FAIR REPRESENTATION, NOT PLURALIST WINDOW DRESSING On the PS position regarding representation in local government • Interview with PS deputy chairman Spiro Dede Question — How does the PS regard the decision of the new Government dated 25.4.1992 concerning Pluralist Executive Committees? Answer: The Meksi Government’s decision has a sound and justified basis: many of the pluralist Executive Committees have been virtually paralyzed in their work during this period, especially on the eve of and after the March 22 elections. Meanwhile, the reports of corruption and of involvement in schemes and other speculative tricks by various authorities in one or another pluralist Committee, especially in the large cities, are not without foundation. With local government in disarray, with many employees whose minds are frozen, with the dilemma “will I still be here or not,” with the many claims by the winners of the March 22 elections to take local government automatically as well, and with so many people thirsting for careers, armchairs and power, etc., etc., such local government cannot function. In this way, neither can order be established, nor can work begin where it should have started, nor can the Reform begin to be implemented. This is how we understood and described the urgency that prompted the Meksi Government to make this decision and, on that basis, none of us had any reason to object. But, of course, both last year’s solution and the present improvements are temporary, not legal, solutions and improvements. The final, lawful solution will be provided by the General Local Government Elections. They must be prepared as seriously as possible and held within the earliest feasible and optimal timeframe. Question — If the Government’s decision is right and necessary, why have so many PS district party councils raised major concerns and sent protests and petitions to the Government and the President, and why have some even withdrawn their representatives from local government? Answer: Because the fair and rational core of the Government’s decision is being trampled on in some districts, including by some Socialist Party district organizations. Under the pretext of making improvements, a campaign of purges has begun in local government, targeting PS representatives and supporters. We are asking for nothing more than strict observance of the agreement on representation, based on the percentage of the electorate won by each party on March 22. In other words: the party that emerged as the leading political force in a district should also have the leading position on the Executive Committee’s Presidium; the party that came second should have one of the positions on that Presidium (in the capacity of secretary), in addition to its corresponding number of committee members and section heads. But in reality, the gentlemen of the other parties, mainly those of the PD, want to remove, and are removing, the Socialists from the Executive Presidiums, believing that because the PD won central government, local government belongs to it too! They have also learned another thing, as they say, from Western democracies: PD chairmen in the districts are also taking over the Executive Committee Presidiums themselves, so that... the Party can bear full responsibility for how things are run! And even this other idea: when officeholders come to power, they replace the whole team and create their own team so that they can set things right and bear full responsibility! In some district, it is said, even the Committee doorman has been told to get ready to leave, because he received and saw people off during the time of monism! A brand-new team, from the doorman to the chairman! There are indeed democratic practices and elements in all this, tried in many countries. But in this particular case, our gentlemen forget, or are not interested in remembering, the most important points: First, the parties in power and governments in pluralist societies periodically replace one another. The victors appoint their own people to the main duties and posts, but this change of cabinets and armchairs does not mean purging and replacing the entire apparatus; it does not mean dismissing capable, experienced specialist civil servants, and so on. It is even worse when skilled, technical, capable and experienced specialists are dismissed and replaced by less capable people, by party loyalists. Second, the current local government in Albania is not (Continued on page 2)

AFTER THE ... GREETINGS FOR THE MULTIPARTY ELECTIONS IN KOSOVO - 900,000 voters cast ballots for 500 seats in the Kosovo parliament and for the presidential candidate. - The multiparty elections demonstrated the maturity and determination of the Albanians of Kosovo to exercise self-determination and self-government and to secure their independent future. - A step toward the creation of democratic institutions. - The free will of the people of Kosovo demonstrates the end of Milosheviç’s Serbian dictatorship. May 24, 1992 will enter the history of the Albanian people as a notable event, as the day when, for the first time in martyred Kosovo, bloodied and tortured by Serbian repression, the first multiparty elections were held for the Kosovo parliament and to elect the president. The new Kosovo Assembly will have 500 seats, and 22 electoral entities took part as candidates in 100 constituencies. The sole candidate for president was doctor Ibrahim Rugova. The elections in Kosovo were held under extremely difficult conditions, compared with all the former Yugoslav republics. They took place under Serbian occupation, beneath the watchful eyes of the occupying forces and the bayonets of the Serbian militia, which, in addition to applying psychological pressure, mistreated Kosovo voters and confiscated ballots and other materials from polling stations. Organizing elections under these conditions, the participation of all Albanians in them, their composure and their avoidance of conflict demonstrated that the Albanian people of Kosovo are a democratic people who, even under the boot, know how to show the world beyond doubt that they have all the ability needed to govern themselves and determine their free future, just like the other nations in the former Yugoslavia. Through these elections the Albanian people showed that they are equal to the other peoples of Europe and seek to win only what is rightfully theirs: their rights to live freely and independently in their age-old lands in Kosovo. Kosovo showed the whole world that it is determined to take steps toward institutionalizing democracy, creating the first pluralist parliament and all the other state, judicial, executive and legislative bodies, in full accordance with the will of the Albanian people of Kosovo and the international conventions of the CSCE. The efforts of the peoples of other states to determine their future through elections have been supported; it is now up to the CSCE, the United Nations, European organizations and the USA to compel Serbia to implement the freely expressed will of the Albanian people of Kosovo, as expressed in the elections. The avoidance of conflict and bloodshed during the voting was an expression of the Kosovo people’s maturity, civilization and democratic spirit in the face of the Serbian militia’s attempts and provocations at polling stations. This is a contribution not only to Kosovo itself but also to the Balkans and Europe, preventing destabilization whose repercussions would have been far-reaching. By democratic means, the people of Kosovo expressed their rejection of the prospect of Milosheviç’s Serbian dictatorship and demonstrated that dictatorships, whatever color they may assume, are destined to fail and be overthrown when they oppress a people’s rights and deny its will. These are lessons that history has taught Albanians, just as it has taught other peoples. All Albanians in the Republic of Albania expressed their strong support for the success of the elections held by the people of Kosovo. More than anyone else, they shared the concerns and hopes for the future of their brothers across the border. Every Albanian family followed the progress of the elections in Kosovo with interest, concern and, at the same time, joy, offering wishes and saying: “Victory over Serbian bondage!”

The implementation of the purge plan has begun (in Lezhë too)...

Government promises A little over a year ago, during the first election campaign, the leaders of democracy, including the parliamentary candidates, loudly declared that “they would give the apartments to the citizens.” They reiterated during this year’s second election campaign that they “would keep their word.” It was not only they who said so; the Socialists too emphasized this significant and vital point, indeed forcefully. The other party members, both those eager for power and those who were not, also joined in a common “chorus.” But what happened after the verdict of the elections? What is happening during these days of waiting, confusion and endless poverty? For most people, anguish and pain are ever-present. This is because Mr. Meksi’s statement was utterly disingenuous: in his Government’s program, he said, among other things, that apartments and houses would be sold to citizens. And naturally, after this, they ask: Why this 180-degree turn? There are two explanations: First, armchairs are won with empty promises too. “The tongue is meat, and it breaks bones.” Ultimately, this is a familiar practice among all those who struggle to seize power without being capable of winning it fairly. Continuing this line of thought, I would explain that the building and the armchairs are so attractive and so comfortable for party interests; the verbal deceit of those holding power, employers and landlords does not mean that power is overturned. Second, at a time when the newcomers and self-appointed officials in the administrations of the executive committees (we exclude the term “pluralist,” because the power is entirely monist) have not yet obtained apartments for themselves, their friends, their relatives and the businessmen arriving from “the outside world,” how can apartments be given to citizens? In either case, in both of the senses described above, the ministers in Mr. Meksi’s cabinet apparently are not worrying about it. Their concerns and discussions have been elsewhere. Yet the angry people voted for better days, relying chiefly on the promises, and now watch, talk and complain furiously about the government’s impatience to remove symbols and the Parliament’s ridiculous caricature of their poverty in its choices. They talk and complain about the sly and macabre removal of the bones of the dead, the disarming of veterans, the employment law (understand: the iron broom to remove Socialists from the state administration), and the status of MPs (understand: privileges such as housing, a telephone and salaries). Meanwhile, the citizens’ pain lies elsewhere. Are these practices normal? Today’s citizen, alongside seeking solutions to great and numerous troubles, waits from one day to the next to receive what was loudly promised: to get a house (an apartment) free of charge. Almost every day, these unhappy and powerless people see the attentive government and president (I have in mind the television screen, the enthusiastic meetings at home and abroad, and the occasions when, in gentle tones and then in reproachful, serious ones, he comes close to saying: “Let us think, work and live like revolutionaries.”) In my view, in these chaotic days, these days filled with the dictatorship of chaos and the helplessness surrounding us, there is nothing more depressing, nothing that snatches away the joy of life and breeds apathy. Again, it seems to me that citizens have been seized by a not particularly pleasant thought, when they often say: “Why do the deceptions of previous governments continue? Is this the life I wanted when I made my demands?” On the question of the apartments—whether they will be given away or not, whether they will be sold or not—the truth is that Mr. Meksi’s ministers must be clear (at least, I repeat, at least) about how and when the issue will be resolved. “PAVLLO GJJEDE”

SHKËLQIM BEQARI No! — to the exodus Once again, an exodus is being talked about. No one can figure out where such signals are coming from. Yet a “coincidence” is increasingly convincing many people that whenever Belgrade feels under pressure, the prospect of a new exodus is raised in Tirana. Now, just as free elections have been successfully held in the Republic of Kosovo, the rumor “there’s an exodus” has strangely spread here. Whatever our economic troubles, we must say “No” to the exodus. Not because the world (and we ourselves) cannot or will not accept people streaming out through exoduses, but because economic difficulties, ruin and poverty can be overcome only here. Only by working in Albania will we open up the possibility of improving our living conditions, both now and in the longer term. We will make progress only if we set our minds to it and work; although employment abroad may be possible, here we will manage to achieve what we are seeking. To the exodus: “No!” You poor people must ask the Government for raw materials and the things you need, and put forward your demands so you can work here. Here, only here in Albania. We are not in favor of blocking access to employment abroad. It can and should happen. The more, the better. But it must be based on agreements and international standards. We believe there is reason to ask the Government for this kind of “exodus.” But to waves of exodus, to mass departures, whatever form they take, let us say “No!” and “No!” BASHKIM KOÇI

The implementation of the purge plan has begun (in Lezhë too)... has begun (in Lezhë too)... The monist (PD) Executive Committee—in other words, an illegal one—has made a fine start to its work: by changing the leadership team, that is, by implementing the purge plan. Why do we call it illegal? It is true that the Government approved it, but, as has been reported in the press, this was done without the consensus of the political forces, the PS and PR. In other words, they are not represented on this committee. “He does it all himself, Kadri” — that is, at the two meetings held so far, the first and most important item on the agenda of the PD Executive Committee has been: changing the “cadre cabinet.” The new term “cabinet” covers section chiefs, directors of enterprises and institutions, etc., who are “marked” in their biographies, that is, they were previously Socialists. So, as the saying goes, the priest was removed to make room for another. The people of Lezhë, who had great faith and hope in democracy, have suffered a real disappointment, since they had grown accustomed to this purge scene whenever the Central Committee of the PPSH appointed new first secretaries and committee chairmen. History is repeating itself with a new cast, now “democratic.” At meetings held with Mr. Sereqi, who represents the Government in this district, regarding the appointment of the new executive committee, as repre- (Continued on page 3)

After all efforts to find a normal solution, through normal channels, protests and arguments, at 12:00 on 22.5.1992, they were forced by the silence of representatives of the ... union of the independent ... of the children, who were forced to ... At the orphanage in Durrës, 30 hunger strikers are locked in, 25 of them women and mothers with children. — The President, the Prime Minister and the district authorities are maintaining complete silence. — Yesterday, May 25, 1992, at 13:00, 60 employees of the bread factory also expressed solidarity with this strike; they have warned that they will go on hunger strike. — G. ... of the healthcare representatives. Two days ago, representatives of the American association for the rights of the poor in the world also came, and did not hesitate to express their concern. This strike is being organized by the orphan association and the ... union of the children’s home, protesting the decision to change the home’s function and turn it into a barracks unit. “We do not want to become a social problem,” says Gëzim Morina, secretary of the Orphans’ Association in Durrës, “but we will not allow anyone to toy with the lives of orphans.” ... of the orphans, as a protest against the decision of the district’s non-pluralist Executive Committee, signed by its chairman Andrea Xhavara, to change ... At a meeting with Executive Committee chairman Andrea Xhavara, representatives of the district’s religious communities were also present. They were shocked by the event, but the chairman would not budge from the decision he had made himself. “A meeting was held in Tirana, because in Durrës they have not heard of the school...” with the Minister of Health, Mr. Tritan Shehu, and the Minister of Education, Mr. Ylli Vejsiu, but they ... say that the school and the Orphans’ Association have stated that this problem is not within our remit. On 10.4.1992, ... (Continued on page 2)

Interview with the Ambassador of the Italian Republic in Tirana, Mr Torkuato Kardilli - With the diplomatic personalities accredited in Tirana Our commitment to Albania is not declarative, but real — Interview with the Ambassador of the Italian Republic in Tirana, Mr Torkuato Kardilli — Question: Could you give us a brief picture of the latest political developments in Italy, and specifically of the presidential elections in your country? Answer: As you know, until now the President of the Italian Republic has been elected by an absolute majority of votes. But this time this procedure is not working. The presidential elections in Italy have entered their 16th round. This shows that the political forces have not yet found a possible candidate for president. This is also evident from the major changes taking place in this context, which concern changes in the governance and administration of the country. The president who will be elected must also face the economic situation; time is running out and it will add... Question: Albania has ... And there are different political parties. And this for several reasons: 1) So that in this process ... all political forces may reflect on the constitutional changes that need to be made. 2) Changes to the electoral law, ... 3) The new situation, and there is no ... many billion dollars. (Continued on page 4)