Yesterday, September 6, 1994, several journalists from Greek radio and television and the Greek press were interviewed at the Socialist Party headquarters in Tirana to obtain opinions about the latest political developments between the two countries. After leaving the Socialist Party headquarters, the group of Greek journalists was stopped by the Albanian police, who confiscated their work equipment, such as tape recorders, video cassettes, etc. This action by the Albanian police was also confirmed to us by sources at the Greek Embassy in Tirana. This action by the Albanian police against the Greek journalists is a continuation of the current authorities’ efforts to impose limits and strict control over all the lawful activities of the Socialist Party, with the aim of discovering, through interviews with SP leaders, “other enemies” and manipulating public opinion with its spotless propaganda on Albanian Radio and Television. This police action also constitutes a flagrant violation of the democratic standards guaranteed by the press and the journalist’s status. Unfortunately for the authors of this police operation, its results were unsuccessful, because at the time the Greek journalists were at the Socialist Party headquarters, its leaders were not there. Correspondent, “Voice of the People”

For a month, Fatos Nano has been trying to get used to the dampness of Tepelena prison. But these days he is once again passing over Tirana and all of Albania. He is passing on the wings of the Democratic Party’s declarations, which, almost pleadingly, are trying to urge “honest” socialists to distance themselves from their leader. This shows that the “Nano file” has not been closed, despite what was trumpeted. The flood of accusations concocted against him for theft and corruption failed to remove him from political life. Nor did his transfer to Tepelena distance him from the people. Where should he be sent into “exile,” then; to what glacier should he be banished to keep him away from them? Albania is small and, apart from Spaç, there is no other hope of escape from his apparition. But it is not geographical space that makes Nano’s isolation impossible. There are other, greater things that know no boundaries. There are ideas, thoughts, alternatives, Albanian ties that bring the name of the man in chains to free people whenever the need arises. These make it impossible to cancel the… ties with him. Fatos Nano appeared on the Albanian political scene at a moment when it had reached its nadir. He appeared as this moment demanded, even if his appearance was a blasphemy. Albania is in a bad way; its prospects have darkened. The present is desperate, the future unclear, the spaces for democracy have narrowed. Life has turned into a “swamp.” The horizon is gloomy. Albanians see themselves trapped. Hemmed in from the north and east by their own… But hemmed in also from the west and south, so long dreamed of by Albanians. The confinement grows tighter every day, with heavy locks, and no one is trying to stop it. No one in power, who holds the country’s fate in their hands, nor the others, in… (Continued on page 2)

- Workers accuse the Italian side of mafia-style practices and the Albanian government of indifference to violations of Albanian state laws Since Thursday of last week, the workers of the shoe factory in Tirana have been on strike. This concerns the Albanian-Italian joint venture, «…», whose parties are the Albanian state and the Italian private firm «…». The causes of the strike are the failure to implement the wage increase stipulated in the contract, which should have taken effect on July 1 of this year, and the failure to provide compensation for electricity, organized under the law on strikes. Yesterday we went to the factory and heard from the workers and union leaders about these problems. They accuse the Italian side of mafia-style practices in managing the enterprise and the Albanian government of deliberately remaining indifferent. The director representing the Italian side, Rafea… Bruni, refused to comment on the attempt to reduce the number of workers and the Italian side’s efforts to bring about the artificial bankruptcy of the enterprise. On these issues, the enterprise’s independent union has made every effort to resolve them with the Italian side and through the mediation of the Albanian state. Meetings have so far been held with senior officials of the Ministry of Industry and the State Control Commission, etc., but instead of being resolved, the problems are becoming more acute. This prompted the workers’ union to declare a strike. the Albanian government of deliberately indifferent conduct. The director representing the Italian side, Raffaele Bruni, refused to comment to the newspaper, explaining that they were at work. The workers told us that there is a silence policy toward all the journalists who come to the factory. In any case, before reaching accurate conclusions about what is happening at the shoe factory in Tirana, we will once again approach the director representing the Italian side and all Albanian state bodies that have obligations toward the shoe factory on behalf of the Albanian side. Meanwhile, the workers’ strike continues. H. JUPE

Why is the real concern less about “secrets” of “espionage” and more about imaginary internal “enemies”? When electoral fat is sought from “fleas” to use against imaginary opposition “enemies” It has been 2–3 weeks since the trial began against 5 defendants who are Albanian citizens of Greek ethnicity, accompanied by an unprecedented deterioration in Greek-Albanian relations. It is the undisputed right of our state to try the criminal acts of its citizens, as happens in every country in the world. All the more so when the matter concerns the integrity of our country. From this point of view, there is nothing wrong with disagreements among our political forces, whether in power or in opposition, etc. This is the undeniable truth. But the Democratic Party, those holding power, and their propaganda outlets—especially the supposedly “independent” RD and RTVSH—have unleashed a frenzied, noisy campaign against the Socialist Party and other forces whose aim is to tell the truth about the handling of this issue, as well as about our government’s foreign policy toward our southern neighbor and beyond, labeling them “anti-national,” “traitorous,” etc. Why, then, this whole unrestrained campaign against the opposition, in a situation as tense as never before in Greek-Albanian relations? Undoubtedly, Greek extremist chauvinist circles have contributed to this situation, but those who formulate and conduct our foreign policy also bear considerable responsibility: it is intransigent, yet almost dilettantish and incapable of neutralizing them by contemporary diplomatic means. Why, then, this two-track policy, whose paths meet at one point? At a dark final objective that does not serve our national cause? On the one hand, President Berisha has called for dialogue to resolve the problems between our two countries, something welcomed by all the parties; on the other hand, the government, unable (or, rather, incapable) of responding to Greek fire by other means, in order to… …[the missing continuation concerns] the Greek minority in Albania, the rights of the Çam population forcibly displaced from their lands in Greece, etc. Its positions are also known regarding the actions of the Greek commando unit in Peshkëpi, the violation of our airspace by Greek aircraft and the dropping of leaflets calling for anti-Albanian actions and the overthrow of the government, etc. Likewise, its just positions concerning the trial of the five members of the minority have been and remain transparent, as have its objections to the Greek side’s linking of this matter, as retaliation, to the mass expulsion and return of our economic migrants from Greece. All of this is fully consistent with both the national interest and the principles of the joint declaration signed by PASOK and the SP, whose essence is a policy of good neighborliness, resolving problems through dialogue rather than force, respecting existing state borders and not violating them, etc. our national cause? The answer to this question has to do with the second track. At its epicenter are the amounts accompanying the first one (the anti-Greek one), with unrestrained attacks against the Socialist Party and other forces that were traditional, because they supposedly “support” Greek claims, provocations, etc., including those related to the “trial of the five.” The malice and vulgarity of RTVPD, which went so far as to manipulate statements and interviews about the trial of the 5 members of the minority given by SP leaders Luan Hajdaraga, Namik Dokle, and Bashkim Zeneli, through technical manipulation and editing video tapes and footage, as was demonstrated, did not last long. It was forgotten that these allegations, as innocent as they were naive, could not easily get through and could not be believed by people with even a little sense in their heads… This track has been conceived by the ruling PD leadership to reinforce this idea among our people: “You see, while Micoatçki was in power, there were no such tensions” (naturally keeping silent about the condemned activities of Sebastianosi during that period, and about those five…”

- A wedding where tears were shed - On Sunday, a wedding ceremony was being held with the Vata family in Macukull, in the district of Mat. Behar, Kola, director of Burrel prison, present at the wedding, acted unlawfully, using a weapon and a ceremonial “case” during which… One night as the wedding guests were passing… ...urgently to the hospital in Burrel, where, during a rapid operation, one of her severely damaged kidneys was removed; meanwhile, her current health condition is serious. Likewise, yesterday morning Behar Kola was arrested. Taking as their point of departure this unlawful act by Mr. Behar Kola, the participants ...

In the introduction to the 1994 annual report of the British Helsinki Human Rights Group, which analyzes the situation of the Slavic minority in Greece, it says that minorities are not absent from Greece; the country has a Greek, Romani, Roma, Albanian and “Armaodrone” population. The Albanian minority in Greece also drew the interest of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Daniel Tarlhys, during his visit to Tirana in August 1994. The British Helsinki Committee’s report strongly criticizes the Greek government’s treatment of minorities. (ATSH)

Monday, late afternoon, the shatçari at 5. Let’s go see what this start to the week was like for the refugees. The road is quiet and has its usual appearance and movement; surprise grows at Kakavie: there is a calm that makes you think that political events are taking place far away, in another world. Trade continues normally, and the number of fuel tankers has risen from 5 to 15; the bus carrying travelers with proper documents continues to operate; the only muted detail is the police bus carrying refugees. Our police officers are also calmer; only 10 buses arrived today, they turned back 450 people, and this seems like a small and acceptable number. As dusk approaches, another bus arrives… Those who are questioned do not answer, but curse and humiliate [them], sending them back to the… Like a disaster, Greek-Albanian relations remain in their absurd state. It is dangerous, but many think [it concerns] Albanian migrants. Small Balkan alliances have become more prominent in recent days, with statements from Turkey and Serbia. The major powers have become involved, and they are more deeply involved. The tone of some statements and exchanges in the foreign press is serious, warning and grave. It asks nothing of others, only of us. The more the colors deepen, the more forms and images become confused and distorted. A face familiar from presidium meetings. Has the Minister of Emigration come out to wait for the young men?! A mirage amid the darkness, dust and the many papers stirred up by the wind in this place, chosen by no one. But who is that first person who seems to be arriving? Is he the third party, the mediator? What will he teach Albanians and Greeks? What will he teach these two countries, with all their… and states folded into history, that borders are immovable and must only be respected?! Will he teach them what a refugee is, what an illegal migrant is, and what humane conduct means? Or will he teach them humanity itself, the treatment of minorities, and the respect the powerful owe to the small? THANAS DINO ...national, opposition, in a situation as tense as never before today between Albania and Greece? Undoubtedly, extreme Greek chauvinist circles are influencing this situation, but those who formulate and implement our foreign policy also bear considerable responsibility. That policy appears uncompromising, but is almost dilettantish and incapable of neutralizing them using contemporary diplomatic means, successfully employed for even more complicated issues in Europe and the world. The positions of the Socialist Party opposing Greek chauvinist claims concerning the so-called «Northern Epirus» of the Greek Church, headed by Sebastianos, and the «research institutes» of Ioannina, etc., are well known. Its objective positions on issues concerning the Greek minority in Albania and the other countries of the region are also well known. On the other hand, unable (or, better said, powerless) to respond tit for tat lawfully, with the appropriate means and then through talks, to the provocations at Peshkëpi, the Greek plane’s «tour» from Saranda to Himarë, etc., the government raises a storm of noise and attacks on a global scale, linking them also to the trial of the five members of the minority currently under way, even though their activities had been known for at least three years. And what about the mad demands and calls ... What is it that brings together the two opposing political camps, making them meet at one point? In a final objective that ... and between our two countries, a move welcomed by all parties; had been known for at least three years. And even the mad demands and calls ... But, my goodness, how bad are the Greek socialists? ... (Continued on page 2)

- At Bajram Curri, a serious accident occurred ... caused by ... the French-Albanian driver with 1000... French tragedy, the intersection ... people, trucks, the intersection ... of the driver from Albania. * * * - The Municipality of ... of Gjirokastër ... the citizens of ... * * * - The Directorate of ... in ... Tirana ...

* * * - These will have their own treatment center for the mentally ill, for occasional treatment, for ... allocated 20 thousand dollars, which ... toward the construction of ... * * * - A report from Elbasan about a ... meeting. Parents are asking for ... the children ... * * * - In Gjirokastër, the arts painter N... Mr. Bakalli ...

* * * ... his voice with 140 works produced during his two-year stay in Italy. * * * - The well-known singer and People's Artist Alma Zyberi died at the age of 66. * * * - Will there be a sentence or not? ... * * * - A new modern telephone exchange with 5,000 numbers is planned ...

- ... the telecom facility that will be built in the city of Shkodër during 1995. * * * - The IMF’s permanent representative in Albania, Mr. Wel Dings, held a working meeting yesterday morning in his hall in Tirana with Albanian journalists from the press and news agencies. The meeting focused on ... the IMF, the government’s economic reform ... the organization’s future in Albania. * * * - In a car accident in Berat on the final day ...

* * * - Biologist Ndue Vokrri from Lezhë is conducting a study on the value and exploitation of the lagoons along the coast of this district. * * * - Slow and disorganized progress in the construction of the 340 apartments planned by the National Housing Authority in Shkodër, Pengaë; plots, funds, etc. * * * - Arben Dode, a 20-year-old from Lezhë, is crowned Greece’s national champion in Greco-Roman wrestling in the ... weight class.

* * * - The national boxing championship, from September 22 to 25, will be held in a new modern ring worth 12 thousand dollars, donated by the Ariston company. * * * - According to the chairman of the association for blood-feud reconciliation, Ndrek Pjetni, in Malësi e Madhe 1,700 families have been suffering confinement for 16 years for reasons ... and ... 100 families will not send their children to school for fear of blood revenge. * * * - Even after being closed for 9 months and ... Hotel «Milita» has remained ...