Problems and signs of improvement At 6 p.m. on Thursday, a working meeting at the Durrës District Council brought together Prime Minister Meksi, PDSH Chairman Eduard Selami, Ministers Dashamir Shehi, Artan Hoxha, Edmond Spaho and Fatos Bitincka, PD parliamentary group chairman Ali Spahia, Mr. Tomorr Dosti, MPs N. Çela, M. Kaurri and L. Prifti, and staff members of the District Council and Municipality. “The reform has produced results in the Durrës district,” began District Council Chairman Vasil Pepaj in his presentation. The most notable results are in agriculture, where the trend in the area planted is as follows: while 61.3 percent of the area was planted in 1992, 90 percent was planted in 1993. Some 3,550 more hectares were planted with wheat. From 81,000 quintals of wheat secured in 1992, 169,000 quintals were secured in this year’s campaign. This year’s campaign was completed in a record 30 days. An increase in the number of livestock has been observed. There are 17,500 head of cattle, compared with 10,000 in 1992. Overall, there has been an improvement in the supply of drinking water in relation to wastewater services. In this connection, a study of Durrës’ water needs through 2010 has been completed, as has a study of the existing network, and the World Bank loan of 16 million is expected to be finalized in 1994. Station capacity of around 16 mega[?], worn-out connections, a shortage of transformers and a lack of street lighting — this was the state of the energy system until recently. To improve the functioning of this network, 35 electrical substations have been completed, and work continues on 65 others. 1,800 lights have been installed, of which 585 with zbi[v?]e ne on. Of the city’s total 22,000 contractors, 9,280 had been damaged and 7,200 have been repaired. An additional 21 km of underground low-voltage cable line has been installed. Durrës, with around 110,000 residents — a population that rises to 300,000 in summer — continues to have no hospital. With the help of foundations, only one surgical ward had been kept operational. The fact needs no interpretation. Durrës has twinned with many cities in Europe and has received offers from other cities as well. Prime Minister Meksi said that the problems raised would be taken into consideration by the Government. He also referred, one by one, to all the problems raised... [Part of a text cut off at the top and along the left edge.] ...its area. Around 3,550 ha more were sown with wheat than before. From 81 thousand quintals of wheat secured in 1992, 169 thousand quintals of wheat completed in a record time of 10,000 in ’92. Prices have generally had an «increase» or a downward trend. Sukth Farm, one of the best-known, presents a problem; we have not been able to link it with any foreign firm. The other four farms are linked as joint enterprises. Privatization processes have progressed, but a phenomenon is being observed which apparently is explained by the uniformity of the calculation procedure. The price comes out low for many properties. A significant case is that of the hotels, which were valued very low according to the calculation methodology. The liquidation of the commercial enterprise also presents a problem for the district, since the stock of goods makes this process difficult. Some warehouses in Shkozet are under the authority of the centre, and the city is concerned that they should come under local government so they can be leased for production purposes. Around 73 percent of the homes are ready to be sold, and 28 percent of them have been sold, bringing in 50 million lekë. The chairman of the district council identified as a problem, and requested the government’s support for, the transfer of fishing activities from the Port of Durrës to Porto-Romane. The Mayor, Tamorr Golemi, spoke about problems facing the municipality of Durrës. As everywhere, he said, unemployment has been a major problem for Durrës too. In December 1992, 14,584 workers were unemployed, while in June ’93, 12,043 people were registered as receiving assistance. Thus, their number appears to have fallen, which is more a cause for optimism. A total of 5,533 people have found employment in the private sector. Two foreign enterprises and five joint enterprises operate in the territory of Durrës. Housing continues to be a concern. Fifty-eight apartments are being built. Funds are planned to be allocated for the completion of another 200 apartments. There are around 1,600 families of politically persecuted and repressed people for whom nothing has been done. Of these, the municipality has, out of necessity, housed 216 families in the Durrës apartment block, thereby deliberately creating a new problem: its non-use. Durrës urgently needs investment to improve its infrastructure. There are 0.5 million m² of roads with asphalt in very poor condition, 130 km of curbs, and 250,000 m² of sidewalks that need repairs. Drinking water, too, and its limited supply, continues to be a concern. Around 46 percent of the water entering the existing network is lost. [Continued in the adjacent column; upper portion cut off.]

The future of Albania and of democracy is closely tied to the rule of law, order and public order in Albania. This cannot be achieved without a determined fight against corruption, anarchy, terrorism, etc. Precisely now, as we are trying to carry out these functions of the state, the leadership of the Socialist Party is calling on its electorate to drag Democrats through the streets and crack their skulls—in other words, it is calling for bloodshed. We are convinced that no electorate can follow such monsters, because no one can ever identify with crime and corruption. On the one hand, they urge their electorate to follow them; on the other, they threaten to leave Parliament and local government forever—in other words, to withdraw from participation in the democratic state, for which the electorate gave them its votes. They do this to create anarchy and destabilization, because among them are many others tainted by corruption and crimes. This is how far they are willing to go in playing with Albania’s fate. They accuse the Government and the Democratic Party of fascism and terrorism, while threatening us with calls to crack skulls, like the fascist and communist squads of the past. They threaten the PD and Democrats with being dragged through the streets. They threaten those who destroyed the dictatorship in Albania, those who opened Albania to the world, those who closed Spaç and Burrel. But they are not to blame. For 50 years, all they did was drag people along and break bones, spirits and skulls. They continued these crimes in a paranoid fashion up until the 1990s. The residents of Sarandë and Pogradec cannot forget the corpses of young men, butchered and dragged by tractors. Brides cannot forget their husbands’ skulls, shattered by bullets in front of their terrified children at the border. Now they dream of the day when they can once again resume their macabre deeds from the dictatorship of the proletariat. But they are wrong. This people, who through great sacrifice fought and smashed the fascist, Nazi and communist dictatorships, now that they have managed to build a democratic state governed by the rule of law, will not only refuse to follow them, but will know how to show them their place through the law and justice—all those who, through acts of revenge, want to bring back to Albania the time of skull-cracking.

— K. Islami not only incited fratricidal violence, but is also a liar — “To the square!” cries the shortest MP of all parliamentarians, on the day when groups of hysterics had been incited by him to “crack skulls.” But after he had sent the crowd toward the square, the “clever” Kaçi himself disappeared—no one knew where he had hidden. Apparently he realized that, given the calls he had made, he could soon be keeping the chairman company in “his final office.” So when the “deranged criminal” (about whom malicious tongues say that he will join the PS only as chairman) was accused of inciting the crowd to go to the square and provoking a possible bloodbath among Albanians, he swore and swore again that it was not true. But, unfortunately for him, the MPs had recorded Kaçi’s voice as he shouted “To Rome!” like a pale copy of Mussolini. What is the future chairman to do now? It is quite possible that he will now be accused not only of inciting the crowd to break the law, and not only of inciting fratricidal violence, but also of being a liar—although the latter is not considered a particularly serious accusation by PS leaders. In any case, justice must act against such figures, who are ready to cause even a tragedy just to make themselves a few centimeters taller. If left at liberty, people like this pose a social danger, so it would be best for Kastriot Islami to trade the parliamentary seat he has not yet earned for the place he deserves beside his friend Nano.

As part of aid from the European Community (the Phare programme), delivery began of 25,000 tons of metallurgical coke to be used in the metallurgical plants of the ferrochrome and copper industries. This aid is being delivered through the German company “Ruhr Kohl”. So far, 12,500 tons have been delivered through the port of Durrës, and 7,000 tons have been distributed to users. The entire quantity is expected[?] to be delivered within the first 15 days of September. This quantity will ensure the normal operation of the ferrochrome and copper metallurgical industries for a period of six months. Astrit Karadaku, Press Spokesperson for the Ministry of Industry, Mineral Resources and Energy. ... the deputy’s replacement ... with the place he deserves beside his friend Nano.

by the Government. He referred to each of the problems raised. He focused in particular on the privatization of homes, saying that Durrës is behind and must speed up the work. “As for the port and its expansion, we have submitted requests to various international organizations,” Mr. Meksi said, “but so far the only concrete proposal is the Kuwaiti project worth 8 million dollars.” There are also hopes for the successful progress of the joint venture with Gdansk. The Government plans to use the Shkozet warehouses exclusively for its own purposes. The hospital, too, will be given consideration by the Government. Efforts will also be made to open an Italian Consulate in Durrës. Later, moving from the District Council to the sports palace, “Around 2,000 people,” their calls in support of the PD, the President and the Government created an enthusiastic atmosphere for the meeting attended by Messrs. Selami, Meksi, Spahia, Dost, Hoxha, Shehi, Spaho and Bitincka, and the MPs from Durrës. After the opening speech by Eduard Kapidani, chairman of the Durrës branch of the PD, Mr. E. Selami took the floor amid the cheers of the participants. Durrës has always given strong support to democracy and the PD at decisive moments. The present moment is no exception. The city has been and remains a stronghold of democracy, and this is due not only to its culture but also to the thoroughly democratic spirit of its people. If the reform in Albania is succeeding, this is precisely thanks to the support it has received—a support that also places a greater obligation on us. Mr. Selami went on to say that the current political situation has become tense, and that this is explained by the arrest of the mafia boss of the PS. His arrest demonstrated the determination to pursue the mafia and corruption to the end. He then spoke about other political problems facing the country. Prime Minister Meksi spoke about the problems of economic reform and its results, while Messrs. Shehi and Bitincka spoke respectively about wages, assistance, unemployment support, pensions, transport and tourism, with details relating to the Durrës district. Many questions were asked during the meeting, and answers were given according to the specific issues raised. SH.PETILA LUKU

Through a message that Comrade Fatos sends to the socialists from cell no. 5, and which was published in «ZP» on 6 August 1993, he addresses those ordinary people: «I am with you! Fellow sufferers of Tirana, Kuçovë, Durrës, Dibër, Gjirokastër, Mirditë, Skrapar, Korçë, Shkodër, Prizren, etc.! Starting from this hypocritical exclamation, which springs from a crocodile’s position, we would ask Comrade Fatos: “You haven’t spent your whole life with the real socialists, with the poor people of this land, so how did you get the idea to be here now with them? Since when ‘was the idea born of being a fellow sufferer with the Albanians’? Your whole life you have been with the blocmen, with the Central Committee Political Bureau of the PPSH, with Enver Hoxha’s red caste, indeed at the head of the notorious Institute for experimenting on all Albanians. Until the moment you were arrested, you were the most ardent defender of the old PS line; you were the lawyer for that caste which failed so disgracefully in December 1990. Comrade Fatos, your whole life you have been with the blocmen, with their primitive ideology, their massacres, their terror against Albanians. Therefore, as G. Dara might have put it: ‘Just as you were together in that world, so be together in this world too, as lovers of communism and of the anti-national adventure.’ It is a little late, Comrade Fatos, to appeal to class consciousness and to be with honest Albanians, with the real socialists who aspired to democracy, when you are accused of embezzling large sums. You, Comrade Fatos, are with Comrade Nexhmije, Comrade Simon, Comrade Rita, Comrade Manush, Comrade Aranit, etc. It is a little late, Comrade Fatos, to appeal to national consciousness when you address your fellow sufferers in Prizren, Kosovo and Çamëria together with Papandreu, when you have knelt before Milosheviç, when you declared that foreign forces should not intervene in the Balkans—thereby leaving the Serbian dictator free to begin the massacre in Kosovo. It is a little late, and the ideal of December sounds rather like a tent of yours. Because you and the other blocmen around the b…rupës pjesë have bloodied this revolution, in December 1990, in February, and in April 1991. You ordered the tanks to crush us when we approached your villas on 21 February 1991, around 13:00. And there is no way that now, a week after 30 July 1993, you have joined the ordinary socialists, the honest Albanians who are sacrificing for reform and democracy to the point of patriotism, to the point of enduring pain. Comrade Fatos, this desperate move sounds rather ugly coming from your mouth, because when Albanians were tearing out your communism, you and They (the blocmen) incited Enver’s uprisings and the violent operations of 1993 against the Government and the democratic state. For example, Comrade Fatos, it is a little late to be with the privileged classes, because Albanians still remember your arrogance as a communist prime minister, in the face of the general strike that nearly plunged Albania into civil war and total destruction. You had plenty of time to define your position throughout the three years of the Albanians’ struggle for democracy, in their service, on their historical side. But, unfortunately, you went and sank into the films of «social-communism», from which you never managed to emerge. Comrade Fatos, expressions such as «I am with you» or «my people», which you have used, sound rather archaic. Enver as a dead man’s message? Do you remember that message... But, strangely, this people went and brought the dictator Hoxha down to the ground. Anyway, that is a matter for history, but your message reminded me of that scene: it is the negative of Enver’s message. The truth is that for a long time now, madness about imitating Enver has taken hold of you. This had distanced you from the humanism of the real socialists, until at last you understood. Therefore, Comrade Fatos, I would say politely that the pose of the hero of the masses (not Enver’s), the hero of socialist realism whom we read about in Gorki and Fuçiku, does not suit you, because you have issued harsh orders, «you had previously signed death messages, messages about leaving children fruit and marmalade, while Albania’s children were crying out for bread and milk. For example, Comrade Fatos, you had previously signed messages that shook the lives of Albanians and their freedom, such as 2 April 1991. Therefore, Comrade Fatos, in closing my message to you, I can tell you that you may indeed now be with the ordinary socialists, but for all the things you say above, and many others I have not listed for reasons of time and space, unfortunately for you, they cannot be with you. Because you are WITH THEM (the blocmen) in that life and in this life. Or, to put it another way, the real socialists, as we saw from Tropojë to Korçë, are not only not with you, Comrade Fatos, but have no intention of becoming accomplices in the adventures of the character from CELL 5. MUJËS DUÇPAPAJ IL HEN ME ATA SHOKU