Four years ago, in the final days of 1990, when pluralism was prohibited by law and the authorities spoke only in the language of the Party of Labour, space was made on the front page of the newspaper “Zëri i Popullit” to report that in Student City, hundreds of young men and women had taken to the streets in protest over living conditions. But that December now belongs to the past and, in its own measure, has found its place in the history and memory of the nation as a bright and fortunate day. That small movement later turned into an unstoppable avalanche, which would meet the dictatorship head-on and win. The students, fragile in appearance, were not afraid of the authorities and the police for the first time in their lives. After it, pluralism would be permitted, (Continued on page 4)

SHKODËR Students of «Luigi Gurakuqi» University head home - The university is closed until 4 January - It came as a surprise to the students of «Luigj Gurakuqi» University in Sh- [text continues beyond the edge of the photograph] The university will be closed until 4 January.

In the process of establishing and operating local government after the elections of 26 July 1992, many… … for political contribution between the PS and other parties and forces in efforts to build a genuine democracy, a self-governing local authority based on the principles of legality, decentralization, autonomy and local self-government through democratic means and methods. In the process of establishing and operating local government after the elections of 26 July 1992, much … concerns people, particularly the issues of employment and public order. The failure to intervene in work at the brick factory, in the construction sector, etc., and the opening of other fronts, particularly through cooperation with foreign and private companies, has meant that the number of people employed in a town of 20,000 inhabitants is more than 1,200. Compared with our work, the Government’s investments of 1.7 million lekë are laughable. First of all, we must … … in the future. After an overview of the work of the FRESH leadership, the PS deputy chairman and FRESH deputy chairman, MP Ilir Meta, praised the work carried out so far by this forum’s branch in Elbasan, particularly its involvement in the referendums of 6 December. Commenting on cooperation between the forum and the PS, MP Ndre Legisi and FRESH leadership member Monika Kryemadhi stressed the need to expand the forum and the presence of social democracy into even the most remote villages. “The young people who spoke at the meeting, in addition to expressing their views, called for the forum’s district branch to function better and for more concrete activities. The young people then asked many questions about reforming the PS and Albanian society in general, the PS programme, the Nano issue, the new constitution, etc. MPs I. Meta and N. Legisi answered their questions. SEDJIN CEKANI … the path to a solution. The mayor of the city of Gjirokastër, Bashkim Fino, once again described this municipality’s contribution to solving problems of employment, housing and other issues affecting citizens, solely through initiative and activity, including efforts to confront PD deputies, government officials and even the president. According to him, there is no shortage of legal avenues for solving problems. In the city of Gjirokastër, as a result of the activity and efforts of the municipal council, around 1,200 people have found employment. For us Socialists, said presidium member Limoz Dizdari, the problem needs to be addressed where we do not have a majority. The role of our councillors is to criticize PD policy, stand up and denounce corruption. Corruption has not affected only government officials, but also the grassroots; in connection with this issue, the Socialist Party must provide more information so that the fight can be waged directly and on a well-substantiated basis. The mayor of Lezhë, Agron Dibra, presented the experience of the Socialists … … workers, the regulation governing the functioning of local government, the suspension for 1994 of the allocation to municipalities of 60 percent of the tax on agricultural land, the lack of a legal definition of the subordination of enterprises and institutions to local government, etc. [The text] spoke clearly about the measures the government has taken to keep local government blocked as well. One of the main aims of this blockade is also to undermine the electorate’s confidence in PS representatives in local government and in the Socialist Party itself in the future. Even some steps taken recently to unblock a few of the … At least in Kuçovë, we have made this clear to people, telling them: “Here is the law; here is the government, and as long as the PD is in power, it will be very difficult for us to achieve our aims.” PS presidium member and deputy Dr. Maqo Lakrori set out a series of duties and problems concerning improvement of the structure and functioning of the PS standing committees at the central and local levels … (Continued on page 2)

- The university is closed until 4 January - It came as a surprise to the students of «Luigj Gurakuqi» University. Gurakuqi» University in Shkodër when they were notified that classes were being suspended. This was announced yesterday morning. The staff on duty at the two buildings of the university met the students at the entrance and informed them of the order. The university will be closed until 4 January. The reasons given for this measure were the lack of electricity and, at the same time, the New Year holiday. MUSA KURTULAJ

THE STRIKERS SEEK UNDERSTANDING, BUT NO ONE LISTENS TO THEM The residents of the city of Kukës, as well as those from the villages flooded by Lake Fierzë, continue to follow anxiously the hunger strike of the 13 people who have barricaded themselves in. Everyone is concerned about the health of their companions and whether their demands will be met, whether the president’s decree and the government decision of May will be implemented or not. Yesterday the strike entered its 18th day. The strikers’ health is continuing to deteriorate. It continues … (Continued on page 4)

Eurosocialists have an opportunity to expand. “The admission of the International Union of Socialist Youth is a success for them,” he said; it is also an opportunity for them to become members of the socialist youth of XX. After this natural step comes the obligation to consolidate FRESH’s structures. For this purpose, a group of young eurosocialists, mainly students from the University of … in Elbasan, gathered in the city library hall, at «Metahaga», to discuss the tasks facing the forum …

Another body was found. Meanwhile, late in the morning on Monday, the body of the deceased Agron Mania, 36, from the “Perash” neighborhood of Shkodër, was also found; it is the third body recovered of those who drowned in the lake. He was buried yesterday, accompanied by the grief of hundreds of Shkodër residents. Meanwhile, it was reported that the number of drowned people is 10. It appears that one of them, whose identity is not yet known, is from the village of Zus. Correspondent of «Zëri i Popullit»

— The state of emergency led to a citizen being seriously injured — The state of emergency caused by the serious energy situation brought new difficulties for the residents of the city of Durrës. In addition to the complete darkness, which in many neighborhoods has continued without interruption for 24 hours straight, they were also left without bread. Immediately after the government’s decision to cut the electricity supply by 50 percent, many bakeries that operated on electricity suspended their activity. This led to endless queues of citizens at some of the bakeries that are currently operating—only two. But the relatively small number of these private establishments cannot cope with thou… (Continued on page 2)

Privatization — a major robbery Yesterday around midday, 5 women came to the editorial office and said that… Yesterday around midday, 5 women came to the editorial office and said that the bread shops in their neighborhood had been denied to them; the shops had been sold for 50 thousand, while they work in 50 shops in the city of Tirana—shops that have been returned by municipal decision and are being privatized. What explanation can the state district give us…? … In nine… But, as they say, the documents have passed from hand to hand, the problem has been repeated, we have made our request with determination, and now we see that, when the decision to privatize the bread shops is issued, we are left with nothing. What do we need nationalization for? We need it because, according to the National Privatization Agency, these premises will be put up for auction. That means we must take part in this process by paying 10 percent of the value at auction. This means starting from… … depriving us of ownership of the premises where we have worked for years, because, without a doubt, other people will turn up who have occupied many places and will be allowed to take part in this contrived auction. In another case, they tell us: “You are ‘behind the list’” because the former owners of the land have an inalienable right. We answer them: agreed, former owners may have this right, but why did they not have it for the thousands and tens of thousands of shops privatized in Tirana, but only for 50 premises where bread is sold? Why did the women who came to the editorial office tell us that, together with about 40 other women, they had written to the Presidency in the absence of a response, asking to meet the President—a person who, they hoped, would listen to them. The law-enforcement authorities forcibly removed them from there. These outraged women came to the editorial office and wanted their concerns about ownership of the premises where they work to be made public. They also denounce the conduct of the law-enforcement forces, who acted when they peacefully sought their rights, without having in any case [text unclear] the shops that were is sold? Correspondent of «Zëri i Popullit»

On Friday, December 23, 1994, at 14:00, the Confederation of Trade Unions of Albania and the Trade Union Federation of Employees and Pensioners of Albania are organizing a protest rally at the «Asllan Rusi» Sports Palace in Tirana concerning the miserable and unbearable situation of pensioners, civil servants, service workers, doctors, teachers, intellectuals, trade unionists and supporters of the Confederation and Trade Unions of Albania, in order to jointly demand a change in the situation and measures to make a living possible. Everyone to the «Asllan Rusi» Sports Palace on Friday, December 23, at 14:00. CONFEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS OF ALBANIA, TRADE UNION FEDERATION OF EMPLOYEES AND PENSIONERS OF ALBANIA Tirana, 20.12.1994