The newspaper «24 ORE», referring to the Greek newspaper «ELEFTHEROS TIPOS», reported in last night’s issue a scandalous statement by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Order Bashkim Kopliku. According to «24 ORE», Bashkim Kopliku called for «the Greek Army to enter the territory of Albania to prevent refugees from entering Greece. The newspaper «24 ORE» publishes the full text of the interview and a facsimile of the Greek newspaper. — Does Minister Kopliku consider Albanians refugees in their own country? We request a public statement from Mr. Kopliku by means of an interview on this issue.

Roundtable of parliamentary parties at the Presidency We will report in greater detail on the talks held at the Presidency in our next issue, where you will read interviews with the participants Servet Pëllumbi, Ylli Bufi and Kastriot Islami.

Yesterday, the Conference «International Conditions for Stability in Central and Eastern Europe» concluded its proceedings. It was organized by the Socialist Party of Hungary and attended by dozens of socialist and social-democratic parties from 22 countries of Central and Eastern Europe, etc. At its conclusion, the working sessions of the conference were also summarized. The conclusions of the first session were presented by Lázlo Kovac, secretary for foreign relations of the Socialist Party of Hungary and chairman of the foreign policy committee of the Hungarian parliament. The conclusions for the second committee were presented by Lázlo Begeshi, deputy parliamentary chair for the economy and budget. The conclusions for the third committee were delivered by Tabajdi Saaba, a member of the leadership of the Socialist Party of Hungary. During this conference, the Chairman of the Socialist Party of Albania, Fatos Nano, met with Mr. Gusenbauer, chairman of the Socialist International and representative of the Social Democratic Party of Austria; Mr. Martin Van Kra, representative of the Social Democratic Party of Holland; Anxel Queval, representative of the Socialist Party of France; Kate Philips, representative of the Labour Party of Great Britain; Roberto Cuilo, representative of the Democratic Party of the Left of Italy; Gedrus Petrozhi, representative of the Democratic Labour Party of Lithuania; Tadeush Ivinski, representative of the Social Democratic Party of Poland; Gúdolmo Vordzravë, representative of the Socialist Party of Portugal and Russia; Peter Veis, representative of the Slovak Left Party; Senator Ramon Nunies, representative of the Socialist Party of Spain; Nelan Çalis Gjorgji, representative of the League of Social Democracy of Vojvodina; Nikos Dimadhis, representative of PASOK; Filip Ispekov, representative of the Socialist Party of Bulgaria; Mihis Renesis, representative of the Coalition of the Left and Progress of Greece; Svetljana Naverova, representative of the Social Democratic Party of the Czech Republic; Unto Vesa, representative of the Social Democratic Party of Finland; as well as representatives of the Social Democratic Party of Croatia and of Germany, Norway, etc. At these meetings, Fatos Nano exchanged views on the situation in Europe and the Balkans, as well as on relations between them and the Socialist Party of Albania. At the end of the meeting, the Chairman of the Socialist Party of Hungary, Gjyla Horn, praised the contribution of the representatives of socialist and social-democratic parties to its successful conclusion. Information Office of the Socialist Party of Albania

Who is calling for the government’s resignation in Elbasan? - 24,000 workers have been put on assistance, 3,000 of whom will be thrown out onto the street at the end of this month when their assistance runs out. - 10,000 able-bodied workers have registered with local government offices to find work and have no hope at all. - All those young people who place their hopes in organized emigration, but so far only 10 people have been sent.

— An ex-prime minister has his «tongue tied» under house arrest; ministers who claim to have no connection whatsoever with the scandal grin and give interviews. Mr. Ruli’s interview yesterday in RD about the scandal involving 7,600 thousand dollars brings to mind the profits that come out of an internal scam. What is it to you, Mr. Minister, since, as you claim, you haven’t swallowed a spoonful of spoiled soup? Or have you been given a party assignment to defend your colleagues in this affair? 3. Almost all the agreements bear, like a scarlet thread, Mr. Hoti’s abbreviated signature. Strangely, Mr. Zoti tries to cross the river with a «short circuit», saying: «They forged my signature.» That is extremely unbelievable; it brings to mind the action of a fox caught in a trap that cuts off its own «tail». 4. On 3 November, Mr. Adrian Xhyheri (a close friend of Genti, newly appointed by him) signs a contract to give Arsidi 1 million 600 thousand dollars! Here the scandal reaches its climax, and Mr. Xhyheri still has not declared that his signature was forged. 5. On 16 December 1991, with the first signature being that of Governor General Mr. Hoti, former Prime Minister Ahmeti grants Arsidi the mandate. The prime minister, not affiliated with any party, is still in time to close the circle of the «Arsidi» operation. Is he a victim? His mouth has repeatedly been sealed by house arrest. 6. The money is paid by the commercial bank, through a director appointed by Mr. Ruli. 7. This closed circle suddenly takes a strange turn. According to the French newspaper «Liberation», which reports Arsidi’s arrest, the latter claims to have returned a sum of 650 thousand dollars to the governor of the Albanian bank, Ilir Hoti?!

It has been said that the Democratic Party is the party of former owners, but few people believed it. The government, being a DP government, amended the law on their restitution too. Here, for example, are those in the city of Durrës who have sought the physical return of former properties: Artan Hoxha, Minister of Economic Relations with Foreign Countries in Mr. Meksi’s Cabinet. University educated, a member of the DP national council, he has so far received two shops, claims the silo factory, 6 shops near the train station and the Shijak building. Mira Kaurri, DP deputy, has received her grandfather’s former properties, a building or the former district court, and is claiming others. Vaso Papa, chairman of the district council (DP), heir to several properties, such as a building and a workshop. Shpëtim Mushketa, director of the education directorate (DP), is seeking the villa and shops. Rifat Fani: head of the finance section (DP), heir to a building and shops. Vlashi Konomi, employee of the education directorate (DP), heir to a building in the city centre that has been converted into a hotel and, even before the law has been approved, has virtually become its owner in fact. Tomorr Golemi, Mayor of Durrës (DP), brother of the DP deputy R. Golemi, heir to properties. There are other heirs to properties in Durrës who are members of the DP party and state leadership. Meanwhile, these same people draw up lists of those who have an extra room, simply because they think differently from them. We do not know whether the public in Durrës knows who its leaders are. In any case, the people gave them their vote, and these people are repaying them for that vote they secured.

8,500 assistance recipients in Pogradec are waiting for their assistance to run out. And then? Then the government will declare that the number of assistance recipients has fallen! Of all the state institutions of the democratic government, the most fully developed one, working nonstop day and night, is the social assistance office. It has long lists and long works from which even the former viziers will return; long lists of what they will create so that even the former viziers become more Turkish. People are pleased with this care from the government. People are pleased because they are the poorest of the poor. The assistance recipients of Shkodër, Durrës, Kukës, Korçë, Fier and Gjirokastër are very pleased. The most pleased are the ragged assistance recipients. They begged us to thank the government for the opportunity it has created for them to warm themselves in the sun for a day and to eat, if ever, by the beautiful lakeside, enjoying the wonderful fresh air in Pogradec, where there are 8,500 assistance recipients. Nevertheless, the government pays assistance to all the unemployed. Payments range from 800 to 110 lekë per month. So, you see, they are very pleased with the Meksi government. The Meksi government does not undertake to open new areas of work so that people can work and live. It does not know how to do this because it is incapable of doing so. But what will the government do when the assistance period ends? Everyone knows this, and that is why they are worried. It will stop paying assistance. Thus, people will have no income at all from their beloved state. In fact, in Pogradec the assistance of 7,000 workers runs out in the coming days. The government here wants then to declare to the domestic public, as well as to international financial institutions, that the number of people receiving assistance has fallen. The relevant Minister under the democratic government’s regime—oh, what misery, gentlemen of the democratic government,

WE WANT A REFERENDUM This is what 230 families living in the “Teuta” neighborhood of the city of Durrës, in the homes of 16 former owners, state in a petition letter sent to the People’s Assembly and the PS parliamentary group. “We,” they ask, “do not know where we will go after three years, since, according to the draft law to be presented to Parliament, we must leave these homes. There are 16 former owners, while we are 230 families. The draft law protects 16 families without providing a solution to the problem of where the others will go. We have no property of any kind. We live on the income we receive from wages and pensions. Under these circumstances; none of”

The pressure continues We learn from well-informed sources that pressure is being brought to bear on Fatmir Zanaj, a lecturer at the University of Tirana, against whom criminal proceedings have been initiated following a complaint by the Minister of Defense, Safet Zhulali, because the full text of the criminal complaint was published in the newspaper “Zëri i popullit.” Yesterday he was summoned before him six times at the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office and was harshly attacked by prosecutor Fatmir Fagu over that publication. We assure readers that we will try to keep them informed from time to time about the progress of this case, which has aroused great interest. THE OBSERVER

As we learned from Mr. Ilir Hoti’s interview in Parliament, last year a State Audit group went to the Bank of Trade at the State Bank to check the procedures and documentation relating to this transaction, which led to the disappearance from the Bank of a sum of 1 million and 600 m[il] dollars. Blerim usually informs the public even about a warehouse caught with goods or irregular documentation. But now, when the matter concerns a jar of gold, Blerim is silent. Why? Is it Blerim’s weakness, or has he received a firm order not to open his mouth! And in a statement in this uncertain and suspended state, the article continues: (Continued on page 4) 7,600 thousand dollars brings to mind fairy tales spun during an inner-circle outing. What is the minister’s problem, if, as he claims, he has not swallowed a spoonful of spoiled soup? Or has he assigned two or three parties to defend his colleagues? A minister who says “it seems to me” about matters that concern him is handing Mr. Hoti a blank check! Believe it, if you want. “The ‘Arsidi’ affair has absolutely nothing to do with the democratic government” is the categorical conclusion of the interview. The author of this statement seems to be saying: “a misfortune for the facts.” But the facts are stubborn and shout to high heaven. 1. One day, an unknown Frenchman named Arsidi pins a medal on Mr. Berisha. On President Berisha, and no one else. Why did he need a man in power and not, say, someone else: for appearances, or as a political supposition? (I don’t think any medal is worth more than 1,600 thousand dollars!). 2. Mr. Ruli himself, not yet officially installed as minister, signed an agreement with Mr. Arsidi on June 8, 1991. From what has been published so far, this document opens the series of events in this scenario. What is this gentlemen’s agreement, a pointless agreement without obligations or purpose, as Mr. Ruli is trying to portray it? What does it matter where this document was signed: in Albania, in France, or on the moon? Who took them? Why? What happened to the rest? Who gave the main order? Which of the main protagonists in the “Arsidi” scandal is not a senior PD official or a director appointed by it, apart from former Prime Minister Ahmeti: Berisha, Hoti, Ruli, Xhyhëri?! That is why you cannot easily sell the “Arsidi” scandal, Mr. Ruli. One last question for today: On whom will the “bolt” of justice fall, on the one at the bottom, on the cashier? Whoever! It is no coincidence that from presl-