• It is only a matter of time before the tune of “Nastradin’s fiddle” is heard • If the president’s decree is implemented, this people will hear astonishing things • The funds allocated to parties must be made public. • Those in power must be closely monitored by legal bodies for every agreement and decision made with foreigners. • It is only a matter of time before the tune of “Nastradin’s fiddle” is heard • If the president’s decree is implemented, this people will hear astonishing things • The funds allocated to parties must be made public. • Those in power must be closely monitored by legal bodies for every agreement and decision made with foreigners. —Interview with Dr. Çerçiz Mingomataj, Secretary General of PRSH, given to the newspaper’s editor, Lutfi Dervishi— Mr. Mingomataj, the foreign press, especially the Italian press, has been talking a great deal about deep-rooted corruption spread across several political parties. Do you think parallels can also be drawn with Albania’s political parties? —The scandals that shook the foundations of Italian political life, touching both the right and political figures, were most prevalent in the Socialist Party. But there have been scandals in the Socialist Party of Spain and elsewhere. It is a well-known fact that economic corruption has not spared other countries either. Corruption has become a widespread phenomenon throughout today’s society. There are many causes. The government remained protected, “trying to increase it, since the conditions strengthened its economic power.” Thus, as a negative but real social phenomenon, it sometimes becomes known through its power, undermining the lofty principles preached by governments. In our modern times, says Hutter, it is observed that people know and understand very little about this world, the world in which they live. And especially because of our profound lack of knowledge, people survive, especially in the category of the appearance of human affairs. To return to the direct question: is there economic corruption in our political parties? I think so. It is only a matter of time before the tune of “Nastradin’s fiddle” is heard. If we follow our press and TV carefully, we see accusations and counter-accusations of the most compelling kind. I believe these are not based solely on politics. For example, in our parliament a deputy says: “We must not stop at the corruption revealed at the Bank (the Arsidi affair), involving 1.6 million dollars. Communism left us a debt of 0.5 billion dollars, when the constitution of the time strictly prohibited borrowing abroad. So, who took it, how did they take it, and where did it go? Whose pockets did this money end up in? That is where the examination of the problem must begin.” I think the gentleman is right. Let us remember the 30 billion lire that never came to Albania from European aid. Who appropriated them? Levantë e Compani and the mafiosi of Italy, or does this have roots and branches here too? Bufi and company know a great deal about this matter. Tomorrow, if the president’s decree is implemented, this people will hear astonishing things. —What is your opinion of those in power today in relation to this problem? —There are accusations, and serious ones at that. Silence is not innocence. Nor is it a chosen form of defence. Those in power must be closely monitored by legal bodies for every agreement and decision made with foreigners. Great poverty and absolute, newly tasted power provide fertile ground for outside interference. We must all think deeply, because the events of recent years have shown that society cannot be governed by hastily assembled teams of those in power, whether they present themselves with selfish or idealistic motives. Society needs a just order of this kind, one that harmonizes politics, the economy, science and communication in all its forms. The better this is achieved, the more suitable, sound and self-sustaining the order will be. —As Secretary General of the Albanian Republican Party, you also oversee the party’s financial affairs. At almost every meeting you have been portrayed and criticized as tight-fisted regarding financial matters. What is the state of the Republican Party’s “coffers”? —First, I want to clarify that I try to make do with what we have. I am not “tight-fisted”; the problem is the poor state of the funds available to me. To be precise, our party currently pays 83 employees: the staff at the Central Headquarters and the employees of our 36 branches, from the party chairman down to the drivers. I want to stress that the party chairman’s salary is 1,800 lekë, while the secretary and a manager each receive 1,700 lekë a month. An inspector receives 1,300 lekë a month, and a branch chairman 1,200 lekë a month. That is the salary, and that is the dowry. Judge for yourselves what the wedding is like. We publish the newspaper “Republika” twice a week and “Ora e fjalës” in Lushnjë once a week. But we have to pay social assistance, social security contributions, income tax, building rent, water, electricity, PTT, fuel and a whole host of diabolical expenses (continued on page 2).

Biologically, they are the most dangerous. Rats. The class of rats. The new class of rats. Just as despicable as their predecessors. The predecessors of today’s rats, who were driven away from the comforts of the armchairs of power, bloated by lethargy, gorged on the gnawing they inflicted on people for 50 years. Today’s rats were so close to those armchairs from which the old rats were driven. Almost in power, but they never made it; indeed, they sat down, they even managed to sit down, but they could not stay. Rats. And now their ferocity is boundless. The ferocity of the rats. Biologically dangerous. And they appear everywhere. They want darkness, dark corners. Notice how they gnaw away in the pages of newspapers. Hear their song: “Investors, wherever you are! Invest in Albania too. Hurry! But first find out what opportunities lie before you and, above all, what risks you are taking on. Although the risk is not small...” They are rats. What is this writing—Anastasios Angjellos. Biologically dangerous. Dangerous by nature... Anastasios Angjellos... Dangerous... Rats. Very dangerous, but just as well... Bastards. Do not forget the bastards. Those who poison their parents’ blood and soul by informing on them, then make themselves comfortable in deputies’ armchairs. They poison from there. Why shouldn’t the Rats be remembered? The bastard Rats. Depedule. Biologically dangerous. Rats who want to bite with poison and with words, with what do they drag between their teeth? [grava]. Rats. It is the class of rats. Of actor-rats. But do not forget the rats. Even when you “hear, for example, oaths such as these: ‘By God, I had nothing in the world.’” Because they are rats again. Dangerous. Biologically dangerous. You must not forget this, even if you forget that before becoming a deputy, Moikom Zeqo was secretary of the Party of Labour in Durrës until the 1990s. Who said that this Moikom is mentioned as having informed on Kadare? That is not true. What is true is that rats are dangerous. Biologically dangerous. Because they descend from the rats who bloodied people and their ideas; they bloodied time itself. Who said Maqo Lefter Lakrori and Bashkim Lilo Zeneli should not be deputies? No one should say that. But the rats must be spoken of loudly. The desperate rats. Rats are dangerous. Their ferocity erupts violently. The ferocity of the rats has taken to the streets; [unclear] rats want, the class of rats, there you see that they are persecuted, the rats alive, they have laid us waste. Biologically dangerous. THE RATS

It is regrettable. Press conferences in Albania continue to be political demonstrations and, worse still, displays of violence. That is exactly what happened at the press conference given by Mr. Azem Hajdari in his capacity as chairman of the parliamentary committee on public order. His statement in the newspaper “Koha jonë”—“I have made a decision which I will announce at a press conference on Monday, 1 March 1993”—brought into the usual press-conference hall, alongside 5–6 journalists, dozens and dozens of deputies and politicians, among them the “independent” deputies Arben Imami and Ridvan Peshkopia and even the president of the PAD; dozens of Socialist deputies and, above all, unknown people, unidentified entourages of these politicians and deputies who, as it later turned out, were armed as well. People who have no connection whatsoever with the press or politics. It was almost like a rally, with cheers and applause, despite the interventions of the conference’s organizers. Journalists have the right to ask: Do you represent these people? Who brings them to press conferences? Were they there because of the weapons they carry? And who are they openly and flagrantly threatening—the journalists? What ties do they have to the participating deputies, especially deputies Ridvan Peshkopia and Arben Imami? Who is responsible for ensuring that journalists are protected from pressure in the hall during press conferences? Which government is responsible for securing the halls where conferences are held? How can Ridvan Peshkopia remain in parliament and enjoy the status of a deputy when, in a wholly irresponsible manner, he demonstrates violence against journalists through thuggish behaviour? His assistant’s remark to her colleague, “so he really is irresponsible and sick,” should ring loudly in parliament’s ears. So too should the other acts of violence and threats with firearms, and the presence of unknown people accompanying these deputies. We hope that Parliament’s “ear” is not deaf. Regarding the home of the citizen HYSEN SHAHU, claimed by the citizen PETRIT MANÇE and the subject of an article in our previous issue, we clarify that the Court of Cassation’s decision is entirely fair. Citizen Hysen Shahu acquired the home from a third person, while accommodation had meanwhile been provided to Petrit Mançe in two separate entrances: one with two rooms and a kitchen, the other with one room and a kitchen, which he still has today; indeed, he has even acquired another room. Citizen Mançe’s claim and the politicization of the matter are speculation. THE EDITORIAL BOARD

The Journalists’ Association of Albania considers the nervous gestures of two deputies of the People’s Assembly and their actions against two journalists to be outright acts of violence committed against the Albanian press, fuelled by political emotions. These actions were carried out by people who enjoy parliamentary immunity and therefore constitute a serious threat to the space available for press freedom. We recall that these incidents follow the barbaric attacks carried out days ago against two other journalists of “Rilindja Demokratike”, and the beating that left another well-known press contributor, Kasem Seferi, in a coma; he had exposed the economic corruption of the old regime with evidence. In protesting this act of terror against newspapers and press contributors, the Journalists’ Association of Albania warns at the same time that such terrorist acts are organized by a particular category of individuals who, at the same time, lack the courage to face the press and the public honestly, and use the Albanian press only as a façade before public opinion. The Journalists’ Association of Albania demands that the person who threatened a journalist with a firearm in the public areas of the Palace of Congresses be identified and brought before the law. At the same time, we ask the government and the president to support and promote guarantees for the safety of journalists’ lives, since they are often becoming victims not only of serious terrorists but, lately, also of politicians and deputies. At the same time, we ask the aforementioned deputies, and their honourable colleagues in the People’s Assembly, to... Republika E N. of Tirana, since Sunday and onwards, has been seen on the large boulevard opposite the former Central Committee of the PPSH, dressed in military clothing. Someone comments: “N., beneath the [unclear] imitating a black military uniform, also had a weapon. Until late Sunday afternoon, and on Monday and Tuesday too, she walked along this boulevard shouting in a voice almost like a dog’s…” The whole people have risen to their feet. The throne is called “Skripandi, Ersekë, Përmet, Kuçova, Poliqani have taken up arms. Why aren’t you coming out? It is now or never. We must take back the power they took from us on 22 March. In the north, in Koplik and Gjakova, General Hysni Milloshi has set out; in the south, General Mago Lakrori and General Fatosi have set out. I am in Tirana. Look at my stripes. Take heart! Either new elections, or we will make a bloodbath! Communism will be established, and the whole movement will elect its leaders from there. We have Europe with us too. And America. They support us. We will not provide any aid to Albania until we overthrow them. Can’t you see that the prisons are full of innocent people? How can we leave Aranit Çela in prison? I will leave. General Gjoni will take my place. He is an iron fist. In exchange for the stripes I will give him, General Gjoni will give me a secret document about the homosexual unit that is putting on unprecedented shows in parliament today. The day has come! Let us establish our power! Let us open the prisons and release the innocent. Let us establish order, raise the funds and put Albania on the road to progress.” KRONIKANI The Journalists’ Association of Albania will address a protest note concerning the incident to the President of the Republic, the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, all international institutions and analogous journalists’ organizations, as well as human-rights organizations.

The editorial offices of the newspapers “Rilindja Demokratike” and “Republika” strongly protest the actions, violence and brutality inflicted on journalists Armin Krasniqi and Ylli Rakipi by deputies of the Albanian Parliament Ridvan Peshkopia and Arben Imami. At midday on 1 March 1993, immediately after A. Hajdari’s press conference at the Palace of Congresses, an unidentified person threatened “RD” journalist Armin Krasniqi with a revolver. Immediately after this scandal, deputy Ridvan Peshkopia, [unclear] their member, [unclear] the editor-in-chief of the newspaper “Republika”, Ylli Rakipi. Subsequently, this same deputy, together with Arben Imami, took the incident further by provoking him and slapping him. After this, the two deputies mentioned above, [unclear], provoked “RD” journalist Armin Krasniqi, threatening him with thuggish language. The [unclear], the journalists and the newspapers issue a statement about the deputies of... We have heard that such deputies in the parliamentary chamber are not responsible for what they say. Could it be that they are also irresponsible for the actions they carry out at public meetings? In response to this unprecedented act of hooliganism by the two deputies mentioned above, the editorial offices of “RD” and “Republika” protest energetically, considering this scandal a political act driven by malicious political motives and demonstrating the dominance of certain conservative clans over reason. The two editorial offices protest and call on the competent authorities to take up the matter of the journalists and newspaper owners in connection with this scandal involving two deputies of the People’s Assembly, so that complete freedom can be ensured for press professionals to carry out their work and present their findings to public opinion. The Journalists’ Association of Albania will...

On Sunday, N. of Tirana was seen, and has continued to be seen, on the large boulevard opposite the former Central Committee of the PPSH, dressed in military clothing. Someone comments: “N., beneath the [unclear] imitating a black military uniform, also had a weapon. Until late Sunday afternoon, and on Monday and Tuesday too, she walked along this boulevard shouting in a voice almost like a dog’s…” The whole people have risen to their feet. The throne is called: “Skripandi, Ersekë, Përmet, Kuçova, Poliqani have taken up arms. Why aren’t you coming out? It is now or never. We must take back the power they took from us on 22 March. In the north, in Koplik and Gjakova, General Hysni Milloshi has set out; in the south, General Mago Lakrori and General Fatosi have set out. I am in Tirana. Look at my stripes. Take heart! Either new elections, or we will make a bloodbath! Communism will be established, and the whole movement will elect its leaders from there. We have Europe with us too. And America. They support us. We will not provide any aid to Albania until we overthrow them. Can’t you see that the prisons are full of innocent people? How can we leave Aranit Çela in prison? I will leave. General Gjoni will take my place. He is an iron fist. In exchange for the stripes I will give him, General Gjoni will give me a secret document about the homosexual unit that is putting on unprecedented shows in parliament today. The day has come! Let us establish our power! Let us open the prisons and release the innocent. Let us establish order, raise the funds and put Albania on the road to progress.” THE CHRONICLER