ECONOMY: At the service of the new government ECONOMY: At the service of the new government EMERGENCY IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY For the second year, the alarm bells «SOS», «HELP» have not stopped ringing out from all four corners of the country. The ship of the Albanian economy remains stranded—the ship that for half a century sailed under the communist red flag and that recently turned it into a black flag. Such were the helmsmen; that was the direction they gave the ship. In these circumstances, the humane people of the world have extended a helping hand, offering support, because they cannot let a people starve to death in the modern age in which we live. But aid is aid: it balances the counterweights that prevent the ship from sinking further, allowing the people to live somehow until they recover. Our ability lies here—in not expecting everything to fall from the sky, from abroad, because other peoples, too, have built their wealth through effort and sweat. Today, sound and scientific concepts for the economy are needed. To tell the truth, I have always found absurd the preaching of certain politicians—and economists even more so—that we should move toward a market economy starting from «ZERO». This means the economy’s [text unclear]. I raise this issue because one of the mistakes of the Stability Government, and at the same time one of its principal responsibilities, is that it created serious imbalances. While it did a great deal to keep the people supplied with bread and other basic goods, proving itself a virtuosic «beggar», it did nothing to activate the economy’s hundreds of thousands [of workers]. The time for analyses will come. It seems to me that the urgent thing is to understand that, even before aid, we must address the economy’s need for work. In the Democratic Government’s program, this issue has been addressed correctly; all that remains is urgent implementation. I say urgent because there are branches of the economy where work cannot wait; delays, even of months or days, push solutions further away ... This is how the issue arises in the food industry, which is closely connected with agriculture. Despite the great ebbs and flows caused by the conservative forces that were overthrown, the food industry managed to preserve significant productive capacity. We are not referring to quality, or to the level of technical and technological development (that is already a familiar problem); socialism was among the most primitive, and the conservatives were, too. We are referring to quantity—we have many factories and production lines which, if activated, are capable, for now and given our current needs, of meeting the people’s demand for processed food products to a relatively satisfactory degree. And it must be said that solutions are often sought not through imports but through the formulation of sound economic policies, improved organization, greater responsibility and discipline, and prompt action. Dr. TEODOR KARECO (Continued on page 3) [They] have put their property [at stake]. Today, sound and scientific concepts of the economy are needed. To tell the truth, the preaching of certain politicians—and all the more so of economists—about moving toward a market economy from a “ZERO” baseline has always seemed absurd to me. This means letting the ship sink, allowing the economy to be destroyed, and then building a new economy. No, gentlemen, that cannot be the right interpretation. Every society that moves forward, before rejecting anything, has elements it affirms and preserves at least the level of the material and technical base and productive potential that it inherits. It is another matter that its task then is to transform them radically. This applies not merely to productive potential, but also to elements of production relations. It is true that private property lies at the foundation of the market economy, but it is equally true that in the first days or the first phase of democratic change, one cannot do without state property and a chain of cells

The new elections, closing the chapter of communist history, brought the Democratic Party indisputably to the forefront, thereby giving it the full right to form a government made up of members of its own ranks. Nevertheless, after the democratic government was formed, it emerged that a Republican had been appointed to one of the ministries. I would like to think that this was done out of consideration for that coalition which was never put into practice but was publicized in theory during the election campaign, and which the people truly wanted. There are also two deputy ministers from the RP in the government. The individuals appointed to these high state posts have previously been tested in administrative duties. Two of them, Mr Karamuça and Mr Bitincka, have been ministers in governments— ... in no way have they been in the same ones together. The point is that while the Stability Government gave the RP three positions, in the Democratic Government the purse strings were tightened and only one position remained. Personally, I now do not understand whether this government is a coalition, although it also includes independents, such as those from the PSD, or whether it is a PD government, since it has been dubbed a democratic government. I also do not understand, since I have not heard of any agreement between the PD and the RP, whether the RP can be called a governing party. The simple reason is whether or not we Republicans are supposed to bear responsibility for the government’s performance. Naturally, this does not rule out the personal responsibility of those entrusted with office, regardless of whether they belong to a party ... At present, the responsibility of today’s government is extraordinary, given the difficult situation it is in, when it is being asked to do even the impossible. Its foundation is naturally the PD and its program. If all the blows or all the beatings are to fall on it. But the RP is in neither of these positions, both of which would be equally dangerous for the country’s future. It wants to shoulder its share of the risk that comes from governing the country at such a time. By standing side by side, while openly and honestly pointing out each other’s shortcomings without malice, the road to progress widens, and at the same time it blocks the path of those whose aim is to speak and act badly toward anyone who continues to support the PS. And good cooperation is practical, not a matter of declarations. From the very esta- FERHAT GRUJA (Continued on page 3)

chairwoman and others. The President of the Republic, Mr Sali Berisha, spoke that same day at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. In Rome, on 7 May, the President of the Republic paid an official visit to the Holy See, where he was received by His Holiness Pope John Paul II. After warm greetings, Mr Berisha and His Holiness held a private conversation. The President of the Republic invited the Holy Father to visit Albania. In Italy, Mr Berisha met with the President of the Italian Senate, Mr Spadolini, as well as with Prime Minister Andreoti. In France, he was received by the President of the French Republic, Fransua Miteran. At this meeting, the economic problems of our country and other issues were discussed. “We will not allow,” President Miteran said, “economic factors to create difficulties for the democratic formation of the government or for the Presidency of the Republic.” Mr Miteran undertook to support Albania politically and financially, as well as to foster broader cultural cooperation. «REPUBLIKA» Correspondent

As part of humanitarian aid, 150 tons of chlorine from the Federal Republic of Germany arrived in Albania by land these days. The Federal Government had already sent another 100 tons of chlorine in February of this year. Together, the two shipments cover the Republic of Albania’s needs for this substance for six months; it is much needed, among other things, for disinfecting drinking water and preventing diseases and epidemics. The recipient of this aid is the state municipal supply company (General Municipal Directorate, Water Supply Directorate), which will distribute it to all the cities of Albania in February of this year. The Ministry of Health will receive 20 to 30 tons of chlorine from the combined total of the two shipments (150 tons) and distribute it to all hospitals in Albania.

At the meeting of the political parties of the Lezhë district with Mr. Alfred Serreqi, on 29. 4. 1992, regarding the reform of local government, based on the electorate in the 22 March elections, and according to a ready-made scheme approved by the government, only one seat on the Pluralist Executive Committee was reserved for the Republican Party branch. As Republicans, being the main support of the DP, as well as [text unclear] the composition of communism, and relying on the electorate we won at district level, 7.2 percent, we insisted that we would accept a coalition with the DP in governing the district only if one of the following alternatives were accepted: 1. If we were given one seat, our committee member would definitely have to be on the executive board. 2. If we were given two committee members. If we were offered only one member, and that person was not on the executive board, we would not take part in local government. Now that the ready-made executive committee—according to the DP’s schemes—has been announced, we have the right to protest. The Republican secretary is leaving his post for a reason and of his own free will, and it is the former chairman of the PSD, which won 2.3 percent of the electorate, [who is taking the position]. We have the right to ask: by what logic was this done? At the DP and its government’s dictate, or according to the logic of the facts? The facts favor the Republicans, not the Social Democrats. It seems that, without any substantiated reason, the same practice could also be followed with the other Republicans who are currently an obstacle [unclear] in the district’s pluralist executive committee. Such a practice does not serve the coalition, and we think it is not good for the DP itself either. PD. PALI Branch chairman

- The RP insists that peace in everyday life, being the first condition for building a democratic life, is the only way out of the situation into which Enverian communism brought the country, for implementing economic reform and for taking full and comprehensive part in the processes of European and global integration - Statement by the Commission for Culture, Education, Science, Sports and [text unclear], delivered on 6 May by the deputy chair of this commission, RP deputy Mr Mehmet Çeliku On behalf of I declare: Taking as our point of departure the proposal of the Independent Education Union of Albania, addressed to the People’s Assembly on 27.4.1992, I present to this Assembly our grave concern about the alarming state of education and teachers in Albania. Considering the Independent Education Union’s views on the discrimination against the teaching profession in Albania to date to be justified, and bearing in mind the major role that teachers at all levels of education have played and continue to play for the Albanian nation, first of all economically. If this assistance is not provided, there is a risk that the country’s economic chaos will be compounded by educational chaos: the current school year is now at risk, and even more so the coming school year. We believe that education, as a department funded by the state budget, cannot by itself bear the burden of the Government’s economic hardships, no matter how low teachers’ salaries are kept. Education is not only the nation’s future, but also, at present, the nation’s present. The Commission for Culture, Education, Science, etc., calls on the Ministry of Education to formulate urgently measures for economic support and minimum working conditions for teachers and schools, in accordance with the demands of the Independent Education Union. This must be done within a short period, with a specific date set. Taking into account all the considerations of the Independent Education Trade Union regarding and bearing in mind the major role to play for the Albanian nation and for the birth of democracy in Albania; bearing in mind teachers’ tolerant attitude toward the hardships of life, past and present, and the sacrifices they have made, we believe that the People’s Assembly should recognize teachers as a priority stratum of the intelligentsia for As part of the reorganization of the PRSH’s work and the concrete tasks it faces in order to go into its first congress stronger and better organized, several meetings and working sessions of the PR branch steering committees have recently been held in Patos, Fier, Librazhd, etc. LEZHË On 29 April, as part of preparations for the branch conference and the first PRSH congress, the Lezhë district branch organized a meeting of its active members. Participants included members of the branch steering committee, sub-branch chairmen and heads of PR sections in the district. Mr. Zef Bushati, deputy chairman of the party, was also present. The meeting was opened by branch secretary Nikollë Nikolla, who stressed the essential need to reorganize and elect new people to lead the sections and sub-branches, so as to go to the district conference with a new spirit. The report prepared by the steering committee was delivered by Mr. Pal Pali, chairman of this branch. According to the report, some of the reasons for the result achieved were: the failure of the entire branch steering committee to function fully and effectively; an inability to break away from a certain lethargy and passivity; weak financial support, given, of course, the means available to the PR; and ineffective propaganda and organization. Among the external causes, the polarization of the electorate was acknowledged: voters saw only the party and not the candidate at all. In their remarks, Mr. Gac Jaku, chairman of the Zadrimë sub-branch, and Gjon Vokaj, section chairman in Manati, focused on the weak work and propaganda carried out by the PR. Mr. Qazim Dushku, a parliamentary candidate, said, among other things, that we did not have full conviction and confidence in victory. He also discussed the work of the newspaper «Republika», which does not function fully or at an adequate level. In their discussions, Mr. Prenë Krapi, Paulin Gjoni, Is- [It cannot] bear alone the burden of the government’s economic problems, no matter how low we keep education salaries. There are also two deputy ministers from the PR in the government. All the people appointed to these high state offices Mr. Karamuça and Mr. Bitinca, served as ministers in the government of stability, while Mr. Ypi was chairman of Committee Region No. 3. The reinstatement of Mr. Bitinca as minister and Mr. Karamuça as deputy minister itself shows the seriousness and fairness of their work in the government of stability, as well as at the time the Memorandum of Republican Ministers was announced, which in fact brought about the fall of that government. It is astonishing that there is still someone among the former members of that government who insists that it was good and should have remained in office until June of this year, since new elections had been scheduled by then. Imagine if we still had Ramiz Alia over us, and all the evils of the so-called government of stability—so dear to the new communists—underfoot. In any case, these are things of the past, which have begun to become history, but I wanted to connect the participation of PR representatives with both governments, which

Statement by the Commission for Culture, Education, Science, Sports and [text unclear], delivered on 6 May by the deputy chair of this commission, RP deputy Mr Mehmet Çeliku