- 730,000 unemployed - 80% and an entirely ruined economy - A 40% decline in production The purveyors of disappointment deceive people with the figure of 38% unemployment EDI PALOKA In March ’92, the number of unemployed in Albania was 730,000, but even those Albanians considered employed were, in practice, outside production. The crisis was total and extreme. All Albanians remember that reality very well. But the absurd propaganda of the SP, despite the many facts it has, frightens Albanian communists who left the democratic government an inheritance, and seeks to portray unemployment as a phenomenon that was suddenly “discovered” in Albania after March ’92. In the capital, yesterday, by creating a jumble of percentages, “ZP” is trying precisely to achieve this aim: to accuse the DP and the democratic government of creating unemployment in Albania. Many figures are presented in the “ZP” article, but it would have been better if it had not “forgotten” the infamous 80% that dealt a fatal blow to the Albanian economy in the final years of communist rule. The lack of pensions, electricity, etc., had completely halted production, which was officially recorded as having declined by 40% during that period. Albanians were on the brink of survival, and only international assistance could allow a country in such a difficult situation in its history to survive. And, indeed, the “heirs” in power at that time were those very communists who today lead the same party that was then called the SP. And back then, this was an organ of destruction of Albanian propaganda; today, “ZP” is trying to present the democratic government as the same kind of organ. But the purveyors of disappointment cannot simply write figures and percentages: “ZP” is trying to perpetrate a major deception by presenting it as destruction and so on. According to the SP and “ZP,” the peasants were gathered into socialist cooperatives and made to work for 3 lek a day, under the orders of the foremen and brigade leaders. Nevertheless, for people who work in such a way, the concepts and mentality of those who imagined hell as paradise could hardly be different. With these ideas, they governed until March ’92. In the new government, “ZP” … [the source text is corrupt and ends here].

President Berisha expressed his satisfaction with the very good political relations between Albania and Slovenia and told him that there are opportunities to expand cooperation between our two countries, particularly by encouraging Slovenian investment in various sectors such as agricultural exports, the food industry, banking, transport, etc. The Slovenian minister said that Slovenes see Albania as a country with a future. Slovenian companies are ready to undertake concrete projects in such sectors as agricultural-product processing, furniture, banking, transport and telecommunications. PRESS AND INFORMATION OFFICE AT THE PRESIDENCY

The politically conservative newspaper “Katimerini” titles its correspondent’s dispatch from Tirana “A movement of goodwill.” The Greek side, it says, expressed optimism based on the fact that the Albanian side did not raise issues that might provoke Mr. Papulias’s reaction. The newspaper “Elefterotipia” takes the same line, writing “that the two sides, in their lengthy talks, discussed the full range of problems, undertaking to try to resolve them in the future through cooperation.” The establishment of joint committees on issues concerning bilateral relations is viewed by the press as organizing and placing Greek-Albanian dialogue on a concrete footing. The press at home has tacitly approved Papulias’s commitment that the legal committee of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs would examine the issue of the property of the Cham population. “On the contrary, the largest opposition newspaper, ‘Elefteros Tipos,’” in another, aggressive dispatch, considers that Papulias achieved an unprecedented outpouring of Greece’s national sentiments. While our Foreign Minister, on the one hand, committed himself to the Cham issue, on the other hand he refused to meet the former Omonia prisoners, who rushed toward him without regard for any danger. Alongside the press, domestic radio and television also devoted particularly close and sensitive attention to the visit, while diplomatic sources in Athens consider that Papulias’s meeting with Sergerain went beyond the expected, restrained predictions, which provides a guarantee for the further development of Greek-Albanian relations.

Their alternative: agricultural cooperatives For their “grand” political project, the red communists of the SP have chosen the Mat region, just as their father E. Hoxha did 20-odd years ago. This is a coincidence that was bound to happen, so it comes as no surprise. But, without wishing in any way to influence the convictions of my fellow citizens from Mat, I ask: can the Maculilanë, Derjanës, Dugajinas, Xiberakës, Shkallas, Acqanas, Kloqjas, Gurrës, Kurdarës, Baznjatës and the other villagers of this region really place their hopes and aspirations, and their future, in the Marxist programs of the PSSH, the daughter of their former PPSh, born on 10 April …? Whatever “j” may be. What is said in “ZP” is nothing but deceitful, murderous, ill-omened propaganda—who knows what else. It is impossible that the descendants of those who came to Mat, took the land and left it barren; who came to take the livestock; who came to take it and sell it; and so on, should be welcomed back by the red communists. It is impossible for the people of Mat to leave their warmth behind and be persuaded by the red communists.” Never! The people of Mat have warmth “for life, for everyone, but not for the red communists of the SP.” “By way of reply,” says “ZP,” “I will never turn back. Our program, our positions, our people show that this political force is organized, etc., etc.” What progress does the SP see? What will it do in its future that it has never done before in Albania? At least, what has it ever done for the people? Will it give land to the peasants? The Alliance and the DP have done that. Will it give them livestock? The Alliance has done that too. Will the SP remember? It was voted out on 22 March 1992 by more than 1 million Albanians. Will it give everyone an equal share of land? No. Will it continue their rules after taking the land? Will it distribute the mountains? No, for the villages? Has the SP ever done anything for the villages? The SP will never do anything for the village, because we saw what it did in its time. For 50 years in a row. So what more can the SP do for the countryside? Its alternative, yes: it wants a plurality of forms of ownership, but the SP’s concern is that there should also be agricultural cooperatives, that there should also be collective herds, with brigade leaders, sector supervisors, etc., etc. That is the SP’s vision for the Mat peasant and for the countryside in general. The SP sheds tears for people, saying the DP government has not done enough to provide electricity to the countryside. But the red communists forget that today every Mat family has a colour TV, an electric oven, refrigerators, washing machines, heaters, etc., etc. The same is true in the towns, too. The reds forget that Albania inherited the weakest, oldest and most primitive electricity system, with little more than a light bulb and, here and there, a TV or radio. The same can be said of drinking water, investment, and many, many other things achieved in recent years through the implementation of the PDSH program in our country. The PSSH, or today’s SP, did not do as much in 50 years in power as has been done now, and it would not do so in 500 years either, because at the heart of these extremist left-wing parties is not the enrichment of the individual through free enterprise, but the enrichment of a party and state leadership caste through state property, socialist and cooperative ownership, collective ownership, and the other models Albanians experienced under communism. I believe every Albanian knows where socialist collective property leads, from the terror and suffering that produced the Fatoses, the Ruçës, the Pellumbas, Dilos and their ilk, who in the upheavals of 1992 looked like new people, as Ahmet Zogu said. “We want,” says Pellumbi, “to come to power not for chairs or positions, but to implement our alternative.” Yes, comrade Pellumbi, power is the means to take Albania back to where it was, because you yourselves say that Marxism is written at the foundation of your program. May I ask, who in the Mat region is looking for “humanism” à la Marx? Sensible people are not; perhaps some nostalgic admirer of Enverism. Marxism, in its own work, and likewise Lenin, Stalin and Enver, has been condemned and abandoned throughout the world. Certainly, all those who see the “Marxists” going from village to village and town to town, filling people’s heads with the claim, “We apply Marx and Lenin differently, not as Enver did,” are to be pitied—even though you have not denied him publicly or privately. Because you are the same people as yesterday, the same advocates of collectivization, cooperatives and class warfare. You are the same people. So do not go to Mat and preach to its villagers, good, honest and hospitable people, about the values of the “humanism” of Marx and Enver. Take advantage of the culture and tolerance of the people of Mat; one day they may choose differently if you keep getting up their noses with M-L-style nonsense. It is true, and I agree, that the people of Mat, in both the villages and the towns, are going through difficulties typical of this period of transition and reform. Destruction cannot be undone in a single day. The chrome mines in part of the town have certainly closed, but that will not last long. The government is making maximum efforts to attract strong, serious investors and find new markets for this mineral, whose great value was bestowed by generous nature on the land of Mat. Mat’s forests also need investors, who will arrive soon. After 50 years of oppression and dictatorship, people should be allowed to recover their strength and endure four or five years of freedom and economic progress. DYJLEMAN KARAJ

The chorus of political wretches and journalists from the “ZP” school gained another voice yesterday, one not very familiar to the public: comrade parliamentarian Bardhyl Agasi. Convinced that his political career has failed, he has apparently decided to try a new genre: political opposition comedy. World experience knows of such cases. Critics point out that to make such a transition successfully, an individual must excel in intelligence and political-analysis tests, and must have demonstrated an ability to become an object of humour through his actions. Unfortunately, comrade Agasi meets only the third of these criteria. It should be said that Mr. Agasi’s sudden move into comedy did not attract the attention of Albanian comedians. Asked about the competition such a phenomenon might pose for the well-known humour magazine “Hosteni,” one of its directors calmly said: “The road to becoming a comedian is long. In his first response, Mr. Agasi showed serious shortcomings in his cultural education and in his knowledge of the history of this genre. I would advise Mr. Agasi to work for a humour publication, for example Nuki or Gjenka, even as a typist. But not at Hosteni.” They say that Mr. Agasi himself, when asked by customers at Hotel Dajti yesterday afternoon, expressed optimism. The source quotes Mr. Agasi as saying: “There’s no fortress the communists can’t take,” a remark that caused one customer a second-degree burn from his coffee. A. DARA

The German Federal Ministry of Defence has expressed its willingness to assist the Albanian military medical service. In recent days, representatives of the Albanian embassy in Bonn met with the head of the medical service at the German Federal Ministry of Defence, Gynter Dechs, and thanked him for the assistance provided by the German medical service in the field of training. The Albanian representatives requested broader cooperation and presented the Albanian medical service’s needs for various materials and medicines. Gynter Dechs expressed his readiness to help Albania, especially with equipment and medicines, and pointed out the concrete opportunities that exist for greater cooperation in this field.

Britain’s chargé d’affaires in Tirana, Stiven Eshl, tells the BBC Is the view correct that Britain is slower to take advantage of new markets, as in the case of Albania? I do not think that is true. I would like to say that since I took up my post in Tirana, almost a year and a half ago, I have seen a flourishing of activity relating to the interests of British businesses in the Albanian market. A year ago, the first British company, “Er Bi Pi,” began operating here at Rinas airport, where it now manages the distribution of aviation fuel. During the past year, two very encouraging agreements were signed in the oil sector. First, an agreement on cooperation was signed between Alpetrol and a British company, which is now drilling in an area west of Elbasan. An exploration agreement was also signed by the firm “Shell.” I can now say that there are other very encouraging opportunities in different fields, such as mineral development, including chrome, for which we hope to receive good news in the not-too-distant future. There are opportunities in other areas too, such as restructuring the hydroelectric system here in Albania. Another area is the “Know-how” fund, which included Albania in 1992. Since then, we have seen around 30 projects in various fields, such as agriculture, health, energy restructuring, media training and a number of other areas of cooperation. So I can say that this has helped to increase the interest of British businesses in Albania. How have bilateral relations changed following President Berisha’s recent visit to London? It was a working visit that resulted in the signing of four agreements between Britain and Albania. These concerned investment protection, air services, tourism and culture. Tourism has great potential in Albania, and many British firms have shown interest in it. For example, a British contracting firm, “Mekrejt,” has already carried out a study, with substantial funding from the British government, on the tourism potential of several parts of the Albanian coast. We have seen other interesting investments by British archaeologists in further excavations at Butrint, two of them funded by Lord Rojçin. Many British firms are also interested in developing tourism, particularly in the cities. We believe that development will also take place in this direction. How do you see relations between Albania and Great Britain in a broader context? I am very optimistic about the development of our relations. Since we established our mission here in 1992, our presence has grown considerably in a number of fields, and there is every reason to think that this will continue. Ultimately, Albania is in the process of developing its relations with Europe and is ready to deepen them. In this context, Britain can undoubtedly play a very important role in helping Albania establish closer links with Europe. Why has the British government not established a full embassy? We would like to move towards establishing a full embassy, and we hope to have good news on this front in the near future.

Why are we left without electricity?!... Page 2 More than 60 million dollars in investments to create new jobs Page 3