The lawyer is not given the chance to prepare the defense 1,000 DOLLARS FINE AND 2 MONTHS IN PRISON The Tirana District Court, with judge Ridvan Shkëmbi and with the participation of prosecutor Gazmend Zeqelari, on 14.1.1994 examined in a public court hearing the criminal case brought on charges of defamation against Matohiti and journalist Shyqyri Meka. The charge: The article “Disappointment Can Turn into Hatred,” written by Matohiti and published in “Zëri i Popullit,” constitutes a criminal offense under Article 20 of Law 7750, dated 11.10.1993. The court declared Lutfi Matohiti guilty of defamation and insult against the highest state organs and, on the basis of Article 118 of the Criminal Code, sentenced him to two months’ deprivation of liberty. It also declared the deputy editor-in-chief of “Zëri i Popullit,” Shyqyri Meka, guilty, sentencing him to a fine of 100,000 lek. “Zëri i Popullit,” as expected, has turned into a newspaper that cuts the ribbon of the Press Law. The lawyer in the case was not allowed sufficient time to prepare the defense. Correspondent of “Z. P.”

On the night of 12 January, the Montenegrin police caught several citizens in the villages on the shores of Lake Shkodra, who had crossed to the other side of the lake by boat to sell fuel; this police announced the seizure of the entire quantity of fuel and the boats. Meanwhile, the villagers crossed back from where they had come, again by lake, using their own boats. Our cultural protection, throughout all these comings and goings, did not appear anywhere. Observer

On the morning of 13 January, in the press office, the member of the presidency of the P. Servet Pëllumbi received at the headquarters of the party’s General Steering Committee the ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, Dr. Klaus Vollers, and held a warm and friendly conversation with him. Dr. Servet Pëllumbi informed Mr. Vollers about the current political situation in the country and about the positions of the PSSH expressed in its Declaration of 10 January at the First Press Conference. The interlocutors exchanged views on the political, economic, and social developments in the country and emphasized the need to further strengthen relations between Albania and Germany. Also taking part in this meeting were the Chairman of the Parliamentary Group of the P., Namik Dokle, and the Secretary for foreign relations, Bashkim Zeneli. Press and Information Office of the Socialist Party

Ballots still exist! Niko Nosi, former chairman of the Central Commission of the parliamentary elections of 22 March 1992, does not give, in our bulletin. IN THE TRACKS OF A SCANDAL The problem of the ballots, picked up here and there from cafés, continues not to be treated with the seriousness that such a problem deserves. The competent state bodies and the persons named in them continue to remain silent. Why? Whom are they afraid of?... Surely the truth. Meanwhile, the “Central Election Commission,” which legally no longer exists, has made a statement “[...] together with the elections secretariat,” which not only reveals nothing in favor of the truth but, on the contrary, damages it even more with obscurities and wraps the ballot paper in fog. Regarding the statement published by RTV on 12 and 13 January and by “RD” on 14 January, our editor addresses Mr. Niko Nosi, former chairman of the Central Election Commission for 22 March 1992. The People’s Assembly and I learned from him that there is no responsible person and that the commission itself does not exist and that there is no reason to rush blood. Then the question arises: who convened the commission? You will learn more about this and about the ballot-paper issue in forthcoming issues. Correspondent of “Zëri i Popullit”

SHKODER Another murder... The 26-year-old GJOVALIN ÇIKINI lost his life! Yesterday afternoon at 15:00 in the city of Shkodra, again in the square in front of Radio - Shkodrës, the 26-year-old young man from the “Skënderbeg” neighborhood, Gjovalin Çikini, unmarried, lost his life from gunfire. He was immediately taken away in the evening for treatment. Until 18:00 on 14 January, the author of the murder had not been caught, despite the fact that he is known. Correspondent of “Zëri i Popullit”

The broad interest of the press organs in the PS press conference and the echo it had in public opinion testify to this party’s authority in the political life of the country. The PS declaration and the references made in response to journalists’ questions show its commitment, seriousness, and responsibility for Albania’s fate at this moment of difficult transition that the country and democracy are going through. The opinions of the PS expressed in this declaration are part of the analyses and coherent political positions it has held and continues to hold regarding the political situation. Without any doubt, complexity or primitiveness, the party, in fact, seems to be truly on the road of hope. It is also observed that the crisis the country is experiencing is conditioned to a not insignificant extent by objective and inherited factors that are the same for all political forces in Albania. But this does not mean that subjective assessments and factors should be made that overload the crisis situation and often become anti-crisis, and of [...] Among these factors, the declaration emphasizes the idea of blame and its consequence, an idea from which also the very serious consequences for the life of the country flowed. By pointing out these negative consequences from the positions of an unconstructive opposition, the Socialist Party contributes to a realistic presentation of the situation we are experiencing. It thus helps make known and taken into account the shortcomings, deficiencies, and gaps in governance and democracy, so that they can be corrected for the good of democracy and the country’s life. Such are the considerations for phenomena such as the tendency to rule rather than govern the country, efforts to paralyze any opposition thinking, democratic institutional blockage, the spirit of hatred and demagogic propaganda, etc. In the conditions of an objective logic for reaching the necessary social balances, the persistence of this political force is unacceptable. It opposes arbitrary tendencies that would darken the future. Not only politics, whatever it may be. In its latest declaration, the PS does not content itself only with stating the situation, but also proposes its own solutions for overcoming it. The ideas expressed in these proposals are not unknown. In different forms and in different ways, they have been put forward before as well. But here they are presented clearly and in the context of a more defined situation and time frame. By proposing and placing first among the measures and solutions early parliamentary elections, within the month of September of this year, as the only constitutional path to the solution of a new political settlement. It has been a constant idea of the PS that in a transition period such as the one our country is going through, solutions for the highest organ of power are a democratic means of releasing accumulated tensions. This has also been demonstrated by the experience of most Eastern countries that are moving along the same path as our country. This is also a well-known experience in countries with long-established and consolidated democracies. The idea of early elections has more than once been raised by other parties and political personalities in the country. It is also gaining support among the broad masses of people. In this case, the demand for new elections, recently emphasized by the PS in a more concrete way, is a demand that deserves to be discussed seriously by all political forces and to be developed in Albania. For its part, the PS is open to dialogue and to the correction of this proposal and of other proposals of coordination with all other parties, without prejudging them. Honest dialogue and debate will create possibilities for concrete positive decisions and initiatives for the whole country. The proposals made by the PS in the declaration are at the same time its political alternative for overcoming the crisis situation the country is going through. Anyone who criticizes the PS for lacking alternatives should look at these proposals in the PS. The party is not merely a party, but the party of real opposition, open with a political concept, the purpose being high. Prejudices close the road to the realization of this. Blocking the apparatus erects barriers and blocks the channels of democracy. In this press conference, the civic responsibility of the PS proves that it is and will be against these totalitarian phenomena. HAMIDJUPI

RRESHENI Incident at the police station From a source in Rrësheni, who refused to identify himself and left the police quickly, we learned that the day before yesterday an incident took place inside the offices of this police station. After 1-2 at the table, two suspicious persons who were directly involved in the very disturbing event following the police officer Nuke Kaza, at the moment when the arrest warrant was being received there, a fight began between the two persons and the police officers present. During the scuffle, one of the two suspects manages to escape from the hands of the police and fled at lightning speed in an unknown direction. The second person is being held under arrest. Afterwards, the police were alarmed by this unpleasant situation, entered from all sides with automatic rifle fire, an action which alarmed the city’s residents. Travelers and vehicles remained stopped. Four police officers were detained for lack of vigilance in carrying out their duty. Bektash Zeneli NOTICE On the occasion of 15 January, the 2nd anniversary of the creation of the Albanian Euro-Socialist Youth Forum (FRESSH), all scheduled activities are postponed. The Presidency of FRESSH is organizing a meeting with FRESSH members and other invited guests. The Presidency of FRESSH

GJIROKASTER A school burns down 5.1.1994. In the city of Gjirokastra, in the “Dunavat” neighborhood, the school “Bajo Topulli” burns down. It is suspected that the fire may have been caused by an electrical current, but the initial checks rule out this version. It was noted that the door of one of the classrooms had been forced open and the fire was started from there. There has been no theft of materials. Snakes from the area give no opinion. The expert group has not yet given a conclusion. ERMELINDA SINANI Pupil in the second year of high school.

- Pjetër Arbnori and several other PD deputies ate and drank at an activity of the Albanian Youth Federation in the workers’ camp in Korçë, where they were not paid. On 28.12.1993, a letter was sent to the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, the Municipality of Tirana, and the Prosecutor’s Office from the workers’ camp in Korçë, which was rather lengthy: “From 28 to 31 August 1993 (that is, five months ago, editor’s note) the Albanian Youth Federation organized an activity to which Mr. Pjetër Arbnori and other deputies were also invited. The invoice dated 31.08.1993 had to be settled in the amount of 1 million 297 thousand and 110 lek. - The workers’ camp in Korçë is asking Bardhyl Ukcama to pay the settlement. 1 million and 297 thousand lek and 110 lek (old) signed by the Albanian Youth Federation Bardhyl Ukcama. So far the payment has not been made.” The unpaid invoice shows that Mr. Pjetër Arbnori, together with the other deputies of the Democratic Party, did not lack appetite, just as the workers at the camp were not paid their money. Pjetër Morava

Has the government taken advice from the IMF? The first 7 days of January 1994, which as a system of d[?] of the week were the first for such a time, were not seen with hand to determine a statement of the distribution of the network of bulbs for homes, taking mockingly 30 percent from the prices of the bulbs of the system [..] wages. Here I affirm it through the tele-office. Further, the Minister of Labor and Social Assistance, Mr. Dashamir Shehi, said that from January onwards [...] will pass from the government to the city rank, Nutrians, and will surpass [...] to give the option for what has not been won and what still remains for us to see for two more weeks, placing in the news the aforementioned voice of the wall? that has declared danger in the most serious place, there are also, for effect k[s] framework, as was given before doctors, drivers of the palika and of information, while the government stood differently. It initially says about a study that was done by the Ministry of Labor and Social Assistance, a study which lacks the government’s endorsement. But the news was given as true, a thorn in the side not from the private initiative of the prime minister, the governments move. There are many question marks about these accusatory or governmental moves where, it seems to me, there was a lack of prior coordination with all the state financial structures. How many workers will benefit, including those employed in the former agricultural combine and those who are currently unemployed and receive minimal social assistance? And the state employees? A problem with jobs and the other fact, unconfirmed about the financial source? The 30 percent when can January employment be made and state employment for 1994 has still not been approved. Meanwhile, it is not known whether approval has been received from the International Monetary Fund [...] (continued on page 2)

- An addition that does not protect even itself cannot protect either itself’s own citizenship or itself At a time when the chairman of the police of [f]rangad[?] in Shkodra, Mr. Muhamed Gradeci, only a few days earlier had declared that he was determined to uncover, through strict control, all the points from which fuel could be smuggled into Montenegro, his completely unexpected exposure seems rather strange. Indeed, his resignation was natural, but the sand that the chairman of the tensions and their, many people, cannot just go on like that without attracting the public’s attention. We emphasize on this occasion that Mr. Gradeci was chosen to appear in this post as a political force to cut off the paths of fuel racketeering in Shkodra. At least that is how they justified his appointment in that insistence of his. Despite the fact that Mr. Gradeci, in the present case, says that the main reason for the resignation is personal, he adds that “there have also been requests before, even threats for money, even threats,” which may be one of the reasons for his decision, also claim in the newspaper “Shqipëria”. In our opinion, this latter, which is thought to be one of the reasons, is a major reason. The suspicions raised about the fuel boats headed to Shkodra in order not to take them out to Montenegro, without asking, place Mr. Gradeci before an important responsibility to allow or not allow the entry of the emarg[?]aves and apparently this same one feels unsupported to withstand this truly serious investigation into what one observes and emargjos. For this the possibility of support may be lacking and has pushed him to helplessness. But if in this direction his employees are required in the performance of duty, and the state cannot guarantee to take them under protection, and employees are forced to resign, then can it be accepted that the state is in a condition to protect its citizens? Will Mr. Gradeci’s resignation necessarily be accompanied by the resignation of the fuel boats? - people ask in Shkodra. This, as the more important thing, was in the hands of others; apparently no one is interested at all in who resigns, except to be able to secure profits by all sorts of means, regardless of the heavy cost to the country and to our entire people and to Albania’s international prestige. Thus this fact is added to so many other facts now clear to public opinion, showing that our present state is threatened by smuggling. MUSA KURTULAJ