This is a repeated demand by certain politicians who have never accepted the result of 22 March. —What is new about this demand for new elections, compared with the others, is its deadline of 9 months, much longer than before, and we hope that next time it will be aligned with the exact deadline of ’96.

—Differentiated increases treat managerial “brains” more attractively— The concept of wealth is as broad as life itself. For a period of time almost as long as a generation, we learned to hate it as the product of a “world of oppression and exploitation.” During this period, people were even deprived of the ability to think about private property. It was considered sacrilege to distinguish oneself from others in one’s clothing, or to strive to ensure comfort in one’s own home. People hid most of the belongings they brought from abroad for fear of being condemned by “public opinion.” Pseudo-equality stifled every attempt at enrichment as soon as it emerged. With the liberalization of the market and prices, and the broad and far-reaching process of privatization, the concept of wealth is being vigorously rehabilitated. To earn means to increase one’s wealth. Profit has become the driving force that sets people to work in the private sector, and this sector is advancing by giant strides in Albania. Why should profit not be the driving force behind the work of public-sector employees, too? But can everyone earn the same?! There are voices raised in concern that wage increases of up to 30 percent in the budget-funded sector will increase social inequality. Here, two concepts are being confused: differentiated remuneration for work and inequality between social strata. Fixed wages, almost identical for 40 years, committed the greatest crime that could be inflicted on an economy—that of depriving people of the right to be rewarded for their work and of drawing them into retirement. This is where the difference lies between wage increases of up to 30 percent in budget-funded institutions and the 15 percent increase in pensions. The state and government must first and foremost motivate work within their own structures, because this motivation will bring the increase in revenue with which to cover assistance, unemployment, and other vulnerable groups. If the government does not differentiate between a person at work and someone who is retired or receiving assistance, it will have lost the battle before even beginning to fully implement its medium-term program. In the name of the term social inequality, it is not possible to treat all social categories affected by wage increases equally; we cannot return to the pseudo-equality of real socialism. On the other hand, differentiated wage increases in the budget-funded sector may cause misunderstanding among categories of employees whose wages will rise less. It must be understood that the 2-to-1 wage ratio applied under real socialism is absurd under the conditions of a market economy and, at the same time, a free labor market. You cannot treat a manager, designer, or engineer who is capable and professionally responsible at a ratio of even 3:1 to an unqualified worker. In this way, you have jeopardized your own future, because you allow the much-needed brains to leave the administrative structures, just as you lose those long-term skills. Some people express apprehension that this wage increase will be “zeroed out” by a corresponding rise in inflation. Under the conditions of a free market with liberalized prices, there is little basis for thinking that if your salary rises by 30 percent, the next day every bread, cheese, and meat seller in the neighborhood will put up signs showing prices increased by 30%. If anyone dares to do such a thing, they will be left with unsold bread, meat, and cheese, because 100 other traders will emerge to offer these products at much lower prices. In other words, the market today is so stable that only major events such as war, earthquakes, or border blockades can lead to uncontrolled price increases. The invisible mechanism of supply and demand is the strongest guarantee for the Albanian consumer, too. Today it is the shopkeeper who smiles, almost begging you to buy his goods or drink coffee in his bar, unlike no more than 3 years ago, when he would thrust the plate, coffee, or goods at you with the disdain written on his face and in his manner: “Take it if you want, leave it if you want.” This is because there are hundreds of shops, cafés, and bars in a very small area, and the customer has nothing but what a classic expression of mercantilist theory calls “the embarrassment of choice.” The culture of service has visibly improved, and with it the assurance that blatant price fluctuations cannot occur. [text continues outside the frame] With the guarantee of a stable market and latent inflation, wage increases of up to 30% in our economy’s budget-funded sector necessarily lead to higher incomes for 35,000–40,000 of its employees, and thus to an improvement in their standard of living. Beyond any doubt, this constitutes an achievement of our reform. It opens the way to further increases, in line with the growth in work intensity, motivation, and the professional skills of budget-sector employees. FATOS ÇOÇOLI that raising wages by up to 30 percent in the budgetary sector would can be perpetrated against a country’s economy: they severed people’s interests from the process of production and the creation of wealth. The person who produced more was paid the same as the person who spent the entire working day idly rattling a chain. In a market economy, it is absurd for the same thing to happen. As the American economist Artur Okun put it in 1975, “The conflict between equality and efficiency is the greatest socio-economic feature of our time. It unfolds before us in dozens of dimensions of social policy.” Thus, the state cannot support to the same degree the person working in its budget-funded institutions and the person who reaps the fruits of the free labor market at the same time. You cannot treat a capable manager, planner or engineer with professional responsibilities on a ratio of even 3:1 compared with an unskilled worker. In doing so, you have set an example for the future—and why should such a much-needed brain leave during this period of change and new organizational arrangements? It is easily drawn away by the private sector or the external labor market, where wages are many times higher. A view is circulating that today, in state institutions, especially budget-funded ones, only romantics and the incompetent remain among intellectuals. This view must under no circumstances be allowed to resemble reality. State finances have received enough revenue from taxes to implement a differentiated wage policy for their “brains.” The first step is being taken today, by differentiating wage increases in budget-funded institutions. It should be followed by further steps, especially a policy of specialization.

Statements and paradoxes —Statements that contradict the PS’s policy and propaganda to date against the DP— —The PS’s alternatives?! (Once again on the PS press conference) We are once again presenting in greater detail some of the statements made by PS leaders at their latest press conference. The first question asked by the “RD” journalist at the conference was: “In the PS organ ‘ZP,’ only the failures of the Democratic Government, human-rights violations, etc., are constantly written about. At one time Fatos Nano distanced himself from such actions by ‘ZP.’ Do you truly think today that the Democratic Government has only failures, or does it also have achievements? Regarding the ‘failures,’ could you give us some of your alternatives—that is, the solutions you would offer so that these ‘failures’ would not be failures? Some specific examples.” The PS vice-chairman, S. Pellumbi, answered this question. He began by telling the truth, more or less as follows: “The opposition is the opposition and must criticize.” There is no doubt that the opposition must criticize, but it seems that the PS–“ZP” leaders cannot distinguish between constructive criticism (which is the opposition’s duty) and unrestrained, destructive attacks, utterly devoid of illusions about the old reflexes. This contradicted the Democratic Government’s propaganda to date (and, no doubt, the propaganda to come) from the PS. Thus he acknowledged as an achievement “the adoption of a series of laws,” at a time when “ZP” has left nothing unsaid in writing against the laws that have been adopted. S. Pellumbi calls land privatization an achievement, but “ZP” writes that people are being left out and that the land law is unclear. “People have greater freedom to express their opinions,” says S. Pellumbi, but “ZP” talks about dictatorship, and the PS leaders themselves speak of restrictions on freedoms. What are we to believe? At the same conference, Dokle said that the Law on Fundamental Rights, adopted by the majority of the Albanian Parliament, “was judged to be a very fair law” by the Committee on Relations with Non-Member Countries of the Council of Europe. Meanwhile, everyone clearly remembers that the PS parliamentary group did not vote “in favor” of this law. Asked at this conference by a journalist about price liberalization, Dokle, surprisingly, said: “We are not against price liberalization” (at a time when “ZP” had emerged as an obvious writer against prices [sic] … which they consider “failures” of the DP). The PS vice-chairman, when asked to provide some concrete solutions to those problems they consider not to have been properly resolved by the DP, answered with only one example: the privatization of enterprises. The reason he considered the privatization of these enterprises a “failure” was: “We call it a failure because it was not done by a parliamentary law, but by a government decision.” So the failure, it turns out, was only that the decision was not made as the PS thinks it should have been, not the substance or implementation of this process. As for the alternative offered by the PS on privatization, it was that privatization should be “gradual.” In other words, enterprises that, while state-owned, have long since stopped production and are only being looted should remain in this condition for a long time to come! As for the complaint that there are more DP supporters on the boards, I think that this “must be looked into,” and former PP members or at least PS leaders should be put on the privatization boards. That way, even those “redskins” can get property without much … [text cut off at the bottom edge] behavior: This happens a given classic expression from service has improved considerably, and with it the assurance that blatant price fluctuations can happen no longer. With the guarantee of a stabilized market and latent inflation, an increase of up to 30% in salaries in our economy’s budget-funded sector necessarily leads to increased incomes for its 35,000–40,000 employees, and thus to a rise an achievement of our reform. It paves the way for further increases, in keeping with growth in the intensity of work, motivation and the professional skills of budget-sector employees. S. Pellumbi admitted that “there may also have been excesses” and that, in such cases, “we have called for a balanced approach to be taken ... without ignoring the achievements.” From the above, it is clear that “ZP” does not care about the “remarks” made by the party leaders. This is hardly believable. The truth is that illogical attacks (some of them downright laughable) against the PD and the government continue to fill the pages of “ZP” (reaching their peak with the article “The Albania of the queues”). Nevertheless, the deputy chairman of the PS was forced to acknowledge some of the government’s achievements and to admit that a decision of the Council of Ministers on increasing the salaries of budget-sector employees had been implemented correctly. To refute the accusation that they had always voted “against” in parliament, S. Pellumbi said at the conference that they had voted against only a few laws, and therefore had agreed with the PD. Then why all the talk about the “dictatorship and coercion of the PD voting cards”?! As can be seen, the PS leaders themselves, in their statements, contradict the propaganda they wage against the PD, and it is clear why. They have no other alternatives to “choose” from, and everyone remembers well that the PS parliamentary group did not vote “in favour” about the liberalization of prices, Dokle surprisingly said: “We are not against the liberalization of prices” (at a time when “ZP” had been tearing itself apart writing about “high prices” and the government’s mistaken price policy). the “dictatorship and coercion of the PD voting cards”?! budget-sector employees had been implemented correctly. ADDENDUM: In the coming days, we will also provide explanations regarding some falsehoods stated at the PS press conference concerning the EC and G-24. EDI PALOKA

Albania protested to Athens on Tuesday, pointing out that a Greek patrol vessel had opened fire near the Albanian coast. “On Monday afternoon, a Greek patrol vessel approached to within about one mile of Albania’s Cape of Qefali, opened fire, and left Albanian waters 20 minutes later,” the statement said, citing a Defense Ministry spokesperson. The cape is 290 (170 miles) southwest of Tirana and 10 km (six miles) from the Ministry of Defense. 10 km (six miles) north of the Greek holiday island of Corfu. The Ministry called on Athens to put an end to such provocations and warned that its armed forces would react energetically to defend the country’s territorial waters. This is the third violation by Greek ships since the month of mentor [sic] last year.

—In the Korçë district, this is also a result of the privatization of the NB (agricultural enterprises)— Last year, the state employment administration in the Korçë district paid benefits to as many as 23,000 unemployed people, of whom 11,000 came from former agricultural enterprises. However, the privatization of the NB made it possible to employ these people, who were granted private ownership. At the district’s Economy and Employment Commission, we learned that unemployment benefits in the city are now received by only 4,400 people. Through implementation of the privatization program and cooperation with foreign firms, with changes being made mainly to infrastructure, the number of unemployed will fall further. Currently, around 7,000 people work in the private sector in this district.

-This could lead to the disappearance of important documents- A year ago, a decision by the Kukës District Council stipulated that several premises belonging to the former Party of Labour Committee should be made available to the state archive of this district. This decision has still not been implemented, although, according to the head of the archive, Bislim Nerguti, the matter has been brought to the attention of the District Council and the police station several times, in order to resolve the problem through official channels. Many of these documents, which are still being kept in an employee’s home or have been shut away in unsuitable premises, have begun to deteriorate.

During December of the year that has just ended, there were no criminal offenses or other incidents of this kind in the Dibër district. According to Avni Cela, chief of the district’s public order police station, this was due to an increase in the law-enforcement authorities’ capacity to detect and combat crime. Of the 256 crimes committed during the previous year, 233 were solved, or around 88 percent. Meanwhile, the incidence of crimes against persons and theft of individuals’ property fell by 35 percent, while thefts of state property fell by 20 percent.

More than 810 families, out of approximately 3,200 in the city of Bajram Curri, receive economic assistance, which ranges from 730 lek to 2,600 lek. To cope with the economic difficulties of the transition, 60% of poor families receiving economic assistance get more than 2,000 lek. However, delays of up to three weeks in the arrival of funds from Tirana, often caused by negligence, create considerable dissatisfaction and concern among the families receiving economic assistance. Bajram Bashukaj, head of the economic office of the Municipality of Bajram Curri, told ATSH that this situation leaves long lines of people waiting for the funds to arrive in the city and municipality for days on end.

The Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations, Mrs. Madeleine K. Albright, began a visit on January 4 to several European countries, including Zagreb, Athens, Budapest, Bratislava, Prague, Warsaw, Brussels, Ljubljana, Bonn, Bucharest, Sofia and Prague. On January 14 she will be in Tirana.

After two days of searching, the public order police station of the Fier district detained and arrested A.B., an 18-year-old from the village of Bashkim, who on January 7, 1994, shot and killed A.S., a 25-year-old from the village of Bococe, with an automatic weapon. The murder was committed for trivial reasons, following an argument that took place on the day the crime was committed. The investigation found that the weapon had been stolen from the military unit near the village of Darzeze, where the incident also took place. For this reason, the investigative police of the station detained and arrested three members of the military unit for violating the rules of guard duty.

Apollon Baçe, correspondent for Deutsche Welle and a member of the Journalists’ Association of Albania, was assaulted yesterday by an unknown person. The Journalists’ Association of Albania strongly protests this act of vandalism and calls on the relevant authorities to find and punish the culprit. We are making this statement public because this is not an isolated case involving members of the Journalists’ Association of Albania. A short time ago, journalist Fahmi Elezi lost his life in an assault. Journalist Bedri Myftari was killed in an accident? [as printed]. “RD” contributor Kasem Seferi was struck on the head with a crowbar. On the day of the Socialist Party press conference, at its headquarters, “RD” journalist Edi Maloka was threatened. There are many such cases. They are carried out for specific purposes by new hands directed by those who lost political power and are trying to regain it by every means. The Journalists’ Association of Albania does not confuse these cases with the detentions and arrests carried out for violations of the law of the state [wording unclear in source]. Journalists accused of criminal offenses must not be confused with repression directed against free speech. Using a journalist’s professional authority to portray the violence of various circles employing terrorist methods as state violence is the most negative phenomenon in a part of the Albanian press. This not only fails to serve the protection of journalists, but puts them at even greater risk. JOURNALISTS’ ASSOCIATION OF ALBANIA CHAIRMAN YLLI RAKIPI

The chairpersons and secretaries of the PDSH branches are hereby informed that on Monday, 17 January 1994, at 11:00, the PDSH National Activity will hold its proceedings at the PDSH headquarters. PDSH Press and Information Department