President Berisha’s greeting at the official luncheon in Krujë “It is a source of protection for us,” said the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, “to begin the year by commemorating Skënderbeu, who is undoubtedly the brightest figure in Albanian history of all time. But Skënderbeu’s brilliance lies not only in his military genius and the great battles he fought. Skënderbeu’s brilliance lies in the great message he left to the Albanians, a message that undoubtedly is and will be a source of strength, hope and optimism for Albanians throughout all time. Above all, Skënderbeu bequeathed them courage, and the courage of the Albanians does not lie in unfounded optimism; Albanian courage lies in the simple fact that they are a people who know how to create hope, and those who create hope manage to create their present and future. Today we are beginning a difficult year, but we are beginning a (Continued on page 4)

. Professor Rexhep Qosja recently expressed his displeasure at President Berisha’s visit to NATO headquarters. This displeasure, indeed fierce anger, found an outlet nowhere other than in «Zëri i popullit». Professor Qosja apparently has no other preference, or perhaps he is concerned that the rest of the Albanian press—that is, the democratic press—will not choose to publish things that may be suitable only for a newspaper such as «Zëri i popullit», a Marxist-Leninist organ whose place is in the dock at the trial to be held against the PKSH or PPSH for crimes and genocide against the Albanian nation and people. Anyway, that is his right, for which only his own convictions can serve as arbiter. For our part, we have the right to ask the professor a few questions. Professor, is changing borders by force a possibility, a reality, or adventurism? It is easy for anyone to strike the pose of an ultra-patriot of the theory of a Greater Albania or a Smaller Albania. Milošević and the chauvinist Greek circles would be pleased if Albania and Albanian political forces, wherever they may be, embarked on adventurism, spoke about—and even tried to use—violence to change borders. That way they could parade their demands, violence and anti-Albanian ambitions before Europe and the democratic world. Professor, are you playing someone else’s game, or are you trying to test your own opportunism in politics? Perhaps it is both. The fact that you belonged to the League of Communists of Yugoslavia, fought to be readmitted to its ranks after you were expelled, collaborated in Albania with the Enverists and State Security agents, with members of the Hoxha family, and attacked political prisoners, does not weigh in your favor. Why are you and Ćosić the only ones unable to find common ground with Albanian political forces, with the legitimate representatives of democracy? The whole world supports and welcomes them; they have sincere friends in Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia and everywhere else. Not you! Your friends are the gentlemen Zogaj and Çupi, with whom you behave in a very familiar manner at the villas that the PPSH made available to you in Tirana. The tragic thing is that in the free Albanian world, Professor, you have remained captive to old mentalities, the spiritual leader of Albanian Marxism-Leninism. You are against all Albanian political forces, wherever they may be—a primitive political stance. These are the reasons why you support [unclear] in the streets of Tirana, isolated. You are like this: [the following passage is repeated in the source] they embark on adventurism, speak about—and even try democratic world. Departments quarrel, citizens pay the dues — As is well known, hundreds of tons of powdered milk have arrived in our country. It is regrettable that, although this product is available in large quantities in trade warehouses, it is not being consumed by the population! What is the reason? Don’t citizens want it? No, whoever…

No tolerance for those who obstruct the normal progress of reforms [Continuation of preceding text:] and it blackened, slandered and cursed the capitalist-revisionist world; now [the text continues] of Belgrade, which has made available and spent tens of millions of dollars to prolong the destabilization of Albania and prevent its recovery and growth stronger. By blackening and denying both the steps forward and the successes that are modest for now but promise greater things in the future, the communist-socialist rulers vainly try to summon doom and sow pessimism. Sick with a pathological craving for corruption and privileges of power, they forget that the people’s eyes and mouths have been open for more than two years; they can no longer deceive and manipulate them as they did for 45 years, when they presented hell as paradise, the devil as an angel, and soap as cheese… The people no longer want to hear even the name of their socialism, whether in its classical, archaic form or its modern one. The people are convinced— As soon as it recovered from the shock of March 22, 1992, the PS drafted and began implementing a plan to climb back into power as quickly as possible. The destructive group within it, in close coordination with the aims, interests and efforts of old and new comrades-in-arms in Belgrade and the Greeks, is trying in vain to involve all the parties in a fierce crusade against the PD, the government of Mr. Meksi, and the reforms it has launched and is carrying out. Although we know very well that the path we have embarked on is the only way out of the abyss into which Enverist and Ramizist socialism plunged our people, and although we are convinced that the success of the reforms will give us a reborn, prosperous, strong and more European Albania, they still refuse to abandon their anti-democratic and anti-national plans and efforts. «ZP», «24 orë» and the entire communist-socialist press—including «K»—view every step, act or deed of the Meksi government through blackened glasses, and do the same to the positive results democracy has brought so far. We all see, feel and rejoice in these results, with the exception of the destructive clan, the whole PS and its blindly obedient parrot scribblers. Today’s socialist press is thus as like its 50-year-old Marxist-Leninist predecessor as two drops of water. Only the target of its attacks has changed. For 45 years it blackened, slandered and cursed the capitalist-revisionist world; now Ben Ferr blackens and discredits his own country, here in the world or in the diaspora. In this way, whether intentionally or not, they join in the chorus of anti-Albanianism and spread demoralization, alienation and mass disillusionment among the people toward the PD and democracy, while whitewashing and glorifying the Enverist past. Let the poor— and The poor—[the source breaks off and resumes mid-sentence] are to endure the pain of reform and the transition period, because they are convinced they are not traveling an uncharted road, but one that the countries of Western Europe, many other countries around the world, and the former socialist countries just ahead of us traveled decades ago. And they have all reaped and enjoyed its abundant fruits. Socialism, or the PP or PS, left us 100 years behind Europe; democracy and reforms have, in less than a year, shortened by decades the distance separating us from it. Therefore, those who try to obstruct us, delay us or turn us back from this path, out of selfishness or political revenge, for domestic or foreign interests, are blatantly taking an anti-reform, anti-democratic and anti-national position. Those who accompany this with clear acts of destabilization and sabotage must, without leniency, receive the deserved punishment under the laws of demo-

— Corruption at the wholesale trading enterprise — For about two years, the administration of the Wholesale Trading Enterprise has been doing “business” with state goods. According to preliminary information, millions of lekë are believed to have been stolen! This enterprise, which administered aid from abroad, continued for a long time to sell it at prices that had not been liberalized! Thus, in addition to the wholesale sale of food products, washing machines, refrigerators, etc. were also sold at prices from the time of the monolithic system. The price differences must have considerably padded the managers’ pockets. Anyway, let us leave that—[the source is garbled]. It is not that people lack courage, but everyone is afraid of the price. Let us stop here. The Ministry of Economy and Finance has not set a ceiling price for this food product. Thus, although the capital’s food enterprises have this product at 30 or 35 lekë per kilogram, citizens are offered it at 650 to 700 old lekë per kilogram (!). This fact has prompted a reaction from the state inspection bodies, which, in the reports they send to the Ministry of Economy and Finance, call this ceiling price absurd, while the warehouses are full and, unfortunately, the milk is going bad. In other words, the State Audit is concerned that this price ceiling is allowing sellers to profit while citizens lose out. But the inspectors do not know the other part: the price difference is not pocketed by the sellers but by someone else, since sellers questioned in Tirana shops explain that they get the milk not for 300 or 350 lekë, but for a full 600 lekë per kilogram. The question then arises: where does the price difference go, and will anyone be held responsible for all this milk that is reaching its expiry date? ZEF LLESHI …the capital’s food outlets have been allowed to [sell it]… at 30 or 35 lek per kilogram, while citizens are served it at 650 to 700 old lek per kilogram. (.) bodies, which, in letters sent milk is also going bad. Thus, the State Audit Office is concerned that sellers are profiting from this ceiling price while citizens are losing the price difference is not being questioned at Tirana’s outlets explain that they receive the milk not at 300 or even 350 lek, but at a full 600 lek per kilogram. The question then arises: where is the price difference going, and is anyone being held responsible for all this milk that is expiring?

Yesterday, the heads of Albanian Radio and Television held a working meeting with the Government of the Republic of Kosovo’s minister for information, Mr. Xhafer Shatri, and his associates. The topic of the discussions was furthering the work toward nationwide informational and cultural integration. During the discussions, the role of According to preliminary data, it is thought that the state will bring in only millions of lek! been liberalized! Thus, besides food products being sold off cheaply, the days of monism. The pockets of the managers must have been stuffed quite a bit by the price difference. In any case, let us wait for the conclusions of the State Audit Office. It was said that, although a great deal of work has been done both in terms of the breadth of information covering all Albanians and the timeliness of the information broadcast by RTSH across the national information space, many areas still remain to be exploited rationally and more effectively. Concrete tasks were also set in this regard, to be carried out through mutual cooperation and contribution between Albanian Radio and Television and the Radio and Television of the Republic of Kosovo. (ATSH)

The editor-in-chief of «KOMBI» detained—a participant in the theft Following the announcement of 16.1.1993 and the television report about a large-scale theft by a group of 14 people, I inform you that the group’s 15th member, Beqir Sadik Katana, from Tropoja, residing in the «Studenti» district of Tirana, university-educated and with no previous convictions, editor-in-chief of the newspaper «Kombi», was identified and detained. The above-mentioned person, in cooperation with the other 14 individuals, committed the theft of the safe at the headquarters of the National Unity Party, taking a «MAKAROV» brand pistol, 200 dollars, gifts, etc.; the theft of the safe at the large Pedagogical School; two thefts from the mixed-goods warehouse of an Italian company, from which they took goods worth 200 thousand lek; the theft of citizen Bujar Kanani’s shop, worth 600 thousand lek; citizen Sheptim Bubakja’s shop, worth 200 thousand lek; and two thefts from the warehouse of the pedagogical secondary school, where they took 300 wool blankets and other items.

Neritan Ceka is making a noise to promote himself as the president of a party whose compass is the defense of legality. And since the subject is the law, it would be interesting to know why Mr. Ceka is silent in his interviews and press conferences about two things?! First, why is Mr. Ceka silent and not answering his victim, Astrit Qorri? If he claims that his character is as pure as his hair is white, he should answer; he is obliged to do so. Second, why is Mr. Ceka silent about Nexhmije Hoxha’s trial, when, as she herself declared to the group of DP deputies, he gave her the house! Does he feel sorry for her, does he owe her something, or both?! THE OBSERVER