- Meetings by Comrade Fatos Nano in Sarandë and Gjirokastër - On Saturday and Sunday, Socialist Party chairman Fatos Nano and member of the Steering Committee Anastas Angjeli held meetings with Party members, supporters and friends, as well as other workers, in the cities of Sarandë and Gjirokastër. Comrade Fatos Nano spoke about the state of the country, some current problems in the world, and the Party’s tasks in addressing them. Briefly, he responded to the participants’ many questions and expressions of interest. The problems the Party faces and must address in general, Comrade Fatos Nano said, require that it itself should not appear calm and composed. Following the many complex events of 1991, particularly after the First National Conference, the SP emerged better prepared and completely renewed, but the situation in the country remains difficult. The balances have been upset—political, economic, social and spiritual—and the task is to restore precisely these balances that have been disturbed. We must all be highly responsible in these important and very delicate moments we are going through; irresponsibility toward ourselves, the country and the people is unforgivable. Today’s assessments are being made at a time when old historical schemes and scenarios are being activated in the land of the Albanians. The main thing is to assess national interests, their overall well-being and the national ideal, rebuilding the country rather than merely expressing it; this is how its and the nation’s survival can be secured. The Socialist Party declared and made public its Euro-socialist alternative some time ago, but it also works and strives for partnership within the country, because without domestic partnership there can be no talk of external partnership. Only in this way can we send the world the messages we should, as a proud partner. The movements [toward] the country’s integration into Europe and the world. The country’s stability was severely struck, particularly by the fall of the Government of Stability, but the Socialist Party bears no blame and no responsibility for this, because it was the opposition parties that broke the agreement and brought about the government crisis. We have all followed the evolution of our political figures and their respective groups. Why was this stability formation attacked? It sent the first message that there is no division among Albanians when it comes to the country’s problems and national destiny. The Government of Stability sent a message of cooperation. The burden of overcoming the transition is great and cannot be left on the shoulders of any one party alone. On the other hand, we believe that governing together is the best solution, and that the country needs it for another reason as well: the parties themselves and their programs do not yet seem well consolidated; they seem not to have come down to earth, as if they were above people’s heads. The tradition of civic life and pluralist culture is limited; social peace needs support and encouragement. The Socialist Party has stated, and maintains, that it has the energy and people to form not one but several cabinets, but it does not abandon the view that governing together helps stability, and that the transition is managed more easily and without excesses through power-sharing. The claim that the SP is unable to govern is merely an electoral bluff. We believe the new elections will bring about a balanced distribution of power. We will go forward with confidence and calm, without political slogans, without shouting and stirring up imaginary dangers every day, with the maturity of a responsible force and not with the political equivalent of childhood diseases. The country and the people need understanding, a peaceful life and the country’s integration into Europe. [Privatization] is being carried out entirely spontaneously and without state control. The Socialist Party advocates its views on this, so that workers become owners and have equal starting conditions in the competition. Spontaneity and the absence of democratic control have consequences: in some countries of the East, Latin America and Africa, this has turned them into new colonial territories, pushed them to peripheral positions in the economy and, as such, reduced them to ruin. We must not find ourselves on the periphery of Europe’s markets. Today, speculation has replaced the proper mechanisms of the market economy here. It replaces the concept of enterprise; taxes and duties are lacking, as is control over customs, etc. Who benefits from such spontaneous developments? Ordinary workers do not. Work in the country has been paralyzed; the idea is being created that a country can be sustained by humanitarian aid; prices are rising uncontrollably; people are being made to panic about the market economy. Our socialist alternative does not waver: it supports the necessary economic assistance, so that people abandoned by their own state are not thrown out onto the street; [it supports] the livelihoods of society’s poor and a market economy with a social dimension—not savage capitalism, but a free market economy that is regulated. In [unclear] the bakeries have been closed, people have been left without pensions, specialists without work; despite the positive aspect of land distribution, the reform could be more successful, etc. There are entirely different opinions and actions regarding agricultural enterprises; we support preserving and reorganizing them, because public farms are the most efficient economic units in the West, the most suitable entities for foreign partnership? A REALISTIC, CONTEMPORARY OUTLOOK ON COOPERATION… The meeting. Fatos Nano also set out several tasks facing the Party in the election campaign. THIANAS DINO

- Albanians are seeking their rights by democratic means. - Macedonia has asked the European Common Market to recognize it as a separate republic, just as Slovenia and Croatia did. It has opposed any union based on the definition put forward by Serbia for a new Yugoslavia, which would include, in addition to Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina. This request has met with a strong reaction from Greece, which does not recognize the existence of the Macedonian nation. Greece has made a change of name a condition for recognizing Macedonia. Otherwise, Athens threatens to use its veto in the EC against recognition of Macedonia. An open expression of this position was the suspension of Greek-Macedonian talks and the worsening of relations between the two countries. There are also problems with Bulgaria, although President Zhelev accepts recognition of the Republic of Macedonia according to the criteria established by the EEC. So far, there has been no response from Europe regarding its recognition. It is Macedonia’s and its people’s right to decide their future, seeking international recognition as a state or an independent republic. But, in doing so, Macedonia must also respect the rights of the other part of the population that would live in the future republic. Around 40 percent of the population are Albanians, who have lived in their own regions for centuries. They are represented by two major Albanian parties, which hold 25 percent of the seats in the Macedonian parliament. Despite this reality, the constitution adopted recently does not define Albanians as a nation, but as a minority. This condition has not been accepted by the Albanian population and Albanian deputies in Macedonia, who demand that a solution to an ethnic and national problem in Yugoslavia should not come at the expense of another nation’s borders, and particularly not at the expense of the Albanians, who are the third-largest population by number. The Albanians made their opposition clear to the constitution and to the way the Republic of Macedonia is to be established, as presented with the support of the Albanians. They are boycotting the referendums that may be organized by the Macedonians. The Albanians will declare their position on a republic that guarantees them full rights, equal to those of the Macedonian population, and allows them to protect and develop their culture, language and customs. The Albanians want to put an end to the imposed inferior position and the discrimination, just as cruel as that of the Serbs in Kosovo. They seek to do this by democratic and peaceful means, accepted by civilized Europe, by organizing a referendum in all these regions.

Durrës has no hospital today. When the first collapse happened on November 15, alarm bells rang, but nobody heard them, although formalities and officials going up and down were not lacking. People did not want these visits, but concrete action to provide a proper hospital. Nothing was done, either by the ministry or by the district. Let the building be demolished, but Durrës has no hospital today. People have raised this legitimate concern for a long time. But who has listened to them? This is an entirely unforgivable attitude on the part of the ministry or the pluralist executive committee, whose members have spent most of this time talking, throwing accusations back and forth, while the situation had been plain to see for a long time. rang, but nobody heard them, although the formalists a suitable the network. Little by little, various people also began demolishing that old building. All the trees have been cut down, the surrounding walls have been destroyed, and the bricks are being stolen. As the hospital director, Sali Lloshi, told us, the sterilization department was broken into and syringes were stolen. The existing garages have been damaged, and tiles and bricks have been stolen. The entire hospital is outside technical standards, and it has now been decided to demolish it completely. At present, only the infectious diseases department is operating. Four ambulances have been borrowed from Tirana, and all the patients are taken to hospitals in the capital. The pediatric department is not operating either. Sick children are treated at home, as well as they can be treated when many medicines are also unavailable. It has never been heard of that sick children should be treated at home. This is an emergency situation. Yesterday a meeting was being held at the hospital directorate to decide who would take charge of the building scheduled for demolition, so that at least the materials could be safeguarded. But is this the solution? this time talking and bickering, while the situation has been obvious for a long time. It is truly bitter and completely unacceptable for the Durrës district to be left without a hospital at a time like this. There were opportunities to do something some time ago. It had long been suggested that the hospital could be moved to another building, for example to the preventorium, but nothing was done. It had also been said before, and written about in the press, that the Italian company «Terly Company» was ready to build the Durrës hospital. Its representative raised this issue at the district pluralist executive committee as well, but received no concrete support. And, as we have emphasized before, by now the Durrës hospital could have been completed up to the shell stage. The people are tired and fed up. They have the right to be outraged. Enough of the talk, enough of the insults and curses between parties, enough of party divisions in ministries and committees. They want their children’s lives not to be put at risk, and for them to be admitted and treated normally in a hospital. SOTIRAQ GJORDENI …the meeting and the bridge were [unclear] in old times, and the beginnings of certain Greek circles. There is an announcement of plans to visit along the Athens–Belgrade axis. Several issues, such as the problem of credit for [unclear] and money, are blocked in relations with Greece. A new rise in misunderstanding and intolerance has recently been caused by the undertaking of the inhuman “Broom” operation against Albanian emigrants and calls to take the so-called Northern Epirus by force. We will continue to address historical problems realistically and with a contemporary European outlook, always firmly and courageously defending our national ideal and defending all the rights to which the minority is entitled. During the election campaign we will also seek cooperation with its political-social organization, Omonia. …to send ambulances borrowed from Tirana and take all the patients to the hospitals in the capital. The pediatric department is also not functioning. Sick children are treated at home, [unclear], as best they can be treated when many medicines are also lacking. It has never been heard of before an extraordinary that is to be demolished, is this the solution?

and of the nation. some time ago, but it messages we should, as a proud partner. The old monist power has collapsed, but the new democratic power has not yet been established, Comrade Fatos Nano said, speaking about the current state of life in the country. We all seek a state, because it often seems that nobody controls this country, as if there were no government or state. The state structures are weak and unsettled; [unclear] forces of stability, but also those responsible, so much so that many people ask: what are the reforms, the politicians, the new era giving us? We are for building up, not tearing down, the economic structures and power …re of the partnership abroad. All the problems of the country’s development belong to the individual and its society. Comrade Fatos Nano’s position, which sets him apart from the other political forces. Let us take economic reform. We think

Sarandë and Gjirokastër are districts where citizens live together; in the towns and villages there is a spirit of understanding and an ability to communicate humanely and democratically among Albanians and the Greek minorities living here. The socialist alternative supports the minority, with all the factors that foster understanding and goodwill between our two peoples, countries and states; its presence broadens and extends the humane and democratic concept of equality for all people, wherever they may be. Greece is a natural neighbor, just as Europe is a natural destination; it has a special place in our history, our politics and the region. … to establish and develop normal diplomatic relations at the level of embassies. - The Embassy of the Republic of Albania in Moscow, accredited to the former USSR, will serve as Albania’s embassy to the Russian Federation. GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA Tirana, January 4, 1992.

Yesterday, the Minister of Defence of the Italian Republic, Mr Virginio Rognoni, arrived in our country for a working visit at the invitation of the Minister of Defence, Mr Alfred Moisiu. During his visit, the Italian Minister of Defence is accompanied by the Chief of Staff of the Naval Forces, Admiral Filippo Ruzklero, the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Land Forces, General Marko Bushem, etc. At Rinas Airport, Mr Virginio Rognoni was welcomed by the Minister of Defence, Mr Alfred Moisiu. Also present were the Chief of the General Staff of the Army, Major General Kostag Karoli; the Commander of the Naval Fleet, Colonel Tasim Meçe; a department director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bashkim Dino; etc. Also present was the Italian Ambassador to Albania, Mr Torquato Kardilli. * * * The Minister of Defence of the Italian Republic, Virginio Rognoni, and the people accompanying him from this [unclear] arrived in the city of Durrës. The Minister of Defence of the Republic of Albania, Mr Alfred Moisiu, received Mr Virginio Rognoni yesterday evening at Vila Durrës and held warm and friendly talks with him. At the meeting, Mr Moisiu informed his Italian counterpart about the work being carried out by the Ministry of Defence and the General Staff to deepen the democratization processes in our army, and discussed the measures taken to restructure it and bring it up to the standards of the armies of other European countries. The two sides expressed their desire and readiness to further deepen cooperation between the armed forces of our two countries, creating opportunities to learn more about each other’s experience. They also discussed the current situation in the Balkans, on which the interlocutors held similar views. The Italian Minister of Defence, Mr Virginio Rognoni, thanked his colleague, Mr Moisiu, for the warm reception and said that the Italian Government and he himself were willing to engage in comprehensive, long-term cooperation with our country, both in other fields and in the military sphere. He stressed that, among other things, my arrival in your country bears witness to this. At the end of the meeting, both ministers gave interviews to Albanian television. Yesterday, the Italian Minister of Defence, Mr Virginio Rognoni, also visited the Italian troops engaged in Operation «Pelikan» in Durrës and Vlorë. * * * Yesterday afternoon, Rognoni, left our country. (According to ATSH)

After a break of several days for Christmas and the New Year holiday, the newly constituted People’s Assembly resumed its work in a plenary session yesterday morning. The review of the draft law on profit tax, at first reading, continued from the final session of last year. This draft law is an integral part of fiscal and tax reform, a new contemporary practice in the fiscal sphere, and an indispensable instrument of the market economy. The profit tax at the rate envisaged in this draft law not only provides revenue for the state budget, but also ensures that economic entities receive fiscal and tax treatment that is fully in keeping with analogous legislation in European countries. The deputies discussed the matter with a sense of responsibility and made various proposals and suggestions, many of which helped improve the draft law. After it was approved article by article, the draft law was also approved as a whole. The Assembly then proceeded to review the draft law “On Excise Duties in the Republic of Albania.” This draft law provides that excise duties (a kind of monopoly tax imposed by the state on a particular group of goods) shall apply only to goods such as cigarettes, alcoholic beverages, and petroleum by-products, as is done in all European countries. The draft law was approved in principle, article by article, and as a whole. (According to ATSH)

The Government of the Republic of Albania, taking into account the recent changes in the former USSR, which resulted in the creation of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the announcement that the USSR had ceased to exist as a subject of international law and a geopolitical reality; and, guided by the desire to develop normal state relations with the member states of the Commonwealth in the common interest of the peoples of our states, and for [unclear] and security in the Balkans, Europe and the world, has decided: - To recognize the member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States and establish and develop regular diplomatic relations with them at the level of embassies. - January 4, 1992.

The general clinical condition is good. The course of the illness throughout the period has been normal and without complications. The latest electrocardiographic recordings are stable. Laboratory tests have returned to normal. On the basis of these clinical and laboratory findings, physical rehabilitation procedures began today. MEDICAL CONSULTATION Tirana, January 6, 1992

The representative of the Press and Information Office attached to the President of the Republic informed the ATSH correspondent today that: In recent days, there has been widespread interest in the health of President Ramiz Alia from citizens, well-wishers, deputies, members of the Government and local authorities, chairpersons of political parties and associations, intellectuals, foreigners, and others. Numerous telegrams and telephone calls have come from Albanians living abroad, in Switzerland, the USA, Turkey, and elsewhere. The President of Turkey, Turgut Ozal, has expressed interest, as have ambassadors and diplomats accredited in Albania from various countries, including France, Germany, Russia, Libya, Turkey, Egypt, and Palestine. Having been informed of this, President of the Republic Ramiz Alia thanked all those who had shown concern and human interest in his health in recent days. Tirana, January 6, 1992.