The government’s incompetence is evident at every turn – If it is handing out medals, it would be better off handing out bread and distributing the farms – The government’s incompetence is evident at every turn WHY THIS GOVERNMENT MUST RESIGN – If it is handing out medals, it would be better off handing out bread and distributing the farms – Mr. Rexhep Uka has passed through the Balladren farm several times. The last time, he came with some other government officials to distribute medals to the martyrs of democracy. When the farm workers saw him on television, they said: “Mr. Minister of Agriculture, instead of handing out medals, you’d be better off staying here in Ball-dre and coming to distribute the farm’s land and property to us. Why are the workers of the Balladren Agricultural Enterprise protesting?” Even to this day, 60 stolen head of cattle have not been found. Wheat is being left to spoil on 350 hectares, where 15,000 quintals of wheat were expected to be harvested. More than 1,000 quintals of seed potatoes are being dug up and sold on the free market, although 6,000 quintals of potatoes were expected to be harvested from them. More than 200 hectares of alfalfa fields are being destroyed, though they could have supported 400 dairy cows. An Italian investor comes to cooperate with the Balladren farm, and Mr. Uka becomes an obstacle to signing the contract. Millions of lekë have been spent on irrigation, drainage, desalination and other projects that private operators cannot undertake. Who will answer for them? The people want to keep the farm; the minister replies: “Whoever does not divide up the land does not want democracy.” Since 10 February, the farm workers have received no wages and have been getting their bread on ration lists. Despite the people’s repeated requests, Minister Uka has not deigned to meet with the farm’s specialists and workers. A delegation of them is in Tirana today to meet with the president. Apparently, the same fate awaits the farms of Gjadër, Rrila, Tresh, Torovicë, the fruit farm, and others.

(In place of a reply to Deputy Ilir Hoti) Democratic Party MPs are hesitating over the appointment of a parliamentary commission to investigate the 1.6-million-dollar scandal: is it said that their blue dome has a hand in it? I had prepared a question for the session of questions to the Bank governor, Mr. Ilir Hoti, but I withdrew it just five minutes before the session began because, from my conversation with him, I sensed above all the concern of a man who is asking to be sacrificed and made a scapegoat. Of course, all this is speculation. Why am I led to make this supposition? Mr. Hoti, First, the Shkodër trial, with its sentence for “indirect murder” committed intentionally, even though the murderers have not been identified, speaks clearly of “scapegoats” who must make good on bombastic promises. Second, while the bloc-men are accused of abuses and misappropriations that end in an accusation of “the dinner skull,” Kino Buxheli is the first to be convicted, thus becoming a “scapegoat.” Third, as the newspapers report, after a female bank accountant is made to come in the middle of the night, irregularly, to collect a large sum of dollars, and 10,000 dollars are found to be missing, she is arrested, also becoming a “scapegoat.” Fourth, the Arsidi scandal is exposed very late. Two former managers of the Commercial Bank are arrested, and former Prime Minister Ahmeti is placed under house arrest. So far, all that is known is that they may have issued a bill of exchange or given authorization for the handling of debts. It seems to me that the real shark (or rather predator?) is much bigger, and these three people may be sacrificed as “scapegoats,” since they know the whole scenario. You are the key person. But unfortunately, given the version that you are honest and untainted by the scandal, I think that you, too, may be sacrificed and made a “scapegoat.” If your claims are true, then it is frankly unbelievable that the signature or date on an agreement could be stolen or forged from the governor of the bank; imagine what the “signature-forging group” may have done with other banknotes or bills of exchange. Without uncovering the “signature-forging group,” the people have no way to reduce the bank’s debt; it will only grow, as it has been growing. Another fact also strikes me: in your banks, when dealing with ordinary people and private individuals who have no backing whatsoever, the staff are extremely scrupulous even over 1,000 dollars, while the transfer of 1,600,000 dollars is kept hidden for 8–9 months. Imagine, Mr. Hoti, what goes on behind your back: “your signatures are forged,” “the dates on your documents are changed,” dollars enter and leave the bank unchecked and you are not informed, and so on and so forth. So, if you are still honest and untainted, you are in the middle of a vortex of mafiosi, and consequently, making you a “scapegoat” is the least they would do to conceal the scandal. Concealing the elements of the scandal on your part only compromises you more seriously, and the further disclosure of the facts and documents in your possession would only force the mafiosi to plan your sacrifice using the “scapegoat” tactic. In this case, I would sincerely advise you to distance yourself completely from this scandal. If you continue to stand as a protective screen for the scandal, then logic would lead to your direct involvement in it. I would be less inclined to believe the latter. In any case, act with integrity; political cover-ups are suspect and short-lived. Just remember what is happening in neighboring Italy. Sincerely, KASTRIOT ISLAMI

THREE YOUNG PEOPLE FROM MIRDITË WRITE! We are a group of young people from Mirditë who welcomed the democratic processes ... what has he done with the list prepared on 22 March ’92 for employing ...

On 28 February, BBS—the British Broadcasting Corporation—resumed broadcasting in Albanian. This is an important event in the field of information and culture in the Albanian language. BBS, the most powerful radio station in the world, creates opportunities for fast and accurate information for all Albanians in the Balkans and the diaspora. BBS began its broadcasts in England for the first time in 1922. It began broadcasting in English to the rest of the world in 1932, while its Albanian-language programmes began for the first time in 1940. Today BBS broadcasts programmes in 39 foreign languages. It has the largest number of listeners in the world compared with other radio stations. Its broadcasts exceed 838 hours a week. The main pillars of BBS’s work are fast and accurate information about current events. Alongside news about events around the world, its programmes also include reports and commentary on sport, science, artistic culture, English-language learning, and so on. For four decades, Albanian listeners have had the opportunity to hear BBS’s familiar voice in Albanian. The current Albanian-language editorial team at BBS consists of eight people, six from Albania and two from Kosovo. It also has correspondents in seven and nine other regions inhabited by Albanians. These are some of the best journalists and translators who have worked in radio and television in Albania. They were selected through competitions organized by BBS. They include Franzo Ego, Arben Manaj, Juliana Goja; Rudi Borbrath; Gëzim Gurjn; Ragip Luten Vetoni Surrton, and others. To mark the start of the Albanian-language programmes, the Albanian section of BBS held a reception at the “Dajti” Hotel in Tirana on 28 March. Attending were journalists from the Albanian and foreign press, members of the People’s Assembly of the Republic of Albania, ministers, representatives of political parties, members of the diplomatic corps, and others. On this occasion, the respected head of the BBS office in Tirana, Mr. ... [?], made a statement. On this occasion, ... [?] economy and supporters ... [?] BBS ... [?]. Correspondent of “THE PEOPLE’S VOICE”

According to well-informed sources (the whole of Çorovoda and Skrapar is buzzing with the story), late last night (because the operation took place at night), a government operation was carried out in the town of Çorovodë which, after “vorgla” efforts, proved successful. A special team arrived, made up of a group that included ordinary soldiers and “generals”, on a mission of a particular nature. Equipped with the necessary instructions and tools, the team headed to a site (a tunnel) whose guards themselves did not know what was inside. Those who witnessed the event say the operation began by disarming the soldiers guarding the site and sending them away so they would not see anything that was going to happen. The arrivals from Tirana then opened the tunnel doors one after another, reaching the last one, behind which the “treasure” was concealed. The door was opened by a genuine specialist from the Poliçan Mechanical Combine. No one knows what the “night birds” took from the site of special importance in Skrapar. In Çorovodë, people are speculating about three possibilities. Either the gold stashed away by the monist government was transported (if that is what it was, hats off to Blerim Çela, since it must have been the result of his team’s work); or the files were removed (at last, it seems it has been decided that they should be discussed in parliament); or the coin-minting machine (press) may have been taken. It is possible that none of these possibilities being discussed in Çorovodë is true. But one thing is absolutely certain. The tunnels of special importance in Skrapar were raided at night and, worse still, under conditions of an ultra-secret operation! DRITAN PRISHTA

It has been a full month since the Mayor of Durrës, Mr. Tomorr Golemi, last opened the door to his office. For a full month, the Municipality has been without a mayor, at least formally. No one knows where its esteemed mayor is. It is said, and rumors are circulating, that he has gone to America as a tourist, although he had only recently returned from Germany. After returning from Germany, he had declared that his visit had been very successful and that he had laid the groundwork for linking Durrës with Frankfurt, so that it could benefit from German experience; but now, it seems, he has gone to gain American experience and make Durrës like Chicago. All of the above is just rumor; nothing official has been announced, and officially nothing is known about the Mayor’s whereabouts. Perhaps it is worth issuing a missing-person alert, because, as the saying goes, it is not every day that a mayor goes missing. In fact, people are beginning to miss him and are worried about this disappearance without a trace, because they are waiting for the PD officials to solve their problems. Some malicious tongues say the mayor has decided to remain an emigrant; others say he has started working as a waiter in a Chicago restaurant and will not return. But those, too, are just rumors. Nothing is known for certain. The only thing known is that Durrës Municipality has been without a mayor for a full month, left only with 60-year-old Shezo, who does not know what to do, because after the departures from the Municipality, the Mayor apparently took the official seal with him as well. Isn’t it worth setting SHIK in motion and announcing a reward for anyone who can provide information about where the Mayor of Durrës has gone missing? LEDI SHEHU

We are a group of young people from Mirdita who welcomed the democratic processes as Munella waits for the sun to melt the ice. We salute from Mirdita who welcomed the democratic processes as Munella waits for the sun to melt the ice. As you know, uncle, Mirdita was not red, as the Stalinist communist red regime used to propagandize. From the time of Skënderbeu until the 1950s, Mirdita was democratic in the purest sense of the word. It was divided into 7 districts; there was no village without 5 kulak households. But what about today, Uncle Salë?! Starting in Rubik, where hundreds of workers from all the enterprises are on assistance—who are they? The incapable? The lazy? No, uncle, no! I believe you know very well that they are socialists: honest, ordinary people, but very poor. In Rrëshen, besides the workers, whose numbers are greater, engineers, teachers, military personnel and mechanics—mainly socialists—are also being laid off and dismissed. You know, uncle, that in other areas Qaf - Varreza in Kaçinar and Thirra së Fatsa have been closed, both mines whose closure has left the residents of these areas unemployed; and Spaci and Perlat are also on the verge of closing. Uncle, why not ask that PD deputy, Mr. Ndue Gjika, who represents these areas? I believe he does not concern himself at all with these “unimportant problems.” They said he would soon open a private school. For him, “religion is secular.” We do not know what he has getting many people jobs abroad; that is why we gave him our votes, all three of us. Have you ever spent a night outside in a garden, uncle? Forgive us, it had become a reflex—we meant to say that we spent a full 2 months sleeping outside in Greece, under bridges, in the mountains near car parks. Fortunately, God sent us a gift, Mr. Pjetër Arbnori, and they brought us back with a grand ceremony. There were quite a few Albanians, fists, hats, laughter, rubber batons and cuttlefish. Why? Allah in heaven and Mr. Pjetër on earth know. Uncle Salë, we believe that the armchair you are sitting in is the same old one, and that it is pointed straight toward the ancient homeland; may God [unclear] your two children, may you [unclear] your health and good sense, because you are not helping the poor, wretched and persecuted people of Mirdita, who are brave, hardworking, loyal and very intelligent. Uncle Salë, we are going to Greece again, God willing; we forgot to say goodbye with the song: “Where are you going, young men, whom are you leaving this highland to?” Respectfully, MIKEL DEDA, Rubik NIKOLL BAJRAKTARI, Kushovë ELTON KOLA, Rrëshen

Professor Kolë Popa died yesterday. Professor Kolë Popa was born in December 1913 in the city of Elbasan. He completed the Normal School in Elbasan and higher studies in chemistry in Padova, Italy. Professor Kolë Popa is a distinguished figure in Albanian science. His entire life was that of a man devoted to the cause of the nation and the homeland, to the people and to progress. During the National Liberation War, he was a member of the National Anti-Fascist Liberation Council of the Elbasan District. After the liberation of the country, he served for several years as head of the state education section in Elbasan and later made a valuable contribution to the field of education. For many years he was dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and head of the Department of Organic Chemistry. When the Academy of Sciences was established, he was accepted as a member and elected head of the Natural Sciences Section and Vice-President of the Academy. Professor Kolë Popa was a Merited Teacher and People’s Master, and received many medals and orders in recognition of his contribution. He authored a series of scientific publications, articles and monographs. He provided valuable assistance in mediation in Kosovo, where he went frequently to teach, and in recognition of his contribution was also elected a member of the Academy of Sciences of Kosovo.

BBS again in Albania On 28 February, BBS resumed broadcasting in Albanian— ... the British Broadcasting Corpo-

At the annual meeting of the Assembly of the International Helsinki Federation, held in Ljubljana on 19–20 February 1993, the candidacy of the Kosovo Helsinki Committee was considered and accepted unanimously. The Albanian Helsinki Committee expresses its profound satisfaction at the acceptance of the Kosovo Helsinki Committee as a full member of the International Helsinki Federation. It welcomes this as another important proof of the awareness of world public opinion regarding the extreme violation of human rights in Kosovo by the Serbian authorities. The placing of Kosovo in a rank alongside the states of the former republic [?] of the Helsinki Charter shows the particular importance the international community is attaching to the situation created in Kosovo. It considers the Helsinki Committee’s membership a further opportunity to make the world aware of the actual and dramatic state of human-rights violations in Kosovo. At the same time, it sees this membership as an opportunity to further increase cooperation between our two Committees. The Albanian Helsinki Committee

The “Savings Bank” has, as of 6.01.1993, suspended all foreign-currency transfers by citizens on behalf of the “DOLLARIJET” game. The suspension also follows the notice from the Bank of Albania. This suspension is temporary and is in accordance with the notice of the Bank of Albania No. 87, dated 21.01.1993, which orders “the suspension of all foreign-currency transfers related to the activities in question.”