According to the conversation with the Chairman of the Confederation of Trade Unions of Albania, Kastriot Muço As has been made known through TV and RTV, the Council of Ministers has discussed in one of its recent meetings several decisions relating to wages, pensions, taxes, duties, etc., which directly affect workers' living conditions. Through the screen as well, the minister and head of information has characterized the government with the unions. The week came to an end and our editor spoke with some of the leaders of these unions. Below we present the opinions expressed by the Chairman of the Confederation of Trade Unions of Albania, Kastriot Muço. The unions, he said, the government's opposition, continue not to be consulted. Not only have we not taken part, according to the law, in talks when decisions are made on matters directly affecting workers, but even afterwards, despite our insistence, we are not allowed to discuss them. It seems that the Government is afraid to ask the unions. It senses opposition and, for demagoguery, has called the matter a propaganda issue, pretending to ask after it has already decided. It is a fact that the government makes a pact with the IMF, but not a social pact with workers when it affects the cost of their living. These are monistic, anti-legal, anti-democratic actions by Meksi's government. In this way the social gap and inequality deepen, but not social justice. Democracy is not built by the government for workers; it is the whole state that should base these decisions. By law, we should have been given all the materials, the statistical figures, so that we could judge the relationship between wage increases and the rise in prices, inflation, taxes and duties, and assess the government's decisions or defend workers' interests. Pensions increase by 15 percent. But if this is considered in light of the rate of inflation, the rise in the price of electricity, fuel, transport fares, health services, etc., the increase may remain zero or fall below subsistence level. Likewise, in the 22 categories of workers, wage increases benefit very little those in the lower categories, among them workers in health, education, etc. We do not agree at all with these government actions and, although all efforts for talks have been exhausted, we will turn to international organizations. We will express our stance, our union position, with all democratic and legal means

The current policy of PD rule, based mainly on anti-communist slogans, has reached a dead end that threatens both the present and the future of democracy in Albania. In a way, the anti-communist slogan was fruitful for the coming to power of the PD and the consolidation of its power. But this slogan, which became the main content of PD policy and of its rule, can no longer have the force it had when the transition began. Today there is a real mismatch between it and the concrete economic, social, and political reality of Albania. On the one hand, the main leader of the PD and its government still wave the anti-communist slogan; on the other, they speak of great successes on the road to a market economy that are astonishing the world. By now, for the most ordinary person, who is not involved in politics, it is clear that such a reality does not exist and that socialism in Albania. Kola today demands that the market economy function with all its laws, while in the interest of the Albanian people the fanatical PD; demands a truly social protection and a significant limiting of inequality; demands effective legality in the protection of rights, freedoms and human rights; demands a social peace that will oppose the broadest possible activity of the mind, sweat and work of all Albanians and not only of the parties or those who support the ruling party, of all Albanians, especially those of labor, blood, kinship and life. Therefore, the present moment truly requires a break in politics and a new policy that will open the way for democratic, social and economic developments in Albania. With a policy based mainly on denial, nihilism and the absence of a communist opposition, no step forward can be taken by either the government or the opposition. Not only that, but everything achieved on the road to democracy is also endangered. Democracy cannot exist and live without pluralism, without opposition, without modern and cultured relations between government and opposition. Whoever does not understand this, whoever does not rise above old concepts (continues on page 2)

- Written by candlelight - The capital city is the symbol of a state. It is for this reason that every government pays attention to the economic, cultural, social, etc. development of its people. But when a government like ours, and all its governance after it, leaves its own capital, Tirana, without water, without electricity, and without heating in most of it. When it leaves it in the middle of puddles of mud and slush; When it leaves it in darkness on New Year's night; When it forces citizens to shut themselves inside their homes before evening for fear of thieves, murderers and all kinds of criminals; When it is unable to build even 100 apartments out of the thousand promised; When it allows factories to "die" one by one and does not enforce the law, and allows even primitive shacks and car garages to be built in streets and main squares; When it allows parks and sports fields to be turned into parking lots for vehicles; When it allows factories, plants and combines to "die" one by one, throwing workers onto the street; When it keeps the national museum closed; When it allows the symbols of its own history to be destroyed; When the health service, especially the hospital service, is in a desperate state. And when, after all these and other shameful acts that testify to its incompetence, what should the government do? It should have the courage to resign, because the country, for sure, has plenty of other intellectuals who could do the job, and every wise person. But if the government continues to keep itself such as boastful and hypocritical and to deceive the people with empty promises, what should the people of the capital, indeed all of Albania, do? Demand its resignation, otherwise it does not have the courage or the dignity to take such a step itself. K. T.

DEVOLL A citizen is seriously injured... For several days now, the citizen Astrit Gjylshi, from the city of Bilisht, has been in Thessaloniki for treatment. On the evening of 25 December 1993, in the middle of the city, at the door of his shop, he was struck in the shoulder by a bullet from a "Tomson" submachine gun fired by several people who, after shooting calmly, got into the car and headed toward Korçë. Nearly 10 days have passed and the Devoll district police commissariat has still not found any culprit. Astrit is only out of danger, but where will the criminals be found? A few months ago, a murder took place in the village of Progër, and the real killer has still not been found... KERAN BRADVICA

Calendar of the rule of the Democratic Party WHO IS THE "TOP MODEL" OF THE PARADE OF SCANDALS? From 22 March to 22 March (Part two) 24 March 1993 - The law on human rights is approved. And it is stated orally that the constitutional approval made it possible to guarantee the implementation of the approved laws. 27 March 1993 - Criminal proceedings against the editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Koha Jonë", Aleksandër Frangaj, on the charge of disclosing a state secret, made by Mr. Ylli Popa. - The Kopliku government is sanctioned by M. Musaraj, Uka from Kalukula, Osman Shehu is removed. 10 April 1993 - It becomes public that two officials of the major course that will train jurists. 27 April 1993 - Blerim Çela accuses Fatos Nano in parliament of corruption. Nano is not given the floor to respond to the accusations by Blerim Çela! Parliament turns into a boxing ring. For the first time in Parliament. Albanians enter in shambles. 9 May 1993 - A clash in Kuçovë during a meeting of Fatos Nano with the people of Kuçovë, 17 wounded. 12 May 1993 - The fact of the 1 million dollars lost from some 30 thousand tons of wheat is republished, and these losses. 22 May 1993 - The minutes of the first meeting of the Government of April 1992 are published, in which the "Meksi I" government ordered the Joint Bank "Iliria Holding" to trade oil outside the headquarters. 25 May 1993 - The clash in Peqin, injuries at a PS rally, dozens wounded. 9 June 1993 - The price of bread reaches 46 lek. 18 June 1993 - Drunken and paid bandits, responsible in the PS, Fatos Nano and 10 other deputies enter Shkodër. The PD takes them under protection. 3 July 1993 - Crime against 1 Albanian refugees from Greece. 13 July 1993 - Sentenced to 6 months in prison for not mentioning the kind of Beqiri, chairman of PUK. 16 July 1993 - 160 million lek stolen from the people's customs through the privatization of the brick factory in Kuçovë. In this portare? 28 July 1993 - Kakukula declares the withdrawal of the reform against the neighborhoods of the strata. 30 July 1993 - The chairman of the Socialist Party, MP Fatos Nano, is arrested. 30 July 1993 - Mass demonstration of the people of Tirana, clashes with the police, 6 wounded and dozens arrested. 7 August 1993 - MP Maqo Lakrori is stopped on the road and beaten near Lezhë in Alitred Paloka, socialist. No statement from the authorities, parliament. 12 August 1993 - The Italian press denounces the Alred Ajdsi scandal? The denouncer is the Democratic MP Alban Ceka. 13 August 1993 - 360 thousand dollars, given to a Bulgarian who later turns out to have been imprisoned by the Albanian Ministry of Defense. 14 August 1993 - A person is killed by the police in Laç. Popular revolt in Laç, 18 people are arrested and sentenced to 1 to 5 years. 5 September 1993 - PDSH does not accept EDU. 9 October 1993 - The Press Law is approved by the Democratic Majority. 22 October 1993 - The director of the Commercial Bank, Ardian Xhyheri, is arrested for embezzlement on a large scale. 22 October - The Greek ship Sotirios, blocked by the Financial Police in the port of Vlorë, leaves by order of the Ministry of Defense as unwanted in Albanian waters. 4 November 1993 - After resigning, the Governor of the Albanian Bank, Ilir Hoti, is arrested for embezzlement of large sums. 11 November 1993 - Minister of Finance Genc Ruli resigns. 12 November 1993 - The land scandal is published. Land was taken by Blerim Çela, Rexhep Uka, Rustem Gjata and the chairman of the PDSH. 18 November 1993 - 260 new cars bought by the Meksi government with a World Bank loan. The price of one car went up to 17 thousand dollars. 19 November 1993 - Ballot papers are published; with no party members, the voters of Kavajë steal a general legitimacy of the PD power of 22 March. 21 November 1993 - Leka Zogu, after entering Albania for the third time, did not see it. 23 November 1993 - Liberation Day, 29 November, is abolished by the majority. 20 November 1993 - The man who is paid tribute at the martyrs' cemetery is stopped. (To be continued) ERION BRACE

Observation Ration coupons back in the battle Some time ago, a more than true, beautiful and highly meaningful anecdote was circulating. A Shkodra resident had been given a ration coupon for meat on a plate of pilaf when he had gone to visit a friend. When he was teased with his humor, that coupon would answer in the same way: "Volume" it had with him, and the next day he would have all the food for a marketeer who had been frozen in coupons continued. But all this repeated a time that we threw away, apparently, and the idea that they would never return again under any circumstances, and we once and for all forgot the cursed coupons. But even though bionic? so free. It has thought the government has such a thing. It has thought to make the government state a humor of this time is the newspaper? on the other hand and precisely that which has enraged them most about the coupons, newspaper of the NGO? ... Starting from every box divided to replace it, Tirana will keep a share? and the kerosene coupons too. From this day the great war will begin to supply? and hand over a kerosene coupon. The cursed coupons and the many boins are once again on the battlefield. Turning into a very ancient fashion? to give people coupons for kerosene and soft coupons (with distribution?) coupons. The absurdity of the coupon has never seen the purpose of supplying? citizens with fuel for heating. That power of the wise? the right to supply, complicates? so to speak pop? and justifies it with distribution, as a mother fashion. Even with fairy tales it is done like this? that coupons are left to be placed in order to discipline distribution because kerosene has less here language at the end still with money. Especially let us wish that only Meksi for the road does? because there is beneath? the people's problem is solved. And let us hope that it will not be? stay? for as long as no? person in this wide? thing forgotten like those of meat, sugar and flour. Let us wish it will be? they will not return anymore and people will not stay awake to buy kerosene. Better take it as a joke because if it is true it is a tragedy. Perhaps it suits the government, for that it expresses the great thing of the people. Where were you? Nowhere, no. ADRIATIK AULONA

On Monday, 10.1.1994, at 10:00, at the headquarters of the General Steering Committee of the Socialist Party, the deputy secretary of the Socialist Party, Dr. Servet Pëllumbi, and the chairman of the Socialist Party parliamentary group, Namik Dokle, will hold a press conference on the theme: "ON THE CURRENT POLITICAL SITUATION AND THE STATE OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN ALBANIA". Journalists from the press agencies, ATSH, RTVSH, and representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Albania are invited to attend. PRESS AND INFORMATION OFFICE OF THE PSSh.