- 100 people confined for 6 days are risking their lives; 3 have been hospitalized - STATEMENT BY THE PARLIAMENTARY GROUP OF THE SOCIALIST PARTY On December 3, representatives of families whose land was flooded by the hydroelectric plants on the Drin River began their second hunger strike in Kukës. They are demanding the urgent resolution of the problems they first put forward during their initial strike, held in May 1994. The problem is not unknown. For two years they have sought a solution through legal channels and with unparalleled patience. But what response have they received? Parliament has approved more than 200 laws, but the draft law on this issue has been locked away in safes. Mr. Berisha, before he was president, supported the rights of the inhabitants of these areas, but when they began their first strike he labeled them extremists. Mr. Meksi’s government sent half a dozen ministers, not to solve the problem, but to use force against the strikers and their supporters. And when it failed to succeed through force, it resorted to deception, issuing a decision that has still not been implemented even after five months. Six days have passed since the strike began in Kukës, and our strikers are met with silence; those in power pretend not to hear, as if this strike were taking place at the North Pole and not in a city in our country, involving Albanian citizens who are demanding their rights. Even though they have already been deceived once, they are again seeking dialogue to find a solution together. About 100 strikers are confined, and hundreds of others stay day and night outside the strike hall, but the government remains silent. Three strikers have been hospitalized, and others are in deteriorating health; the government remains silent again. To say that this is an expression of its incompetence is an understatement. Therefore, the parliamentary group of the Socialist Party demands that Mr. Meksi’s government urgently examine the situation, hold all state bodies responsible for delaying the resolution of the problems, and put an end to propaganda deception. There is only one solution: take urgent and decisive measures to meet the vital demands of the rural population in these areas. They are asking for the most basic thing anyone can ask for: the bread that comes from their land. It is the government’s duty to provide an appropriate, reasonable, and definitive solution. At the strikers’ request, the PS parliamentary group will immediately summon Prime Minister Meksi to an urgent parliamentary session to report on the situation and on a concrete solution to the problem. Tirana, December 8, 1994 For the PS Parliamentary Group, Chairman, NAMIK DOKLE

On the fourth anniversary of the December Student Movement Brajan Adams was more successful than the Albanian President in December ’94, in «Democracy» Square. He draws a crowd for Mr. Berisha! December 8, 1994. The rain has stopped, a rare wind has gone; the water, too, and the lights! They still haven’t come back; the men have lit candles to protect themselves; the newspapers announce that today is «The Night That Brings Sali Berisha to Power»; and that even today «Berisha’s arrival among the students remains uncertain». But today is the day of the downfall of a regime that took Hoxha’s name for its own; it is the morning that recognized young people as fighters; students—it is the morning that filled Albanian life with another term, and then with another reality: pluralism. But, strangely, these people attributed the leadership of this day to Berisha. Why, people? - What’s the matter, uncle, that you’re shouting? he asks. Berisha, are you basking in the success of the December ’94 students? The March people Athmori, Margilaj, Shehu, etc., celebrated among 200 students and the extinguished «torch-bearers», while the December activists have been declared enemies. A 15-year-old is hanging onto the door of a city bus that won’t stop; someone faces him. - I don’t have electricity, uncle dear, Don’t laugh at me, because your uncle raised 8 children, while my son can’t raise even one because there’s no bread—he gets angry and tells me. - Stay there, uncle, or the SHK-u will register you; besides, who has electricity for you to have any?—the 15-year-old continues. Although it is sunny, Tirana still has the gloomy appearance left by yesterday’s rain. And why—is it only because of the rain?! Yesterday, once again, there was no electricity and no water; there was rubbish. In any case, today is the students’ day. It comes once a year. - The March people Athmori, Margilaj, Shehu, etc., celebrate activists have been declared enemies. - And they are privileged for a year. How fortunate they are! Look: yesterday, those who were here in the dormitories at «21 Dhjetori», as well as four others, had no electricity. Today, for lunch, these people here in Student City—and those others—have Carolina and Juniku; in Italy; Germany; Greece; in the grave; in the enemy’s war; but they are nowhere to be found here. In any case, it seems they are ready to celebrate here. Brajan Adams invites the students to sing along to the melody with him. And they sing, though there are only a few of them. (To be continued on page 3)

GREECE: 70 ALBANIAN CHILDREN VICTIMS IN VOLOS Fruitful cooperation between “Zëri i Popullit” and the Greek Ministry of Culture for the benefit of Albanian children For more than 6 months, the newspaper «Zëri i Popullit», in cooperation with the Greek Ministry of Culture, has been helping Albanian children who have been confined in various prisons in Greece. There are 70 of them in Volos. The reasons for their confinement vary. Nevertheless, over the course of 2 years, 2 of them are missing. An element of violence and tradition was good. They celebrate religious holidays, watch theatre, films, etc. It is now expected that an Albanian teacher will also begin working there. The confined children have many Albanian-language books at their disposal, recent publications, foreign-language dictionaries, tapes with Albanian songs, video cassettes with Albanian films, leading Albanian newspapers, etc. The newspaper «Zëri i Popullit» provides considerable assistance in this regard. Nevertheless, this is far from enough. The Albanian state must find a way as soon as possible to help these children. We find the indifference of the Albanian embassy in Athens strange. We remind it that a year ago, when two German children committed a crime in Switzerland, the German foreign ministry and its embassy in Zurich sprang into action. It is a crime

A press seminar organized by the «National Democratic Institute for International Affairs» and the «Association for Democratic Culture». Yesterday, a two-day journalism seminar organized by the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs and the Association for Democratic Culture began in Tirana. Yesterday, a two-day journalism and the Association for Democratic Culture began in Tirana. It is worth noting that this is the second seminar in a few weeks to include American journalists and other guests. In his speech, one of the organizers, Elez Biberaj, highlighted the crucial role played by the press in the democratic processes of societies in transition. While noting positive developments, he said that observations had led to the conclusion that there is little respect for the press and for the restrictions imposed by Albanian press law, despite its generally positive aspects. For Remzi Lani, one of the discussants, Albanian journalism is more about opinion than fact, while political newspapers resemble games in which journalists shoot at one another. In his view, Albanian television today is a state bunker, and the state should lift the information embargo. Another discussant, Reiz Çiço, emphasizing that he was speaking only in an individual capacity and from a professional standpoint, said, among other things, that after March 22, 1992, television made a qualitative leap and served the democratic processes. In his speech he raised the question of whether TV is now serving democratic processes. He then asked another question: Is TV currently experiencing a credibility crisis? Blendi Fevziu, discussing the relationship between fact and commentary, noted that two or three years ago commentary played a major role in the democratic processes. Another discussant, speaking about sources of information, noted the need for press offices that exist in theory to function normally, and either for press offices to be opened in state departments or for the time to have come for some kind of ministry or committee or whatever for information, where official information would be provided every day so that the public is not misinformed and conjectural comments and speculation can thus be eliminated. Others gave examples of ministers issuing internal orders the day after the press law was passed, blocking and concentrating information solely in the hands of the minister and deputy. Karlo Bolino, in his speech, and Peter Lucas shared the view that a journalist should not wait for information from press offices, but should «steal» it, even if that means breaking down doors; that is why the press is also called the fourth estate, Lucas noted. Shawn Hanson, who works for the press office of one of the American lawmakers, noted that officials are not very keen on talking to journalists; some are even afraid of them because they may be quoted inaccurately, have phrases taken out of context, or be written about in a way that reflects what the journalist already thought. She emphasized that a politician who knows how to work with the press and the media is capable, since through them they convey their views to the people. The seminar then continued in sessions on the relationship between commentary and fact: when an opinion is offered and when it is presented raw, as politicians give it, without adding or removing even a comma. Mr. Bibera explained how «Zëri i Amerikës» operates—its dependence on the state and its independence from it. He noted that «Zëri i Amerikës» also reports criticism of the US president. The second session debated journalistic ethics as a code that Albanian journalists themselves should create and observe.

- Within 2 hours, the total amount of fines reached 48 million lekë - DURRËS These days in the city of Durrës, in a «lightning» strike by the financial police, another «acrobatics» routine was carried out, apparently directed entirely by our government officials. Here, this time, the victims of this «acrobatics» were the owners of shops and various private establishments, who felt the impact of catastrophic fines ranging from 1 to 6 million lekë. The Durrës financial police, in cooperation with the escort from the Tirana financial police directorate, headed by the head of the legal section, Mr. Bujar Kaloshi, managed within 2 hours to secure a total of 48 million through the very high fines it imposed. The reason for collecting these fines, according to the claims of this police directorate, was the improper functioning of the cash registers. However, according to the testimony of the employees at these establishments, the financial police’s action was arbitrary and unplanned, since even establishments that had been closed that day were not spared; their receipts had been thrown at the door. The leading role in this feverish campaign was played by the Tirana financial police, which, refusing to listen to reason, acted arrogantly and with full authority, showing itself to be «merciless» in its actions. The owners of the establishments, indignant at these arbitrary actions, refused to sign the fine notices, as they considered them unjustified. This was the case, for example, with the Benetton firm (600,000 lekë); Bar Lulishte Ali Paşa (1 million); Lokal Torra (100,000 lekë); Hotel Kashta (3 million 500 thousand lekë); Firma Kodak (1 million lekë). (To be continued on page 2)

Bulqizë It is being said that the chromium enrichment plant, one of the largest workplaces in Bulqizë, will be put into conservation next year. The consequence of this action by the DP government will be to put more than 300 workers, mainly women, out on the street, and to end the income from chromium concentrate, a major source of income for our country.

Sarandë With 52 villages in all, Saranda either has—or cannot manage to have—even 20 elected village elders. They say their village has been blocked by the prefect from Vlora. What a strange thing with the PD! After November 6, it is leaving our villages without village elders. And today the villages have more elderly people, with extensive emigration; sons have left and the elderly have been left alone, SARANDIOTI

Shkodër – Malësi e Madhe For at least three hours a day, the electricity supply is cut off in these two districts. This is described as a “legal” interruption, because it is carried out according to a special schedule, in order to prevent the risk of high-voltage transformers burning out as a result of overloading. But outages also occur when the supply is not being restricted. This happens because the low-voltage network cannot handle the entire load. According to the director of the Shkodër electricity company, compared with last year, the load on the lines and transformers this winter is 35–40 percent higher, as a result of the increase in household electrical appliances. The reconstruction carried out so far has focused more on repairing the high-voltage lines. In the face of this situation, everyone understands that using kerosene and firewood is essential. However, it should be said that the city is still distributing just 10 liters of kerosene per family per month. It is clear that this amount is too small. It is strange that kerosene, like other fuels, has crossed the border in tons. The shortage of kerosene, and the lack of concern by those whose duty it is to think about the winter season, leaves citizens with the need to cook and heat their homes using electricity. But, as we stressed at the beginning, this network can no longer cope. — | MUSA KURTULAJ

SARANDË: Enterprises in private hands Vasil Çako, chairman of the district council, ranks Saranda among the progressive districts in privatization. All have been privatized except the water-supply enterprise and the shop enterprises, whose documents are being processed. The official says that the process was conducted fairly and lawfully: the shops and production enterprises were sold to their employees, and 25–30 percent of them were put up for auction. The process has stalled at joint enterprises, or co-owned businesses. That is the new decision ... (text partly illegible) ... There are objections that conflict with legal logic and the Civil Code itself; there is uncertainty in the relationships between the two parties, the landowner, etc. The matter remains to be resolved in 1995. But the Government still has to act on whether work will proceed under the Code or under the decision, and whether the privatization platform—also expected to ease the dilemmas faced by these enterprises—will be awaited. Other prospective owners are waiting to acquire enterprises. THANAS DINO

Elbasan The Italian citizen, priest Salvatore Kalone, equipped the Belesh general secondary school with 17 new doors and 60 new windows, worth more than 335,000 lekë. He also provided 100 square meters of glass and a quantity of notebooks and ballpoint pens to support the normal running of classes. This is neither the first nor the only aid given to schools. Some time ago, another Italian citizen donated an encyclopedic library to Elbasan’s «Aleksandër Xhuvani» University. Even greater assistance, particularly from religious missionaries, has been provided to this city’s health institutions. In the center of Mollas Commune, they renovated the hospital and maternity ward buildings and also brought a complete set of modern equipment. Their contribution to both schools and hospitals is expected to extend to other villages as well, regardless of the religious beliefs of their inhabitants. S. ÇEKANI

In Casablanca, Kingdom of Morocco, the 7th Summit of the Organization of the Islamic Conference is holding its proceedings from December 9 to 14. It will begin with a meeting of senior leaders, which will be followed by the regular meeting of foreign ministers. The summit will culminate in a meeting of heads of state and government, at which our country will be represented by a government delegation headed by Deputy Prime Minister Dashamir Shehi. S. ÇEKANI

Correspondent of «Zëri i Popullit»