- In the first days of the new government, a sharp debate has emerged about the way the law is being enforced and its social consequences. According to some voices, the decisions taken are necessary to restore order and state authority. According to others, the way they are implemented affects vulnerable groups and creates tensions. Many citizens and local representatives have reacted to the latest actions, describing them as harsh and not always accompanied by alternative solutions. Others believe that tolerating illegality would bring even more serious consequences for the country’s future. The analyses carried out emphasize that the state has the duty to act according to the law, but equally to preserve human sensitivity and equality before it. That is why the debate has become an important test for the new democratic institutions. (Continues on page 2)

Right from the beginning of their conversation, Mr. Repishti expressed to the President his satisfaction with the results of the 22 March elections and, in particular, with President Berisha’s determination and courage in his efforts to establish a truly democratic system in Albania. Mr. Repishti told the President of the Republic that the current situation shows very favorable signs for Albania and that, although he will remain in his homeland for a short time, he will continuously follow developments in Albania. He told President Berisha that political emigrants and former political prisoners are following the situation in Albania and its future prospects with great interest. President Berisha informed Mr. Repishti about the economic and political situation in the country, the many serious problems the government is facing, and the major efforts being made to overcome them. The President highly valued the help that Mr. Repishti and the Albanian political emigration have given and continue to give in the struggle to overthrow the communist dictatorship and establish democracy in Albania. The President expressed his conviction that in the future the Albanian political emigration and Mr. Repishti personally, with their experience and abilities, will make a valuable contribution to the great democratic process the country is going through. All the difficulties that appear and are hard, as well as the hardships caused by the winds of change and the path of development of present-day Albania, were assessed by the President as temporary and within the framework of a secure outlook. The meeting also discussed the problems related to the Albanian political emigration and the prospects for its participation in the country’s life. At the end of the meeting, Mr. Repishti expressed to President Berisha his conviction that, with democratic forces and the support of the Albanian people, Albania will succeed in overcoming difficulties and moving forward.

How?[?] the ambassador of his country, Mr. Ujkerri[?], to the Albanian government, had for days been announcing the arrival of Ahmeti’s government to govern Albania. Although Mr. Tiseli[?], the ambassador in Tirana, was due to have his mandate expire[?], the old government, the new government, the government of Mr. Vileksi, has been awaited with considerable curiosity. First, Mr. Vileksi seems[?] to be a man with a Western formation, having written extensively on Albanian issues, being knowledgeable about our language and our cause. In the new path of our country, this matters. Second, in these difficult moments of transition, understanding with Western chanceries and their representatives remains necessary. Third, this arrival coincides with Albania’s need for greater diplomatic and economic support. If the reader finds in this figure a friend of our country, that remains to be proven by his concrete work.

The whole matter[?] was the main question raised by Mr. Xhika[?] after the government’s latest decision to give several families from the north land in the Tepelenë area. Supporters of this decision argue that it is a way to ease the shortage of land and to house newcomers. Opponents see it as an injustice toward the local residents and as a new source of conflict. On the other hand, in local meetings and discussions it has been requested that the issue be handled carefully, respecting property, the law, and social peace. In some places opposing motions and petitions have been submitted. The debate continues and a full clarification from the authorities is expected. (Continues on page 3)

To govern in a country that had been subjected for nearly half a century to a political and economic system from which it had been left with only one weapon; to overthrow it, was not so easy. Only 120 days earlier, for the first time in 28 years, a government with a free popular mandate began its path. It inherited a state without a functioning economy, a weary society, and an administration accustomed to orders, not laws. During this time the first steps of economic reform have been taken, channels of contact with international institutions have been opened, and confidence in the possibility of change has been restored. There are still shortages, mistakes, and rhythms that satisfy no one, but it is clear that the country has entered a new stage. Hope is not institutionalized with slogans, but with decisions, laws, responsibility, and patience. These very 120 days have served to turn change from a moral promise into a tangible political and state process. (Continues on page 2)

The changes of 1-8 August in the government cabinet and in the leadership of the institutions have prompted many comments. Some have seen them as a sign of determination to deepen reforms, others as a result of political and administrative tensions. To better understand these developments, the author returns to the events of recent months and to the course of the Albanian transition. In this overview, economic difficulties, political conflicts, relations with the opposition, and efforts to build stable institutions are recalled. Only by looking at this broader picture, the article argues, can the present be assessed fairly. (Continues on page 2)

Instead of the enforcement of the law and of the decisions of the authorities, in some cases a harsh, oppositional polemical spirit has been observed. The article treats the figure of Aben Demeti[?] as a symbol of this public reaction, raising questions about the motives, moral responsibility, and the consequences that such an attitude brings in the new democratic climate. The author tries to distinguish between legitimate criticism and the deliberate incitement of conflict, emphasizing the need for moderation and civic responsibility. (Continues on page 2)

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