Whenever the PD is in trouble, a new John McGowan appears on the scene so that Albanians will not focus too much on the everyday problems of its triumphant government. This time, too, it needed the help of the master of scandals, Blerim Çela, to reopen an issue that has been talked about at length over these past two years. Our television gave impetus to this scandal, called «Italian aid», and is serving it up according to the doctor’s prescription, before and after the harvest, little by little, but without telling us anything new, bringing us any facts, or presenting any documents. Albanians already know the fever the PD is suffering from today. This is the time when the government’s resignation, on grounds of incompetence and corruption, has been put on the agenda; when the Arsidi scandal has exploded in your hands and nobody knows where the 1 billion and sixty million dollars have gone; when the Deputy Prime Minister Kopliku’s wildly contradictory statements have set one another off; when a forced reshuffle was carried out in Meksi’s cabinet, making concessions to the extreme right; when parliament and the president signed a law ... [partly illegible] ... by which the new Albanian capital was cast aside like a worthless rag. These are the troubles at home. But there is more: people say that Italian and European aid is being «held back». And that it is being «used up» thanks to the merits of our glorious government, which set off on the road to Europe and ended up in Africa. Under these circumstances, the people need explanations. Perhaps we should say that this aid reeks of corruption and we have no use for it! One more excuse for telling the people to tighten their belts and rely on their own strength: Albania is supposedly saying, «the social-communists are to blame». Only now the people’s enthusiasm has run dry, and people can plainly see the corruption of today’s rulers, wearing opinga. READ ON PAGE 3: «HOW NAIVE DO YOU THINK ALBANIANS ARE?» or BLERIM ÇELA knows Albanians because he knows himself

The government’s program and policy are still the same (!!!) Mr. Meksi declares before departing for America Two years after the overthrow of the dictatorship, all one feels in Albania is the chaos of unbridled anarchy and the efforts of the government officials and politicians who run the country to monopolize everything, increasingly putting another spoke in the wheel of the country’s leadership. While freedom of movement abroad has been secured for those in power, nothing has been done for the individual. Those in power are permitted to use violence, while the individual has nowhere to defend their rights. Strikes, the only peaceful means by which workers can peacefully resolve their economic problems, have been outlawed. Freedom of speech is permitted only up to the point where it does not hit the «democratic» government or its interests where it hurts. The credibility of the political force running the country has fallen. We can understand this very well from the Republic’s president’s meetings in several districts in the south of the country, and also from his meetings in the districts of Kavajë and Shkodër. His electoral support has been badly eroded. The economic crisis has worsened. There is no security for working or starting an enterprise. Privatization is almost entirely blocked. Foreign investment is lacking. Albania itself produces nothing. Everyone is engaged in trade, as in the 1930s. Taxes are the only oxygen that manages to prolong the life of the state’s sick lungs. The government has brought the means of mass communication under its control, such as radio and television, as well as ATSH and a number of newspapers. The contest of ideas, which presupposes the «A» of a democratic society, is turning into a fight against free thought. President Berisha, who at the 1990 meeting of intellectuals with R. Alia declared that when a policeman strikes a citizen, he has struck the entire people, is now, as president, unable—with all the extensive powers he holds—to persuade the «democratic» police not to beat people with a baton, not merely in a remote part of the country but even at the doors of his presidential seat. What is happening here? It seems the president is in an extremely difficult position. But is there an understanding between the president, the government, and the party running the country about what is happening? It is difficult to say yes. In many cases, the rifts have been evident and public. In response to the PD Youth Forum’s request for several changes to the Meksi cabinet—a request whose motives are unknown, but which had some truth to it—the president said at the press conference he held on the eve of the New Year, on December 29, 1992, that he expressed the view that their voice should be heard, because ... (Continued on page 3)

– Addressed to the Presidium of the People’s Assembly – We learned from the state public-information media (TV) that a group of PD deputies have requested an interpellation with the Chairman of the State Audit Service concerning irregularities observed in the handling of the Italian aid given to Albania. This is the first time that requests for interpellations have been announced publicly on TV before they take place. The Presidium of the People’s Assembly has not done this for any of the Socialist parliamentary group’s requests for interpellations with PD government officials. The reasons are understandable. Considering the fight against corruption among officials of every political color one of the principal elements of democracy and the rule of law, our parliamentary group has undertaken concrete initiatives in this direction, as in the case of the «Arsidi-Hoti» scandal. We have also spoken several times in parliament about the Italian aid issue and supported the idea of establishing a parliamentary commission on the matter. Two Socialist deputies are members of that commission. But Mr. Çela, by sidelining the parliamentary commission’s work and even obstructing it, is coming to parliament for an interpellation. This is of little importance. What matters is that smoke and fog should not conceal the truth. Therefore, we demand: 1. Along with Mr. Çela’s report, the parliamentary commission established to address this problem should also report. Any claim that the commission is not ready is unfounded, since the government representative claims to have all the necessary information. Why does he not make it available to the parliamentary commission? 2. Along with the interpellation, Mr. Çela should also answer several questions from our parliamentary group, since this is permissible under the rules of the People’s Assembly. 3. Our request for a question session should be made known to the public through TV, as was done with the request by the PD deputies. April 22, 1993 Having followed closely and step by step the democratization processes in our country, and especially in Lezhë and its surroundings, [the author] has managed to capture on film very interesting and meaningful scenes of the revival of the Catholic faith. In 50 black-and-white panels, presented according to an artistic conception and not merely as a record or documentary, the photographer Llesh Prendi has portrayed not only the revival and free practice of religious rites, but also the people’s undiminished desire, passion, and spiritual renewal. Particularly noteworthy are the photographs depicting the gradual restoration of places of worship or their makeshift arrangement. The photo exhibition «Revival», which is being visited by many viewers, is not only of documentary value; at the same time, it bears witness to the talent, passion, and dedication to the art of photography of its author, Llesh Prendi. This photo exhibition, on the eve of the visit of Pope John Paul II, seems to say to His Holiness, «Welcome to Albania!». Correspondent of «Zëri i popullit»

The photo exhibition «Revival» seems to say to the Pope, «Welcome to Albania» As part of the historic visit to Albania by His Holiness Pope John Paul II, the photo exhibition «Revival» by photographer Llesh Prendi, a member of the Albanian photographers’ association «Gjon Mili», opened in recent days at the «Manush Alimani» Palace of Culture in the city of Lezhë. The photographer, Llesh Prendi, has closely followed, step by step, the democratization processes in our country, particularly in Lezhë and its surroundings, and has succeeded in capturing of the Catholic faith. In 50 black-and-white panels on display, according to ...

– From the meeting of deputies KASTRIOT ISLAMI and SABIT BROKA with intellectuals from the Laç district – The more than one hundred questions asked by the hundreds of people attending the meeting with deputies Kastriot Islami and Sabit Broka all came down to one point: How can we emerge from this extremely difficult economic and social situation in the Laç district and, more broadly, in the country? This meeting turned into a genuine assembly, far removed from formalities and bureaucratic procedures, where logic and concrete evidence prevailed as the most democratic form of discussion. The participants’ concerns were concrete: at a time when only 8 of the district’s 26 enterprises are operating (and most not at full capacity), while several others are heading towards closure; when a new class war has been waged by the PD, newly come to power. Socialists and capable intellectuals are being purged from their jobs and replaced by «loyalists of the PD»—the least capable. Political power is passing into the hands of mediocre people. The state pyramid is being built on mediocrity. Alongside this, the obstruction of local government and the marked centralization of powers at the center are increasingly bringing the economic reform itself to a standstill. The President himself has acknowledged that many letters expressing concerns reach him, instead of these matters being resolved by local government. The President himself, then, acknowledges ... such a fact. But apparently nobody listens to him. What, then, would be the most effective solution? Only a formula of cooperation and understanding could get us out of the grave situation prevailing at present, stressed deputies Kastriot Islami and Sabit Broka. But for now, the formula of cooperation has been made impossible by the forces in power themselves. The clearest example is today’s parliament. The more reasonable course, it was stressed, would be to determine a new political solution based on a new political configuration. A new political solution could be achieved with or without early elections, although a solution without early elections would merely postpone the elections for some time by ... (Continued on page 2) The participants’ concerns were concrete: given that toward closure; that no new jobs are being created, while unemployment and welfare assistance affect around one-third of the residents (or 21,000 people); that there is consumption but no production; that, under the law, the land is not being distributed; that the transition is rapidly increasing corruption and the number of corrupt people; that bureaucracy and bureaucrats have dug in their heels; that political spectacles have not been absent even in Laç; that taxes and prices are rising; and that the voices and complaints are falling on the deaf ears of those in positions of authority—under these circumstances, what can and should be done? All these problems, not only in Laç but throughout the country, alongside other issues, have resulted from the failure to establish political balance after the March 22 elections, while the Democratic Party gained the upper hand. The class struggle waged yesterday by the Party of Labour was replaced [The text then repeats, with a garbled transition:] …bureaucratic forms, where the logic and concrete argument of facts prevailed as the most democratic form. The participants’ concerns were concrete: given that was replaced

Yesterday afternoon at 5 p.m. at the Palace of Congresses in Tirana, the Association of Free Private Citizens of Albania held a press conference. At the beginning, the association’s president, Mr. Qirjako Noti, read a statement on behalf of its leadership, which stressed, among other things: The law «On the Return and Compensation of Property to Former Owners» is an anti-national law, because, intentionally or otherwise, it creates division and social conflict between former owners and new owners. As this law is drafted, neither side benefits. Both sides are destroyed. We oppose this law because we oppose the mechanism the state is using: the state wants former owners to be compensated not by it, but by individuals. It is known that responsibility for the destruction of former owners lies not with individuals, but with the communist state. Therefore, the state is responsible for compensation. Later, Mr. Noti and other representatives of the association answered journalists’ questions. Asked what the association had done after the law was approved in parliament, they replied that the association had tried to raise public awareness, particularly among its members, about the contents of the law. We asked to meet with the President of the Republic, Mr. Noti said, but he did not receive us. In protest, shops throughout the republic were closed. Asked how the association would act if the Constitutional Court considered the law fair, Mr. Noti replied that they would appeal to the international court in Strasbourg. In response to another question, he said that their alternative for resolving this problem was to rely on Article 16 of the law to compensate former owners, so that there would be no clashes between former and new owners. Asked how owners in the districts had reacted to the law in question, Mr. Noti replied that all 40,000 members of the association were protesting. Correspondent of «Zëri i popullit» [The fragment begins mid-word:] …ty; the State insists that former owners should not be compensated by it, but by individuals. It is well known that responsibility for the destruction of the former owners did not lie itself is responsible for compensation. Afterwards, was passed in parliament, they replied that the association had sought to raise public awareness, and especially that of its members, about the contents of this In protest, shops were closed throughout the republic. Asked what the association would do if the Constitutional Court deemed the law fair, Mr. Noti replied that we would appeal to the international court in Strasbourg. Our alternative for resolving this problem, he said in response to another question, is former owners, so that there will be no clashes between old «Zëri i popullit»

We inform you that the fourth meeting of the bimonthly «Migjeni» poetry competition will take place on May 4, 1993, in the ancient city of Apollonia. The three previous meetings were held in Tirana, Shkodër, and Durrës. As always, young poets under the age of 27 will take part, each with one of their own works. Copies of the competing poems should be delivered by April 28 to the poet Mark Marku, at the Faculty of Philology in Tirana, or to the Youth Federation. The poems will be read by the authors themselves. We wish you success. Soros Foundation, Tirana

Another new newspaper, entitled «Shqip», has begun publication in Tirana. This newspaper will be published once a week, every Saturday, at a price of 8 lekë. The Shqip newspaper is privately owned; its publisher is Mr. Mehdi Xheladini, its editor-in-chief is Mr. Namik Zoto, and the chairman of the publishing board is Mr. Shaban Sinani.

Wanted for immediate purchase or rent: a warehouse (storage facility) or a plot of land with facilities, measuring 500–2,000 m2, as close as possible to the center of Tirana. It must be privately owned and have the relevant legal title documents from the mortgage registry. Interested parties should contact ALBARTEX S. A. at the address box (?), 23 «Asim Vokshi» Street, or by telephone at 237-60. ALBARTEX S. A.