In dictatorial systems, including the one built by PPSH in Albania, the state was supposed to concern itself with and be responsible even for every housewife’s needle. It went so far as to take the cow away from the peasant’s home, because the milk would be bought from the well-stocked shops of the agricultural cooperatives! In fact, the peasant did not have even a drop of milk to leave on his lips. And yet every Albanian expected everything from the state and from the party, the great motherly matriarch. And that was not wrong, because the state had monopolized everything in its own hands and therefore had to answer for every request. But in the capitalist system, that is, in a market economy, the state does not have the same function as under dictatorship. If it did, woe to us and to this kind of state! The state is only a regulator, because society’s economic force is organized privately in workshops, factories, farms, and small enterprises, right down to little shops. Thus the people themselves strive to increase profits and production, increasingly meeting people’s needs for a decent life. From this uninterrupted activity the state collects taxes, which are its only source of revenue, and uses that income to maintain the administration and the army. Thus, unlike the former socialist countries, capitalist states such as the USA do not have large funds to invest in this or that field, because that is the responsibility of corporations and the private sector. That is also why, when these states want to help a small country, they do so during visits, even using such wholly uncultured remarks as «Albania of fairy tales». That is as insulting as if I called them «the socialist wrecks», the Jagos of monism. In their attacks they deny everything. They do not even credit the government with the sectors that they can plainly see flourishing. But those gentlemen are mistaken. If they expect, as we did for 50 years, the government to provide us with everything, feeding us with a baby bottle, we will never make it to Europe. Yes, our democratic government deserves credit for creating the right climate for private trade to develop. Today you can find any product you seek on the market, whereas PPSH and its government used to say, «There is no foreign currency; without exports there are no imports...» and offered other such excuses, even for bringing in a color television or sought-after industrial goods. I ask the socialists: fine, some traders have people behind them who found the money for their businesses, but what about those who are trading and making a living despite not having a single person to back them—where did they get their money? They are capable, resourceful, courageous people who also take risks into account. They have long been that way; it was simply that the monist government had concentrated everything in its own hands, with miserable results. The new government and the Parliament, with a Democratic majority, are passing laws to clear the way for this activity and create conditions for foreign businesspeople as well, at a time when the laws of PPSH and PS, the offspring of that same communist party, have left unemployment and many emigration problems. So how can you dismiss the work done to employ hundreds of people abroad, when during the 50 years you were in charge you did not send even one person? Examples are cited of individuals who acted more quickly on their own. That is true, but let us not forget that democracy itself gave everyone this opportunity, because it took the initiative. People are free to work and live wherever they want, provided that this or that person offers them a guarantee and that the state accepts them. Even the aid that comes thanks only to democracy is categorically denied, on the grounds that it is supposedly distributed unfairly! Who is going to weigh up which Albanians (those who are not traders) do or do not need this aid? Even if the sun itself came to distribute it, there would still be a chorus of dissatisfied people. Some categorical denier even goes so far as to demand the resignation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Sera-ki, at a time when Albanian diplomacy has shone as never before this month. The visits of such prominent figures as Igelberger, Gensher, De Mikelsi, Dyma, Demirel, Micotaçis, Skalfaro, Mesic, and others, as well as the expected visit of Pope John Paul II, are enough to demonstrate the high level and successes of this diplomacy. We will not even mention the invitations President Berisha has received from presidents in most countries of the world. And why should these things be denied? Just because three or four pseudo-Albanian diplomats caused an erotic scandal in the streets of Boston? Or because Albania’s voice was not heard as much as it should have been at the London Conference—a success in itself simply by virtue of our participation—you have no right to deny the historic protection offered by Mr Xhorxh Bush, the great friend of the Albanians, who wrote to Millosheviç warning him that if he started a conflict in... Revenue keeps the administration and the army running. Thus, unlike not practice having That is also why, when these countries want to help a smaller country, their leaders, on visits, take along not only officials but also the presidents of corporations or private companies, who pursue their own business in terms of both the expenses involved and the benefits they will receive. In theory these things seem clear, and yet Albanian socialists, remaining faithful to the principles of the monist state and the centralized economy, demand everything from the government. This explains the whole campaign of attacks against Mr. Meksi’s government, even though the monist government had determined everything by decree and the results were disastrous. are making laws to clear the way for this activity and to when the laws of the PPSH and the PS, its offspring, with their restrictions, shut the doors of Albania and isolated it from the developed and civilized world for half a century. Excuse us, they only had Sejdin Hajdini as a savior, when they were “convinced” that something had to change. In this month of existence, despite its lack of experience, this government is making efforts and organized attempts. Something has been done; nevertheless, the people’s demands and wishes are for more. Let us not forget that Europe today is only... (Continued on page 4)

— To deepen economic reform further, with the aim of encouraging better supplies of food products and other basic goods to the domestic market, controlling inflation, and compensating for the effect of price increases for certain goods and services, the Council of Ministers adopted the following decisions at its most recent meeting: a) Some changes are made to prices and tariffs controlled by the state: the prices of vegetable oil, sugar, rice, and laundry soap are liberalized. The trade authorities are tasked with continuously monitoring the movement of these prices to prevent any artificial increases. The price of standard bread does not change. The exception is standard bread made with [e]rund? flour with 75 percent bran, whose price is reduced from 17.8 lekë per kg to 15 lekë per kg. The price of drinking water is set at 5 lekë per cubic meter. The prices of firewood, coal, and kerosene do not change, while electricity within the permitted monthly household consumption limit is set at 0.5 lekë per kW-hour. Medicine prices rise by an average of 30 percent compared with the [?, illegible] price. We emphasize that the prices of the most essential and widely used medicines remain unchanged. Housing prices rise to three times their existing level. Prices of textbooks for eight-year and secondary education, and of notebooks, rise to three times their existing level. Central heating tariffs do not change, while passenger transport fares rise by an average of two times. Telecommunications service tariffs also rise by an average of 2.5 times, and postal tariffs by 4.5 times. The price of 66–85 octane gasoline is set at 34 lekë per liter, while 95-octane and higher is set at 62 lekë, and diesel at 25 lekë per liter. The prices and tariffs changed as above come into effect on 16 January 1993. Exceptions are medicine prices, PTT tariffs, and subscription-ticket prices (passes), which come into effect on 1 February 1993, while the new prices for state-owned housing come into effect on 1 March 1993, coinciding with the privatization of these homes. b) By a separate decision of the Council of Ministers, an adjustment was made to the wages of employees of budgetary institutions. This measure was taken to better harmonize these employees’ wages with those of non-budgetary enterprises, joint ventures, and private entities. Nevertheless, even after this adjustment, their pay level remains low. c) The Council of Ministers decided that pensions and benefits for workers and employees covered by Law No. 4171, dated 13.09.66, on state social insurance, be increased by 25 percent. Social support and food assistance for people who become unemployed as a result of implementing the reform are increased by 18 percent. The adjustment of wages in budgetary institutions and the payment of assistance take effect on 16 January 1993, while the increase in pensions and benefits begins on 1 February of this year. d) The Council of Ministers also submitted to Parliament for approval a draft law amending Law 7583, dated 13.07.1992, «On powers concerning the setting of wages, which further frees the average wage in non-budgetary enterprises from control».

— On the occasion of the 525th anniversary of the death of our National Hero, Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu, the «Skënderbeu» Military Academy and the Army Cultural Center yesterday organized a roundtable with historians, intellectuals, and journalists on the topic «Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu and military historiography». In his opening remarks, Prof. Dr. Kristo Frashëri pointed out that Skënderbeu was a beloved figure, especially among military personnel. He then spoke about Skënderbeu’s merits in the military field and his role in creating a new army and a new military art. (ATSH)

On Friday, an agreement was signed at the Ministry of Trade and Economic Relations with Foreign Countries by the minister, Mr Artan Hoxha, and Ambassador William Rayerson, under which the USA will donate 10 million dollars to Albania. This gift will be delivered during 1993. In this way, the USA are demonstrating their goodwill by providing concrete and ongoing support for democratic reforms in Albania, particularly in the agricultural sector.

THE TEN YEARS TO LAUGH ABOUT For the information of all concerned, officials, and private firms that are subordinate to, or have dealings with, the Tirana Municipality). If you receive a letter instructing you to implement a decision of this Municipality, do not take it seriously, because the gentlemen there have a sense of humor and like to play official games. If the letter is repeated a second time, you should go to the Municipality to see whether they really mean it or not. When you receive a third letter about the same issue, you should prepare for the consequences: wait for the fourth letter! FILIP ÇAKULI

— DURING 1992 ALONE, THE FOLLOWING ENTERED ALBANIA: 71,331 TELEVISIONS, 103,458 REFRIGERATORS, 99,627 ELECTRIC STOVES, 11,411 WASHING MACHINES, 17,630 CARS. Albania is opening up more and more each day through the free exchange of goods; comparing these figures with those from the monist period naturally inspires optimism about the market-economy system that we are beginning to revive after a complete 50-year pause and severance. The following statistics best demonstrate how hungry and isolated this country has been when it comes to trade with the outside world and the development of relations for exchanging the products of its labor. The transformation of the economic and social system in our country is objectively accompanied by the dismantling of communist structures and the beginning of the construction of stable capitalist market-economy structures. In this process of transformation, the temporary decline in production, rising unemployment, significant currency inflation, and other forms of destabilization are understandable and justifiable. Our country has entered this phase, and macroeconomic observation shows a slowing in the pace of economic decline, accompanied by the beginnings of the construction of the basic legislation of a democratic state and by the growth of the privatization sector and free enterprise. In this context, the customs system, as an integral part of our country’s democratic institutions, has not only received democratic legal support but is also beginning to consolidate in accordance with all contemporary legal requirements. As the only institution that reflects Albania’s quantitative and qualitative economic and trade relations with the outside world, the customs system is increasing its responsibility for recording the movement of goods in foreign trade. Statistical data show this by year. Imports of certain household electrical goods by year. No. | Years | Televisions | Refrigerators | Electric stoves | Washing machines | Cars 1. 1992 | 71331 | 103458 | 99627 | 11411 | 17630 2. Monist period 1944–1989 | 32495 | 94240 | 3286 | 86006 | — 3. Annual average | 7220 | 2094 | 219 | 1911 | — 4. Increase in 1992 compared with the annual average for the monist period | 9.9 X | 49.4 X | 457 X | 6 X | + — During the 45-year period from 1944 to 1991 (April), 324,905 families were supplied with televisions, an annual average of 7,220 televisions, or 9.9 times fewer than the annual import rate in 1992, not even taking their quality into account. Domestic television production in 1985–1990 reached 120,000 units, or an average of 20,000 units per year, a figure 3.5 times lower than the number imported in 1992. b - Only 94,240 refrigerators could be brought into Albania over 45 consecutive years, which means that, on average, the population was supplied with 14 refrigerators per 100 families. In 1992, through private enterprise, 103,458 refrigerators were supplied from imports, or 49.4 times more than the annual average, supplying 15 refrigerators for every 100 families. c - The centrally planned economy managed to provide only 3,286 electric stoves in 45 years, whereas in 1992 alone the population was supplied on the market with 99,627 units, or 457 times more than the annual average. d - The supply of washing machines over 45 years amounted to 86,006 units, or an average of 1,911 units a year, whereas in 1992 alone 11,411 washing machines were supplied to the Albanian market, which means six times the annual average. e - As for the import of cars, not even...

It could not be compared with previous years, during which Albanians were trying out their personal vehicles, and we can say that in 1992 alone 17,630 cars entered Albania. Everywhere there is the view—and it is a fact—that there is everything on the market and that the quality of the goods being traded has begun to improve. The monist system, throughout all the years of its rule, never managed to achieve a positive export-import balance. The most successful year of that rule was 1980, during which 3,029 million lekë in exports were achieved against 3,792 million lekë in imports, with a negative result of -762 million lekë, or -20 percent. At the liberalized prices of 1992, exports for that year reached 4,400 million lekë, while imports reached 13,100 million lekë. Adjusted by the 1992–1990 exchange-rate difference (4.82), these figures respectively amounted to 913 million lekë in exports, or 33 percent of the best monist-year export figure, and 2,717 million lekë in imports, or 71.6 percent of the best monist-year figure. We can compare customs revenues only with 1991, since for 45 years we boasted that we were the only country in the world without taxes. Compared with 1991, customs revenues amounted to only 90 million lekë; during 1992 they reached 1,600 million lekë, or 17.8 times more. It is important to mention the fact that during the second half of 1992, the specific weight of exports by the state sector increased relative to the private sector, compared with the first half of 1992 or with 1992. Thus, whereas exports by the private sector were recorded at 57.8 percent and those by the state sector at 42.9 percent, during the second half state entities accounted for 60.2 percent, compared with 39.8 percent accounted for by private entities. We are optimistic that the economy is beginning to move. If we look at imports in 1992, we notice that... (Continued on page 4)

Members of the National Council of the Democratic Party are hereby informed that the next meeting of this council will be held on Saturday, 23.1.1993, at 10:00, in the hall of the National Historical Museum. The Press and Information Office of the Democratic Party.

RIM ve-apo m e ion ik? te mu- e pava- kodrane kulin’ e Skandal on se ntacioni ri i Fi- e, zoti re kalon argon e ndërtimit shme hur ditë nori ur- 1993 kon- e ndih- litare, ajo Shtetit kontrollit dhe Malësi (4) D ARO