An old Balli habit, tied to the moment it betrayed, has become its own enemy. An old Balli habit, tied to the moment it betrayed, has become its own enemy. The case, once [illegible?] from Vlora seized by force and with but to remember, but today in the governance of the state that passes it by unnoticed in figures and in speech as if in the same line. There is no longer any need for howls and fierce protests, because public opinion already knows the ways of a power that, with police and orders, seeks to cover up failure. What happened with the arrest, with the pursuit and with the punishment of Fatos Nano has taken on the dimensions of a political and moral issue. A large part of the public has already understood that we are not dealing merely with a criminal process, but with an attempt to subdue the opposition. In the PS, in society and among those who still have a sense of justice, this has been received with indignation. It is not only the matter of one man, but of a standard that is being violated every day. Today it is Fatos Nano; tomorrow it could be anyone who opposes. That is why the reaction cannot be either lukewarm or passing. This is not the first time the state has been used as an instrument for political revenge. But the scale this campaign has taken, accompanied by propaganda, slander, and a triumphalist tone, shows that we have entered a dangerous phase for public life. When punishment is preceded by a public declaration of guilt, then justice has been replaced by orders. Citizens see it and understand it. They see how fear is used, how the truth is manipulated, how accusations are raised and overturned without being investigated to the end. And the more the state behaves as if it were everything, the more it loses its legitimacy. The state is not above society, nor above the truth. This is the lesson that must be drawn. The punishment of a opponent is not a political victory. On the contrary, it is a sign of weakness. When power no longer persuades, it strikes. When it no longer argues, it punishes. And that is precisely where its decline begins. This issue does not end with a court ruling. It will continue to live in public conscience, in the relationship between power and citizen, between justice and politics. The state can be strong only when it is just. Otherwise, it turns into an instrument of a minority against the majority.

(continues on page 3 rural) Not yet closed. This week the special commission, created to gain consensus and a joint draft constitution of the coalition and the opposition, began with unexpected procedures. What seemed like an effort to find a text acceptable to all sides is turning into an arena where each force is preparing its positions for the coming parliamentary battle. From the outset, opposing views have been formulated, which condition the pace of the commission's work. Representatives of the left are demanding that the draft constitution not be treated as an act of the majority, but as a national document. Conversely, the majority lets it be understood that in the end its political will will prevail. In these circumstances, the summer is expected to be given a special political charge. A strong confrontation is expected around the fundamental issues: the role of the President, the relationship of the government with parliament, the independence of justice, local self-government and guarantees for the rights of the opposition. These points will apparently be the “summer battles”. If compromise is lacking, the country may enter a new phase of political tension. And that would further worsen the public climate, at a time when society is waiting for more calm, clear rules and a state that does not change according to the needs of the day. The constitution cannot be an instrument for one side's victory over the other. It must be a broad agreement. Otherwise, it will remain a contested text, unsupported by consensus and weak from birth.

ENCO BUNJA On 8, 9 and 10 April the second session of the ECOSY Council (European Community Organisation of Socialist Youth) was held in London, a meeting in which representatives of left-wing youth movements from Western, Central and Eastern European countries took part. The Albanian socialist youth were represented by the FRESH delegation. The theme of this meeting was: “East-West relations and the position of socialist youth”. The discussions focused on democratic developments, on the role of young people in integration processes and on the difficulties faced by post-communist countries in moving from the old system to pluralist institutions. The Albanian representatives presented the problems currently being faced by young people in our country, emphasizing unemployment, education, emigration and the need for political participation. In the discussion it was underlined that Europe cannot remain indifferent to developments in Albania and that support for democratic and progressive forces is part of the security and stability of the region. At the end of the proceedings, several resolutions were adopted and the will was expressed to expand contacts with youth organizations in the Balkan countries. The London meeting was assessed as important for clarifying a shared vision of Eurosocialist youth for the Europe of the future.

DELVINE The wolves of the PDS are coming for the refrigerator apples The head of the state bank had created political drama and attacks, writes an unsubstantiated statement [?] Nothing, nothing! The chairman of the PDS and the vice- chairman of the agriculture commission in Albania has read with great zeal a series of acts, and, without ever departing from partisan symbols, has ordered the accounts of those who are not loyal to be closed. This way of doing politics with banks and deposits is not new, but it is now taking on grotesque forms. According to local sources, the conflict began after controversies related to the collection and storage of apple production in refrigerators. Instead of the problem being treated as an economic and organizational issue, it has been used for political pressure on producers and local structures. The residents of the area express concern about this spirit of revenge. They say that they cannot be punished for their political beliefs, especially at a time when agriculture is in difficulty and needs real support, not threatening campaigns. If these practices continue, the consequences will not be only political. Producers, the market and citizens' trust in state institutions will be directly harmed. The partisan use of the bank is a dangerous signal for the normal functioning of the administration and the local economy. (continued on page 4)

ENGLISH TRANSLATION ZËRI I POPULLIT Organ of the Socialist Party of Albania No. 78 (3529) Tuesday, 27 April 1994 Price 6 lekë 150 DPX THEY SOLD FATOS NANO AND PUNISHED HIM, BUT THE STATE IS NOT EVERYTHING An old habit of the Balli tied to the moment it betrayed, has become its own opponent. [The article text is only partially legible in the image; the Albanian OCR above records a best-effort reading.] THE DRAFT CONSTITUTION IN THE “BATTLES OF SUMMER” (continues on page 3) Not yet closed. This week the special commission, created to seek consensus and a joint draft constitution of the coalition and the opposition, began with unexpected procedures... THE CLEAR VISION OF EUROSOCIALIST YOUTH Enco Bunja On 8, 9, 10 April in London the second Council session of ECOSY was held... The Wolves of the PDS are coming for the refrigerator apples DELVINË The head of the state bank had created drama through political attacks... (continued on page 4) ITALIAN TRANSLATION ZËRI I POPULLIT Organo del Partito Socialista d'Albania N. 78 (3529) Martedì, 27 aprile 1994 Prezzo 6 lekë 150 DPX HANNO VENDUTO FATOS NANO E LO HANNO CONDANNATO, MA LO STATO NON È TUTTO Una vecchia abitudine del Balli, legata al suo tradimento, è diventata il suo stesso avversario. [Il testo dell'articolo è solo parzialmente leggibile nell'immagine; l'OCR albanese sopra registra una lettura di migliore sforzo.] LA BOZZA DI COSTITUZIONE NELLE “BATTAGLIE D'ESTATE” (continua a pagina 3) Non ancora chiuso. Questa settimana la commissione speciale, creata per cercare il consenso e una bozza comune di costituzione della coalizione e dell'opposizione, ha iniziato con procedure inattese... LA VISIONE CHIARA DELLA GIOVENTÙ EUROSOCIALISTA Enco Bunja L'8, 9, 10 aprile a Londra si è svolta la seconda sessione del Consiglio dell'ECOSY... I lupi del PDS stanno arrivando alle mele del frigorifero DELVINË Il capo della banca statale aveva creato un dramma con attacchi politici... (continua a pagina 4)