President Berisha’s visit to Bulgaria is taking place at a time when relations between Albania and Bulgaria are considered sincere and growing. Contacts between the two countries are at the highest levels. At the beginning of 1993, Bulgarian President Zhelev visited Albania (during this visit he invited President Berisha to visit Bulgaria); in November 1993, Prime Minister Meksi was in Bulgaria, and in February 1994, Parliament Speaker Arbnori was there. From 11 May this year, Bulgaria will chair the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers for Foreign Affairs. It has expressed its willingness and commitment to support our country’s membership in the Council of Europe.

A delegation from the United States Department of Defense, headed by Charles Wilson, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Security Assistance Policy, has been making visits and holding talks during its stay in our country as part of the Albanian-American bilateral group. The day before yesterday at noon, the delegation was received by Defense Minister Safet Zhulali.

The mafia of former communist leaders in action -The first meeting before Nano’s trial -The April 2 events in Shkodra one of the topics of conversation? -There is a photograph of Alia and Nano together in their prison cells- The mafia of former communist leaders in action WHAT DID NANO AND ALIA TALK ABOUT IN PRISON BEFORE GOING TO TRIAL? -The first meeting before Nano’s trial -The April 2 events in Shkodra one of the topics of conversation? -There is a photograph of Alia and Nano together in their prison cells- The last two leaders of the Communist Party, R. Alia and F. Nano, accused of joint crimes, are known with complete certainty to have met in the prison cells of Tirana, even though their “status” was isolation. Indeed, as confirmed by the judicial authorities, there is also a photograph they took together in a cell. For this reason, four guards have been suspended from their jobs for the time being. But what did the former communist leaders discuss in the prison cells? Surely their meeting was not merely a meeting of “friends” who had missed one another, especially since, according to sources, the two meetings took place—the first at the beginning of the trial process … “the problems of Albanians.” From the courtroom, Nano arrogantly declared, with the idiotic arrogance of a pathological liar, that he had his own people even in prison. This may also be why Nano and Alia were allowed to meet together in violation of the law, though the possibility cannot be ruled out that “poor” Nano, or his “disadvantaged” party, also had a generous hand to offer his bosses. That is beside the point. Alia was his “disadvantaged” party ... [continues, cut off] to make this meeting possible. These are not actions that Nano and Alia have just uncovered today, but old mafia methods. From prison, the mafia bosses order new crimes. From prison, Nano was ordered to find the expert who would testify in his trial; from prison he moves even the chess pieces who today lead the PS. As we all recall, in the statements of THE LEADERSHIP OF THE SP …against Nano, and now a second one, as the trial against R. Alia is about to begin. Such actions, typical of the Mafia and implicating not only Nano and Alia, clearly have no intention whatsoever of “putting the situation in the country in order” or “solving the new crimes.” From prison, Nano was ordering that the experts who would testify in his trial be found; from prison he moves the pawns and knights who today run the SP. As we all remember, in the statements of …the aid arrangements coordinated by Nano and Alia? It seems they did not have an opportunity to meet, but certainly they did in the border incidents during the final years of their rule, when Alia and Nano were collaborators and the highest-ranking officials of the PP. Above all, it must not be forgotten that the accusation over the 2 April crime in Shkoder is still pending against them. So, the subjects of conversation between these old Mafiosi may have been as numerous as the crimes weighing on them—but let us wait and see. In any case, one thing is clear: their collaboration in crime will lead only to their sharing prison cells, while Albanians have by now learned to beware of the consequences that could follow meetings of the secret Nano–Alia kind. EDI PALOKA A photograph of Alia and Nano in prison, before going to trial.

-A solemn Mass is held on the first anniversary of his visit to Albania- Shkoder, 25 April. His Holiness Pope John Paul II has sent a message in recent days to Monsignor Frano Ilia, Archbishop of Shkoder and President of the Episcopal Conference of Albania. In it, he commends the initiative of the Albanian bishops to commemorate the first anniversary of his visit to Albania with a solemn liturgy in Shkoder Cathedral. The message, signed by Cardinal Engjell Sodano, Secretary of State to His Holiness, was read in Shkoder Cathedral by the Apostolic Nuncio, Monsignor Ivan Diaz, before the Holy Mass celebrated on the festive day commemorating the first anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s visit to our country. Through this message, His Holiness imparts his “special apostolic blessing to all dear Albania.” The square in front of Shkoder Cathedral was named Pope John Paul II Square. Unveiling the plaque bearing the inscription “Pope John Paul II Square” in the presence of thousands of worshippers, the city’s mayor, Filip Guraziu, said that the municipal council’s decision to name the square after His Holiness was intended to preserve in the memory of generations the historic day of Pope John Paul II’s visit to the city of Shkoder. A bust of Pope John Paul II, cast in bronze and given by him to the cathedral church and all the faithful of Shkoder, was then inaugurated at the cathedral entrance. The ceremony was also attended by the Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Pjeter Arbnori, our country’s ambassador to the Vatican, Vili Kamsi, members of parliament, and representatives of the local authorities of Shkoder.

In an article published yesterday in “ZP,” L. Rama addresses the journalists of “RD” with the words: “You have no right to talk about the files,” and further on, without any doubt, L. Rama accuses some of the “RD” journalists of supposedly having files that should be opened. “RD” has expressed itself several times in favor of opening the files, but L. Rama apparently does not hear those voices. As for the files on the “RD” newspaper journalists, I can say with certainty that some of us have files about the files that may have been opened on us by L. Rama’s father and his colleagues in the State Security—files in which citizens’ “anti-party” activities were recorded. L. Rama’s father, as a longtime State Security employee, may even have talked about the files with his son, but the latter seems to confuse things and therefore names no one. The old “ZP” theory of “slander, slander, and something will stick” does not always work, especially when used by people whose security-agent fathers made them members of the PP while they were still adolescents. L. Hajni

The Koçi case As has been reported several times, there is now also a case that may be called “The Koçi Case.” The brothers of the Koçi company have been accused of failing to return money they borrowed at interest from several people. The amount is hundreds of thousands of dollars, which the Koçi brothers collected with the promise of returning it with a considerable rate of interest, but did not repay within the deadline, resulting in the arrest of Fatmir Koçi, president of the “Koçi” company. From the outset, F. Koçi had claimed that he had nothing to do with this case, but the people making the accusation said otherwise. Meanwhile, the other brother, Skender Koçi, against whom criminal proceedings had also been initiated, was outside Albania. After the first-instance trial, which would also result in F. Koçi’s conviction, his brother Skender Koçi apparently decided to return, despite being under criminal prosecution, as members of the Koçi family confirm. Skender Koçi has returned and has taken responsibility for everything, absolving his brother Fatmir of responsibility. After this, Skender Koçi is expected to leave the country with Fatmir Koçi, but for now the case is being examined by the judicial authorities. “RD” correspondent

Whenever it speaks and writes about something connected with the history of the war, “ZP” cannot hide itself; its true roots show through, and it appears with the savage, cruel face it had for half a century of its existence, regardless of whether they are fighters, terrorists, fratricides and anti-Albanian. And when “ZP” needs to do this, it does not dare leave Koço Bihiku out of its archive (which is, in truth, its mainspring), who, if I am not mistaken, with every means tried to bury authentic Albanian culture and sought to impose socialism as culture, art directed by the mother party, art based on hatred, falsehood and immorality; art of destruction, division and war among Albanians, hatred for Albanian nationalism and for all those who tried to do something for this sacred land. In yesterday’s issue, “ZP”, through an incorrigible article by Koço Bihiku, did not hesitate once again to sing the praises of the “poem” “The Epic of Balli Kombëtar”, which is not a poem at all, but a war tract glorifying fratricide and the criminal deeds of the Communist Party of Albania and Enver Hoxha. After destroying Mukje, they turned the national liberation war into a fratricidal war, always following the direction of the Yugoslav emissaries, aimed chiefly against Albanian nationalism and against all those families with traditions and patriots who had played an indisputable role in Albania’s history. We know of all those who truly loved Albania, even if they held communist beliefs. But Koço Bihiku, with his withered logic, can understand none of this. Even a very beginner art critic knows that art is not written on commission or at the request of organizations. And they also know that political folklore has nothing in common with art. But Koço Bihiku has never been anything more than a gendarme of letters—or, worse still, a paperwork cop. And this cop, with a terrorist brain and heart, dares to insult even the great figures of Albanian culture, such as Lumo Skendo, who had few equals in the period in which he lived. Worse still, in his article he keeps repeating the same old tale that Enver Hoxha told after the Mukje Conference. And the “socialist” newspaper “ZP” has its doors wide open. It has only forgotten to publish a photograph of Shefqet Musaraj with Enver Hoxha, in which he thanks him for the valuable services he rendered. LAZER STANI

Not just something to laugh about These days, on its front page, ZP writes in large letters: “The Nano Issue”—the main topic of the day and of Albanian life. By turning it into the topic of the day in our everyday lives, ZP is making the Nano issue into a comic matter. We do not know what purpose ZP has set itself with this problem, but one thing is certain: amid people’s worries and concerns, no one would even think that there is a “Nano issue.” According to ZP, when a husband comes home from work, his wife should not ask him “Are you tired?” but “How is the Nano issue going?” And young people who have just fallen in love, sitting somewhere over by the hills around the artificial lake, discuss the “Nano issue”—again, according to ZP. Even a family on welfare, barely able to cover its daily living expenses, when it gets an electricity bill with a steep price, is not worried about that but about the “Nano issue.” Even old people waiting in line to collect their pensions chatter about the Nano issue. Even refugees abroad ask about the “Nano issue” in the letters they send to their families. And the new son-in-law, when introduced to his father- and mother-in-law, no longer mentions his background but boasts that he belongs to the 700,000 who signed the petition for Nano’s release. Even two people who meet in the street, by chance, laugh and say, “What can I do about the Nano issue, which is always on our minds? Let’s make things pleasant—you and me.” Even a foreigner visiting Albania for the first time is immediately introduced to the “Nano issue,” because without knowing about it, one cannot know Albania. Only Kamdesja and other world figures who speak well of democratic developments in our country apparently know nothing about the “Nano issue,” because if they did, according to ZP, “there can be no democracy in Albania without resolving the Nano issue.” So, according to ZP, our whole life is tied to the “Nano issue.” Let the reader judge how true that is. As I read “Zëri...” on this “issue so important to Albanian life,” I don’t know why I remembered that saying: “The whole world weeps for the dead, while I, poor thing, weep for Mhmene.” I also don’t know why I think of the famous Shaban Qose in Tirana, whom people used to tease about his long nose. But even when the others decided to stop teasing him, Shaba himself would scratch at it, remembering his nose... ZYMBYL HASANI

Public Letter GRANDSON OF MARKO BOÇARI OPPOSES A GREEK MINISTER -My parents were very proud of their Albanian origin and their Boçari family- Angered by a statement from a senior Greek minister that there is no Albanian minority in Greece, Marko Boçari’s grandson, Kol Boçari, a professor at Griffith University in Queensland, Australia, has sent the following letter to the British newspaper The European: “My comments below concern a letter published by a Greek minister, who stated that there are no Albanians in Greece. It is clear that the minister either has no idea what is currently happening in his country or has decided to ignore the facts. It is a fact that there are more than 1 million Orthodox Albanians in Greece. The fact that they have not been given any opportunity to be educated and to hear Mass in their native language does not mean that they are not Albanians. Let us also not forget that they have not been in Greece for only a short time, but for more than 500 years, and that they were the greatest fighters for the country’s independence in 1821. I am writing this letter on behalf of my family, ‘Boçari’ (the Greeks add an ‘s’ to the end of the surname and make it ‘Boçaris’ so that they can pronounce it like all their other names). As we know from history books, my great-grandfather (Mark Boçari) was one of the most important leaders in the popular liberation struggle against Ottoman rule. He said at the time, in 1809, that he was ‘Greek-Albanian,’ and this can be found today in the National Library of Paris. My parents never spoke Greek to me, only Albanian, because they family. For whatever reason the Greeks want to make our history their own, that is their business. I only want to express our people’s right to feel free and to be what our ancestors were: lirelt (which means freedom in Albanian). I hope I have shed some light on this matter, although the ‘Encyclopaedia Britannica’ should also have such information. I wish you all the best for the future and, as we customarily say, ‘may you be well.’ Signed, Mark Boçari”

“THE NANO ISSUE” THE MAIN ISSUE IN THE LIFE OF ALBANIANS TODAY