During the campaign for new elections in the SP organizations in the district of Berat, in both the town and the countryside, new advances in the Party are increasing. There are many young men and women from the district’s Eurosocialist Youth Forum. In the last few days alone, 36 young men and women were accepted, mainly from the villages of Frashër, Bilçë, Allambrez, Donofrosë, etc., and from the «30th Anniversary» and «Martyrs of the Nation» neighborhoods. «Kushtrim»: Elections in the organizations are ongoing, and there are many applications for new members, with the aim of completing these by June 9, the day of the SP district conference. EDI SPAHIU CHAIRMAN OF FRESSH, BERAT

The first Congress of the Socialist Party is approaching. It will convene in a very complex and difficult situation in the country. With the alternatives it will put forward at its first Congress, the Socialist Party of Albania will affirm itself as a party whose mission is tied solely to building a new democratic Albania and its balanced integration with contemporary European and world developments, while preserving as its most precious possession the freedom and independence of the homeland. These days, party conferences in the districts will be held throughout the country. In the Socialist Party of Albania’s one-year life, there is a substantial record of work and struggle to bring itself together fully and to make its constructive and valuable contribution to the consolidation of democratic processes in Albania. But this is no time for euphoria or party celebrations. The people demand that political forces, whether in power or in opposition, provide them with quick, concrete and effective solutions. They no longer believe words, and we Albanian socialists, bearing this in mind as well, call on ourselves and all the other political forces in the country to address problems together with the people and put forward solutions in a deeply socialist spirit, especially when these concern vital needs such as work, housing, food and clothing. There is no longer room for promises when they are made only to gain electoral or political credibility. Nothing that is not achieved honestly has a future. This is why the SP, although it has great intellectual potential within its ranks, reserves it for putting into action, not for making euphoric promises. It has put, and will put, all its potential to better use solely to stand alongside people with effective legal, economic, political, social and other solutions. Only along this path does it seek stronger ties with workers and peasants, young people and intellectuals, members of the armed forces and women, pensioners and honored veterans. Only along this path does it seek to expand and further expand coexistence with new members and sympathizers. Its measured and balanced, prudent and encouraging positions at the same time—particularly in its judgment and choice of the political issues raised by the times—have increased its authority and prestige. We are especially pleased to note that this affirmation has been growing day by day since the March 22 elections. If some «migratory bird» is conjuring up ill will toward the first Congress of the Socialist Party of Albania, we would like to tell it not to act like a fortune-teller, but to wait a few more days. The first Congress of the Socialist Party of Albania and the district conferences will be working assemblies, from which the Party will emerge more united, more capable and more dynamic, ready to enter Albanian political life with the ambitions of an entirely new party, with the profile of a political force of the European left, whose ideal is democratic socialism. The Socialist Party of Albania is convinced—and this confidence grows day by day—that it will be an irreplaceable political force, whose role and contribution will be displaced neither by factional disputes from whatever circles, whoever voices them, nor by the rusty pens of certain pseudo-commentators and pseudo-democrats, who are given space in newspaper columns only if they meet the condition of cursing the Socialist Party of Albania. We are a small country and know one another well; in this sense, after a year and a half of pluralist life, the portrait of every political party and the «disgraceful» picture of its activity are now clear to every Albanian citizen, young and old. Today, and tomorrow too, the future is working for us socialists. This spirit will guide the discussion and debate at the district party conferences, just as it did in the elections within the organizations. This realistic spirit and this optimism will also characterize our first Congress. With this reasoning, with this discernment, we will speak about every problem and every solution; with these, the members of the leading forums in each district and throughout the Party will judge and decide. Above all, they will be honest Albanians, democrats by conviction, ardent patriots, and politicians passionately devoted to serving the country and the people. K. KODHELI

Yesterday afternoon, the deputy chairman of the Socialist Party of Albania, Dr. Servet Pëllumbi, received at the headquarters of the Party’s Steering Committee the Indian ambassador to Albania, J-J-lio Francis Ribeiro. Dr. Servet Pëllumbi briefed the Indian ambassador on developments in Albania, the political, economic and social situation, and the work of parliament, expressing the positions of the Socialist Party of Albania on these issues. The meeting was also attended by the SP secretary for foreign relations, Bashkim Zeneli.

— PRESIDENT BERISHA EMPHASIZES AT THE MEETING WITH GLIGOROV — The President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, received yesterday at his office the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Mr. Kiro Gligorov, and the people accompanying him. President Berisha emphasized, among other things: “I have followed developments in your country with great interest, and I am very pleased that Macedonia continues to maintain the balance, but I want to assure you that, even before the recognition of the other republics, I insisted everywhere that an independent state of Macedonia is a condition for stability in the Balkans.” President Berisha said that we must strive to create a democratic space stretching from the Adriatic to the Black Sea. He also emphasized the determination to commit to economic cooperation in all areas (the Via Egnatia, transport, ports). Mr. Berisha then addressed the problems of the Albanian community living in Macedonia. Albanians in Macedonia should be a factor for stability in the Macedonian state. He called for Albanians in Macedonia to be recognized as a state-forming element and to be fully integrated into the state of Macedonia, with full rights. He also called for the Albanian language to be given greater prominence on Macedonia’s radio stations. President Berisha expressed Albania’s position on Kosovo, for which it should be borne in mind that, before Helsinki, it was a constituent part of Yugoslavia, and called for Rugova to participate in the Conference on talks about Yugoslavia. For his part, President Gligorov emphasized that Macedonia is the homeland of everyone who lives there. All citizens will be equal, and this will be achieved through tolerance and patience. The Macedonian people and the Albanian community will live together in full equality. There should be no doubt about this. He then agreed on the issues concerning the Albanian community raised by President Berisha. Regarding economic coordination, he emphasized that greater and freer movement of people between the two countries would be beneficial. It was also agreed that the question of abolishing visas for Albanian and Macedonian citizens should be studied as soon as possible. As for the Kosovo issue, he—

These days, the second solo exhibition by the Përmet painter Josif Bushi, featuring around 40 oil paintings, opened in the town of Përmet. Opened in these days of May, together with the first multicolored roses in the town on the banks of the Vjosa, the exhibition feels fresh, natural and pleasant, like a bouquet of fragrant flowers presented to art lovers in Përmet. The artist, now known for his distinguished participation in national exhibitions and competitions, has succeeded in transforming life’s themes, glimpsed through mountain passes, into genuine works of art. The style and other expressive devices used by the artist make the exhibition contemporary. The landscapes entitled «Mountains», «Bridge», «Winter in the Town» and «Gray Weather», as well as the painting «Meditation» and the nude entitled «Avenira», have been very well received. PERSIANA PANI

In the People’s Assembly - The Government is not acting properly in submitting the draft law on local government. - The Democratic Party has «decided» that local government elections will be held on June 28, even though the relevant laws have not yet been approved. For three days now, the parliamentary chamber has been almost silent. On Monday, June 1, MPs approved only two messages addressed to their Kosovar brothers. The prime minister, approved a week earlier, was also received. The Secretary General of the Council of Ministers, Mr. Vullnet Ademi, appeared before the Socialist Party parliamentary group to provide explanations on several issues... Turkish [President], Sulejman Demirel. The afternoon sitting that day, as reported, was blocked because of disagreements between the People’s Assembly’s standing committee on information and the parliamentary groups concerning the election of the new governing council of RTV. No plenary session was held at all on June 2. As the chairman of the Socialist Party parliamentary group, Namik Dokle, informed us, this happened because the Government did not submit the constitutional draft law on local government on time. As is known, such a draft law was presented a week earlier by a group of 15 Democratic Party MPs. That draft law was not approved. Under the existing constitutional provisions, the initiative to submit such a draft law belongs to the Council of Ministers. Instead of presenting the draft law it had prepared to the Assembly on June 2, this body submitted to the MPs only an explanatory memorandum concerning the draft law put forward by the group of MPs and which, as we said, it did not... (Continued on page 2) ...of the Democratic Party, changes that Mr. Ademi presented to the MPs. Once again, therefore, the constitutional provisions governing the procedure for submitting a constitutional draft law to parliament were violated. Once again, the Government was responsible for this violation. The result: the morning of June 3 passed once again without a plenary session in parliament. On the other hand, as reported in the newspaper «RD» on May 30, at a meeting of the Democratic Party National Council held the previous day, it was «decided» that elections for local government bodies would be held on June 28! What wonderful elections! With no constitutional provisions approved by parliament; no law on the administrative division of the Republic; no law on the powers and functioning of local government; no electoral law, and no election campaign! ★ ★ ★ Yesterday afternoon, discussion and approval began on the draft law containing constitutional provisions on local government. was approved a week ago. The Secretary-General the Socialist Party parliamentary group to provide explanations concerning this memorandum. The memorandum in question, authored by the Council of Ministers, was accompanied by two draft lists: 1. On the administrative-territorial division of the Republic of Albania, and 2. On the establishment of prefectures. Asked by the Socialist deputies whether the Council of Ministers had reviewed this memorandum and its draft lists, Mr. Ademi replied that the Council of Ministers had not met to discuss this memorandum (!) Thus, we are dealing with two violations of constitutional provisions: on the one hand, the government must submit a new bill to parliament, not a memorandum concerning the bill submitted by the deputies and not approved. On the other hand, the memorandum sent in the name of the Council of Ministers was itself not approved at a meeting of the Council! We have every right to ask: does the government not know the laws, or is it deliberately trampling on them with both feet? Were the above-mentioned violations of the laws by the government the ... On the morning of June 3, according to information received from Mr. Namik Dokle, Mr. Vullnet Ademi appeared once again before the PS parliamentary group. According to him, the government had met that morning and drafted several amendments to the bill submitted by the group of DP deputies; Mr. Ademi presented these amendments to the deputies. Once again, therefore, there was a violation of bill to parliament. Once again, the government was responsible for this violation. As a result, the morning of June 3 passed in parliament without a plenary session. dated May 30, at the meeting of the National Council of the DP wonderful elections! Without constitutional provisions approved by parliament; without a law on the administrative division of the Republic; without a law on the powers and functioning of local government; without an electoral law and without an election campaign! was a violation of passed in parliament without a plenary session. of the DP an electoral law and without an bill containing constitutional provisions for local government. Democratic elections will be held ... [the supplied text then repeats the preceding passage, beginning:] according to the therefore, there was a violation of passed in parliament without a plenary session. of the DP an electoral law and without an election campaign!

For two days, 80 miners from the chrome mine in Krastë, Martanesh, have been waiting outside the Prime Minister’s Office. They are waiting to meet the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Mr. Aleksandër Meksi. But... The Prime Minister is very busy with work and has no time to receive the miners, who have come from far away because they have not been paid for the work they did. For several days they have been sent back and forth between the Prime Minister’s Office and the Bank. They are sent from one place to another and they wait! They are waiting for the stifling bureaucracy to come to an end. They are waiting to meet the Prime Minister. Their request is simple: they want to be paid for their effort and work. If they are not entitled to it, you can tell them; if they are, let them receive it as soon as possible. There are 80 miners who have traveled from the mountains of Martanesh to meet the Prime Minister because no one else has resolved their problem...

In yesterday’s issue of RD, under the article “The developed world supports our democratic government,” among other things it was reported that they (referring to U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Mr. Eagleburger and U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Mr. Robson, who were in Tirana a few days ago and whose visit our newspaper covered extensively) called on Albania to support it (the government), not to distance itself from it (apparently during the transition period), and not to do so in the columns of “RD.” No such statement was made by the two officials mentioned above; it was interpreted in RD’s own way. “Lie, but in moderation.” Z. P

In this article I do not intend to talk about the many food supplies or the humanitarian assistance provided by the Italian medical personnel who arrived in Durrës with the military unit of Operation “Pelican.” They have become well known not only to the citizens of Durrës, but also to others farther afield. With their experience and professional training, the Italian medical personnel who came to the Durrës clinic and several other medical institutions in the district are doing commendable work, the director of the Durrës polyclinic, Mr. Besnik Mushketa, told us. Since September 25 of last year, the Italian doctors have made around 95,000 visits, seeing not only residents of the cities of Durrës and Kavajë, but also people from neighboring districts. This personnel work with our staff. (To be continued on page 2)

Reflections The spectrum of present-day Albanian political life appears as follows. Officially, the country is governed by a coalition of three parties. Officially, the Socialist Party and several far-right parties are in opposition. In reality, however, we see persistent efforts by the former real opposition to take full control of the current government. On the other hand, we have the much-desired struggle of the group withdrawn within the Democratic Party, which seeks to weaken the social-democratic faction in the current government. Meanwhile, the Socialist Party and its propaganda are in a measured, balanced “surge,” rapidly capturing the minds and hearts of the disillusioned. From this political struggle, stripped of its masks and propaganda façades, several conclusions emerge, so that we are not deceived by what is said in political speeches and statements. The far right is trying to dictate the law in political life. It is well known that the Democratic Party is officially in power, and it is equally well known that a moderate current and a far-right current exist within this party. The intermittent periods of the Meksi government clearly show that the far right, within the D.P. ... At the same time, this noisy political effort, which promises to “take” full power, together with other supporters who were politically and economically dispossessed after 1944, seeks to take state power entirely into its own hands, push the center reformers within the DP into the background, and fiercely attack the Socialist Party. At present, this far-right faction dictates policy, controls appointments within the Democratic Party, and directs three ministries that form the foundation of a state: the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Public Order, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ministers heading these ministries are, either by origin or by their past activities, zealous enforcers of the aims of the former class overthrown in 1944, determined to the very end to remove from these ministries not only former members and sympathizers of the Party of Labour, but also anyone connected to them, conducting investigations. As appears from the reality to date, the former real opposition is working along two lines to take full power. From within the DP, through its people who are in various positions, including relatives and cousins of the former leaders of Balli and Legaliteti, whose names are well known: Dosti, Bulka, Vlloni, etc., and through the elements that make up the far right— KOCО DANAJ (To be continued on page 2)