The July 26 electoral campaign for local government elections has entered its decisive phase. The most important issue at this stage is the selection, nomination and submission to the election commissions of lists of candidates to serve as councillors in communes, municipalities and districts, as well as candidates for commune and municipal chairmen. Article 52 of the Law on Elections to Local Government Bodies, No. 7573, dated 16.6.1992, states: “Applications to register candidates for local councillors and commune and municipal chairmen must be submitted to the respective election commissions no later than 15 days before election day.” This means that the submission of candidacies to the election commissions must be completed by July 11. In other words, time is running out; even the minutes must be taken into account if these tasks are to be completed successfully. This is a decisive undertaking for all the party organizations and bodies at the grassroots level. If earlier there were views that “the party organizations should not ... with others,” and that work had been set aside in order to organize many tasks already undertaken, then they must meet—if necessary, every day—during this intensive period of the campaign. Lists of potential candidates must be proposed; they must be discussed and discussed again, approved by the organizations and other relevant party leadership bodies, and commissions must be established at every level. The documentation required by the electoral law for candidates to be submitted to the election commissions must be prepared. Their registration by the commissions must be verified. Concrete deadlines for these tasks were also set at the meeting of the General Leading Committee of the Socialist Party held on June 27. Any failure to meet these deadlines will have serious consequences for our candidates and for the election results. They must therefore be treated with the utmost seriousness and a deep sense of responsibility toward the people. Through initiative and action, and on the basis of the relevant laws, the Party organizations and bodies must be mobilized to the maximum. HAMDI JUPE

— After a TV report about the “enthusiastic” welcome the military gave the reform — Nearly a quarter of a century ago, when the so-called fight against bureaucratism had just begun, at the start of 1966, a chairman at an executive committee had made it a rule that after every dismissal, transfer or reassignment (very common actions at the time), he would gather the staff, and those who were leaving would say farewell over a glass of liqueur. As the glasses clinked, those leaving would tell those staying: “I’ll drink to you with liqueur!” In other words, they were telling their comrades: may you have the same luck as us. This story came to mind after a TV report on Sunday evening about a meeting of military personnel in Lushnjë, a meeting of a particular movement concerning the reorganization, attended by Minister Zhulali as well. The brief but telling report (the orchestra was there too) would have us believe that the military in Lushnjë not only supported the reform but had also been eagerly awaiting it. In other words, they were very happy to be losing their jobs. We do not know whether the same greeting as a quarter-century ago was repeated there too: “I’ll drink to you with liqueur!” P.N.

— Why the Socialist parliamentary group walked out — — The newspaper “AD” echoes the departure of Fatos Nano’s Socialist parliamentary group from the People’s Assembly during discussion of the draft law on housing. A devoted apologist for the state, “AD” speculates that “people’s feelings against privileges embrace something quite different.” It confuses the PS program and equates democratic reform with totalitarian reforms. What does the draft law say? The draft law says that executive committees have the right to place another person in the home of any citizen who has excess living space, even without that citizen’s consent. The draft law says that these decisions are made by the chairman of the executive committee and that the citizen may appeal only to the chairman of the executive committee (that is, to the very same person!). The draft law says that only the head of the unit has the right to appeal decisions concerning properties assigned by decision. This draft law excludes the citizen from judicial review and from all rights. It grants this right to the committee chairman. This draft law, in all the above respects, openly violates the principal constitutional provisions, violates human rights, and violates a principle that no totalitarian system has ever managed to abolish: the inviolability of the home. Citizens must not be deceived any longer by the demagoguery of the “Block.” The draft law must be set aside. It must not become a source of new and even greater injustices. A. AVNIU

— PROTEST NOTE FROM THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS — On June 29, 1992, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania sent a protest note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Macedonia. The note protests the events of 15.06.92, in June 1992, involving the killing of 5 Albanians and the wounding of 45 others, as well as the unlawful detention in prison by Macedonia of 200 meters from Albania in the Republic of Macedonia.

Yesterday morning, the Second Congress of the Political Patriotic Association “Çamëria” held its proceedings. In addition to delegates from the association’s branches in the districts, invited representatives of political parties, various associations and religious communities took part. The congress was opened by the chairman of the association’s General Council, Mr. Fadil Zeqiri, who proposed a three-point agenda, which was approved by those present. On behalf of the association’s presidium, its chairman, Mr. Adib Dobi, delivered the report. He assessed the work of the presidium, highlighting the association’s main activities and achievements from the day it was founded up to the present. Among other things, the speaker also commended the efforts of the Albanian Government to improve the situation concerning Cham issues. The Cham issue was then discussed. Most of the contributions expressed positive views on advancing the Cham cause, so that the work could be carried forward, the association could continue to develop and expand its activities, especially among the Albanian diaspora. In conclusion, Mr. Dobi said that both our Government and the association itself needed to engage in greater diplomatic activity, especially abroad. In their contributions, the delegates and guests, after evaluating the work done and the association’s achievements to date, expressed confidence that the Cham issue would be resolved in the near future. At the end, the congress elected the association’s governing bodies. (ATSH)

“...It would be a violation of my democratic aspirations if, out of the caprice of plans or individuals, I were to work under the direction of a deputy, a representative of the people, to subject it to a totalitarian mentality—a mentality whose roots are now well known.” Deputy Gramoz Pashko, one of the founders of the Democratic Party, has sent a memorandum to the High Council of the Democratic Party concerning his position. Copies of this material have been sent to the chairman of the DP, E. Selami, the deputy chairmen A. Imami and A. Spahia, the entire Albanian and foreign press, ATSH and RTSH. The copy addressed to “Zëri i Popullit” says: “Starting from the view that information is a principal instrument of democracy, at this moment when the issue of the deputy is being discussed in the media, I consider it appropriate, as a deputy, to make available to you materials concerning my status and mandate.” Out of respect for our readers, the editorial office is publishing excerpts from these materials.

FORRADEG: These days, 120 women from different parts of the city of Pogradec who support democratic socialism gathered to establish the Socialist Women’s Forum. At the meeting, they expressed their determination to support and promote the democratic socialist alternative, in which they see their vital interests reflected. A temporary committee was elected at the meeting; it will continue its work until the district Socialist Women’s assembly, which will be held on July 6, 1992. “Zëri i Popullit” correspondent

According to the statement made by President Mr. Sali Berisha after the talks held in Tirana with the Prime Minister of Turkey, Mr. Suleyman Demirel, Turkey will grant Albania a loan of 50 million dollars. As we learn from point 6 of the protocol to the signed agreement, the sum of 50 million consists of separate loans, including new ones, which will be arranged under specific agreements. In particular: 1. 15 million dollars is a loan granted by the Turkish Government under a protocol agreement dated 10.1.1991. 2. A further loan of 15 million dollars was also granted under an agreement dated 1.2.1992. The repayment period for these two loan amounts (30 million dollars) will be discussed in July of this year. 3. The remaining 20 million dollars represents the amount of the new loan, the details of which will also be finalized in July between representatives of the two states. T. ÇEKU

Several ships carrying various food products have arrived at the seaport of Durrës. The ship “Marono” is unloading 1,200 tons of cooking oil, supplied by the Italian Government. The ship “Ksenia” is unloading 10,500 tons of wheat, received as aid from the Western European market. Meanwhile, the plenipotentiary of the Council of Ministers for the ports, Mr. Fe-ruz Mataj, told us that the ship “Ratu-rishi” had just arrived and begun unloading 3,000 tons of sugar and 800 tons of pasta, aid from the Turkish Government. Given the severe shortages in the shops and the people’s urgent needs, the seaport authorities have taken all the necessary measures to unload these products and send them to the respective districts. Special praise is due to the port’s loading and unloading workers and to the military unit operating in the Italian “Pelikan” operation, who are working tirelessly to unload the goods and dispatch them to their designated destinations as quickly as possible. Other measures have also been taken to secure the goods and protect them from damage and waste, which are by no means uncommon. VANGJEL DUSHI

TIRANA Yesterday, in a large number of food shops in the capital, sales of cooking oil to citizens began: the June ration, 2 liters per family. When citizens asked to receive the rations for the previous 2–3 months as well, which they had not received, the General Company responded more or less as follows: “Don’t even bring up that stamp business.” All families are urged to buy their ration of oil as soon as possible, because today is the last day of the month and after that, “don’t bring that matter up now.” Long live distribution!

ZF. 30-6-1992 PP-KP-FR. Telegram MR. FATOS NANO, HEADQUARTERS OF THE SOCIALIST PARTY, TIRANA On the occasion of your re-election to the post of Chairman of the Socialist Party, I send you my wishes for success in your work. Respectfully, SALI BERISHA

“...After the meeting I held yesterday with my constituents throughout the day, in Selanicë, Armen, Peshkëpi, etc., we found that my constituents feel insulted and are outraged by the unconstitutional stance of the DP parliamentary group, which prompted the people to come out with a petition, a copy of which is attached to this memorandum. Many signatures on this petition, which I would call a vote-of-confidence referendum, are still being collected and will soon be attached. — The stance taken yesterday as well by two deputies who are leaders of the Party’s main and local forums, Tomor Dosti and Roland Tafill, is intolerable and undemocratic. They had appeared in my electoral district to manipulate the people against me and to urge the heads of local sections to write statements of solidarity with the parliamentary group’s decision to expel me. This was isolating the heads of the DP sections at a time when the people were expressing their support for their deputy.”

We consider the way the parliamentary group treated deputy Gramoz Pashko an insult directed at us as voters. The status of a deputy and his absolute freedom of speech, one of the basic principles of democracy deriving from the constitutional provisions of the Republic of Albania, are such that the supporters whom he represents in parliament—as the voice of a constituency of 20,000 voters—cannot be deprived of that representation. Where do the other deputies get the right that belongs to us, to close ranks and put the deputy on trial? These are signs of a party becoming separated from the people.