For four consecutive nights, from 21 to 24 December, the Radio-Television Song Festival ’94 will take place. The selected songs will compete over the four nights, at the end of which the winning song will be chosen. Groups and guests will also take part in the festival, giving a special character to the show marathon. Presented by Reçiz Çiço and the young Doris Prela, the first night of this annual spectacle opens today. It will continue for several nights, offering the audience art and new emotions that will reflect the new concept in all the components of the show. The show is directed by the renowned Vera Grabocka, with Zhani Ciko as artistic director. In the coming days, we will provide more detailed information about the further development of the show.

A government task force is established under the direction of Prime Minister Meksi The President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, chaired a meeting yesterday attended by Prime Minister Meksi, Deputy Prime Ministers Shehi and Vrioni, Prosecutor General Dragoshi, Minister of Defense Zhulali, Minister of the Interior Musaraj, Minister of Mineral and Energy Resources Xhaja, Chairman of the Intelligence Service Gazidede, Secretary of State for Local Government at the Ministry of the Interior Kosovaristi, KESH Director Tugu, Tirana Mayor Kelmendi, and the President’s advisers on economic affairs, Gjoni, Vokshi, Panariti and Sakiqi. The meeting discussed the severe situation caused by the shortage of electricity and identified a series of urgent and necessary measures to overcome it. It was decided to establish a government task force headed by Prime Minister Meksi, with the Deputy Prime Ministers for Mineral Resources, the Chairman of SHIK, the Secretary of State for Local Government, the Director of KESH and the Mayor of Tirana as members. The task force is charged with taking measures and following up on them in the center and in the districts to overcome the extraordinary situation that has arisen and deal with its consequences. The meeting decided to immediately mobilize all financial, material and human resources to normalize the situation. It was decided to ensure uninterrupted service in the vital energy sector, as well as in the production and supply of bread. It was determined that the facilities to receive a continuous electricity supply would be designated; it was decided to increase electricity imports to meet the country’s needs; it was decided that the army’s engineering, logistics and civil-defense units would support energy and other enterprises in carrying out their assigned tasks; and it was decided to place the forces of the Ministry of the Interior and the Intelligence Service on readiness level No. 1 to help overcome the situation. The Mayor of Tirana, Mr. Sali Kelmendi, after emphasizing ... effective measures to address the situation. (Continued on page 2)

The main issues discussed at yesterday’s government meeting were urgent measures to stabilize the country’s energy situation and bread production. The Minister of Mineral and Energy Resources, Mr. Abdyl Xhaja, briefed the meeting on the state of the energy system throughout the Republic, energy planning, and the work of his ministry to stabilize the situation. Mr. Xhaja stressed that electricity supply had now been secured for hospitals, bakeries and RTV, and that plans had been made for limited lighting for the population. All measures had likewise been taken to supply electricity to student accommodation and private bakeries. Meanwhile, electricity imports from Greece have begun, and the thermal power plants have been brought into operation at their available capacities. Nevertheless, water inflows into the hydroelectric power plant reservoirs remain low. The Mayor of Tirana, Mr. Sali Kelmendi, after stressing the increasingly effective coordination between local government and electricity enterprises, particularly in the city of Tirana, where the situation is more severe, emphasized the commitment to supply the population with fuel in order to reduce damage to the grid and the use of electricity. Around 80 metering devices are being added each day, and the sale of kerosene stoves is continuing. Mobile units will be put into service to improve kerosene distribution. Meanwhile, a good quantity of gas has been secured from Greece and Bulgaria, as well as coal that can be used for the population’s heating and cooking needs. Measures are being taken to equip bakeries that operate on diesel with generators. Prime Minister Meksi ordered the task forces throughout the Republic to monitor the energy situation and the issue of bread production every day, in order to normalize the situation and mitigate it through effective measures. (Continued on page 2) Review The country’s energy situation as of 20 December 1994

The difficulties caused by the shortage of energy in the country, and the possibility of meeting the country’s energy needs through imports from neighboring countries with which our country has electricity interconnections, were the subject of telephone conversations held yesterday by the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, with the President of Romania, Iliesku, the President of Turkey, Demirel, and the President of Bulgaria, Zhelju Zhelev. All three counterparts assured President Berisha that they would make every effort and use all the means and resources currently available to them to help Albania. Press and Information Office of the President

Yesterday in the early morning, the leaders of the PDSH Youth Forum met with students living in the dormitories of the Faculty of Construction and Medicine. After learning about the problems, 600–700 students elected an 11-member delegation which, supported by the FRPD, would hold talks with government leaders. The students’ representatives presented to the press leaders confirmation of the opposition’s insistence, and of the demands; none of them had any [the source text is unclear here] political demands or aims, but only economic ones. Yesterday morning, the students’ delegation was received in a meeting by Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Dashamir Shehi, Minister of Education Mr. Xhelair Teli, and PDSH Secretary General Tritan Shehu. FRPD leaders Krasniqi and Shena also took part in the meeting. After Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Shehi and Minister of Education Teli acknowledged the students’ demands, they said that some of the students had said that some of them should be included in stabilizing the situation that had arisen. [Text partly illegible]

Students speak out about the truth -Bureaucrats must take responsibility -People unknown to the students are urging them: “To the square” and “hunger strike” Chairman of the Student Union, Mr. Besnik Llagami: The protest had no political nuance whatsoever. “ZP” is rubbing its hands over an empty dream. There is no reason for a “December 90”. The insinuations and wishes of “ZP” are absurd. The students overthrew the dictatorship and brought democracy. We are not against democracy, the government or the PD. Students speak out about the truth We are not against democracy, the government or the PD. We are only asking for improved living conditions in the dormitory -Bureaucrats must take responsibility -People unknown to the students are urging them: “To the square” and “hunger strike” On Tuesday, December 20, on the front pages of the three left-opposition newspapers “ZP”, “KJ” and “Aleanca”, under tendentious headlines, we read a report with titles approximately reading “From yesterday to December”, “Students protest again” and “ZP concludes its short leading article in black letters, summing up its dark wish: ‘Students issue a warning.’” What they are supposedly warning about is not stated by “ZP”, but according to “ZP”’s wishes it must be what is expressed in the headline of the leading article, “from yesterday to December”. This is nothing but an empty and absurd dream for “ZP”, “KJ”, “Aleanca” and their parties. This phrase should not come from us, but from the students with whom we spoke about this event. To learn the truth, we went to the Faculty of Construction Engineering and contacted students in all departments. They answered that they had seen the matter one way or another; some had problems concerning the dormitories of the “Oyteza Studentore” [Student Residence] No. 2, which includes the Institute of Physical Culture, as well as Medicine, the Agricultural Institute and Construction Engineering. Written by: [unclear text] Piskalova; here we spoke with a student at this institute, Mr. Fatmir [the text continues, partly illegible] Chairman of the Student Union, Mr. Besnik Llagami: The protest had no political nuance whatsoever. “ZP” is rubbing its hands over an empty dream. There is no reason for a “December 90”. The insinuations and wishes of “ZP” are absurd. The students overthrew the dictatorship and brought democracy. dormitory. Officials who fail to resolve our basic demands, since we are not asking for the impossible, should be held responsible. We asked Dibra to tell us about the students’ protest the previous evening and how much truth there was in what “ZP” had written about the event. Mr. Dibra, who was involved in the protest to clarify matters, said: It would be more appropriate to discuss this problem with the students. Perhaps we could meet the chairman of the Student Union, Mr. Besnik Llagami, and the other students. We held the following conversation. Mr. Besnik, can you tell us something about the protest held by the students last night? What caused it? The cause was the lack of [text cuts off] And [part of the article in the columns on the right] everyone’s [unclear]; not even half an hour after returning, the lights came on, which showed that the fault had not been so serious as to be irreparable, but that someone was unconcerned and did not want to hear that we had no electricity. This greatly angered the students, and the protest began spontaneously; it lasted only two hours. Three fires were lit to [unclear]… As I told you, the lights came back on; they are still on now as we speak, naturally with interruptions. “ZP” writes today: “Police forces with rubber batons once again surrounded the students.” What could the police have surrounded? The police and a group of students tried to persuade the students to withdraw; they had already begun heading towards the center. There is nothing here to be concerned about, because the police are responsible for maintaining order, and the actions of some students were illegal, since organizing a gathering requires a permit, all the more so when it takes place late at night. “ZP”, for example, writes: “The fourth December of the PD, and the students are surrounded by police; the state threatens, the state shows its weakness. The state warns of its end.” Is there any connection between what “ZP” writes and the protest? (Continued on page 8)

O b s e r v a t i o n Yesterday our observation took us to the Republic’s Dispatching Directorate for energy matters. Luan Aranitasi, director of this dispatch center, confirms to RD that first of all everyone should be reminded once again that 95% of our country’s electricity is supplied by hydroelectric systems and only 5% by thermal power stations. Further comment is unnecessary. Complete dependence on nature means that we cannot have the situation 100% under control. Asked further about the levels of Lake Fierza on December 20, 1994, Mr. Aranitasi explains: The levels at Fierza on November 1, 1994, were 266 m and 72 cm, while a year earlier they were 249 m and 94 cm. On December 1 of this year they were 254 m and 86 cm. On December 20, 1994, the water level in Lake Fierza was 242 m and 50 cm. These are, of course, the last reserves from which electricity can be produced. This is a low figure, but not a fatal one. However, the situation is made serious by the rate of inflow per unit of time, in m³ per second. The long-term measured inflow of the Drin River for November–December has been around 255 m³/sec. But on December 20, 1994, the Drin’s inflow was only 20 m³/sec!!!!? We further learn at this dispatch center that on December 20, 1994 (over 24 hours), the following was produced: (Continued on page 2)

Yesterday morning, PDSH Secretary General Tritan Shehu held a meeting with a representative of the Albanian National Democratic Union Party. The representative informed Mr. Shehu of his party’s political position as a center-right party and, in this context, sought broader cooperation. Mr. Shehu welcomed the meeting as a forerunner of further contacts within the framework of broader cooperation between parties with the same or similar political outlook. Press and Information Department of the PDSH

Implementation of President Berisha’s decree on resolving the demands of residents of areas flooded by the Fierza hydroelectric reservoir was at the center of a meeting held by Deputy Prime Minister Dylber Vrioni with other members of the commission representing the country’s districts. The meeting emphasized the measures that must be taken to implement the President’s decree and ensure that the receiving districts are ready from Monday, December 26, to accommodate the first 659 families from the flooded areas. In addition to measures by the government and the receiving districts, cooperation with the leaders of the residents who will be relocated was also required for this important operation. To this end, it was decided that a meeting would be held on Friday, attended also by the district chiefs whose residents would be moving.

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On taking measures to address the severe energy situation in the country Pursuant to Article 28, point 19, of Law No. 7491 dated 29.4.1991, “On the Main Constitutional Provisions”, I decree: ARTICLE 1 A central task force shall be established, headed by the Chairman of the Council of Ministers and comprising members of the Government, the Prosecutor General, the Chairman of the National Intelligence Service, the Chief of the General Staff of the Army, and the Executive Director of the Albanian Energy Corporation, to address the severe energy situation. ARTICLE 2 The Council of Ministers shall mobilize unused funds in the 1994 budget and other funds necessary to cover the import of energy supplies in order to address the country’s severe energy situation. ARTICLE 3 All bakeries designated by the local government authorities shall ensure the continuity of production by being equipped with generators, which shall be sold to them on credit under favorable terms. Otherwise, they shall be punished by a fine or imprisonment for up to 1 year. ARTICLE 4 A continuous maintenance and repair service shall be organized at enterprises within the energy system. Failure to comply with this service shall be punishable as a criminal offense ARTICLE 5 Persons who trade goods at prices above the ceiling prices set by the Council of Ministers shall be punished for a criminal offense ARTICLE 6 This decree shall enter into force immediately. Tirana, 20.12.1994 Decree No. President of the Republic Sali Berisha Countersigned Prime Minister Aleksander Meksi