On Sunday morning, the Albanian parliamentary delegation to the Council of Europe, led by the chairman of the DP and chair of the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Eduard Selami, departed for Strasbourg. The delegation will attend the proceedings of the Second Part of the 1994 Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

The Albanian Democratic Party learned of the terrorist, criminal act committed by the Greek terrorist commando on Albanian territory near the village of Peshkëpi in the Gjirokastër district on Sunday, 10 April 1994, at 02:30, in which soldier Arsën Luzar Gjini, 20, from the village of Seman in the Fier district, and First Captain Fatmir Sali Shehu, a resident of Gjirokastër, were barbarically and unexpectedly killed. Three other soldiers were wounded, and many others were injured and insulted. The information available to the Albanian border forces, also confirmed by the Ministry of Public Order, clearly demonstrates that this criminal act was committed by the Greek terrorist commando, which, after committing the crime, reached the Greek border post at Argyrohiroit. Based on the facts of this massacre, preceded by dozens and dozens of killings of Albanian citizens by Greek border forces in complete violation of international norms and agreements, as well as by the words spoken by the criminals and the widespread declarations by Greek ultranationalist-chauvinist forces about Vorio-Epir and their constant threats to bring this idea and desire to life—an idea disfigured by mad dreams—the Albanian Democratic Party is convinced that the massacre of 10 April, carried out through terror on Albanian soil by the Greek terrorist commando, was premeditated and planned. It is an evident example of the violation of the National Act and of peaceful guarantees of sovereignty and of the arrangements governing relations between countries; it is a flagrant violation of the territorial integrity of the Republic of Albania. This criminal act is part of the strategy to destabilize the southern Balkans and facilitate Milošević’s aggressive chauvinist policy. The Albanian Democratic Party strongly protests and calls on Greek democratic public opinion to condemn this barbaric act, which seeks to bring back the dark years of the andartes and the other Greek bandits who swept into Albania at the beginning of this century. The Albanian Democratic Party calls on European and world democratic public opinion, as well as the democratic parties of the EU, to condemn this act and exert very serious pressure for peace and stability. It insists—or expresses its conviction—that this crime will not affect Albanian-minority relations, and calls on the Greek minority in Albania to condemn the barbaric act, as well as all those forces that seek to exploit it for their expansionist, revanchist and cynical ambitions. The Albanian Democratic Party calls on the Albanian Government to respond to this hostile act with all the consequences that follow from it. At the same time, the PDSH offers its sincere condolences to the families and relatives of the murdered servicemen and undertakes to provide them with assistance and support. Tirana, 11.04.1994

Joulwan: — I admire Albania’s major changes over these two years. — Albania has a key position for NATO. — The Alliance is prepared for Albania’s gradual integration into all NATO structures and levels. On Friday, Mr. Georg Joulwan, Supreme Allied Commander and Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Forces in Europe, concluded his first visit to Albania and, at the same time, to a country outside NATO. This visit follows those made within a very short period by other senior NATO figures. This high frequency of exchanges clearly demonstrates not only the expansion and strengthening of cooperation between our country and the Alliance, but also the interest and importance NATO attaches to Albania. At the same time, the visit represents another step forward toward our country’s integration into all NATO structures and levels. Its importance is underscored when viewed in connection with the situation in the region, particularly the conflict in Bosnia and the danger of the flames of war spreading south from the former Yugoslavia. For some time now, NATO’s commitment to containing this conflict has been evident and growing. The successful operation in the skies over Bosnia is a highly significant manifestation of NATO’s new role. This visit also once again showed that NATO responds with goodwill, friendliness and concrete encouraging steps to our government’s expressed desire for full integration into the Alliance. Albania is the first country seeking full NATO membership that has received strong support from the outset and signed the Partnership for Peace, has institutions in place and is practically adopting Alliance standards, building and preparing its army, etc. Our highest-ranking officials who received Mr. Joulwan once again conveyed to him Albania’s desire and determination to participate in all NATO structures envisaged by the Partnership for Peace, to conduct joint exercises with individual NATO countries or groups of member countries, and to prepare peacekeeping troops or take part in humanitarian and rescue operations. Through Mr. Joulwan, Albania’s willingness and commitment to provide NATO with all necessary airport facilities in Albanian airspace and territory to carry out its peacekeeping missions in the Balkans were once again expressed and confirmed. Albania’s clear and consistent readiness and commitment to NATO, as well as its support, were also highlighted and highly praised by Mr. Joulwan. He clearly expressed the Alliance’s readiness and desire for Albania’s gradual integration into all NATO structures and levels. He highly praised not only our country’s geostrategic position, but also the major positive changes achieved during the two years in which Albania has been governed by the PD and its allies. Thus, this very senior NATO figure conveyed the message of the organization he represents: to keep the green light open for Albania’s full integration. At the same time, he brought a very clear message that Albania eagerly awaits this and is determined to achieve this goal.

— Memorial meeting organized by the Mat branch of the PD, the Commission for the Assessment of Martyred Figures, and the Martanesh sub-branch of the Association of Former Political Persecutees — — A little history — A little chronicle... political Martanesh commemorates with sorrow The 22 victims of communist terror — Memorial meeting organized by the Mat branch of the PD, the Commission for the Assessment of Martyred Figures, and the Martanesh sub-branch of the Association of Former Political Persecutees — — A little history Martanesh, known for its patriotic and freedom-loving traditions, summed up in the folk verse, “Martanesh, a good place / tolerates neither pasha nor vizier,” gave dozens of its sons and daughters to freedom and the homeland during the National Anti-Fascist Liberation War as well. And just when the people of Martanesh hoped to rejoice, on 3 March 1944, the red death squads, ordered by the terrorist Mehmet Shehu, went from house to house, took the boys and men they found, and brought them to Kramez, where they executed them without cause or trial. They left behind anxiety, terror, screams and mourning, broken-hearted mothers, and women and infants alone. But this was only the beginning of the terrible civil war, which would subject their families to unbearable psychological, physical and economic persecution. All Martanesh had been drawn into the communist system. On Saturday, emerging from terror and fear, it honored the memory of its innocent sons. — A little chronicle... political They had come to honor the 22 innocent victims of communist terror: the chairman of the PDSH, Mr. Edvard Selami, and [the text repeats the preceding passage: “They left behind anxiety, terror, screams and mourning, broken-hearted mothers, and women and infants alone. But this was only the beginning of the terrible civil war, which would subject their families to unbearable psychological, physical and economic persecution. All Martanesh had been drawn into the communist system. On Saturday, emerging from terror and fear, it honored the memory of its innocent sons.”] They had come to honor the 22 innocent victims of communist terror: the chairman of the PDSH, Mr. Edvard Selami, the deputy Butka, Hajdari, Prifti, Çupi, the chairman of the Association of Former Political Persecutees, Mr. Kurt Kola, and other guests. The chairman of the former political persecutees of Martanesh, Mr. Sali Grica, among other things, posed the question in his speech: who were those who were executed? He explained that they were the ones who shared their bread, clothes... (Continued on page 3)

“ZP”: The Martyrs of 2 April do not belong to the PD [Column text partially missing and illegible] A little more than three years have passed since December ’90. Three years have passed since 2 April 1991... (Continued on page 3)

[Photograph of a crowded hall]

On 10 April 1994, at around 2:30 in the morning, a Greek terrorist commando consisting of 6–7 people, among them one who spoke Albanian with a minority accent, armed with firearms and dressed in Greek military uniforms, entered Albanian territory near the village of Peshkëp in the Gjirokastër district. About 4 kilometers inland, at the Recruit Training Center, two of them unexpectedly shot and killed with an automatic weapon the soldier Arsën Lazar Gjini, 20, from the village of Seman in the Fier district. After this, four others entered the servicemen’s dormitory while they were asleep and opened fire. In this brutal attack, the head of training, First Captain Fatmir Sali Shehu, 34, born in Tepelene and resident in Gjirokastër, was killed. Three soldiers were also wounded, and many others injured. While carrying out these heinous acts, one of the members of the terrorist commando shouted in Greek: “This is for Vorio Epir! Don’t think we have forgotten!” After this outburst, the commando withdrew, pursued by Albanian border forces, and crossed into Greece. The pursuit of the commando showed that the trail of its route led to the Greek border post at Argyrohiroit. All the circumstances of this appalling crime lead one to conclude that it was a premeditated criminal act by Greek special forces, for which the Greek government bears full responsibility. It is an act that constitutes a grave violation of the sovereignty of the Albanian state, which the Albanian government condemns with all its force and denounces to the Greek government, as well as to the governments of other countries and international organizations. The Albanian government will inform states and international organizations and calls on them to exert pressure on the Greek government to put an end to these criminal acts, whose highly dangerous implications threaten peace and stability in our region, form part of a strategy to destabilize the Balkans and seek to increase tensions in its south. In strongly protesting this despicable terrorist act, the Albanian government calls on the Greek government to identify the perpetrators of this crime and punish them publicly; [the text is unclear here] it bears full responsibility for the consequences arising from this grave terrorist act, which is in flagrant contradiction with all international acts that guarantee peace and prosperity and regulate relations between countries.

Joulwan: I value your national commitment to freedom and democracy — Airport facilities for NATO, Zhulali confirms NATO’s Commander-in-Chief for Europe, General Joulwan, concluded his visit to Albania with a joint press conference with Defense Minister Safet Zhulali. “Albania favors close cooperation with NATO and active participation in the Partnership for Peace,” Mr. Zhulali said in his statement to the press. He expressed Albania’s willingness to provide airport facilities for all missions aimed at maintaining peace and stability in the region and beyond. Mr. Zhulali emphasized that engagement with NATO structures and the holding of joint exercises would enable the Albanian Army to meet the standards of the Alliance’s member states. A company of the Albanian Army is being prepared and, after completing its training, may take part in UN peacekeeping forces, Mr. Zhulali confirmed. Albanian forces will also participate in rescue and humanitarian aid operations in conflict zones. “We asked for greater material support for our army, and I believe NATO countries will provide it.” Mr. Zhulali then confirmed that our side had also requested support for the education of our military personnel at schools in NATO countries, and had received a positive response. The possibility of the conflict spreading to Kosovo and beyond, and the danger posed by increased Serbian repression of the Albanians of Kosovo, was one of the topics discussed (Continued on page 2).

Asked by the “RD” correspondent for information about the press statement by the leaders of the AD concerning the accusations involving Shqyr Çela, a former State Security officer and brother of Salim Çela, who is wanted as a suspect in Çekini’s murder, the Minister of Public Order, Mr. Agron Musaraj, emphasized that this statement proves: a) The existence of cooperation between Shqyr Çela, a former senior Security officer, and former secret-police collaborators in this crime. b) It is for the Directorate and the Parliamentary Commission to determine the links between this cooperation and the murder in Shkodër. As for the timing chosen for this uproar, the Minister stressed that this is a failed attempt to cloud the conclusions of the investigations by the Parliamentary Commission and the judiciary, which I hope will be made public soon.

On 7.4.1994, in the lead article of the newspaper “Aleanca,” I, together with the Minister of Public Order, Mr. Agron Musaraj, was made the subject of an article by Mr. Shyqyri Çela. I consider it shameful to “fish up” a former head of a branch of the Interior Ministry, dressed up as a “democrat” and a “witness” in the morning. I responsibly state that everything asserted in this article is unfounded and unverified and is detrimental to democracy. I confirm that Mr. Shyqyri Çela was asked to advise his brother Selami Çela to place himself at the disposal of the judicial authorities (he was wanted in connection with the events of 14 January), because only there could his guilt or innocence be determined. HEAD OF THE SHIK BRANCH SHKODËR FITIM META

On Saturday, at a press conference chaired by deputy N. Alia and Çiftelia, the latest attempt was made, just before the presentation of the parliamentary report on the Çekini case, to cover up State Security’s involvement and its external connections to this incident. N. Alia and Çiftelia seem to understand that, having spent years denouncing and persecuting others, they themselves will often become the subjects of public accusations, regardless of whether or not they appear at their press conference. Their attacks, based on claims involving former State Security officer Shqyn Çela, clearly prove that they bear direct responsibility for Çekini’s murder. The link between N. Alia and Çiftelia and former State Security officer SH Çela was conclusively demonstrated at Saturday’s press conference: former security men inadvertently revealed the true trail of the Shkodër crime. The justice system should not hesitate to pursue its purpose, regardless of the incident involving the Painter; this case cannot be concealed from justice. Whatever their intentions, since the accusations concern matters that could send them to prison, if they wish, they should turn to the courts. THE OBSERVER

APPEAL Yesterday’s massacre by Greek military units in southern Albania is the Albanian press’s first confrontation with a conflict situation provoked by chauvinist designs against Albania. In these extremely delicate circumstances for providing the Albanian public with accurate information, the Albanian Journalists’ Association calls on all its members, and especially the heads of newspapers and mass media, to commit themselves to raising national awareness by presenting the real situation. The Journalists’ Association expresses its confidence that this time some journalists who do not belong to this organization will also stand alongside their colleagues, being Albanian first and foremost. Chairman YLLI RAKIPI