THE PATCHED-UP GOVERNMENT IN PARLIAMENT PRIME MINISTER MEKSI: “I’M SORRY FOR THE MAN; I HAVE LITTLE WORK” - Fehmi Abdlu, PS - We have not decided that governing bodies should be created in parliament, as they have been. Even for this, the prime minister must provide explanations. - Eduart Selami, PD - We, as parliament, have the right to say that Deputy Prime Minister Vrioni, newly appointed, cannot represent Mr. Meksi. - Petrit Kalakula, PDD - I demand that the prime minister tell us about the dismissed ministers: are they corrupt or incompetent? - Perikli Teta, PAD - They say that the Minister of Justice, Mr. Frashëri, was convicted as a gambler. Mr. Meksi can clarify the truth for us. Apparently, the discussion on approving parliament’s agenda became a real opportunity for deputies from all parliamentary groups to express a truth that was “boiling over,” but had not had the chance to erupt. As soon as Mr. Pjetër Arbnori decided that the president’s decree on appointments to the government should be put on the agenda for approval, the long-awaited debate began. It was bound to bring to the fore quite a few “grievances” and “dissatisfactions” concerning practices across the entire government. Deputy Kalakula, among the most outspoken in denouncing grievances, considered it essential for Mr. Meksi to come to parliament and say of the dismissed ministers: are they corrupt or incompetent? The prime minister should come to parliament to provide the relevant explanations. Kalakula’s position was that the return of the prime minister and hearing from him were essential. “If parliament has not decided to create governing bodies as they have been created,” he said, “then even for this Mr. Meksi must explain himself in parliament.” Perhaps it was Mr. Abdiu’s arguments that led the leader of the PD, deputy Eduart Selami, to take the floor immediately afterward. He considered the deputies’ request that Mr. Meksi come to parliament reasonable. Mr. Selami then “struck” harder when he said: Prime Minister Dyler Vrioni cannot represent Mr. Meksi.” Like Meksi, Selami also called for consensus regarding the violation of the law concerning the timing of approval of the president’s decree, whereas for PS deputy Abdiu there had been no violation of the law. PAD deputy Perikli Teta broadened the range of issues on which the prime minister should answer to parliament. Deputy Teta said Meksi should clarify certain matters, even for public opinion, concerning things being said about the Minister of Justice, Mr. Frashëri. “They say,” he said, “that Mr. Frashëri was convicted as a gambler. Whether or not it is true, the prime minister should clarify this.” After a vote, it was decided, almost unanimously, that the president’s decree would be placed on the agenda, but discussed and approved only after the prime minister came to parliament to provide the requested explanations. BASHKIM KOÇI Kula, among the most outspoken in denouncing the grievances, described Mr Meksi’s appearance in parliament as essential, so that he could The prime minister’s appearance in parliament to provide the relevant explanations, according to Kalakula, would amount to ordering him to leave the parliamentary chamber. The chairman of the Presidium, Pjetër Arbnori, sensing the unanimous reaction of the deputies in the chamber, put forward, as a «way out», Mr Meksi’s authorization for the newly appointed deputy prime minister, Dylber Vri-oni, to respond to the issues concerning the deputies. The Democratic Party deputy Minga, perhaps to avoid openly appearing to insist that Mr Meksi come to parliament, called for a consensus to postpone the vote on the decree, waiting until the prime minister returned from his assignment abroad. The route of Mr Meksi’s trip, Rinas-Paris-Cairo-Rinas, and the obligation to appear in parliament make the arguments put forward by Socialist Party deputy Fehmi Abdiu all the more compelling. For

Nepotism among today’s Democratic Party officials knows no limits and has no scruples. After the announcement of the third changes to the Meksi government, which analysts considered an earthquake in the PD’s governance, many people were surprised at how a minister who had headed the Ministry of Labour and Emigration (although for three years there had been neither work nor emigration) could be promoted and made deputy prime minister. And the surprises do not end there. What is more, the former minister, who spent three years doing nothing and has a degree in agricultural economics, now heads the Ministry of Construction and Tourism! People were even more surprised to learn that in the only country in the world, Albania, the finance minister is neither a financier nor an economist, but a mechanical engineer. The issue of government changes was never raised or discussed in parliament: why not merge the Ministry of Defence with the Ministry of Health? It was a biting, extreme accusation, but it expressed a reality: our government officials in the PD leadership, including the President, after the disappointment of the 6 November referendum, do not know what to do with power. They behave with it like fools… The latest fact showing just how far the PD’s governing crisis has gone is this: the first appointed minister of the Ministry of Labour, Emigration and Social Welfare, Mr. Engjëll Dakli, is in fact the nephew—or, more precisely, the sister’s son—of the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Abdyl Xhaja. Once again, a record has been set in Albania: a nephew and his maternal uncle are members of the same government cabinet. This shows that nepotism has taken over every cell of the Democratic Party’s thinking, the party in power. A source from Elbasan says that Mr. Engjëll Dakli’s appointment as minister came after the PD branch in that district expressed dissatisfaction that cadres from Elbasan were not being valued. Thus, the appointment was received with appreciation, but also with a certain surprise that Mr. Dakli accepted this almost honorary post. Some see his promotion as a warning that his uncle will be demoted from his ministerial position, especially since he has passed through, without distinction or effectiveness, the Government of Stability of Ylli Bufi, the technical government of Vilson Ahmeti, and the Meksi Government, which has been reshuffled several times. ELSA SANI.

REAL SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS, NOT “SECURITIES” - On the 12th day of their strike, the hunger strikers call for support - The night before last, RTV said in its news broadcast that residents of the flooded areas would receive full compensation and that a working group had been set up to fund their families. Regarding this issue, yesterday we spoke by telephone with the chairman of the district council, UK Todaj, who told us that the hunger strike was continuing. The strikers listened attentively to the TV report and were dissatisfied with the information given. They remain committed to their two demands: they must receive the loan in full, in cash, in Kukës, and their land must be classified as building land. They also demand that the president come to Kukës to speak with the strikers. Yesterday the strike delegation met representatives of the European Community based in Kukës, and they discussed the demands being put forward by the strikers. The EC representatives said they would press all the competent authorities to secure a definitive resolution of their demands. We also spoke about this meeting and the continuation of the strike with its deputy chairman, Besnik Oruçi, and the chairman of the district Socialist Party, Muhamet Bela. Yesterday the strike delegation issued a statement because they were dissatisfied with what had been said on TV. It also announced that a rally would be held on Friday morning in front of the district cultural centre. According to the strike delegation’s statement, they seek concrete solutions to the problems raised under the president’s decree of July and the government’s decision, not “securities”—as they call the securities offered as part of the privatisation of the hydroelectric power plant. “What is striking,” says Muhamet Bela, “is that government officials have not come to talk with the strikers.” At the same time, the strikers distance themselves from any action that might be carried out, and from any “volunteer strikers” who might emerge and disrupt people’s daily lives in the village and the city. They ask for solidarity and support because this is the 12th day of their hunger strike and no steps are being taken to hold talks with them. Kukës is not far for government officials to come and resolve their grievances with them, to visit freely. The strikers have received many letters and telegrams of solidarity from villages in the districts of Kukës, Has and Tropojë. Indeed, in the village of Fierze, many representatives of families whose land was flooded have also joined the hunger strike. Outside the hall, in front of the cultural centre, there are many people, residents of the city and villages, supporting the strikers. Many of them stay through the night beside fires they have lit, because it is cold and very foggy. The strikers thank everyone who supports and stands in solidarity with them. The Socialist Party in the district also disagrees with the information TV gave the night before last because, Muhamet Bela says, things are being done differently now from before the referendum campaign. The amount allocated to compensate residents of the flooded areas does not meet the strikers’ needs, and it cannot be paid promptly through the housing agencies because they impose various taxes on them. The situation cannot be addressed from the top of the pyramid; instead, we must get our feet on the ground, engage in dialogue with the strikers and resolve their problems as quickly as possible. Correspondent of “Zëri i popullit”

Yesterday, too, we read with deep emotion the piece by the deepest of the PD—Edi P. (P stands for Palokë, singular)—entitled “What [?] do I care, I’m an ‘ignoramus’”; there Edi P. presents himself as a realist and admits, in his own words, writing and signature, that he is ignorant and is not to blame for not understanding what is written in newspapers. A good thing! Edi deserves congratulations for his sincerity and courage: he knows what he is! And that is no small thing. There are other Eds who do not know what they are. For example, they may think they are party leaders when they are merely decorative puppets. So Edi P. has made progress. We wish him success in continuing to get to know himself: E. P.

Refugees write to us THE SINGER OF FRIENDSHIP - Dedicated to the renowned Greek singer Marinela - It is the 1970s and ’80s. A young Greek woman successfully spreads the songs of her ancient people across Europe. With this people, we are very close in our joys, yet very far away at the same time. After many successes in her homeland and in Europe’s concert halls, she also crosses the ocean, goes to faraway America, and from there comes to the city dearest to us, Tirana, becoming one of those artists who break the ice in the cold relations between the two countries. The invitation at that time from the neighbouring state was indeed genuine, we believe, Marinela. But this was also the moment for Marinela, during these difficult years, to bring to light a new obligation for her future career. The hours of other days concern her with fre… [?] the crystallisation of the muse? [?] to seek an artistic or financial fund? For ten years of sighing, not to do? [?] From these rumours… [?] But she has been […] Marinela is a Greek girl singer with a distinctive voice. A young woman with artistic individuality and the popularity she enjoys, although many years have passed since her visit to Albania, is very well known among us. Many people have her voice on cassette tapes; her songs, like messages of friendship, are sung by many at celebrations. But few know that the woman, a wife? [?], has had an Albanian refugee couple in her home for three years. They are a young couple from southern Albania, whom hardship has cast into neighbouring Greece. At Marinela’s, they have found a friend and a parent; they have found correct conduct and an example of good behaviour. Let us illustrate this with a simple but very meaningful example, one that emigrants feel better than anyone else. When it is time to sit down and eat, if a [?] has a language, so do the two Albanians. With a delicate attentiveness, not at all […?], they forget that they are foreigners in Marinela’s home. Nevertheless, almost the whole house is in the refugees’ hands, only one [?] of it, because her heavy workload keeps her away from the daily household chores. Her tour last spring included several concerts in Cyprus and was a great success. Now she is preparing for a trip to Canada. Although busy with a great deal of work, she finds time for the young people from Albania, who at first did not know any Greek at all. Marinela’s exemplary way of communicating made those minutes or hours they spent together easier to forget. Last summer the Albanian refugee couple went to Albania on holiday. After spending time with their parents and friends, they set off again for Athens. At Kakavijë, Lika, the wife, passed without difficulty, while Çetja, the husband, not only could not pass but had all his documents and visa torn up. Marinela was worried and immediately, the very next day, set off for Kakavijë with three others, together with the driver, who himself could not manage it. Because the two Albanians had found [?] of the heart. But she also did it because she is (Continued on page 3)

Just a few days ago, a letter drew attention to the unjustified delays in electing village councils and village headmen. The terms of the councils and village headmen expired two months ago; in this way, the people’s free vote is being openly abused. Let us assume for a moment that the district leaders’ excuse is valid (although it is not): “We have been busy with the Referendum meetings.” More than a month has passed since 6 November. Why is the implementation of this task being delayed, when it should have been completed at the beginning of October? At the Mirditë district council, while seeking information on progress in carrying out this task, we learned a rather surprising fact. The Prefect of Lezhë, Mr. Esat Hasani, in his letter no. 10, dated 16.11.1994, orders the Mirditë district council to suspend the election of councils and village headmen until further notice. What is the reason for issuing this order? At the Mirditë district council they justify it by saying: “The prefect’s order must be obeyed,” although they know very well the reasons for this delay; nevertheless, they use this order as a “protective umbrella.” “Correspondent of ‘Zëri i Popullit’”

FOOTBALL A defeat we did not deserve... ALBANIA 0 – GEORGIA 1 The third match of our national team in the European Championship qualifiers has once again ended in defeat to the Georgians. After the encouraging performances in Wales and Tirana against the national teams of Wales and Germany, it was rightly expected that not only would our play improve, but, most importantly, that we would win against the Georgian eleven in yesterday’s match, played at the national «Qemal Stafa» Stadium. However, everything was settled in the 18th minute of the first half, following the only goal, scored after a flowing Georgian move. After creating chances from the very beginning of the match, Bajko’s eleven failed to impose themselves on their opponents during the first 45 minutes. In the second 45 minutes, they appeared completely unrestrained, organized and, evidently, fluent. From the start of the second half, our team began playing as though it had forgotten the first-half score, with a clear focus on the Georgian goal. The substitutions of Vat and Lekbelo did not diminish the team’s play; indeed, the introduction of Shuku and Majo enlivened it. The masterful Demollari took complete control of midfield; with two set-piece shots that rattled the post, he was the player who came closest to scoring, but was also the unluckiest. In any case, the performance was pleasing, and the injuries sustained deserve acknowledgment; not forgetting here the entire national team management staff, led by coach Bajko, and all the many supporters of the national team, who were also present for this match. On Sunday, December 18, at 15:30, Bajko will be in Germany to face Berti Vogts for the second time in nearly a month. Our national team went out to play with twice the determination in Germany as well, and even forced the then coach Jup Derual [?] to get up from the bench to throw balls to the players, after Tomorri’s precious goal. «Correspondent of “Zëri i Popullit”»

On Saturday, 17 December 1994, at 11 a.m., a meeting of the FRESSH General Steering Committee will be held at the Socialist Party headquarters in Tirana. FRESSH spokesperson.