Mitkoja at the top of society The upper social stratum in our country seems to have consisted of the president, the prime minister, the speaker of parliament, some voices in the press, and certain foreign figures. All of them have officially declared that our country is on the brink of economic catastrophe. Yet, as always, a relevant question arises: who felt it first? Even if one tastes bread and finds it sweet, someone who has gone without eating for weeks and months cannot know its flavor. And so, this high-ranking governmental and parasitic category, together with part of the press, is ringing the bell of hunger in Albania. How wonderful. But was there not real hunger during these past two months? If so, then the second question arises: did those sounding the alarm experience it themselves? And those who are truly experiencing it, what do they say? Of course, no one asks them. For their part, hungry people do not feel much better at the sudden concern of the upper class, because, as a popular proverb says, hardship is when hunger catches you, not when you merely know it exists. Still, the government alarm may have some effect. The people have always been impressed by high-level speeches. But now it is hard to convince them that officials were suddenly concerned about feeding the people because they themselves had shortages. That might perhaps be true if people had not seen the high-ranking Mitkoja’s full warehouses, cargo vehicles, vouchers, secret distributions, and the whole network of surviving privileges. Someone may say these are just phrases. Yet phrases have become reality in empty kitchens, in long bread queues, in the shortage of oil, sugar, and meat. The issue at hand is not only economic, but moral as well: does the one who has protected himself from poverty have the right to speak in a prophetic tone about poverty? Society is measured not by declarations, but by the scale of justice. And on that scale, today’s Mitkoja appears at the top of society, not for virtue, but for privilege. In this sense, the debate about hunger takes on another shade too: it reveals the real stratification of our society. There is one Albania of people who wait, and another Albania of people who secure supplies. There is one Albania where a family counts out its piece of bread, and another Albania where a private warehouse becomes a guarantee of security. Instead of honesty, disguise rules. Instead of equality, closeness to power rules. That is Mitkoja at the top of society. English translation: The country’s elite social layer — the president, the prime minister, the speaker of parliament, voices in the press and well-known foreigners — have officially declared that the country is facing an economic catastrophe. The article argues that ordinary people have truly experienced hunger for a long time, unlike the privileged officials now raising the alarm, and denounces hypocrisy, privilege, hidden stockpiles and inequality. Italian translation: Lo strato sociale più alto del paese — il presidente, il primo ministro, il presidente del parlamento, voci della stampa e alcune personalità straniere — ha dichiarato ufficialmente che il paese si trova di fronte a una catastrofe economica. L’articolo sostiene che la vera fame è stata vissuta da tempo dalla gente comune, non dai funzionari privilegiati che ora lanciano l’allarme, e denuncia ipocrisia, privilegi, scorte nascoste e disuguaglianza.

Albania on the road toward Europe ● The Republic? and the other political movements left unanswered the question of what their program is for Albania’s future in the years to come. ● A completely different stance was observed in the first years of the election, by distorting Albania in this way and through deeds. ● It was not demonstrated that the EC for Albania and through deeds Albania. Author from Germany. Orig. title [?] English translation: Albania on the road toward Europe. The visible text is fragmentary and discusses the lack of clear answers from political movements about Albania’s future, references the EC, and includes an author note from Germany. Italian translation: Albania sulla strada verso l’Europa. Il testo visibile è frammentario e discute la mancanza di risposte chiare dei movimenti politici sul futuro dell’Albania, fa riferimento alla CE e include una nota sull’autore dalla Germania.

The Greek ambassador received Fatos Nano (Continues on page 3) On the occasion of the completion of his mission in Albania, Mr. P. Ballas, ambassador of the Republic of Greece to our country, gave a reception attended by representatives of the diplomatic corps, political parties, state institutions, and personalities from cultural and scientific life, among others. Also invited to the reception was the chairman of the Socialist Party of Albania, Fatos Nano, who, in conversation with the Greek ambassador, expressed his thanks for his work and for his contribution to the development of relations between the two countries. English translation: On the occasion of the completion of his mission in Albania, Mr. P. Ballas, ambassador of the Republic of Greece, gave a reception attended by representatives of the diplomatic corps, political parties, state institutions, and personalities from cultural and scientific life. Fatos Nano also attended and thanked the ambassador for his contribution to Greek-Albanian relations. Italian translation: In occasione della conclusione della sua missione in Albania, il sig. P. Ballas, ambasciatore della Repubblica di Grecia, ha offerto un ricevimento al quale hanno partecipato rappresentanti del corpo diplomatico, dei partiti politici, delle istituzioni statali e personalità della vita culturale e scientifica. Vi ha preso parte anche Fatos Nano, che ha ringraziato l’ambasciatore per il suo contributo alle relazioni greco-albanesi.

Speech by Mr. Hans-Dietrich Genscher in Parliament English translation: Speech by Mr. Hans-Dietrich Genscher in Parliament. Italian translation: Discorso del signor Hans-Dietrich Genscher in Parlamento.

Dialogue in the editorial office No one can rebuild Albania without the socialists (Continues on page 2) English translation: Nobody can rebuild Albania without the socialists. Italian translation: Nessuno può ricostruire l’Albania senza i socialisti.

From the press conference of President Doris Pack and the German Foreign Minister, Genscher (Continues on page 4) English translation: From the press conference of President Doris Pack and German Foreign Minister Genscher. Italian translation: Dalla conferenza stampa della presidente Doris Pack e del ministro degli Esteri tedesco Genscher.

From the meeting with the Vice-Chancellor and Foreign Minister of the FR of Germany, Hans-Dietrich Genscher The political bureau remained without statehood in the FRY English translation: From the meeting with the Vice-Chancellor and Foreign Minister of Germany, Hans-Dietrich Genscher. The visible subheading appears fragmentary. Italian translation: Dall’incontro con il vicecancelliere e ministro degli Esteri della Germania, Hans-Dietrich Genscher. Il sottotitolo visibile appare frammentario.

SUPPORT AT THE CENTER OF THE COUNTRY THE FOREIGN MINISTER OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY, HANS-DIETRICH GENSCHER English translation: Support at the center of the country of the Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Germany, Hans-Dietrich Genscher. Italian translation: Il sostegno al centro del paese del ministro degli Esteri della Repubblica Federale di Germania, Hans-Dietrich Genscher.

Chronicle from the life of the Party On the eve of the elections