THE GOVERNMENT’S RESIGNATION IS THE DEMAND OF THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE
Press conference by Socialist Party Chairman Fatos Nano
At midday, in one of the halls at the headquarters of the Socialist Party of Albania, Socialist Party Chairman Fatos Nano held a press conference in the presence of journalists from Albanian and foreign news organizations, as well as representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Tirana.
At the beginning of the press conference, Socialist Party leader Bashkim Zeneli read the statement of the Socialist Party Presidium. Socialist Party Chairman Fatos Nano then answered journalists’ questions concerning the statement and other issues in the country’s political life.
Question: What is your assessment of the evaluations made by international organizations concerning the implementation of the reform in Albania led by the Meksi Government?
Answer: The Socialist Party has endorsed and contributed directly—I have in mind its participation in previous governments—to Albania’s accession to such important and internationally recognized organizations as the IMF, the World Bank, etc. Consequently, we remain consistent in our position on the need to continue cooperating with them. Their evaluations of the reform have been made in their entirety, also taking into account practices of [cut off at the lower edge].
STATEMENT OF THE PRESIDIUM OF THE SOCIALIST PARTY
The Socialist Party of Albania reiterates its public position that the situation in Albania has further deteriorated recently, and that economic difficulties and social and political tensions have increased.
We have recognized, and continue to recognize, the great difficulties facing the country and the many tasks the government has in addressing them. As an opposition party with constructive and realistic positions, we have never claimed, anywhere, that this situation could be overcome in a few months.
The Socialist Party has supported the reform, naturally while having its own assessments of many issues and calling for its alternatives to be respected, as well as for other political forces to be strengthened. As a party, we have made these views publicly known and communicated them through our parliamentary group.
But we cannot remain silent, and will not remain silent, in the face of any arbitrary or revanchist action by today’s rulers, who have [cut off at the lower edge].
...the necessary bodies for oversight, review, and implementation of the agreements and obligations these firms had undertaken, in accordance with the authorization they had been given. I remain personally and politically interested in clarifying everything concerning their involvement in scandals or possible corruption related to aid to Albania, as well as in other activities falling outside the legal framework of the Albanian state or the status they have been granted in our country. I am sure public opinion will learn more facts than noise about this matter.
Question: What is your opinion about a future government?
Answer: As for the alternative we propose following this government’s resignation, the demand for the government to resign has been interpreted as reflecting a very broad public opinion in town and countryside, expressing disillusionment with this way of governing. Consequently, the alternative is: changing the course of government in favor of genuine democratic reforms that decentralize and ensure the separation of powers; that ensure the participation of the majority of the population in exercising the free initiative required by a market economy; and that replace censorship in state information organizations. In particular, RTV are manipulating, disinforming, and slandering us [text continues beyond the photograph].
[The text begins cut off at the top of the image.] ... such important and well-known organizations on the international scene as the IMF, the World Bank, etc. Consequently, we are consistent in our position on the necessity of continuing cooperation with them. As regards the reform undertaken in completing the very basis of the practical impact brought about by the implementation of highly respected schemes, which have also produced results in other countries, these are not sufficiently responsive to the corresponding realities in Albania. We consider the assessments published by the official Albanian information media regarding the positions taken by the IMF, the World Bank, the European Community and other specialized organizations toward reform in Albania to be acceptable. We are fully aware that they also have observations and constructive objections, information that we have also received directly from them: economic reform in Albania could be carried out through a better professional partnership on the part of the experts and government representatives who have entered into agreements (stenba) or other contracts with these organizations. First of all, this would require the government to establish and publish (and by “now” I mean its duty to the legislature, Parliament, and the general public) the priorities and programs for the development of the economy, and ultimately a balanced perspective on economic reforms that does not affect only macroeconomic levels, as is currently happening, but also microeconomic-level measures; the privatization of the economy and the activities of the participation of workers, that is, measures that actively generate projects for the active population of the market. Finally, we wanted to state—and we maintain this position—that we have also taken this stand. The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank support priorities in Albania; our officials should not present them in their reports... [damaged lines] Question: What do you know about the firms «Iliria Holl» and «Levanto e Comp...»? Answer: As for the firms «Iliria Holl...» and «Levanto and ...» ... [the lower part is damaged]
[Continuation of the text that begins above.] ... its intervention should also have been respected, as should that of the other political forces. As a party, we have made these things publicly known, including through our parliamentary group. But we cannot remain silent in the face of the arbitrary or revanchist actions of today’s rulers, who have led the country onto a dead-end path. In every field, problems have multiplied instead of being solved or put on the path to resolution, and the lack of prospects is evident. Faced with this situation, the government lacks transparency, and real solutions are drowned out by noisy, sterile propaganda. Under such conditions, the Socialist Party of Albania has demanded, and continues to demand, on behalf of the majority of the unprivileged—the propertyless and the unemployed—the resignation of the government. The statement by Socialist Party chairman Fatos Nano was made on behalf of the Socialist Party. This is a democratic and legal obligation, an established practice, undertaken responsibly after a thorough study of the situation; therefore, it is not motivated by careerism and is not a destructive or destabilizing act. By demanding the government’s resignation, the Socialist Party is expressing the growing dissatisfaction of people who seek political action and solutions that would contribute to genuine democracy and its full institutionalization. The Socialist Party is demanding the government’s resignation not merely because of its well-known professional incompetence, but first and foremost because of its political inability to govern, and its submission to pressure from revanchist cabinets that are building a vertical political scheme based on restructuring anarchism, with serious consequences for social peace in the country. The Socialist Party is demanding the government’s resignation because, instead of economic and institutional reform, it is carrying out mass political purges at every level, removing people from their positions because of their beliefs, because they think differently from those in power. Party fanatics are replacing professionals. People have been removed from positions, including intellectuals, specialists, and even ordinary workers, who have been thrown out onto the street. This has nothing in common... [continues in the right-hand column] The Socialist Party reiterates its public concern that fierce censorship continues in Albania in state information bodies. In particular, RTV is manipulating, disinforming and speculating about the situation and has become a submissive tool in the hands of the party in power. Scandals such as Mr. Meksi’s visit to Italy are not worth mentioning, except that they are hindering the creation of a genuine new image and identity for Albania in the world. The Socialist Party has publicly expressed its opinion of the government’s foreign policy as a policy that is directionless and lacks a guiding principle and natural priorities. Such a policy is not openness; rather, it could lead to the country’s renewed isolation and a cooling of relations with its traditional partners and allies. All these and other things—massive assistance with no way out, the lack of prospects for resuming work, the blocking of privatization and the failure of foreign investors to arrive, the difficult situation in the countryside, corruption, and scandals involving various government officials—make the government’s resignation an action that would be in its own interest and the Democratic Party’s last chance to change the course of reforms toward the future. In expressing itself this way, the Socialist Party of Albania is calling for the stabilization of the country, not the opposite; for a space of democratic coexistence and understanding among all Albanians, not the division brought about by excluding most of them from democratic processes. We have fought, and will continue to fight, as a constructive opposition political force, honestly and resolutely, to advance democratic processes; we do not evade our political and national responsibilities to establish the rule of law realistically and to work together to overcome the many difficulties. Monopo... [continues in the next column] Tirana, 8.03.1993
[Continuation of the political article.] ... increasingly. Monopo... [illegible section] ... to meet today’s challenges in the Balkans and beyond. Question: What would a government of the Socialist Party offer the people? Answer: The Socialists are close to governing because they have made their alternatives public. They do not think they are better; they are open and tolerant enough to recognize that in all political forces there are intellectual partners and experts who could manage the transition better, while also respecting all the citizens of this country as a whole, keeping extremist adventurers out of leading roles in politics, and ensuring that foreign partners have a worthy counterpart with whom to work together in pursuit of mutual interests. Question: Do you think today’s economic poverty is a reason to demand the government’s resignation? Answer: Economic poverty is a powerful argument for the government’s resignation, but it is not the only one. It is powerful because the Albanian economy has not entered a transition but remains stagnant, because under this way of governing some problems are being solved only at the levels... [text continues outside the frame]