The Albanian Democratic Party has followed with concern the recent reports about the deportations from Greece to Albania, which objectively affect relations between our two countries and our two peoples. The DPA believes that the difficult situation in the region requires that relations at different levels and in different areas must, in every case, serve to resolve the crisis and not provide a further reason to complicate the situation in the region. We hope and are convinced that good relations with the New Democracy Party, which have been the basis for the notable improvement in the climate between the two countries in recent times, will once again help overcome every difficulty and every attempt undertaken from time to time by certain forces to create new tensions and problems for Albania’s fragile democracy. The statement made by the spokesperson of the PSSH about the deportation of Albanian refugees from Greece is a malicious statement that seeks to distort reality. The PSSH, following its usual tradition, is trying to take advantage of the situation that has arisen and use the suffering of thousands of Albanian refugees and their mistreatment as deliberately fabricated pretexts. Once again, it is trying to manipulate the vital concerns facing our country and people for political interests, to cast a smokescreen and create provocative and destabilizing situations. The smear campaign, which we condemn in the strongest terms, is not connected, nor can it be connected, with the visits to Greece by the Speaker of the Albanian Parliament, Mr. Arbnori, or the Foreign Minister, Mr. Serreqi. As has been made known to domestic and foreign public opinion, the Albanian democratic government and its delegations that have visited Greece, as well as the Albanian Democratic Party, have always expressed their concern in official meetings and discussions about the situation of Albanian economic refugees in Greece. They have called for their residence in that country to be legalized and have received assurances, even made public by the highest Greek state authorities. It is regrettable that these assurances have not become reality and that this is now being confirmed, contrary to what had been promised. But responsibility for this undesirable reality cannot in any way be sought where the Albanian “socialists,” through their spokesperson, openly insinuate it lies. SPOKESPERSON OF THE ALBANIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY

“Albanians are the argument of two who have no reason” ROUSSEAU “A nation that is born needs heroes who die; what place can heroes who die have in a nation that forgets and despises them?” Elsewhere, people of ideals are honored while alive and [honored?] when dead; among us they are killed twice—and forgotten. Fifty years ago, the missionary and democratic patriot Father Gjon Shllaku dedicated this prophetic apostrophe to B. Curri, L. Gurakuqi and Gazulli, in the hope that it would belong to the past and never be repeated in the future. But unfortunately the future would be even darker. Very little time would pass before this grim prophecy also fell upon the author himself and many other Albanian patriots and democrats. Selfishness—that black cloud which darkens human love and destroys it when armed with the sword of violence—once again unfolded savagely over the innocent. This was precisely the brotherhood, the cornerstone of universal culture, which could not be absent from the Albanian people, one of the oldest peoples. This time it would strike with unprecedented fury under the name, as false as it was hypocritical, of “class struggle,” which would last not a little while but half a century. Perhaps from now on, in political opinion, punishment and killing for political motives would seem illegal and absurd, but precisely “political motives” and “in the name of the people” would become the harshest and most tragic sentence, wreaking havoc throughout these fifty years. A new scenario began once again, one that, under the hypocritical and macabre slogan “death to fascism, freedom to the people,” would kill precisely those who had fought and been wounded in the war against fascism—precisely those, the sons of the peasant people. The fate of so many people, families, and even clans was laid waste by a death-record that began with the ominous formula: “Today, on December 31, 1947, the Council of the Supreme Military Court, composed of Major Niko Çeta—presiding; First Captain Nexhat Hyseni and Second Captain Mustafa Iljazi—members, in the presence of the Military Prosecutor of the Albanian National Army, First Captain Nevzat Hamzëdari, convened to try the 19 defendants.” The outcome was a verdict sentencing 7 to be shot, 6 to life imprisonment, and the rest to 20 and 15 years in prison. And amid all this horror, someone even breathes deeply, relieved. The prosecutor had asked for 11 to be killed. So it could have been even worse in that small courtroom in the Tirana garrison, on “Abdi Toptani” Street (today the DP headquarters), in the late hours of that dark night, during that judicial farce held without witnesses or defense, without evidence or facts; only the ominous verdict was announced by criminals dressed in judges’ robes. And all this was done on the basis of a “covering memorandum” from the investigation, which stated as follows: “The individuals listed below, arrested by the security organs as enemies of the people, are the initiators and organizers of the reaction...” They had allegedly organized the reaction illegally, bound themselves hand and foot, and placed themselves at the disposal of the Anglo-Americans. To make it more effective, the careful investigators had tried to arrange the defendants into groups. Thus, to ensure that the news was properly launched and the condemnation resounded throughout Albania, the accusations were distributed among: — Riza Dani — organizer of the reaction in Shkodër. — Kostë Boshnjaku — organizer of the Central Committee for Tirana. — Faik Shehu — organizer of the reaction in Dibër. — Islam Radovicka — organizer of the reaction in the national army and of the killings of two sheikhs at the Kryegjyshata. — Uan Filipi — organizer of the district committee for Vlora and connected with the Albanian Union Organization. — Isuf Hysen Begasi and Ivzi Kokalari — organizers of Balli for Gjirokastër. — Hilmi Hysi and Adem Beli — organizers of Balli for Berat... And so it could continue with the others. Meanwhile, the press echoed this ominous communist “slaughter”: “Tomorrow the trial of the enemies of the people, remnants of Balli Kombëtar and Legaliteti, begins”—Riza Dani and others...—wrote the newspaper “Bashkimi” on December 30, 1947. “Verdict of the Supreme Military Court announced: death for Riza Dani, Faik Shehu, etc.”—the same newspaper continued on January 27, 1948. Thus all Albania would follow this event and be kept under pressure that New Year’s night, the prelude to so many other gloomy years. The political background of the trial. We will not dwell here on the general background, since we had the opportunity to discuss it three months ago in “The Trial of the Deputies”; instead, by referring to certain events, facts and dates, we will try to present specifically the political background accompanying the trial and the defendants. After toil, sacrifice and shed blood, Albania had been liberated from foreign occupiers, but sadly it would once again be enslaved—perhaps more harshly than ever—by the Slavo-Communist system, which, with its help, would be imposed by the tyrant of Tirana: On January 10, 1946, the Constituent Assembly opened, where the first representatives of the Albanian people, elected from… PJETËR PEPA, candidate of sciences (Continued on page 2) …with the Albanian people. And would be the harshest and most tragic sentences, wreaking havoc throughout these fifty years. —Those who have no reason try to destroy reason—says popular wisdom. Thus, by gravely abusing the name and will of the people, the savage dictatorship, dressed in the patchwork garb of democracy, turned freedom once again into slavery and began the “communist witch trials” to destroy precisely human thought, logic and reason, with the dark aim of erasing them from the pages of history. But true history is made when not words but deeds make up its pages; then it restores glory to those to whom it belongs. Thus it was inevitable that “Post nubila Phoebus” (after clouds, sunshine) would come: however long the silence, however great the suffering, the day would arrive when justice would disperse the filthy fog of slander, intrigue and selfishness and shed light on the truth, remembering with honor those people of ideals who sacrificed themselves for their noble spirit and restoring them to their rightful place as heroes of the nation at the altar of the martyrs of democracy. Therefore, in these days of democracy and the freedoms it brings, we must remember that there are many waiting for recognition and honor, just as we have the honor today of recognizing those condemned in the group of Riza Dani. For we must know that even today, over that collective grave where Rizai, Faiku, Syrjaj and their comrades were buried, children play, calling it “the field of the seven graves”—while we have still not found their remains, the only recompense for their sacrifice, wishes and testament. And what is worse, perhaps their dignity is still being toyed with in the pages of some newspaper! What does this trial represent? A paranoid selfishness without any human feeling, its reasoning darkened by greed for glory and using violence as a means to satisfy that greed, was beginning to rule and govern Albania. “There is no other way to explain such an outrageous act, such a judicial farce, taking place precisely on New Year’s Eve, while people throughout the world were wishing one another a happier and more prosperous year. December 31, 1947, like a black cloud heralding a storm, brought news that would replace New Year’s wishes in unfortunate Albanian homes for half a century or more, and fill the emptiness of their bare tables. And yet only three months had passed since August 1, when the ‘trial of the deputies’ had already filled the land with graves, executions and life sentences. But an initiative that had failed was being followed by a new one, and this was being put into effect precisely during the period when the foundations of the Slavo-Co-

ISSUED TO THE ALBANIAN TELEGRAPHIC AGENCY We were concerned to learn of the statement by the Greek Minister of Public Order and of the launch of a campaign for the forcible mass deportation from Greece of Albanian refugees. This action is being undertaken at a time when Albania and Greece maintain good-neighborly relations in all fields, based also on the normal historical ties between the two peoples. In the course of these good bilateral relations and their further development, contacts and visits have taken place between the highest-ranking figures of the two states, both in Athens and in Tirana. This campaign of forced deportations is all the more surprising because it comes after the recent visit to Greece by the Speaker of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Mr. Pjetër Arbnori. This action surprises the entire Albanian public because it is taking place at a time when the visit to Greece by the Albanian Prime Minister, Mr. Aleksandër Meksi, is being prepared; he has also sent a letter to Mr. Kostandin Micotaçis on this issue and on Albanian-Greek relations in general, and the Greek side has agreed to the Albanian proposal to establish a joint Albanian-Greek commission that would also address the issue of Albanian refugees. In view of the above reasons, and the negative consequences that the displacement of Albanian refugees would bring—people who went to work in Greece out of economic necessity—we believe such actions are contrary to proper conduct. This action also runs counter to the standards of the European Convention on Human Rights, which categorically prohibits the collective expulsion of foreigners. Through diplomatic channels, the MFA is doing everything possible for the Joint Albanian-Greek Commission to begin its work and reach a solution to the problem of migrants. At the same time, efforts are being made for the Public Order Ministries of the two countries to make contact as soon as possible at the highest possible level on this issue. We hope that this unilateral and hasty action will be halted and that, as until now, our two neighboring peoples will witness the further development of good Albanian-Greek relations, which to date have also made a valuable contribution to peace and stability in the Balkan region. Tirana, February 6, 1993

During his stay in the USA, the Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Mr. Pjetër Arbnori, met with representatives of American business. During his stay in the USA, the Chairman met with representatives of American business. Speaking about the political and economic situation in Albania, Mr. Arbnori highlighted the preliminary results achieved in establishing the rule of law and public order. Parliament, Chairman Arbnori said, among other things, is engaged in extensive work to bring the necessary legal framework into place as quickly as possible, in order to create suitable conditions for foreign investment in Albania. All the laws approved so far, which define and complete the framework needed to guarantee foreign investment, are guided by the main objective of the reform and transformation taking place in Albania in order to move to a market economy. Regarding the political situation, he said that after the March 22 elections it was very stable, and that former communists’ efforts to destabilize it would not succeed. He went on to emphasize the country’s enormous economic needs in overcoming the severe crisis caused by the longest communist rule, which was also among the most oppressive. In this regard, he explained that the country has abundant natural resources, both above and below ground, suitable conditions for developing tourism and agriculture, a favorable geographical location, and a hardworking and talented people. No Albanian wants to leave the country, but in order to be able to realize their dreams in their own country… A representative of the “Plan Ikon” Company briefed the chairman on the company’s efforts to enable the introduction of advanced technology in the oil industry and the energy sector in general. Chairman Arbnori also met with representatives of companies specializing in drafting appropriate laws to attract investment. They held an extensive exchange of views on areas of future cooperation. At a meeting with Congressman Frank Uolf, Mr. Pjetër Arbnori clarified the Republic of Albania’s position on the crisis in the Balkan region and the ongoing war in the former Yugoslavia, and drew attention to the danger posed by a policy of resolving problems by force- (Continued on page 4)