The deputy chairman defends himself: It is not my fault; the causes run deeper Berisha: Pollo lost the elections The latest battle between the leaders of the Democratic Party Petro Koçi: The Socialists won thanks to the former President TIRANA - Clashes between Pollo and Berisha after the defeat in the partial local elections. The deputy chairman of the Democrats, described as the former President’s most loyal man and a founder of the DP, has received the same treatment as his predecessors following the poor results achieved by the Union for Democracy. Pollo was also the first person to face Berisha’s reproaches after signs emerged that the DP was losing the elections. Only the deputy chairman managed to get past the strong barrier created by the former President’s raised voice at the DP headquarters. Influential people in the DP say Berisha found it not at all difficult to blame his most loyal pupil for the defeat in the local elections. This was because Berisha had been quite euphoric before they took place, and had even played powerful cards such as the pyramid schemes in Kosovo. Witnesses at the DP say they saw heated exchanges between the DP leaders, unlike anything seen before between the two most trusted men in the Democratic Party. On page 3 A glass is enough. Even half a glass. 2- Some people are satisfied even though only 50% of voters turned up at the ballot boxes. 100% voted. Then it dropped to 70–80%. Now it’s at 50. - This is self-consolation by both the government and the opposition, intended to cover with a fig leaf the real reasons for the public’s allergy to the election campaign. If those responsible are not identified and this mentality, this psychology, is not encouraged, after two or three campaigns only the members of the commissions and foreign observers will turn up at polling stations. 3- To tell the truth, as an Albanian, I feel somewhat insulted when, at the door of the polling station, like Xhebrahil Emini, some foreign observer follows me, glancing all around, watching every movement of voters as they come and go, and making a few notes in a notebook. - It reminds me, too, of those private security guards in big shops, who watch to make sure none of the customers steals anything. Have we really fallen so low in our trust in one another? What would they have accepted—and would they have accepted it—back then under the dictator, with drums and zurnas, when they froze while offering thanks for the victory, and came out shorn, with their legs...? - Eh, brother! They don’t say for nothing: Pride always arrives on horseback and goes back on foot. They’ve gone hoarse, you say... Haven’t you noticed? In the bazaar, the person who shouts the loudest is precisely the swindler selling his own shoddy goods and badmouthing everyone else’s good merchandise. Mr. Pollo is right when he says his party needs to choose new tactics. Let it choose even worse ones. 5- I’m surprised by one thing. We’ve spent seven years in democracy and still haven’t learned how to win, or what to do tomorrow. They absolutely refuse to accept defeat like men; instead, they try to find fault even though the world says the elections were free and fair, albeit with some irregularities. - Perhaps they lack courage. - You’re quite right. Courage is a balloon that lifts you high when you win, but also keeps you steady when you lose and put on a poor showing. Pity those who don’t have it. 6- Some beat their chests because they won 50% of the votes. Others counterattack, saying they lost 50%... Continued on page 9

Public Works Delayed The Government “sets a trap” for Local Government Employment powers now also extend to NGOs and private companies The unemployed are refusing public works jobs. It is a paradox, but one that is now happening normally here. One example is the latest case in Berat, where unemployed people registered at the city office have refused jobs, complaining about poor working conditions. Others, employed in the private sector, prefer undeclared work that pays better than digging canals or moving roads. The figures show several hundred thousand unemployed people, while other figures are highly contradictory, indicating that our workers do not want to work in the jobs on offer. It is a fact that in many parts of Albania, such as Vlora, Berat, Saranda, Laçi, Shkodra, etc., among the hundreds of jobs opened up by employment offices, only a very small number of people have shown interest in taking them. On page 9

FRANCE ’98 SPECIAL German triumph BIERHOFF-KLINSMANN, THE DUO OF TRIUMPH On pages 10-11

FATOS ÇOÇOLI An inexplicable phenomenon is taking place in Albania. With substantial funds from a group of donor countries and the World Bank, the Government is trying to create jobs through public activities such as road repairs, sewer construction, new municipal services, etc., in many districts of the country: Berat, Kavajë, Kukës, Shkodër. The money has been disbursed and tenders for these public works have been announced. Meanwhile, the expected influx of unemployed Albanians (official statistics speak of nearly 400,000 people, or 22% of the working-age population) into these new jobs is not happening. On the contrary, very few people—or none at all—have applied for the new projects. Most work mainly in the black (undeclared), and another considerable portion are employed by a brother, cousin, friend or acquaintance in other commercial or construction activities. Most people are indeed unemployed in remote mountain areas and small towns, but they may represent only 10–15% of those officially registered as unemployed, and they are far from the public job offers made so far. This is why our “unemployed” are not flocking to start work in the public job programs. The promised wage is around 8,000–10,000 new lekë a month, whereas the unemployed earn more through undeclared work—at least an average of 800–1,000 new lekë a day. Since they work every day, their monthly income comes to 2,400–3,000 lekë, or Albanian workers the working-age population) are not taking up these new jobs. On the contrary, very few people—or none at all—have appeared on the new employment fronts. Have we suddenly become a very rich country like Kuwait? What has happened? In recent years, people registered as unemployed at the Employment Offices have not been sitting idle. This is also because they had very little hope that the state would find them work. They have adapted to the situation and managed to earn a living: some by emigrating to Greece, Italy and other countries for work; the rest by taking over street markets, wholesale outlets, kiosks, and warehouses rented out by their owners. Some have even set up with just a small table in the street, selling haberdashery goods and making a living. So far in Albania, nobody has died or been hospitalized in serious condition from lack of food—that is, from hunger. As for the statistics kept by the Employment Offices, let them stay where they are. The assistance people received even after starting an undeclared private job (illegal work, or most private activity here) was welcome, despite being a very small sum of money. Unemployment assistance (if it was paid) was welcome too. In this situation, Albania’s army of unemployed is practically a phantom army. A small number have become small business owners (someone with a kiosk, bar, or makeshift warehouse inside the home); a considerable number are abroad, and their promised income is no longer 8,000–10,000 new lek a month, while in the places where they have gone to work undeclared, the unemployed earn on average at least 800–1,000 new lek reaches 2,400–3,000 lek, or three times more than the state’s offer. So it is hardly surprising that an “unemployed” person is indifferent to a new job opening for them. If they want to find a way to employ people in private activities and state structures that set the offered wage, they have only one option: raise it. This is especially true for the seasonal jobs on offer, since people are little interested in taking jobs that last only a short time. These same structures are considered at fault because they have done little publicly to promote new job offers. Since they are state-run, they can easily use the state TV and radio, where advertising costs them nothing. People could become better acquainted with the nature of public-sector offers and the opportunities they provide, including through special events, which could be organized and prepared by state structures themselves (the Ministry of Labour, municipalities, etc.) in cooperation with newspapers and state TV operators. It is not too late to do this. At least the workforce for it exists (state bureaucrats and television and newspaper staff). Public employment and public works can have a future in Albania only by increasing the wages offered and making this work understandable and acceptable to people. Otherwise, they risk remaining an initiative on paper.

WASHINGTON - One day after Holbrooke’s meeting with two members of the Kosovo Liberation Army, the State Department declared that it does not consider the KLA “terrorist.” This follows Washington’s threat months ago to put it on the list of terrorist organizations. Regarding the various comments describing Holbrooke’s meeting as “political,” Washington hastened to correct the record, saying that it was not only not political, but entirely accidental, and had taken place while Holbrooke was visiting the ruins of Deçan. On page 2

DURRËS - Train fares are being cut in half. Train fares will be reduced by half. This proposal was put forward in recent days by the Technical Council of the General Railway Directorate in Durrës. Passengers can now travel by train with a ticket costing almost half as much. On page 8

Three shepherds taken hostage; police intervene KUKËS - War breaks out in the villages near the border. While the Serbs have begun bombing a few metres from the dividing line, a battle over a piece of land has begun between two Albanian villages. The villagers, armed to the teeth, took up fighting positions for nearly three hours, until the police and local government officials managed to establish a ceasefire. Yesterday, a piece of mountain pasture became a bone of contention between the villagers of Novosejë and Brrijeskë. When three shepherds had gone out to graze their livestock on the land between the villages, villagers from the other village rushed home to get their weapons. Within minutes, the shepherds found themselves surrounded at gunpoint. On page 7

SHKODËR - The Democratic Party abandoned the debate... SHKODËR - The Democratic Party abandoned the debate, slamming the door. This was not the only incident to accompany the televised debate on the future Constitution, organized by the Association for Democratic Culture. Prefect Laçi, MP Lekë Çukaj, and the chairman of the PS in Shkodër, Dashamir Dini, were the most prominent figures in the audience. On page 6

VLORË - Free housing comes to an end for one hundred and sixty families from Vlorë. After moving into apartments that the state has yet to finish, in sixteen apartment blocks housing families, it seems that the days of living “for free” are over. If they do not come to settle their accounts by the end of July at the offices of the National Housing Agency, they could all be left without a roof over their heads. On page 7

QAMIL BUXHELI On hot days at the urban bus stop. City dwellers and villagers waiting for the bus. Conversations unlike those in any parliament in the world, because the buses either arrive late or do not come at all. They turn on the tape recorder and record the things being said. 1- Well, it was a victory, not a trifle, for the Alliance for the State in the partial local elections of June 21. There is one thing I keep wondering about. Does this victory, in some way, reflect the balance between the political forces throughout the country? I have in mind that these elections took place only in a limited area, in 7 municipalities and 9 communes... - That question has occurred to me too. In any case, I think that to find out whether the wine from a cask is pure, you don’t need to drink the whole cask. One glass is enough. Even a sip. 2- Some are pleased with the turnout, even though only 50% of voters showed up at the polling stations. “We’re approaching European standards,” they say. “Once upon a time, 100% voted. Then it fell to 80–70%. Now it’s at 50%...” The French, Italians, or Americans who were supposed to swarm our polling stations as observers? - You are absolutely right. Apparently it has become part of the natural order of things: just think, even if a quarrel breaks out in the neighborhood, we are ready to call some court from Europe or America to restore order. - Or some specialist from Arabia to teach us how to cook trahana and how to make yogurt starter. As if the verses of Hasan Kiko Zamberi were not enough for us. And who are we? We, who have given the world emperors, kings, commanders-in-chief, scientists, actors, architects and writers of world stature. We, who have given the world Skënderbeu and Mother Teresa... 4- I noticed something in our country. The losers who arrived in motorcades, with drums and zurnas, and who stood up making victory speeches, came away shorn and shod in red shoes... - Ah, brothers! They don’t say for nothing: Pride always rides in and walks back. They got carried away... Haven’t you noticed? We