The new Bank of Albania law and the liquidation of the current banks leave deposits unprotected and pave the way for transfers of dirty money The financial quagmire into which the country will sink threatens to drain the population’s pockets of their savings and use them to finance the ever-growing budget deficit ON PAGE 3

On the right, a chart showing where the Albanian refugees of February–March were settled and the provisional number of people taking part in the protest

The Albanian government calls on the Italian authorities to send back the desperate people as soon as possible. Children are also on hunger strike. At least six of them have been hospitalized. Marteli: a frightening regime rules in Albania The government, the bitter fate of the refugees Citizens who fled Albania for Italy in February–March of this year now feel they are twice victims of the government in Tirana—just as much as they were in those days when today’s government officials were armed rebels or gang leaders. Caught in a web of suffering, Albanian refugees threatened with repatriation have been on hunger strike since Monday, protesting the implementation of the agreement signed between the Albanian and Italian authorities. Meanwhile, Fatos Nano’s government yesterday called on Prodi’s cabinet to facilitate procedures for the return of Albanian citizens. The Albanian government’s cynical reaction to the fate of its citizens, left stranded on the roads of the world, comes after shocking reports about the increasingly deteriorating health of refugees who refuse repatriation. Small children who reject implementation of the agreement have also joined the strike; some of them ended up in hospital yesterday. The spokesman for Nano says procedures should be facilitated, which amounts to a call for the Italian authorities to use force to return the hunger strikers to Albania against their will. Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi left the ball in the Nano government’s court when he said that the repatriation agreement had been signed at the insistence of the Albanian side. The agreement was signed about two weeks ago during a visit to Albania by Italy’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Piero Fassino, but it was denied and concealed by the Albanian authorities to avoid a possible backlash. Meanwhile, Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano mocked his citizens in the most cynical way when he said they would be returned to their country, where another life awaited them—one that would improve day by day thanks to his government. The refugees stranded in Italy’s camps answered Nano’s call with the slogans “We’ll return to Albania only when we’re dead,” making clear their final break with the government that has abandoned the fate of its citizens without lifting a hand to help them. They do not want to return to a country where crime has taken power, where there is no security, and where the impoverishment of the majority of citizens is accelerating. Most of the refugees are forcefully opposing repatriation. They fled in the first months because of the dire situation following the loss of the person who entered as a rebel [?], the kidnappers who were organized and directed by politicians from the Socialist Party and its allies. They refuse to return because the bandits who forced them to leave their homes and migrate, and who drained their emigration proceeds, are now in power. The sublime resistance of our Albanian refugee brothers and sisters to the repatriation agreement is a shocking fact, revealing the dead end into which Albania has been led under Fatos Nano’s Socialists. The hunger strike of participants who would rather die than return home shows how cynical today’s rulers’ statements are about the supposed normalization of the situation in Albania or about Nano’s new integration policy regarding emigrants [?]. Sold out by their government in the clearest and most cruel way, the hunger strikers are seeing that, in these difficult days, the established authorities are very far away from them (continued on page 3) Albanian refugees BOLOGNA A hunger strike has been organized at the Montevelio camp PISA They say “no” to repatriation. The heads of household among 176 Albanians refuse food ANCONA A small group of refugees have asked to stay. According to the Prefecture, “only people with health problems and pregnant women will be given accommodation” MACERATA 50 Albanians staying at a hotel in Sarnano have appealed to Prodi: “Give us 10–15 days to find work and thereby have the possibility of staying in Italy” BARI At the “Orsa Maggiore” reception center, on the outskirts of Cazano della Muxhes, only 94 of the 146 refugees accommodated there remain. Those who have stayed continue their hunger strike. BRINDISI The Albanians have said they will oppose repatriation and begin a passive resistance. Eight of them have requested political asylum. FOGGIA At the Borgo Mezzanone reception center, a Red Cross van was blocked for several hours. It was… SPECIAL REPORT Page 2

Vlora, Durrës, Fier and other cities stand with the refugees Around 400 families on hunger strike Relatives of refugees threatened with repatriation blame the Nano government as the sole cause of their misfortune Family members and relatives of Albanian refugees in Italy who are threatened with repatriation are angered by the Nano government's position on this problem and have decided to join solidarity protests. In the cities of Durrës, Vlorë and Fier, around 400 families have decided to go on hunger strike against the Nano government, in support of their relatives' right to remain in Italy. Citizens' concern for their relatives has been growing following the government's irresponsible statements, in which it called on the Italian authorities to facilitate the procedures for returning the refugees. The families of refugees threatened with repatriation following the agreement between the Albanian and Italian governments see Prime Minister Nano as the main cause of this misfortune. The Albanian government's official position on such an event has been scarcely expressed. According to the government, only 1,800 Albanians are expected to be repatriated, while the Italian authorities speak of 5,000 who are expected to return to Albania under the agreement with Nano.

The February–March emigrants, victims of the communist rebellion From the very beginning of their forced and manipulated emigration, the PD has called on the Italian government not to send them back, but to provide them with shelter and consider the possibility of employing them seasonally.

The Italian government should find a solution for the Albanian emigrants The chairman of the Democratic Party, Sali Berisha, yesterday called on the Italian authorities to reconsider their decision to repatriate the Albanian refugees who left during the period from March to April, when Albania plunged into anarchy because of the armed communist rebellion in the south of the country. Former President Berisha said at a press conference: “I appeal to the Pope, the Italian government, political forces, political leaders and the friendly Italian people not to send the Albanian emigrants back, but to find a solution that would allow them to stay and work in Italy.” It would not be a burden on Italy to resettle 5,000 unfortunate people. Meanwhile, Berisha made it clear that their mass return was intolerable. Collective returns of refugees constitute blatant violations of international agreements, Berisha said. Berisha asked the friendly country to take into account the fact that these emigrants are returning to a country that has become many times poorer than it was when they left. These unfortunate people are being forced to return to their country, which has plunged into misery. Moreover, Berisha said, in their own country they will find in power those who forced them to leave their homeland by terrorizing, killing and robbing them. Berisha took the opportunity to once again attack Prime Minister Nano's secret agreements to expel Albanian emigrants. In Berisha's view, before signing such agreements, Nano should have appealed to other European countries and asked them for help in resettling these unfortunate people, whom he is mocking. It is these positions of the Albanian government officials that are forcing emigrants today to go on hunger strikes together with their children. In his appeal, Berisha also included the mafia-like officials running the country, calling on them to stop the illegal trafficking of clandestine migrants, weapons, drugs and prostitutes. This irresponsible government, which directly organizes trafficking, has become a major concern for the neighboring state, Berisha recalled. Artur KOPANI

Water utility workers on strike over unpaid wages SHKODËR. – Water utility workers in several villages in Shkodër held a protest on Tuesday and shut off the drinking-water supply from the pumping stations for one hour. The workers said they were protesting because they had not been paid for two months. Hundreds of workers protested outside the building of the prefecture and the Shkodër District Council, chanting “We want our wages.” The workers have prepared a petition with three demands: payment of the unpaid wages, a pay rise, continuity of the enterprise's operations, and the arrival of state inspectors. The Democratic Party of Shkodër supported the water utility workers' strike. The water utility workers' strike cut off the water for one hour.

pregnant women would in Sarhano work and thus have the possibility of staying in Italy” TERAMO 174 refugees staying in the former Alpine troops’ barracks have barricaded themselves inside the central office. They are not allowing anyone to enter. FOGGIA At the Borgo Mezzanone reception center, the Red Cross food supply was blocked for several hours. A little later, the hunger strike began. LAMEZIA TERME The refugees have announced a hunger strike.

Relatives: “Çeka promised law and order” ON PAGE 4

The Minister of Education will not meet the boarding-school students ON PAGE 4

Tensions rise in the northern city ON PAGE 4