TEPELENA: New admissions to the Tepelena branch of the DP are indicators of growing support for and confidence in the DPA. In Qesarat, 24 new members have joined the DP; in Krahas, 16; in Buz, 27; and in Dragot, 10 new memberships have been recorded. In Memaliaj alone, 62 new members joined the DPA in just one week. In total, during February and March, 200 new members joined the Democratic Party branch in the Tepelena district. A characteristic feature is their young age, as well as the expansion of the circle of sympathizers to include honest socialists. Alongside objective political, economic and social factors, the seriousness of the branch and its leaders in their work has also contributed to the expansion of the ranks of the district’s democrats. * * * DEVOLL: In the village of Miras, known for its resistance and democratic spirit, a section of the Democratic Women’s League was established. It is worth noting that on the same day, 12 women expressed their desire to join and were accepted into the ranks of the DPA. Mrs. Fitret Sina was elected chair of the section and Mrs. Filloreta Hoxha its secretary. During 1994, 57 women have joined the Democratic Party in the Devoll district. RD CORRESPONDENT

Albanian blood was shed on Albanian soil by Greek terrorists dressed in Greek army uniforms, who vented their criminal fury in Greek. Nothing can outrage an Albanian more than such a crime: a foreigner violating your home and killing you at night. Crime outrages everyone, especially when its monstrosity and brutality are on the scale of this latest incident, yet the Greek government has reacted to this crime in a strange way. In its first responses, it not only failed to do something it should at least have done on humanitarian grounds—to express sorrow for the victims—but government spokesman Evangelos Venizellos also spoke of an “Albanian provocation.” This is not only a lack of seriousness but also maliciousness, especially at this moment. The same was done by the pro-government Greek daily Ta Nea. Meanwhile, a Greek terrorist group, “unknown” until today, has claimed responsibility for the crime. But Venizellos does not seem interested in this truth. In a way, the terrorist group’s claim of responsibility removes the Greek government and the Greek army from responsibility for organizing it. But the facts point to a group dressed in Greek army uniforms, armed with powerful special weapons and heading toward a Greek border post. Anyone could telephone a newspaper’s newsroom—in this case, Eleftheriothpia—and claim responsibility for this crime in order to shield the actual perpetrators. But let us assume that this terrorist group exists and was not organized by the government. Does the Greek government bear responsibility for the crime? Venizellos’s answer was that the Greek government bears no responsibility at all. It is easy to dismiss responsibility in a couple of words, but ... Albanian-Greek relations, despite the efforts made to achieve understanding, have often experienced very serious deterioration. Even today, although the democratic Albanian government is trying by every means to create an atmosphere not only of peace but also of friendship with Greece, the other side shows no such inclination, and serious incidents continue to occur. Someone might say: “What responsibility does the Greek government have if a terrorist group committed a crime?” But is the Greek government responsible for statements made publicly by its members, as in the case of former minister Sotiris Kuvelas? Is the Greek government responsible when a person such as Sebastianos—God knows what kind of priest he can be—has set up a radio station where people speak only against Albania and openly promote warlike ideas between neighbors? Is the Greek government responsible when it lies and speaks of 400,000 Greek minority members in Albania, and when it stages fictitious protests over alleged violations of the rights of these minority members, who live better on Albanian soil than Albanians do? So are these not direct encouragement for crimes of this kind, whether organized by “independent” terrorist groups or by organized Greek military forces? It is unforgivable that, in such a grave situation in the Balkans, when any incident could set off a major conflagration, the Greek government should adopt such a position. That the Greeks are alert to the Serbs has already been declared, but a country that is part of the EC cannot be allowed to act with the mentality of barbarians. Thousands of Albanians work in Greece, just as thousands of Greek minority members work on Albanian soil, but these minority members cannot be used as Trojan horses, since we are not in the era before Christ and Albanians are not besieged Trojans. Greek minority members came to Albania and worked Albanian land, where they still work today; Albanian friendship should therefore not be repaid with malice, as has often happened through the impotence of Greek politics. In these circumstances, it would be wise for the current Greek government to bring its policy under control, since it is placing itself not only alongside the Slavic profaners of Belgrade but against all of Europe, and may lead itself down a road with consequences for Greece and the Greek people themselves. EDI PALOKA — According to [text begins mid-sentence] (34 years old, born in Tepelena) and serviceman Arsen Gjini (20 years old, born in Seman), and wounded many other soldiers, three of them seriously, the group returned to Greek territory in the direction of the Argjirohor border post. -The Greek military uniforms worn by the criminals, the professionalism of the crime, and the objects found, which form part of the equipment of special units, support the argument that the Greek commando belonged to Greece’s special units or had received special training. In its note dated 10 April addressed to the Greek government, the Albanian government held the Greek government responsible, since the terrorist commando came from its territory and returned there, and asked it to find and bring the perpetrators to justice, while acknowledging that it might not be directly responsible for the incident. But in the Greek government’s press statements, not only did we hear no expression of sorrow for the incident; we learned that the Greek government in Athens interpreted this attribution of responsibility to the Greek government as a contradiction in the Albanian note. -As in the case of the firing by a Greek military vessel on an Albanian motorboat in our territorial waters, in the Bay of Saranda, on 4 January 1994; the entry of a Greek minesweeper into our waters near Cape Qefali on 10 March; the entry, on 12 March, of two armed Greek soldiers into Vidohove, where they threatened Albanian citizens; and the killing of twenty-year-old Alfred Muço by a Greek patrol on 21 March, Greece has followed a path of denying the facts and washing its hands of the matter, offering no official response. -As retaliation for the removal of the person appointed by Athens as Consul General in Gjirokaster, who not only engaged in activities illegal and incompatible with diplomatic status but also performed the duties of consul without having received the exequatur from the receiving country, in clear violation of Article 12 of the Vienna Convention, Greece expelled not our consul in Athens but the first secretary of our embassy in Athens. Under these circumstances, Albania believes it should not pursue a policy of retaliation by expelling serious Greek diplomats from Tirana. Instead, relying on Article 11 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which states: “In the absence of a specific agreement on the size of the mission, the receiving State may require that the size of the mission be kept within limits which it considers reasonable and normal, having regard to the circumstances and conditions in that State and to the needs of the mission in question,” it asks the Greek government to take all necessary measures to ensure that within 10 days the number of diplomats in Albania is the same as the number Albania has in Athens, namely six diplomats, or that this number be determined on the basis of a bilateral agreement. -Albania asks the Council of Ministers of the EU to request that Greece provide an official response regarding this incident. -Albania is in favor of dialogue, but will not accept the proposed meetings without an official response from the Greek government concerning the serious terrorist act. establish a Commission to verify all the terrorist acts mentioned above and expresses its readiness to cooperate fully with this Commission. We add that we do not object to entrusting this task to the existing EU Monitoring Commission overseeing our northeastern border. However, since the current chair of this Commission for this six-month period is a Greek official, under a well-known principle of law he cannot be a party to the judgment. We also ask Greece put an end to acts punishable under the UN Charter and in complete violation of the principles of Maastricht, which Greece has undertaken to uphold and develop. We wish to assure it that Albania is determined to cooperate with the EU and its member states, the countries of the region, Greece, and all other countries interested in reducing tension and promoting peace and stability in the region. PRESS AND INFORMATION OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENCY Tirana, 13.04.1994 Greek army uniforms, with weapons belonging to special groups and heading toward a Greek border post. Anyone could call a newspaper’s editorial office (in Does the Greek government bear responsibility when it lies and speaks of 400,000 Greek minorities in Albania, and when it stages fake protests about alleged violations of the rights of EDI PALOKA

The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Dr Ibrahim Rugova, in a telegram he sent to the President of Albania, Dr. Sali Berisha, emphasizes that the massacre of Albanian soldiers by Greek terrorists caused deep indignation among the Albanian people of Kosovo. “We strongly condemn this terrorist act and call on the international community to admonish Greece and condemn the dispatch of terrorist groups into the territory of the Republic of Albania. We ask Greece and the Greek people, who together with the Albanians are the oldest people in the Balkans, to act more reasonably and contribute to good neighborly relations with the Albanians. “On behalf of the people of the Republic of Kosovo and in my own name, I extend to you and to the families of the deceased our condolences and support,” concludes Dr. Rugova’s telegram to President Berisha. The terrorist act by the Greek commandos in Peshkep[i?] of Gjirokaster was also condemned in a statement by the leadership of the Democratic League of Kosovo, the Albanian Democratic Party of Kosovo, the Liberal Party of Kosovo and other political entities in Kosovo.

Meeting of the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, with the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany in Tirana, His Excellency Mr. Klaus Volers, and representatives of the EU Troika in Albania I called you to this meeting as representatives of the EU Troika, and we will send the same information to the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, asking that you inform the governments of the EU member states as follows: -Albania has the necessary documentation showing that the Greek terrorist commando came from Greek territory and, after committing the crime—that is, the massacre in the new recruits’ barracks at Peshkep[i?] in Sipermene in the early hours of the morning of 10 April 1994, in which it killed Captain Fatmir Shehu (34 years old, born in Tepelene) and soldier many other soldiers, three of them seriously—returned had received special training. [Text continues in the following article:]

At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic in Tirana, Mr. Caliqis, was summoned and handed a note stating that: Mr. Christos A.Jacovou, appointed by the Greek side to serve as Consul General in Gjirokaster, is declared persona non grata because of activities incompatible with his status. Mr. Christos A.Jacovou is required to leave the territory of the Republic of Albania within 48 hours. Meanwhile, according to AFP, the Greek government has also requested the departure of the first secretary of the Albanian embassy in Athens, Mr. Kastriot Robo.

The socialists’ bluff in Korçë -Servet Pellumbi weeps over the people’s troubles at the village club! -The cornered communist doctor uses his colleague Islami as a “scapegoat.” -From his prison cell, Fatos Nano will continue to lead the PS… -The red devils are calling for a coalition! -How many skulls will the PS crack if it comes to power? -Gramoz Ruçi, a “great democrat”! -Frost continues to fall at the “Morava” cinema… Sancho Panca—Niko Pandeli, chairman of the Korçë PS, has long been tilting at windmills, going from village to village to call for new elections! Behind him come a few moderate retainers such as Edison Bregu, Ali Jashari and Co., who, if they were to set Cervantes alight, would be nothing but generals standing as decorations for the king!… On 11 April, the day dictator Hoxha died, Dr. Pellumbi woke up with a bitter taste in his mouth. He had had a bad dream. Hysni Milloshi was presenting a bunch of flowers to Nexhmije Hoxha in prison! The good little poet complained to the widow that Comrade Enver’s grave had dried out and that thorns had sprouted in place of flowers! So, to cleanse his bad soul, this wandering comedian decided on 11 April, the day of father Enver’s death (demise), to go among the grassroots, knee to knee with the people, and see how much Albanians missed their “glorious and unforgettable leader.” First Comrade Servet went to Pojan. Then to Liqenas, from where he left with his tail between his legs! After this “success,” at around 6 in the evening he arrived in the village of Zembalak, which held not particularly pleasant memories for him. This was a village of “Ballists and Zogists” that Comrade Enver himself had marked with a black circle, since Ahmet Zogu had once spent a night there! But anyway… Let bygones be bygones! The past need not be used as a means of pressure. Invite whoever dares! That is Servet Pellumbi’s motto. The deputy chairman of the PSSH got out of the car and went in, since the whole village had gathered in the hall of the House of Culture. At first he was pleased, but soon his face froze. [Text continues on page 4] “E, E, E... THIS ISN’T DEMO-CRACY...” — cartoon; below the drawing: “KORÇË, 11 APRIL 1994” and “(Continued on page 4)”

Interview given to Radio Tirana by the German ambassador, Feler QUESTION: Mr. Ambassador, this is the first visit to Albania by a German foreign minister in two years. How is this visit viewed by the German side? ANSWER: As you know, we have very good relations with Albania, relations that have developed with each passing month over the past two years. Under these circumstances, we believe the time has come to exchange another high-level visit. Mr. Kinkel, like Mr. Gensher, is not only Foreign Minister but also Vice-Chancellor, that is, Mr. Kohl’s deputy. We therefore consider his arrival in Albania an important visit, enabling high-level talks to continue. Mr. Gensher was among the first Western leaders to come and congratulate Mr. Berisha on his great electoral victory two years ago. After that, Mr. Serreqi visited Bonn last year. So this is a normal exchange of visits at this level. Mr. Kinkel will also meet and hold talks with President Berisha in his capacity as Vice-Chancellor to Mr. Kohl. QUESTION: What will be the main issues discussed during this visit? ANSWER: I think there are two main topics to be discussed: bilateral and multilateral matters. On the bilateral front, we have very good cooperation in the technical field. German aid has increased every year since democracy was established in Albania, and I think both sides are satisfied with the results achieved so far. There are, of course, ideas about how to move forward, for example in culture, language, and other fields where cooperation could be even closer. All these matters will be discussed and defined. As for multilateral aspects, as is known, Germany is a partner in NATO, the CSCE, the Council of Europe and the European Union, where Germany will hold the presidency in the second half of this year. I think the talks in Tirana will also focus on the assistance Germany can provide Albania in its relations with these institutions. There are matters concerning closer cooperation between Albania and NATO, greater assistance from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the World Bank, as well as how relations with the European Union will develop over the coming years. In this regard, Germany can help these relations develop further in a positive direction. (Continued on page 2)