Dear Zenel! When I was in the village last time, a year ago, you told me that if the DP won, the factories would be working, there’d be work and property, and we’d be rolling in money! Eh, my friend! The old saying wasn’t wrong: “There’s a whole sea between saying and doing.” Well, I’ve also heard the President’s statement that industrial production had slowed the decline by a thousand and something. We’ve got another “something” now. The day after that, I was to get assistance. With a thousand thoughts, I opened a little shop, but... then came that flag bill with Article 12 under the flag, and the bill was somehow right up to the doorstep. “It’s my property, I’ll explain! Just listen. I’m on assistance, my wife is on assistance, and we don’t even have enough to pay the rent, water and electricity. Do you remember that ‘Hong Kong’ flu that came around once? Well, assistance has spread from door to door like that plague. I was a fool to listen to you on March 22, so I voted for the DP. We said we’d give it a try. We tried it, and look what we’re seeing. I’m sending you the letter by hand. I’d like to come myself, because I miss you, but my wallet won’t stretch to it, with the tickets... aha! May you stay well, because this year your (agricultural) production has grown by 22 percent. Your brother Zego hugs you. Dear Zego! I got your letter. As for that 22 percent, keep it for yourself, or let whoever’s got it keep it. We’ve brought this on ourselves! I had read in books about the village before liberation, but I’d thought it was Communist propaganda. Now that I’m living it myself, I’m convinced it’s real. In the worst times, we don’t even have... When someone dies, they bury them, and in the village... they’re in the hovels, five people to one..., because the snow left us, the rest was done by the money. Relatives in the city aren’t told because the telephone doesn’t work. A woman dies of appendicitis and... they don’t notify us... with a few more additions in the hospital, and don’t listen to nonsense on television. We’re settled on this side because the relay transmitter isn’t working. We console ourselves because we’ve heard that the relay transmitter in the president’s village isn’t working either. You’d think we’d got the land. But when you read Articles 4 and 11 of the bill and the writings of the Rakips in RD and Republika (how many Rakips Albania must have had!)—come on, try to figure out how things are going to turn out. Next time you send me a letter, send me one or two packets of aspirin too, because this business has turned into that song by Xhevat Avdalli. As for them, I don’t know what to say. Take the dog and come along, you rascal. The council in session, the people in the square. Yesterday, at around 9 o’clock, we found ourselves outside the building of the district council and the municipality of the city of Shkodër. Many citizens had gathered there. Three police officers, posted on the two side stairways at the entrance, would not let people go inside. The citizens argued with them. But what could the policemen do? They had been assigned the task of not letting people enter without an admission pass. The reason: the district council was holding its regular meeting today! Those present were told to come back after 12 o’clock. Nevertheless, they hesitated to leave, insisting that they had many problems to discuss with the administration staff. Some of them were also from remote mountain areas, such as Shllaku and Dukagjini, where only an unusual concern would make them set out, enduring all these hardships, to come down to Shkodër. They pointed out these hardships to the police as well, but the latter tried to explain that they had not been ordered to make exceptions. Meanwhile, after many attempts, someone with connections managed to obtain an admission pass. Thus, for nearly an hour, we witnessed this scene. We will not dwell at length on how the citizens reacted to this action, since it goes without saying that such situations themselves create suitable conditions for expressing all… (Continued on page 3) all… It is not worth engaging with the agro-political verbiage of this political commemorative piece… Whereas its strongest point is the credibility of the credible opposition… … and a burial that has… which are in the tribes/clans so that they perish… [text cut off and partly illegible] When a person dies, they bury… who off]

Under the title “One year after March 22, 1992,” the newspaper “RD” used its issue yesterday to take stock of the Democratic Party’s victory. The first description that comes to mind concerns the author, Hysen Çobani, leader of the Republican Party. At first we thought that perhaps the positive results published in the “Demokracia” column—written with American letters and means—had somehow been mixed up. Then it occurred to us that perhaps the printing-house director, Mr. P. DH, had included his former associate to fill some gap in “RD” in the late hours. It may be because the newspapers that celebrated March 22 were lacking, and afterwards they handed “RD” the pen. It is possible that the editorial office itself put to work the intelligence that became a doctor for the harvest, left it a patent, took it with donations from the Republican Party, and spread it like pumpkin seed through its pro-government press. Leaving behind the descriptions of the auction, we move on to the readings. He takes you back 2,000 years to Adam and Eve, quotes Shakespeare from 500 years ago, tells how the DP’s victory was achieved when he belonged to another party, and forgets to address what the title asks: what happened after one year? How much has production grown, how many new works have been built, how has modern agriculture flourished, what new things have been undertaken, how many young people have found jobs? Instead, Mr. Hysen says that March 22 “ranks among the most notable days, together with those of the League of Prizren, Independence, the Congress of Lushnjë and the day of victory over fascism.” Could this gentleman tell us what the day of victory over fascism in Albania is? Has he heard what the People’s Assembly decided, with its democratic majority, or is he confusing historical dates with planting schedules? It is not worth dealing with the agro-political calculations of this commemorative material, but the conclusion is just as beneficial as the one the doctor reached in the middle of the fields. “The weakest point of Albanian democracy today is that it has no credible opposition.” Whereas the strongest point

PS activists in Elbasan Burdened with acute economic and social problems, the district of Elbasan needs solutions, both short- and long-term, that people can experience and that will allow them to live well. The life of the city—alivizë—through the cracks, the district’s economy is in collapse. In all 15 communes where the Socialists won in the July 26 elections, and in the other communes too, local government is blocked. These and other similar problems were at the center of discussions among activists at a meeting held in recent days by the steering committee of the PS in the district of Elbasan. Surrounded by PS members and supporters who took the floor, trade unionists, women and young Eurosocialists also brought up people’s everyday concerns and problems, including their inability to communicate with local government bodies to resolve their difficulties. Meanwhile, speakers also commented on the statement by PS chairman Fatos Nano, who had called for the government’s resignation on behalf of the Party. They said that when the government’s resignation is discussed, this does not mean merely changing people in the cabinet, but changing its course. And the government’s change of course is not dictated by the subjective wishes of any one person. The country needs a new course of governance, or co-governance, by genuine intellectuals of … that can be faced for … of … and … The activity … for a … The activists appointed … in the city … and … for dialogue on … … of … … for the people’s … in … which, in turn, … toward … 1992 … . Those present at the meeting were … . Correspondent of Zëri i popullit

In a short interview he gave yesterday to Radio Tirana, when asked the journalist’s fantastic question about whether he saw any connection between events in Albania and Russia, Prime Minister Meksi replied more or less as follows: “I made it clear to Vëret... All the events in Albania are inspired by Moscow, Bucharest and Sofia.” So the prime minister, having borne and solved all the problems of the Albanian world, has moved on from fantastic questions: it is not the government’s failure, nor incompetence, nor the new class struggle, nor political upheavals, but events in Russia, Bulgaria and Romania. Many people are asking whether Meksi got this information from SHK-… or some other similar organization. … but the radio does not explain. It is only known that with this … … that … …Prime Minister Meksi answered Vërriteri too… As for the Prime Minister, after he carries… Our Prime Minister’s statement should not surprise us… (Continued on page 4)

Predictably, whether the already discredited and bankrupt Meksi government will… or will continue to submit to the will of the parliamentary majority… This is the reason that was there before March 22, 1992, whether as a government measure on its part for Albania. The incompetent government officials have been placed in the dock… Your brother Zeneli hugs you. “The fatal blow” … In Albania, the fatal blow, “Il colpo di grazia” (the final blow), was dealt by the two-year period of 1991–1992. I believe no one can claim that the transition from one social system to another, from dictatorship to democracy, could take place without pain… Why should our country necessarily have been an exception to the path followed by other former socialist countries? … …in connection with a lengthy debate. The serious and more severe accusations were directed at the usurpers of the popular movement for freedom and democracy… the former monist regime. Self-isolation and totalitarianism caused us many other harms… For Albania, the fatal blow… …political figures should have shown themselves to be more reasonable, more restrained with patriots, closer to national traditions and virtues… Unfortunately…

In September of last year, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Food Rexhep Uka divided the enterprises that would be under the authority of this ministry from those that would remain under the authority of local government. By letter no. 3890, dated 24.9.92, he also informed the Skrapar district council which enterprises would remain under its authority. The agro-trading enterprise and the pastures enterprise would remain under the district’s authority. For the last time, Rexhep Uka came out against Rexhep Uka. In defiance of his September order, a few days ago another order arrived in Skrapar, signed by Ernest Dosti, head of personnel at the Ministry of Agriculture. The letter announces the replacement of the two managers of the aforementioned enterprises… Venedik Zaimi, chair of the Skrapar District Council, refuses to implement this letter…

Come get «Cooper» cigarettes, «DS» cigarettes, «Hilal» chocolate! Come get newspapers, sunflower seeds! Come get apples, oranges… come…! This is the incessant refrain—not of one or two people, not of one or two children, not of one or two people in “collars,” not of one or two townspeople or villagers, and not of one or two Roma. You find them on every passenger train, constantly calling out; with their cries they become so bothersome and annoying to those around them. They are passenger… There are as many as 1–20 of them circulating. They circulate in the same… (Continued on page 3)

The council in session, the people in the square