Information on a political party called Balli Kompter could not be found among the sources available to the DIRB in Ottawa. However, attached please find articles mentioning an Albanian party by the name of Balli Kombetar, known also as National Front or The National Front Party.

According to a report of the Minnesota Lawyers International Human Rights Committee, Balli Kombetar was an anti-Communist, anti-Fascist group formed during the Second World War to fight against the Italians and subsequently the German invasion (Jan. 1990, 13). Led by Midhat Frasheri, former Albanian ambassador to Greece, Balli Kombetar forged an alliance with the Germans against the Communists in 1943 (ibid.). Balli Kombetar was defeated by the Communists and its leadership was forced to flee in November 1944 (ibid.).

A RFE/RL Research Report describs Balli Kombetar, in exile, as a conservative group that was the main opposition to the communists during the World War II and (also to the return of the Monarchy) (31 July 1992, p. 15). The same source reports the party's ties with the Albanian Democratic Union, a far right political party that has begun to grow in popularity in Albania (ibid.). In July 1992, the Party Democratic Union "Balli Kombetar" won 0.9 per cent of the vote in the first Albanian democratic local elections (18 Sept. 1992, 27).

The BBC Summary of World Broadcasts (BBC) reports that Balli Kombetar, with the Tirana Branch of the Property Justice Association, organized a "peaceful protest" in Tirana on 15 January 1993 to demand the return of property expropriated by the communist regime to its former owners (15 Jan. 1993). The BBC also reports the participation of the Balli Kombetar at the rally held in Tirana on 20 May 1993 by the National Owners of Expropriated Property Association (22 May 1993).

According to the author of several books and articles on Eastern Europe and Albania, the Balli Kombetar was formed during the Second World War (2 March 1994). Described as nationalist party, the Balli Kombetar fought against the Albanian Communists during the Civil War at the end of which the party was decimated and its leadership jailed or forced to emigrate to Italy, the United States and Canada (ibid.). Once political pluralism was restored in 1990, the Balli Kombetar returned to Albania under new leadership, but, only a year later was it permited to take part in the national political process (ibid.). The same source reports a split within the Balli Kombetar in 1992 resulting in the expulsion from the party of several of its members with right-wing affiliation (ibid.). The major issues supported by the Balli Kombetar are the return of the monarchy and the return of property that the Communist regime expropriated to its former owners (ibid.). It has a publication named the Balli i Kombit (ibid.).

For additional information on the Balli Kombetar, please see the attached articles.

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.

References

Minnesota Lawyers International Human Rights Committee. January 1990. "Human Rights in the People's Socialist Republic of Albania." Minneapolis: Minnesota Lawyers International Rights Committee.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) Research Institute. 31 July 1992. RFE/RL Research Report [Munich]. Vol. 1, No. 31. Louis Zanga. "Albanian Political Turmoil."

. 18 September 1992. RFE/RL Research Report [Munich]. Vol. 1, No. 37. Louis Zanga. "Albania's Local Elections."

Specialist on Eastern Europe and Albania, Arlington. 2 March 1994. Telephone interview.

Attachments

BBC Summary of World Broadscasts. 21 January 1993. Arben Karapici. "Former Property Owners Demand Return of Property, Not Compensation." (NEXIS)

. 21 January 1993. Arben Karapici. "Former Property Owners Hold Protest Rally; Premier Says Bill Has Been Drafted." (NEXIS)

. 15 November 1991. "National Democratic Party Considers National Assembly Premature." (NEXIS)

. 17 August 1991. "Reports on Parties and Organisations; War Veterans Oppose Amnesty for Quislings." (NEXIS)

. 8 March 1991. "Democratic Party Visit to France and Brussels Meetings with Albanian Emigrants." (NEXIS)

Minnesota Lawyers International Human Rights Committee. January 1990. "Human Rights in the People's Socialist Republic of Albania." Minneapolis: Minnesota Lawyers International Rights Committee.

The New York Times. 18 March 1991. Tim Golden. "Changes in Albania Rekindle Pride in Immigrants." (NEXIS)

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) Research Institute. 31 July 1992. RFE/RL Research Report [Munich]. Vol. 1, No. 31. Louis Zanga. "Albanian Political Turmoil," pp. 14-19.

. 18 September 1992. RFE/RL Research Report [Munich]. Vol. 1, No. 37. Louis Zanga. "Albania's Local Elections," pp.27-30.