On March 23, 1996, the curtain will rise on the Socialist Party Congress. This congress may be unique in the way it will be held: in two phases. The first part, before the elections, will determine the Socialist Party’s electoral program, while the second part, after the elections, depending on the situation, will determine changes of seats, the removal of names, and plans for the future. In recent months, the Socialist Party has tried to create as modern an image as possible for its program. To this end, seminars have been held and made active, bosses have been appointed and dismissed—in short, it has sweated to project this image. Nevertheless, one television report was enough to throw that image away. In a television interview, Mr. Pëllumbi denounced, without… After the sickle and hammer were removed from its emblem, this is the second communist symbol the Socialist Party has abandoned, but it is still far from modernizing. Its divorce from Enver Hoxha has not yet taken place, and now, if it does, it will be considered overdue. This is how all the controversy and division began, inside and outside the Socialist Party, over whether Marx is good or bad. It is obvious and only logical that, to project a modern image, Marx has to be gotten rid of. But the Socialist Party has always found it difficult to change course and accept what others outside it suggest. So the story of Marx, despite being damaging even for the Socialist Party politicians themselves, remained like a double six in their hands. As has often happened in Albanian politics, although they were convinced of the harm that had befallen them, they preferred to remain stubborn rather than do what needed to be done. This gave the Socialist Party’s natural opponents plenty of ammunition, and they never failed to bring up Marx as a bone of contention whenever they had the chance. At last, the Socialist Party has understood something from this whole story. News from an inside source in the Socialist Party tells us that Vice-Chairman Pëllumbi has removed the stubborn Marx from his office. We are also informed by this source that in the first part of the Congress, in his speech, Mr. Pëllumbi will say a few words in Albanian about Marx. Words that will not attract much attention, but will be enough for this figure to be removed from the Socialist Party’s electoral program. So in this election the Socialist Party may come without the father of its ideas. if it does, it will be considered overdue. Gjergj ALIA

Albanian paratroopers prepare to go to Bosnia...........p. 3 Play Bingo, support the arts!....p. 6 Correct use of Albanian is not pur-purism..........p. 4 A court case lasts only 30 minutes......p. 2

At its meeting on 11. 3. 1996, the PR Steering Committee discussed the work done so far to prepare the party for the election campaign. Noting that there is no unified organization of the campaign structures; Considering that the absence of this unification hinders the effective performance of duties; Observing that the district Electoral Commissions do not have a full and detailed understanding of the tasks they must carry out; The PR Steering Committee established a unified organizational structure, mandatory for all branches: Organizational structure of the Electoral Commission: The Electoral Commission shall consist of 5–7 members. Specific duties of each Electoral Commission member 1. One member of the Electoral Commission shall be responsible for: a) Completing the documentation required for candidates for parliament. b) Familiarity with the electoral law. c) Relations with the central government and local authorities on the campaign’s technical issues. d) Preparing an indicative study of the district electorate (with the relevant records). 2. the ongoing oversight of the party’s election structures and for establishing them where they are lacking. 3. a) Electoral propaganda in the district. b) Distribution of the newspaper “Republika” in the district’s communes (in accordance with the instructions sent to the branches). 4. a) Organizing meetings between the parliamentary candidate and the public. b) Coordinating the parliamentary candidate with the party structures. 5. administering the financial funds of the election campaign. The Steering Committee decided that at its next meeting, on March 25: 1. The complete list of PR candidates for parliament, with the relevant amendments, shall be presented. 2. Priority electoral zones and contested zones shall be determined.

SOS Children’s Village Albania announces that, as part of the connection and relationships that the sponsors (donors) of the children placed with us maintain and continually develop, Miss Switzerland will visit SOS Children’s Village Albania on March 14 at 10:00, at her own request. Miss Switzerland is the sponsor of a 3-year-old girl named Ester P. They first became acquainted through photographs, and will now continue their relationship by meeting in person at Ester’s home. The joy of this occasion is further heightened by the fact that there will be another meeting. Two Misses, both “friends” of SOS Children’s Villages, will meet. The other friend is Miss Albania, who has naturally formed a relationship with SOS Children’s Village Albania, having learned about the life and work carried out in the Village. This is an expression of support and a welcome intended to increase society’s contribution to orphaned children and children facing social problems. We are confident that SOS Children’s Village Albania will continue to host such meetings in the future, including with people of ordinary standing and background.