Yesterday at midday, the Chairman of the Presidium of the People's Assembly, Mr. Pjetër Arbnori, received the delegation of the Holy See, headed by Cardinal Florenzo Angellini, prelate-president of the Pontifical Council for Pastorale per gli operatori sanitari. During the warm and friendly conversation that took place, Mr. Arbnori said that we see the Vatican as one of the principal protectors of democratic Albania, alongside other states that feel friendship toward us. Speaking about the situation of the religious communities, he stressed that in Albania we have harmony among the three religious faiths, which will help us move forward along the new path of democracy. During the years of imprisonment, he said, I came to know dozens of clergy who loved Albania, but they were cruelly persecuted and called the most degrading names, solely because they were committed anti-communists. Now our democratic state, despite the difficulties it faces, is helping religious institutions as much as it can. The law that will be adopted on the distribution of [support among] the religious communities will be within the framework of established laws, drafted democratically. We, Mr. Arbnori continued, are a secular, thoroughly European state, but we respect all faiths and have no fundamentalist leanings. We were delighted, he pointed out, by the news of His Holiness the Pope’s visit to Albania and the appointment of four Albanian bishops. We are grateful to the Holy See and the Pope for the great assistance they have given our people in bringing down the dictatorship and, today, in our spiritual rebirth. In his remarks, Cardinal Angellini expressed respect for the democratic processes in Albania and emphasized the role of the Catholic Church in the victory of democracy in the countries of the East and in Albania. In the future as well, he said, the Holy See will contribute to the spiritual and material rebirth of the Albanians. In addition to cooperation in many fields, we will attach particular importance to cooperation on health-care issues through close ties with your Ministry of Health and Environmental Protection. Minister Tritan Shehu and the Apostolic Nuncio in Albania, Ivan Dias, were also present at this meeting. PRESS AND INFORMATION OFFICE OF THE PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY

HISTORICAL POLITICAL [unclear]: At key moments in the development of our national politics, it has become customary for certain clans, which are directed by the fever of foreign chauvinism, to rise up with all their disruptive potential in pursuit of political capital. This happened many times during the years of the communist dictatorship, with Enver Hoxha’s servile, false and deceitful methods; it happened during the period of Ramiz Alia’s rule and, unfortunately, it continues to happen during the two-year period of pluralism. After the contrast of 2 July 1990, many actions were judged in light of their impact on the national question, to the extent that one of the “facts” R. Alia used against the protesting students of 1990 was that they were demonstrating to sabotage the Albanians’ boycott of the elections in Kosovo. SHABRI-MILO, A CONVENIENT ANTI-NATIONAL DUO As conflicts in the Balkans have intensified, Serbian and Greek chauvinist circles in Albania have also become more active. In several newspapers, it became fashionable for these circles to publish articles of an extreme anti-Albanian nature, attacking the heads of the Albanian state. It became fashionable to attack every diplomatic action by our state, with the unrestrained attacks against Albania’s accession to the Islamic Conference standing out in particular. Legal and illegal chauvinists, with the demagogues of the “Democratic Alliance” at their head, together with those of the former “Omonia” grouping and the leader of the PSD, Mr. Paskal Milo, went into a frenzy on a dark parliamentary night, seeking to seize the banner of Albania’s salvation. Their dream and desire is to see Albania poor and, above all, isolated. They want our state to isolate itself, be forgotten, abandoned and disfigured. They want ... ...[the continuation visible in the adjacent column] ...Western and Islamic relations in Albania to be replaced with the vitamins of Serbian-Greek chauvinist circles. From the day it was founded, the “Democratic Alliance” declared that it had no ready-made alternative for resolving the Kosovo problem. Thus, at a time when the Serbian conflict threatens to spread southward toward Kosovo and Albania, the motion’s sponsors offer no alternative, completely overturning the platform they themselves signed two years ago in the PD program. Leaving the Kosovo problem at the mercy of dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade is as malicious as it is anti-national. Albanians endured the alternative of dialogue for 50 years, and were continually massacred. They try dialogue with Panic: but the scoreboard remained at zero. Continuing their anti-national positions, today, as the Balkans approaches the “SOS” point of Western patience, the motion’s sponsors are seeking to implement the Serbian strategy for a disorganized Albania. After calling for the overthrow of democratic rule in Albania, conducting a fierce electoral campaign at European political stations by describing our democracy as a dictatorship, and doing everything possible to bring about isolation and a cooling of aid through their envoys Ceka, Pashko, Imami, Zogaj, Basha, Ngjela, Lubonia, Lesi, Cupi, etc., they joined together and placed themselves at the forefront of the plans of Greek chauvinist circles, demanding new political solutions and, at the same time, a negative assessment of our diplomacy. They went so far as to call Albania’s accession to the Islamic Conference national treason, to call the decision to shelter Bosnian women and children a national incitement, and to call the Socialists’ request to send the Albanian diplomatic staff a necessity. They attacked without restraint our head of defence over Albania’s contact with NATO and his ministry ...[the supplied article text then continues abruptly into the separate Nexhmija Hoxha article] ...“Delikatia,” as the monster called her, has been under investigation for a long time. She is accused of abusing her position as a member of the bloc. Is that alone enough for her to be declared guilty? The dictator wrote in his memoirs that he had Nexhmije not only as a wife, but also as a close collaborator. Their collaboration began in the spring of 1942, with the drafting of the scenario for eliminating Qemal Stafa. And this criminal collaboration continued until 1979, when the dictator became seriously ill. From that year Enver was like a mummy. Thus, from 1979, Nexhmija led the state and the Party with her youthful friend, the chameleon of Albanian communism, Ramiz Alia. Will someone ask: but Comrade Nexhmije held no posts in the government or the Party. Why should she be accused of the deeds of the people’s government and the Party of Labour? Or should Nexhmija be held directly responsible as the head of this department? The Democratic Front was the harshest lever in the hands of the Party of Labour. Who branded people as kulaks and exiles, who carried out the internments and expulsions? If the Front’s file marked you, your life was taken. Even the state security and judicial authorities, the investigators and the directors of departments and enterprises, before arresting, sentencing or dismissing people from work, obtained character references from the Front’s organizations. Should Nexhi not answer for these things too? If she does not answer, given that she was president of the Democratic Front for many years, who will answer for that ferocious and unparalleled war in human history, the class war? Why, then, should Nexhmija escape the charge of genocide when she was one of the principal architects of that genocide? In the trial for genocide against the people over 45 years and abuses as members of the bloc, (Continued on page 2) At the Islamic Conference they called it national treason; they called the decision to increase the cost of Greek refugees and Bosnian friends a national disgrace; they called the Socialists’ demand for the removal of the head of Albanian diplomacy a necessity. They attacked our defense chief without restraint because Albania had contacted NATO and his ministry had adapted to advanced military structures. They barbarically attacked the well-known politician Martinez of the Parliamentary Assembly, Mr. Rajerson of the American Embassy, Mr. Gligorov of the Republic of Macedonia, and the sheikhs of Islamic states. They touted strengthening ties only with the Greeks as a national achievement, while an extremist, chauvinist Greek newspaper called for a series of measures against our democratic government, which, after four inhumane, anti-human and anti-national points, added point 5, calling for Greek support for the Tirana “motionists,” as faithful to the chauvinist schemes of self-isolation and the governmental fabrication of Tirana’s independence. «Aleanca Demokratike» welcomed democracy’s first Christmas with publications of purported secret minutes of the former Political Bureau of the PPSH, seeking to rehabilitate their beloved spiritual leader, Ramiz Alia, the man who deprived Albania of the chance of a historic alliance with the FRG in 1938. PAD glorifies the block members, precisely a few days before their trial. HISTORICAL EPILOGUE None of these facts is accidental. Milosheviç’s victory in Belgrade has emboldened Tirana’s chauvinist, anti-national remnants. Instead of the 50 allied friends of the Islamic Conference, the “motionists” recommended an alliance with Greek chauvinism’s anti-Albanianism, recommended dialogue with the Serbs and asked for time to think about what solution to decide on (to give them?). On the Kosovo issue, they and their counterparts in the PSD have many ties with Greek chauvinist circles. It is no coincidence that they were, are, and remain principled in supporting them in every political action. It is no coincidence that after every political scandal in Albania, they all go to Greece. It is no coincidence that they all have their pockets stuffed with dollars. It is no coincidence that «KJ» and «Alternativa SD» never criticize Greek chauvinist circles, even when the facts demand it. It is no coincidence that they all remained silent during operation «Fhesa» and, at the very end, issued statements calling for such an operation on a larger scale. It is no coincidence that they all defended the «PBDNJ» positions in parliament. It is no coincidence that Greek universities are so open to their children. It is no coincidence that the clubs of Thessaloniki, Corfu and Athens are such favorites for their lunches, evenings and long holidays. For them, Albanianism is a distant ideology; here, chauvinist cells, branches of Serbo-Greek anti-Albanianism, continue to work and to be used for an Albania kept isolated—not by an En. Hoxha-style dictatorship, but by Milosheviç-style chauvinism—offering Albania the assimilation of its national ideology and ideals as an alternative. Thus, to be used for an Albania kept isolated: not by an En. Hoxha-style dictatorship, but by Milosheviç-style chauvinism, offering an alternative. R. LEZHJA

At the invitation of the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Greece, Mr. Mihail Papakonstandinu, on 28 December 1992 the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania, Mr. Alfred Serreqi, departed for an official friendship visit to Greece, at the same time [as/at the invitation of] the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On this occasion, the two ministers will discuss the current state of relations between the two countries in various fields and their future development. They will also exchange views in their talks on the latest developments in the situation in our region. (ATSH)

Aid from the Turkish government, January 1991–8 December 1992: 21.9 MILLION DOLLARS A press release sent by the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey in Tirana lists the aid provided by the Turkish Government to Albania from January 1991 through 8 December 1992. Thus, during the period March–May 1991, flour, sugar, refined oil, margarine, soap and hazelnuts arrived in our country as emergency food aid, with a value of USD 7,654,000. Food and clothing provided by the Ministry of Health, the Red Crescent association and personal donations, totalling USD 109,000, arrived in October 1991. In March 1992, 60 tonnes of food, medicine and clothing from the Red Crescent association, the Ministry of Health and a newspaper arrived, worth USD 101,000. On the occasion of Turkish Prime Minister Demirel’s visit, 19 tonnes of food worth USD 17,000 were sent to Albania during May, while 3,000 tonnes of sugar, 1,000 tonnes of pasta, 1,000 tonnes of oil, 500 tonnes of soap, 500 tonnes of detergents and 10 tonnes of cigarettes, amounting to USD 5,741,000, arrived in June 1992. In October, 10,000 tonnes of wheat worth USD 3.1 million arrived; in November, 2,500 tonnes of flour worth USD 1.1 million; and during that same month, 8,000 blankets, 1,000 packages of clothing and 500 kg of various medicines arrived, worth USD 140,000. In the first ten days of December, Turkey gave Albania 2,500 tonnes of flour, as well as 997 tonnes of pasta, 1,631 tonnes of sugar, 50 tonnes of tea and 100 tonnes of clothing, amounting to USD 2.5 million.

In the first week of 1993, Nexhmija Hoxha, the wife of the most brutal dictator known to human history, will stand trial. friend, the chameleon of Albanian communism, Ramiz Alia. Someone might bloc, (Continued on page 2)

[Beginning cut off] ...[unclear]. abandoned and disfigured. They want our state to function as an obedient tool of Balkan chauvinism, just as it functioned throughout Enver Hoxha’s regime. Sharra, Milo and company complain about our minority policy, leaving the impression that what is happening in Albania is what Serbia practices against national minorities. These ideologues of isolation and anti-Albanianism, with irresponsible references to the judgments of anonymous diplomats, false and demagogic references, communist-style philosophizing and threatening politics, take it upon themselves to deny all the victories of democracy and, above all, our policy on minorities. They do not care what is happening in our minority policy. They do not care what is happening in Kosovo and Çamëri, where anti-Albanianism is a virtue and sustenance for authorities compromised by chauvinist fever. They are not interested in the true position of the Greek minority in Albania, which today enjoys the highest average standard of living, full civil rights, its own schools and press, its association and political party, freedom of movement inside and outside the country, and its representatives in the government and in the Albanian parliament itself. Paskal Milo reduces all of this not merely to a plus or zero, but to a minus—twice over—[he is a] communist in conscience and actions, a senior member of the Government of Stability, who came to parliament through the lists and to the PSD through the machinations of self-appointed leaders. [Corrupt and partly unintelligible passage:] ...never be free of the responsibility of the mission entrusted to a communist, specifically to lead Albanian education along the path of the complete degeneration of study and organization, precisely what is known as the steps of a career, in keeping with his servile nature; consistent with that same nature in politics, he now comes forward to obscure our nation’s most precious ideals, national ideology, and brings as a forced gift the anti-Albanian ideologies of division, isolation, darkness and chauvinism. His colleague Sharra, who loses his composure and declares that, as a deputy in the Albanian parliament, he defends Greece’s interests [unclear passage], seeks to play the diplomatic game; then, realizing what he has said and feeling the weight of his mission, he disclaims responsibility for the statement and attributes it to the neighboring state, Greece, which, disoriented as it may be, continues to carry out extensive illegal and legal anti-Albanian chauvinist activities. The position of the so-called “motionists” was moderate, as they called it; one could understand that their name and opposition stem not only from a shared past, but also from a secret alliance formed with the aim of eliminating our minority. ...

...OUR PEOPLES WILL ENJOY THE PROSPERITY OF OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES Interview with His Excellency Mr. George Miklu, ambassador of Romania in Tirana, given to an ATSH journalist Question: Mr. Ambassador, first, tell us something about your diplomatic career. Answer: I began my diplomatic career in 1957; after higher studies at the University of Tirana, I worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; I served as a diplomat in Tirana, Moscow and Ulan-Bator. Thanks to the democratic revolution of 1989, I was appointed ambassador to Albania. I have spent 18 years here, and this period has made me feel sympathy for Albania and the Albanians. Question: Albania and Romania have emerged from the same dictatorship. They are like twins of the «uh-Land-jes communist. How do you see their future? Answer: By overthrowing the communist regime, Albania and Romania have now entered a new democratic era. Both our countries need to make up for the time lost under communism by allowing free initiative to operate and respecting human rights in accordance with international standards. Today we are going through natural difficulties; but I am convinced that this period will pass quickly and our countries will enjoy the prosperity of other European countries. This will be achieved thanks to the creative spirit and love of work of our peoples. Question: After the collapse of communism, the Balkans have faced numerous national problems. Moldova suffered the fate imposed by the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, and Kosovo suffered the same fate at the London Conference in 1913. The speaker of the Romanian parliament, Mr. Nastase, said: «Today’s realities require the existence of an independent and sovereign Moldova». What position would Romania take on Kosovo? Answer: It is true that lately there have emerged many