Confirmation of the renewal of the Socialist Party - We defend Fatos Nano because he is a political prisoner, because in doing so we defend democracy. - Albania is inevitably heading toward early elections. - The Democratic Party’s attacks on the Socialist Party express the crisis of its convictions. From the report of Socialist Party Secretary General Gramoz Ruçi News report Under the direction of the Socialist Party’s deputy chairman, Dr. Servet Pëllumbi, yesterday a meeting of its General Steering Committee was held. It reviewed the campaign for the new party elections, conducted during May–June. Opening the meeting, Dr. Servet Pëllumbi said that this important political undertaking had been crowned with complete success. Despite the Democratic Party leaders’ accusations of supposedly closed and secret meetings, a return to extremism, and so on, the facts show the opposite. The Socialist Party meetings and conferences for the new elections were open and transparent, and democratic. Allow me to thank the party comrades elected to the party’s governing bodies for the work they have done so far. On the other hand, I wish the new comrades elected to lead the party in the districts success and good work. The new Socialist Party chairpersons in the districts are all intellectuals aged between 31 and 42, and this refutes the accusations that extremists and former Balli Kombëtar members are taking over the leadership of the Socialist Party. This meeting will serve us... The report emphasized that the campaign for the new party elections was conducted in a spirit of debate and free expression of opinions. The meetings held once again confirmed the soundness of the Party’s program and political positions. They showed that, despite the unusually intense struggle this year, the Socialist Party had managed to face political challenges and, at the same time, confirm its strength and vitality as a leading force with considerable weight and great responsibility in the country’s political life. This year’s party elections took on a number of distinctive characteristics because of the time at which they were held and the complex range of issues addressed. The campaign took place almost three months after the conclusion of the Party’s Second National Conference. During this interval, political life in the country, and in particular our Party’s political activity, developed intensively. Beginning on March 4 of this year, when the election campaign was held, alongside the meetings of Party organizations and district conferences, our Party’s active opposition grew throughout the country over this entire period. This is undoubtedly a very important matter. But when we consider political issues carefully, we can also speak about economic and social matters, some of which received more limited attention. As also emerged during the campaign, there are many economic problems and concerns, but it is our own sluggishness—the sluggishness of our organizations, councils, and district steering committees—that has prevented us from organizing such activities. The issues of electricity, kerosene, and many other goods were raised, and not enough attention has been paid to them; people talk everywhere about corruption, and so on, but no demonstration meeting has been organized in any district for this purpose. The same can be said of activities intended to expose the demagogic promises and to... What emerged from the content of the Party organizations’ meetings and the district conferences is that, throughout this period, our Party’s active opposition grew throughout the country. to ... ... the Socialist Party managed to ... defend the field ... On the other hand, I wish our young comrades, elected to lead the party in the district, good work and success. The new chairmen of the PS in the district are intellectuals aged between 31 and 42, and this shows the [unclear] of the accusations that the PS is moving towards extremism and former members of the Bloc. This meeting will help us draw better conclusions from the election campaign and define tasks for further strengthening the party in the future, said Servet Përllumbi. Then the PS general secretary, Gramoz Ruçi, presented the report on behalf of the leadership. The meeting then continued with questions and discussions by the participants. The chairman of the PS in the Kukës district, Muhamet Bela, criticized signs of euphoria in the party’s work and spoke about aspects of the work in the Kukës district. Alongside the good work done by many PS representatives in local government, there are also shortcomings and weaknesses. He said there are old-fashioned attitudes in relations between the party and local government. Alfred Paloka stressed that the party’s work objectives must be carefully studied and achievable. Obstacles raised by our political opponents must also be anticipated. The party needs to go down to the grassroots, to where the people are. The desire for a new spirit within the party, which emerged at the district conferences, should have been reflected better in the report; he also raised the need to establish an association of local government based on models from developed countries. Petro Koci called the conference of the party in the Fier district successful, which (Continued on page 3) ...the campaign, owing to the time when it was held and the range of issues it addressed. This campaign took place over the three months following period, political life in the country—and, in particular, the activities of our Party—developed intensively. It began on 4 March, the day the sham trial against the chairman of our Party, comrade Fatos Nano, was due to open. The entire Party, throughout the country, became involved in a vigorous protest campaign to defend human rights and freedoms and to reiterate the persistent demand for Fatos Nano’s release. Everywhere, in large and small towns, and especially here in Tirana, Berisha’s antidemocratic regime felt profound concern at our Party’s organized political action. The mass actions held throughout the country, like all the other meetings held in various districts, were in themselves an expression of the Party’s and its sympathizers’ approval of the political guidelines and decisions adopted at the Party’s Second National Conference. The first conclusion that ...in the country and in the course of its activities. During this The first conclusion that ...in the life of our Party. To assess this issue seriously, the party elections must be properly improved. This is the conclusion reached by the initiative of the PS Steering Committee of the Durrës district, which, prompted by V. Margila [?]’s antidemocratic and fascist act in Libofshë, gathered and protested forcefully against his appointment as prefect of Durrës. Our capacity to organize and reorganize protests with an economic focus has led those in power to say on television and other mass-media outlets that “the reform is being welcomed,” “prosperity has increased,” and “there is no crisis in Albania.” ...premature, perhaps? This absurd tendency of President Berisha—that there is no crisis in Albania, that everything is fine and we need not worry—is contradicted by the fact that the changes in the balance of power in favor of our alternative throughout this period have been influenced more by economic factors. These factors will have a major impact in the future too, so let us tackle these issues firmly, both to take action against the government and to strengthen our political force as an alternative with concrete proposals. Let us not forget that we face the mass layoffs announced by the government itself in education. Let us work now to ensure they do not go through without resistance. There are many other ways—the means and methods of opposition vary widely. We should not wait until later, when we find ourselves in a particular sector, only to say, “How did this get through?” We have discussed education, but the future will also bring further economic restrictions, including more dismissals, taxes, and so on. Party organizations must work better with peo

Prof. Dr. Rita Sussmuth arrived yesterday for a two-day visit to Albania. She was born on February 17, 1937, in Wuppertal. From 1956 to 1961 she studied Romance languages and history in Munster, Tubingen, and Paris. From 1982 to September 1985 she worked as director of the “Women and Society” Institute in Hanover. From 1971 to 1985 she was a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee on Family Issues at the Ministry for Youth, Family and Health Affairs. Since April 1988 she has been president of the German Association of Adult Education Centers. Since May 1991, Mrs. Sussmuth has been a member of the Presidium of the German Association for Foreign Policy. She joined the CDU in 1967; in 1983 she became a member of the CDU Federal Committee for Family Policy; in 1986 she became federal president of the Women’s Union; CDU, and a member of the CDU Presidium. She has been a member of the Bundestag since 1987, elected in the Göttingen constituency; from September 26, 1985, to June 5, 1986, she was Federal Minister for Youth, Family and Health Affairs; from June 6, 1986, to November 26, 1988, Federal Minister for Youth, Family, Women and Health Affairs; since November 25, 1988, she has been President of the German Parliament; reelected to this post on December 20, 1990.

- In 27 areas with more than 150 apartment buildings, thousands of apartments on the third and fifth floors are not getting a single drop of water. - In areas 4, 6, and 28, water does not reach any floor at any time of day, not even the lower floors. - Instead of drinking the water the Government has “provided,” people continue to “drink in” the statements of Prime Minister Meksi and Minister Manushi. The situation is truly alarming. Tirana and its outskirts are going through their hardest days because of the widespread water shortage, which the hot weather and very high temperatures these days have made critical. Referring to Minister Manushi, “there is ...” ... the problem at his press conference: “the situation is not good ... and usually worsens during ... the day.” Nevertheless, as the saying goes, the village that can be seen needs no guide. If you observe the city of Tirana at the times when the Government has scheduled water distribution, it looks like a living being giving up its last breath, while residents wander around with containers under their arms searching for places where water is flowing. According to a recent report, the “monster” responsible for the capital’s water shutdown is in control. There are 27 areas with around 1,500 apartment buildings and thousands of apartments where water does not flow at any time of day. Certain areas receive water drop by drop, not to mention the fact that in some areas, such as 4 and 28, water does not reach even the lower floors, or the Kombinat area, where the situation is truly critical. At last, the Government publicly admits that the sources ... This statement was heard from the Minister of Construction and Environmental Protection, Mr. Ilir Manushi. But where does the water go while Tirana suffers? According to them, the water is distributed, but that is all they say; they do not go on to tell the truth about the incompetence that has taken hold of the directorate’s officials, the senior people at Tirana Municipality, or the corruption that has reached unbelievable proportions. Across Tirana there are 60 verified locations where water is poured out “like a river.” The relevant ministry and Mr. Manushi may not have this information, but they should know it so they do not speak on television, making promises that expose them as liars. The serious scale of the water shortage has compelled the president to issue a special Decree, number 894, introducing an amendment to the Criminal Code of Albania. Tampering with the main water-supply network will now be punishable by a fine of up to 1 million lekë and imprisonment for up to 3 years. But will this be enough to fix ...? The decree could put an end to a question of water shor... as well as a host of problems related to the fate of ... The course of reforms in Albania is what creates the possibility of a political choice. BASHKIM KOÇI ...in particular, they receive water only in dribs and drabs—not to mention the other areas, such as zones 4, 6 and 29, where Kombinat area, where the situation is truly critical. The government finally publicly acknowledged that the water resources in the city of Tirana are sufficient to meet the needs of around 1 million residents. (Continued on page 2)

During these days of drought, Dumre had no drinking water, and its villagers experienced a real tragedy. According to information I received on Saturday, July 23, at a meeting with several commune chairpersons, including those of Kajan and Brasa, Belsh, and the water sector, the situation concerning drinking water for Dumre was alarmingly bad. For at least 10 days now, not a drop of drinking water has reached any of the villages in the area, explains [??] rori. All the villages are supplied by just one pump. It has had a malfunction, and there was no backup pump. Under these circumstances, the commune chairpersons and, in particular, the Elbasan Water Supply Directorate, with major Gani, have tried to alleviate somewhat the serious situation in the area. Nevertheless, so far they have not managed to secure a pump necessary to bring in the water. It should be stressed that, thanks to the efforts of the director in question, four water tankers carrying drinking water were put at the villagers’ disposal, but they were not enough to meet the needs of the three villages. The water shortage in Dumre was accompanied in recent days by a tragic incident: a 20-year-old girl from Vlora, who had come to a wedding in the village of Fierze, drowned in the lake while trying to fetch water. To cope with the situation, the villagers of this area have been forced to walk for hours to secure a little water for their survival. But there is no water. In recent days, as we have learned, a pump has been obtained and is expected to be put into operation, but it cannot meet the needs of all the residents, so it is not being installed. Let us hope that the relevant department in Tirana, and even the Government itself, will take the situation in the villages of the Belsh area seriously and take urgent measures to change it. SEJDIN CEKANI

At the end, Socialist Party deputy secretary Servet Përllumbi presented the summary conclusions. Assessing the importance of this review, he said that it had highlighted the party’s good work throughout the campaign for the new party elections. A positive feature of this campaign was the large number of new people joining the party. However, party membership must also be considered in relation to the electorate. In this respect some districts are doing better, while others have more work to do. Alongside quantitative changes, it is necessary to properly assess the qualitative aspects of the party’s work. This also includes the party’s mass political activity, while fighting bureaucratic practices that confine activities to small halls. Another qualitative indicator is the involvement in party work of all those elected to its leading forums. This involvement, which gained momentum during the campaign for the new elections, must continue in all the party’s work. Those elected are good people, committed and devoted. The ongoing commitment of those elected should be one of the main objectives of this party’s work. The new statute and program (Continued on page 3) It is necessary, alongside the departure of the government itself, These include the party’s mass political activity, opposing bureaucratic practices of confining in party work of everyone during the campaign for the new elections, must continue throughout the party’s work. Those elected are good, committed and devoted people. The continuing commitment of those elected must The new Statute and program

- In just three hours, 32 tankers loaded with fuel traveled from Laçi toward the North! - For a full three hours, from 11:00 to 02 [?] the following day; within just these [?] hours, that is, in only three hours, 32 tanker trucks loaded with fuel passed through here heading north. The tankers had capacities of no less than 20,000–25,000 liters, and somewhat more. The destinations of some of the tankers, judging by their route, were along the roads toward Fier, Vlora, Lezhë, Shkodër, Kurvelesh, Lushnjë, Durrës, and Tirana. A simple calculation shows that just the 32 tankers, carrying at least 20,000 liters each, would mean that in only three hours at least 640,000 liters of smuggled fuel set off toward the North—and that is only in those three hours. Where does the fuel go, which routes For some time now, the Albanian and foreign press have been sounding the alarm, as well as reporting serious fuel shortages affecting the country’s roads and areas beyond the state borders. The organized smuggling and sale of fuel has now reached vast proportions, and, given its scale, officially registered … Albanian organizations have the capacity to transport oil, and there are also many trucks operating by the hour in places of this kind. Passive attitudes toward regular work, in which [unintelligible] has spread along a broad route from the North… Does it take them? It surely exceeds the needs of the northern districts, so the facts indicate that it goes to Montenegro, to Yugoslavia. That the state itself does not want this smuggling to be stopped is evident from the fact that this illegal traffic has gained the right of citizenship. We reach this conclusion when the state does not act through its laws, when the law-enforcement forces and police units remain inert. By what route does the fuel pass—through the air or overland? Where is all the oversight by the State, the law-enforcement agencies and the financial police? One final question: How many smugglers have been caught, and how many have been convicted? The measures taken are entirely minimal, we think, compared with the major surge at the head of this illegal traffic. Fuel is being sent beyond the state borders by illegal routes, perhaps while the state is “stronger than ever.” BEKTASH ZENELI

Malësi e Madhe The tendency to take up drug cultivation has now appeared in this northern district as well. A reliable source at the district police station reports that two people were arrested recently: Ruzhdi Muja from Shkodra and Leze Hoti from the village of Grizhë. They were arrested because they had cultivated the “Cannabis” plant together; approximately 350 plants were found growing there. This plant is known as a raw material for producing drugs. The evidence against them is reliable, as confirmed by analyses carried out at the Tirana laboratory. The two arrested people stated: “We did not know this was a narcotic plant; we thought it was kikë.” This is the first case of drug cultivation found in this district, and it has therefore prompted considerable public discussion. For this reason, we also approached the district prosecutor’s office to obtain more detailed information. But this time too, the prosecutors at this Prosecutor’s Office were not very forthcoming, preferring the newspaper “Zëri i popullit” for identifying the source of the information. Vazhduesi