Whenever the Democratic Party is in trouble, it puts a new John Meksou on stage so that Albanians will not think too much about the daily burdens of its triumphant governing. This time too it needed the help of the master of scandals, Blerim Çela, to open up a matter that has been blossoming for a very long time over these two years. These so-called honest Italian scandals are served to us by our dear television, in doses according to the doctor’s advice, before and after meals, little by little, but without telling us anything new, without bringing us any facts and without showing us any documents. Albanians now know even what the Democratic Party does today. This is the time when the resignation of the government is on the agenda as incapable and corrupt, when the Arsidi scandal has burst in the hands of the new Albanian list, it is not known where 1 million six hundred thousand dollars have disappeared, when the scandals of the contradictory statements of Deputy Prime Minister Kopliku have followed one another, when in Meksi’s cabinet a change was made by giving concessions to the far right, when parliament and the president approved a law “supposedly” ... the [?] properties, throwing the capital of the new Albanian list away like a worthless rag. These are the domestic troubles. But there is more: flirts like "we are holding on to the Italian and European aid. And they are running out thanks to our glorious government, which set out on the road to Europe and ended up in Africa. Under these conditions explanations must be given to the people. Perhaps it should be said that this aid reeks of corruption and that we do not need it! It would be much more serious to tell the people to tighten their belts and rely on their own strength! The alibi is found: "the social-communists are to blame". But now the people’s enthusiasm has turned, and people know they see corruption in broad daylight, with the clogs of today’s rulers. READ ON PAGE 3 "DO THEY REALLY THINK ALBANIANS ARE SO NAIVE?" or BLERIM ÇELA knows Albanians as brot[?]

Two years after the overthrow of the dictatorship, in Albania we feel the anxiety of free anarchy and the prospects of the rulers, and the frostbitten ones who govern the country to monopolize everything, more by pouring water on the mill of their leadership than on that of the country. While freedom of movement has been secured for the leadership abroad, nothing has been done for the individual. Power allows the use of violence while the individual has nowhere to defend his rights. The government, as the only means by which workers can peacefully solve their economic problems, has been made illegal. Freedom of speech is allowed only so far as it does not touch the “democratic” power and its interests. The credibility of the political force governing the country has fallen. The President of the Republic understands this very well too, in the meetings he had in several districts of the south of the country, but even more clearly and at length in the meetings he had in the districts of Kavaja and Shkodra. The rhetoric of praise must end. The economic crisis has worsened. For the unemployed, the enterprise offers no solution. Privatization is simply blocked. Foreign investment is lacking. Albania itself cannot get anything; everyone is engaged in trade as in the 1930s. Taxes are the only oxygen that manages to keep alive the sick lungs of the state. The government has brought the mass media under control, such as radio, television, but also ATSH and a newspaper humor. The war of ideas has assumed the “worm” of a democratic society and is turning into a war against free thought. President Berisha, who at the 1990 meeting of intellectuals with youth said without declaring that when bullets are fired at a citizen he is striking the whole people, is now, in his post as president, no longer in a position, despite the great powers he has, to persuade the democratic police not to treat people with sticks, not even in a remote area of the country, but right in front of the doors of his presidential headquarters. What should be asked? It should be said that the president is in his own most difficult position. But is there a rift between the president, the government and the party that runs the country over what is happening? Hard to say. In many clear cases this has been evident in public. The request of the youth forum of the Democratic Party for some changes in the Meksi cabinet, a request that was not made out of bad motives, but was a remark made in front of the president at the press conference he gave on the eve of the new year 1993, precisely on 29 December 1992, was answered with “I hope so, let the oven burn it itself.” (To be continued on page 3)

— Addressed to the Presidium of the People’s Assembly — From the state public information media (TV), we learned that a group of DP deputies had requested an interpellation with the Chairman of the State Service and Control, concerning the irregularities observed in the handling of the Italian aid given to Albania. This is the first time that requests for interpellation have been publicly announced on TV before they take place. The Presidium of the People’s Assembly has not done this with any of the requests by the PS parliamentary group for interpellations with DP government officials. The reasons are understandable. Considering the fight against corruption among rulers of any colour as one of the key elements of democracy and the rule of law, our parliamentary group has undertaken concrete initiatives in this direction, such as the case of the “Arsidi-Hoti” scandal. We have also spoken several times in parliament about the issue of the Italian aid and supported the idea of creating a parliamentary commission on this matter. That commission also includes two PS deputies. But Mr. Çela, by shifting the work of the parliamentary commission and even hindering it, comes to an interpellation in a parliamentary sitting. Seen in this way. We underestimate this purpose and in spite of everything do not hide the truth. I. Therefore we demand: 1. Along with Mr. Çela’s report, the parliamentary commission should also report on this problem. We are claiming that the commission is not ready; that is not true, since the government representative claims to have everything needed. Why not put these at the disposal of the parliamentary commission? 2. Along with the interpellation, Mr. Çela should also answer several questions from our parliamentary group, since under the rules of the People’s Assembly, such a thing is admissible. 3. Our request for a question session should be made known to the public through TV, as was done with the request of the DP deputies. 22 April 1993

On the eve of the visit of Pope John Paul II Photo exhibition «Resurrection» seems to say to the Pope «Welcome to Albania» As part of the historic visit of His Holiness Pope John Paul II to Albania, these days the photo exhibition «Resurrection» by photographer Llesh Prendi, a member of the Albanian photographers’ association «Gjon Milli», was opened at the cultural palace «Mansu Ahilmini» in the city of Lezhë. The author, Llesh Prendi, by closely following step by step the democratization processes in our country, especially in Lezhë and its surrounding area, has managed to capture on celluloid very interesting and meaningful images of the rebirth of the Catholic faith. In the 50 panels displayed in the hall of this palace, artistic and not merely recording and documentary works by the author Llesh Prendi can be found; not only has the rebirth of the free practice of religious rites been shown, but also the unextinguished desire, the fervent passion for the spiritual life of our people, has been highlighted. Particularly noteworthy are those photographs that reflect the gradual restoration or improvement of places of worship. The photo exhibition «Resurrection», which is being visited by many people, in addition to its documentary value is also at the same time evidence of the talent, passion and dedication to the art of photography that the author Llesh Prendi possesses. 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»

— From the meeting of MPs KASTRIOT ISLAMI and SABIT BROKA with intellectuals from the district of Laç — Faced with the grave situation - a new political solution, the only alternative — From the meeting of MPs KASTRIOT ISLAMI and SABIT BROKA with intellectuals from the district of Laç — The questions asked by the hundreds of people participating in the meeting with MPs Kastriot Islami and Sabit Broka were centred on one point: How can one get out of this very serious economic and social situation in the district of Laç and throughout the country? This meeting turned into a real assembly, far from formalities and bureaucratic formulas, where logic and the concrete argument of facts prevailed. A more democratic form. The concerns of the participants were concrete. In conditions where, out of the 26 enterprises in the district, only 8 are working (and most are not at full capacity), while several others are heading towards closure; where new jobs are not being created; where unemployment and welfare assistance have reached about one third of the residents (or 21,000 people); where only consumption exists and production does not; where, according to the law, land is not being distributed; where the transition is rapidly increasing corruption and the corrupted; where bureaucracy and bureaucrats are a source of wrongdoing; where political spectacles have not been absent even in Laç; where taxes and prices are rising; where voices of complaint fall on the deaf ears of those with posts and responsibilities — under these conditions, what can and should be done? All this, not only for Laç but throughout the country, has created among other things a state of political imbalance after the 22 March elections, while the Democratic Party took its revenge. The class struggle that the Party of Labour carried out yesterday was replaced by a new class struggle by the Democratic Party, newly arrived in power. The purging of socialists and capable intellectuals from work and their replacement with “loyalists of the Democratic Party” and the irreligious, political power is passing into the hands of mediocre people. On the basis of mediocrity, the state pyramid is being built. Along with this, the blockage of local government and the excessive centralization of powers in the centre are strengthening diktat and the blockage of the economic reform itself. On this point alone the President has admitted that such concerns have been noted and that matters should be resolved close to local government. So the President himself acknowledges such a fact. But apparently no one is listening. Then what would be the most effective way out? Only the formula of cooperation and understanding would bring us out of the serious situation that currently prevails, stressed MPs Kastriot Islami and Sabit Broka. But for now the formula of cooperation has been made impossible by the forces in power themselves. The most typical example is being given by today’s parliament itself. Normally, it was stressed, the designation of a new political solution on the basis of a new political configuration would be necessary. The new political solution could be achieved with or without early elections, although a solution without early elections would only postpone certain solutions for some time... (To be continued on page 2)

NATIONAL LIBRARY TIRANA The government’s programme and policy are the same (!!!) Mr. Meksi declares before leaving for America

The company «SIMPATIA» offers you: - «Berrin» chocolate, 25 grams with hazelnuts; expiration January 1994. At very reasonable prices, wholesale and retail. - Athletic leather shoes, white and black, with high tops and without high tops, wholesale and retail. The prices are very advantageous. We welcome you at the address: «Mihal Duri» Street No. 8. Near the Writers’ League Tirana

The company Progresi offers buyers cheese varieties produced in the Korçë cooperative. The cheese is of very good quality; tasty and fatty. It is sold wholesale and retail, at very advantageous prices. Those interested should call 292-20 or come to the «Progresi» warehouse near the «Bajram Curri» school in Tirana.

An urgent purchase or rental is sought for a warehouse (storehouse), or a plot of land with a building of 500–2000 m2 near the centre of Tirana. It must be private property equipped with the relevant legal documentation of ownership from the Mortgage Registry. Those interested should contact the company ALIATEX sh. a, headquartered at «Asim Vokshi» Street No. 123 and telephone number 237-69 ALIATEX sh. a company

Yesterday afternoon at 5 p.m. in the Palace of Congresses in Tirana, the Association of Free Private Owners of Albania held a press conference. At the beginning, the president of this association, Mr. Qirjako Noti, read a statement on behalf of the association’s leadership, in which, among other things, it was emphasized: The law “On the return and compensation of properties to former owners” is an anti-national law, because willingly or not it introduces division and creates a social conflict between the old owners and the new owners. As this law has been constructed, neither side gains from it. Both sides are destroyed. We are against this law because we are against the mechanism the state is using; as a sign of protest, shops were closed throughout the republic. Asked how the association would act if the Constitutional Court were to consider the law fair, Mr. Noti replied that they would turn to the international court in Strasbourg. Our alternative for solving this problem, he said in response to another question, is to support Article 16 of the law on compensation for former owners in order to prevent clashes between the two groups of old 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 are in protest. Correspondent of "Zëri i popullit"

We announce that the meeting of the creators of the biweekly poetry competition «Migjeni» will take place on 4 May 1993 in the ancient city of Apollonia. The three previous meetings have been held in Tirana, Shkodra, and Durrës. As always, young poets under the age of 27 will take part with one of their works. Poetry entries for the competition should be submitted by 28 April to the poet Mark Marku, at the Faculty of Philology in Tirana, or at the Youth Federation. The poems will be read by the authors themselves on the museum bridge. Soros Foundation, Tirana

Another new newspaper titled «Shqip» has also come out in Tirana. This newspaper will appear once a week, with 8 pages and a price of 8 lek. The newspaper «Shqip» is private. The publisher, as stated, is Mr. Mehdi Xhafa. Its editor-in-chief is Naim Toto, while the chairman of the publishing council is Shaban Sinani.

On 18 April the company «PANTEON AS» began operating its vessel «La Vikinga» in the Adriatic and Ionian seas on the Durrës-Bari-Durrës and Durrës-Vlorë - Otranto-Vlorë - Durrës routes, according to the following schedules. Day | Departure Port | Destination | Departure Time | Arrival MONDAY DURRËS | BARI | 8.00 | 11.30 BARI | DURRËS | 16.30 | 20.00 WEDNESDAY DURRËS | BARI | 8.00 | 11.30 BARI | DURRËS | 16.30 | 20.00 THURSDAY DURRËS | VLORE | 8.00 | 9.45 VLORE | OTRANTO | 10.15 | 12.00 OTRANTO | VLORE | 13.00 | 14.45 VLORE | DURRËS | 16.15 | 18.00 FRIDAY DURRËS | BARI | 8.00 | 11.30 BARI | DURRËS | 16.30 | 20.00 SUNDAY DURRËS | BARI | 8.30 | 12.00 BARI | DURRËS | 16.30 | 20.00 Speed, comfort, service and differentiated prices ensure travel for Albanian travellers are some of the advantages guaranteed by travel with the fast vessel «LA VIKINGA». PANTHEON AS ADRIATIC FAST FERRY COMPANY