Yesterday marked three years since Kosovo was proclaimed a Republic under the Kaçanik Constitution, approved by the delegates of the Kosovo Assembly on 7 September 1990. This high act of fulfilling the will of the people followed the proclamation of the Constitutional Declaration of Kosovo’s Independence at a meeting of this assembly in Prishtina on 2 July of that same year, held under military-police siege and the threat of tanks. Continuing the completion of the historic process toward independence, a referendum was held in September 1991 on the Republic of Kosovo as a sovereign and independent state, while on 24 May of last year Kosovo’s first multiparty parliamentary and presidential elections were also held. All these were very important historical events for Kosovo and for Albanians in general. What is expected next is the establishment and exercise of the people’s democratic power, the power of Kosovo in Kosovo, in place of Serbia’s power of violence and occupation. To realize these aspirations, Albanians in Kosovo have chosen the peaceful and democratic path, which is considered the safest and has won the sympathy and support of the International Community. Albanian and international efforts for a peaceful solution also oppose the dangers of war threatened by Serbia, which would have catastrophic consequences for Kosovo and the region. In favor of averting these dangers is also the call for and effort to establish a United Nations protectorate in Kosovo, where solu- (Continued on page 4)

After returning from Budapest, the chairman of the DP, Mr. Selami, explained for more than an hour at a press conference what its reasons were (not the reasons why the DP did not join the EDU). Mr. Selami’s facts and arguments were heard clearly and recorded by all the journalists present, but although the facts were not at all complicated and were very clear, Hamdiu of «ZP» seems to have heard them backwards. What, according to Jupe of «ZP», should be a news report begins with the words «the chairman of the DP... tried to justify». Apparently the journalists of «ZP» cannot distinguish the stating of facts from making excuses. «Mr. Selami tried to reduce this political blow in European public opinion to an accident caused...» by the representative of New Democracy, writes Jupe, and continues: «All the other parties, according to Selami, agreed.» So that is what Selami said, but people «want» to know the truth: according to Hamdiu—and Hamdiu, a worthy mouthpiece and guardian of tradition, writes: «...it is easy to understand that these are political fiascos by the chairman of the DP. His own statements... disprove the claim that only the Greek arguments were an obstacle.» «It is easy,» writes Hamdiu of «ZP», but surely he has in mind people of high intelligence, not «mediocre and narrow-minded» people like all the other journalists who were there, who believe only in facts and cannot probe more deeply as Hamdiu can. The chairman of the DP said that only Greece had vetoed it, while the others supported the DP’s admission, and the chairman of the DP had come from Budapest, where the meeting was held. But why is Jupe—although when the EDU conference was taking place Hamdiu was busy carrying buckets of water on the first floor—so convinced that he must have seen other opponents besides the Greeks? He is so convinced that he does not need to find any fact or argument to prove it. And although Hamdiu of «ZP» cannot say which other party opposed the DP’s admission to the EDU, he moves on to another point. The Greeks alone did not accept it, it is true, but they had «strong arguments», Jupe claims, and then wonders in indignation: «How did it happen that that party vetoed the PDSH?» So Hamdiu apparently did not hear about the compromises the Greek representative demanded. Or perhaps he did hear them, but they make no impression on him. His party is accustomed to selling out national interests for party interests, so apparently Mr. Selami’s argument that «the DP does not compromise on national interests» does not seem strong to him. Finally, Hamdiu of «ZP», who asks in the subheading of his article, «What are the reasons for the PDSH’s non-admission to the BDE?», reveals the real reason, saying that «at the conference, the issue was raised that the PDSH is imprisoning its political opponents». Hamdiu continues his revelations below. According to him, this is considered not to come from left-wing forces, but from the right-wing political forces of Europe. So Hamdiu, who cannot distinguish singular from plural, calls the Greek party a «force» and not a «minority force». Besides this, Hamdiu «forgets» to mention what the other parties’ reaction was when the Greek representative brought up Nano’s arrest. Hamdiu «forgets» to say that, for all the other parties, Nano had been arrested for corruption. This is how «ZP» and Hamdiu reveal the «truths», writing in large letters: «Europe’s disagreement with the actions of the DP». It is understandable (and has been known for a long time) that some parties in Albania would like Europe not to extend beyond the borders of Greece. Note: An article in the PAD newspaper «Aleanca» takes the same position, except that there the main reason for the DP’s non-admission to the EDU is not Nano’s arrest, but the non-recognition of the PAD parliamentary group. I do not want to compare the author of the article in the DP newspaper with «Aleanca» to H. Jupe of «ZP», but the logic used is the same, and both «forget» to mention that there was only a Greek veto against the DP’s admission. The article in «Aleanca» draws an analogy between the DP’s non-admission and the PS’s non-admission to the Socialist International, and again «forgets» to say that while the DP received one vote against, the PS received only one vote in favor. Finally, the newspaper «Kombi» also presented the arrest of Idajet Beqiri as the reason for the DP’s non-admission to the EDU. Let us wait to see what reasons the other parties and newspapers will come up with.

Despite the difficulties, we will always be realistic and objective — FROM MR. MUSARAJ’S MEETING WITH MAJOR GENERAL PIOXHE — — At a working meeting held on 5 September with the deputy commander-in-chief of the European Community Monitoring Mission, Major General Roland Pioxhe, the Minister of Public Order, Agron Musaraj, expressed his thanks for the special attention he has given to Albania and praised the work of this Mission in our country. — This, he said, — is clearly demonstrated in cases of border incidents, where the participation of representatives of this mission has made it possible for the truth to emerge and, at the same time, has blocked the way for fabrications by the Yugoslav side. Our failure to react, — he added, — is not because we are unable to respond, but because, as a state, we want to be a factor for stability and understanding, not a cause of incidents and increased disagreements. For his part, Major General Pioxhe told Mr. Musaraj that he was very grateful for the co-

From the statement by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania The campaign recently undertaken by the Belgrade authorities to provoke incidents on the border with the Republic of Albania, as well as to stage reports of nonexistent incidents allegedly caused by Albanian border forces, forms part of the Serbian government’s strategy to heighten tensions in the region, a strategy that also includes its absurd attempts to shift responsibility for this rise in tension onto the democratic Albanian government. We emphasize once again before international public opinion that the Serbian government is the sole cause of and is responsible for all recent incidents on the Albanian border. This artificially created tension seeks to counterbalance the increase in repressio-

The Presidium of the Youth Forum of the Albanian Democratic Party considers the work of the government, parliament and local-government bodies of PDSH representatives to build a democratic, developed and civilized Albania highly successful. It once again declares its unreserved support for President Berisha in his continued efforts to establish a democratic system in which human rights are sacred, and for his major contribution to Albania’s integration into Europe’s political, legal and economic structures. It appreciates the recent initiatives of the justice authorities in the fight against corruption and crime, demonstrating through these that our country has embarked on the irreversible path of democracy and the rule of law. Considering its program and statutes sacred for every DP activist, and noting that the majority of the Albanian electorate voted for them, the Presidium of the FRPD publicly declares its vote in favor of the PDSH leadership’s decision concerning the statements of deputy Kalakula. It strongly reiterates that, for the PDSH, which aspires to the sacred ideals of December ’90, the left-wing or right-wing extremism of any individual is unacceptable, all the more so when that individual is one of its representatives. Recognizing the political position of the younger generation as a highly important one in today’s democratic developments, the Presidium of the FRPD calls on all its peers and like-minded people to think and distance themselves from extremism, and even more so from the wholly unconstructive actions of the social-communist opposition, which, by encouraging its own political discredit, seeks to destroy everything, as it did during the transition. The idol of youth is national progress, therefore it is a test of everyone, therefore it is a test of everyone? [as written] The Presidium of the FRPD [supports] the cooperation maintained so far with the Republican, Social Democratic, Christian Democratic, Liberal Youth Forums, etc., which are committed to more extensive cooperative relations, while res- [text continues on page 4]

— The 9th session of the Standing Committee for Economic and Trade Cooperation was held within the framework of the UN. The 9th session of the Standing Committee for Economic and Trade Cooperation, within the framework of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, was held in Istanbul, Turkey, from 1 to 4 September 1993. Our country also took part, with a delegation led by Bashkim Kopliku, Deputy Secretary of the Council of Ministers. (Continued on page 4)

Tirana – Information If 2,600 families in the city of Tirana received economic assistance in July, that figure doubled in August. Specialists in the relevant sector at the Municipality explain the increase, in such a short time, in the number of families receiving state economic assistance by the end of unemployment benefit payments (assistance) for a considerable number of workers who have still been unable to find jobs. According to rough estimates, around 2,200 families are entitled to receive this kind of assistance. The 10 percent increase in the salaries of budget-sector employees, starting in August, has also affected the economic assistance sector. For the period in question, each family receiving this assistance, based on an approximate assessment of its circumstances, has been calculated to receive between 14,000 and 80,000 old lek. It should be added that citizens are facing unjustifiable obstacles in obtaining their employment booklets from the enterprises where they were employed. They are also encountering difficulties obtaining certificates from civil-status offices. (Continued on page 4)

To facilitate financial transactions with citizens, the Savings Bank has commissioned 14 work offices to be installed in the capital. These prefabricated offices are being assembled at the «Dinamo» Plant. So far, 4 offices have been completed, and work is under way on another 10. To improve quality indicators, the plant is cooperating with an Italian firm. Once they are operational, it will be possible to eliminate the long queues that were also seen at the savings bank offices, where rent, pensions, etc. are paid as well. (Continued on page 4)

STATEMENT of the Albanian Helsinki Committee The Helsinki Committee expresses its deep regret regarding an incident that occurred in the Kakavijë border area and could further aggravate relations between the two countries, at a time when public opinion on both sides of the border expects concrete efforts to be made to improve them. Representatives of the KSHH visited the site and the facts are as follows: On 4 September 1993, villagers from Kakavijë, a Greek-minority village near the border with Greece, who were working in this border area, were brutally mistreated, beaten and robbed of the money they had with them by some Greek border guards. The victims of this mistreatment were the following people: Mr. Stavro Lako, headman of Kakavijë village; Mr. Spiro Zoto, 35, farmer; Mr. Thanas Rafti, 34, farmer; Mr. Kristo Camati, 19, worker; Mr. Foto Zoto, 40, worker; Mr. Orest Karjani, 14, worker; as well as Mrs. Kleopatra Lako, 61, together with her five-year-old granddaughter, and the minor Izmini Gaqo, aged 4. On 5 September 1993, the day after this event, about 100 Greek-minority villagers from Kakavijë gathered and protested against the Greek border forces at the Kakavijë border crossing. There were no incidents during this protest demonstration. The KSHH expresses its protest against the incident of 4 September and at the same time calls on the Greek authorities to distance themselves from such irresponsible acts and to take the necessary measures to ensure that such incidents, which aggravate Albanian-Greek relations, do not happen again. Our Committee considers the Greek minority in Albania an important factor in friendship and a bridge linking relations between the two neighboring peoples. Tirana, 7. 09. 1993