THE PEOPLE’S SWEAT ACCUSES What is happening these days in the vineyards and orchards of the Shtoi plain, in the Shkodër district, has finally convinced us that the destruction of this jewel of Albanian fruit-growing is being carried out deliberately. We no longer wish to mention the machinations that have been used for more than a year, which gave the destruction a free hand, since we have discussed them in several articles published over the past three or four months. But we emphasize that, at long last, the axe has fallen on these plantations on a massive scale, as if they were a forest being cut down for firewood! First, entire rows of date palms and cherry trees along the road suffered. Now it is the vineyards’ turn. A distressing sight. They are massacring this rare beauty. Vast areas now have not a single row of vine… or a single tree trunk. The eye catches other mutilated plots everywhere, across this entire plain, which covers nearly 1,000 hectares. They are turning the Shtoi plain into ruins. And the axe continues to crack by moonlight at night and in broad daylight. The vineyards, and the farmers of Shkodër’s villages, too. The truth is that the police have intervened, even several times, but they have been powerless, since, it seems, everything has been left in their hands alone. Have the managers and other administration employees, from the local level up to the district, intervened or shown themselves anywhere? Come on, it is as if this were ownerless property! Fruit trees are being cut down for firewood! Unbelievable, but this really is what is happening. I no longer know what to call this action except criminal. No punishment can undo the damage done; it is colossal. Meanwhile, the district council and the Ministry of Agriculture continue to look on, even though the president has issued special orders to the agricultural enterprises two or three times in recent months. We do not understand how they can justify themselves in the face of all the responsibility they bear for organizing the protection and management of the agricultural enterprises’ property. The plantations of Shtoi accuse them harshly of this glaring lack of responsibility. Something else surprises us, too. The workers have condemned and continue to condemn these actions, but they have not organized themselves in concrete ways, using the means democracy offers to defend their rights and their labor. At first, they raised their voices individually, and someone hears them, but that does not mean they should remain silent under the shadow of social assistance. These destructive actions weigh more heavily on their conscience than on that of the managers and officials. Even if they were to stop cultivating the land, what harm would there be in keeping it planted with trees? The yield would be greater. Fruit and vineyards are more profitable sources of income in the agricultural sector. In this particular case, it is all the more necessary because the field crops planted on this land do not yield, whereas fruit-growing and viticulture are better suited to it. Europe aims to make fruit a principal food in its entire diet within three or four years. And we have it, and are destroying it with our own hands. Forget everything else: what are we going to tell the children when cherry season comes, and the grapes and other fruits? That they were cut down in winter for firewood?! MUSA KURTULAJ

… let us be optimistic, I wrote last year in the first newspaper correspondence from our country’s regions. Those were not just words; they were our thoughts, what we saw and followed in the life of the people. The 1990s will be marked as the years that will change Albania’s fate; we must believe this and work toward it. 1990 brought us pluralism; 1991 sketched the first outlines of the market economy; 1992 perhaps brought the newest thing in the life of our country: a new pace. Our country, the Albanian people, are opening up; people, as never before, have entered a race to find initiative and profit. Everyone, all of them, set off on an unprecedented path, got moving, as the popular saying would have it. And that is no small thing. Some have moved into private production, but in the state sector the blockage continues. The Albanian has appeared before the eyes of the world with his old, familiar abilities, which had temporarily lain dormant. Along with the refugees, traders and businesspeople are becoming more confident that in the future they will know how to become even better emissaries of their homeland around the world. But democracy means transparency, and transparency means, above all, respect for the truth, judgment and critical assessment. Democracy has revealed a world to us. The question is how we will act. A better program comes first; everyone even better emissaries of their homeland around the world. We should move forward, achieve more, and make the country’s hardships easier to bear. The democratic government must improve; the governance of the country leaves much to be desired. Both the individual and the citizen seem to have been abandoned to their own fate; the ties between them, as well as between the individual and society, are weak and anachronistic. Yet we aspire to a truly civilized society, not one in which the individual is afraid of their own freedom. The government should aim to become more capable without hiding its weaknesses, without becoming self-satisfied and nervous. Europe did a great deal for 1992, too. For 1993, the powers-that-be set it alight at the summit of the whole Twelve, and this is a global dream. All the inhabitants of the globe wish it well. But we Balkan people offer our wishes as well… and with another word, as they say, for a peaceful year. War is all around us and close by. What a strange and shameful thing! There is everything. TV showed something of the activity at the port of Durrës in the first days of the year. Kakanvia, too, was exceptionally busy these days. So much so that the borders could not be made out. The Democratic Alliance has proposed a convention on borders. If only this could happen in the Balkans. And with borders of this kind, conventional ones, we would all draw closer together to Europe. Let us hope. Let us be optimistic, too.

— New Year’s gift from the authorities in Shkodër — On December 31, many residents of the city of Shkodër had their state telephone service cut off. Some of them made inquiries

We would have liked the current government, which emerged from the elections of March 22 last year, to have done something to improve the country’s economic situation. We would have liked, for example, some performance [sic] that would have helped get people into work, some step to improve people’s living conditions in the big cities, especially in Tirana, some glimmer of hope for employment abroad, and so on. But as for the farmers, it has done nothing. The only thing the current government committed itself to was cuts, the “successes” that RD also highlighted in its lead editorial on December 31. In other words, the Government dealt with cutting ministers [sic] and expenditure items across Albania’s planned budget. Nevertheless, people live in hope. The question we ask is as fair as it is painful: Will signs of the PD’s grand promises begin to appear? And in this context, as we analyze the authorities’ efforts step by step, the conclusion is disappointment. Our government officials seem to be firmly convinced that you can deceive the people as much as you like! They are also firmly convinced of their supposed ability to govern, although, according to them, they still need “to grow” a little more. When 40 days had passed, they tried to cover up the misery with the argument that one could not hold a 40-day-old government to account. Then they fell back on the same refrain, saying nothing could be done in four or five months. Now, naturally, one cannot hold a nine-month-old government to account. By this logic, our incapable government officials will go on saying that you cannot tell a one-year-old, “you’re not doing anything.” According to them, they will always remain “small” when it comes to being held accountable for carrying out reform. The national question is not solved through romanticism; the national question is not solved through a lack of realism. (I do not believe that in these two sentences President Berisha is alluding to the esteemed Professor, although he was asked about him directly.) The national question is solved solely through realism. And realism means that if you cannot achieve the maximum solution, you should pursue the optimal solution, because a lack of realism deprives you even of benefiting from the factors that are in your favor. We say we will go to Europe. One gets to Europe by accepting integration, which has effects on both sides. Europe does indeed open itself to you, but you too must open yourself to it. As for the national question, every Albanian has the right to express their views. Naturally, everyone must adhere to realism, because only a realistic policy is a national policy. Let me raise a question. What should be the first issue for Albanians? The first demand of Albanians should be a democratic society. For it is universally accepted that democracy offers broad scope for the development of human, individual, and national values. And this commitment fully accords with the demands of others as well. Shared responsibility requires that you accept solutions that are also acceptable. That is why I do not view the Albanian national question pessimistically. This was President Berisha’s answer when he was asked about Professor Rexhep Qosja. I understand that the question concerned the opinions circulating in Albania about his mistreatment in connection with the events at the end of November 1992, which culminated in his absence in Vlorë during the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the declaration of independence. Someone might say that the President misunderstood the question. Perhaps, but I do not believe so. He is speaking metaphorically. AHJAN KOSOVA As for the removal of the tax, nothing was done. The only thing the current government committed itself to, it seems to me, was the cuts—these «successes» that RD also highlighted in its leading article on December 31. The government concerned itself with cutting administrative costs and spending on the country’s defense (as if a war were about to break out in the Balkans), and with cutting the expenses the state budget incurred for the 80 percent (when 500,000 workers made redundant and placed on assistance are now being paid), and so on. Nothing more and nothing less, just as in the past they recommended cutting expenses for celebration days. The only difference is that this government does not know how to reduce unemployment. They are also puffed up about the «ability» they supposedly have to govern, except that, according to them, they passed, they tried to cover up their inability to make a 40-day government accountable. After that, they kept up the same refrain that nothing could be done in 4–5 months. Now, naturally, you cannot hold a nine-month-old to account. With this logic, the incompetent members of government will keep saying that you cannot tell a one-year-old, «you aren’t doing anything». According to them, they will always remain children reform. BASHKIM KOÇI

At the press conference held at the end of last year, President Berisha was asked the following question as well: — There were also opinions concerning mistreatment during Prof. Rexhep Qosja’s last visit. What is your opinion, Mr. President? Mr. Berisha replied: — Rexhep Qosja is a personality of Albanian culture. He has made a valuable contribution in the field he studied (why, one wonders, only in the field he studied?). A.K. has an undeniable commitment to the national question and its political resolution. Naturally, he has his own opinions. I want to say that we Albanians should not view with pessimism and tragedy the choices that have passed positively. (Who views them with pessimism and tragedy, Rexhep Qosja?). question

differs from its two predecessors. This January is not like January 1991, when pluralist political thought, equipped with a “passport,” was hurrying to organize itself into Albanian political parties. Two years have passed since then. Nor is this January like January 1992, when, before it arrived, the Government of Stability was overturned. But this January is not detached from either ’91 or ’92. It contains what we all see every day: the economic crisis. The self-proclaimed staunchly democratic government entered this January of 1993 carrying on its back many unresolved problems and, no doubt, reflecting its own incompetence as well. The economic crisis, European conditions, global programs, promises, smiles. The person who yesterday welcomed the new government’s arrival on the scene and in power almost ecstatically now walks along lost in thought. Meanwhile, another person, who has seen the president and prime minister only on television, walks along a cold mountain path with a bag under his arm and less bread, wondering how he will get through this winter. Nevertheless, the government got through 1992, but not the winter, which is now at its height. The days of this January seem calm, but they are also tense, even though the electric cables have been left without power, leaving many families’ homes without lights on these New Year’s nights. People warmed themselves by fires. It seems a cold current has also descended on the cabinet. The government has been gripped by violent tremors, despite this being a new January, a new year. So far, the government has moved along spontaneous coordinates. Tirana–Rinas–Europe. Tirana–Rinas–America, although with the latter it is not clear why these trips are becoming less and less frequent. Last year a new route was opened (Continued on page 4) ...mi aje. A program of ...overnment. And such a ... of foreign policy ... everything faster THANAS DINO

On December 31, the telephone service to the homes of many residents of the city of Shkodër was cut off. Some of them asked the PTT about this problem, and were told that it had been done by decision of the district council. The reason: we will give them to the young cadres, since they do not have telephones. It is also said that some people were told that their phones were being taken away because they are «communists». Other things are being said too, but we do not want to believe them. Instead of citing the law, we recall that during the election campaign the PD promised to provide everyone with telephones; it did not say that we would take them from the first group and give them to the second. And rightly so, the astonished residents ask: with whom did we sign the telephone contract—with the district council?! With the PTT or with the district council?! In any case, this is a «gift» on the eve of the New Year, added to the other gifts from those in power. They say that 140 ordinary citizens were honored with this gift, and that the list is continuing. We will let you know later who will be fortunate enough to benefit. The Observer

A few days ago, the district leadership of the PS in Librazhd district met. The problems arising in organizing the Party on a territorial basis were discussed at length. In the material of the ... pa- ... meeting, comrade ... Shaz... In it ... was discussed ... and ... of the Work ... various ... The Party’s activity ... in ... (Continued on page 4) It is understood that we must not narrow the Party’s work to its organizational aspects. Without lively and ongoing contact with people, with the PS electorate, without knowing the hardships and concerns of more than 4,500 workers receiving assistance, and of the dozens of disputes in the countryside over land, without defending the interests of the groups it represents, the district Party’s work would be closed off and devoid of real and practical value. Any indifference in its work would have extremely negative consequences. Comrades from Prenjas, Qukës, Orenjë, Lunik, etc. brought forward concerns and political experience in this regard. With particular concern, numerous facts were presented that point to the obstruction of local government and to efforts to take powers away from the center, as one municipal head put it figuratively: «They even want to steal the chest, whose keys have been left with us». At the meeting of the Steering Committee of the Socialist Party of Albania, comrade Servet Pëllumbi spoke. In his address, after analyzing some features of the country’s current socio-economic and political situation, he focused on the tasks currently facing the Party’s work. For the Socialist Party, he said, work to strengthen and revitalize its life is not the ultimate goal (Continued on page 4)

We want bakers from Europe, too (Letter to a united Europe) So that all of 1993 does not go like its first days, leaving us without bread, I am writing to you now. Send us flour, we know, and thank you, but send us bakers as well. Not that the government is unable to distribute the aid, but there seems to be a contradiction between foreign flour and local labor, and the contradiction must be resolved. It is no fun when Europe has united and removed its borders, while we suffer for the most basic thing of all: bread. We are writing to let you know about the first days of the year for planning purposes. A group of citizens from Gjirokastër, waiting in the bread queues