Albania: Happy Landings

Happy Landings

Chanting "Italia! Italia!" and "We shall win!" some 4,000 grimy, exhausted but jubilant Albanians arrived at the Italian port of Brindisi last week after a seven-hour ferry trip from their homeland aboard four ships chartered by Italy and Germany. The refugees, many of them single men and young families, had spent the previous two weeks crowded into European embassies in Tirana seeking to escape from their oppressive nation. "I have waited 35 years for this moment," said Paride Derani, 65. While the crisis has caused a shake-up in the Albanian government, leaders have vowed not to abandon the strict communist line.

...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!