Statement by the Presidium of the Socialist Party of Albania Recent developments have further exacerbated the political situation and significantly strained relations between Albania and Greece. The Socialist Party is following this escalation with great concern, as it entails major risks for both countries and for the volatile region of the Balkans as a whole. The violation of the territory of the Republic of Albania by a Greek military aircraft and the distribution of leaflets calling for the realization of chauvinistic dreams and the violent overthrow of the order in Albania are actions that run counter to international norms and European democratic standards; we therefore condemn them firmly. These illegal and anachronistic actions are being undertaken at a time when, following the use of the Cold War, dialogue and democratic methods for addressing historically accumulated problems have gained ground. Such actions, which seek to shift conflicts to the southern Balkans, directly benefit the Serbs, who are waging a brutal war in Bosnia and occupying Kosovo, thereby turning the Balkans once again into a powder keg. The trial taking place in Tirana of five Albanian citizens of Greek ethnicity is being used as a pretext to justify the anti-Albanian campaign before its conclusion. This campaign has taken the form of interference in the country’s internal affairs, involving tolerance of anti-Albanian activities and of extreme nationalism and chauvinism, devised and implemented by well-known chauvinist and anti-Albanian circles, namely those associated with [?] and Megali Idea. Recent events The Socialist Party has risen above the passions of day-to-day politics, calling on the ruling party and the Albanian government to respect what they say about their desire for dialogue and a reduction in tensions, and not to try to exploit the escalation of the situation with Greece to divert people’s attention from the major economic and social problems and difficulties inside the country, from serious failures, from the fuel trade that violates the embargo against Serbia, from troubling government corruption, from the flagrant and repeated violations of freedoms and human rights in Albania, from conflicts in the relations between the Democratic Party and the Association of Political Prisoners and the Persecuted, and so on. In this context, it is clearly predictable and divisive that the Socialist Party’s positions and justified objections, its calls not to forget Albanian refugees in Greece, and its calls for dialogue and good-neighbourly relations—which are in the national interest—should be labelled destructive, anti-Albanian, and anti-national. To make such accusations against the SP solely because it is in opposition, when its strength and standing among the people are well known, is, in such tense circumstances, nothing but political myopia and a desperate attempt at self-promotion. It is regrettable that some media outlets, including national RTV, prompted by personal statements from certain SP leaders, have followed suit and launched a campaign of attacks and accusations against the Socialist Party, even calling it a satellite of Greek nationalism! The Socialist Party of Albania firmly denounces and rejects with disgust these attacks and insinuations by individual politicians or political forces seeking to serve dictatorships, crime, corruption, national division, and violations of human freedoms and rights. The Socialist Party has always had a correct and clear orientation in defending Albania’s national interests and sovereignty. It has called for organizing a round table of political parties to formulate and implement a common national platform. The Socialist Party believes that, on important foreign-policy issues and crises in the region and beyond, ways should be found to draw on the views of political forces, especially parliamentary parties. In light of all this, the SP considers it appropriate to declare: 1. The SP does not view the trial taking place in Tirana as a trial against the Greek minority in Albania, but as a trial of five Albanian citizens of Greek ethnicity, whose guilt or innocence will be decided by the court, which we call upon to act independently of the political passions of the day. It is regrettable that even now, during a period of unnecessary freezing and deterioration that could be avoided by using the language of dialogue and understanding—which, since the end of the “Cold War,” has served as the most effective means of resolving thousands of problems on the European stage—we are seeing the severing of relations between the two countries and reciprocal campaigns, instead of making room for friendly dialogue. It is [?] that was scheduled to take place abroad. 3. The Socialist Party would welcome as a humanitarian act and an expression of the Greek government’s goodwill the immediate cessation of the expulsion and abuse of Albanian refugees as a means of pressuring Albanians. We believe that the minority in Albania and Albanian refugees in Greece can serve as bridges of friendship between our two peoples and countries. 4. We believe it would be necessary, both to gain a deeper understanding of the situation in Albanian-Greek relations and to avoid reciprocal and divisive attacks and reach common positions on issues of particular international importance, to begin the work of a round table of parties, at least the parliamentary ones. We therefore propose that the President of the Republic take the initiative to convene urgently a round table of political parties devoted to the situation that has arisen and ways to de-escalate it, and to the grave situation and its de-escalation. Presidium of the Socialist Party of Albania Tirana, 24 August 1994 has once again turned the Balkans as a pretext to justify the anti-Albanian campaign, without waiting for in the internal affairs of our country and of our judicial institutions; because it is well known that every sovereign country has the right to try its own citizens for violations of the law. The Socialist Party believes that the Greek government, even if it is not…

Today marks 52 years since 25 August 1942, when the first issue of “The People’s Voice” was published. “The People’s Voice” was born in the difficult days of the fascist occupation, when it was being decided whether Albania would exist or disappear from the map of the world. The Albanian people, who had never tolerated foreign occupation, rose up against the fascist occupiers and the traitors of the country. It was an all-out struggle, not only with weapons, but also with words, with writing, and with the press. The people had to know why they were fighting. Fascist theories had to be exposed; the schemers and those who had sold out to the occupier had to be unmasked; our people’s military and patriotic traditions had to be publicized; the mass heroism of the people had to be kindled. From the very beginning, “The People’s Voice” set itself the true aim of the people. It inherited the finest traditions of the Albanian National Renaissance. That is why, from the start, it became a beacon for the people and a terror to the occupiers and their tools. The people and the partisans carried it close to their hearts. As it lay against the chests of the fighters for freedom, the occupiers’ bullets and those of their collaborators often pierced “The People’s Voice” too. It is the only newspaper in Albania’s history to have had its own martyrs. “The People’s Voice” is the oldest newspaper in Albania’s history. It is an encyclopedia of Albanian life, with all its good and bad aspects, over the past 52 years. The fundamental ideal of the journalists of “The People’s Voice” throughout all these years has been Albania: its liberation, reconstruction, economic and political strengthening, national dignity and independence, all-round emancipation, the unity of the people, the defense of the homeland, and so on. Such have been, are, and will remain the journalists of “The People’s Voice”: patriotic and honest. “The People’s Voice” owes nothing to anyone except its many readers. Nearly all the newspapers of today’s political spectrum in Albania have emerged from “The People’s Voice.” It was “The People’s Voice” that opened its pages to articles that psychologically prepared people for December 1990. Today, “The People’s Voice” continues to follow the finest traditions of Albanian journalism. It appreciates everything good created by the people throughout their history, and exposes and condemns everything that is deceitful toward them. In “The People’s Voice,” alternatives are presented for a strong and independent Albania, integrated into Europe; for freedoms and human rights, social justice, reconciliation, and national unity. That is why people love “The People’s Voice,” buy it, and read it. That is why “The People’s Voice” is the largest newspaper in Albania. On this anniversary, the editorial staff sends its good wishes to all generations of journalists of “The People’s Voice,” its contributors, and above all its readers, who have not abandoned it even in the most difficult times. The trust, strength, and support of ordinary Albanian readers give us strength and place upon us the obligation to portray as fully as possible the lives of these people, who are the true pillars of Albania.

A rare precedent: A courtroom turned into a cinema hall!? The prosecution screens the film: “We did not beat you” — Scandalous abuse of the judge’s authority: yesterday, only TVSH, ATSH and, alongside the Albanian government media, the privileged “Voice of America” were allowed into the open courtroom. The trial of the five Greek-minority defendants continued yesterday at the Tirana court of [?], against whom the Tirana prosecutor’s office, on the basis of a report by SHIK, has brought serious charges concerning content without authorization. The proceedings continued yesterday and after [?], during which the statements of the witnesses and defendants had been recorded by the investigator. At least that is what was said at the solemn court hearing. The defense lawyers opposed this request on the grounds that it was not supported by the proceedings, which provide for no such case, and at the same time requested that the witnesses also appear at the trial. But Judge Deda dragged things out [?] and, after rejecting every request by the lawyers and accepting every request by the prosecution—and with the prosecutors and defense lawyers being equal parties in the trial—decided that the tapes should be shown, turning the solemn courtroom into a cinema hall!? The prosecution screened the dramatic film: “We did not beat you.” Its characters were the witnesses, whose statements from the investigation were shown with errors, and the accused. That was all, apparently, that was shown in court on Tuesday. In any case, regarding this matter, we learn from RD that the tapes contain about 20 hours of film. For 100 witnesses and five defendants, 20 hours of recordings—unedited—seems like a great deal. All the more so because the people appearing in them do not seem to have known they were being filmed, which indicates that a hidden camera—property of the investigative authorities, in whose custody it was—was operating throughout. Having said on the first day that nobody except TVSH would be allowed to film in the courtroom—although the order had already been given to the police the previous day, and it was said that no camera was in the courtroom or the building—Judge Deda, while disregarding the media’s right to information, again refused yesterday to let journalists into the courtroom, except for his [?], journalists from RTVSH, ATSH and, alongside them—that is, the government media—“Voice of America.” It is not known who made this fantastic selection and combination of news outlets, but every Albanian and foreign journalist has the right to information, a basic right deriving from the press law. Mr. Deda granted TVSH exclusivity from the first day, ... which, as we have learned from Greek journalists, charges the state 1,000 dollars per minute—thereby forcing Albanians and newspapers to rely on information from TVSH and ATSH. But is there anyone who can still trust TVSH? A few days ago, the defense lawyers in the courtroom protested sharply against TVSH and “Voice of America” over their damaging interpretations and deliberate distortion of their words. During the trial of Ramiz Alia, the television networks made fools of themselves by misrepresenting the lawyers at every hearing, and finally even the judges themselves reprimanded them for misinformation and interpretations of their words accompanied by personal commentary dominated by hostility. So, can one rely on them for information when “Voice of America” is also allowed into the courtroom? Where is [?]—certainly not.

The Tirana prosecutor denounces Bezhanin, Sirmon and Qirjako as collaborators of the State Security Service. He and the lawyers express doubts about the filming and denounce it as illegal. Judge Deda records in the minutes that no violence was used. Yesterday, at around 13:00, after the films containing the accused men’s statements had been shown, the trial hearing of the five Greek-minority defendants resumed. As soon as Judge Deda began speaking, he was interrupted by prosecutor Qelesh, who, in a theatrical move, denounced Bezhanin, Sirmon and Qirjako as collaborators of the State Security Service. (Continued on page 3)

As part of the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the Homeland, the National Committee of Veterans of the National Liberation Anti-Fascist War of the Albanian People organized in Tirana a commemorative gathering [?] marking the 50th anniversary of the 16th Partisan Assault Brigade, formed on 20 August 1944 in Therepel, Skrapar. Former partisans, men and women, from the renowned fighting units took part in the gathering, as did members and relatives of the families of fallen heroes and partisans, some now deceased, and others. Although, also, Comrade [?] (Continued on page 3)

Bulgarian Foreign Minister Stanislav Daskalov and the chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and Secretary General of the Council of Europe Daniel Tarschis arrived in Albania yesterday. The visit is taking place in connection with Albania’s application to join the Council of Europe. The two Council of Europe officials will hold talks with President Sali Berisha and other senior political and administrative officials.

There are 140 workers at the highway enterprise in Shkodër. For several months, they have been forced to stop work on the construction of the Fushë-Krujë–Shkodër highway because of a lack of funds. Throughout this period, their representatives have made dozens of exhausting trips from Shkodër to Tirana in an effort to get work on this project started, but everything has remained at the level of promises. The trips have been accompanied by numerous telegrams addressed to the Ministry of Construction and higher authorities. They are now awaiting a reply to the ninth telegram they have sent to the prime minister, Mr. Meksi. The workers insist that work on this highway was halted without cause. Correspondent of “The People’s Voice”

★ ★ ★ Van Der Stoel, messenger on minority rights, following his stay in Albania today, is expected to spend three days in Athens to receive the Greek government’s comments and opinions on this issue. IN BRIEF... - The departure of the cleaners will begin in September. This was confirmed by the Albanian-German bilateral talks held in recent days on this problem. - It is predicted that the world’s population will reach [unclear in source] in 2030. IN BRIEF... - Following the financial scandal at Pogradec’s «Bllin», another similar case has emerged, involving people from Maliq; reportedly, it has brought around 300 million lek into play. - The construction plan is 73 percent complete. IN BRIEF... - D. Sulli was arrested; on 9 August, she had killed Zef Dushku with an axe in Yroviç of Llozhë. - The old drama is beginning again in Bosnia for around 30,000 people, who have still not left. IN BRIEF... ★ ★ ★ 64 percent of Belgrade’s population have said that the Serbs should accept the international peace plan. - The financial police in Elbasan have impounded 29 tons of substandard edible oil imported from Macedonia by the «Tafani» company of Pogradec. - Karavasta Lagoon and Divjakë Park will be declared a specially protected natural ecosystem. ★ - Chinese President Zian Zemin will visit Russia, Ukraine and France next month. - The quantity of drugs discovered by Hungarian police and customs in these countries has reached 90 kg, including 50 kg of heroin.