Interview with Mr. Eden Babani, former editor-in-chief of the newspaper “Liria,” given to our editor Dukagjin Hata

. Macedonian police bullets hit innocent Albanians SAMI MILLOSHI Macedonia, a former Yugoslav republic, is a republic with an interethnic mosaic. To shoot at Albanians simply because they want to be educated in the same way as the other citizens of Macedonia means that official Skopje promises one thing and acts differently. And it acts as it has acted for fifty years in a row, leaving Albanians in cultural and educational darkness that the most prominent authors of the theory and practice of assimilating peoples and cultures would have envied. Nevertheless, through effort and sacrifice, Albanians have managed to survive culturally in Macedonia as well. They have managed to do this because they are conscious of their ancient culture, which has survived for centuries in their ethnic lands. As for the claim by Skopje’s spokesperson that Albania has supposedly interfered in Macedonia’s internal affairs merely because the Albanian president welcomed the opening of a university in the Albanian language in Tetovo, this is not only absurd, but also highly archaic and in the style of medieval Turkish statesmen. Gentlemen of Skopje! Albanians have never harmed anyone, ever. On the contrary, others have from time to time attacked them from behind. You have your own police, and this time too they shot them in the back, just as your police did this time in Reçice te Vogel. Albania is not bothering anyone, but no one can prevent it from defending the national and human rights of Albanians wherever they live, including in Macedonia, where they, as you know but do not wish to acknowledge, make up a very considerable percentage of the population. The actions to close the University, and the killings and wounding of people, are shameful. You should know, gentlemen, that you will have to answer for these actions. Slogans no longer work. education in the mother tongue. Meanwhile, official spokespeople in Skopje have confirmed that the opening of the University of Tetovo is illegal and have described President Berisha’s greeting on the occasion of the opening of the University of Tetovo as interference in Macedonia’s internal affairs. What happened yesterday in Reçicë e Vogël constitutes an act of genocide against Albanians, and there is no doubt that through such actions the Skopje administration presents itself in a shameful manner before the citizens of that country and in the eyes of international opinion. To kill people simply because they want to study in their mother tongue is more than barbarism. To deny Albanians such a thing is an all-out policy of assimilation and disregard for a population that has had a considerable presence in life for five thousand years

Meeting of the PDSH National Council on Monday At its meeting yesterday, the DP Presidency considered the request dated 17/2/95 from its chairman, Mr. Eduard Selami, and the proposal by the DP chairman, Mr. Eduard Selami, concerning approval of the Constitution. It agreed that the issue should be discussed once more at the meeting of the National Council on Monday at 10 o’clock at the Palace of Congresses, and did not support this proposal. WORLD BANK SUPPORT FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN ALBANIA The International Development Association (IDA) approved a credit of 4.1 million SDR (equivalent to 6 million dollars) to help Albania finance a rural development project. Approximately 60 percent of Albania’s population lives in rural areas. The World Bank’s support aims to assist in restructuring the rural economy on a free-market basis. The strategy focuses on (a) improving the living standards of poor villagers, (b) restoring food security, (c) strengthening the small-scale private sector, (d) repairing basic village infrastructure, (e) strengthening local governments, and (f) implementing a rural development policy based on local traditions and culture. The program’s main components consist of demand-driven work to rehabilitate major village infrastructure and small-scale credit for all types of income-generating activities through village funds and loans. The Rural Development Project follows the Rural Poverty Alleviation Pilot Project financed by IDA, which uses a participatory approach in the processes for designing its two main components: rural infrastructure works and small-scale credit. The IDA fund of 2.4 million dollars for the pilot project— dollars for the pilot project— loans. (b) Small-Scale Credit (4.3 million dollars): expansion of a network of Village Credit Funds, each VCF, and financing of small loans for more than 9,000 farmers and rural entrepreneurs by establishing around 135 new VCFs. (c) Expansion of Rural Activities (0.4 million dollars): provision of technical and business services to approximately 600 micro-entrepreneurs through a network of qualified local consultants. (e) Implementation, Support, Studies and Training (1.5 million dollars): financing of investments and recurrent costs of the Albanian Development Fund (ADF), the project’s implementing agency, and financing of feasibility studies and training. The project’s cost is estimated at 12 million dollars, with a foreign-currency component of 2.2 million dollars. The credit is offered on IDA’s standard terms over a 40-year period, including a 10-year grace period, and carries no interest.

On 9 and 10 February, a German delegation consisting of representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other institutions of the Federal Republic of Germany was in Albania. The purpose of the delegation’s visit was to prepare for the official visit to Albania by the German President, Mr. Herzog, from 28 February to 1 March. During their stay in Albania, they met with representatives of the Albanian government to discuss the organization of this official visit. Press Attaché

Minister of the Interior Agron Musaraj completed his visit to Russia and returned home. During his stay, a bilateral cooperation agreement was signed to combat crime, especially crimes involving drugs, weapons, illicit money, radioactive substances, etc. His Russian counterpart, Mr. Jerini, assured his Albanian counterpart that this agreement would not remain merely an official document, but would be widely implemented in practice. During his stay in Russia, our delegation visited the Smolensk region, where it was received by the highest authorities in the area. At a meeting with them, Mr. Musaraj discussed the establishment of local government and how it functions. Issues relating to the economic and administrative reforms of institutions in both countries were also addressed, and experiences were exchanged. ATSHT

European Community Commission in Tirana — Press release European Community Commission in Tirana. The Financial Memorandum for the Second PHARE-HEALTH ’94 Programme is signed. Press release. Today, 17 February, the Financial Memorandum for the Second PHARE-Health ’94 Programme, supporting the restructuring of the health sector, was signed by Dr. Maksim Cikuli, Minister of Health and Environmental Protection, and Mr. Elio Germano, Head of the European Community Delegation in Tirana. This programme, with a total sum of 7 million ECU (8.5 million dollars), will enable the Ministry of Health to strengthen its operational and institutional capacities and to continue its reform programme, which it began three years ago. This new programme covers the period 1995–1997 and will make it possible to: A. Continue hospital reform through (1) establishing a biomedical maintenance system, necessary to ensure the proper functioning of healthcare service equipment; (2) redefining the role and hierarchy of hospital laboratories; (3) restructuring and equipping hospital emergency services; (4) organizing a campaign to prevent accidents in maintenance and surgical centres. B. Strengthen the administrative capacity of the Ministry of Health’s personnel directorate to ensure the most rational possible management and use of healthcare personnel. C. Redefine the role and place of public health laboratories and re-equip some of these laboratories. D. Conduct the technical studies necessary to improve healthcare financing reform and develop a legal framework for the private practice of medicine.

. On 12 February 1995, a group of founders established in Shkodër a branch of the Social Democratic Union Party for the Shkodër district. The founders of this branch were members of the Social Democratic Party who did not see themselves represented in Gjushi’s programme. At the meeting where the establishment of this branch was announced, organizational issues, its future responsibilities, and the branch’s expansion were discussed. A founding group for the Shkodër branch of the Albanian Social Democratic Union Party was then formed. It includes former leaders of the PSD and others who will join the PBSDSh, Shkodër branch. Messrs Amanet Bushati, Artan Harxhi, Nuri Gjakoj, and Fejzi Perdja will lead it provisionally until it is fully organized. The leaders made this known to the public. ISECI

. Four years ago, 700 students were ready to go as far as self-sacrifice to erase the dictator’s name from Albanian reality. EDI PALOKA. The communists’ reactions after November 6 had a very clear meaning for those who wanted to understand them. In one way or another, they gave the first signal that they were preparing for revenge. The calls for E. Hoxha were not a nostalgic lapse, as the number-one figure of the SP would have us believe. These signals would become clearer when the SP announced its program, openly declaring a return to the principles of Marxism, the communist theory that caused the globe one of its greatest tragedies. These actions would put an end to the discrediting of those who until yesterday kept repeating that they had been defeated, but who today seem not to feel that need. Empty heads are showing that they are convinced that on November 6 Albanians voted for the return of E. Hoxha; that is why reason no longer restrains their actions. If, a short time ago, the SP leaders had refrained from making statements about the dictator (except for the case of F. Nano, who thought he would not be “uncovered”), now they have openly come out in his defense, even going further. Asked about President Berisha’s decree, which wiped a shame from Albanian history by stripping the criminals who massacred and terrorized an entire people for 50 years of their high titles, S. Pellumbi, the SP deputy chairman, rises up against it and goes so far as to set the SP against the former victims of the dictatorship, who today are once again accused of being “criminals” and threatened that, if the communists return to power, they will be “put back in their place.” All this proves beyond doubt that the communists are preparing for revenge. It is no coincidence that today they are also calling for Qazet’s return. Some time ago he left Albania secretly, because it was said that he would crack the democrats’ skulls. It seems the SP leaders think the time has come for the skull-cracking brute to return and carry out his threat. But they will soon learn that they are wrong on this point too, and this time things will be different, because Albanians will understand that it is futile to hope that blood can be appeased by constantly insulting people. They forget that exactly reality; 100 thousand citizens supported the students’ sublime act, which would culminate in the toppling of the dictator’s ghost. The SP leaders forget that these people, along with hundreds of thousands of others who rose up against communism, are still alive and will never allow a return to the past. ENVER = HITLER + STALIN + AL CAPONE + POL POT From the students’ hunger strike in February ’91 Those calling for the return of the ghosts

THE LIST BEGINS WITH PROPERTY IN THE U.S.A.

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Shkoder Abusive construction projects are obstructing 800 apartments Page 3

Portrait: Margerit Dyra Page 6

Business Corner Page 4

A glimpse from hell — Refik Pustina’s dream A glimpse from hell — Refik Pustina’s dream Page 5

A more spiritual life for pop star Madonna Page 8