Tirana, PD returns to the barracks? Vranicki: The Armor strike, let us decide together. Ceka: Stop the violence in police cells Page 3 Italy: heated debate over the future of the 10,000 Albanian refugees who arrived in March. Dini: We cannot send them back; opposition reacts angrily

The issue of the Albanian emigrants who went to Italy at the beginning of March has become a knot which, more than affecting Albanian-Italian relations, may influence political developments in the two countries. In recent days, both the government in Tirana and the one in Rome have become targets of attacks by their respective oppositions. The Albanian opposition accuses Nano’s Socialist government of having made a secret agreement with Prodi’s government, an agreement concerning the repatriation of Albanian emigrants. The accusations have continued despite categorical denials by senior Albanian officials, including the prime minister himself, Nano, who stated that no such agreement exists. In this regard, however, Berisha and his followers are, in a way, being aided by the Italian right-wing opposition, which is putting constant pressure on Mr. Prodi’s government to force it not to make any concessions concerning the troublesome guests of March. The leaders of the right-wing forces are deprived of any action that might enhance their prestige, since it is precisely their allies in Italy who insist on expelling the Albanians. But, unwilling to create problems for Nano and his government at this critical moment, since negative consequences from Albania could easily be imported into Italy, Italian officials were forced to postpone the matter for another two months. As for the arguments put forward by various Albanian ministers that the refugees have nowhere to live because they lost their homes in the pyramid schemes, the idea of building camps on Albanian territory, financed by Italy, has been raised in the Italian parliament. In any case, political conflict in both countries has meant that nothing is known with certainty about the fate of the Albanian refugees. Indeed, in this regard, statements by officials from both countries are sometimes contradictory, and there is also no shortage of reluctance to speak openly. This is also evident in the timeframe for this much-discussed repatriation, which is sometimes said to be two months and sometimes three. But while plans are being drawn up for the general repatriation of the Albanians who arrived in March, quite unexpectedly, Italy’s foreign minister, Dini, declares: “Italy cannot take a decision to load 10,000 people onto ships and dump them on the Albanian coast.” Meanwhile, although a friendly telephone conversation between Nano and Prodi is reported, nothing is said about its contents, least of all about the refugees; all that is mentioned in this regard is “the mutual willingness to resolve the problem.” The same was apparent in Mr. Milo’s television interview yesterday: although he spoke with great restraint, he seemed to have his mind on the final outcome of the debates taking place in Italy. And in all this, the Albanian refugees, who could bring down one of the governments, are utterly powerless to do anything for themselves. GAVROSH LEVONJA

Yesterday, the 87th anniversary of Mother Teresa of Calcutta Photo Reuters Yesterday, the 87th anniversary of Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Photo Reuters

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