- Remarkable paradoxes in justice - In recent days, protests by students of the U.T. Faculty of Law concerning the 3-month course opened by the government under its decision No. 133, dated 26.3.1993, where future “cadres” for the justice system are being trained as a matter of priority and in haste, have been published in three newspapers in the country. The newspaper «Koha jonë» also published, on 3.4.1993, a protest by the Albanian Helsinki Committee on this same issue. Besides these, as a jurist I would add two things: First. I expected and hoped that the leadership of the Association of Jurists of Albania would make a forceful response to the government’s decision. But they remained silent. Legally, the Minister of Justice withdrew his recognition of the association as early as 15 January 1992, but it exists only in the relevant register of this ministry. In practice, today it is a dead, amorphous association with no effectiveness, just as it remained so for 45 years under the so-called “people’s” system. A few months ago, a temporary executive committee was elected to prepare the Statute and internal regulations, so that a general meeting and the election of governing bodies could quickly follow. But it seems that everything was “sabotaged,” because this committee was made up largely of the leading figures from central institutions such as the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Cassation, the Constitutional Court and the General Prosecutor’s Office. Therefore, the Association of Jurists cannot protest against the government’s decision, because they cannot oppose themselves. Who are they supposed to stand against? The chairs in which they sit as people in power? [the state] for the coming year. Meanwhile, it is said that there are no funds to pay the three-month salary difference for judges, prosecutors and investigators. The government’s actions to fill the justice institutions with unqualified people have occurred only after communism came to power in Albania, 48 years ago. But why are our deputies not demanding explanations? Spending on these courses is completely pointless if the aim is to replace judges and prosecutors in the districts or at the central level. Under Article 17 of the Law “On the Organization of Justice,” adopted by this parliament, one of the four requirements for working in these bodies is a university degree in law. Those who complete these courses cannot, under any circumstances or under any kind of state regime, be given the title “jurist.” But the jurist, lecturer, UN ambassador, lawyer and deputy Bajeta can say without any pangs of conscience that “we passed the law (that is, the DP) and we are the ones changing it.” Will this “banner of democracy” (as he himself admits), he and his entourage, respect the Law “On Human Rights and Freedoms” adopted by this parliament? It is known that, under the provisions of this law, our citizens cannot be deprived of the right to be appointed to or remain in state positions on the basis of political discrimination. But are these courses not schools for training party “specialists”? I believe there can be no doubt, just as no one doubts that those judges, prosecutors or investigators who carried out such work in the past should be removed from these posts. power? Second: the logical, political and professional arguments presented in the protests calling for these three-month courses to be cancelled are comprehensive and indisputable. But let us continue… This three-month course began these days in Durrës, at the Ministry of Public Order’s holiday resort. One person mentions 300 trainees, another 600, always according to the lists drawn up by the DP in the district. In the name of the transparency our government claims to uphold, it has disclosed neither the exact number nor how many million new lekë have or have not been included under the budget expenditure item… this provisional committee was formed mainly from the leading figures of … It seems that everything was “sabotaged” because the provisional founders were made up mainly of the leading figures of… [partly illegible] The trainees’ urgent preparation to bring the justice candidates up to standard is a step backward at a time when our legislation is seeking to match the European model. But who will do this? Our justice system is in crisis, and the worst thing is that it cannot be improved by measures such as these. The fate of people facing our justice system will once again be that of a…

Two emigrants in Greece write to «Zëri i Popullit» Two Albanian citizens, Vasiliaq Duka and Kastrio[t] Ar[a] from Ura Vajgurore, Berat, who are currently working in Greece, on the island of Zaqinth, gave their letter by telephone to the editor of «Zëri i Popullit». In it they raise their problems and concerns as economic emigrants, and ask the government to speak about their lives and the conditions in the country. We are publishing the letter recorded in [..]. Emigration by Albanians to Greece began several years ago. It has now made its own history, although it may have remained a spontaneous form of emigration. Before coming to power, the President and the government promised organized emigration, but it has yet to materialize. Not only has organized emigration been forgotten, but the government has also forgotten to care for the emigrants who have left privately, compelled by economic circumstances. In reality, emigration is the only mechanism of the Albanian economy that is working. The private cars that have filled Albania’s roads and which government officials boast about today are a product of private emigration, caused by the failure of the economy to function. Driven by economic circumstances, Albanians are forced to leave their country and emigrate to Greece. They travel hundreds of kilometres on foot, regardless of the cold, rain and snow in the mountains. Unfortunately, some Albanians have paid for it with their lives. It is not known how many Albanians have left Albania, and many of them have left no trace by which anyone could learn where they are. Many mothers’ tears have been shed for their sons whose whereabouts are unknown. It is not known how many incidents have occurred or how many Albanians have been buried. And that is not all: on their way to emigrate, “Albanian emigrants have to contend with Albanian mafiosi,” Greek television points out. These “Albanian mafiosi” said on Greek TV a few days ago: “We do this because the Albanian economy is not functioning and unemployment is very high.” Many Albanians in Greece wander the streets looking for work. As a result of these conditions, Albanians become targets of theft and robbery. This is creating a hostile opinion of all Albanians, so they are not welcomed wherever they go. Murders and robberies have led Albanians to avoid meeting one another, and even foreigners, so as not to become prey and victims of murder and robbery. These are the conditions forcing some Albanians to [unclear] their character and dignity. But what are these conditions? The failure of the economy to function, widespread unemployment, and the opportunities to [unclear] all the work in emigration. Finally, it is worth mentioning that Greece is the only country to which Albanians emigrate. To tell the truth, all Albanians who emigrate leave their lives at the mercy of fate and God. It is not unreasonable to compare Albanians in emigration to crows. Perhaps the comparison is a poor one, but it has a real basis. Many Albanians in emigration, because they cannot find work, cause the value of wages to fall. Although emigration has been seen as a way to secure the future because the economy is not functioning, it risks becoming yet another way to secure daily bread. All these are problems and concerns of Albanian emigrants, who, because of the conditions created by the failure of the economy and unemployment, are left without work and in a not insignificant state of subjectivism, are a part of the economic machine that is not functioning. I do not believe Albania deserves such a great [unclear] in [unclear]; reality must speak. All these are consequences of the entire phenomenon of the failure of the Albanian economy to function. In this phenomenon, the Albanian government has a role, and through its real oversight it must get the Albanian economy functioning and solve the problem of [unclear], so that the optimism that exists among Albanians can lead to a solution for [unclear]. The Albanian government must revise its positions, because the world is helping us [unclear]; it has a responsibility before [unclear] history to provide a solution to the problems accumulated by and during the time of the government of [unclear]. There is no doubt that [unclear] is working, but the fruits are not visible. We do not believe that Albanians are asking the government, the state and the Democratic Party merely for democracy; they are asking for concrete initiatives for work and a livelihood. (Ura Vajgurore, Be[...] on the island of Zaqi[...]

They write to us from Skrapar - Because you cannot find a Government that blocks local government in this way, and there is no power on earth that can unblock it. - Because there is no Government in the world like this one, which left all capable intellectuals without work. - Because there is no Government like this one, which, instead of building multi-storey apartment blocks, nobody knows how many floors it has added to its deals with the world, and nothing is being brought to light. - Because we do not believe we could find a Government like this one, which calls democracy counter-reform and revenge. - Because you cannot find a Government in the world like this one, which continues to allow the most barbaric destruction. - Because nowhere in the world is there a Government like this one, which commands even the Parliament - Because it is hard to find government officials like Kopliku and Zhulali, who look at the people through glass with binoculars. - Because… who knows if all the [unclear] of our Government can be counted?

From communist integralists to fundamentalists A year has passed since the DP deputies from Mirditë, Zef Brozi and Ndue Gjika, were crowned in the hierarchy of the “blue political pyramid.” [... ]uar t’i ngr[...] 1. In Lezhë, the feet n[...] deputies “with seven waters” - N[...] 2. He promised all of Mirditë [...] They had, both morally and materially, more than optimal means to celebrate the “feast of vote-rigging.” Here is an approximate balance sheet of achievements: 1. For the esteemed deputy Brozi: 1. He installed the area’s television booster on the terrace of his house in Gëziq, since under the monist system it had been placed in an unsuitable location. On this occasion, he employed a family member as a shepherd of television waves. 2. He enrolled the former head of the district financial police in the Faculty of Law “according to the rules”; the latter, without meeting any criteria, had taken Zef’s brother, Gjoni, as a driver in this institution’s special car, worth 14 thousand dollars. 3. After ordering on TV, in a special programme on corruption, that Fatos Nano be held criminally responsible, he set off for France, a trip he could not make under the monist system. Apparently, as chairman of the laws committee, after putting our laws and constitution in proper order, he has gone to fix the French constitution and “finished off the French socialists” in the elections. Some achievements of deputy Gjika: 1. He renovated his parents’ house on one of the hills overlooking Lezhë, and his electorate has begun to raise him… 2. He promised all of Mirditë organized emigration, and sent his brother, his sister and his niece’s husband into emigration in Italy. 3. He secured his wife the position of director of the Q A-simit, who, after securing plastic foam in March, the lady va got a “Mercedes” for herself, not very expensive, except legally… Would you like more about the esteemed deputy?! The people who … and other things. Eh, how the poor man has tr… moka for more than three years; from “Christian integralist…” to “fundamentalist”… Vorsa in the image of Mirditë. Ndue Gjika for… are remembered as mass-moviko… The people of Mirditë have no other wish than that he live… for his services, which he rendered (it goes without saying, the [unclear] of their family… deputy fan, esteemed… Gjika. Be careful, because today you are to vote!!! VALMIR

The Albanian Social Workers’ Party is extremely concerned about the violation of the most basic democratic rights of workers, peasants and civil servants. This is occurring during the peaceful demonstrations held by this social group to oppose violence and dictatorship, as well as unprecedented severe economic hardship. The Social Workers’ Party links all this turmoil and concern to Your attitude toward democracy and the protection of human rights. We base this view on specific examples and facts known to all Albanians, but we will mention 2–3 facts to substantiate our justified concern. 1. The constitutional law of Albania states that the President represents the unity of the people. The Albanian people have more than 24 parties, which express the interests of particular groups. All these parties share the common goal of establishing democracy in Albania, which obliges You to maintain close relations with all political forces, not only the parliamentary ones, as You have envisaged. That is, You deny us our rights and do not respect pluralism; You are afraid of dialogue with tolerance. In fact, to date, rarely… (Continued on page 2)

These days, deputies Alfred Paloka, Pandeli Majko, Ndre Legisi and Tofik Ajazi met with residents and young people in the city of Berat and exchanged views with them on the concerns and problems affecting them. Deputies Pandeli Majko and Ndre Legisi subsequently held a meeting with young people in the city, where they discussed the reorganization of the Eurosocialist Youth Forum on a territorial basis and the organization, in the near future, of an activity the organization, in the near future, of an activity of the Eurosocialist Forum in this city. Likewise, deputy Ilir Meta organized meetings with young people and students in the city of Elbasan, where issues concerning the organization of FRESSH on a territorial basis were discussed, and it was agreed that an assembly of the youth of this district would also be organized in the city of Elbasan within a short period. «The Eurosocialist Youth Forum Elector»

On Saturday, April 10, and Sunday, April 11, 1993, at 7 p.m., the Opera and Ballet Theater, on the occasion of Easter—the Resurrection of Christ—invites you to commemorate together this holy day through the performance of divine music. On Saturday, April 10, and Sunday, April 11, 1993, at 7 p.m., the Opera and Ballet Theater, on the occasion of Easter—the Resurrection of Christ—invites you to commemorate together this holy day through the performance of the divine music “MASS” by George Friedrich Haendel. Performers: choir and symphony orchestra. Soloists: Ruzhdi Karaj, Marjana Leka, Manjola, Konjari, Artan Lika. Choir master Ilir Berat. Conductor David Andre, from the United States of America.