10,500 education employees placed on assistance At a meeting with representatives of the Confederation of Trade Unions of Albania, Prime Minister Meksi, while reviewing the firm implementation of the reform, announced that 10,500 education employees would be placed on assistance in September. In this way, the words circulating among teachers about the staff lists being drawn up are also confirmed by the head of Government. Nevertheless, cuts in education are an unavoidable part of the reform; it could not be done otherwise. Specialists from the International Monetary Fund suggest making cuts to budget-funded salaries; otherwise, we cannot take first place in reducing inflation. In this way, teachers too will see and understand more concretely the reform already implemented in the economy, the army, and so on. The Government is certain that this important measure too will be received with enthusiasm by education employees, just as has happened on other occasions with price reductions, the introduction of taxes, and so on. Teachers were among the first to represent the democratic processes: they would not teach before rallies were organized, and they explained everything that happened on March 22. They also rejected the physics and chemistry textbooks as politicized, and so on. But, as they know themselves, theory also has its practical side. This autumn, the ranks of dismissed teachers, who have always been pillars of light and torches of democracy, will put this to the test. Job cuts do not at all mean that education is being weakened; on the contrary, they strengthen it. Many families who understand democracy hire private teachers or send their children abroad. That is how the market economy works: the strong forge ahead. Teachers who do all they can for democracy and happily go onto assistance, it is understood, also face a few minor difficulties. For example, they find it hard to break away from their former upbringing and quickly adapt to their bananas or chewing gum. Besides, teachers are late because others have already occupied these fronts. Teachers have been the scientific and moral capital of labor in this financial capital for the duration of the reform. In any case, “it is better to know than to have.” This Government measure, too, thinks only of the people. It will further develop education, which, as is known, has made significant progress over the past two years in strengthening discipline and content. SEDAT BRAJA set democratic… that no longer came… before organizing rallies, which explained everything that had happened on March 22. They rejected them and the physics and chemistry textbooks as politicized, etc.

— Prime Minister Meksi declares — Sources in the 10 directorates report that the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Mr. Aleksandër Meksi, at a meeting with trade unionists, irritated by the pressure and democratic demands, declared that he receives 25 requests a day for hunger strikes. Such mass communication between the people and the Government is a golden expression of democracy, regardless of the fact that some show signs of impatience and want everything in a single day. The Democratic Government brought freedom and will no longer concern itself with arranging people’s jobs, resolving their countless conflicts, or bringing them bread in natalism, when everything was expected from Art Tanilë; it is the opposite: the Government waits for every meeting to come from below. It is not possible to follow 25 hunger strikes a day, not even for television, let alone the Government. Besides, going without food for long periods harms one’s health. This is one of the reasons permits for hunger strikes are not issued and, where they take place without authorization, people are forcibly removed. K: The Prime Minister’s statement fills in the missing information about the concept of life during the transition period. Although we do not doubt that the Prime Minister is telling the truth, just as there are thousands of families who, without declaring a strike, get their bread on credit, the picture presented by the head of Government is evidence of the optimistic situation he presented on television, in the interview for explaining the “Gallup” figures. So, do people who are very satisfied with the progress of the reform, the state’s finances being very strong, the future of the family’s livelihood being secure, 59 percent of families, etc., really exist? The fact is, he was only commenting on Gallup’s figures, which were much better than those of all the countries of Europe. It is possible that the figures of 25 requests a day for hunger strikes, in a record-breaking way, are our contribution. We have taken it for… to do something for the rise… St-gurish from the pace and the achievements. BRAHO DUNAVATI Capitalism is not affected; mercy, letting things go, etc. are naïveté. V… trade union organization can… the Government to give you your due there… Meanwhile, when privatization is over and… the workers are left with the papers.

— Case transferred from the Civil Court to be tried by the Military Court — Yesterday, the trial of the defendant Sulo Gradeci began at the Tirana court. He is charged with the criminal offenses of abuse of office and theft. Mr. Gradeci, head of Enver Hoxha’s bodyguard, was arrested two years ago, on 8 July 1992. During these two years Gradeci underwent a period of arrest [?] … had signed the declaration not to leave the country, and then the case would be dismissed, only to be reopened again and sent to Tirana prison. Finally, yesterday the case went before the Tirana court for a preliminary hearing, after being transferred from the civil court to the military court, where it will be tried by Judge Fatmira Laska. This time the court’s proper course of action is to consider the irregularities in the trial of R Alia and nine other officials of the communist state, where the case concerning the military personnel of Z Ramiz and V. Haderi was tried separately from the others, despite prosecutor Fana’s request.

— Witness questioning concluded — The trial of the 5 police officers from the Lashtë public order department, accused of murdering 24-year-old David Leka, will resume next Tuesday. The panel of judges, chaired by military judge F. Fatmira Laska, concluded the questioning of the witnesses presented by the prosecution. Nothing new emerged from the witnesses’ testimony that would prove the accused police officers’ participation in the aggressive acts. This is the fact: the aim is to convict 5 police officers to cover up the responsibility of the public order department’s leaders, and not to identify D. Leka’s real murderers. On Tuesday, the trial will continue with the defendants’ explanations, after two witnesses requested by the defense lawyers have also been heard in court. ERION BRAÇI

Regarding Mr. Arbnori’s statement at the session of 30.6.1994, that the interpellation with Prime Minister Meksi would not take place because the Socialists were not prepared... I state, with full responsibility: 1. Mr. Arbnori misinformed Parliament and Albanian public opinion because: - No day for an interpellation with Mr. Meksi had been scheduled in the agenda for that week. - He and the Assembly administration had not distributed to the deputies, even at that session, the questions submitted by our group concerning that interpellation. - The previous day, he had made no announcement that the interpellation would take place the next day. 2. This statement was challenged by the chairman of the parliamentary group, Mu… sa Ulqini, and by me, and after the exchanges Arbnori backed down. Unfortunately, the television sycophants did not understand this, but they did not even have the honest courage to show and wh… (Continued on page 3)

The press conference with the Chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions, Kastriot Muço, reminded participants of another very important issue: the privatization of small and medium-sized enterprises. Albania is the only country in Eastern Europe where privatization is carried out by Government decision rather than by an Act of Parliament. As is known, the form of ownership is what determines economic and social systems. Parliament is not consulted on this fundamental issue. Meanwhile, it approves all kinds of amendments, even concerning the environment and foreigners visiting our country. Enterprises are bought almost for free, in a manner of speaking, by foreigners, administrators and directors who have come here, while… workers are left empty-handed. It goes without saying that a Government that does not consult the people’s elected representatives cannot take workers’ views into consideration. Employees of SHIK, the police, etc. participate in the privatization boards established by Government decision, while those who built the enterprises and invested their labor and sweat—not in other people’s property—are excluded from ownership. And with this “innovation”… The enterprises are bought for practically nothing… by foreign businesspeople, local and foreign, administrators and directors who have arrived, and hundreds of workers are left empty-handed. This is the greatest plunder of national wealth. Privatiz… without a law, often through auction. Appointed boards and, mainly, the party… becomes a spectacle… and the rights of ownership and fundamental human rights, for… the right of democracy itself.

In the face of the antidemocratic actions of today’s rulers, more and more people are embracing the socialist alternative every day BASHKIM ZENELI “When even others who, two years ago, used to accompany Berisha on election campaigns, today tell him that they consider Fatos Nano a political prisoner, this clearly speaks to the truth.” The conference of the PS in the Krujë district, attended also by the member of the PSSH presidium and People’s Assembly deputy, comrade Bashkim Zeneli, made a concrete assessment of two years of work and set tasks for the future. However they may have used power, they feel victorious in socialism, it was said at the conference. We are victorious, it was said—we have entered honestly… we are clean in our work to represent… ideals… and we are preserving the new Albanian democracy. The views of the PD came to power… in this… to show every day… the truth… (Continued on page 2)

The difficult situation and lack of prospects make an early solution imperative FATRI SINANI Member of the PSSH Presidium! The fact that Fatos Nano is being kept in prison for political reasons and is largely innocent shows that the antidemocratic rulers want to hold on to power by force. This was the main idea discussed at the conference of the Socialist Party of the Laç district, held a few days ago. The main report was delivered by the district PS chair, Shpëtim Cami, while the contributions of numerous delegates, such as M. Pepkola, B. Selimllari, N. Vata, Gj. Lulashi, Xh. Lika, Gj. Gaci, etc., described precisely… The violation of human freedoms and rights is another indication confirming the dictatorial tendencies of the PD, it was emphasized. This has opened an eye in bringing forward and then supporting the bu… premature situations, giving numerous concrete examples. The political, economic and social life of the district, it was emphasized at the conference, during the period of PD rule is now characterized by phenomena and contradictions that have damaged the image of democracy. This is reflected in the PD’s political positions, in the violation of human freedoms and rights, and in the executive privatization of local power. Under the guise of reform, the PD in Laç has exerted pressure on all fronts, by… (Continued on page 2) to avoid taking, transferring, or dismissing from work many PS members and supporters on political grounds, right up to district councillors Gëzim Dika and Ndoc Vata. on all fronts, by… (Continued on page 2)

Socialists are capable of fulfilling the alternatives they put forward Dr. MAQO LAKRORI: “We socialists have the right to hold our heads high because we are spiritually upright, open to discussions and cooperation with anyone who seeks what is good for Albania, and we are also capable of solving the problems of the transition and of the future.” The Second Conference of the PS of the Pogradec district held its proceedings on June 27, with the participation of 200 invitees, party organization chairs, members of local government councils, etc. The delegate of the KPD, member of the PSSH presidium and People’s Assembly deputy, Dr. Maqo Lakrori, took part. The report presented by the chair of the district PS, Tajar Koleci, and the contributions of many delegates highlighted the work to strengthen the party organizationally and the need to increase political activity in the situation we are going through. The period since the previous elections, it was emphasized at the conference, has served the party organization in the district to further consolidate its structures so that they can act independently amid a deep political, economic and social crisis, the violation of freedoms and human rights, and the establishment of a police state. The delegate appointed by the Second National Conference of the PSSH… were some of the main areas of work for the party’s leading and organizational bodies. During the three years since the PS was formed, more than 600 new members have been admitted. In the first six months of this year alone, more than 230 new members were admitted and six parallel party organizations were established, in the towns of Velçan, Çërravë, etc. At the conference, cases of violations of freedoms and human rights resulting from the application of Article 24-1 by the directors of agriculture, the district education directorate, and other directorates under the Meksi government’s ministries were denounced. Thus, dozens of intellectuals and specialists, among the best in various fields, have been removed from their posts or put on assistance solely because of their political beliefs. The conference once again denounced (Continued on page 2)