Frashëri formalizes the decisions of the High Council of Justice The Minister of Justice, Hektor Frashëri, gathered the 39 court presidents of the country to discuss the conclusions of the meeting of the High Council of Justice. He officially communicated all the decisions and disciplinary measures, and in particular the new appointments and their reception in the courts to begin work. The measures were taken by the High Council of Justice for the removal of around 15 judges and assistant judges for violations of the law (issuing rulings below the legal minimum even in criminal cases related to drugs). The meeting also addressed the dragging out of cases and the slow court procedures in some district courts. Thus, it was said Continued on p. 2

The residents want water, not fines A fund of 30 million lekë was allocated several months ago by the Durrës district council for the Katundi i Ri - Fshati Rinia water supply system. However, after the tender was won by a private company, the works began one month late, on 22 December last year. After that, only 500 meters of welded pipes were laid and the work Continued on p. 2

Eurobarometer results: an assessment and a boost for PR and LDSH The Republican Party - the hope of the Albanian electorate The results of the survey carried out by Eurobarometer and published yesterday showed a marked superiority of the right-wing forces over the left-wing ones. This indicates that the Albanian electorate feels the need to remain, and even to move further to the right. In short, right-wing politics in Albania, despite non-fundamental changes, finds support in the Albanian electorate. An important influence in this direction has also been the fact that the Albanian electorate is increasingly feeling the negative consequences of the insufficient representation of the Right in the Albanian Parliament, which is dominated by communist and neo-communist worldviews. In the Eurobarometer survey, a particularly telling fact was that the Republican Party came third in the entire spectrum of Albanian political forces. This is not surprising. Over these last few years, PR has established its own identity as a political force that has moved entirely to the right wing of Albanian politics. This has led the electorate of that wing to see increasingly serious support in the Republican Party. In this way, the prestige of PR has continually grown, something reflected both in the local elections held in several provinces in May 1994 and in tests carried out by various institutions during this period. Although in coalition with the Democratic Party, the Republican Party has not hesitated to openly criticize those positions of the PD that it considered wrong, especially when it came to actions that “smelled” of leftism. The support it has given to lawful owners in their search for the restoration of their rights, and its condemnation of the PD’s policy in this respect, as well as its support for former political persecuted persons, whose just demands the government of the Democratic Party ignored despite its fine words, are two important factors not only in affirming PR as a consistent right-wing alternative, but, more importantly, in aligning it with the other right-wing forces in the country, thus creating the conditions for the amalgamation of a truly Albanian Right predisposed to play an ever greater role in Albanian political life. Yes, a major role in this regard has also been played by PR’s deeply national political line in defense of the rights of the Albanian nation, first of all that part located in the former Yugoslavia, openly denouncing the concessions made by today’s official policy. PR’s departure from the governing coalition, after the November 1994 referendum, made the ground even more suitable for its cooperation with the rest of the right-wing political spectrum. This was to be expected, not only because PR’s struggle against the mistakes of the PD, which the Socialists and other forces Continued on p. 3

PR and “Republika” change address Due to the change of the Republican Party’s Central Headquarters, all interested parties are informed that, temporarily, contact will be made through the telephone numbers 231-84, 292-03, 420-86 and You can also contact the editorial office of the newspaper “Republika” at telephone number 324-12, at the address, Rruga “Herit Xhajko”, 63/2, near the Medrese, Tirana.

“Optimistic, not euphoric!” The vice-chairman warns his subordinates, but who listens? Pëllumbi: Comrade Musa, don’t be euphoric! “Optimistic, not euphoric!” That is how socialist vice-chairman Pëllumbi advised his party subordinates, but who listened? At the PS Tirana conference, where the left-wing leader voiced his advice, the first one not to follow it was Musa Ulqini himself, the local leader of the PS. But perhaps he was right, because he spoke before Pëllumbi. Ulqini cheered together with his “comrades” for the coming victory; there was even talk “on the street” of mass gatherings of people, as the current president of the republic used to do. Berisha has now changed tactics because the referendum left a bitter taste. The head of state himself has stated that the Socialists will win less than in ’92. The Pëllumbi-Ulqini clash of statements took place at the beginning of the week. Over these seven days, other leaders have also imitated the number one in PS Tirana, spreading out across district conferences to gather candidates for the upcoming elections. At these conferences, also called active meetings, the socialist vice-chairmen have spoken not of optimism, but of euphoria. A resounding victory in Shkodër (while the PD is conducting polls and is ahead in the largest district in the north), in Pukë, Përmet and many other districts. The conferences appear to have ended and, as the many candidates were lined up, euphoria has also arrived in Tirana. With the selection of candidates, the PS leadership, where Pëllumbi is first, perhaps even euphoria will turn into optimism, as Pëllumbi himself demanded. Even though another serious survey, Gallup “Eurobarometer,” has given the left only 29%. And here there is no place for euphoria, not even for optimism. A. S.

Vefa-Aldes after the second day of activity: We have emptied the shelves several times... The Supermarket Vefa-Aldes venture appears to be successful. And not only as an initiative. On the second day of operation, its managers are enthusiastic. “The fact that the shelves were emptied several times shows that the prices are reasonable and the goods are good,” Natasha Lulo, director of Vefa-Aldes, tells Republika. It is not hard to understand that the initiators of this venture now know the Albanian market well. Not for nothing do these supermarkets offer everything, although they lean toward the food market. More than fifteen types of Italian wines, many of them with famous names, sheep’s and cow’s cheese, ham, biscuits, kitchenware and cosmetics, soft drinks and small household appliances, underwear and jeans, mostly “Made in Italy.” “Here there are high-quality and cheap goods,” continues Ms. Lulo, “but there are also everyday consumer goods that you can often find at a lower price than at the supermarket.” The Vefa-Aldes initiative is also appreciated by customers: “There are lots of things, even cheap ones,” say shoppers strolling through Continued on p. 2