Dr. SERVET PELLUMBI: Regarding President Berisha’s statement at the meeting of the PD leadership, broadcast last night on television, the editorial office contacted the deputy chairman of the Socialist Party, Servet Pellumbi, who made the following comment : “Berisha’s statement is the clearest evidence of a pronounced backwardness in political developments. His clock is stuck on 22 March 1992. He continues to insult Albanians by thinking they believe his fairy tales about ‘bogeymen’, ‘restorationists’, ‘Marxists’ or ‘jinn’ who rush through the ‘mortal darkness’ to kill democracy and obstruct reforms. We tell Berisha that nothing can be recovered through such arrogant, illogical and divisive attacks. The opposition cannot be blamed for the failures of his regime. The time has come for him to answer for them himself.” The complete failure to govern the country, corruption, and the total loss of the people’s trust and confidence constitute the true face of the Democratic Party. The deep crisis within its ranks cannot be concealed by its frequent meetings of party bodies. The defeat in the 6 November referendum brought the deep contradictions within the PD into sharper relief. Its constituent clans are in that party for all sorts of reasons, but not to serve the country, its future, or genuine democracy. Recent developments bear this out most clearly: the continuing accusations against ministers and the state administration, mutual attacks between representatives of the clans, and so on. In such a climate, the recent demand made by its chairman, Eduart Selami, was neither incomprehensible nor without significance. In keeping with Western practice, he called for the party chairman also to be the country’s prime minister. Not only that, but “to dispel any doubt about himself,” he did not hesitate to offer his resignation as well. Of course, Selami can sense the kind of mire in which the leaky boat of his party is found. That is why he is trying to save whatever can be saved. And so he initially chose to seek Meksi’s departure, which would also have meant a radical change of government, where there are some mediocre people with no intellectual merit whatsoever. But Berisha could not accept such a move. For him, Meksi is the ideal man, even though he has not an iota of faith in him, just as Meksi understands very well the consequences of playing games with Berisha. Thus we have an unwritten “agreement,” which Selami tried to break; he cannot hand over the party while it remains under presidential tutelage and burdened by the government’s ill repute. The PD, which, to its misfortune, continues to be a tool in Berisha’s hands, despite Selami formally being its chairman, is becoming ever more discredited in the eyes of the people. That is why at the latest meetings, including last night’s, internal disagreements and disputes surfaced once again. On one side stood the Berisha loyalists, whose position is expressed in the President’s statement broadcast by RTV, where one can see blatant attempts to defend the corruption of the accused ministers, violations of the law, the abuse of institutions, and so on. On the other side gathered those who, frightened, lower their heads and fall silent as soon as Berisha glares at them. Despite all this, one thing is certain. The Democratic Party is becoming increasingly aware of its bad reputation, resulting not only from its inability to govern the country, but also from the ability of some of its officials to foster total corruption. And, what is worse, Berisha himself knows this very well; he can already see the end to which the path he has followed will lead him. That is why he and those who follow him are worried. They are also frightened, seized by panic. They are reaping what they themselves have sown.

Meeting at the PSSH General Steering Committee headquarters On Sunday, 12.02.1995, Ilir Meta, Deputy Chairman of the Socialist Party of Albania, and Maqo Lakrori, a member of the PSSH leadership, received at the headquarters of the General Steering Committee Mr Anthony Smith, Deputy Director of the Directorate for the Eastern Adriatic at the Foreign Office, and Mr Stephen Nash, Britain’s Chargé d’Affaires in Tirana. During the meeting, Ilir Meta and Maqo Lakrori presented their views and the PSSH’s positions on current political and economic developments in the country and their prospects to their British guests. Topics discussed included the Constitution, the Nano issue, some developments in the Balkans, and other foreign relations matters. PSSH PRESS OFFICE.

— 10 dead and many injured in a road accident — On Monday, at around 10:10, an extremely tragic event occurred in the village of Terpan, in the municipality of the same name in the district of Berat: the Berat–Tërpan route bus, driven by Kamber Kokonozi, skidded into a deep ravine and rolled over several times, causing many people to lose their lives, On Monday, at around 10:10, an extremely tragic event occurred in the village of Terpan, in the municipality of the same name in the district of Berat: the Berat–Tërpan route bus, driven by Kamber Kokonozi, skidded into a deep ravine and rolled over several times, causing many people to lose their lives. According to information we received at Berat Hospital from forensic expert Gramoz Hylli, there are so far 10 dead in the hospital morgue. Dozens of others have been injured, bringing the total number of people involved in the accident to 39. Two helicopters from Tirana also arrived urgently to assist the accident victims. Correspondent of “Zëri i Popullit”

TIRANA AROUND 100 BREAD SELLERS BEGIN A HUNGER STRIKE Their sole demand: DO NOT TAKE AWAY THE SHOPS WHERE THEY HAVE WORKED FOR YEARS Facing them: THE BERISHAN-POLICE STATE, WITH ITS ONLY WEAPON: VIOLENCE What happened last night at around 7 p.m. in the bread shop in the “Vasil Shanto” block was when the Berishan-police state showed its true face. Around 100 women, bread sellers, were forcibly remov-

Yesterday morning, the “Lika” trial resumed at the Tirana court. First, the witnesses requested by the defense testified; it should be said that they brought nothing new. After them, the trial continued with the defendants’ witnesses, beginning with the truck driver, Hajr edin Halili. The only interesting moment in yesterday’s hearing was Hajredin’s admission that D. Shena had told him, “Did the papers arrive? I’m asking you”; he said they were “aid for the Youth Forum.” The prosecutor’s intervention led to the above statement also including the word “cigarettes.” But after Lika’s lawyer intervened, Z. Mark Pëllumbi, Hajredin’s recollection returned to the papers. After this, quite unexpectedly, the presiding judge interrupted lawyer Pëllumbi’s question and called a 10-minute recess, even though the hearing had been under way for less than half an hour. The next hearing opens today at 9, with the questioning of Arben Lika. B. J.

— On the 50th anniversary of the first issue of the newspaper “Rilindja” — The Albanian word could not be killed. Despite occupation and weapons, violence, prisons and raids, it survived. And it goes to Albanians wherever they may be, beautiful and graceful, forever reborn, eternally in love with them. It is 18 April 1993. The Albanian-language newspaper, with its birthplace in Kosovo, will be reborn in Tirana too. “Rilindja”—a tribune for the Albanian language—which on 12 February 1945 ... alongside its sister newspapers, cannot help but feel all the generations of its newspapers and other employees, all those who gave “Rilindja” its name and helped it grow, all those who brought “Rilindja” back to life after it was banned by Serbian police violence on 8 August 1990. As the Albanian reader commemorates the 50th anniversary of “Rilindja,” whose meaningful name is the most essential sign of the future of just as it is: beautiful, full of grace, forever rebuilt, eternally in love with them. «Today is April 18, 1993. In Tirana, too, reborn. «Rilindja»—a tribune for the Albanian word which, since February 12, 1945, has shared with it, for 50 years in a row, its pain, its many troubles, and its joys. Together they survived and stood up to the Serbian regime in Belgrade. A newspaper’s anniversary is a notable event for its publishers and the readership for which it is born. But the anniversary of «Rilindja» goes beyond these bounds. It is an event for all Albanians. I say this because it was born in martyred and unbowed Kosovo, because it is the protagonist and witness of its entire 50-year history, because it has known how to survive in the long struggle of Albanians for freedom, equality and prosperity. Let us celebrate the 50th anniversary of the journalists and employees of «Rilindja» who, along with everyone who gave «Rilindja» life and enhanced its name, Serbian police violence on August 8, 1990. And the Albanian reader, a democrat, [unclear] «Rilindja», whose meaningful name is the clearest sign of its future. In this context, in recognition not only of «Rilindja»’s efforts and struggle for a just resolution of the Albanian question in Kosovo, but also of its civic commitment to the democratic processes taking place in Albania. Beyond any prejudice or petty second-guessing, without ever confusing its noble mission, in the service of the national cause, with the shrill voices of those who foment division and revenge. «Rilindja» is a newspaper for Albanians. It has spoken Albanian for 50 years, and so it will speak for all time. LUAN M. RAMA

Their sole demand: DO NOT TAKE AWAY THE SHOPS WHERE THEY HAVE WORKED FOR YEARS Facing them: THE BERISHIAN-POLICE STATE, WITH ITS ONLY WEAPON: VIOLENCE bread shop in the “Vasil Shanto” block was another ugly spectacle, in which the Berishian-police were forcibly removed, beaten with rubber batons and insulted in the crudest street language by the police from the premises where they had been working ... (Continued on page 2)

TIRANA: Activity of the Defense Committee The problem of blood feuds is also becoming an issue for Albanian parliamentarians. «The situation and the measures that the authorities should take to prevent blood feuds» was the subject of an activity held yesterday in one of the premises of the People’s Assembly, organized by the Committee for Defense, Public Order and SHIK. Participants included members of parliament, representatives of the authorities, representatives from the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Justice, journalists, researchers, etc. The speakers who took the floor treated it as an extremely serious problem that Albanian society has faced recently, and called for urgent measures to be taken to prevent it and avoid its consequences. The Prefect of Shkodër called on the competent authorities to take urgent and rigorous measures to ensure compliance with the laws. He pointed out that the problem is most acute in the area of Shkodër and Malësia e Madhe, but not at the levels being talked about. The Prefect of Lezhë, discussing the work of the authorities to publicize and implement the laws in order to prevent this problem, pointed out that in their area the division of land has led to such blood-feud conflicts. He called for the establishment of a national commission to address this problem, and also sought the assistance of religious communities and various associations. Other speakers then discussed further issues, such as coordinating the work of the authorities with that of the security forces, and taking (Continued on page 2)

The file on the tractors purchased with the Greek loan remains open. The State Audit Service is the reason the issue has been brought back into focus. On February 8, about 10 days after this scandal was publicized, the State Audit sent our newspaper a document in response to the article exposing the issue, claiming to answer the matters discussed—though the matters discussed [sic]. This is the State Audit’s second response to our article. Its first response was given on January 7, two days after the article first appeared in the newspaper, a fact that in itself says something, as we will explain below. Another striking fact is that the second response, despite bearing an official stamp, was sent to the newspaper by the State Audit’s anonymous spokesperson. Thus, the two responses, as well as the fact that the State Audit is hiding behind an anonymous spokesperson in this matter, lead us to another issue: at least as far as this scandal involving tractors bought with the Greek loan is concerned, the matter has not been dealt with properly. The State Audit Under the agreement, the loan is intended for investment in the Albanian economy. As a state loan, it should be processed in accordance with the procedures set out in Decision No. 1 of the Council of Ministers, No. 420, dated 15. 9. 1992, together with the Directorate for Support to Small Enterprises of MLAN. This was requested, with some amendments, by the Ministry of Finance and this directorate. In fact, without any written act, the loan was transferred to the National Bank for implementation, which initially requested indicative investment projects for the goods to be purchased with this loan. But toward the end of 1992, following intervention by the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, the loan was designated for the purchase of tractors and bread ovens. The tender procedure was not applied in the sense it has today, following the issuance of the Decision, and this is something the State Audit’s response seeks to distance itself from, shifting responsibility elsewhere and making excuses of its own. The facts prove this, as (Continued on page 5)

- Every day, because the loan remains unpaid, the price of the tractors continues to rise - It has been decided to keep secret the procedure for distributing the «Belarus» tractors provided through the Greek loan, since, it is said, most of them were handed out through personal connections. This is best illustrated at the Elbasan branch of the Commercial Bank, where its director has instructed credit employees not to give the newspaper any information. Even when we met with the director himself, the only answer we received was: «We are not giving a single figure». Nevertheless, from highly reliable sources outside the Commercial Bank of (Continued on page 6)

On Thursday evening, opposite the «Shkodra» restaurant, police officers on duty in the police minibus assaulted Artan Hoxha. Artan is the head of the Eurosocialist Youth Forum for the Shkodër district. From speaking with him, we learned that the incident with the police occurred after he had stopped calmly to talk with the driver of a car, who a few moments earlier had suspected that Artan had hit his car with a bicycle. The police minibus arrived at that moment. Artan says the officers hit him with a rubber baton, even though he had complied with their instruction to get into the minibus. He then says they took us to the Internal Affairs Branch, where they kept him until 10:30 p.m. I went to see doctors for the injuries caused by the police, and received a medical report. I have now turned to the prosecutor’s office to have criminal proceedings opened. I will insist on this, Artan says, because I am not a hooligan to be treated that way by the police when I am a highly educated citizen; I am ready to obey the law, unlike those others whose duty it is to enforce the law properly. Yesterday, we also contacted the leaders of the PS in this district about the incident. They expressed their indignation at the action and said that they would immediately lodge a complaint with the senior officers of the police station, asking them to investigate both this incident in the district and other arbitrary actions. The police know very well who is terrorizing Shkodër, so there is no reason for them to flex their muscles against ordinary citizens. MUSA KURTULAJ

Yesterday in Tirana, a ceremony was held in one of the premises of the Hungarian Embassy to present the awards from the international painting exhibition. Yesterday in Tirana, a ceremony was held in one of the premises of the Hungarian Embassy to present the awards from the international painting exhibition held in Zanka Balaton, Hungary. As is known, several young Albanians won art prizes at that exhibition, which were presented by the Hungarian ambassador in Tirana, Dr. Ferenc Poka.