- Up to 1,000 dollars a day—the salary of a foreign specialist - Millions of dollars in aid return to donor countries through technical assistance - Does Albania have qualified specialists? As part of the overall assistance that the international community, through various organizations, has granted to Albania, a large number of foreign specialists have been attached to the country’s institutions, from the central level down to the grassroots. Almost all ministries, banks and important state offices carry out their activities with a staff doubled by Albanian and foreign specialists. The presence of the latter has been justified by the need for technical assistance. Even today, three years after the state’s request for it, technical assistance continues to make up a considerable percentage of total aid to Albania. How much? How many foreign specialists are there? And do all of them justify their presence? It is almost impossible to give a real number of foreign specialists, since mentioning it has become almost like revealing a state secret. At the Agricultural Bank, for example, they say that disclosing this number is prohibited by the Bank’s charter? And at other institutions the same request is met by officials sending one from office to office. Why? Among Albanian specialists, people have now begun to say that in many cases foreign assistance should be more qualified and address problems that are not understood here. It is abnormal, for instance, for a foreigner, in a lecture hall of bankers, to answer “accountant” in a T-shape, or “an underwriting issue and how it is reported”? In many cases Albanian specialists have become document carriers, because foreign experts make all the decisions. And this is happening precisely at a time when many of the assistants who have come from abroad say, “There are very capable specialists in Albania.” Nevertheless, laws and other acts are drafted by foreign specialists for a salary that no Albanian counterpart could dream of. Naturally, this money is included under technical assistance, the percentage of which is proposed by the donor state or organization. But what does the Albanian government do to justify this or that percentage of technical assistance? Why does it not insist on specific requirements, but allow a considerable part of the aid or loans to return to their source through the salaries of foreign experts? In a recent interview with the newspaper “Kombi,” MP Shkëlqim Cani says, among other things, that “others [foreign specialists] have stayed for weeks and months to prepare a law that our specialists could have prepared, if they had been paid for all that effort at the foreign specialist’s daily rate of 100,000 new lek.” Thus, bearing in mind that Albania is “overpopulated with foreign experts,” it follows that millions of dollars are not being used effectively because of the incompetence of state leaders. Why, then, should we not insist that the sums allocated for technical assistance be redirected to other forms of aid? Asked to comment on this, Anastas Angjeli, MP and member of the Standing Parliamentary Committee on Finance and the Economy, says: “The assistance granted through foreign technical assistance in Albania has made a valuable contribution to the institutionalization of democracy and, especially, to the reform of the Albanian economy. But I think there is room for better administration of this assistance and for using it more efficiently. For example, if a certain number of foreign specialists are working here for a very high daily wage, in the coming period I would suggest a smaller number of specialists, who would work more effectively. smaller number of specialists, who would work more effectively.” In this context, Berisha stressed at a meeting that we are determined to have military cooperation. I agree with joint manoeuvres by Albania with Italy and the United States of America. I consider it entirely feasible for such manoeuvres to be held with countries such as Turkey, Slovenia, Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania. And, of course, Greece too, if the latter moves, to a certain distance in accordance with the criteria established by the CSCE, the thousands of artillery pieces of its army that are now positioned all around Albania—something it did not do even during the dictatorship. For his part, Perri, at his meeting with Berisha, praised the plan to restructure the army and said that he supports Albania’s efforts. He expressed his willingness to cooperate and offer assistance. He said that the USA are interested in, and are contributing to, establishing peace and stability in the region. Perri described the purpose of his visit to Tirana as deepening the friendship and established cooperation, and continuing discussions on matters of mutual interest in the fu- ...which foreigners give us with one hand and take away with the other. Over these two years, Albanian specialists have matured, and they now seek the foreign technical system as, or as, opponents of the plans and programs they could draw up themselves. SOKOL GRUDA. A question being put that among those held in custody and pretrial detention, in police facilities and in the detention cells of police stations Albania. How many are there? Nobody knows—not even their own families ever find out. Perhaps our embassy in Skopje, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Public Order, our government and our president know, but so far they have kept silent and continue to do so. This silence is strange: or is it because these are rapid arrests and short-term pretrial detentions?! Everyone now knows that, besides Greece and Italy, many Albanians go to work in Macedonia. They come from the areas of Dibër, Pogradec, Korçë and sometimes even farther afield. With no prospects, young people and ... ...There. They know that in Macedonia the media is small, very small, but ...; the trouble is that it can lead you anywhere. And what happens next? Then the adventure begins: turmoil, breaking the law through ignorance, the police, isolation, pretrial detention and... L. M., from Laçi, tells me: “I came to Macedonia with my son, with a valid visa. I got into construction, but after three months the police caught me. Naturally, the visa had expired. To speak frankly, they didn’t beat me; they even gave us food, but what can you expect—in the police station. Oh God! My son in a police station? It felt as though I had put him there with my own hands. But what can you do when you’re in trouble? They didn’t object; I bowed my head, and three days later they took us to their chief. ‘Where do you live now?’ I knew very well, because he had told me one... (Continued on page 4)

- The USA need to hear Albania’s views on the war in Bosnia, Perri says - The American Secretary of Defense, William Perri, arrived in Tirana yesterday. This is the first visit to Albania by an American Secretary of Defense. He met and held talks with his Albanian counterpart Zhulali, Prime Minister Meksi and President Berisha. He also laid a wreath at the National Martyrs’ Cemetery and attended a ceremony at the Military Academy in Tirana. At their meeting, President Berisha emphasized to Perri that this visit would make it possible for him to become better acquainted with the strategic importance Albania represents for the North Atlantic Alliance. Albania, he reiterated, was the first to apply for NATO membership and to support the Partnership for Peace. Berisha regarded Perri’s visit as an opportunity to increase the role of US activity in the Balkans. He stressed that Albania is seeking help and support from the USA and other Western countries to overcome its difficulties. We expect greater assistance in the economic and military spheres. Berisha then emphasized that Albania attaches great importance to integration into Europe and to good-neighborly relations with the countries of the region. In this regard, Berisha stressed, of mutual interest in the fu- (Continued on page 4).

This concerns Albanians from Albania, not Albanians living in Macedonia. Consequently, this is a question addressed to the Albanian government, not the Macedonian one. Perhaps someone might find such a question strange, but the fact is that in the prisons and remand prisons, police stations and cells of police districts in Macedonia there are also Albanians from the Republic of Albania. How many are there? Nobody knows—not even the elderly. Even children, in groups or on their own, crossed the border, still hoping to find work. They know that in Macedonia, between ... is small, very small—whatever you do, hardship can drive you to it. Besides, in Macedonia the procedure is easier. You change 20 marks, pay 12 for the visa and cross the border. But what happens next? The adventure begins: ... , breaking the law through ignorance, the police, isolation, remand detention and...

On the privatization board, With “proper” criteria, After being tested, The wolf, the fox and the donkey were appointed. The wolf said: “Who has been persecuted More than I have, Just because at the cooperative My father damaged the flock.” I am a witness too, “Support the wolf, long-ears! He deserves to be the owner Of the whole village flock.” “The wolf deserves the flock...” The fox also spoke up for the firm, But first let us divide the title deeds, So I can take the henhouse. “Let me have a meadow too...” (The poor donkey dared to ask.) “You’ve had enough,” they told him, “and your freedom To bray day and night!” GJIKE KURTIQI

After an interruption of around two months in the RAL-2 satellite station and repeated disruptions to RAL-1, these days Peshkopia has once again been connected to the world through two Italian satellite stations, whose amplifiers have been installed on the district council building. Meanwhile, entire areas and villages in Dibër and beyond have not been watching Albanian television broadcasts for some time, because the television transmitters have been damaged and residents of these areas cannot afford to invest in rebuilding them. For them, the only way to get their television sets working as intended is to install parabolic antennas, “havece” [satellite dishes], whose price is unaffordable under the current economic conditions of the mountain villages. A few days ago, the government decided to extend the coverage of radio and television signals. “You don’t know...” This decision will be followed by a decision to provide information connected with MTSH in that area, where they had previously been forgotten, and ... A. A.

Elbasan This is what the chairman of the factory 12 council of the union, Kristaq Delja, tells our newspaper regarding last week’s protest, which was organized in front of the gate of the nickel-cobalt combine. “I may go on a hunger strike at the beginning of the workers’ strike at ...” - We will not go on hunger strike, all the participants say. The factory officials ... also ... the agreement... ... 60 workers in the ... two factories, in whose processes they work ... with difficulty and in a condition of ... Whereas the second point of it ... states that, once ... separate assets and their privatization have been definitively assessed, ... will be employed ... the remaining 280 workers ... will come at the end of the year. What stands out in this act, this agreement, is that its signatories are the director of ARN and the chairman of the district union council. The latter signed on behalf of the union council of factory 12 and ... - nickel - cobalt. SEJDI CEMANI

Shkodër A car accident yesterday at dawn put the lives of 30 people at risk. They were wedding guests travelling from Shkodra to Dukagjin to fetch a bride. The car they were travelling in collided with another car. The injured were taken to the city hospital. As of 8 o’clock, when we received this information, four people had been admitted to hospital as emergencies, and at the clinic they told us that all of them were in danger. Correspondent of “Zëri i popullit”

If any of our colleagues at the various newspapers have planned an article on the progress of privatization in Elbasan, they should wait until August. More precisely, they should wait until the head of the district branch of the Privatization Agency returns from his regular leave. In an official letter signed and stamped by the chief himself, the manager in question has ordered his subordinates not to provide any information about privatization, since making figures and data known to others is the exclusive prerogative of the chief. The branch of the Privatization Agency is one of the few offices in Elbasan where information could be obtained. I say this because in other offices, employees tell you that releasing information is not permitted; others cut you short, saying they have no data at all; and someone else says that only ATSH itself is allowed to release data. So yet another source of information has been shut off. We are entitled to say that unforeseen problems may have arisen during the privatization of various enterprises or properties, and that is why the public should no longer be informed. It is certainly hoped that after August 1, following the meeting held by this small office, it will be possible to obtain the number of properties and enterprises privatized by them; even this figure is not a secret. SHPRESA ÇAUSHI

BULQIZË The residents of Tërnovë, a village situated in the most remote highlands, far from sources of employment across all sectors, have gone more than three months without receiving social assistance. Residents of Golloborda say that social assistance has not arrived for a long time and that the villages of ... are ... Forgotten by the state, which has ... them ...? ... while ... social assistance ... D. B.

...at times, Albanian specialists have become document carriers, since in Albania.” Nevertheless, foreign specialists draw up the laws and other acts for a salary that is unheard of for each counterpart of ... ...and a valuable contribution to the institution... the establishment of democracy and, especially, is room for better management example, if a certain number of foreign specialists work here on would suggest a larger number of them, in the coming period I period... ...created after the unlawful imprisonment of chairman Fatos Nano showed that the PS is capable of coping with difficult political situations. Winning a year-long political struggle is an achievement that makes PS members proud of their commitment to the party to which they belong. This is also a guarantee that the PS is a party with a future, because its foundations are the struggle for and the honest achievement of political victory. Over the past year, the PS successfully faced, on the one hand, the barbaric attacks of the ruling majority, which sought to destroy it, and, on the other, it withstood all the arrows launched from within and outside by people provoked by the government’s dishonest actions. By maintaining this direction and avoiding the traps set for it at every turn, the PS once again affirmed its commitment as a social-democratic party that fights and wins, and that defends itself by democratic means. The PS conferences in the districts fully and incontrovertibly demonstrated its strength and vitality as a leading party with great weight and great responsibilities in the country’s political life. The conferences showed that, during a year of extraordinary life and struggle, the PS successfully met political challenges and confirmed its ability to survive under conditions of physical and psychological terror, economic discrimination, and the repressive measures of a violent and dictatorial government under the PD. The PS conferences in the districts confirmed the soundness of its program and political positions. They showed that the PS’s policy is one of defending the broad masses of the people, a policy that stems from collegial decision-making and a genuinely democratic spirit in all PS structures. The PS conferences in the districts were held in a spirit of debate and free expression of opinions, characteristics of a genuinely democratic force. Alongside assessments of achievements, they included criticisms of the party’s work at the grassroots and central levels, of the work of local government where socialists are in charge, and of its parliamentary group. These criticisms call for the necessary reflection. This is the reality of the Socialist Party, a party with a vibrant life and responsibility for the political program it upholds. These things show that the life of the PS is... (Continued on page 3)