THE JUNE 18 INCIDENT IN SHKODËR AT THE CENTER OF PUBLIC ATTENTION “IT IS NOT A DISGRACE FOR SHKODËR, BUT FOR THOSE WHO ORGANIZED IT” The events of the day before yesterday in the city of Shkodër were presented one-sidedly by Radio Shkodra and radio-television. In fact, the former even interviewed those who were shouting slogans and speaking, trying to show the wider public that it was the people who were speaking. Since it did not take the trouble to interview citizens who were waiting to meet Fatos Nano as well, we thought it appropriate to make up for this shortcoming by publishing some conversations we had yesterday with people present at the event. Bahri Dervishi (meritorious teacher): I had an invitation to that meeting, and I went, bearing in mind that democracy gives everyone the right to support whichever party or leader they wish. In the entrance hall of the “Republika” cinema there were 30–40 people holding slogans and preventing those invited from going inside. One of them pointed at me, signaling for them to follow me, and the enraged people struck me. I saw several police officers embracing people of that kind. I am surprised: instead of stopping them, the police stopped us, even though we had a lawful meeting. This incident makes me understand that the authorities in Shkodër do not want to accept pluralism. We had not gone there to confront anyone, but to attend a working meeting. In fact, we did everything we could to avoid any confrontation. When they found out that I had been hit, about five or six people came to me and told me to say who had hit me. But I did not tell them, and I will not tell them, so that no conflict occurs. In my opinion, everything had been prepared in advance, and the officials responsible for public order and the authorities knew about it. A police officer who recognized me, because I had once taught him, said to me: “Go, professor, because now you’ll see what happens later!” Nevertheless, I did not leave... ... to my eyes. I asked the policeman for help, but he replied that whoever told me to come here should be the one to come. I told him that this is Albanian land and, since I am Albanian too, no one can take away my right to come, especially as I had also been invited and had been staying there. During this time, I saw a tall young man in a red shirt handing money to certain individuals to hold the placards, which they were taking from two «Furgon»-type vans. Someone had an interest in provoking a confrontation among the people, but fortunately the tolerance of the citizens of Shkodër prevailed, and with it the Socialist Party itself showed that it is a serious force committed to understanding, respecting the laws and avoiding this provocation. Rexhep Shima: A member of the PD, whose name I do not wish to disclose, told me the day before that Fatos Nano could not come to Shkodër, because every measure had been taken to sabotage the meeting of ... had come to my eyes. As for the organization of the meeting, although it was a meeting organized with full ... to come, all the more since I was also invited, and I had stayed to sabotage the meeting of

On Friday, June 18, the Socialists prevented a tragic confrontation in Shkodër. The organizers of the illegal rally were determined to provoke a physical confrontation between people with different political convictions and between villagers in Shkodër. They wanted Albanian blood to be shed. The carefully prepared scenario, but this time entirely obvious to everyone, aimed to make the Socialists responsible for any confrontation that might occur, so that they could then be accused of being provocateurs. But the organizers of this monstrous scenario were left empty-handed, because the Socialists’ prudence and composure burned their cards in their hands. The events of June 18 in Shkodër call for a thorough, multifaceted analysis. What was prepared in Shkodër will very soon backfire on its organizers. “He who digs a pit for another falls into it himself,” as the people say. Undoubtedly, analyzing this event requires composure and responsibility. This is all the more true because one must also consider other facts that shed even more light on the truth of what happened on June 18 in Shkodër. Nevertheless, some analyses and conclusions can already be made: The tragedy that was being prepared in Shkodër was publicly foreshadowed by the ruling party’s newspaper, RD, on June 17, which, in an unscrupulous provocation, informed the public that: “The murderer of April 2 will go to Shkodër.” The Albanian public followed the Shkodër trial on RTV and formed its own judgment about the events of April 2. Justice, the com- ... they all believed that they should be deeply offended and provoked in their honor and dignity. Those who write these articles know well that Albanian customary traditions are such that when honor is violated, the reaction is extraordinary. With such fascist calls, the PD seeks, for its own party interests, to provoke even the anti-communist feelings of the citizens of Shkodër. Before being fascist and unconstitutional, this call is above all an anti-national call. RD tells the people of Shkodër that the murderer of the Second of April is coming there, and therefore it is their duty to do what the state is not doing against criminals of this kind. Thus, we read in the article: «The dissatisfaction that the people of Shkodër may have with the PD is precisely linked to the fact that the PD is not showing some people like Nano their place, and is being somewhat lenient with criminals!» As was also stated in the declaration of the Presidium of the Socialist Party and the Grou-

On Friday, June 18, 1993, at 9:00 p.m., PS Chairman Fatos Nano, Deputy Speaker of the People’s Assembly Shpëtim Yukaj, chairman of the PS parliamentary group Namik Dokle, and members of parliament Kastriot Islami, Maqo Lakrori, Ndre Legisi, Alfred Paloka, and Musa Ulqini met with the President of the Republic, Mr. Sali Berisha. They informed him of the contents and handed him the statement by the PS Presidium and the Socialist parliamentary group concerning the unlawful actions organized by the right-wing forces in power to sabotage the PS’s lawful activity in Shkodër. They protested against the antidemocratic actions of those in power and other revanchist forces, which aimed to further exacerbate the situation, and asked him to rise above partisan positions and fulfill his duties as President of the Republic by ensuring compliance with the main constitutional provisions and, in this context, the lawful activities of political forces as well. They asked him to intervene directly, first of all to remedy the dire economic situation in Shkodër, where around 40,000 unemployed people are counted, and not to allow those in power to divert people’s attention from their hardships through extremist and revanchist actions and scenarios. They also expressed reservations and protested over the evident discrepancy between Mr. Berisha’s statements and promises and his actual conduct as president. They reminded him that on several occasions—for example, on the issue of the local government blockade, RTV, the police, etc.—he had verbally described the concerns raised by PS representatives as justified and had endorsed their constructive positions, whereas in fact the concrete actions had gone in the opposite direction. Unfortunately, at this meeting, instead of taking a firm stand against unlawful actions that endangered democracy, and instead of joining the PS representatives in their concern about the grave danger these actions posed to social peace, Mr. Berisha once again could not move beyond his well-known partisan positions and tried to justify these violations of the law. Unlike his public statements in the name of the common good, which have stirred emotions in recent days, Mr. Berisha set aside his now familiar demagoguery and, instead of taking the impartial position of the President of the Republic, openly adopted the position of a partisan president. Although he was asked to broadcast the meeting and the statement by the Presidium of the Socialist Party and its parliamentary group on RTV, once again he did not provide space for impartial information of the public. The Socialist members of parliament informed President Berisha that, regarding this serious violation of the law as well, the PSH would inform the Albanian public, international organizations, and the diplomatic corps accredited in Tirana. Socialist Party Press and Information Office. 19.6.1993

To the President of Albania, Mr. Sali Berisha. The People’s Assembly To the Prime Minister, Mr. Aleksandër Meksi, The Ministry of Public Order For information: The Albanian Helsinki Committee, the diplomatic corps accredited in Tirana, On behalf of the members and supporters of the Socialist Party, we energetically protest the flagrant violations of the law, the blatant assault on democracy and pluralism in Albania, and accuse the state of being the organizer of dangerous actions aimed at sowing division and discord among Albanians, and at the liberalization of Shkodër and Albania. The scenario of June 18, 1993, was organized by the same people who also organized the events of April 2, 1991. The violence used to prevent Fatos Nano and the Socialist members of parliament from holding a meeting with PS members and supporters had been prepared over many days; it had even been announced a week beforehand in a statement made on Radio-Shkodra. The organizers of this unlawful gathering, this fascist act aimed at creating another April 2, came out into the open. They were the leaders of the district council, specifically: chairman Ali Kazazi, secretary Spiro Lito, deputy chairman Jozef Bushati, head of the organization section Shyqyri Selhani, DP-member council members such as Tonin Ujka, municipal council members such as Ludovik Dega, cousins of Pjetër Arbnori, municipal and district employees, financial police officers headed by their chairman Muhamet Gradeci, all functionaries of the antidemocratic regime who had obtained posts, directors of enterprises and institutions such as the director of the insurance institute, the director of the “Migjeni” theatre, the director of Libër-Film, etc. Also active were other familiar figures in such circles, such as Zef Gjoni, a distributor of Caritas aid; Xhenamin Topalli, the brother of Kolec Topalli; the head of the Berdicë commune, Eduard Përjaku; and Alfons Grizha, leaders of the April 2 association, (Continued on page 4)

No comment Everyone knows that teachers rank last in terms of pay. The “arguments” officials give for this level of pay vary widely. With “admonition” and four “rewards” is how the title has recently begun. Only a few days ago the scholar of Tirana announced a pay rise (an increase of around 80–20 percent); the strikers gathered in front of the municipality were asking to meet with the mayor of ... They say that the mayor, in order to disperse the strikers, used an effective method. He apparently told the teachers: “End the strike, or else I’ll appoint all the teachers.” As soon as the strikers heard these words, they dispersed. The reasons are obvious. Teachers in the role of “strikebreakers.” After successfully carrying out the commissioner’s mission, teachers are given a new “mission.” KADRI SELIMI

In yesterday’s issue of RD, its journalist Xhevdet Mustafa... excuse me, Xhevat Mustafa reveals a state secret about violence and murder. Writing about the Shkodër incident in his “epileptic” style, on one occasion he departs from this style in a unique way, and in that instance he reveals a secret, a fact that RD surely knew. Here are the first two sentences of the article: “June 18 will remain in the theoretical political career of Fatos Nano as the blackest Friday.” He set out from Tirana as if going to a wedding, but narrowly escaped death in Shkodër. Take note! “...narrowly escaped death in Shkodër...” Who had prepared the fratricidal confrontation? Who was going to commit the murder? From where would the shots be fired? How much had been paid? Perhaps Xhevat Mustafa does not know who was behind this. He should ask “Xhevdet Mustafa,” who will surely find him among the prominent authorities. REXHEP KAJANI

In the Kukës district, the authority of the Socialist Party is steadily growing and strengthening. During the two-month period of May–June this year, as part of the campaign for new elections within the party, 213 new members were admitted to the Socialist Party. It seems that the attacks launched against this party by the right-wing authorities are having the opposite effect on them. Correspondent of «Zëri i Popullit»

On 18 June, Radio Tirana and Radio Televizioni Shqiptar issued a report in foreign languages stating that the parliamentary group of the Socialist Party and that of the Social Democratic Party had walked out of Parliament when the draft of the New Constitution was presented by the «Special Commission», demanding that it be presented by the Commission for the Constitution. This report constitutes disinformation and a lack of respect for foreign public opinion, in an effort to justify the scandalous conduct of the Presidium of Parliament and of the PD Parliamentary Group on this matter. In fact, the material presented was not the work of any special commission, but of a working group that was supposed to draft a preliminary proposal to assist the Commission, the parliamentary body which has the authority to draft and present such a document. VEZHGUESI

The Albanian Section of the BBC will begin broadcasting on Tuesday, 22 June 1993. The new morning program will begin at 7:30 a.m. Albania time, on medium wave at 247 meters on the frequency of 1215 kHz, and on shortwave at 31 and 25 meters, respectively on the frequencies of 9615 and 11915 kHz. BBC

The statement by the Presidium of the Socialist Party of Albania and its parliamentary group concerning the events of June 18, 1993, in Shkodër, published yesterday in “Zëri i Popullit,” is being sent to: 1. Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE). 2. Helsinki Federation for Human Rights. 3. Mr. Egon Klepsh, President of the European Parliament. 4. Ms. Katerinë Lalumiere, Secretary General of the Council of Europe. 5. Mr. Miguel Martinez, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. 6. Mr. Pjetër Schieder, President of the Socialist Group in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. 7. The Socialist and Social Democratic parties of Europe. 8. The diplomatic corps accredited in Tirana. Correspondent of “Zëri i Popullit”