POLITICAL DISPUTE Ever since property stopped belonging to everyone and came to have owners—often more than one person claiming ownership—the concepts of capitalism have become badly muddled. Anyone holding an old title deed, yellowed with age and hidden away for years, has understood very well that, more than any other feeling of ownership, it has brought them trouble. Finally, when systems changed and people were no longer afraid to say, “Yes, I own property,” they thought they would be able to enjoy what had been denied to their grandparents and fathers for 50 years. It was not to be. Politics used property owners whenever it suited, just as it routinely does with everyone during election campaigns. What happened with the restitution of property can be summed up in one word: chaos. It was predictable that the division of land would cause social problems. Those who have worked the land for 50 years have forgotten, or do not want to remember, whom it belongs to. But that does not mean the owners do not exist. The cadastral records exist, and everything can be verified. The existing laws, and the new ones concerning property, have dragged these problems out for so long that a solution seems impossible. The state is always in a state of emergency; there are always other things that come first, while matters concerning property are postponed. And yet property is said to be the basic concept of capitalism. Someone is living in hardship today because other people live in their home, whom the law has allowed to reside there until their problem is resolved. Deadlines for resolving it have always been extended. Someone else owns land in a village where newcomers have arrived, who do not even know who the owner is and have built a house. Someone else has land somewhere they cannot return to, and compensation has been provided for this, in coastal land or elsewhere. But do these lands themselves not have owners? In political vocabulary, the term “former owners” has been used, making things even more confused. In the end, while people are still fighting (property disputes are among the most common motives leading to murder), a law is approved for the sale of agricultural land to both Albanians and foreigners. The demand comes from the IMF, and the aim is to make the market functional. But who will sell the land? The person who “lives there,” or the owner waving the title deed in their hands? Government officials reply that the new law does not empower the new person, who is waiting for the land to be divided. But if we have not managed to implement this, how can another, more advanced law be implemented? Those who have resolved their land problems have been people who had something in their hands, who had it returned to themselves and their friends. For everyone else, who has waited their turn, all that remains is the prefix “former” before the word owner. Very often, if no solution is found to this, these properties will become former properties. It does not seem so difficult to say: property must be returned to the former owners, and they can sell it to whomever they wish. If the queue is bypassed, things will become much more difficult.

TIRANA - Ramiz Alia has spoken about Albania’s present and past. One of the books that has been eagerly awaited in Italy is one of his interviews with Lino de Matteis. What was his real role in Albania’s “adventure” in recent years? Is Ramiz Alia a liberal or a true successor to Albania’s last communist dictator? The answer can be found in a lengthy interview—extracts from which we are publishing today—in which you can find his complicated relationships during a time that is still unfolding. De Matteis’s book is about to be republished in an edition expected to be successful in Italy. Gazeta Shqiptare thought these passages could be useful, first and foremost, in explaining the history of Albania in recent years. On page 3 Ramiz Alia and Enver Hoxha

Debate over the morality of those in power. “No to scrutiny” Meidani and Bezhani have called for “moral integrity” What should politicians of the year 2000 be like? Uninhibited or debauched? . Debate over the morality of those in power. “No to scrutiny.” Meidani and Bezhani have called for “moral integrity.” TIRANA - Politicians are up in arms against Bezhani and Meidani over the issue of scrutiny of their honor. “Private life is inviolable. Neither Bezhani nor anyone else has the right to interfere.” This was essentially the view of all the political figures who aspire to govern the country tomorrow. A statement by one of the officials responsible for the files, saying that he wanted to scrutinize officials’ financial, criminal, and moral integrity, has sparked fierce political controversy. “This is impossible and cannot be done under any kind of law,” opposing political leaders said yesterday. According to politicians from both the government and opposition, Bezhani should examine the Sigurimi files and not demand things that are none of his concern. “Bezhani is absolutely not the person who should scrutinize politicians’ moral virtue,” the politicians said. On page 2

The two old “enemies” face to face. When will peace come... Nano should meet Berisha Ruci in favor of a major meeting TIRANA - Ruci has spoken in favor of the need for a meeting between Nano and Berisha. The socialist leader went so far as to declare that “it is absurd for the two not to meet, not for them to meet.” In a television interview, after speaking about the government’s main areas of work, Nano unexpectedly issued an invitation for a meeting between himself and Berisha in the near future. The response of the leader of the PD is now awaited, while others have expressed their support. On page 2 Nano Ruci Berisha

GAZETA of Vlora Traders revolt over cash registers VLORA - Complaints from Vlora’s traders over cash registers are erupting. Maintenance taxes, ranging from forty to sixty dollars a year, have irritated people engaged in trade. For a year, very few of the firms have been able to conduct business. The difficult year has forced many traders to close their businesses, hoping to reopen once the situation improves. But this has not stopped the tax authorities from demanding the inspection fee. On page 7

GAZETA of Tirana The mystery of the disappearance of silver TIRANA - Albanian silver is going to waste. Whole quintals of dissolved silver are poured every day into the streets in the form of nitrates and harmful salts, of value. The main source is hospitals with their radiology equipment, as well as the many photographic studios that use silver solutions for their purposes. Specialists from the Ministry of Health said they do not know where the quantities of silver salts used in radiology departments end up. On page 5

TIRANE - One-hour strike by the teachers and doctors of the capital. As announced, the strike by Tirana’s teachers and white-coat workers is taking place today. While the teachers said through their union that they are doing this to demand higher wages, the doctors have stated only one reason for this action: “We request a meeting with the minister by May 15.” On page 9

KUÇOVE - A Kuçovë family can now do nothing but be glad that a dangerous “adventure” has come to an end. A story that ended in blood. Everyone—the parents, the daughter and her two brothers—was taken hostage in the morning by a young man, who eventually killed himself after the police managed to rescue the hostages in a spectacular operation. On page 8

BERAT - Explosives at one of Berat’s high schools. Yesterday afternoon, students narrowly escaped, while the explosive caused extensive damage to the main entrance on the first floor. The terrorist act has not yet been specifically attributed, while the police have identified their first suspects. The unusual incident took place yesterday, at around 09:40, in the three-storey building of one of the three high schools located on the outskirts of the “Dëshmorët e Kombit” neighborhood. On page 8

“Let them be recognized” Factions in the Socialist Party challenge the leadership TIRANE - “Factions should be officially recognized at the top, at the center, not at the grassroots,” said a Socialist MP who, although he does not wish to be named, is among the party’s opponents. The left-wing parliamentarian criticized the way these views are dealt with in the party’s leadership forums. “I say that dissenting opinions should be expressed in the PS leadership forums, the chairmanship and the KPD, and if they are not accepted there, then a faction in the party should be officially recognized. On page 2

ROME - Montenegro, too, is being considered as a third party in the talks between Prishtina and Belgrade. The Montenegrin government’s minister without portfolio, Ferhat Dinosha, called the external factor important; he recently met with Albania’s foreign minister, Paskal Milo. “Solutions for Kosovo can be achieved only through direct dialogue in the presence of foreign mediators,” Dinosha said at the meeting. The minister of the neighboring country also expressed his opinion about the Albanians living in Montenegro. He called them “a factor that has begun to integrate into the country’s political, economic and social activity.” For his part, Albania’s foreign minister, Milo, spoke of the interest with which Tirana has followed, and continues to follow, all the democratic developments in Montenegro. According to Milo, the recent presidential elections were followed with interest, with the Albanian factor playing an important role in the victory of the current President. On page 11 Kosovars protest against violence (Photo: ANSA)

GAZETA e Durrësit Gjinushi campaigns for the elections DURRES - Gjinushi in Shijak: We must win the city municipality. The Speaker of Parliament arrived in the city on Sunday evening with the aim of laying the groundwork needed to win the city municipality in the elections to be held next month. Gjinushi is said to have held talks at Kafe Erzeni with activists who support the governing coalition. On page 8

LIST OF WINNING PRIZES IN THE DRAW OF 17.05.1998 AT NATIONAL TELEBINGO MINI-BINGO PRIZE All tickets bearing No. 1073 win the Mini-Bingo prize worth 4,000 lekë. GRAND PRIZES The following are entitled to compete for the grand prizes: Ticket No. 1073, Series 377; Ticket No. 1073, Series 346 Ticket No. 1073, Series 352 The 3 winners listed above will compete among themselves next Sunday, on 24 May 1998, for the following prizes: AN APARTMENT, A CAR, A TOURIST TRIP SUPPLEMENTARY PRIZES All tickets in Series 314 win the first supplementary prize worth 60 lekë (regardless of the ticket number). All tickets in Series 340 win the second supplementary prize worth 180 362 win the first supplementary prize worth 300 lekë (regardless of the ticket number). Winners of the Supplementary and Mini-Bingo prizes can collect them from any Tele-Bingo or Toto-Futboll agent. Winners of the grand prizes must immediately contact National Telebingo at telephone number 414 - 29. For the next draw, 100 series numbered from 401 - 500 have been released for sale, as well as tickets for the special draw dated 31 May.