Yesterday in Parliament: — Serreqi feels powerless to shut off the oil tap flowing into Montenegro… — A week later, after the signal of a friendly “tugging of the ear” had come from the UN’s Glass Palace, Foreign Minister Serreqi appeared yesterday afternoon at an interpellation requested some time ago by PAD deputies, precisely concerning cases of Albania’s breach of the embargo. From his very first words, it was clear that the language of the head of Albanian diplomacy did not match that of the UN. The Albanian government is committed to respecting the UN resolutions on sanctions against Serbia and Montenegro, he said at the beginning of his response to the questions put to him. Nevertheless, he let it be understood that there had been specific cases, as throughout the region, but that there was no evidence this had been organized by the state, he continued. Of the seven specific questions put by PAD deputies, among which the much-discussed ship “Vela Luka” occupied a prominent place, Foreign Minister Serreqi deemed it “reasonable” to answer with a single phrase. The government has taken a rigorous stance, he said; we have maintained ongoing contact with the committees regarding every case they have had suspicions about. In every suspected case, the Foreign Ministry informed the government, the Ministries of Finance, Defense and Economy, he said, while remaining mere propaganda. Two parliamentary commissions dominated by the DP and established for this purpose have so far clarified nothing about this all-Albanian destruction. The pushing of this issue into the darkness of oblivion shows that, along the way, the DP encountered itself during the investigation and stopped in order to close a chapter that cannot be closed without definitively answering the question: Who set Albania on fire? In his rejoinder, deputy Imami said that the request and concern behind the questions asked were not related only to compliance with the resolutions, but to the achievement of the country’s objectives and interests. I think that, with his answers, the Foreign Minister should clarify matters more for his colleagues in the government, because we in the opposition already know the situation better. Yesterday, Parliament also considered and approved the draft law on the protection of trees and fruit trees, as well as an amendment to the law on taxation in the Republic of Albania. Correspondent of “Voice of the People”

Statement by the Albanian Helsinki Committee The public information media reported that in recent days a Macedonian court sentenced Prof. Dr. Fadil Sulejmani, the first Rector of the Albanian-language University of Tetovo, and Melaim Fejziu, Chairman of the Forum for the Protection of Human Rights and Freedoms and Vice-Chairman of the Helsinki Committee, to two and a half years and six months’ imprisonment, respectively. They were sentenced because, together with several dozen of their colleagues, they had taken part in a trial that is now indisputable: they constitute an essential element for the existence and stability of the Macedonian state itself, as well as under the provisions of the most authoritative international documents. This severe judicial punishment comes immediately after the forcible closure of the University of Tetovo, where Macedonian police forces killed a young man Fadil Sulejmani, the first Rector of the University in the Albanian language in Tetovo, and Melam Rights and Freedoms and Vice-Chairman of the Helsinki Committee, were sentenced to two and a half years and six months of imprisonment, respectively. They were convicted because, together with several dozen colleagues and thousands of students and other Albanian residents of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, they took to the streets and, entirely peacefully, demanded the opening of the University of Tetovo in the Albanian language. This news shows that the Macedonian authorities are determined to continue along the path of persistent refusal to recognize the fundamental rights of Albanians in Macedonia. The right of Albanians in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to receive education in their mother tongue at every type and level is indisputable. indisputable. The Albanian Helsinki Committee gives voice to these sentiments. It calls for their immediate release as a condition for consolidating normal coexistence between the two communities in Macedonia.

Until now, analysts have spoken of a calm and democracy-enthusiastic December. What remained unburned of the national wealth during the first stage? Their branches, such as the State Security service. Those who believed this propaganda quite rightly expected the DP government to hold accountable all those who laid hands on the national wealth and to impose the appropriate punishment and liability for its destruction. But unfortunately, six years of DP rule are passing, and its calls still… (Continued on page 3)

Following the most recent meetings of PSSH organizations in the district of Mat, the DP is continuing to track down those who made it possible to organize these meetings, transferring them and removing them from their jobs. After the Mat branch of the DP, through its obedient instrument, the Education Directorate, made efforts to have the teachers of the school in Dugagjin dismissed—the school near which the meeting with the socialist electorate was organized—the first person affected was the school’s director, Islam Ruci, who was immediately replaced. The battle in Mat does not stop there; in record time, it has sent a signal to Krujë concerning the “unforgivable conduct” of the Toçi family in Dukagjin. Hamit Doçi, a police officer from that family, worked in the Public Order Department of Krujë. In the name of reform and the “necessity” of improving the work, he was informed that he was being relieved of his position. Alongside these measures, further pressure has been exerted in Dukagjin on socialist activists, who have been warned that such “mistakes” will cost them dearly. Even these examples show the political persecution the DP continues to inflict on all those who think differently from them, despite Berisha’s calls for “opponents, but brothers,” which have now turned into a demagogic balloon. BEKTASH ZËNELI

Festival: Albanian cinema in retrospect: MEMORIES, EMOTIONS, DEBATES... The second day of the festival continued with screenings of films from the retrospective. “Tana,” the first Albanian feature-length fiction film, not screened for more than 30 years, takes on almost the significance of a premiere—not only for everyone seeing it for the first time, but also for its director, Kristaq Dhamo, and all its protagonists. First among them, we should single out Tinka Kurti, who played Tana. This revival brings back many memories, emotions and, why not, even the beautiful tears that arise from them—all entirely understandable. But there is also a sense of pain. Many of the artists who made that film are no longer alive. A film that is both realistic and meaningful, “Tana” is not at all opportunistic. On the contrary, it not only has all the necessary elements to be a genuine work of art, but is undoubtedly also a chronicle of great value for understanding and experiencing at close quarters the great change our society has undergone over the years, especially psychologically. We can say without the slightest hesitation that a true revolution has taken place. The first film has been shortened. These films need to be restored, all the more so when one learns that, fortunately, the author preserved them. For it brings back today, and will transmit to future generations, the time in which it was made. Directors Fehmi Hoshafi and Muharrem Fejzo appear in the film retrospective with “Kapendani,” about which any comment is superfluous. Meanwhile, Xhanfize Keko—the “mother” of all children, the great director of their world, full of dreams, wonder and caprice—was represented by the film “Beni ecën vetë,” undoubtedly one of the most beautiful films produced by Kinostudio “Shqipëria e re.” In the afternoon, “Dimri i fundit” brought viewers a fragment from the glorious national liberation war, in which the heroism of Albanian women was displayed with particular grandeur. The superb acting, the direction and all the elements of the film made it so that (Continued on page 3)

SHKODER Explosives were placed at the entrances of two houses and detonated immediately, but fortunately there were no casualties. The incident occurred last night at around 21:20 in the Xhabia neighborhood of the city of Shkodër. Someone had placed explosives at the entrances of the apartments where Berhan Çulaj and Millan Vaso live; their apartment buildings are 1 km apart. The explosions significantly damaged the main entrances, shattered the windows, and also damaged household appliances. The neighbors of these families also suffered damage from the explosions. All branches of the Shkodër police service immediately arrived at the scene and began their activities to identify the perpetrators of this act, which has alarmed all the residents of the area. But yesterday, in the late hours[?], notices had begun to be issued regarding the identification of the people implicated in this incident. Early yesterday morning, employees of the Yugoslav Embassy in Tirana also arrived in Shkodër to look into this matter. Their concern in this case stems from the fact that the two citizens mentioned above are the main leaders of the “Moraca-Roza” association, which, as is known, includes citizens who claim to be of Serbo-Montenegrin nationality. Employees of the embassy met with the affected families, but their response to this incident is not yet known. Meanwhile, the Shkodër Department of Internal Affairs said it was working intensively to shed light on the incident. We recall that these two cases bring the number of explosive blasts in this city over the past year and a half to 6. MUSA KURTULAJ

BULQIZË The decision of the Bulqiza court is known: after three days of hearings, it declared all 10 miners who took part in the hunger strike in February this year not guilty. The district prosecutor, Skali, did not agree with this decision and appealed it to the Court of Appeal in Tirana. As a result, the 10 miners, who have been unemployed for nearly 4 months and are parents obliged to provide for 15 children, were forced last night—according to reports—to set off for Tirana[?]. Daut Damzi, one of the participants in the strike, told our newspaper that, in addition to being deprived of the right to work, they had been told they would not receive privatization vouchers because they had not been employed at the mine since April 1 of this year. Through this report, they appealed to newspapers and journalists to come today, May 12, 1995, at 9 o’clock, to the Court of Appeal and hear about the violence and injustice that the current authorities have inflicted and continue to inflict on them—miners who have worked for more than 18 years deep in the Bulqiza mines. A. ASHKU

— Italian Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Affairs opposes sending troops against migrants entering Italy. — While Italian troops have already been deployed along the coast of the Puglia region to prevent migrants from crossing, news from Rome has emerged that challenges the government decree in this case. An Italian parliamentary committee on constitutional affairs stated on Wednesday evening that the decree approved by the Dini government several weeks ago was not justified. According to this committee, there is no reason to send troops against refugees from the eastern shores of the Adriatic. A statement by the committee says that it should now be decreed that sending troops to Puglia is neither necessary nor urgent, since what is the “serious situation” that made the migrants necessary[?].