– The director and deputy director of the Commercial Bank are arrested – 1,200,000 dollars are given to two unidentified French citizens – President Berisha receives a strange medal from these two mysterious Frenchmen – Vilson Ahmeti, former prime minister, implicated in this affair Read on page 2

Almost everyone is now aware of the deception we are writing about: On 2 and 3 February, Albanian Radio and Television broadcast, in every news bulletin, an announcement from Italy, where the Chairman of the Government of the Republic of Albania, Mr Aleksandër Meksi, was continuing his visit. The special correspondent of Albanian Radio and Television, covering the delegation in Albania, announced directly over the telephone that (continued on page 3)

As reported by the information organs of the Albanian Socialist Party, in recent days the party’s leaders have decided not to speak about new elections. The principled cover for the declaration is that “the Socialists are not in favour of bringing down the current government, but for the ground”; among the party’s leadership, there is another reason: Don’t bring it down for new elections, because they might leave power in our hands, the Socialists. One has to think about taking on a task in the state to which the Democrats have reduced Albania! As is well known, the Democrats have accused the Socialists of leaving the country in a miserable state; now the Socialists refuse to take responsibility because the Democrats have further destroyed it… What should Albanians do? Wait until Robinson Crusoe arrives on the battlefield of politics called Albania?… At the very least, let us not come out with fairy tales that “we love Albania, we want stability.” The one who loves Albania more is the one ready to tear down the nest of evil and take responsibility for doing good work.

On Thursday, 4 February 1993, at the «Sami Qemali» secondary school in Tirana, after the students had entered their classrooms and lessons had begun, an unusual disturbance was felt at once in every classroom and by all the students and teachers. One student began to cry, and they had sore throats and felt dizzy. The school’s teaching staff took immediate action. All the students were told to leave their classrooms and go home. Tear gas had been released here! Even in the middle of the capital, people’s lives are not safe. Not even the lives of the most innocent, the children, are guaranteed. Nor is the educational process, which is of particular importance, secure. Who will protect us from these things—at least these? Government officials travel with escorts for their own protection.

On Tuesday, 2 February ’93, lecturers at the University of Tirana went on strike. They stopped teaching and went out into the faculty courtyard. Their demands concern an increase in salaries. With prices rising enormously, university lecturers are paid one of the lowest salaries among workers paid by the state. They earn less even than the lowest-ranking employees of the state administration. They ended the strike without receiving any response from the Government. We are also informed that dozens of miners from the Valias mine flooded into the Ministry of Labour and Emigration and sat for hours in the offices and corridors of this ministry. In the end, having lost all hope that this government team could do for them what it had promised during the struggle for power, they asked the ministry at least to make it possible for them to emigrate abroad, so they could secure their means of livelihood.

For several issues in a row, the newspaper «Zëri i popullit» has written about the robbery of the Durrës Municipality. It has provided figures and information about the stolen equipment. It goes on to say that the thief has even been identified (according to a municipal employee); the thief’s name is supposedly known, and he is also a high-ranking state official who, months ago, apparently stole a car as well. «ZP» writes that the competent authorities are trying to cover up the theft because it tarnishes the image of Mr… Then «ZP» announces a contest to find the thief’s name. Why does «ZP» mock its readers and Albanian public opinion at a time when they know the thief’s name and that of his father, who apparently is also a state official? Why do you, gentlemen of «ZP», put three dots when you say that it “tarnishes the image of Mr…” and fail to give the name that municipal employees told you when they provided the information? Since you know the thief’s name, you have no moral right to write “Who robbed the Durrës Municipality,” because someone could rightly answer, “«Zëri i popullit» robbed it, since the thief’s mother is currently a state official.” THE OBSERVER