Objective of the financial police: These days, the expanded active service of the Financial Police held its proceedings at the Ministry of Economy and Finance; it conducted a nine-month review and set out the tasks facing it in the future. The report presented on this occasion highlighted the commitment of the police officers to ensuring the investigative, supervisory and preventive force needed to counter unlawful acts that harm the interests of the state and individuals. Thus, over the nine-month period nationwide, 30,474 decisions imposing fines and seizures were issued, with a value of 234,617,650 lekë. The largest number of fines and seizures concerned the conduct of private activities without a permit, which accounted for 26 percent of violations, or 5.1 million lekë. However, all these figures are only figures for reports, because in fact the money has not been collected from the offenders. Thus, with the exception of the Financial Police branches in Gjirokastër, Has, Sarandë, Peshkopi, Kavajë and Durrës, the branches in the other districts have alarmingly low collection figures. Kruja, for example, has collected only 13 percent of the fines and seizure penalties; Tirana 14 percent, Lushnja 23 percent, etc. Figures like these point to formalism and a lack of responsibility in these branches. As a relatively new institution, the Financial Police faces subjective obstacles stemming both from a lack of knowledge of the law and from the penetration of certain financial... [text unclear] It is especially necessary for them to be more free of these attitudes. Otherwise, the road to privatization will be difficult. A Financial Police officer must not be someone who goes to carry out an inspection with prejudice and jealousy. A good officer is one who goes to inspect with the sincere expectation that they will find no violations. Such an officer will always be more perceptive than the private operator. Both fines and seizures must be firmly grounded in law, and large amounts should be imposed only in cases of repeated violations. If every day I were to return driven by jealousy toward those who become wealthy, then we would not have a financial police force but a gang of economic terror. Coordination of work: financial police, state audit... Although some speakers said that certain other fiscal bodies were encroaching on the remit of the Financial Police, the general view was that these bodies should coordinate their work—specifically the tax and customs branches and the State Audit. The growth of private activity has made it essential to improve the quality of inspections, especially at customs points. There, livestock codes are particularly often repeated [unclear], cigarettes are smuggled through, and food aid, fuel, fish, etc. are taken out of the country. More alarming, however, has been the recent passage of drugs through the Kakavijë customs point into Greece, which was not intercepted by the authorities. Representatives from the respective districts also spoke and offered valuable ideas for future work. Here are some of them: Gjirokastër branch: We have organized work in two shifts. We have deliberately not taken action against those selling basic consumer goods at liberalized prices. There are no transport tickets. A passenger is given 10 low-value tickets to make up the full cost of the journey. Foreigners who come to Gjirokastër find it difficult to exchange currency. The main private activity takes place on the streets, because those who have bought the shops do not have capital. Osman Şafa, Durrës: The humanitarian aid goods that we inspect when they enter Durrës are later seen in the market. These goods, improperly appropriated, put genuine and honest traders at a disadvantage. — Traders in the free market do not have licenses. — The Financial Police should be provided with uniforms and weapons. Niko Rrapi, Korçë: Sugar that is below standard and contains chloride is entering through the customs point. Customs officers should attend a course of at least two months. Head of the Laç branch: — In Milot, a food shop does not return the money for basic consumer goods. They owe the state the sum of 800,000 lekë; our powers overlap and duplicate those of the vehicle-use inspectorate. Bardhok Prenga, Mirditë: [fragment unclear] the chairman of the PDSH, Mr. Eduard ... Taking the floor at the conference, ... [fragment unclear] it is essential not only to move faster, but also to see better results and... percent in Lushnja, 23 percent, etc. Such figures departments. factors rooted both in a lack of knowledge of the law and in the infiltration of some unscrupulous employees, who are plagued by jealousy toward privatization. The fact that, of the 554 complaints examined in the nine-month period, 11 percent were deemed justified by the higher authorities shows that the concern is real. Let us learn about privatization and encourage it. Mr. Genc Ruli, Minister of Economy and Finance, placed strong emphasis precisely on these concerns. People, he said, do not change as quickly as the laws do. Through inertia, they will continue to act according to mindsets that have been entrenched for years. The task is to uproot these mindsets gradually. As in all the countries of the East, here too, one in every five people—from the ordinary person right up to ministers and beyond—has a kind of anticapitalist mindset. The financial police inspectors— control. This is especially true at customs checkpoints. There are still cases involving livestock-code violations, cigarette smuggling, and the removal across the borders of food aid, fuel, fish, etc. But most concerning has been the passage of drugs into Greece in recent days through the Kakavijë customs checkpoint, which customs failed to intercept. 200 million lek of state money in private hands (!) One of the concerns raised at the meeting was the fact that shopkeepers selling basic-basket goods do not deposit the money they collect. Thus, nationwide, around 200 million lek belonging to the state for basic-basket goods sold are currently in private hands. Naturally, this is not a matter of negligence by these trade employees: the money from basic-basket items serves as a convenient, illegal loan that is very useful to private operators. But if they openly violate the law, if they contribute to plundering the state treasury, someone must tell them «stop» these actions. And that is the financial police. Discussions Many district-branch heads who spoke raised concerns— cigarettes, which customs failed to intercept. Bardhok Prenga, Mirditë: - The Copper Plant in Rubik is causing us trouble. It buys copper from individuals who, driven by the prospect of profit, cut telephone lines, electric motors at pumping stations, etc., to get the copper wire. In other words, they steal from the state and sell it to the state! - The bank refuses to collect our fines. The head of the Ballsh branch: - There is corruption in the oil sector. Eduart K., Elbasan: - The commercial enterprises have been broken up, while their business vehicles are now being used by private operators. - Foreign oil, a group of friends, each with his own car, sell it here in Albania and then all leave in one car. This is done to avoid customs duty. All these concerns that were raised were discussed at length, and specific tasks were also assigned. ZEF LLESHI

TIRANA The success of reforms in Russia is important for all of Europe President Berisha meets the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Albania, Mr. Nerubajllo “We consider the success of democratic reforms in Russia to be of very great importance not only for Russia and the new Eastern democracies, but for all of Europe and the world,” President Berisha stressed at his meeting with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Albania, Mr. Viktor Nerubajllo. The meeting also discussed prospects for cooperation between the two countries, which are experiencing similar difficulties on the path toward building a market economy and free enterprise. The Russian ambassador informed President Berisha about the efforts being made by the Russian President and government to further deepen economic reform, and about their desire to develop relations with Albania in every field. He emphasized that work was under way to conclude a treaty of understanding and friendship, which could be signed in Moscow by the presidents of both countries. For his part, President Berisha stressed that he was following the progress of democratic reforms in Russia with great attention and strongly supported the efforts of President Jelcin and the Russian government to advance these reforms further. “I express,” he said, “my conviction that President Jelcin will be supported by all democratic reformist forces, and we are convinced that the economic and political reform he is implementing will not be obstructed by Russia’s conservative and national-communist forces.” In this regard, the support that the current President Bush, his successor Bill Klinton, and other governments are giving to Russia was also very encouraging. President Berisha also stressed that Albania would make every effort to develop relations between the two countries, and gladly accepted the invitation to visit Moscow.

SECOND CONFERENCE OF THE PD DIBËR BRANCH MR. EDUARD SELAMI ATTENDS The second conference of the Dibër branch of the PD was held in the city of Peshkopi. Participants included the chairman of the Democratic Party of Albania, Mr. Eduard Selami; the party’s secretary, Mr. Tomor Dosti; the Minister of Defence, Mr. Safet Zhulali; the area’s MP; representatives of other political forces and independent trade unions; and representatives of Albanian parties in Macedonia. In its review of the branch’s work over the past year, after assessing its achievements in the two election campaigns and in reorganizing the PD Dibër branch, the conference examined the relationship between those elected under the PD banner and the PD itself. Those elected in the name of the PD—from MPs and ministers to local-level officials—are all part of its activity and cannot consider themselves detached from the PD platform and program. After all, on 22 March and 26 July, the people voted first and foremost for the PD and its program. Speaking about the progress of reform and privatization, Mr. Selami noted that reform, although a very difficult and courageous undertaking, has begun and the first signs of change are becoming visible. Nevertheless, to achieve better results and deepen the work on privatization, creating conditions for foreign investment, and the justice system. The fight against corruption is progressing very slowly, and [unclear text] today, because the justice bodies have still not been reformed. Likewise, since it is not a party of former owners and people who were dispossessed, it is unjustifiable to create social tensions, since nothing serious has yet been done to recognize the rights of former owners, both with regard to land and in other areas, within the PD program, which provides for a fair and socially just solution to this problem. The conference elected the branch’s new leadership; Mr. Mirush Mati was elected chairman by a majority vote. PD Press and Information Office

Yesterday, in one of the halls of the Palace of Congresses, the newly formed Democratic Alliance party held a press conference. Journalists, MPs from the PS and others attended. At the outset, the party’s spokesperson gave an outline of the program the party would implement, emphasizing, among other things, that PAD would commit itself to peace and social justice, fair political competition, a state governed by laws, resolving today’s contradictions through dialogue, and implementing institutional, economic and cultural reforms. “The Democratic Alliance,” it was further stated, “respects the current political status and the legal institutions that emerged from the elections of 22 March. It will be a constructive opposition.” The PAD representatives then answered questions from journalists. Asked whether the PAD parliamentary group had consulted its electorate about the formation of this group, Al-imami replied that they had been elected in single-member constituencies, “and besides, we have given it the name of our former party. So the votes received by the PD were also received because of our name,” and the law does not prohibit moving from one parliamentary group to another. Regarding their position on the PD program, for which the former PD members, now members of PAD, ...

At last — symbols kept apolitical! “Flag Day is approaching!” For the sake of truth, it must be said that something is amiss: although we are nearing the end of the second millennium of our era, we are still discussing the authenticity of national symbols. Indeed, on Thursday morning, in a plenary session, our People’s Assembly heard the report of the standing committee on symbols, presented by its vice-chairman, the Socialist Xhevat Lloshi. Let us say from the outset that this committee has not done serious work so far; it had not even managed to clarify or grasp what burden it had taken upon itself: determining the national symbols[?] or the state symbols, because it is well known that the state is one thing and the Albanian nation another! Scattered across three other republics as well, not to mention other borders, not to mention the diaspora... And also from this (Continued on page 4)

NIKOLLË LESI: «..., when things had become more complex with political pluralism, I wanted to join the ranks of the Party of Labour fully, convinced of its justness...» Read below: Autobiographical application for admission to the Party My name is Nikoll Lesi, Nikoll Pal Lesi. I was born on August 6, 1963, in the village of Spiten. After completing the eight-year school in Spiten, I attended the «Hidajet Lezha» secondary school in the city of Lezhë, graduating in 1981. I was then also given the right to pursue studies at the Faculty of Natural Sciences in Tirana, in the physics department. During my student years I was secretary of the department’s youth committee. Later I was a member of the Youth Committee of the UT department, and during the last two years I headed the «Studenti» city council, a duty I tried to perform well. I completed my studies in 1987. I was appointed to the eight-year school in Zhejment as a physics teacher. I continued there until February 22, 1988. From that date until today I have continued working as an editor at the newspaper «Koha Jonë», the organ of the District Party Committee. During this time I have tried to work well and produce articles of the highest possible quality and objectivity. Nevertheless, I have also had fluctuations, which led to the point where the Party organization of the District Party Committee apparatus issued me a severe reprimand. I tried to expunge this measure, and evidence of this work was the decision of the Party organization in question at the turning-point session to lift the measure. After this period I published articles and reports of above-average quality in the central press, as well as new articles in the local newspaper. My defense before the High Commission for the Attestation of Journalists—

SIMPLICITY... A notice about an unexpected [visit?]. After a few minutes we were travelling outside the town, onward to the west, toward the sea... Lunchtime was approaching. We were in the car, on the road. The party leader took bread and three slices of cheese out of his bag. “Here, let’s eat together,” one of us said. He smiled. And the three of us—Tomori, Afrimi and I—shared it. As we ate, enjoying it all the more, our thoughts turned to communist simplicity—as much vaunted by the former red leaders. Just imagine for a moment the magnificent lunch awaiting the No. 2 of the PPSH: figures such as R. Alia; S. Stefani, M. Myftiu, or comrade Pali when they went to a meeting, gathering or conference outside Tirana. (So much so that the people made up verses like this: “Come out, lambs, from the canal, for comrade Pali has gone away.” How long the motorcade that escorted them was, how many security men kept watch along the roads far and wide in case they took a bullet to the forehead from the people who “loved them and were so dearly loved by them”; how much false pomp, without bread...! Meanwhile, our single car travelled freely, across democratic Myzeqe and onward through the hills of Mallakastër to Ballsh, to the kind and hardworking Mallakastriots.