- Interview with the deputy chairman of the Socialist Party, Dr. Servet Pëllumbi - To pursue a strategy of political tensions as a means of governing, as the party in power and its government are doing; to persecute those who think differently, imprison the chairman of the largest opposition party, imprison journalists and suppress freedom of speech, deprive people of the right to peaceful meetings and protests, violate the free vote and allow mafia gangs, in cooperation with the police, to beat and [unclear] deputies, as happened recently in Libofshë—not to mention many other similar cases—means working not to bring Albania closer to Europe, but to distance and isolate it from Europe. Albania’s isolation from the North and the South, Europe’s now evident indifference, the external debt and the lack of investment must be seen as a call to make a decisive change in our state’s foreign policy. 1. According to the “spokesperson’s” statement, before going to Greece you should have asked someone for permission. How do you comment on that? When I heard the spokesperson’s statement, “from a source in Greece that will not be identified,” about the one-day visit I made to Janina, at first it made me laugh, but very soon it turned into indignation. What is this? Monitoring people’s movements, pressure to ask permission about whom you should meet and talk with and whom you should not? Jealousy of our political initiatives, or fear? And all this when, apparently, all that remains for Selami of the DP to set foot on is the moon! Not to mention the others. No. No, we represent an opposition political force with broad popular support. We will not shut ourselves inside offices or the parliament chamber without TV; we will talk with anyone we consider appropriate and undertake initiatives we deem necessary, without asking whether those in power—or their trackers and eavesdroppers—like it or not. 2. Don’t you think that statement contained an act of diversion, meaning that someone wants to sow discord in the Albanian party? This is not the first time I have encountered diversion and things of that kind. I said in many “diversions” that the RTV report, about which I ... [text cut off at the edge of the image] PS, who has been in Greece for days..., when it is well known that I have stated publicly many times that the chairman of our Party is Fatos Nano, and that I have called his [intervention?] unjust, unsupported by law and evidence, a purely political sentence. This has found broad support in our party and no one should have any illusions; secondly, the statement was constructed in such a way as to create the impression of secret work and initiatives “in the cultural sphere.” [It was] to the detriment of national interests, because what followed immediately was material that was part of the Greek campaign and took no account of people’s overwhelming demand to find a path to dialogue and normalize Albania-Greece relations. There are many factors and interests that make this possible. Without dwelling at length on “diversions,” I would add that the authors or initiators of the statement knew very well where I was from Thursday through Saturday, and whom I would meet on Sunday. 3. What topics were touched on in the conversation with Mr. Papulias? Were regional problems discussed? Although the subject matter of the conversation we held with Mr. Papulias—very interesting and useful—has already been reported by “ZP,” I would note that it was broad and included the problems of our region, but focused particularly on Albania-Greece relations, on cooperation... I first met Mr. Papulias in Tirana during his visit in December last year, while our second meeting, on Sunday, was a genuine working meeting, during which I came to know a wise politician with a contemporary vision, seriously concerned with removing the obstacles that have led to a “freeze” in good-neighborly relations between Greece and Albania. He understood us very well when we told him that if we were a destructive opposition, as we are routinely labeled in Tirana, we would not be seeking improved relations, the release of the 35 million ECU in aid planned for Albania, or the non-use of the “refugee card” as a means of pressure, as was done in the past with “Operation Shes”; instead, we would be shouting the opposite, as some phantom party or certain press outlets are doing. We undertook this initiative not because “we have reached an agreement with Berisha,” as some who “like” diversionary tactics speculate, but solely because we see that the consequences of the short-sighted and confused course of Albanian diplomacy may fall with all their weight on the people, on the many refugees, whose hardships ... [text cut off at the edge of the image] hardships ... (Continued on page 2) that we consider appropriate, and to take initiatives that we deem necessary without asking whether those in power, or their groups and associates, like them or not. 2. Don’t you think that announcement contained a diversion—that is, that someone wanted to sow discord among the Albanian parties? This is not the first time we have encountered such diversions. I said there were many “diversions” because the RTV announcement, for which he reproached me, contained many such things. First, it spoke of “the head of”

FACT Objects that cost only two thousand bricks Politicians and specialists who have come from Tirana tell the residents of Sarandë: so far, 1,243 properties have been privatized in your area, and they have cost 591 thousand dollars. To make everything clearer for you, they go on: each property was sold for the price of two thousand bricks. The locals listen without objecting and without worrying about a brick being thrown at their heads. Perhaps they have been stunned by the blow of the privatization style—plunder. Nevertheless, the de-nationalization of society and the bunkering of wealth by a few individuals... THANAS DINO

MAMURRAS: NEARLY 900 FAMILIES GET THEIR BREAD ON CREDIT The number of families registered with the owners of bakeries is increasing every day. According to information verified by us, nearly 900 families have registered with these owners to receive bread on credit, since they do not have money to pay. Correspondent of “Zëri i Popullit”

We highlight the fact : the “show Mercedes” and the commission chairman. Everyone remembers the midnight of 19 March, when RTV announced that the ticket sold in Kuçovë had won the prize in the show “Around Fortune in 12 Weeks.” Everyone remembers how this news was contradicted and the chairman of the commission for this show’s lottery, MP Jemin Gjana, appeared on screen. He tried to explain the commission’s mistake and, as a result, the win of the MERCEDES by a fellow villager of his from Pogradec. Wasn’t this a bitter story following that fine and dignified show? ... Rrapo, who has now, by a ruling of the court of first instance, become the owner of the biggest prize ever awarded in Albania. It all began as a mix-up, as carelessness, as incompetence. But when an MP is at the root of the carelessness and incompetence—indeed, the chairman of Parliament’s Commission on the Economy and Finance—the matter becomes more complicated. The MP’s position is further compromised by the fact that, in contradiction of a truth made public for all to see, he is exploiting the position of chairman of the ... [text cut off at the edge of the image] lottery for this show, MP Jemin Gjana. that fine and dignified show? This story brought the ticket holder from Kuçovë, A., to the courthouse. “Impressions” from a television report: N. L.

The young man E. Çekrezi, 20, a resident of the “29 Nëntori” neighborhood of Elbasan, was found dead near the village of Mirakë, beside the Elbasan-Librazhd road. Faced with a crime, criminal police experts from Librazhd are searching for its perpetrators. Confirmation from the spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Order is awaited regarding the circumstances of the mysterious death of the young man from Elbasan. Correspondent of “Zëri i Popullit”

SHKODËR: The day before yesterday, in the morning, the butchers of the city of Shkodër were placed under police surveillance. This measure was taken to prevent the slaughtering and sale of meat on the sidewalk. The dissatisfied butchers were thus forced to stop working, asking the leaders of the police group to give them another place. The latter, however, told them: we are carrying out the municipality’s order, and it is not our duty to provide you with another location. The municipality knows about this; meat may be sold only in premises built specifically for that purpose. One butcher who hesitated was shown the two police minibuses waiting nearby, ready to go. Someone suggested that all the butchers organize and go together, demonstratively, to the municipality. But a police officer warned them that they would also prevent this action “by democratic means,” pointing to the handcuffs and the rubber baton. We recall that until a month ago meat here was sold in a building. The municipality closed the building and began work to make it more suitable. The butchers say: “We are not to blame for this now. Why didn’t the municipality do the work in February and March, instead of leaving it until now, in the summer heat?! We want to sell meat; it is the municipality’s duty to find us premises.” THE OBSERVER

Last week, several press outlets (look at yourself first), more than ... [text cut off]

“Impressions” from a television report: A BANDIT WHO MUST BE SENT TO TRIAL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE The public expects the perpetrators of the Libofshë crime to be punished Prime Minister Meksi poses on TV side by side with Prefect Margjilaj The evening before last, in its 8:00 p.m. news, TV broadcast as the day’s most important item a report about the start of reconstruction work at the Port of Durrës. Prime Minister Meksi was also present at this event. It is normal for the head of government to cut the ribbon marking But it seems the report had another purpose. For almost the entire time, only two figures were shown on screen: Prime Minister Meksi and Prefect Viktor Margjilaj. This cannot be said to have been accidental. Prime Minister Meksi posed with Mr. Margjilaj in front of the television cameras for a long time, in order to send a message. By now, many people in Albania know who Mr. Viktor Margjilaj is. Among other things, he is one of the most active perpetrators of state crime in Libofshë. This was the gentleman who came to the village of Agim with his gang and directed the violence against six members of the People’s Assembly, followed by the assault on election observers and commission members. For this reason, the Socialist Party parliamentary group has asked Parliament to dismiss him from his post as prefect, at the very least. But while be punished, Mr. Meksi deliberately finds an excuse to appear on TV side by side with Mr. Margjilaj. I believe such acts of defiance do credit neither to the prime minister nor to the party he represents. Such actions reek of provincialism, chieftainism and primitivism. There is nothing civilised or democratic about such political acts by Mr. Meksi. As one of the witnesses to the ugly crime committed by Mr. Margjilaj’s gang in the village of Agim, in the municipality of Libofshë, on the morning of May 29—which culminated in violence and the holding of six members of parliament hostage—I state once again that Mr. Margjilaj is completely different from the way he appeared on TV in the 8:00 p.m. news on June 14. On TV, Mr. Margjilaj looked serious in his new suit, but in reality he is an ordinary thug who swears at, insults and beats the people’s legitimate representatives, just like common street hooligans. I want to remind Mr. Margjilaj that regardless of the stability of the fanzitri[?] in “RD,” regardless of whether he is brought on TV, regardless of who publicises him, Meksi or Berisha, he is, not only to us and the residents of Libofshë but to thousands of Albanians, simply as possible and receive the punishment he deserves under the laws of democracy. MUSA ULQINI, Member of Parliament.

Yesterday, Kico Ifti, a citizen from Tirana and president of the Dikens export-import company, came to the newsroom. He told us about a bitter incident that happened to him on June 8 at around 6:30 p.m. in the town of Thumanë. As he was returning from Fushë Kuqe in Laç, the police stopped him and, during the search, took a knife from him—an implement used at his company, but also an ornamental object—and, without asking for an explanation, beat him brutally, breaking... his two front teeth as well. What crime did this citizen commit? Can he be accused of carrying a weapon without a permit? Could he have been asked to remain at the police station in Fushë Krujë and at the branch in Krujë? Just because he had a knife in his pocket? Is the police really so vigilant, when in fact even more ... crimes are often committed right before their eyes? ... the supplement, he says, the company is doing just as well, and all ... with the sweat of my brow, my two children. Then what ... does this man have several (Continued on page 2)