Against every dictatorship and dictator Recently, the propaganda organs of the party in power and some of its obedient servants have been speculating more often than usual about the Socialist Party’s lack of renewal and its “continuity and links with the PPSH.” This is an old drumbeat that perhaps would not be worth listening to or pausing to analyze for its undertones. It is a fact known to everyone that the Socialist Party has a modern program and is guided in its work by entirely democratic practices and forms. It has openly proclaimed its alternative for the development of society—an alternative that supports political and economic pluralism, people’s free initiative, and the market economy. It has distanced itself and declared itself long ago against every kind of dictatorship and totalitarianism. It has been the most determined fighter in Albania for the observance of people’s fundamental rights and freedoms, for the social protection of people, and for the protection and broad support of the most disadvantaged sections of Albanian society, such as the unemployed, pensioners, veterans, and those persecuted by the former democratic and pluralist order. The uproar raised against the Socialist Party on this matter is, in fact, noise intended to disguise the arbitrary and dictatorial actions and practices of today’s rulers—actions that bring to mind times gone by. It is the Democratic Party that has revived the old days of political commissars, personnel chiefs who answer to and receive instructions from the party, and class struggle. There is no workplace, from the lowest levels of local government to the central ministries, where people’s appointments have not been made on the basis of party criteria. This applies to school, kindergarten and nursery directors; directors of district departments and ministries; employees of ATSH and Radio and Television; Foreign Ministry employees; diplomats; police officers; and even the accelerated courses for training justice officials loyal to the party. It is the Democratic Party that promotes and decorates nostalgics for dictatorships who have yet to declare openly their crimes against the Albanian people. The experience of these two years shows how newspapers are pursued and shut down for what they publish; journalists are pursued and imprisoned for prominent articles in newspapers; arrests that have brought shame on Europe, as people are sentenced on the order of the bar…[illegible] party; the deputy and chairman of the largest opposition party, and so on—measures that find their parallel in the dictatorship that has passed, which led to the persecution of the opposition and freedom of thought. The uproar raised against the Socialist Party, seizing on a minor incident involving nostalgic and naïve people during the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of liberation, cannot turn it away from defending democratic ideals. The positions of the Socialist Party are not the positions of those people, who may have had no connection with that party at all. Even in this case, the party’s position is the statement of its spokesperson, Servet Pëllumbi—a position that makes no concessions either to yesterday’s dictators or to new ones. Fortunately, times have now changed, and the friends and well-wishers of the Socialist Party, other parties, and the entire people do not judge the Socialist Party by the Democratic Party’s statements, but by its practical, everyday actions—actions that increasingly demonstrate that it and dictator. THOMA GELÇI …democracy and totalitarianism and that the wars were more recent? [upper text cut off]… Albanian society, the protection of fundamental human rights and freedoms, social protection for people, and the protection and sincere support of society’s most disadvantaged groups, such as the unemployed, pensioners, veterans, formerly persecuted people, workers, etc. Through its Presidium, parliamentary group, own press and other bodies, the Socialist Party has used all necessary means and appropriate pressure to secure the adoption of fairer laws, and has denounced laws passed by the Democratic Party’s force of numbers that infringe human rights and freedoms and the constitutional principles of the rule-of-law state. The most prominent examples include its denunciation of the notorious Article 24, which purged people from their jobs and left thousands out on the streets without any right of appeal; it also denounced the unconstitutional law on referendums, raised its voice and called for genuine protection for veterans, pensioners and the unemployed, and denounced the hypocrisy in the treatment of the sick and the persecuted and politically convicted. All this work has demonstrated, and continues to demonstrate, the sincerity of the Socialist Party’s statements and actions. It has shown, and continues to show, that the Socialist Party is an entirely new party that does not inherit anything connected with criminal or dictatorial elements. The society that the Socialist Party aspires to build is an open society of the Western European model, a soc…

Yesterday morning, residents of the lands flooded by Lake Fierzë entered the “Hasan Prishtina” Palace of Culture in the city of Kukës and began another hunger strike. Meanwhile, signatures are still being collected for a strike, since the problem they raised long ago has not been resolved by the relevant government authorities. Correspondent of “Zëri i Popullit.”

For several months, teachers in the commune of Rrashbull, as well as in many other communes in the district of Durrës, have not received the salary compensation for electricity costs. The explanations given by the authorities for this problem vary widely. The familiar refrain about a lack of funds continues, while ...

DURRËS: From the PS meeting in the district DURRËS: The Socialist Party is a political force with broad social support SERVET PELLUMBI: The PS has taken root in the consciousness of the Albanian people as a patriotic and mature party that will deliver clear messages to the people because it has a strong sense of responsibility Last Friday, the PS of the district of Durrës held a meeting at which its work during the campaign for the 6 November referendum was reviewed. The meeting was attended by the PS deputy chairman, Dr. Servet Pëllumbi. In the report delivered on this occasion by B. Agasi, chairman of the PS steering committee, the result of the referendum and its victory as a political battle were assessed. The factors that led to this result, as well as shortcomings observed during the campaign, were identified. The report then focused in particular on the organizational measures taken by the PS in Durrës to halt Berisha’s neo-dictatorship by rejecting the draft constitution, which would have enshrined absolute power in the hands of one individual: the head of state. The report emphasized that, through its vote, the people—having become conscious of the issue—expressed their determination to continue along the path of democracy. They showed that they can no longer be deceived and will not again give their trust to those who violate democracy and the law, who declare and regard [it] as their personal seat of power. The “No” vote on the draft constitution was a major expression of the people’s disillusionment with the PD over the promises mentioned above, its abandonment of the ideals of December, and the usurpation of its leadership by descendants of yesterday’s reactionaries. Turning to the extensive work of (Continued on page 3)

KOPLIK: NAMIK DOKLE: The result of 6 November has become a powerful generator, working ceaselessly for our alternative KOPLIK: Our slogan is not welfare assistance, but employment NAMIK DOKLE: The result of 6 November has become a powerful generator, working ceaselessly for our alternative Analysis of the referendum result was the subject of the PS meeting in Malësia e Madhe. The PS deputy chairman and chairman of the parliamentary group, comrade Namik Dokle, and PS MP Ermënda Meksi had come to attend the meeting. Amid applause for the Socialist Party, Ruzhdi Luli, chairman of the PS in Malësia e Madhe, took the floor, and ... He highlighted the involvement of the security forces, which exerted pressure in Dibër, Dobrovë, etc., and the fact that voting hours and procedures were not observed in some communes. A group of police officers in Kamicë tried to get several ... to vote. “6 November,” he emphasized at the beginning of his speech, “showed that the people can no longer be experimented on.” Turning to the concrete results, he continued that despite the measures taken, 78 percent of the electorate voted in our district, and the “No” result for the draft was 43 percent. Maintaining his position ... …regarding the campaign, he stressed that compared with July 28 there had been a significant increase. He noted the involvement of the security forces, who voting hours and procedures were not observed in some municipalities. A group of police officers in Kamenicë tried to vote several times, he said. “Manipulation was on the agenda,” said PS chairman Ruzhdi Luli; there were cases where manipulation became illogical, he continued, mentioning the case of the village of Omaraj, where the PD received more «Yes» votes than the number of voters on the list. — Concluding, he… (Continued on page 3)

For several months, teachers in the commune of Rashbull, as well as in many other communes in the district of Durrës, have not received the salary compensation for the portion relating to electricity costs. For several months, teachers in the commune of Rashbull, of Durrës, have not received the salary compensation for the portion relating to electricity costs. This has exacerbated the serious financial and economic problems faced by this section of the intelligentsia, which is the poorest because of the extremely low wages it is paid. widely. The recurring claim that funds are lacking continues, while the government maintains that it has distributed and allocated them. This incomprehensible refrain from the government-local authority duet weighs more heavily on teachers’ shoulders every day. MIRELA NDINI

It seems to be a suggestion imposed by the “crazy” traffic and the indifferent attitude of the traffic police in the museum city. The increased number of vehicles moves without any care through the city’s narrow streets; pedestrians are protected only by their own caution and God. They walk pressed against the walls or hide in doorways. Drivers take even more courage from this(!) The committee, it seems, is also emboldened in proposing to widen the streets and lanes.

Once again Tirana is engulfed in darkness like no other city in the world. It is the fourth year without electricity, a wound whose healing time is unknown, considering that, despite all the talk, no investment has been made. The capital’s residents have no choice but to console themselves with the expression “The Government of Darkness.”

Around 200 intellectuals and Eurosocialists from the city of Patos took part in a cocktail gathering organized by the PS Steering Committee and the Eurosocialist Forum of the city. The writer Dritëro Agolli and Socialist MPs Mago Lakrori, Pandeli Majko and Ndre Legisi also attended the gathering. It was a good opportunity for participants to have an open discussion with the guests about issues of culture, literature and the arts, and other matters of interest to the public today. The gathering was opened by the chairman of the Patos Eurosocialist Forum, Mihal Londo, who, after welcoming the guests, gave the floor to the writer Dritëro Agolli. “We have come here first of all as people of culture,” Dritëro Agolli said at the beginning of his speech. “But it is a fact that in Albania and the Balkans there is no one who does not engage in politics. Those who say they do not engage in politics are liars. To engage in politics means to seek changes in the situation. Those who call on people not to engage in politics want the existing status quo to be preserved. During the dictatorship, although it was said that pol… (Continued on page 3)

The 22nd General Assembly of the IAC (World Veterans Federation) is holding its proceedings in Bordeaux, France, from 1 to 6 December. The chairman of the National Committee of Veterans of the Albanian People’s National Liberation Anti-Fascist War, comrade Piro Dodbiba, is also attending the meeting as a guest. Friendly and cooperative ties had long been established between these organizations. Some time ago, the leadership of the FMA invited the Committee of the LANÇ Organization to send a delegation, since the 22nd Assembly would consider its admission to this world organization with full…[cut] …of the Veterans Organization of the LANÇ, with all rights within its ranks. On behalf of the Veterans Organization of the LANÇ, its National Committee chairman, Piro Dodbiba, spoke. He thanked the organization for the great honor bestowed on our veterans’ organization, recalled our people’s heroic war against the Nazi-Fascist occupiers and Balkan forces, which culminated in the liberation of the homeland on 20 November 1944, and spoke about the activities of the veterans and organizations defending the ideals of the homeland and this people. His speech was received with great warmth and esteem by everyone present. The Assembly continues its proceedings. The Congress of «Zëri i popullit»

Conceived as a victory…[?] meeting, the gathering of the Socialist Party activists of the Pogradec district was held in that spirit. It came immediately after numerous reviews in the grassroots organizations in the villages and the town concerning the victories of November 6, where achievements were identified and new tasks for the future were set. At this gathering, the Pogradec socialists shared their experience and congratulated one another on the victory, which «…»[?] in the by-elections, and so on. The victory of November 6, said the chairman of the district PS, Tajar Koleci, in his speech, is historic not only because of the results achieved, but because of its values and substance. The Socialist Party and its electorate, all decent people, avoided a divided government through these measured and mature actions, he said. «Yes» as well, they wanted it, and «No» against democracy; a free Albania…[lower text cut off] …its…[?], it said «YES» to breaking the chains and to the release of Fatos Nano; brought back here the historical importance of this referendum’s victory, which has awakened the whole people. …[illegible passage]… …the result, to see whether it could overcome yesterday’s…[?] … …as we have the right to rejoice; our joy in dignity and another historic rise; the acceptance of the Albanian youth forum into the Socialist International and the European youth forum…[?] … (Continued on page 2)

The Canadian Ambassador in Budapest, Mr. Rodney Irwin, received PS Deputy Chairman Ilir Meta at an embassy session. Ilir Meta briefed the Canadian ambassador on the latest political developments in Albania, particularly following the referendum on the Draft Constitution, and on the positions of the PSSH. During the meeting, which was held in a friendly atmosphere, views were exchanged on the political situation in Albania. The embassy’s first political attaché, Mr. Arkambashti, also attended the meeting.

Community (ECSY) is being held in Munich from 2–4 December 1992. The ECSY Secretary-General, M. Fiss Kodyer, is attending this congress, as is the chairman of FRESSH and PS, Ilir Meta. FRESSH spokesperson.

… million lekë. … road - Lu… 425-15. [text cut off]