The “open doors” policy is having its effects - The UN publicizes Albania’s violation of the embargo against former Yugoslavia. - In Apulia, where the Pope prayed for Albanians, Italy deployed its soldiers yesterday. The “open doors” policy is having its effects ABANDONED ALBANIANS FACE THE WRATH OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS - The UN publicizes Albania’s violation of the embargo against former Yugoslavia. - In Apulia, where the Pope prayed for Albanians, Italy deployed its soldiers yesterday. After its good showing in Strasbourg—where the “Political Committee of the EU” accepted Albania’s application for membership—Albania is now facing “accusations” before other international and European organizations. But this time, the positive aspects have not been seen; only the negative ones. Emilio Kardenas—the Argentine who heads the UN Commission for Monitoring Sanctions (the embargo) against former Yugoslavia—has publicized Albania as a country that has violated the embargo. It all happened last week at the UN’s Glass House, where the body headed by Kardenas had convened. As if that were not enough, another “dark picture” has been publicized by our Adriatic neighbors. Italy—the 15th member of the European Union—has deployed troops on the shores of Apulia to prevent waves of illegal migrants, filled with Kurds, Turks, Chinese, Egyptians, Pakistanis, Filipinos, and very few Albanians, from pouring in from the Albanian coast every evening. Official Rome is reacting this way to remove from itself the label of being “problematic” when it comes to signing the Schengen Convention. By contrast, “Top Air,” the Turkish airline that brings Kurds, secured exclusive rights to operate the Istanbul–Tirana route, and now flies six days a week. And so “problematic” Top Air became the exclusive operator when the “Albanian Ministry of Transport ordered ‘Adrian’ to stop flying to Istanbul.” Why was it ordered to do so? The influx of Kurdish illegal migrants—driven by conditions in their country—had grown considerably. This happened as seven European countries were signing the Schengen Convention, the step toward opening borders among some countries of Western and Central Europe. Europe, moving toward realizing the foundations of Maastricht, considered Italy “problematic” for signing this Convention. This was because people from the East travel through it toward France, Switzerland, Germany, etc. Thus, from the shores of the Adriatic, Albania is being viewed as a liability for what lies at the foundation of tomorrow’s Europe. And the blame for this falls entirely on the officials in Tirana. They are doing nothing to prevent the “Kurdish, Arab, Chinese, Filipino, Egyptian effect.” They did not want to—or perhaps were unable to. Albania’s gates have been flung open to the countries of the Islamic Conference and beyond, to those with standards lower than the West can comfortably accept. But at the same time, these are the people who bring about and carry away the upheaval of their own country; the influx grew by conditions in their country—had grown considerably. The UN has monitored fuel smuggling Where the Pope prayed, there are soldiers today! Why? …is seen as undermining They do Perhaps they do not want to; perhaps they are powerless. Albania’s gates have been thrown open to the countries of the Islamic Conference and, more broadly, to those with standards below the West’s comfort level. At the same time, however, the country—with its economy at a standstill, lacking jobs and investment—rests on the “threadbare” balance sustained by emigration. In this respect, Berisha’s regime is happy to turn a blind eye to the “sea taxis,” since harshly stopping them would turn domestic discontent into a revolt against it. This is what we are talking about when we refer to Albanians heading to Italy. They, along with those already in Italy, are the first to experience the effects of Rome’s response. It was all forewarned. Martino—the former Italian foreign minister—asked Berisha in Tirana in September ’94 to control clandestine emigration, proposing seasonal employment. Tirana, indifferent, “responded” with even more clandestine migrants, including non-Albanians. Now it is up to Tirana to apologize in order to sit down at the negotiating table. BESI ÇELA

Yesterday, the delegation of the PSSH returned to the homeland. It was led by its vice-chairman, Dr. Servet Pëllumbi, who, at the invitation of the United List of Slovenian Social Democrats (LB S D), made a friendly working visit to Slovenia. At Rinas Airport, the delegation was welcomed by PSSH vice-chairman Ilir Meta. During its stay in Ljubljana, the PSSH delegation held an open and friendly meeting with the Chairman of the United List of Slovenian Social Democrats, mag. Janez Kocijançiq. During the meeting, the interlocutors gave a full picture of the general situation in their respective countries, highlighted the growing strength of the PSSH and LB SDS and the deepening of democratic processes, and identified concrete areas for expanding their cooperation in the near future, in the interests of peace, security and prosperity in the region and beyond, as well as the further affirmation of both parties in international circles, particularly those of social democracy. Among other things, Dr. Servet Pëllumbi praised the constructive role of his Slovenian counterpart in the current governing coalition and, in particular, its acceptance as an observer in the Socialist International and the Party of European Socialists. For his part, Slovenian leader Janez Kocijançiq welcomed the significant growth in the PSSH’s influence and reputation at home and abroad, as demonstrated by numerous and persuasive indicators; its genuinely modern social-democratic program; its defense of the Nano Cause; its clear messages and expression of cooperation and consensus freed from the prejudices of the monist past; and, above all, its realistic political, economic and social ideas and alternatives for the near future. He gladly accepted the invitation to visit Albania soon, as part of the intensification of bilateral relations. At the meeting with International Secretary Vojko Velisnik, emphasis was placed on the problems and challenges of international politics, particularly the issue of Kosovo, and on making use of all bilateral and multilateral ties in pursuit of the most realistic options. At the meeting with the Chairman of the LB SDS Parliamentary Group, Miran Potre, the deputy chairman of the socialist parliamentary group, Dr. Fehmi Abdiu, exchanged views on experience to date concerning parliamentary problems, difficulties and structures, as well as on expanding cooperation between the respective parliamentary groups in the future. The delegation was also warmly received by Slovenia’s Minister of Economy, Dr. Maks Tajnikar. After learning about the characteristics of economic development and reforms in the two respective countries, they exchanged valuable views and recommendations, especially on encouraging small and medium-sized businesses, entrepreneurship, privatization, foreign investment and exports, with the aim of resolving problems such as unemployment and the high social cost of reforms, and securing clear development prospects. At the delegation’s meeting with the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Rado Bohinc, after reviewing relations between the two countries in the fields of science and technology, both sides expressed the same view that the opportunities and forms of cooperation are diverse. Dr. Bohinc praised the socialist vision, objectives and alternatives concerning the state’s special responsibility for promoting research and scientific activity, designing and implementing long-term programs, and the decisive role of science and technology in achieving genuine and sustainable economic growth. At all these constructive meetings, characterized by a spirit of understanding, friendship and mutual readiness, the desire and opportunities to make cooperation between our two parties concrete, as well as international respect and solidarity, were expressed. Press and Information Office of the PSSH.

Egyptians, Pakistanis, Filipinos, and very few Albanians, who pour in every evening from the Albanian coast. Official Rome reacted “problematic when it comes to signing the Schengen Convention.” The UN has monitored fuel smuggling First the “New York Times,” and then Emilio Kardenas, confronted the accusations they had made for the first time—concerning the violation of the embargo—with an official denial from Tirana. The responsible officials—present, as “word-fashion,” everywhere in the “Berisha administration”—continued this forcefully in Albania. The refrain, as always, was clear: “There is no smuggling!” This has been the claim for a year and a half, since the tanker trucks began entering Albanian ports and pouring into Lake Shkodra, bound for Montenegro! But the facts and arguments contradict it. One argument—entirely economic—published on Saturday in “Aleanca Nacionale,” denounces Albanian smuggling. Two curves—one referring to fuel imports and the other to the exchange rate of the German currency, the Mark—show a correlation. Everything is linked to strict supply-and-demand ratios; if in September–October 1994, when the ferry shows that

in 1994, several million US dollars in taxes and duties. Against this figure, the 9 million US dollars that Tirana officials are seeking from the UN as compensation makes you smile. Where the Pope prayed, there are soldiers today! Why? Since 9 May, in the place where His Holiness Pope Giovanni Pavli II went to pray for an end to the suffering of Albanians under the dictatorship—in Apulia—there have been 1,000 soldiers and hundreds of Italian carabinieri. They are all deployed as part of “Safe Borders,” an operation launched by the Italian Government. So, what has happened? Rome has reacted harshly to the waves of Kurdish, Turkish, Chinese, Pakistani, Egyptian and Filipino illegal migrants, as well as Albanians, who are heading for Italy. Why this response? Two months ago, “Zëri i Popullit” described the route taken by Turks and Kurds from Turkey to Rinas, Vlora and Apulia. At the time, it warned that unless Albania acted very soon, it would face sanctions from the European Community. Italy—a member of that Community today—might turn a blind eye to Albanians, but it had no reason to turn the other eye away from people from the Orient. Since that day, nothing has been heeded.

We emphasize A rescue motorboat—a matter of urgent necessity - 28 victims in a year and a half - Yesterday the last two victims of the Lake Shkodra tragedy, 14-year-olds Adriatik Sysyka and Artan Kraja, were buried. The number of victims in the waters of this lake in less than a year and a half has thus reached 28. They were all young. In our newspaper, writing about the tragic events in the waters of this lake, we have also repeatedly raised the need to establish a small rescue team there. The relevant state authorities, which should have recognized this necessity, have only remained silent. One tragedy after another has struck this lake, claiming human lives. We have not wanted to appear so alarmist. However, for various reasons, there is heavy human traffic on the waters of this lake, and the risk of tragic incidents is always present. Why are no measures being taken to have a rescue squad on standby? At the very least, a motorboat stationed on the shore could provide very effective assistance in emergencies. It would be enough for it to remain constantly on the move, keeping watch and maintaining contact with fishermen and border-police posts. This is entirely feasible. That is why we say there is no justification for failing to deploy such a craft now that mass movement on the lake has been permitted, or for still not having one today. If today the waters of this lake, at a time not so long ago, were patrolled and monitored by the police, officials could be alerted and people identified within a few minutes. We are not saying that the border should be controlled as it was before, because circumstances have changed, but an emergency service should be organized to help those whose lives are at risk. Otherwise, how can mass traffic on the lake be allowed when people’s lives are not guaranteed?! MUSA KURTULAJ

Can the law on the sale and purchase of land be implemented in the face of the extreme uncertainty of the Democratic Party government? The government’s submission of the draft law on the sale and purchase of land came at a time when the Democratic Party had driven the problem of land distribution, approved in July 1991, into a dead end. It must be said that the current parliamentary majority, the Democratic Party government, and the judicial authorities (levers of the ruling party) have planted mines around this dangerous problem of land ownership, which has already seriously undermined the implementation of the law passed by Parliament. So far, the government has not been able to ensure that the law is applied rigorously and with its full force. It must be said that the chaos surrounding the land-distribution law today exceeds the bounds of what one can imagine in a state governed by the rule of law. The phenomenon of seizing land according to old boundaries, of moving people from remote rural areas and settling them in “free” zones without any criteria previously established by the state, the extreme carelessness of officials in distributing land belonging to former state agricultural enterprises, etc., expose the level of the Democratic Party’s governing abilities and the efforts of other political forces that have found a foothold within it to achieve the aims of their hidden agendas. It is always an understatement to say that spontaneity has prevailed in implementing the land-distribution law; in many cases, right-wing forces seeking to return land to its former owners have skillfully exploited it. Furth- (Continued on page 2)

A letter bearing the seal of the director of the Housing Authority in Durrës has alarmed around 29 families, who are being required to pay 900,000 lek (old lek) for their homes within an extremely short deadline. The people in question are several workers from the construction enterprise of NISH Goma, who began work on this apartment building in 1988 through voluntary contributions. The work proceeded very slowly and was finally suspended in 1991 because of a lack of funds. In 1992, when the workers were dispersed, authorizations for the apartments were issued on the basis of the number of hours worked. Some of them, facing extremely difficult housing conditions, took it upon themselves to continue the work because the lack of funds was preventing its completion. They also undertook the installation of the windows, electrical and plumbing systems, tiles, plastering, etc. In 1993, the World Bank allocated a nationwide fund of 30 million dollars to complete the half-finished apartments, and work on this building also began in 1994 on the basis of that fund. Now, the Housing Authority, without taking into account … (Continued on page 2)

On May 9, Europe Day was commemorated in the countries of the European Union. Five years after the end of the Second World War, on May 9, 1950, it was agreed to begin Franco-German cooperation in the coal and steel industries, specifically in the region that had become a bone of contention in the wars between the two countries. It was the French foreign minister at the time, Schuman, who conceived and outlined the European Community—and now the European Union. For this reason, May 9 has also been declared Europe Day. The day is now commemorated in the member states of the European Union, but it is also commemorated and celebrated by the peoples of other countries who aspire and hope that one day Europe Day will also be their day—that is, that they will join the European Union. On the occasion of Europe Day, the European Commission’s ambassador in Tirana, Elio Germano, hosted a reception at the Hotel Tirana Marriott. Members of parliament, government ministers, representatives of political parties, etc., took part.

FOR OUR NATIONAL CULTURE - The 10th Albanian Film Festival opened - After a long five-year break, the 10th Albanian Film Festival opened last night at the Palace of Congresses, where eight new films will compete. First, a photographic exhibition was inaugurated, and at 6 p.m. the Festival President, writer Vath Korre-shi, declared it open, presenting the audience with the first Albanian short feature film, Fëmijët e saj, directed by Hysen Hakani and produced in 1957. It was followed by the animated film “Za-na dhe Miri,” produced in 1975, and then by the film “Artan Miranollit and Petrit Ruka.” After the break, the films “Ujku, ujku,” with a screenplay by R. Gjoles and directed by Artur Dauti, and “Vdekja e kalit,” written by N-xhat Tafa and directed by Saimir K-ubarosi, were screened. The Festival, which will continue until 13 May, is sponsored by the “Velija” Foundation, the “So-ros” Foundation and the Municipality of Tirana. “Zëri i Popullit” correspondent