Meetings of the PSSH General Steering Committee — May–June 1991: new elections are held in the Party. — The aim: for the PSSH to organize and operate with greater dynamism and maturity. — Early parliamentary elections are the only legal way to put an end to dictatorial abuses, violence and violations of human rights, corruption and nepotism. Under the direction of the PSSH deputy secretary, Dr. Shërvet Pëllumbi, a meeting of this party’s General Steering Committee was held yesterday, attended also by its members of parliament. The meeting’s agenda included two matters: the campaign for the regular new elections to the leading bodies of the Socialist Party, to be held during May–June, and final approval of several amendments to the Party Statute, pursuant to the mandate given to the Steering Committee by the Party’s Second National Conference, held in January this year, to consider the suggestions made at the conference. At the beginning, the party’s general secretary, Gramos Ruçi, on behalf of the party’s Presidium, read the report on the country’s political situation and the tasks the Socialist Party must undertake in order to bring its new elections to the leading bodies to a successful conclusion. Hamdi Jupë, Mehmet Loci, Limoz Dizdari, Resul Llogo, Paqësor Zeneli, the chairman of the PS in the Lushnjë district, and others discussed the report. The speakers emphasized the importance of new elections in the party and raised issues concerning their successful completion. Among other things, it was stressed that the work of the PS at the grassroots level must be assessed realistically, so that shortcomings and deficiencies can be corrected and the party’s fighting spirit and effectiveness enhanced. A special place in the discussion was given to the local elections in several communes, which will be held in May, and in which the PS will enter with the aim of winning. The meeting then gave final approval to several amendments to the Socialist Party Statute. These amendments do not affect the substance of the Party Statute adopted at its Congress. They concern only several aspects of further democratizing the party’s internal life. The amendments were approved at the PS National Conference held in January this year. In view of the suggestions made at the National Conference, the Steering Committee was authorized to approve them at one of its meetings. Fatmir Kumbora, a member of the Socialist Party Presidium, informed the Steering Committee about the party’s financial and economic situation in 1993 and its tasks for the coming year. At the end of the meeting, Dr. Shërvet Pëllumbi gave several specific instructions concerning the party’s work during the period of new elections to its leading bodies. Correspondent of «Zëri i popullit».

In the People’s Assembly The question session with Prime Minister Meksi, held on Thursday before one of the PD deputies [text unclear], was conceived not as a session in which the head of government would account for his actions and the deputies would seek explanations, but as a television spectacle to convince the people that the government absolutely had to raise prices. This was apparent from the outset if one listened to how the PD deputies began their questions, addressing the Prime Minister: «Thank you for the very positive answer», «A very competent answer», «An accurate answer», «Thank you for the answer», «A transparent answer», and so on. It seemed as if one were watching a quiz with answers learned in advance, with the PD group surrounding Meksi and supplying him with the answers. Feeling that he had the wind at his back, Meksi was sure of victory. And if anything worried him, it was not that he had raised prices—for example, electricity by 600 percent—but rather what P. Minga said: Would the mass media be able to explain to the people that the government wanted what was best for them? Because, as Halit Shamata also said, the Albanian press uses the effect of smog (smoke, fog). So that the mass media would not do such things anymore, Meksi declared that the price of electricity would rise again. “We,” he said, “have entered the market-economy game and must follow its rules.” To make his case more persuasive, Meksi drew comparisons with Denmark, New Zealand, and so on. Meksi “forgot” that, as Namik Dokle said, the market game is being played on Albanian soil. This Meksi turned out to be a great joker. Prices around the world are 20 to 100 times higher, and he compares us with the world. Deputy Paloka said that, according to standards, household electricity use accounts for 7–10 percent of a country’s total consumption. Thus, raising the price of electricity will be accompanied by a major increase in the prices of other goods. Leontjev Çuçi pointed out that Meksi’s government is selling electricity to the Albanian people at a price one and a half times higher than the world-market price. Socialist deputies Cani, Bejo and Paloka called for the compensation provided by the government for the increase in the price of electricity to be doubled or tripled, so as to soften, even if only slightly, the negative effect this increase has on the deterioration of the people’s living conditions. According to them, this demand is based on accurate calculations they have made. “Such absurdities with price increases,” said Ermelinda Meksi, “happen only in Albania.” Thus, the increase in the price of telephone calls will enrich Greek TELEKOM, because it costs refugees less to call from Greece than it costs their families to call from Albania. Another oddity of the question session was its duration. This session, which dealt with a specific issue, was much longer than the one held a few days earlier, at which the government’s medium-term program was discussed and approved. Mr. Arbnori himself made sure that not a minute was exceeded during that session. This one was different; it was simply a television spectacle. BEQIR SKRELI.

— Speech delivered by Gramoz Ruçi — In accordance with the Statute’s requirement for periodic elections in the Party, new elections in the Party will be held during May–June 1994, up to and including the level of district Party Conferences. The two-year period since the previous elections has been a period of steadily increasing work and struggle, with rich experience both in strengthening the Party’s organization and in other areas of its everyday activity. All of this must serve as a sound basis for conducting a concrete analysis of the Party’s work and organizing a further intensification of its activities throughout all the Party’s organizational structures in the future. In this connection, we wish to put forward for consideration in the Party’s analyses during these elections, and especially in its work, the following issues: the extremely tense political, economic, social and legal situation, as well as the demagoguery of those in power to disguise it; the actions that must be taken both to expose the antidemocratic tactics and strategy of those in power and to fulfill the commitments and objectives we have set for ourselves this year. This year all parties have faced difficult situations, in which [unclear] political, economic, legal and social control of the situation in order to ensure that power is retained for a long time. By now, there is evidence everywhere that proves this conclusion. Without needing to go into detailed analyses, taken as a whole and individually, the overwhelming majority of the actions of those currently in power are arbitrary, unconstitutional and contrary to the fundamental principles of democracy recognized throughout the world. The party in power exploits with absolute intransigence its parliamentary majority, the prerogatives of central executive power and all the state’s repressive mechanisms in order to… For the control and use of budgetary posts to create and consolidate state, executive, pressure and coercion apparatuses, and [unclear] resistance and opposition (successive amendments concerning several mechanisms of social welfare; local government dominated by the Socialists; the status of the politically persecuted; state selection of [text cut off]). To legitimize and prevent any reaction to these actions. In a not very detailed analysis of these actions, the following stand out: First: The attempt to pass through parliament draft laws and amendments to laws that legitimize the PD’s absolute control of power and, in the manner of the PD, the subordination of parliament to the PD, and, in the manner… in the area of strengthening the Party’s own organisation, as well as in the other fields of its day-to-day activity. All this should serve as a real basis for carrying out a concrete analysis of the Party’s work and for organising, in the future, a further coordination of the Party’s activities in every direction. But given both the tense situation prevailing in the country and the struggle that must be waged to implement the tasks set out by the Party’s Second National Conference and the objectives for the year that it approved, the resolution for this year must undoubtedly constitute an important undertaking. economic, social and legal, conceal them. • The actions to of those in power and to fulfil the commitments and objectives we have set ourselves for this year. Overall, the course of events is not deviating from the forecasts made in the periodic analyses of the PS. The state, ruled and commanded by the PD, is brutally and systematically directing the accelerated escalation of actions, with the clear aim of consolidating the structures of this

Durrës — discussion with intellectuals A few days ago, the intellectuals’ commission attached to the Socialist Party Committee of the Durrës district organized a discussion with intellectuals about the ideas and actions of intellectuals under the concrete conditions of the Durrës district, and about solving its problems, which con-

— Prelë Martini has nothing left to do but sign what He Shënepremte said, thereby proving that the courts are “independent” not only of the Presidency, but also of the Ministry of Public Order?! Many people have heard of Ali Shënepremte. There are even legends about his exploits in Berat, where he was head of the Public Order Branch before Agron Musaraj was appointed Minister of Public Order, just as people have heard about his exploits after he became director of the prison camp when Musaraj became minister in Tirana. But few had heard Ali Shënepremte speak. On 26 April, he was heard over the BBC airwaves. He spoke with culture, great eloquence and professionalism, saying, among other things, that “after the declaration of self-incrimination by …” [partly illegible]. Fatos Nano’s final conviction; Fatos Nano will be placed in high-security prisons … Analyzing this phrase, it is not difficult to discern that he, … Ali Shënepremte himself knows what decision the Court of Appeal will hand down against Fatos Nano. Could he perhaps be a member of the judicial panel?... Certainly, nothing much is expected from the Court of Appeal, but at least in theory the possibility exists of overturning the decision of Agim Benda’s court. Yet Shënepremte does not even accept this possibility, compromising in advance the decision that will be issued in a few weeks. Thus, Mr. Prelë Martini has nothing left to do but carry this out and sign what Ali Shënepremte also said. He might as well write and sign the decision himself; then what would remain for him but to take this function away from Ali too? LIRI BUBGALU

90 new members have joined the Socialist Party ranks, solely at the Communal Conference of … in the … district of Kukës. The new members of the PS … are 18–27 years old. This demonstrates … … the alternative of this … district. The PS Steering Committee … in Kukës … [text unclear] made a request to young people to become members of the party. Correspondent of “Zëri i popullit”

Before lunch on Thursday, a murder was committed in the village of Guci e Re, which is part of the municipality in the outskirts of the city of Shkodër. Naim Selimi, a resident of this village, shot and killed Mehilli Mica from the village of Grudë e Re. The perpetrator did not flee; he was apprehended at his home before the situation could escalate further, following a careful operation by the special forces of the district police station. Initial investigations indicate that the murder was preceded by a verbal argument in a café. Had those present, and others who arrived later, exercised greater care, the conflict might not have ended so tragically. Both men were drunk; they had worked together and, naturally, had talked about their troubles with one another. They did not think this would happen between them: that one would become a victim, parting forever from his wife and two children without even enjoying the newly built extension, while the other would be judged by the courts, leaving his wife with all the hardships and worries of raising three children. A life lived with greater tolerance, to find …, enough of this senseless grief, is this victim’s appeal. Correspondent of “Zëri i popullit”

The owner of the retransmission hill turns up! After the visit made by Mr Pjetër Arbnori and his entourage to Lac i Vaut të Dejës, we thought the problem of television retransmission for this municipality had been resolved once and for all. That did not happen. We saw the television report prepared with great care about Mr Pjetër and the other Democratic officials at this inhabited centre. Those present in the hall barely paid attention to the report. The others, as always, were suspicious of it. Nevertheless, at least this centre, with about 5,000 residents and thousands unemployed, had appeared on TV for once. A small consolation—and that was all that came of it. We saw that nobody could receive the RTSH television channel. It is said that (Continued on page 4)

- He was filming with his camera. On 26 April 1994, the “Agimi” association of Caritas, based in Otranto, Italy, brought humanitarian aid to the town of Librazhd for the town’s hospital. The aid consisted mainly of medical instruments and other equipment to improve conditions for treating patients. Of particular importance were an operating theatre, an electrocautery unit and laboratory equipment. The town’s cultural centre was given an electric organ. These supplies, valued at 3,600,000 lire, will be followed by further aid worth 800,000,000 lire. Italian doctors and other specialists held meetings with staff from the health sector, with a therapeutic and remedial effect. On this occasion, the town hall also organised a meeting between Caritas representatives and the town’s intellectuals. But the activities organised by the activists were marred by the brutal conduct of the law-enforcement authorities. At around 4 p.m., a Caritas representative who was filming the handover ceremony and scenes from the town of Librazhd was brutally detained. (Continued on page 3)

“We will hold the organisers accountable”!!! On 22 April 1994, the District Council of the Confederation of Trade Unions in Durrës submitted a request to the Public Order Department to hold a peaceful rally in front of the Aleksandër Moisiu Palace of Culture. The head of the Durrës District Police Commissariat, Mr Luan Hoxha, did not approve such a request in letter no. K-105-1. On the contrary, he advised the union that … some of your demands could be resolved through dialogue with the government. Mr Luan, the government has neither resolved nor will resolve workers’ demands through dialogue. Indeed, in its propaganda and public relations, it meets only with Mr Valer Xheka, and Radio Television broadcasts this at length in its news bulletins, as is known in the latter case with the Minister of Energy, Mr Xhaja. The Union of Independent Trade Unions in Durrës, an organisation dependent on Mr Xheka, apparently concentrates its activities solely on removing the leaders’ calls to the people, which have been stifled by the Confederation, and replacing them with … And the BS PPD … has yielded to the government. That is why nobody follows them. LULAKAN KUQI

organization, and of the Durrës district, in order to solve current problems and open up prospects for the future. The intellectuals’ subject of reflection, participants said, naturally includes the shared current and future problems of individuals and (Continued on page 2)