For information on the treatment of Kurt Kola, leader of the Association of Former Victims of Political Persecution, please consult the 15 February 1997 Zeri i Popullit (NEXIS) attachment, the 13 February 1997 Associated Press attachment and the 14 February 1997 ATA attachment. For a reference to the anticommunist Association of Former Victims of Political Persecution, please consult the 8 February 1997 ATA attachment. For information on state treatment of the National Association of Former Victims of Political Persecution, please consult the 15 February 1997 Zeri i Popullit (FBIS) attachment. For additional information on the Association of Former Victims of Political Persecution, please consult Response to Information Request ALB22729.E of 16 February 1996. Information on the redress available to Association members could not be found among the sources consulted by the DIRB.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Attachments

The Associated Press (AP). 13 February 1997. Merita Dhimgjoka. "Socialist Charged with Inciting Violence as Protests Continue." (NEXIS)

ATA [Tirana, in English]. 14 February 1997. "Albania: Forum Leader Protests Violence by Political Persecutees." (FBIS-EEU-97-033 14 Feb. 1997) [Internet] [Accessed 17 Apr. 1997]

_____. 8 February 1997. "Daily Says Socialists Prepared for 'Physical Confrontation'." (BBC Summary 10 Feb. 1997/NEXIS)

Zeri i Populllit [Tirana, in Albanian]. 15 February 1997. "Former Regime Victims Protest Berisha 'Fascist violence'." (FBIS-EEU-97-032 15 Feb. 1997) [Internet] [Accessed 17 Apr. 1997]

_____. "Opposition on Probe into British government Links with Albanian Leadership." (BBC Summary 18 Feb. 1997/NEXIS)

Additional Sources Consulted

Amnesty International Report. Yearly.

CSCE Digest [Washington]. Monthly.

DIRB country file on Albania.

Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) Daily Reports.

Human Rights Watch World Report. Yearly.

News from Helsinki Watch [New York]. Monthly.

Transition [Prague]. Monthly.

Uncaptive Minds [New York]. Quarterly.

On-lines search of media sources.

Unsuccessful attempts to contact oral sources.