Observation What is the government afraid of? - The government is not publishing the decision on price liberalization. On January 15, some passages from the government’s latest decision on changing prices and tariffs that had until now been controlled by the state were read on radio and television. When measures of this kind concern people’s vital needs, they want precise information about increases in prices and tariffs, the specific goods and activities to which these measures will apply, how the new prices will be set, and so on. But people cannot learn these things from radio and television alone. They must be published in writing. This way, people are better informed, the relevant authorities implement the government’s decision correctly, and the press can rely on accurate information when addressing the issues arising from the implementation of the new decision. But what happens? The government refuses to publish its decision in the press. On January 16, Saturday, we spent about four hours trying to obtain a copy of the decision from the Council of Ministers, but it was impossible. The answer given by the little officials we met there was: “We cannot give the decision to newspapers. We are required to give it only to Radiotelevizioni, ATSH, and the relevant ministries. We need permission from the prime minister or the secretary-general of the Council of Ministers to give it to you.” Those two gentlemen were not in the office that day! The first was on official business abroad; the second left his office at 9 and did not return. And so Saturday passed without us obtaining the decision.

On January 17, Sunday, the newspaper «RD» published the same notice that Radiotelevizioni had also issued. This notice is incomprehensible and it is unclear whether it is a decision (it has neither a number nor a date) or a commentary, and nobody knows who prepared it for the public. What it says contains many ambiguities and contradictions, both about prices and about traders. On Saturday, for example, some shop assistants in food stores did not know what to do. They were waiting for the trade authorities to set the new prices of the basket of goods. But the notice published in «RD» does not say that the new prices for these goods will be set by the authori-

Are today’s people in power joking, or do they want to pull the wool over our eyes?! The new law on prices says that the prices of firewood, coal, and central heating will not change. Really? But there has been no firewood, coal, or heating for a long time. They have almost been forgotten. If they mean the wood sold here and there by villagers who come down to the capital with donkeys, then they are mistaken, because its price would leave even the people in power speechless—which, naturally, they cannot know, since they themselves are warm.

The problems of urban passenger transport in Tirana have been very serious. Citizens waited for hours at the stops. Even when they could

LETTER ADDRESSED TO MR. PRESIDENT Three years ago I came from the mountains of Çika and Beun to specialize in Tirana. I took part in party life with the professor Ylli Popa, Josif Adhami, Sali Berisha, Isuf Kalo, Nesti Kondili, Sabit Broka, Hektor Peçi, and others. You can imagine how one feels when one returns to Tirana after seven years and finds oneself in an organization with people who, during that time, have toured the capitals of Europe for specialization, as well as many others who served as personal doctors to the block leaders. At every meeting I tried to be as attentive as possible, to catch every detail from our esteemed professors. I benefited greatly from Ylli Popa’s erudition, Sabit Broka’s logic, Sali Berisha’s courage, and Isuf Kalo’s sincerity. Every day I armed myself with a new idea, free of taboos. The Gorbachev factor led Europe to build new roads. Thus Ramiz Alia was forced to switch on some traffic lights, which he called plenums, but they did not fulfil their function even for a single day. Immediately after the 10th plenum, there was a real disillusionment. At meetings, our esteemed professors spoke as if history began and ended here. Do you remember, professor, when I said to you: “The history of Albania is very ancient. It does not begin with the 10th plenum. But since you like plenums, before the 10th plenum there were other plenums too, which say that, as a devoted communist, you should go to the northeastern region and visit your people; if you have 50 percent respect now, when you return you will have more than 90 percent.” Professor, during the break you shook my hand and said: “You gave me a good telling-off, Lab, well done.” That handshake, at a time when you were a distinguished professor of cardiology and an intellectual fighting for the new, for progress, makes me recall some moments from your life as party chairman and as president. I do this because history has taught us lessons and brought us disappointments. I do this because I have faith in you as a person and as a patriot. I do this so that tomorrow, when you are no longer such a person but simply Dr. Berisha, I can shake your hand... Since December 1990 I have followed your political activity. (To be continued on page 3)

Skanderbeg, “persecuted” - From the television report on the ceremony commemorating the 525th anniversary of Skanderbeg’s death. So, then, the dictatorship denied even Skanderbeg. But great history is like that rare jewel which, once discovered, inspires everyone with determination. Democracy came, and once again Skanderbeg is among the cities and public institutions. A bust of Skanderbeg will be placed in the presidential reception hall. The Korçë sports club, as well as dozens of enterprises and institutions, will bear his once-denied name. Skanderbeg the martyr will be proclaimed a National Hero and awarded several high decorations. A film about Skanderbeg will be shot ... in which the actor will not be a Russian (the shame of the dictatorship) but a highlander from the North. Noli will write a major historical study about Skanderbeg, and Naimi will compose the beautiful verses: “Krujë, O blessed city.” They will be included in all history textbooks and poetry anthologies. The people will compose songs, and anthologies will be made from them. Thus, history was set right. This was the message that struck us, along with the rise in prices. SH. M. vje?on ... beut. So, the dictatorship denied even Skënderbeu. But great history is like that buried jewel which, when one day it is discovered, amazes everyone with its brilliance. Democracy came, and Skënderbeu is once again among us. A great museum and a monument will be built for the forgotten Skënderbeu in his historical birthplace, Krujë. And his burial place in Lezhë, with its rows of splendid battles, will be restored and declared a cultural monument. A magnificent bronze monument of Skënderbeu, persecuted for so many years, will be erected in Tirana’s main square (his sword seems as if it will cut the crescent moon of the minaret beside it); the square will be given his name, and he will be mounted on horseback. Smaller monuments and obelisks will be erected in dozens of

Television in the stratosphere.. As is well known, television came after newspapers, so it is more modern and more powerful. Its ability to connect instantly with the world and use electronic media is immense and unlimited. Yet we too, with that small advantage that “the written word remains,” wanted to leave some message for today’s and future generations of television viewers... Skënder Bucpapaj’s television, which came after the “chewing-gum” strikes and the “restructuring of the governing council,” has turned into a satellite league. It does indeed broadcast 12 hours of programming, as its director general proudly declares, but it spends most of its time connected to satellites, with light music and Eurosport. It gives “flash” reports from around the world but forgets to say what is happening to our farmers who have received land, how food supplies are in remote areas, how residents in most regions of the country are getting around, what is happening to the former strikers in Bulqiza, Ballsh, and Polican, how the reform is being carried out and received, what the unemployed and social-assistance recipients say, how pensioners are coping with the economic situation, what value children have in schools, what the intellectuals’ morals are, Telo kronisti (Continued on page 4)

The Confederation of Trade Unions of Albania has continually expressed its grave concern and defended its alternatives regarding the vital problems troubling our workers today, such as: the resumption of work and revival of production, ensuring the subsistence minimum, the progress of social assistance and all the problems associated with it, the treatment of pensioners and people with disabilities, and the wages of employees in the budget-funded sector, such as health, education, services, etc. , ensuring the supply of essential goods, putting assets into operation, restructuring agricultural enterprises, etc. To the astonishment of everyone, before the ink on the new law on trade unions had even properly dried—a law that grants them the right to discuss labor relations, living conditions, pensions, and social support with the highest state bodies—the Council of Ministers has taken a unilateral decision. Under the absurd pretext of implementing economic reform, it “drastically increased prices and service charges,” thereby making workers’ living conditions unbearably worse. The Confederation of Trade Unions of Albania categorically protests this arbitrary, antihuman decision, which harms the interests of the broad mass of workers, and particularly those of employees in the budget-funded sector, pensioners, social-assistance recipients, people with disabilities, etc. This protest is nothing other than support for implementing economic reform in our country with as little pain as possible. We call on the President and the Government to listen without fail to the voice of the trade union and to enter into dialogue as soon as possible on the current social problems in our country. For the Confederation of Trade Unions of Albania Chairman KASTRIOT MUÇO

The problems of urban passenger transport in Tirana have been very acute. been very acute. Citizens wait at stops for hours. Even when they managed to get onto some bus, they could hardly breathe because of the crowds. For two or three days, Tirana has been quiet. After the announcement of the “democratic” government’s decision to raise prices, one sees a completely new scene at passenger stations. Whereas before people waited for buses, now buses wait for people. What became of the crowds of citizens eager to ride the buses, one might ask? They have now started walking. Those whose homes are within the una- (Continued on page 4)

Among the many promises we have grown accustomed to hearing from our honorable President are those about protecting food staples. Being convinced of the President’s sincerity, we too were overjoyed, since, after all, we are on assistance, the whole family, and even today’s prices seem quite steep to us. So we spent the New Year calmly, trusting the President’s assurance about the promise he had made to protect food staples. But when we heard these days about the liberalization of some prices, such as oil, sugar, and other everyday items, it hit us like a bomb, and we could not believe our ears. A latecomer democrat in Shkodër, when he heard the news on television, said in astonishment: “Mr. Sali and I know nothing about it; perhaps Aleksandër did it on his own!” Believing this democrat, we too suspect that our honorable President knew nothing about this matter, since he is a man of his word and keeps his promises. Surely, that night, when he heard the Council of Ministers’ decision on the news broadcast, he must have been angry, because they had not acted in accordance with the pro- (Continued on page 4)

Lekë Lekë Lekë Lekë Lekë Lekë Lekë Lekë Lekë Lekë Lekë Lekë K. K? 93 It is easier to dress in lekë than to buy at these prices.

RTSH echoes the benefits the people will supposedly enjoy if prices rise. The servants of those in power remain servants