Alimuçaj: Arapi is laying the groundwork for nationalization ON PAGE 5

VEFA: If it does not unblock the transfers ON PAGE 5

The state and VEFA trade barbs ON PAGE 5

Berisha writes to Kofi Anan: Intervene in favor of the refugees. The Albanian government is deceiving Albanian public opinion. The return of the refugees was not a condition for aid. In Rinas and Durrës, repatriated people are treated like prisoners The antihumanism of the Albanian government The repatriation of the March refugees continues, and the operation is being carried out with great zeal, prompted by an agreement with the Albanian government for their return. During the night, around 500 refugees were taken from the camps, put onto ships and planes, and then sent toward [?]. While sharp criticism of the Italian government has begun in Italy over such a violent return, in Tirana the Albanian opposition has taken its strongest steps on this issue. The Democratic Party, through its chairman, has positioned itself firmly against such a return, also taking the appropriate diplomatic steps in support of this position. So far, Pope John Paul II, the Italian Parliament and UN Secretary-General Kofi Anan have been notified through letters and statements calling for their intervention so that the migrants are not returned and, above all, so that violence is not used against them. The Albanians thus mark the first occasion since 1992 when the opposition has been far more active and closer to the suffering Albanians than the state itself. From the other side, instead of genuine concern about such a return, there is astonishment. The Albanian government spokesperson [?] contradicts the Albanian prime minister, the Albanian deputy prime minister and the Albanian interior minister, like the other two, declaring that there is no such agreement between the Albanian and Italian governments, but that it is a decision of the Italian Parliament. The agreement was signed in Rome in July by Nano, who, after signing it, announced this both to the Italian media and to the Albanian media. Albanian officials have referred to it several times since then, and most recently, yesterday, the Interior Minister referred to this agreement in the very same news bulletin in which the government spokesperson denied it. The Nano government, viewing this problem quantitatively—that is, considering only the number of refugees who would be returned—has gambled with the fate of 5,000 Albanians in exchange for false credibility arising from a clause in this agreement stating that refugees would be returned when normal conditions of law and order, peace and continuity of life had been established in Albania. The government’s position in such an agreement has not even achieved the minimum in its favor; on the contrary, it has cost it the most essential trait of any government: humanity. At Rinas and Durrës, hundreds of refugees slept on the ground in protest against the Albanian government’s agreement, cursed Nano and recounted the violence inflicted on them. Mass returns of refugees have taken place before, over the past five years. But never have those returns or roundups taken place in conflict with an agreement of this kind. On the contrary, the Albanian government had called for such inhumane operations to be stopped, while the opposition of the time had expressed solidarity with those being returned. Naturally, the Albanian voter has many things to worry about, and on election day they forgot even this vice of the current government. It is now clear that any action taken against the interests of Albanians has the Socialist government lurking behind it. When the Albanian government found itself without any alternative in the face of the migrants’ refusal to be repatriated, the opposition put forward its own proposal: the Italian government should use the aid allocated to Albania to support the refugees. This would be easier for the Italian state, easier for the refugees and easier for the Albanian government. Naturally, at first glance this request involves a sacrifice, but having the Italians themselves manage this aid for the benefit of the refugees is much safer than having the Albanian government manage it for the benefit of Albanians themselves.

Bombs and bullets in front of the city police station. Prisoners are released Sources in Berat reported yesterday that an armed clash took place between a group of people and law-enforcement forces in front of the city police station. After 15 people, accused of various crimes, were arrested, their family members began protesting outside the police station, demanding the release of those detained. Following the insistence of the detainees’ families and the hesitation of the law-enforcement forces, 8 prisoners were released, while the others were not there. Although the prisoners’ family members used weapons to free their relatives, it is reported that only the head of the Berat police station fired into the air, making the prisoners’ release possible. The detainees belong to the “Vakëfi” gang, which opposes members of the “Çelpeja” gang, known for accompanying Nano in southern cities during the March unrest and the election campaign. According to unconfirmed reports, a considerable number of bombs were thrown into the police station courtyard on Wednesday afternoon, but there were no casualties. The detainees’ family members continued their protests yesterday afternoon, also using weapons. Around 100 protesters from Berat remained in front of the police station until late last night, managing to free most of the detainees from prison. Meanwhile, police sources have yet to provide an explanation for the incident. V.ELBASANI

Letter from PD Chairman Sali Berisha to UN Secretary-General Kofi Anan Violence against Albanian refugees and their mass, forced deportation are not only incompatible with the UN acts and conventions on refugees signed by the Italian state, but are also in open contradiction with the long-standing tradition of solidarity and friendship between the Albanian and Italian peoples. The Chairman of the Democratic Party, Sali Berisha, yesterday sent a letter to the UN Secretary-General, Kofi Anan, in which he writes: I am writing to you to express my deepest concern about the difficult living conditions and inhumane circumstances that thousands of Albanian refugees are currently facing in several camps in Italy. In recent days, they have been subjected to numerous unacceptable acts of mistreatment by the Italian police. Reports in the Italian media indicate that many women and children, too, were not spared beatings, violence and mistreatment during the forced deportations. Mr Secretary-General, the violence against Albanian refugees and their mass, forced deportation are not only incompatible with the UN acts and conventions on refugees signed by the Italian state, but are also in open contradiction with the long-standing tradition of solidarity and friendship between our two peoples. The solidarity shown by the friendly Italian nation and the Italian government, which reached its peak in recent years, has been of extraordinary value and importance to Albanians’ progress towards democracy, a market economy and integration. I am convinced that Albanians, with their long memory, are and will always be grateful to Italy and the Italian nation. In its latest action, the collective deportation of Albanians, the Italian government is using as its legal basis an agreement on the repatriation of refugees, signed two weeks ago irresponsibly by the Albanian side. In reality, through this agreement the Albanian government has traded on the misery of its citizens and signed away their welfare. This is because the thousands of refugees who are to be repatriated will find conditions in their country far poorer than those they left, and the employment prospects promised by the Albanian government are unrealistic. Mr Secretary-General, I ask you to use all your authority to prevent any further mistreatment of Albanian refugees and to persuade the Italian government to abandon the collective deportation of Albanian refugees and not to use for this purpose the agreement signed irresponsibly by the Albanian government.

The Governor of the Bank of Albania in an interpellation with his own people: The Bank is the government’s banker. Promises a miracle: inflation in ’98 will be 20 percent. Albanians’ deposits sleep safely, protected from money laundering PAGE 5

Deputy Hajdari holds meetings at the State Department PAGE 3

Doubts about whether public-sector salaries can be paid Governor Shkëlqim Cani yesterday warned of a further slide in the national currency, the lek. During a parliamentary session, he said the lek is expected to lose ground in the coming days, blaming the New Year for this! Meanwhile, unpaid wages at various institutions and enterprises appear unlikely to be paid, and tens of thousands of public-sector employees will soon be added to the long list of workers demanding their wages. The Governor announced a further rise in inflation, which directly contributes to the continued and rapid destruction of the lek, the national currency. The destruction of the lek, warned of by the Bank Governor, cannot be justified by prices or by the New Year, but by the disastrous financial and monetary policy of the Nano Government.

The return of the desperate at the port of Durrës

Those returned to Rinas and Durrës: Nano, you’ll pay for this. 500 of those who fled in March return

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