NATIONAL LIBRARY TIRANA THE REQUEST OF THE ALBANIAN COMMUNISTS IS REJECTED The Austrian newspaper «Die Presse» reports that the Socialist International rejected the request of the Socialist (Communist) Party of Albania and that of Bulgaria to join it. Of course, we would not wish such news on any Albanian political force, and it cannot make anyone happy, including the Democratic Party of Albania. The hope would be that the entire pluralist Albanian political spectrum could be represented, as far as possible, in the relevant international organizations. The position of the Socialist International, although rejecting the request, is nevertheless essentially well-intentioned and constructive. It should serve as a lesson to the Social-Communists involved: Europe cannot accept them as they are, with a policy essentially unchanged from the past, with excuses readily found to oppose agreements with force, serving the state security apparatus, abandoning parliament, and so on. The Observer

The fatal Nolian threshold has been crossed Thus, six months have passed since the day when, with their free vote, our people drove from the front line of governing power the Communist-Socialist government, which for 50 years made their lives miserable with its monstrous, blood-soaked and anti-Albanian dictatorship, with its failed experiments and experiments that ignored the logic of circumstances, and with its Quixotic domestic and foreign policy. Six months is a short time in the four-year period for which we were entrusted with a vote of confidence, and also a long time. Nevertheless, we have every right to say loudly and with complete conviction that we have achieved a great deal in this short period. Improvements in public order and justice, although some nihilists and those who uphold the political methods and balances of the dictatorship do not have the courage to acknowledge them and cannot bring themselves to say so. Naturally, there are many troubling phenomena and events in this area, but we must also bear in mind several factors that will long obstruct a complete return to normal: the inherited climate, highly favourable to crime and corruption; the unsatisfactory cultural, professional, civic and democratic-political education of most law-enforcement employees; and the possibilities—and sometimes the actual consequences—of modern developments, etc. But we should remember that even in Enver’s time, in the supposedly «golden» 1980s, crime was high; censorship, threats and reprimands simply prevented people from speaking and writing openly, and from understanding what was happening. We must also bear in mind that even countries with democracy consolidated over decades, whose law-enforcement forces have had the most sophisticated means of their time, such as Germany, Switzerland, France, the USA, etc., are not immune to crime and corruption. On 22 March our economy was almost entirely paralysed, especially the industrial sector. Now, six months later, the picture has changed. Production has been under way for some time, employing most of the workers in geological and mining enterprises, the oil sector, light and food industries, and so on. With the arrival of large quantities of raw materials, the number of enterprises that have resumed work, and of employees saved from social assistance, will increase considerably. The countryside, in its first spring and summer in a democracy, has already felt the great fruits of the free-market economy. This year it has gained as much as, perhaps more than, it had received in 40 years of work in the cooperative. The greatest achievement of the DP is undoubtedly the beginning of reform. The DP was and is aware of the great historic burden it took upon itself, and of the problems and difficulties this would cause both it and the government, as well as the people. But economic reform is the only road to salvation, to free the market from the Communist inferno it had previously been subjected to. In the presentation of democracy, a large part of the people, victims of manipulation by the PS, dependent and poor, considered it excessive and did not understand, on 26 July, this act of conscious self-sacrifice by the DP for the sake of the country’s and nation’s highest interests. Over these six months, Parliament, where the DP holds a majority, passed a series of fundamentally democratic new laws, which are indispensable. They served the people and the state during this difficult period of transition and will have a great impact in the future as well. Among them we would single out the laws on land, on foreign investment, and others desired by us, by our diaspora and by the world, which wish to help us and invest here. By promptly supplementing them with several other laws directly concerning foreign investment, the way will be fully opened and made easier for serious and substantial investors. The government has also cleared the way for Albanian workers to find employment abroad. This is demonstrated by the departure some time ago of several relatively skilled groups for seasonal work or training in Germany, Switzerland and Croatia. We all wish their number were greater, but we must not forget that, through no fault of our own, we are very poor. If the Communist-Socialist rulers had wanted and made a serious effort to organize mass emigration two years earlier, Europe would have received us in the same way it received millions of Russians, Yugoslavs and Romanians. We must also not forget that some of our refugees, the lumpen elements among us, have terrorized those who gave them shelter and work, committing the most atrocious and destructive crimes and discrediting the image of Albanians and Albania in those countries and elsewhere. Naturally, these hooligans are few, but they demonstrate a great deal, because—as the saying goes—«when the good burns, the bad burns with it too». We have highlighted some of our government’s achievements in its first six months. Naturally, we wish they had been more numerous and more substantial, and had made this period more prosperous and memorable. The reasons why more was not accomplished should be sought in the Parliament’s immobility, which for days at a time has blocked, stalled and dragged things out like Penelope, passing some laws late. The government, too, has been very slow in preparing certain draft laws, has shown little accountability and weak oversight in the timely and proper implementation of decisions and laws, and in normalizing the functions of trade in goods and payment, etc. Some of its measures have been met with reservations and debate, such as the law on wages and those concerning taxes, political taxation and prices, etc. Without claiming perfection, it would be of broad interest to review and correct those decisions whose implementation reveals shortcomings and injustices. (Continued on page 3)

PRIME MINISTER MEKSI IN ITALY The Press and Information Office attached to the Prime Minister announces that, beginning on 24 September, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania, Aleksandër Meksi, will make a working visit to the Italian Republic at the head of a government delegation. During his visit to Italy, Mr Meksi will meet and hold talks with the highest-ranking Italian officials and, in particular, will have an extended working session with his Italian counterpart, Xhulio Amato. The Albanian delegation will include [unclear in the source] and will seek a policy of closer cooperation, especially in the economy, to address the difficult situation our country is currently experiencing. To this end, the Italian side will be asked to move towards the finalization of a number of agreements. After concluding his visit to Italy, Prime Minister Meksi will travel to Greece, to the Ionian port, where he will take part in the general debate of the 47th session of the UN General Assembly. A MILITARY DELEGATION VISITS TURKEY This morning, a high-level military delegation departed for Turkey aboard a special Turkish army aircraft. It is headed by the Chief of the General Staff of the Army, Lieutenant General Illa Vasho. Within the framework of the fraternal ties and relations, and the bilateral agreement on cooperation in military training, technology and science between Albania and Turkey, our military delegation, whose members include senior officers, will, according to Deputy Minister of Defence S. Mbrojtja, hold meetings and talks with the highest authorities of the Turkish army and visit military units and historic sites in Turkey. IN TIRANA: SEMINAR ON HEALTH SERVICES A one-day seminar entitled «Organization and Financing of Health Services» was held in Tirana. It is being organized under the auspices of the Ministry of Health, in cooperation with specialist doctors from the University of Montreal in Canada, the World Bank, and an audience of Albanian specialist doctors. The seminar is taking place at a time when health services in Albania need improvement in several areas. More than 50 doctors and specialists from around the country are expected to attend and discuss the future of health services.

At the Palace of Congresses in Tirana, the first consultative meeting on the creation of a Balkan Miners’ Union was held. The organizers of this meeting were the United Independent Union of Miners, Geologists and Workers of Albania. The opening address was given by Mr Gëzim Kalaja, chairman of SBPM-GJPSH. Among other things, he spoke of the importance of this meeting for our trade unions. The creation of this Balkan confederation is necessary because, beyond the standing of our miners, it represents the first link of unity with students and others, and a step in dismantling the foreign dictatorships of Eastern Europe. This meeting of trade-unionist miners also listened attentively to the greeting from Dimitri Dimo, president of Bulgaria’s “PODKREPA” Miners’ Federation. He stressed the importance of an inter-Balkan conference that could be held towards the end of November, with the participation of Romania, Bulgaria, Greece and Albania, the Turkish trade unions, and representatives of the miners’ unions of Trepça in Kosovo. Later, special tributes were paid at the meeting to the Independent Miners’ Union of Albania, to Mr Baki Kola and Mr Koço Pashku. Berisha offered warm and heartfelt greetings: «We hope to be at a future miners’ conference in Albania and that Albania will have the opportunity to organize...» You challenged those who thought that, unlike in Eastern Europe, the totalitarian system would not be overthrown here. In his speech, President Berisha emphasized that Albanians have loved, and continue to love, independence, because for 50 years their most fundamental human rights were trampled underfoot. We must remember that the poverty we inherited obliges us to carry out economic reform painfully. Now that we are in a democracy, we need confidence—in its ultimate victory as well. We must win the confidence of the people and the youth. We ask for your support. Your words and actions will help remedy the inequality imposed on us by our present poverty. At this working meeting, speeches were also given by Mr Abdy Xhaja, [title unclear] at the Ministry of Mines and Energy; Mr Noc Uel, director of the corporation; Mr [name unclear], of the Chromium [industry]; Mr Gëzim Dauli, Ramiz Balla, Vasil Grilla, Dyljeman Çuka, a participant in the hunger strike at the Valias mines, and others. At the close, Gëzim Kalaja assured the President of the Republic that the democratic leadership of SBPM-GJPSH would work with all its energy to curb the forces of reactionary elements seeking to seize power. We will never allow this democracy, won through supreme sacrifices, to be undermined and wrested from the miners and other genuinely democratic forces. The meeting continued its work on several other organizational matters. DYLJEMAN KARAJ

- 24 dead and 34 injured - In a conversation with Mr Hysni Malinë, a colonel in the MRP, we received truly shocking news. Nationwide, over a 15-day period—that is, from 1 to 15 September—30 road accidents occurred! A very high figure for us. In these successive accidents, 24 people of different ages, mostly young, died, while 34 others were very seriously injured, left wounded and badly maimed. Specialists from the road inspectorate believe that a series of factors caused this extraordinary tragedy of accidents. Among these, we single out the incompetence of many amateur drivers who operate vehicles, compounded by their generally euphoric state. The condition of our roads is very poor; most lack traffic signs, and even the roadside guide markers are missing. It is distressing that traffic lights are nowhere to be seen at many important intersections; they are even absent in the capital. In addition, our roads are too narrow for the now-increasing volume of car traffic, making it imperative to begin building the country’s main highways, running north–south and west–east. And finally, measures must also be taken on all 18 sides [unclear in the source], together with stricter enforcement of traffic rules. Fatos Lubonja commits the most shameful act for an intellectual. He calls President Berisha, elected by popular vote in Albania’s first democratic parliament, a second «Enver Hoxha». Such an accusation against President Berisha was made three months ago in Belgrade’s newspaper «Borba» by a senior official in Milošević’s cabinet. Lubonja, in a curious twist, deliberately cultivates Belgrade’s line, seeking to show that democracy in Albania is just another [unclear]. This is all the more confirmed by Lubonja’s tactics if we consider one fact: precisely when the American Institute for Human Rights honours our President Sali Berisha with its annual award, in Vienna and later in Tirana, Mr Lubonja challenges America and calls Berisha a dictator. Whom should we believe now, F. T. Lubonja or America? «E pavarur» and «Koha jonë» challenge the MPs Hajdari and Islam, who have repeatedly stated that they belong to neither faction nor «moderate» group. Suddenly, «esastisë», in its issue dated 10.9.1992, in the «sensational» report about the president’s candidacy at Tirana’s «Cupë Inteligjënte» club, says: «besides the well-known debaters Zogaj, Pashko, Imami, Çeka, Hajdari, Zoga, Demeti, Trako, Peshkëpia and many other …enemies» of the DP… So the «fathers of the nation» are inseparable in the press, parliament, cafés, parties, etc. Then whom do we believe, N. Lesi and his people, or Imami and Hajdari? Neritan Ceka declares in «KlJ» that many have to endure the dictates of a former Communist like Berisha, and that they voted for Berisha so that this [unclear] would serve [unclear], along with another category that Mr Ceka calls the «kissers» of monism. But [unclear] «KlJ» from the beginning of November. Arben Demeti [unclear] in Ko[ha]. This [unclear] challenges [someone] to make possible a [unclear] general boundary, rather than narrowing cooperation, especially in the economy, to address the difficult situations our country is currently experiencing. For this purpose, the Italian side will be asked to move towards the finalization of a number of agreements. It is expected that more than 50 specialist doctors will be present at this seminar and [unclear] the issues that are most [unclear].

Fatos Lubonja commits the most shameful act for an intellectual. He calls President Berisha, elected by popular vote in Albania’s first democratic parliament, a second «Enver Hoxha». Such an accusation against President Berisha was made three months ago in Belgrade’s newspaper «Borba» by a senior official in Milošević’s cabinet. Lubonja, in a curious twist, deliberately cultivates Belgrade’s line, seeking to show that democracy in Albania is just another [unclear]. This is all the more confirmed by Lubonja’s tactics if we consider one fact: precisely when the American Institute for Human Rights honours our President Sali Berisha with its annual award, in Vienna and later in Tirana, Mr Lubonja challenges America and calls Berisha a dictator. Whom should we believe now, F. T. Lubonja or America? «E pavarur» and «Koha jonë» challenge the MPs Hajdari and Islam, who have repeatedly stated that they belong to neither faction nor «moderate» group. Suddenly, «esastisë», in its issue dated 10.9.1992, in the «sensational» report about the president’s candidacy at Tirana’s «Cupë Inteligjënte» club, says: «besides the well-known debaters Zogaj, Pashko, Imami, Çeka, Hajdari, Zoga, Demeti, Trako, Peshkëpia and many other …enemies» of the DP… So the «fathers of the nation» are inseparable in the press, parliament, cafés, parties, etc. Then whom do we believe, N. Lesi and his people, or Imami and Hajdari? Neritan Ceka declares in «KlJ» that many have to endure the dictates of a former Communist like Berisha, and that they voted for Berisha so that this [unclear] would serve [unclear], along with another category that Mr Ceka calls the «kissers» of monism. But [unclear] «KlJ» from the beginning of November. Arben Demeti [unclear] in Ko[ha]. At the Extraordinary Conference of the DP, we learn that in February ’91, when Demeti opposed S. Berisha’s candidacy for party chairman, Ceka and Zogaj became his advocates. Further on, Demeti says that among the votes [unclear] were also those of Ceka, Zogaj, Imami, Trako, etc. So where does Neritan Ceka place himself and his colleagues? In the group of «servile people», «incompetent mediocrities» or «kissers of monism»???? Gramoz Pashko has decided to follow confidently in his father’s political footsteps. Thus, after the warning and admonition from 510 delegates to the DP Extraordinary Conference, concerning a historic trial and capital punishment in the future, still not satisfied, he repeats this action against the 95 MPs of the DP, PSD, PR and PBDNJ. Pashko, who had earlier warned all the inhabitants of Skrapar of an even harsher punishment—being surrounded by barbed wire, like a concentration camp—also carries out his latest act of pronounced dictatorial ambition. In recent days he gave an interview to a Greek newspaper, saying that after the dictatorship of «E. Hoxha», that of S. Berisha had been established—1. Thus Pashko, after calling for the imprisonment of 510 DP delegates and 95 members of parliament (including the government cabinet), and [unclear] the President of the Republic, truly declares, «A. Hajdari, a state trial is being set up in Albania! No, in society ...» Pashko as «the son of a prisoner». Is he really this enraged?! A. KRASNIQI