On 1 February, a NATO delegation arrived in our country, headed by NATO Assistant Secretary General Gebhardt Moltke. The delegation includes Generals Nikolas Samson and Amadeo Sturcio, as well as the head of the Defence Policy Section at NATO’s International Staff for Defence Planning. At Rinas Airport, the delegation was welcomed by the Minister of Defence, Safet Zhulali, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and senior military officers of the Ministry of Defence. The Greek ambassador in Tirana, Kristos Saliqis, was also there. On the afternoon of 1 February, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alfred Serreqi, received the high-level NATO delegation, headed by Assistant Secretary General Moltke. Mr Serreqi expressed his readiness for the Partnership for Peace and stressed that Albania would play an active role and be a serious partner. For his part, Mr Moltke conveyed to Mr Serreqi the greetings of NATO Secretary General Manfred Verner and discussed several aspects of cooperation within the Partnership for Peace. ATA

—In words, the “socialist” state collected no taxes, but in practice it took 44.2% of workers’ income— For the Albanian peasant, the 45 years of real socialism amounted to 45 years of economic genocide against the sources of his livelihood. This is because he was gradually deprived of his land (collectivization, 1946–1960), his livestock (the formation of collective herds, 1976–85), and the small plot where he grew a few vegetables for himself and his family (the reduction of cooperative yards, 1976–88). From an individual producer, the peasant was turned into a vehicle working the land on a cooperative for 3–5 lekë a day. That money was not enough for him to buy bread. Thus he became a slave to the idea of a state-run economy whose sole aim was survival. If he dared to go to the city market, to an improvised market on some street corner, he was fined for deserting a day’s work at the cooperative. This situation changed with the start of land privatization in 1991. The peasant gradually began to regain an interest in the land. At first he bred the emaciated sheep and cows from the cooperative herd that he received through the division, fattened them and brought new life to a forgotten village in Lushnje, called Bombas a few years ago; today it has 10 privately owned tractors. The peasant gradually returned to working the land, his old passion, which the previous system had turned into a nightmare. The present ratio of cultivated to uncultivated land has changed to 5 to 1, compared with the cultivated-to-uncultivated land ratio of two years ago, which was 2 to 1. With the progressive increase in livestock farmers, new herds and the cultivation of previously untilled land, the process of creating and increasing wealth in the countryside is much more dynamic than in the city. This wealth remains in the countryside (there is no longer a noticeable mass exodus of livestock, timber, etc.) and serves as a basis for creating even greater wealth. Until now, the peasant has been free of taxes. Although the state’s coffers were urgently in need of money, sometimes even when the consequences of the reform threatened the government’s popular credibility, it did not touch the peasant. It let him recover. The figures show growth in agricultural production and an increase in transport or in the diesel fuel for tractors and irrigation pumps. But for this, the peasant must contribute, in proportion to the wealth he now possesses. This is also why the government is preparing a draft law on property tax, which will also apply in the countryside. Many people in the countryside may not properly understand this step by the government. The idea of taxation is somewhat foreign to Albanians, who have emerged from half a century of propaganda about fines and the complete absence of taxes in Albania. “We didn’t have taxes before. This government is burdening us with taxes,” some may say. It is true that new taxes are being introduced, but they are a natural necessity for the very existence of the state. A state can perform its functions of maintaining order, administering courts, defending the country, etc., only if there are funds to support those functions. Money does not fall from the sky; the state obtains it through the tax system. It is not true that the previous state collected no taxes. It collected—indeed, it extracted—44.2% of the income of Albanian workers. That is, 44.2% of the income earned by workers in Albanian towns and villages went into the coffers of that state. It was not called a tax. It wore a different “robe”: it was called “the centralized net income of the state” and the net income of the enterprise or cooperative. Workers were not taxed directly, but the tax was collected beforehand under these two labels, leaving them with those miserable wages that did not change for 40 years. Today the tax burden is much lower, and, most importantly, people will be taxed progressively according to the amount of wealth and income they have: those who earn more and own more will contribute more to the state’s coffers. At the current middle stage of the reform, the need for investment and a strong social policy is a priority. This requires everyone to participate in meeting these expenses. It no longer makes sense to exempt 65% of the population, who live in the countryside, from this participation—that is, from taxation. Surely the patriotic and enlightened Albanian peasant will understand this. …had abandoned the cooperative’s workday. This situation changed with the beginning of land privatization in 1991. The farmer gradually began to take an interest in the land again. cooperative herd that he had received in the distribution, fattened them up and revived them with the characteristic care of the Albanian livestock farmer. Then he bought more sheep and perhaps a cow, this time forming his own herd, his own creation. The natural “cow” and “sheep” factory operated regularly for him in 1991, 1992 and 1993, providing him with ever more meat, milk, butter, cheese and cottage cheese each day. He took the portion left over from family consumption to the city market, whose customers were eager for fresh produce from the countryside. By selling an average of more than 5 kilos of meat, milk, butter and cheese a day per family, our farmer secured an income of at least 600–1,000 lek a day during these years. If we divide this amount by 10 to account for the devaluation of the lek (although the actual devaluation due to inflation is much lower), we get 60–100 lek a day, that is, more than 20 times the cooperative’s 3–5 lek. This means that the Albanian farmer increased his income at least twentyfold during the period when he became the owner of the land and livestock. Gradually, he accumulated money, improved his home, bought a color TV and other household appliances. Many others built new houses. Some even bought tractors, using income from emigration and the market. Only …greater, Until now, the farmer has been free of taxes. Although the state’s coffers desperately needed money, sometimes even when the government risked losing public credibility as a result of the reforms, it did not touch the farmer. It let him recover. The figures for growth in agricultural and livestock production are eloquent. But what we see with our own eyes speaks even more: dozens and hundreds of new houses as soon as you leave the city, dozens of new houses in every village, and many families also have their own car. This panorama shows that the farmer has now recovered. When you talk to him, you no longer see on his face the uncertainty and anxiety about tomorrow. His mind is more occupied with calculations: how much of his production to take to market, how much to save, how much to invest in buying a tractor or chemical fertilizer. Such a situation can no longer leave the state indifferent to the farmer. How much longer should we wait: until every farming family in Albania has its own private tractor? Should taxes begin then? Yes. Taxes should begin now. Because the state budget needs revenue in order to invest and employ the unemployed in the city. Because the state budget needs to find money to increase assistance for the unemployed and for the poorest categories of the population. Because the state budget must also think about the farmer, to repair the roads he uses to get to the city, to lower for him by subsidiz-

On 31 January 1994, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Defence learned from the Tirana District Prosecutor’s Office that, on the basis of the complaint filed by the Ministry of Defence, criminal proceedings had been initiated and, during the investigation, the arrest of officers Romeo Lica and Bashkim Feta had been ordered. They are members of a military unit in Tirana and are accused under Articles 122 and 13 of the Criminal Code of “disclosing state secrets.” For the same reason, as we learned from the same prosecutor’s office, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper “Koha Jone,” Aleksander Frangaj, and a journalist at the same newspaper, Martin Leka, were also arrested. On this occasion, we inform the public that, under Article 25 of Law No. 7496 of 3 July 1991, “On the Status of Military Personnel of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Albania,” state bodies, various political and social organizations, and the mass media are required, before writing, disseminating or informing the public about actions involving military personnel, to comply with the requirements of the acts defining state secrets. In order to protect national interests, the Ministry of Defence, while rigorously observing the legal provisions relating to military secrets, will seek to bring before the law all military or civilian persons who disclose information of a secret nature.

Within the framework of political dialogue between the European Union and third countries that are not members, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania, Mr Alfred Serreqi, will travel to Athens on 14 February 1994. Within the framework of political dialogue between the European Union and third countries that are not members, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania, Mr Alfred Serreqi, will travel to Athens on 14 February 1994 for a working visit, at the invitation of the Greek Foreign Minister, Mr Karolos Papulias, in his capacity as President of the Council of Ministers of the European Union. ATA

—If Fatos Nano is convicted by the courts?— The leaders of the PS continue to put the issue of prisoner Nano “on the agenda” at every international meeting. So far, all their propaganda has been based on alleged violations of legal procedures in Nano’s arrest and detention. To date, nobody has dared, not even in “ZP,” to prove that Nano is not guilty—that is, to deny that Nano abused his office and committed forgery (and they cannot do so, since they would only add another bluff to their string of bluffs). On this matter, they content themselves with the fact that there is no document signed by Nano in which he declares that he committed the above violations of the law because he received money. But let us suppose that this fact will not be proved. This does not mean that Nano is innocent, but that the motive for his crime will not be proved. When will Albania join the Council of Europe? Two groups are doing everything they can to prevent Albania from joining the Council of Europe: those who talk about violations of the rights of the Greek minority in Albania (all Albanians know how absurd such a thesis is), and those who demand Nano’s release and speak of human rights violations (a thesis just as absurd as the first). Sometimes their primary aims get confused with their secondary ones. It is unclear whether the primary aim is “the release of rights,” Nano’s release, or preventing Albania from integrating into Europe. In any case, the time required to follow the normal procedure for a country’s admission to the Council of Europe has so far served the PS’s demagogues, enabling them to say that “Albania will not enter the Council of Europe until Nano is released.” The fact is that they have been spreading this propaganda for a long time, but what will “ZP” write when Albania joins the Council of Europe [cut] Europe (after Nano has been convicted, too)? It seems the PS demagogues have not thought this moment through. This will be another bluff by demagogues who have been making fools of themselves ever since the days when they propagated Hoxha’s theories. The truth is that, despite the PS leaders’ deceptive propaganda concerning the “Nano case,” they have not managed to halt Albania’s admission process to the Council of Europe. In fact, the latest meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly decided to send rapporteurs to Albania, so the proper procedure continued without any obstacle. As for the timetable, other countries have taken longer than Albania to complete the process of joining the Council of Europe. So what will “ZP” write when Albania becomes a member of the Council of Europe? Surely it will accuse world capitalism of conspiring with the PD against the freedom of peoples and F. Nano. EDI PALOKA Nano is not guilty, that is, in terms of the way he abused his office and falsified [documents] (and they cannot do so, since that would add only one more bluff to their string of bluffs). In this respect, they can rely only on in which he declares that he committed the above-mentioned us suppose that this fact will not be proven. the motive for his crime will not be proven. Very soon the trial over the aid scandal will take place, and justice will deliver its verdict on Nano as well. What will “ZP” write if Nano is convicted? Of course, it will go on writing about manipulation, a political trial, justice having made a mistake, etc. These are things anyone can understand, even a child who has read “ZP” just once. Absurd demagoguery will seek to convince people of the innocence of the angel Nano, and this will be precisely the moment when they discredit themselves before the world. They will say that the Albanian justice system acted on the orders of the PD, but what will they say about the Italian investigator, who has repeatedly denounced the “serious violations”? How will they convince the world when the incriminating facts about Nano are also put in the hands of foreign experts (if they request them)? Thus, Nano’s conviction will be the moment of the great bluff by PS’s propaganda and demagoguery, and their fatal predicament is that, although they know this, they are compelled to carry out their harakiri.

—The value of the donated instruments, equipment and medicines amounts to 30,000 dollars— Humanitarian aid weighing 3.5 tons, consisting of instruments, equipment and medicines, donated by the “Association of Veterinary Doctors of Poland” and valued at 30,000 dollars, arrived in our country in recent days. The components of this aid, which have a long shelf life, will meet several urgent needs in the surgical and obstetrics-gynaecology departments, at the veterinary clinic of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the Agricultural University of Tirana, at the Veterinary Research Institute, etc. The Veterinary Research Institute in Pulawy, the Biopreparations Control Laboratory in Warsaw, veterinarians from private clinics, etc., contributed to securing this aid. It was organized and led by the association’s presidency, with its president Dr A. Komarovski and his colleagues, Prof. Dr M. Truszcynski, Doc. Dr T. Viljaszka, Dr E. Artecki, M. Konopo, A. Noxe, etc. The Veterinary Research Institute in Pulawy also provided the Veterinary Research Institute in Tirana with technical and scientific assistance through short-term training. …modern scientific methods for various analyses, etc. In these fields, relations have also been established between the agricultural universities and the veterinary faculties of Warsaw and Tirana. In carrying out humanitarian and technical-scientific assistance, in addition to the interest shown by the ministries of Agriculture and Food and of Education, the Polish Embassy in Tirana and the Albanian Embassy in Warsaw, our veterinarians N. Shehu and Y. Albali, graduates of Polish universities, also contributed as intermediaries. ATSH

In recent days, the Albanian political scene, not infrequently in an unprecedented way, has experienced intensification and rising tensions across all its segments. The political spectrum of the left-wing parties, which are in sync with one another, have created—sometimes openly and sometimes covertly—a common coalition against the center-right spectrum, strongly represented by the PD, which today holds legitimate power by the people’s verdict. Prominent in this coalition of owls are the headquarters of the ultra-left groups of PS, PAD, PUK, and even the mini-headquarters of the hat-plus-bee, Hoti. The main tasks these political wretches have taken upon themselves are to completely paralyze reform in general, push the transition onto the tracks of collapse and total destabilization, and shape public opinion in order to bring down the Meksi government while preparing early elections in the shadows. In recent days, a total mobilization of these headquarters has been observed, turning into concrete acts of destabilization. This is connected with the approaching trials of the senior leaders of the former dictatorship-era state. Now that the time is approaching for them to be exposed in court and to appear before the Albanian people and international opinion, naked as they are and with their wickedness laid bare. Hanosa and? new? damaged text [?]. Albanians alone, no illegal milling, because the last one in Tirana turned into a boomerang for its own cube. Now PS, in order to gain political credibility and electoral capital, with a bibe to incite “unrestrained” Imam Pasbko Zogaj [?] etc. (Having the tongs, why burn your hands?) The leaders of PS, AD, PUK are connected to Nano’s Aline through corruption, criminal involvement, the settling of old camorrist debts, dossiers, etc. They are not interested in the facts that compromise and condemn them coming to light. That is why this coalition has today taken it upon itself, “life or death,” to save whatever can be saved from its criminal baggage in the quiz of the Albanian people. They are doing everything possible with slander and pain to prevent the curtain from rising on our justice system. But the sun cannot be covered with a sieve. There is no fig, however large, that can cover the many sins of those in power, and the government’s urgent duty is, just as it is successfully easing social tensions through reform, to use all the legal means at its disposal to ease the political climate in the country as well. The place of adventurer politicians who have taken it upon themselves to destabilize Albania in order to preserve communism must be shown to them. Democracy is irreversible and unstoppable.