Temporariness, the familiar virus in the Albanian political marketplace . The new ministers, still without having learned their way around the offices, are experiencing a sense of impermanence within them. The Albanian Parliament “calmed” the cabinet’s rapid breathing with its votes. After returning from Budapest, Berisha was faced with criticism at a meeting of the PD parliamentary group for failing to respect the group’s vote on changes to the Government. A considerable number of PD MPs, mainly from the districts, who until now have not been so exposed in political life, are opposing the changes in the Government and the failure to respect their vote. It was expected that, during the discussion of this decree in Parliament, there would be votes against it for the first time from the PD as well. The PD parliamentary group, the most-used echelon of the PD’s political power during these three years of governing, and one at risk of becoming fossilized, was kept (continued on page 3). People from harsh climates of transition resemble those many-legged creatures that appear on the streets only when it rains, to eat whatever they can from the trash brought by the rain. In Albania, such a state of affairs is always brought about by the political slime. To prevent it from winning, the situation must correct the course that leads it Democratic, which is the only one of its kind, does not want or cannot [contribute to] the development of democracy and ... People from harsh transitional climates resemble those many-legged creatures that appear on the roads only when it rains, to eat whatever they can from the rubbish brought by the rain. Such creatures can be found in Albania, and the political bug always brings them out. To prevent it from prevailing, the suspended state of Albanian politics must be overcome by political means, not at the expense of running the country.

Godo: “There is no sign that those in power have learned from their serious mistakes” On 23 December, the Steering Committee of the PR branch in Durrës met, with the participation of the chairpersons of the sub-branches and sections. The Party chairman, Mr Sabri Godo, was also present. The branch chairman, Mr Aleksandër Garuli, spoke about the branch’s good development and further improving its organization. Concrete issues were discussed concerning the mobilization of the whole district through republican organizations, the distribution of the newspaper Republika in every municipality, regular payment of membership dues, etc. In his speech, Mr Godo emphasized the branch’s exemplary work, its political and intellectual level, its spirit of initiative, seriousness and perseverance. He then spoke about the overall political situation, which appears to be stalled, further increasing disorientation and hopelessness. The Government reshuffle brought no changes either to the program or to the way of governing. There is no sign that those in power have learned from their serious mistakes. The Democratic Party, which governs alone, does not want to or cannot correct its course and lead the country out of the severe political, economic and moral crisis we are experiencing. Mr Godo said that only one path remains to save the country: the real unity of all political parties and associations of the Right, and the PR will devote its strength to this. The unity of these forces at the center must also be supported by the districts. PR branches must develop and strengthen ties with right-wing organizations in the districts, following the example of the Durrës branch and many others. Mr Godo said the PR must be strengthened rapidly to respond to the situation. The Central Headquarters is making preparations, and the newspaper Republika is being put on the right track. The National Council and all leadership bodies must take on their duties more vigorously. The branches must help one another. The Durrës branch, with three members on the Party Steering Committee, must actively help first the branches in Kavajë and Shijak, in the spirit of fraternal republican cooperation. It is time for the entire PR to take responsibility for the major tasks that the present day lays before it.

217 decisions by the Commission of

On a decree and a dismissal

In bilateral contacts, but also within the framework of cooperation between Turkey, Bulgaria, Macedonia and Albania, both countries have emphasized the need for an atmosphere of friendship and cooperation between them. Albania has also emphasized the need for a stable Macedonia as an important factor in preventing the risk of the conflict in the former Yugoslavia spreading to the southern Balkans. It has therefore made concrete efforts, such as, for example, securing the corridor leading to the Adriatic after the Greek government announced its unilateral embargo against Macedonia. It is not difficult to state, without the slightest hesitation, that Albania has done as much for Macedonia as nobody else could. Albania’s positive feelings toward Macedonia carry all the more weight when one considers its strained relations with its other neighbors. While Serbia still does not recognize it as a state and does not respect its borders, Bulgaria does not accept Macedonia as a Macedonian nation, and Greece has by now publicly declared its claims against Albania concerning changes ranging from the symbols and the currency to the name, Albania was among the first countries to recognize Macedonia without any conditions; it has not even obstructed its accession to international organizations, from some of which Macedonia continues to be excluded solely as a result of the Greek veto. Normally, relations between Albania continued on page 3

Kavajë In the absence of maps from different periods, the Property Restitution and Compensation Commission in the city of Kavajë is obliged to rely on a plan from 1978. Of the 465 applications submitted for resolution, decisions have so far been issued in 217 cases. Since plots on which buildings have been erected cannot be returned, some former owners will be compensated with other plots outside the city. A particular phenomenon in Kavajë is also the construction of new houses, or extensions to existing private houses, which for years have not been allowed to be registered in the mortgage registry. Nevertheless, their owners are persistently seeking to have these homes registered. The city municipality has set up a technical commission to determine which buildings were constructed before 1991 and may therefore be granted this right. GEZIM KABASHI

At 02:00 on December 23, for reasons still unknown, the building of the Municipality of the city of Shijak was burned down. The flames consumed the archive office and all the offices on the second floor, destroying about 70% of the municipality’s documentation. The civil registry office, with its respective documents, and the education office escaped the fire. Various citizens of Shijak say that the fire engines arrived late, apparently because of a lack of water, by which time the flames had done their work. Some suppose the fire broke out because an electric heater had been left plugged in. Asked about the incident, the prefect of Durrës, Viktor Margrali, said that primary responsibility lay with the law-enforcement authorities, which had poorly organized the way services were provided in this city. He stressed that the police patrol had also been off duty at the time of the fire. The competent authorities immediately began an investigation to establish the causes of the fire. S. Gjorden, G. Kabashi

On a decree and a dismissal The chairman of the Elbasan District Council, Ndriçim Allaj, has been dismissed from his post by presidential decree, without the District Council itself having first been consulted. To what extent was the dismissal procedure legally correct, and to what extent was the dignity of the District Council members, elected by popular vote, violated? Under the principal constitutional provisions and the law on local government, the President has the right to dismiss the chairman of the District Council. He does so on the proposal of the Prime Minister, who submits that proposal together with its justification. Up to this point everything is in order, and there is no reason to suspect that it was otherwise. Under the law on the organization and functioning of local government, the chairman of the District Council may be dismissed according to the procedure described above only after the District Council itself has voted in favor. A chairman may also be dismissed without the District Council’s consent, but in that case the President must decree the dissolution of the entire council, and new local elections must be held. In Elbasan, the decree dismissing the chairman arrives without the members of the District Council having had any notice of it. A local official is removed, and the people who elected him are neither informed of the grounds nor asked for their opinion. No justification can excuse such a way of ignoring local government bodies and trampling on the representatives of this government, elected by democratic vote. It matters little whose fault it was that this procedural violation and abuse of the rights of local government took place; what matters is that this government not be regarded as merely formal and without any authority, since it too is part of the Albanian state institutions, without whose respect there can be no talk of the rule of law and democracy. “Republika” correspondent

Kukës “The number of pensioners in the district of Kukës has doubled this year compared with last year,” says Sabri Dogjani, director of social insurance for this district. According to him, this has resulted from the reduction in jobs and the retirement of many employees early, in accordance with the law. Currently, about 9,700 people in this district receive pensions, of whom 4,200 live in the city. An average of around 19 million lekë is spent each month for this purpose. Social insurance funds have tripled compared with 1991. RIZA HOXHA

At the former Frutore Agricultural Enterprise, Laushnje, 200 families have voluntarily surrendered the land. The specialists, together with the District Council, ... At the former Frutore Agricultural Enterprise, Laushnje, 200 families have voluntarily surrendered the land. The specialists, together with the District Council, ... [the rest of the text is blurred and partially illegible] ... land ... area ... District Council ... ...

Following his new appointment Mr. Alfred Karamuço, a member of a permanent Constitutional Court, is severing all ties with PR because his new position is incompatible with any party commitment. On 22.12.1994, Karamuço, together with the other two new members of the Constitutional Court, took the oath before the President of the Republic, Mr. Sali Berisha. “Republika” correspondent

The newspaper “Republika” wishes you Merry Christmas

“I propose that the minorities convicted of espionage be released on the occasion of the KURBAN BAJRAM holiday,” said the crazy woman N before the Orthodox church in the capital. This would contribute to improving relations between our two friendly peoples. For the blocmen it would be difficult to find a more suitable date. They are neither with the church nor with the mosque. It would be good to let them escape from prison; then there would be no need to draw up a decree, and, on the other hand, literature would be enriched with stories of life underground. If they refuse to escape, they should be forcibly taken out of their cells—let us have a laugh at democracy. The Albanian government is the only government in both East and West that has no minister for a portfolio. This proves that the ministers have no personal safes. Three ministers are worried because the ministers have handed in their portfolios, but not the money. So the state budget has been left empty. Would it have gone any other way? A solution has been found that satisfies both the government and the hunger strikers in Kukës. The government is considering building new houses for the strikers beneath the waters of Lake Fierzë, but first the residents must have a certificate from the customs officer. Traders have been ordered to triple fruit prices for Christmas and New Year. The traders asked to sell their goods for free during these days, but the financial police, the municipality, and the Council of Europe did not allow them to. The minority member who was released by decree declared to journalists that he would appeal to all international institutions because the decree was written in Albanian. He said, “I don’t even understand the language of the Montenegrins.” This president, the Minority member said, would also be decreed by voucher, but the analysts say he will not do any such thing as long as he is alive, whereas with the prices it should be THE CHRONICLER