The conference of the closing work of the trade-union branch in the second Albanian[?] Vol. 6, Gari Xhye[?] A [p]e[r]m[in]ister of the branch[?] and opposition MPs have accused, on the order of the prime minister, higher officials[?] of obstructing U.S. activity in Albania and aiming to isolate the country. This statement seems to be part of the same wave of accusations circulated without evidence in some press organs. According to data made public by the Ministry of Education and the prefectures, the reorganization of the school network is being carried out on technical and demographic grounds. There is no order for arbitrary school closures, but only the merging of classes where the number of pupils is below the permitted norm. Conversely, in urban areas measures are being taken to avoid overcrowding. This process is part of the reform in education and aims at saving expenses, improving the quality of teaching, and making better use of school facilities. While in the opposition press it is presented as the destruction of the education system, in official documents it is described as a necessary administrative measure. In the photo: an official meeting.

Zeri i popullit and some other periodicals denounce that in our schools there is an abnormal activity in which, deliberately, absurd decisions are being reached, such as merging classes in the middle of the year, closing schools and kindergartens, etc. In almost every issue these media noises are echoed by many journalists who cite unidentified “sources.” The problem itself, of course, must be assessed carefully. It is important and concerns around 700,000 pupils in schools at all levels, teaching staff, and the large funds that come from the State Budget. After many checks it turns out that this acute problem does not exist. The Ministry of Education and the local government bodies are implementing a reform project aimed at increasing efficiency in educational services and rationalizing expenditures. Mainly, this concerns the redistribution of the large number of pupils across classes according to accepted standards. Due to the decline in births and population migration, in many areas there are classes with fewer pupils than the standard, while in other centers the opposite is true. This action does not involve school closures in the sense being propagated, but rather a more rational organization of resources. Different circles have given different figures, but in all cases it turns out that the public alarm has been exaggerated. Local institutions and school leaders are cooperating to guarantee the continuity of lessons and to avoid harming pupils. The changes are being carried out gradually.

In the process of the militarization-reorganization of bilateral relations between Albania and the United States, a joint conference of the armed forces of the two countries was held at the Ministry of Defense. The American team project, which is in our country, provides for cooperation in the fields of training, military education, logistics, and technical assistance. During the meeting, issues of force structuring, exchange of experience, and possibilities for modernizing the Albanian army were also addressed. In conclusion, the parties expressed readiness to continue contacts and prepare concrete work programs. Soon, several joint activities are expected to begin within the framework of this cooperation.

The Austrian press on Albania The Vienna newspaper “Der Standard” in its issue of 19 October 1995 dedicates a comment to the latest developments in the Albanian economy. According to the article, the privatization of shops and small enterprises has recorded rapid progress. So far, more than 2,500 shops and around 1,200 small state enterprises have been sold, while the process is expected to continue with the medium-sized enterprise sector. The article points out that the Albanian economy is showing clear signs of stabilization and that private initiative is playing an important role. The article also underlines that 500,000 hectares of land have been privatized and that in some regions the first results of the agrarian reform are already visible. Among foreign investors, Italian, Greek, and Austrian entrepreneurs are showing particular interest. The privatization of large enterprises remains a challenge, but the journalist considers the steps taken so far encouraging. (continued on page 5)

Sarajevo suffered so much during the four years of war and darkness that the city was often spoken of as being “dead.” The war ended and now it is reviving as if by magic. Last year the city recorded 14,000 births and more than 1992. In Sarajevo they hope that more than 2,000 babies will arrive during 1995, a rise of 20 percent. “Since 1992, this has been more growth than in any country in Europe,” writes an Austrian weekly. The decision to bring children into the world has special importance in these times. “The birth of a child shows a kind of optimism and for me confirms that normal life is returning,” says Dr. Fatmir T[?]eqa[?], head of the regional hospital “Kosevo” in Sarajevo. In the city, once besieged and shelled, there is now more activity in the maternity ward and in kindergartens. Young couples are looking to the future with more hope.

IN EKU GJENI Psychosis of the losers In the report, an analogous one prepared on the quarter of the trial process of Fatos Nano, in Tirana in the trial of the other defendants compensation for properties and institutions is demanded. Eumlier Shpuza[?] with whom the government is moving calmly and against whom the right-wing forces have filed successive lawsuits against opponents. He publishes in “Koha Jone” an article titled: “The trial of the century in Albania?!” and gives echo to accusations that on 28 October, journalists and intellectuals were questioned. While the first part of the trial continues, the rhetoric of the camp of the losers is read with attention. The lack of political alternatives is being replaced by alarms, glorifications, and catastrophic scenarios. In this climate it is easy to understand why every administrative or investigative measure is presented as “terror,” “purges,” or a “return of dictatorship.” This kind of discourse aims to create panic and undermine public trust in the institutions. But the facts speak differently: the court proceedings have taken place within a legal framework and with public attention. The loss of power seems to have produced a new psychology, that of permanent victimization.

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