On Tuesday, 20.7.1993, at midday, a serious incident occurred in the village of Fushë-Peshkën in the commune of Vertop, in the presence of two public-order police officers. The incident took place as follows: Several villagers had forcibly occupied the construction site called «Lëmi i Orizit», cadastral numbers 150, 151. This site had been surveyed by the statutory urban-planning office, and the commune council had decided that eight new houses should be built on the part where the dispute arose. Regarding the forcible occupation, the commune, relying on the laws in force, requested assistance from the public-order forces to clear the site approved for the construction of houses. Present at the scene to carry out this decision were: the commune mayor, Sami Ristani; the chairman of the commune council, Flamur Balliu; the head of the commune urban-planning office, Bajrami Veziti; the representative of the statutory urban-planning office, Mr. Petrit Nigallopi; and three police officers, as planned. Two arrived. The first six house plots were allocated normally. When they reached the allocation of the seventh plot, an area surrounded by the sons of Hekuran Sallari, which partly encroaches on the fifth and sixth plots and entirely on the seventh and eighth, at that moment they acted in an organized manner (first, one of Hekuran’s sons threatened the mayor with stones), and then all together (everyone, the parents; the brother-in-law in particular was beaten very badly. The commune council chairman was also struck with stones. After this grave moment, the fight was calmed down, as many people present became involved in the incident and helped reduce the tension. It is strange that in this incident and precedent, none of the lawbreakers was detained at the scene, given the concrete danger they presented before the eyes of the two police officers. Nevertheless, two of the lawbreakers later «went on their own» to the police, while two others were summoned later, and, strangely, as if they had gone to fetch water, they came out of there calm and happy. Now there is information that the lawbreakers, those who carried out the organized attack, are preparing, in accordance with the instructions they have received, to charge the commune mayor, who did not allow them to break the law. What do all these things tell us? First, they once again show how «capable» some people are in certain communes where the Socialists have won—people who even dare lay hands on the absolute inviolability of persons elected by the people. This is the second such case in Berat, after the attack on the mayor of Kutalli commune. These people commit a criminal act, then walk away unpunished, without their freedom or the «courage» they display being touched. Second, they also show—and not allow them to break the law. Sami Ristani was hit with stones, fists and other blunt instruments, with the intention of killing him. During this family attack, one of the police officers took from one of the sons (the son Safillari) a very large stone with which he was preparing to strike the commune mayor. The commune council chairman and one of his brothers-in-law rushed to the mayor’s defense; they were badly beaten. This shows the mayor of Kutalli commune. These people commit criminal acts, then go free, and their freedom and «courage» remain untouched. Second, it also shows shortcomings in the implementation of the law by the public-order police, who, instead of detaining dangerous people, seem to encourage the guilty and coddle them, leaving them free even afterward. Are we talking about a state governed by law? If this happens to people elected by the people, what about ordinary people? And we complain that fratricidal violence is increasing. We should complain and cry out all the more: where are you, oh state governed by law! LUAN SHMHILLI

Once, parliament was where the Puppet Theatre is today; later it was where the Institute of Arts is; nobody knows where it is, and tomorrow it may be somewhere else. What makes parliament a parliament is not the walls but the people, the MPs. From the day the Socialists and Social Democrats left parliament, parliament has been dragged along. Rarely during these days has the minimum number required to open parliamentary sessions been reached. Specifically, on July 14, when a very important package of fiscal laws was on the agenda, there were 40 MPs in the parliamentary chamber; when the vote took place, their number reached 53. When one of the AD MPs asked to be told the voting result, Mr. Arbnori pretended to get angry and did not grant the request. MP Minga came to Pjetri’s aid, distinguished in such situations, and said that the number could be verified only at the request of 20 MPs. That was a very apt intervention: to count 40 people, a request from 20 people must be made!! This week also began with dragging things out. After talking and talking about the fiscal laws on Tuesday morning, after Mr. E. Klepsh left, Mr. Pjetër closed the session because there was no quorum. Wednesday began under the chairmanship of Tomor Malasi, when there were again 53 people in the chamber, a number that remained unchanged. We mention only a few cases to show that the well-known impotence of the ruling party is compounded by its inability to make its MPs stay in parliament, even just to fill the seats. Mr. Klepsh came to Tirana at the invitation of Mr. Arbnori, but his visit coincided with several important developments in Albania’s internal and foreign affairs, with its strained relations with Greece; in particular, he arrived a few days after the European Parliament adopted a resolution on Albanian-Greek relations. The resolution called on the Albanian and Greek governments to cooperate in creating a climate of mutual trust. In a sense, this was also the leitmotif of Mr. Klepsh’s speech in the Albanian Parliament, where, among other things, he emphasized that his visit «to Tirana must be a political signal, it must be understood as an encouragement for peace throughout the region». He added that his visit expressed the desire and will that Albania should be part of this Europe». Also, Mr. Klepsh, all the MPs attended, despite having boycotted parliament for more than a month for well-known reasons. The attendance of all MPs from the different parties was a sign that all parliamentary groups equally recognize the importance for Albania of the visit to Tirana and the address to parliament by such an important figure as Mr. Egon Klepsh, President of the European Parliament. the European Parliament. Undoubtedly, one of the important points of Klepsh’s visit to Tirana, besides emphasizing that Albania and the Albanians are a factor of stability in the Balkans, was the country’s internal political and economic developments. Mr. Klepsh had the opportunity to receive information not only from official sources but also from other parliamentary groups, the opposition, the heads of religious committees, etc. Thus, the European Parliament’s picture of developments in Albania—its economic and political situation and the relations between the branches of government and between government and opposition—is broader. In this context, economic and political support for Albania within the framework of the EC will be more concrete in the future. In any case, while emphasizing here too the path of dialogue among all political forces and underscoring the legacy that dictatorship did not destroy—the dialogue and good relations among populations of different religious beliefs, as well as the tolerance that has always existed between the Albanian population and the Greek minorities in the south—his message, and that of the EC, was clear: the path of dialogue and tolerance has universal value, both in a country’s internal relations and in its foreign relations.

Economic fantasy There is nothing else left to do now. From Eastern Europe, and even from the most developed countries of the European Community, the best experts will come to Albania to learn from its experience. In one year of Democratic Party rule, Albania managed to achieve zero inflation, something America has not achieved after 400 years of capitalist development. But how, in what way, was this «miracle» possible? Experts at the Ministry of Economy and Finance are preparing a detailed report on this. We were able to learn only the main points, which, for lack of time, we are publishing without the relevant analysis. The thesis (understand: the Party’s instruction)—«zero inflation»—rests on two main pillars: 1) money: the budget: - foreign debt of over 600 million dollars. - domestic debt—from last year, 12 billion lekë. - deficit for the first six months of this year: 2 billion lekë. 2) the economy: In complete paralysis. National output continues to fall to critical levels. Thus, the IMF condition of limiting consumption by 40 percent is an easily achievable objective. The price Albanian people have been forced to pay for «zero inflation»: - 400,000 unemployed - prices multiplied tenfold and wages frozen - taxes and duties revised upward three times. Outlook: Enterprises heading for closure. Uncontrolled imports are destroying the national economy. Hundreds of thousands receiving assistance are heading toward complete poverty. Zero investment. Emigration, the only source of foreign currency, is endangered by a rudderless policy. This is the economic summary of the government’s favorite subject, «zero inflation». Astonishing, of course, especially for economists. All the more so when one knows that at the beginning of this year, compared with December ’90, inflation reached 700 percent. After this announcement, the data were locked away, while two price increases and three increases in customs tariffs are known to have taken place. But I have one concern. Will Europeans be able to «digest» this unique experience? It will be difficult, because in addition to high professional responsibility, it also requires party-mindedness of the highest order. Besides, how could they carry out this experiment in practice? Don’t be jealous, if you like! Sh. M.

Yesterday the three-day visit to Albania by the President of the European Parliament, Dr. Egon Klepsh, concluded. During the three days he held numerous meetings with various officials, beginning with President Berisha, Prime Minister Meksi, Foreign Minister Serreqi, the chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Pjetër Arbnori, the chairmen of parliamentary groups, the heads of religious committees, etc. He delivered a speech in the Albanian Parliament, attended by all MPs, despite their was a sign that all parliamentary groups attach equal importance to the visit in question for Albania. Dr. Klepsh reaffirmed what is also emphasized in the European Parliament resolution: that good relations between Albania and Greece are extremely important for the region. During his meeting with Mr. Berisha, he responded positively to the Albanian president’s request that a group of European parliamentarians, including Greeks, be sent to Albania soon to observe on the ground the position and rights of the Greek minority in Albania. There is no doubt that such a high-level group of observers will provide an objective assessment of the current situation and position of the Greek minority in Albania, and of their rights and freedoms—whether they are equal citizens alongside Albanians. Relations between them have always been brotherly. In his address to parliament, Mr. Klepsh referred to the crisis in Yugoslavia and took the opportunity to reiterate the inability of international mechanisms to stop the war there, despite good intentions, political will and the various resolutions adopted. Perhaps his indirect message on this point was that, notwithstanding the EC’s political support for resolving the crisis, it is appropriate for ways and means to overcome the crisis to be found through dialogue between Albania and Greece. political developments and economic situation—

- Ahmet Zogu is the greatest figure in the history of the Nation, including Skënderbeu. - The King is forgiven even if he has killed. As the electoral parade continued, the royal court was in Rrëshen on Tuesday. In the presence of the few sympathizers and the many curious onlookers who had come to see the courtiers, they took it upon themselves to evoke «the most glorious period in Albania’s history» and the return of the nation’s «most capable and wisest man», as well as the wisest man before his kingship, Leka I, to the royal throne. Some answers from the Minister of the Court, Mr. Mulosmanaj, are of interest: «When we say Ahmet Zogu is the greatest figure in the history of the Nation, we also have Skënderbeu in mind». «It is true that King Zog established the axis of friendship and cooperation with fascist Italy, but he was forced to, since England had forbidden him; since they helped him too, did he betray their trust by frightening great Kosovo of the sea?» (part partly illegible) «The King lives according to his own wishes, without borrowing from anyone... The gold taken by the king is apparently in the banks of England! A great fortune for our people! The King of the Albanians lives on the means of the kingdom and looks to our country’s allies in civilized Europe and in the democratic countries». The poor «mil- jëteri» thinks Albanians have alphabets like His Majesty’s and can throw them away whenever they want! The courtiers moved the fortress to guard the editors of the questions, allowing a few devilish questions through—questions that Albanians apparently have not forgotten, such as: With whose help did Zogu return to power? Is it true that many great patriots were killed by the king, such as Avni Rustemi, Luigj Gurakuqi, Hasan Prishtina, Bajram Curri and many others? In a moment of irritation, the poor «minister» said: «Communism killed people, and you don’t demand accountability for that; you only demand accountability from us». The gentleman forgot that he had come to bring the king’s voice, or did he mean that the king is forgiven even if he has killed? The gentleman also failed to mention Shën-Naum and Vermosh, gifts handed over to the Serbo-Slavs, whom he cursed even more, and many other things that the court took away with it as material for a sociological study on the role of time in shaping King Zog’s anti-national activities, or another study on the Albanian’s «generosity» in forgiving the king for «this little court». MATUSH MANI

- Why did the price of bread go up? - Everyone remembers the television discussion among three ministers of the Meksi government—Ruli, Kalakula and Shehi—the day before the price of bread went up. Everyone also remembers Mr. Ruli’s banal argument about the effect of Albanians consuming less bread, an argument based on a study conducted with the lady from the Ministry of Finance, according to which, after democracy’s victory, they ate more chocolate than bread. So, at last, according to the study, Albania became like Europe. The price of bread went up to 47 lekë. But what about bread consumption? According to Ruli, or by his order, it should have changed. But that is not what happened. People did not obey Mr. Ruli when it came to eating. As we learn from the Tirana bread factory, the plan—and at the same time bread production—after its price increase is 900 quintals. But «by chance», the quantity produced was also 900 quintals in June. It was the same in the preceding months. Consequently, the population’s bread consumption was equal to the quantity produced (shown above) and did not change when the price of bread changed. Thus, the first argument put forward by Mr. Ruli in his reasoning has been disproved. Meanwhile, the price of bread went up. The price paid by the state to farmers for collecting wheat also went up; the harvest and threshing season is nearing its end. Let us see whether the argument put forward by the honorable and powerful Minister of Agriculture and Food, Kalakula, will succeed: that the increased price paid to farmers for collecting wheat (the effect of which is an increase in the price of bread) will stimulate an area of around 400 thousand tons of wheat in the country. And if this argument also fails, all we can do is ask: Why did the price of bread go up? ERION BRACE

Determined to crack down on every kind of violation and corruption in his municipality, Tirana deputy mayor Mr. Gëzim Kallçiu, accompanied by a police escort and backed up by cranes, set out on a special mission a few days ago. The purpose of this «operation», which turned out to be a farce, was to remove a café on «Dëshmorët e kombit» Boulevard. It was a café that had caught the attention of all passersby because of its appearance and its aspects? The operation turned out to be a failure. At midday he was forced to retreat with the police, having arrived without daring to take any action. What was the deputy mayor afraid of? If the café had a permit, why did Mr. Kallçiu and his police go there to remove it? The documents were in their hands to verify whether the [illegible passage] But who changed Kallçiu’s mind? Was he ordered to do so by those people? Or was he threatened? After so many «successful» years of Mr. Kallçiu, an American flag now flies on the roof of this café. ARDIAN AULONA

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