- Prime Minister Aleksandër Meksi declares - Deepening administrative reform remains one of the primary tasks of the democratic government in the year we have just entered, Prime Minister Aleksandër Meksi said in recent days. He said: “We are working with the World Bank on a comprehensive restructuring of the Albanian administration. At the same time, all those who have shown over these months that they are not devoted, in the good sense of the word; do not wish to engage with the reform and have their minds on other political work or private business, have no place in the state administration. They will be dismissed. On the other hand, the Government has decided that around 10 to 20 percent of staff in budget-funded institutions will be cut, in order to increase revenue for investments and other work. Regarding the fight against corruption, Prime Minister Meksi emphasized that the State Control Service, whose main task, alongside carrying out audits responsibly, is to work on this matter. We intend to conduct a general review in mid-January of how the President's decree has been implemented. This work has begun, and we say that there will be results. Unfortunately, corruption will be a concern in a market economy, just as the fight against it will always remain a constant in the government's work. (ATSH)

- Reprinted from the magazine «Mërgimi», published in Switzerland - Even our diaspora has become a target to be steered, to be diverted from the path of national unity and the issue of major interests. But who is carrying out this attack? Who has this objective? We can say with complete certainty that this new attack is being organized by those same communist-Enverist opportunists and others of the same ilk: those who kept the diaspora in complete isolation for seven months; those who separated mother from son, brother from brother; those who branded economic emigrants and others with patriotic and democratic convictions as «enemies». Now they appear on the diaspora scene embracing one another emotionally, dressed in a new, «socialist» suit. The diaspora's public must be informed and must understand as clearly as daylight that the socialists of Fatos Nano, Bashkim Zeneli and Namik Dokle have nothing whatsoever to do with the left-wing socialist group of Western Europe. The Party of Labour of Albania, as the direct expression of the power of Enver Hoxha's dictatorship, one fine day changed only its name and copied a socialist program, solely in order to continue its anti-communist path. This becomes clearer if you read even a few days' worth of newspapers published in Albania, or hear the positions taken by socialist MPs in Parliament. The central organ of this Party, «Zëri i popullit», continues to this day to strive under the so-called communist... socialist banner of respect. Thus it does so for a traitorous figure such as Kristo Themelko, with his Slavic commissars, beginning with the pseudonym he used during the War, «shulja», which in Albania denotes the Slavic tribe. Well, if you look at the practical political activity of these sinners inside Albania, you will understand that nothing has changed in the life of this Party, all the more so because this Party is led by Nexhmie Hoxha's former close collaborator at the Institute of ... ... targeted in prisons: patriotic nationalists, young men from Kosovo who came to the mother country to fight for liberation from Serbia, but in reality were arrested and continued the prison sentence they had begun in Yugoslavia. One of these was Bashkim Zeneli's father. And his son cannot depart from these bloodstained, anti-Albanian tracks. Their leader and the meetings they organized in the diaspora, in Switzerland, are a continuation of the many secret emissaries who came to the diaspora on various assignments, sometimes private, sometimes commercial, sometimes cultural, all of them paid by the Albanian state Security Service. Speculating on people's national feelings and generous hearts in the diaspora, playing on our longing for our homeland and conveying striking fraternal slogans, they think they can escape the responsibility they bear before the nation and its people. They are so «socialist» that, to the diaspora's misfortune, they revel in nostalgia for Enver and Marxism-Leninism. For Albanians wherever they are, who understand clearly that the 50 years of communism were 50 years of crimes against Albania and the Albanians, it is no great loss—indeed, it is only temporary—that there are still people in the diaspora who have not been made aware of the crimes of communist-Enverism. But what concerns us is the urgent need to expose and denazify those people paid by the Albanian State Security Service, which means people collaborating with the UDB. We hope that soon our democratic state, Parliament, Government and esteemed President will bring into the light of day the names of those people who until now have been masked by patriotic farces and concrete anti-socialist activity. The democratic state in Albania considers the diaspora part of its body, a limb of the Albanian body. It is against the deception of the diaspora's sinners, the fraudsters, the ordinary people who often hide ordinary financial aims behind patriotic phrases. In its work with the diaspora, the democratic state first adheres to international legislation governing communities in the countries where our diaspora lives. Secondly, our esteemed President, Mr Berisha, by announcing the most democratic measure, dual citizenship, opened the way for all of us to see what is happening in Albania, not only as tourists but also by taking part in economic and political life. At the same time, to Albania's diplomatic missions around the world, the democratic state is sending and appointing people who are not only capable and knowledgeable, but who have suffered political persecution and struggled against the communist dictatorship. Thus, in the diaspora, in its communications and gatherings, whenever they are held and funded, those who appear are people with the moral right to do so, people who fight for Albanian identity and with their sins? the treacherous figure such as that of Kristo Themellko, with Slavic ethnicity, which in Albania denotes Slavic ethnicity. Well, if you look at these sinners inside Albania in the practical arena of political activity, is led by Fatos Nano, a former collaborator of Nexhmije Hoxha’s regime at the Marxist-Leninist Studies Institute, who, together with his father, the Orthodox man named Thanas Nano, belongs to one of the families that had and still has the dictator Enver Hoxha’s pledge of loyalty. Fatos Nano’s father, after the infamous blows dealt to the Albanian intelligentsia in 1974, and despite having retired, was summoned by Enver Hoxha and appointed chief inquisitor of Albania’s creative intelligentsia, taking charge of Albanian Radio and Television. The cruelty of this enforcer of censorship against the intelligentsia is known as one of the most painful cases involving communist inquisitors. That is why it is no coincidence that Fatos Nano leads the so-called new Party. Communism is seeking to survive, to keep its crimes hidden, to divide up power and take it again under a new guarantee. Likewise, in his leadership toward the diaspora, Fatos Nano will take with him trusted people who have proved that they serve Slavo-communist politics; such a person is Bashkim Zeneli, with his convictions and family circle, who have introduced and executed—

The World Bank's Director for Eastern Europe, Mr Qemal Dervishi, who was in our country in recent days, discussed with the Government the cooperation program between Albania and the World Bank. The program has been drawn up on the basis of financing that will stimulate the progress of our economy in various sectors. Thus, 40 million dollars have been earmarked for critical imports in the agriculture, energy and transport sectors. 60 million dollars will be used for an agricultural-sector credit project, focusing on the restructuring of agricultural cooperatives (NB) and reform of the prices in the subsidy system. 36 million dollars will be used to alleviate rural poverty through the implementation of various projects in the poorest areas. Thus, 142 small projects in rural areas will be financed in the ten poorest districts, and 50 villages will be supplied. 10 million dollars have been earmarked for expanding Durrës's water-supply system, while 50 million dollars will be put toward reforming economic enterprises, providing them with credit for raw materials and spare parts, as well as some basic equipment. The other funds will be used for technical assistance, road improvements and strengthening the enterprise sector. There are two projects: one for social insurance, which will protect the groups most at risk, and the other, a labor-market development project. The first transport project, worth 40 million dollars, includes repairing 40 kilometers of road and widening 20 kilometers of main road; improving and maintaining the roads of (continued on page 3)

People in Shkodër call this year the year of change. And not only in the political sphere. Changes are also evident in the economy. During this year the city felt liberated from the shackles of the socialist planned economy, which had driven Shkodër toward economic ruin. During 1992, in this city known for its trade and crafts, nearly 1,000 private firms and legal entities carried out commercial and craft activities. With (continued on page 3)

People in Shkodër call this year the year of change. And not only in the political sphere. During the year that has just passed, Tirana changed its landscape. The usual market for fruit, vegetables and other goods was joined by markets for industrial products and foodstuffs, as well as a market selling cars and various equipment. On «Kongresi i Përmetit» and «Konferenca e Pezës» streets, on Elbasan and Dibër streets, and at intersections everywhere, private shops and businesses serve residents with all kinds of goods brought from Greece, Italy, Macedonia, Germany, Russia, Bulgaria, etc. These goods, sold by Tirana's new traders, are joined by others sent by young men working abroad. Near the «Ali Demi» cinema, at the former sports center by the hospitals, in New Tirana, near apartment blocks and private houses, different goods are displayed and purchased every day. The head of the district tax office, Mr Luan Pustina, says that over the year just ended, more than 8,700 state and private entities operated in Tirana, including foreign enterprises, joint-capital companies, etc., and [the remainder of the sentence is unclear in the source]. At the start of their activities, Tirana's traders secured income for themselves and contributed over 200 million lekë more to the state budget. This volume will increase this year, and further revenue will come from new activities, where the experience gained will also be useful for financial organization and oversight. It is expected that in 1993, tax collection and payments into the state budget for this district will increase by over 200 percent. This year the agency of ...

Charge: Theft of state property on a massive scale and abuse of office Albanian justice will begin the new year 1993 with a fight against the red mafia of corruption. This is a good sign, because not only is it beginning the fight, but it is beginning at the head of the mafia, namely Nexhmije Hoxha. Corruption arose in Albania with the country's occupation by communism. Abuses became systematic throughout 47 years of the new life in Albania. They began at the top of the red pyramid, with the First Secretary of the Central Committee, and trickled down step by step. In the cups of the agricultural cooperatives that took Albania's life, alongside the appropriation of gold by the red clique, were the corruption of the stability government and the abuses of the enigmatic mafioso Hajdin Sejdija. Nexhmije Hoxha, as one of the heads of the red mafia, must be tried and held accountable for the gold appropriated by the Political Bureau of the Central Committee. When the treasure was divided, her family received the lion's share. She must say where the gold stolen by the uncles was deposited, since the other members of the clique will speak only about their own share. As for the charge of abuse of office, she should not be held responsible, because Nexhmije's job was to [unclear in the source: «kooptivare bujqësore»]. But she abused the people and waged the class war. In this respect she showed great zeal. Thus, she carried out her assigned duties exemplary well. She should also be considered to have been rewarded for genocide. During the trial concerning the gold, the genocide carried out by the henchmen of the red mafia, led by Lady Nexhi, will also come to light. For the gold was amassed by force, through reprisals and human lives. We wish you well, Nexhmije—may you bring good luck! Take all the red mafiosi with you, your close collaborators.

- It plans to set up a plant for filling gas cylinders for heating - - The Vlora Municipal Council has set up a working group to examine the issue of gas heating, following an offer made by the Italian company «Libro» (SRL), in Palermo, Sicily. This company will build a plant for filling gas cylinders for heating. The gas will be obtained from Ballsh without Italian [unclear: «pa italiare»], which guarantees the delivery of the cylinders, is able to install the plant within 15 days. One gas cylinder provides a family with heating for one month. Buyers will pay only for the gas; the container will be returned to the plant for refilling. The Italian company has also prepared 5,000 stoves to be used with these cylinders, valued at 2,500 lekë each. They will arrive once the plant begins operating; it is to be built on the outskirts of the city, near the industrial area. For Vlora and the city of Fier, which has also signed a contract with this company, 300000 stoves are expected to arrive, to be distributed by region. (ATSH)

The Presidium of the People’s Assembly announces that the People’s Assembly will hold its plenary session on Wednesday, January 6, 1993, at 10:00. Meetings of the standing committees will begin on January 4. At the committee meetings, the draft laws submitted by the Council of Ministers and the normative decrees will be examined in accordance with the established arrangements. (ATSH)

everywhere in the capital, shops and private by Tirana’s new traders are joined by others brought in by ten employees abroad. Near the «Ali Demi» cinema, in the former sports center near the hospitals, in New Tirana, close to apartment blocks and private homes, everyday household goods, foodstuffs, drinks, clothing, etc. are bought and sold every day. The vehicle market has now begun, with cars being sold, and this year another market will open, for the sale of state-owned homes. Licenses to conduct private business, registration of patents for inventions and various scientific works are among the genuine activities in the capital that grew last year and will expand further this year. But let us turn to the facts: At the outset of private business activity, Albanian citizens and Tirana’s traders secured income for themselves and generated more than 200 million lekë in additional revenue for further revenue will be generated by new activities, drawing on the experience gained for financial organization and oversight as well. For 1993, state-budget obligations from tax collection in this district are projected to rise by more than 200 percent. This year the privatization agency will auction the knitwear factory, other units and shops, completing the privatization of the trade and municipal sectors within January. Meanwhile, work has begun at several enterprises, and in the course of 3 days the first products were produced and various services provided. Thus, the first money changers appeared on the premises of the National Bank, selling and buying dollars, marks, francs, lire, drachmas, etc., at prices they set themselves.

The appointment by His Holiness Pope John Paul II of Dom Rrok Mirdita as Archbishop of Tirana and Durrës, for the Catholic faithful of Albania, was received with great joy and particular satisfaction by all the clergy and people of the Albanian Orthodox Church of Boston: Monsignor Rrok Mirdita is a devout cleric, well prepared in his field and on the path of God. As a member of the Albanian Catholic Church of New York, he has worked honorably and steadfastly with all his fellow Albanian-Americans—Muslims and Orthodox—here in America. As a man of God, and as a wise and prudent Albanian, he is a close and dear friend, for whom we personally have deep and fraternal respect. We extend our congratulations to the Albanian Catholic people on the choice of their highly honored spiritual father. We congratulate Dom Rrok Mirdita and the other worthy candidates from the clergy of Albania, wishing them success in their blessed mission for the welfare and happiness of our long-suffering and heroic people. We pray to our Savior, Jesus Christ, to accept our prayer for the holy protection of those whom He has chosen, wherever they may go. We conclude with our traditional acclamation: Axios! Axios! Axios! Father Arthur Llojini Chancellor of the Albanian Orthodox Archdiocese in America