From the experience of local government in Durrës - We are still unemployed - A clean municipality - Neighborhood councils = The mayor of Durrës, after holding this office for about five months, Mr. Safet Gjinushi, in an interview given to our newspaper, highlights the committed involvement and the ongoing efforts to improve conditions in the coastal city. Placing citizens’ requests and problems at the center of the work, he emphasizes that good work has been done in urban planning, cleaning up the city, and opening up new opportunities for employment. During most of our working time, he says, we have dealt with pressing issues such as water supply, cleanliness, road organization, improvement of public services, and establishing closer cooperation with neighborhood councils. The aim has been, through direct communication with citizens, to solve the most immediate concerns. Mr. Gjinushi considers that the municipality has inherited a series of accumulated problems, but with commitment and responsibility work has been done to solve them. Measures have been taken to clean the area, control unauthorized construction, and create better conditions in the city’s neighborhoods. He underlines that one of the main goals is to reduce unemployment by encouraging private activity and making use of the potential of the city of Durrës. The municipality has sought to create a climate of cooperation with business, placing citizens’ interests at the center. In conclusion, the mayor expresses his belief that with citizens’ support and daily work, better results will be achieved for Durrës.

In Monday’s editorial, the opposition newspaper “Zëri i Popullit”, in the article “A government for itself and not for the people”, tried to present the privatization process and economic reforms as government propaganda, aiming to obscure the results achieved and stir up artificial discontent. Continuing along the same line, a comment signed by N. Dokle, in political and propagandistic tones, attacks the government’s efforts toward economic stabilization and the improvement of key indicators. The editorial in question distorts the truth by claiming that citizens do not benefit from the reforms and that the government has no will to help those in need. In fact, the privatization process is part of the economic transformation and the transition to a market economy, while measures have been taken to soften the social consequences and create new employment opportunities. “ZP” and Mr. Dokle are invited to confront the facts, the figures, and the everyday reality of citizens, instead of remaining within the old patterns of ideological propaganda. Public debate gains when it is based on data and arguments, not slogans. If the opposition wants to make a serious contribution, it must abandon distortions and acknowledge that the country is going through a difficult but necessary process of reform.

The parliamentary week of work has opened The meetings of the PSD parliamentary group, continuing the new session of the People’s Assembly, have brought to the center of attention a series of issues related to legislative activity and parliamentary oversight. In this context, the deputies discussed important draft laws as well as the progress of the implementation of reforms. The discussions emphasized the need to increase the responsibility of state structures and strengthen the role of parliament in supervising the executive. The deputies also focused on the economic and social problems troubling the country. As this parliamentary week continues, the Assembly is expected to examine other important issues and to decide on the acts necessary for the normal functioning of the institutions.

These days the chairman of the Association of Holland sent a letter to the editorial office of our newspaper, in which he denounces that the Albanian humanitarian center in Amsterdam is not functioning according to the purpose for which it was created. The letter says that discrepancies and irregularities have been found in the distribution of aid and that this situation has caused concern in the Albanian community. According to the author of the letter, the aid collected from emigrants and associations is not reaching the beneficiaries fairly. For this reason, a review of the center’s activities and measures to ensure greater transparency are requested. Our editorial staff is publishing this concern with the aim that the relevant institutions and the Albanian community in the Netherlands themselves help clarify the situation.

A brief notice states that leaders of the municipality “Nikefons [?]” have entered into talks with the government of Leqi [?] regarding certain administrative and economic issues. According to the notice, the meetings aim to resolve inherited disputes and create conditions for institutional cooperation. No further details are provided, while the relevant side is expected to announce the results of the talks in the coming days.

- 62 intellectuals from Kukës issue an appeal. On 26 September 1993, in the conference hall of the Democratic Party Committee of the Kukës district, a meeting was held of 62 intellectuals from Kukës, where, after discussing the most pressing problems of the town and the district, the need to accelerate reform and fully implement the PD program was emphasized. During the discussions it was said that economic difficulties, unemployment, shortages in the market, and the slow implementation of certain measures have created discontent, but that the solution does not come from returning to the past, but from deepening democratic and economic reforms. The intellectuals called on state structures and local government bodies to be closer to the citizens, to listen to their concerns, and to work with transparency and responsibility. They considered it essential to strengthen public order, fight corruption, and support private initiative. In the end, a public appeal was approved, addressed to citizens to support the reforms and contribute to the implementation of the Democratic Party’s program. (Continued on p. 6)

Opinion This is the conclusion of “ZP”, which has already been irritated by the announcement that the Democratic Party candidate for deputy was declared the winner. “ZP” and representatives of the opposition are trying to present as popular discontent a political initiative organized by them. According to the author, the petition distributed in several areas is not a spontaneous expression of citizens, but part of a strategy to hinder reforms and create artificial tension. The article argues against the accusations made against the government and defends the position that political developments should be judged on the basis of concrete results. It then emphasizes that citizens have shown maturity and that the selection of the Democratic candidate was made freely. Therefore, any attempt to label as a “democrat” anyone who signs a socialist petition is, according to the article, absurd and manipulative. (Continued on p. 6)

Notice from the editorial staff Dear readers, the editorial staff of “RD”, in cooperation with the “R. D.” library, is carrying out a social initiative aimed at creating a collection of books for the National Library. All friends of our newspaper who wish to contribute, even with just one book or magazine for this purpose, may deliver them to the editorial office. These books, with their dedications, will be passed on to future generations as a sign of respect and gratitude.