Interview with the Italian publisher Mr. NIKOLA GRAUZO, given to NIKOLLE LESI These days, the well-known Italian businessman Nikola Grauzo visited Albania. He came to discuss and cooperate specifically with TV and the independent newspaper «Koha jonë». Mr. Grauzo owns two television stations, two radio stations and the largest newspaper in Sardinia, Italy. He is also the principal shareholder in the largest newspaper in Poland, which is published in a daily circulation of 250000 copies. — Can you tell us something about your career and how you turned your attention to Albania, forgotten for years? — I’ll begin with an Albanian folk proverb: Chance is the king of the world. I am here entirely by chance, invited by some Albanian friends of mine. Naturally, to cooperate with them. Having quite a bit of experience with Eastern countries, especially Poland, I came very willingly to help my friends with my experience. I am mainly a newspaper publisher. I own private radio and television stations; I own the self-consumption share. — You have just visited the coastal city of Lezhë. Your impressions, please. — I can speak only about the wonderful nature you have, since I did not manage to visit the city inland. I can confidently say that it is a city privileged by nature. With a delightful coastline and a beautiful lagoon nearby, I hope these important natural resources will soon be put at the service of your people. …your advantage is that you are only three million people. Another reason drawing me toward you is the cultural factor. I had the opportunity these days to meet people of culture such as Ylli Pepon, Agron Çobanin, director of RTV, etc., who could work anywhere in the world. The same goes for the newspaper «Koha jonë». But I regret that I also met people who do not like working and, strangely, here in the middle of Europe, Oriental mindsets still exist. This surprises and concerns me. Perhaps these 47 years of dictatorship may have created objective conditions that have undermined people’s desire to work. But a new system with Albanian [businesses]. Naturally, for cooperation countries, especially Poland, I came with great enthusiasm to help my friends with my experience. I am primarily I own most of the Warsaw newspaper and hold shares in many different Italian companies. I came to Albania because it is clearly becoming a place of movement, so there is interest. As you also said a little earlier during the lunch you hosted in honor of my arrival in Lezhë, powerful companies must come to Albania, and they must be the first. They should invest in this country, but also make a profit for themselves. Those who arrive late may perhaps find no more opportunities. But this does not depend on the investments foreigners make, but on how your government acts. Then there will be room for investors and publishers too. In my opinion, people need to return to work. It is true that people must be given the opportunity to work, but I cannot understand how people can be paid without working under an absurd law, which I learned about here—that is, the 80 percent [rule]! This demotivates people from working. — What is the relationship between independent newspapers and party newspapers? — We have party newspapers, but nobody reads them except those who publish them! In Italy, people read only independent newspapers, but unfortunately not all of them are independent. Ultimately, I can say that party newspapers are a kind of self-service and service to [unclear]. I firmly emphasize breathtaking natural resources will soon be put to work for your people. — A personal question: If you were young again, which profession would you choose? — I would do the same thing I do today. I still have the feeling that I would like to be a singer, as I was in my youth. I was in one of the first rock bands in Italy. Naturally, under different circumstances, a person may make different choices. — If you had all the chief editors of the independent newspapers of Eastern Europe at this table, which one would you choose? Naturally, I mean the newspaper you represent? — It is not that I would choose between one country and another. When I decide to cooperate with foreigners, I first study the political and legal conditions in general. I think that these conditions for cooperation are taking shape in Albania. The people I work with are also important to me. Everywhere there are capable and incapable people, including in Italy. Albania interests me as an area for cooperation more than other countries, because, without wishing to offend you, everything here has to start from zero. The level of everything is lower than in all the other countries, but I again emphasize that [unclear] I managed to visit. I firmly emphasize breathtaking people. — Is your visit a «Goodbye» and a departure forever, or a «See you again»!? — I hope our parting—that is, from you and the independent newspaper «Koha jonë»—will be a «See you again» and in no way a «Goodbye»! There are opportunities for cooperation. The results will make both you and me happy. I believe I cannot put it any more clearly! I will offer my cooperation in radio and television and journalism, perhaps also in publishing. As a first step in my relationship with your newspaper, I will give you a computer system with which to prepare the newspaper here in Lezhë. This will improve the quality of the newspaper and the speed with which it comes out, because newspapers in Albania are medieval from a typographical standpoint. In addition to the newspaper’s content, the quality of layout, printing, photographs, etc., etc., matters to the reader. I wish you success, as you have had until now, as the first independent Albanian newspaper! Lezhë, 5 January 1992

After the days-long TV advertising for the New Year 1992 greeting on TV, we all thought that a sum of 100 thousand lek would not be a problem for the companies called «powerful» by that same TV. The companies «ADA» and «Iliria Holding» were thought to outbid one another in the amounts paid to TV to send their New Year’s greetings to everyone in Albania. More accurately: They are so poor themselves that they have come to make money in Albania. All night long, a company director, hitherto unknown, travelled from Dibra, and I want to… the powerful Albanian or Albanian-French, Albanian-Italian companies or… This showed what kind of companies have come to Albania so far. come to make money in Albania. Forget what they said in interviews or on TV before December

Since 2 December 1991, the Albanian representative of the Kosovo company «KONJUHAJ CILM» has been missing. The gentleman in question was supposed to appear before the Lezhë District Court starting in December of last year. More than a month has therefore passed. The company he represents continues to be accused by the trading enterprise and the district trade section of: 1) Changing the designated use of the premises. 2) Failing to supply products and leaving empty the premises rented for carrying out business. He has still not appeared before the Lezhë District Court to take (or make inquiries about) steps either contesting or supporting the lawsuit. The gentleman’s name is, or rather we hope it is, ARTUR GINAJ, whose position is Albanian representative at this company. We have no information about the clothing or physical appearance of the person in question—not the trade section, the court, nor the editorial office of the newspaper «Koha jonë». No information is available either about the signatory of the contract, Mr. MUJ KONUJHAJ, who, by all indications, has not set foot in Albania for some time, at least to check on how his company’s business is going. In view of this legitimate concern, the Lezhë District Trade Section appeals, through the newspaper «Koha jonë», to anyone who may happen to come across a representative of this company to immediately inform us of the person’s exact address. Or, if possible, to take a photograph that we can then use to look for the company through the television.

1. Interview with the writer and journalist Preç Zogaj. 2. Albania, a minefield. (By MARASH MIRASHI) 3. The election campaign is imminent; not a single vote for PS. (By ALEKSANDËR FRANGAJ)

I have two rooms and a kitchen in the «Gafurr Muço» neighbourhood of the city of Lushnjë. I would like to exchange them for two rooms and a kitchen in the city of Lezhë. The location does not matter. For further information, contact the editorial office of the newspaper «Koha jonë». Interested party