The Association of the Persecuted denounces it to the prosecutor’s office; here is who has our money: ON PAGE 5

The new Bank Law. The Socialists are completely changing the course of banking policy ON PAGE 5

The meeting on the pyramid schemes fails. The chief administrator leaves his chair empty ON PAGE 5

Albanians returned from Italy arrive on military planes: “They took us by force.” Curses and grave accusations against the Albanian government: “Nano sold us.” . Opposition parties call for international awareness of the Albanian refugees: “Aid for the Levante Co government should go to the emigrants.” The governing coalition is absent from the parties’ meeting. The Albanian parliamentary opposition, at a meeting of the council for refugees who fled because of the communist rebellion of February–March, said the agreement signed by Nano for the return of the refugees was irresponsible and must be reconsidered for the sake of these unfortunate people, who left the country to escape the territory of gangs and committees. Six parliamentary parties, summoned to an urgent meeting by the Democratic Party, met last night; the governing parties boycotted it. They discussed with concern the situation created by implementation of the agreement on the return of refugees and the hunger strike they have begun in protest against this measure of collective return. The parliamentary opposition agreed that their return must be stopped and that a way must be found to keep them there. Representatives of the parliamentary opposition stressed that it was necessary to ask the Italian authorities, the Italian Parliament, the ministry and the Italian government to reconsi-der the agreement on the repatriation of Albanian refugees. The meeting of parliamentary parties, boycotted by the governing parties, adopted three declarations, which it made public at its conclusion. The opposition parties appeal to the Italian Government, the Italian Parliament and the Italian people to review the agreement and keep the Albanian refugees, whose return to Albania would confront them with difficult economic and social conditions. The opposition parties also appeal to the Senate and to Pope John Paul II to use his authority to help keep the Albanian refugees. The opposition parliamentary parties agreed that the refugee issue and its resolution in their favor are a major concern for all Albanians, with the exception of their irresponsible government. During the discussions, the meeting called on opposition MPs to ask Parliament to change the agenda of its proceedings and urgently discuss in a plenary session the problem of the refugees who are expected to be repatriated. During the parties’ representatives’ discussions, the Albanian government’s agreement to return the emigrants of the rebellion was once again described as an abuse of the drama and misery of desperate and hopeless people. The opposition parliamentary parties also proposed practical ways to assist the refugees and keep them in Italy. They appealed to Italy and its government to use part of the aid planned for our country to support these refugees. They also appealed to the various countries of the European Community, given the difficult situation, to consider the possibility of a proportionate distribution among the countries and a redistribution of this community of refugees, who left their country as a consequence of the communist rebellion. The possibility of the parliamentary opposition cooperating in this process showed how little the government cares about the refugee issue. Nano’s government is committed to carrying out everything at the expense of its own citizens and to the detriment of their interests; the case of the refugees due to be repatriated proves precisely the inhumane, anti-democratic and antisocial stance of the Nano Government. The political opposition’s meeting and its concrete results, embodied in practical proposals and appeals to resolve the tragedy of the Albanian emigrants, were meaningful evidence for all citizens and the international community that this country has not only irresponsible government officials, but also political forces concerned for their fellow citizens.

Photograph of a military aircraft at the airport.

Photograph of refugees and the people waiting for them.

Message from the parliamentary opposition to Pope John Paul II We, the leaders of Albania’s opposition political parties, are following with deep concern the extremely grave situation that has arisen in the camps for Albanian refugees in Italy, following the joint agreement of the governments of the two countries to return them to Albania. Your Holiness’s sensitivity to the great problems and hardships of the Albanian nation, Your friendly feelings toward Albanians and Your compassion for those who suffer lead us to address Your Holiness with a plea to use Your influence with the Italian authorities to halt the mass return of five thousand Albanian refugees. We wish to emphasize on this occasion that who-

Berisha comments on the governing parties’ boycott Berisha said yesterday, after the end of the roundtable on the refugee problem, regarding the absence of the governing parties: “After committing this shameful act and using the misery of 5,000 Albanians for political purposes and gain, the government feels unable to bring them to the table and discuss with the other political forces the major problems they are facing today in the refugee camps.” First, the government must necessarily abandon the agreement on their return. The government must not deceive Albanians and claim that the emigrants have agreed to return. This is a shameless and irresponsible deception by an irresponsible government. The opposition political forces expressed their willingness and appealed to the Italian authorities, Italian political forces and the Italian parliament to reconsider the Prodi Decree once again and halt the returns. I think we offered an alternative. A reallocation of the aid earmarked within the framework of aid and economic cooperation would be far more effective if used to integrate these emigrants in Italy than if it were handed over to be squandered by the government on its budget and spending. The Albanian government is a very irresponsible government.” SH. P.

The repatriation of emigrants, a crisis in relations between the government and its citizens The government provokes a contrast in relations with Italy and Greece that conditions in Albania, following the return of the former communists to power, are not only failing to improve but are progressively worsening. By expressing Your commitment to supporting the Albanian refugees in their requests not to be returned, we convey to You our highest esteem as a great and distinguished friend of the Albanian nation.

“Vllaznimi” encourages cooperation among the Right ON PAGE 3 “Vllaznimi” encourages cooperation among the Right Godo welcomes the Shkodra initiative ON PAGE 3

Islami violates the SP statute to choose Nano’s defender The SP licked up what it spat out a few days ago ON PAGE 4 Islami violates the SP statute to choose Nano’s defender Nanocracy remained a boilocracy in the SP The SP licked up what it spat out a few days ago ON PAGE 4

Resolution of the National Assembly of the Anticommunist Association and the Politically Persecuted of Albania Our former persecutors are in government ON PAGE 4 Resolution of the National Assembly of the Anticommunist Association and the Politically Persecuted of Albania Against the communist revanche by democratic means Our former persecutors are in government ON PAGE 4

Brindisi. Shocking testimony from Otranto survivors The names of Brokajt, Malajt and Gjinushit are mentioned as being linked to the armed gang that caused the tragedy The Italian judges investigating the sinking of the “Katri i Radës” on the evening of March 28 have shocking evidence in their hands regarding the involvement of today’s Albanian government officials in the Otranto tragedy. The names of Brokajt, Gjinushit and Malajt have been mentioned in the Brindisi court as people linked to Zani’s gangsters, who brought the ship and then sent it toward the Italian coast. Some of the survivors testified before the Italian judges in Brindisi that, after paying the money, they were accompanied throughout the journey by an armed gang. According to their testimony, the armed men demanded that the helmsman of the “Katri i Radës” not turn back, but continue the journey toward Italy after encountering the Italian warship “Sibilla”. They blame the armed gang more than the Italian crew of the “Sibilla” for the fatal encounter that led to the sinking of the “Katri i Radës”. These facts are expected to become public soon during the trial into the sinking of the ship that set sail from Vlora for Italy, as a result of which 84 Albanians tragically lost their lives. T.GJ.

Yesterday in Rinas. The desperate disembark from the Italian military aircraft. Democratic Party leaders meet with the returned refugees. Photo: Albes Fusha

NATIONAL LIBRARY TIRANA

Celebrations for December 8 begin on Monday