As far as Europe is concerned, the SP has only one idea stuck in its head: that of overthrowing the government and coming to power

Dokle should come to Tirana and give an official answer

Servet Pëllumbi and Nexhmije Hoxha on March 22, ’92

After three years of government by the Democratic Party Commitments and their fulfillment IN THE SOCIAL FIELD One of the great merits of the DP’s program and its implementation lies in the fact that it laid the foundations of a social market economy in Albania. With our social program, the aim has been to make capitalism as popular as possible and the market society we are building as social as possible. The objectives achieved are: 1—Establishment of the Ministry of Labor, Emigration and Social Support. 2—Drafting and approval of social insurance laws. 3—Drafting and approval of laws on economic assistance and social care. Thus, through these laws, the unemployment benefit payment system was established, along with social assistance for a number of people that fell from 700,000 to 260,000 privatized [as printed]. 4—Free residential apartments have been provided. 5—Around 1,100 families have been housed in new or makeshift apartments. 6—Around 1.5 billion lekë have been allocated for payments to fulfill the status of the politically persecuted. 7—Payments in privatization vouchers for years of suffering amount to 10.2 billion lekë. 8—In the form of pensions, and pursuant to the law on innocence, around 1.5 billion lekë have been allocated (these figures are planned and will be disbursed. The process began in 1994 and is ongoing). 9—Legislation/status for veterans. The Government will issue decisions for its implementation. 10—Introduction of birth control and family planning on the basis of a new demographic policy. 11—Extension of maternity leave in Shkodër and Elbasan were turned into universities. 6—In accordance with development needs, new departments have opened at universities, including in Tirana: sociology, tourism, statistics-computing, marketing, business. University of Shkodër, law department. Korçë, economics department with management and marketing branches; lower cycle, University of Vlorë, tourism, naval engineering and nursing departments; University of Elbasan: German language; University of Gjirokastër: Greek language. 7—Today, universities operate on the basis of broad autonomy and independence guaranteed by the higher education law. 8—Albanian schools at all levels have established aid and cooperation ties with dozens and hundreds of institutions at all levels in European countries, the USA and other friendly countries. Thus: a—Agreements have been signed with the Multisport Federation. 5—A series of cultural agreements have been signed with Italy, Germany, France, Austria, the USA, Russia, England, the Balkan countries, etc. HEALTHCARE Reforming the healthcare system is another major objective of the DP program. This process must ensure the development and strengthening of health services and implementation of the WHO health strategy. To achieve these objectives, the DP program sets out as key requirements: 1—Maintaining free healthcare for insured people. 2—Creating a private healthcare sector. 3—Raising diagnostic standards. 4—Specialization and qualification of medical personnel. 5—Citizens’ right to choose their doctor. 6—Studying the health status of the population. 7—Measures to prevent AIDS. 8—Qualified care for the elderly. 9—Filling shortages of medicines and other supplies. 10—Reorganizing emergency assistance. 11—Starting activity in those departments that are not operating because of a lack of supplies (cardiac surgery). In 1991–1992, alongside chaos, anarchy, hunger and devastation in Albania, the shortage of medicines and essential medical supplies was one of the bitter realities. Around 2,000 health centers were destroyed through the “scorched earth” policy. Despite the difficult conditions, the following have been achieved in accordance with the program: 1—Maintaining free healthcare. 2—Within a short time, measures were taken and needs for the most essential medicines and medical materials were met. These needs were covered mainly by the state budget and assistance from the EU, the Italian Government and the World Bank. 3—Five hospitals have been built in Tirana and one in Krujë with support from the state budget and assistance from the World Bank, the Islamic Bank, the EU, and the German, American and Italian governments. 4—A separate law on health insurance has been approved. 5—Dental and pharmaceutical services have been privatized, and this process will continue to deepen. 6—New equipment, vehicles, laboratory equipment, etc., worth 22 million dollars, have been imported, installed and put into use. Qualitative progress has been made in the field of diagnosis and proper treatment. a—Today, ultrasound services, one of the best diagnostic services, have been introduced throughout Albania. (Continued on page 2) for social insurance. 3—drafting and adoption of laws on economic assistance and social care. Thus, in accordance with these laws, a system of unemployment benefit payments unemployed people that decreased from 700,000 to 260,000, with an expenditure covered by the state budget averaging 3 billion lek per year. Alongside this, a system of social assistance for poor families in towns and villages was established, with monthly payments to 10,000–170,000 families in each of the country’s 360 communes and municipalities, at an average annual cost of 3.6 billion lek. 4—drafting and adoption of the law on employment relations and collective agreements, and their implementation. Regulated employment relations have been established, under which employers and employees agree with one another on the terms governing their working relations. 5—laws on trade unions 6—laws on foundations and wages 7—laws on people with disabilities People born with disabilities or who became disabled before the age of 21, numbering 16,500 across the country, receive benefits of approximately 22 million lek per month. Compared with January 1994, this benefit has increased by 497% for rural residents and 26% for urban residents. 8—the law regulating working hours and leave. A five-day working week has been established, and religious holidays have been designated as days off. 9—the draft Labour Code and many other laws that form the basis for regulating the relations of the social market economy. 10—the law on the status of people persecuted for political reasons. In accordance with this law, special programs have been implemented to integrate former political persecuted persons. The following has been achieved: 1—over these three years, 6,000 people have received secondary and higher education. 2—around 2,000 people from this group have found employment. 3—the experience of this group has accounted for around 23% of the value

Today, Romania’s President, Mr. Ion Iliescu, arrives in Tirana for a two-day official visit. Today, the President of Romania, Mr. Ion Iliescu, arrives in Tirana for a two-day official visit. Mr. Iliescu, invited by President Berisha, is making the first visit to Albania by a Romanian head of state since diplomatic relations between the two countries were established 47 years ago. Meanwhile, the Romanian president’s visit comes almost a year after President Berisha visited Romania. Mr. Iliescu’s visit to Tirana, announced several days ago in the press by Romania’s ambassador to Albania, Mr. G. Miku, is undoubtedly awaited with interest not only on the bilateral level, but also more broadly across the Balkan spectrum. This visit will once again demonstrate how far relations between Albania and Romania have progressed during these three years of democracy, when both countries threw off communist dictatorships. For Albanians, Romania is not only a country with which we share traditional friendship dating back to the Albanian National Renaissance, but also a country whose turbulent events of 1989, which overthrew the dictatorship there, undoubtedly helped awaken anti-communist consciousness and revolt in Albania as well. In this context, Albanians have also come to know the personality of Mr. Ion Iliescu, an opponent of the dictator Qaueshku and one of the prominent figures of the Romanian democratic movement in the late 1980s. During these three years, relations between Albania and Romania have gained new scope, standing out as exemplary relations that serve not only the prosperity of our two countries, but also stability and peace in the Balkan region. It is gratifying to note that the Tirana–Bucharest vector is one of creating a new spirit of cooperation in the Balkans, where both our countries have contributed and continue to contribute to peace, security and sincere cooperation. The fact that these relations have now also been institutionalized through important documents, such as the Treaty of Understanding, Cooperation and Good Neighbourliness signed by President Berisha and President Iliescu last year in Bucharest, shows that the path to developing relations is open and secure. Accompanying President Iliescu on his visit to Tirana are the Romanian foreign minister, the minister of education, as well as officials responsible for economic reform, businesspeople and entrepreneurs. This means that further steps are expected in bilateral political, economic, cultural and other cooperation. On the other hand, the Romanian authorities and Mr. Iliescu himself will have the opportunity to see with their own eyes what changes Albania has undergone during these three years of democracy, since the changes in our two countries, despite their specific characteristics, undoubtedly reflect experience and serve as an inspiration to the citizens of our countries. President Iliescu’s visit to Albania takes place at a time when Albania has much to demonstrate to the Balkans about its prosperity and achievements during these three years of democracy, much to demonstrate about the boldness of its diplomacy, and much to demonstrate to peace-loving, sincere friends with whom it joins forces to establish a civilised spirit in the Balkans—just as civilised as in countries with developed democracies. Qauşesku and one of the prominent figures of the Romanian democratic movement in the late 1980s.

“To the Editorial Office of the newspaper ‘Zeri i Popullit’” Dear Sirs, Your newspaper, in its issue of 25 March 1995, published as its lead article “A 32-billion deficit in the PD government’s budget,” which unjustly alarms public opinion and brings shame on the newspaper you direct. I feel compelled to express myself in this way because not only I, but also many Socialist Party deputies who currently have the 1995 state budget draft in their hands, disagree with this article for the simple reason that it distorts the truth. It could therefore be called an article of the great lie. The author’s main conclusion is: “the state budget deficit for 1995 turns out to be worse than ever.” Gentlemen, the exact opposite is true; it has never been better in recent years. The article also states: “The 1995 budget deficit is equal to the combined amount of the two preceding years.” Gentlemen, please do not allow such slander to be published, because it serves no one—not you yourselves, nor any political force. The author has made no effort at all to understand the mechanism for financing the budget deficit. He should at least have asked, because he would have learned that the sources of budget-deficit financing are domestic and foreign. The author’s mistake is that of a beginner in the field of finance; so, whether it was made consciously or unconsciously, let him settle that question with his own conscience. To clarify the overall state-budget situation for 1995 and the actual figures for 1993 and 1994, I think the following figures will be useful to the general public, to the specialists who still read newspapers, and to the article’s author himself: ACTUAL 1993 ACTUAL 1994 PLAN 1995 Revenue Expenditure Of which: Expenditure from domestic sources Expenditure from foreign financing Deficit Financing a) Domestic Bank loans Treasury bills As % of GDP b) Foreign Change in the consumer price index (December/December) 31 The indicators presented above demonstrate the stabilization of the macroeconomic situation overall, and of the budget situation in particular. It is evident that the share of the budget deficit financed from domestic sources fell from 10.3% in 1993 to 7.9% in 1994, and is projected at 7% of gross domestic product in 1995. A new and very positive element in the 1995 budget is financing the deficit through treasury bills. These are anti-inflationary measures which, together with other economic measures, will result in a reduction in the 1995 a reduction in the

Reforming education and transforming it into a system based on the most advanced national and European knowledge, increasing the role of science throughout the development process, and promoting the development of culture and sports are major objectives of the PD program.

The PD election program sets the following major objectives in this field: 1—de-ideologization of education 2—its restructuring to adapt it to the country’s political, economic and social transformations. 3—encouraging private initiative in education 4—expanding communication between our schools and their sister schools in Europe and around the world. 5—adapting scientific research to new development processes 6—providing support for young talents 7—adopting the law on science and promoting communication between our institutions and international institutions. Today, after three years, the following have been achieved: 1—the Albanian school system has been fully de-ideologized 2—the programs at all levels have been thoroughly reformed. Albanian children and young people are educated on the basis of the finest Albanian tradition and the achievements of contemporary knowledge 3—during this period, 80 new schools were built. 4—1,220 schools were repaired and another 440, damaged during 1991, were renovated. 5—the University of Vlora and higher education institutions in Korçë were opened, Sch-8ools at all levels in Albania have established aid and cooperation links with dozens and dozens of institutions at every level a—intergovernmental agreements and protocols have been signed with France, Germany, Italy, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Slovenia, Hungary and Croatia. b—our universities have signed cooperation agreements with universities in Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Turkey, Greece, Romania, the USA and Denmark. 9—During these three years, within the framework of cooperation with the EU, the TEMPUS program, and cooperation with other countries and institutions, more than 1,800 teachers and specialists from various fields of education and scientific research institutions have been sent abroad for training programs of varying durations. 10—within the framework of the agreements mentioned above, 170 students have been sent to study in various countries. 11—the law on science has been adopted The following items in the program have not been implemented: 1—the law on private education This law must be passed by Parliament within this year

In accordance with the PD program, the following have been achieved during these three years: 1—the adoption of laws on copyright, the press and the protection of cultural assets. 2—laws on cinematography have been drafted. 3—private initiative has been realised: a—50 private publishing houses have been registered, b—private cultural and sports associations have been established, c—film associations have been established, d—the Fan Noli Foundation has been created. 4—the Olympic Committee and the Football Federation have been reorganized, and

Revenue 33476 46677 53430 Expenditure 50678 82354 85098 Of which: Expenditure from domestic sources 45100 60454 68430 Expenditure from foreign financing 5578 21900 16668 Deficit 17202 35677 31668 Financing 17202 35677 31668 a) Domestic 11624 13085 14000 Bank loans 1624 12161 4600 Treasury bills 924 9400 As % of GDP 10.3 7.9 7 b) Foreign 5578 22592 17668 Change in the consumer price index (December/December) 31 15.8 10