The “glorious path” of the government headquarters in dealing with heating problems Instead of chimneys belching smoke, electrical substations are belching smoke! Faced with the question, “What has changed in the energy plan, compared with the previous governments?”, today’s governing staff cannot give any answer. All the latest Albanian governments, regardless of who was in power, have faced the same problems. The water shortage in summer is replaced by a shortage of electricity. Ministers replace one another, but things remain the same. Even in Qyteti Studenti, where the December storm began because of the tremors caused by burned-out transformers, the situation is unchanged: sometimes half the buildings have electricity, sometimes the other half. It seems that the Government, through the work it does not do, makes us nostalgic for past governments. Not long ago, the democratic government set up a central headquarters to secure fuel and heating materials for the Republic. A deputy prime minister was put in charge of this headquarters, and up to that point there was sufficient seriousness. After that, things descended into the usual practice: the headquarters not only remained silent in propaganda terms, but, as has now been established, did not do even the smallest amount of work. The fate of this headquarters was like that of the headquarters for irrigation, planting in cubes, and so on. In mid-December, they appear on TV and inform the people that we are exposed and unprepared in the face of the cold winter. It seems the Government cannot shed any light even for its own ministers. We say this because TV is forced to interview the Minister of Energy in a... dark office! The whole problem lies in how the energy problem is conceived in general. Only two or three countries in the world manage to provide heating themselves using electricity. The State Energy Committee knows this well; understandably, it reports directly to the Prime Minister’s Office. The Ministry of Energy bears only one fifth of the responsibility for these problems. If the minister had learned from the experience of all the recent governments, he would have done well to raise this concern earlier, even though his ministry is in fact not to blame for having to get through the winter alone. Having taken over as head of this Committee only in the last two months, Bujar Nepravishta managed to make himself heard by both the people and the Government, but responsibility ultimately remains with the latter. One cannot make the consumer, the people, the real “culprit.” They need lighting, but they also need heating. If they are not provided with wood, coal, or kerosene, they are forced to use electricity for everything. In the face of government passivity and carelessness, even those who waste this energy, and even those who steal it, seem to come out “innocent.” By failing to work with foresight, the Government is penny-wise and pound-foolish. If this had been planned in time and fuel subsidized (for example, through the import of kerosene and kerosene stoves), expenses currently paid by the state (under this government) to repair transformers, substations, and disconnected power lines would have been reduced several times over. It seems the Government forgets that, given Albania’s geographical position, it has not only warm summers but also winters. The electrical grid must be planned and invested in during the warm seasons. Wintertime concerns and investments are absurd. Even from a political, electoral standpoint, the Government would invest political capital precisely in the warm seasons, to “win it back” in the Decembers and winters that follow. Removing a minister cannot warm the electorate. On the contrary. Changing ministers does not produce light. The 6 million secured some time ago from the Italian government as aid have stabilized the 20 kW grid, but that is all; it is not enough. The grid has been built far too extensively. Heating and cooking are happening at the same time, causing overloads and burning out power lines and transformers. But these are not unforeseen events. What is unexpected is the “surprise” in which the Government and the electric corporation have once again found themselves. Temporary, forced switching on and off is not only no solution, but has also heightened social tensions. Nobody takes responsibility. The Government is left to read horoscopes and the weather forecast for the winter. Let the government headquarters for lighting and heating meet for next winter.

The Forum of Independent Intellectuals of Albania, taking into account the current situation of the Albanians living in Macedonia, proposes to the Presidium of the People’s Assembly of the Republic of Albania that Albania address this matter specifically as soon as possible. Intellectuals’ Appeal In Macedonia, Albanians are at risk as a nation To the Presidium of the People’s Assembly The Forum of Independent Intellectuals of Albania, taking into account the current situation of the Albanians living in Macedonia, proposes to the Presidium of the People’s Assembly of the Republic of Albania that Albania address this as a separate matter as soon as possible. Albanian and international mass media report that the Macedonian Parliament and Government, despite our country’s peace-loving and good-neighbourly disposition, do not recognize the part of the Albanian nation living on its own ethnic lands in Macedonia as having the right to use the Albanian language as a second official language, nor the right to establish an Albanian university. All signs indicate that the future of the part of the Albanian nation living in Macedonia offers no secure prospects. Respectfully, THE CHAIRMAN Dr. Prof. PANDELI ÇINA

December 12–13, 1994, 4th Plenary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Tomorrow at 10:00, in the Hall of the Palace of Congresses in Tirana, the 4th Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation will begin its proceedings. Tomorrow at 10:00, in the Hall of the Palace of Congresses in Tirana, the 4th Cooperation will begin its proceedings. The ceremony will conclude with an address to the participants of this Session by Mr. Sali Berisha, President of the Republic of Albania. The first day of proceedings

If the “Dëshmorët e Kombit” boulevard and the area around “Skënderbej” Square were not supplied with electricity, Tirana would truly turn into a “magnificent” cemetery. Nevertheless, the first plots have already been created, such as the area around the former “Enver” factory, which has been without electricity for almost a week, or the large “Ali Demi” neighbourhood, including the area around “Mihal Grameno” school and the apartment buildings near the new “modern” maternity hospital, whose completion date is unknown. It is surprising, because in the “Ali Demi” neighbourhood the existing network is in good condition. This is proved by the lights that come on for only five minutes a day. Residents are forced to go to a relative’s home to spend the afternoon, but when they return home they have to make their way along the “asphalt-filled roads” that wind through the city. Even if you accidentally enter a neighbour’s home, they understand and show you the way with gas lanterns in hand, which have become so common this month, although a small cylinder costs 50 new lekë. It is not known how much longer the people of Tirana will endure this situation. The worst thing would be if these cemetery plots joined into one gigantic plot (all of Tirana), just as the Minister of Energy warns. In that case, not even the resignation of Butros Ghali would do any good.

Tomorrow at 10:00, in the Hall of the Palace of Congresses in Tirana, the 4th Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC), organized by the People’s Assembly of the Republic of Albania, will begin its proceedings. Congresses in Tirana, the 4th Cooperation (PABSEC), organized by the People’s Assembly of the Republic of Albania, will begin its proceedings. The opening ceremony of this session will include a welcoming address by Mr. Pjetër Arbnori, Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Albania; an opening address by Mr. Oleksander Moroz, President of the Assembly and Chairman of the Supreme Council of Ukraine; and greetings from Mr. Kampos Papulias, the current chair of this Cooperation and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Greece. Republic of Albania. The first day of proceedings of this Session will begin with the adoption of the agenda, approval of the minutes of the 3rd Plenary Session of the General Assembly, held in Bucharest on June 22, 1994, examination of the new credentials, and the report on the activities of the Assembly Bureau and the Standing Committee, to be presented by the President of the General Assembly and Chairman of the Supreme Council of Ukraine, Mr. Oleksander Moroz. Continued on page 4

Before December 1990 there were other months and years... The dictatorship, with its dictator dead, was dying piece by piece, in order to survive piece by piece as well. A tragicomic life-and-death struggle! Incompetent. The article on agitation and propaganda was abolished, but killings at the border continued as before. The release of all political prisoners was decreed (several times!), but they never actually got out for good! Before December ’90 there had been many other Decembers and years of opposition to dictatorship, which could not fail to bring about this historic December. What will be remembered is the oppressive existence of political prisons, the state’s great crime against young people. The students of ’90 grew up precisely in this soil of events and whispers, and it is to their credit that, at least at this time, they resembled Western students. “Their very demand, ‘We want Albania like all of Europe,’ predetermined this tendency. The discos and blue jeans offered to them by the eclectic Alia were met with humor and indignation by the broad mass of students. The humor continued without pause during those December days and nights; student sarcasm and joy spared no one, and not a single one of Tirana’s intellectuals, or of Albania as a whole, could stay away from Democracy Square, to find there the determination and courage with which things would undoubtedly change. Before December 1990 there had also been many other months and years... And many years will come after them. “The Movement.” The constitution of pluralism, in order to obtain credit from Capitalism, was won through the curriculum of a plan against the dictatorship, while the leaders floundered. “Democracy” became its slogan and struggle. This was what it meant to be in such a system of change. The “invaders” of the foreign embassies in Tirana were (necessarily) issued passports and visas to a home, but their families as a whole... for their families, they felt as though they belonged together. Many of the interned people from cities and villages were issued passports; gr...; with classes of the “red pashas” to be replaced, ime to change... Photo: Armando Babani

The Journalists’ Association of Albania protests against the action of the Social Democratic Party, under which journalist Cëriz Loloci, one of the founders of the newspaper “Alternativa PSD,” has been suspended from work. The Journalists’ Association of Albania considers the suspension of journalist Loloci an arbitrary action, creating real precedents for restricting press freedom by political parties that claim to promote democratic space and the institutionalization of democracy. The action of the Social Democratic Party states: “The party’s top leaders suspended journalist Loloci for moralizing the plan and for indifferent attitudes, especially during the referendum campaign.” The Journalists’ Association of Albania notes that behind these ridiculous accusations lies a tendency toward political purges and boss-like attitudes, reflecting a dictatorial mentality and psychology. The “arguments” of the PSDSh top leaders would not even be worthy of the apparatchiks of the Party of Labour. The Journalists’ Association of Albania considers such arbitrary actions serious threats that restrict the space for a free press. The Journalists’ Association of Albania appeals to the leadership of PSDSh and all members of this party to reverse the decision of its top leaders, believing that this would contribute more than anything to the party’s image and to the democratic ground it declares as an aspiration in its political programs. In a democratic society, political parties that declare themselves owners of newspapers can under no circumstances be owners of free speech. For the Journalists’ Association of Albania Chairman YLLI RAKIPI

“The New Year’s Eve celebration this year will be held on December 31,” said the madwoman N. of Tirana, sitting in an armchair at a club and playing the role of a great intellectual. “There will be no change of date. I have this from reliable sources. January 1 will be a national holiday; we will all celebrate together, Socialists and Democraticists. There will be two dates for Christmas: one before the New Year, one after the New Year. The first can be celebrated by the right wing of the SP together with the left wing of the DP, while the second can be celebrated by those left over on both sides. This year, according to the Chinese calendar, will be the year of the monkey, while according to the Albanian calendar it will be the year of the verses.” “Anyone who has spent these nights and weekends in the dark knows why: they forgot to buy candles. I have no problem with electricity. I get my electricity from Greece; it is much better and never goes out. I didn’t say anything.” “They have appointed me a lecturer at the University of Tirana,” said the madwoman N. of Tirana, ordering a third coffee. “How can I find an Albanian intellectual politician who already works there, so that when he goes to Athens he’ll take me with him too? We have the same schedule.” Tomorrow a seminar will be held at the Palace of Congresses, “The Open Society Tomorrow and the Day After.” After the cocktail reception, a paper will also be read to tire out the seminar participants. There will be foreigners too. They have asked me to cover the topic, “The Mad and Freedom of Thought Today.” “Somehow it seems to me they don’t want to talk about our tomorrow. Could someone think that madness has no tomorrow here? There will be foreigners too; let’s see what they say...” “They always say foreigners are wise. But at the seminar, among the foreigners, the interesting ones are the Albanian opposition figures. They speak as if they have a logic that shuts down thought completely, because the government is so dictatorial that it makes opposition figures look stupid. There are 3456 Albanians in Albania’s prisons. They are all suffering for their opinions. Behind bars are prisoners of conscience.”

Medi Belortaja

The Albanian Republican Youth Forum holds its first Congress on December 14 in Tirana