Yesterday morning at the PDSH headquarters, its Secretary-General, Mr. Tritan Shehu, also received representatives of the Independent United Union of Miners, Geologists and Mineral Processors of Albania, led by its chairman, Mr. Gjezim Kalaja. Also present at the meeting were Ministers Xhaija, Shehi and Cikuli, the chairman of enterprise restructuring, Mr. Grigor Dhaskali, and other specialists. After noting the role of this union and its members in the democratic processes, Mr. Gjezim Kalaja gave a brief overview of working conditions, demands and the problems currently facing Albania’s miners, geologists and mineral processors. The union members then put forward their demands: that work in the mines continue; that part of the contributions owed by the mines to the state for 1992–1993 be waived; and that action be taken on working conditions, transport and the establishment of health centres near the mines. Taking the floor, PDSH Secretary-General Mr. Tritan Shehu stressed: “Since its beginnings, the PD has valued your historic contribution to Albanian democracy; therefore, we also feel a moral obligation to find ways to resolve your difficulties and problems. I appreciate the constructive and reasonable spirit of your demands and assure you of our serious commitment to their gradual and concrete fulfilment.” The meeting then proceeded in a practical spirit of dialogue. Minister Xhaja stressed that the government had prepared a strategy for the mines. Among its important new aspects are links with the world mineral market and foreign investment in our minerals, and so on. Minister Cikuli assured them of a greater commitment and stated that there would be a commitment to the operation of health centres for the mines. Minister Shehu spoke of the need for a specific plan to restructure and operate the mines of Vasilaj. Mr. Dhaskali believed that, regarding these problems, the restructuring agency for the mines would play a primary role. Mr. Kalaja, while expressing appreciation for the meeting, once again denounced the fabrications of the extreme left-wing press and assured them that members of his union would unreservedly support the democratic processes in Albania. PDSH PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT

—The northeastern region will continue to receive priority (Meetings by Mr. Tomorr Dosti, deputy chairman of the PDSH, and Ministers Uka and Cikuli with residents of the Tropoja district) Amid great interest from residents of the Tropoja district, on Friday, 11 February, at 10 a.m., in the main hall of the “Dardania” Palace of Culture in the town of Bajram Curri, the district branch of the Democratic Party organised a meeting with Mr. Tomorr Dosti, deputy chairman of the PDSH; Rexhep Uka, Deputy Prime Minister; and Maksim Cikuli, Minister of Health. Among the local authorities attending the meeting was the chairman of the district council, Mr. Musi Dardha. The residents of Tropoja demonstrated their great interest in the meeting by turning out to welcome Messrs. Dosti, Uka and Cikuli, along with the other people accompanying them, on Thursday, after they disembarked from the Koman–Fierzë ferry. Mr. Xhevdet Mehmti, chairman of the PD branch, gave a brief account of the branch’s achievements in his opening remarks and highlighted some of the district’s pressing problems. Mr. Tomor Dosti then took the floor. “We have come here to talk openly, and I would like people from all the parties to be in this hall; therefore, I invite you to speak openly and without any divisions,” Mr. Dosti said. “The Democratic Party is an open party. It is becoming increasingly involved in the life of this people and nation in order to integrate into European civilisation. The criteria for such a party must be based on sound, fundamentally democratic principles and stem from the high ideals of the individual’s sacred rights.” Within the PS there are some forces that want to denigrate the PD’s struggle and achievements. It is not easy to eliminate, in a period of two years, the devastation left by the PP or the PS over 50 years. Look at the speeches by the PS’s leading figures at their conference: they sound like the lessons in Marxism-Leninism that they used to give at the University of Tirana or at the V.I. Lenin school. The Democratic Party and every progressive and forward-looking force are fighting today to put an end to class struggle. During his speech, Mr. Dosti criticised the stance of the leaders of Kukës and called for cooperation and progress. In part of his speech, he praised the importance of democracy and European integration. Rexhep Uka, Minister of Local Government, thanked them for the invitation and said that they would always be ready to come there and talk whenever they were asked, by any party or political force. “We have come here today,” Mr. Uka continued, “not to engage in demagoguery; transparency should never be mistaken for demagoguery. Today I bring you greetings from President Berisha. I want to dwell on some of our achievements, not to parade them, but to show our progress towards democracy. What is our greatest victory today? It is undoubtedly the victory of pluralism. It was the Democratic Party that demanded it most strongly. “Freedom of speech is another great victory. People are now free to express whatever they think. Today we have the freedom to work and prosper without anyone standing in our way. People today are free to believe what they wish, and all our beliefs are now non-antagonistic toward one another. We no longer have class divisions; the idea of the opposition PD has triumphed, brothers. The PD fulfilled its mission of averting bloodshed. I want to stress,” Mr. Uka continued, “that in these processes the people of these regions made an essential contribution, as well as the main contribution to freedom and democracy. The victory of pluralism means that today we have an opposition and an opposition party that is coordinating its activity with citizens who, historically, have never wanted what is best for our nation. The world is now talking about Albania’s successes; only PBS and ZP fail to recognise them. Continued on page 2

At the beginning of Monday’s meeting, the Council of Ministers considered and approved the draft law “On Medicines”. This draft law, which will be submitted to the People’s Assembly for approval, supplements Albania’s pharmaceutical legislation proper. It defines the scope of the law; the methods for manufacturing and registering medicines; their marketing, wholesale trade, import and export; as well as their inspection and advertising, through to prescribing and administrative and criminal penalties. Next, a draft agreement on understanding and friendship between the Republic of Albania and the French Republic was approved. Its provisions envisage the parties’ commitment to political, economic and cultural cooperation. More specifically, under this draft agreement there will be cooperation and exchanges of experience between the parliaments and parliaments, local government bodies, and in the fields of legislation, industry, mining, agriculture, technology, tourism, culture, science, social affairs, etc. An agreement between the Government of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany on financial cooperation and on projects for the private agricultural sector and the development of municipal infrastructure was also approved. The Council then proceeded to approve several amendments to its decision “On the administrative-territorial division of the Republic of Albania”. Under this decision, the village of Mali i Kolajt is separated from the municipality of Balldreni i Ri in the district of Lezhë and attached to the municipality of Velipojë in the district of Shkodër; the centre of the municipality of Zall-Herr in the district of Tirana is to be in the village of Zall-Herr; the village of Dervishaj is separated from the municipality of Buzi and attached to the municipality of Luftinja in the district of Tepelenë; while in the district of Gramsh, the municipality of Sojnik is renamed the municipality of Kukur, and the municipal centre is moved from Sojnik to Kukur. The approved draft decision “On the free circulation of material assets” regulates issues related to the circulation of material assets within the systems of the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Public Order, the Financial Police and the Forestry Police. The Council of Ministers also approved the draft decision submitted by the Ministry of Finance pursuant to the law on taxes. This decision will regulate the organisation of work for installing cash registers in various commercial units, including the priority for their installation, procurement of cash registers, their placement, and other matters. A fund of 13 million lekë was also approved to settle the liabilities of the urban transport enterprise of Vau i Dejës së Fundit. The Council of Ministers also approved a decision granting land for use to 427 farming families residing in the Ksamil Agricultural Enterprise. ATSH

—Xheka–Lubonja in a duel... who will win?— Yesterday, the Second Conference of the BSPSH in Tirana was held in a hall at the Children’s Cultural Centre in Tirana, but... The hall was occupied first by the union members supporting Mr. Valer Xheka. They had been given red-coloured mandates so they could be distinguished from a much larger group of other union members, who had been given white mandates and supported Mr. Valer Lubonja. At around 11:30, Valer Lubonja and his representatives asked Mr. Xheka either to leave the hall or to agree to an open, democratic debate together. Mr. Xheka did not accept this. Under the watch of the law-enforcement forces, who were supposed to be responsible for order and calm, he and his followers left... to continue their conference in another hall at the BSPSH building. Meanwhile, the hall at the Children’s Cultural Centre was taken over by the group of union members led by Mr. Valer Lubonja. Valer Lubonja opened this conference by explaining the reasons for the disagreements between him and Xheka. The Second Conference of the BSPSH in Tirana then continued its work under his leadership, following the agenda that had been set. After his speech, Valer Xheka told “RD”: “The conference was organised in accordance with the BSPSH statutes by the Tirana Governing Council and the BSPSH. The purpose of the conference was to review the activities of the Tirana Union over the past two years and to elect delegates to the First Congress of the BSPSH. In this context, we had asked that the delegates be genuine representatives, based on representation from all the unions. “The dispute arose because, on the basis of these declarations of affiliation, those seeking to influence the vote were supporting the minority, so they tried to bring to the conference people who had not been identified beforehand... They gathered [and] were going to continue at the BSPSH hall.” Valer Lubonja said: “Manipulations have been taking place since the first conference. They did not bring to light the work that had been done, but instead highlighted individuals who would not do the job properly. It reached its peak in recent months, when the election campaign for the BSPSH leadership began. One day, Valer Xheka’s people came from the enterprises and sat down. He went on to explain the disagreements between the two groups. We have gathered here for the Second Conference of the BSPSH to review the activities of Tirana’s unions from the First Conference up to now, and to elect delegates to the First Congress of the BSPSH. We will also elect the next central governing body.” Thus, the conferences continued their work in various ways. DYLLJAN KARAJ

Imported wheat and flour are subject to a 5% customs duty and a 5% surcharge, but are exempt from turnover tax. Wheat and flour supplied under food aid and government agreements remain exempt from customs duty. —The fixed tax on used vehicles is increased— —The draft law on levying turnover tax on imported tractors, machinery and agricultural tools is returned to the Government— The final paragraph of Article 3 (of Law No. 2676, dated 2.3.1993, “On turnover tax”—author’s note) is supplemented with a subparagraph reading as follows: “Imported tractors, machinery and agricultural tools are not eligible” was the wording of Article 2 of the draft law “On certain amendments to Law No. 7676, dated 2.2.1993, ‘On turnover tax’”, which sparked considerable debate during the plenary session of the People’s Assembly. The draft law in question provided for imposing turnover tax on these implements, which are so essential to Albanian agriculture. Both the parliamentary agriculture committee and the vast majority of MPs considered such a tax inappropriate. They also considered the government’s supporting arguments incomplete. In the end, it was decided that the draft law would be returned to the Government. “Thus, the first two articles of the draft law do nothing more than subject wheat and flour to the normal import tax... These two goods will be taxed at 5% customs duty and a 5% surcharge. This tax was introduced after it became clear that not taxing them had brought no benefit. It should be emphasised that wheat and flour that continue to be imported as aid or under government agreements for this purpose will continue to enter without customs duty, pursuant to subparagraphs ‘ç’ and ‘d’ of Law No. 7675, dated 2.3.1993”—so stated the explanatory memorandum accompanying the draft law “On certain amendments to Law No. 7609, dated 22.1992, ‘On Customs Tariffs’, as amended by Law No. 7675, dated 2.3.1993, and Law No. 7733, dated 20.7.1993”. By a majority vote, this tax was approved as provided for in the draft law, with the addition to Law No. 7676, “On turnover tax”, of the following: “Wheat and flour imported into the country are also exempt from turnover tax.” Article 3 of the above draft law, approved the day before yesterday, also established a change to the fixed tax on used vehicles. Specifically, this tax for used passenger cars over 10 years old, with mileage above 1,460 kilometres, was increased to 50,000 lekë. For motorcycles and three-wheelers of all kinds, used and with more than 5,000 kilometres, the tax changes from 3,000 lekë to 10,000 lekë. Finally, since this article had left used trucks and buses unaddressed, at the proposal of MP Memia it was approved that the relevant article be placed on the agenda, in accordance with the appropriate procedures, for the above addition. The newly approved law enters into force 15 days after publication in the Official Gazette. “RD” CORRESPONDENT 1

It was with indignation and great concern that we watched the cutting down of olive trees in the Lushnjë grove on the television news programme of 14.2.1994. But what left us astonished and speechless was the cool, helpless tone of the response from the representative of the Ministry of Agriculture. It left one with the impression that we were dealing with a strategy to eradicate Albanian olive cultivation, and the sweat and effort invested over decades by agricultural workers. Dear fellow citizens, we appeal to all of you: an olive tree is equivalent to the land and soil of a country. Whoever touches an olive tree has taken away a piece of the homeland. Everyone knows the sacredness of the olive tree, especially the rural population. We therefore urgently and publicly demand, in the name of the law, that the hands of the bandits and bureaucratic officials responsible for the shameful act of cutting down the olive trees in Lushnjë be stopped. We also ask the competent authorities to ensure that any state action taken against them is reported as soon as possible in a special television programme, in order to clip the wings of these criminals who, after destroying the greenhouses, have turned to the olive trees, exploiting the much-awaited climate of democracy and inflicting incalculable damage on the economy and the country’s future. FROM THE ALBANIAN HORTICULTURISTS’ ASSOCIATION

YEAR IV OF PUBLICATION No. 579 Wednesday 16 February 1994 Price: 5 lekë NATIONAL LIBRARY

“RD”

The results achieved as a consequence of the democratic transformation of our state and society make it essential to further strengthen the unity of the Albanian people, so as to better withstand every external and internal aim and attempt directed against the Albanian people. The appropriation of the ANÇL War as the patriotic struggle of our people and a first [??] of the Albanian people. Dear veterans! We fought the ANÇL War against the Nazi-fascist occupiers and their collaborators all together, with our patriotic people, for freedom, independence and democracy, inspired and guided by the lofty patriotic principles of the Conference of Peza: “Unity, unity, unity, without distinction of religion, region or ideas.” The decisions of the Committee of ANÇL War Veterans and of the “independent” associations to date have done nothing but deepen further the divisions sown over 50 years by Enverist politics and dictatorship; they have set up commemorations of the war that should have recalled the values of its participants and honoured the memory of the heroes and the sacrifices of the people, thereby bringing pain and sorrow to the people. As a first step, it is urgent to dissolve all the artificial veterans’ organisations and the National Committee of L.Ç. Veterans. To date, the three existing LANÇ veterans’ associations have [??] with their approval, while the National Committee of LANÇ Veterans has opposed this union, claiming to represent the eight associations within it. Historically and legally, the “Committee of LANÇ Veterans” is the only legitimate political body [??]. The PSSH, which operates on the basis of the decision of the former Political Bureau of the PPSH in 1957, clearly does not represent the real democratic changes in our country. This Committee not only fails to support that large number of former fighters whom the totalitarian Enverist dictatorship sentenced, executed by firing squad, persecuted and discriminated against, but also showed itself to be complicit in those sentences. We therefore urgently demand a thorough legal review, freeing them without any hesitation, as in every other neighbouring and European country. Dear veterans! In view of everything we have said above, we appeal to you to [??] with your strength, thereby contributing to the strengthening of national unity and securing the recognition of our rights. We are convinced that this initiative will be properly understood by all veterans as a sincere and honest effort, an obligation to the past and a message to generations to come. Glory to the fighters for the freedom, independence and democracy of the Albanian people! Glory to the fallen martyrs of the nation! Honour to the LANÇL veterans of the Albanian people! INITIATING GROUP OF 28 VETERANS