• Meksi faces state corruption • Bashkim Kopliku among the wasps’ nest. • Genc Ruli will carry out the most delicate operation with nothing in the State Treasury. • For these six months, a half-“dictatorship” is needed. Naturally, within the law. We are faced with a fait accompli: Mr. Meksi’s Government has received the vote of confidence of our Parliament. Speculation and rumors about the ministers, which circulated for several days, have now died down. The Government has begun work, but the work does not begin beneath it. Corruption is beginning to feel its first tremors, but in this murky and confusing situation, people manage to cover their tracks. Mr. Meksi, somewhat nervous but nonetheless seriously concerned, is beginning the reform. It is precisely his prudence and Mr. Ruli’s concision that make people believe in the future. But criticism has also begun—[continues outside the frame] … to be able to restore public order; this must be demonstrated urgently, even with a half-dictatorship!! Dictatorship!? — A deranged question? By no means deranged. But do not dozens of mothers, sisters and parents “lose their minds” over their children who have been killed or their daughters who have been raped? Do not hundreds of citizens lose their minds when they see horrifying scenes in the middle of Tirana, where groups of vagabonds shoot pistols? Do not those thousands of people lose their minds when their wallets are stolen in broad daylight, containing money they earned through hard work? Well then, is the dictatorship of the law not needed for these kinds of situa- [continues outside the frame] … himself), the Prime Minister also has two main pillars: Mr. Ruli and Mr. Uka, both young, both passionate and honest. The first is facing the state’s empty coffers, the second the passions and resentments of the villagers over the division of land. Both are in difficult situations, both under pressure. But the Government also needs honest opposition as well as sincere support. It certainly does not need “support” like that of “Zëri i Popullit,” which announced in bold letters the “bad news” that Europe had not given 100 million dollars! Who was its editor-in-chief pleased for? [continues outside the frame] For his further impoverishment? But the Government needs neither amateurish, daily flattery nor the sugary praise of some servile party organ. It needs the clean criticism and constructive suggestions of “RD,” and it needs Mitro Çela’s review. But we need more Mitro Çelas, more press outlets like “Zëri i Rinisë” and the welcome magazine “Spektër.” Unprincipled criticism and immoral servility are messages that the era of Enver Hoxha’s press has still not passed… The Government must be sincerely supported, but also fraternally criticized. NIKOLLË LESI …the discovery of the tracks. Mr Meksi, somewhat nervous, but nevertheless seriously concerned, begins concision that make people believe in the future. But the first criticisms of the Government have also begun. Pressure and reactions have begun, reminding it that Free Trade Unions also exist?! The Minister of Public Order, Bashkim Kopliku, began the operation in the hall of the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ long-standing wasps’ nest, precisely in that ministry where people’s lives were played with—even those of members of the Political Bureau of that time. The new minister has a difficult task, but it is not impossible. A sting or two may get him, but whatever happens, that Bashkim from Parliament is not fazed by stinging. If he changes, people will remember him only as the ninth minister, and not as the first democratic minister. He will carry out the purge reform, but how far… …in broad daylight, the wallet containing the money they earned through hard work? Well then, shouldn’t the dictatorship of the law apply to these kinds of human beings? Let Bashkim Kopliku be criticized for dictatorship. Honest citizens will know how to defend the minister. Of course, every action of the Government can and will be perfect. But first, let’s try being in the prime minister’s chair. On the table: requests, petitions, ultimatums demanding pay rises, various and dishonest offers—not forgetting that some minister may also put a spoke in the wheels, solely out of personal ego, declaring on TV: “I won’t forgive anyone! I, I…” So a packet of aspir[in]s should certainly be on Meksi’s table. And yet, to ease the nation’s troubles (not his own…

IN THIS ISSUE: — I support political trials. Interview with Mr. AZEM HAJDARI. — Why does Comrade Ruçi want to be weighed on the same scale as Mr. Bashkuri? Savagery should never be built on the basis of misfortune. But “the dismantling of the links that keep the dictatorship standing” can never be called a misfortune for our nation. The new Government of Mr. Meksi has taken on a duty that is both heavy and noble. The new names in this cabinet will know how to give the Albanian economy breathing room as quickly as possible. Their ability and honesty are a guarantee of this. At this moment, anyone with a strong sense of civic responsibility must prevent hypocrisy and corruption from entering the key links of today’s economy and government. Democracy, at its foundations, requires first and foremost capable and incorruptible people. Starting in September 1991, a highly dubious commodity passed through the cus- [continues outside the frame] … a particular kind. They are cartridges, manufactured by our military industry. We are not talking about one or two, or ten or twenty, but about their trade. This is a commodity that was of interest to pass through the customs checkpoint without complications. In September, this “trade” was conducted with cash (dollars) in hand. Is such an action permissible?! Many questions arise from this. There is talk of a satisfactory profit from this sale. But why was this successful commercial activity discontinued precisely when the relevant licenses were being discussed! If it is a profitable trade based on international standards, it should continue by the same route through which it began, but that did not happen. Why?! As we emphasized above, this trade began with cash. If this kind of business is commer- [continues outside the frame] … if the business was proper, then there is no reason for such financial transactions. This kind of exchange of goods for money leaves many avenues open for abuse. It is now May. So, as can be seen, quite some time has passed since September 1991. The senior military authorities must also know about this trade. Then why has there been silence? Who had an interest in this matter being closed? Where was the support and protection found for carrying out such operations? The military business in September was conducted with cash. Could this be where the key to these questions should be sought? LUAN PENGILI …sincere support. Democracy, from its very foundations, requires first and foremost capable and incorruptible people. Beginning in September 1991, a highly suspicious cargo passed through the Albanian-Greek customs post at Kakavijë. It was a truckload of qup[u]ka, which had been sold to the foreign market. It was a trade deal between a private individual from our country and a private individual from a foreign company. Mutual profit. At first glance, the transaction appears entirely normal. Our customs officers share this view, conveying it to one another in confidence while inspecting the goods. Their dialogue, which ends with the words, “They’re onions, not weapons,” happens to be very close to the truth. Under those onions, deep inside the crates carrying them, there was an assortment of…

Following Parliament’s approval of the law “On Changes in the State Administration,” a major debate is raging in public opinion. Widely differing interpretations have been heard in recent days. Some approve of this law, others do not. Two questions need answers: — Can the new democratic Government work with an old administration? — Certainly not. So changes must be made. The second question: — Should being a former communist or socialist be the sole basic criterion for purging the state administration (Prime Minister, ministers, executive committees, directors, etc.)? — Certainly not. Because one must be effective, take…

Most of the dissidents who spent dozens of years in political prison were once communists too. So logically, this criterion should not dominate this “purge”; the criterion should be renewal and refreshing the state administration with capable staff. But, as we said above, should “purges” be carried out? Certainly—in fact, with a very good “broom.” All the incapable people appointed to the administrations who had been “Tung…” must be removed as soon as possible; everyone who has benefited, in one way or another, unjustly must be removed as soon as possible; they must be removed from…

…and the thieves of every kind who were part of the state administration up to now. And not only them, but also those who in some way were co-authors of these actions together with these former leaders. Because if this category, too, is not removed from the administration, they will again become accomplices, or will remain silent in the face of corruption, speculation and theft by the new officials. So changes must be made. The example was set by the new Government itself, and this must extend all the way down. Now that the DP has won power, will all former communists and socialists be dismissed from all positions! — This is a topical issue. Let us accept that they should be dismissed. But what about the communists who…

…have not even spent a year in the ranks of the DP, the PSD, etc., and who, perhaps during the period when they were in power, benefited or abused their positions more than the communists or socialists who are now in senior posts—should they be “purged”? Logic says YES. So, “purges” have been carried out. One of the most important and responsible tasks is making new appointments. To avoid having to stand up again after a few months and shout “you…” st[?]rohen the incapable and corrupt, it is extremely important that future candidates for new titles and appointments be carefully examined and “weighed.” And [give the positions to] the capable and hon[…] who have proven themselves in [their] work, rather than saying: — Let’s give these ones a try too. It would be a misfortune for everyone, and especially for the DP, which holds power, if the incapable and ignorant members of the Party of Labour were replaced by other new party members who are not specialists, solely because they contributed to the election campaigns. For their contribution, they can be given party positions with the citation “For tireless and effective work during the elections,” but it would be paradoxical and harmful to the DP itself, to democracy and to progress for a devoted party member who is not a specialist to be entrusted with the leadership of a ministry, committee or municipality, an enterprise, or a cultural or scientific institution. This is all the more true when the person is a toady or someone with many faults. Nevertheless, changes in state personnel must be made, indeed as soon as possible, because there is no time to wait. ALEKSANDËR FRANGAJ

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