— INTERVIEW WITH THE CHAIRMAN OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, MR. SABRI GODO, GIVEN TO «VOICE OF AMERICA» ON JULY 31 — — Mr. Godo, what is the purpose of your visit to the USA? — I have come here at a difficult time for my country, to make contact with our emigrant community here, to explain the problems facing our country now and the ways in which our people can be helped. And, if possible, to make contact with figures and personalities in American political life for the same purpose. — Can you give us an overview of Albania’s economic and political situation? — In Albania we are making real progress on the road to democracy. After the formation of the pluralist government, in which our Republican Party also participates, a second phase of this process is now under way in Albania: joint executive committees are being established with the participation of all the parties. Until now, these committees have been the absolute monopoly of the Communist Party and have obstructed the development of democracy. At a government meeting and at the Presidency of the People’s Assembly, I compared our government to Fan Noli’s government in 1924, which failed precisely because it had no base on which to rely. Now we hope to create that base, and so I believe we have made some progress in the political sphere. Nevertheless, we can by no means say that communism has been uprooted from Albania and that full democracy has been established there. Stalinist forces are also present within the renewed party (as the former Party of Labour, now the PS, will call itself); they are doing everything they can to create confusion in our country and resist every kind of reform, trying to convince the people that the situation that has arisen in Albania is a consequence of democracy, whereas it is a consequence of their 50-year rule. — Can you say something specific about the economic situation of the people? — I think it must be said frankly: the country’s economic situation is as extreme as one can imagine. We are living in real hunger. There is nothing there; people are out of work, and even the most basic foodstuffs are lacking. What is even more alarming is that in some mountainous areas and villages even bread has been unavailable. During these past six months, in which changes have taken place in the country’s political life, I myself have constantly feared the day when there would be no bread in the shops. And if we cannot find a way out of this problem, it could plunge the country into complete anarchy. — What measures are the government, the People’s Assembly and the opposition parties taking to change the situation? — The People’s Assembly is moving slowly, and the people have begun criticizing what is happening there. Sometimes they discuss an issue for days on end, even though it could be dealt with much more quickly by reasonable people acting in good faith. But we have no time to lose. As for the government, I would say that it is trying to work intensively to implement certain reforms, but so far they have not made progress. Our party, and I believe all the other opposition parties in Albania agree, thinks that the only way out of our current situation is the rapid and immediate privatization of the economy, light industry, trade, handicrafts, municipal services and land. Foreign aid is a second essential element. The third element would then be attracting foreign investment, which will be difficult, since foreign businesspeople and lenders quite rightly seek a more stable country in which to invest their capital. But we can begin by making agreements with small enterprises that require no investment and are completely idle. And perhaps this could help way— these manner peo- fol- nee- rdo- not be- it VISI nt ne ex- taxation foreigners: oneself... La... tive ...

MR. SABRI GODO WELCOMED AT THE AMERICAN SENATE On August 1, Mr. Sabri Godo, continuing his visit to the USA, was received at the American Senate, where he was given a warm and friendly welcome. Distinguished figures attending the reception included Senator Robert Dol, leader of the Republicans in the Senate; Klejborn Pell, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Senator Leri Presler, a member of this committee; and Senator Ricard Laxher, also a member of the Foreign Relations Committee. Journalists, press representatives, etc., were also present at the reception. Mr. Sabri Godo briefed the distinguished senators on the economic and political situation in Albania and on the Serbian threat to Albanians in Yugoslavia. The senators present showed due interest in Albania, particularly in securing the urgent assistance the country needs and in how this assistance should be provided. Senator Leri Presler accepted the invitation of the Albanian Republican Party to visit Albania. At this meeting, Mr. Sabri Godo was accompanied by Mr. Xhozej Dio-guard, chairman of the Albanian-American Civic League, a distinguished activist of this league-

Starting Monday, August 5, 1991, send to the Central Headquarters in Tirana all the lists signed by the people of your district for the petition «We Recognize the Republic of Kosovo». On Thursday, August 8, 1991, we will announce the number to date of those who have signed this petition. The campaign will continue. Albanian people, sign—this is a vote for the Republic of Kosovo! PR STEERING COMMITTEE

On August 2, 1991, at the headquarters of the Republican Party, PR deputy chairmen Vangjush Gambeta and Zef Bushati, together with Steering Committee member Viron Koka, held a fraternal discussion with Gani Azemi, secretary of the LDK Branch for Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg (BeNeLuks). The discussion covered the current situation in our country and in the Balkans, the need to establish contacts between the Albanian Republican Party and the LDK Branch in Brussels, as well as other issues. * * * Also, on July 25, 1991, at the PR Central Headquarters, a meeting was held—

The much-discussed trial throughout Albania concerning the political killings of April 2, 1991, in Shkodër has also opened its first sessions. But, as we wrote in our newspaper of July 25, 1991, the months-long investigations were far from identifying the person or persons who gave the order to shoot, as well as the person or persons who killed with their own weapon. Nevertheless, we do not understand with what professional audacity this farcical trial began. Apparently, those in charge continued the judicial tradition of organizing trials using facts as they themselves had manufactured them. Through that farcical practice, many people were sentenced on fabricated charges or through fabrications and lies, and their files are now being sought. For some, the document granting them acquittal has been signed, or the matter is still under review by the Supreme Court, in addition to the request and discussion in Parliament for a general amnesty for prisoners of conscience. How many people were tortured into admitting the accusations, whether they admitted or denied them. In the first case, the unfortunate victims blamed themselves to save their lives; in the second, their lives were of little value, and ways were found to eliminate them, in some cases without informing their families. But that time is over, gentlemen torturers and file-fabricating lawyers. The people, who are enjoying the bright days of democracy, will no longer allow a return to that Machiavellian farce. But you still have not grasped this strength, and you dared to present such a dossier in Shkodër, to proceed with three [unclear] for treason on April 2. When you bring the murder charge, the people you have managed to [text cuts off] the incident?! We cannot call it a mistake, because it is more than the naivety of idiots. The Head of the Shkodër Internal Affairs Branch, Çapajev Taçi, had been “instructed” to know nothing, in the “classic” way of avoiding punishment for what had happened. Dilaver Papare, the police chief, managed to say (perhaps that was all he knew) that the order had come from the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs. So, there was a thread leading toward a solution! At the trial it emerged that on April 1 there had apparently been a plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the PP, when the situation in the country, as Mr. Gramoz Ruçi testified, was tense not only in Shkodër but in several cities. What was discussed and what instructions were given at that plenum?! What does enforcing the law on illegal gatherings mean? It means violence, from batons all the way to... Had the three defendants in this farce of a trial failed to enforce the law, they would have been convicted and dismissed from their posts as incompetent, perhaps even assigned other duties. But had the their posts as incompetent, perhaps even assigned other duties. other duties. The way the investigation was conducted (not only the delay, but also the insistence on finding the organizers of the youth gathering in front of the square, which in itself was a threat to everyone questioned) and its duration, while leaving those responsible for the incident at liberty, led to the point that so far the “wolf” (Continued on page 2)

INTERVIEW WITH MR. ALFRED KARAMUÇO, CHAIRMAN OF THE STATE CONTROL COMMISSION, GIVEN TO JOURNALIST PETRO DHIMITRI — Mr. Alfred, what is the place and role of the State Control Commission in the government for the country’s stability? — I think the creation of the government for the country’s stability was a rational solution, thanks to the consensus among our country’s political parties. Aware of the situation it faced from its very first day, as well as of the countless difficulties arising every day, the government is trying through concrete action to stabilize the situation, to ease and then eliminate the economic and social crisis engulfing the country. The government issued a statement to the public and to the Assembly about the work done and the problems that have arisen, so I will not dwell on this matter. As for the State Control Commission, I would say that it has been legally conceived as a central body within the Council of Ministers, exercising its supervisory powers on behalf of the Council of Ministers in the field of protecting the state’s economic interests. In this capacity, the body I head has set itself the task of supporting the implementation of policies and the protection of economic reforms. Although I think that, in reality, these tasks are inseparable. You cannot stabilize a ruined economy whose foundations and methods of management were doomed to fail. Therefore, for me, state stabilization is a consequence of reforms, which we must undertake resolutely and with the means available, aware of the great shared sacrifices involved, but also of the better, secure future ahead, in which every individual, alongside political freedom, will experience the true taste of what was once the «forbidden fruit»: economic freedom. For now, the State Control Commission’s priority task is to help expose economic crimes, speculation and abuses by the former caste at every level; to eliminate the bureaucratic metastases that have stifled this country and are factors in the further destabilization of our economy; to protect the country’s interests in its expanding business relations; to support the government’s comprehensive measures to guarantee the people’s food supplies; and to enforce laws and other regulations concerning privatization, the allocation of land, etc. We are preparing to carry out these tasks by restructuring our body and adopting a new understanding of its scope and powers, as defined by the law «On the State Control Commission». The contemporary experience of counterpart bodies in several countries is also helping us in this regard, and exchanges with them will be broader in the future. — Although it is perhaps too soon to take stock of your work, readers would nevertheless be interested to hear some details about the concrete activities of the body you head. — I believe readers know that not long ago we completed an inspection, together with the Ministry of Finance, of the former Directorate of Reception. On the basis of the inspection findings, the government issued a decision publicly distancing itself from the deeply unlawful activities of the former monist caste, referring the matter to the investigative authorities, and adopting a series of legal and organizational measures to prevent even the slightest recurrence of abuses by government officials. We have organized inspections of this kind in the districts as well. In the conditions of the country’s deep food crisis, profiteering and speculative elements, supported and assisted by state employees (salespeople, warehouse managers, etc.) and «protected» by the bureaucracy, are exploiting the people’s needs. We also activated the financial police and carried out inspections in several districts. We confirmed violations and took measures on the spot. Nevertheless, I do not think we have done anything major: speculation is flourishing and, consequently, our legal duty to set the control bodies at every level more effectively in motion remains ongoing. We are putting through the «filter» certain so-called business activities carried out in several districts, where we are finding that unlawful actions have been committed to the detriment of the people’s interests, supporting and assisting domestic and foreign profiteering elements. In Përreth and Lushnjë, violations were reported to the investigative authorities; in another district, the inspection is continuing. I do not want to tire readers with Beluli’s other deeds, but I would emphasize that we are paying particular attention to letters from the public denouncing actions and conduct that harm the public interest, and denouncing people who have still not understood that the fresh breeze of democracy blowing for the people becomes a storm, a cyclone, for those who try to act against their interests and aspirations. — What do you think about restructuring the state apparatus and its administration? — Having spent twenty-six years working in other sectors on monitoring legality in the state administration, I would say that restructuring it under the economic reform we are undertaking is a very difficult task, but absolutely essential! There can be no economic reform aimed at a market economy if it relies on administrative structures conceived on the basis of a monist policy, serving a totalitarian state and a failed autarkic economy. In my view, the three fundamental areas of reform as a whole are the economy, legislation and state administration. Some steps in this direction have been taken, particularly with the creation of pluralist executive committees at every local level. But the work still ahead of us at the local level is considerable. What lies ahead is to develop the necessary concepts and regulations and overcome the (not insignificant) pressure of the bureaucracy, which today continues to hold on to its positions, emboldened politically. And (Continued on page 2) you cannot and must not be a pretext for new(?) and final assessments to begin, and for the place not to be filled with photographs of Enver Hoxha; this façade was intended to imprint them in people’s hearts, making them incapable of think- (Continued on page 4)