-Is Rajerson the US representative in Albania or not? -For the first time at a meeting with foreign politicians, the PS leaders do not mention Nano- I will not write about the period when “ZP,” under Hoxha’s and Alia’s directives, was crushing American imperialism until just a short time ago. As “ZP” reports, these days some members of the PS Presidium have held a meeting with Mr. Dickinson, representative of the American International Republican Institute in Albania. Several things stand out from what “ZP” writes about this meeting: The first is the “moderate language” of the PS leaders (L. Hajdaraga). Surprisingly, this time they did not talk about “violations of human rights,” and even more surprisingly, they did not mention at all the “injustices” being done to “chairman” Nano. Why? L. Hajdaraga has just returned from Geneva, where “the Nano issue was immediately on the agenda.” Nevertheless, Mr. Hajdaraga spoke about the lack of freedom of the press and, especially, about “violence.” PS member Mr. Pellumbi, responding to the accusation that they were playing a destructive role in Parliament, said they had approved almost all the laws, with a few exceptions. So, whom should we believe? Pellumbi or Hajdaraga? One says they have almost always voted “in favour” of the laws (that is, in consensus with the DP), while the other speaks of “cardboard violence.” Or is it both one way and the other, depending on what suits them? Nevertheless, whether or not to believe the PS leaders is something anyone can work out for themselves. Anyone unfortunate enough to have read “ZP” has seen what the PS’s soldier-journalists have written about the US ambassador in Tirana, Mr. William Rajerson. It even went so far that, in an article signed “Çobo Rrapushi,” Mr. Rajerson was heavily insinuated to be involved in anti-Albanian activity. There was a period when “ZP” attacked Mr. Berisha and the American ambassador in almost the same way. Why did this happen? Albanian people, by openly speaking out against communism. Precisely for this reason, “ZP” wrote indignantly: “What is Rajerson looking for here?”, “The DP takes its orders from Rajerson,” and so on. Surprisingly (though in truth there is nothing surprising about it), “ZP,” two days ago, describing the meeting with Mr. Dickinson, wrote: “The PS appreciates the support that the USA, as a developed democratic country, has given to the institutionalization of democracy in Albania.” But was it not precisely for this “support” that they attacked the American ambassador, calling him all sorts of names?! I do not know what this is called in the language of “ZP,” but I would call it an about-face of the most shameless kind. It seems that, despite being “urged on by the money,” the PS leaders understood that they could not destroy American imperialism (when even “Baba” failed to crush it) and decided to “thank” it for …It is clear that they have not mentioned issue was of freedom of the press and, above all, about the “tyranny of the voting cards” in Parliament. It is not known whether the PS leaders share the same views, but some time ago the deputy chairman of… … in Tirana, Mr. William Rajerson, a journalist-activist with the PS. Indeed, things there were serious insinuations about Mr. Rajerson’s anti-Albanian activities. It was a period when “ZP” attacked him almost as much as it attacked Mr. Berisha and the American Ambassador. Why did this happen? It happened because Mr. Rajerson, as a true representative of a democratic country, became a supporter of the new democracy… I don’t but I would call it a servile, crawling turnabout. Apparently, despite being “summoned by the dollars,” the PS leaders realized had failed to do so) and decided to “thank it” for the help it had given in bringing democracy to Albania—that is, in bringing about their defeat. EDI PALOKA

-From the talks held by NATO’s high-level delegation at the Ministry of Defence- The announcement sent by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Defence says that, following last night’s talks with NATO’s high-level delegation, the Minister of Defence, Safet Zhulali, having pointed out that Albania actively supports the Partnership for Peace, emphasized the message from the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, sent to NATO Secretary General Manfred Werner, which states, among other things: “We are ready to work together with the Alliance’s military-political structures, to take part in joint military manoeuvres, in consultations on defence and security, and to benefit from the other opportunities offered by the Partnership for Peace. We offer to provide a company, as well as our naval and air bases, for Partnership activities. Albania was the first former communist country to ask to join NATO. The talks concluded that Albania would prepare the presentation document and soon sign the agreement on the Partnership for Peace in Brussels. The areas in which Albania undertakes to participate were also defined, such as joint exercises, peacekeeping and humanitarian operations, and the provision of airport facilities. It was also agreed that our country would send its permanent representatives to the relevant NATO bodies. For his part, the head of the delegation, NATO Assistant Secretary General Gebhardt Moltke, said: “I am impressed by Albania’s presentation and its readiness to participate in the Partnership for Peace. We will help complete the presentation document and with everything else, so that Albania can ensure active participation in the Partnership for Peace initiative.” Mr. Moltke asked the Minister of Defence to convey to the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, the greetings of NATO Secretary General Manfred Werner, as well as his high regard and congratulations for the warm message and Albania’s position on participating in the Partnership for Peace. ATSH

In the late hours of 2 January 1994, an organized robbery of extremely valuable relics from the National Historical Museum was carried out. According to an inside source at the museum, the thieves are believed to have targeted works of iconographic art. Robberies of this kind have not been uncommon over the past three years. There have been robberies in Berat, Shkoder, Durres and Korce; the penultimate one was at the National Gallery of Figurative Arts, and the latest was at the National Historical Museum. This shows that, although there have been warnings of robberies, the measures to prevent them are largely ineffective. Several weeks ago, a seminar was held at this same museum by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, in cooperation with an Italian specialist, for museum employees. Its topic was the sophisticated methods and rules for protecting museums from robberies, which are becoming increasingly refined. As if in bitter irony, the robbery took place immediately after this seminar, demonstrating the inability of those responsible for safeguarding valuable museum objects. CORRESPONDENT 1 “RD”

Mr. Bolino, regarding your article published in “Gazeta Shqiptare” about the two journalists of “KJ,” we did not consider it appropriate to comment on whether KJ was right or on their innocence. That is a matter for the justice system, which will know how to reach the right decision in this case too. What makes us speak up is something else. Mr. Bolino, contrary to the laws of the Albanian state, you have decided to play this role in front of “RD.” We have previously entered into dialogue with you, but your determination shows no regard for that dialogue! We are therefore compelled to speak even more openly. Mr. Bolino, you are deceiving people when you link the case of the two “KJ” journalists to the press law. As a provocateur, you go so far as to make the speculative comparison with the Pulitzer Prize awarded to the two journalists in connection with Watergate. Mr. Bolino, you are simply doing this because you are an officer of the dark-green service. In the Watergate scandal, former President Nixon violated the Constitution by ordering the bugging of the campaign headquarters of the American Democratic Party; “Washington Post” exposed this illegal act. In other words, those who received the “Pulitzer” did so for defending the Constitution, the law and national justice. This is different from what you are demanding of the “KJ” journalists today: that they prepare material based on a source inside the Ministry of Defence, marked “Top Secret,” which would conflict with state statutes and the European Convention on Human Rights, since the article concerned confidential material and information relating to national security, etc. To compare the incomparable means to be among those who destroy and exploit Albania, and who hold it up as an example of those who have the right not to be among those who support democracy but are incapable of doing so. But one cannot expect Bolino to help democracy in Albania. He has already done his part on the platform of the distorted determination of Albanian politics and democracy. Mr. Bolino, Albania has put an end to arbitrariness and is a state governed by the rule of law. … and no one can stand against it. Thus, Albanian law has a specific provision (Article 25), which clearly states: “State bodies, various political and social organizations, and the mass media, before writing, propagating or informing public opinion about actions connected with military personnel, are obliged to respect the requirements of the acts defining state secrets.” This article, along with Article 2 of the Convention on Human Rights, concerning freedom of expression, states, among other things: “The exercise of these rights and freedoms may not be restricted except in cases provided for by law, which constitute necessary measures in a democratic society in the interests of national security, territorial integrity, the protection of public safety and order, the prevention of crime, the protection of health and rights, the preservation of dignity and morals, the reputation and rights of others, the prevention of the disclosure of information received in confidence, and the guarantee of the authority and impartiality of the judicial power.” Mr. Bolino, you rushed to be first among the countries of Albania at the top of the list of countries with foreign debt. That is how you deceived people. You are first in line when it comes to misinforming Albanian public opinion about the arrest of the two “KJ” journalists. The same applies to the Shkoder incident, etc. Mr. Bolino, perhaps you do not know our laws. Let us remind you that this state has laws and makes no secret of enforcing them and acting in accordance with them. We advise you, sir, that you cannot claim that your own country does not respect these laws. As for you, we can say that those whom you accuse of slander, misinformation or provocation cannot protect you from the laws of this state. Mr. Bolino, you can do plenty of things like this; you may be the master of anyone, for example I. Kamila Alpe or Kardilli, but in any case you must not spread misinformation or deceive people, because such things are covered neither by the press law nor by the right to research. THE OBSERVER.

—Gratitude: private enterprise— The propaganda and demagoguery of the former system officially reported 30,000 “people without jobs.” This was a standard figure reported every year, an annual ritual, then, with the same purpose: concealing reality and creating an image of transparency that did not exist. However, this demagoguery was exposed in the final years of the dictatorship, when this social problem began to emerge in all its dimensions. In other words, it began to unfold in all its complexity: the “people without jobs” seeking work were far more numerous than official propaganda claimed. Around 130,000 people had no job but were not looking for one. On the other hand, another contingent did not deserve to be characterized as “employed.” Because organizations had, as a rule, been bloated, and hiring people merely to “keep them quiet” had as its reverse side the remark made by a foreigner to the workers: “You pretend to work and they [the former rulers] pretend to pay you.” This phenomenon leads one to conclude that the number of unemployed was much greater. Indeed, even the moment when the Çarçani government, through its absurd decision to pay 80%, revealed what it had kept hidden for years through propaganda. Another contingent of unemployed people who became surplus during restructuring processes meant that the maximum unemployment figure ultimately reached 394,000. So many unemployed, while the state sector of the economy had managed to employ (even artificially) 850,000 people—half of them—naturally meant that this phenomenon was turning out to be the greatest social wound and, at the same time, the government’s most difficult task. The necessity of carrying out this task justified our hopes and efforts to bring in foreign investors. And if the contribution of foreign entrepreneurs in this regard has not been significant, credit for easing the social wound of unemployment should go to private enterprise, since it is precisely this sector that has shown progressive momentum. Specifically, if in 1992 it employed 40,000 people, during 1993 it managed to rescue around another 61,000 people from the desperate prospect of unemployment, bringing the total number employed in this sector to 101,000. Meanwhile, statistics show a decrease in the number of unemployed in the cities by around 151,000 people (from 394,000 in ’92 to 243,000 in ’93). Alongside the contribution of private enterprise, emigration—which took away around 13% of that year’s workforce—serves as a justification for the difference. The optimistic side of the change in economic systems is beginning to emerge. This optimism should grow stronger if we bear in mind that privatization, a process that should accelerate but which so far has not proceeded at the necessary pace, will lead to the creation of businesses capable of employing people. Optimism also grows if we consider that, while we are generally now at the stage of foreign investors consolidating their plans to invest in Albania, this consolidation soon heralds their plans becoming concrete. So it seems we are moving beyond the difficult moments of survival. SHPETIM LUKU

On 1 February 1994, the President of the Republic, Mr. Sali Berisha, issued the decree “On Special Protection for Military Personnel.” The purpose of this decree is to strictly punish criminal elements who commit offences against military personnel, and to provide better financial assistance to the families of military personnel who lose their ability to work or their lives in the line of duty. Thus, committing a criminal offence against a member of the military will be considered an aggravating circumstance, and a killing committed against one will be classified as murder. The following articles of this decree provide that, in the aforementioned cases, the families of military personnel are to receive 100% of the salary of the servicemember who has become unable to work or has lost their life in the line of duty, as well as immediate compensation of up to five salaries; the state guarantees children scholarships to attend higher education, etc. This decree, which enters into force immediately, will apply to all military personnel who have lost their lives since 3 July 1991, the date corresponding to the adoption of the law “On the Status of Military Personnel.” PRESS AND INFORMATION OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE ORGAN OF THE SOCIALIST PARTY OF ALBANIA From village life: RAPID STEPS TOWARD ILLITERACY Taxes... Taxes... Taxes THE VILLAGE UNDER TAXATION The destruction of the Kamza radio station has begun KORÇË Six signal pistols have gone missing Ujdishet? [marginal] A call to shut down and stop teaching at the vegetable institute Appeal of those: Stop: The drug terror Dua? [marginal] up... behind the wall PËRGJEGJËSITRIM Two missing children 7. 55.8 069.4 00.1 6.2 88.9 1570 153.1 1037 10.4 9.7 15.2 92.0 94 00.5