- Request for a question session with the bank governor - - Given the concerns that have arisen regarding Albania’s debt and the dubious negotiations over its settlement, the Socialist parliamentary group is requesting a question session with the Bank Governor, Mr. Ilir Hoti. It would be best for this session to take place as soon as possible, preferably this week. 1. What was the external debt at the end of 1990, 1991 and 1992, and what has the bank done to settle it? 2. On what legal grounds did you authorize the two French nationals to negotiate the debt? Who introduced, recommended and approved them? What did they represent for Albania? Are they legal and official French representatives? 3. Under the law, the Bank is an independent institution. Have you experienced any cases of interference by various state bodies? 4. What exactly does the agreement you concluded with the two French representatives contain? (Could you provide us with the agreement, if possible?) 5. Apart from the authorization to represent the Bank issued by you, are there any other authorizations or documents signed by other people or by you yourself? 6. Who paid the money, how much was paid, and when? What document was the payment based on? When did you learn that the payment had been made? 7. Who are the people, inside and outside the Bank, who know about this action? 8. When did you bring this matter to the attention of the Prime Minister and the President? 9. How long did this transaction remain unaccounted for, and when did you learn of this? Are there other transactions or discrepancies in banks that may be unaccounted for, whether detected or not? 10. Have any other authorizations been issued for debt negotiations or other mediation? 11. To what extent do you consider yourself responsible in connection with these matters, and specifically for what? 12. If you know, who has this money in their hands today, and what has it been used for? What is your opinion on this matter? 13. Regarding the theft of money at the Savings Bank: how did it happen? What responsibility rests with the bank’s management and the law-enforcement authorities? How far has the investigation of this matter progressed? 14. Have there been any other thefts, and if so, how many exactly? What about cash discrepancies?

A tragic account: A 29-year-old woman dies for lack of medical care! ... - Innocent human lives are paying the price for the theory of bringing everything down to zero?!... - And, ironically, it is declared that health services for the people have improved, that the number of hospital admissions has fallen?!... On 2 February 1993, in the village of Qafë-Murrë, in the Katër-Grykët area of the district of Dibër, Kujtime Hasbajrami died. She died after giving birth to her sixth child, at the age of 29. The birth took place at the maternity home in Selishtë. The following day, the deceased began to hemorrhage, accompanied by a sudden drop in blood pressure. Faced with this grave condition, the staff at the maternity home in Selishtë were completely helpless, because they had nothing available—not even the most essential medicines. And as if all this were not enough, the health center did not even have an ambulance to take the patient to Peshkopi. A car was found by chance to provide this essential service, but... It was too late. Kujtima died on the way, leaving all her relatives in grief. She died leaving six children orphaned, including the little newborn, who did not get to drink milk from its mother’s breast. That innocent baby will have the name of the mother who died solely because the health-service structure had been dismantled as a keepsake of her; before closing her eyes forever, the mother left instructions that the newborn boy be baptized with the name Kujtim. The case described above is deeply tragic. There is no limit to the grief in such cases, and this is not the only one. Thus innocent people are paying a very high price for the theory of reducing everything to zero, a theory according to which everything built during the fifty years of the communist era must be cut back—as if schools, hospitals, nurseries, kindergartens, schools, etc., were to blame. These are facts that accuse; facts that will remain in people’s memories as painful recollections of the transition period. AQIF LALA

PETRIT LULJA SELLS «KOPER» He has a nightingale’s voice, but these days a person doesn’t even need a voice! More than at rehearsals, on stage or in the theatre, he spends his time selling cigarettes, because with 18,000 lekë (old lekë) you can’t even buy bread today. On Sunday, by 2 p.m., he had sold only one packet. Will wages go up? We don’t know. But we mustn’t throw artists away. At the very least, let us show and teach them how to earn a living in a market economy by practising their art. Society and the state have this duty, because without culture and art, society can never function properly and naturally. THANAS DINO

Economic reform and the liberalization of prices in our country were received with interest by the whole population, but they were welcomed most by the traders and businesspeople, who are numerous and are always waiting for some government decision. Meksi and his associates fill their pockets like that Jew who waits for some meat to appear so he can take the money for the drum. These decisions of Mr. Meksi’s Government were also welcomed by those in the much-vaunted assistance category, but their skin is below standard and isn’t worth a grosh, so they too can’t gain anything from this reform. Nevertheless, reform comes with these things: you feel a little pain, just as when the doctor puts in the needle you feel it all at first, but then we get used to it. You raise fuel prices, while drivers raise the ticket price; who bears the burden of these beatings?... The passenger. You raise food prices and traders get richer; who bears the burden here?... The assistance recipient who is a consumer. Have you gentlemen ever been on social assistance and had to live for a whole month on just 1,000 new lekë? Do you gentlemen know how much parents feed their children with the blood of their own bodies? Do you know how many children have taken to begging in the streets to keep themselves alive and have been reduced to the state of those in Af- [?]rica, where they wait for someone to throw them a lek so they can secure their evening bread—let alone those who are not counted at all? Long live democracy, the directors and owners of their enterprises, those who so readily handed in their Party membership cards and sensed the danger of democracy so quickly: they became businesspeople or stayed where they were, shouting that monism drains our blood, according to a popular saying: «They’ve started complaining quietly». As for the politically persecuted, the Party and the Government valued them in money, without taking into account humanitarian assistance, their employment at home and abroad, or their education The people belonging to the strata most affected by these decisions of Mr. Meksi’s government received them as though they had to make do with this amount to live on for a month? Do you gentlemen know how many mothers are feeding you know how many families have children who beg in the streets to stay alive and have been reduced to the condition of people in African countries? Have you ever walked, Mr. Meksi, in front of the Skanderbeg Monument and looked at how those children lie there even in the bitter winter, waiting Nevertheless, reform brings these slight pains, just as when the doctor sticks the needle in, you feel it at first, but then get used to it, as though you had it in your body and it had caused an infection and death. Mr. Prime Minister, do you and the other gentlemen consider who is suffering from this kind of reform and liberalization? to receive only 1,000 new lekë from it per month and calculate how to live on that for a whole bitter winter, waiting We say these things not because we disagree, but because we very much agree that they should be treated [properly], since they suffered and endured hardship during that time. (Continued on page 4) The popular saying “Anës të ankohem qetë” [?], that is, the workers whose backs were broken all day for 16 lekë: “The owner complains,” because he was sitting up high and made the laws himself. As for the politically persecuted, the Party and the State valued them suitably in monetary terms, without counting humanitarian aid, their employment at home and abroad, education, and many other privileges. since they suffered and endured hardship during that time.

By now we have become accustomed to the fact that after every visit to Albania by representatives of the mission , [text incomplete] extremely euphoric, after meeting with the IMF group, thanked the people who would accept

The meeting held among former convicts and people who suffered in the Nazi-fascist prisons and camps of internment and extermination during the five years of the LANÇL was truly moving and, at the same time, a protest and a demand. Many family members of those who perished in the camps or later died from illnesses in prison also took part in the meeting. Through heated discussions, they first and foremost endorsed the demands of the National Activists’ Council of Veterans of 11 January to put an end to the revanchist activities of far-right forces, which are leading the country toward destabilization and the burial of democracy. They all unanimously supported the request presented in the Council’s letter that the status of veterans be put forward and approved as soon as possible; likewise, that the symbols of the LANÇL—busts, plaques and memorial monuments—be repaired and restored to their proper places, with their strict protection ensured by law. It was also requested that 29 November, the day of Albania’s liberation, be restored as a national holiday; it was abolished by the parliamentary majority under pressure from the far-right Ballistologist faction, which constitutes a flagrant anti-national, anti-Albanian and shameful act. The meeting concluded with a letter sent to the President and Parliament on these issues. Correspondent of «Zëri i Popullit»

By now, we are used to the fact that after every visit to Albania by representatives of the IMF mission, the reform will be intensified in the sense of tightening the cost of living, and that the government will make the corresponding decisions to liberalize prices further, while the people are called upon to tighten their belts even more. By now, we are used representatives of the IMF mission, the reform will be intensified in the sense of tightening the cost of living, and that the government will make the corresponding decisions to liberalize prices further, while the people are called upon to tighten their belts even more. This is what happened again at the beginning of this year, and government propaganda, in order to make the people believe in the righteousness of the path being followed by the reform, broadcast many interviews and messages of support, among which the one from the US Department of State is particularly worth mentioning. Those who know best how the government's decision to abolish the basket and liberalize prices, especially fuel prices, etc., has been received are the people who bear the consequences on their backs: the thousands of unemployed and people receiving assistance. Before engaging in demagoguery and reaching euphoric conclusions about the justice of the decision, its excellent reception by the IMF and the world, and the joy felt by the people, today's government and state officials would do well to descend among the crowds of unemployed people, into the crowded queues, and really listen to the people's opinions. I would also call this euphoria on the part of the President, who, in his extremely euphoric interview after meeting with the IMF group, thanked the people for accepting yet another burden on their backs. He almost said that the people had received the government's decision enthusiastically, and expressed his pleasure and gratitude to them for this. This is one side of the medal, showing the façade of events; the other side, which today's rulers cannot see, is the reality that is boiling over and speaks of discontent, the pain of social wounds, and being cut to the bone. But apparently Mr. President is convinced, in his politics, of the submissive nature of Albanians preached by religion, which is expressed in the advice: “If they strike you on one cheek, turn the other one too.” If opposition to the government's decision to liberalize prices and thus begin the second phase of the reform does not currently define the Albanian political climate, this has nothing to do with saying “Amen, priest,” but with the repressive and divisive measures being taken against the trade union movement and the last faint hope that one day true democracy will smile upon this country.

Justice or injustice?... THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT HAS DIVORCED THE CONSTITUTION FOR GOOD. IT MUST CHANGE ITS SEAT AND ITS DESTINATION – Interview with Mr. Spartak Ngjela, lawyer and vice-president of the Association of Jurists of Albania, given to our editor L. M. Rama Questions: Mr. Spartak, as a lawyer you represented Mr. Zogaj, Arben Dervishi and Shaban Kadare before the Constitutional Court. They were heard on February 8 by the Constitutional Court in connection with the crossing of the multi-member electoral threshold by the DP parliamentary group, as a list. I ask you how you felt at the moment the decision was announced? Answer: Perhaps I have spent 20 years suffering inwardly for the establishment of a constitutional court in Albania. When such a court was finally established, I thought that at last the time had come for the rule of law to begin in Albania too. But... The disappointment I experienced in the final moments of the decision made me understand once again that begin in Albania too. But... (Continued on page 2)

News from Durrës From sources who asked not to be identified by the Municipality of the city of Durrës, we were informed that the two young people suspected of being responsible for the thefts at the Municipality are 17–18 years old. One of them is named Adnon, K., who had previously been reported to the prosecution authorities for stealing a citizen’s vehicle. The phone call stressed that he is the son of a high-ranking state official. The source stressed that the young people suspected of carrying out the theft had been questioned and detained by the criminal police, but were later released “for lack of evidence,” although it is said that they were caught in the act by a covert unit of the criminal police guarding the Municipality. This was an anonymous phone call that revealed suspicions about a theft, a deception, and perhaps even more... Regardless of public opinion, as long as the relevant authorities have not officially reported anyone so far, the presumption of innocence still favors the accused. It is also learned that gentlemen Hajdari and Dosti, deputies of the DP, have shown interest in the theft at the Municipality of Durrës, since the matter concerns a figure and actions pointing to a high-ranking state official. The investigation continues. And soon, we hope (forgive us if some impatient person claims that the newspaper «Zëri i popullit» is making fun of them; the transparency of our authorities and government officials is not up to us), there will be a public statement.

Mr. Prime Minister, do you and the other gentlemen consider who is suffering from this kind of reform and liberalization?

Nevertheless, reform brings these slight pains, just as when the doctor sticks the needle in, you feel it at first, but then get used to it, as though you had it in your body and it had caused an infection and death.

As for the politically persecuted, the Party and the State valued them suitably in monetary terms, without counting humanitarian aid, their employment at home and abroad, education, and many other privileges.

We clarify that in the article «Genocide against intellectuals brings the PD’s complete discrimination closer», dated 10. 2. 1993, in the second column, line 8, Zef Ujku was mistakenly written where Gjergj Ujkaj should have been used. THE EDITORIAL BOARD

Starting with today’s issue, our newspaper «Zëri i Popullit» will be sold for 5 lekë. This price increase has been imposed on the newspaper by the rise in a series of expenses and services as a result of increases in the prices of transport, electricity, fuel, etc. Our regular readers, who have not abandoned this newspaper even in the most difficult moments, should understand and support us. Our readers and we are facing the same problems and difficulties. The editorial staff will try in every way to ensure that you, our readers, find in the pages of our newspaper what you are looking for. Today we are the newspaper with the highest circulation in the country and, with your help, dear readers and well-wishers, we will preserve this monopoly. THE EDITORIAL STAFF OF «ZËRI I POPULLIT»