In broad daylight - An unusual event that contradicts police reports about establishing order - Who robbed the Durrës Bank In broad daylight THE SAVINGS BANK IN TIRANA IS ROBBED - An unusual event that contradicts police reports about establishing order - Who robbed the Durrës Bank At about 11:45 yesterday, the main counter of the Savings Bank in the middle of Tirana was robbed in broad daylight. The ease with which this «Western-style» operation was carried out shows that its organizers knew how to hit their target. In the bright sunshine, several armed people entered through the main door on the boulevard, threatened the bank employees and carried out the robbery. Everything was done swiftly and with clockwork precision by people who have not yet been identified... masked, but armed. We emphasize that the bank in question mainly handled foreign-currency transactions. It is unfortunate that state financial institutions such as banks are now also becoming targets of robberies. We emphasize that the Savings Bank, which as an independent bank has existed only briefly, has perhaps been the most active among the other banks in our banking system during this transitional period, trying to attract foreign investors and finance domestic investors. Its reputation was on the rise, eclipsing that of the others. Although, as we prepare this report, the inventory has not yet been completed, so we cannot give an exact figure for the extent of the robbery, it will once again be no small amount. It is estimated at around 8 million dollars. To give credit where it is due, the Tirana police leadership, headed by Mr. S. Stafa himself, arrived promptly, but... the robbers say they had quickly driven away before they arrived. We do not know whether there were police officers on the boulevard at that moment, as we see them every day walking around, as well as driving cars and motorcycles, sounding their sirens for reasons incomprehensible to passers-by. We do know that this bank, or this important bank counter, was not among the sites that the police were supposed to guard. SHPEND BREGU

The January 28, 1993 issue of «RD» published the speech delivered by Prime Minister Meksi at the meeting of the DP National Council, in which, among other things, he said: «As far as administrative reform is concerned, work is proceeding in two directions: creating administrative structures and ways of working that make economic reform possible, and removing from management levels those who have been cited for their lack of devotion and their authoritarian, autocratic-democratic and corrupt mentality.» (This is a familiar characteristic of the «democratic» accusations the Albanian prime minister makes against the cadres and specialists he has removed from institutions and other central bodies.) On the above, he reports to the council that «... following the work begun intensively at the previous meeting of the National Council, work is under way to deepen reform in all ministries. Alongside the planned reductions and the continuation of the reform approved in recent days (5–10 percent), a number of employees are being dismissed whose presence in ministries is unnecessary, unhelpful and, in many cases, harmful. (There is the real face of the “reforms,” laid bare every day.) The cooperation of the ministries with the Thanë branch (this refers to the DP’s branch) and a case-by-case assessment are essential and have produced results. (We would say that this is a further intensification of the class struggle in a “democratic” system, where we can expect the authors to be rewarded with the Nobel Prize.) The Prime Minister adds further down that «As far as justice is concerned, we observe slight improvements and believe that, with the initiative launched a month ago for short-term courses, we will see significant improvements in the coming months.» (Here is some good news for Albanian justice.) In short, the «Meksi» Government has decided to implement «the measures envisaged for reforming the Academy of Sciences and its institutes, and subsequently reorganizing the scientific institutions under the ministries. Their reorganization, alongside selection—read: discrimination—and this is precisely where the rabbit is pulled from the hat—of the staff’s qualifications, remains a task for the future». And «during February the prefectures will be organized, which will increase the role of the DP and its power at the local level» (here Mr. Meksi drops the mask completely and openly states the «national» purpose of establishing prefectures, which he lacked both the courage and the manliness to state openly during the recent interpellation in the People’s Assembly.) It is clear that the DP’s Prime Minister, Mr. Meksi, has nothing to do with democracy. The Observer

- The UN has repeatedly called on Croatian forces to «immediately» halt their offensive against the Serbs in southern Croatia. After hearing a report from Secretary-General Boutros Ghali, the Security Council declared that it was «deeply concerned» about the continuation of the Croatian offensive. *** - The Secretary of the World Muslim League, Saudi Omar Nasser, was received at the Vatican by the Pope, whom he asked to intervene «for peace in the Middle East and to put an end to the massacre of Muslims in Bosnia». *** - The French naval squadron (made up of around 10 warships) heading for the Adriatic because of the worsening Serbo-Croatian crisis may be escorted from Italian bases. This was stated by Italy’s Foreign Minister, Kolombo, who clarified that so far Paris «has made no formal request». Kolombo added: «We have not given our soldiers a mandate for local resistance, so we must help the countries present in this troubled region.» *** - Prime Minister Rabin fully supported the Israeli Supreme Court’s decision to deport more than 400 Palestinians, saying: «We will put our decision into effect later.» The Palestine Liberation Organization condemned the decision, calling it an interruption of the peace talks. The PLO has suspended Palestinian participation in bilateral talks and requested an urgent meeting of the Security Council to impose sanctions on Israel if it does not implement the resolution. According to the French Foreign Minister, «Israel must assume political responsibility» for this operation, which could «compromise the peace process». ★★★ - The Foreign Affairs Committee of the Italian Chamber of Deputies approved a resolution presented by various groups (Christian Democrats, Social Democrats, Socialists and others) concerning the Palestinians deported by Israel and the prospects for peace in the Middle East. It calls, in particular, for PLO participation in the peace talks and asks the Italian government «to make the development of economic relations with Israel conditional on recent developments, as well as on the restoration of the international mission». The motion calls for a «necessary political, diplomatic and economic initiative (Continued on page 4)

For two years now, the «Marin Barleti» library in Shkodër has been clo—

We, the veterans, invalids and families of the martyrs of the Anti-Fascist National Liberation War, gathered to commemorate the 49th anniversary of the III Group of Skrapar and the Battle of Tenda e Qypit, fought from January 19–25, 1944, by the partisans of Br. I S. and the III Group, strongly supported by the people against the German Balli forces, fully support the National assembly of veterans and invalids of the LANÇL, of the Albanian people, gathered in Tirana on January 11, 1993. With the position you are taking, you are siding with the Ballists—the Zogist-Ballists, who were leaders of the enemies and fought against the liberation of the country. Instead of asking us for forgiveness for the harm they caused the people, they are demanding an account from us, who fought to liberate Albania from the fascist occupiers. The veterans, invalids and families of the martyrs are outraged by the denial and failure to celebrate the events that took place from April 7, 1939, to November 29, 1944, which certain Zogist-Ballist forces seek to erase completely, and by you, Mr. President, refusing to recognize them, including events such as the liberation of Albania on November 29, 1944, and Republic Day, while refusing to recognize even facts sacred to the homeland. You deny the existence of our country. We were outraged when, in approving the dates of the holidays, you left the most historic date—the liberation of Albania—to historians, while we were there and fought and celebrated the lasting liberation; we are still alive. This is a public message you are giving to us and to the families of the martyrs of the Homeland. Mr. President: Historians may review and correct some injustice done to history by pseudo-historians, but not what has been signed in the blood of 28,000 martyrs for Albania’s liberation. Any effort to correct history may be accepted, but the struggle of our people to liberate the Homeland and the blood of the martyrs cannot be corrected. Mr. President, take part in this celebration for the veterans and families of the martyrs of Albania’s liberation war, and for all the Albanian people who entered triumphantly on the morning of November 29, 1944. We ask you, Mr. President, to take the active participants as witnesses to these events, not dilettantes who experienced the war only through books. We are alive; we lived through these events, we left parts of our bodies behind, and you want to deny us, leaving us with the bitter worry that after our deaths you will deny us too. But a state without history and culture can never have democracy. So do not add to our old age and troubles; instead, approve what the laws of democracy you claim to defend rightfully grant us. We are sending this petition to several press organizations as well. From National Liberation War who took part, city of Çorovodë, January 17, 1993

For two years now, the «Marin Barleti» library in Shkodër has remained closed. the «Marin Barleti» library in Shkodër has remained closed. Anyone with even a little interest in books—and there are plenty of such people in Shkodër—surely feels regret when passing by the library and seeing its broken windows and its door shut at all hours. We cannot say what reason is given to justify keeping the library closed. But it is a fact that since the events of April 2, 1991, when certain groups tried to burn it down and the windows were smashed and other damage was done, the «Marin Barleti» Library has not operated for a single day. There is no need to discuss how necessary books are, or to start listing the intellectuals, professors and researchers in Shkodër who may need to consult books and various periodicals (as far as we know, the library has a rich collection of them). Leaving them unused serves only anti-culture. One thing puzzles me: among the many promises made by the party in power were promises concerning culture. Since it cannot keep its other promises, and since the fairy-tale paradise after March 22 has been exposed for what it is, it should at least keep a library open in this old city with its cultural traditions. One recalls the enthusiastic speeches of many of today’s officials at rallies in Shkodër, where they invoked the ancient culture of the Shkodër people, beginning with Marin Barleti, whose name this closed library bears, and continuing with Fishta, Mjeda, Migjeni and others. Yet their books have been locked away. Whatever justification is offered for this long silence surrounding this two-storey building, where professors, researchers, students and every other reader should be able to gather, it would be futile. The best response would be to reopen it and restore its functions as they were two years ago. Heaven forbid anyone should claim that people have no interest in books now! JETMIR SHPUZA

Skrapar, like many other parts of Albania, is a region where fierce battles against the Nazi-Fascist occupier were fought during the Second World War. This epic is evidence of the contribution made by each patriotic political force. According to historical records and the testimonies of those still alive, the liberation movement in the region began in the first half of 1942. During this period, the first partisan groups were formed on 17 March 1942 in Kulmak, as well as some 30–40 others based in a village, or in two or three villages together, operating within Skrapar and beyond it. The fighting programme was driven by the idea of uniting the people without distinction of religion or region, and by the idea of driving out the occupiers. At the beginning of that year, Balli and Zogist organizations were formed. Their attitude toward the war was reserved. The frequent meetings between representatives of the National Liberation Movement, led by Kahreman XH, Gjim Marku and Ramiz Aranitasi, and those of Balli Kombëtar, led by Abaz Ermenji, Muharrem Kallapani, etc., did not result in a common position. The former supported fighting, while the latter held that the time had not come to fight a state of 40 million people, as Italy was, and that the Germans were not occupiers but liberators, etc. They remained faithful to this position to the end, without firing a single shot at the enemy. Thus, while partisan forces fought the enemy’s garrisons operating in Skrapar in the summer of 1942 and attacked Çorovodë on 5 September 1942, the Ballists were taking an oath. Their indifferent and pro-occupier stance undermined their prestige, and by early 1943 they gradually and quite openly [?] not only stopped giving them bread, but often did not even shoot at them in the village; this even happened to Safet Butka in the village of Potom in October 1943. The same happened to Ali Bej Këlcyrehn in Çorovodë in June (Continued on page 4) …rimin of Shkodër on 29 November 1944, the date Shkodër and all of Albania were liberated. Among the former partisans of the 7th Assault Brigade who fought in the Erat–Shkodër battles, 62 partisans fell as martyrs. The people need peace, understanding and stronger friendship, while you are pushing them into enmity by fulfilling the wishes of Ballists such as Arshin Pipa, who comes to Albania with a pistol at his waist. We have been and remain opposed to class warfare, but you are rehabilitating the Ballists who have blood on their hands and are creating another class war. Therefore, we address you once again, gentlemen Members of Parliament, and you, Mr President: you are witnesses, along with 250 active participants from Skrapar, together with thousands of participants from the partisan brigades and the heroic people of Shkodër, to the liberation of the city of Shkodër and all of Albania, who entered triumphantly on the morning of 29 November the war only through books. We are alive and know the events we lived through; to deny us, leaving us with the fear Therefore, do not add further burdens to our old age and troubles; instead, approve the rights that the laws of democracy—which you say you wish to defend—grant us. We are also sending this petition to several press organizations. (Continued on page 4)

Situations during periods of transition create the conditions for anarchy. Our country is no exception to this conclusion, all the more so when democracy—and even more—may be put at risk. The many acts of economic destruction are nothing other than public manifestations of anarchy. During these two years, several governments changed, but the most absurd action was the overthrow of the government of stability, leaving the country without a government, without laws, without a state. This shows that the anarchy in the streets was directed and inspired by forces and individuals capable of overthrowing governments as well. The motto of classical anarchy: let us destroy everything. The motto of Albanian anarchism: “let us bring everything down to zero,” because it is communist. The exhausted people were manipulated in the name of democracy. On 22 March, they voted for the DP, thinking that “it would build true democracy.” The disillusionment came very quickly. Many things changed in the July elections, yet nothing changed, since local government is blocked and the DP central government calls the shots. The anarchy in the streets has moved toward the top of the pyramid. What does the attitude of those in power toward the promises they made to the people about stability and well-being show? What do Parliament’s actions toward the laws concerning local and national government show? (Continued on page 2)

Consumer rights are recognized and enshrined in law in many countries around the world, both in the West and, more recently, in the East. Could Albanian consumers soon enjoy this right too? The changes that have taken place in the free-market sector have made a law on the protection of Albanian consumers very necessary and essential. Therefore, the Albanian Consumer Association is right to call for it. It is the sole legitimate representative, and its programme and statutes make the preservation, protection and education of consumers a primary duty—something the Association regards as an essential part of maintaining a clean and fair free market, inseparable from service to consumers. For some time, the Association has been advocating this demand to the highest bodies of the democratic state of Albania. It has also used its available resources to inform the ministries and relevant bodies, which have ties to and obligations regarding the planning of their programmes, about their plans for consumer protection. Alongside the recommendations and information we have provided to the relevant state bodies, we, as an association, have published not only our programme and statutes but also extensive information about the work of counterpart associations in various countries around the world. In particular, we have also highlighted the rights established by the UN and the European International Consumers’ Organization (COCU), with which we have complete information and whose commitment to the pro- (Continued on page 4)