Statement by the Socialist Party press spokesperson In connection with the official statement made yesterday to Radio Tirana by the chairman of the State Audit Service, the Socialist Party press spokesperson is authorized to make the following statement: “The People’s Voice” is the only Albanian newspaper still printed using old technology, with a linotype machine manufactured in 1920. For 40 years it was the only Albanian newspaper that made a profit, since it was published in a large circulation of more than 100,000 copies. But all its profits were paid into the account of the former Central Committee of the PPSH. In response to the newspaper editorial office’s repeated requests, in the 1980s it was proposed that the technology be changed and a modern printing press purchased, which would also print other newspapers. The relevant studies were carried out. According to studies by specialists at the Polygraphic Combine, the cost of a new printing press would be 2.5 to 3 million dollars, at 1986 prices. Since the cost was so high, a study was made into purchasing a printing press from the Canadian firm “New Concept” for 400,000 dollars, the lowest price at the time. This price also included transportation costs, training for printing technicians, and technical assistance during installation. The draft contract for this purchase had been completed in the first half of 1990, when an advance payment of 100,000 dollars was to be released after all the equipment had been cleared and arrived in Tirana, and installation began. This first payment, delayed by four months because of a lack of foreign currency, was finally made on 19 April 1991 by the Bank of Trade of Albania, under transfer order No. 083116. The amount of this advance was used to secure the following materials: - Printing line (5 units, rollstand, folder), 129,000 dollars. - Automatic camera, 5,000 dollars. - Automatic processor, 9,000 dollars. - Electrical equipment, 5,000 dollars. - Ink mixer (for color printing), 1,000 dollars. - Various tools, 1,000 dollars. Total: 150,000 dollars. All the above equipment is being held in safekeeping for “The People’s Voice” by the firm “New Concept,” pending its delivery upon completion of the contract’s three remaining installments. The transfer of the three remaining installments, totaling 250,000 dollars, would have completed the printing press equipment and covered transportation and installation. But they were not transferred because the Bank of Albania lacked foreign currency, although “The People’s Voice” had made several requests verbally and in letter No. 18, dated 8 May 1991, delivered ... The editorial office of “The People’s Voice” dutifully sent Prime Minister Meksi and the government letter No. 27-1, dated 10 June 1992, in which it expressly requested: “As we informed the Government of Stability in September 1991, we are once again informing you of the need to resolve the printing-press issue with the Canadian firm ‘New Concept,’ Toronto. Under the contract concluded, pursuant to the decision of the Secretariat of the former Central Committee of the PPSH to allocate a fund of 400,000 USD in April 1991, the editorial office of the newspaper ‘The People’s Voice’ transferred the first installment of 150,000 USD to the firm. Since, during 1991, the lack of foreign-currency funds made it impossible to transfer the other installments under the contract, its implementation has remained blocked. The State Bank has the means to provide the Canadian firm with the 250,000 USD needed to continue the contract and put the printing press into operation. As we are unable to decide, please confirm whether we should continue negotiations to take delivery of the printing press or terminate the contract and recover the funds we have sent.” No reply from the government! To this day, no reply! Why was there silence until now? Through carelessness, or to preserve a John Megou-style spectacle on the eve of the election campaign?! Moreover, the existing old printing press where “The People’s Voice” is printed, together with its building, premises, and equipment, was sold without an auction, for the laughable price of 50,000 dollars, to a firm based in Slovenia. Meanwhile, “The People’s Voice” is being sent off to find the necessary means for a printing press in a warehouse in Laprakë. Even on 9 July 1993, when the State Audit Service conducted its verification, the newspaper’s editorial office, after setting out the relevant work procedures, sought a position from the competent state authorities on the printing-press issue. We recommended that Mr. Çela read more carefully the verification report by the inspectors of the State Audit Service under his direction, so that he would not make such absurd blunders as claiming that Namik Dokle lost 400,000 dollars in Canada. “The People’s Voice” again insists that the government clear the way for unblocking the contract and, using the funds at its disposal, enable the new printing press to be set up, as has been done for RD and other Albanian newspapers. This is the story of the “The People’s Voice” printing press. It is clear why everything else is being done. But slander, speculation, and abusive interpretations of the facts will not silence either “The People’s Voice,” the Socialist Party’s deputy chairman Namik Dokle, or, least of all, the Socialist Party in its fight against corruption in the state pyramid, against theft and political machinations. It will continue its full commitment to genuine democracy in Albania. Tirana, 31 March 1995 Since the cost was so high, a study was carried out into purchasing a printing press from the «New Concept» company in Canada price also included transport The draft contract for this purchase had been completed as early as the first half of 1990, when the state-party ruled Albania. By Decision No. 104, dated 10.12.1990, in accordance with the legislation of the time, the Secretariat of that party’s Central Committee allocated 400,000 dollars to the newspaper «Zëri i Popullit». Even today, both in the world and in Albania, political parties finance their propaganda. Even today, the financing of Albania’s parliamentary political parties amounts to sums in lek equivalent to more than 1 million dollars a year. It is well known who gets the lion’s share. The 400,000-dollar fund earmarked for the printing press was taken from the account of the Solidarity Fund. This fund was created mainly from contributions by the Chinese Communist Party and was intended for the propaganda of the time, not for terrorist groups. On 10 December 1990, when the decision on the printing press was made, the funds were allocated. Namik Dokle was not editor-in-chief of «Zëri i Popullit» and had never worked for that newspaper before. He took over the leadership of «Zëri i Popullit» on 1 January 1991. On 7 February 1991, a specialist was sent to Canada to inspect the contract prepared long beforehand and see whether the conditions had been met. For projects completed before the technical procurement was carried out, after printing 100 copies of «Zëri» on paper produced in Lushnjë, the contract was signed on 14 January 1991 in accordance with the legal requirements. Preparations for installing the printing press in Tirana began in June. In 1991 – first instalment: 150,000 dollars. April – second instalment: 50,000 dollars. June – third instalment: 100,000 dollars. Last quarter of 1991 The disbursement of the remaining three instalments, totalling 250,000 dollars, would have completed all the printing press equipment and covered transport and installation. But they were not disbursed because the Bank of Albania lacked foreign currency, although «Zëri i Popullit» had made several verbal requests and had also submitted letter No. 18, dated 8.5.1991, to the Tirana branch of the Albanian State Bank. No action was taken by the bank up to August 1991, and by then Namik Dokle had left «Zëri i Popullit» for another position. Up to the time of his departure, the Albanian State Bank had never credited even a single cent to the account opened for «Zëri i Popullit» by disbursement order No. 328164, dated 12 March 1991, in the amount of 250,000 dollars. Anyone can understand that a fund which at that time existed only on paper in the bank records could not be sent to Canada. The abusive speculation using the name of PS deputy chairman Namik Dokle is therefore entirely clear, as are the political motives of auditor Blerim Çela. During the second half of 1991, the next editor-in-chief of «Zëri i Popullit», Përparim Xhixha, repeatedly petitioned the relevant state authorities to release to the newspaper, from the Albanian State Bank, the foreign currency in its account, so that the contract could be carried out and the printing press brought in. But throughout 1991 and at the beginning of 1992, this request was not granted. Just one month after coming to power, the Meksi government, by Decision No. 183 dated 14.5.1992, transferred 1,865,016 dollars and 80 cents to its own account—that is, the entire remaining Solidarity Fund, which until then had been in It also expelled the Socialist Party from its building. It also took two-thirds of the offices of the newspaper «Zëri i Popullit». In view of these actions by the government and its subsequent actions,

Meetings of Dr. Servet Pëllumbi in Gjirokastër and Picar From 1 January to 31 March, the Socialist Party in the districts grew by 430 new members. Yesterday’s meeting in Gjirokastër between the deputy chairman of the FSSH, Dr. Servet Pëllumbi, and members, supporters, and many other citizens began with this welcome news. Also taking part were Secretary General Cramoz Ruçi, MPs Theodhori Bej and Leontiev Çuçi, and Spartak Poçi, a member of the Socialist Party leadership. “At meetings like these, the Socialist Party finds common ground with the electorate, shares its concerns with them,” Servet Pëllumbi said at the outset, “and receives their approval. Where does the Socialist Party have its strongest support?” some ask. “We tell them: in the north and the south, in the east and the west, throughout Albania.” The Socialist Party follows the development of events in Albania and delivers messages that respond to the realities of these developments. Democracy is irreversible; we do not ignore the achievements, reforms, rights, and freedoms attained. At the same time, we believe that it was possible to make much greater progress, and that the mistakes made have been numerous and unforgivable. We particularly oppose the path of tensions pursued by the Democratic Party and President Berisha. The failure of the 6 November referendum showed that the people have received the message of de- [continued on page 3] ...mocracy and will hold on to that message. But the Democratic Party and Berisha took no steps to bring things back onto the democratic path; they did not show themselves responsive to the people’s verdict, but stubbornly continued their policy of tension, which intensified after the Democratic Party’s extraordinary conference, where its own chairman Sali was removed. The attacks have become more aggressive; they stem from the crisis of the Democratic Party, its government, the presidency, and President Berisha himself, who strangely seeks to concentrate power in his own hands. This is happening because these matters are connected with the question of power. They cannot even imagine rotation or alternation; they see it as the end of the world. The attacks are dangerous and confusing: today they speak of a return to communism, tomorrow of neocommunism. None of this is substantiated; they merely throw around irresponsible claims. The scenario to split the Socialist Party is one of the attacks with the most subversive aims. In the election campaign that has begun, the Democratic Party and Berisha would like to see this split, but they will not have that satisfaction. Another aim of this attack is to isolate the Socialist Party from potential allies. (Continued on page 3)

— 59 DEAD — A serious air crash occurred yesterday morning at Bucharest Otopeni Airport. The Airbus-type aircraft, according to reports from Bucharest, crashed just after taking off from Bucharest Airport, causing— ... the crash ... a huge explosion when it hit the ground. “I categorically rule out any error by the crew,” decla-

just after taking off from Bucharest Airport, causing the deaths of 59 people on board, including the crew. The aircraft belonged to the Romanian airline TAROM and was on the Bucharest–Brussels route; 41 of the passengers were Belgian, and the others were American and Romanian. Bucharest airport officials rule out any error in the pilots’ maneuvering or any technical failure, because the pilots had not reported any malfunction. Eyewitnesses said that the aircraft crashed immediately after takeoff and burst into flames. The powerful explosion, around a huge blast error by the crew,” declared TAROM’s director general, Nikolae Bruturu. An investigation into the crash has begun. Experts from the French aircraft manufacturer of the Airbus type, in Toulouse, have set off for Bucharest to investigate the incident. The television footage was deeply horrifying: dead, burned, and dismembered bodies.

For several months, a new market has been operating in Korçë: the market in securities belonging to former political prisoners. At first, their holders wanted to retain an amount of around 80 percent of their value; later it fell to 60 percent, and so the decline continued catastrophically, reaching around 30 percent. This decline is explained by the fact that the state, which issued them these securities in compensation for their suffering, has not set aside any of its former assets to enable them to exchange them. This is one reason, but the President’s decree on the distribution of treasury bonds has also had a no less negative impact on this process.

The number of those arrested in connection with the case involving 100 million lek from the Rrëshen commercial bank, which was robbed in broad daylight, has reached five. After the driver of the Rrëshen commercial bank and the two police officers escorting the money during its transport, the director of the Rrëshen commercial bank and his counterpart, the director of the Burrel commercial bank, have also been arrested.

As we were informed at the Kurbin district council, more than 500 complaints have been submitted to the prosecution authorities by the local government and the district’s land-allocation commissions against illegal land occupiers. This has now become a worrying phenomenon in the district, hindering the final allocation of land in accordance with the law. This is particularly pronounced in the municipalities of Mamurras, Milot and Fushëkuqe. However, it should be noted that the judicial authorities have often neglected to resolve these problems, dragging out the handling of the complaints filed.

What did they say in the official statement on Radio-Tirana? Who cannot bear the truth? [The article text is partially illegible and obscured by damage to the page] At my request, in order to respond officially to Blerim Çela’s statement on Radio Tirana, I asked this institution to publish a statement. ... I would also like to thank the radio director for ...

THE POLITICAL EARTHQUAKE THAT HAS ENGULFED ALBANIA: «A PHENOMENON THAT PUTS THE PALACE OF JUSTICE IN THE DOCK» (READ on p. 3)