“As it was born, so it seems to me, the country, no one can reach me...” Some time ago, through the only means of spreading public opinion in the country, that is to say the central television, a “potpourri” of operations (?) of shame, place and no place, sand and no sand, hydroelectric plants and officials in capes, was organized in order to present (?) to the public that wonders of energy were being done. Without denying that such work may also have seen some progress, but not enough to make people talk too much, because our country is by no means entering the path where others achieved the miracle 4-5 decades ago, neither before nor after. I do not intend to become a tiresome opponent of television or of those who serve such propaganda moves before the viewers' eyes, but I am amazed at how frequent these kinds of presentations have become. It seems to me I am not alone in this view. It is universally known that before, our energy system was weak, and has had and still has many serious shortcomings. It relied almost entirely on hydroelectric plants (apart from the thermoelectric plants of Fier and Korçë), which in normal years produced an insufficient amount of energy. These HPPs, then, were supplied with water in a bed completely altered from that of the river. Those catchment areas were without forests, stripped of vegetation, often eroded. Therefore their hydrological regime has been and remains poor. As a result, with low inflows and with alluvium continuously deposited, these HPPs, especially the Drin cascade (Fierzë, Koman and Vau Dejës), had difficulty and tended to operate below their possible limit. The consequence of this, in itself important, is well known: failure to meet the annual electricity production program. The problem becomes bigger if one takes into account that in the first industrial phase of the country, industries with very high electricity consumption were chosen for investment and development, such as metallurgy, chemistry and others. There are enterprises of this kind which, even at half capacity, need as much energy consumption as all of Tirana in 1990. If one also takes into account that our system does not have the necessary interconnection lines, but only those 220 kV ones with other countries, it responds with even greater difficulty to the demands of our energy stability. The dramatic advance of the overall economic crisis since the beginning of 1991, together with this state of the energy system, found our country with very little energy production. This phenomenon became a factor in causing the energy crisis in the country to expand to alarming proportions. And the new Ceka government, as needed, today accuses former minister K. Meksi of the energy situation he created! “We still cannot make the accounts properly,” K. Meksi would say. By no means does this mean that the country's evil comes from the endless rotation of cadres. One thing remains certain: electricity for us remains insufficient. But what is happening now? That “music” we hear almost every evening from the television has started. During the second half of 1993, not only did costly repairs continue at the main HPPs (it should be said in passing that mostly with our own forces, when the condition of these works with more than 20 years of operation is known), but other interventions were also carried out in tunnels, walls and dams. According to the data, for 11 months of 1993, 95 percent of the annual production was achieved, but with continuous rain from October onward that increased reserves in the reservoirs. As reported in the press, 290,000 tons of oil and 105 million m3 of gas were also produced, including newly discovered deposits previously unknown. “Will these save us?” asks the minister. No, sir! If the same course continues, relying on them to keep the economy breathing, there is no question of saving ourselves. All the more so when the press says that, for example, in Ballsh and Gorisht 27,000 tons of oil above plan were produced, in Marinëz 20,000 tons, in Visokë 16,000 tons, and so on. Water, oil and gas, although they are the main basis in some respects of our energy and of the economy as a whole, are not enough. With them alone the crisis cannot be cured. Energy and the economy cannot emerge from the crisis without quick, but fundamental and long-term solutions. These include not only the introduction of foreign energy, but also interconnection links with neighboring countries, new and powerful thermoelectric plants, richer deposits, reduction of losses and waste, etc. To say that “the energy sector is on the move” is not enough; the question is whether this movement is forward and at what pace. Looking at the current situation, the answer cannot be optimistic. (continued on page 4)

ATSH In the evening hours of Saturday, the President of the Republic of Albania, Dr. Sali Berisha, received in audience Member of the European Parliament Mr. Jon Ephremidis, the chairman of the Political Commission of the Council of Europe, Mr. Antonio Romeo, as well as the secretary general of the European Democratic International Kristian [?] (continued on page 4)

PRISHTINË This year is of particular importance for Kosovo. Gatherings, citizen protests and demonstrations are signs of the strengthening and awakening of the citizens of Kosovo and of their determination for freedom and independence. This, among other things, was the statement of President Ibrahim Rugova at the press conference he held yesterday at the LDK headquarters. He welcomed the peace process in the Middle East, the resolution of the Caucasus issue and the resolution of the Yugoslavia issue in general. President Rugova said that in Kosovo the issue of democracy is closely linked to independence, to international help and support. In Kosovo, he added, the continuing political and economic discrimination is escalating and worsening. All Albanians in Kosovo are for independence and for its defense. It is very important, President Rugova continued, to inform world public opinion about the current situation, where 90 percent of the economy, which ensures the citizens' existence, has been destroyed; that financial assets in Yugoslavia should not be blocked; that sports and cultural sanctions against Albania and Macedonia should be lifted. Replying to a question regarding the arrest of Dr. Ahmet Hoxha, President Rugova said that a memorandum has been drawn up for the Helsinki Commission, which also makes this arrest known and condemns the continuing reprisals of the Serbian authorities against Albanians. President Rugova described the reappointment of Dobica Qosic to the post of chairman of the so-called FRY as further support for Serbian policy. The Serbian press and propaganda write that Albanians and Muslims are the greatest danger to the Serbs, but this is contrary to reality, he said. Commenting on the initiative of the Islamic Conference for Bosnia, the President of the Republic, Dr. Ibrahim Rugova, affirmed that this is within the framework of strengthening peace in the world. The President of Kosovo said that the demonstrations throughout Kosovo show the danger of social explosions. All political forces in Kosovo have come out for the Republic of Kosovo and for a peaceful-political solution to the Albanian issue in the former Yugoslavia. The President of the Republic also said that they are trying to establish more frequent contacts with officials of the American administration, so that at the right moment the process for solving the Kosovo issue can be made operational. Speaking about the meeting of foreign ministers in Geneva, President Ibrahim Rugova said that the representation of Albanians at this meeting is an open discrimination against Albanians in the former Yugoslavia. This meeting, in which representatives of the Kosovo government were participating for the first time, is being held without any approval from the people of Kosovo. The President of Kosovo, Dr. Ibrahim Rugova, regarded as a dangerous precedent the voice of some European parties calling for a major reduction in humanitarian aid to Albanians. The conference was followed with interest by correspondents from many local and foreign newspapers, including some international news agencies. (continued on page 4)

“Every person accused of an offense against the law must be presumed innocent until their guilt has been legally established by a final decision of a competent court” This is the major declaration of Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights. According to it, no one can be blamed or considered guilty without a final and binding decision. Therefore, any public declaration of the guilt of an accused person is a violation of the fundamental principle of justice. In the case of Fatos Nano, this principle has been seriously violated since the moment of his arrest and throughout the entire public procedure against him. By drawing attention to these European standards, the article underlines that the process against Nano has been accompanied by political statements, prejudice and constant pressure on public opinion. In these circumstances, not only the individual concerned but the justice system itself comes out compromised. The issue is not merely Albanian; it is linked to the way Europe sees freedoms and fundamental human rights. If a state claims to be part of the European family, it must respect precisely these standards. Otherwise, political imprisonment is disguised as a legal procedure. THE ACTS OF THE ILLEGAL MAYOR OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF KAMZË Lazër Stani (continued on page 4)

It is evident that on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of this event of national importance, a jubilee should have been marked not only by organizing a scientific session, publishing a volume of documents, and popularizing this event in the press, radio and television, but also by a rally and a popular celebration, though not with any demonstrative content, as some journalists and politicians are presenting it. The Bujan Conference is a historical event linked to the anti-fascist struggle and to the right of peoples to self-determination. In national memory it occupies a special place, because it represents an important moment in the political articulation of the Albanians of Kosovo. According to the author, this event cannot be reduced either to folklore or to daily political use, but must be treated with its historical seriousness. (ATSH)