Two speeches by deputy Mehmet Çeliku From the speech by deputy Mehmet Çeliku, delivered in the People’s Assembly on April 18, 1992, on the occasion of the presentation by Albania’s first democratic government of its economic program. Albania’s first democratic government today presented its economic program to the People’s Assembly. The program presented, and Mr. Meksi’s answers to many questions, show that the new government has a clear view of the main lines of the country’s future. Naturally, an economic program is meant to set out only the main lines of the economy. As is known, the program chiefly envisages radical reforms in the economy and Albanian society. In general terms, we find in it the main issues addressed in the programs of the Democratic Party, the Republican Party and the Social Democratic Party. It is clear that this program also takes into consideration the programs of several other democratic countries. In our opinion, although it may seem “harsh,” the program is wholly in the interests of democratic Albania, the Albanian cause, Albanians as free individuals, and the legal system. Without dwelling on the program’s positive aspects and merits, I support it, viewing it broadly as a positive basic plan. I am pleased that the program also gives attention to education, science and culture, which were not given sufficient place in the programs of the former opposition parties. I am also pleased that, with regard to the privatization of agricultural land, provision is made—although not with adequate guarantees—for resolving the problem of compensation for former owners who were displaced without recompense. I will now add a few suggestions and observations that might help further improve the program. In some places the program needed greater specificity. It would have been good to set some deadlines, mainly for fundamental objectives such as land distribution, local elections, educational reform, etc.—matters that cannot wait long. The program does not make sufficiently clear the order in which problems are to be resolved, nor the urgency and priority to be given to them. Alongside completing the distribution of land as soon as possible, there is also a need to correct the mistakes made in its distribution. Corrections must also be made in some cases of enterprise privatization, in order to rectify the mistakes immediately. (Continued on page 3)

On May 2, the chairman of the Albanian Republican Party, Mr. Sabri Godo, received at his headquarters the chairman of the Republican Party based in Mitrovica, Mr. Skënder Hoti, chairman of that party, Mr. Ismet Vebi Maloku and Ismet Ibishiti, deputy chairmen of that party, as well as Mr. Ismet Zeqiri, secretary of the Republican Party based in Mitrovica, and held a working and fraternal discussion with them. Mr. Skënder Hoti acquainted Mr. Godo with the party’s program and statutes, and then spoke about the current political situation. He presented the vision of the Republican Party of Mitrovica, its commitment to an all-Albanian republic within the framework of the former Yugoslavia, and the right to self-determination for the unification of an all-Albanian state. All this must be achieved by democratic means. “I regret,” Mr. Hoti went on to say, “that Albania is at the same time in such an economic situation. We are visiting for the first time, and our impression of Albania is as though the Labor Party and E. Hoxha were still in power. Reality surprises us and causes us some pain. To emerge from this situation, the whole population must make an effort. The wound of emigration has also struck Albania hard.” Mr. Godo then spoke, thanking his Republican friends from Mitrovica for visiting and telling them about the contribution the Republican Party is making to the processes our country is undergoing. He also spoke to them about the preparations our party is making to arrive as well prepared as possible at its first congress, which will be held on June 8, 1992, in Tirana. On May 4, the chairman of the Republican Party for Mitrovica, Mr. Skënder Hoti, and the gentlemen accompanying him held a working meeting with the secretary of the Republican Youth Forum, Mr. Elton Zhukra. The vice-chairman of the Albanian Republican Party, Mr. Zef Bushati, was also present at this discussion. The delegation from Mitrovica will continue to hold other working meetings. Correspondent of “The Republic”

MICOTAQIS VISITS OUR COUNTRY On May 3, Greek Prime Minister Konstantin Micotaqis made a working visit to our country. This was the second time Mr. Micotaqis had come to Albania, but, as he himself said, this time the circumstances were entirely different. Mr. Micotaqis and his associates held their first meeting with the Prime Minister, Mr. Aleksandër Meksi, and several cabinet members. Mr. Micotaqis assured them that he would support our country in the reforms under way. The Greek prime minister then spoke about Greece’s assistance to Albania, not only economically but also internationally. Greece, he said, would be a bridge for Albania to Europe. The meeting lasted about two and a half hours. Prime Minister Micotaqis subsequently met with the President of the Republic, Mr. Sali Berisha. After the meeting, President Sali Berisha and Mr. Micotaqis gave a statement to the press. Mr. Micotaqis also held several brief meetings at the Palace of Brigades with the leaders of political parties. In the afternoon, at 17:00, the two prime ministers, Mr. Micotaqis and Mr. Meksi, held a press conference for journalists. Micotaqis said his visit was friendly and would give impetus to our relations. Greece, Micotaqis continued, was ready to help Albania. He then outlined the subjects they had discussed during their meetings, such as opening consulates, the problem of emigration, normalizing the situation of Albanian emigrants in Greece, the situation in the former Yugoslavia, etc. At the end, Micotaqis invited Meksi to visit Greece and invited President Berisha on behalf of the President of Greece. For his part, Mr. Meksi said that we wished to have close ties so that all problems could be resolved. In this respect, the meeting was fruitful. “We,” our prime minister continued, “presented the Greek government with the proper resolution of the Çam problem, always in accordance with international laws and standards.” At the end of his statement, Mr. Meksi said the meeting had been successful and would be followed by other bilateral meetings. At the end, the journalists present asked the prime ministers questions, to which they replied mainly on the issues under discussion. Mr. Micotaqis said that the return of the Çams was unfeasible, in view of the law on war crimes, while Mr. Meksi, replying to a Greek journalist about the Çams’ collaboration with the Nazis, said: “I do not believe there is any international law that says that when one member of a family is a criminal, the whole family must be expelled.” Also on May 3, Micotaqis left Albania. Correspondent of “THE REPUBLIC”

(Continued from the previous issue) From the moral standpoint: it is immoral to equate the victim with the murderer, the people with their despotism, the murderous politics of the former Political Block; it is immoral to value money more highly than justice, as in Ilir Meta’s demand for compensation for being forced into a ruined situation, for a financial matter and not for the subjugation and destruction; the moral demand to blame an entire population solely to save the true national culprit is not very moral. From the standpoint of justice: if our people were forced for a time to walk along the path of [unclear], to this day no justice has been devised that absolves the victim whom the criminal, with a revolver at their heart, forces to travel part of the road together; no justice has yet been devised that would replace taking the law into one’s own hands with a demand that the court, under the law, punish the criminal, [unclear] revenge and reprisals— (Continued on page 14)

FREEDOM BRINGS DEVELOPMENT; DEVELOPMENT BRINGS GROWTH, BRINGS PROGRESS. THESE COME THROUGH WORK. THIS MOTTO GUIDES REPUBLICANS TODAY TOWARD THEIR FIRST CONGRESS. The election campaign in Republican sections continues, as they move toward branch conferences with clear aims to strengthen the Party.

After a year and a bit marked by political tensions and perhaps heated debates, work at the capital’s enterprises has only just begun. Everyone was waiting for this necessary and vital start. Without work, human society dies. Moreover, there is no other way to revive the economy quickly except through intensive work under new incentive-based conditions that will unambiguously encourage people to work. This is what the market economy, the path along which the Albanian economy will now proceed, is intended to bring. But at the beginning of this path, it seems to me that it is already an urgent and primary task of the new government to free our economy from its obstacles. At the Tirana Executive Committee, we learned that the staff of a large number of enterprises continue to be paid 80 percent of their wages. But is work being done in Tirana? Work has begun at many enterprises. The bread and flour factory, the geological mechanical plant, the asphalt enterprise, the construction and industrial enterprises Nos. 1, 2 and 3, the municipal housing enterprise, the doll factory, the garment factory, the goods and forwarding depot, construction materials enterprise No. 5, the carbon-products enterprise, the Tirana aggregate-production enterprise, the water supply service, etc., are operating normally. At several other enterprises where work had been suspended for a long time, efforts have been made to restart certain lines and separate departments. Thus, at the cotton textile combine, work began about a week ago on two shifts. Of 4,500 employees, 3,000 have been put to work. Likewise, a little over two weeks ago, the fine-fabric factory’s spinning and weaving departments resumed work. The dyeing department is expected to start as well. At the same time, work has also begun at the [unclear] factory. But all this is only a beginning, a symbolic beginning when compared with the number of enterprises in Tirana. According to information received in recent days from the Executive Committee, of about 170 enterprises for which data were obtained, 140 continue to have production stoppages, with 38,000 employees in all being paid 80 percent of their wages. Most of those receiving 80 percent wages work in light industry, mechanical industry, enterprises under the Ministry of Construction, etc. The main reasons these enterprises are not operating are shortages of raw materials produced locally and, even more, imported materials. In particular, there are also enterprises that could easily be put back to work but have so far remained idle for subjective reasons or because they have become accustomed to receiving 80 percent wages. Examples include the brickworks, the handicrafts enterprise, etc. In this situation, the new government and the ministries responsible for these enterprises have much to do, certainly chiefly to secure raw materials, a necessary condition for setting the main means of production in motion. The operation of some enterprises would create opportunities for other enterprises to be brought back into operation in a chain reaction. If we want prosperity for this country and its people, we must give them work, the most essential and human need... LUAN SINANI

December 11, 1991, “HOW MANY HOURS DO THE ITALIANS WORK?” December 11, 1991, “HOW MANY HOURS DO THE ITALIANS WORK?” Shkozet, 8 o’clock. I met Marshal Ferraro, who took me in his car at the front. We left through the warehouse gate. The line of trucks was long. At the front was a small communications jeep. Behind it came the trucks; at the end of the trucks, a mobile crane; behind it, an ambulance; and at the very end, another communications vehicle. At a speed of 30–40 kilometers per hour, we traveled the Durrës–Maminas–Derven road. At the entrance to the Shkozet Valley, we made our first stop. Above our column, which was moving through the valley toward Klos, the helicopter appeared. General Kuintana, the commander of the operation, was watching the column from the air... At the bend in Klos, the driver left the road. We were the first to begin climbing Çafë Bualli, while the rest of the column had not yet passed the bends in Klos. We stopped: Marshal Ferraro turned back. He reached the breakdown. A few minutes later the truck joined the line. We set off at the front again. Without further stops, by evening the column of 24 vehicles, with the communications teams, while 30 trucks carrying food stopped, 15 at the warehouses in the town of Peshkopi December 31, 1991, and 15 at the warehouses above Doholishit. At 20:00 the unloaded trucks gathered in the warehouse square at Doholishit. They were left in the care of the service police. The drivers were taken to the “Korabi” hotel in small cars, which during the journey had served for communications and for transporting food along the road... I found them working. We traveled. We arrived. Where is lunch? Where is the rest? It is now 20:00. Some are having dinner in the restaurant; others have gone upstairs to their hotel rooms. How many hours do they work? “SPRING” December 13, 1991, With Feruz Mata, Liri Lakrori, Petraq Konduri and Viktor Çaprazi, we are accompanying the [unclear] shipment. Is it possible to send food aid to the Dibër district in advance, since one cannot know what January and February will bring? What if the roads are blocked? As we discussed this, later, in the port square in Durrës, a dockworker seemed to want to reassure us: “Spring, Pelicano, indeed winter is turning into spring. But is it only for Pelican?” BREAD FOR THE NEW YEAR They call from Peshkopi to say they are short of bread. At the two gates of the port of Durrës, only the “Pelican” people were working. At the port I met A. M. from Elbasan. He too had come because... Elbasan was short of bread. January 9, 1992, ABOUT THE SITUATION AND FOOD MEASURES Agim Mero told us: “Do not leave the people without bread.” That was the essence of the food measures. I met Petri at the Ministry of the Food Industry. He sent 65 tons of grain to Lurë. More will be sent today from the Laç [unclear]. I had tried to get into Lurë on December 24. Because of the ice on the Shkallë–Lurë road, the column of 10 vehicles was turned back; late that night we unloaded them in Laç. The operation is being organized by “Shqiponja.” It is far, far behind the Italian “Pelican.” They organize themselves in a convoy with internal and external communications. We do not. They have food and medical supplies and are able to tra- (Continued on page 4-1)

On the occasion of May 5, at the National Martyrs’ Cemetery... tributes were paid and a wreath of flowers was laid on behalf of the Albanian Republican Party by its vice-chairman, Mr. Vangjush Gamberta, and Mr. Viron Koka. On the same day, members of the Republican Party’s Steering Committee visited several families of war martyrs. Correspondent of “The Republic”