President Berisha has not yet departed, although he has confirmed his participation Yesterday morning, the international meeting organized by the United Nations on social development in the world, especially in developing countries, opened. The meeting was opened by United Nations Secretary-General Butros Ghali, who, in his speech, among other things, stressed that now “the world” and others stressed that now “the world” [is] against social injustice and poverty. The various countries must now think once again about the concept of collective social responsibility. Ghali reminded the representatives of the great responsibility they bear for the great distribution [task] that lies before them to be resolved. “We must understand that ac- (Continued on page 4)

The PD’s doctors use an appendectomy to remove the party chairman as an excess Berisha remains at the head of the Party and the state Twenty-four hours of anxiety passed in the final “wolf’s den” of the Albanian opposition party, the Democratic Party. The rebel, considered a reformer but also an agent of the socialists—Eduart Selami—was dismissed from the post of PD chairman by an overwhelming majority after Sunday’s vote, relieving Berisha and his clan of the anxiety of a dangerous rival on their flank. The operation was simple and successful, thanks also to a full medical team. A cardiologist, an anesthetist, a surgeon, and many other doctors removed that organ they had deemed unnecessary, after turning it into a vestige for months. They had turned it into an appendix. Here comes Pjetër Arbnori, the writer who spent 25 years in prison. No one is waiting for him. He goes inside. The local police try to keep a group of young men away from the hall. But some others inside bring invitations out to them. “001 is coming, take precautions, we’re on our way,” is heard over a policeman’s radio. Strangely, the police get angry and drive away the few people still near the fountain. The latecomer Sali Berisha arrives. Tomorr Dosti has come down to the curb to meet him. He opens the umbrella for him—it’s raining! He says something, but it cannot be made out clearly: “Welcome, our... our lord”—that seems to be what he says. Berisha quickly climbs the stairs. But what a sight! Inside the hall, the fans shout, tear their hair out, and cry. Their myth is coming. The poor things can hardly be blamed: he made them deputies, earning 270 thousand lekë in salary; he made them ministers, 270 thousand lekë plus whatever else comes their way; district chairmen, prefects, mayors, owners through their wives, police officers, guards; he raised their salaries as “specialized organs.” Outside, the onlookers leave. The policemen continue wondering why it is raining. it is raining. …Selami told the head of state that he wanted to be chairman of the PD. But that was not the end of it. “Your theses are borrowed from the Marxist-Leninist staff of the PS and are openly contrary to the decisions of the PD,” Sali Berisha said. The shouting grew louder. “Sa…li, Be…ri…sha,” “Me…” Amid this, Selami managed to say: “You know those theses better than I do, since you were a Party member.” That was enough for the fans to leave Berisha alone and start going after Selami’s private life. The exchanges continued: “Be honest, young man. Some time ago you came to my office and asked me to let you go abroad to study. Not long after, as soon as Mr. Meksi’s government won a confidence vote, you asked to become prime minister,” Mr. Berisha is quoted as saying. Meksi, too, kept the tone high. The Albanian prime minister backed Berisha over the victories, achievements, completion of investments, and the opposition’s position on the Constitution. “The unrestrained examination and opposition have gone hand in hand with corruption, but I regret that their spokesman has become chairman of the PD,” Mr. Meksi is quoted as saying. He agreed that Selami should be removed from the post of chairman. The second session began again amid hysteria. Selami had the microphone in front of him, but Berisha burst out: “I will not let you do that under any circumstances. I speak from my experience as chairman of the PD.” Selami replied: “I have more experience than you because I have spent more time in Europe.” Never…

The center of the Albanian capital was occupied in the early hours of the morning. Soldiers of the Republican Guard, armed with “Kalashnikovs,” took the Palace of Culture and its surroundings under protection in the early hours of Sunday. Immediately, the center of the Albanian capital.

The first vote: the Constitution dies once and for all. 19 votes for Selami, 9 abstentions, were undecided against the 632 votes that sent him back where he came from—

At the invitation of the Bulgarian Committee for Balkan Understanding and Cooperation, on Sunday, March 5, 1995, a delegation from “Zëri i Popullit,” headed by the newspaper’s deputy editor-in-chief and member of the Steering Committee of the PSSH, Luan M. Rama, departed for an official and friendly visit to Bulgaria.

D. Agolli, M. Z eqo, V. Manushi in Rogozhinë — A memorable event that the PD officeholders wanted to sabotage — These days, the steering committee of the Socialist Party in the Rogozhinë area organized a meeting with People’s Artist Violeta Manushi and the writers Dritëro Agolli and Mojkom Zeqo (deputy). Although the hall of the Palace of Culture had been rented and prior permission had been obtained for the event, at the time it was due to begin the mayor and the director of the Palace of Culture refused to allow it to go ahead (understandably, on the PD’s party orders). That was not enough: a minibus carrying police reinforcements from Kavaja also arrived in the town square. A tense situation arose, but with calm and prudence it was decided to hold the event in the premises of a café. Most of the people invited (and there were many, not only from Rogozhinë but also from the surrounding villages) were unable to attend. This fact outraged PS members and supporters, as well as ordinary citizens of Rogozhinë, who had come with particular affection and respect to meet three personalities of Albanian art and culture. At this gathering, the writer Dritëro Agolli spoke about the great emancipatory role of the Albanian intellectual, the process of democracy in the life of political parties, full of contradictions, and especially the role of those intellectuals who represent the alternative of the democratic left in today’s political spectrum. Dritëro Agolli described Albania’s transition period as full of great absurdities, caused by the cultural and intellectual inferiority of the officeholders of the (Continued on page 2)

[The upper part of the article is cut off in the image.] early hours of the morning. Armed Republican Guard soldiers carrying protection from the early hours of Sunday. The morning brought a different security arrangement, with tall, armed civilians walking about in greater numbers across the cold square. The security forces blocked traffic, causing confusion on the roads. This is happening because the necessary “majority” to “get rid of” Eduart Selami has been assembled and is meeting here. Delegates are entering the hall, and they are pleased. This is their chance to show their master that they are loyal. Guards at the entrance—not the Presidential Guard, but the Republican Guard. Tomorr Hasan Dosti and Engjëll Hysenbega are waiting for the Party and people’s dignitaries. But which people? Out on the pavement, the scenes are more unsettling. Republican guards are forcing people not to remain even for a moment in one place opposite or beside the Palace of Culture, especially not in groups or with their hands in their pockets. “What do you want, man?” “Move. Get going, keep moving!” “I don’t want to! Even now, when it’s democracy, you’re still giving orders? Are you turning this into Enver Hoxha’s time again?!” “Come on, enough talk—I’m coming over there!” “It’s no crime; they’re telling you to take a few steps, that’s all!” “What are you saying, son?” “These things are beneath Enver; they got past that long ago!” “We’re just guarding it, uncle, but…”

The door is closed. “The Cardiologist,” “The Anesthetist,” “The Surgeon,” “The Parliamentarian,” “The Persecuted,” “The Writer,” “The Restorer”… and Eduart Selami are seated opposite the majority. Fans in the lobby are tearing their hair out: “Sali Berisha”! “Sali Berisha, Sali Berisha”! For many minutes. According to those attending the meeting, Eduart Selami, the appointed chairman of the PDSH, chaired the meeting and, facing that majority, made 13 attempts to defend his positions. “The Cardiologist” opens his bag, takes out his speech, closes the bag, takes out his pen, puts the pen away, opens the bag, puts the speech back in, closes the bag, leaves it on the table, and listens to Selami. Selami continued explaining his position to the majority, calling for the posts of prime minister and party chairman to be combined. He then repeated the recommendation from Strasbourg. “The Constitution must go to parliament. ‘A…, ë…, i…, o…, u…, a, i…, o…’” comes from the gallery. Since November 6, I hadn’t seen that sce… [unclear/cut-off text]

OBSERVATION We are referring to the Extraordinary Conference of the PD, which appeared to end with the triumph of Berisha’s idol. Is that what really happened, or are we facing an illusion? To answer this question, let us also examine two figures. The first is the claim that 50 Democratic Party MPs were not elected by the activists in their branches, but by a group of delegates—although it is said that, ultimately, the delegates to the Extraordinary Conference are elected by people in the branches. Taking into account, thirdly, after 30 MPs… [unclear text] Will this half of the PD parliamentary group be a party of Berisha’s admirers? Will these 30 MPs of Berisha turn the Conference into a number that will last for a parliamentary season? The fact is that the PD parliamentary group, split into two parts, was evenly divided. There is another figure, also cited yesterday morning on the BBC, according to the party’s… However, one MP here and another there—that is, 30 MPs outside the Conference—means that nearly half of the Democratic Party’s parliamentary group, by order… is considered opposed to the lobby that set the tone of the Conference. another figure that was stated yesterday morning on the BBC: according to it, one tenth of the delegates to the PD Extraordinary Conference, in the open vote imposed by Berisha, supported Selami’s views and his remaining in the post of party chairman. This is a figure that cannot go unreported. We are talking about 66 people. According to reports about this conference, alongside well-known figures in current politics and people who have stood by Selami, there are many others from the grassroots. Will this figure represent support for a new party that will emerge after this major split in the PD? We shall see. P. Z.

FEATURE At the PD Extraordinary Conference, Berisha emphasized that Selami’s ideas about the Constitution stem from the theses of the socialist leadership and therefore cannot be supported. That is enough for Berisha to justify his attack with a double-edged sword. But since Selami fell victim to the theses of the socialist leadership, and was consequently removed as PD chairman, we now have to see what Berisha will do about the people, who, in the November 8 vote, emphatically expressed support for the theses and leadership of the opposition. It is well known that the people can neither be dismissed nor expelled.

No further vote was held after that, First vote: The Constitution dies for good. The 19 votes in favor of Selami and 9 abstentions were negligible against the 632 votes that backed the leadership’s position and Selami’s proposal to send the “Constitution” to parliament. There will be no Constitution until 1996. Mr. Berisha said so too. Albanians will be left knocking, waiting for their leader to change his mind. Second vote: Selami is put to the test. The procedure is adopted from parliament. Fifty-three delegates have thrown their support behind Berisha’s motion of no confidence against chairman Selami. The statute does not specify a voting procedure for this case. Berisha proposes that the vote be open. It is put to a vote. Thirty-seven votes against, in Selami’s favor. The procedure continues. The motion of no confidence, opposed by 47 delegates, with 10 abstentions, was approved by the other votes in the hall. Eduart Selami was removed from the chairman’s seat. There was no further vote after that. (Continued on page 2)

This is decision no. 5, protocol no. 5, dated February 9, 1995, signed by Gëzim Dauti and the- This is decision no. 5, protocol no. 5, dated February 9, 1995, signed by Gëzim Dauti and the management of the chromium extraction and processing enterprise in Bulqizë, which cuts off the livelihood of families (for an unspecified period) and punishes the participants in the hunger strike held at the end of January and beginning of February 1995. Under this decision, Murat Damzi, Kaloësh Jella, Muharrem Poleshi, Ymer Xhediku, Muharem Ruci, Luan Ruci, Kreshnik Markja, Tush Asllani, Gëzim Lala and Dervish Cani are suspended from work because they had blocked work at A-2. Their suspension will continue until the court case is resolved, a case which they have pursued and reported to the district prosecutor’s office… We stress that the above-mentioned people, although left out of work, have been without work for 25 months… (Continued on page 3)

— Dritëro Agolli and Maqo Lakrori take part On the occasion of March 7, Teachers’ Day, Viktor Mile. The speaker, after giving a brief historical overview of March 7—Teachers’ Day—spoke about the progress of Albanian education up to the present day. He then addressed some of the main problems in education in the Fier district, most of which resemble those at the national level. The meeting was opened by the chairman of PS Fier, Petro Koci. He gave the floor to the educa-

A judicial farce - Union leaders on the way to acquittal - The prosecutor in the case is suspended from the proceedings and sent to Tropojë. It was truly a judicial bluff staged in the cramped premises of the Bulqizë court against Munir Sinani and Syrja Dema, leaders of the miners’, geologists’ and ore-processing workers’ union in the mine and the district. The indictment, drawn up by district prosecutor Selim Kaloshi and presented at the hearing by Fation Batku (because the prosecutor had gone to Tirana), collapsed during the judicial investigation thanks to the defense put up by both defendants, even without a lawyer. Nothing remained of that political… Faced with the evidence presented in court, Fation Batku was compelled to postpone his submission until the night of Bajram, 20 hours after the judicial investigation. His view, based on the facts and on legal conscience, was that the case should be dropped and Munir Sinani and Syrja Dema released so they could celebrate Great Bajram with their children and relatives. (Continued on page 2)