—Joint press conference of President Berisha and President Tuxhman. At the conclusion of the two-day visit by the Croatian delegation to our country, yesterday afternoon the President of Albania, Sali Berisha, and the Croatian President, Franjo Tuxhman, held a joint press conference for journalists. First, the two heads of state made a statement to the press. President Tuxhman’s visit, Mr. Berisha said in his remarks, is not only an expression of its contribution to strengthening relations between our two countries, but will also have an impact on regional policy. We agreed, Mr. Berisha continued, to advance these relations further in the fields of politics and economics, technology, tourism, education, etc. The Albanian President went on to reiterate his unconditional support for a solution to the problem of Bosnia. Turning to the problem of Kosovo, Mr. Berisha said, “We thank the Government of Croatia for the assistance it has given Kosovo,” and expressed the view that it could also help in the future to resolve this issue, without which the problem of the Balkans cannot be resolved. At the end of his speech, Mr. Berisha said that President Tuxhman’s visit constitutes a new page in Albanian-Croatian relations. * * * In his statement, President Tuxhman, after speaking about the importance of this visit in consolidating relations between the two countries, said that Albanians have a strong friend in Croatia. “We,” said President Tuxhman, “are a people historically connected with you. Our folk songs sing the praises of Skenderbeu; our history records the Albanian-Croatian wars against an external enemy, etc. Likewise,” Mr. Tuxhman continued, “during the time a Croatian president was in power, much was done for the rights of the Kosovars.” Mr. Tugjman agreed with President Berisha regarding the problem of Bosnia. “Our stay here,” said the Croatian President, “has been very fruitful. We got to know a friendly country and its history. At the Kruja Museum,” President Tuxhman concluded, “I wrote in the guestbook: ‘A people that knows its history and preserves it has a secure future.’” Afterwards, the two presidents answered questions. ZEF LLESHI an expression of the contribution to strengthening relations between our two countries, but it will also have an impact on regional policy. We ... insofar as President Tuxhman’s visit represents a new chapter in Albanian-Croatian relations. ZEF LLESHI

—Mr. Selami returns from Paris today Yesterday, the Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe met in Paris, with Mr. Eduard Selami, Chairman of the Albanian Permanent Parliamentary Delegation to the Council of Europe, taking part. One of the items on the agenda of this meeting was the legal and human-rights report on Albania, as part of the review of countries expected to join the Council of Europe. After distributing legislation and written information to the participants at the meeting, Albania’s representative spoke at length about the progress of democratic reforms in Albania and provided clarifications on specific issues. Following this, Mr. Hainer KLEBES, Secretary of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and Deputy Secretary General of the Secretariat of this organization, informed the Committee that the Bureau of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, composed of the President and 17 vice-presidents, had decided on 28 February 1994 to send a high-level parliamentary delegation of the Council of Europe to Albania from 5 to 7 April of this year, in order to accelerate Albania’s accession to the organization. Mr. Klebes informed the Committee, on behalf of the Bureau of the Council of Europe, that this decision had been taken to demonstrate political support for Albania. Today, the Chairman of the Permanent Parliamentary Delegation of the Republic of Albania to the Council of Europe, Mr. Eduard Selami, returns to his homeland.

The Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Pjeter Arbnori, and the President of Croatia, Franjo Tuxhman, considered cooperation between the two countries a very important factor in the difficult situation in the Balkan region at their meeting. Mr. Arbnori said that, at this time, states with political stability play a very important role in the Balkans. This is the time, he continued, when all countries fighting for democracy must cooperate to stop the aggressor, and the best way to do so is through solidarity and peaceful talks. President Tuxhman described all the high-level meetings between Croatia and Albania as very important. He said that he had come to Albania at a time when a major turning point was taking place in the crisis engulfing the Balkans. “We have a common aggressor, so we must have significant cooperation to confront him,” Mr. Tuxhman said.

Prime Minister Aleksander Meksi and Croatian President Frano Tuxhman called for bilateral cooperation to be made concrete as soon as possible at their meeting at the Palace of Brigades. President Tuxhman emphasized that he wished this visit to be as concrete and productive as possible. It is in the interests of our two countries to put bilateral cooperation on the path to practical implementation as soon as possible, President Tuxhman stressed. Prime Minister Meksi described the visit by the Croatian delegation, led by President Tuxhman, as very important and expressed his confidence that all the conditions were in place to move from agreements and projects to their practical implementation. Messrs. Meksi and Tuxhman, exchanging views on the situation in the region, described the NATO aircraft attack as a response to Serbian aggression and expressed their readiness to contribute to establishing peace in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Yesterday, activities began in several districts of the country on the occasion of the 550th anniversary of the Assembly of Lezha. On this occasion, a festival of folk singers was also held in the city of Lezha. It will revive and simultaneously inaugurate a tradition within the Albanian Folk Festivals. The official ceremony will also take place in Lezha today, with the participation of the country’s highest-ranking figures. Meanwhile, as part of the 550th anniversary, the scientific session “Skenderbeu’s Military Art—the Foundation of Albanian Defence Doctrine” was held. Researchers, historians, military personnel, and other guests took part. Also present were the Minister of Defence, Safet Zhulali; the Chairman of the Parliamentary Defence Committee, Azem Hajdari; the chairman of the district council, the chairman of the district council, Kudret ... Questions. [The text then says:] At one of the venues of the Army Cultural Centre in the capital, Doctrine” was organized. ... Participants listened to various papers. At this event, Mr. Zhulali also spoke and, among other things, said that 550 years ago the Albanian princes, led by Skenderbeu, at the historic Assembly bearing the meaningful name Albanian League of Lezha, in the face of the savage Ottoman threat and to defend the fate of Arbëria, left ... (Continued on page three)

Kurdari, July 16, 1994 An armed confrontation takes place between the nationalists and forces commanded by Sh. Peçi. The latter, enraged by the resistance put up against the Communists’ entry into the village, threatened his brigade and ordered the village to be burned, then began a reign of terror. On his orders, a number of villagers were executed without trial, including women. Here are the names of the victims: 1. Duda Kadiu, 30 years old (woman) 2. Haxhi Suta, 80 years old 3. Mustafa Hoxha, 60 years old 4. Ahme Kuleni, 80 years old 5. Hakik Perlati, 50 years old 6. Reshit Allamani, 40 years old 7. Qyzim Kira, 30 years old 8. Riza Kurtagja, 50 years old 9. Isuf Kurtagja, 70 years old 10. Met Topalli, 40 years old 11. Avdi Tutragu, 40 years old 12. Sejdi Tutragu, 37 years old 13. Hasan Bufi, 30 years old 14. Veli Neli, 50 years old 15. Beqir Neli, 60 years old 16. Ismail Sela, 45 years old 17. Shemsi Kercova, 22 years old After the barbarities committed in those parts by the seven Serbs, mass arrests began. Around 50 men were arrested from November 1944 to May 1945. The well-known nationalist Dyl Allamani, who had also fought against the Italians, was executed, along with his brother Isuf Allamani, a scholar and historian who had completed his studies in Italy. The reprisals continued afterward as well. Dozens of houses were designated as the homes of “enemies of the people,” while others, branded as “kulak” households, were persecuted for years. Has the time not come for justice to speak out about these crimes? HAMDI KAZIU Former political prisoner

As the PS group risks prosecution for defamation ...But forgot to ask that the Tirana court’s ruling also be sent to the international institutions after the 5th!... As the PS group risks prosecution for defamation NAMIK HAS DONE HIS PART... ...But forgot to ask that the Tirana court’s ruling also be sent to the international institutions after the 5th!... The 5th is approaching. So, in its “titanic” efforts to politicize the court, the PS cannot leave any stone unturned. Thus, the night before last in the People’s Assembly, its parliamentary group “shook things up” through a solo performance by Namiku, the “soprano,” as they read out a statement. In principle, no one was “against” that “song.” Nor was I “against” some of their procedural claims regarding the trial of their chairman. The lawyers know those better than I do. But there was something else that “caught my eye” as a journalist. I think that, for a lawyer, it should constitute grounds for prosecuting the PS parliamentary group for public defamation. I mean the statement: “After 7 months of unlawful imprisonment, prejudged and ordered, the Tirana court decided to open the trial against Fatos Nano on March 5, 1994.” Well, within this statement (Continued on page 4)

The court says: the investigation must be completed Marcel “Skendo,” “the first Albanian millionaire,” President of “Ada Air,” appeared yesterday before the judicial panel presided over by Agron Bendo, president of the Tirana court. The charge is falsification of official documents, a criminal offense provided for under Article 110 of the Penal Code. The court ruled that the “Skendo” case must undergo further investigation and verification, actions that must be completed within 30 days. At yesterday’s trial, Skendo presented a replacement on the legal team: attorney Enver Hafizi has taken the place of Maksim Haxhise, who is in the USA. The prosecutor in the case is Gene Gjokutaj. “RD” correspondent Photo: A. Babani

-The PS political bureau sets national dates at its meeting, taking over Parliament’s powers. Enver’s days will now also be Fatos’s days -Don Quixotes will fight windmills. A meeting of the PS leadership on the last day of February produced a statement and a decision that were no less than the old decisions of the Political Bureau of the PP. By “decision” of the PS leadership, it was decided that March 4 would be a “National Day of protest in defense of democracy and human rights.” Some lapses may be forgiven in a person who is isolated in a cell, but for a group of people gathered to make decisions (which at least they consider serious decisions) to lose their minds all at once is inexplicable among the range of normal phenomena. Without even discussing the legal aspect, according to which only Parliament has the authority to designate national holidays or even other days that belong to the entire nation, it is unimaginable to the rest of the world that a party could designate a National Day for the whole population. Such things could once have been understood only in Albania, when the Bureau decided everything. It seems that, in this moment of “Enverist” “pain,” nostalgia for the time when they were all-powerful and decided to do as they pleased burst out in the PS leadership. Just as Don Quixote “decided” and made Sancho Panza king, the PS leadership too decided to proclaim March 4 a National Day. So, from the days of Enver, designated by R. Alia, the PS will now have Fatos’s days, designated by the “Leadership.” Nevertheless, the PS leadership seems to have taken this latest end-of-February joke very seriously: it issued a statement in the form of an “appeal” and asked all its followers to be notified to rise up “in protests and rallies” to defend the chairman. It is not known whether the PS leadership has obtained permits for all the rallies it intends to hold, but if it has not, then this is an open call to destabilize the country through unlawful actions, for which they must be held responsible. In its “appeal,” the PS leadership also offers advice to Nano’s soldiers, those who, together with the Don Quixotes, will go out to smash windmills. “Be determined” and “unyielding,” the statement says. Until now, Don Quixote has been only an unreal and ridiculous character to many people, but Don Quixotes and Sancho Panzas are always present, everywhere. On their donkeys, with basins on their heads, they will always try to turn the windmills backward and bring back what has passed. But, unfortunately for them, it cannot be brought back either with Don Quixote’s rusty lance or with the proletarian revolutions of the communist leaders. EDI PALOKA

“When we take power, we will ask for mercy for the people who denounced this crime, for the judges and the prosecutor,” Aleksander Frangu declares in court. We see nothing extraordinary in this statement, because “RD” has always denounced this newspaper as a collaborator of “ZP,” which remained loyal, heart and soul, to the ideals of the PS. What is unusual about this statement is that the newspaper’s own editor-in-chief, A. Frangu, admits in his own words that this newspaper lays claim to power, but does not clarify which Party he means: the PS or the PAD? Be careful, Mr. Frangaj. At least among the city’s readers, try to preserve “KJ”’s image of independence. M.SH.

Yesterday, on the occasion of Croatian President Franjo Tuxhman’s visit to Albania, the official opening ceremony of the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in Tirana was held in the presence of the two Presidents.

THE of the two Presidents. The opening address was delivered by Croatia’s Ambassador to Tirana, Mr. Juriçik. Then President Berisha and President Tuxhman welcomed the opening of this embassy. Representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Tirana were also present at the ceremony.