1. Dental and outpatient health services will be subject to payment — We provide free health services for all insured people and those without sufficient financial means, not only in health institutions with beds, but also in outpatient care — from the PD’s electoral program. — On 3 June, Parliament discussed a draft law, which was postponed for later, that will make dental and outpatient health services subject to payment — In the “Electoral Platform of the Democratic Party,” published in the newspaper RD on 22 February 1992, it says: with beds but also in outpatient care.” This was the promise made by the Democratic Party on the eve of the election campaign. It pledged to provide free health services for everyone, not only in hospitals but also in outpatient care. But this promise, like many others, soon proved worthless. On 3 June, Parliament discussed a draft law submitted by the Council of Ministers, “On Certain Amendments to the Law on Health Services and the Provision of Free State Medical Assistance.” The essence of this draft law was to make health services subject to payment. This was stated in Article 5, which, among other things, read: “The Ministry of Health and Environmental Protection determines the types of health services provided for a fee...” Thus, the “magic” of this whole law is expressed in these three lines. It does not openly say that health services will have to be paid for. A softer formulation is used, but it means that very soon health services in Albania will have to be paid for, at prices that will be shocking for ordinary people. Once again, the Meksi government lacks the courage to be transparent and tell people openly that health services will have to be paid for, contrary to what the PD had promised before coming to power. The hypocrisy reaches its peak when the government’s explanatory report says: “In this way, we have moved away from the false slogans of free medical assistance...” So even free medical assistance, which is vitally important for hundreds of thousands of citizens with modest incomes, is described by Mr. Meksi’s government as a “false slogan”! As is known, opposition MPs reacted strongly in Parliament to this draft law, which was defended on behalf of the government by Mr. Tritan Shehu, Minister of Health. PD MP Meksi had the courage to say: “This draft law is against the PD’s electoral program.” After a lengthy discussion, the Minister of Health insisted that, for the time being, only dental and “outpatient” services should be subject to payment. MP Mr. Shama also presented this proposal on behalf of the Laws Commission. The majority of PD MPs agreed with this suggestion. Thus, by a majority vote, Parliament decided that a law would soon be passed making dental and outpatient health services subject to payment. This is just the beginning; later, all health services will be treated the same way. This decision by today’s rulers will place a very heavy burden on the standard of living of thousands of Albanian citizens. It is well known that citizens’ most frequent and vital contact with health services is through outpatient care, not specialized hospital care. Meanwhile, outpatient care plays a key role in preventing illness. By making outpatient services subject to payment, the government seeks to line its own pockets in an utterly inhumane way, exploiting the people’s vital need for health care, especially that of children, pregnant women and the elderly. People who were deceived by the PD’s promises feel disappointed. But they themselves are to blame. It is not for nothing that today’s PD leaders say: “The one who is deceived is to blame...” [rather than] the one who deceives. With this act, for the third time, the Albanian Parliament has usurped the authority of the judiciary, which, here as in every democratic parliamentary republic in the world, has the exclusive right to try cases and acquit. Thus, by approving this law and disregarding the judiciary, the Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Pjetër Arbnori, together with his PD majority, drove yet another nail into the black coffin in which domestic reaction, with the help and cooperation of its foreign masters, is trying to suffocate our fragile democracy. Like every event, this new calamity inflicted by Parliament had its precursor. President Sali Berisha’s visit to Korçë, his laying of wreaths and his demagogic statements about the fallen, whom, heaven knows for what reason, he calls “martyrs,” were an alarm signal that something sinister was being prepared. This suspicion soon turned into certainty when our esteemed President received with great pomp the now notorious criminal Ndue Pjetër Gjonmarku, scion of the chief bajraktars of Mirdita, head of the infamous Committee of the Mountains, organizer of the murder of many patriots, including the well-known martyrs and heroes: Nik Pjetri, Ndrec Ndue Gjoka, Bardhok Biba, Mrikë Lokja, Prenda and Marta Tarazhi, etc. What a disgusting sight for our people, seeing their “democratic” President warmly embracing the murderer of the fallen. With this cynical act, the President reached the summit. The combination of duplicity and hypocrisy was truly masterful. So it became clear, and there should be not the slightest doubt left as to who the President is and whose side he is on. It should be pointed out that this same President, who receives and bids farewell to criminals, has not responded even once to the request to receive a delegation from the National Committee of Veterans of the National Liberation Anti-Fascist War (LANÇL), representing 50,000 veterans. Through these actions, the President made his position clear and opened the door to the abominable law that the Albanian Parliament approved de jure.

Yesterday afternoon, a reception-cocktail was held at the headquarters of the Socialist Party of Albania to mark the second anniversary of its formation. Members of the SP leadership, MPs, members and supporters of the SP had been invited and attended. Representatives of the diplomatic corps, representatives of various parties in the country, journalists from the press and television, and correspondents of foreign agencies from the country and abroad were also present at the reception. The atmosphere at the reception, without the routine speeches customary on such occasions, seemed agreeable to all the participants. Groups of journalists, MPs and diplomats spent two pleasant hours yesterday. The reception took place in a warm and friendly atmosphere. Similar gatherings were held yesterday in several districts of the country to commemorate the second anniversary of the PSSH’s formation. Correspondent of “Zëri i popullit.”

Protest on behalf of 50,000 LANÇL veterans ADDRESSED TO: The President of the Republic, Mr. Sali Berisha The People’s Assembly of the Republic of Albania The Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) The International Federation of Resistance Fighters (FIR) The Federation of Old Fighters (FMAG) We, the veterans and participants of LANÇL, learned with anger and deep indignation of the inhuman, anti-popular, anti-democratic and anti-national act by which the PD majority, under pressure from the Balli-Zogist group, imposed on Parliament the passage of a law granting impunity to war criminals, collaborators with the Nazi-fascist occupiers, and killers of our people and our martyrs. With this act, for the third time, Parliament has violated the competence cases, that is, to acquit. Thus, by approving this law, disregarding the country’s Constitution and disregarding the principles of justice and law... ...with the wonder-working mechanism of the blue voting cards. It is now self-evident. The President remains the last hope of showing his true face in the dilemma: should he sign this law or not? Should he take upon his shoulders the historical responsibility and the fatal consequences that this immoral law will inevitably bring for the present and future of freedom, independence and democracy in Albania? Will our judicial system, formed over the course of its three decades, find the strength to rise to the sacred task of defending the law, to prevent the final approval of this unrestrained act of Parliament, and to say “stop” to the unbridled advance of today’s revanchists? … exclusive right to try dmt judiciary, the Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Pjetër Arbnori, with his Democratic Party which the internal this new calamity brought upon us by Parliament has its forerunner. President Sali Berisha’s visit to Korçë, his laying of a wreath for what reason, he calls “martyrs”—all were a warning signal that something perverse our esteemed President pompously received the now well-known Mirdita, chairman murders of many patriots, among them a repulsive sight for our people, seeing their own this cynical act, the President reached the peak. side he is on. It is worth pointing to criminals, has not once responded Committee of Veterans of the National Liberation War, position clear and opened the door to the green light for the sinister law that the Albanian Parliament approved de jure.

On Saturday, 12.6.1993, four (4) members of a family were murdered over a piece of land. The victims were a father (56 years old) and his two sons, aged 30–35, as well as the boys’ uncle, aged 55. The murder took place at the former NB Torovicë and was carried out by the boys’ first cousin, sent by his father, who was the head of the household’s brother-in-law. The killers claim that the aforementioned family had taken their land. The police have apprehended only one of them (the instigator), while the other (his son) has been sent in a direction that is still unknown. SOKOL DEMIRI

— “We will fight for the genuine emancipation of Albanian women” — the PD’s electoral program. — “Women must work not 20 years, as they have until now, but 35 years in order to qualify for a full pension! — Mothers with many children must work not 15 years, as they have until now, but 30 years in order to qualify for a full pension. — Temporary incapacity for work will be 5 percent lower than before — and there will be no distinction for arduous occupations. — For women to receive maternity benefits, they must have contributed to social insurance for at least one year, rather than three months as before, under the new social insurance law. — During discussion of this draft law, the proposals of the socialist MPs were rejected. Among other things, they insisted that women should be entitled to a full pension after contributing to social insurance for at least five years less than men—that is, 30 years, not 35, as adopted in the law. — The articles of this law that seriously infringe on the social rights Albanian women have already gained, such as Article 35, were passed to applause from PD MPs. — “We should raise women’s retirement age by another five years, since it has also been raised for women in Switzerland,” declares MP Ferizaj. — “The fundamental point to emphasize is that, in its economic aspect, this law is fully consistent with the PD’s program for building a democratic state and society based on the fundamental principles of a free-market economy,” declares Mr. J. Gjana, chair of the parliamentary committee on the economy, finance, budget and trade, in the newspaper RD. — So the PD’s promises are one thing, and its concrete actions another. … in return for payment. So the whole “magic” of this law lies healthcare will be provided for money. A wording is found, therefore 30 years and not 35 years as was approved in the law. — social rights acquired by Albanian women, such as Article 35, were approved with applause from the Democratic Party deputies. — We should also raise women’s retirement age by 5 years, since women in Switzerland have done so too, declares deputy Ferizaj. — “It is fundamental to emphasize that this law fully accords, in its economic aspect, with the Democratic Party’s Gjana, chairman of the parliamentary committee on economy, finance, budget and trade, in the newspaper RD. — So the Democratic Party’s promises are one thing, and its concrete actions are another. MUSA ULQINI

I read this, and you can understand, as an ordinary person in this poor Albania, what gems our empty-headed and officious PD-ists produce: Minutes of a meeting held today, dated 9.3.1993, in the PD section of Sinjë. After discussing the changes to the reform, the PD section of the village of Sinjë decided that all persons supported by the PS should be replaced by PD people. Replacements by the PD: 1. Viktor Mjeshtri — Kristaq Garuli; 2. Leonora Oldashi — Bujar Likaj; 3. Gëzim Toska — Bibil Toska; 4. Vangjel Ferro — Zani Toska; 5. Xox Mjeshtri — Shefqet Sinaj; 6. Hair Toska — Beni Ferro; 7. Selime Çuka — Kujtim Çuka; 8. Besim Çuka — Bajram Çuka; 9. Shaban Toska — Llukë Mjeshtri; 10. Dritun Blaza — Luli Toska; 11. Llimana Baklia — Fatmira Toska; 12. Besukëme Sejdo — Farie Ferro. The persons named above, members of the PD, are to help get the work moving and obtain [positions] from the government; the people mentioned are to be replaced. To be replaced by PD people. PD Section of Sinjë. (Beni Ferro) (Shefqet Sinaj) (Kujtim Çuka) Does this need any comment? This is what happens when you get... Hëlli...

— Declares Nderim Kupi, chairman of the Legality Party — A few days ago, the Legality Movement Party held a press conference at the Palace of Congresses in Tirana. At the beginning, Mr. Gavrosh Levonja read a statement on behalf of the party, analyzing the political situation in the country and the Balkans and setting out the party’s positions. Then the chairman of the Legality Movement Party, Mr. Nderim Kupi, answered journalists’ questions. Asked how he explained the split in the Legality Party at its twelfth congress, Mr. Kupi replied that the divisions in the Legality Party among the emigration had deep roots, dating at least from 1961. He said he could not accuse anyone in particular of this, but it would be a great disgrace for… (Continued on page 5)

We have been waiting for you for so long, Mr. Meksi. You promised yourself that you would come, and we sincerely believed you. Meksi. You promised yourself that you would come, and we sincerely believed you. Indeed, it was not only us, the socialist councilors, but the others too (including those from your front). In the middle of May, when we came to Tirana as the presidium of the district council to remind you of your promise, you could not receive us because we were of one mind (that is what our deputy, Mr. Meksi, also told us). Nevertheless, we thanked you for receiving the chairman and for promising him that you would come to Pogradec within the month of May. But May passed, and June by the Turkish calendar began, and you still have not shown up. We are waiting for you, Mr. Meksi, because we have many troubles to share with you (if you really know how to share the people’s troubles). After all, that is why we also have a head of government in your ear: you are at its head. The socialist councilors of Pogradec district

In the Tirana commune they tell you that if the government does not take measures for bread this year, it will be catastrophic for us, because the entire harvest will barely keep the farmers supplied for 6–7 months. But what about the other months? As if that were not enough (since the area is mountainous and dry), the lack of combine harvesters, especially for threshing, will make the problem much worse. The wheat is now fully ripe. It is being harvested by hand too, but combine harvesters are urgently needed for threshing. There isn’t a combine harvester anywhere… The summer is terribly hot. LUAN SHMILLI

May has passed Mr. Meksi We have been waiting for you for so long, Mr. Meksi. You yourself promised to do it