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At his press conference two days ago, President Berisha, answering a question concerning the anti-Albanian positions and measures of the Macedonian authorities against the Albanians of Macedonia, as usual emphasized the importance of Macedonia’s stability for the entire troubled Balkan region. “The expansion of freedoms and human rights is the factor that leads to the stability and prosperity of every country,” he pointed out. But, unfortunately, and ironically for our policy toward Macedonia, the tolerance shown by our state seems to have been understood by Gligorov and his people as a sign of weakness, as if Albania’s fate were in the hands of the newly hatched state of Skopje. On the other hand, it seems to have understood that its stability depends first and foremost on respect for all the rights of Albanians. Thus, following the brutality shown during the events at the University of Tetovo, it was the turn of Albanian radio stations and private television channels to experience the Macedonian authorities baring their teeth. During these days, “Nova Makedonija” thought nothing of attacking even Xhorxh Soros, who proposed a “modus vivendi” to make possible the operation of an Albanian-language university in Macedonia. As the Albanian president also said, preventing the University of Tetovo from opening and closing private radio stations are steps backward. In view of Tirana’s friendly stance and tolerance, perhaps even excessive, and the measures taken by Skopje, the question arises: “Should something perhaps change in Albanian policy toward Macedonia?” Perhaps this is the moment to make use of the spring that relations between Albania and Greece are experiencing, above all to let the Macedonian government understand that attitudes toward it are closely linked to Skopje’s attitude toward the Albanians who live in their own lands. As for the support of the international community, declarations and words should not satisfy us; what we need are concrete positions, both on Kosovo and on the Albanians of Macedonia. Likewise, with regard to respecting the rights of Albanians in Macedonia, Albanian policy must be based on concrete actions; morality and declarations, as time is showing, are not enough…

After many boasts in his speeches and statements, already worn out by the press, the President hastens to put figures ahead of the logic of meeting and exceeding targets, challenging the “tripled” Socialists in the electorate to an emulative race. Conscious of the difficulties of growth, which prevent the DP from reaching the admirable figure of 200 percent of the vote (as would be required by tripling its electorate, by analogy with its Socialist competitor), the President simply declares that the DP’s electorate has grown, without making the “fatal” mistake of calculating the figures. Presidential modesty is admirable, but somewhat mathematically unjustified. At present, despite the hemorrhage that has afflicted it somewhat over these three years, the DP holds, on paper, 67% of the Albanian electorate in its parliamentary group. So, if we assume only a numerical increase (because, judging by what we see, we are not sure about the qualitative side), it follows that at least 67.1% of this electorate must now be among DP voters. If we do not calculate the progression expected as a result of the pleasures the Albanian population continually enjoys during the victorious 100-day periods up to the elections, the combined result of the two forecasts—which, by convention, we shall call Ruci-Berisha (also put forward in earlier predictions for the post of President of the Republic)—will exceed the remarkable figure of 150 percent. Trusting in the record of fairness of elections held so far, in which there have been no double votes cast by one person, or by groups of people in or out of uniform, we hope this figure will not reach the 200-percent mark. Only if the two parties (heroines of socialist labor) are not working toward the year 2005…” G. C.

The Albanian parliament yesterday passed the law on emigration, which for the first time establishes a legal framework for Albanians wishing to work abroad, a senior official said on Saturday. A Ministry of Labor official, Rajmond Zhegu, told ROJTER that the new law sets out how Albanians can emigrate. “Albanians will now be able to leave because there is a legal way to migrate and there is no need to put their lives at risk by crossing the border illegally,” he said. According to official estimates, around 260,000 Albanians have emigrated illegally since the fall of communism in December 1990, but there are no precise figures.

The American Cultural Center announces that applications for Fulbright postgraduate scholarships will soon open. Interested persons may collect application forms for the 1996–97 Fulbright postgraduate scholarship competition at the Library of the American Cultural Center starting Monday, June 5 (hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 09:00–13:00; Tuesday, Thursday 13:00–17:00). Persons who have applied for U.S. citizenship, or who are spouses of U.S. citizens, are not eligible to apply. No one can receive this scholarship without command of spoken English. Anyone who won it last year is entitled to apply. Along with the application form, detailed information about the scholarship will also be provided, including, among other things, the fields in which applicants may compete.

The Town Crier Hey, you! You newspaper sellers! Tirana’s wave has decided that newspapers should no longer be sold out on the streets! The state, which has always looked after its citizens and continues to do so, is now thinking of you, too. “Man is the most precious capital,” said one of our former fathers. For this reason, it cannot leave you at the mercy of fate, in rain and snow, with the wind battering you and frost biting you. So now that summer is coming, you will no longer sell newspapers on the streets. Distribution of Comrade Enver’s works has resumed! Those interested should report to the cells of the PKSH, which have now gone underground in the most luxurious cafés in every city. We’re tired of trying to integrate into Europe, NATO, the EU, of becoming a member, comrade or companion of this or that. To hell with all of it! We had it right before: “With our own forces.” Under no circumstances should we hold out our hand to imperialism, the bourgeoisie, or foreign capital...” In 100 days, the state has done more than it did in three years. Now it is expected to do even more within a month than it has done during these 100 days. You will no longer find red or pink paint in the shops, since, according to a party poll, it has been used to paint the entire Albanian electorate.