— Does Mr. Meksi and his government know the institution of resignation? — — A question, a suggestion, and some advice — Recently, as a logical consequence of the governmental incompetence and the mistaken, anti-popular and often even anti-national policies of the Meksi government, a wave of mass protests has risen, united around one demand: the government’s resignation. Everyone without exception, from the president down to the simplest citizen, has become aware of this powerful wave of protests. The Socialist Party’s demand for the resignation of the Meksi government was made real and compelling by the trade unions’ protest rallies throughout Albania. And the government answered the demand for work, bread, justice and equality with the baton of violence. Frightened and incapable of establishing dialogue, this government of airplanes, armchairs and corruption launched an attack “to completely crush the SP” by means of pseudo-accusations of corruption. The thieves shout, “Stop the thief!” But this wretched attempt too, following the one involving some laughable appointments in the government which remain illegal to this day, failed. A new, more powerful wave rose from the deceived, disillusioned people. Their fathers brought them there so they could show them as statues of their incompetence. The accusations against the government are well known. “An incompetent government”—because it does not provide jobs for thousands and thousands of unemployed people. Because it is unable to secure serious investment in the country. Because it is incapable of securing the necessary agreements for our refugees, whom it has abandoned to die on the roads of the world. Because it has also left Albania’s RTVT in the hands of the looters and speculators of the «çokave». “An anti-democratic government”—because it pursues a policy of political discrimination. Because it wages class warfare, because it has usurped local power and the people’s true will, expressed through the free vote of 26 July. “An anti-popular government”—because, for a handful of former owners, it tramples on the people’s interests with laws and police violence. Because, for a handful of fascist collaborators and criminals of this country, it tramples on the blood of the martyrs. Because, by rejecting [text unclear], the government of Mr. Meksi is responsible. This fact is clearly shown by the work [of the government], which is the constant feature of this government’s relations with the people. Polçan, Sazan, Bulqiza, the suppression of all the strikes, the ransacking of homes, the violation of free speech, the rubber batons used against the new owners right in front of the Presidency, and most recently the police scandal against the people of Kuçovë all speak to this. When you see, hear and live through this entire anti-democratic government farce, you naturally ask yourself: Does the Meksi government know the institution of resignation? This question was put to Fatos Nano by the RD journalist, Mr. Shpëtim Luku, at a press conference; Nano has already shown, two years ago, that he knows and applies this democratic institution. But I would like to suggest that Mr. Luku be brave for once and, in that newspaper which calls itself democratic, ask the most democratic question: “Does Mr. Meksi know the institution of resignation?” Or perhaps he is waiting for Albania to go on hunger strike, as the DP arranged when it wanted to seize power? You are too late, gentlemen. With your government’s help, the people have been on this mass hunger strike for some time, while all of you have doubled your salaries, greatly increased the size of your homes, and secured wealth for yourselves and your descendants. But, finally, one more piece of advice. Be wise and resign while the giant people have not yet risen up against your deception. ...mi- ar i ...ave ...k- ye- gi- to- të ...with 40 ...because ...je ...të ...Tirana, 15,000 demonstrators sho- ut the slogans “Resignation of the government,” “The government de- ceived us,” “We want jobs,” “We want bread,” “We want elections,” “We want the Constitution,” “Down with dic- tatorship.” But Mr. Berisha’s TV ... defended the government and ... put their number at 5 thou- sand. How pathetic! And Mr. Selami’s RD defended the government by lying “... the elderly. No, gentlemen of the govern- ment! It was a rally of the people of Tirana, of women and men, of children and the elderly, right down to infants at the breast, whom their mothers ... ...over the amount... in ... by means of pseudo-accusations of corruption. The thief cries, “Catch the thief.” But this pitiful attempt, after some ridiculous maneuvers in the government that still remain illegal, also fails. A new, more powerful wave rose up from the deceived, disillusioned, robbed, and abused people. In with dic- tatorship.” “Anti-people government”—because, for the sake of a handful of former property owners, it tramples the people’s interests and those of the masses through laws and violence. Because, for the sake of a handful of fascist collaborators and criminals of the by driving the people into misery, it has surpassed the former leaders of the PP, whom it criticized, in luxury, privileges, and corruption. Anti-national government. — Because, through its stance and its mass media, it is sabotaging efforts for national unity. Because its policy is setting Albanians against Albanians, treating some as second-class citizens. Because, by hastily recognizing the state of Macedonia, it betrayed the vital national interests of the Albanians who live there. For all these reasons, it is ... July 26. privileges, and corruption. Anti-national government. — these reasons, it is ...

Mr. Chairman, On behalf of deputies Fatos Nano, Servet Pëllumbi, Sabit Brokaj, Luan Hajdaraga and Tefik Ajazi, I am reading this declaration. On Sunday, 9 May 1993, the deputy for the Kuçovë constituency, Mr. Fatos Nano, together with fellow deputies Servet Pëllumbi, Sabit Brokaj, Luan Hajdaraga and Tefik Ajazi, accompanied by local officials of the district and the municipality of Kuçovë, took part in a meeting with the electorate in the town’s cinema hall. After the meeting, which was conducted with complete propriety, the deputies, together with the local authorities, headed toward the town center to greet the hundreds of residents who had been standing for two hours on both sides of the road and at the central intersection. The town’s police forces, reinforced by contingents brought in from Berat, demanded that the group of deputies leave immediately, using the absurd pretext of “not permitting an illegal rally.” As many residents sought to meet deputy Fatos Nano in person, the police intervened brutally, using rubber batons to disperse the people. We were all eyewitnesses to the severe beating of many residents, including women and children and elderly people, as well as to the attempt to seize our television camera by force. The actions of the law-enforcement forces, which used violence to prevent the exercise of the deputy’s constitutional right to meet the electorate, are legally condemnable, especially since it is known that Mr. Nano, their representative in Parliament, must be able to maintain direct contact with them at all times and without any restrictions. The brutal intervention by the law-enforcement forces in Kuçovë is a grave infringement of the deputy’s constitutional right and a grave violation of Parliament’s authority, and it creates dangerous political precedents. The Presidium of Parliament must promptly seek clarification of the circumstances and responsibilities surrounding the Kuçovë incident and exercise its authority with the competent bodies, which must ensure that the rights and freedoms of deputies and citizens are upheld in accordance with the recognized constitutional provisions. Fatos Nano, Servet Pëllumbi, Sabit Brokaj, Luan Hajdaraga; Tefik Ajazi. Note: This declaration was read in Parliament on the afternoon of 12 May, after the agenda for the period up to 20 May had been discussed, by deputy Luan Hajdaraga. Deputy Agron Musaraj then took the floor and defended the Ministry of Public Order’s false version of the Kuçovë incident.

— For him, violating the status of Radio Television and showing party bias are commonplace. Mr. Bungo forgets that one day he will answer to the law. And that day will not be far off, since the law will be made by those whom he is serving so zealously today. — After what happened in Kuçovë on 9 May, after the Public Order Ministry spokesperson’s false “refutation,” and after the desperate repetitions on television by the Head of the Public Order Branch, intended to sway public opinion, the Chairman of the Kuçovë District Council, Lili Nushi, and the Mayor, Vangjel Shyti, sent a letter to the Directorate of Albanian Television, specifically to the Information Department, asking to be interviewed by television so they could clarify public opinion about the incident provoked by… The dictatorship we left behind has left people like him; the greatest value they have is that they remind you of a squeezed lemon, whose peel is no longer even of any use. He is right to show himself this way, with his true face, because who knows what television employees would have had to put up with if he had worked under another face or under pseudonyms, as he did in the time of the State Security. Back then he was not quite so foolish, because to escape surveillance he himself became a surveillant, to the point that he did not bat an eyelid when he personally took part as an observer in… people’s arrests by the State Security. Today, however, he openly breaks the law, forgetting that one day he will answer to the law. But then it will be too late, and there will be no one left to defend him, because his trial will be conducted by the very people whom he is serving so zealously today.

At the invitation of the Albanian Eurosocialist Youth, Roberto Mikallef, a member of the Executive Committee of the International Union of Socialist Youth (I.U.S.Y.) and U.S.Y. coordinator for Europe, paid a visit to Albania in recent days. He took part in and spoke at the third session of the Conference of Eurosocialist Student Youth. During his stay in Albania, he met and spoke with the leaders of the Eurosocialist Youth Forum, as well as with leaders of other youth and political organizations. FRESSH spokesperson

The Gjirokastër branch of the Union of Albanian Intellectuals invited us to its second event, attended also by some of the co-founders and principal leaders of this forum. The event was good, but the purpose of this article is to assess it. It was prompted by and responded to the range of opinions expressed there. Mr. Stefan Qurku, understanding and discussing the matter, said: “At the meeting where the branch was established, and even today, I still do not understand why we should not have party-affiliated intellectuals in the forum.” The responses make it clear that this question is still being debated, including among the forum’s leadership and mem- (Continued on page 2)

— At the Laç Public Order Department — Two days ago, two TT-type pistols vanished without a trace from the Public Order Department of the Laç district. Alarm “took over” the entire staff of this department. It is not known whether the relevant ministry has been informed, or its head, Mr. Musaraj. As for the above-mentioned daylight theft, the perpetrators have still not been found; however, the armory keeper (poor fellow), Preng Kola, was arrested immediately. Are there police officers who steal, or not?

We began our private lives by entrusting everything to justice ... Law No. 7968, dated 15.4.1993, “On the restitution and compensation of property” ... This law ... Why, at the beginning of this petition, do we, the free private citizens of the city of B. Curri, strongly protest against this ... Here is how you, O state, can carry out the request and the property ... Everyone ... lips ..., and in such ... On the contrary, thousands of Albanians have saved their ... their properties, their premises, their grand hotels in America, Europe, Australia and elsewhere, and no one demands them back through such ill-conceived laws as happens in our democratic Albania! We had just gained the citizenship of a fruitful enterprise brought to us by democracy, but we are not enjoying it; it happened with your Mountain, gentlemen, many ... (Continued on page 2)

From the meetings of DP MPs with the people Zoica Curo, a woman with four children and a sick husband, climbed the stairs to the editorial offices of “Zëri i Popullit” in tears. (How many mothers have had their eyes filled with tears because of poverty?) She had just returned from the offices of the Democratic Party, having just left the reception she had received from MP Shaban Memia about her troubles. Sobbing, the woman, around fifty years old, began to recount the public insult she had suffered at Deputy Memia’s office. What trouble had made this woman half a person? Zoica has been supporting her children for several years by selling her blood. She is receiving social assistance. That, too, runs out this month. Her husband is ill, and the salary he receives is not enough even to cover the cost of medicine. Her daughter has so far been unable to find work (This government has made it its task to close, not open, jobs). This unfortunate woman went to the Democratic Party’s door, but in vain. Finally, she decided to turn to her area’s MP, Mr. Shaban Memia. For days and hours she waited outside this gentleman’s office until at last she met him. And the people’s MP sent her away with a piece of paper for someone at one of Tirana’s hospitals, so that her daughter could start work as a cleaner. The letter read: “Mr. Besnik! Please receive this referral letter and hear her out, since she is in a difficult economic situation and I have promised to get her daughter and son a job as cleaners. Regards, Shaban Memia.” Zoica took the letter and set off to see Mr. Besnik. At the hospital, they told her that he had left two or three years earlier (!). So she was forced to meet the MP again. The poor woman had to wait another week. Finally, fate allowed her to knock on the same door and meet Mr. Shaban for the second time, but this time ...! This time Zoica found herself facing insults, abuse, and humiliating words. What’s more, a big man lunged at her, about to slap her: “You’re going to hit me, your mother, you son?! This is how you solve people’s problems, Mrs. Zoica, with one more misery.” Long live the party you represent, you cruel MP! DRITAN PRISHTA

On Saturday, May 15, 1993, at 18:00, the Steering Committee of the Socialist Party in Berat is organizing a peaceful rally in the square in front of “Tomori” Stadium. The purpose of the rally is to protest the government’s inability to overcome the economic and widespread crisis that has engulfed the country.

As part of the good cooperation to date between the Armed Forces of Greece and Albania, the Greek side, in addition to the assistance it has provided so far, yesterday handed over a number of military vehicles for the needs of the Albanian Army. This cooperation will continue, and soon a number of doctors and nurses from the Albanian Army will be sent to specialize at military hospitals in Greece. Greek Embassy