As «ZP» itself reported on 13 February, the PS Steering Committee met on Friday and discussed the support that the PS should give to the trade-union movement. At first glance, everything seems to be in order, since the PS has proclaimed itself the defender of the underprivileged classes (generally speaking, this does not stop PS leaders from signing private deals and dining in Tirana’s most luxurious private restaurants). But let us see what was said at that meeting, according to «ZP» (it should be borne in mind that «ZP» cannot print the historic anti-democratic outbursts that are usually made at meetings of this kind). «At present, the only supporters of the government are a few leaders of the BSP. The overwhelming majority of the workers affiliated with the federation are opposing it, considering the reform a real threat.» So, as can be seen, the social-communist leaders have not even bothered to use the mask slogan «the PS supports the reform»; instead, they have come out openly against it. Apparently, the end of winter, within this episode of theirs, the government must react at least 10 times, is forcing them to act without worrying any more about preserving the façade of a party with constructive aims. They are now in such a hurry that they can no longer even control the terms they use, speaking of «a few sold-out leaders who have betrayed the trade-union movement». Surely they cannot mean the leaders of the Confederation, or rather of the former Trade Unions, because everyone knows very well that the former TU have always been the voice of the PSHSH movement. At that meeting it was said that only a few BSP leaders supported the government, while the overwhelming majority of workers opposed it; but the truth is quite different. Fortunately, the government and the reform are supported by everyone who has understood that, in today’s conditions, such a thing is a national duty. The BSP’s agreement with the government was a step that history will value as their contribution to regaining power; this is an accusation against that destructive group within the PS which, speaking of a PD revanche, is ready to lead the country to complete ruin in order to have its turn in power. What does «the urgent need has arisen to create a united front against this revanche» mean (read: against the PD)? It is quite clear that these words, spoken at the meeting of conservative socialist leaders ostensibly to support the trade-union movement, do not express any concern for workers’ problems, but rather a desire to fight the PD by any means; to do so, they need to manipulate workers’ problems. They have openly admitted this further on, when they say that «this powerful movement (the trade-union movement) cannot remain outside political support» and then: «recently, the PS, prompted by this need, has established numerous contacts with the leaders of the confederation...» So workers apparently need the PS’s support to solve their problems. Gentlemen of the PS leadership, people are no longer so naïve as to swallow the soap you serve them as if it were cheese. It is you who need to exploit workers’ demands and problems in order to achieve your sinister aim. And, as you yourselves are now proving, this was also the aim of the strikes organized by you (or, to use your terminology, with the PS’s political support) in the areas where your influence happens to be strongest, which are also among the poorest and most isolated from the rest of the country, such as Polican i, Bulqiza and Ballshi. In implementation of «the historic decisions of the PS Central Committee Plenum», the next day in the city of Durrës the PS supported (read: organized) a «rally» of 200(0) people (according to «ZP») «against the government’s policy». At this «rally», Pëllumbi of the PS came out with a few gems. «You are all,» he said, «witnesses to anti-democratic actions... concerning people being dismissed from their jobs and replaced by the incompetent and the corrupt.» Does Mr. Pëllumbi not realize that he is taking on a great responsibility by making such statements without presenting evidence? It cannot be denied that mistakes have also been made in the administrative reform, but could it be that (according to the PS) all those who served the old regime and are not working to serve the reform were the capable and uncorrupt ones? Then who drove this country into the abyss, if those who governed it were supposedly the most capable? Who robbed and squeezed it to the bone—the respectable and the corrupt? Whereas all those who replaced them are supposedly incompetent and corrupt (someone might even take the shameful step of suing Mr. Pëllumbi), and so their only merit, according to Mr. Pëllumbi, is their participation in the toppling of monuments. Could it be that Mr. Pëllumbi regards the toppling of the dictator’s monument as an act of corruption? I hope the conservative communist leaders of the PS will be supported by the people after four years, in the next elections, just as they were supported on 22 March ’92. EDI PALOKA ...of professional matters, because the good conditions that existed in the BSP have been put down on paper by the former PPSH. At that meeting it was said that the government was supported only by a few BSP leaders, while the great majority of its employees Government and the reform are supported by all those who have understood that, under will judge positively, a step that is not unique in the world. A similar agreement was made, for example, in Sweden 100 years ago, when it found itself in very difficult circumstances. The opposite will happen to those who today are trying by every means to destabilize things and make the situation destructive. It is true that among the broad mass of workers who initially supported the government and the reform, there are some who feel disappointed, but this is only because they were unprepared and do not understand the essence of the reform. When they speak of the pain of reform, they are astonished, as if they had never been able to conceive of this pain concretely. Nevertheless, everyone must understand and bear it. Nevertheless, the poisonous propaganda of the conservative group in the PS must be spread. The pain of reform is the pain that overwhelms a surgeon during an operation necessary to save a life. Reform is precisely this operation that will save Albania from the deadly disease of communism, of common ownership, of discouragement toward unrelieved poverty. Therefore, we must not listen to those who, while advising us not to perform the operation, seek to achieve what they began 50 years ago: the slow death of this country. Certainly, this is not the aim in itself of the socialist leaders; it will be the result if they achieve their goal.

TIRANA, 14 February. For three days, Bulgarian President Mr. Zhelev Zhelev visited Albania, concluding his visit with the signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Albania and Bulgaria. According to Albanian official sources, «the signing of this treaty took place at a time when major changes have occurred in the two countries, changes that have also affected Europe and the world». The same sources report that the Treaty is based on the reciprocal interests of the two countries and peoples and supports the aims and principles of the UN Charter, the Helsinki Final Act and the Paris Charter. «For the first time in the new era», it was emphasized, the security of these two countries is inseparably linked to the security of all countries participating in the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe. This treaty was described as a new step that will promote bilateral relations in all fields, including the economy, capital investment, free trade, tourism, infrastructure, support for young businesspeople, the establishment of joint enterprises, transport and telecommunications, education, etc. «This treaty,» said the President of Albania, Mr. Berisha, «constitutes a strong legal foundation for friendship and cooperation between our two countries.» The treaty was signed to replace the 1947 treaty, with the aim of helping both countries achieve peaceful integration in the region and in Europe. «We,» said Mr. Berisha, «are determined to pursue a policy of understanding and integration in the region, thus responding to the wishes of our two peoples and helping prevent conflict in the Balkan region.» In a statement delivered at his residence on the occasion of the signing of the Treaty, Mr. Berisha said that «our views on the conflict in the region and ways of resolving it are shared with the Bulgarian side». Bulgarian President Mr. Zhelev also expressed such understanding to journalists, and likewise agreed with the assessment and support— (Continued on page 4)

«I went through a difficult period with the company «Kastrio[t] Kranj». I became the target of tempting offers, so that I would give the green light to repayment of the debt my enterprise owed to the company in question. The goods had been prepared for loading. Meanwhile, the funds had been used for other purposes. In this way the debt arose, which was nothing other than a state debt, and which was formalized at Agroeksport - explai... the matter found no application because of Agroeksport’s poor financial condition. (The National Commercial Bank’s justification to the court.) Then, on 23.11.1992, the first instance issued an enforcement order— - Two enforcement orders for the same issue, evidence of overreach, abuse of authority and pressure on the bank - - An enforcement order for 2 billion lekë is being touted by Abaz Brati; although this falls within the competence of the Council of Arbitration - - The Commercial Bank «sews» in the face of pressure from the High Arbitration Court! - ...«Krah». They became the target of an enticing offensive, intended to give the green light to the repayment of the debt that my enterprise owed to the firm in question. And when these offers failed to achieve their aim, the problems took concrete form in attempts to prevent the liquidation of this debt. Nevertheless, without success, because the debt was paid off.” These are the words of the director of Agroeksport, Mr. Përparim Rama. But first, let us clarify the origin of the debt. “The matter concerns a sales-purchase contract between the firm «Kastriot Kranj» and Agroeksport, regarding a cognac-making machine valued at 425380 DM. The firm «Kastriot Kranj» made an advance payment, but later rejected the quantity of cognac that it— Përparim. What route, then, did the repayment of this debt take? The Albanian Commercial Bank received an enforcement order from the State Arbitration Court, dated 12.5.1992, ordering Agroeksport to pay the sum of 425380 DM owed to the private firm «Kastriot Kranj». The enforcement order explains that payment could also be made in Albanian money, calculating the equivalent at the dollar exchange rate on the date the contract was signed (15.10.1990). So, we are dealing with a court case in which the private firm is in the right. However, this second enforcement order, through which Agroeksport’s obligation to the firm «Kastriot Kranj» is again recognized, is accompanied this time by a not insignificant change: the equivalent is to be calculated at the dollar exchange rate on the day the debt is repaid. We therefore have two enforcement orders signed by the chairman of the State Arbitration Court, Mr. Abaz Brati; the second revokes the first. And the revocation of a previous decision, as far as we know, is not a matter for one person’s personal initiative, (Continued on page 2)

A RIGHT DECISION BY MR. MEKSI’S GOVERNMENT The Academy of Sciences will not be closed. No, gentlemen of «ZP», in Europe one cannot do without science and, because democracy values science, it must place at its head not people loyal to communist ideals or professors and doctors without scientific works, but people who deserve it, who have publications, who are truly scientists. You know very well how the first scientific titles were awarded in Albania, starting in the 1970s—that is, after a long period from 1945 onward, during which intellectuals were selected according to how much of a scientist they were. Thus, people were given titles even with... But your party’s mania pre— ... does not mean that the institution should deserve it, who have publications, who are truly scientists. ferred that titles be awarded on the basis of personal considerations and loyalty to it. We were, and are, the only country in the world where professorships were assigned—and we have professors without works. These very people were also placed in the administrative leadership of the Academy of Sciences. Here, one must not confuse cultural breadth, teaching experience or some other quality with scientific work. It is one thing to be a cultured person and another to be a scientist. And so, we can no longer move forward with these people. The time for economic studies on the failed socialism of Hekuran Mara and his comrades is over. The time when you could hold a leadership post because you were the leader’s nephew, or the prime minister’s daughter, and be appointed to run a library despite having a natural-sciences background, is over. If we take a look at some of the employees in this administration, we will find nieces and nephews of influential people, former employees of regional party committees, former communists who distinguished themselves in no way in science, and, among them, some capable people who got their jobs on merit. Because these are the ones who will do the work, while the privileged ones gossip and direct. Indeed, this was so much borne in mind, (Continued on page 3) Although democracy won, in the center of Tirana the administrative leadership remained that of the PPSH era. At the head of the Academy of Sciences were the same leaders, well chosen for their failures and their great contribution to the Mother Party, because of their clan or factional ties. It was a great incongruity that, next to the Parliament building, in the center of the democratic capital, stood the Academy of Sciences, 100 percent communist. That is why many honest scientists, hard-working and upright people, deliberately [worked] to slow reform in this institution. Indeed, even when the Academy of Sciences itself makes cuts, its communist leader appears and orders the dismissal of those who had opposed them. Therefore, the Meksi government’s decision to reorganize the governing bodies of this Academy was absolutely necessary and unavoidable. But determining the governing bodies of an institution is not [a matter of] appointing people on the basis of party affiliation in a victorious democracy. At a meeting in to slow reform in this institution