Article 16 When plots of land are occupied by permanent buildings, the owners shall be compensated as follows... a) By transferring ownership of premises in state or private residential buildings that were privatized after January 1, 1991, in all cases not exceeding 200 square meters. In this case, the former owner of the land has the right of first refusal. (From the draft law) The DP’s propaganda “Honest traders! No one will touch your property—the one from yesterday! By manipulating things, the SP is seeking to protect its mafia of red cronies!” RD, dated 21.2.92

The words in quotation marks are not mine; I put them at the beginning because they are true. Who am I and what am I asking for? I am an Albanian, and for this reason I am proud to speak in my own name, only in my own name. It is not superfluous to recall the distinguished poet Esenin, who said: I want to speak in my own voice, even if it is a frog’s. As you will see below, my voice rang out powerfully in the square and at the place where the fate of democracy was being decided. So, I have been, am, and will remain a democrat at heart. I am obliged to point this out not to beat my chest, but to silence those who might not like it; at the outset of this speech they may start calling me a “communist,” a “socialist,” etc. I am not one of those, I state this openly, without fear that someone else may take offense. ...does it compel you to inflict further wounds and poverty on our impoverished body? What are we to live on? Has anyone ever asked this question? When implementation of the law on privatization began, former owners also benefited: here and there, wherever they happened to be, they received shops, cars, etc. No one deprived them of this lawful right to national property. Under the draft law, these former owners become owners once again, while we, yesterday’s laborers, are to be left out on the streets. And all this is presented as an expression of democracy. No, I for democracy. I feel but to shut the mouths of those who may dislike these words and start calling me a “communist”, “socialist”, etc. I am not one of them; I state this openly, without fearing that someone else might take offense. Why did I address “Zëri i popullit”? My newspaper, the one in which I should be able to express myself, namely “RD”, has for some time disliked criticism of its leaders, even when it is justified. It is at their disposal, just as it is my business to address any Albanian newspaper. What am I asking for? A draft law on the return of property: we were left both astonished and disappointed in our hopes. I pose the question: Can I have confidence in the government when a few months ago it gave me the title deed to a shop and now tells me, “Hand it over”? When I bought the shop, I had to go into debt and buy machinery and other necessary materials, convinced that I would pay off the debts through this business. In my shop and thousands of others, tens of thousands of workers are employed, such as carpenters, tinsmiths, barbers, electricians, pastry chefs, etc., who have thousands of families behind them to feed. One letter, «ç», in the draft law in question tells all these thousands of people, “May God help you!” Mr. President! Isn’t the rent we pay for the land enough to compensate the former owners of the plots on which our shops have been built? Of course it is? Then what happens [text continues outside the frame]

— Reflections on the draft law concerning former properties — I was struck by what Mr. Ali Spahija, chairman of the DP parliamentary group, reportedly said: “As for the property law, public opinion is clear; the problems are known and have been set out in the program.” The issue is not so “well known” in the DP’s program, so Mr. Spahia should correct himself: it was not stated exactly as the draft law presents it, but in a more limited way. It concerned those former owners who were “unjustly struck by the communist regime,” not everyone. That is, not those who, as collaborators of fascism, had been in the rear during the National Liberation War, exploiting the blood and sweat of the poor people. For the current government to shift further to the right than the Democratic Party’s program and seek to reinstate a predetermined monarcho-feudal political and economic system would be unprecedented for any other party, except perhaps those representing the former Ballists, Zogists, the association “For Property with Justice,” and the PR (they are all the same thing), which together do—or do not—account for 5 percent of the Albanian people. There are two or three people whom Mr. Godo has issued a directive to draw up lists, but if the “Republicans” and former owners insist on “proving” that they are accurate, then it would be best to establish this through a nationwide referendum, so that on this occasion they could be given “what belongs to Caesar.” The draft law should have been the synthesis of a profound and comprehensive study, taking into account the changes in the political, economic, social, and demographic situation over the past 50 years, rather than presenting a dry report and the corresponding bill. Priority could be given to those who were imprisoned or politically persecuted and who, in addition to suffering physically under the one-party regime, were also left without land or a home. In other words, a distinction should be made between them and those whose villa the state may indeed have confiscated but to whom it gave a house; from whom it took property but whom it put to work, even in important positions, and sent to schools at home and abroad [continues] otherwise, specifically: “We (the DP) recognize as a legitimate right the possible return of property or compensation, in the amount stipulated by law, for former owners who were unjustly dispossessed by the communist regime” (see “RD” of February 22, 1992, “Electoral Platform of the Democratic Party”). Thus, the DP’s program speaks of “possible return” or “compensation” and of an “amount” to be stipulated by law; whereas the “democratic” government, in the draft law it has submitted, has gone to extremes: returning everything (property) that is above ground; full compensation for property that has been demolished or is in the form of plots. Cancellation of plots that were allocated after January 1, 1991. Besides this, the program refers to all properties for which democracy has expressed its position. No, [continues in the next column]

Why has Vilson Ahmeti been arrested? What lies behind this extraordinary scandal? Is there a connection between him and Agron Saliu and Agim Tartari, and do these three have a connection with the President’s decorator? “Zëri i popullit” considers it its duty to inform the public about every new development concerning the extraordinary scandal involving 1 million 600 thousand dollars paid, outside the rules, to a third person. But it is a fact that there is increasingly more obscurity and a lack of transparency surrounding this issue. It is a fact that even the arrest of a former prime minis- ...ster, taking permission from his family and having it sent from Vienna, from AD-TËRGASSE 10-10, 10-AUSTRIA, for publication. With the wish that the editorial office of the special section ... be answered. DO YOU KNOW Prime Minister VILSON Hm. (Unofficial free translation) Prime Minister [??] VILSON H[?]… REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA COUNCIL OF MINISTERS POWER OF ATTORNEY In favor of Mr. Nikola Arsidi Consultant and organizer in international trade 276, Boulevard Saint-Germain 75007 Paris - France I, the Chairman of the Council of Ministers (Prime Minister of Albania), having examined the power of attorney dated November 1, 1991, from Mr. Ilir Hoti, Governor of the State Bank of Albania, which concerns the total debt of the external debt of the Albanian state, as well as the contents of this document, hereby appoint Mr. Nikolas Arsidi, granting him the exclusive right to undertake, country by country, the progressive reduction of the external debt of the Albanian state. Could it be that Mr. Vilson Ahmeti’s arrest was made on the basis of this power of attorney issued by him, or are there other facts involved? We will continue to inform you of every new fact that comes into our possession.

In my shop and thousands of others, tens of thousands of workers are employed, such as carpenters, tinsmiths, barbers, electricians, pastry chefs, etc., who have thousands of families behind them to feed. One letter, «ç», in the draft law in question tells all these thousands of people, “May God help you!” Dear President! We did not follow you through the squares and streets of Albania so that you could abandon us. We took to the streets, convinced by your words on March 23 in Skënderbej Square that from now on there would be no losers, but that we would all win. Mr. President! Remove the letter «ç» from the draft law, just as you can remove or add others. I want to ask you an honest question. Would you have the courage to come back to Skënderbej Square and speak to us of victory? Do not leave us out on the streets, Mr. President! We cannot forget our children here while you play with their fate. They are asking not for the expropriation of the new owners, but for the ownership of an entire people, expropriated for 45 years in a row. TONIN MEMA Tirana I ask the question: Can I have confidence in the seriousness of a government when a few months ago it gives me a piece of paper for a shop and now tells me, “Hand it over”?

In 1949, Fatos Dhimaqi, then 35 years old, was wounded in Karpensi near Agrinjo. While wounded, he was taken away in a [unclear] and crossed the border into Albanian territory. In 1951, by means of a letter, he tried to get in touch with the family of (??) in Sikulu of Larissa, but was unable to make contact. Anyone who knows anything about him or knew him is kindly asked to provide information. To his son’s family, Spiro Dhimaqis, in Athens, telephone no. 00301 71 41 798. For convenience, you may also provide information in Tirana at telephone numbers 345 71 (Thema Valera) and 332 75. As a family, we will be indebted to whoever helps us with information. SPIRO DHIMAQIS Sevastopoulou 8 Qesariani Athina Greece

Tomorrow you will read: FASCIST-STYLE TERROR IN FIER — The peaceful rally of the city’s workers is violently broken up —

Today and tomorrow, the premiere of the new satirical comedy by Vërton? of Shkodra is being performed at the National Theatre; the actors … (names partly illegible). The performance … at the National Theatre at 18:00