The demand to uncover and punish the criminals in Greek uniforms must not be separated from the demand to establish the responsibility of those who, through their incompetence and inaction, created favorable conditions. REMINDER Third, and then second... Do not be surprised by Serreqi’s speech. It does credit to the government in which he is a minister. Who ever thought of choosing Alfred Serreqi as minister of foreign affairs? And, even more, for what contributions, for what merits?... Not only an enigma, but a mystery!... These were among the first questions many people asked after 22 March 1992, precisely when Prime Minister Meksi announced his cabinet, whose most substantial qualities are exemplary incompetence and mediocrity. Yet no one was then—and no one is even now—in a position to give an answer. Serreqi, who has remained the same (with a few changes, such as his appearance having been improved and his suits increased in number), continues to be Albania’s chief diplomat at the end of the twentieth century, despite having no idea about diplomatic affairs, despite the fact that the foreign policy of an independent and sovereign state requires at least a little thoughtful judgment. Serreqi spoke, but what did he say? Nothing. In fact, he muddled many things. And Parliament listened without feeling insulted and remained silent; the President did likewise, instead of immediately dismissing him from that very high and responsible post. The President of the Republic knows for himself what he is doing. No one is undertaking to impose on him which minister he should dismiss and which he should keep. But it is not wrong to remind the public of what it already knows, what many others have also said publicly: with ministers like these, Albania will never be governed along the right path. Let there have been no mistakes or violations in Mr. Serreqi’s work; let him have performed his duties as well as possible. His speech in Parliament on 15 April alone is enough to mean that Alfred Serreqi should no longer remain in that post. He should not remain another minute... In this context, it is worth noting and considering another feature that cannot be accidental. On many working and friendly visits by the President of the Republic to various countries, the Foreign Minister has been absent. Why, when presidential protocol normally requires the Foreign Minister’s presence at every level?... If the President avoids him simply because Mr. Serreqi is incompetent at the job and does not know how to speak, that is a good sign, and it is worth taking things further for the good of Albanian diplomacy and to create as accurate an image of Albania as possible in the world, by removing him “de facto” from that duty as well. Such a move, accompanied by a professional appointment, would greatly ease the work of both the Presidency and the Republic. Meanwhile, Albania would no longer be represented by people who say “third, and then second.” And you, people, do not be surprised by Serreqi’s speech, because that is what Serreqi is like. In this way, he also minister. LUAN M. RAMA … to give answers, Serreqi, who remains the same (with a few changes, such as his portrait having been beautified chief diplomat for now, even though he knows almost nothing at all of an independent and sovereign state calls for measured actions and positions. Such was he, and also presented himself as a megalomaniac, before the Albanian Parliament on Friday, 15 April, when he spoke about the tragic events of April, in which two mothers’ sons lost their lives—not only through the fault of criminals in Greek uniforms. … ministers, Albania will never prosper or get on the right track. Let there be no mistake or wrongdoing in Mr Serreqi’s work; let him have fulfilled his duty in the best possible way. for Alfred Serreqi not to remain any longer in the post to which he was appointed, because he offers no guarantee that he can speak better at the numerous bilateral or multilateral events where the Albanian state is represented. No Parliament, no other President would hesitate in a case like this.

On 16 April 1994, MPs Musa Ulqini and Leontjev Çuçi visited the family of soldier Arsen Gjini in Sheq-Marinez, in the district of Fier, and the family of officer Fatmir Shehu in the city of Gjirokastër. They fell in the line of duty on 10 April at the Peshkëpi military post. The MPs offered condolences to the families and relatives of the martyrs of the homeland on behalf of the presidium and the parliamentary group of the Socialist Party. The family members thanked them for their sincere condolences and emphasized that they were aware of the political positions taken by the PS regarding the serious criminal act that occurred at the Peshkëpi border post. “We promise you that we will not stop calling on the competent Albanian and Greek authorities,” MPs M Ulqini and L Çuçi stated, among other things, “to shed light as soon as possible on the identification of the terrorist gang. We will insist that, in addition to their punishment, the responsible parties also be identified and held accountable, so that the way is blocked to such heinous terrorist acts and the sovereignty of our country is not violated.” During these visits, the MPs were accompanied by deputy Petru Koci, Robert Biri and Resul Llogo, respectively chairman of the PS District Council in Fier, chairman of the council of that same district, and chairman of the PS District Council in Gjirokastër. “Zëri i popullit” correspondent

LUAN HAJDARAGA DECLARES: PS Shkodra meeting - The PS is a party open to all people, without any religious distinction. - We tell Berisha that we are not enemies, and we do not consider the PD an enemy. We consider political parties to be alternatives for development. - The PS is considering the idea of creating a progressive front with progressive centrist and left-wing parties. Yesterday, the PS in Shkodra organized a meeting concerning the political situation and the tasks facing the PS. The meeting was attended by PS Deputy Chairman Luan Hajdaraga, Deputy Speaker of Parliament Shpëtim Vulaj, and MP Alfred Faloka. The chairman of the PS in Shkodra, who spoke first, gave a broad analysis of the political and economic situation in Shkodra. He stated that the situation in Shkodra was very critical, both because of political-social conflicts and because of the severe economic situation, reflected in figures of 30,000 unemployed, 6,000 receiving social assistance, and a minimal number of enterprises in operation; land still undistributed, resulting in hunger strikes by farmers who are insistently demanding that the law be implemented; and a climate of insecurity and terror which, unfortunately, is encouraged by elements of the authorities. Precisely because of all this, and in order to resolve what is now the key point of the contradictions between the opposition and the authorities, the “Naro issue,” we are seeking a new political solution, including early elections, to put an end to the authorities’ use of Shkodra whenever needed as a political instrument, as a means of pressure regarding crimes. The main problems in the city were: the figure of 30,000 unemployed, which is rising drastically; the 6,000 receiving assistance, whose number is shrinking every month; thousands of poor people at a critically low level of poverty; non-functioning enterprises; the people’s wealth, embodied in industrial and service enterprises, being plundered through illegal privatization, with undervalued assessments and other tricks; and the crime-ridden public order situation, which worsens daily not only because of bandits placed in the service of an economic mafia cloaked in power, but also because of the people brought into the law-enforcement bodies. These were the matters set out in the presentation by PS representatives in local government and socialist representatives from various areas of the city. The state of the Party was then described and assessed realistically. We must not assume that people’s anger and revolt mean that they are with us; they are wavering. We must present our program with concrete alternatives for emerging from the city’s current bleak situation, so that these people will look to us with confidence. The situation is by no means what it was on 18 June; indeed, 18 June should also be treated with reservations, because it was not the people of Shkodra who did that, but a group of criminals encouraged by elements of the authorities. – The state is exercising extraordinary violence against the individual. – “When, in 1878, Abdyl Frashëri travelled throughout Albania with the ideas of the Albanian League of Prizren, someone asked him: ‘Mr Abdyl, what about Shkodra?’ Abdyl Bej replied: ‘Shkodra has its own mind and its own ideas.’” Shkodra truly does have its own mind—and continued the thought begun by the Deputy Speaker of the Albanian Parliament, Mr Shaqir Vukaj—but today, generally speaking, its minds are confused. Democracy began here in Shkodra, but the killing of democracy began here too. Mr Vukaj prefaced his remarks with an overview of these developments in the city. “This is working for us,” he said, “but how are we working for it?” Everything happening in Shkodra is being done by forces that do not want democracy and are even killing it. They,” Mr Vukaj continued, “through whatever actions they are carrying out, are trying to create the impression that they will remain in power for a long time, by any means. We are seeking new, general solutions. The Constitution—(continued on page 3) … close to the grave situation in which Albania finds itself, a climate of insecurity and terror which, unfortunately, is being encouraged by sections of those in power. Precisely for all these reasons, and to awaken what is today those in power—«it is Na-no»—we are calling for a new political solution, including an early one, as a political tool and a means of putting pressure on others whenever they need it. Then, participants at the meeting, representatives from the city and other areas of the district, presented a very realistic picture of the party’s situation in those areas, as well as their concerns and mainly economic and social problems. Land, the rural services sector, telephone service, etc.—the main problems The mass media have reported the hunger strikes by farmers in the Shkodra areas. «The land has not been distributed»—the implementation of the law is being demanded. «It is the refrain that socialist representatives from Bushati could not stop repeating. There, 50 ha of the former NB had been allocated, but after everything had been arranged in accordance with the law, it was annulled—according to him, by Mr Ali Kazazi; in Postërba, according to its representative, the police intervened and even searched farmers’ homes, again in connection with the land issue. The representatives of these areas, as well as of other areas who spoke afterwards, raised, alongside the land issue, problems in the services sector, the state of hospitals and means of transport, which are absent in most cases; the high cost of chemical fertilisers; the lack of telephone connections; and the absence of supplies and livestock, now decimated. The mass dropout of children from primary and eight-year schooling is a recipe for widespread illiteracy and another very serious problem. Unemployment, poverty, illegal privatization.

REPEATEDLY A full week has passed since Albania lost two soldiers, killed by the criminal hand of terrorists. A full week since the state border was violated under cover of night. A full week since an Albanian military unit was attacked. And, astonishingly, a full week after the event, the Minister of Public Order and the Head of the National Intelligence Service are still in the same offices, holding the same keys. The event is extremely serious and tragic. Everyone was betrayed. Two people were killed, and not only that: they were also surprised while the terrorists attacked an Albanian military unit in its sleep, carrying out their criminal mission. The military unit was not on alert, and the border service failed to perform its duty. These facts are sufficient to conclude that the heads of these structures proved incapable of carrying out their assigned duties. There are some who, in the press, are seeking their resignations with facts and arguments and, failing that, their dismissal from office. But there is silence. The silence suggests that they are the ones making the decisions. They lack the courage. They do not dare. Let them convince us that it is not their fault; let them tell us in their own words and argue that they carried out the duty entrusted to them. But they are not the only ones who remain silent. If they lack the courage to do such a thing, or, in the milder case, do not know how to do it, let someone else come forward. Let Prime Minister Meksi come forward, since he accepted them into his cabinet. Let the President of the Republic come forward, as he also holds the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. Let them, first and foremost, demonstrate a high democratic and intellectual standard by dismissing from office those who fail to do their job and thereby demonstrate their incompetence. We are not talking about the citizens Musaraj and Gazidede. We are raising our voices about the person who holds the post of Minister of Public Order and the person who holds the post of Head of the National Intelligence Service. We are not speaking in legal terms, but at the very least they are morally responsible. The structures under their authority did not function. They did not act. Inaction is also punishable. ARDIAN MYSLYMI

- Notice from the spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Order - On 15 April, at around 20:30, (seven... [?]) in the direction of the Morinë–Krumë–Has road, the 25-year-old ... [?] and ... [?], young men from Pogaj in the district of Has, ... [?] at the Albanian state border were shot at ... [?] by a Serbian patrol. On 16 April, at the scene, where the local mixed commission and the group of experts from the Albanian and Serbian sides were present, it was established that the victims had no weapons with them; one or both ... [?] were also Albanian ... [?] citizens ... [?] both from Pogaj in the district of Has. The day before, they had gone to visit relatives in Gorazhdë, in the Municipality of Prizren, and, while returning, they ended up caught in the exchange of automatic gunfire by Serbian border forces. On 16 April, at the scene, both ... [?]. In the incident ... [?] near ... [?] brothers ... [?] Care ... [?] while ... [?] with ... [?] The Ministry of Public Order calls on all Albanians ... [?] Albanian citizens, for no reason whatsoever, not to cross the border ... [?] illegally. They should carry the proper documentation and ... [?] only through the crossing points. (ATSH)

In honor of the People’s Assembly delegation, led by Pjetër Arbnori, Lei Cielsung, Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress, hosted a dinner at Beijing’s Grand Hotel on 13 April. During the dinner, views were exchanged on strengthening relations between the two parliaments as a way of furthering mutual understanding and encouraging cooperation in other fields as well. On 14 April, as part of the delegation’s visit, [they visited] a school in the city of Shenzhen, a special economic zone, accompanied by Li Hao, a member of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, and other Assembly officials. At Shenzhen airport, the delegation was received by the deputy chairman of the Shenzhen Assembly and city dignitaries. The following day, the delegation learned about the work and high-quality products of an electronics factory in the city, established in cooperation with a Japanese company. Mr Arbnori spoke about the advantages our country offers foreign investors and invited not only Chinese investors but also Japanese ones to invest in Albania, to mutual benefit. During the visit to the city’s main center and the industrial exhibition, discussions also took place about opportunities for cooperation in tourism, a field in which this area has achieved considerable success. “Shenzhen is China’s springboard to the world,” said Mr Arbnori, “but the world also has a desire to get to know China.” On his way back to the homeland, Mr Arbnori met in Zurich with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Bujar Bukoshi, with whom he exchanged views on matters of mutual interest. (ATSH)

“The Road to the Foreign Press” was the subject of the one-day editorial seminar organized for Albanian journalists by the Frederik Ebert Foundation, which began yesterday in Tirana. This was not the first contact with journalists. Following a seminar organized in autumn 1992 on the limits and freedom of the press, and the organization of a visit by our journalists to the Foundation’s headquarters in Bonn, the current seminar aims to turn this contact into an important and primary direction of the Foundation’s activity in Albania. Conceived in the form of a discussion, with presentations prepared by German colleagues Sehmi-ba Ratelberg, questions, discussions and practical exercises, the seminar aims to give journalists experience of the Western press. “Zëri i popullit” correspondent