Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter arrived in Tirana on Tuesday for a private visit, thus responding to the invitation of Sali Berisha. Jimmy Carter is considered one of the most prominent American figures who first supported the democratic processes in Albania, sending inspiring messages calling for the overthrow of communism. After James Baker, who visited Albania in 1991, Carter is the second prominent U.S. figure to visit this country, which managed to overthrow the dictatorship and establish democracy. “Albania is now a free country where democracy has triumphed,” Mr. Carter said as soon as he got off the plane at Rinas. Carter now heads a foundation bearing his name which, in essence, supports movements for the protection of human rights. In his welcoming remarks, President Berisha stressed: “I am pleased to welcome Mr. Jimmy Carter today, this prominent figure who has strongly supported the democratic processes in Albania.”

Populist ideology has long been dominating the barren imagination of the SP. In reality, this populist outlook has been the very essence of the entire political movement represented by this alternative, regardless of the moderate program it has put forward. Mr. Nano and the other revanchist leaders’ insistence on taking to the streets against the Democratic Government, and the wild marches reminiscent of the old communists, caused the SP to lose its political balance. The street scheme of opposing the current policy of the democratic state in every respect distorted the SP into a coordinator of futile rallies all over Albania. As a result, in its unprincipled attacks against the Democratic Government, this party never used a single serious argument, whether on the economic, social, or political level. The street scheme, which suits the corrupt faction of the SP, meant that its control was used in the interests of the conservative wing of this party, which had by then shed every intellectual trait so zealously promoted by “ZP.” The idea of a crude street-based approach in this scheme has been brought to light by “ZP” and the “SP,” which have stressed that the DP, too, came to power as a result of popular revolt. ... They were a spectacle on display in the ranks of the SP, in the street scheme it uses. The DP organized the Albanian people to carry out a historic national mission: the overthrow of communism and the building of a state governed by the rule of law. Every Albanian had a great moral purpose in this mission. The philosophical poverty of the SP consists precisely in its ideology of using the schemes of the Democratic Revolution—which brought down the communists’ 24-hour governments—to overthrow the current government. This was not only a crude street scheme, but also a marked political mediocrity that signaled the SP’s inevitable crisis. The street scheme still dominates the SP’s political inspiration day in and day out. One need only look at the big headlines in “ZP,” announcing petitions signed for the release of the thief Nano. The street scheme is anachronistic in a state governed by the rule of law, because it recognizes neither reason, nor the state, nor the philosophy of law, nor the law itself. It is pressure on the law and democracy, a return to the communist formula of putting democracy at risk. It seems that the communists feel better only when they find themselves within this scheme, which, given the current tendencies of developments themselves

The President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, received the ambassador of the Republic of Argentina. THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA, SALI BERISHA, RECEIVED THE AMBASSADOR OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARGENTINA On Tuesday, President of the Republic Sali Berisha received the Argentine ambassador, Keller Sarmiento, on the occasion of the presentation of his credentials. President Berisha repeated to the ambassador the invitation extended to Argentine President Menem to visit Albania. The two presidents met in January of this year in Davos, Switzerland. President Berisha informed the ambassador about the appointment of the Albanian ambassador in Buenos Aires, where the Albanian embassy will soon open. This Albanian mission is the only one in Latin America. There are 30,000 Albanians living in Argentina, having emigrated mainly during the first half of this century.

Mr. Carter will encourage major American businesspeople to invest in Albania. His center in Atlanta will continue to follow the Kosovo issue — Yesterday morning at 10, President of the Republic Sali Berisha received former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife. “I want to thank you for your visit to Albania,” President Berisha said. “Your visit is a major event and has brought joy to all Albanians. I would like to take this opportunity to express my deep gratitude for the great support you have given and continue to give to Albania and the Albanians. You were the first world figure to extend a hand of friendship with a warm message and to encourage the newly created Albanian opposition forces in their difficult efforts to bring about the end of the communist dictatorship and build a democratic society.” President Berisha then briefed his guest on the state of reform in Albania. He told him about relations with the IMF and the market liberalization taking place in our country. Berisha, other prominent figures in Albanian politics. He told him about relations with the IMF, market liberalization, economic development, and improvements in Albania. He would also explore the possibility of activating development associations in Albania, etc. President Berisha then briefed him on recent developments in the region, underscoring the danger posed by the creation of a Greater Serbia, now being carried out by force of arms in the heart of the former Yugoslavia. President Berisha said that he would take up the matter of Kosovo as soon as possible, placing it under international control, since only in this way could the explosive situation created by Serbian oppression be eased and an agreement reached. Mr. Carter said that he would remain interested in the Kosovo issue and that his center in Atlanta would continue to follow it. By President Berisha and other prominent figures in Albanian politics. issue. Press and Information Office of the President Tirana, 1 September 1993 reform in Albania. He told him about the agreements with the IMF, price liberalization and the government’s privatization of enterprises, as well as the difficulties encountered in implementing administrative reform—not only in appointing management boards with the best possible qualifications to develop new approaches to management, but also in creating the most favorable climate for foreign capital to enter, with the aim of establishing joint ventures and attracting investment for privatization, among other things. Coordinating work with the trade unions is one of the key problems for achieving success. [The following figures concern] total industrial production in many branches compared with the same period last year. Increases were recorded in carbon ferrochrome, 57 percent; copper ore, 7 percent; blister copper, 130 percent; copper wire and cables, 190 percent; electricity, 9 percent; urea, 12 percent; [perbura], 116 percent; knitwear, 64 percent; wool-fabric garments, 48 percent; and fabric garments, 61 percent, etc. Shortfalls were recorded in crude oil, natural gas, chrome ore, ammonium nitrate, coal, etc. At present, 386 enterprises are operating, while 74 are completely or partially shut down, compared with 106 a year ago. Eighty new enterprises have been established. There are 217 enterprises under local government, compared with 36 percent a year ago. Within a year, 21 commercial companies have been established, and another 11 are in the final stages. The foreign capital invested in them amounts to around USD 43 million. These companies employ 6,000 workers, and a further 3,000 are expected to be employed by the end of this year. In addition, 40 enterprises operate using materials supplied by the customer; around 9,000 workers are employed in them. It is expected that by the end of 1993 another 1,500 people will be employed in such enterprises.

WHAT WAS THE STARTING POINT? ARE WE REALLY ON THE RIGHT TRACK? The Ministry of Industry, Mineral Resources and Energy today covers almost all industrial activity in the country, with the exception of the food industry and building materials. More specifically, oil and gas, energy, minerals, ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, chemicals, glass, rubber and plastics, textiles and clothing, paper, mechanics and electromechanics, as well as electronics, printing, woodworking, and artistic production fall within the remit of this Ministry. What did the Democratic Government take over in April 1992, a year and a half ago? Industrial activities based on extremely backward techniques and technology. The enterprises ranged in age from 20 to 40 years. The newest plants dated from the 1970s and used the technology of China at that time; in other words, this was an industry suffering from pronounced moral and physical wear. In April 1992, around 136,000 workers, or 85 percent of the total workforce, were being paid at 80 percent; 28 percent of enterprises were completely shut down, 47 percent were operating partially, and 47 percent were operating on a single shift; only 105 of them were working. A characteristic feature was the marked downward trend in production of oil, chromium, copper, etc. Many other industries were completely shut down, including copper, chemicals, textiles, and mechanical engineering. The entire industrial system was in complete financial collapse, owing money to the bank, the budget, and other enterprises, for a total of 4.5 billion lekë. WORK STRATEGY OF THE MINISTRY’S NEW TEAM. Reorganization of the central units of industry. Organization into economic associations (corporations) under state ownership, with new management concepts for the market economy in the oil, chromium, copper, energy, and geology sectors. Halting the decline in production and gradually beginning to increase it started with reactivating the key branches of industry, which determined the workload of other sectors and ensured their employment. Reorganization, including textiles for clothing production and the fertilizer industry, etc., and unlocking internal resources and finding financial and foreign-currency resources to support the start of operations, were considered useful. It was also considered useful to break up large enterprises into smaller ones, to give them greater opportunities for self-sufficiency. In local-government factories, changes were made to the subordination of enterprises, the subordination of enterprises was eliminated, and administrative reform was carried out—not only in terms of appointing management boards with the best possible composition in order to introduce new management concepts, but also by creating the most favorable climate possible for the entry of foreign capital, with the aim of establishing joint ventures and other arrangements, thus attracting investment for privatization, etc.

Now, after a year and a half of the democratic Government in Albania, all good and honest people who love the nation and the progress of their homeland are asking this question. Only the opposition of conservative communists wishes that we were not on the road to progress and advancement. This agreement is shared only by the opposition of conservative communists; other newspapers, too—“ZP,” “Kombi,” “Koja jonë,” and several others—share this view and, unfortunately, present nothing but smoke and fog, only night and darkness, and scarcely a ray of light or hope for the future of their homeland. Anyway, those are their wishes. Let us return to the purpose of our article. In the newly reorganized industrial enterprises, at the outset, we place the following in a row ...key measures for achieving success. ARE WE ON THE RIGHT TRACK? in such enterprises. Prepared by: DULEJMAN KARAJ

- The arrest of Nano and the others marks only the demise of the alternative of corruption. At the press conference President Berisha recently gave, one of the «ZP» newspapers alluded to the arrest of F. Nano, presenting it as an attempt to extinguish political alternatives. Such insinuations or accusations have also appeared in some newspaper articles. It is clear who has an interest in portraying Nano’s arrest as political revenge, as a sign of the establishment of dictatorship, revanchism, or the «extinction» of alternatives. Well, the arrest of Nano and others of his ilk marks only the demise of the alternative of corruption. Albania, now and in the future, will never accept corruption as a designation. The phenomenon of corruption among former communist leaders in Eastern countries is very well known. Therefore, the fight against red corruption is one of the main goals that post-communist governments have set themselves. Thus, many former communist leaders are now in the dock. But corruption is the most unacceptable alternative for all democratic governments throughout the world; therefore, the fight against corruption in Albania has no connection whatsoever with the extinction of political alternatives. To equate Nano’s arrest with the extinction of the socialist alternative means considering that alternative to be the same as corruption, and I do not believe honest socialists would accept such a thing. It is true that within the ranks of the PS there are many who are accustomed to the expression «when we say Enver, we mean the Party», and now, when we say the Party, we mean Fatos... but democracy cannot submit to this mentality. The fact is that the socialist alternative continues to exist alongside the other alternatives. Indeed, there have been socialist leaders such as K. Islami who have even proposed the alternative of breaking the batons, and they still walk around freely. Everyone, even those who shout about dictatorship, knows very well that dictatorship has no place in Albania. On the contrary, the fact that Albania has an opposition party does not indicate the extinction of alternatives. The fact that dozens of newspapers are published in Albania, some of which exceed every limit with slander against the democratic government or, one might say, against the highest personalities of the Albanian state, shows that there is no question of a fight for dictatorship; rather, those who talk so much about it are exploiting democracy as anarchy. In a democracy, alternatives are determined by the vote, so no one need fear that the alternative is being extinguished.