REFLECTIONS: «We govern, the world helps us.» The entire Democratic Party election campaign was conducted under this motto, a campaign characterized by promises without limits. Two months have passed since the Democratic Party’s election victory. What is being done to keep its word? Two months have passed since the 22 March elections, the day the Democratic Party won the right to lead and govern the country. It is clear that two months is far too little time to test whether a government is capable of governing the country or not, especially when it is a country like ours, where everything has been collapsing and being destroyed for a full two years. In this context, we do not expect the new government to perform miracles overnight. That would be unrealistic, but we do expect it to give signs that it is keeping the word it gave the electorate before election day. Because not much time has passed. People remember the bombastic promises, made in a state of euphoria, almost like adolescents. But do you, Democratic gentlemen, remember the promises you made? ELECTION CAMPAIGN: SINCERITY OR HYPOCRISY?!... «We govern, the world helps us.» We saw this Democratic Party slogan-motto posted everywhere during the election campaign. And most people believed it. They sincerely believed that the Democratic Party would know how to steer the country onto the right path. But the Meksi government did not respond to people’s sincere trust with the same sincerity. Trust began to fade. The disappointment over the pledged word? To be as specific as possible, let us recall some of the most bombastic pre-election promises. If the Democratic Party won, law and public order would be established within 24 hours. Today marks a full 1608 hours, and order has not only failed to be established but, on the contrary, has deteriorated. Mr. Kopliku said in an interview a few days ago that order could not be established within two months. Fine, but who told you to promise that you would establish it within 24 hours? Who forced you to lie? Who forced you to deceive people by exploiting their human concerns in this way? Why didn’t you, Mr. Kopliku, a former miner, and you other Democrats say before the elections that «the majority crushes the minority», that «you would crush the criminals’ heads»? (The law should and must take its course, but we must always avoid slogans that reek of dictatorship.) Or were you afraid you might lose their votes? Or were you afraid ... votes? PROMISES BEFORE 22 MARCH — REALITY AFTER 22 MAY... votes? of the most bombastic pre-election promises. Wouldn’t they follow you around at rallies? We have no doubt about your good intentions to genuinely restore order, because, after all, this will also demonstrate your abilities, but are you capable of doing this with incompetent people (that is, non-professionals) who are uneducated? After the Democratic Party’s victory, tractors would pour into every village. Every farmer would have a tra- … candidates… for candidates… democratic… elected… Party… May 1992… republic… objectives… The election promises displayed everywhere. And a great many people believed them. to steer the country onto the right path; however, with the same sincerity. Trust began to fade. Disappointment is taking the place of hope. And the people are not to blame for this. Neither is “Zëri i Popullit” to blame, but the leaders of the Democratic Party themselves, who, “blinded” by their thirst to seize power at any cost, lost their balance and their sense of realism in the many promises they made. The image of honesty began to be replaced by the conviction that the megalomaniacs who promised without restraint were hypocrites. No matter how… [The source repeats and is fragmentary:] election campaign to steer the country onto the right path; however, with the same sincerity. are not to blame for this, but … … two swindlers, and all the …? We are not asking you for them either, but why do you make promises, gentlemen? Who forced you? At least take responsibility for repairing the telephone network that monism left us as a legacy, everything about which you insult; in other words, you are asked to repair the telephone network that connected every inhabited center, every town and every village in Albania from Vermoshi to Konispol. Because people are dying because they have no way to call for medical help. Not to mention being able to arrive in time for a funeral! You promised to abolish the third shift for women; you promised to … LUAN M. RAMA (Continued on page 2)

Ahead of the First Congress of the PSSH Taronina of Gjirokastra is a village with a little more than 30 houses. It has never had its own party organization; two of its residents and members used to take part sometimes in the Zhulat organization and sometimes in that of Kardhiq. This April, the village’s PS organization was established with 7 members. Its chairman was elected as its activist and initiator, Pelivan Pasha. Soon, 10 new members will also join this organization. THANAS DINO

This is the philosophy of the Albanian people. For centuries they have used this pithy thought whenever they want to mock, and even stigmatize, both cowardly and incapable people and the poverty they bring. The leaders of the DP said it loudly at meetings with voters in every corner of the country; RD also printed and publicized it in big letters to impress these truths upon the voters. - We will give away houses! - We will give Albanian citizens’ passports dual citizenship! - We will give every villager a telephone! - We will protect the household basket! - We will make the working day 6 hours! - We will make the workweek fifty [hours]! - Women will need to work only 20 years to retire! - We will raise salaries! - We will organize emigration legally! - On 23 March, Durrës and Vlora will be filled with ships...! And the Democratic Party’s string of pledges, «we will do this» and «we will do that», is very long. But the months go by. Where are the promises of the DP leaders? Where are the President’s promises? - on our own,» say those in need. THE OBSERVER — say those in need. THE OBSERVER

TIRANA, 27 May - Yesterday, the Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, Dr. Bujar Bukoshi, arrived in Albania for a working visit. In an interview given here, Prime Minister Bukoshi said: «It is difficult to describe the atmosphere surrounding the first free, multiparty elections in Kosovo. It is as if the people have awakened again; they are filled with great optimism, and this is a victory for the people, for our people, for all the political parties and our institutions. Now come the psychological preparations to carry out the rest of the work, which will naturally be quite arduous, but I believe we will certainly manage.» (ATSH)

Comment following a TV interview (Another point of view on the hunger strike in Durrës) On 25.5.1992, in an interview given to TV, Mr. Andrea Xhavara of the Durrës district E.C., Mr. Andrea Xhavara described the articles in “Zëri i popullit” ... Comment following a TV interview HAS HEALTHCARE BEEN PRIVATIZED, MR. XHAVARA?! (Another point of view on the hunger strike in Durrës) On 25.5.1992, in an interview given to TV, the chairman of the Executive Committee of the Durrës district, Mr. Andrea Xhavara, described the articles in “Zëri i popullit” … Regarding the strike by the orphans at the hospital in Durrës, the newspaper has had… The issue was … the appropriate opportunity for the privatization of premises… Considering it … chairman for … constructive in …, we are defending ourselves by … this is … … in a … manner, also … these … … the service of … in Durrës… … (Continued on page 2)

IN THE PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY — An important constitutional bill is being discussed, but there are no members of parliament in the chamber. — Two hours of debate wasted. In the space of two hours, Pjetër Arbnori calls the roll twice. — Ministers who are also MPs seldom come to parliament, except to have a coffee. The day before yesterday, the People’s Assembly discussed the bill “On certain amendments to Law No. 7491, dated 29.4.1991, ‘On Constitutional Provisions’.” These amendments to the Constitutional Law concern the organization and functioning of local government. The importance of this law is well known, since it paves the way for the adoption of other laws, such as the law on the organization and functioning of local government; the law on the territorial division of the Republic; the law on new elections for local government, etc. No comment is needed, given the state local government is in today. The bill on certain amendments to the law on constitutional provisions was submitted by a group of DP MPs without first being reviewed by the government. This was also one of the main criticisms made by Socialist MPs during the discussion of this bill. They even called for the government to be present in parliament during discussion of this bill, as it is for other laws. The fact is that, amid this ministerial armchair-grabbing, DP MPs are very rarely seen in parliament, seemingly coming only to have coffee and chat with their friends. After two hours of debate—questions, answers, discussions and suggestions by MPs on the bill presented—the time came for it to be approved in principle. The Speaker of the Assembly, Mr. Pjetër Arbnori, who had already called the roll once at the beginning of the session, was forced to do so again to see whether more than two thirds of the MPs were in the chamber, the number required for a constitutional law. When the vote was held, the bill was not approved in principle because four MPs abstained. Parliament is slipping into an abnormal situation. DP MPs put their names on the list of proposed bills, and it is no wonder that they are absent when the bill they themselves proposed is discussed. This means abusing the name of the temple of justice and the title of MP. When it comes to passing antidemocratic laws, DP MPs raise their cards before the others have a chance to speak, because 50 percent of the votes are enough for them. But when it comes to such an important law, which they themselves proposed, they themselves cause it not to be passed in time by their absence.

— From the speech by MP Namik Dokle on behalf of the Socialist Party parliamentary group — The two bills submitted pr… The two bills submitted … both bills and the bill on local elections should be approved as soon as possible, regardless of … or initiatives for change … all the less by orders, wherever they may come from. Secondly, we believe this process should also be carried out because the legal term of local government has expired. Indeed, not only has its legal term expired. Local government has in fact been genuinely consumed by pluralism, and … nor will they bring about … even with the two experimental operations carried out … Last year, with the so-called pluralist committees. — And even worse this year, with the measures taken by the government, … with the inevitable arbitrariness in their implementation in many … (Continued on page 2)

CONGRATULATORY TELEGRAMS ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOSOVO TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOSOVO, IBRAHIM RUGOVA PRISHTINA We extend our greetings and express our great joy at the complete success of the 24 May elections for the Assembly of Kosovo and the President of the Republic of Kosovo. These elections constitute a historic victory for the Albanian people in Kosovo and everywhere, as well as a decisive, momentous step for the Republic of Kosovo as a sovereign and independent state. The expression of the free will of the Albanian people of Kosovo through broad participation in these elections, and the maturity demonstrated under the difficult conditions of occupation and brutal Serbian repression, speak to the vitality and democratic spirit of a people capable of governing itself and building its own future, and worthy of integrating on completely equal terms with other peoples in the current progressive processes in Europe and the world. The Socialist Party of Albania, expressing its full commitment to our national cause, also expresses its fraternal solidarity with the Assembly of Kosovo and wishes it success in the task entrusted to it by the people through the most legitimate and democratic path. PRESIDIUM OF THE SOCIALIST PARTY OF ALBANIA Tirana, 24 May 1992.

DR. IBRAHIM RUGOVA PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOSOVO PRISHTINA Dear President, I send you my heartfelt and fraternal congratulations on your election to the office of President of the Republic of Kosovo. I am convinced that your election to this high and honorable office is an expression of the people’s esteem for your dedication to Kosovo and the Albanian cause to date, and for your devotion and determination to realize the legitimate aspirations of the people of Kosovo. I assure you that you will always find in the Socialist Party of Albania unreserved fraternal cooperation on our common national cause. Together with the joy I share with every Albanian at the successful conduct of the elections in Kosovo, I wish you success in your high office, which is as difficult as it is noble. FATOS NANO, CHAIRMAN

A few days ago, the home of Mrs. Natasha Lako, a Democratic Party deputy, was burgled: a Japanese video recorder, ten cassettes and one thousand American dollars were stolen. The honorable lady, very upset by such a theft, may rightly ask: - What is the police doing? Why don’t they catch the thieves who stole my dollars?