OPINIONS The Albanian Mafia The dollar disrupted stability. For only two or three months it traded at between 50 and 60 lekë. In recent days it made a dizzying leap. First 80 lekë. Today it is close to 90 lekë. And it is not known how far the dollar’s cloud will drift (taking the other currencies along with it). Is this a “drama” being played out according to the logic of the market economy? There is no law or order here. The market is not the director. The script has been carefully prepared by a director who is now performing with great success on the stage of the Albanian economy. It is the Albanian Mafia. Secretly, with Byzantine-style maneuvering, the “big fish” are organizing themselves to devour the “little fish” (read: consumers). Look at the market today. Exorbitant prices for an unemployed person who lives on 80 percent of their pay. Observe the private operators going around in circles. They cannot go beyond Albania’s borders because travel tickets have become four or five times more expensive. The excuse? The dollar exchange rate. And the mafia marches on. A handful of people are getting rich. They are the ones who, after losing political power, seized economic power. Their success is guaranteed because the state apparatus, rotten and bureaucratized to the core, remains indifferent—or, indeed, supports these mafia operations. M. Ç.

Subscriptions to the Official Gazette (formerly the Official Newspaper) for 1992 are still open. Individuals, state and social institutions, and state and private enterprises may subscribe to the Official Gazette. Subscriptions will be taken at private press-distribution agencies; in districts where these agencies have not yet opened, subscriptions will be taken at the organizational sections of the district executive committees. The annual subscription is 100 lekë (new lekë). Payments will be deposited into account number 834110 of the People’s Assembly. Subscriptions will remain open until 15 February 1992. The General Department of the People’s Assembly must be notified of the number of subscriptions so that the print run can be determined. THE EDITORIAL OFFICE

Recently, Mr. Sali Berisha made an official visit to France, where he met with several authorities of that country. In addition to former French prime ministers Raymond Barre and Michel Rocard and other prominent figures, Mr. Berisha was received by Mr. Hervé Verdiër, Secretary-General of the Élysée, acting on behalf of the President of the French Republic, Mitterand. At this meeting, Mr. Berisha briefed Mr. Verdiër on the latest political developments in Albania. He explained aspects of the government’s legitimacy toward the Democratic Party and informed him of the party’s position on the election campaign and the elections. He said that the governing coalition had failed because of the unwillingness to cooperate, intolerance, and inflexibility of the socialists. The Democratic Party is now facing the election campaign, and we are convinced that Albania will finally break away from communism, because the people have understood that a socialist victory would mean closing the doors of the world to Albania, chaos, and the old apparatus. Mr. Berisha asked the French government to help Albania at this difficult time with the revival of industry and agriculture. He also requested France’s intervention with the European Community and other forums to resolve the issue of Albanians living in Yugoslavia, in accordance with international norms. Dr. Sali Berisha gave interviews to Radio France International and the newspaper “Le Figaro”. The latter will be published in translation on page 2.

On Wednesday, a conference of the Student Movement was held in the main hall of the Palace of Congresses. The conference was opened by student Theodhori Dhimitri. After a minute of silence for Arben Broci, the student martyr of Democracy, the conference proceeded to the presentations. Students and former students Arben Lika, Ilir Dizdari, Myftar Gjana, Ardian Petrovlari, Asem Hajdari, Rindvan Peshkëpia, Blejdi Gonxhe, and others gave presentations reviewing the movement that began in December. They spoke about the mission of the movement, when and why it emerged, what it achieved, and what it represents today. In conclusion, it was said that this was and would remain a genuine student movement, manipulated by no political force. Student Spiro Curra, an emigrant in Athens, read a message written by the great Ismail Kadare and addressed to the Albanian Student Movement. The conference was greeted by the chairman of the Democratic Party, Mr. Sali Berisha, and his deputy, Eduart Selami, as well as Arben Imami and others. Students who had been forced to leave Albania by the mass exodus also took part in this important event. In the afternoon session, the conference took up an open topic. The session included discussions, interviews with participants from the audience, humor, pantomime by several American students, music by the group “Ritfolk,” and so on. At the end of the session, the parliamentary proceedings were presented with a retrospective document on the February 1991 hunger strike. RD CORRESPONDENT

The Socialists leave parliament as they entered it: convinced communists THE SOCIALIST GROUP SUCCESSFULLY REVIVES THE COMEDY “THE ANGLO-AMERICAN THREAT TO ALBANIA” That the Albanian socialists sit in the communist seats in parliament has been known for a long time. Swearing allegiance to Enver Hoxha and to the successes of socialism in Albania (see: Spiro Alia, speech at a meeting with voters, 29 March 1991), and propagating that Europe would do everything in its power to further consolidate the socialist victory (“Remember B. Zeneli’s March 1991 interview on TV”), they entered parliament as representatives of the Party of Labour. In June, the Albanian communists had the “opportunity” to change their party’s name and declare that they were a different party, but this did not prevent them from remaining in the seats of the other party. But a little time was enough, and when they expected support, after seeing Enver Hoxha’s end clearly and with dignity, the socialists apparently remembered that they also had a debt to settle. A debt to themselves, to the communist seats—in other words, to the original party. Bardhyli Fasko appeared on stage and, in a style that imitated the personalities in Brecht’s dramas rehearsing before a congress, began cursing the American ambassador, the American diplomatic mission, and then President Bush. The terms used were: “anti-national, anti-Albanian, anti-democratic.” The comedy “The Anglo-American Threat to Albania,” authored by Enver Hoxha, was enthusiastically performed in the Albanian parliament during its penultimate session. In his speech, shortly after Uaska, he accused the American ambassador of having supported the opposition in Congress, after the ambassador said that his meeting with the chairman of the Socialist Party had not been accurately reported in the RTV announcement. Comrade Fasko demanded that the American ambassador, Mr. Rayer son, the chargé d’affaires, Mr. Hill, and all diplomatic staff be expelled from Albania within 10 days. Having finished with the Americans and called the opposition MPs “Bush’s army,” Fasko turned on the Albanian government, especially President Alia, using other obscenities that cannot be put down on paper. Apparently tired of the socialists’ false terror, the Socialist Party deputies returned to where they had come from: communism. One might have expected someone on the left to stand up and oppose his statements, but that did not happen. A deputy whose name we do not know seized the opportunity to shout at the Rilindja newspaper, asking why Fasko’s speech was not being broadcast, so that the people and the Americans could hear what was being said in parliament. No one, including Dokle’s silent deputies, objected. It is clear that the Anglo-American threat has become increasingly relevant to the Albanian socialists. B. Hoxha’s comedy is expected to appear during the election campaign in all the country’s cities, especially in remote areas. It is said that, as a condition for stopping it, the socialists have asked President Bush to declare openly that he supports a victory for the Albanian communists in the upcoming elections(?) REMZI LANI

— ECHO OF A PHONE CALL IN THE LATE HOURS OF THE NIGHT. — — Hello... Is this the editor-in-chief? A few days ago I heard that an article about the enigma of art was going to be published. Could you postpone publication for a few days? I can provide you with some more secret documents... — Absolutely. But how can I trust you when you are speaking to me over the phone from the middle of the darkness? — You’re right. I anticipated that objection. To prove you can trust me, I’m telling you that tomorrow morning you will find some material under your door... Good night! — Could this also be an enigma within the enigma of art? But no. My friend kept his word. We have his document, his message, in the newsroom. Apologizing to our readers, instead of the announced article we will publish this document, which is no longer secret today.

SECRET Comrade Ramiz, Attached is the notice on the status of account 01, which, as decided at the meeting of the Political Bureau, is to be used with its approval. Respectfully, Adil Çarçani 6.10.1987 NOTE ON THE DOCUMENT Comrade Adil, It is to continue being administered by the Presidium and by you personally. Ramiz Alia 7.10.1987 The foreign-currency reserve in account 01 as of 30 September 1987 amounts to approximately 17 million dollars. During the fourth quarter of 1987, the following sums are expected to be transferred into this account: — from bank interest on foreign-currency accounts held with foreign banks: 200 — from currency exchanges by taking advantage of competitive rates (the forecast is 5 million dollars, but approximately 1.4 million dollars will be used for various purchases according to decisions of the Council of Ministers): 3,600 — from the Commission Company: 400 Total: 4,200 In this way, at the end of 1987 the balance of account 01 is expected to reach approximately 21.2 million dollars. This does not include the 4.4 million dollars that the Ministry of Foreign Trade will return during the first half of 1988. During 1988, based on the draft plan for foreign-currency income and expenditure, approximately 15 million dollars are expected to be transferred into this account. Thus, at the end of 1988, the balance of account 01 is expected to reach approximately 40 million dollars. MINISTER OF FINANCE Andrea Nako Tirana, 6.10.1987

The Labour Party changed its name (PS), but not its habit. Its oracle, “Zëri i Popullit,” has changed neither its name nor its habit. It keeps scraping away like an old shoe. It continues the tradition even today... Until yesterday, the people were forced to hand over their soap for a beating. And today? ...A few days ago, the court sentenced the editor-in-chief of ZP to a public reprimand for publicly insulting the former Democratic Party parliamentary candidate in the district of Durrës, now MP, Mr. Bashkim Koçi... Before the echoes of this had died away, ZP committed another outrage. This time it targeted the chairman of the Pluralist Executive Committee of Korçë, Mr. Ilir Manushi. Read on page 4 the column entitled: “The PS oracle fabricates a lie in advance.”

— SHTEPTIM REXHEP ELMASLLARI — MARTYR OF DEMOCRACY, WITH VICTORY NOW SO CLOSE — On Saturday, 1.2.1992, while travelling to a meeting with the farmers of the Mokër area, 24-year-old Shpëtim Rexhep Elmasllari died from poisoning by the carbon dioxide gas used in the vehicle in which he was travelling. He was a member of the Democratic Party and a talented activist and campaigner for the Democratic Party branch of Pogradec in the villages of the Mokër area. Shpëtim was born on 8.10.1968 into a poor peasant family in Memelisht, in the district of Pogradec. He was the eldest child in a family with four children and two sisters, and in very difficult economic circumstances. He was a brave and courageous young man, intelligent and measured, passionate about art and literature, devoted to justice and eager for democracy to triumph. Shpëtim initiated the creation of the first Democratic Party section in the villages of the district of Pogradec. He had been a member of the Democratic Party since 15 February 1991 and was elected secretary of the party section in Memelisht, the village where the first section of the Democratic Party in this district was established. The Governing Council of the Democratic Party and other opposition parties, recognizing Shpëtim’s great activity in the democratic movement and his death while carrying out his duty, proposed to the local authorities that he be declared a “Martyr of Democracy” and made every effort to realize this proposal. But the laws inherited from the dictatorship did not allow this. Nevertheless, in the hearts of true democrats, members and supporters of the Democratic Party, Shpëtim Rexhep Elmasllari has been declared a “Martyr of Democracy,” a title that will be fully confirmed with the victory of democracy—the salvation of Albania, for which he gave his young life. In these days, so close to victory, his example and his last wishes call upon us to show devotion and make sacrifices. May his memory never be forgotten! PRESIDIUM OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF ALBANIA POGRADEC BRANCH OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY

During an official visit to Bari, Italy, the Minister of Health, Dr. Kristo Pano, made a private stop in Rome, where he met Dr. Massimo De Paolo, chief surgeon at Braciancao Hospital, USL RM22, in Rome. Dr. De Paolo is a member of the ROTARY Club and a prominent figure in healthcare. After the Albanian Minister of Health gave a presentation at a conference held in Rome, in Santa Rufina, attended by more than one and a half million Albanians from Albania, Dr. Massimo Di Paolo pledged to help the Albanian people through the Rotary Club. On 6.2.1992, one week after making this commitment, Dr. Massimo Di Paolo arrived at Rinas Airport aboard an Italian military aircraft, bringing with him a quantity of medical supplies worth approximately 1.8 million dollars. These are gifts from 1,600 families in Rome to the Albanian people, and they were handed over for distribution to the Minister of Health, Mr. Kristo Pano. The medicines are the latest products and consist mainly of antibiotics, hormones, medicines for heart disease, diabetes and asthma, anti-allergy drugs, etc. As part of the aid and cooperation effort, close ties were also established between the Faculty of Medicine of UT and the University of Rome “La Sapienza”; discussions were held with the Catholic University of Rome, the Vatican’s pediatric hospital, and Branciano Hospital about sending doctors and nurses from Albania for training in the use of modern medicines. This gesture is a vital and progressive step toward strengthening friendship and cooperation between the Italian and Albanian peoples. In the same spirit, the traditional bonds between the two peoples were reaffirmed. Dr. SULEJMAN KODRA

NATIONAL LIBRARY TIRANA No. 98 Saturday 8 February 1992 Year II of publication Price: 1 lek Published every Wednesday and Saturday

The staff of the newspaper “Rilindja Demokratike” and its readers thank OPEN SOCIETY FOUNDATION ALBANIA, which helped opposition and independent journalists with a loan—this is a special support for the press in Albania. We also thank the staff of the “Bashkimi” enterprise and “Albi Rilindje” for their contribution, which they gave us so that we could meet the costs of the election campaign. RILINDJA DEMOKRATIKE

IN THE NEXT ISSUE TEODOR KEKO AND MITRO ÇELA: “THE ENIGMA OF GOLD”

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