— Parliament under the blows of the socialist-motionist “artillery” — — The socialist-motionist tragicomic troupe presents Mr. Amami as its director — In their feverish campaign to sabotage the success of the historic mission undertaken by this great DP, and to discredit the DP and our democracy in general with slander, gossip and absurd accusations, the staff of the communist-socialist-motionist-security-service red army has ordered and, recently, has been directing the uninterrupted, concentrated attack on Parliament. According to their strategic plan, this is being carried out by combining individual attacks on DP deputies with an attack on them collectively as a group. The most powerful battery is concentrated in the four black pages of “ZP”. It spews “shells” without pause, which, instead of hitting their target, cause ricochets in the sand or among the piles of “ZP”. Although for six months they have been shouting themselves hoarse, raising the alarm about the revival of class warfare, the practice of opening files and the “witch hunt”, the socialist heralds and lawyers are exceedingly zealous and tireless in following Democratic deputies at every step, seeking to catch an abuse, mistake, “blunder” or slip of the tongue in their actions or words, and making a mountain out of a molehill. This is nothing other than a creative application of the Enverian practice of persecuting people even for an accidental—or deliberate—word, and of opening files... This is openly and purely a communist-socialist psychological dictatorship, whose purpose is to incite or signal a physical revanche, and to direct public opinion at home and abroad toward the imaginary danger of a right-wing dictatorship instead of the real danger of their own left-wing dictatorship, Stalinist-Enverian in spirit but dressed in a socialist cassock. The “independents”, motionists, have joined this chorus of cawing ravens and blood-and-doom-proclaiming cuckoos. After wandering from one compressor to another in the basements or offices of “hell”, at the call of their elders they returned to their old nests. Their voices, although deliberately modulated so as not to sound like the originals, quickly blended with those of the old, threadbare choristers of the communist-socialist tragicomedy. As it now seems and appears, Mr. Arben Imami has taken charge of directing it. His tales about the danger of a right-wing dictatorship by the DP, about violations of the law and human rights, and about the “usurpation” of the DP by right-wing extremists or “mediocrities” (as if he himself were a great intellectual with masterpieces, titles and international awards?) are quickly memorized and repeated in chorus by the red or pink parrots. Although he presents himself as a zealous defender of the law, he becomes a determined defense lawyer for the shining exemplars of legality, Maksim Haxhia and Luan Pobrati; he slanders and insults, in a manner punishable by law, anyone who is not part of his troupe or does not obey his will as sovereign director. The anti-Parliament spearhead reached its high point in the protracted, extremely politicized debate over the removal of deputy Azem Hajdari, when, at last, after a long absence, the face of comrade Fatos Nano was seen. Once again, Mr. Imami plays the role of merciless prosecutor against the DP, democracy and Parliament, and of an overly sentimental and tolerant defense lawyer for Mr. Hajdari. According to his logic, deputies enjoy constitutional protection and, under that protection, may do whatever they please; they may physically or morally trample any inferior person, as though that person were not a human being with honor and dignity. He called this debate a purely political matter, an attack on or political persecution of Mr. A. Hajdari by the DP. In doing so, he forgets—or deliberately leaves unmentioned—the fact that before the law we are all equal, and that the age of all-powerful Zeuses who could trample the law with both feet and escape punishment is over. No one wants to deny or minimize Mr. Hajdari’s role in the democratic processes, but it must not be forgotten that the victim, too, is a person with dignity, with per- ... ...of the socialist lawyers ... Inspired by the motionists’ pathos in their attack on Parliament, the idolizer of the PP and Enver Hoxha, the poet Dritëro Agolli, was not content with branding the DP group a “gang”; he added another insult, “baldies”, forgetting that he himself is a fervent redhead in both verse and conviction. All the socialists and motionists clung to Mr. Hajdari’s own interpretation of the debate over lifting his immunity—that it was a political issue or a political setup—as a drowning man clings to a straw. A victim of his own nature, he completely lost control of himself, going so far as to declare, “I am a ...” and “as such I know a lot of things”; that “someone who knows things can also ‘disappear’”; and that “from today on, no deputy should consider himself safe.” He becomes a “prophet” and, as such, issues the calls: “Take measures ... XHEVAT MUSTAFA (Continued on page 2) The originals, however, democracy and Parliament, and of a defense lawyer for ... [text continues outside the photographed section] ...his dignity as a member of the Tirana municipal council; several people witnessed the incident and will testify in court. Mr. Ridvan Peshkëpia released a balloon-like statement claiming that he himself, along with the DP and Parliament, is being “attacked” and “persecuted”; it is clear that he means himself as well. But he forgets that many genuine, upright people continue to be active in the DP leadership or as ordinary members, in the Democratic Youth Forum and elsewhere. Yet the incident involving his lofty pyramid casts only its own shadow, or that of those few friends bound to him by affection or ideals. Mr. Gramoz Pashko also attacked Parliament more fiercely, accusing it of a “witch hunt” against Mr. Hajdari and forgetting that Parliament ought to be the first mirror reflecting justice and the application of the law, and their principal shield. Perhaps, having long felt the fly under his cap, Mr. Pashko also foresees that sooner or later he himself will face trial before public opinion and the law. The calculation is clear: defend Azem now so I can defend myself tomorrow. Dritëro Ago- [text continues outside the photographed section]

In great haste, the media, especially the anti-democratic newspapers “ZP” and “KJ”, announced the creation of the new “ADA” party, a party of DP factionalists who left it because of their public anti-democratic positions and actions. This grouping of “distinguished intellectuals”, as they describe one another, dressed up as the “savior of the nation”, apart from its familiar scarecrows, includes such prominent political figures as “Çiftelia”, “Holta”, “Gjeli”, “Elektra”, “Shkëmbi”, etc. This party is joined by the “reformers” of SHIK, the deceivers of Parliament and Albania, such as Çeka, Pashko of the scandalous statements, A. Imami, for whose removal from “independence” the citizens of Tirana have collected tens of thousands of signatures, along with all those who lined up on the social-communist front as devoted allies and their advocates at every parliamentary session. The time they have chosen to form a new party is extremely telling. They are struggling to collect signatures because people are terrified by the statements of G. Pashko, by the political veterans of N. Çeka, by A. Imami, the lawyer for forgers, and by the friends of the Pobratëve, who are their close collaborators. People of free democratic thought are appalled by the monsters “Çiftelia”, “Elektra”, “Holta” ... etc.; by their ambition for power at any cost; by their determination to oppose democratic reform and international diplomatic cooperation, to oppose former prisoners and persecuted people of conscience, to oppose the student youth and all that the DP and democrats have built in these seven months of democracy. These “super-intellectuals” find it difficult to attack the petition of 182 intellectuals in defense of the DP and, at the same time, a sharp call against the SP and communism, with which the “moderate” group wanted—and is seeking—to form a coalition. The alliance between “independent” parliamentarians and socialist deputies goes so far that viewers see two Dokles, two Ruçes, two Islamis, two Nanos, two Metas, or two Imamis, two Pashkos, two Kekos, two Tetas... one among the “independents” and one within the SP itself! Every individual has the right to form a party, a right that no one has ever denied or is denying. The DP is not jealous of the creation of parties, but it would be more honest, more inte- [text continues below] ...a deeper plunge into crisis. That is why the 70 million ECU allocated by the European Community to cover the balance of payments (the export-import deficit; interest on foreign bank loans; and the budget) constitutes vital assistance for economic reform. With these 90 million dollars (the equivalent of 70 million ECU), our government can manage its relations with foreign financial institutions more easily. But it must never retreat from implementing a strict financial policy. Concessions in the policy of gradual formation of the lek, for example by once again issuing unjustified loans, would lead directly to increased inflation and loss of support from the IMF, the EC’s No. 1 adviser on aid to former socialist countries. The intertwining of narrow party interests with the implementation of economic reform has seriously damaged its credibility. But the fact that the first two months, among the most difficult, passed without general economic strikes paralyzing the country means that Albanians have accepted the reform. For the sake of the future, they accept the sacrifices of the present. But the present government must know not to lose the trust of ordinary people and the democrats who support it. If it loses the trust of the majority of the population, losing the trust of the IMF and the European Community will follow logically. FATOS ÇOÇOLI ...intellectually honest if the “Democratic Alliance” became, de facto, a party within the social-communist grouping, a grouping it has served with admirable determination and courage. Everyone is sufficiently intelligent to understand that economic reform and the rule of law are attacking the pseudo-democrats, former security-service agents, as well as socialist demagogues. The democratic world has excluded the latter from its political structures, while it sees the former as symbols of careerist, failed revanchist politicians and pseudo-intellectuals. This is evident not only in the broad and continuing support that the democratic world gives, with great intensity, to Albanian democracy—which the motionists call a dictatorship—but also in the allies these motionists find among Greek chauvinist circles. Europe’s assistance to Albania clearly shows whom it supports: the “dependent” and “independent” social-communists or the democrats in power; the supposedly corrupt pseudo-government or the democratic government; the infamous motion of the security-service agents or the economic and institutional reform being successfully carried out in Albania. Nano’s socialists and Çeka’s “independents” are left writing letters, statements and petitions all over Europe. The SP’s hangers-on continue publishing articles and statements by anti-Albanian Greek nationalists in their newspapers. It is precisely from these circles in Greece that they get material for the press, “sensational” stories, press statements and banquets of “patriotism”, while not forgetting to applaud Albanian democracy with “Fhesa”-type operations. The formation of the new “Democratic Alliance” party also seems to serve them as a shield, to save them from the sins they have committed, because having once been witnesses in court, they can see that the time is approaching. People are intelligent enough to distinguish democrats from social-communists. People believe in democracy and justice, which the DP has promised them and is delivering, even though certain power maniacs are attacking democracy in every way. Time will prove the justice of democratic politics and the strength of the democratic rule of law. The Observer.

Caught up in the whirl of everyday troubles, we often fail to notice the effects of economic reform. During these two months since it began on a broad scale, results that will lead to its success have become clearly visible. The state has substantially reduced its military and civilian spending, without burdening ... [text continues outside the photographed section]

The Minister of Defense attends the opening of the academic year at the capital’s Military Academy. On the occasion of the start of the new academic year, the Minister of Defense, Mr. Safet Zhulali, visited the “Skënderbeu” Land Military Academy on the morning of 1 October. After the formation had been presented, the Minister of Defense spoke. Among other things, he said that this academic year was beginning with a reform of the military education system, and that teachers and students would therefore have the opportunity to shape the army’s future. The army, Mr. Zhulali continued, had been isolated in the field of education as well, but that isolation had now ended; in this context, military personnel must shed the mindsets of dictatorship. Military reform, he emphasized, is not directed by a single person, but by a group of military officers in accordance with the laws... The reform is moving forward and further important steps will be taken. To this end, the working group is preparing a package of laws, such as the one on the structure of the army, which will be submitted to Parliament and the Defense Council. Mr. Zhulali went on to stress the need to establish the military hierarchy as its backbone, along with discipline and order. He underlined that consolidating the army requires identifying the most capable officers and assessing their qualifications not through words but through concrete assignments, drawing on experience. Opportunities for specialization abroad, the Minister of Defense said, are open to everyone; candidates will be assessed through competition on the basis of commitment and professional ability. Mr. Zhulali urged that maximum attention be paid to the psychological welfare of military personnel and that appropriate units be established in schools and military installations. Under these circumstances, to improve school textbooks we should draw on the army’s experience to date and keep retired military personnel and those affected by the reform close to us; the will of whom ... The Ministry of Defense’s press office

On Wednesday, September 29, 1992, the Agreement on the restructuring of Albanian agriculture, known as SARA, was signed between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Albania. The agreement was signed by the United States Ambassador in Tirana, William Ryerson; the Representative of the Agency for International Development, Dianne Blane; and the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food, Llazar Korra. The project aims to strengthen the abilities of the private and public sectors to develop market-oriented policies, institutional arrangements, and technological renewal in the agricultural sector, which increase the production of food supplies and people’s access to them. The project will facilitate developments in agriculture, the effectiveness and efficiency of agribusiness by establishing appropriate policies and, through them, an enabling economic environment for the development of food security as part of the first broad market-oriented economic growth plan. To this end, the project has been designed to have distinct but mutually supporting components: Agricultural Market Development; Agricultural Policy and Research; Agribusiness Development; and Strengthening the Agricultural University. The project will consist of three types of assistance: 1. Technical assistance, including policy, management, and technical advisers for public- and private-sector agencies, organizations, and entities in the fields of agricultural food security, agribusiness, and natural resource management. 2. Assistance with training in the above fields. 3. Assistance with various equipment related to this project. This agreement will provide training and technical assistance, including equipment, for both the short and long term through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the Agricultural University, and other public and private entities interested in developing the land market, policies for an environmentally clean agricultural sector, agricultural research, private agribusiness, sustainable management of natural resources in agriculture, and strengthening the Agricultural University. To implement this project, the United States of America, acting through the Agency for International Development (A.I.D.), is making a fund of 25 million dollars available to the Albanian party, of which 5 million will be disbursed immediately.

THE EDITORIAL OFFICE