Fear of documents is fear of the truth “The Alia, Dokle, Benz file” is open to everyone, Mr. Dokle Interview with the Chairman of the State Audit Service, Mr. Blerim Çela, given to journalist Mentor Shehu “RD” question: Mr. Blerim, in yesterday’s “ZP” newspaper, Mr. Dokle claims that “RD” was privileged because the archives were made available to it for finding documents. Apart from RD, was there any other newspaper that requested documents on this matter and was not given them? Mr. B. Çela’s answer: The Alia, Dokle, Benz file is open not only to “RD,” as Mr. Dokle claims. It is open to everyone; in fact, if the PS wishes, it can take the entire file held by the State Audit Service. This file concerns decision 183 of 14.5.1992, under which, by order of Ramiz Alia, 400 million dollars were given to “ZP,” of which 150 million dollars were transferred by transfer order No. 083116 dated 19.4.91 to the Canadian firm for the purchase of a printing press—an issue already known to the public. Mr. Namik Dokle, as editor-in-chief of “ZP,” paid the money but did not receive the printing press. Namik Dokle goes round in circles with sophistry, and in his article yesterday in “ZP” he must answer where the money is or where the printing press is. The issue is very simple: either the money or the printing press. Although Mr. Dokle claims to be sincere, he has been charged with a criminal offense before the prosecutor’s office, together with the others involved in this matter. “RD” question: Mr. Dokle has thrown down the gauntlet for a live televised debate on this issue. Since RD reopened the “Dokle case and the 400 thousand dollars,” RD is ready to debate Mr. Dokle. Will you at the State Audit Service, given that you have the complete file and have filed a criminal complaint over this scandal, agree to such a debate with Mr. Dokle? Mr. B. Çela’s answer: There is no problem if Mr. Dokle is interested in a televised debate. The State Audit Service is ready to debate him live on this issue, just as it did with Nano. And he need not worry that we will cut him off mid-sentence—except that we will interrupt him when what he says runs counter to irrefutable facts to his detriment. But we suspect that during the debate he will not stick to the heart of the matter, just as he does in his article in “ZP” of 30 March, where he beats around the bush. He says he has not been to Canada, talks about Interpol, but does not explain the crux of the matter. Tell us where the 400 thousand dollars are, who wrote the check, who took them, what they were used for, why the printing press never arrived, why no lawsuit is filed, and so on. We agree to Dokle’s request, then, on one condition, as we said above: that he stick to the heart of the matter. Reply to Mr. B. Qan... [upper part cut off] Alia Dokle, Benz, It is open to anyone; indeed, held by the State Audit. This file was opened by Government Decision 183 dated 14.5.1992, under which 1,843,000 dollars are being sought, an amount held in foreign currency by the PPSH and unjustly inherited by the PS. Thus, the PS inherited from the PPSH not only its ideology, which it is setting out in its program, but also its immovable property, which does not belong to it, because under the party-state regime the PS did not own property; under the legal provisions in force at the time, those properties were state property. But regardless of this, it especially should not inherit the foreign-currency funds. There is a clear explanation for this: they are funds paid from the state budget into the so-called “solidarity” fund, which is now known to have been used for the terrorist groups of Marxist-Leninist parties. From this “solidarity” fund of

Another lie by “ZP” 600 million lek in the 1995 Draft Budget for War Veterans Another proof of the democratic government’s concern In an article published on 29.03.1995, the newspaper “Zëri i Popullit” states that “not a single lek for Veterans in the 1995 budget.” This news is untrue; on the contrary, it is malicious. The truth is quite different. Mimoza Dhembi, Director of the Budget at the Ministry of Finance, states regarding this matter that at its latest meeting, the Parliamentary Committee on Economy and Finance decided to propose to Parliament that a fund of 600 million new lek be approved in the 1995 Budget Law to compensate War Veterans. This sum, provided for in the draft budget, is an allocation accompanying the actual implementation of Law No. 7874 dated 17.11.1994 on the Status of the Veteran, approved by Presidential Decree No. 962 dated 22.11.1994. By a special decision, expected to be approved shortly, the Government will determine the specific amounts of the monthly compensation for Veterans and the other categories covered by the Veteran Status Law. Therefore, dear veterans, do not believe the inaccurate, disinformative and malicious reports of the newspaper “Zëri i Popullit”; believe instead in the decision of the Parliamentary Committee on Economy and Finance to propose that Parliament approve the sum of 600 million new lek for Veterans. You should likewise believe that this proposal will be approved by the deputies attending Parliament, by full consensus. ISLAM BLUSHI Secretary of the United Organization of L.A.Ç.I. Veterans for Tirana Tirana ...have a fundamental difference from the money produced within the Bank of Albania to meet state expenditure. 17.11.1994 ... ... Bank of Albania to meet state expenditure. (Continued on page 2) on the Status of the Veteran, approved by Decree ... It seems they have filed a criminal complaint to find the number... to accept this regarding the Status of the Veteran, approved by Decree-Law approved by Decree-Law ... This amount provided for in the draft budget is the cost accompanying the actual, concrete of the Veteran, approved by Decree-Law ...

The 32-billion deficit—or the ball used to bring back onto the political stage the infamous Article 28 of the monist constitution: the prohibition on loans and investment from abroad— Our country today has a great need for loans. Our entire economy likewise has an insatiable appetite for money, investment, capital. This money does not spring from nothing, nor does it fall from the sky. You have to borrow money from someone: a serious and powerful international financial institution, or the government of an equally powerful Western state. This money cannot be recorded as revenue in our state’s accounts, because it must one day be repaid. Today these funds are essential to the country’s development. And since they must one day be repaid, they are included in the state deficit. But these funds differ fundamentally from money newly produced by the Bank of Albania to cover state expenditure. It is true that these funds financed by foreigners are often used for expenses (to surface highways, renovate hotels, invest in the construction of new residential apartment buildings, etc.), but they do not generate inflation. This is for the simple reason that foreign loans do not need to be backed by goods and an increase in domestic production, as is the case with money issued by the central bank. Only the interest payments on the loans taken out can generate inflation, since the interest rate on the loans taken so far is not a cause for concern. It follows from this that obtaining loans for our country today is not only not a punishable act, but a necessity. Any government official who manages to secure a loan with (Continued on page 2) ...of an electoral campaign amplified with so much fanfare... Let us set aside for a moment 1991, the black year of the land “in black” projected by the red caste, with the state security agents outside; the year of destruction and total chaos, and of killings at the border, brought about by the bestial fanaticism of the PS with Alia, Nano, Ruçi and Co., although people do not forget. Let us “justify” the PS’s aggressiveness at that time, in those moments of great agony and as it was drawing its last breath, when it revealed its bloodiest traits, although state political crime cannot be justified. But what about the socialist mentality and stance regarding democratic developments? Do they support those developments, the prescriptions of democracy and integration into the civilized world? Do they accept the historic opportunity for a great rebirth, and did they help turn that opportunity into a reality of faith and hope for Albanians? These three years of democratic government showed that the PS had settled on a stance and practice of thought and action in the frozen politics of anti-reform. Let it concern itself with anti-hope and anti-humanity, adding the most painful and fatal details to its bad record. Although anyone who loves and values freedom would not wish the PS to take such an anti-democratic position, this is a reality present in Albanian political life, where the old party, more than 50 years old, remains a significant formation. This stagnation of the far-left camp encompasses every moral and political aspect of the PS, all the deficiencies inherited and acquired in its internecine struggle; it includes the deepest crisis and no political recovery. In these three years Albania experienced an economic boom, which was highly praised by European institutions and foreign analysts; for two years Albania recorded the highest economic growth in Europe, at times (Continued on page 3)

DUKAGJIN HATA Are the socialists capable of governing in a democratic way, of carrying through economic, social and political reforms if they win the coming elections, as their leaders claim, especially in their recent meetings with the electorate? This is a question that deserves a concrete analysis of the socialist political formation, ever since this party—despite its fatal legacy from the past—entered the path of pluralism as a fellow traveller. This current, despite the old political class’s passion for obstruction and despite the bloody snatching of freedom by the ruthless clans of the communist dictatorship, triumphed in Democratic and Student Albania. To be truthful, it must be said that the PS, which was strengthened and shaped through a continuing congress of the PBD, has so far, throughout this period of turmoil and political and institutional developments in democracy, shown neither any sign nor the slightest degree of political emancipation, not even in its program.

Nine Kalashnikovs, discovered and confiscated in several cars on March 19 at the Greek-Albanian border, had been stolen from an Albanian barracks that was attacked in April 1994, declared outgoing Minister of Public Order Stelios Papethemelis. In an interview with the official television channel ET-1, Papethemelis said that, according to information provided by the Albanian authorities, he had concluded that these weapons were “those stolen in Peshkepí”. Tirana had blamed a Greek commando for this attack—during which two Albanian servicemen were killed. Athens had denied it, despite the fact that the Front for the Liberation of Northern Epirus claimed responsibility for it. (Mavi) An open crisis between the two countries continued for 11 months. Papethemelis, who resigned the day before yesterday, had said a few days earlier that the commando discovered at the border—three Greeks and four members of Albania’s Greek minority—belonged to Mavi. In this way, he officially confirmed for the first time the existence of this group, which advocates annexing the southern region of Albania. AFP

Yesterday afternoon at the PDSH headquarters, PDSH Deputy Chairman Mr. Engjell Hysenbegasi received Chinese Ambassador Tao Miaofa for a meeting, following an earlier meeting that Deputy Chairman Hysenbegasi had held with the Chinese Embassy. The meeting was primarily intended to provide information about the political situation in Albania and, likewise, in China. The Chinese ambassador was interested in contacting the PDSH directly about the misinformation appearing in newspapers. Mr. Hysenbegasi explained to the Chinese ambassador the voting procedures within the PD’s structures, particularly at the Extraordinary Conference. The role of the right-wing front as an important development in Albanian politics was also discussed. Chinese Ambassador Miaofa expressed China’s interest in the development of democracy in Albania, and particularly in economic progress. He said that efforts were also being made in China to improve the rule of law and move forward. Ambassador Miaofa emphasized that China was very interested in advancing economic relations between the two countries, and spoke as well about creating a favorable environment for investment and for Chinese companies coming to the country. L. AZIZA

Drama Continued from the previous issue PJETER PEPA, member of parliament April 2 would come, too, with the answer to the “Communist Reichstag”... But the dictatorship said, “enough.” Shkodra and its rebels had already caused it enough problems. By then, it had been legitimized by the people’s free vote, and there was no reason to remain silent. Shkodra, which had long deserved it, had to be taught a good lesson—and through it all of Albania, which had begun to dare too much, to make demands... The secretaries had been summoned to the Central Committee and had received their orders... And Albania would live through the climax of its long ordeal. It had given many martyrs in the war for liberation from foreigners, but the postwar period had proved even more monstrous. Around 400,000 Albanians had been fed into the machinery of the dictatorship; more than 5,000 had been killed, hanged, and disappeared, as the evidence and evidence showed... The “Congress of Continuity” had done what it had to do... And although the road had been cleared considerably of “thorns and brambles,” the enemies—and “the Party was very strong,” and even stronger was “the unity of the Party with the people”—now it seemed that something was no longer up to it... The will of the people, which is also the will of God, had apparently made a decision, and the rebellious spirit of the people of Shkodra had whispered something “in its ear.” The March 31 elections had produced a somewhat unexpected result. The Communists won, but the First Secretary of the Central Committee—or their spiritual shepherd—lost. And April 1, the day of lies, brought news that the people of Shkodra did not want to believe... From the early morning hours, there was great rejoicing at the Directorate of Internal Affairs. It was the first to learn the election result. Naturally, the joy of the gunfire and the ominous shots for Shkodra’s Democrats “wove” their shots early into Shkodra’s tense sky. Could they really have won, even now, after 50 years? To And here comes April 2! The students of “Jordan Misja” Secondary School cannot begin their lessons... They cannot accept that result... They cannot bring themselves to start their lessons again with the fate that had befallen Albania... They leave their classrooms and, formed into ranks with their teachers at the front and rear, set off toward the central square... toward the red Reichstag. Shortly before arriving, they make a brief stop. At the “Spartak” corner, the students of the other secondary school join them, and they call on their friends to come out of “28 Nentori” high school to show solidarity with them. It seems that “(Continued on page 2)” Criminals and traitors, do not stand near the graves of the martyrs, for the earth cannot bear their presence upon it. SAMI FRASHERI

Continuation described in the columns of the article at the lower left. This part contains the continuation of Dukagjin Hata’s text, arguing that the Socialist Party cannot govern democratically. The text visible in the columns includes criticism of the PS, mentions of wealth inherited from the PPSH, foreign-currency funds and “solidarity,” as well as a proposed debate concerning matters related to the State Audit.

When the divorce of ideas in the PS happens, then... SAMI MILLOSHI The socialist leadership is fanning the flames! Another pension supplement for war invalids FADIL KEPI Fundamental phenomena and trends in the development of agriculture DR. MYSLYM OSMANI Deputy Minister of Agriculture

Italy: Referendum on television Greece: Minister of Public Order resigns Czech Republic: Communist secret police files to be opened Finland: Government resigns