Although the DP, once proclaimed the bearer of democratic transparency, resembles a castle of silence, the deep contradictions—especially within its leadership—cannot be kept under lock and key. These contradictions are fundamentally rooted in the crisis of power throughout its entire pyramid. They reflect the squandering of the vote the people gave this political force, its inability to govern, and rampant corruption—factors which, all together, have now created the conviction that the DP no longer has the capacity to lead the deepening of democracy in our country. The Arsidi affair, the most repeated scandal since this party came to power, is now demanding to be exposed from within its ranks, even by its leadership. Many other scandals are of this same magnitude. The future of MP Ruli, the president of the Court of Cassation Broja, the statements of former minister Shehu, and the contradictory positions taken by the leaders of this party—even in what little is published in this press—are evidence of old and new clashes between the clans gnawing away at this party today, and of the elbowing that characterizes its highest leadership. An analysis of the facts leads to the conclusion that the essence of the DP’s crisis after November 6 lies in the contradictions within the Berisha-Meksi-Selami triangle. After the referendum, a plan was devised to wash away the blow dealt to the DP with a purge in the ... [text continues outside the photo] ... ranks of the Government. Thus the Meksi-3 government was born. But the facts show that no one was convinced this was a genuine anti-corruption operation. On the contrary, everyone understood it as a maneuver to extend its lifespan, and an atmosphere of distrust has come to dominate this party. Does it not prove this that the DP is now not hesitating to send its former loyalists to prison cells? Can one work under such conditions? No. Everyone can clearly see today the paralysis of the ministries, where no one has their mind on work, on addressing the people’s hardships or attracting foreign investment; instead, people are rushing for dubious licenses, for

The latest decision of the panel of judges to indict former finance minister Genc Ruli as well is neither accidental nor unexpected, just as it is not an unconsidered move by those directing the DP and state institutions. One thing is true: Total corruption has gripped the Democratic Party in power by the throat and is pulling it ever closer to the abyss, regardless of the festive ceremonies organized by Berisha, which can no longer hide the state of his party’s ranks. The so-called “Arsidi Scandal” or “DP Scandal”? So far, only the tip of the iceberg has appeared. Most of it is still hidden, and will remain so for as long as the Democratic Party and Sali Berisha are in power. The case known as ARSIDI—which would be much better named the “DP SCANDAL”—is not only the crowning point of the political-financial corruption of Berisha’s party, but also the façade behind which other Arsidi cases lie hidden, whose connections lead to the DP. This means Ruli will not be the last. The “Arsidi dossier” is not satisfied. It demands more. “Only Berisha and Meksi can prove my innocence” This is one of Genc Ruli’s latest statements, made immediately after the decision to prosecute was published. The two names he mentioned clearly show that the Arsidi decoration Berisha does not dare remove is not the whole story. According to Ruli, he also knows other facts “that prove Genc’s innocence”; paraphrased, this makes it clear that neither Ruli nor those below him acted alone. So Berisha and Meksi know about it too. But will they defend Ruli? Surely not, because it suits them to keep in their hands the banner of the so-called fight against corruption, which they have wrapped themselves in, hoping they can fool the people, who by now know everything very well.

It is a statement that raises many questions. Why does the DP not have the honor of uncovering the “Arsidi affair”? Could it be that it will not have this honor, or that it lacks the ability? It has often been said, and we underline it once again: THE CORRUPT CANNOT FIGHT CORRUPTION. The DP knows this, Genc Ruli knows it himself, and Sali Berisha knows it too. That is why the biggest scandal of the Democratic Party will be clarified by the socialists, by the real opposition, by all honest and incorruptible people. Berisha’s banner in the fight against corruption is torn and faded. Its blue has become transparent, and everyone can be seen through it.

THE GOVERNMENT’S INFORMATION BLACKOUT CANNOT PREVENT THE TRUTH ABOUT THE TRACTORS BOUGHT WITH THE GREEK LOAN FROM BEING REVEALED - The newspaper seeks official information before publishing this financial scandal - In recent days, various press outlets have included among the corruption scandals of the Meksi Government the issue of the purchase of 865 tractors ... [text continues outside the photo] ... million dollars in losses, because ... other countries outside Greece. The editorial office has managed to obtain, always from unofficial sources, all the necessary figures concerning the sale and purchase prices ... [text continues outside the photo] “Belarus” and “Ford” tractors bought with the Greek loan granted to Albania in June 1991. Our journalists have requested information on this matter from

- The Ministry of Transport orders an immediate reduction in the number of fleet employees - Seafarers have gone on strike DURRES All it took was a letter bearing the seal of the Council of Ministers to determine once and for all the sad fate of the maritime fleet. On 23. 1. 1995, after an emergency meeting of the management council, the fleet directorate informed the seafarers of the decision to reduce the number of employees immediately. Under this decision, the few state-owned 500-ton ships will operate with a crew of 4, while those over 500 tons will operate with 6. Thus, more than two-thirds of the seafarers were told they were being laid off. This time, the redundancy sweep has also affected a considerable number of administrative employees. The fleet workshop, one of the few ship-repair facilities in the country, is living its final days. The sound of machinery has been silent for some time. To keep itself as far as possible from trouble, the fleet directorate has entrusted the ship captains with selecting the reduced crews who will currently be responsible for guarding the ships until the day they are privatized. This has caused concern and disputes among the seafarers, most of them long-established in the profession, who fear the difficult life awaiting them. Gathered in the fleet’s yard, they openly expressed their anger at this unjust decision. The Maritime Fleet is in its deepest crisis. The few ships that have not been privatized have been idle for months. There is no question of their technical condition. The lack of fuel and lights means these ships risk colliding with other vessels at night. The fleet directorate prefers to have foreign ships transport the minerals. The fleet’s managers justify this by citing the lack of suitable technical operating conditions. But the opinions of the fleet’s employees are completely contrary to those of the directorate. The state-owned ships are not being put into service by the fleet directorate. The directorate’s aim is to create a joint state-owned company to be used for certain personal purposes and interests, and to keep it alive for as long as possible. The fleet’s losses are considerable, but apparently the profits are also considerable for those making these destructive “deals.” The fleet’s financial difficulties will be compounded by a debt of 2 million dollars for other ships. (Continued on page 2)

Scandals on trial at the Tirana court - Lika Shenaj, Meçe; Halli answer the charge with “NO.” The prosecution presents its witnesses - Scandals on trial at the Tirana court ARBEN LIKA ON TRIAL FOR SMUGGLING AND FORGERY OF OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS - Lika Shenaj, Meçe; Halli answer the charge with “NO.” The prosecution presents its witnesses - Once again, the Tirana Court is at the center of public attention because of its function: hearing criminal cases. After bringing the “Arsidi scandal” trial to an end a few days ago, it received another financial scandal involving cigarette smuggling. Not as significant as the “Arsidi scandal,” because the figures are much smaller than those in the biggest scandal in Albanian finance, and because the official position involved is lower than those of the highest-ranking officials in Albanian finance, the scandal presented yesterday for trial before the Vice-President of the Tirana Court, Mr. Artan Zeneli, under the charge of “qualified smuggling” in complicity and forgery of official documents, nevertheless attracted the interest of various observers. This was due to the fact that the aforementioned charge accuses a Democratic Party deputy as well as the chairman of the million dollars in losses, owing to the very high purchase prices of these tractors—prices compared with those of tractors of the same type bought by private Albanian companies in other markets outside Greece. prosecution presents its witnesses.

- From the press conference of the Polish ambassador in Tirana, Mr. Miroslaw Palasz - Under the patronage of Polish President Lech Valensa, the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the Hitlerite mass-extermination camp, Auschwitz, will be commemorated on January 26 and 27 of this year. According to the Polish ambassador, high-ranking dignitaries from all the countries whose citizens were imprisoned in this camp will attend the ceremony, among them President Berisha, as well as the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former prisoners who are still alive. The Auschwitz camp was established on April 27, 1940, in several old barracks of the Polish army. Over time, this camp became a veritable hell, where around 4 million people from almost every country in Europe met their deaths. Around 1.5 million people are documented, but, as they say, the actual number exceeds 4 million because many of the victims were destroyed directly in train cars and gas chambers. It is believed that 90 percent of the victims were Jews from all over Europe. Polish President Valensa has emphasized that Auschwitz, this gloomy place, has become a symbol of evil. It must be remembered that people from all over Europe died here. This symbol should dispel people’s fear, but it should also serve as a reminder to those who continue to commit atrocities around the world today that this is a dead-end road. These words are relevant, he pointed out

It brings to mind the chauvinist strategy of Čubrilloviç and the memorandum of the Serbian Academy of Sciences for genocide against Albanians For several weeks now, the pages of the Serbian press have been filling with reports about a “new policy by Belgrade for Kosovo.” According to Belgrade, this policy is a political program aimed at Kosovo’s vital problems, according to the Serbian minister for Kosovo, Shoshevic. For this Serbian minister, the most vital problem for Belgrade in Kosovo is the recolonization of Kosovo with Serbs and Montenegrins. All the relevant ministries must draw up a program for implementing these new and old Serbian programs in their respective areas of responsibility. First and foremost, conditions must be created for Serbs and Montenegrins from other parts of Serbia to settle in Kosovo, especially those displaced from Bosnia and Croatia. To this end, major investments are being prepared in construction and in the provisions offered to them—the refugees, that is. Thus, for the Albanians, and most recently in Gjakovë, Serbs and Montenegrins are be- (Continued on page 3)

- It was decided that the concerns raised by the Association of Professional Journalists about the financial burdens on the press be examined at a special meeting with representatives of the Ministry of Finance - As confirmed to us by MP M. U- lajni, the parliamentary Media Commission held its first meeting of the year yesterday, at which it discussed the agenda for the commission’s work over the next three months. The MPs raised concerns about the issues they believe should be discussed by this commission or regulated by law. The issues of RTSH, the state budget for cultural institutions, bookstores, and artists’ salaries were among those added to the commission’s agenda for future work. (Continued on page 3)

The 5 arrested: 1 AGIM TARTARI 2 AGRON SALIU 3 VILSON AHMETI 4 ARDIAN XHYHERI 5 ILIR HOTI The other accused: 1 ALEKSANDER MEKSI 2 GENC RULI 3 YLLI GJABRI 4 EMIN MYSLIU 5 DEMOCRATIC PARTY Decorated by Arsidi: President of the Republic Sali Berisha

official and unofficial sources. Unofficial sources provide figures and facts indicating that the tractors were purchased with the Greek loan through illegal procedures, causing the state losses of several million dollars because the purchase prices for these tractors were far higher than those for tractors of the same type bought by Albanian private companies in other markets and purchase prices of these tractors in Albania and in other countries. These figures expose one of the financial scandals outside Greece.