Activists’ meeting of the Socialist Party in the Saranda district Servet Pëllumbi: 1. The Socialist Party will fight to the end against attempts to divide the people into “south” and “north.” 2. The people expect a change in governance, not statements about imaginary coalitions. 3. We want concrete action by the government to normalize and strengthen relations with neighboring countries. An expanded attended also by the SP deputy secretary, Dr Servet Pëllumbi, focused on analyzing the results of the 6 November referendum. The result—75 percent against the draft constitution—was, said the report presented at the meeting by Astrit Naraj, chairman of the SP District Steering Committee, the consequence of 16 parties acting as a bloc in the referendum, broad support from young people, good work with the press, and so on. Paid thugs who tried to disrupt the SP rally in Saranda increased people’s indignation toward those in power. He then criticized attempts at manipulation made in this district both before and during the referendum. Thus, the voter lists for the 6 November vote had 10,000 fewer voters registered than the lists for the vote of 26 July 1992. In the villages of Fterrë, Borsh, Konispol, Xa-[?], and Nivicë Mursi, there were illegal police pressures and interventions to manipulate the voting results. But the SP representatives and the people stood up to them to protect the free vote. The referendum campaign was accompanied by a revival of party life and the admission of new members, with 67 young men and women joining. Speakers at the meeting pointed out not only the positive aspects of the referendum campaign but also shortcomings in the party’s work that needed to be corrected in future. The SP representative from the Xara commune said that during the campaign the party’s propaganda had not risen to the level required to confront the threats of the DP. The SP representative from the village of “Qazim Pali,” after noting the determination shown there to defend the people’s vote, criticized some intellectuals who, as he said, had remained in the background during the referendum campaign. The SP chairman for the Dhivër area said that the number of SP supporters in the minority had grown considerably and that today there are SP organizations in all the villages of the Greek minority in this area. This meant that on 6 November the result was 85 percent against the draft constitution. Berisha, he said. The SP representative from Lukovë said that hundreds of families who had come to this village from other districts of the country had been left without land and were being discriminated against. The land law is not being implemented, and this led most of the village’s residents to vote against the DP government. Other speakers criticized the passivity of some members of the party’s district forums during the referendum, called for the activity of the Euro-Socialist youth to be invigorated, and stressed that after the 6 November victory care must be taken not to admit people into the party who might harm it in the future. At the beginning of his speech, SP Deputy Secretary Servet Pëllumbi praised the good work done by the SP in the Saranda district during the referendum campaign, which also led to the positive result for the opposition. This result was a victory for democracy in Albania and will have very positive consequences, said Pëllumbi. This result was an expression of the maturity of the Albanian electorate, of the democratic culture that has taken root in the people’s consciousness, and of the people’s refusal to be treated like a crowd. The people know how to assess, judge, and stand by their evaluations. They put the parties to the test and gave Berisha and the DP a failing grade. The bad thing is that after this test they are not learning their lessons. For its part, in this referendum the Socialist Party presented itself as an organized, mature, equi-[?] political force. (Continued on page 2) The statement leads to the conclusion that the judicial system is incapable of saying stop to this Mafia. This means that there are major ruptures within what is called the state, and that it may even collapse. “I am seeking to hold all the high-ranking mafiosi accountable...” Mr Brozi declares. We would like him to succeed in this mission, for the sake of the democracy we want to build. But the fact is that, through Mr Brozi’s work, nothing has yet been done to touch the Mafia that is—or is said to be—entrenched in Albania. In this sense, the Republic’s chief judge seems to have stepped more out of Damiano Damiani’s films than to have any real power to establish justice by punishing the guilty. And he cannot complete the mission he has set himself if the truths are to be told as they [unclear: për?]... Another alarming statement by Mr Brozi is when he says: “If anything happens to Zef Brozi, I am telling you today that the perpetrators of the crime are Mus[?]ra and his associates.” With this statement he openly expresses fear. But if he, as president of the Court of Cassation and the highest representative of justice, feels threatened by certain segments of the state, can an ordinary citizen feel safe in this [unclear: mu?]? Mr Brozi has only just begun to speak. If from now on he remains silent, it will mean that the state has put both feet in one [unclear: kë?]. But let him act both as an individual and as the institution he represents.

The Albanian poppy with the 12 stars of Europe adorns the world flag of the Socialist Youth International — A report about those born on 15 January 1992 — The Albanian poppy with the 12 stars of Europe adorns the world flag of the Socialist Youth International EURO-SOCIALISTS CELEBRATE JOYFULLY — A report about those born on 15 January 1992 — Greeted with fireworks—which created a lovely image of the poppy surrounded by 12 stars (their lucky symbol)—more than two hundred Euro-Socialists celebrated on Sunday evening at the Socialists’ central headquarters, their “home” next to the “world home of socialist youth.” Here in Tirana, in an “annex” of this “home,” pleasantly lit by the flame of candles melting into hope-blue, the great joy seems to have no end. Music, kisses exchanged between Berat and Tirana, Skrapar and Elbasan, Lezhë and Laç; the “boots” clink their glasses joyfully; success brings everything here to life, including their symbol, the Albanian poppy and the 12 stars of Europe. It stands proudly, still surrounded by—and forever accompanied by—the word now more present than ever everywhere in Albania, and especially in Albanian politics: “Euro-Socialists.” Born on 15 January 1992, newly invigorated after 6 November 1994, the name-bearing youth organization is today respected here among young people and by the guests who have come: the president of AD, Mr Neritan Ceka; the chairman of the PSD, Mr Skënder Gjinushi; youth forums of various Albanian political forces; representatives of the independent and opposition press; and the “household collaborators” of the annex: “Professor” Servet Pëllumbi; MP Sabit Brokaj; “teacher” Ermelinda Mekshi, as they call her; “Professor” Namik Dokle, again as they call him; MPs-Tit Ylvi Bufi; the deputy speaker of the Albanian parliament, Shazir Vukaj; and the “professors,” as they call them, Maqo Lakrori, Anastas Angjeli, Shkëlqim Cani, Etem Ruka. There are also [?]—It seems that the name Euro-Socialist has finally found its meaning. “It is quite true that the name we secured on 15 January is also linked to the successes we have achieved in gaining international recognition, which also show the trust placed in us. We are the only youth forum in the East accepted into the Socialist Youth International. In my opinion, FRESH’s successes are a consequence of the space the SP has created for it. It is no coincidence that the space this forum should enjoy has been expanded; it is no coincidence that, from district, commune, and municipal councils all the way to MPs, the SP has made room for this forum. That is why the affirmation, strengthening, and such extensive membership of this forum are justified,” concludes Legisi, one of its founders. In any case, Legisi recalls 15 January. (Continued on page 4)

VOLOS - ATHENS: VOLOS - ATHENS 40 ALBANIAN CHILDREN AGED 13 TO 16 ARE IN PRISON

For [?] several days our press has rightly been occupied with the “Brozi affair,” which began, apparently quite by chance, with an incident between his drivers or guards and those of the deputy prosecutor general. The incident may seem like a trivial event not worth discussing, but the fact that it prompted Mr Brozi to express concern in an interview and then at a press conference shows that this incident is the pretext for a dispute in which a small bush conceals a big hare. Several months ago, Mr Brozi had already given signs of a certain rebellion when, after the President granted a pardon by decree to the two journalists of the newspaper “Koha Jonë,” he acquitted the journalists in the Court of Cassation. Some interpreted this event as a ploy by those in power to create the image of a supposedly independent judicial system. Today, however, Mr Brozi’s action—which more clearly reveals his pride in standing up to the highest ranks of power—shows that the first judge of Albania is striving to ensure that his legal judgments are not dictated, and even less controlled, by the power of others. Naturally, Mr Brozi speaks a great deal, not only about the sphere of his work but also about politicians’ lives, their lawful and unlawful actions, and relations among the various branches of power. And about the irregularities committed by [unclear: k?] and [unclear: fak?]. His statements amount to more than a scandal. The facts presented in his latest interview with the newspaper “Koha Jonë” are particularly shocking, because for the first time a senior state official, Mr Brozi, has admitted that the PD government and its structures have organized a [?] for the Mafia [?]. What the Mafia [?] is, and how many people in Albania are involved with it, Mr Brozi surely knows more about; but when one hears [?] Mafia and the perpetrators of [?] in power [?], when they corrupt [?] the authorities, offices and [?] have done [?] in [?] from the newspaper [?].

International seminar organized by the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights, the SOROS Foundation, and the Foundation for a Civil Society, based in New York, on “Freedom of Expression in Post-Communist Societies.” On Sunday afternoon, a two-day seminar on freedom of expression in post-communist countries began in one of the halls of the Palace of Congresses. It was organized by the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights, the Soros Foundation, and the Foundation for a Civil Society, headquartered in New York. On Sunday afternoon, a two-day seminar on freedom of expression in post-communist countries began in one of the halls of the Palace of Congresses. It was Soros Foundation, and the Foundation for a Civil Society, headquartered in New York. Journalists, human-rights activists, lawyers, media specialists, and well-known public figures from Albania, Romania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Macedonia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Austria, the USA, Great Britain, France, Kosovo, Slovenia, Hungary, Denmark, etc. are taking part in the seminar, among them Christina von Kohl. During the first two days, the Albanian and foreign participants held many discussions. The purpose of this seminar, the speakers emphasized at the outset, is to learn about the experience of democratic developments in post-communist societies after the democratic revolutions in these countries, particularly with regard to freedom of expression. At this point, broader cooperation with the West is needed, and it will also be a key to mutual understanding of developments in the East and West. In his speech, Malcolm Smart, deputy regional director of the organization “Article 19” in Great Britain, pointed out that freedom of expression is the key to human rights, and therefore gaining and protecting freedom of expression is a cornerstone of the protection of human rights. He illustrated how those in power try to restrict this freedom of expression through political corruption in the media, laws on state secrets, laws that punish journalists for commenting on government officials, and so on. But alongside freedom of expression there is also the other question: where does this freedom end? The speaker mentioned cases in which the press has encouraged ethnic hatred, as in the conflict in former Yugoslavia. France emphasized that freedom of expression and journalistic ethics are inextricably linked. In his speech, journalist Lirian Zhupa centered on the dilemma “free press or shackled press,” to which he answered generally according to personal [?], and [unclear] that the press in Albania is shackled and that totalitarianism has not yet died, judging by the way the authorities treat the press. The speaker compared the present with the situation [?] four years ago, when pluralism was won and everyone, according to him, thought that (Continued on page 3)

The year 1994 marks the greatest increase in the number of new members admitted to the SP in the Saranda district. By 10 November, a total of 254 people had been admitted, equal to 30 percent of all admissions made in the district to the party. In the days before the referendum and up to now, more than 35 new members have joined, including 8 in the village of Shalë, 4 in Lukovë, and 5 in the city of Saranda. PANAJOT ZOTO

VOLOS - PRISON — Around 2,000 forgotten Albanians are in prisons throughout Greece — A reminder, too, for Mrs Berisha, who drove out UNICEF’s new offices In Volos, near Athens, 40 Albanian children aged between 13 and 16 are imprisoned. They are among the approximately 2,000 Albanians held in Greek prisons. Surely Mr Berisha’s Albanian government is unaware of such a fact, and it has probably never even given thought to solving this problem; it has had much more important matters to attend to. Meanwhile, we are not surprised that the Greek government left no stone unturned for the five Albanian citizens of Greek origin who were sentenced several months ago. We take this opportunity to appeal to Mrs Berisha, who, as the person who drove out UNICEF’s new offices and as the one who unveiled the plaque bearing the name of this worldwide organization, should give at least a little thought to the 40 Albanian children in Volos prison, so that they may return to their families. (Continued on page 2) SHPETIM MALLI

For the city of Korçë, drinking water has become synonymous with the mismanagement of public affairs. The authorities, continuing their promises of 22 March, kept making noise and fuss for some time, advertising in their own press that they would put an end to the problems with the drinking water; they also published an agreement reached with an Italian company. For the city of Korçë, drinking water has become synonymous with the mismanagement of public affairs. The authorities, continuing their promises of 22 March, kept making noise and fuss for some time, advertising in their own press that they would put an end to the problems with the drinking water; they also published an agreement reached with an Italian company to build a water supply system from the mountains of Gramoz. But all this belongs to the initial enthusiasm, because afterwards the hands and feet of the Korçë authorities would be occupied with other matters. The only thing is that the water supply has continued to get worse. On the third, fourth and fifth floors (Continued on page 2)

You Albanians residing in Greece—if you would like to read our newspaper, you have the option of subscribing for three or six months. We will send it to your addresses wherever you are in Greece. Those interested should contact our intermediary office in Athens every day from 17:00 to 21:00, according to Greek local time, at telephone number 019910875. Communication can be in Greek or Albanian. THE EDITORIAL OFFICE