While the number of people receiving assistance in the district of Dibër has reached 6,500, a very large figure in relation to the economic poverty and sources of income in this region, forgotten in the past but just as forgotten today, the number of people left completely out on the street continues to grow. In the first days of January 1993, social support (assistance) was terminated for 1,467 people, men and women, most of them heads of families with children to feed and raise. At the same time, new lists are being prepared of those people who reach one year and are forced out onto the street, without work and without means of subsistence. A. ASHIKU

Once upon a time... (I say once upon a time, because that good «little» of yesterday seems to us to have been very far away, like something out of a fairy tale) Light Day was celebrated on October 25. Now, in recent years, that day has been put aside, as many other days have been put aside. And as for embellishment, I would like you to remember the play of the lights. Who does it, some fellow knows. Passersby walk along the road, and here and there they collide with one another, somewhere they fall into open manholes, while bandits snatch children, somewhere they leave girls to be raped. Last night, as I walked through the streets of Tirana, I was reminded of Western films, mostly Italian, less or not at all Eastern, because «they» are still revisionists (!), which in many cases show scenes full of darkness, murders and people’s screams: — Assassini! (Murderers), killers! Bandits! Help... You hear these screams today on the dark nights of the capital, of Albanian cities and villages. Because those in power have «snuffed out» the lights too. As usual, and for every black thing that is easily and gladly planted today, the pseudo-democracy says, «the right wing is to blame». Let us suppose this accusation is true, but can it also be true as far as the lights from the powerful hydroelectric plants are concerned? Certainly not. And on this point, I would like to support the esteemed president, who, with a certain amount of acceptable self-congratulation, said—President Skënder Hoxha, forgive me—that we can supply you with as much electricity as you want; but I would like him to have said: «We, once we have repaired the electrical grid in our country with your help, will also export electricity to you, whenever you want and as much as you want». Prime Minister Meksi’s self-praise in the interview he gave to the newspaper «Zëri i Popullit», (Continued on page 4)

Courtroom report At yesterday’s judicial investigation session involving defendants Nexhmije Hoxha and Kino Buxheli, witnesses questioned included Ramiz Alia, former President of the Republic of Albania; Manush Myftiu, former Deputy Prime Minister and member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the PPSH; Hekuran Isai, former Minister of Internal Affairs; Qirjako Mihali; and others. At 8:30 on January 13, under the direction of Mr. Muharrem Kushe, the sessions of the fifth day of began. At the start of yesterday’s proceedings, the Public Prosecutor bringing the charges against the defendants, Mr. Teodor Mosko, asked the court to summon Ramiz Alia as a witness as well; as is known, he has been under house arrest for several months. The court accepted the prosecutor’s request as lawful. Mr. Kushe reprimanded the ATSH journalist for a report broadcast by Radio-Tirana in recent days, considering it inaccurate. The proceedings continued with the questioning of witnesses Marjeta Sula, Rajmonda Perika, Roza Çollaku, Drita Bejko and Bukurie Kurt. After the first session yesterday, since Shane Korbeci, former Minister of Foreign Trade, did not appear when called, the prosecutor requested that he be brought in by force as a witness, while Kino Buxheli’s defense lawyer, Mr. Përparim Sanxhaku, asked that Ruhi Sheqi and Qamil Peshqeshi be summoned as witnesses. The second session began with the testimony of witness Ramiz Alia. Prosecutor Mosko asked Ramiz Alia several questions, which led to a mutual exchange of arguments. Since radio and television will broadcast the judicial investigation sessions in full, we will not dwell on the substance of the questions and answers, in which Ramiz Alia’s composure, logic and firm stance stood out on the one hand, and the prosecutor’s ill-conceived efforts on the other; at the end of the session, the prosecutor left the courtroom sweating. After Ramiz Alia, Hekuran Isai, Manush Myftiu and Qirjaku Mihali were questioned as witnesses. Hekuran Isai stated: «The Political Bureau annulled government decisions; the Government could not change even a comma in the Political Bureau’s decisions». The witness supported this conclusion with arguments explaining the essence of how the PPSH state operated under the monist Party-State system. On the other hand, Hekuran Isai went beyond the scope for which he had been summoned as a witness, protesting his arrest and the prosecutor’s questions and comments, which he called slander and deceit. Correspondent of «Zëri i Popullit»

This sensational headline of an interview published in the day-before-yesterday issue of the newspaper KD caught our attention and prompted us to find out something more. This sensational headline of an interview published in the day-before-yesterday issue of the newspaper KD caught our attention and prompted us to find out something more about it. We went to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where normally we could have obtained fuller and more authentic information, but we had difficulty doing so. Doctor Serreqi, who has been heading this department for some time, apparently frightened by the subjects and those responsible, has imposed very strict rules. Kusho noticed that it is surrounded by soldiers and officers. AN EMPEROR IN ALBANIA — Where did this prince come from and what does he represent?... Negotiations that call into question the territory of our state... — [Foreign] Economic Cooperation. It was precisely there that we learned that in the first days of this year an unusual and rare visitor landed at Rinas Airport; we do not mean to withhold the respect due to heads of state. The surprise has to do with his insignia, with the crown he wears on his head. (text continues beyond the edge of the photograph) We sought fuller and more authentic information, but found it difficult. time, apparently frightened by the ghosts of eavesdroppers, has established very strict rules. Anyone can see that it is surrounded by soldiers and officers who do not let you enter easily. Even those who manage to get in still find it difficult, because the employees of that Ministry have been terrorized to such an extent that they shy away from giving any answer about any information. So luck was on our side, and we managed to learn something at the Ministry of the Interior, along with the Ministry of Trade and ... Economic Cooperation with Foreign Countries. It was Airport: His Imperial and Royal Majesty, Pjetri i III Paleologu, Prince of Byzantium. At the head of a modest entourage of ministers and courtiers, he came to Albania on a friendly and official visit. This visit is astonishing, almost startling. Not because of the titles the prince bears, since there are still princes, kings and emperors, and I have no… - state... - ...objection to expressing the respect they deserve as heads of their states. The astonishment concerns the sceptre, the crown he wears on his head. He says he is a prince of the Byzantine Empire. Let us recall that the Byzantine Empire was established at the end of the 4th century, following the division of the Roman Empire into the Eastern Empire, which also took the name Byzantine Empire, and the Western Empire. The latter fell quickly, in the year 476, while the Emp- (Continued on page 2)

— Studios are being given to painters and sculptors. — Ismail Kadarеja apparently has an «extra» room that the Tirana municipality has sent people to take away. — What grudge could the PD parliamentary group possibly have against President Berisha? — The «manliness» of the PD group lasted only 3 hours. — How could you not say a word, Chairman Edil? In one of his famous essays, Zyloja i Drejtorit says: You are a high wall, but I will remove the last stone. Perhaps this de- (text continues)

— Proposal of the Steering Committee of the Socialist Party of Shkodër addressed to the President, the Prime Minister and the Presidium of the People’s Assembly —

- Proclamation of the Steering Committee of the Shkodër Socialist Party addressed to the President, the Prime Minister and the Presidium of the People’s Assembly - The Presidium of the Shkodër Socialist Party is concerned by the wave of revanchism and totalitarian imposition that the authorities in Shkodër have continued to exercise since taking power. After the “successful” completion of the purge campaign, based on political rather than professional criteria, which has affected not only many intellectuals but also many workers; after the unjustified transfers of teachers in the middle of the school year, including the deputy chair of the Steering Committee, the chairs of the women’s and youth forums, as well as other activists of the Socialist Party in Shkodër, ... - Proclamation of the Steering Committee of the Shkodër Socialist Party of the People’s Assembly - ...who have worked in the countryside for several years, revanchism continues by flagrantly violating people’s rights and the laws, introducing arbitrariness everywhere. As is well known, on December 31, 1992, this arbitrariness manifested itself in the mass disconnection of telephone lines belonging to more than 150 families, among them families of “Heroes of Labor,” martyrs and veterans of the Anti-Fascist National Liberation War. There are also rumors that this is only the beginning—the lists continue... Even more blatant are the unjustified evictions from homes or the occupation of those homes. (Continued on page 4)

- Interview by journalist from Kosovo, based in Sweden, Milaim Zeka, given to editor Hamdi Jupe - Question: Mr. Milaim, what is the purpose of your visit to Albania these days? Answer: In order to make myself known to public opinion here in Albania, I would like to give a brief introduction for the newspaper “Zëri i popullit.” My name is Milaim Zeka, and I was born in Drenicë, Kosovo. I was a political prisoner in 1981, when I was in my fourth year of high school. In 1982 I was arrested abroad, and I was not in Kosovo for a year and a half after that. I first visited Albania in 1983. After that, I was not allowed to enter for almost seven years. In recent years I have been to Albania many times, made several reports, and also made a documentary film about the democratic processes in Albania in January 1991. I also made a program about the churches in Albania. I have now come here to make a film about the children of Kosovo and Albania, about Albanian children. It is a very large project. I came with a Swedish friend of mine, Lase Mori. It is a project approved by the Swedish Ministry of Education. In addition, during these days, while the court proceedings against Nexhmije Hoxha are taking place, I have been authorized by Sweden’s TETE News Agency, one of the largest news agencies, as well as by Swedish Television, the state channel 2, which has almost 4 million viewers in Sweden and is watched throughout the Scandinavian countries, to cover the trial of Nexhmije Hoxha. In accordance with Albanian law, I obtained the relevant invitation from the court to attend the trial on January 8. The day before, my Swedish colleague and I went to Albanian Television and made a contract to hire one of its television camera operators to film in the courtroom. In passing, I should point out that for two years I have been working voluntarily for Albanian Radio and Television. The next day we went to the Television station to collect the camera operator, but I noticed that there was a certain alarm there about the operator I had requested. In the end, after the conversation and contract we made with the employee Alma Starova, and after approval from the head of information, Shkëlqim Alia, I took the operator Bujar Kore, and we went in the Television station’s car to the Tirana court building, where the trial was to take place. It is strange that my camera operator, like many other camera operators from Albania and around the world, was allowed inside, while I was stopped at the door. Through my own efforts, I managed to get in. As soon as I entered, one of the police chiefs began threatening me. Apparently, my name had become known to the police. The policeman insulted and threatened me. I did not react; I only told him that I was not one of those boys who feel afraid, so he should not waste his breath threatening me for nothing. I want to clarify that Swedish Television does not broadcast dead news, unless it is sho- (Continued on page 2)

On page 2 you will read: What is the truth about Bushat and the amb...

about the Italian embassy scholarships? Ilena Nicolli: Cultural emotion

The Cultural Office of the Italian Embassy announces that on Friday, January 15, 1993, at 15:00, a commemoration of Qemal Stafa will be held in the hall of the Stafa School; registrations will be held for the Italian-language and arts course, and only those who have a certificate for the elementary or intermediate course completed in 1992 will be admitted. Those interested must present their identity card and pay 800 lek for the entire trimester.