The Government’s latest decision to increase prices for several key oil products, as well as transport fares, has sparked debate, discussion and reactions in recent days, especially among the broad mass of people who bear the burden. Price liberalization is undoubtedly one of the most delicate components of economic reform on the path toward a market economy. To what extent, when and how will this liberalization be carried out? As a natural measure coordinated with the whole range of factors linked to reform and the living standards of the broad working masses, or spontaneously, mechanically and immediately, solely for financial and budgetary purposes, with devastating social consequences? The SP has already given its general response to this issue in its newly announced Program. Nevertheless, we approached economists and obtained their opinions, while also inviting all other economists to contribute to the newspaper’s pages.

The latest increase in fuel prices and transport fares, carried out by the Meksi Government quietly, fearfully and without transparency, raises many troubling questions. Why is no explanation being offered for the reasons that compelled the government to make these price increases? What is the domestic production of fuel? To what extent does this production meet domestic needs, and what percentage of it is exported? What is the volume of fuel imports, and have fuel prices changed on the international market? In light of these questions, which naturally raise suspicions, the answer is quite clear[?]. The only answer that can be given under these circumstances, with some logic, is that this increase is being made simply to raise budget revenues, regardless of whether

The latest decisions by the Meksi Government to increase the prices of fuel and gas, as well as passenger transport tickets, are certainly in keeping with the price-liberalization policy this government has pursued and continues to pursue. Fuel prices are considered fundamental and have an impact on the costs and prices of other products (and transport); consequently, this measure, together with the other decision made in recent days to raise electricity prices for non-household users, will inevitably lead to a general, chain-reaction increase in the prices of all goods in our country. This would be justifiable if, at the same time, it were accompanied by the immediate indexation (increase) of wages in all sectors, pensions, payments to people receiving assistance and benefits for families eligible for economic aid. Otherwise, such a measure would

What stands out in the latest price increases is that the price of urban transport passes (season tickets) has risen tenfold, urban bus tickets about 23-fold, and gasoil 45-fold compared with the liberalized prices. Thus, as can be seen, the state-controlled ceiling prices have risen much faster than the average rate of increase in prices overall, which is about 10.5 times. This position embodies and characterizes the essence of the ruling party’s stabilization program, whose distinguishing feature is a reduction in demand. A main feature of this policy is restraining growth, squeezing low incomes, and mass unemployment, which are promoted and regarded as conditions for encouraging entrepreneurs and foreign investors. Despite all the evidence, the Meksi government continues to implement this policy doggedly. Its harm lies not only in its high social cost; it is also an ineffective policy. One need only recall the effect that the rise in fuel prices will have on further curbing agricultural production. In agriculture, too, the prices of production inputs (mechanized operations, fertilizers, irrigation water) have risen faster than those of agricultural products.

Meeting of parliamentary parties Yesterday, the planned meeting of the parliamentary parties on the constitutional bill was held in one of the premises of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly. Representatives of the parliamentary parties PS, PAD, PSD, PR and PNDNJ took part; each was also represented by a constitutional-law specialist. PDD did not attend this meeting because it has declared itself in favor of a Constituent Assembly. Following discussions by representatives of all the participating parties, it was decided to proceed with preparing the constitutional bill. The meeting stressed that drafting the constitutional bill is a legitimate action by political forces, because legislative initiatives concerning constitutional laws do not belong solely to the majority, but to any group of deputies, provided that they make up one quarter of parliament. A working group was also established at this meeting to draft the constitutional proposal. It is made up of the country’s best specialists in constitutional law. This group will begin work within the week. Correspondent 1, «Zëri i Popullit»

Korçë Life cannot be put off by

— A conversation with a villager from Goricaniç — “May no one fall ill.” This is the wish offered by the villagers of Gorican in Kuçovë. To someone who has been to Gorican, this expression seems the most generous wish that could be given to any resident of Hinga, Gorican, Malosli or Kuç. “May no one fall ill.” This is the wish offered by the villagers of Goricani in Kuçovë. To someone who has been to Gorican, this expression seems the most generous wish that could be given to any resident of Hinga, Gorican, Malosli or Kuç. These are villages far from the asphalt road, but until three years ago they had a fairly good gravel road, which was maintained and remained passable in winter and summer. Try complaining today! In the village of Malos, one can only talk about getting there by helicopter, because otherwise you cannot reach it. The six kilometers separating Gorican from the paved road have now become a road full of water-filled potholes. “It would be too much to call this a road,” says Nezir Vrani. But look at the arduous journeys these residents have to make. Their hardship also includes the telephone, which they remember by when it broke down. “They hear about deaths that happen far away only on the fortieth day,” Kadri Hoxha tells us. The villagers in this area are tormented over a piece of firewood. Ever since the road fell into disrepair, the wood has “disappeared.” The bakeries were destroyed toward the end of ’92, and that was the end of everything. “We bake bread with corn stalks. Even those who buy an electrical appliance find it unusable because there is no electricity,” says the talented farmer Sali Dushku. “We give a lot to the land, and it gives us little.” It is a shame to suffer so much in the heart of Myzeqe. Even the area’s nurse is hard to distinguish from someone tending animals, since she does both jobs. Haxhi and Novruz Tafa brought up a great many concerns in their conversation. “So many things—the ambulance, telephones, the power-line pole, shops, bakeries, the road—we had them, and they were destroyed, and now we suffer for it ourselves. The promises and the ‘white horse’ have made fools of us.” These days the villagers have sent the president a telegram with this text: “Mr. President, we are in Goricaniçan, not Afghanistan.” Let us hope for a reply to the telegram. VASIL MALO

Every day, more and more citizens can be seen entering the gate of the Tirana Textile Combine. They are all people from particularly vulnerable groups, elderly people and women heading households. They are the new residents of the newest “city.” Entire families have occupied the warehouses in the eastern section of Spinning Mill 1, the velvet factory and the wool-textile factory. More than 40 families are settling into these warehouses day by day, cutting up and destroying many machines that had been installed there. In these early days of January there has also been a scramble, with people claiming warehouse sections first so they can turn them into homes. As far as we know, these buildings belong to the combine and its factories, which also have an administration that comes to work every day. Nevertheless, there is a noticeable silence as the unlawful occupation continues to grow. Is this a paradox, or something people actually want? Whatever it is, it is a matter of considerable concern for the local administration, which must take a stand. Or will it simply repeat what a police officer said: “Only the owner of the land occupied by the combine can remove them from these buildings.” Is the state really so powerless? JANI MALO

“Gora, this region with its many traditions and its villages of Kucakë, Selcë and Strelcë, gets through the winter groaning.” These were the words of the talented farmer Kujtim Zito. Strelca, a large village with 250 houses and around 2,000 inhabitants, is the most productive place in Gora because it has all the gifts of nature: the beautiful forests of Lenie, with oak, fir, beech and other trees; as much water as one could wish for; and productive land. Nevertheless, life for the people of Gora, particularly in Strelcë, is very difficult. “When someone dies, you might as well find out from God, because you’ll never hear from the relatives who are supposed to come and bury them”—there is no telephone. Strelca had the best handicrafts, but everything has been destroyed. The land, too, has been thrown into confusion by the way it was divided, and no one is willing to accept the title deeds. These 2,000 residents have no doctor, even though Korça is 28 kilometres away. The road becomes impassable this winter month. It is terrifying if your wife is about to give birth or a child becomes ill, because there are neither hospitals nor maternity wards. Even the schools can barely stay open in summer. The livestock here are all diseased. “For three years, because the medicines have become impossibly expensive, the old cattle dealer has been struggling to make ends meet,” says Hazbi Sadikaj. “The cattle plague and milentica have also taken a heavy toll on our animals,” he continues. In the centre of the village, a distant memory of the Goran dance remains, along with its song and perfected voice: E ver Peta and Ramazan Zito. “We cannot bring ourselves to dance because we have a thousand worries, they say, and no house gives even a little for the song.” The state’s neglect has prevailed even over the wonders bestowed by nature. “Neglect has a hundred faces; those are our troubles.” With a little care from the state, by creating some space and making targeted investments, life in Gora and Strelcë could be prosperous. But promises to the village have taken the form of old dreams, the people of Strelcë tell us. “The television stations deafen us, saying things will be done, but we see only bitterness. These ‘foreign firms’ do not listen; they vanish like snow in April as soon as the news comes on television,” the villagers tell us—people who had nowhere to invest their own labour, the Korçar’s most precious virtue. VASIL MALO

The apartment building where I live in Vlorë has another building opposite it, less than 50 metres away, with 15 entrances. It is still called “the military housing block.” That is because military families lived here; it used to be for military personnel. But now, after two years, they are no longer military personnel. They have been discharged from the army and are no longer subject to military reforms. Now these are officers, aged 30 to 40, with higher military education. What are they to do in a market economy? Rent out rooms, sell potatoes? They have been left unprepared for the army of the market economy, because they studied during the monist period. Meanwhile, the designers of the “reform,” the minister and his entire staff, have arrived from the politicized “plans.” Surprisingly, some of them have been deputies of the Party of Labour. Oh, yes! Let me be precise. The reform has retained only one of these military personnel: a non-commissioned officer, exactly the sort it absolutely needed. VANGJO FETA

Statement by the Presidium of the Association of Judges of Albania At its meeting of 09.01.1995, the Presidium of the Association of Judges examined with particular concern the establishment of the role and the genuine independence of the judiciary. In this connection, we note that judges bear serious responsibilities in helping resolve court cases by correctly applying the laws of the democratic state. In their work, they enjoy the support of public opinion. However, several particular cases have created serious concern regarding relations among those in power, and especially regarding the independence of the judiciary. The High Council of Justice has imposed disciplinary measures on several judges because of their judicial activity. Some judges have been dismissed and immediately subjected to criminal prosecution through hurried procedures. The charges brought against them relate to a troubling phenomenon in this period, which the Association is also concerned about. Combating corruption is right and lawful, but the methods followed must also be proper, so that this action is carried out as it should be. There have been cases in which proceedings and arrests for unjust decisions took place before those decisions had been declared unjust by the judicial authorities, or without sufficient evidence to establish that the judges had issued those decisions. (Continued on page 3)

A statement distributed to the press by Zef Brozi in connection with the television special says: This decision was reasoned and sent to the registry of the Court of Cassation two weeks after the announcement that the judicial panel had been formed. The file was taken by hand by the prosecutor of the General Prosecutor’s Office, Gani Dizdari, on 6 December, while it had not been signed by Metush Saraçi, who was a member of the judicial panel. Contrary to what Mr. Saraçi said on the television programme “Speciale e ditës,” the judicial panel’s decision did not state that the defendant Kalafatos had been sentenced to six years. Also, contrary to the programme, in that programme the purpose... (Continued on page 3)

On Thursday, January 12, 1995, at 11:00, a press conference of this party will be held at the headquarters of the Socialist Party. Journalists from press and information organizations, ATSH, radio and television, as well as representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Tirana, are invited to attend. Press and Information Office of the SP