MEETING OF THE BALLSH DP BRANCH. MR. E. SELAMI ATTENDS On Friday, 22 January, the assembly of the Mallakastër branch of the DP was held, the first such assembly since its full conference. Present at the assembly were DP chairman Eduard Selami, secretary Tomor Dosti, and MP Nam Rrapaj. At the center of the meeting were the progress of reform in the district and, closely connected with it, experience in the functioning of the party’s work. Those present emphasized the good progress of reform and support for it and for the democratic government of Mr. Meksi. The strike at the Deep Oil Processing Combine was described not only as illegal, but as organized by destructive forces, as a continuation of the political scenario that began in Poliçan and then continued in Bulqizë. At the same time, the poor work done by the DP in the district was reviewed. The activists all felt a moral responsibility, while concrete, real responsibility rested with the branch leadership. This strike should have brought about some positive change in the party’s work in the town. The development of reform in the countryside was also discussed. Those present noted that the peasantry supports the existing law on land distribution. It was stressed, however, that people should not wait for the Government to distribute the land: the relevant law gives this right to the land-distribution commissions. Examples were given that shed light on the strategy of the social communists, who are trying to create chaos by propagating a return to the old boundaries. Their aim is to conceal the corruption of former cooperative members, for which, under the presidential decree, they must face criminal prosecution. Meanwhile, it is also essential to establish a branch of the community in the district, to provide credit to poor farmers, as well as assistance with agricultural equipment and machinery. The BP section in Lofçend believes that the boundary line between Lofçend and Lapulec has not been properly established; this is why the land-distribution law in Lofçend has been implemented on only 10 percent of the area. The Government was urged to make this area a priority for organized, legal emigration, given the conditions created by its geographical position. Humanitarian aid has also not been distributed, and there is a shortage of senior personnel in the field of justice. Mr. Arben Hoxha, the district DP chairman, insisted on material assistance and urged the government leadership to consider the individual requests submitted by this branch. Mr. Çela called for the factories to be accelerated, bearing in mind that the priority should be the ownership of Democrats, not former communists. Mr. Rrapd Hamiti stressed that the true test of democracy is how the persecuted are treated. “We notice,” he said, “that the insulting labels used for them in the past have been replaced by just one: uneducated.” DP chairman Mr. E. Eduard Selami also spoke at the assembly. The governing council, sections, and DP members, he stressed, must carry through the reform not only because it implements the DP program, but because it is the only way forward for the fate of this country. The situation is positive compared with the problems that existed immediately after 22 March. Progress toward privatization and attracting foreign investment can and should be made more quickly and as a priority. It is not enough simply to create new jobs; if we want to integrate into the world market economy, we must ensure production meets standards both in quality and cost. Ballsh, specifically, is part of a priority oil-bearing area. This is why it is one of the areas most heavily targeted by the communists: it is a source of foreign currency, energy, and accumulation. Economic policy is our primary concern, but within the framework of reform the DP must strengthen itself in the district. There must be participation in the work of the party and a role for its proposals to be considered. That is why we are here today: to help ensure that the ideas and suggestions you consider priorities are put into effect. But, Mr. Selami continued, I want to tell you that where DP branches are consolidated, where they hold active meetings that generate suggestions and proposals, and where mistakes are recorded in a spirit that reflects the views of all DP members, it is much easier for these views to be taken into account, whether at the local level, by the DP government, or by the government and parliament. But where work is left to happen spontaneously, where sections do not function and there are self-appointed chairmen, where there are only personal interests, the work will not go well. Mr. Selami stressed that it is not normal for a collegial spirit and shared thinking to be absent. No one should think that the DP will pit one clan against another, or one individual against another, to settle scores or pursue personal aims. The DP is a political force that fights to establish democracy and bring prosperity to Albania. Mr. Selami then answered several questions. Regarding the issue of the six MPs who had submitted the motion, he said that the DP supports the rule of law and that this matter had been referred to the Constitutional Court; regarding corruption, he called for the immediate implementation of Berisha’s decree, and so on. Mr. Dosti focused particularly on staffing issues. He stressed that we should find qualified personnel where they have demonstrated their abilities, and not through class struggle. That harms the DP. “The section,” Mr. Dosti continued, “is the key and must be made healthier. But do not consider yourselves closed off and confined to it; instead, take the pulse and measure the pace of all our supporters, sympathizers, and voters, because only in this way will we be able to solve the problems you face. The Association of the Politically Persecuted must be careful in granting the status of politically persecuted. Indeed, I think,” Mr. Dosti stressed, “that this is its fundamental role, but the competent bodies must make the decisions. It is the association’s duty to denounce false claims to this status and to avoid nostalgic attitudes such as ‘I was first’ or ‘I should be first in line,’ and so on. The DP will resolutely support these people until they are fully reintegrated into life. Former kulaks face equally great difficulties—indeed, I would not be wrong to say even greater ones—so village authorities and employment offices should give them priority.” The local MP, Mr. Rrapaj, insisted on enforcement of the law. It is binding on everyone, including the Municipality of Mallakastër. He assured those present that the existing land-distribution law cannot be changed and will be implemented to the end. With the calmness of a Mallakastër man, he welcomed the discussion and listened to the audience. I would like to close this article with the words of Ballsh secondary-school principal, Mr. Luan Hamiti: “The people of Mallakastër are sensitive to the keeping of one’s word and to the non-violation of opinions. The wind of democracy does not make them braver or give them more courage, because they have had those qualities for years; rather, it has blown a layer of dust off their image. The people of Mallakastër are not conservative.” Put another way, the people of Mallakastër will support democracy and reform.

PRESIDENT BERISHA’S MEETING WITH SWISS PRESIDENT OGI DAVOS, 29 January — The proceedings of the World Economic Forum took place at midday. The President of the Swiss Confederation, Mr. Adolf Ogi, set aside a special meeting with the President of the Republic of Albania, Mr. Sali Berisha. In their conversation, Mr. Sali Berisha thanked Mr. Ogi for the assistance provided by the Swiss government in telecommunications and agriculture, as well as assistance through the World Bank. He also asked the Swiss president to grant a low-interest loan and to employ a certain number of Albanians in Switzerland, to help ease the difficult economic situation Albania is going through. For his part, Mr. Ogi expressed general agreement with granting loans and promised to advocate giving priority to employment requests from Albania, while taking into account the problems Switzerland currently faces in this area. Regarding all the issues discussed, both sides showed a readiness to strengthen relations between the two countries. Mr. Berisha then attended the first working session of the World Economic Forum. The Albanian president is expected to address the Forum, where he will draw attention to Albania’s economic situation, the progress of reform, and so on. He will also speak about the situation in the Balkans and hold further meetings with presidents and heads of government. (ATSH)

Friday, 29 January 1993. Qafa e Kishës in the village of Sharrë, Tirana. Family members and relatives have come here to attend the funeral ceremony accompanying the exhumation of the remains of political prisoners, various people and patriots, unjustly killed without trial by units of the National Liberation Army. Here, at this place, on the night of 3 November 1944, 14 days before the liberation of Tirana, the following were brutally executed: Minella Toci, 23; Ndue Pali, 35; Bajram Çuca, 38; and Salaulin Korça, 42. While the exhumation work is being carried out, one of those present, Mr. Bahri Delialisi, speaks with the people and recounts: “According to the oral accounts I had gathered from villagers while searching for the body of my father, who was shot on that same night, I came to this village on 10 December 1044. While searching, I found myself beside this pit. Here I saw many corpses of the buried, stripped, wearing only their underwear, de-”

Yesterday, a press conference was held at the Ministry of Education for journalists, concerning the Council of Europe’s projects to help Albania’s schools. The Minister of Education, Mr. Vjll Vjesiu, spoke. He highly praised the work of this delegation, the work it had done during its stay, and the major “twinning” initiative linking pupils, teachers, and schools in Albania with pupils, teachers, and schools in Western Europe, the USA, and Canada, with the aim of assisting Albanian education. At the conference, the delegation was also represented by its chairman, Mr. Zohar Enrigton, and by Xhel Hoteën, Helenë Lund, Olaf Dolfator, and others, members of the delegation. Afterwards, Mrs. Zhozi Farink-ton answered questions from the journalists present concerning the purpose of this project, the technical aspects of its implementation, the importance of local authorities to its successful progress, and so on. RD CORRESPONDENT

Those who have economic power can seize political power too We who are writing to you are part of the workforce of former Enterprise No. 8, Fruit and Vegetable Enterprise No. 2, Region No. 2 of Tirana. Although at first glance the problem we are writing about may seem to be a simple matter of private interests, viewed more broadly—and on the basis of the facts we will present below—it is a struggle between the democratic order now being consolidated (economic reform, the deepening of privatization) and the red power-holders (their corruption, manoeuvres, and the scenarios they use), who have launched a frontal assault to seize economic power at any cost and once again extinguish every feeling among the people. As the market’s workforce, toward the end of 1991 we were faced with a choice (since our enterprise was in a very difficult economic situation): either to join a private company and buy the market, or the market itself would be put up for auction. Now, as we analyse all the actions taken at the time, we have reached the conclusion that everything—including the urgency and pressure put on us—was a scenario devised by director Tatjana Sferdelli (a former communist), Privatization Agency No. 2, the front company «Koci», the lawyer assigned to draw up the documents for the joint company, Loreta Fshati, and perhaps one of the members of our workforce. We should emphasize from the outset that, when the documents were being drafted, we were left without proper legal assistance, which led to all the negative consequences that followed. We say this because we believe it was the duty of the enterprise (the management and the lawyer) to involve us in studying and drawing up the documents, since under the new conditions of a market economy none of us had even the most basic knowledge of drafting such documents or of guarantees and collateral. It was precisely under these circumstances that we joined up with the “merchant” Fatmir Koci, a former member of the 326th unit and former officer cadet. After many grand promises from him and his representatives, and after he applied the “divide and rule” tactic with part of our workforce, we found ourselves facing the Privatization Agency’s categorical refusal to let us privatize the market and even the warehouses ourselves (those at the agency said, “Whoever doesn’t agree can go and work as a manager or as an assistant, if they want”). We were forced to sign documents to begin joint activities, at a great loss to us and for a profit to [them]. (Continued on page 2)

ON THE VISIT OF THE PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION TO GREECE As reported, the parliamentary delegation headed by the Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Mr. Pjetër Arbnori, has returned home from Greece. During its stay in Greece, the delegation was received at the Greek Parliament by the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Mr. Tsalldaris. Their meetings addressed common Albanian-Greek issues, whose resolution would raise relations between our two countries to a higher level. Mr. Arbnori, for his part, thanked the Greek side for the assistance it has given Albania in overcoming current difficulties and for accepting Albanian emigrants in Greece. “Albania,” Mr. Arbnori stressed, “is firmly committed to the path of democracy.” Mr. Tsalldaris expressed the Greek side’s goodwill toward resolving problems in a spirit of understanding, he noted. He went on to discuss the Albanian organization: The Greek government will arrange regular seasonal employment for Albanian emigrants, but irregular entry across the borders must be stopped. Regarding the pressing problems of the Balkans, both sides spoke in favour of peaceful solutions and dialogue. Mr. Arbnori and the Albanian delegation he headed were received by the Prime Minister of Greece, Mr. Micotakis. The meeting emphasized the need to intensify joint efforts. During the conversation, he asked Mr. Micotakis to examine the issue of the property of the Cham people. In his remarks, the Greek prime minister outlined Greece’s capacity to help Albania in economic investment, infrastructure, tourism, the exploitation of natural resources, and so on. Regarding the Cham issue, he stressed that it could be examined, but that the Albanian side should also do its part to address the issue of minorities in Albania. Thanking his hosts for their hospitality, Mr. Arbnori stressed: “We are not just a few thousand but three million Albanians who want friendship with the Greek people. These friendly sentiments would give a powerful impetus to our relations and eliminate the isolated voices on both sides that want to damage everything good we have achieved between the two countries.” Speaking about the bill on religious communities that will be submitted to the People’s Assembly, Mr. Arbnori said that it would be a law for all three communities in Albania, based on the rules of the KSE. “We will not ask the minorities to sing their masses in Albanian, just as we do not want the masses of Albanian Orthodox Christians to be sung in Greek.” At the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Albanian parliamentary delegation was received by the deputy minister, Mrs. Cuduro, and senior officials of the ministry. Following Mrs. Cuduro’s remarks, in which she described this visit as another step forward in relations between the two countries, there was a successful visit by the Foreign Minister