Speech by Mr. Sali Berisha at the meeting of the Council of Ministers, 27. 10. 1992 . The decision to privatize the farms is an extremely important act for the development of our free agriculture. The farms, which in their entirety perhaps represent 50 percent of the qualitative potential of our agriculture, were turned into nobody’s land, nobody’s property. In reality, even when they were planted, they were not harvested; in many cases they remained fallow or were burned. On many of them, production this year fell by between 5 and 10 times. The contrast between their wretched condition and the land given to the peasants was great; it was like the difference between the old collective world and the new one based on the free-market economy. The privatization of agricultural farms marks the end of Stalinist Sovietization on Albanian soil. The Albanian peasant now becomes the master of his land and his home. The government’s decision on this issue is of great importance on the path of reform, which, I repeat once again, stands above the parties. In fact, the privatization of the farms has been supported by all the parties in the governing and parliamentary spectrum, and I greatly appreciate this. Therefore, I also ask for the assistance of all elected officials, councillors and members of parliament in carrying it out swiftly. This decision will give land to the peasants in accordance with the law approved by parliament, which, although not perfect, will be implemented with complete rigor. From time to time, rumors are spread that the law will be amended. I assure you that our focus on agriculture, viewed realistically, is right: it not only solves the major problem of 2–3 of the population, but will also ensure the certain success of agricultural reform, increase agricultural and overall production, reduce inflation, increase exports, and strengthen confidence in reform. Thus, Albanian peasants, just as they are equal before God, become equal before the law; they receive the land that is theirs, and they and their families will enjoy it. In this process, every plot of land, every olive tree, walnut tree or vineyard will henceforth have its own owner. Through farm privatization, we are not only freeing hundreds and thousands of workers from welfare assistance, because by giving them land they will no longer need to live on assistance; at the same time, we will help hundreds and thousands of urban families who, because of their ties to the farms around the city, will benefit by receiving land in some places, olive groves, vineyards, orchards, etc. in others. This will also bring undeniable relief to our cities. The decision to give land also to all former agricultural officials is of particular importance. The importance of this lies, first, in the fact that by giving them land we free them from welfare assistance and eliminate uncertainty about the future for these intellectuals and their children and families. But the greatest importance of this decision lies above all in introducing advanced, scientific thinking onto hundreds and thousands of plots of land and transforming them into laboratories for agricultural scientific experimentation. Agricultural intellectuals, who until yesterday were undervalued and trampled upon by the chairman or brigade leader, will have the opportunity to display and put their scientific knowledge to the test by creating a model farm, a positive example for their village and for the whole countryside. I am convinced that, with their intellectual potential, they will give a powerful impetus to the development of our free agriculture; but in this case we must bear in mind that, to play this role, these intellectuals must be given priority assistance with all technical and financial means. The swift and accurate completion of the farm-privatization process is a major test for local and central government, the law-enforcement agencies, the electorate and all of us. But I am convinced that we will carry out this task quickly and successfully. [Fragment of an article cut off at the upper edge] ... of the parties and the greedy government, and I value this greatly. representatives, councilors, and deputies to implement it quickly. will be implemented with full rigor. From time to time, rumors spread that the law will be modified. I assure you that it will only be implemented, and with full strictness this time as well, with the division of the farms. This law has found considerable support not only among Albania’s peasantry, but also in international institutions, which have analyzed and assessed it. The decision to privatize the farms will make thousands more Albanian families landowners, significantly broadening the basis of the reform, bringing them joy and creating great security for their future.

The President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, received the chairman of the International Development Agency, Mr. Roskens. Mr. Berisha thanked his guest for the continued American assistance and assured him that it would be used effectively. He briefed Mr. Roskens on the steps taken so far by the Albanian government to privatize a broad area, a process that is being prepared. He asked the American official for his Agency’s help in addressing the issue of city–village trade, as well as through the further delivery of certain goods such as oil, cotton, soybeans, etc. Mr. Roskens said that these requests from the Albanian side were being actively considered. He added that the American government had decided to provide Albania with 1 million dollars’ worth of medicines and medical assistance. Mr. Roskens emphasized that President Berisha’s visit to the USA had created a very positive attitude in American political circles, and that they had great respect for him as President and leader.

At the meeting between President Berisha and Mr. Domenil Zholi of France’s Social Assistance organization and Mr. Benedekt Rëne, chairman of the French Order of Physicians, they expressed their gratitude for the assistance they are providing in restructuring the Albanian healthcare system. The meeting also discussed increasing contacts in the medical field between Albanian and French colleagues, bearing in mind the tradition that exists between the two countries in this field.

— Prime Minister Meksi receives Guido De Marko — Prime Minister Aleksandër Meksi received Malta’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Guido De Marko. After thanking him for the visit, Mr. Meksi spoke about the efforts of the new Albanian government to carry out reforms and overcome the difficulties facing our country. Albania and Malta, he said, as two Mediterranean countries, have common interests and are factors for peace and stability in the region. We must work together to strengthen ties between the two countries, not only in the political sphere but also in the economic sphere, creating opportunities for Maltese investment in Albania. Mr. De Marko pointed out some areas of cooperation between the two countries, such as transport, tourism, employment, and the awarding of scholarships to Albanian students, etc. Mr. De Marko invited Mr. Meksi to visit Malta. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alfred Serreqi, and others also attended the meeting.

Talks were held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs between the Albanian delegation and the Maltese delegation. Minister Serreqi expressed his pleasure at Guido De Marko’s visit and considered his coming to Albania for the second time to be proof of the friendly sentiments of the Maltese government and people towards the Albanian government and people. “Now I find Albania engaged in its struggle for democracy,” Guido De Marko said, among other things. “Our histories have many things in common. We, too, have had great difficulties in building democracy. During the transition period, thousands of Maltese had to leave the country.” He went on to discuss Malta’s economic development and its prospects, and the importance tourism has for the country, among other things, as a major source of income.

— Total assistance from this Community to Albania exceeds 280 million ECU (about 365 million dollars) — The European Community Commission’s announcement states that the agreement on trade and trade and economic cooperation between the European Community and Albania, which was signed on 11 May in Brussels and approved by the Albanian Parliament on 6 October, was concluded by the European Community on that same day and will enter into force on 1 December. It constitutes a first step 40 million ECU (slightly more than 50 million dollars). This amount is added to the previous amounts that have financed the food aid distributed so far, or currently being distributed. The full value of the Community’s food aid to Albania thus reaches 136 million ECU (177 million dollars). The completed quantities of ... the European Community should ... the agreement on trade and commercial force on 1 December. It constitutes the first step on the path toward Albania’s progressive rapprochement with the European Community. On the other hand, in accordance with what was stated during the G-24 meeting in Tirana in July, the European Community, in order to ensure the possibility of food aid for Albania, decided to allocate an additional quantity of ... for this aid. (Continued on page 3) ... of agriculture and yesterday undervalued. In a ... mentioned ... E...an Community ... Quantities of ... The products distributed, or currently being distributed, are: 351,850 tons of wheat, 71,000 tons of flour, 2,000 tons of durum wheat flour, 20,000 tons of meat, 2,500 tons of butter, 10,000 tons of powdered milk, and 2,000 tons of rice. Food aid, the announcement continues, is only part of ...

- Some former PD deputies today represent no political program and cannot defend anyone’s interests in parliament - The word “independent” is undoubtedly the most preferred and most frequently used these days. “Independent newspaper,” “Independent Association,” the independent intellectual, etc. Some time ago, the departure of several deputies from the PD parliamentary group added the concept of “independent deputy” to the string of independents. In itself, the concept of an independent deputy is acceptable and means that a particular person has stood for election with the program of a party that won votes for that person in a particular constituency. As for the deputies who have today emerged as independents in the Albanian parliament, the concept of independent does not fit what was described above. They entered parliament as PD deputies, and voters voted for them so that these deputies would defend their (the voters’) interests within the bounds of implementing the PD program. In fact, today the “independent deputies” have and implement no political program, nor any other program of their own. At least so far, they have not announced any program. But even if they come forward with a new program, they must present it to voters to obtain their approval, whereas the fact is that, with the exception of G. Pashko, who says he has met with voters, none of the other deputies proclaimed independent has met with voters since leaving the PD parliamentary group. So whom do these deputies represent in parliament, apart from themselves? Nevertheless, even if they were to raise their constituents’ concerns in parliament, would they be able to defend their interests with only their own votes? In practice, then, voters have no interest in being represented by a deputy who will not find the support of others. Perhaps such lengthy reasoning is unnecessary when it is enough to mention the fact that these deputies received voters’ support after promising that in parliament they would defend the PD program. Today, in reality, they have become opponents of the PD parliamentary group, which means they no longer perform the function for which voters sent them to parliament; indeed, in a way, it can be said that they have deceived the voters. Unfortunately, whether they want to or not, their actions suit the socialists. We say unfortunately because we consider it a misfortune that the ego and careerist fever of some have turned into such political short-sightedness that even ideas like these are accepted (also expressed in the press by some so-called independent intellectual): “the socialists are not a problem, because communism has disappeared; only the PD is a problem, so it is better for the PS to win than the PD.” These are not ideas the voters who gave them their votes ever held, nor do they hold them now. Nevertheless, these deputies may claim (as they said at the National Council) that they are implementing the true PD program, which others have distorted. But then how would they explain their creation of a party with a program different from that of the PD? “By simple logic, these deputies should no longer have been in parliament once they left the PD group, but, as it happens, logic conflicts with the law. Legally, their mandate cannot be taken away, and this is where a paradox arises that must be resolved. Based on the election results (that is, legally), the PD parliamentary group should be represented by 92 deputies. With the departure of the group of deputies in question, the PD no longer has the number it normally had, while a parliamentary group belonging to a party that did not take part in the elections at all may appear in parliament—and all of this happens legally. Thus, as can be seen, the law, which should first and foremost provide a reasonable solution to problems, in this case conflicts with reason. In any case, laws are set by parliament and must be improved. Historically, in ... [text partly illegible/cut off]. Thus it has happened with laws that regulate ... or laws that have been improved or new laws have been enacted when a certain objective presents a ... [illegible fragment]. This is also how states where democracy has been consolidated for decades act. Specifically, Germany had a law on refugees, but, faced with the present situation, it is obliged to improve this law, which in its existing form does not meet the logic of the times. Therefore, our parliament, too, must find a solution to the case in question. Even if it cannot take away the mandates of the deputies who left, at the very least it should assign a PD deputy to the constituencies that voted for the PD, because the fact that the former PD deputies changed their position toward it does not mean that their voters underwent the same change. Therefore, since by the logic of everyone and not merely the logic of one party, interests have been affected (as someone might say), such a solution would be normal; there is no reason to fear improving the laws! This does not constitute any violation. Every party should have as many deputies in parliament as the people’s votes have given it. EDI PALOKA

I read with pleasure the first issue of the newspaper «Lajmetari» and was glad that the talented people running this newspaper had honored their first edition with your article. But I was stunned when, between the lines of many ... [unclear] ... I saw the malice that you, a man of God, had poured upon Mr. Arbnori, one of the symbols of Albanian dissent. I read the article several times, because I could not trust my eyes and could scarcely convince myself it was true. You, the hero of the communist prison, you who were the first to set out on the path of reconciling us with God, you ... had tried to insult a man and perhaps unwittingly had impugned the dignity of hundreds and thousands of victims of the red hell. You accused Pjetër Arbnori, one of the conscious opponents of Albanian communism; you tried to smear the man from whom the dictatorship had stolen 28 years of life (as many as it stole from you); you said something that today no Albanian believes. But let us suppose for a moment that it is as you say. I would ask: is it fitting for a holy missionary to say such a thing? Especially since you describe how he came and confessed to you. How is it possible for a good priest to publish a sinner’s confession? Could this be professional amateurism, or professional malice? In any case, you have insulted your brother, my Father. If you will not take this amiss, I would tell you: leave politics aside, since the mission you have is enough for you—to bring God’s word to people. So take those words back, Father, if you do not want God to become angry with you. Yours sincerely, SPIRO LITO

[Text cut off at the upper edge] ...tressed to Don Simon Ju- ...bani

DO NOT SQUANDER THE MISSION, MY FATHER