YESTERDAY IN THE PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY Yesterday morning Parliament dealt with several amendments to the Law on the Police Force and the Law on Enterprises. The amendment to the Law on the Police Force sets out the criteria for accepting new police officers. The amendments to the Law on State Enterprises include: blocking state enterprises’ right to reward employees on the basis of the profits earned; enterprise directors are no longer elected by their management boards, but are appointed and dismissed by the Executive Committees (for district enterprises) and by the ministry (for national enterprises).

Meeting between representatives of the Socialist Party and the Chairman of the Council of Ministers. At the request of the Presidium of the Socialist Party, the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania, Mr. Aleksandër Meksi, received Socialist Party representatives Servet Pëllumbi and Namik Dokle at a meeting today. The Socialist Party representatives expressed to the Prime Minister their concern about the manner and substance of several decisions by the government’s latest cabinet, which affect the Socialist Party’s practical activities. The most recent of these was the decision to take over the Socialist Party Steering Committee building for state needs. It is true that the building is state property and that, up to now, the Socialist Party has vacated three quarters of it to house several ministries or state institutions. But we oppose the ultimatum-like and arbitrary spirit in which government decisions are made and announced, without any official consultation with the Socialist Party. In this way, they become political decisions, if not political spectacles. And this is being done to a party that is the only one with an opposition group of 80 MPs in parliament, has more than 100,000 members and hundreds of thousands of supporters. The Socialist Party representatives emphasized that such political decisions do not contribute to calm, which the government itself needs in order to work on solving the grave problems the people are currently experiencing. With the takeover of 20 offices belonging to a party (Continued on page 2)

Beyond illusions lies reality After listening to the interview with the Minister of Public Order, Mr. Kopliku, in which the fight against crime was minimized and trivialized in such a way as to create the impression that this painful social phenomenon could be eliminated within a relatively short time, one is left with that impression. Such superficial and unsubstantiated conclusions create illusions. Certainly, forceful action—or «crushing heads», as Mr. Kopliku puts it—in accordance with the law is necessary, but the most important thing is to detect crimes in time. Putting out one fire or silencing a few gunshots does not guarantee that other fires and gunshots will be prevented. The roots of crime run deeper. Therefore, its causes must be understood and its avenues closed by preventing evil. The fight against crime, given the circumstances, may be long and complicated. We do not understand why the Minister of Public Order avoided this well-known fact. No one could have expected miracles within two months. But that does not mean that the press, too, should have taken a pause and stopped criticizing. The Minister of Public Order may be allergic to «Z. P.». In this particular case, that is of no importance. It would be more appropriate for him, as a depoliticized person, to reflect on the fact that «Z. P.», I believe, and many others, do not see slander or insults. It is trying to make its modest contribution to strengthening the rule of law. In his interview, Mr. Kopliku did not discuss the time he devotes to studying laws and regulations, the fact that he has become a «judge» of jurists, or the method he has decided to put into practice by praising and dismissing people. All these things are fine. They have their importance, including his optimism in the fight against crime. Nevertheless, we believe that even the best and most experienced specialist would have appeared more concerned and more restrained. The transition period itself is accompanied by certain hardships. This also encourages the growth of crime. It would be utopian to ignore such a fact. Today, the task is to wage a coordinated fight against crime. Under present conditions, we are facing organized crime. Other countries have experience in this area. Let us look reality in the face. Fewer promises and more sustained work to prevent crime in general and organized crime in the country in particular.

This is the second time within a year that the staff of the Ministry of Economy has undergone «restructuring». In both cases, it has been for the sake of economic «reforms». As it seems, the real concern is not so much the reforms as how to satisfy Democratic Party activists with a few chairs vacated by the departure of Socialists. To achieve this objective, all sorts of «manifestos» are being used. The first manifesto was the merger of the Ministry of Economy with the Ministry of Finance—or, more accurately, the absorption of the former by the latter—a practice not accepted in countries with developed market economies in Europe or America. These two ministries usually stand in «opposition» to one another. Now everything will be kept under one roof, concentrated in one hand. The second manifesto was the «smoky» restructuring of directorates and departments, while the ministry still has no regulations on how it is to operate and the minister’s powers are unknown (he acts as he pleases, more (Continued on page 3)

On 18.5.1992, the chairman of the pluralist Executive Committee of the Mat district, Mr. Skënder Demiri, summoned the representative of the Socialist Party to a meeting with the political forces and asked for his opinion on appointments to the executive committees of the united villages and the individual villages. On this matter, he called for the law to be applied. We regret to note that the Democratic Party in the district has made this matter a fait accompli. By setting itself up as the party-state, it has appointed the chairmen of pluralist executive committees in many united villages and individual villages, such as Macukull, Bruç, Gurrë, Komsi, Dars, etc. This action shows intolerance and, far from being well-intentioned, is seriously damaging the climate of cooperation needed to resolve the problems facing this district. Such actions reveal the intolerance of the majority party and the liberal and one-sided stance of the district’s pluralist Executive Committee. We ask them: Who gives this party the right to send its party representatives to make appointments, encroaching on the authority of state bodies? We, the Presidium of the Steering Committee of the Socialist Party, protest and strongly oppose such actions, which damage the democratic climate and social peace that are essential at this time.

— AN APPEAL TO THE WOMEN OF ALBANIA — On April 9, 1992, a group of working women, intellectuals, veterans and activists from the city of Ersekë, after talking together, formed the Socialist Women’s Forum. The processes of democratization in the country place women on the side of democracy and progress. Women are a social force that has served and will continue to serve the unstoppable development of democracy. The initiative to create our forum came from the program of the Socialist Party, which we embraced because it has all the strength and means needed to carry out its mission in the circumstances in which we live. It emerged as a continuation of the efforts to serve as an expression and bearer of that contemporary movement in pluralist society which defends the interests of labor and production. On its banner are social justice, humanism and social solidarity under a market economy; the Socialist Party works to place national interests above party interests. It works to establish the rule of law, and we see this especially in its parliamentary group. The Socialist Party is committed, with a strong sense of responsibility, to establishing public order and restoring public safety and calm, which we women are more interested in than anyone. We became convinced of this alternative, an alterna- (Continued on page 2) democratic forces in the district should not go so far over a chair. If we speak and act in favor of forming the administration, we are convinced that this must be done on the basis of the criteria of honesty and ability. I think these criteria are being taken into account. In fact, even Democratic Party members who are incapable of doing the job are being removed from their positions. Then President Sali Berisha asked to hear the opinions of those attending the meeting. The first to speak was engineer Z. Dibra, emphasizing that Shkodra had deliberately been kept underdeveloped by the monist dictatorship. Today, Shkodra’s technical and economic development indicators are at the national average. She asked the President to help open the way for foreign investment in Shkodra and for our district to become a «free economic zone». In response to her requests, the President replied that he would do everything possible to help Shkodra, but that we could not make the arrival of foreigners in Shkodra conditional. Regarding the declaration of a «free zone», the President replied, I have asked World Bank specialists for their opinion and they have told me that they are not familiar with this practice. They suggested that we establish links with Hong Kong and other places that are familiar with this model of development. Many citizens asked questions seeking clarification about land, private homes confiscated by the dictatorship, teachers’ salaries, Shkodra’s strength, the increase in blockmen, the state of public order and former political prisoners, etc. One participant, a former landowner, debated, saying that there is no law on land distribution. The President: The communist law. Europe will not accept us with it. I (Continued on page 3) particular. villages, such as Macukull, Kçirë, Gurrë, Komsi, Dars, etc. This action is a flagrant violation of the law. Despite our positions ... The Presidium of the Steering Committee of the PS of Mat district avoids the Minister of Public Order. Within two months no one could have expected miracles. particular case, that is of no importance. It would have been more correct, as a depoliticized person, to refer to the facts, reality and the state of crime rather than to the press organ

- Of 3,302 private individuals in the districts of Tirana and Durrës, only 505 are registered as taxpayers. The state has also failed to collect 383 thousand lek on time from these taxpayers. - The Durrës cigarette factory has 77.2 tonnes of cigarettes worth 54 million lek. The enterprise, which is struggling to find markets, is doing splendidly on bank loans. - Of the 855 million lek that should have been paid into the budget, the Durrës wholesale trading enterprise had paid the budget only 660 million lek.

Notes from the meeting hall with the president. “We won’t ask those from the PS any more. Let them blow their horn with their newspaper.” Notes from the meeting hall with the president. “We won’t ask those from the PS any more. Let them blow their horn with their newspaper.” The process of democratization here, President Berisha said at a meeting with residents of Shkodër, has been advancing. Two or three years ago we thought only about pluralism of opinion; later we achieved political pluralism as well. In the future, we will also establish a pluralist government. This process is burdened by many problems. I have come to Shkodër to seek your support in further consolidating the victory of democracy. By a special decree, albeit belatedly, I abolished the 80-percent law. Why? Like the sword of Damocles, it hung over me during discussions and meetings with foreigners. I asked them for aid, but the 80-percent rule, this profoundly communist law, had paralyzed work in Albania. With its removal, the assistance that will be provided will certainly guarantee the minimum means of subsistence; you can be sure of that. It will help us if we ourselves roll up our sleeves and get to work. A troubling problem is public order. We did not fight for freedom so that we would be unsafe in the streets. There will be no freedom for criminals and thieves. The law-enforcement bodies must certainly enforce the law. We will keep records of cases in which they break the law, the President stressed. National cultural values must be restored, especially in Shkodër. Every field must be opened to the creative genius of the people of Shkodër, and free initiative must be awakened. I want to see Shkodër at the forefront of the development of the whole country. I am not pleased that you have fallen behind others in the distribution of land. The new local government administration must move faster in distributing the land. Several people spoke here; in particular, during a heated discussion, it was said that the district Executive Committee had ... [the lower part of the lines is unclear] ... appointed two representatives of the Republican Party. This action is not right. The leaders of the Democratic Party in the district should not go this far for a chair. If we speak and act about forming the administration, we are convinced that we must do so I believe this criterion is being taken into account. Indeed, even Democratic Party members who are not capable Afterwards, President Sali Berisha asked to hear the views engineer Z. Dibra, emphasizing that Shkodër the technical-economic indicators of development in Shkodër are at the Republic’s for foreign investment in Shkodër would do everything possible to help Shkodër, but we cannot make the arrival of foreign investors in Shkodër a condition for them. I asked World Bank specialists for their opinion, and they told me they were not familiar with this practice. They suggested that we contact Hong Kong and other places where this type of development is well established. Many citizens asked questions seeking clarification on the issue of land, private homes nationalized by the dictatorship, teachers’ salaries, Shkodër’s power supply, the increase in blockages, One participant, a former landowner, debated the issue, saying that there is no law for the distribution of land. The President [said]: I (Continued on page 3)

FROM THE DECISION on granting transitional unemployment payments FROM THE DECISION on granting transitional unemployment payments Pursuant to Decree No. 183, dated 18 May 1992, the Council of Ministers DECIDED: 1. For the period May–June 1992, workers whose employment is suspended shall be given a transitional unemployment payment. Workers who have been placed in other jobs or have left the enterprise are not entitled to this payment. 4. The funds for transitional unemployment payments shall be covered by the state budget. During the first 15-day period of May 1992, the entire fund currently distributed to workers paid at 80 percent shall be covered. During the second 15-day period of May 1992, 10 percent less than during the first 15-day period of that month shall be distributed. From the second 15-day period through 30 June, the amount distributed shall be the amount used in the preceding 15-day period, always applying the same absolute amount that was deducted from the first 15-day period of May in the second 15-day period of that month. The amount of this payment for each worker shall depend on the total number of workers the enterprise is to compensate using the transitional unemployment payment fund, but in no case may it exceed 80 percent of the basic wage. Caricature with the “SOFT TRANSITION” sign and figures.

On 14 May 1992, a meeting of the Albanian Ecological Party was held, which reviewed the work carried out by the Party to date and set tasks for the future. At the end, at the request of Mr. Namik Vehbi Hoti, the meeting accepted his resignation and unanimously elected Doctor of Medical Sciences Nasi Adem Bozhaku as Chairman of the Albanian Ecological Party. Mr. Namik Hoti remained Honorary Chairman of the Party. The Electorate of the Albanian Ecological Party

In the newspaper dated 19 May, on page three, in the interview with I. Kadare, the sentence printed in bold, “Literature, good, is always democratic, you, to read,” should read: “Good literature is always democratic.”