- It is best that we work together and struggle using democratic means to halt the downward spiral and save democracy and the country from catastrophe. - We denounce today’s police state. - Meeting of the chairman of the Socialist Party, Fatos Nano, with residents of the town of Delvinë After the sincere and fruitful conversation held at the cinema of the town of Sarandë, the chairman of the Socialist Party, Fatos Nano, and deputy Anastas Janiç? met with residents of the town in the hall of the “Naif Haderi” Cinema in Delvinë. After the opening remarks by Mersin Arapi, chairman of the Delvinë District Executive Committee of the SP, who presented the grave economic and social situation of the town and district, Fatos Nano took the floor. He first thanked the approximately 500 people attending the meeting and all the town’s residents for the warm welcome they had given him, thereby creating the conditions for a sincere and fraternal conversation, for sharing their troubles with one another. The Socialist Party has them in its pro- [text breaks off/unclear] The all-encompassing crisis is growing ever more severe. Everyone feels its heavy burden on their shoulders. This is the direct result of the failed economic and social policy of an incapable government. It is true that Albanians, among them many Democratic supporters from Delvinë, took the difficult road of exodus without knowing how their fate would end. They, like all of us, are citizens of this country, and the government has a duty to look after them as it does all of us who live in Albania. Yet instead of guaranteeing them the most basic rights, instead of guaranteeing them at least the right to be legally recognized in the respective countries and to come to their families in accordance with international legal norms, [unclear text] continue to be at work. But how much is their income, and how does it compare with prices that are rising at a galloping rate? Is it enough to make ends meet, even at the most minimal level, or to secure what is called the indispensable subsistence minimum?... None of today’s government officials, none of those who a year ago did not tire of making promises, is able to answer or offer them a credible solution. People see and judge for themselves. We have openly expressed our opinion and position and we will not back down. the Democratic Party government because it is entirely incapable of leading the country along the right path of democracy and progress. Our demand is not unconstitutional; it is not destructive. When we speak this way, we are not motivated by jealousy or personal or party grudges, but by democratic principles, and by the justice that democratic law grants the opposition. We demand that the Democratic Party, in accordance with its right, consider its way of governing and think about the majority, because the majority’s mandate brought it to the helm of the country. It must not abuse the mandate it received on 22 March last year, but must justify it, because this is in the interests of democracy and Albania. After 22 March, it was loudly proclaimed that democracy had been established in Albania. But the facts and reality say otherwise. They accuse, just as you accuse [the source text breaks off]. who, after first thanking the 500 participants at the meeting and all the residents of the city the conditions for a sincere and fraternal conversation, to share their troubles with one another. The Socialist Party’s working practice includes contact with people, regardless of their political beliefs or party affiliation, regardless of religious affiliation, nationality, etc. Especially in these difficult times, with so many troubles, at a time when you have in fact been abandoned by the government, at a time when the state mass-media outlets have shut their doors to the Socialists—and not only to them, but also to all people who are not members or supporters of the party in power—meetings like these take on particular importance. As throughout Albania, Delvinë too has its hardships and many problems, Fatos Nano told those present. But this does not mean that there are no capable and competent people among you to face the situation. What matters is that intellectual resources, honest and committed people, be placed at the forefront of the work and not discriminated against on the basis of the orientation of the blue bulletins. all of us who live in Albania. But instead of guaranteeing them the most elementary be people with legal status in accordance with post-European legal norms, the government and its officials boast about the cars, refrigerators and televisions they have brought back through great sacrifices. Most of you are receiving assistance, but how much is it worth? How can the high cost of living, which keeps rising because of the incompetence and reckless governance of the PD, be met with that minimal assistance, which will one day be discontinued for those for whom it has not already been discontinued? How many of those unfortunate people receiving assistance will have the chance to find work this year? What will happen to those production lines or sectors that could be reactivated? None of the government officials, not even the President of the Republic, is able to answer these questions, which shows that people’s lack of prospects and hope for the future is entirely justified. A small minority of people, Fatos Nano went on, va-

- Impressions from the event held in the town of Kavajë on the occasion of the third anniversary of the First Anti-Communist Demonstration in Albania Until now, public opinion in general held that the initiators of democracy in Albania should be considered the December students. They were the ones who dared to take to the streets in demonstrations in December 1990, forcing the PPSH leadership to accept pluralism. Immediately after the student demonstrations, Albania’s first opposition party, the Democratic Party, was formed. In honour of the student movement, the square in the centre of the town called “Studenti” was also officially named “Democracy Square.” Later, the press of the far-right forces began writing that “the true initiators of democracy are the hundreds of thousands of prisoners of conscience under the dictatorship.” They were the ones who wore down and tormented the dictatorship with their resistance until they forced it to surrender. That is why there is insistence that former prisoners should be present in large numbers in the state administration, particularly in Justice, SHIK, and Public Order. Indeed, things have now reached the point where all genuine anti-communists are considered to be Balli members and other Albanians who, in order to fight the communists, took up arms alongside the Nazi-fascists against the partisans who had risen in the Great Anti-Fascist War. There is also another view, which says that in reality democracy was brought by the communists and moderate, liberal intellectuals, who, convinced that Albania could not continue to be governed as it had been until the 1990s, prepared public opinion, especially young people, to rise up in the December demonstrations. It was this moderate, liberal group of communists and intellectuals that compelled the PPSH leadership to make the well-known political concessions, until pluralism was finally permitted. The list of moderate communist and intellectuals includes not only Kadare, Berisha, Ylli Popa, and Bardhyl Londo, but also Gramoz Pashko, Fatos Nano, and the then leader of the Albanian people himself, Ramiz Alia. These moderate communists and intellectuals knew how to take advantage of the democratic climate created in Europe, and especially of the “Gorbachev phenomenon.” Meanwhile, in Shkodër, it is said that the city of Shkodër also made a special contribution to democracy. It is enough to remember that the first public blow against Stalin’s bust in Albania was struck by the citizens of Shkodër at the beginning of 1990. This blow is regarded as the first genuine public blow against the dictatorship. They say in Shkodër that it should not be forgotten that, in the struggle against the dictatorship, the people of Shkodër used a very effective weapon: the famous anonymous political jokes, which demystified the dictatorship and its leadership. But by following the lengthy report broadcast by RTV on the evening of 26 March, we learned that there is yet another strong contender to be considered an initiator of democracy. This contender is the town of Kavajë. Many Kavajë residents, gathered in one of the town’s most luxurious halls, compelled President Berisha and the entire top leadership of today’s Albanian state to listen for minutes on end to their arguments that they were the ones who, in the demonstration of 26 March—which the speakers considered the first anti-communist demonstration—were the first in Albania to initiate the democratic processes. A young man who spoke at the meeting firmly reminded today’s Albanian rulers that, since they—the people of Kavajë—were the first initiators of democracy in Albania, the principal investments should also come to Kavajë first. It seems the people of Kavajë cannot forget the promise made to them by today’s Albanian president that “the DP will make Kavajë the first European city in Albania.” In this context, there was also a demand that 26 March be declared an official holiday of the Republic of Albania. At this meeting President Berisha showed great attentiveness to the requests of Kavajë’s Democrats, promising them that soon “Kavajë will have more shops than all of northern Albania.” Let us recall that President Berisha is from one of the northernmost regions of his Albanian homeland. We do not know whether the northern regions, such as the citizens of Shkodër or the residents of Bulqizë, etc., will agree with Mr Berisha’s promise. It is thought that in the contest to determine the first initiators of democracy in Albania, the losers will be the moderate liberal intellectuals and communists, while the Balli members and all those who fought the communists with arms alongside the Germans will be the most celebrated. “No one can say they contributed more than we did to fighting the communists,” the far right stresses, “who, as is known, joined the democratic movement not from the beginning but when the circumstances suited them.” But some say that had the Balli members not joined the Germans and instead fought the occupiers, it would have been difficult for the communists to take power after the Second World War. According to this logic, the real culprits for communism’s arrival in Albania are the Balli members themselves. Reactions to the latest statement made in the town of Kavajë are expected in the political dailies, the newspaper “Balli Kombëtar,” the student press, and the newspapers published in Shkodër. MUSA ULOJINI

MR. PRESIDENT, Do not act against

I am writing to you, Mr. President, because you are the only one who can stabilize the difficult and extremely tense situation at NB Çermë. A few days before the vote on 22 March, you came to Çermë, and your speech made it possible for you to win the majority of the votes that very day. Among other things, you said that we would make our farms like those in the West, that we would link them with foreign companies, create joint-stock companies, etc. Your words made us very optimistic, and we spent all this time hoping that this would happen. But a few days ago we heard the sensational news on Radio and Television that the farms would be broken up and privatized. I tell you sincerely, Mr. President: we, the residents of Sector Çermë, thought our farm would be exempt, but after making inquiries at the Ministry of Agriculture we received the sad news that NB Çermë too would be privatized. This news has become the subject of endless conversation and discussion among all the people of Çermë. It has made the people of this [unclear: “meçarë komunë”] extremely pessimistic and left them talking to themselves. And it really is too much to make people talk to themselves. About 8,400 hectares of Tërbuf land, which until yesterday was sprayed by aircraft and irrigated by electro-pumps and various irrigation systems with hydrants, and on which the state invested millions and millions—isn’t it astonishing and paradoxical that today this area should be divided up with fences and cowsheds? Don’t you think that this way we are not heading to Europe but straight into a pit? This situation has provoked great discontent among the 600 residents of this area. Nearly 90 percent of these people signed a petition stating categorically that we do not want the dissolution of NB Çermë. We have handed the petition to our deputy so that he can forward it to [text cut off].

A few days ago, the public learned about the “Hello-Hello Operation” undertaken by the Durrës municipal administration to remove approximately 300 telephones. On that occasion, Socialist councillors denounced the action as a violation of human rights, as politically motivated, retaliatory, and illegal. The list sent by the chairman of the municipal council, Mr. Shezai Ballhysa, to the PT directorate was also denounced. These anti-democratic and inhumane actions, inspired by the PD fanatics in Durrës, took place only a few days before our esteemed president loudly announced his legislative initiative to approve a law protecting the freedoms and rights of his citizens. Citizens, outraged by the municipality’s action and “enthused” by the protection the president offers their vital interests, [text cuts off].

FACTS WITHOUT COMMENT IN SUPPORT OF PRESIDENT BERISHA: Deputy Dodë Kacaj sent a letter-instruction to the Chairman of the Malësia e Madhe District, the former deputy head of the Repair and Service Enterprise, Fatmir Arifi. We are publishing its text in full, as it appears in the original held by the editorial office. Mr. Fatmir, I have learned of two matters. Verify them, and if they prove to be true, take strict measures; 1. After four or five days, according to the testimony, a certain Nikolin Narkaj did [this]. The worst thing is that he was involved in attacks and was responsible for it (?); 2. Two days ago, a scoundrel entered the local office and Declared: Sali Berisha has given the right (2-). This is a vile slogan intended to create trouble. I even know the name, but judge for yourself. Verify both cases, act harshly, and report back to me during the day, by evening, Best wishes, Doda 12.2.1993. Editorial note: The above case is a clear order concerning the “independence of the law-enforcement bodies.” On this occasion, we suggest that Deputy Dodë, and all the other PD deputies, leave the agencies alone in the future when conducting their correspondence.

The French-language group of the «Shejnaze Juka» Secondary School in Shkodër won first prize in the «Version original» competition, in which 35 European secondary schools took part on 10 March 1993, on the occasion of the Paris Book Fair. Among 35 texts previously written on a European theme, the jury, composed of writers and publishers, in fact selected the work of an Albanian high-school girl. On this occasion, at the French Ministry of Culture, two female students from this school, selected in a preliminary screening conducted by the French Embassy and accompanied by two lecturers from the University of Tirana, collected their prize and took part in the Paris Book Fair. They thus had the opportunity to compare their experience with that of 80 European high-school students present for the occasion, and attended a symposium on the circulation of ideas in Europe, in which many French and Albanian writers and intellectuals took part, including Mr. Besnik Mustafaj, Albania’s ambassador to France. As part of this activity, the «Shejnaze Juka» School of Shkodër will be given a library of literary works in French.

A few days ago, Parliament approved an amendment to the law «On military service in the armed forces of the Republic of Albania», with the following content: «Students who have completed or will complete full-time higher education by 1 September 1994 are exempt from compulsory active service». The initiative to draft this law was taken by the Socialist MP and, at the same time, chairman of the Albanian Eurosocialist Forum (FRESH), Pandeli Majko. The fact that these students began military training in primary school, and therefore have a good level of military preparedness; that many of them are emigrants; and that calling them up to arms puts them in a difficult position, etc., are some of the reasons that prompted the drafting and approval of this law. BEQIR SKRELI

All political, social, intellectual and religious organizations, as well as all other invitees, are once again notified that on Monday, 20 March 1993, at 10:00 a.m., the meeting of the Albanian Pre-Assembly will be held in the press conference hall at the Palace of Congresses in Tirana. The Organizing Committee Tirana, 27 March 1993