On February 24, 1093, a question session was held for the governor of the National Bank, Mr. Ilir Hoti, requested by the parliamentary group of the Socialist Party; 10 questions from PAD deputies and 7 from PSD deputies were also added. The PD group asked no questions because... it had the watermelon inside. The “ARSIDI” scandal without Arsidi Who is the big watermelon? “Gentlemen, why do you concern yourselves only with the little cucumber and not with the big watermelon?” On February 24, 1093, a question session was held for the governor of the National Bank, Mr. Ilir Hoti, requested by the parliamentary group of the Socialist Party; 10 questions from PAD deputies and 7 from PSD deputies were also added to theirs. The PD group asked no questions because... it had the watermelon inside. After the mute response to my question, I made this retort to Mr. Hoti: “It seems as if my two questions have nothing to do with the Bank governor, but with the Minister of Public Order. The truth is that they concern both, because both these institutions guard the people’s money. But how do they guard it? There is guarding with policemen. There is also guarding with authorizations, agreements, bills of exchange or lawful discounting. But what we are actually seeing is flagrant violations of the laws. This violation begins on June 8, 1991, when a ‘minister’ (in quotation marks) of the Democratic Party in the Government of Stability, Mr. Ruli, four days before he was to be sworn in before the president—that is, before he had even officially become a minister—signed a document in Paris allowing these procedures to begin. They continued up to the payment of the bills of exchange on the eve of the March 22, 1992 elections. The Ministry of Public Order tells us on TV about the arrest of pickpockets or some fruit-store clerk. Good. But where are the big thefts? There is a poem that says: The south wind blows, the south wind blows; / And the horn is sounded; / The basin of the Sea of Azov; / The watermelon crushes the watermelon beneath the ship; / A big, furry watermelon... What is the big, furry watermelon? Where is it? ... around the pit, without lifting the lid, it is empty talk, a secret agreement in the nooks of the Bank or the Prison. Do you remember the second interpellation with Mr. Hoti, requested by the group of PAD deputies? Mr. Hoti said in that interpellation: ‘Chance brought me here; let chance take me away...’ ‘A fine saying for consolation! But Mr. Hoti has not understood, or does not want to understand, that he is no longer caught up in the whirlpool of chance. Chance may have swept him into that whirlpool; it will be difficult to get out without laying all the cards on the table, including the ace of trumps. It is no coincidence that 1.6 million dollars disappeared. It is no coincidence that the operation was carried out on the eve of the March 22 elections. It is no coincidence that the payment, as they say, was made in violation of the laws. Indeed, even if the payment had been made in accordance with the laws, that would be an even more innocent-looking way of introducing a supposedly legal means of making payments from illegal sources, leading to ‘black business.’ It is no coincidence that the central figure in the adventure, Arsidi, has not been seen in Albania since the time he was decorated by the president of the republic. It is no coincidence that those people who could speak the truth were detained. So, there is little chance that the truth will come out. All the more so when you consider that the ‘Arsidi Scandal’ is being tried without Arsidi present. All the more so when you consider that Hoti and Ahmeti stand over the lid of the scandal’s pit, while the key to the lid is in other people’s hands. The wretched, poor people devour newspaper pages and legal paragraphs, while others devour the dollars, smiling almost invisibly—almost beneath their eyelashes. Others, smiling almost invisibly, almost beneath their eyelashes. Why aren’t all these people called to testify in court?! If we cannot hear them tell the truth, at least let us hear them lie. That would be no small thing either. Therefore, I would say, in a very friendly manner, to the judges of the case: cucumber and not with the big watermelon?’” The south wind blows; the south wind blows; And I sound the horn; The basin of the Sea of Azov; Watermelon crushes the big, furry watermelon? Where is it? Where has it hidden the money? This is what the people are asking all the state institutions. Listening to and reading the Albanian press about the trial underway, anyone who knows nothing about either the bank of money or the bank of the accused asks the simplest question: Where is the money? Who gave it, to whom did they give it, why did they give it; what did they gain? This question is the metal lid covering the black hole of the scandal. Every legal truth

Radio - Shkodra broadcast a rather interesting program on 2.8.1993 at 14:00. Eduard Selami’s speech was delivered in Vermosh on the occasion of the decoration of the martyr of democracy, Prek Cali, awarded directly by President Berisha. It was broadcast in full, as Enver Hoxha’s speeches used to be. Orator Selami talked more about politics than about Prek Cali’s life. Among other things, he stated that after Nano, Kastriot Islami, Gramoz Ruçi, Namik Dokle, etc. would be arrested. He also gave the “good news” that Albania’s prisons would reopen, specifying that Burrel prison and the one in Gjirokastër would be the first to open and that opponents of the government (the Democratic Party) would be put in them. Mr. Selami called for the “rag” Zëri i popullit to be stuffed and for the Socialist Party to be outlawed. His words were applauded by Raje[r]soni, the first ambassador to set foot on Vermosh soil in 50 years, the speaker of the Albanian parliament Pjetër Arbnori, PD deputies, etc. Not wishing to accuse Mr. Selami of class warfare, we would like to believe that those words came to him because, accustomed as he is to the hot climate of the West, where he spends almost all his time, not even a breeze from Kelmend’s beech woods struck him on the head like a rooster on raki. Let it be so, because otherwise he will turn all of Albania into a prison. OSMAN ADEMI (Reprinted from the newspaper «Besa» no. 11, publication of the «Kosova» Shkodër Patriotic Cultural Association) Note: Even from these few lines, the strategy of PD leaders to eliminate their political opponents is clearly reaffirmed. Mr. Selami’s speech follows the line of those speeches that put pressure on the judiciary in the case of Fatos Nano and achieved their aim. Also, in Durrës he threatened that Ramiz Alia would be sent to prison, and achieved his aim. So there is nothing accidental about his statements. The practice of the party in command has become reality. On this occasion, we would suggest that the Prosecutor General’s Office at least seize the recording containing this speech, which is held by Radio-Shkodra, since who knows, it may be needed as evidence to convince those who accuse Mr. Selami of being tolerant and pliable toward the “socialists.” Correspondent of «Zëri i popullit»

There, you won, Arshi. Pipa wins too, but one brick ruined everything. So be careful, Arshi Pipa. Everyone remembers Arshi Pipa’s first arrival in Albania. The emotional arrival of an Albanian-American persecuted by the “communist dictatorship” would naturally arouse interest. And interest grew. It grew because as soon as he set foot on the sacred soil, Arshi Pipa was already talking about arrests, imprisonment, persecution and revenge against the communists and their “lackeys.” But who was Arshi Pipa? An anti-communist (his right), persecuted by the dictatorship and later settled in the USA? Arshi Pipa, the man who did not accept a standardization of spoken and written Albanian, offering his original opinion in favor of two variants of the language, Gheg and Tosk. Even so, these things are of little interest to me (and perhaps to someone else). Ultimately, as far as his visit to Albania is concerned, “A”shi Pipa is the one who wants to put Spaç and Burrel back into operation. Moving forward in time, Miguel Martinez, president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, set foot on Albanian soil and, as if unaware of Arshi Pipa’s statements, gave this lecture: “Albania needs people and leaders who speak and think about the future, not the past. You must look only forward.” But although we are in Europe, [?] we do not behave as Europe does, not at all

Sunday feature It is a completely original bar beneath the castle of Gjirokastër. Perhaps its sign should read “Old Bazaar Tourist Bar,” after the name of the neighborhood where it has opened, in the ancient and venerable Gjirokastrian house of Papadhopuli. It is the work of the Qeli brothers. They have adapted the buffet, the cellar, the entrance gate, the stairs, the corners, and other marvels will be discovered as the imagination of its decorators adds to it, now put to use according to a new logic: that of the market economy, which demands and trains people to be more resourceful, imaginative and prosperous. With a truly sound and effective economic system, it will realize its dream. They will also open hotel rooms, where people can stay overnight and spend a night above, amid the heights and ages of time. By becoming more financially effective, this city will also become artistically richer under the new economic system, if we know how to manage it. We will be able to bring to life something unique: the ground floors of Gjirokastër’s houses were originally used for other purposes. Now they are becoming the first floors of the market, while economically sustaining the great houses in their entirety. They are being brought to life, taking in the light, glass and air of the luxurious upper floors. Here in this bar, along with its fine premises, the owners have made the floor above into a billiard room. how to manage it. It will be possible to bring the monuments to life, ensuring their natural preservation. Monuments that are closed up are forgotten, gather dust and crumble. Brought to life, they become active, gain lungs, become contemporary. Let us bring as many as possible to life. Let us follow the example of these two young men, the Qeli brothers. It is a completely original bar in the castle of Gjirokastër. Perhaps the old sign «Tourist Bazaar Bar» belongs to it, named after the neighborhood where it opened, in the ancient house of the Papadhopulli representative. and the rooms; they have made use of the spaces, the stone, the beams and the shadows. All these things had been here for centuries, where at times they seemed excessive and old-fashioned. The initiative of the elder brother Flamur, who is in Ger-many, and who has enriched it with light and [unclear], rekindled the ancient castle lanterns and chandeliers here as well. Gjirokastër is a marvel,

It seems that terrorism, too, has won the right of citizenship. On 20.8.1993 at 12:50 p.m. in Tirana, at “Avni Rustemi” Square, an explosion occurred, caused by unidentified persons. The blast took place between parked cars, with license plates TR 9897 A and TR 8640 A, respectively. Two people were injured in the explosion, an elderly person and a young woman, who were about 20 meters from the blast site; one of the car’s drivers also suffered serious injuries. According to the police, they were urgently taken to hospital for medical treatment. One car was badly damaged; the first car sustained about 80 impact marks and the second about 60. The car windows were also completely shattered. The police arrived at the scene immediately and took the necessary steps. One of the drivers has died. It is not known whether this was a personal attack, but suspicion has been cast on a terrorist act. Thus, people will begin to protect themselves not only from criminals who kill people or cause harm to their lives and other damage, including damage to cars, but also from measures that are not strong enough. According to the information available. All the indications point clearly to a terrorist act. Its perpetrators will be found; let us hope that the police will do their job here too and make it much harder for a murderer like this. A. M.

As in the days of collective herds | - There is no powdered milk in the market! - Accustomed in recent years to using milk “instead of lac,” city residents are once again searching for it. When someone has to travel to another city, they are obliged to take along dozens of requests from relatives or acquaintances to bring back a kilogram or so of powdered milk. But all in vain: powdered milk has now disappeared from the markets of all the government’s cities, and they are no longer bringing it to us from overseas. But what are people to do about feeding small children? Parents will have to think of that themselves. If they want, they can take to the country roads and find some house with milk, and after all, buy it there! While milk is not lacking for village children, powdered milk no longer comes to the aid of city children’s health. At this time, more or less, one understands the era of collectivized livestock herds, when ...

In various villages, government officials responsible for the thousands of tonnes of kerosene unloaded at our ports are becoming a mystery to the villagers. This is because in many villages there has been no kerosene supply at all for months. Moreover, this shortage affects some mountain villages in Librazhd, as well as villages along the national highway. Thus, villagers are forced to carry their kerosene cans on their backs and head to the towns of Librazhd and Elbasan, only to find out whether they can get any there or not. To some government official, this may seem like a minor matter compared with the «great» nationalizations our ministers and deputies are carrying out. Nevertheless, gentlemen officials, villagers are suffering even for kerosene. They need kerosene for light. And without light, the night cannot be endured. You will say that the villages are electrified. That is true, but transformers need to be replaced, and new ones with greater capacity must be brought in. For entire nights, some neighborhoods in the villages are left without light. If there is no lighting now, in summer, what will happen in the winter months? Since those who run the village shops (where there are shops, as many villages no longer have any) are not held accountable for failing to supply kerosene (even though they continue to receive state salaries), villagers want to know: is there really no kerosene, or is the kerosene not reaching them because someone does not want to send it to the villages? Correspondent of «Zëri i popullit»

PD aero-ministers The developments, advances and successes in the PD’s governance are tangible. Many of them affect us all; some affect us, some utterly crush us. We must not be nihilists; we must be realists, we must be... the reality! Transport. The development of transport could not be overlooked: the roads are fuller than ever with vehicles of every kind, so many cars that one can hardly remember them all. Developments have begun in the air too, and the sky is filling with planes. The PD’s boastful ministers travel across it from end to end to visit districts, municipalities and nearby communes. They all fly, especially the Minister of Public Order, to extinguish the hotspots where conflicts and social tensions between the people and the authorities flare up, or similar ones. We do not know whether they are being flown around in a helicopter or by some other means, given the outlook of the other minister, the Minister of Defense. Selami’s words, who has announced a contest: who would be worthy of an airplane’s cleanliness too... “knee to knee with the people.” The remaining speaker, with his head bowed forward.