The General Steering Committee of the Socialist Party met

: From protests and petitions to concrete action. Yesterday, under the direction of the chairman of the Socialist Party, comrade [sic] Fatos Nano, a meeting of the General Steering Committee of the Socialist Party was held. In addition to the members of this forum, members of PS committees in the districts, deputies of the socialist parliamentary group, etc., took part. As comrade Fatos Nano said in his opening remarks, this meeting was being held a week after the previous meeting of this forum to see how the tasks assigned at that meeting had been carried out, and also to determine the necessary positions in the situation of the fierce political struggle being waged against the PS and its leadership. Almost all the speakers, who spoke on behalf of PS members and supporters from various districts of the country, welcomed and approved the position of the Socialist Party’s parliamentary group and the speeches by comrades Fatos Nano and Shkëlqim Cani in the People’s Assembly. No one doubts that this is an act of subversion against the PS, intended to divide and cow it so that revanchist forces will have a free hand to continue implementing their plans, which aim to strengthen the position of a government serving the former large landowners and acting against the interests of the majority of the people. Pluralism and party interests are now becoming concrete in issues of property ownership. For the Socialist Party, one of the fundamental issues at the start of reform is the distribution of national wealth. Through its policy, it seeks to distribute the wealth created over 50 years, and not primarily to satisfy the interests of the former pre-liberation owners. The current authorities, it was said at the meeting, are incapable of dealing with the situation, which is unclear, and lack the authority to correct it. They try to suppress the discontent of the masses with the force of the whip. Speakers from Has, Tepelena, Shkodra, Kruja, Kolonja, Lushnja, etc., presented facts showing the growing alienation of people caused by the DP government’s policies. In no case have members of this party— (Continued on page 4)

FATOS NANO’S SPEECH The question raised after the latest attacks on the Socialist Party is this: Why are these attacks being launched specifically now, and what follows from them, at a time when signs from both the world and the people’s hardships call for the opposite actions: calm and commitment to work, easing tensions, messages of friendship and cooperation with foreigners, etc.? We must make known, with profound political assessments and judgments, all the circumstances unfolding now and those that will lead to further escalation. We must have no doubt about this. This must be known throughout the country, by every PS member and supporter, every Albanian citizen and beyond, even by a very old-name organization such as the Nationalist Party of National Unity, which recently managed to reappear as Balli Kombëtar. Against these, against the settling of scores among those who seized and now revanchistically lay claim to every social, political and economic position in Albania, there has been an objective response, with a broad-based rise among the population. This has happened spontaneously, but especially thanks to the very realistic awareness of the great responsibility that we as a party have demonstrated, from the smallest new cell of this party and from the old history of this country that we carry. We have sought to delve deeper into analyses of the March 22 defeat, although we are not without analyses altogether. One of the fundamental reasons we have jointly identified is that, immediately after our founding, in addition to many other factors, we shut ourselves away when confronted by the harsh attacks of the forces then in opposition, which, by exploiting people’s aspirations, greatly influenced public opinion by identifying us with them. To save Albania. These were people who love democracy, who love life, who hate dictatorship, deception and lies—[they identified] us with the past. Do not forget the depth of the public and political self-justification of this attack, with the slogan: «They are the same people». Let us admit that we felt it deeply and came under the burden of these attacks. We took it upon ourselves, in a very healthy way, but unfortunately, for a long time, we were preoccupied with ourselves. We paid the price, but today we feel stronger. This effect has, generally speaking, run its course: the identification of the Socialist Party with the communist regime, because people are coming to understand that those most communist in the most negative sense of the word—in terms of totalitarianism, monopolizing power, suppressing human rights and centralizing everything in a few hands—are today’s authorities. In general, from the standpoint of electoral and psychological, and therefore political, impact, that effect has run its course for them. In these days we must face it and we are beyond it. This is not the issue we should be dealing with now. Then another issue was found, one to which people are very sensitive and which is real: corruption in Albania is impossible not to exist. And the first frontal blow is dealt against the first governments of the people who are now in the Socialist Party, whom the people know, in order to direct all the accusations, evidence and people’s indignation about corruption in our [unclear]palaces, at people who— … (Continued on page 4) … easing of must make a considered assessment, with profound political judgment, of all the circumstances unfolding and leading This must be known throughout the country, by every member and supporter and by everyone who asks us questions and approaches the Socialist Party. What, specifically? Let us take a brief look at the other political formations today. There are objective circumstances linked to the transition itself, because whoever is in power has to bear more of the burden, since reforms are painful. But there are also other objective and subjective factors. After pluralism was established, the interests of political groupings within the country and abroad really began to become institutionalized. These interests pushed the existing political formations—the first parties to be created, as well as the parties founded later—toward social, class, economic and therefore political positioning. We know what the fundamental conflict of the day is. It is one of the basic reasons that must be taken into account in answering the question: why now? It is the conflict involving the former owners. We must keep this at the center of our attention and analyze it deeply, indeed according to genuinely scientific criteria, not with propaganda and slogans. Around it, corresponding lobbies have formed within all the parties that are now in power but are against us. Before long, following the process of disintegration and factionalization that has engulfed all the parties except the Socialists, they will group together and emerge as new political formations, under these names or by using the names of existing parties, with … … through all the policies pursued in a revanchist manner against every social, political and economic position in Albania, an objective, steadily growing mobilization of the broad masses of the population has taken place. realistic awareness of the great responsibility we as a party have demonstrated, from the smallest cell all the way to parliamentary representation, regarding these conflicts; the interests being violated; and the need for the democratic state to protect the majority. The state must not allow the restoration in Albania of the pre-Liberation order—the anachronistic, semi-feudal society controlled by nepotistic, aristocratic-bourgeois groups, etc.—to be presented as a democratic society and a market economy. We deserve to acknowledge this about ourselves, not to become conceited, but so that it gives us the courage to continue resolutely, combining wisdom and bravery and, openly and without hesitation, waging this political struggle in full public view, at small and large rallies, raising awareness among young and old alike. They know that our Party’s credibility has grown; they know that the majority of Albanians, including those in the diaspora and in Albanian territories, feel this negative sentiment toward them. And precisely when, by escalating the political struggle, we began to take very strong actions—such as demanding the government’s resignation and directly confronting the blatant violations we know about in many areas: legitimacy, the placing of institutions under tutelage, fascism and the police suppression of mass protests, violations of human rights, etc., etc. Let us not forget that during this period, up to today, Du- … (Continued on page 4) … economic positions masses of the population has taken place. that during this period, up to today, Du-

Around 15 thousand people demanded that the government resign The current government is burdened by crime, corruption and incompetence Albania will not tolerate a police state Today’s authorities manipulate the people’s votes in the interests of one [person/group]

More than a thousand people had filled the hall of the city cinema in Patos, with just as many left outside because there was no room in the hall. This was the level of interest among members and supporters of the Socialist Party in the city in the meeting organized with the deputy chairman of the Socialist Party, Dr. Servet Pëllumbi, on Thursday, May 6, in Patos. The many economic and social problems, as well as the heightened political tensions of recent days, brought people together for this discussion, which lasted more than two hours. In his remarks, the chairman of the PS District Committee of Patos, Myzylen Hoxha, said that we had planned a party meeting. But people’s great interest obliges us to hold an open discussion of the problems that concern us. He then raised a number of problems facing the people of the Patos region today, as well as the efforts being made by the PS and its local government bodies to ease people’s hardships. He spoke of the government’s incompetence and the social tensions arising from it. At the oil enterprises under Albpetrol in Patos, a purge campaign against socialists is evident; it has not been limited to administrative staff but has extended to workers as well. At the same time, the enterprises’ administrations are being bloated with people from the PD. The skilled specialists at these enterprises have set off into exile. Today Patos has 7,000 unemployed people. Oil production here this year has fallen by more than 50 percent compared with last year. The managers’ incompetence is accompanied by brazen corruption in the enterprises, with the attitude: “After us, let doomsday come.” Machinery for the enterprises is bought from private sellers at very high prices, while the machines do no work at all because they are broken. The government has completely blocked local government. The municipality has been stripped of its powers, including over enterprises that meet the city’s vital needs. Nevertheless, the municipality led by the Socialists has not changed its course. The PS in Patos, the speaker continued, has supported the legitimate demands of the trade unionists. But we observe that the leaders of the independent oil workers’ union do not defend workers’ interests. The only union that genuinely defends their interests today is the autonomous oil workers’ union. Then the deputy chairman of the PS, Dr. Servet Pëllumbi, took the floor. “I am very impressed by your great interest in this meeting,” he said. “I am glad that this interest has put Patos at the center of attention; you are the cream of the Albanian working class.” Speaking on behalf of the oil workers and the enterprises of the system, Servet Pëllumbi continued. “These circumstances are accompanied by various social tensions. But your interest is also explained by recent political developments, which have heightened the situation through the clash between the two main parties in parliament. We are the opposition, and the opposition is vital to democra— (Continued on page 2)

Twenty-seven trade unionists at the Deep Oil Processing Plant in Ballsh returned to work on the final day, sources from Ballsh report. This was made possible by a decision of the court of first instance for the Vlorë-Fier area. As reported, after the strike by 28 workers at the Oil Processing Plant in Ballsh and its former branch, the leaders of the strike and the union were subjected to repressive measures by the law-enforcement authorities in Ballsh and by the plant’s managers. The strike was declared illegal, the main leaders of it were put in prison, while 27 workers were dismissed on the basis of a government decision that announced the enterprise’s closure and the refusal to reinstate the strike leaders. The decision of the second-instance court rendered all the repressive measures taken against the trade unionists null and void. But who will take responsibility for the harm caused to them by leaving them without work for five months? Correspondent, 1, «Zëri i Popullit»

The oil workers’ announced strike for May 3 was crushed by police violence at the Marinëz Oil Extraction Enterprise. The Autonomous Oil Workers’ Union went on strike for 24 hours, in accordance with the law on strikes, and demanded that it be declared a general strike. None of the demands submitted by this union a month earlier were met by the government. The Fier district law-enforcement forces used violence against the strikers, detaining the union chairman, Zarif Metushi, while members of the union council were dismissed from their jobs. The incident took place on the same day that President of the Republic Sali Berisha received the leaders of the Oil Workers’ Union, headed by Mentor Ksemali. Mr. Xhemali and the chairman of his union are regarded as strikebreakers and servants of the authorities by the oil workers, who are joining the Autonomous Oil Workers’ Union in large numbers. Correspondent, «Zëri i Popullit»

— Rally in support of the declaration of the PS General Steering Committee, in Tepelenë. MP Sabit Brokaj attends — The ever-increasing tension in the country’s political situation and the irreconcilable, malicious attacks on the PS through fabricated scenarios targeting its chairman led PS members and supporters, the Eurosocialists, veterans and Socialist women—and, generally, all the privileged strata of people in Tepelenë—to take to the square in protest at a peaceful rally. The chair- … (Continued on page 2)

When will the package of laws for unblocking local government, promised at the meeting of 13. 3. 1993, come before Parliament? We wish to remind you that at the meeting you organized with the parliamentary political parties on 13. 3. 1993, you committed to undertaking a series of measures to unblock local government. Nearly two months later, we remind you that none of what was said at that meeting has been done. In fact, you assigned the task to the prime minister, but apparently you are not finding common ground with him either, let alone with the others from the DP. So far, none of these draft laws has come before Parliament, even though April has passed. Perhaps you have left it until the end of May to bring them all to us? If so, we regret it, because during this period you personally will also be very busy with the constitution! The Socialist Party’s Committee on Local Government Issues