On Monday, 11.1.1993, at the request of the «Chemical-Metallurgical Trade Union Federation, a working meeting was held with the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Mr. Abdyl Xhaja. The Federation’s chairman, Mr. Fiqiri Midha, the chairman of the Elbasan District Trade Union Council, Mr. Shpëtim Palloshi, and the chairman of the Trade Union of Plant 12, Mr. Kristaq Dedja, asked the minister to resume operations at the Metallurgical Combine, «Plant 12», and to explain their prospects for 1993 and beyond. Minister Xhaja replied that in 1993 they would be unable to put these large enterprises back into operation. All the employees would be placed on assistance. The minister’s response was not accepted by the trade union representatives, since, during meetings in 1992 with representatives of the democratic Government and the President, it had been promised that the Combine would be reactivated. They asked the Government and the minister: what would be done with around 10,000 employees who, in just a few months, would reach the one-year limit for assistance—or would the trade union’s demands then prove justified? Tirana, 12.1.1993 Chemical-Metallurgical Trade Union Federation, Elbasan District Trade Union Council

I am the wife of Ferit Duka, a miner from Bulqiza. On 24.12.1992, at 2:25 in the morning, two strangers in sampsiti uniform knocked on our door and asked Ferit, «We have orders for you to come with us.» When Ferit asked who they were, they answered, «We are from Tirana.» While he was getting dressed, they asked him: 1. Are you with the Socialist Party, Ferit? “I am a person without a party.” One of them said, “No, because we are arresting only the socialists.” The other cut in, saying that he was joking; (Continued on page 4) BEGLIE DJUKA

On the 11th, at 9:00, sessions for the third day of the judicial examination of defendants Nexhmije Hoxha and Kino Buxheli began in one of the courtrooms of the Tirana District Court, under the direction of judge Muharrem Kushi. Throughout the day, the witnesses Kaje Tafaj, former head of the finance section of the Reception Directorate; Paskal Postoli, former cook for Adil Çarçani’s family; Ismail Çela, former head of the treatment section and deputy director of the Reception Directorate; Krenar Mema; Jorgji Kacorri, former director of the Control Directorate at the Ministry of Finance; Muharrem Xhafa, former head of the Education Sector in the apparatus of the Central Committee of the PPSH; Mico Madhi, former cook for Enver Hoxha’s family; Keti Demolli, the waitress at Enver Hoxha’s home; Ilir Koxheri, Drita Andoni, and Suzana Memoci, former service employees in Enver Hoxha’s household, were questioned. The witnesses told the court about the work processes they had been responsible for and answered the many questions put to them by members of the court, the prosecutor presenting the case, the defendants, and their defense lawyers. By a separate decision of the court, several confrontations between witnesses were also held to clarify the episodes relating to the charges. The confrontation between witnesses Drita Andoni and Ilir Koxheri concerning the licenses kept at Enver Hoxha’s home drew the attention of those present, in a roo- (Continued on page 4)

On January 11, 1993, a national gathering of veterans of the National Liberation Anti-Fascist War was held in the Concert Hall of the Grand Palace of Culture in the capital. It discussed and approved a letter addressed to the President of the Republic, Mr. Sali Berisha; the Albanian Helsinki Committee for the Protection of Human Rights; the International Assistance Federation, based in Vienna; the Federation of Old Fighters, based in Paris; foreign embassies accredited in Tirana, etc. At the gathering, besides war veterans, ... who had come from various districts of the country also took part, as did representatives of the Socialist Party, the Social Democratic Party, the Democratic Alliance Party, the National Unity Party, the Agrarian Party, and various organizations and associations. The gathering was opened by Piro Dodiba, Chairman of the National Committee of Veterans of the LANÇL. In his speech he emphasized that the veterans’ organization of the LANÇL is a major force, with 54,000 members. It is a pluralist organization, outside the parties, supports reforms to establish a truly lawful state, and works for the reconciliation and national unity of the people. Various participants made suggestions to improve its content. In the end, it was unanimously approved. The letter addressed to public figures and bodies and organizations at home and abroad pointed out that revanchist forces had emerged on the Albanian political scene, trying by every means to deny the LANÇL war and portray it as a civil, fratricidal war, rather than what it truly was: a just war of liberation, an integral part of the great anti-fascist coalition of Great Britain-USSR-USA, which had recognized it as such 50 years earlier through statements by the foreign ministers of the time. It is regrettable, but also infuriating, that by means of the green voting card of the majority in the Albanian Parliament, November 29, 1944—the day the country was liberated from the Nazi-fascist occupiers and their Ballist and Zogist collaborators—is being denied. This day is borne out by the [?] of the trial on January 10, the day on which the “famous” article entitled “Why is ZP silent?...” was also published. The newspapers “Zëri i Popullit” and “RD” are prepared and laid out in the same printing house, indeed in the same hall. At the very least, the gentlemen in charge of “RD” should have glanced at our newspaper’s material for January 10 before ordering the publication of Mr. Mentor’s “filth.” That would have prevented the paper from making such blunders. But whom can one tell this? “RD” has lost all the principles of true journalism. The only thing one can ask in such cases is: Why doesn’t “RD” keep quiet? P.S. In the coming days, we expect further criticism of the trial in question from “RD,” because the court has decided that the event should not be covered in the press by [?], and we have decided to comply with this absurd decision. (Continued on page 3)

Readers of the press and listeners to the radio and television are familiar with Blerim Çela’s arrogant call: «Vote for whomever you like, vote even for Sllobodan Millosheviç, but not for the Socialist Party!» This is an outburst of rancor, gathered in the throat of Blerim the anti-Albanian, who, for the personal interests of seat-devourers, is ready to join the devil and his son. I would not emphasize that he is ready to do this for party interests, because for the Democratic Party it is enough to write things like, «there’s no electricity, no water, no [?]», and then to have a talk with the director of the newspaper «Koha jonë». And then the deputy spoke loudly in parliament and said: «What the newspaper writes is true. But if it is as they say and write, I will no longer be either a politician or a government official.» It was no surprise that, in his own defense, he called in both television and pseudo-democracy, and “woke up” to prepare false statements, including statements signed by children and corpses in graves... But the sensational truth was declared from time to time in bold letters in the newspaper, just as ... [The beginning of the article is cut off at the upper edge.] ... [The visible text speaks about] ... the Democratic Party; all you have to do is write the truth, for example, «there is no», «there is no water», there is no coal, no kerosene, the bread we buy cannot even be pierced by a bullet, there is no work, no organized emigration... and call us Serb, Slobodan. As for the politician-deputy-government minister Blerim Çela, it does not matter what he says today or what he says tomorrow. His parliamentary mandate gives him the right to twist his words however he likes. Because apparently, as the darling of the state pyramid, no one touches him. It is not easy for others to «touch» him, since president Sali Berisha praises his «deeds». But everyone has learned about his polemic over the above statement during the election campaign, the television polemic, and the «clever» pseudo-democracy for preparing false statements, among them letters in the newspaper, just as it was—forceful (that is what the truth is like when the majority is behind it)—and it frightened Blerim. Just then, when the day of the trial was near, Blerim Çela «backed down». A woven and cultivated quislingism around him stopped the accusation, wrecked the trial, and threw the «statements» onto the rubbish heap. Only Blerim Çela did not keep his word: he continues to be an elected minister. Keep twisting, Blerim Çela, keep twisting—the sham[e?] of a deputy and government minister. But how much longer will you keep twisting? PETRIT JONI

— In reply to the article entitled «Why is “ZP” silent about the trial of Nexhmije Hoxha...» — In the January 10 issue of the newspaper «RD», on the front page, an article was published under the headline: «Why is “ZP” silent about the trial of Nexhmije Hoxha and the monstrous crime of the PPSH: the corpses in the morgue?» by Mentor Shehu. Through this article, the aforementioned newspaper believes it can refute its own newspaper, “Zëri i popullit,” and «Abdenëse e PPSH-së», and it exposes itself with such nonsense. It is not difficult to understand that the article in question is a crude bluff for this publication’s newspaper. The author is not the one who knows and does what he can. But we remember that the newspaper «RD» can know more, and yet such blunders have occurred. Furthermore, the trial against Nexhmije Hoxha began on January 10, and as a rule its report would have been published on January 9; this proves it. But on January 9 neither the newspaper “Zëri i Popullit” nor «RD» came out. It is technically known that they are printed. So how could the newspaper have published the court report on January 10, the day the press by [?],

On Sunday, January 17, it will be exactly 525 years since the death of our national Hero, Gjergj Kastrioti - Skënderbeu. An event of importance for political and social life, another opportunity to listen carefully to the current messages brought by the glorious Skanderbeg era, a good occasion to reassess the figure of Skënderbeu. They say that Kruja and Lezha are making the necessary preparations. By now they should be at the inauguration. It is known that Skënderbeu’s remains rest in Lezhë, but, as has been written in the press, such as in «Koha jonë», the 525th anniversary of his death will be commemorated in Krujë (?). Apart from a commemoration, we would say—or hope—that on January 17 there will not be some international friendly football match or the inauguration of some religious buildings that would pose a serious obstacle to our «democratic» leaders, from the president down, attending. It is understandable if they are dissatisfied with the recent past, but do they have some problem with the 80-year-long, inglorious past, or with the 525th anniversary of Skënderbeu’s death? BINAK TOPÇIU since the death of our national Hero, Gjergj Kastrioti - death will be commemorated in Krujë (?). Skënderbeu’s death?

...analysis of the treaty[?]... [The text in this section is cut off and partly illegible.] ...arr[?] a ... April 15 ... [The text in the adjacent column is partly outside the frame and illegible.]

Winter has come, as the mountains have donned their white garment. No one can hear Mirdita’s voice. It is as if nothing troubles it. Yet there are many problems that trouble Mirdita and strike it mercilessly this winter, problems that, in addition to the tragedies of monism, are being compounded by new so-called hardships caused by shortages... - The supply of bread to the people during the winter depends on wheat, which the villagers in areas cut off by snow can neither afford to buy nor obtain, because they have no wheat. No compensation is being provided for the winter period to obtain that wheat for three months. The reopening of many old disputes over the former boundaries of land. There are dozens of complications, whose consequences fall on the poorest villages. - The roads connecting villages with the municipal centers are blocked. Transport is lacking, including buses on many routes. Private operators make the Tirana route more readily than the routes to Fani, Kaçinar, Kurbnesh, etc. Even the state buses never travel these routes. People entrust themselves to the [?] that made them walk on foot. - Humanitarian aid is lacking in many villages. It is said that villages and municipalities won by the PS will not receive assistance, which must not happen, because people are people. - Many families lack winter clothes and footwear because they have no means to buy them. Many villages have no electricity... In some schools, some pupils in the first grades still do not know how to write even the number «1», because of the lack of teachers. In the municipality of Orosh, a mother and her newborn child died due to the lack of health services, because there are no health centers. There is only silence about all this. Silence from the district authorities, but also silence from Mirdita’s deputy, Ndue Gjijna, in parliament. But surely Mirdita must not remain silent in the face of those who are constantly eroding it. GJERGJ NIKOLLA

ON ROMANTICISM AND REALISM IN THE ALBANIAN NATIONAL QUESTION Prof. Bedri Dedja, academician For some time, two different positions on the Albanian national question have been taking shape. Whether these positions are official or unofficial matters little. The essential point is that this taking shape gives grounds for discussing the platforms that have been defined over the past two years. No one will have difficulty understanding that what is meant is a position called romantic and a realist position on the question of pan-Albanian unification. In fact, this is not merely a question. It is a Gordian knot that has caught in the throat of the twentieth century, which is preparing to leave us in poor health. It is such a knot that, according to legend, King Gordius tied so tightly that for a long time no one could undo it, so that he might then become ruler and master of Asia. Apparently, only Alexander of Macedonia, fa... [column continues, some words cut off] ...made up his mind and did not waste much time, but cut the knot with a single stroke of his sword. The result is known to history. Will the twenty-first century, too, suffer from something stuck in its throat? Reality must be looked straight in the eye. The truth is that most Albanians, especially those living beyond the borders, do not find their bread tasty and cannot sleep peacefully because of pan-national unification. But there are also Albanians who do find it tasty and sleep peacefully; may their bread always taste good and may sleep grant them spiritual peace! An Arbëresh with Albanian blood sang a moving song at the latest RTV festival: ... Elija mbidhembi, Albanians everywhere, we are scattered across the world. Let all humanity know how many millions of us there are today! «Indeed, it is an unimaginable paradox that a single living body can be confined by barbed-wire fences driven into it while it is still alive, can remain divided by police, customs posts, bureaucracy, passports, all sorts of forms and documents, with threats and dangers that resemble chameleon skins. A united Europe, without borders, did away with many of these «chains» on January 1, 1993. Albania, divided into many pieces and with no borders of its own, must sit quietly under the threat of the rubber truncheons of other, hostile and armed anti-Albanians. It is paradoxical to head toward a united Europe in pieces! The times have called us to an honest dialogue. Let us continue the debates among Albanians, between romantics and realists. But we should not be surprised that this game gives many foreign politicians an opportunity to portray us as a nation that cannot understand itself, a nation without ... (Continued on page 3)