rexhina Nano: My hopes have grown that something is changing in Albania, too The statement was unanimously approved by the members of the Helsinki Committee page 2 The release of Mr. Nano would be a message that would help reduce tensions. Statement by the Albanian Helsinki Committee Release Fatos Nano, Mr. President The release of Mr. Nano would be a message that would help reduce tensions Rexhina Nano: My hopes have grown that something is changing in Albania, too The statement was unanimously approved by the members of the Helsinki Committee page 2 photo A. BABANI

Greece A speedboat carrying 9 Albanians sinks At least one dead by yesterday at midday Christmas Eve marked the most tragic incident for 9 undocumented Albanian migrants, who tried to reach the shores of Corfu. The speedboat, believed to be owned by Albanian citizen Fatos Gole, 34, sank 2 miles northeast of the island of Corfu, after an engine failure and seawater flooded the boat. Some of the unfortunate Albanians were spotted from the deck of the “El Greko” ferry, which operates the Ancona–Igoumenitsa route. The competent authorities at the port of Corfu were immediately alerted and began searching at once. Thanks to the intervention of the “El Greko” crew, 26-year-old Genci Shurdha was rescued, while 27-year-old Harallamb Lapa was rescued by a Greek patrol boat. Fatos Gole, 34, was also pulled from the water, drowned. The head of the Corfu port authority said that at least four people must have survived and be somewhere on the shores of Corfu. Journalistic sources, meanwhile, say that Greek forces are searching and that the men swam as far as the vicinity of the Albanian coast. Greek port, naval and air force units continued the search for three consecutive days, but by Tuesday at midday, as was confirmed, none of the six missing men had been found. ROBERT GORO

Albania must dismantle two states if it is to be Albania Skopje wants to use the Albanians, not have them as allies Athens beat the drums against Macedonia; the noise deafened the Albanians page 3

The signing of contracts with the sales agencies for the newspaper “Koha jonë” in the districts will continue until 30 December 1994. Those interested should submit all the necessary documents: proof of financial settlements, a tax licence, and newspaper invoices. Finance Department of “Koha Jonë”

The parliamentary Mass Media Committee reaches a unanimous decision Yesterday the parliamentary Mass Media Committee met again. After a lengthy debate, the committee unanimously decided to propose to the Albanian parliament the dismissal of the RTSH Governing Council. The committee also proposed the dismissal of the director general of RTSH, Mr. S. Bucpapa. Almost all the committee members shared this view, but the RTSH law did not allow the committee to do so. The committee therefore decided to place on parliament’s agenda amendments to several specific provisions of the law, including the provision that would give this committee the right to propose the dismissal of the RTSH director general. There were also proposals in the committee, such as that by MP Uika for the “restructuring” of the RTSH Governing Council, but this remained firmly in the minority. The RTSH executives had also been summoned to the parliamentary committee meeting, but they walked out of the committee and did not attend the meeting. This is the second time this has happened with the RTSH executives, and it is a flagrant instance of their disobeying the very members of the People’s Assembly. Furthermore, the TV journalists did not show up at the committee meeting either; they began attending the other committees but did not attend precisely the meeting discussing their work. It seems the gentlemen running RTSH have sensed the storm threatening their seats and, out of spite, have given the journalists the “order” not to film their “gravediggers”?!.. L.M