Following statements by Sali Berisha and Aleksandër Meksi labeling the opposition as enemies, the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office is seeking 14 years in prison for Socialist Party chairman and MP Fatos Nano. BERISHA SAYS: «... Craxi accepted the other honor from our enemies, from the Albanian Communist Party, from the Italian Embassy, which turned into a section of the Communist Party» «La Stampa», February 24, 1994. MEKSI SAYS: «I think that the real opposition in Albania does not exist. There are opponents, let us say, and enemies.» . BERISHA SAYS: «... Craxi accepted the other honor from our enemies, from the Albanian Communist Party, from the Italian Embassy, which had turned into a section of the Communist Party» «La Stampa», February 24, 1994. MEKSI SAYS: «I think that the real opposition in Albania does not exist. There are opponents, let us say, and enemies.» (Interview given to «Zëri i Amerikës» on 21. 3. 1994.) Following the statements by Sali Berisha and Aleksandër Meksi, in which members of the opposition are labeled enemies, the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office is seeking 14 years in prison for the chairman of the Socialist Party and MP Fatos Nano. Luan Hajdaraga, Naritan Ceka, Sabri Godo, Skënder Gjinushi and Idajet Beqiri give their opinions on these statements. In forthcoming issues we will also seek and publish the views of people from other sectors of Albanian society. LUAN HAJDARAGA: deputy chairman of the Socialist Party. … In his interview Mr. Berisha calls … I heard it, but I’ll take it as you put it. There are things to which Albanians must necessarily say «Yes», such as the economy, national defense, etc. If on issues too … … the killing of Gjovalin Çekini and the aggression against Teodor Keko and Gjergj Zefi. It is the political basis for paralyzing the actions of the law-enforcement and justice authorities against this violence. If both sides must agree and the opposition says «No», then it cannot be said that this kind of opposition serves the country. SKËNDER GJINUSHI, Chairman of the Social Democratic Party: I have personally expressed concern for some time that, at certain moments or in certain respects, the SP and DP treat each other as «enemy» parties. I recall here K. Islami’s statement, followed by Kalakula’s, as well as accusations of imposing right-wing dictatorships or neo-dictatorships, which are equivalent to the term «enemy». I am completely opposed to such descriptions by the press, political parties or anyone else; consequently, such statements are all the more unacceptable and harmful when they come from politicians. It is clear where we would end up if these views were reflected in the concrete actions of the politicians or parties concerned. In this particular case, regarding the statements of the President and the Prime Minister, I would like us to set aside possible translation or momentary slips. Nevertheless, it is up to the politicians concerned to publicly clarify the accuracy, truthfulness or meaning of such statements. There is indeed an opposition in Albania; moreover, other parties, such as the SDP, also take oppositional positions toward the government and major political developments. Thus the opposition exists, although political life is often burdened by tensions that drive it toward confrontational relations—something we consider avoidable, but which, unfortunately, at present does not depend on our party. NERITAN CEKA, President of the Democratic Alliance Party: «Mr. Meksi declared that there is no opposition in Albania, that there are only opponents, let us say, enemies.» It is now clear that the previous «understanding» with the opposition was merely a deception, since one cannot supposedly reach an understanding with something that does not exist. This statement is a disgrace for a country that claims to be democratic and has a parliament and a government in which the opposition is legitimate, as well as a constitution and free elections. Moreover, from a political office Mr. Meksi has declared his desire to create a new political reality in Albania, in which the opposition would be eliminated, and immediately through violence Albania? Mr. Meksi is fully in line with the strategy of those who are carrying out actions against A[?]…

Yesterday, Denmark’s Foreign Minister, Mr. Petersen, who is visiting our country, received the deputy chairman of the SPSh, Ilir Meta, and a member of the SPSh Presidium, Dr. Mago Lakrori. The SP representatives praised the Danish Foreign Minister’s visit as an encouragement for democratic processes in Albania and expressed the Socialist Party of Albania’s wish for the best possible relations between the two countries. They presented the SPSh’s positions on political, economic and social developments in the country. During their meeting, they discussed the «Nano» case and, more broadly, human rights and the rights of the opposition in Albania. Denmark’s Ambassador, Mr. Andersen, also attended the meeting. Press and Information Office of the SPSh.

From the press conference of ministers Seregi and Peterson Danish Foreign Minister Niels Seregi, in one of the halls of the Palace of Congresses, first the Foreign Minister Serreqi said that he had discussed bilateral relations and those of… with his Danish colleague. Peterson made a 24-hour visit to our country, during which he met and held talks with his Albanian counterpart, Serreqi, the Speaker of the People’s Assembly, Arbnori, Prime Minister Meksi, etc. At a press conference given yesterday af- (Continued on page 4) this violence. One should be sincerely concerned by statements of this kind, which prove that a primitive political culture, very similar to that of the dictatorship, prevails in Albania. This is a concern that should affect not only the parties currently in opposition, but also those that may be in opposition tomorrow. Personally, I am not afraid of such a position on the part of Prime Minister Meksi, because it is not the first time that people have been placed on the other side of the barricade. This also happened in 1975, when I was treated as an enemy by the Party organization of the Institute of Monuments, where he had held a role similar to the one he has in today’s government. Unfortunately, history is repeating itself and the communists always remain victorious. (Excerpted from the newspaper «Aleanca», March 27, 1994) IDAJET BEQIRI, Chairman of the Party of National Unity: Neither of these statements is anything extraordinary, because I see that people have reacted to them with surprise. In fact, Berisha and Meksi have said what they are putting into practice. Take the political imprisonment of political opponents. I consider Fatos Nano’s imprisonment political. What is being done to me is also political imprisonment. The imprisonments of Aleksandër Frangaj, Martin Leka and others are political as well. I consider the actions being taken against MPs and journalists political attacks, starting with Teodor Keko, the provocations against Preç Zogaj, etc. These are all politicized; in other words, opponents are in reality being considered enemies, and every kind of means is being used against them, including street violence, in order to eliminate them. For a long time we have warned and said that political pluralism in Albania has been understood and will be implemented only in words. In practice, however, we do not have political pluralism in Albania. There is only one party here, one apparatus that has the majority of votes in parliament and pursues its own goals. The voices of other political forces are not heard. Therefore, the time has come for the opposition political forces to think more carefully about where we have been pushed, and to set about making all the international arrangements for democracy, for the establishment of political pluralism and genuine democracy in Albania, because in fact our country is now under a new and extremely frightening dictatorship. If they block the state for us, we will replace it …

The contract with the BBC should be renewed for Albanian broadcasts on medium wave The issue of renewing the contract between Albanian Radio and Television and the BBC for broadcasting the latter’s programs in Albanian on medium wave was at the center of talks between British Prime Minister Jhon Mejxher and Albanian President Sali Berisha, held yesterday in London, Radio BBC reported yesterday. At yesterday’s meeting, the BBC reported, Mr. Mejxher also raised the issue of Albania’s failure to renew the broadcasting contract and insistently asked the Albanian president to reconsider the decision. President Berisha said he would carefully review the matter once again. Mejxher’s raising of this issue in the highest-level talks between Britain and Albania shows that concern about the Albanian authorities’ interruption of BBC broadcasts has reached the highest levels of the British state. Let us wait and see how President Berisha will respond, after …

- The hunger strikes continue - Kolë Gjeci, chairman of the private farmers’ union in the village of Asht, said that the hunger strike is continuing even after the meeting we held on Thursday with the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Hasan Halili, the Minister of Justice, Mr. Kudret Cela, and others. At the meeting, we presented our problem, Kolë continues: we have been forced to go on hunger strike because the 60 hectares of land allocated to us by title deed have been blocked by the court in favor of the former owners, and since January we have received no financial assistance. Legally, we are considered the owners because title deeds have been issued to us, but in fact the land has been planted and is controlled by others; all we have left in our hands is the paperwork! They told us at the meeting that we were in the right and that they would act immediately. The following day a police group arrived and confiscated radios, televisions and stoves from several families in order to force them to vacate the blocked land. And with that, they left. The land remained as it was, and the strike continues. Hunger strikes are also continuing in Bushat and Ças of Velipojë. Police groups in these villages have also stood guard and seized various household appliances from several families who have blocked the land distribution, but the relevant commissions have not begun to carry out the tasks assigned to them at Thursday’s meeting. Thus, even five days after the meeting with senior government representatives to speed up the distribution of land in this district, the situation has hardly changed. The hunger strikes continue. Correspondent of «Zëri i Popullit»

This is a concern sent to our newspaper by a group of citizens from Shkodra. They say that after our social assistance ran out, we began receiving financial assistance from the municipality in January of this year. However, this assistance is not being paid to us regularly once a month, as the law stipulates. For example, those of us in district no. 2 received financial assistance on February 14. Normally, we should receive it again on March 14. But no—the municipality’s payroll clerks now tell us that it will be paid on April 7! We do not understand why there is this 20-day delay. Do the officials think that a household with six children can manage to get through all these days while our money is delayed? Instead of considering whether to increase this money even a little, they do not even pay us regularly what has already been approved! Citizens of Shkodra should be divided among these districts, and each district should be assigned fixed days once and for all, so each of us can be sure of receiving the money on the appointed day every month and not be sent running around like this. We do not know how these officials will face their children, when they treat us as if it were nothing, as though the state were giving them their wages 20 days late, the citizen in question concludes. M.I.