EDITORIAL: The Socialists are ready to cooperate with everyone who loves Albania. Only in the name of true democracy and Albania’s progress is the Socialist Party open to cooperating also with the honest segment of the Democratic Party, but not with its criminal leaders, not with those whom the people point their fingers at. Struck by successive defeats, gripped by an all-encompassing crisis and the fierce struggle among clans coveting power, placed under Berisha’s tutelage and with no room for the future, the Democratic Party is experiencing its tragic end before even reaching its fifth anniversary. Its efforts bring to mind the inglorious end of the Party of Labour, which sought the culprits and those responsible for its failures among those who entered embassies or behind labels such as “enemies,” “hooligans,” “servants of the bourgeoisie,” and so on. The lack of democracy has grown progressively and alarmingly; its consequences are being suffered not only by the DP, but by all Albanian society, which aspired to and fought for true democracy, general progress, and the creation of a European profile for Albania. Having governed the country since 22 March 1992, the Democratic Party, with Berisha at its head, has convinced the people once and for all of its incompetence, irresponsibility, and adventurist nature, convincing them to the point that they have turned away from it completely. The Socialist Party is not to blame for all this, nor are its disappointed and betrayed companions. If the Democratic Party has been transformed into an arena where the struggle for power is the sole motive; if its leaders and servile officeholders have simultaneously been named in lists published even in Parliament as heads of economic and political corruption, despite the “presidential immunity” that supports the government; if violence, repression, and political blackmail are the true face of today’s Berishian state; if Albanians are labelled enemies of democracy simply because they oppose Berisha’s wishes; if national wealth has been stolen and continues to be stolen ever more extensively through illegal privatization; if medieval blood feuds are wreaking havoc among Albanians and the state has collapsed; if Albanians are killed at the border or lost amid the waves of the sea in the hope of securing a better life far from their country, where Berisha governs; if our blood brothers in Macedonia are killed and beaten by the police of Berisha’s friend, Kiro Gligorov: THE SOCIALIST PARTY AND THE ALBANIAN OPPOSITION AS A WHOLE ARE NOT TO BLAME. The people know this very well, and the DP and Berisha know it very well too. Europe has learned it by now as well. That is why everyone blames the Democratic Party, because the traces of the crime lead precisely there. Because that is where the great crisis Albania is experiencing today was conceived and originated; that is where the great national vengeance and division were conceived and carried out. «Rilindja Demokratike» is entirely right when it says that “Democracy and crime cannot sleep together.” There can be no more concise expression of the situation within the DP. But it will not overcome it by getting worked up, even in a presidential manner. The Democratic Party now needs calm, reasonable reflection, realism, and a civic spirit, in order to avoid clan chieftainship and to recover from the catastrophe it planned itself. Albania, its progress, and true democracy need understanding and cooperation from everyone, not the fabrication of enemies. Therefore, the Socialist Party, as the largest opposition force, with a dominant weight in Albanian life and the ability to take responsibility for the country’s fate and lead it toward civilization and advanced European democracy, is open to cooperating with everyone who truly loves Albania, including honest members of the Democratic Party, without ever confusing them with the criminal leaders, with those whom the people point their fingers at. World experience has demonstrated a universal truth: WITHOUT AN OPPOSITION, THERE CAN BE NO DEMOCRACY. LUAN M. RAMA If elections were held tomorrow, 4 people would not take part in the vote. Of those who would go to the ballot boxes, 119 would vote for the PS, 8 for the PSD, 5 for the PD, 7 for the PBDNJ, 3 for the PDD, 3 for the AD, 2 for the UK, and 1 for the PR. President Berisha ranks 16th and has received 7 points. THANAS DINO

From the meeting of the Socialist Party activists in the Sarandë district Two issues were discussed at the meeting of the executive committee of the Socialist Party in the Sarandë district: increasing the effectiveness of the party’s work in all its organizational structures and fighting corruption. What is evident today is that the party in this district has worked as a cohesive organism from the center to the grassroots and, having been engaged in the daily political struggle, has gradually strengthened and is prepared to face the competition of alternatives with dignity, as well as to meet the demands posed by the political struggle ahead. It was precisely this aim that was served by establishing new party organizations and covering all villages with such organizations, as well as by accepting members. From February 1994 to February ’95, around 410 members were accepted, from almost the entire district. As was said at the meeting, it is not enough to be satisfied with accepting members or covering all villages with party organizations. That is one side of the matter. The fact that some of them lead a languid existence, that there are party members—especially in the towns of Sarandë and Konispol and along the coast—who evade their statutory obligations and organizational life, and that some elected members of party forums are unconcerned and even show apathy, should make us reflect and look more realistically at our activities. Comrades Fatos Veli, Fatmir Muçaj, and Ferdinand Dhrami discussed all these issues; they also criticized a certain view that had been expressed, one that fosters unfounded euphoria and corruption, “which puts people into a state of passivity.” Examples were also given of corruption involving several commune chairmen, as in Xarë, Lukovë, and Dhivër, and employees of their administrations. Looking at the problem in a way that does not assume that only our people are immune, our own people have also identified problems and facts that implicate some Socialist councillors. This is a legitimate concern that requires the forum’s close attention and diligence in order to prevent entanglements that compromise the party itself. The committees established under the executive committee were also presented at the meeting, and their work programs for the coming year were approved. PANAJOT ZOTO

The poll speaks! The district PS carried out a polling exercise among the electorate. An informal survey of 150 citizens, half of them in rural areas, during the second half of February, produced several results that may help, to some extent, in assessing today’s political landscape. 132 people would vote for their preferred party, while 106 would vote for the best candidate. Only 32 young people would vote in possible elections for the same party as their parent, while 89 others would vote against it. for the UK, and 1 for the PR. As for the timing of new elections, 33 people favor March–April of this year, and only 6 favor March–April ’96. The ranking in response to the question of which five politicians people trust most to lead the country in the future is Fatos Nano with 145 votes, followed by Servet Pëllumbi, Namik Dokle, Neritan Ceka, and Gramoz Pashko. President Berisha is 16th and has received 7 points. THANAS DINO

After [text unclear] Mr. Selami, if this is achieved—a goal on which intensive work is under way, he says in this interview. Several truths emerge from these words. First, the DP’s Extraordinary Conference, scheduled to be held on 5 March, instead of addressing the country’s major concerns, the difficulties of implementing reform and the frontal fight that must be waged against corruption, and finding solutions for the adoption of the constitution, etc., will be nothing but a battlefield between the different groups within this party’s leadership, seeking to settle their scores with one another once and for all. This is the DP’s program after perhaps three years in government: where are the promises, the hopes and dreams of democracy of hundreds of thousands of people who supported this party; where are freedom and prosperity, the illusions it perhaps held three years ago and, and for all. (Continued on page 2)

This is yesterday’s lead article, entitled «A coalition with you is an alliance with crime», through which «RD» foretells the DP’s defeat. We quote the final paragraph of the article verbatim: «For these and many, many other reasons, your invitation to form a coalition has met and continues to meet only with contempt among the ranks of the DP and true democrats. It may entice some of the many careerists in its ranks, but this is not a defeat; it is only a victory, and only a victory for Albanian democracy. Whatever the position of the true democrats within the ranks of the DP, they will prove it by secret ballot. As for enticing the many careerists, you should know that careerists pursue the seizure of power and therefore move around, just as the rats in mine shafts run when an earthquake strikes.» ARTAN TOTA(J)

Interview with the Chairman of the Financial System Commission at the Socialist Party, As. Prof. Dr. Anastas Angjeli, given to editor Hamdi Jupe - — What is the remit of this Commission? The work of the Financial System Commission is part of the work of the commissions established within the Socialist Party to develop the economic alternatives in its program. At the heart of this commission’s work are observation, study, analysis, discussion, and the presentation of alternatives concerning general and specific issues related to the state’s financial and budgetary policy, fiscal and customs policy, monetary policy, banking and credit policy. It examines how these policies have been implemented during the past three years of government by the party in power, a period during which the Albanian economy has entered the course of a market economy, and what concrete paths should be followed to continue the reforms of a social market economy in our country. After discussing and debating the most fundamental issues, this commission, including through its district commissions, closely follows developments in these areas and also learns the views other political forces put forward on them. By studying and debating these views in comparison with our alternative, the commission presents its conclusions to the PS parliamentary group and, through it, to Parliament and the press, in order to influence the laws being approved and ensure, as far as possible, that our alternative is implemented. — What has this commission achieved so far on the issues you mentioned? Besides organizing the commission, responsibilities have been assigned to its members according to specific areas. Several meetings have also been held, at which commission members presented papers on particular fields and concrete proposals for amendments to draft laws. The main work has focused on building a better understanding of the country’s financial situation and the circumstances it has faced and continues to face over these three years. We are in the process of preparing proposals to amend two or three draft laws concerning the tax system, etc. — You are talking about changing laws in this field. What is your assessment of the laws approved so far in this area? It should not be denied that over these three years the Albanian Parliament has approved a series of laws that have served to establish the first elements of a market economy in Albania. Our parliamentary group has also made an important contribution in this regard through its deputies who specialize in this field. Naturally, our views have been taken into account in Parliament to some extent. But Albania’s economic and financial situation today shows that, despite the Albanian Parliament’s efforts to approve these laws, the difficulties are considerable. This has compelled us to work responsibly and seriously to seek the most effective ways and alternatives for improvement and for bringing the Albanian economy out of the deep financial crisis in which it finds itself. — Has the Commission managed to formulate these alternatives and, if so, what are some of them? We believe that today’s financial situation reflects the country’s economic development. It is a “mirror,” expressed in money, showing how much and in what way the Albanian economy has developed. In this particular case, the correlation is quite evident. The financial situation is difficult because the economy is in a difficult state and continues to be unable to emerge from the collapse into which it has fallen. Our commission’s work has focused on several fundamental issues for bringing the country out of the crisis. (Continued on page 3)

— How long will foreigners continue to impose the “law” outside the rules in joint ventures? — The conflict between the workers of the Albanian-Italian joint venture “Skënderbej” and its managers has reached its most acute point. After a month and a half on strike, the 170 women workers at the garment-production enterprise have failed to secure any of their demands: a pay rise and a collective labor agreement. (Continued on page 6)

At 16:00 on 25 February, TVSH broadcast a statement from the Ministry of the Interior concerning an article in our newspaper on the same date, entitled: «Three officers of the Presidential Guard arrested». Regarding the above announcement, we clarify: The source of the newspaper’s information is clearly indicated at the beginning of the report: the Durrës District Prosecutor’s Office. For this reason, the editorial office believes that only this prosecutor’s office can comment on and clarify the published report. The Ministry of the Interior’s statement regarding it confirms what was written in the newspaper about the incident that occurred in Durrës. The Ministry of the Interior’s comments on the motives for the incident and the wounding of two people fall within the prosecutor’s jurisdiction. The fact is that the two people arrested are members of the Republican Guard, which is part of the structures of the Ministry of the Interior. THE EDITORIAL OFFICE