Announcements from the ministries The head of the Financial Police for the Tirana district is dismissed from his post. We learned that on Saturday, April 25, 1992, at 12 o’clock, the head of the Financial Police for the Tirana district, the jurist and candidate of sciences Dibra, was notified of his dismissal from office. By order of the Minister of Economy and Finance, Mr. Genc Ruli, Mr. Sokoli Hysenaj, a former police commander and officer, a former serviceman, appointed in his place his predecessor, a jurist and engineer with Tirana municipal enterprises. “— How did you receive this decision?” we asked the former head of Tirana’s Financial Police, Dilaver Bengasi. “— I believe I should soon publicly explain why your dismissal was the only possible course. For now, I can say: Law and incompetence cannot coexist, nor can the healthy life of the law coexist with corruption at any level of innocence. “— As for me, character and abilities are personal. No one can ‘dismiss’ these from me.” Correspondent of “Zëri i popullit”

— From the speech by the chairman of the Socialist Party, Fatos Nano, at the Tirana Party meeting — There are many factors that led to the low result in the elections, which has been called a defeat, a deep loss to others. (I call it a low, unforeseen, unexpected result.) Those factors are still present in one form or another. Analyses should first take into account that people, everyone included, more readily identify and feel their own mistakes. Was the country’s general economic and social situation a factor in this punishment? Our conclusion is that the crisis is at its harshest extremes. Foreigners observe this too. The PD political judgments were unanimous, but that is not where the problem lies. For Albania it is important to continue a principled political struggle over something that is not shrouded in ghosts or logic, and to begin putting forward and outlining solutions, concrete plans for overcoming and emerging from the crisis. The international situation is not favorable to everyone. Many judgments have been made because of the defeat, and about our Party’s lack of preparation to bear this whole burden of pressure and turn toward the future. I think we should not feel guilty, but we should certainly analyze ourselves carefully. Why are we unprepared? In my view, and according to our judgment, this is a matter of theory. Better to have theoretical, nostalgic discussions: “we are a new party,” “we are an old party,” “we are all that party and we have it,” we were right to change our name and express a general aspiration: “not to lose ...” Since no form has been perfected from the standpoint of time — “After about four years, but what about the members?” — someone asked during the discussion. How is it done? “We do not have it as a parliamentary group; the Socialist program is generalized and unified, and we must struggle for what may be freedom and democracy, so that at least our children, our brothers, our conscience, our morals, our children can face it united and repeatedly ...” The issue is not formal reforms; the point is for the Party to achieve something else. “All people in a general, transformative process ...” We have political initiatives. Let us always keep the political initiative. Everyone saw what happened in the elections in France, a blow to every local movement; or in Germany, England, Italy and elsewhere. And what is going to happen, when half the world is going to the polls? What happened? An understandable reaction by the masses against the forces in power. Albania and the Albanian economy are in crisis. If reform initiatives of a political, economic and other nature had been undertaken promptly, the crisis would have been less palpable and easier to overcome. No action was taken against the conduct of the former leadership of the Party of Labour, for its move into a position detached from the people. Ramiz Alia belongs here too. Can you overcome it? ... First of all, we must clarify things with one another. To that end, let us also make the most appropriate arrangements. Let the discussions continue. Does the Socialist Party and its members understand the concerns that we are entering a completely different system, a society that will be organized in a completely different way? I think it is not necessary for everything to be taken on by ... “— But so many SP members do not understand this, and neither do PD members, who only curse and vent ...” In this subordination ... political reform ... This is the true meaning of democracy ... Only if we begin to implement ... of society ... In its direction, the guarantee of fairness? They do not know what we socialists are offering; let us preserve ... To get out of this situation, not only the parliamentary group and not only the Party’s principal leaders here or below must commit themselves, but every member of this Party, because the young have the culture of their time and veterans have the culture of life. The young read the conclusions of a life process and those written by an analyst or scientist, while veterans who have lived through it may naturally have reached those conclusions. There are certain values of a centuries-old civilization that, it seems, have become standardized. Fundamental human rights have been enshrined in approved international documents: freedom of property, belief, expression, political organization, and so on, including economic and trade-union freedoms. People, whether employed or unemployed, producers or consumers, owners or not, have the right to participate in decision-making. This is the basic mechanism of democracy. Thus, there are certain unified values of civilization that have emerged through development. (Continued on page 2)

Perhaps it will seem paradoxical that, at this difficult moment of crisis, whose consequences are felt at every step of life, we should worry about our traders. How so? someone may ask. Today they are among the wealthiest people in the country, have taken a step toward a market economy, built a base, accumulated capital that they rely on and can circulate and use. Indeed, people say that some of them are speculators and profiteers, who have seized these things and acquired them illegally. Then who needs our concern? These people, or the thousands who are unemployed, the hundreds of thousands paid at 80 percent, or the whole population facing empty markets, prices and rampant inflation? The people, of course. A broad-minded judgment cannot ignore the concern for all those whose plight our traders are genuinely lamenting. The treatment and resolution of their problem cannot be seen separately from resolving the people’s common plight. These traders today represent those few people who, through their work and sweat, and with society’s lawful support, are “getting on their feet” on the road toward a market economy. They are the ones who have begun the gradual transition from the distribution system of the old regime and from general state poverty; today, first of all, they are few. They are our people who are starting out on a road that everyone will travel, some sooner and some later, some more successfully and some less. We do not want the kind of equality in poverty that we had before; it is gone and there is no reason for it to return. So, while taking stock and holding our ground, and being ambitious without speculating, ultimately we should be glad for and learn from our new traders. We should be glad, not merely because in this way, and only in this way, by becoming producers and traders, the ranks of the poor will diminish. Ultimately, this is how everyone may become prosperous. But there is another fact that is no less important. Imagine our market for a moment without these small traders, with nothing to sustain it except distribution, sporadic and full of gaps. If this market has a little “greenery,” if there are goods in it and the many needs can be met with little (and little money), it is precisely these traders who provide this bit of greenery, this little bit of life. As a citizen, I am glad even to see the counter of a simple, small shop set up in the living space of a resident, because more than once it solves an urgent need. So I say: “Thank you, and may it continue like this ...” (Continued on page 2)

— An unending, “quiet,” erosive exodus that is breaking the country continues. — Although changed, indeed politically overturned, Albania seems still not to have secured a future for its citizens. In the life of the country, the exodus continues — eroding it like “a” — in a threatening way, as it becomes apparent where and when emigration toward the future began, “in appearance,” with the fate of the present and the future. What more is there to describe? Past exoduses have been politicized and interpreted in the interests of political games, yet the country continues to bleed and drain away. We must restore people’s hope by increasing their spiritual, cultural and patriotic potential. But we must also genuinely bind them to a life of real work: peasants must receive the land that is theirs; workers must start working again and be able to revive; young people and intellectuals must find their place here; private individuals must be able to live independently and creatively. The new government’s program is scientific and high-quality, but it must reach people and bring them back to life. For now, the state machine works and moves slowly; its engine does not set the cart of life in motion. The state must become stronger, and more humane. The specialized law-enforcement and border agencies must be capable and make progress, but the country looks as if it has been left behind; no one comes forward. Someone must take charge of these people left to the fate of the road. And, to cap it all, there is not a single fruitful effort regarding organized emigration, not even something modest; who will take up an arrangement, even a local and temporary one, so that these people—this part of the homeland that is leaving—may be heard and their words taken into account? TIANAS DINO

The debate, “much ado about nothing” ... is unfortunately being undone in the new parliament. Hour after hour is being spent solely on the technical problems of RTV, its equipment and the possibility of appearing on screen, while today’s more important issues ... Draft laws that are themselves considered sensitive for society, concerning the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Mr. Pjetër Arbnori, such as the assessment of the law on the judicial bodies. No less important is the one concerning the services set up by the people, improvements to the letters and the police sent to Parliament. These are truly sensitive and pressing matters, including the passage of the law on the press bodies and, alongside it, the disarmament of the civilian police, as well as others. Parliament is therefore in a very difficult position. Who should be given priority? And so it is losing hour after hour merely to approve its work plan. BASHKIM KOÇI

Is drugs being sold in Shkodër?! Why, so many days after the affirmative report was published, are the competent authorities still silent? DRUGS ARE BEING SOLD IN SHKODËR. That is what the news item says, which arrived with great urgency and continues: “We are not referring to the narcotics stolen from pharmacies and clinics, but to real ‘MADE IN USA’ drugs, packaged in little bags as a powder, accompanied by a tie and the corresponding syringe. A bag of ‘white grass’ costs 400 new lekë. Is this a sensational item made up by the editorial office for Saturday, or is it accurate news? Our colleagues at “Shkodra” cannot raise the alarm falsely. They are calling on the competent authorities to act. However, although several days have passed since this alarming news was published, although society ...

— Tirana’s executive committee launches the election campaign. “We are concerned about those who want to seize power.” — Congress, there is still much to do. The second problem: Some are explaining the March 22 result by saying that the members of the Party’s Steering Committee did not manage to meet everyone. This issue was also raised regarding other leaders. But an old psychology, a mindset from the time of the Party of Labour, still persists, when people waited for an opinion and an order from above. Individual action and initiative are still not being encouraged where they should be. Then, when the issue was raised, could the Party chairman and everyone else go and meet people, when even MPs cannot meet the people among their 20,000 constituents? The times demand that the work of leaders not be separated from Party members. People say that we must work with the youth. But who can do this better than people at the grassroots? Much was said about respect for veterans and ordinary Europeans who had tried to remain actively involved. In Vlorë, they are calling for a branch of the “society” forum to be established. The same applies to other things. The new judgment on this local work refers greatly to self-initiative. (Continued on page 3)

DRAFT LAW ON AN ADDITION TO LAW No. 7526, DATED 3.12.1991, “ON EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS” Article 1 In Law No. 7526, dated 3.12.1991, “On Employment Relations,” after Article 24, Article 24/1 is added with the following content: “For special needs related to improving the functions and structures of the state apparatus in order to implement economic and political reform, move to a free-market economy, and establish the rule of law, the competent body has the right to transfer an employee to another position within their profession, or place them on social assistance. Article 2 This law enters into force immediately. Note: This draft law was submitted yesterday by the Council of Ministers to the People’s Assembly for discussion and approval.”

READ ON PAGE TWO: “The village emergency” The “Law on Land,” approved to this day, has not been fully implemented. There are still 170,000 hectares of land to be distributed. Nearly 100,000 peasant families still have not received land. Why the silence? Shouldn’t the new government set specific deadlines for this vital issue?

How far does the technical side go? “Whenever we have to discuss laws concerning technical issues,” said the chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Mr. Pjetër Arbnori, at the start of the session, “Radio Television only records the session.” After this, the government took the floor on the proposals of the Socialist Party parliamentary group, through MP Namik Dokle. “On radio and television,” he said, “the people must not be deprived of information. Under these circumstances, where does the technical side end and the political side begin?” The question follows: “Those who provide information to the people must have been the ones to decide this.” Even after this intervention, the debate on “technical” issues was held and proceeded without the participation of the television camera.

At the start of yesterday’s session, the deputies were informed by the chairman about letters and notices sent to the Assembly by people’s localities and the People’s Parliament. They came from Radio Television, Orikumi i Vlorës, Rajca e Librazhdit, Mirasi i Korçës, the families of the martyrs of democracy in Shkodër, Goricë e Gjirokastrës, Luzi i Tepelenës, etc. And, strangely, the deputies were not informed by letters or otherwise by the workers of the aviation mechanical plant in Kuçovë.