Meanwhile, on 1 September RTV reported: Work has begun on removing the pesticides?! At long last, representatives of our government and of the German side publicly stated that the removal of the pesticides would begin in Milot on 1 September 1994. Both sides were to be involved in carrying out this task, including the German side, which would undertake it by providing specialists and means of transport. The residents of Milot had been looking forward for days to 1 September as the date when the removal of this undesirable «plague», dangerous to their lives, would begin. Yesterday we went to the pesticide warehouse in Milot. Nobody had gone there, either from our government’s side or from the German side. A delegation from the Laç district council went. The chairman of this council, Mr. Bardh Riga, informs us that we have fulfilled, one by one, the tasks assigned to us concerning the provision of working conditions for the German specialists. Furthermore, these are tasks for our government itself and the German side. Meanwhile, Manushage Jaqe, inspector with the regional environmental protection agency at the Lezhë prefecture, tells us that she was informed that the environmental protection committee would begin this task on 1 September. For our part, however, we have taken the preparatory measures. In the municipality of Milot initially, and then on the premises of the warehouse where the pesticides are stored, more than all four requirements assigned by our side to the local authorities have been met, as a condition for the group of specialists who were to come to remove them.—BEKТASH ZENELI, correspondent of «Zëri i popullit» removing them. Without repeating the consequences that have occurred, including the deaths of several infants, as we also learned yesterday in Milot, some pregnant women are in serious health condition because of the harmful effects of the pesticides. In our efforts to obtain confirmation from health workers here, we found it entirely impossible, since they themselves must have been told more than a month ago to deny this truth, at least verbally, which has now come out into the open. The first two days of September have passed. Once again we asked the state: when will the removal of the pesticides from Milot begin? BEKTASH ZENELI

The second earthquake within a year in the city of Korçë: one occurred in March, and now a second one on Thursday, at around 18:30. But this latest one was of considerable magnitude; if its duration had been in direct proportion to its high intensity, Korçë would surely have seen a terrifying repeat of February 1960. There were no casualties, but quite a few houses were damaged, especially old ones and particularly in some villages in the Devoll district. Meanwhile, prompted also by curiosity, people are asking: is there a scale for an earthquake in Korçë? Was there damage or not? There is a seismological center in Korçë. More accurately, there used to be one, since it now serves as a residence for deputy Mingja. In any case, citizens want to know. Correspondent of «Zëri i popullit»

Protest by the Presidium of the Socialist Party To the Director General of RTV, Mr. Shkëndër Bucpapaj For the attention of: The Presidium of the People’s Assembly TIRANA On 31 August 1994, the Presidium of the Socialist Party sent RTV its statement for broadcast, setting out its positions on the development of the political situation in recent days. However, this statement was merely announced on TV and was not broadcast, while statements by other parties (especially that of the DP) have been broadcast in full in every news bulletin. An earlier PS statement (dated 24 August 1994) was also broadcast incompletely, and only in the 16:00 news bulletin. This position taken by TV constitutes an open violation of Law No. 7491, «On the Status of Albanian Radio and Television», Article 5 of which states: «The programs of RTSH are based on the principles of pluralist democracy, impartiality and objectivity. They protect and develop national traditions and culture». RTSH must not serve the interests of any party, organization or other force in a one-sided manner. This position continues the political discrimination that TV practices against opposition parties, and even against DP allies when they express an opinion that does not accord with its interests of the day. This position continues the informational deafness that RTV is trying to impose on the political activity of the opposition, which has been especially evident during local election campaigns, commemorations of events of the Anti-Fascist War, meetings between Socialist MPs and the public, etc. If RTV really wants to help the DP, let us offer it some «advice»: «Don’t make empty declarations, or others will come and silence you». If the DP does not have the courage to face alternative opinions, it would be better for it to keep quiet rather than put RTV in a difficult position and lower its credibility in the eyes of the public. But if RTV truly wants to help democracy and pluralism, it must rigorously apply the law and give sufficient airtime to all the political alternatives put forward by parties or organizations, all the more so when they have the people’s vote of confidence in parliament and local government. Therefore, in protest against RTV’s violation of the law, we demand: 1. That the statement of the PS Presidium dated 31 August 1994 be broadcast in full. 2. That all necessary measures be taken to end RTV’s political discrimination against the opposition. PRESIDIUM OF THE SOCIALIST PARTY OF ALBANIA Vice-Chairman Dr. SERVET PËLLUMBI Tirana, 1 September 1994

No change. The Kapshicë customs post is occupied almost all the time by the unbearable filth [?] and the dust raised by the crowds of fugitives who keep arriving for respite. Cold winds from the west. Cold winds also blow from Macedonia in the northeast, even though our president had lunch with Gjigorovin and raised a toast to the friendship between the two peoples. The latter has unleashed the Chetniks, as in the Middle Ages, against Albanian names. Meanwhile, the sky over the Greek-Albanian border continues to darken. The needle on the scale of interstate relations continues to edge toward tension. An indication of this phenomenon is the unending return of refugees. Some return on their own, others are brought back by the Greek police. In any case, their numbers continue to grow. In the shade of the bushes, beside the customs post, elderly people and others, their gaze lost in the distance (Continued on page 3) (Continued on page 3) (Continued on page 3)

Interview with the SP Vice-Chairman, Dr. LUAN HAJDARAGA, given to journalist Erion Braço - QUESTION: Mr. Hajdaraga. For several days, RTSH and the government have launched a harsh attack against the SP, some of its leaders, and other opposition parties. How have you experienced these attacks? ANSWER: In recent days, through television and the pro-government press, harsh attacks have been made against the SP and some of its leaders. These attacks against the SP and some of its principal figures are intended to strike and influence Albanian public opinion about the SP, and to implant in the Albanian public mind the foreign idea that this party is betraying the national interest. In these circumstances, I am obliged, contrary to my usual practice, to respond publicly, since many accusations target me personally. During my two years of political commitment to the SP, I have not considered it necessary to answer those attacks, except rarely to respond to the often severe attacks against me in the pro-government press, remaining faithful to the principle that journalists and commentators have the right to interpret the statements and positions of political leaders of any party. But since this time it is not a question of journalistic ethics, I am obliged, for the sake of sound public opinion, well-wishers, and those who wish to understand, to provide some explanations regarding recent statements in our and foreign mass media. At the outset, I would note with regret that even today RTSH has not taken the trouble to interview me. Without any prior presentation, it has been broadcasting daily light interviews and explanations about the position of the Greek television staff’s owner at «MEGA», about which so much noise is being made. Everyone has the right—and all the more so a party vice-chairman and an MP—to ask to appear on state television in order to defend himself against a whole «storm» of accusations and insinuations. But since RTSH has still not learned these elementary rules of democracy and professionalism, for the time being I am obliged to explain myself in the newspaper. QUESTION: Why has RTSH adopted this harsh and abusive stance? What do you see as the reason? ANSWER: I have never refused television interviewers; on the contrary, I have welcomed them on every occasion, just as I would welcome them today. But, «strangely», in connection with the Tirana trial, television forgot to interview all the leaders of the opposition parties, which is certainly an extremely serious lapse for this state institution, under parliamentary control. For events of this kind, with particular dimensions and implications for political life at home and abroad, RTSH should have sought opinions and views from all political forces, public figures, and various people. But, as can be seen, the television leaders considered this statutory obligation of theirs a «mullë» asta. Perhaps this was not due to their irresponsibility, but to the fact that the judgment of various parties, especially the opposition ones, on this event might not fit the official line. I believe this conclusion all the more if I recall the Peshkëpi incident of April 1994. The day after the Peshkëpi incident, television had the courage to interview several leaders of different parties. I believe Albanian viewers remember my brief statement about that incident, in which, among other things, I stressed that it was deeply shocking and greatly strained relations between Greece and Albania, but that nevertheless Greece and Albania had to find the strength and means to reach an understanding and rise above these incidents, which are provoked by chauvinist circles. That same day, together with many officials and some representatives of political forces, a meeting was held with the President. There too, in my remarks as the SP representative, I adhered to this reasoning and asked the President to keep the channels of dialogue open, guided by the general interests of good neighbourliness and long-term cooperation with Greece, while taking the necessary measures to strengthen national defence and security. To be faithful to the confidential nature of that meeting, I cannot say what the others said, how they judged the incident, or what measures they proposed; but readers can be certain that most of the participants speculated more than they genuinely assessed the incident and the measures that needed to be taken. This leads me to believe that the Peshkëpi «precedent» was the reason that, for the events that followed, the Presidency no longer took part in party roundtables, much less in any television debate. QUESTION: Then what does that contain which he… (Continued on page 2) WE WILL GO TO EUROPE WITH

Drama in Kakavie, television puts on a show!... On Wednesday, the Albanian helicopter pilot almost brushed a house in Kël-cyrë, waved to the people, among whom cameramen with cameras in their hands could be seen. Then he continued on through the Këlcyra gorge and stopped at Kakavijë. At 8 p.m., the news broadcast the report, leaving the people of Përmet with a bitter taste. (Continued on page 2)

This weekend, the arrival of undocumented migrants from Albania on the coast of southern Italy is taking on the proportions of an exodus. According to reports from the border police, the number of arrivals is estimated to reach as many as 300 people a day. Yesterday alone, an estimated 300 people landed in the Otranto area. These arrivals took place in six different motorboats, more or less at the same time, on the beaches of Batisakos; Fanfoka and... (Continued on page 2)

Yesterday at the Tirana Court Four years of investigations into Sulo Gradeci, former commander of the service responsible for the physical protection of Enver Hoxha, former First Secretary of the Central Committee of the PPSH. He is accused of abuse of office and misappropriation of state property. The sum in question is not small: around 33 thousand dollars. His file is now in the hands of Judge Fatmira Laska, who will hear the case. Prosecutor Njazi Seferi is prosecuting the case. Gradeci is defended by lawyer P. San-xhaku. After a long stay in Tirana prison (he has been there for about two years), Gradeci entered the Tirana court yesterday. The trial began the criminal proceedings by questioning witnesses and... (Continued on page 2)

The day before yesterday, on September 1, earthquake tremors were felt in the city of Korçë and its surroundings, causing considerable damage to homes and business premises. The epicentre was in Macedonia, near Lake Ohrid. - The 50th anniversary of the founding of the Subunëve was celebrated in Sarandë in recent days. - Following an operation and an arrest ... - At the celebration held in Sarandë that day, 50 - Was ... - It has been reported that the Church of Saint Mary in Korçë was robbed. The material damage caused by this shameful act amounts to around 400 thousand lekë, including an icon of great value. - Criminal of the Albanian Economic Association ... - Earthquake-Germany. It has been discovered that, at a person’s home, the police found various weapons, ranging from knives to mines and hand grenades. - After four years of investigations and two years in custody, Sulo Gradeci appeared before the court yesterday on charges of «Abuse of office» and «theft of state property». - Local government officials in Fier met and held talks with the president of Lazio, one of the regions with the greatest potential ... in Italy, Karlo. A project for reviving Lazio-Fier cooperation. - It is expected that these days a ship with a bridge will arrive and dock at the port of Durrës, from Germany to Albania, for the signing of the ...-... - Various reports from Berat! Three dead and three injured ... various methods and means ... the matter over the last three or four days of the month ... - A group of Croatian businesspeople are continuing their visits around Albania with the aim of expanding bilateral cooperation. - The 49 undocumented migrants caught in recent days and sent from Lecce, Italy, were accompanied by the Albanian Bilal Bocaj, who was arrested together with an Italian friend of his. - Another financial scandal has been reported: 500 tonnes of American aid cotton have gone missing at the textile combine in Berat. - Of the 17,430 families in the Gjirokastër district, 1,821 consist of one person, while 3,061 families have more than five people. Families of four people predominate in the population structure of this district, numbering 4,173.