“I do not rule out a possible alliance with the DP, once its compromised elements have been removed” —Interview with PS Deputy Chairman Dr. Servet Pëllumbi on the Hamdi Jupa factor— Following the statement at the press conference about possible alliances between the PS and other parties after the elections, there has been a great deal of movement among political forces. Two right-wing fronts have been announced, and all the major parties have expressed their views on the issue of alliances. How do you explain this new development in political life? It is natural that in pre-election periods such as the one we are in today, ideas should turn into concrete actions, including in the field of party alliances. We are following attentively the movements now being observed, particularly since our statement at the most recent press conference. It seems that pluralism in Albania is reaching a point where differentiation and the emergence of possible new parties, including through the division of existing parties, are giving way to the opposing trend: integration, finding common ground among the main forces, and forming alliances, coalitions and partnerships. This would be evidence that democratic culture, which we all need so much, is beginning to embrace compromise as an essential component and to dispel fear of political competition. However, it is too early to rejoice. For now, while the socioeconomic contours of Albanian society as it moves toward a market economy have yet to become clear, movements within the current political spectrum are prevailing, oriented toward the coming elections and the search for party alliances, whether before or after the elections. Often this happens at the dictates of day-to-day politics, without taking into account either the electorate the parties have or the electorate they hope to have. Some parties conceive of alliances, ties or fronts solely as “shifting the ranks,” that is, as a means of fighting one or more other forces, without taking account of the interests of democracy in Albania. Others speak of possible coalitions without stating any particular preferences, but wait for them as if they were some kind of gift from the old guard! In short, a movement is underway which will, in any case, be accompanied by shifts and perhaps also by an intensification of political struggle. The two right-wing groupings declare “the fight against the communist danger threatening Albania” as their slogan, identifying the Socialist Party with communism. And the PS’s position on this issue. Nevertheless, we would like a fresh statement on the right’s slogan about the “communist danger.” The result of the referendum of 6 November ’94, which has put many things in a new perspective and enriched our understanding of democracy, took the political class of the DP by surprise first and foremost, but also particular political forces. Berisha’s recovery initiatives—which apparently do not involve adjusting his pace as he goes along—not only recovered nothing, but in some respects had the opposite effects to those expected. And Berisha tries to pin the blame for this, no more and no less, on the opposition as a whole, or the PS in particular. This is why, at the latest meetings of the DP Council and its leadership, Berisha returned to his favorite slogan, that of the “fight against communism.” Borrowing the Marxist phrase with which the “Communist Manifesto” begins, he called for a fight against the platform of the Albanian socialists, which, without offering any argument, he calls “communist,” “Marxist,” a “dark omen,” an “attack on Albanian democracy,” etc., etc. The slogan “fight against communism” ... [illegible section] ... this is why, at the latest meeting concerning the developments leading up to ... [text cut off] (Continued on page 3)

Yesterday, the Deputy Chairman of the Socialist Party, Luan Hajdaraga, and MP Tofik Ajazi went to offer their condolences to the families of the victims of the serious car accident in the district of Berat. They expressed their condolences for the loss of their loved ones to the victims’ families in the city of Berat, in the commune of Tërpan, and in the villages of Rehovë, Çorogjaj and Paraskuar. On this condolence visit, Luan Hajdaraga and Tofik Ajazi were accompanied by the Chairman of the Berat District Council, Novruz Kafazi, and the Chairman of the PS Steering Committee for the district of Berat, Flamur Krogu. Correspondent of “Zëri i popullit”

Press conference by E. Selami

— 12 detained by law enforcement — Gazi Lule from the village of Gjenomadh in Korçë had gone to work his land but had not returned by late Monday. His family, knowing where he had gone, went looking for him but found him dead. Law enforcement officers have arrested around 12 people from this village, but have not yet confirmed anything about who committed this crime. M. M.

like “the other Jagos”? — In the struggle to prevent Parliament from adopting the constitution, Berisha and the DP no longer have Europe or any Albanian party on their side — Yesterday’s press conference was opened by the nominal chairman of the Democratic Party, Eduard Selami, without any preliminary statement. It seemed he wanted to say: You know what the problem is, so go ahead, ask. And indeed, the journalists went straight to the point. Selami’s answers included some very interesting statements that help us better understand the dead end into which the DP has entered. “Europe sees no political reason for the Albanian Parliament to be excluded from discussing and adopting the constitution, and I support this,” Selami said. He also added that so far the Democratic Party had found no support from any party in Albania—even those they do not call their allies—for keeping Parliament out of the procedure for adopting the Constitution. Selami’s argument at the Democratic Party leadership meeting the day before yesterday must have been built on these points. At that meeting, he himself admitted, the position of the minority remained under discussion against the majority of the leadership, which includes Berisha. In other words, the President of Albania and the majority of the DP leadership do not wa- [text cut off] They do not care about Europe or the fact that they have been left high and dry, like a fish on dry land, without the support of any party. In Albania’s political history, such positions have precedents only in developments of the kind associated with Haxhi Qamili in the “year of the turnips.” Nevertheless, Selami seemed determined when he said that the party leadership is not the party and that he would take up this issue at the National Council. Everyone knows that the main issue in Albanian political life today is the Constitution. It was precisely on this issue that Selami found himself in the minority. He failed his first test in his attempt to move from nominal chairman to real chairman of the Democratic Party. His attempt to emerge even slightly from Berisha’s shadow puts him at serious risk of remaining forever in that sun. The first signs of this, highly significant despite being preliminary, have appeared. The first signs, highly significant despite being preliminary, appeared when “The Jagos of Democracy” needed no comment. Asked whether the Jagos were inside or outside the DP, Selami replied with a bitterness he could barely contain: “Ask the person who wrote the article about the Jagos, even though they did not dare put their name at the end of it.” Poor Edi—no one even asks him anything in his own newspaper!! Asked directly whether he might be thrown out of his position as DP chairman, as has been the practice so far with everyone who does not fully obey Berisha, Selami replied that he was the legitimate chairman, democratically elected, and that he was not afraid of a secret ballot. Selami refused to answer whether his position on adopting the constitution had been determined by Europe’s position, or whether he had personally supported submitting the constitution to Parliament all along. He also refused to comment on Berisha’s recent statement referring to “restorationist forces,” calling it a personal statement by Berisha. Regarding relations with Greece, Selami said responsibility for their deterioration was shared. The Greek government had adopted rigid and short-sighted positions. (Continued on page 3) Those who used now turned their backs on it, apparently because this newspaper, acting as a poor mouthpiece unprincipled warfare and the violent suppression of every opposing opinion its motto. Yesterday’s lead article in this newspaper shows just how far the enslavement of the Albanian press has gone, and how difficult it will be for some people to cast off the spiritual chains placed upon them and still being placed upon them, now in the name of democracy and freedom of expression. Arranged like a film script for all those who have sold out in order to discredit the PD leader, the article says. of March 22, the newspaper says, they (the enemies) were only waiting it was happening again. After this third attack, the PD “emerged cleaner than ever before,” RD says. And here comes the fourth attack; this moment, the newspaper stresses, was quite a violation of the Constitution. Here is the article’s language more specifically: “They launched an attack by every means, with every weapon, knives, traps, slanders, disinfor- [text cut off] (Continued on page 3) upon himself to chan- [text cut off]

Today, lectures are expected to begin at the University of Tetovë, delivered by one of the people educated in the Albanian language. The Rector of the University of Tetovë, Fadil Sulejmani, said, among other things, to Bi Bi Si that they are prepared to begin lectures in Albanian with Albanian students, and that all preparations have been made for the lectures to get off to a good start. Nobody should be afraid of educated people; there is no reason for young Albanians to wander the streets and cafés, fall prey to drugs and alcohol. We do not know what the authorities in Shkup will do, whether they will destroy it again with a bulldozer or kill us; we do not know, but we will be there, Sulejmani stressed.

Vlorë Active work by the Socialist Party The problem-focused report presented by the chair of the PS in Vlorë, Eduard Alushi, and the briefing on issues concerning the political situation, the campaign to elect village elders, the reorganization of the standing committees, and the activities of the groups of socialist councillors and of the municipality and district, opened the city PS meeting held in recent days. Participants at the meeting stressed that the continuous promotion of the PS’s concept of reforms must be supported by accurate preparation of governance programs, both locally and centrally. Theoretical promotion of the advantages of the socialist alternative must be accompanied by precise programs from the standing committees. In this context, the meeting called for more in-depth, comprehensive work and for the complementarity and specialization of the committees. Work has begun, and the committees are working on an accurate diagnosis of the situation in the economy, education and healthcare, and are preparing programs for the future. They are being restructured with the aim of concretely developing the Socialist Party’s alternatives for today and tomorrow. This working method is having a positive effect on informing the electorate about the PS’s social and economic program and strengthening confidence in its credibility. The party’s program is credible because it is more social and more The meeting drew attention to the need to intensify the party’s work, especially at the grassroots. It must be ongoing, not limited to campaign periods. The party’s work activities must be organized. Residents of Dusharic, Llakajdun, Dhermi, Levhan and Mallakastër spoke about some organizational shortcomings in their villages and districts. Campaign to elect village elders (Continued on page 2)

A dispatch from Mirdita Pal Reçi, one of the most zealous PD activists in Mirdita, this “llahatarshëm” man, as a colleague of mine in Rrëshen described him, appointed by his party as director of the eight-year school “Bardhok Biba” in Rrëshen, has taken it upon himself to change, first of all, something incomprehensible… Is it to address the unsatisfactory state of the school? No. To restore its viability? No. To improve the standard of teaching? No. To renovate the teaching laboratories? No. To introduce laboratories at the school? No. To improve lessons? No. But to replace the colours? Yes. What changes are we talking about, which Director Pali—or Pali who directs what?—has taken upon himself? We said the changes would be unwelcome. The first step taken was, specifically: The secondary school in Rrëshen bore the name of the People’s Hero Bardhok Biba. There is also a commemorative plaque mounted on one of the façades of this school. The school seal, naturally, bore the same designation: “Bardhok Biba Secondary School, Rrëshen.” But then this “llahatarshëm Pal” one fine day decided to remove the name of Bardhok Biba, “reducing” it to: “Rrëshen Secondary School.” And Pali himself carried out this act, on his own initiative. In the face of this flagrant and unlawful act, there is a shameful silence. Could it be that this Director Pali, who dares to remove the name of the People’s Hero Bardhok Biba from the seal, intends to replace it with the name of the Hero’s murderer? BIKTASHI ZENELI

Asked whether the Jagos written about by “RD” today are inside or outside the DP, DP Chairman Eduart Selami replied at yesterday’s press conference: “THIS IS A QUESTION THAT IS NOT ADDRESSED TO ME. ASK ‘RD’ INSTEAD—AND THE PERSON WHO WROTE IT, EVEN THOUGH THEY DID NOT HAVE THE COURAGE TO PUT THEIR NAME ON IT.” Yesterday’s lead editorial in the newspaper RD, entitled “The Jagos of Democracy,” written as a “blow for blow” response to a statement President Berisha had apparently made the previous day at the Democratic Party leadership meeting, is a very telling example of the general crisis that has engulfed the party in power and its leadership. Albanian readers, who four years ago would queue to get RD, the first opposition newspaper in Albania, have now turned their backs on it precisely because this newspaper, acting as a poor spokeswoman for the party in power, has made disinformation, psychological terror, unscrupulous conflict and the violent suppression of those who think differently its motto. ... the RD newspaper, first and foremost, shows that from its founding until today this party has been nothing but “a factory” for producing enemies. According to the newspaper, on the eve of the DP congress, a plan to usurp the leadership of the party had been devised within the DP, but the plan failed. In this case, the RD newspaper was a powerful mouthpiece for the uprising against the party’s leadership. The article describes this as the fiercest attack. The aim was to discredit the DP leadership, the article states. Here too, the party’s enemies were crushed. After the victory of 22 March, the newspaper emphasizes, they (the enemies) were waiting only for the hour and the day, and it seemed that fortune had smiled on them again. After this third attack, the DP “emerged purer ...” [text cut off at the bottom edge]

Shkodër Free Market There has been no sugar in this city’s market for about a week. And anyone who has managed to get some has sold it for 85 new lek per kilogram. Various residents point out that some of those who had been selling sugar regularly are deliberately not putting it on the market now, intending to sell it for much more, even though there is a decision that the ceiling price for sugar must not exceed 60 new lek. We do not know whether this decision has been reviewed, but we do know that nobody is enforcing it.