RAMIZ ALIA * A REFORMER WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE SOCIALIST SYSTEM. * ENVER HOXHA HAD GOOD AND BAD QUALITIES. RAMIZ ALIA Testifies to History * A REFORMER WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE SOCIALIST SYSTEM. * ENVER HOXHA HAD GOOD AND BAD QUALITIES. In July–August 1992, Mr. Ramiz Alia, leader of the PPSH after the death of Enver Hoxha and President of Albania elected by the PS, published the second part of his book: «I Testify to History». In the first part of the interview with Kosovar journalists Blerin Shalë Dukman Halili and Hazir Reka, the author answers questions about many key issues in the history of the Second World War period and after it, while in the second part, «Ramiz Alia in this democracy», he has published his views on the period 1985–1992. The book has 237 pages, in other words, ample space to express himself on the history of our days. But how truthful is Mr. Alia in his statements? HE STILL HIDES MANY DETAILS On many issues the author accurately states the historical details, as evidenced by what monist historiography tells us. Therefore, he maintains—just as he does—the defence of the actions of the KSH and PPSH both during the war and after liberation. He defends their position on Mukje, on the mining of the Corfu Channel, on relations with the Yugoslavs, and on many other matters. Nevertheless, on certain salient points, he deserves credit for departing from this line, but... he hurried and killed himself. God—or Comrade Ramiz—let us accept this version for a moment, but we ask you: after he was buried in the city cemetery, why did you exhume him less than three days later, and what became of his body is unknown? Am I not entitled to say: perhaps you made him disappear out of fear that a later examination might show that he had not killed himself, but had been killed by several bursts of gunfire. Otherwise, why would you make him disappear as if he were some object carrying an epidemic disease? Perhaps you know nothing about the exhumation either, just as you do not know precisely whether the great aid from the Chinese was in the halls, since «...military matters are confused here». We are not speaking of the killing or massacre of April 2 in Shkodër, because that will come later. Nor are we mentioning many other points on which the author evades responsibility, because they will be illustrated by his own words. IN DEFENCE OF ENVER HOXHA After this author’s book «Our Enver», with all those extraordinary praises for the former leader, his colleague and close comrade, came the period when democracy brought to light the monstrous crimes of Enver’s dictatorship. It is enough to mention the many killings and other matters that are evident in the continuation of the article, cut off at the edge of the page. On many issues, the author asserts that the historical facts are as we know them, or as they have been ... by monist historiography. Therefore, in ... he maintains the defense with the Yugoslavs, and on many other issues. Nevertheless, on specific points, he deserves credit for stepping outside this framework. Thus, he says: At the party’s first founding meeting, in effect no one—that is, Enver Hoxha—was elected to lead the party. R. Alia thus admits that Enver did not found the PKSH-PPSH. But that is all. When it comes to clearly defining Miladin Popoviç’s and the Yugoslavs’ role in the creation of the PKSH, he evades giving a precise and clear answer. He implies: «So there is no doubt that Miladin had ... for us, a very great influence on Enver and the other leaders.» Regarding the bomb at the Soviet Embassy (an event that at the time ... even children knew about), he writes: «Nik ... the event ...». It has been said that they were ... caused by ... but I do not know whether they were ... planted so that ... Let us not forget that there are ... in aeros... ... de... but, of course, responsibility ... falls on ... who makes ... play the unaccu... This ... position is also taken when he is asked about the killing of ... in ... solely because he had submitted a ... buntë nde... with the claims of Këh... M... Mr Alia’s answer to the question of how ... a person was hanged ... is: «Flam... towards ... every ... as if that time ...» ... before the time ... and not in the days of modern Euro... ... whom he says had ... that ... his son’s engagement. He acknowledges the criticisms made of him at the meeting of the Political Bureau, indicat... he thought they would reprimand him; Enve- also had this opinion

THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC RECOGNIZED AS INDEPENDENT STATES By separate decrees, the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, on the proposal of the Council of Ministers, decreed recognition of the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic as independent states, effective January 1, 1993. (ATSH)

On the strike by employees of the oil deep-processing complex The spokesperson for the Council of Ministers announces that workers at the Oil Deep-Processing Complex in Ballsh came forward in groups to register in order to begin restarting the complex. But at the factory gate, former members of the strike committee, such as Edmond Asllani and others, unlawfully called on them, against the national interest, not to start work, falsely claiming that the Government pays workers in Bulqizë 6,000 old lekë per day and that it would pay the Ballsh employees for all the strike days and recognize their demands because this complex is so important that the Government and the state cannot exist without it. With such destructive appeals, the former strike leaders managed to turn people back and keep them from going to work. In this situation, the Minister of Industry, Mineral Resources and Energy, Mr. Abdyl Xhaja, held meetings in Ballsh with the complex’s engineering and technical staff, the District Council, and representatives of political parties, who strongly condemned this disastrous and anti-national activity by the strike leaders. They expressed support for the Government’s actions and positions in a joint statement, which emphasizes that representatives of local government and everyone in Mallakastër, as well as representatives of the political parties of this district, PS, PD, PSD, at the meeting of 4.1.1993, chaired by the Chairman of the District Council, Mr. Figjari Azisi, having reassessed the strike situation at the Oil Deep-Processing Complex in Ballsh, which by decision of the district court on 29.12.1992 was declared an illegal strike, publicly state: 1. Local government and the political forces support the government’s decision on the assessment of the complex’s strike. 2. We condemn the destructive forces calling for the continuation of the strike, which has gone beyond the legal framework of its activity. 3. The rule-of-law state is called upon to exercise all the powers granted to it by law to restore order and ensure the normal continuation of work at the complex. 4. We call on all employees to return to work, each doing what is necessary to fulfil their obligations to the enterprise. 5. Avoid extremist positions and destabilizing slogans, since the rule-of-law democratic state will protect your interests now and in the future. (ATSH)

The Albanian Telegraphic Agency correspondent in Vienna reports that, on the occasion of the New Year 1993, the Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Austria, Mr. Alois Mock, sent a letter of greetings to the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Albania to the Republic of Austria, Mr. Albert Alicaj, which reads: «The year 1992, a year full of hopes and bitter disappointments, in which we were compelled to witness the misfortunes of so many people, has drawn to a close. Once again, it is very clear to us how important constructive dialogue and international cooperation are. Austria, situated in the heart of Europe and home to many international organizations, peoples and nations through bilateral, regional and international meetings. I would like to thank you for the good cooperation you have offered me this year of turmoil as well, through your understanding and trust. At the same time, I feel it necessary to express my hope that our ongoing efforts for a more peaceful and prosperous world for all peoples will meet with greater success in the coming year». (ATSH)

praises for the former leader and his close collaborator and monstrous crimes of the dictatorship and of Enver. It is enough to mention the murders of his own comrades to avoid any further portrayal of the dictator. So, Ramiz Alia had time to reflect and honestly analyze his former comrade and leader, but... Even now he dares to write: «I do not agree with those people who look at ENVER HOXHA only from a negative perspective». I do not think ENVER HOXHA should be painted entirely black, just as I do not think he should be painted entirely white. ENVER HOXHA had good and bad sides. That is all he says in closing his analysis of a man who for nearly 50 years isolated Albania, artificially intensified the class struggle, killed and punished whomever he wanted, and led the country into an economic dead end with no way out. To pass over in a few words the portrait of a man who bears the main responsibility for our misery means that, in your heart, you are with him, but out of necessity you are forced to acknowledge the «bad» things he did as well. Vescë does not forget to describe him as an intellectual and to bring out his good points, even as he remains silent about the perversion and violence he brought to Albania. By defending Enver Hoxha, Ramiz Alia, as a false witness or a communist historian (and it is well known that communists made history as they pleased), tactfully defends the system for which he fought and worked. Indeed, he does not even hide this when he writes in his own hand and of his own free will: «The reforms carried out up to the end of 1990 were conceived with the aim of building a democratic and humane socialism, which are ...» (Continued on page 2)

For several days, intensive work has been under way at the Ministry of Health and Environmental Protection on a number of programs, in cooperation with and with the direct assistance of the UNICEF organization and its representative, Ms Ali Reza Mahallati; The programs aim to improve children’s health and prevent infectious diseases. Groups made up of the best medical specialists in various fields have now completed the detailing of the programs and the scheduling of deadlines for their implementation in 1993; One of these programs is the creation of the vaccination cold chain; this represents a very important and practical undertaking; one that has not been possible to carry out in Albania until now: The cold-chain system consists of equipment and cooling devices; which make it possible to keep vaccines in suitable conditions; from the moment they are produced until they are administered; that is; from the Research Institute of Hygiene to peripheral clinics. This program; together with the supply of vaccines; which will be provided by UNICEF and «Médecins Sans Frontières»; has been classified as an emergency initiative and is expected to be completed sooner than the three-year deadline. As is known; the first shipments with refrigerators arrived at the beginning of December 1992, and further equipment is expected; it will be distributed at the end of the first quarter of 1993, after the needs of several districts in the country have been met. Thus; this work will continue throughout the year. The planned funding amounts to around 1 million dollars. (ATSH)

The law on the privatization of housing, adopted by the People’s Assembly on the eve of the New Year, states, among other things, that around 200,000 residential apartments throughout the country will be privatized, and that all one-room apartments with one kitchen, built by the end of 1970, and all two-room apartments with one kitchen, built by 1965, etc., will be given to residents free of charge. All other homes will be transferred to residents in return for minimal payments, the maximum amount of which, in the case of new apartments with up to four rooms, will not exceed 400,000 old lek. The law also provides for other cases in which apartments will be granted free of charge to formerly politically convicted persons or to the families of war martyrs. (ATSH)

During 1992, for the first time in many years, the decline in industrial and agricultural production was curbed; not only was it halted, but industrial production grew by 8 percent, while agricultural production increased by 21 percent. Hundreds of factories and production lines in various sectors of the economy were put into operation. The chromium-processing branch reached 20 percent of capacity, while copper processing reached 90 percent. The budget deficit, which at the beginning of the first quarter of 1992 was about 3.3 billion lekë, was reduced by 15 percent as a result of cutting the state administration workforce by 10 percent and reducing spending on national defence. In addition, all state-budget expenditure on subsidizing loss-making enterprises by 80 percent was completely cut, and efforts were made to increase revenues by implementing a new fiscal tax system, which was implemented at 100 percent. During 1992 alone, 71,000 television sets entered Albanian customs through traders, not individuals, compared with a total of 33,000 that had entered our country from 1944 to 1990. Comparing the same periods, 103,000 refrigerators entered Albania during 1992 alone, compared with 94,000; 99,000 electric stoves compared with 33,000; around 17,000 passenger cars compared with none, etc. These indicators are the result of the establishment of specific legislation for the implementation of a market economy, as well as the fruit of the work of thousands of new Albanian emigrants who, during this transition phase through which the Albanian economy is passing, are helping their families. The new year is also promising, with further changes expected to existing legislation, particularly to pave the way more effectively for more accurate and faster privatization. Production is expected to increase both in industry, with the reopening of factories that have been shut down until now, and in agriculture, where the restructuring and privatization of farms will begin. 140,000 hectares have been sown with wheat, and a satisfactory yield is expected. (ATSH)

ASSISTANCE FROM THE MUNICIPALITY OF TIRANA ... from the budget ... Tirana has transferred around 700 families ... 510 lek for ... and 240 lek for ... family. DAILY ACCIDENTS According to statistics gathered by the farmers themselves, at the place known as «Marikaj Bend», vehicles overturn every day; there have been cases in which even more have overturned. The cause... ...most of them live in the southern areas. According to specialists’ information, the cause was an excessive amount of lead in the ground grains used for bread. ... the cause of these accidents is a sharp bend that comes immediately after a long, straight stretch of road. PRIVATE ACTIVITY FLOURISHES At the turn of the year, the capital counted around 8,700 domestic and foreign private companies which, in addition to their profits, systematically paid around 200 million lek into the state budget through the tax system. Z. LI