High temperatures cannot melt the glacier of anti-statements between Athens and Tirana. Statements and denials. This is the diplomatic face of government relations at the end of this summer. The Albanian government entered this official conflict with a plan prepared in advance, in which the direction of the attack had also been decided: Athens on one flank and the Albanian Socialist Party on the other, the latter even being called the former’s inspiration. The spirit of dialogue and cooperation sought by the PS was called a concession and a bargain over the national question. The PD’s latest statement was the summary of the scenario. Openly, maliciously, without any moral or political standards or principles, the PS’s national position was attacked, being branded anti-national, divisive, humiliating and treacherous with regard to the country’s destiny. At the heart of this entire attack was the joint PS-PASOK statement, which they deliberately call NANO-PASOK. The statement, drafted and approved in a tense Balkan situation, bears the stamp of the socialist parties and their leaderships. As serious forces capable of reaching conclusions, the two parties put forward a shared view which, as the statement emphasizes, is founded on the peoples’ wish to live together in peace, democracy, progress and prosperity. The expression of a unified view in favor of peace and security in the region should have been welcomed and encouraged, not thrown into the fire of the PD’s blue-and-white animosity from its very first day. By accusing the PSSH of fueling Greek nationalism through its statements and positions, they forget that, together with PASOK, the Albanian socialists expressed concern about the resurgence of nationalism, judging it dangerous for the future of the peoples in the region. How can they accept that an Albanian party has sought, and continues to seek, to build bridges of dialogue, understanding and mutual trust with other parties and governments, when they themselves are the inspiration for intolerance, the absence of dialogue and political thuggery? Why is there an attempt to discredit and reject the joint statement? Is it because it declares opposition to any military or other kind of intervention in the Balkans? Is that also a sign of anti-nationalism? The country’s top political leadership is troubled by this statement because the two parties’ shared view points toward Europe and strengthening pan-European cooperation—not only among our countries but throughout the Balkans. Did you also want the future of the Balkans to pass through integration with Islamic structures? They are troubled by this statement because the PSSH presents its considered view of the complex Balkan situation, with dialogue as its first priority. The concern over this statement began earlier, because in such a document the Albanian socialists present themselves as a serious and well-rounded force, capable and ready to analyze, draw conclusions and make accurate forecasts. This was another step in its serious integration into the family of European socialist parties, where it will become better known and establish itself as an equal force and a worthy partner. The position toward this statement has been, and remains, the same, as demonstrated by the Socialist Party’s latest statements, because truths analyzed with a cool and clear mind, and founded on national ideals, stand the test of time. Gentlemen of the PD! Would it perhaps have been patriotic for the PS to call for changing borders, for a former Yugoslavia engulfed in war, in turmoil—the very thing your democratic government and state not only do not do, but are incapable of doing? By playing on expressions such as NANO-PASOK, they seek to portray it as a secret agreement. But you are mistaken. It was concluded openly, in the name of the parties, and made public on both sides of the border. The PS has made no secret agreements with PASOK; it was the PD that made them with New Democracy. The PS has received no compensation; your party received it when it came to power, paid for by foreigners. Coercion and the seizure of power have not been, and are not, part of the Socialist Party’s methods. The Socialist Party has not been financed by the Republican Institute or by Democracy; it has not made deals with Bulgaria or with Panic; it has not become entangled in the fuel network, nor has it interfered in the political life of Albanians in Macedonia. This is precisely because at the heart of its political programs lies the national ideal: love of country, which you sold long ago. Patriotism lies in its transparency. Anti-Albanianism, meanwhile, lies in bags of dollars, drachmas, dinars and fuel tankers. Read the statement and you will find many things you lack. Understand that patriotism is not rooted in the concepts of the age of swords. The Europe we want to join has different parameters, which the PD’s rusty measuring stick cannot measure. The statement with PASOK was not a simple propaganda act, but a synthesis of the situation and its future. From this flow the humanism, equality, ndi-m[a?]ha, love of country and patriotism of each person. The statement speaks precisely of what you lack and deliberately distort with malicious intent. Its content is entirely Albanian. It springs from honesty and patriotism, not from backroom dealings and masters to whom one might owe something. Those are your property ... yours, whose veneer can no longer be maintained by the PD, the shrill cries of RD, or the president’s “laments” as he sends letters. A common position have been accommodated and encouraged, not burned in the fire of the «blue inclusion», as the PD did fostering together with PASOK, the Albanian socialists voiced their the future of the peoples in the region; together they emphasized their unwavering position on the inviolability of borders among the Balkan states. But this too does not please the gentlemen of the PD and their associates. The PD has not …to present themselves as the very embodiment of barbarity and … condemnation. The position on this statement has been and remains the same, as the latest statement by the Socialist Party also emphasizes, because truths analyzed with a cool head and not an empty one, Gentlemen of the Democratic Party! Would it perhaps have been in the national interest for the SP in war, for disrespect toward minorities, and so on? But the Socialist Party does not do this, because its policy is founded on the national ideal. It presented itself as the initiator of dialogue and of the round table … …to do so in the KSB commission, the report referring to Venizellos, it is of very little importance, especially after the letter from President Klinton, Senator Denis de Konsin and Congressman Hajer, of President Klinton’s party, expressing their concern about the escalating tension in relations between Greece and Albania and urging the two countries to begin dialogue, within the KSB procedures, to resolve the problems between … (Continued on page 4)

The trial of the five Greek-minority members resumed The five Greek-minority members asked to be acquitted yesterday in their closing statements in the trial in which they are accused of high treason in the form of serving a foreign intelligence agency. After the prosecutors’ submissions yesterday, it was the defense’s turn. The lawyers’ legal defense was combined with the defendants’ line of defense, which was at the level of a political defense. All five defendants used the same idea in their defense, which was at the same time an accusation against the prosecutors and, more broadly, the current regime: “The only crime we have committed is defending the freedoms and rights of the minority, and for this we are in the dock.” At the start of the proceedings, lawyer Pajtim Hoxha, representing V. Papakristos, said that the judicial investigation had not established Papakristos’s guilt. The lawyer went on to ask that, just as the prosecution’s argument turns the individual charge into a collective accusation against the leadership of “Omonia,” drawing a parallel between the [unintelligible?] and the members of the leadership, the defendants not be sentenced ... (continued on page 4)

Klinton replies to the letter sent by President Berisha Albanian television, citing President Berisha’s press office, announced that U.S. President Bill Klinton had replied on 2 September to the letter sent by Berisha on 31 August. According to the president’s press office, U.S. President Klinton appreciates and supports Albania’s position of remaining open to bilateral dialogue or dialogue with a mediator in order to resolve the difficulties between Albania and Greece, and also welcomes the very serious issues raised by President Berisha. Klinton agrees with President Berisha that it is in the interest of Albania, Greece and the whole world that another major crisis not be created in a critical region such as the Balkans, the announcement from President Berisha’s press office concluded.

(According to BI BI SI) Bill Klinton’s much-awaited reply arrived in Athens, but the full text was not published, for reasons given by the spokesman for the U.S. presidency. On Saturday, as a presidential letter reports, U.S. President Klinton expressed his personal interest in the trial of the five in Tirana, as well as, more broadly, in respect for human rights and in the role of the American jurists serving on the CSCE commission, whose report concerns current developments in Albanian-Greek relations. According to Greek government spokesman Venizellos, this is of particular importance, especially after President Klinton’s letter, and the letter from Senator Denis de Konsin and Congressman Hajer, presented as [sent by] President Klinton, which expressed [support for] Albania. The contents of the letter, said the deputy minister in question, are more or less the same as those in the letter President Klinton sent two days ago to Edhumantos, a representative of the Greek lobby in America. While the Greek side has reason to welcome Klinton’s letter with gratitude, the major letter from Klinton, it [the text is garbled?] ...

BASHKIM ZENELI member of the Socialist Party leadership For nearly three weeks, the official information outlets, RTV, have been waging a shameful attack against the Socialist Party and some of its leaders and members of parliament. The labels are among the lowest, with disgusting descriptions that ultimately have one common denominator: calling us anti-national. This began with an interview that my colleagues and I gave to a Greek television channel in my office in Tirana, concerning the trial of five Albanian citizens of Greek ethnicity. The television station, run by those very [garbled?], eager servants of every master, also prepared a program and took street interviews, with footage edited from the [unintelligible?]. Servants of bad masters. I do not see this as so simple. It is a dangerous, divisive situation; they know well what happens when people are divided, and [garbled?] know well what happens when [garbled?]. And the most important thing is the public’s attention. This has not happened only today; it happened yesterday too. And the accusations begin against an entire party. You are anti-national, a traitor to the nation because you say the trial of five Albanian citizens of Greek ethnicity is political?! First, I gave the interview on 12 August, three days before the trial opened, and said what I said. It was a political trial, since the defendants were charged under articles of the 1977 Criminal Code. Did not the prosecutor himself, Gjukat, reject part of the legal classification of the charge? Are we to accuse him now of being apolitical? Second, in the interview I used the term “political trial” in the context of the tense situation in the country and relations with Greece. My other statement, that “society is threatened by Islamic fundamentalism in Albania,” has no connection with the trial. Those who have the interview should look carefully: that was a different question. The TV station, the Democratic Party press and the press of another party are also shamefully distorting this. Some write that I supposedly said “Islamic fundamentalism has been installed in Albania”; some say “this is a trial by Albanian fundamentalists against Greek Orthodox”; some say our society suffers from fundamentalism. (Continued on page 3)

This year, the 51st anniversary of the “Asim Ze- li” and “Misto Mame” battalions and the unit was commemorated more widely than in any other year of the transition. There has been a marked increase in participation, organization and enthusiasm. The approach of the 50th anniversary of liberation seems to add further to the turbulent climate of this year. More than the PD’s maneuvers to deny and claim the war as its own, and more than the organizational blows that have struck and continue to strike it, an experience rooted in popular sentiment is at work: it is difficult to undo and rewrite history. Political positions are also becoming clearer. In Gjirokastër there is only one veterans’ organization; in the three [places?] we mentioned, the PD had sent no representatives, while other forces—and especially the local state, municipal authorities and even the chairman of the district council and the prefect—support and honor them.

Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, 2 September 1994 The recent tension between Albania and Greece has reached proportions that could add a new dimension to the existing risk in the Balkans. We are following this tension with concern. The region constitutes an ethnic, religious and cultural mosaic, and derives its historical wealth from this diversity. Respect for this value by all the countries of the region is the only way to ensure peace, stability and tranquility. At this time, when the Balkans need calm and stability more than ever, alongside respect for human and minority rights, we believe that the fulfillment of the main international responsibilities ... [garbled?] and the commitment to territorial integrity and non-interference in internal affairs, together with the search for solutions to problems through peaceful means, will serve to preserve peace in the region and benefit all the countries concerned. We express the hope that Albania’s measured position in resolving the problems through dialogue will receive a response. As a country in the region, Turkey’s most sincere wish is the establishment of peace, stability and cooperation in the Balkans. Turkey is ready to continue making whatever contributions may be appropriate along this path.

- On Friday morning, the Shkodër mayor [unclear] that a Yugoslav aircraft had crossed this city's airspace. * * * - At his press conference in Shkodër, Maki... announced the plan of the first [unclear]; he announced the assessment of Albanian [decrees?]. Albania will ... the people of Shkodër will ... 4 million and 250 thousand inhabitants. * * * - Even after the decision of the Appeals Division, which ...

- The «Rreth fatit» show [unclear], which has remained in Kuçovë for 12 weeks, [about?] the 13-year-old Alma Rrapo. * * * - According to information from «KJ», about 1,000 families in the district of Shkodër do not have money to buy bread. * * * - 22,800 driving licences versus 12,500 [unclear]—that is the tally reported by the Road Traffic Office in the district of Durrës. * * * - At the Court of Arts in the capital—

- The French painter N. Gauthier, in her exhibition of 30 works in collage technique, the result of her many years of work in this type of painting. * * * - A latest announcement reports that 150 [unclear], most of them Albanians, who landed on the shores of Lecce, have been detained in Bari and are awaiting [unclear] of their [status?]. * * * - Gjirokastër and Berat, like many other districts of the country, are also struggling with the lack of water and

- On the eve of the match with Wales for «Euro 96», our national football team, under coach Bajko, is in the preparatory phase, anxiously awaiting our footballers called up from the foreign clubs where they play. * * * - The Financial Police branch in Lushnje has found that private police groups in this district are engaging in illegal activities. 1.2 million lek in unlawful profits from [unclear] were seized for their residents.

* * * - 473 families whose land was flooded by the Fierza hydroelectric power plant are to be relocated to Laç. Representatives of the local authorities in Tropojë confirm the opposition of those being relocated in this district, since, according to them, the land they have been given is unsuitable. * * * - [Unclear: the dismissal from office and referral for criminal prosecution] of the head of the Devoll district council, N. Kello, and the head of the administration of the [unclear] ...

- In Gjirokastër, the municipality of Gjirokastër will have 60 apartments built this year for more than 700 homeless people who have been [homeless] for years in this district. * * * - According to the relevant department of the Ministry of Finance, tax revenues for the state budget in the first six months of this year reached 12.7 billion lek.

A common position in favor of peace and security in the region should have been accommodated and encouraged, not burned in the fire of the «blue inclusion», as the PD did from its very first day.

because do you say that the trial of the 5 the interview on 12 August, that is, 3 days before the trial opened, in which, you say, it contained what it contained. It was a political trial, since they not prosecutor Gjukat himself we now to accuse him that «Islamic fundamentalism is spreading in Albania», has no connection whatsoever carefully: that was a different question. This, too, is being shamefully distorted by the Democratic Party's TV and press and those of some other party. established in Albania»; some say «this is the trial of from fundamentalism. (Continued on page 3)