- The DP is trying to build political capital by exploiting the plight of the refugees. - The “patriotism card” against the Socialist Party is an attempt to cover up responsibility for the millions of illicit drachmas. - Albanians are suffering the consequences of the DP's policies The tension in Albanian-Greek relations is weighing with all its force on the exhausted shoulders of Albanians. The mass return of refugees is now compounded by the closure of the Kakavija crossing point. Political primitivism has entrenched itself on both sides of the border. Separated from the thousands of Albanians who have lost their livelihood in Greece, [they] do not want to know much about politics. Politics once again seeks to make capital even from the backs of the refugees. At the head of this failed effort is the official propaganda of the Albanian state, made up of state-owned information media and the press of the party in power. Instead of worrying about what will now happen to these thousands of unemployed people, it tries to accuse the opposition parties, and mainly the PS, of allegedly having secret agreements with PASOK, etc. It is not difficult to discredit this outdated propaganda, which people do not believe. The two Greek “sweeps” against Albanian refugees took place when PASOK was not in power, but rather when the DP's ally, New Democracy, was in power in Greece. It is also known that today's statements by the Socialist Party openly declare that no secret meetings have been held in Corfu or anywhere else in Greece, no conversations have taken place, and no agreement has been signed to the detriment of Albanian refugees. All meetings between Socialist Party leaders and PASOK have been open and public. The leaders of RD and those behind them should bear in mind that spreading false information, disinforming public opinion, and slandering political figures and members of the People's Assembly are punishable by law. Press and Information Office of the Socialist Party

- ACCORDING TO THE BBC - Yesterday in southern Italy, around 35 speedboats tried to land more than 1,000 undocumented migrants from Albania. Spotted by Italian border police, they became involved in a dangerous battle, as the sea was rough and the speedboats were at risk of capsizing. Four hundred of the undocumented migrants were caught and immediately repatriated. It seems that Italy and Greece are currently functioning as communicating vessels in relation to clandestine immigration from Albania. More or less as many undocumented migrants as Greece is expelling are entering by sea through southern Italy. The peak occurred yesterday, when a flotilla of 35 speedboats packed with undocumented migrants tried to land around 1,000 people near the cities of Brindizi and Otranto. This time the border guards spotted the speedboats from afar and had time to intercept them. A dangerous pursuit then began, as the sea was rough and the speedboats, packed with undocumented migrants, risked capsizing at any moment in the rain. The smugglers carrying the undocumented migrants sought to unload their cargo in a bay, while the border-police speedboats tried to cut them off. Some of the boats managed to put their passengers ashore, some surrendered to the police, and others turned back with the undocumented migrants still on board. At the end of what the Italian press called the «naval battle with the poor», 400 undocumented migrants were detained and immediately repatriated. Today was marked by great alarm among various political and trade-union forces, especially in the south, who are calling on the government to consider the resurgence of this phenomenon. Some of them stress that the solution is not to strengthen police measures, but to provide greater and better-organized assistance for Albania's recovery. Meanwhile, law-enforcement forces expressed the conviction that yesterday's landing is nothing but the prelude to a larger landing, as in March and August 1991. Perhaps it is a coincidence, but the number of undocumented migrants has risen sharply in recent days, just ahead of the visit that Foreign Minister Martino will make to Tirana. 9 September 1994 BBC

“The Constituent Assembly is no longer an invention of our government or of the DP” That is what Tritan Shehu says in RD. This is the main argument used by the Democratic Party to persuade people that the Constitution should not be approved by Parliament under the Constitutional Law, but by a Constituent Assembly appointed by “decree.” Never in its life has the DP been so honest! It is true: a Constituent Assembly not elected by the people is not its creation or invention. Albania’s history also records two other cases. First: On April 7, 1939, Fascist Italy invaded Albania. On April 12, a Constituent Assembly was convened by decree by Mussolini’s men. On April 14, representatives of this Assembly set off for Rome to hand the Crown of Skanderbeg to Victor Emmanuel III. Second: When Albania was occupied by Nazi Germany, another such Assembly was established. It convened on October 18, 1944. Everyone knows this Assembly’s guilt. We do not know what Justice Minister Kudret Çela has in mind when, in a month devoted to the history of the state and law in Albania, he declared three days ago, while speaking about this kind of Assembly: “The idea is an acceptable one in Albanian theory and practice” (RD, 7.9.1994, p. 1). So from now on, no one has the right to accuse the DP of originality. Why should it be held responsible for the crazy ideas of Duce and Hitler! BEQIR SKRELI …tion of the village with PASOK, etc. It is not difficult to dismiss not in power, but rather its ally, New Democracy, was governing Greece. It is also well known that the statements made today by Greece’s right-wing parties are among the most savage against Albania and the Albanians. It is clear to everyone that Albanians are now suffering the consequences of the failed policy of the DP and the government it leads. Before accusing others of “conspiracy” and “secret agreements,” and stuffing [unclear: “ta dëndja për filma [pol?]…”], the DP and its government should explain clearly what they did during their years in power to improve the lives of Albanians. What have they done to get people into work? What have they done about the organized emigration they so loudly promised when seeking people’s votes? What have they done to make all Albanians property owners? Only after answering these questions do the DP and its government have the right to expose the “m…” of others. But the DP and its government cannot answer these questions, because their answer is one word: failure. Failure in economic policy, privatization, and organized emigration. The place of Albanians is Albania, “the fairest land on earth” that was promised to them. Albania, which “has the highest rates of development in Europe.” Why are Albanians leaving their homeland? They are not leaving because they want to, but because they have no choice. They leave because Albania has 400,000 unemployed people; they leave because they see no hope for the near future here. They leave because Albania is not close. They leave because Albania is nowhere near what official propaganda and lies claim. The DP and its government must accept all this and provide evidence that they will reflect on their failures to date. Only then can they bring joy to the troubled Albanian people; only then will Albanians see a ray of hope in their homes. But the DP and its government’s failures are not only in domestic policy. Time and again, they have been revealed in the amateurism and servility of our foreign policy toward other countries. Greece bears some responsibility for its inhumane actions in expelling Albanian refugees. It is once again pursuing a policy of tension in its relations with the Albanian people. But what did our government do to address this situation, which has gripped relations between the two countries? Our government declared an open “war” on Greece without any argument, or raised arguments against the Greek government over “state terrorism” at the Security Council in April of this year. Even in recent days, accusations against the Greek state were made in the highest European and international bodies. Albania recalled its ambassador from Athens without cause and prematurely. Albanian politicians did not recall him from Greece even for Greek purposes. Pjetër Arbnori showed the Greek parliamentarians an arsenal when he told them, “we are not short of weapons.” The prosecutor’s indictment and the court’s ruling against “the five” contained more accusations against the Greek state than against the five Albanians. crazy ideas of Duce and Hitler! BEQIR SKRELI

- Competing among various movements and organizations, the film “America” is taking part in the international “K. Amelio” festival in Venice. - After the amount of 1.22 billion lek owed to creditors of the Greek Trade Bank and 232 legal entities, in Vlora, a ban is being sought for 800,000 lek. - [Unclear text: “Pikë on… shqiptarë të Al… në Gjermani…”]. IN BRIEF - 1.8 kg of hashish have been seized at the Greek customs post in Kapështicë. The traffickers are said to be Albanian citizens from Korça who risk being sentenced to up to five years in prison. - Although the match has been lost, Albanians in Greece are afraid of Wales for the “return” match, “Bayern”? [unclear]… - A new English department is opening at the University of Shkodër these days… IN BRIEF... - The illegal market and vag… On the Ballsh–Tepelenë road, 5 tons and around… were seized [unclear]. - The Tiranë women’s basketball team wins in “Lexington.” Albanian citizens… - A few days after the opening of Vejgil Harshit’s bust in Fierë, an old, disgraceful incident against national culture: “The First Albanian Teachers”… IN BRIEF... - Under the subjugation… actions, you are and destructive of malicious persons. - It is said that the lemons imported from Bulgaria instead of Albania had saccharin? and … [unclear text]. - Only 1 percent: of these, the land tax collection target had been achieved by the end of August in Tepelenë. Some re… - Delvinë lacks a bank branch. Its citizens are forced to travel to Sarandë to carry out the transactions they need. - English occup… 7 mayors and 10 volunteer students from L… in … - In Peshkopi too, the continuing problem of … remains, mu­n… 800 families. IN BRIEF... - It is reported that German experts have begun withdrawing the [unclear: “pasteledeve”] from Albania. Their barrels are being transported from Milot to Durrës. The return and so… - 10 Albanian studios (10 of them) … [unclear text]. - The 50th individual chess championship for adults has begun in Tiranë.

Tomorrow you will read: “LOST OPPORTUNITIES” By the Deputy Secretary of the Socialist Party, Dr. SERVET PËLLUMBI

In response to the repeated accusations by the newspaper RD concerning a secret agreement in Korçë to expel Albanian refugees from Greece, the Press and Information Office of the Socialist Party states: All accusations directed at the Socialist Party and its leaders Luan Hajdaraga and Bashkim Zeneli concerning secret meetings and agreements in Corfu and elsewhere are lies and propaganda tricks. Through these idiotic fabrications, the propaganda of today's state is trying to cover up the great responsibility Albanian officials bear for the fate of hundreds of thousands of refugees, who are being used as hostages in Albanian-Greek relations. The Socialist Party openly declares Office of the Socialist Party

The Government of the Republic of Albania expresses its concern over the crisis in Greece, over the threat to Albanian-Greek relations in recent months, and over the rising tension and situation of… Tirana, 7 September 1994 situation of… Statement of the Albanian Government over the crisis… [the text is cut off and partly illegible]. Greece has always been concerned about… [continues on page 4].

The Patriotic Political Society Çamëria, as the only political entity representing the Albanians of Çamëria, directly representing the interests and aspirations of the Çam population, expresses its indignation and protest at the irresponsible statement made by Mr. Jeter Arbnori at the meeting with the Greek parliamentarians. It is Pjetër Arbnori's right, in the position he holds, to meet whomever he wishes and whenever he wishes, but that same position, entrusted to him by parliament in the name of the Albanian people, obliges him to be careful in his words. To say that: «It is outside the Helsinki Convention and inconceivable to speak of Vorio-Epir, just as it would be inconceivable for Albania to speak of Thespotia», means, at best, [the same position, entrusted to him by parliament…] (Continued on page 4)