TIRANA: On July 24, the President of the Republic of Albania, Mr. Sali Berisha, received the delegation from Kuwait, headed by the President of the World Islamic Committee, Abdul Brahman Al-AjmI. They presented the model of the Orthopedic Hospital that they will build free of charge in the hills of Tirana, in Sauk. Construction work will be inaugurated on Monday, 26.07.1993. (ATSH)

The old arithmetic of commitment to the first shrill strategy of the active revolutionary led the March 31 parliamentary candidate to return once again to his own Labourist fold. But now not only as a boy of the plan-grip, but also as a “hero” of the communist serial of abandoning a parliament with a democratic majority. Anyone can ask Mr. Gjinushi: why did you abandon parliament? Why did you lose the electorate that voted for you as a democrat? What communist instincts have awakened this summer? Could it be that you don’t like the beaches of your own country? Or, motivated by a desire to leave your Socialist colleagues behind in every antidemocratic adventure, are you touring Europe during this hot summer?! That is what you call responsibility for the Fatherland, responsibility for the privileged classes he mentioned so often, even complaining on their behalf about Saturdays! The former bloc member Gjinushi seems, nevertheless, to be far from parliament, far from governing—the very things that remind people of the treacherous MP, the breakup of the coalition, and the denial of their democratic aspirations. The former bloc member Gjinushi seems to be far from Albania’s troubles, in a warehouse with Nano, Ruçi, other communists and other criminals. Where, one wonders, will this old arithmetic lead Mr. Gjinushi, who, after taking his party out of Parliament, has now turned its newspaper into a dry supplement to “ZP” as well? Mr. Gjinushi, that old revolutionary who overnight turned from communist into democrat, concealed behind the name of T. Laço, aroused suspicion in the democratic camp from his very first appearance. This scion of communism and son of political convenience brought into the world, with quite a flourish, the “Communist Alternative,” which operates on the same platform as “ZP” in its ahistorical stance against reform, against foreign policy, and against the reasonable democratic affirmation of our nation’s moral, material and spiritual values. The parallel between “ZP” and “Alternativa SD” is almost absurd in its tragedy. One cheerfully writes about the appearance of SI-DAS, the other announces famine in capital letters; one writes about the long queues for the privatization of apartments, the other about a new isolation of the country. Both these newspapers and their parties are united by one ideal, and consequently by a frighteningly anti-reformist outlook. Former Sigurimi men are convinced that they are energetically working against democracy in Albania, following the open alliance of Messrs. Gjinushi and Nano. Mr. Gjinushi, former Minister of Education and guardian of the students of the December 1990 Revolution, has had his taste of democracy. Anyone with even a little memory who took part in the events of this revolution from the beginning will remember Minister Gjinushi raising his hand in front of the Albanian students, who, with Prof. Berisha, had set out not to turn back. They will remember his calls to stop the revolution and the comfortable car from which he fled amid the students’ whistles. This scene did not trouble me as much as the occasions when the PSD took a communist course, when Mr. Gjinushi rose up against the constitutional laws presented in parliament, when he rose up against reform and democratic governance, against the plan to adopt the constitution, or when he abandoned Albania in difficult moments and went off to the hotels and beaches of Europe. But now, fortunately, he is not surrounded by Enver Hoxha’s policemen with rubber truncheons, automatic weapons and tanks, but by wretches of philosophy and politics, who have made Mr. Gjinushi shed his democratic veneer and put on the old uniform of the active revolutionary, the seasoned communist. It has always been believed that struggle is a test of human character, and this applies to politicians too—in our case, to Mr. Gjinushi. A struggle that made him kneel, a struggle that made him return to where the call of his forefathers came from, like a lamb to the communist fold of his origins. MUJE BUCPAPAJ They did this by giving the delegation a solemn welcome. Selami and the others. the residents of this area continued for more than two hours. The focus of this discussion was their concerns, their interest in hearing Mr. Selami’s views as chairman of the PD on the problem of Albanian-Greek relations, the boycott of parliament, corruption in general and Nano’s in particular. But naturally, the problem that concerned them most was the opening of the Tri Urat border crossing, which—as they said—would make the development of the area possible. The two prime ministers have agreed that this crossing should be opened, but some investment is required, such as repairing the road and building the facility on our side; these will be undertaken, explained the Minister of Public Order, Mr. Manushi. And then we set off for… IN PERMET The meeting with the residents of this town had been scheduled for 7 p.m., while the cinema hall was already full by 6 p.m. It has been about a year and a half since the PD began governing the country, Mr. Selami said at the outset, and during this period Albania has made significant progress. Even the most fanatical opponents find it difficult to deny this. He then focused his remarks on several political problems, including the intensification of the country’s political struggle. But what is the source of this intensification? Mr. Selami continued. Let us refer to a concrete example, what is called the parliamentary crisis. Its essence is the desire for new elections. But the calculations are wrong. A crisis can occur when you control more than 50 percent of parliament, whereas in the case of the Socialists, their departure is nothing more than “taking a vacation and going to the beach.” Mr. Selami then spoke about judicial reform: what has been done and what must be done in these institutions so that they can play the important role that is theirs. Mr. Selami then turned to Albanian-Greek relations, although the Përmet district has a low percentage of minorities. The subject of Mr. Genc Ruli’s speech was reform, its achievements and difficulties. He highlighted as achievements the ending of economic chaos, the stabilization of the value of the lek, and an increase in production (although a small one). The difficulties, meanwhile, are the social problems with which the Albanian people are now faced, such as unemployment, high prices, and others. Mr. Ilir Manushi focused on explaining investment-related issues. To illustrate the freedom that exists among us today, Mr. Bujar Dosti referred to people such as Bujar Laze?, Muco Sallu, Haneme Bajkaj, Xhemal Dauti, and Rexhep Hazdenari, who, despite their serious past offenses, live normally and enjoy all their rights. A citizen of Përmet wanted to know Mr. Selami’s view regarding a statement by Sabri Godo that “unless government corruption is eliminated, there will be no progress.” As a governing party, Mr. Godo would help us by making specific denunciations, because corruption has only one color: black; and as such, it will always be a struggle…

As part of a working practice in which meetings with the people, to learn more closely about their problems and concerns, are a priority, the itinerary of the PDSH chairman, Eduard Selami, and the other gentlemen, Mr. Tomorr Dosti, secretary, and ministers Genc Ruli and Ilir Manushi, headed south, specifically to the districts of Përmet and Gjirokastër. . PDSH CHAIRMAN EDUARD SELAMI, ITS SECRETARY TOMOR DOSTI, MINISTERS GENC RULI AND ILIR MANUSHI IN PERMET AND GJIROKASTER — As part of a working practice in which meetings with the people, to learn more closely about their problems and concerns, are a priority, the itinerary of the PDSH chairman Eduard Selami and the other gentlemen, Mr. Tomorr Dosti, secretary, and ministers Genc Ruli and Ilir Manushi, headed south, specifically to the districts of Përmet and Gjirokastër. ÇARSHOVA — THE PROLOGUE TO THE MEETINGS The people of the Çarshova area had the honour of welcoming such guests. The people of this area responded by giving Selami and the others a very warm reception. In a village meeting hall, an open discussion between the gentlemen of the PD who had come from Tirana and the residents of the area continued for more than two hours. At the centre of this discussion were their concerns and their interest in hearing Mr. Selami’s views, as PD chairman, on the issue of Albanian-Greek relations, the parliamentary boycott, and corruption in general, which is troubling our country, Mr. Selami stressed. “Why did the price of bread go up?” was a question that prompted Mr. Ruli to explain the issue. Two-thirds of the people’s bread supply had been secured through foreign aid. The need to change the purpose of the aid—from assistance allocated to provide bread and food to assistance given to enable us to produce most of our own bread and food—made such a step necessary. And the results have not been slow to appear. FROM PERMET TO GJIROKASTER A pleasant surprise awaited us on the journey to Gjirokastër. At the Kardhiq bridge, dozens of cars had come out to welcome and accompany Mr. Selami, with the national flag waving from them. Although they arrived in Gjirokastër at a time that deviated from the schedule (for objective reasons), and although it was an unsuitable hour for any kind of activity, it nevertheless took more than ten minutes for many people to fill the hall and balcony of the cinema-theatre completely. Among other issues, Mr. Selami focused especially on Albanian-Greek relations. “These relations,” he said, “after improving, cooled again—another frost.” This is explained by the existence of various Greek chauvinist circles, which, unfortunately, have become dominant in official Greek policy as well. This is also evident in Prime Minister Mitsotakis’s statement. All international organizations have condemned the Greek position and supported the Albanian one. “To consolidate good relations, we will continue to pursue a policy of peace, but not one of inferiority,” Mr. Selami went on. “We cannot tolerate our national interests being infringed. We are committed to our peaceful stance, because this is the best path in the interests of both peoples.” On the other hand, Mr. Selami said, we will not repay the Greek government’s policy towards our emigrants in kind. We will continue to respect the rights of minorities, as is also demonstrated by the law passed on minorities. Mr. Ruli spoke again about the problems of reform, and after the questions and answers... MEETING AT THE DISTRICT COUNCIL The chairman of this council, Sokrat Kalivopulli, complained about the local authorities’ lack of broad powers. In this connection, he referred to the contradiction between dependence on the centre and the fact that the district is where activities are carried out. “This has meant that I, as chairman of the district council, have no right to demand accountability for the work of those who report to the centre.” Mr. Selami said that broader powers would be granted to local government when the laws were passed in parliament, while Mr. Ruli, as Gjirokastër’s MP, pointed out that there was also a failure to exercise the powers that already existed. The Greek consular offices, currently located in Hotel «Çajupi», were also discussed, as their presence infringes upon its use. MP Ruli undertook to address this issue. EPILOGUE: LIBOHOVA The town at the foot of Mali i Gjerë, the town of Avni Rustemi, the town of the 114 shot without trial, the town reduced to a village under the dictatorship, with the purpose of serving as an agricultural enterprise—Libohova, then, was the epilogue to the meetings in Gjirokastër. At the historic gathering, the conversation with Messrs. Selami, Ruli, Dosti and Bekja unfolded very naturally. SHIPETIM LUKU

— THE WANDERERS OF CAFÉS AND BEACHES — With the onset of this summer’s heat, Socialist and Social Democratic politicians and MPs, who cannot withstand high temperatures (but who revel and delight in high political temperatures), decided to migrate from the hot Parliament chamber to the most luxurious air-conditioned or fan-cooled cafés and restaurants, and to the cool seaside shores. How can they spend their days in the torturous heat of the Parliament chamber? How can they waste the months of July and August, created by God and planned by them since winter for the beach, discussing a few “trivialities” needed by the people and the country, such as the constitution and a few other laws that never end and leave their minds in a muddle? Let the people wait! If they have endured 50 years without a genuinely democratic constitution, they can wait until... autumn, until they have rested and ... come. They will include these demands in an ultimatum petition to be sent to Parliament and the people. If their demands are not met, they will use their final weapon: going on hunger strike in the meeting hall at the PS headquarters. Naturally, every measure will be taken to ensure an illicit supply of the little food and drink needed for three months. Will they be schooled? The strike should begin at the end of July, when “the heat has ... and has achieved 100 per cent” ... [partly illegible passage] …never get enough. They only ask and expect things from them. Now they have only one last thing left to do: give their very souls and lives for this ungrateful people, never satisfied with the fruits of socialism! But they will never do that! First and foremost, they will think about their own heads, pockets, comfort, and personal and family security. Let the smoke go straight up, and the people can go wherever they want. Even if it never rises at all, even if it turns into volcanic lava, they will care only about their own smoke. They have done so much for the people! Now let the people do something for them. And what do the poor MPs want, these people who cannot stand high temperatures and are used to enduring them in the cool embrace of the seas and lakes? Very little: not to be bothered with complaints and calls to return to “hell”—parliament; not to have their vacation pleasure spoiled; not to be separated from their wives and children. Naturally, they also want their salaries paid regularly—indeed, the possibility of raising them should be considered, because to cover their many expenses they have had to dip into their foreign-currency deposits and convert the money into Albanian lek. are not met, they will use their last ensure an illegal supply of the small amount of schooled? [illegible] the heat sets in… In recent days, experts at the testing Tirana, tested seropositive. He is a married young man, confirms the Minister of Health, not mean that you are ill, but…

IN PERMET

In recent days, experts at the analysis laboratory have reported that another citizen, a blood donor from Tirana, tested seropositive. “He is a young married man,” confirms Health Minister Tritan Shehu. “As far as we know, this man has previously been in Greece. There is a strong possibility that he contracted the virus there.” Being seropositive, of course, does not mean that one is ill, but... [text continues outside the frame?] This is the fact. Naturally, we cannot possibly rejoice that one of the most deadly [diseases] has entered our ranks. The Ministry of Health, together with others, is making energetic efforts to cut off the possibilities for AIDS to spread and proliferate. At present, a well-qualified information campaign in the press and other mass media, especially television, is serving this extremely humane purpose. A special role is also being played by organized cooperation with the WHO, for ...

The members of the National Council of FRPD are hereby notified that a meeting of the National Council of FRPD will be held on Tuesday, 27 July 1993, at 12:00, at the PDSH headquarters in Tirana. FRPD Organization Section