The Socialist Party lost the elections but not its mission The Socialist Party, although it lost the March 22 elections, cannot lose its mission and its high responsibility as a political force, entrusted to it from the very moment of its birth: the triumph and full establishment of democracy in Albania. It was created as a party of the European left, as the aspiration of a large mass of people, as the defender of the great interests of the Albanian people and nation. As such, regardless of the new position it occupies in political life—as the opposition—it must fight, within the opportunities provided by pluralism and the legal framework of a democratic state, to fulfill this mission. It owes this to its many members and supporters, wherever they may be; it owes it to Albania and to all Albanians at home and abroad. The great mission that the SP itself has undertaken with the alternative it has embraced and proclaimed, as well as its special role as the opposition in fighting for this program, can be fulfilled only by being a strong Party. A party’s strength is determined not only by the program it upholds and the number of members in its ranks, but also by its organizational functioning, vitality, dynamism and activity, from the ordinary member and the basic organization to the leading forum, the steering committee and the presidium of the SPPA. As with the life of the country as a whole, democracy will determine the Party’s internal life and organizational functioning. This means freedom of speech and thought, discussion and the comparison of everyone’s views on everything that is of concern. Let this happen everywhere—in the family, at work and outside it, among friends. But this in no way rules out discipline in the Party, or adherence to those necessary rules and principles without which a party organization and its role cannot be understood. Can one understa- [text continues outside the frame] Surely it is not the wish of the members of the SP [Next column] not to meet; nor are they reluctant to pay that symbolic dues contribution to the Party treasury. We think not. The devoted members of the SP are committed and feel deep concern about the major problems facing the country and the people. They have plenty of thoughts and suggestions for the Party itself, for the government and for their bodies. In other words, they need to meet and debate. These shortcomings, which undermine the Party’s role, therefore stem from the weaknesses of the leading forums in the districts, from the insufficient enforcement and initiative of the leaders of the basic organizations. What are they waiting for, and why? The time of “prescriptions” from above and wholly bureaucratized meetings is over. Let us make the problems troubling the people, the organization and the Party where they work and live the subject of discussion and debate, so that we can contribute, however modestly, to resolving them. It is well known that today a large proportion of enterprises are idle, operating at 80 percent. But should the life and functioning of the Party organizations made up of their members also be at “80 percent”? We are approaching the meeting of the new Parliament and the formation of the new Government. They will begin their work with people placing their hopes in them for salvation. But responsibility for the country’s fate belongs to everyone. The country, Parliament and Government need the thoughts and patriotic commitment of all, of every member of our society. It is up to the basic organizations and their leading forums to draw as fully as possible on the views of their members and supporters. To do this, the steering committees and all elected officials must shake off their lethargy, increase direct contact with ordinary people, with capable specialists and intellectuals from every field, and expand and invigorate the flow of information. It is the honor and responsibility of every [text as printed: “luftoje”] to fight by democratic means and methods for the solutions that the economy and the country need today, and that will lead the people of Albania toward more rapid progress. Anyone who aspires to the alternative of European democratic socialism; anyone who accepts the program of the Socialist Party; anyone who possesses the qualities of an ordinary, cultured, honest and patriotic person has the doors of the Socialist Party open to them. gamzate partie une fou’ i saj. A mund të kup të një organizatë pa u mbledhur me muaj të apo pa paguar kuotazicionin e caktuar? E pra tëme të lilla ka jo pak. Sigurisht nuk është dëshira e antarëve të PS

On Sunday, March 29, 1992, the second round of elections for deputies to the People’s Assembly was held in the Republic of Albania. In 11 constituencies in the districts of Berat, Elbasan, Gjirokastër, Kolonjë, Librazhd, Përmet, Sarandë and Tepelenë, 22 candidates from the DP and the SP competed; in the first round, they had failed to receive more than half of the valid votes. The elections were held in accordance with the Law “On the Elections to the People’s Assembly of the Republic of Albania,” No. 7556, dated 4.02.1992, in an orderly and calm manner. They were held in the presence of observers. The electoral zone commissions are now completing the documentation, signing the minutes and sending them to the Central Election Commission. By 3:30 p.m. today, this Commission had received the final results for the DP: 61 percent. In zone 68 of Sarandë, the DP deputy Leka Ismet Toto won with 65.7 percent. In zone 4 of Berat, the DP deputy Peri-mer Dishnica won with 68.2 percent; in zone 67 of Sarandë, the DP deputy Ritvan Peshkëpia won with 52.2 percent; in zone 62 of Përmet, the DP deputy Vasil Gjika won with 56.1 percent; in zone 52 of Librazhd, the DP deputy Pëllumb Majaki won with 66.6 percent; in zone 36, the DP deputy Uran Alcka (Butka) won with 58 percent; in zone 31 of Gjirokastër, the DP deputy Genc Ruli won with 59 percent; in zone 80 of Tepelenë, the DP deputy Blerim Cela won with 62 percent; and in zone 81 of Tepelenë, the DP deputy Sadik Bejko won with Leka Ismet Toto won with 65.7 percent. After collecting and processing all the results of the second round of elections, the Central Election Commission will announce the final results of the elections for deputies to the People’s Assembly, including the deputies to be elected from the multi-name lists for the additional seats, and the final percentages of the parties’ representation by deputies in Parliament. Chairman of the Central Election Commission NIKOLLA NOSI Tiranë, March 30, 1992.

Two or three days before the elections, the public was informed via television of the government’s decision to suspend the activities of the “Iliria Holding” company. The press of the former opposition had written and spoken a great deal about this company. At first, various shades of suspicion were cast over it, which unmistakably pointed toward the Socialists, while later these same opposition offspring, after being rewarded with several ... [continues outside the frame] [Next column] …ion, the government’s lack of transparency in this matter is incomprehensible. Such a decision is announced on television, yet no explanation is given! Even under monism did anything like this happen! So why, gentlemen of the government, do you not state the reason that compelled you to make such a decision? Why did you choose to keep it under wraps until the final days of the election campaign? Surely you will answer these questions [continues outside the frame] now that the elections are over, just as television explained after the elections who the real perpetrator was in the killing of the police corporal... We regret one thing: raising the “Iliria Holding” issue on the eve of the elections unintentionally hurt the Republican Party, because the director of construction at this company, Mr. Agim Maluka, was a parliamentary candidate for that party and, as is known, he too failed the grade. It is quite possible that, since he runs this “socialist” company, its electorate confused him, taking him for a Punist, a crypto-communist (this is the last time we use these “foreign” words), a socialist, etc., etc. ALBAN NIKOLLI (Reprinted from the newspaper “24 orë”) concerning the «suspension of the activities of the company «Iliria Holding». The press of the former opposition has spoken and written a great deal about this company. Initially, various shades of suspicion were cast over it, and without hesitation we were accused of being socialists; later, these same opposition offspring, after being rewarded with a few trips abroad, rushed without the slightest shame to lick up what they had spat out shortly before. They had the nerve to sing its praises and highlight the merits of the 18-storey hotel this company has begun building in the centre of the capital. Most recently, apparently in order to collect fees again, they thought nothing of starting all over by exploiting the issue for an election campaign as well. But, in fact, there is little point in dwelling on this, since the former opposition’s speculations about winning at any cost are well known. What surprises us, however, is that the government of Mr Ahmeti has also fallen into this trap. We are not referring here to the fairness of the decision that was taken to suspend the activities of the company in question, since others have no authority over that matter, but rather to the whole…

Alongside the various private businesses operating in the city of Gjirokastër to supply consumers, joint businesses have also opened with local and Greek private traders. These include the companies “Argjiro,” “Kendella Man-xo,” etc., which are continually supplied with household appliances, especially refrigerators, heaters and televisions. These businesses have regularly had refrigerators, heaters, televisions of various types, sewing machines and so on. These products have been in demand and popular not only with consumers from Gjirokastër, but also with those from the districts of Tepelenë and Përmet. The district Chamber of Border Trade is also playing a special role in supplying consumers with such goods; it has secured fruitful cooperation between the city’s private shopkeepers and Greek traders. Thus, during this month, “Gjirokastrimpeks,” in the city center, supplied a business with household appliances. Efforts are being made to expand this cooperation further in the future. The joint import-export company “Qëndistari - Katerina” is also making a special contribution to providing employment for women and girls from Gjirokastër; it has hired dozens of workers engaged in embroidery work. (ATSH)

Whether good or with some shortcomings, the election law received Parliament’s seal, and thus the people’s will. Europe and its specialized institutions also gave the law the highest rating. Faced with this reality, all parties competing in the elections needed to bow respectfully to the law that would direct the election campaign. This would have been the first step toward «love» of democracy, toward being democratic not in words but in deeds, by every party. Now the curtain has fallen. People came out of the great theatre of elections experiencing different feelings. Many were enthusiasti- AND THE JUDGMENT OF TIME: On the road to privatization me, someone came out thoughtful, others contemptuous... Although the socialists, with a sense of dignity, accept the people’s verdict, which entrusted the overall leadership to the PD, they also responsibly and properly denounce the flagrant violations committed against the electoral law and, consequently, democracy itself. Otherwise, we would be naive and unrealistic in the eyes of public opinion if we did not point out the violations of the law, which must serve as a lesson. By examining and analyzing the detailed chronicle of the election campaign (Continued on page 2)

What many PS leaders, members and supporters found unacceptable happened: that crushing defeat. The plain fact is not something to «mourn»; it must be accepted and explained, however painful and bitter it may be for some. Let us try to help with this too, as much as we can, with the knowledge we have of the areas where we work. In the PS, outdated mentalities still weigh heavily—mentalities cultivated in the party-state and passed on by the mass of members, who are often also interpreters of party politics. The very «surprise» at the election result speaks to this. In the new party, old relations between the party and the people, politics and the individual, the activist and personal gain have still not been entirely corrected. If the state of affairs were well understood, the surprise would naturally have been smaller. But there was certainty, excessive self-confidence, remnants of the mindset of people who think the party needs them, rather than a new mentality in which the party serves the individual and the masses. (Continued on page 3)

— KORÇË — Recently, various associations, including those from England, Albanians in America and the Netherlands, have provided medical supplies to the health service in the Korçë district. Such work was carried out by the international association «Darskia», Netherlands branch, which equipped the surgical ward of the Korçë district hospital with 50 beds. At the same time, this association donated 29 kalofor units, a considerable number of orthopedic wheelchairs, an oxygen apparatus, as well as equipment for all the surgical rooms. This associa- (text continues, interrupted) (ATSH) renovate the surgery department of the Korçë district hospital. At the same time, this association donated 29 blankets, well as equipment for all the surgery rooms. In addition to food, surgical and laboratory instruments, and medicines, the association also donated an X-ray machine. The Albanian community of Boston also donated an ultrasound machine and a cardiograph to this hospital. (ATSH)

The United Nations, following the recommendations of its Secretary-General’s special envoy, Sajrus Vens, has begun sending peacekeeping troops to secure the fragile peace achieved at the Peace Conference on Yugoslavia. Although these troops are already present in the regions where fighting continues sporadically in Croatia, fighting has begun in the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the latter, the fighting has been very fierce. Last weekend around 30 people were killed; aviation and artillery have also been involved in the fighting. Senior officials of this republic have sent an urgent appeal to the United Nations Security Council to send the blue helmets there to stop the fighting. Meanwhile, the Peace Conference on the former Yugoslavia continues its regular meetings to find a solution to the Yugoslav crisis. Amid these rapid developments unfolding across the territories of the former Yugoslavia, one thing is clearly evident: it is Serbia’s leadership that is spreading the dark clouds of war, with the aim of realizing Serbia’s old dream of a Greater Serbia. With the international community’s recognition of the republics of Croatia and Slovenia, and the imminent recognition of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Macedonia, Serbia, in cooperation with Montenegro, is seeking to become the heir to the former Yugoslavia in the territories of a Greater Serbia. To this end, a new constitution is being drafted rapidly in Belgrade, one intended to preserve the blatant arbitrary measures of 28 March 1989, when Serbia curtailed Kosovo’s autonomy. The aim is to have Kosovo incorporated into a Greater Serbia, contrary to the desire and free will of the Albanian people for a Republic of Kosovo. Not only that, but efforts are being made to regionalize Kosovo in order to eliminate as many as possible of the rights granted by the Serbian constitution of 28 March 1989. These Serbian chauvinist ambitions are undoubtedly in complete opposition to the aspirations and will of the Albanians, expressed in last year’s referendum, and could provoke unrest in Kosovo. But in Belgrade, they have made preparations for this in good time. Kosovo has been under a state of emergency for three years. Serbian special police and army forces have been deployed there. Most recently, to reinforce this state of emergency, troops and equipment from the former Yugoslav army that withdrew from the Republic of Macedonia were stationed in Kosovo. Political and parliamentary officials, foreign ambassadors, etc., who have visited Kosovo declare that the situation there (Continued on page 4)

. Early cucumbers appeared in the fruit and vegetable displays in Tiranë. Price: 30 lekë. People stop in front of the displays, ask, and walk away: 30 lekë?! At this price, the spring [text garbled: “prand- vera”] is giving us cucumbers this year. Someone said: We’re not getting used to the new prices. True, we’re not “getting used to them.” You might even get into an argument if you say that some goods have found their true selves, have acquired their real value in the market. For the ordinary buyer, the age-old equation is wages-price. Beyond this logic, everything is unreal or... “Communist” propaganda. Beyond politics lies the market. Today it is transparent to the point of... pain. In its skeletal display windows—the situation is zero. There is the government’s prepaid 80-percent tax under “Çarçani,” who “couldn’t understand” why he should resign. There is the obstruction of the parliamentary law on land distribution. There, the economy’s faint pulse can barely be discerned. Disillusionment and hope are alive. 30 lekë for one kilo of cucumbers. Three times more than last year. The city dweller is outraged... Hold on, the farmer is not a profiteer, nor is he becoming a capitalist. If we say that his work this year has been valued fairly, three times what it was last year: isn’t that a hopeful sign? The farmer has an incentive to work more. In this poor market, the seed of the future lies in this incentive. Listen to necessity, city dweller. You can’t hold water with the “sieve” of politics. SH. M.