The latest meeting of the National Council of the DP coincided with the ten-month anniversary of the historic victory of March 22, which gave us power, but also the mission of pulling the country out of the abyss in which we found it. We met the deadline for this first undertaking. Despite the nihilistic crusade of the medieval communist-socialist taboos, despite the fog they spread and the soot they throw over everything, there have been clear achievements, or achievements still in their infancy, in setting the foundations for an enduring, nationwide peace; achievements have outweighed failures. As early as summer, the panic- and doom-mongering communist-socialist propaganda made a bogeyman of the winter we are now getting through, presenting it as the most terrible of this century, as insurmountable. According to the blind astrologers and fortune-tellers, cholera, famine, and cold would wreak havoc upon us. But so far, not even «ZP» has reported any victims. Of course, we cannot deny the suffering and concerns caused by insufficient supplies of firewood, coal, and kerosene; frequent power cuts; disruptions in the supply of some foodstuffs, etc. But we must not forget that these are not the fruits of democracy’s first winter. We inherited them from the socialist «paradise». They had been driving us to distraction for many years, especially during the last four or five. We also endured these winter hardships under the PS. As is well known, applying the scorched-earth tactic in retreat, by laying waste to and almost completely paralyzing the economy, and by stealing or burning warehouses, on March 22 it handed the country over to the DP like a house with only its four walls still standing. Our suffering could have been less and more bearable if some of our senior national or local officials had consistently demonstrated a sound understanding of the situation in their sectors, commitment and a strong sense of responsibility for the normal progress of work, high productivity and efficiency in organizing and management, and oversight of the fulfillment of duties. Thus, disruptions in the supply and quality of bread, and in the supply of firewood and coal, etc., are due to subjective causes. The situation in some municipal services is equally unjustifiable. In our cities, including the center of Tirana, heaps of rubbish and refuse are everywhere; they are not removed for weeks. Even in winter, drinking-water supplies are scarce—four or five hours a day—yet you can find ten or so places where pipes leak water uselessly, letting it run into puddles on main roads or in front of apartment buildings. This demonstrates not only the deplorable state of hygiene and the appearance of our cities, but also the image of the country and its democracy in the eyes of foreigners; it frightens away powerful and serious investors. These issues have been pointed out and criticized; since they have not been eliminated, we have the right to say that we have remained at the stage of identifying problems. Likewise, at DP events, press conferences, and other platforms, concern has been expressed from top to bottom about the excessive delays in approving and implementing certain basic laws needed to deepen and fully achieve the reform, such as those on privatization and ownership of land and homes, etc. It has been more than half a year since President Berisha issued the decree on verifying individuals’ wealth, but the process has been stalled; meanwhile, large quantities of gold and foreign currency have been amassed by the red businessmen. Enticed and emboldened by their rapid, unchecked enrichment and foreign holidays, more and more unjust fortunes are being made through workshops and other highly profitable enterprises and assets. They are making highly productive and efficient use of the time we are giving them to cover their tracks and abuses, and to emerge as innocent from every inspection and trial. And then they will laugh at us, and we will be ashamed of ourselves. The trial of Nexhmije Hoxha taught us many lessons. Her calm, impenitence, and aggression, and those of Ramiz Alia, speak volumes. After all, Ramiz Alia was never known for bravery. Apparently, he is also a thoroughly spent political tactician because, while under house arrest as an elderly former head of state, he seems to receive messages from the spiritual leader of the PS, surrounded by its conservative, entrenched cadres and sworn enemies of the DP and democracy: «Stay strong, Comrade Ramiz! We are shaking their castle to its foundations. There is no fortress the communists cannot take.» While we waste time and energy debating radical or moderate reforms, they—clandestinely or openly—are carrying out their strategy of destabilization, sabotage, and discrediting our reforms and achievements. While we are sentimental and tolerant toward their people, many of whom we have not even removed from their chairs or offices, they, in the areas where they hold local power, turn democrats out into the street without much hesitation or a twinge of conscience. And they themselves proclaim, at home and abroad, that they are innocent victims of democracy. Whether we want to admit it or not, it is clear that through our indifference and tolerance, and our delay in doing today what should have been done a week ago, we help them carry out the same scenario: the return, on democracy’s day, to their lost paradise. XHEVAT MUSTAFA For the DP, a day is worth a month. The time we waste benefits the opposition. Delays in resolving some key problems are testing the people’s patience.

Tirana, February 5—On February 4, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Bill Klinton, received at his home the Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly of the Republic of Albania, Petër Arbnori. At this cordial meeting, President Klinton expressed to Chairman Arbnori the support of the American government and the United States’ determination to help Albania on the path of reforms and in advancing the Albanian cause. (ATSH)

TIRANA: February 5—Today, the President of the Republic of Albania, Sali Berisha, received the new ambassador of Sweden, and at the same time of the Kingdom of Sweden in our country, Ola Ullsten, who presented his credentials. Foreign Minister Al- fred Serreqi, the Secretary-General of the Presidency, Kolec Topalli, and others attended the credentials ceremony. (ATSH)

TIRANA—At the invitation of the President of the Republic of Albania, Mr. Sali Berisha, the President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Mr. Zhelju Zhelev, will pay an official visit to Albania from February 12 to 14, 1993. During the visit, a treaty of friendship and cooperation between Albania and Bulgaria will be signed. (ATSH)

TIRANA—The agreement recently signed between the Albanian Telegraphic Agency and the Frans Pres Agency was put into effect with the installation of a satellite dish and the related equipment for receiving AFP’s News Service. (ATSH)

BY STAYING OUT OF POLITICS, THE AUTOCEPHALOUS ORTHODOX CHURCH OF ALBANIA HAS REMAINED A LIVING AND INDEPENDENT RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY In the newspaper «RD» dated 3.2.1993, in Mr. Arlind Duca’s article «Why did the Greek Foreign Ministry issue the statement?», the statement by the Foreign Ministry is wrongly linked to the A.O.C.A. in the article in question. This is at a time when the polemics in question deal with the political treatment of a religious issue, which runs counter to the fundamental principle of separating the secular state from religion. In this clarification, we address only those parts that concern the religious organization of the A.O.C.A. as an independent religious community. We clarify that we fully agree with the article’s author when he says that «the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania itself determines who will head it and what responsibilities its first hierarch should have». However, «we can by no means agree when he pretentiously undertakes to speak in the name of Orthodox believers», claiming that «the Church has long decided that its head should be Albanian by nationality and parliament has a duty to take this fact into consideration». The author forgets, first of all, that the A.O.C.A. is a living organization capable of keeping pace with the times, and ... (Continued on page 4)

TIRANA—At around 18:25, in the C-10 pyramid sector, to the left of Katër Morina and a few meters from our state border, a Serbian border patrol barbarously killed three Albanian citizens: Ardian Ram Ibro, 23, from Iblla in Puka; Mehmet Ram Thoro, 35, from Iblla in Puka; and Përparim Man Iberhasa, 25, from Babina in Tropoja, the Ministry of Defense spokesperson reports. An examination of the scene indicates that the killing was carried out at very close range with an automatic weapon. This tragic incident is also a continuation of Serbian aggressive policy, in violation of all international human-rights standards, and it contributes to heightened tension on the border and in the region. (ATSH)

On Thursday, February 4, the Mayor of Tirana, Mr. Sali Kelmendi, hosted a reception for the well-known Albanian publicist, member of the European Community journalists’ organization, and editor for 32 consecutive years of the magazine «Koha Jonë», Mr. Lec Shllaku. Mr. Lec was accompanied by his daughter Tina. Also attending the reception were the Deputy Mayor, Mr. Ramazan Driza; the Secretary of the Municipality of Tirana, Mr. Gafar Lugua; Mr. [from] the «Tirana» association; Mrs. Vjollca Tafaj; and others. On September 15, 1992, Mr. Lec Shllaku sent a letter to the Mayor of Tirana, Mr. Sali Kelmendi, requesting that a square, park, or street in Tirana be named after a French personality, to honor the hero and make our national hero Skënderbeu—Ville Lumiere—immortal. Mr. Lec Shllaku, after 10 years of valuable work and struggle with the French authorities to have such a square named after our hero Skënderbeu in «Paris», won the support of the Mayor of Paris, Mr. Zhak Shirak, a deputy, former prime minister of France, and candidate for President of the French Republic. AFËRDITA TAFAJ

It is a well-known fact that the parliamentary group of the Democratic Party is boycotting Parliament’s proceedings because the government has been delaying for too long the law on returning homes, shops, and plots of land to their legitimate former-owner citizens. It is paradoxical that the government’s deputies are in fact so strongly opposed to their own demand; but this is a fact. And the deputies are right. Let us explain the issue: From the outset, the Democratic Party’s program declared that citizens whose property had been arbitrarily nationalized by the PPSH would have their homes and land returned to them. This was approved, because every Albanian considers private property sacred. But the laws of the dictatorship could not erase this memory. Awareness of this was evident. But the government of Meksi, as a government, treated a draft law of such importance with caution, dragging it out for

...until the Greek calends, for no reason at all. The year since the victory over communism is nearly upon us, and yet these officials, still tainted by the despotic regime, have not received the benefits of their properties. Thus, while a group from the association for the return of nationalized property has long been calling for their properties to be returned, the Democratic Party’s draft law declared that citizens whose property was arbitrarily nationalized by the PPSH would have their homes and land returned to them. This was approved, because every Albanian considers private property sacred. Berisha’s promise was that the property would be returned to us. The Ministry of Construction? Instead of publishing laws, are they drafting them with people who are not legal specialists?! It would be appropriate for the Ministry of Justice to draft this law and take responsibility for it, consulting and formally cooperating with the Ministry of Construction. In this way, delays of a political and legal nature, arising because people’s interests are at stake, would be dealt with more directly. What have political parties got to do with this? There was no reason at all to link this draft law with the privatization of state-owned homes. (Continued on page 3)

Berisha’s promise was that the property would be returned to us. The Ministry of Construction? Instead of publishing laws, are they drafting them with people who are not legal specialists?! It would be appropriate for the Ministry of Justice to draft this law and take responsibility for it, consulting and formally cooperating with the Ministry of Construction. In this way, delays of a political and legal nature, arising because people’s interests are at stake, would be dealt with more directly. What have political parties got to do with this? There was no reason at all to link this draft law with the privatization of state-owned homes. (Continued on page 3)

The Opera and Ballet Theatre is holding a competition for a clarinet player. Candidates must register with the secretariat at the institution. Candidates must have completed higher education with a grade of 10 in clarinet, performing a program of their choice. In addition, the committee will assign a compulsory program from the performance repertoire and sight-reading. The competition will take place on Thursday, 12.2.1993, at 10:30. The Directorate of the Opera and Ballet Theatre

New equipment for heating the population These days, 4,000 new heating appliances that run on liquefied gas have arrived from Italy, supplied free of charge. By the end of the month, another thousand are expected to arrive; they will significantly improve heating for the capital’s residents. These appliances, consisting of stoves and liquefied-gas reflectors, will be distributed free of charge to families of political prisoners, kindergartens and nurseries, and lower-income families; it is expected that they will also reach the streets during 1993. According to a conversation with HYSNI GJONI, director of the Fuel Materials Enterprise, gas-cylinder filling facilities will also be installed at this enterprise. One such cylinder can be used for 15 consecutive days, if used for 8 hours a day. ZEF LLESHI