Socialist Party auditorium The Democratic Party’s propaganda is extremely clever, but just as devilish: it continues to call on the healthy wing of the Socialist Party to distance itself from the “communist, social-labourist, conservative offspring.” Auditorium of the Socialist Party FATOS NANO’S GREAT TEST The propaganda of the Democratic Party, which continues to call on the healthy wing of the Socialist Party to distance itself from the “communist, social-labourist, conservative offspring,” is extremely clever, but just as devilish. At the head of this “conservative,” “unrenewable” “wing,” the DP means the chairman of the SP, Fatos Nano, presenting him as a leader already discredited as an “Enverist, Ramist, thief and corrupter.” The bells of this campaign have not stopped ringing even after the DP’s conviction of Fatos Nano in its political trial—a contrived, premeditated and unlawful trial—aimed at eliminating him, removing him from the party leadership, plunging the entire party into crisis and, finally, eliminating it as a political force. Recently, the noise of the DP-ist bells against Nano has been joined by the noise of several little bells, naturally sounding different from the deafening bells that have become both tiresome and repugnant. The sounds of these little bells resemble the songs of sirens, who deceive sailors with their sweet, flattering, caressing, enticing, tender songs, luring them ashore and then putting them in enslaving chains. This concerns a category of uncultured, disguised agitators who pose as “neutral, even well-wishers of the SP,” and who have begun spreading ideas among socialist circles that “Fatos Nano, now that the court’s decision has been handed down, must be replaced as party chairman. Being in prison,” they say, seemingly pleased, “he cannot lead the party for a long time. The Party chairman must lead the party every day, operationally, which cannot be done from a distance and by correspondence. Moreover,” they continue, “the SP has other cadres in its leadership from whom another party chairman can be chosen. After all,” they conclude, “Fatos Nano can become honorary chairman of the SP!” To the naïve, to those who easily believe everything they are told and have no political experience, such reasoning seems reasonable. Being unable to see through things themselves, they do not think of the distinctions devised by masters of malice, traps, ill-intentioned trickery and treachery. The naïve forget, or do not know, that politics, among other things, also involves the cunning used by unprincipled politicians to achieve particular goals through various deceptions. So what is the aim of the movement that presents the replacement of Fatos Nano as reasonable? It aims at the very same goals as the propaganda of Selami’s bells, the “RD” and the other frenzied anti-socialists. Fatos Nano must be eliminated as chairman of the SP; Fatos Nano must be convicted a second time, but (Continued on page 2)

Prime Minister Meksi reminds Selami about the wallet - Meksi seeks to bring Selami down to earth; he has been up in the air since Krasla. - There will be no pay rise in the second half of the year. “I told you, if the economic targets are met,” says MEKSI. Nothing but talks and absurdities, without achieving anything—that is how the meeting held at the end of last week between government representatives led by Prime Minister Meksi and the Confederation of Trade Unions led by Kastriot Muço can be described. The atmosphere created by the hunger strike in Kastratë, as well as the resolution of the strikers’ demands, according to official sources, led one to believe that the meeting between the parties would be more than a gathering or “constructive” conversation in which government representatives defended their economic reform policy while union representatives challenged it, trying to reconcile the office’s version with reality. It was precisely in this atmosphere that Albanian Prime Minister Aleksandër Meksi put an unbelievable card of surprises on the table: Selami is the chairman of a party, not of the Government. This came after a debate at the start of the meeting about the hunger strike by the Krasta miners and their demands for an increase in their earnings and for those promises to be fulfilled. But Prime Minister Meksi set against Selami’s promises to the Krasta miners—which, according to official sources, had persuaded them to leave the mine galleries—his government’s economic reservations. Selami’s promises included: “The accounts will be reset to zero and the new accounts will start from this figure, meaning that the deficit of 100,000 dollars will be written off”; or, “The enterprise will resume operations without taxes or duties”; and, further, “Wages will rise by 50 percent.” The government’s position on Krasta, economically speaking, was this: “The Government has granted a loan of 15 million lekë so that the enterprise can resume operations, while meeting all its obligations to the state and the Bank. The miners will receive a 50 percent pay rise if they make a profit while also repaying the loan.” “The words of Prime Minister Meksi here are not at all consistent with the somewhat grandiose promises made by the chairman of the DP, Mr Selami,” declared the Albanian prime minister. Aleksandër Meksi expressed his respect for the promises made to the miners. Nevertheless, Prime Minister Meksi moved past the issue, telling the trade unionists that it was their duty to get people out of the strike so they would not die, while also presenting a convincing argument: he demonstrated his wallet, accompanied by the words, “This is all I have.” Leaving this point behind, the trade unionists presented other, more urgent issues to Prime Minister Meksi. In their view, the figures published by official sources on unemployment are fictitious; the published employment figures are also fictitious, because there are other enterprises that are not declared bankrupt for fear of creating hotbeds of unrest. “We asked Prime Minister Meksi,” said one of the meeting’s participants, “whether the government budget provides for creating new jobs, and the answer was: no, it does not. So no new jobs will be created.” Continuing with the issue of fulfilling promises, the trade unionists asked Mr Meksi for the promised pay rise for the second half of the year, as their final point in the talks. “At the January talks,” the trade unionists said, “we were told that prices would be liberalized and that, as part of the reform, wages would also be adjusted in the second half of the year. But now, moving somewhat away from the harsh theatrics of displaying his wallet, Meksi says: ‘I told you, if we achieve the economic targets that were set and desired...’ Given this evasive answer to the request, it appears that there will be no pay rise. Faced with these words, how can one not remind Prime Minister Meksi that Albania has the highest economic growth in Europe, while the European economy is characterized by a figure of 10 percent that it is trying to increase? It can all be summed up in a few questions. Is the figure real, or is Meksi lying? Is Meksi lying, or is Selami lying? Or are both of them lying?

- Interview given to the BBC by Greek MEP MIHALIS PAPAJANAQIS - I have become involved in the case of the imprisonment of the Albanian opposition leader FATOS NANO. In an interview given to the BBC, the Greek MEP calls on the Albanian government to pay greater attention to human rights issues and, on the other hand, recommends

As the Socialist Party of the Durrës district stated and predicted in a document, the newly appointed prefect, Mr V. Margilaj, has provoked a reaction and become unacceptable to public opinion throughout Durrës because of his involvement in crime during the elections in Libofshë, as well as for other reasons relating to his character, negative reputation, brutality and intolerance, etc. According to sources familiar with the matter, he was also considered unacceptable by those present at his first meetings with local government and law-enforcement officials, where his tendency to start by imposing his authority over them and keep them in the background, with the aim of bringing Durrës to heel, was noticeable. Under these circumstances, the government and President Berisha are in a predicament. Should they keep Margilaj as prefect or not, or risk stirring up public dissatisfaction in Durrës? The government’s number two has also been sent to examine the matter at close quarters. An elderly Durrës resident said: “You socialists, don’t object... let the government keep Margilaj as prefect, because with Prefect Margilaj this government shows its true face more clearly.” Although those in power have shown what they are like even without Margilaj, it is clear that the cultured and democratic people of Durrës cannot stomach or tolerate the little neo-dictators; events show that they are soon burned out. Let us wait and see what they do with the newly appointed prefect. ARBER OSMANI [The following text is an apparent stray fragment in the source:] make a profit while also repaying the loan.” These words of Prime Minister Meksi are not at all consistent with the somewhat grandiose economic promises of the chairman of the DP, Mr Selami. Afraid that the demand for a 50 percent pay rise might also become the property of other miners, it seems Meksi is trying to bring him down... Faced with this [?], has the highest economic growth in Europe, characterized by a 10 percent figure that is tending to rise? lying? ERION BRAÇE ...other reasons relating to his character, negative reputation, a sense of brutality and intolerance, etc., have provoked a backlash and made him unacceptable to the entire public of Durrës. According to sources familiar with the matter who provided this information, Margilaj’s candidacy for prefect has also been considered unacceptable by the Democratic Party itself in the district, as well as by other parties and associations, such as the “Durrësi” association, which participates in district politics while defending the interests of the DP. This position was also discussed in recent days at a DP meeting, which firmly spoke out against it and notified the government and the president. This negative reaction to Margilaj among representatives of the ruling party in Durrës was further strengthened after ... and the relations with Greece, in which a role and the fate or future of the Greeks of Albania were left ... In difficult position. provoking discontent among the broader public to examine the matter closely. An elderly citizen of Durrës true face more clearly.” Although even without Margilaj those in power have already shown what they are, it is a fact or tolerate the little neo-dictators, and their orders show that they will soon burn out. Let us wait and see what they will do about the newly appointed prefect. ARBER OSMANI

In an interview given to the BBC, the Greek MEP calls on the Albanian government to pay greater attention to human rights issues and, on the other hand, recommends that the Greek government show greater care and prudence in the way it handles relations with Albania. human rights issues and, on the other hand, recommends that the Greek government show greater care and prudence in the way it handles relations with Albania. He also believes that the Albanian government has misunderstood the European Parliament’s resolution on the Nano case. He describes the Balkan policies of Greece’s two main parties as unprogressive and out of step with developments and prospects that contribute to relations among equals within a common European policy. He describes relations with Albania, which are continually deteriorating, as a historically and profoundly irresponsible mistake. He goes on to answer the question of what Albania represents to him as a member of the Left Coalition and a Member of the European Parliament. “Albania, like the other countries of the Balkans and Eastern Europe, went through a period of institutional change and, I would say, did so somewhat unexpectedly. All of them faced, in a fairly positive and economical way, major long-term economic and political problems connected with recovery and development. In addition to these problems, unfortunately, there are also relations with Greece, which play a role in the fate or future of the Greeks of Albania. “We all used to say that the Greeks of Albania should be a bridge of friendship between the two countries, not a reason for tension and hostility. Unfortunately, today we see that the latter has happened more. I, as an MEP and also as a Greek, believe that there are certain principles that everyone must respect, both Greece and Albania: the classic principles of not violating the borders and national sovereignty of any country, and of protecting human rights in general and minority rights in particular. I am afraid that the Albanian government does not pay much attention to this problem. We could make many more strides in this direction. But, on the other hand, the Greek government too should show greater care and more prudence in the way it handles problems with Albania. It is true that Albania is a small country with major problems at present, but it is a neighbouring country with which we will coexist, and we must coexist in friendship. Besides, we also have many longstanding historical ties, so Gre- (Continued on page 4)

More than 45 thousand tons of cement held in storage Some time ago, state information media announced the “figure” that a ship carrying cement had arrived in Durrës. The employees of the cement factory in Elbasan also “rejoiced” at this news; they are among the few people in the district whose enterprise continues to produce. The entry of imported cement, subject to lower customs duties and also sold at a lower floor price set by the customs authorities, has created favourable—or, more accurately, privileged—conditions for it to compete with the output of the Elbasan factory. Today, more than 45 thousand tons of cement of higher quality than the imported product are held in this factory’s silos. According to some specialists, certain people in business circles, seeking to make profits from foreign cement of lower quality, sourced from surplus production in neighbouring countries, are doing everything possible to unfairly drive the cement produced by the Elbasan factory out of the market. But since the cement factory in Elbasan is still a state enterprise, does the state feel responsible for the 45 thousand tons of production being blocked? SEDJIN CEKANI

The ranks of the Democratic Party are growing Of the thirteen workers at the plant? Socialist Party members at the chromium sorting facility in Klos, in the district of Mat, twelve of them, so as not to lose their jobs, took membership cards of the Democratic Party. The thirteenth, “Hysen Barmeta, a member of the Socialist Party, refused to take a DP membership card. He was caught up in the reform.” The ranks of the DP grew by 12 new members, aged up to 55. MATJAN KLOSI.

Let us increase the ethical standards of local government Luan Majdaraga “Fatos Nano is and will remain chairman of the Socialist Party. If it serves today’s government to have the people pay millions of dollars to international organizations for his imprisonment, then let it continue to keep him in prison. We will support and implement all the democratic laws of parliament for which we have cast our votes. We will change all those laws that we have publicly denounced as antidemocratic and for which we have not voted.” An important place at the conference was given to the issue of local government and its relations with central government ... from the SP in the Mat district ... Mr. ... in ... and several actions ... a lot, Mr. ... head ... in the district and direct ... The report presented at the conference by the district SP chairman, Majdaraga, highlighted the achievements but also the weaknesses of the local government bodies in this district. The obstruction of the local government— (Continued on page 3)

Kukovë Local government in the party’s work Namik Dokle — Everyone should know that Fatos Nano was imprisoned because he called for early elections, thereby putting today’s government at risk — In Kukovë, every meeting, rally and conference—even those that may have been planned and announced long ago—seems to have been brought forward to take place now? This happens naturally because every activity is connected with the arbitrary, unlawful and unjust arrest of the imprisoned MP Fatos Nano. From the outset, the second SP conference was chaired by the SP chairman, who presented the report. This action expresses not only gratitude and respect, but also a moral obligation to set out the socialist alternative, with its true chairman in prison. At the very beginning, said the ... of the General Committee, Namik Dokle, I heard about Avni Rustemi as the deputy for Luma. The children of Kukovë will know that Fatos Nano was their constituency’s MP, and that he was imprisoned because he called for early elections, putting today’s government at risk. We are not building a democracy for the people in Albania, but a state for a clan, for the Albanian ruling power, some of whom steal and plunder the country’s wealth, created through the toil and sweat of all Albanians. Conceiving of the state not merely as the pyramid, but as extending through all its links, the conference analyzed the SP’s influence in the district and in the local authorities— (Continued on page 3)

Elbasan SP is further shaping its European profile Gramoz Ruçi — Those in power are trying to divide the SP so that there will be no opposition. But in reality, the opposite is happening. — After an overview of the report presented at the conference, the participating delegates focused on and discussed the functioning of the party structures. The establishment of 22 new SP organizations recently—15 in villages and 7 in the city of Elbasan—and 105 new memberships, mainly among people aged 40, only half of them reliable in elections, are indicators of the credibility and affirmation of the European left-wing alternative in the district of Elbasan. Also notable is the support given to the SP, especially to its social-market-economy program, particularly among the unemployed, where factories in the metallurgical complex and dozens of other enterprises have closed, or have become, in effect, parts of the ruling party militants’ ... The same can be said of the city of Cërrik, where no foreign company has come forward to employ residents of this city, who live mainly on income from clandestine emigration. Meanwhile, in some communes and— (Continued on page 2)