These outraged people are demanding the government’s resignation Scenes from the Tirana rally, attended by around 15,000 people [Texts on banners:] Pensioners are not beggars The government is choking the people Albania together The government’s resignation

Yesterday afternoon, PSSH chairman Fatos Nano received at the Socialist Party headquarters a delegation from the European Democratic Union (EDU), led by Mr. Geoffrey Pattie. The delegation members wanted to learn about PSSH’s political positions on many recent developments in the country, including its position on the law adopted by Parliament on “Fundamental Human Rights and Freedoms.” Taking the floor, Fatos Nano said that what Albania needs today more than ever is a comprehensive law on human rights and freedoms, on a European scale. The PSSH Parliamentary Group had no substantive reservations about the law submitted. It met international standards. But the Socialist deputies, convinced of the need for and indispensability of democratic laws in general, asked for even more: they called for a complete Constitution, which has been dragged out for several months now without any reason, and for this reason they abstained. First and foremost, we called for the establishment of fundamental human rights and freedoms, which are still being violated every day; for them not to remain merely formal, not to remain demagoguery, but to be institutionalized and guaranteed by the state. Today in Albania, Fatos Nano went on to say, the political system exercised by the majority is such that it does not guarantee the mechanism for implementing them. In Albania, laws continue to be violated and, worse still, communist mentalities persist. Distortions of democratic society continue; dialogue, tolerance and freedom of the press are lacking. The policy of revanchism is seriously obstructing integration and democratic processes and hindering the civilization of Albanian society. Albania’s political life is marked by a pronounced politicization of problems. Neocommunist practices are encountered every day. You can be certain, gentlemen, that there is no longer any question of going backwards in Albania. Nobody wants that. We do not ask for it here, and we will not allow ourselves to be labelled ex-communists either. As for this concept, you should know that former communists are now leading all the main political parties; they are in government departments, in the state, and at the very top of the state pyramid. It would therefore be quite abnormal for only us to be prejudged. But this happens because in Albania everything is directed against the PS and People’s Assembly deputies are being surveilled. I do not know whether this is part of SHIK’s work. We have asked for the files of State Security collaborators to be opened, whether by our parliamentary commissions or by international bodies. Let the files of deputies, ministers, party chairmen and other senior officials be opened, and let the people judge. Asked by a delegation member what his party’s economic program would be if it won a majority in the next elections, Fatos Nano replied that there were many problems to solve and that they could not be covered in such a brief discussion. But, he said, he would emphasize the priority of private initiative and private property for all Albanians without distinction or the classifications being imposed today, giving them the opportunity to participate genuinely in this process. On the other hand, we would consider the coexistence and lawful competition of all forms of ownership to be very important, adapted to the public sector as well, but with that sector also decentralized to local levels. We also believe that particular importance should be attached to revitalizing the economy, especially its priority branches. Finally, I would add that we would attach exceptional importance to legally guaranteeing social protection. Speaking at the meeting, PSSH Deputy Chairman Servet Pëllumbi stressed that the time had come for democrats and former communists to be viewed without prejudice; for their programs, political positions, alternatives, people, democratic concepts and public political abilities to be examined. There is no danger of a return to communist dictatorship in Albania, and this means that we must all think and look ahead together, in order to overcome the crisis and solve the major problems facing the country. The European Democratic Union delegation members also asked about the PS’s positions on the situation in the region, the PS’s relations with European left-wing parties, and other matters. Asked to explain how it was that they owned large properties and buildings, Fatos Nano replied: “Where do we have them? Please show us. It seems you have been misinformed, most respected and honored gentlemen, gen- because in Albania everything continues to be judged through black-and-white or white-and-black schemes. Responding to an inquiry about his opinion of the former State Security service and any comparison with today’s SHIK, Fatos Nano said that he could not speak as an expert on this point, but knew very well that my telephone and those of many of my comrades are tapped; I know very well how much PSH to be and to finish with the PS candidates for [unclear] in the region, about the PS’s relations with European left-wing parties and others. Asked to explain how it was that you been misinformed, most respected and honored gentlemen. The Socialist Party owns no property at all. Even the building where we are speaking is state property. The other parties have buildings like this too.” Comrades Servet Pëllumbi, Namik Dokle, Bashkim Zeneli and Arta Dabulla also attended the meeting. Correspondent of “Zëri i Popullit”

- Representatives from all the country’s universities are participating - Yesterday, the National Conference of Eurosocialist Students began its proceedings at the “Palace of Congresses” in Tirana. Students from the University of Tirana, as well as from the universities of Shkodër, Korçë, Elbasan and Gjirokastër, were present. Also invited were educational figures such as Dr. Mago Lakrori, Dr. Kastriot Islami, Dr. Etem Ruka, deputy Sabit Brokaj, Dr. Alfred Paloka, deputy Shkëlqim Cani, and Socialist Party chairman Fatos Nano. Lecturers from the universities of Tirana were also invited. It should be said that the Conference was conceived as a working meeting, a debate on students’ problems, focusing mainly on three key issues: 1. Modernization of higher education institutions; 2) Students’ socioeconomic conditions; 3) The alternative of democratic socialism and students. At the first session, corresponding to the issue of “Modernization of higher education,” the floor was taken by Ilir Naçi, a student at the Agricultural University of Kamza. In his speech he said: “Modernizing the education system is a vital necessity for our higher education, which must adapt to the major changes that all of society has experienced and continues to experience. It is these same major changes and developments that require this modernization to be as comprehensive and complete as possible. First of all, we believe that decisive attention must be directed to the fundamental pillars of the education system: the organization and structure of the school, the curriculum within that structure, and the modernization of the content of knowledge and information.” The main proposals for modernization were then presented: 1. The establishment of departments in some universities and higher education institutions should be based on the modernization of higher education’s microstructures, opening the way to: - the development of inter-university competition; - progress toward autonomy and the preservation of the distinctive organizational features of each individual higher education institution; - the facilitation of direct relations with foreign higher education institutions (European and others). 2. Developing administrative procedures specific to each higher education institution for student admissions, methods and discipline of teaching and assessment of knowledge, their improvement, etc. The main proposals concerning legislation for higher education institutions were: 1. Drafting a fundamental education law for Albania and, on that basis, a corresponding law or chapter on higher education. Bearing in mind the conditions of transition, we aim for minimal, flexible legislation that leaves room for further development, while seeking to bring the legislation governing higher education institutions up to the level of European institutions with centuries-old traditions. 2. The law should regulate relations between students and lecturers, on the one hand, and administrative staff and academic councils, on the other. We aim for legally mandated student participation in both administrative decision-making structures and teaching and academic structures (departments, divisions, chairs, teams, and individual laboratories). 3. The law and regulations of each higher education institution should clearly define: - the conditions for cooperation with foreign higher education institutions, up to the establishment of joint teaching and academic departments, divisions and teams; - relations between individual students and management structures, as well as between student associations and university or private management structures, as applicable; - the conditions for using state funds and private sponsorship, domestic or foreign, to improve the institution’s material conditions and establish sectors using advanced technologies. The main proposals for modernizing the content of education were as follows: We consider organizational structures and the relevant legislation not as ends in themselves, but as mechanisms that create the conditions for modernizing content, which is essential for preparing a new Albanian intelligentsia in the new circumstances. - The widespread introduction of computerization in higher education institutions (in both the teaching process and the associated laboratory facilities) across all departments and fields. - Teaching at least two foreign languages during higher education studies. - Compulsory or elective teaching of basic knowledge about the structures and operating principles of democratic societies and the market economy. - The continuous updating of lectures, seminars, etc., with contemporary knowledge. - The creation of computer centers (at least terminals), libraries, etc., at every faculty and department, accessible to every student. - Providing students with printed and duplicated lecture materials (when books are unavailable). After student Ilir Naçi, Alma Nuri, a student at the University of Elbasan, took the floor to speak. She fully supported the proposals put forward and offered her views on them. Dr. Mago Lakrori then spoke, saying that he could regard the discussion as … an interaction and an expression of wishes. The proposals put forward here will help our universities keep pace with European universities. But we must be prepared, because they will be introduced with difficulty. This difficulty will arise for several reasons, such as lack of familiarity, conservatism and tradition. Another obstacle, he said, would be political prejudice about who puts forward or proposes these ideas, since our society is extremely politicized. Do not back down, because you will be serving yourselves and the nation. Asked about the issue of equivalence of our diplomas, Dr. Mago Lakrori said that equivalence is determined on the basis of programs. The previous government had … [unclear] … for implementing this. The programs you presented here address this very well, so you should insist on your proposals. In response to a question about education reform, Dr. Mago Lakrori said that after 22 March this reform had taken on pronounced political overtones. It seeks to deny everything that was accomplished before and to overturn everything concerning the social sciences; in other words, shock therapy was applied to the economy for a time, and it will also be applied to education. On university autonomy, Mago Lakrori said that autonomy essentially makes it possible to increase independence as well as competition among universities. We must strive to make this autonomy a reality. Later in the debate, Gjin Shkalsi, a student at the Agricultural University, intervened and asked whether the criteria drawn up by the authorities for lecturers were political. Maqo Lakrori replied that the criteria drawn up were entirely political and consequently unlawful. The basic criterion should be professional competence. Besnik Bare, a lecturer at the University of Sciences, discussed the content of our university. If we are to succeed in raising its standards, then equivalence must follow (Continued on page 4)

Yesterday, the chairman of the Socialist Party of Albania, Fatos Nano, received the Indian ambassador to Albania, Mr. Julio Francis Ribiero, at the Party headquarters. The Indian ambassador asked about the PSSH’s positions and views on the political and economic situation in the country and on several issues in the international situation, particularly developments in the Balkans. The political situation in the country, Fatos Nano said, is extremely tense, and this is not the fault of the Socialists. The tensions are artificial; political polarization is being stirred up by certain forces. And this is happening precisely at a time when Albania needs a round table more than ever, and needs understanding and dialogue. The majority is not making way for consensus; on the contrary, political dictates over Parliament, democratic institutions, the media and the organs of justice are appearing on the scene every day. While the economic situation is difficult and working people can barely make ends meet at a subsistence level, today’s authorities do not consider it either necessary or reasonable for political forces to sit down together and offer, with professional arguments, alternatives for overcoming the crisis, identify the most urgent problems to be solved, and explain how they should be solved. No single party can monopolize the people’s interests. The country’s major problems must be overcome together, all the more so since the Socialist Party, for example, now holds more than 54 percent of local government, which is in practice blocked. An unbounded madness has taken the place of these real solutions. We have made our positions public, and we insist once again that this difficult situation cannot be overcome without the political goodwill of all political forces. The way must be made clear for compromise; extremist and radical discussions are inciting Albanians against one another. Albanians today are looking for messages of understanding and reconstruction. Fatos Nano also spoke about specific aspects of the international situation and the situation in the Balkans, emphasizing the need for a more effective contribution from the European Community and international organizations, for more concrete measures against the destruction and those who are keeping the conflict going, and to prevent its further spread, particularly in Kosovo. The meeting was also attended by the Socialist Party secretary for Foreign Relations, Bashkim Zeneli. Correspondent of “Zëri i Popullit”

TV continues shamelessly with its old routine of censorship, intended to manipulate public opinion. And in all its news broadcasts it did not say a word about Socialist Party chairman Fatos Nano’s meeting with the European Democratic Union delegation. This is how they are apparently being led

NATIONAL LIBRARY TIRANA