Expressing in Parliament my own view and that of the PR on the draft law “On the price of agricultural land for compensation purposes,” I stressed that this draft law, like the one “On the price of land to be compensated,” discussed a few days ago, addresses a fundamental problem of national importance. Seeing its importance, I consider it necessary for the presidium of Parliament to encourage discussion of it and not to let it pass through a merely formal procedure. Likewise, the order in which it has come before Parliament does not seem normal or logically consistent: the land must first be returned to its owners, and only then should it be valued. 1. In my own name, and also in defense of the PR program, we call for persistence, first of all in returning land to its lawful owners. Only the rightful owner, as we have also made clear on other occasions, can set the price of the land—not the Government or a commission established for this purpose; otherwise, we will have an arbitrary and subjective valuation of the objective asset that is land. But we must not be misunderstood. In the law it has submitted to Parliament for discussion and approval, the PR has included the necessary restrictions and does not support the unlimited return of agricultural land to its owners; it does not support restoring the estates of the great landlords. We emphasize this because there have been, and unfortunately still are, party and government leaders who have deliberately distorted the PR program. 2. The price of land is low, very low: on average, one square meter is valued at the price of 3–4 eggs. This symbolic price will go down in financial history as the devaluation and inflation of land. I do not believe that European standards and Albanian particularities were taken into account when setting the price of land. I add that we are not in favor of the unlimited return of land

AZEM HAJDARI YLLI RAKIPI The issue of the files has been a subject of discussion for more than two years, and if one looks at it more carefully, one cannot say that this kind of discussion is a fad or a matter of curiosity. The issue is undoubtedly much more complicated, and its complexity pulls us in two directions, because we believe that there are two aspects to opening the files: one is a moral aspect, while the other is a political aspect. 1. If we were to adhere to the moral aspect, it would undoubtedly have to address the most essential moment of this issue. I say this because morality and dictatorship are clearly two entirely opposite things. Therefore, when the issue of the files arises and is placed in relation to dictatorship, what confronts us is the body of documents, or a secret act, naturally an immoral one, which everyone knows ultimately caused human suffering. So this is not simply a matter of files, or of people who may in some way have been deceived or frightened into becoming involved in immoral activities; the point is that these vile acts did not result in the destruction of a house or the burning of a forest, but in human suffering. Looking at the issue always from this perspective, we would say that dictatorship—any kind of dictatorship—cannot remain standing without the secret police and the burning of a forest, but [without] but [without] but [without] but [without] but [without] but [without] but [without] but [without] but [without] human suffering.

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In search of the enforcement of the law The concern brought to the “Republic” editorial office is clear: Under a joint order of the two ministries (Education and Culture), the division of NPL (the Book Distribution Enterprise) into the Central Agency for the Distribution of Artistic and Scientific Books (AQTLASH) and the School Book Enterprise (NLSH), under the respective authority of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Education, was formalized. At the same time as the division, according to the site plan dated 20.09.1993 and also approved by the Municipality of Tirana, the areas belonging to AQTLASH were clearly defined; naturally, after the division, these no longer have anything to do with those of NLSH. This should be made even clearer. Neither of these two institutions is any longer subordinate to the Municipality of Tirana, but to the respective ministries. It is not known why, or for what motive or interest, the Municipality of Tirana accepts at least its complicity in the violation of the Law. An unlawful document, signed by a person not competent to issue it, and strangely approved by the Municipality as well, makes a mockery of the institution that calls for the Law to be enforced. The person calling for the Law to be enforced, the order of the two ministries. One of the State, which demands that avenues for corruption be closed, regardless of who is committing it. In the work of the State, which is on the paths of the Law and has not been made to operate according to the law, this very individual is placed before alternatives of violence: a group of policemen, directed by a person for the composition of a legal institution, ordered by whom, how is this explained? ... In his case, contrary to the interests, to serve the interest ... It is established that the Tirana District has been notified and given positive assurances by the Ministry of Culture; Police Region No. 2 has also been informed of these actions; all the notifications have been made. The concern is not only that of AQTLASH, but also of the Publishing House “Naim Frashëri” and the Directorate of the Material Base for Works of Art. It is thought to be a threat that will grow for all these institutions connected with Albanian culture and art. Everyone who ought to be concerned has been notified. Finally, “Republic” has also been notified. By publishing this statement, without going into details or naming names, our newspaper still hopes for a fortunate resolution of this concern. Otherwise, we expect to return to it in future issues. P.S. In this connection, “Republic” announces that it will devote a special column to materials, information, articles and activities concerning the ways in which the Law is or is not being enforced in Albania today. The newspaper welcomes anything that helps advance the fight against actual corruption in the country, regardless of who is responsible for it. We inform readers in advance that our newspaper may also protect the anonymity of the authors of such articles, within the bounds of the Press Law, provided that clear evidence of the cases of abuse and corruption that are the subject of the articles is submitted to the editorial office. FARUK MYRTAJ

They demand the signing of contracts and the reinstatement of those who were dismissed Tirana — They have stopped work for three days to protest the failure to conclude collective agreements and the dismissal of the union leaders. The company in question is ALB-ITALIA Construzioni sh.p.k., whose president is the Italian Italo Ciucci; it specializes in the construction and installation of high-voltage lines and the production and assembly of various structures. “We have been holding talks with the employer for months about employment contracts, but there has been no result,” says Skënder Ismaili, the company’s union chairman, who has also been dismissed. Genc Luka, a member of the administrative council, has suffered the same fate. ALB-ITALIA Construzioni sh.p.k. was approved as a legal entity by the Tirana District Court in April of last year. Sixty percent of the initial capital, which amounts to 150 thousand lekë, is owned by 51-year-old Italo Ciucci from Perugia, while the remainder was part of the capital of the High-Voltage Lines Enterprise. It was this enterprise that built the 420-thousand-kilovolt Koman-Kapështicë high-voltage line in 1982–’84. Genc Luka, the former director of this enterprise, represents the Albanian capital according to the statute, and is one of the two Albanians who, together with Italo Ciucci and two other Italians, make up ALB-ITALIA’s administrative council. “Currently there are no Albanians on the administrative council,” says the union chairman, adding that they will continue the strike to the end if they cannot reach an agreement with the employer. Meanwhile, the enterprise’s former director, Genc Luka, considers his dismissal unlawful. “I am still the director here, and Italo Ciucci can’t fool me.” The situation casts a shadow of doubt over the continuation of operations at this enterprise, even though it is a company where the average monthly salary of its 80 workers is 6,500 lekë, not including the compensation workers receive because of price changes or family circumstances. The workers also complain that the equipment and materials brought in by the Italian party came at very high prices. The activity of this enterprise has also been criticized in a report by the State Audit. According to the report, the Italian party has not paid 473 thousand dollars into the enterprise’s capital, as provided for in an agreement to expand its activity. The State Audit also says that the Italian party attempted a banking transaction intended to deposit the aforementioned amount in the Savings Bank account of ALB-ITALIA and then transfer it back to its own account. The Savings Bank refused the transaction. GJERGJ PILIKA

SARANDE: In recent days, the Committee for the Protection of the Albanian Autocephalous Church was established. Its aim is to strengthen the independence of the Albanian Orthodox Autocephalous Church. The committee’s spokesperson says that sermons for Albanian Orthodox Christians, who make up the majority, will be delivered in their mother tongue—Albanian. The committee will insist on respect for the statute of this Church and operates as a branch of the Nationwide Committee based in Tirana. Correspondent of “Republika”

The woman in question walked along a promenade in Tirana on Monday, carrying a large placard that read: “I have never been an informant.” Many passers-by followed her, not understanding what was happening and without receiving any explanation from her. The following day, the woman in question repeated throughout the morning the action of Monday, and at 12:00, in front of Parliament, accompanied by her colleagues, who had by then lost patience, she delivered this speech: “I informed on Fatos Lubonja! Why are you jealous? I informed on him because I knew that the time would come when one persecuted class would become privileged. I also notified the Helsinki Committee about this matter. I assure you that if someone else had made that denunciation, I would not be the one denounced; instead, I would have been declared a dangerous enemy of the people’s power. What’s the matter with you? Why are you looking at me in astonishment? As soon as I declare everyone I informed on, I will seek the legalization of the Spies’ Party. We have collected 30,000 signatures. The persecutors and former ministers of Ramiz Alia will also take part in this party. Mr. Ruci will be at their head, accompanied by eight agents and two residents from his parliamentary group. This also includes an agent with double connections, active across the southernmost end of Albania. You will learn an interesting fact in a few days about the important mission of three Albanian newspapers in defending Ramiz Alia during the trial. Which writer knew how to distinguish tin knives from steel ones, and who, where and when found it important to make that distinction? Gramoz Ruci has not withdrawn the State Security files from the 3-prajta. He declared this with full responsibility. There will also be valuable papers for all informants. Papers in proportion to the value of the denunciation. THE CHRONICLER”

On June 28, the villagers of Shkallnuer in Durrës held a meeting with the chairman of the Republican Party, Mr. Sabri Godo. Also participating were Arben Babameto, member of the Steering Committee; Vladimir Agarai, chairman of the National Council; and Tasin Beho, member of the steering committee of the Durrës branch. The discussion focused on the division of land in Shkallnuer. The Spitalla farm had occupied the largest and best portion of this village’s land. It is expected that, when the farm is broken up, these lands will be returned to the village, but Durrës Municipality has left the vineyards and olive groves ownerless, and complete destruction is taking place there. The villagers of Shkallnuer, who owned these lands, have been given land elsewhere, at a distance they can reach from there, while people from Durrës, Shijak and other areas—former farm workers—are expected to come and settle in Shkallnuer. This decision or plan has greatly angered and astonished them ... (continued on page 2)

In recent days, at the PRSH Central Headquarters, the party’s vice-chairman, Mr. F. Mediu, and its secretary-general, Mr. Çerçiz Mingomataj, received representatives of IRA, namely Piter Dikenson, Pol Anxhër and Filip Ingermën, who head the staff of this institute. Mr. Mediu emphasized to those present that PRSH now represents a Party ... (continued on page 2)

“PR — more room in directing the event” Page 2 ITALY — A more active role in the Yugoslav crisis Page 4 How the Bank’s checks are used Page 3 In the next issue: Who denounced Fatos Lubonja?

Yesterday morning at the Central Headquarters of the PRSH, a meeting was held between the representative of the British Embassy, Mr. Stephen Nash, and the PR leadership, consisting of its chairman, Mr. Sabri Godo, deputy chairman Mr. F. Mediu, and secretary-general Mr. Çerçiz Mingomataj. Responding to those present’s request for an account of the PR’s history, Mr. Godo stressed that one of its groupings originated at the beginning of this century and later had a brief period of expansion in 1924. But the true and fully fledged PR was established three years ago. The PRSH now represents a party with a complex organization, spread throughout the country and continually moving toward consolidation, with a past in the press, a qualified press and various voices. He highlighted the PR’s efforts to secure recognition of property and ownership, the only means of allowing free enterprise to flourish, as well as its full commitment to securing recognition of its draft law on land. I want to direct our political protest toward two ... (continued on page 2)