An unfair multi-party race Begeja: Those who do not build, have no morals An unfair multi-party race P. 5

Arbnori: We became European too soon and ... forgot mor- ality P. 5

Apostoli: Albanians themselves are to blame; neverthe- less, I cannot say anything P. 5

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By Agim NEZA Apparently, many of our politicians have still not realized that they hold the fate of this country and this people in their hands. Unfortunately, no one yet admits their mistakes; instead, there are accusations and counteraccusations against one another, while Albania is once again left as the poorest country in Europe. In this reality, everyone asks one another: -What is happening to us Albanians during this endless period of transition? -Has the hope of the Albanians been “killed”? Do our politicians know the reality, and what are they doing to change it? -Has the creation of 53 parties made it easier to solve the problems? The reality is bitter. Intellectuals are leaving Albania every day, perhaps to do menial work in the West. Outstanding students leave as soon as they finish university, or while still completing their studies, or think only about leaving; even the children of some politicians study more peacefully in the West. (There is nothing wrong with the latter, but with what money can they afford to pay for their stay and studies at these high-level schools? Why don’t their parents (politicians), who are in contact with international organizations, make any effort toward the equivalence of Albanian diplomas with Western ones? This would not only help the children of ordinary citizens, but their own children as well.) Ordinary citizens of this country are forced to go to work in the lands of the Greeks and Italians, and with the money they earn they buy Greek and Italian products. Meanwhile, with the money they send to their families in Albania, since Albanian products are almost nonexistent, the latter (their parents) buy Bulgarian oil, Greek leeks, Macedonian apples and cabbages, Dutch butter, Italian chickens, etc. And our transition seems to have no end; a two-faced system has emerged, which economists are calling a “Kanizo Economy,” where, within a company, legal and illegal activity, real assets and outright speculation, have become almost indistinguishable. All this is happening when we have 53 political parties, which, judging by their number, ought to be capable of solving not only our problems, but “those of the Balkans as well.” But apparently, the transition period has served more to solve problems among the parties themselves than the problems troubling Albanians. This is borne out by the re-creation of parties by politicians who had previously joined another party, with the rebranding of the message as new hope for Albanian citizens. The re-creation of these parties (which they claim is a new solution) may be interesting for the moment, although their programs contain almost the same common points. These party groupings need no comment. Continued on page 2

PAFI-'99 Cartoon: a man with bags labeled “OIL TOBACCO DRUGS” and “WEAPONS PROSTITUTION.”

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NATIONAL LIBRARY TIRANA