MISS «MREKULLIA» SHQIPTARE 1995 32 BILLION DEFICIT IN THE PD GOVERNMENT’S BUDGET - A deficit is forecast equal to the combined actual deficits of the past two years - This is the state of an economy that has put the national wealth of 50 years up for political auction The draft budget for 1995 has now taken full shape; these days it will be discussed in the People’s Assembly and put to a vote of confidence. Although three months have passed since the start of this fiscal year, this does not pose any problem for the government, since it has presented previous budgets to parliament in the same way. In this context, we cannot fail to mention the fact that the Ministry of Finance is one of the government’s few disasters, having had a different minister every year. Without dwelling on this issue, let us return to the matter at hand, namely the current budget for 1995, and pose the question of interest to the general public: what revenue and expenditure has our state planned for 1995, how do these columns compare with one another, and do they result in a deficit or a surplus? These are ordinary questions, because, after all, people also measure the strength and achievements of the state by the balance it records. However, taking a look at the figures represented by these two columns makes it difficult to feel optimistic. This is because the 1995 deficit shown in the draft budget is worse than ever. Specifically, the budget defi- A scene from 1995: a large group weighing on the Albanian economy like stones around its neck. This is the clearest picture: people can see every day, without needing much commentary, how well things have gone in Albania over these years, and what results the party in power will end its term in office with. This economic situation has no other explanation than the way the democratic government has run the country over these years. Furthermore, it should be emphasized that of the revenues the government has planned in the 1995 budget—53 billion and 430 million lekë—the largest share comes from taxes and duties: 36 billion and 800 million lekë. These taxes and duties come almost entirely from commercial activities carried out by private firms or individuals. This is because industrial production in Albania continues to be in crisis. We note that industrial production in 1994 was lower, in percentage terms, than in 1993. A national economy cannot be sustained on carrots, onions, gjizë and beans. The same situation will continue in 1995. A budget like this will have great difficulty meeting the needs of our economy. Regardless of the expenditure plan set out in the draft budget, there are requests for additional funds. The Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Defence, and others have made such requests. But whom are these officials asking? They know very well the state to which our economy has been reduced. The many claims that privatization would bring substantial revenue to the economy have produced no results, because privatization was not carried out as it should have been, but under the pressure of corruption, personal connections, shady deals and corruption. On the other hand, our country has lacked real productive investment, which would not only bring new life to the economy but also open up new employment opportunities for the unemployed. These would create new national wealth. But instead of identifying responsibility and putting things back on the right track, the market has been flooded with mere propaganda, making a fuss about delegations coming and going and businesspeople being welcomed and seen off. This propaganda is simply intended to tide us over. All this is accompanied by an unbalanced trade balance, with imports and exports being one of the clearest sources of foreign currency. Exports have increased slightly compared with previous years, but they are still several times smaller than the imports entering the Albanian market. The presentation of the draft budget is one of the year’s most important economic events, not merely for the government that presents and seeks to defend it, but also for ordinary people, who are connected to this budget in one way or another. Pensioners, the unemployed and people receiving social assistance have the greatest interest in it. But what will they gain this year from this budget, with its deficit of billions of lekë? Those waiting for new jobs to be created are also affected by it. How much can this deficit budget finance on this vital front? DEDE KOLA whether it has a deficit or a surplus. These are normal capacity of the state by the kind of balance sheet it has. However, looking at the figures represented by those two columns, it is projected in the draft budget turns out to be worse than ever. Specifically, the budget deficit for the coming year is 31 billion and 668 million lekë. Meanwhile, although the party in power promotes the achievements of the Albanian economy, this figure does not say much in its favor. Indeed, the situation is even worse than in previous years. This year’s state budget deficit is not only larger; it is equal to the combined total of the previous two years. This is the Albanian “miracle” that brought about the fact that industrial production in Albania is still experiencing a be sustained on carrots, onions, cottage cheese and beans. The same situation will persist in 1995. Such a budget This is so despite the planned expenditure in the budget amounting to 85 billion lekë, whose implementation is already in question because it has not been achieved in any year. Let us not forget last year, when, in order to emerge “honorably” with the budget deficit, budget expenditures were cut with administrative scissors to such an extent that even the foreigners who had worked on that budget were astonished. This is a fact that we are not exaggerating at all; it is a real fact that several ministry heads raised during discussions in parliamentary committees

PARTY ACTIVITIES The PD is unable to make the farmer the real owner of the land The Local Government Commission attached to the General Steering Committee met Yesterday, under the chairmanship of Luan Hajdaraga, the Local Government Commission met to discuss and offer opinions on the unresolved problem of implementing the land law. At the outset, it was pointed out that today’s PD state has no statistical data, indicators or records from which to draw accurate conclusions about the situation surrounding implementation of the land-distribution reform. In general, where the land had been state-owned, the law appears to have been implemented in accordance with its requirements, while in the overwhelming majority of areas of the country where land is scarce, it has been distributed in accordance with the law but (by mutual understanding) along the old boundaries. The fundamental problem that demonstrates the incompetence of the PD government is the failure to distribute title deeds and register the land on the basis of the law’s implementation. The farmers, speakers said, may have received the land, but they are not sure whether it is truly their property. This conviction grows stronger when the PD openly proclaims its right-wing programmes and declares itself alongside coalitions that want to bring the former owners and great landowners back to power. The Socialist Party, they said, opposes this position and is concerned with making the farmer the actual and legal owner of the land, in accordance with the law approved by all—said the parliamentary parties. The PD has declared the distribution of land complete. Indeed, it boasts of it and considers it its greatest success. The Socialists believe that land distribution on the basis of the law approved by parliament is the very foundation for successfully implementing economic reform. But the way the PD assesses this problem—leaving the farmer’s ownership of the land unresolved, neither on earth nor in heaven—is, they consider, a disaster. The tax problem remains no less troubling. There are thousands of poor and very poor farming families who are unable to afford the taxes. In reality, they are getting nothing from the land allocated to them by the reform. When the Socialist Party comes to power, it will immediately take concrete steps to establish significant differences in tax rates. It was even suggested that these be set after a new classification of the land, because the current one is not realistic. High charges for the use of agricultural machinery, exorbitant prices for fertilizers, chemical preparations, seeds, water, etc. have made it impossible to cultivate the land effectively. Dozens of hectares of land have been left fallow or abandoned. In this context, it is urgent that the government

At 16:00, together with the MP—Ksamil is persecuted as a village

At 16:00, together with MP Ibrahim Baçi, the Ksamil residents who had been waiting for him gathered in the square. The first thing said in the conversation was: a foreigner who visited Albania said, “... At 16:00, together with MP Ibrahim Baçi, the Ksamil residents who had been waiting for him gathered in the square. The first thing said in the conversation was: a foreigner who visited Albania said, “I saw a people walking barefoot on gold. Ksamil is one of the gold pieces of this country.” The first question people asked was: will measures be taken against those who destroyed Ksamil, worth billions of lekë? Ksamil is persecuted as a village by the PD; people cannot sign anything anywhere, the land has not been distributed, and there is no water. Today at 9:00, the Deputy Chairman of the SP and chairman of the Socialist parliamentary group, comrade Namik Dokle, has a meeting at the cultural centre of the city of Sarandë. TH. DINO Ksamil, 24 March, evening

Continuing the interview Mr. Meksi gave to RD on the eve of 22 March First high point: During these three years, Mr. Meksi has increased the number of thieves by a factor of five. He entered government thin and, as we see every day, has reached the proportions of BUÇKOS. Second high point: Mr. Meksi was sworn in with one cabinet, and by the end of his term he is likely to leave office with his fourth cabinet. Third high point: Mr. Meksi’s government entered political life a virgin and emerged corrupt. It did not preserve—could not preserve—its veil of innocence. B. J.

Yesterday at midday, a ceremony was held to inaugurate Hotel Tirana Internacional. On this occasion... Yesterday at midday, a ceremony was held to inaugurate Hotel Tirana Internacional. It was renovated by the Italian company DI Vencanzo, at a cost of around 14 million lekë; 10 million were paid in cash by the Savings Bank and the remainder by the Bank of Albania. The shareholders are Banka Italoshiptare, the Savings Bank and Insig. Sixty-five per cent of the capital belongs to the Albanian side, 25 per cent to the Italian side and 10 per cent to the EBRD. The hotel has 161 rooms and all the necessary modern facilities. Prices are moderate: a single room costs 117 USD, a double room 160 USD and a suite 210 USD. Numerous Albanian officials attended the inauguration ceremony, along with the Italian Ambassador in Tirana, Mr. Paolo Foresti, and many others. This hotel was built in 1979.

TIRANA For five consecutive days, numerous visitors, citizens and businesspeople have been following with interest the Croatian economic exhibition, opened at the premises of the National Historical Museum. It is not only evidence of this country’s industrial development, but also a concrete expression of the contacts and opportunities for further economic ties and cooperation between the two countries. The exhibition came as a concrete response to the interest shown in contacts with Croatian firms regarding many of the products they offer. The exhibition presents more than 25 different manufacturing and trading firms in its pavilions. Some are long-established, with decades and decades of experience, while others are new companies that present themselves as competitors in the markets of Europe and the world. Among them are products from the firm «Gorica», a 67-year-old clothing company that offers enamelled, galvanized and tin-plated vessels; «Kamen», founded in 1954 and engaged in quarrying and processing stone blocks; the firm «Chromos», with its paints and varnishes; and «Hapmen», which belongs to a family of 26 firms operating in every part of the world. Also represented is «Industrogradnja», which over its half-century history has grown from a small firm into an economic giant engaged in construction, design, production of construction materials, the wood industry, metalworking, etc., and ... (Continued on page 2)

Only in the commune of Kthella, in the district of Mirditë, is there an agricultural area of 850 hectares, a considerable amount for this mountainous region. These days, people can be seen among the fields, working the plough with shovels in their hands. If things continue like this, part of the land will turn into meadow. The land is worked by hand; the machinery lies silent

Supplying the people of Vlorë with kerosene has been and remains a serious concern. The figures bear this out. For 1994, of the 3,600 tons planned, only 16 tons actually arrived, or 40.3 percent, at the municipality’s services section. It is reported that efforts are being made to improve the situation this year. But once again, without results. A key factor that has had a negative impact is that the kerosene sales outlets were in the process of being privatized. The municipality has decided to increase the number of sales outlets from 11 to 19. This measure may perhaps have a positive effect on the kerosene supply and improve heating for the population.

To date, the municipality of Durrës has not undertaken any plan or project for children’s recreation. A lack of culture, ignorance or carelessness? The fact is that parks, sports grounds and public spaces are being taken over by kiosks, cafés and traders. The only sports park in Durrës has been completely transformed from its intended purpose into a supermarket. No one thinks about the fact that children of all ages have nowhere to play. And this is no small problem.

It is said that a sudden quarrel on Thursday afternoon led to the killing of Ilir Çeluti and the wounding of Alban Bardunes, both 20 years old. The incident took place in the Kiras neighborhood of the city of Shkodër. It is thought that the two protagonists ... of this tragic incident, one dead and the other wounded, had a quarrel on foot; the latter is currently in Shkodër hospital. At the scene, the police detained one person.

GJIROKASTER Three women break away from the crowd of people waiting to “receive assistance in front of the Municipality” and say: They exploit us; we get our wages from shopkeepers. In other words, we borrow money at interest and have to repay it with interest. There are more than 70 households waiting for nothing but municipal assistance. They received it on the seventh; on the 24th, the assistance is supposed to be received after the 15th, but the money has still not been paid. The money has been delayed, and this year the amount has also been reduced. Three women, one of whom has two children out of four and the others have five people in their families, used to receive 42 thousand old lekë in assistance through December; this year they receive 21 thousand lekë. The women complain about the delays, the cuts to funds distributed as assistance to families who are not entitled to it, and the conduct of municipal employees. “They demand that their citizenship papers be found too.” The queue in front of the Municipality continues to grow, as does the list of those who cannot pay at the shopkeepers’ stores. THANAS DINO