An hour after noon on 4 December 1991, at an enthusiastic press conference, the chairman of the DP, Dr. Sali Berisha, announced the withdrawal of the Democratic ministers from the government of stability. The reason was the failure to meet the demands put forward by the National Council of the DP on 26 November 1991, as well as the intolerance of the Communist power-holders, as he put it. The DP deputy chairman and chairman of its parliamentary group, Neritan Ceka, who arrived six minutes later, could not stop him. He only managed to write the long-awaited news on the first sheet of the statement: Nexhmije Hoxha is arrested at 14:00. It would take another 45 minutes for this to happen. In any case, everything was over. The coalition had broken up, and at the beginning of winter Albania was swept by a new political charge that would ultimately determine its future. The withdrawal of the Ministers (continued on page 4) BLENDI FEVZIU

As the chairman of the Bulqizë miners’ strike committee, Mr. Iljaz Bardhi, informs us, today 5,600 miners and their families have reached the 34th day of their strike. Their economic demands have received no support at all from our government officials; indeed, they have not even agreed to receive the strike committee for talks. The government officials [sentence fragment]. Minister Ruli, meanwhile, refuses to pay these miners for the days they have been on strike. The strike continues, while the miners’ situation is getting worse by the day. Some families have asked the enterprise for an advance to buy bread, but the Minister of Mines has ordered that if an advance is given, the directors will be dismissed— Miners and their families are today entering received no support at all from our government officials; in fact, they have not even agreed to meet the strike committee for talks. The government officials have called for the arrest of the union chairman, Mr. Hidër Buci. Mr. Safet Zhulali, MP for this area, does not go to verify the situation, which according to reports is extremely serious, but instead applies pressure to have the union chairman arrested. On Tuesday, at 21.30, the strike committee requested a meeting with President Berisha, but he did not receive them for The strike continues, while the miners’ condition is worsening day by that if any advances are paid, the directors will be dismissed. In support of this strike, the chrome mines in Prrenjas and Pojskë of Pogradec have also gone on strike for a full 7 days. What, then, will happen to these thousands of miners and their families, who have been waiting for more than a month for their rights to be granted by their own government? Why is the Government silent? And RTV?

— Recently you have spoken critically about political forces both here and in Kosovo, and, with some reservation, I would say that from the information reaching Albania and which we consult, it seems as though the Democratic League of Kosovo has monopolized all of Kosovo’s politics. In fact, many other political forces are also active in Kosovo, but are little known. How do you explain this? — The problem is not that one party has monopolized all politics. Ten to fifteen Albanian political parties are active in Kosovo’s public life, and each has its place. The LDK is the largest party, with the number (continued on page 2)

— What is your opinion of the Albanian government’s policy toward Kosovo? Do you think it has evolved? — We do not think it has evolved. Sali Berisha and the Albanian parliament have always recognized the Republic of Kosovo. That is to say, Albania has no territorial claims whatsoever against Kosovo. It has no clai- (continued on page 2)

It is very important to me to be well dressed Read on page 5

Read on page 3 PREÇ ZOGAJ

Our parties have monopolized our means of information Recently, you have expressed

MEMORANDUM ADDRESSED TO ELECTORAL DISTRICT NUMBER 67 . SARANDË Thanking you for the trust you showed on March 22 of this year, when with your votes you accepted me as your representative in the Albanian parliament; Proceeding from the sole democratic motive that I have never undertaken any political act or adopted any parliamentary position without taking care not to become detached Proceeding from the fact that today demagogic and speculative noise is being made against me, without taking your opinion into consideration at all; Proceeding from the sacred democratic principles to which I committed myself before you and which I will never violate, regardless of any circumstances, even if this runs counter to my own interests, in the name of freedom, dignity and the personality of the human being, for which I will always fight, allow me to address this memorandum to you in order to clarify my position before you, the only people to whom I have a moral and legal obligation to (continued on page 2)