This year, too, is drawing to a close with the human efforts of Albanians, who have set out on the road to democracy, in the space of freedom and individual dignity, in a society of reason and law. Democratic Albania took a major step this year toward institutionalizing freedom, advancing the market economy, and improving material living standards. Perhaps after three years of struggle and bloody efforts, this year’s end brought Albanians a positive balance in the field of material well-being. In this way, the very difficult and distant prospect of economic reform, begun a year ago by the democratic government, has now become closer in the form of a positive result for everyone. The tyranny overcome and the freedom guaranteed produced greater human confidence and hope for a better future. The vigorous growth of private enterprise, agriculture—which this year accounted for a large part of the economy—the halting of inflation and the acceleration of overall production growth, together with the continued assistance of the EC and other countries friendly to Albania, helped Albanians free themselves from stress. Hope and human confidence were the greatest results achieved by the DP and the head of the Albanian state, Prof. Berisha. The far-reaching reform, based on price liberalization, control of inflation, privatization of the economy and attracting foreign investors, brought about an 8 percent increase in total production compared with 1992—the highest growth in Europe—an increase in exports by a factor of 2.5, and employment for more than 150,000 people in the private sector. There was also an 11 percent rise in individual production compared with 1992, while agricultural production increased by around 15 percent, especially wheat. Livestock production also rose by 30 percent. Albania’s farmers were the first to set a powerful example of the market economy’s economic progress, and of dedication and pride toward the land they received from the democratic Albanian state. In this way Albania emerged not only from the fear of hunger and the terror of the uncertain tomorrow it had been left with—something of great importance for us Albanians, who had come out of long isolation, faced a difficult economic reform and lived in a region repeatedly threatened by war by the red Serbian dictator Slobodan Millosheviç and his war machine. Thus Albanians will forever value the great assistance of the European Community and, especially, the major contribution of Germany and France; among member countries, first and foremost Italy, Greece and Great Britain; and the very generous assistance of the USA, Turkey, Switzerland, Austria, Kuwait and many other countries of Europe and the Arab world. We are realistic when we record every achievement of our democratic state, and we do not claim that we eat with golden spoons or that an economic miracle has occurred in Albania. But we are aware that «This reform saved Albania from tumbling into the abyss of history, where it was heading before 22 MARCH». 22 March is not a date in the distant past, about which historians and scholars could deceive you; only a few months separate us from it. Only a few months separate us from isolation, poverty, lost hopes and exoduses. Therefore, more than ever, at this year’s end all of us must remember the words of Mr. Klaus Francë, who said in his greeting on behalf of the German CDU at the Second National Congress of the Democratic Party: «Albanians must not forget what a difficult history they have left behind». This means that every Albanian should look realistically and confidently at the time we have left behind, and look toward 1994 with optimism and hope. MUJE BUÇPAPAJ

The increases to be introduced will be about 30 percent TIRANA — The year 1994 will bring Albanians another increase in wages. During the course of this week, the Government is expected to approve a decision increasing the wages of state-administration employees and pensions. This increase is expected to reach 30 percent across the entire state system, although some have proposed an increase that would not be uniform, but graduated by sector. The decision, which is expected to be approved very soon, will take effect in the first month of 1994. This general wage increase comes after changes applied from time to time to particular sectors as well. The most recent beneficiaries this year were teachers. In October this year—after considerable pressure from the trade unions too—the Government approved an increase of several percent in their wages. However, the changes expected soon, and the enthusiasm they will generate, may also be accompanied by the fear of a possible rise in prices. This phenomenon, specialists explain, occurs because a wage increase also means an increase in purchasing power. At present in Albania, the state sector continues to employ more people than the private sector. Nevertheless, a positive trend was observed during 1993 compared with previous years. Here, in contrast to 1992—when prices rose at a rate more than ten times greater than wages—the great importance for us Albanians was that we had emerged from a world. Implementation of the Economic Reform in the field of wages began for the first time in 1992. The wage system as a whole underwent radical changes and was almost entirely restructured. This system was built on a graduated division into 22 classes, with a tenfold difference between the highest and lowest classes. Wage liberalization has also been fully achieved only in the private sector, while certain standards and a system of rewards for exceeding production targets still exist in the state sector. Some state enterprises, compelled to navigate the waters of the market economy, have begun to feel the constraints of this reward system and have called for its liberalization. Reprinted from Gazeta Shqiptare

«At most, the actor can leave us a photograph and nothing else of what he was» A few days ago, actor Imami published in the newspaper «Aleança» a response to an article by the well-known political analyst on Eastern European, Albanian and Balkan affairs, the Albanian-American Elez Biberaj, published in «Rilindja Demokratike» on 9 and 10 December 1993 and taken from the magazine «Current History». In practice, the distinguished analyst Biberaj needs no one to defend him; indeed, it is not part of his working practice to respond to some people who are deranged and failures in politics, such as Mr. Imami may be, with all his insults, nor to publications such as «AL» or «Zëri i po-. Since the people of Tropoja have not made your face white or black, as you (or as you put it in your article) say, I do not believe they have influenced your being a «male» or «female», since those are God’s business. It is just as certain that they have no influence on your left-wing views, or on your failed political jargon with which you are trying to pave the way for the «Democratic Alliance», together with your ally «PS». As for PAD’s political stance, in Albania it is known to be left-wing on all national, social and parliamentary issues. Therefore, perhaps it does not seek. KAMY In practice, the distinguished analyst Biberaj does not need anyone to defend him; indeed, it is not even his working practice to engage in polemics with certain wretched and politically frustrated people such as Mr. Imami, with all his insults, or with newspapers such as «AL» or «Zëri i popullit», even when they called Mr. Biberaj a «diversant’s son», etc. What caught my attention in Mr. Imami’s article—that of a man suffering from complete political and spiritual trauma—was that he did not deal with political issues, which would have been entirely natural for a member of parliament or party leader, but instead used the vocabulary of a thug. In the article «Biberaj has no reason to line up alongside Elezi and the other Buzëpapa», he writes: «It is neither shameful nor wrong to be… from Tropoja», or «Being compared by me to Black women, females or people from Tropoja would not offend me»… It is precisely these expressions from the jargon of a vagabond actor (since I respect real actors), moving from one party to another to get a position, that make me write this reply to Mr. Imami. Imami belongs to the colorless fabric of Alliance politics; otherwise, there is no way to explain his charge with primitive spears against analyst Biberaj, who, at the most difficult moments for the democratic movement in Albania and for Imami himself, had offered him the microphone of «Z. Amerikës» so he could defend himself. This fact does not surprise me at all, Mr. Imami, because when you so quickly forgot the Democratic Revolution, the DP and the ideals of the right-winger for the sake of a chair, there is no chance you will remember your «friend» Biberaj—not only because of that minimal personal acquaintance, but also because you now belong to the ranks of political deserters, whom Malaveli describes in detail when he says: «In fact, it takes neither anything nor skill to betray your friends, to be faithless and disloyal». What surprised me most in your article was the hatred you have apparently accumulated for the people of Tropoja—not only those living in Albania, but also others wherever they may be around the globe; not only those born in Albania, but also those who may have been born and raised in the USA and elsewhere. Mr. Imami, if I were to offer you a saying from the Bible, I would tell you: «You hate us for nothing». frustrated people such as Mr. Imami… As for the political position of the PAD, national, social and parliamentary issues. So it requires no comment. For, just so as not to break the coalition with the PS, you refused to vote together with it in parliament for the «Fundamental Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms»; there is no need for me to cite other examples, such as your positions on reform as a whole, foreign policy, the alliance with Balkan chauvinists and secret agreements, the PS-PAD coordination on the new elections, the government’s resignation and the fight against corruption, the protection of the red pashas and the «Nano affair», etc. You stress that to determine what a party stands for, one must look at its programme, Mr. Imami. The PAD is not the only one: the PS also has a fine programme, but in practice it is led by the people and ideas of the PPSH, who know only how to govern in a communist manner—and this is always taken into account throughout the contemporary world. Mr. Imami, returning to your resentment towards the people of Tropoja, I would say that I am one of those who consider it an honour to be from Tropoja and love it as much as I love all of Albania. But I am convinced that my Albanian brothers feel offended by me because you have inflamed them by denying their ideals of freedom and democracy, since they are not in the habit of going to Milošević and denying the blood of thousands of Albanians in Kosovo—a history that has proved this. Likewise, I would feel offended to be in the primitive ranks of the Alliance, in the ranks of empty songs and failed roles that begin with Imami and end with… Nevertheless, Mr. Imami, you should not worry, since you always treat the issue as a joke, with a sense of pity—not only because of the Bible’s teaching when it says, «Is a human being, then, a transient passer-by like a…», but also because of Camus’s teaching. Seeking to explain to us convincingly what becomes of frustrated actors like you, he wrote in «The Comedy»: «Actors, at most, can become a photograph… and nothing else of what they were». MUJE BUÇPAPAJ

- For those who have «forgotten» - The demands we once had seem ridiculous today, yet we are still dissatisfied and ask: what did democracy give us? It is truly paradoxical, but how easy it is nowadays to come out with the absurd phrase: «What did democracy give us?»—for those who forget how modest our demands once were and how ridiculous they seem to us today. For these people, we would need a time machine to take them back—not very far, just a few years—and let them continue living in that time three or four years ago, when shops were nothing but rows of empty wooden counters, and whenever supplies of some goods happened to arrive, you had to queue before they came in and then push and shove to manage to buy something. Fruits and vegetables were all forbidden apples, not to mention bananas and every other thing. Disputes would have to be taken back… 30 someth…, but two years back, when former Prime Minister Bufi declared that there was only one week’s worth of bread. Today there are more bakeries than there were then. Two years ago people did not dare go out into the streets because of the lack of public security. Today there is still much to be done regarding public order, but in any case the situation cannot be compared with two years ago. Once everyone was forced to dress like Lei Fenë. The «new man» had to wear a uniform, coarse-cloth clothes and army shoes which, besides requiring a foot shaped like a piece of rubber, also took considerable strength to pull on. And yet there are those who want to return to the time they lived through. And (you know?) it is a sign of capitalist degeneracy, while Coca-Cola was the «enemy of socialism»—ca-cola. There are those who once could not afford to buy an «Iliria» TV with a year’s wages because they could not obtain authorization, and yet they shouted: «Long live the Party». Today, when TVs from every brand have taken over the Albanian market, they are dissatisfied. Once, the Don Quixotes’ war against antennas forced Albanians to watch TV dominated by the idols and congresses of the PP. Today in Tirana there are more satellite dishes than in Rome of five million… Not so long ago, Albanian … and offices … passers-by … some Polish FIAT. Now Albanians will not buy a car unless it is Western-made. - «Prices are high», someone will object. That is true, but Albanians’ incomes are not what they used to be either. I would be lying if I wrote that all Albanians have no financial problems. That would not be normal. There are people facing considerable difficulties, but the truth is that most Albanians today do not have a problem making a living; instead, they are looking for ways to get rich. - «High prices», yes, but in these two years so many restaurants and bars have opened in Tirana that there were not that many in all of Albania, and although it is difficult to find a seat in them, people go despite the prices. Once, our requests of a restaurant were limited to the wish that the waiter would come… (Continued on page 6) … agriculture, which this year accounted for a large part of the economy, the halting of inflation and the overall decline in production, and the extreme poverty bequeathed by the communist government. Albanians of every political persuasion experienced that democracy and the market economy produce results, that the democratic state system is realistic, and that our hope for the future rested precisely on its practical nature and its power to mobilize citizens’ forces toward progress. Liberation from anxiety, from the suggestion instilled in the entire Albanian people, the opposition press, the leadership of the PS and … … those who set the great example of economic progress in the market economy and of working with dedication and creativity on the land terror of tomorrow into which the communist regime had plunged it, but also from the absurd isolation symbolized by its many bunkers. Albania’s emergence from isolation and the presentation of its democratic and peaceful spirit were an extraordinary achievement of the democratic state. During these years, Albania was visited by Pope John Paul II, as well as by many prominent figures from the Balkans, Europe, the USA, etc. Our country’s cooperation with the European Union, NATO, the Council of Europe, NACC, EFT, the Islamic Conference, etc., brought our country great moral, political and economic support. This had a…

PARADOXES All over the world, the prices of goods come down during the holidays, especially for the main holiday of the year, New Year. But here it is different: two days before New Year, at Tirana’s fruit-and-vegetable market, the prices of apples, oranges, grapes, etc. had almost doubled. Only the udhulla had kept its previous price. We do not know whether this is an opportunity to double the taxes and duties on these unlimited price increases? Zymbyl Hasani