Berisha, Arbnori and Meksi are not in Albania!... — Who is running the state?... In the Sunday news bulletins of January 31, almost all the reports broadcast were connected with Rinas Airport, so much so that someone jokingly remarked that today our television stations are broadcasting live from Rinas. Prime Minister Meksi set off for Italy together with Serreqi. The Speaker of Parliament, Pjetër Arbnori, set off for the USA, while President Berisha himself has been in Switzerland for several days. May they have a good journey and succeed in the missions they have set themselves, bringing something back to Albania in these difficult days. We only hope they do not bring us a fountain pen, a packet of cotton wool, or an eyebrow clipper. The fact that the three leading figures of the state are not in Albania is an extremely unusual occurrence, perhaps rare in the world. Nowhere does everyone leave at the same time. Someone has to run the state, regardless of the structures that are supposed to be operating. It is known that when the President is absent, his powers here are exercised by the Speaker of Parliament, but it is not known who exercises them when both are absent. Despite all this, one thing is clear: the Albanian state is without a leader. Fortunately, the CIA or KGB have not got the idea of organizing a coup, because all three leading figures have left as if on cue. THE OBSERVER

— Assistance for joint enterprises — The trade unionists of Saranda are quite right to raise this issue: although the law says that joint enterprises must retain their workers for a year, giving them time to find a job, some of them are rushing to carry out drastic immediate layoffs... NPA, for example, put 120 workers on welfare. What can you do? Welfare is not enough for me, and now we apparently need welfare and reform on top of the «reform» that foreign companies and capital want to impose on us. Yes, when they find...

Not that it matters, but apparently this way the expenses are made easier and cut down. This way of working and trading was devised some time ago. The income is also higher, since more foreign currency flows in, except that the pocket it flows into is different. The sales take place not only in international waters, but also in domestic waters. No one checks. Even if they wanted to, they no longer can, because they have no means. So the financial police have the fish slip through their fingers. What we’re saying is: is there anyone who can grab the fresh fish and eel in the palm of their hand?(!) Th. D. So gone, as if by order… Th. D.

Although a week has passed since the sensational theft at the Durrës Municipality was widely reported in the press and discussed by the public, the heads of the law-enforcement agencies and the mayor himself have still not spoken out to explain these thefts. To help the gentlemen, we are publishing an inventory of the items stolen from this municipality. 500 thousand lekë were stolen from the state treasury, and around 100 thousand lekë from municipal employees. Five electronic calculating machines, medical equipment and telephone sets were stolen; seven safes and 12 doors were broken open. This is the inventory reported by employees of the municipal administration. But they say the thief has been fully identified; they even mention his name, concluding that the law-enforcement and judicial authorities, as well as the mayor himself, are not speaking openly because the thief is the son of a high-ranking state official who, months ago, also stole a car. Once, after Comrade Qirjako’s son (Mihali) committed a crime, the servants covered it up so as not to tarnish Comrade Qirjako’s image. The same reasoning is being applied this time too: let’s cover up the theft so that Mr. ...’s image is not tarnished. There are even rumors that, for this reason, attempts have been made to get rid of the documents proving that the thief was caught. But do you know, gentlemen of the law-enforcement and judicial authorities, and Mr. Mayor, that the disappearance of documents constitutes a violation of the law—in other words, a crime for which you will be held responsible? Now, while you hold the stone and the walnut in your hands, you may be able to destroy the documents, but you forget that people are still alive... And even if people are silenced, walls have ears; besides, since the thefts took place at night, the moon photographed them, just as it once did the hooded figures in Ismail Kadare’s «The Old Emblem». SULEJMAN VOLGI

Some time ago, the Speaker of the People’s Assembly, Mr. Pjetër Arbnori, was accused by his former cellmate, Don Simon Jubani, of being a collaborator of the State Security service. The press reports that Genc Ruli, Minister of Economy and Finance, violated the embargo imposed by Europe against Serbia through his company. Blerim Çela is accused in the press of having said that it would be better to give the votes to Milosheviç than to the Socialists. There was a great outcry over the statements made by Baskim Kopliku and Ylli Pango in Macedonia. An article has been published arguing with evidence that Bashkim Gazideda brought the People’s Assembly to its knees when he said he had written to Luan Pobrati in prison, sent by the President of the Republic to verify a letter addressed to him. Much is said about today’s government and its officials. We have selected here just a few facts that everyone knows. Strange: everyone knows them, yet they make no impression! People are not impressed that ... is called a spy, that the head of the State Control service is a Milosheviç sympathizer, that the Minister of Economy signs documents that prolong the Serbian occupation of Kosovo, that... Have people become so numb? Perhaps it does make an impression on them; but what can they do?! Then you do something, gentlemen in power. You do it, Mr. Pjetër. Ask the People’s Assembly to open your file first. Resign if they do not support you. Take the matter to court. Do everything possible to help us understand who you really are. Otherwise, you can no longer remain on that high seat. Let others follow your example. The accusations against you cannot be brushed aside. They are public, and therefore the public demands public answers. The high offices you hold require courage. Show that courage by voluntarily submitting yourselves to justice. BEQIR SKRELI DINO THANA

At a time when there is no control over housing construction, the consequences will weigh heavily on the future and on democratic civilization. Places of exceptional beauty are completely unprotected from the assaults of people who want to profit as much as possible from the transition, or who want to solve their own problems without considering the social damage or destruction. Saranda is filling up with shacks; there is no control over residence registration, the construction of houses, trading stalls or temporary facilities. At an official meeting, people spoke of 500 illegal sites—houses, shops, and so on—and in fact that is the truth. The government seems to be asleep and is afraid to act. But tomorrow these developments will exact a very high price from the state and society, as well as from individuals themselves. DINO THANA What happened at the meeting is fueling demands. Subservience and servility toward the state and the authorities were displayed there in all their weight, so much so that it seems their shadow—the shadow of subordination and servility—has left us «in the shade». There is no other way to explain why HAMDI JUPE (Continued on page 3)

With the view that we are all intellectuals, Albanians, regardless of the diversity of our political beliefs and party affiliations; with the hope that, under pluralism, at long last we journalists too would have our own organization; aware that organization is necessary to tackle, now and in the future, the many problems troubling the Albanian press, a few days ago we journalists gathered for our meeting. After two years of fierce polemics, in which we tore into and picked each other apart for party interests, it seemed the time had come to reach an understanding, at least about our shared concerns. That is why the presence in the hall of a large number of journalists was so heartening; rarely in recent years had they come together for a meeting of their own. On an occasion like this, sound judgment sets aside the organizers’ shortcomings and the way the meeting was arranged. It was organized at a time when we had two journalists’ organizations, and yet at the same time had none. First, BGSH had long been dead and had been replaced by a temporary Steering Committee, which too had run its course. Second, the Journalists’ Association had failed to withstand the new era. The idea of establishing a new association on the ruins of both was not a bad one. Regarded as serious and sincere, it seemed promising. By now, everyone knows how the meeting unfolded and what the results were. What remains unclear is the answer to the question: is the new entity called the “Journalists’ Association” a hope for journalists or a new disappointment? This question was raised at the very start of the journalists’ meeting, accompanied it throughout, and continues to be asked today. Hope stems from the desire to truly have a serious professional organization. Disappointment is apparent in the consequences that may follow from the results of the first meeting. Let us keep hope alive by denouncing the evil that could bring us disappointment. In my remarks at the journalists’ meeting, referring to… …in a letter addressed to him. Much is said about the government and today’s government officials. Here we have selected just a few facts that we all know. are not struck by the fact that No. 2 of Albania acc… …which …of the journalists facts that we all know. Albania acc… …accompanied the journalists’ meeting my remarks at the journalists’ meeting, referring to…

On Sunday morning, the executive committee of the Socialist Party of the Shkodër district met. The meeting discussed at length the work done so far on reorganizing the Party and several issues that arise in this regard for the future. In the report delivered by the committee’s chairman, Sadedin Stankoj, emphasis was placed on a new understanding of the need to organize the Party. It is true that we have addressed the reorganization of the Party several times, but it must be understood that new problems arise every day. Therefore, we must be very clear that the reorganization of the Party does not begin and end in a single day, or even in a few days; it is now an ongoing process. The current reorganization is dictated by the city’s new administrative division into four districts. Likewise, in some villages where the Party’s presence is weak, the aim of reorganization is to revitalize it. The speakers also underlined that the main aim of the Socialist Party’s reorganization is to consolidate it and strengthen its role in opposition politics as a constructive force. It is a fact that, during a period, the Socialist Party in this district halted this last constructive effort because of certain actions by the local authorities, which perhaps unintentionally carry a shadow of resentment and revenge. The executive committee has denounced these manifestations as phenomena that undermine understanding and tolerance, and as antidemocratic phenomena. We have stressed several times that Shkodër needs understanding between political forces, not disagreements and resentments, the attendees pointed out. The Socialist Party in this district has not lacked, and will not lack, a contribution to mutual understanding. We maintain our view that today’s reciprocal manifestations of revanchism by those in power cannot be fought with revanchism. The Socialist Party responds to these manifestations by promoting itself through greater unity and activity… [Continued on page 2] …where one believes less in fine words than in concrete action carried out in their service. Therefore, the party’s reorganization must serve to improve the quality of this activity. This reorganization will make it more possible for understanding to prevail over revanchism, tolerance over extremism, and arguments over demagoguery. For the party’s reorganization to be as effective as possible, this process must not be separated in any way from the party’s concrete, day-to-day activity. At the conclusion of the discussion on this item, the work plan was approved. It provides for groups made up of members of the steering committee to establish the Party’s steering councils in four districts of the city, as well as in several villages in remote mountain areas. All this work is to be completed by the end of February. Among other things, the meeting also discussed several issues that are now causing concern. MUSA KURTULAJ (Continued on page 2)

On Thursday, February 4, 1993, at 10:00 a.m., in the lecture hall of the Palace of Culture in Tirana, the Committee of War Veterans and Invalids of the Tirana district is organizing: - A meeting with the families and relatives of martyrs who fell in: - The February 4, 1944 massacre in Tirana; - The fighting at Qafa e Bëllës, Br. III6, on January 16, 1944. - The fighting at Tujan by Bat. «Dajti» E. Br. II3, on January 22–25, 1944, and at Dheshorët on February 28 in Tirana. The families and relatives of the martyrs, as well as veterans who took part in these battles and events, are invited to attend. Following the meetings, visits will be organized to the families of the martyrs by district.

In the city of Fier, in its center, near the Kinoteatër, I have a residential apartment with two rooms and a kitchen, with a spacious annex and balcony. We want to exchange it for an apartment in Tirana with the same floor area. Whoever arranges this exchange will receive a generous reward. Interested parties should call telephone no. 229-39 in Tirana.