- Whenever the DP is in trouble, it produces a John McChou - In recent days, through PTV, the DP press and Blerim Çela’s spokespeople, sensational and noisy stories have been fabricated concerning the Italian firm «Levante Co» and its alleged involvement in corruption, including that of Fatos Nano, Prime Minister and chairman of the Socialist Party of Albania. And all of this is based on an article by an Italian journalist. This is not the first time our rulers’ imagination has given birth to such political diversions. But so far they have proved to be duds and have backfired on them. There is no point in dwelling on them and recounting them, since the people know them, just as they knew the DP’s bombastic promise to find the stolen gold as soon as March 23, 1992, as well as its other promises, which have by now discredited those in power. The campaign of recent days neither surprises nor worries us. We are only astonished at how such a great and shameless fuss can be made. This is part of the failed propaganda policy of those in power and the DP members, with all their imagination, through which they have sought—and are still vainly striving—to find pretexts to attack the Socialist Party. As always during this year of DP rule, they are trying to get out of the dead end into which they are leading the people with such balloon-like, brightly colored schemes. These balloons, gentlemen in power, are bursting in your hands because of the corruption of your ministers and officials, who fill their pockets every day and themselves say: «Let’s take whatever we can, since we won’t be here much longer!» So, with these balloons they are trying to cover up their corruption, which is part and parcel of their government—and which they are unable to refute even to their own MPs. People can already smell this corruption. They can no longer be deceived. They talk, worry, make statements and testify about so many corrupt practices, both hidden and visible, such as the stolen 1.6 million dollars. You choose this moment to invent such schemes precisely when the Socialist Party has called for the government’s resignation and denounced the many scandals accompanying DP rule. We, gentlemen in power, are interested in exposing and fighting corruption. But this is not done by having the «young ladies» on state television comment to us on scraps of foreign newspapers. Be patient, gentlemen in power! The Albanian Parliament established a special commission on corruption involving aid four months ago. How do you explain that, to this day, no document or evidence has been provided to this commission to shed light on the truth? Since when have television and Blerim’s spokespeople from the State Party been placed over this parliamentary commission? Everyone understands that all this has been politically prejudged by the DP. Everyone understands that this is a political diversion, just as they have understood the political diversion concerning 270 tons of gold, which Blerim of the state has not found to this day. Gentlemen in power, deal with the people’s great concerns; do not try to confuse them with malicious, demagogic slander, because they already know what you’re worth! Correspondent of «Zëri i popullit» What I learned from a conversation with Mr. Blerim Çela Through the mediation of a mutual friend, yesterday afternoon I ... about this he would ... in the interpellation that will be held ... fact or document that any of the politicians mentioned by him ...

- Friend of the Albanians - On Saturday afternoon, Turkish President Turgut Ozal died. With his personality, he dominated the Turkish political scene and imposed himself to the very end. There is no doubt that the sudden death of this distinguished statesman will affect Turkish politics, and his absence will be felt. Turgut Ozali will be remembered as a realist politician with a very broad vision. He founded the centre-right political party Motherland, whose chairman he remained until 1989, when he was elected president. Ozal began to shine on the Turkish political scene after three years of military rule, when the country faced numerous unresolved political, economic and social problems. Ozal had to overcome the entire legacy of political conflict among the country’s political parties, which in the 1970s had led the country into a dead end and a lack of political stability. Through his government, Turgut Ozali managed to overcome this negative legacy with realism and political skill, deepening democratic processes and developing the country’s economy thanks to the economic measures of the free-market system. For the first time under Ozal’s government, a more liberal policy toward minorities was adopted, with the aim of creating a Turkey open to ethnic differences, allowing radio and TV broadcasts in the Kurdish language. Most recently, Turgut Ozali undertook a tour of the troubled republics of Central Asia to seek ways to resolve the complicated problems of ethnic groups and minorities, which had become highly explosive amid economic hardship. But this long tour, covering more than two thousand km in ten days, apparently caused him great exhaustion and led to his premature death. (Turgut Ozali suffered from heart problems; in 1987 he underwent surgery, a triple bypass, in Houston, USA.) Turgut Ozali was one of the most active politicians in the great family of Muslim peoples. But for the Albanian people, Turkish President Turgut Ozal will also be remembered as the first European politician to understand their needs early and act quickly to help them through their difficult period of transition. Albanians will not forget that, on his initiative, the first food aid arrived in Albania, where it was so urgently needed. Turgut Ozali will also be remembered with deep respect by Albanians on both sides of the border for his political support and international advocacy of the rights of Albanians in Kosovo, Macedonia and other areas where they live. He will remain in the memory of Albanians as a friend of Albania and the Albanian nation, and so Albanians will feel his absence for a long time. LULZIM COTA

Socialist Party vice-chairmen Servet Përllumbi and Namik Dokle paid their respects and offered condolences at the Turkish Embassy in Tirana, honoring the life and work of President Turgut Ozal.

Meeting of MP Servet Përllumbi and Bashkim Zeneli with the residents of Peza In recent days, MPs Servet Përllumbi and Bashkim Zeneli received, at their request, a group of villagers from the commune of Peza in the Tirana district. The conversation, held in one of the halls of the General Steering Committee, focused on several troubling problems initially presented by the villagers of this area. In brief, the problems raised by the residents of Peza concerned the redistribution of the property of the former agricultural cooperative. When the cooperatives began to be dismantled, those who were quicker and more resourceful, more... [text missing] followed the DP’s instructions, the more resourceful ones who carried out the DP’s orders took a large number of small livestock, cows and calves, took buildings and barns, and in most cases took materials from their demolition. A large number of families received nothing from the property of the former cooperative, even though they had contributed their labor for decades to its creation. Another publication has been produced by the magazine «Rrezja jonë»: «Bibliography of Catholic Writing in Shkodër in 1991–1992». The author of this publication, Fran Luli, a lecturer at «Luigj Gurakuqi» University, has included 483 entries. In addition to Albanian, this bibliography has also been printed in Italian. The employees of the archbishopric seemed somewhat overwhelmed, as requests for the holidays are numerous and their capacity to fulfill them is limited. It is also difficult for us to explain things to them and interview them in just a few moments, since it is immediately clear how busy they are! On Sunday morning, a mass was also held at the Franciscan church by Dom Zef Simoni. MUSA KURTULLAJ

Shkodër One of these evenings in recent days, several people attempted to force their way into the grounds of the depots of the Tepa military unit. The guard opened fire for a long time, with dozens of shots being heard. In this connection, the public order department, in a published notice, emphasizes in other words that guards at the sub-units around this city firing their weapons has caused concern among citizens. It therefore calls for the decrees on the use of firearms to be observed correctly.

Through the mediation of a mutual friend, on a mild afternoon I had a brief conversation with Mr. Blerim Çela. In response to my question about the statement he had made on television the previous evening concerning corruption and some Albanian politicians, he said that he would comment on the matter during the interpellation to be held in parliament. Nevertheless, in the conversation he essentially mentioned the same issues raised in the article by the Italian journalist Monserrati, published in RD. I asked whether he himself or the State Audit had any evidence or documents showing that any of the politicians he had mentioned had benefited from the aid in question—that they had stolen it, taken bribes, or put anything in their own pockets. He replied that he had no information or documents to that effect. BEQIR SKRELI

A lively atmosphere is noticeable these days in the city of Shkodër. In five days, His Holiness Pope John Paul II will visit this city, a symbol of Albanian antiquity, culture and survival. It is understandable that the people of this city, regardless of religious affiliation, are concerned that the visit should be crowned with every desired success. Accordingly, it is quite natural to notice activity everywhere. The [?] have gone beyond [the work on] houses and other buildings, taking special care of those along the city’s main roads. Paving workers are carrying out partial repairs to roads, squares and sidewalks. Meanwhile, the main road near the cathedral church, where the Holy Father will arrive, is being completely resurfaced. Electricians are also hard at work repairing the electrical network that lights the city’s roads and squares. Thus, work is being carried out with great care on several fronts at once. It is difficult for us to describe all this activity. The «Migjeni» theater troupe, for instance, has almost completed preparations for the play «The Brother of Our Lord», written by the Pope himself. Concerts and photo exhibitions have also been prepared especially for this visit. The Catholic press in this city—which so far consists of four magazines and is published under the auspices of the «Our Lady of the Rosary» church in Shkodër—has prepared a special publication. This publication highlights aspects of the relations between the papacy and Albania, which date back to the Middle Ages and have continued ever since.

Gjirokastër Ruins in the cultural complex Anyone who knows what Gjirokastra is knows what its historic and cultural complex once was, too. It once was, because it is falling into ruin. Its roofs, like those of most of the bazaar, have been leaking for a long time, but now they have also begun to collapse. The premises are nothing like they used to be; whether the valuables have been collected or not is unknown; the commemorative plaques have been broken, they have been stolen, and stones, ironwork, and marble are being stolen. If you want to make your eyes ill, go there. The owners of the lower floors have been accommodated and their premises are being repaired, while the properties belonging to history, culture, and education have been left to the mercy of fate. That is not all: they have been left to ruin and disgrace. The municipality and municipal council have been discussing and debating for months, but make no decisions and solve nothing. The ruin is visible from the municipal building, but it poses no danger to anyone, since the roofs are falling onto other people. Perhaps it will take notice when the obelisk collapses or is stolen. THANAS DINO

Requests for employment in the police have been increasing. The main reason for this trend is also the fact that jobs have been cut in many other sectors. A former member of the Rapid Intervention Unit says that the unit’s command began checking some time ago the secondary-school completion certificates on the basis of which these police officers were hired. The checks showed that some of them had not completed secondary school but had submitted forged certificates. For this reason, the unit’s command decided to dismiss them. So far, it has dismissed more than 20 police officers. The checks are continuing.