On Sunday morning, the Assembly of the Eurosocialist Youth of Tirana held its proceedings in the main hall of the Higher Academy of Arts. Representatives of young people from all areas of the capital, from its universities and from the districts took part in this assembly. Members of the Socialist Party and its chairman, Fatos Nano, also attended. The central topic of discussion was the reorganization and redirection of the Forum under the current circumstances. In his speech, the deputy chairman of FRESSH and chairman of Tirana, Ilir Meta, analyzed the work carried out and the difficulties observed recently in the reorganization and organization process. FRESSH was established in universities, and the basis of this organization remained in student and school centers. Prioritizing and supporting organization by faculty and school created pauses in the Forum’s activities, since the education system itself has breaks during holiday and examination periods. As a result, a large part of the youth with democratic left-wing views—including those who are unemployed, employed, receiving assistance, and young intellectuals—found it difficult to integrate into the Forum’s structures. Therefore, in order to give the Forum’s activities stability and prospects, it must be completely restructured at the grassroots level. Priority should be given to organizing by geographic area, while preserving and adapting organization by faculties and secondary schools. Only by organizing ourselves, he said, can we establish an essential dialogue with Albanian youth in general about the national question, the future of democracy, and the economic and social problems that concern them. This way of organizing will prevent tendencies toward patronage relations with the PSSH and build genuine partnership relations, aimed at continuously affirming the alternative of democratic socialism in the country’s political reality. FRESSH has represented and will continue to represent a political youth formation, not a political faction within the PS. This bond is fitting for Eurosocialists because new ways of thinking are not the privilege of young people alone, but of all those who, regardless of age, cultivate change, reflect alongside it, and support what is new. In his contribution, the Eurosocialist Emir Neziri focused on reorganizing the district’s youth, which should be based on the administrative division established at the level of communes. The chairman of FRESSH, Pandeli Majko, also addressed the assembly. At the outset, he proposed observing a minute of silence in memory of the martyrs of democracy who fell in Shkodër two years earlier. The young PS MPs, he said, will present a bill in parliament to declare April 2 and May 5 days commemorating the martyrs of democracy and freedom, since these two dates share the blood shed by young people for Albania’s future. Students from the University of Tirana and the Agricultural University also offered greetings. The greeting by the distinguished intellectual Dr. Tëto Agolli was received with enthusiasm. Comrade Arta Dabulla also spoke on behalf of the Women’s Forum, as did the Eurosocialist Grmoz Çela, chairman of the Vërri Commune. Correspondent of «Zëri i Popullit»

«Those who politicized your difficulties are charlatans» SALI BERISHA From his speech in Poliçan, March 28, 1993 Who politicized the difficulties faced by the people of Poliçan: Halit Shameta characterized the events in Poliçan as political, as the beginning of a coup d’état. Bari Bregu: The events in Poliçan showed that the communist danger is imminent, and the PS parliamentary group is Communist Party No. 3. Luan Skuqi: A coup d’état was provoked in Poliçan. Pjetër Arbnori: I accuse the PS parliamentary group of destabilizing the country, which they have begun doing from below. Bashkim Kopliku and Safet Zhulali drew attention to the organization of the events in Poliçan. Arben Lika: Among other things, it was emphasized that MP Ilir Meta is a victim. He should appeal to people of his own young generation and understand the inferiority of his party. From the newspaper «RD», October 24, 1992 Question: Mr. President, is this what you had in mind when you spoke to the people of Poliçan, or is there more?

From the meeting of the PS Steering Committee of Laç On Friday, the Steering Committee of the PS in the Laç district held a working meeting, to which, in addition to the committee members, it had invited several members of the district and commune councils. It analyzed several problems related to the current situation in the district, as well as during this difficult period of transition, and the fact that the party, from the center to the grassroots, is patiently fighting against the antidemocratic actions of today’s officeholders, against the revanchism and corruption observed in the neocommunist power. [Text is garbled:] together with the 3,000 who were unemployed, they amount to one third of the district’s population. In the agricultural sector alone, 8,000 workers receive assistance, because the state agricultural enterprises have no economic activity at all, and for now also [text cuts off].

Yesterday, on March 29, Prime Minister Aleksandër Meksi refused to receive representatives of local government.

Facts, without comment, in support of President Berisha; While Parliament is discussing the draft law submitted by the President of the Republic, «On the fundamental freedoms and rights of the human being»!!! Yesterday morning, several citizens from Vlora came to our newspaper’s editorial office, distressed and offended... Facts, without comment, in support of President Berisha; POLICE RAID IN VLORA?.... While Parliament is discussing the draft law submitted by the President of the Republic, «On the fundamental freedoms and rights of the human being»!!! Yesterday morning, several citizens from Vlora came to our newspaper’s editorial office, distressed and offended by measures involving unlawful actions carried out by law-enforcement forces. On March 25, they [unclear] to forcibly evict the family of citizen Selim Mehmeti from their home, an action they finally carried out on March 27, at a time when the matter had not been resolved by the court. The official [unclear] against Selim Mehmeti, who has lived alone for seven years in an apartment with [?] and one small kitchen, in [?]. Claiming that he had entered that residence without a decision from the competent authority, the Municipality [unclear] sent in the law-enforcement forces, who used violence against him and threw him out. On this occasion, the head of the household himself [text cut off] This may have been lawful practice during the monist period, but now it seems that the Municipality—and, even worse, the police—pay no heed to the individual’s fundamental rights and freedoms. The citizens of Vlora who came to protest through the newspaper also brought several photographs showing the police raiding the home of Selim Mehmeti’s family in order to take away the only room they had. In a conversation with the Chief Judge of the Vlora district and the prosecutor, who was an employee in the [unclear] public order department, [unclear] this is not an isolated case. [Unclear] in every town in Albania, which shows more than anything the state’s actual [unclear] commitment, which has been outlined [unclear] regarding this problem...[?] THE EDITORIAL OFFICE

On the agenda: Resolving the national question - The third gathering of Albanian political forces and associations from Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia, etc., began its proceedings in Tirana. - The Chairman of the Socialist Party of Albania, Fatos Nano, is also taking part. Yesterday at 10:00, the third gathering opened in the press conference hall at the Palace of Congresses in Tirana. Participants include representatives of political parties, associations, religious communities, and other scientific and social organizations from Albania, Kosovo, and Macedonia. This is the third preparatory meeting, held following the first two meetings, which took place in Tetovo at the end of November 1992 and in mid-January 1993. The opening address was delivered by jurist Nja[z]i Jaho, a member of the organizing council. After speaking about the importance of such gatherings, he invited those present to discuss the issues put forward and presented the agenda to them. Discussions then began. Molkom Zego, a member of parliament, spoke on behalf of the Socialist Party. Also present at the gathering were Socialist Party Chairman Fatos Nano and Socialist MPs Naxhi Dokle, Dritëro Agolli, and Luan Hajdaraga. Correspondent of «Zëri i Popullit»

Yesterday, on March 29, Prime Minister Aleksandër Meksi refused to receive representatives of local government from the districts of Fier, Skrapar, Berat, Kuçovë, and Mallakastër. receive representatives of local government from the districts of Fier, Skrapar, Berat, Kuçovë, and Mallakastër. After meeting with President of the Republic Sali Berisha, the local government leaders from these districts requested a meeting with the prime minister to discuss more specifically the problems and difficulties facing their districts. As has been reported, at the meeting with the president, he promised the local government leaders that he would ask the government to take the necessary measures regarding the problems they had raised with him. The president himself also organized a roundtable of political parties to discuss these problems. The leaders of the above-mentioned districts had requested a meeting with Prime Minister Meksi by telegram three weeks ago. After receiving no response from him, they came to Tirana yesterday to meet with the prime minister. The prime minister refused to receive them. The prime minister’s secretary, Shpëtim Arbana, conveyed to the local government leaders of the above-mentioned districts the prime minister’s position: he would not receive them all together, but would meet with each district separately next week. The local government representatives described the prime minister’s position as unacceptable. Nevertheless, they are awaiting a meeting with him next week. Correspondent of «Zëri i Popullit»

The RTV, in its current state, says: «At NB Cërrik, the land has been privatized». We gathered to share our troubles with one another because we do not know what fate awaits us. Meanwhile, the purpose of the news broadcast by Radio and TV is supposedly to say that our NB has completed the privatization of the land. The truth is different, gentlemen. We have been left at the mercy of God. The NB’s managers want to carry out privatization after bringing the enterprise down to zero. The situation here is desperate. Ten thousand fruit trees have been cut down, not to mention the complete losses of the cows and [continued on page 3]

What Kavaja expected and what the President said On March 22, Kavaja gave Sali Berisha 98 percent of the vote. On May 16, 1992, during a visit to «liberated» Kavaja, Berisha, by then President, promised the people of this city: ... By abolishing the 80-percent measure, our primary aim is to get people back to work... ...We will preserve the basket for bread, oil, sugar, soap and cream, and rice. Given our conditions and difficulties, these products will not be removed from the basket. ...An agreement has been reached with the Italian and Greek governments to sign agreements on organized emigration... (RD, May 20, 1992, p. 1). In short, among other things, Kavaja expected: - The 80-percent measure to be abolished so people could start working. - The promised basket to be maintained in these difficult conditions. - State-organized emigration to begin. Now, a year after the day Sali Berisha received 98 percent of the vote, none of these things has been accomplished. So it is 3:0 in the President’s favor. This is how Mr. President responds to the people of Kavaja: »We are building Albania, but not the Albania of the government of the state; rather, the Albania of the citizen, the Albania of the human being». (RD, March 27, 1993, p. 3). In other words, the President says: Did you give me your votes? Now try to manage on your own; there’s nothing I can do for you. Albania belongs to the citizen, not the state. The state has no obligation to provide either jobs or the basket! This idea of the president’s is also clearly reflected in the draft law on human rights that he sent to Parliament. Whereas Article 30 of Ramiz Alia’s draft constitution (Bashkimi, April 10, 1991) states: «The State takes care of the employment of its citizens, takes measures to protect them at work and to provide workers with training», the draft law currently being discussed by Parliament leaves out any such commitment by the state. The promises of the DP and Mr. Berisha turned out like the song: “You deceived me with lies, saying: I’ll come when autumn arrives.” There was a golden age when leaders could never get enough of making promises. Berisha himself told his fellow fighters at the DP national assembly on April 3, 1993: «...we now say that we promised too little, but that does not mean those are the extent of our obligations to the people». (RD, April 5, 1992, p. 1.) What obligations was he talking about?! BEQIR SKRELI

. Continuing our protest against the Rectorate and the Dean’s Office, and compelled by the responsibility undertaken by «RD», we request and insist on a face-to-face meeting with the Rectorate, the Dean’s Office and the Department. The Rector’s promise to hold this meeting on 27.3.1993 was not fulfilled, since the Dean disregarded the Rector’s order and left, while the Department members had not been notified. After waiting for two hours and discussing the matter with a student representative, the Rector changed his position: he proposed a face-to-face meeting with a student delegation and refused the participation of the lecturers. Thus, this proposal was merely lip service, intended to cover up the problem. This delay, this «Rectorate-style» solution to the problem, shows disregard for our request and a tendency to drag things out until the problem remains unresolved. We are astonished: where do the Rector and Dean find the courage not to answer our request for a face-to-face meeting? Is it the Rector and Dean who make the University, or is it the students, without whom the University would not exist? We are turning to all the newspapers to clarify this situation once again and to explain the Rector’s and Dean’s position in relation to us, the students. 43 students from the mechanical engineering department, machinery profile, fifth year (signatures follow).

I have a two-room apartment with a kitchen, with a spacious floor area, on the fourth floor in Pogradец. I am seeking an exchange in kind for one of the same floor area in the city of Vlorë or in Tirana, with no objection to a direct exchange with a third party as well. Interested parties should call the telephone number 340-87.