— How the retouchers become critics In yesterday’s issue, with a “concentrated attack” through 9 articles, “RD” accuses the SP and “Zëri i popullit” of destabilizing the country. Apparently, the “masters” of overthrowing two governments are afraid everywhere, and especially in every district, every region and village. This is how things have been done during the year of life and work of the PSSH, but this spirit is meant to be deepened, embodied in every cell of the activity of its members and sympathizers. The party’s work will be more effective when the weaknesses and shortcomings that we ourselves identify are also addressed. The Eurosocialists, for example, want greater support and assistance. Don’t dictate their profession to them. Be calm, gentlemen! The transparency of “Zëri” is not a concession to democracy, but its product. Life is broad; does it give you no material with which to “plough” “Zëri i popullit”? Oh yes, you want rosy things, which these times ration. Then see whether “ZP”’s “greeting” from its contributors is of any use to you: “Come back periodically.” SH.M.

FATOS NANO DECLARES: The Socialists oppose neomonist practices and mindsets and raise their voices in the Party, in public opinion, in Parliament and in international organizations because Albania is moving toward a new totalitarianism, which we have warned about. — At meetings of organizations, at conferences or at congresses, the Party will deal with itself, but at the same time it will also address the vital issues of the time, which concern the majority of the people, regardless of whom one person or another voted for. It is time for the Socialist Party to announce its alternatives, which stem from its founding Program and are intended to defend the majority. We are deeply convinced that the majority will understand and support us without prejudice. Trade-union structures are another matter; they cannot take on party coloration. Neither instigators of strikes nor strikebreakers. We must not let people’s disappointment after the election promises drift away as something self-propelled and spontaneous. The Party, starting from the grassroots, must be active every day. The first Congress of the PSSH will define in greater detail its tactics and strategy as the main opposition force. Elections for local government are of extraordinary importance. In the district of Vlora, which could have been better prepared, the first applause was “given” to the following fact: On the day the conference opened, 100 people came to the SP Steering Committee asking to receive the party document. From 22 March until now, 277 people have joined the ranks of the SP in this district, and organizations have also been established in places where none existed before, such as Kaninë and Gjelke. The Party in this district is now present This is how things have been done during a spirit needs to be deepened and and sympathizers. The Eurosocialists, for example, want greater support and assistance. Spread everywhere: in every village and region, every workplace and residential center. This surge must be accelerated and carefully followed. We must not let people’s disappointment over the election promises of 22 March drift away as something spontaneous. It must be guided, led and organized—not only in Vlora, but throughout Albania. How can this objective be achieved? During the discussions on the report “The Socialist Party and New Realities,” delivered by Comrade Gramoz Ruçi, chairman of the district SP Steering Committee, we all agreed. We all say “it must be done,” without approving everything. There is great concern about the distribution of the SP press, especially getting “Zëri i popullit” to the villages. We all agree. We all say “it must be done,” but there is still little movement. There are rational ideas and initiatives, but the capacity to carry them out is lacking; action and initiative are sluggish. The Socialist Party is operating in a difficult financial situation, which does not make many tasks possible or facilitate them, but this must not be an excuse. In recent days, the First Conference of the Socialist Party of the district was held in the city of Gramsh. Throughout its proceedings, the conference conscientiously analyzed the work done and the achievements made, especially the victory achieved in the district in the 22 March elections, while also setting concrete tasks for the coming days, in keeping with the new political reality that has emerged in our country. The participation in its proceedings of Comrade Fatos Nano was received with interest and goodwill by everyone present at the conference, and more widely by the people of Gramsh; he was asked many questions. In his speech at the conference, Comrade Fatos first congratulated all the Socialists and sympathizers of the Socialist Party in the district of Gramsh for their work and their victory in the 22 March elections, and assured them that the Socialist Party would always stand by them. It was rightly emphasized at the conference that intensive work must also be done for the local-government elections, especially in selecting the SP’s candidates and representatives. Other issues related to the upcoming elections for local bodies were also discussed with hope; these coincide with the reform of those bodies that will be carried out under the law. The conference addressed many issues. Quite a few questions were asked, and Comrade Gramoz Ruçi, deputy chairman of the SP and the delegate to this forum, answered them; his answers were approved by those present. It would be of interest to present some of them, but we decided to devote more space to the issues raised in his speech by the Party chairman, Comrade Fatos Nano. We decided this because many district party conferences have not yet been held, and the steering committees and delegates should become acquainted with them in order to reflect on their tasks and… [Box note:] GRAMSH Correspondent of “Zëri i popullit” time, which concern the majority. (Continued on page 2) ...electoral promises—we must not let it become detached as a spontaneous self-confession. The party, from the centre to the grassroots, must be active every day. — The first Congress of the PSSh will define its tactics and strategy in greater detail as the main opposition force. The elections and the organization in the area councils, as well as the district conferences being held these days, show the great concern of all members and sympathizers to define as precisely as possible the objectives of our political struggle, so that democracy in Albania may be institutionalized and brought to completion through the establishment and functioning of a law-based state, and so that economic reform may be deepened and carried out with as little social pain as possible. The first PS conference... ...of March 22 must not be allowed to become detached as a spontaneous self-confession. It must be guided, led and organized. Not only in Vlorë, but throughout Albania. How can this objective be achieved? In the report «The Socialist Party and the new realities», delivered by comrade Gazim Tusha, chairman of the district PS KD, and by all the many speakers, responsibility was taken for answering this question. In short, it was demanded that every elected representative and every PS member should act in a timely manner, with wisdom, courage and boldness, transparency, and great confidence in the alternative of democratic socialism. The delegates said that the PS’s activities should always be driven and inspired by national ideals and by solutions to the great hardships facing the people. and initiatives, but the capacity to implement them is lacking; action and activity are limited. which does not make it possible or conducive to carrying out many tasks, but one must not stand still. The work must be «pushed through». The difficulties must be overcome. However, not all party members regularly pay their membership dues. Such shortcomings can be avoided, among other things, through explanatory work so that everyone has a clear understanding of discipline and democracy within the party, and of the relationship between them. In addition to its elected representatives, the PS organization in the district of Vlorë has in its ranks

— How good it is when things are ready-made, especially the readiness of honest government officials — Joint ventures have the “problem” built in. Anyone who doesn’t know should learn it. The profit made must be divided among the partners, between the two parties. But when there are no partners—that is, when you are the sole owner—the profit stays in one hand. Don’t tell us anything new: being a private owner has its risks. Whoever is capable of making it through the jungle, let him do so. Ekrem Bardha, an Albanian living in the USA, known to television viewers (and also specially received by the President), now thinks he has these possibilities. He has asked to buy the premises and commercial complexes behind the National Museum in central Tirana, or “Postiqet,” which we are being driven away from by its customers. Yet it was this same Ekrem Bardha who, when he came and passed through, signed personally to establish a joint venture with this commercial complex, one that was approved by all our state authorities. It was christened the Albanian-American joint venture “Mërgimtari.” But, ah, the profit had to be shared. So: better to be an owner than a co-owner. Now half of this beautiful complex has been destroyed. The restaurant alone, with 150 seats, made 2 million and 500 thousand new lekë a year. Who is answerable for it? He promised to train the employees and staff, and so on. Faced with the prospect that these premises may become the property of Ekrem Bardha, the employees here are worried about their future. Perhaps they will lie and make promises. Anything can happen. But although they do not know the laws of the market economy well, they do know that an owner always remains an owner. So, under these circumstances, “why shouldn’t we buy it ourselves before others from abroad take it?” Forty employees, many with over ten years’ service here, have submitted a request to the National Privatization Agency, the Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Trade and Economic Relations with Foreign Countries, the district Executive Committee, etc. Will this wish of theirs be granted? The conditions. it?” Otherwise, “Ekrem Bardha should restore the premises to their former condition and Ekrem Bardha himself should bear the costs, because he is the one responsible.” This has been requested in writing, not to mention other things they say verbally themselves. To our surprise, we learn that E- also has another joint venture. Still in the trade sector. This time with the premises on the hill by the lake. Capricious, he wants to break this contract too. Here too he wants to be the sole owner. As for this enterprise (Continued on page 2)

The most sensational character on our Television this year, Xhon Mekgou, has come to Albania again. Everyone remembers his sensational departure, leaving us with the clear ring of Albanian gold, which he had seen among the archaeologists in Switzerland... Alia, former President Ramiz Alia, after Xhon Mekgou’s interview was broadcast by our Television, assigned special tasks to the specialized bodies to verify Mekgou’s statements. But Xhoni disappeared, only to return after the Democratic Party’s victory. And now that he has come, we hope he has surely brought the gold too. These days Xhon Mekgou has been seen in Pogradec, on the Island of Saint Naum, on the shore of Lubonjë and in ... of Lushnjë, at ... for the development of livestock farming. At ... meetings ... with various people, he has also spoken about the gold. I wonder whether he has found anything, and whether he will give us another interview on television? THE OBSERVER

This approach to the end of the school year seems unlikely to bring it to a close. From a statement distributed to all districts of the country by the strike committee at the Trade Union Federation of Education and Science, we learn that teachers in the districts of Pukë, Mirditë, Kukës and Mat, as well as in some schools in other districts, have gone on strike. Their representatives have also met with the Prime Minister, but they are not convinced by the promises they received. They ask: in relation to everyone else, how will salaries compare with liberalized prices? Which salary category will teachers be placed in? What will the ratio of their salaries to those in other sectors be? Will the level of living improve, and will there be an improvement in the standard of living, etc.? All these questions remain unanswered, even after the meeting that the strike committee held on 3.6.1992 with the Minister of Education, Mr. Ylli Vejsiu. The Minister was asked to send ministry representatives to the districts where classes have been suspended, to meet directly with the teachers, and to report the results of the discussions on television; but even this entirely reasonable request was met with silence. Why the silence? It is this silence that makes our teachers consider themselves the most forgotten group of educated people on the eve of this reform. They are a whole body of people working in difficult conditions and remote areas, with no one to turn to with their problems except the government and you, Mr. Minister. Help the teacher so that you may save the school, Mr. Minister. D.-K.

(Nevertheless, you have your own opinion) “...And when the time came for him to die, he asked to rest in paradise. They said, ‘No,’ because you come from paradise; at least, that’s what the newspapers in your country say.” I believe there is no one who has not heard this “reactionary” political joke, which no longer appears on the lists of “banned humor.” Indeed, not only that, but it can surely be said that it remains true even in today’s days of democracy. Don’t believe it? Open a few newspapers and you will read, in large headlines, about successes in stabilizing public order. It goes so far that sometimes, in the height of their excitement, they announce that the murderers have been caught. In medical language, this means: Prevention 0, Autopsy equals 10 (!)(How unfortunate that the massacred cannot enjoy the official communiqués being lined up for publication.) Until a few months ago, the trumpets were blaring about the country’s deep economic crisis. And people believed their sound. Today, however, according to the “newspapers in your country,” the people have eyes in their heads and can see that we are not on the brink of catastrophe (!) This is a strange claim, when every day economic migrants are freezing from the cold, when in just a few days around 200 thousand workers will be saying goodbye to their jobs, when... Let’s not go on about the newspapers, because surely someone might come up with a phrase like: “Why do you only predict doom...?! ( ...at a time when our country is a shining beacon of democracy, etc., etc., etc.) In short, the grotesque distortions of Albanian reality, inherited and newly born—such as thefts, looting, murders, the economic crisis, political and economic mismanagement, and many other things—must be painted over. Why? So as not to frighten the world. But there may be other reasons too... All right, gentlemen. But then stop saying “transparency.” Or, at any rate, use a brush to paint things over. SOKOL GRUDA

Regarding new admissions to the Socialist Party, yesterday and the day before in the city of Shkodër there were quite a few new requests. But in particular, there has been a strong desire to join in these days on the eve of the First Congress of the Socialist Party of Albania. In just one week, 72 new members were admitted, including 15 in the city, at the agricultural enterprise of (Mika, at the Kossmaq factory, in Koplik, etc.). Many of those newly admitted are specialists and good workers, dedicated farmers, as well as young people from “Luigj Gurakuqi” University and the city’s secondary schools. At a meeting with the chairman of the SP in the town of Koplik, Perlat Ramëcej, we learned that 32 more new members will join in that area in the coming days, so that by the first district SP conference there will also be 50 new members of the Socialist Party in the area. B. I.

— In two months, more than 60 new members have joined the Socialist Party in the city of Tirana. March 22 is becoming a point of reference for many changes. This is true for the Socialist Party, too. Particularly when it comes to consolidating the party, swelling its ranks and the influx of young people into it. In the city as well as in the villages. In fact, the influx is greater here, in the district. Perhaps because the «asllancat» there, or rather the papu... (Continued on page 4)

The Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Aleksandër Meksi, received a telegram today from NATO Secretary General Manfred Vërner, informing him that, following his written request and the visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alfred Serreqi, at its meeting on June 5 the North Atlantic Cooperation Council accepted Albania as a member, on the basis of its adherence to the Declarations of December 20, 1991, and March 10, 1992. Albania must also accede in the meantime to the June 1992 Declaration. The telegram also expresses satisfaction with the decision to include Albania in the North Atlantic Cooperation Council and says that the participation of Albanian representatives in its activities is welcomed. (ATSH)