“Zëri i Popullit” and several PS politicians, moving in lockstep, have outlined their nihilistic, malicious and destructive positions toward the economic reform of Albanian society during these years of Democratic Government rule. Along the same lines, the irredeemable scribblers, unable to break free from the rhetorical twists of their letter-writing, prejudge President of the Republic Mr. Sali Berisha’s initiative to call a consultation with the parliamentary parties on one of the reform’s most pressing issues: securities. At this consultation, PS not only failed to participate, once again showing its lack of goodwill and political responsibility on such an urgent issue, and presenting a phantom statement that could be thrown at anything but had no concrete basis in civic and political concern; it also denounces this convened roundtable with pathetic slogans, along with the issue under discussion and the opening of a surreal precedent and propaganda tricks. The Socialists make a fuss about the lack of a privatization strategy, the serious distortions that, according to them, have supposedly accompanied this process, the alleged injustices, abuses and rampant corruption, etc., etc. Yet when the head of the Albanian state calls them, together with the other parliamentary parties, to the discussion table on this very issue, to a consultation where they could work toward a solution as acceptable as possible to everyone, they neglect it, exclude themselves without any serious reason and put themselves at the forefront of the attack. This is now a familiar strategy that lays the Socialists bare before public opinion, which has finally understood that their leaders are concerned neither with the proper progress of reform nor with privatization and securities. What worries them is their impatience to turn precedents into political cards, and the difficulties in implementing reform into an aggressive campaign against every sign of health that democracy has kindled in Albania. If in their program they speak of privatization for the sake of demagoguery, accepting it as a feature of democratic reform, in practice they deny it; the Socialist leadership and its mercenaries on the ground still have the mentality of the Albanian kolkhozes, of the Socialist “herds” and “little plots.” This is a fatality that cannot be overcome with propaganda tricks, with artificial fabrications and dogmas presented as pure truths.” The issue has a real duality: are the Socialist leaders for privatization and for securities, which will resolve this problem, or are they not? If they were, as would be in the interest of all Albanian society, they should have taken part in the President of the Republic’s consultative roundtable, confirmed their positions, and thereby avoided behaving like quarrelsome indifferentists, appearing [?]...

Yesterday, a decoration ceremony was held at the Ministry of Defense for Marla Menn, the Albania Desk Officer at the U.S. European Command. On this occasion, Minister of Defense Safet Zhulali expressed his gratitude for the successful conduct of the joint Albanian-American conference and particularly emphasized the contribution of U.S. Secretary of Defense William Perry in supporting and cooperating with the Ministry of Defense. He then praised the advanced experience our army has gained from the American army in various fields, and stressed the need to disseminate, acquire and apply this experience in practice throughout all branches of our army. The Minister of Defense presented her with the Order of “Naim Frasheri, First Class,” awarded by the President of the Republic of Albania, Sali Working conference at the Ministry of Defense between the American and Albanian military delegations Photo: Gani Xhengo

As part of the further development of bilateral relations between Albania and the USA in the military field, yesterday a joint conference of the components of the armed forces of Albania and the USA was held at the Ministry of Defense. It will be followed by others during this year. This is the first conference of its kind to be held in our country. In addition to military personnel from the group based at the Ministry of Defense, the American team included experts from the land, air and naval forces. The participants in the conference were welcomed by the Chief of the General Staff of the Army, Major General Sheme Kosova. He emphasized that the cooperation programs with the American army had been carried out very well. He then expressed confidence that, through the presentation of progress and joint discussion, important activities would be planned that would help deepen bilateral cooperation and raise the level and readiness of our army. The head of the American team at the Ministry of Defense, Colonel William Spionogel, gave an overview of activities supporting the Albanian army and presented the work carried out and some areas of the plan for this year. The chief coordinator of the American-Albanian military team, Colonel Akil Bubesi, outlined some of our army’s progress within the Partnership for Peace framework and mentioned several possible activities for this year. The senior officers of the services and branches then, bearing in mind the vision for the future development of our army, highlighted the most important areas where assistance was needed, as well as the need to acquire the advanced experience of the American army. In addition to the discussions, the work plan for 1995 was presented at the conference; its implementation will help

The Austrian press on Albania The Austrian news agency APA, in its news bulletin dated 09.01.1995, devotes considerable space to reports concerning Albania, including the following: Last year, more than 2,500 factories were handed over to private owners. The privatization of the state economy made progress in Albania during 1994. More than 2,500 small and medium-sized factories, worth around 200 million schillings or 18 million U.S. dollars, were transferred to private owners. This figure is far higher than the total number of privatizations carried out in the two years 1991–1992. According to statistics, 41 percent of the former state factories have been taken over by their workers. Privatization is under way in more than 1,500 factories. The main objective for 1995, says the head of the Privatization Department, Mr. Niko Glozheni, is the privatization of large enterprises. Transport, trade, services and agriculture have already been privatized. privatization, about this process, about the alleged injustices, abuses and rampant corruption, etc., and yet when it comes to the issue, the Albanian people’s leader was calling them, together with the other parliamentary parties, to the debate table, to a consultation where they could present their ideas and alternatives on this issue—the privatization process, it, the alleged injustices, abuses and rampant corruption, etc. As for everything else that would be in the interest of all Albanians, they should take part in that consultative meeting with the President of the Republic, confirm their positions there, and not play the role of troublemakers, trying to pull the wool over people’s eyes with their worn-out theatrics. Commander of the American Forces in Europe, Marla Menn. On this occasion, Minister of Defense Safet Zhulali thanked those present for the successful joint Albanian-American conference and specifically highlighted the contribution of U.S. Secretary of Defense William Perri to its success and to cooperation between the two armies; he also noted the work on [unclear] that would resolve this problem in time. success and to cooperation between the two armies. Republic of Albania, Sali Berisha, to the officers responsible for [unclear] for Europe. The ceremony honored the officers responsible for [unclear] for Albania in our army by the American army in various fields, and emphasized the need to disseminate, master and put this experience into practice in all units of our army. The Minister of Defense presented President of the [unclear] for Europe, Marla Menn. In her [unclear], her contribution and dedication to helping the Albanian army and her assistance in further strengthening cooperation between the Albanian army and the United States Army were noted. The United States Ambassador to our country, Jozef Leik, was also present at the ceremony. Later, [he/she] praised the outstanding experience gained by the Albanian army. Later, with a view to the future development of our army, the most important areas for assistance were highlighted, along with army. Alongside the conference; its implementation will help build a democratic Albanian army.

Slavica Topic had an exhausting Christmas. Just before midnight on Christmas Eve, her labor pains began. At around 3 a.m. she gave birth to a girl, who was named Melisa. On Sunday, she was placed in a hospital in Sarajevo, while her baby was put in a metal basket by the door. The decision to have a child was difficult, Mrs. Topic said. Despite hopes that the ceasefire would be observed, there is little hope for an immediate end to the 32-month war in Bosnia. But the Roman Catholic woman and her Muslim husband decided to defy the future and have a child. “We could not wait any longer,” said Mrs. Topic, 36. “Time is running out for me and for my country.” In Sarajevo, more and more couples are reaching the same conclusion each week. A mini baby boom has broken out in the besieged capital, a product of times that are becoming a little better, desperate couples and a certain optimism about the life that lies ahead. According to Kosova… [partly illegible] 1,350 new babies are growing up in hospital homes; they bring the total to 2,000 babies per [unclear], considering the previous figures. This development speaks to a radical change in how the people of Sarajevo view the war that has engulfed them since April 1992. In previous years, couples avoided pregnancy because many did not want to give birth to and raise children during wartime. Abortions became much more common, as did the costs of birth control. Now the war does not seem to be nearing its end, but… [text illegible in the narrow column] Shooting has become routine for the city’s residents. Pregnancy is becoming common, abortion less so… [partly illegible] The decisions to have children, says pediatrician Almo Kaptanoviç, “are not decisions made out of joy,” but are sometimes a way of continuing life. These are reactions to the circumstances, to fear. What is a couple’s automatic reaction? To have another child?

NDREKE GJINI The loser’s psychosis, cooked up in the tired mind of AD leader Neritan Ceka ever since he began his political career by flirting with Ramiz Alia, continues to produce hallucinatory phrases such as “in 1995 this country will be governed by the losers,” and so on, and so forth. These declarations by the loser Ceka convince no one, because, first, you cannot make such a statement about a democratic country like Albania, which is governed by a government that has won the confidence of a democratic, pluralist parliament, whose majority it secured through free, secret and democratic elections. Second, you cannot declare that Albania will be governed by the losers in 1995 because the government has a legitimate mandate from the people for four years. But the loser’s psychosis cooked up in Ceka’s mind, ever since his time of “great defeat” in the secret agreements with Alia, sees only defeats and losers; indeed, he seeks to operate with this word even in relation to concepts that are now clear to everyone. Ceka tries in vain to call “losers” those who are eliminating the long bread queues, those who are building democratic institutions in Albania, those who secure freedom of movement, speech and belief for Albania and the Albanians, those who are filling the Albanian land of trust with property, those who are integrating Albania with dignity into Europe and the world, those who, through their government, are ensuring the highest economic growth in Eastern Europe, those… whose achievements offend Neritan Ceka’s eyes… As for the second meaning, or the other use of the word “losers,” which Mr. Ceka seeks to link to the referendum result, it is clear that this is an attempt of his that is as naive as it is unsuccessful, because most Albanians know that the “yes” or “no” vote on the draft constitution is not a “no” vote for [unclear]. Moreover, regardless of the result, through this referendum Albanians inaugurated a new institution of the democratic system, through which the people exercise their power directly, just as they do through the deputies they have elected. But Ceka and the others who have immolated themselves in Alia’s old, worn-out furnace are unlikely to bring any new ideas to the philosophy of defeat and victory. The reason is simple: the victors know what kind of victory the losers are fighting for—simply their own careers...

Since December 29, 1994, the ship “Kirkpatrik”, which brought 10,000 tons of wheat and 4,000 tons of corn in aid from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the Albanian people, has continued to be unloaded at the port of Durres. Since December 29, 1994, the ship “Kirkpatrik”, which brought aid from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the Albanian people, has continued to be unloaded at the port of Durres. By yesterday, around 8,000 tons of grain had been unloaded and were being transported to the state reserve depots, to the flour production enterprises in Tirana and in the districts of Kukes, Has, Tropoje and Malesi e Madhe, where it will serve as a winter reserve. On January 9 alone, 2,296 tons of wheat and corn were unloaded and dispatched to the destinations mentioned above. Around 1,200 tons of wheat have been transported to Tirana by rail, a process that will continue, thus breaking the suspension imposed by the managers on this type of transport.

[Cartoon illustration: a figure at a podium and another hitting them on the head with a shoe.]

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