- Interview with PS deputy chairman Luan Hajdaraga, given to journalist Bashkim Koçi - - Recently, the PS has been trying to examine the problems of local government in connection with the new political circumstances. This was also discussed at the latest meeting of the General Steering Committee. That is true. At this meeting of the General Steering Committee, we considered it necessary to make known certain new developments in the political struggle on the ground of socialist local government. We discussed at length the situation and the duties of local government. Alongside the positive assessments of the work of these bodies, and the shortcomings and deficiencies observed that need to be corrected, we anticipated that very soon, for political reasons and purposes, the DP executive would launch a broad attack on our local government. According to the information available to us at every level of local government, and based on inspections previously carried out in local-government bodies, the State Audit Office has proposed punitive measures, including dismissal from office and criminal prosecution, against several district, commune and municipal heads, in Fier, Tepelenë, Kukës, Tiranë, Berat, Pukë, etc. Under these circumstances, the commission and local-government section at the party presidium have maintained ongoing contact with the heads of these bodies. On the basis of its examination of the documents produced by the State Audit Office commission, and of comparing them with the objections and minutes attached by the heads of the relevant bodies, the local-government section has concluded that in most cases the findings and disciplinary measures proposed by the State Audit Office have no legal basis, but are dictated by political motives. These audit reports clearly reveal the State Audit Office’s tendency to hold the heads of district councils, municipalities or communes unjustifiably legally liable, on the basis of their political affiliation. We have instructed local-government bodies targeted by the State Audit Office to take due care to provide the legal grounds for their actions and to seek full clarification of all measures and duties assigned by the State Audit Office from the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of the Interior. They should calmly demonstrate the lack of grounds for the conclusions of the State Audit Office, which has fully taken on the character and burden of the DP’s political executive, in order to attack the opposition. - In your view, is the State Audit Commission acting according to the DP’s strategy? Certainly. The State Audit Office has long strayed from its functional duties. In its activities, it is increasingly becoming a political instrument rather than a genuine state audit body. This is understandable, especially in the new political circumstances in the country following the Referendum and on the eve of the election campaign. Under the guise of fighting corruption, it has launched an open campaign to discriminate against and penalize socialists in local-government bodies. Blerim Cela’s reports at the DP’s extraordinary conference and in the People’s Assembly clearly showed the real aims and substance of the anti-corruption campaign, which is being focused more on our side than on the government’s own ground. - How do you substantiate this? This intensification of the State Audit Office’s activity in attacking our local-level government, accompanied by intensive propaganda about the alleged widespread corruption of socialists in local bodies, is undoubtedly part of the attack against our Party and of the measures being taken to prepare for the election campaign. In the election campaign, corruption and the fight against it are a major battle cry for all political parties; therefore, we must be prepared for an intense confrontation with the DP, which, having the advantage of several state bodies, is trying to attack us on very sensitive and exposed ground, namely governance, including all the many problems and difficulties it entails. - Is there any connection between the State Audit Office’s attack on the PS and the corruption surrounding the takeover of the DP pyramid scheme? From our analyses of political developments in Albania today, it is not difficult to discern a stalling of the so-called “fight against corruption at the highest levels of the state.” None of the state’s most notorious corruption scandals is coming to light. On the contrary, the executive and legal authorities are trying to rapidly bury all the documents relating to well-known scandals such as “Arsidi,” “Walnut Timber,” “Cimentos,” “Tra- (Continued on page 3)

At the invitation of PASOK’s Department of International Relations and Foreign Policy, PSSH deputy chairman Ilir Meta and PS General Steering Committee member Anastas Angjeli paid a working visit to Greece. Yesterday they were received at PASOK headquarters by the party’s Secretary-General and Vice-President of the Party of European Socialists, Agis Xoxopullos. During the meeting, they discussed the new situation that has arisen in relations between our two countries, particularly following the important visit by Greek Foreign Minister Papulias, thereby expressing the PSSH and PASOK’s determination to contribute to strengthening Albanian-Greek relations and creating a climate of cooperation, understanding and dialogue in the region. The meeting assessed the progress of relations between the two parties to date and discussed further developing them, not only bilaterally but also within the Party of European Socialists and among left-wing forces, in order to enhance their role as a factor for stability and peace. The joint PS-PASOK declaration was also recognized as a document of value both today and for the future. The role of PSSH chairman Fatos Nano and PASOK chairman Andreas Papandreu was also praised, not only for improving relations between the two parties and our two countries, but also for creating a climate of understanding and dialogue in the Balkan region, to the benefit of stability and prosperity for the peoples of this region. Recent developments in the Nano case occupied a special place in the meeting. For further development of PS-PASOK relations Also yesterday, member Anastas Angjeli were received for a working meeting by Mr Jani Rubatis, deputy chairman of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament, and Mr Vasilis Ciliças, PASOK’s International Secretary. The meeting discussed the development of PS-PASOK relations and their further progress and practical development. They also discussed intensifying the PS’s relations with the Party of European Socialists and its group in the European Parliament, as well as increasing contacts with European organizations and structures, so that Albania may integrate into Europe as soon as possible. Correspondent of “Zëri i popullit”

DURRËS The PS supports a government of understanding,

Mat Another robbery

A military cooperation agreement between our two countries is expected to be signed.

NAMIK DOKLE: We seek a government that will put an end to the seizure of the people’s property through abusive privatization by government decree and without parliamentary law. DURRËS Amid an enthusiastic atmosphere in the commune of Manzë, a meeting was held between PSSH deputy chairman N. Dokle and members and supporters of the party. The meeting was attended by FRESSH presidium member and MP Ndre Legisi, MP B. Agasi; M. Zeqo; M. Hoti, as well as PS leaders from the district of Durrës. In his speech, PS deputy chairman N. Dokle devoted considerable attention to the political situation in the country. “Although Berisha refuses to decree early elections, in reality he is conducting an undeclared election campaign,” he said. “This campaign is manifested in the numerous conferences, the activities of officeholders and ministers, TV propaganda, etc., all aimed at convincing the people that the DP has successfully implemented its entire electoral programme. Today this party is experiencing a political crisis. The government of the DP and Mr Meksi is a failed government that has been unable to solve the people’s problems. The successes Berisha lists are successes that have come not as a result of the government’s work, but because of the changes that have taken place in Albania and the considerable aid that has arrived, which the Meksi government has not known how to administer. It is true that the DP came to power at a very favourable moment, because all Albanians desired democratic change; but although this party enjoyed this support, it thought it could monopolize democracy. Instead of understanding with the other forces, it chose the path of attacks and political revenge; the culmination of this was the arrest of PS chairman Fatos Nano, who is now considered innocent by the most prominent representatives of European and world democracy. Regarding the constitution, Dokle emphasized the PS’s firm opposition to the spies of those politicians who seek, through the constitution, to turn themselves into presidents in the presidendums and, with their ambitions, impose the will of their political fiefdom on everyone. “The Constitution,” he said, “is the people’s monopoly. We are not calling for early elections for party interests, because we do not weigh the people’s hardships against the number of votes we might receive. We seek a new form of government with a new political and economic concept; we want a social market economy that...” (Continued on page 2)

Mat After the robbery of 100 million lekë from the Rrëshen Commercial Bank, another mysterious theft of money has taken place. Valentina Preni, cashier of the commune of Derjan in the district of Mat, was attacked by masked individuals, who stole the bag in which she was carrying 3.5 million lekë. According to the cashier’s statement, three masked people confronted her. Law-enforcement forces have launched a search for the robbers but have been unable to catch them. Meanwhile, the cashier has been placed under detention. Considering Bank and this theft of 3.5 million lekë from the commune of Derjan, what is striking is that in the first case the money was not accompanied by authorized personnel but was “entrusted” to the driver, while in the second case the Derjan cashier keeps the commune’s cash at home. Are such actions legal? BEKTASH ZENELI

in Tirana Yesterday, Turkey’s Minister of Defence, Mehmet Golhan, arrived in Tirana for a three-day visit. He met and held talks with his Albanian counterpart, Mr Safet Zhulali. He will also meet with other senior Albanian officials and visit military facilities. At the end of his three-day visit, he is expected to sign an agreement with his Albanian counterpart on further military cooperation between our two countries. Regarding the deployment of Turkish troops in northern Iraq, he said that his country would keep its promise to withdraw from northern Iraq as soon as possible, after eliminating the resistance of the Kurds there. “I cannot give any details, but as soon as we eliminate the resistance of the small group of Kurds that is still left, we will return to our bases,” Golhan stated. Correspondent of «Zëri i popullit»

We highlight excerpts from the questions and answers at the meeting of the leaders of the Right-wing League in Shkodër on Sunday Question-and-answer excerpts from the meeting of the leaders of the Right-wing League in Shkodër on Sunday Question: How do you explain that the constitution was defeated, when it is known that it was mainly the Socialists who opposed it? Sabri Godo replies: The Socialists have opposed everything in parliament. They also opposed the law on human rights. Question: The PB secretary general, Fatmir Mediu, said before the referendum that only... the Serbs and the Greeks... would vote against this constitution? Sabri Godo replies: Let’s be clear: in this case, he meant the Socialists. But he spoke too hastily; later he made a self-criticism. Question: Have there been left-wing political prisoners? Kurt Kola replies: Yes, there have been left-wing political prisoners. But even in prison they were with the communist regime.

Albanians, too, can follow this fashion for little money. Perhaps this was the motive that led a group of Italian businessmen in the fashion industry to create «Bellissima», an Albanian company with Italian capital. Although it has only just begun operating, sponsorship from «Coca Cola» gave «Bellissima» the opportunity to present its first «alla italiana» collection, made in Albania, in an exceptionally exotic setting: the «royal» villa atop the hill in Marikaj. Wearing around 70 outfits designed in Italy and made entirely from Albanian products, 12 girls from the «Petro Nini Luarasi» school modelled Albanian beauty before an invited audience, dressed in the fashion of the West ’95. In the marvellous atmosphere of Sunday, accompanied by carefully selected music, «Bellissima»-Shë-room, with its 13 photo models, presented the first batch of 1,400 garments made in Albania, which will soon fill the windows of the boutiques selected by the company. Kristina Busi, the company’s administrator in Albania, tells «Zëri i popullit»: «Bellissima» aims not only to pursue its interests in Albania, but also to open up prospects for an entire generation of young women in the field of fashion, which in the West is described by another name: the fashion industry, because of the income it generates. Thus, production, advertising and sales may open up perhaps extensive employment prospects for these beauties. A. DALIPI

The Albanian school of Labovë turns 85 Dozens of people from Labovë, who had come from all over, celebrated on Sunday the 85th anniversary of the opening of the Albanian school in Labovë e Odries, in Gjirokastër. At the ceremony, which was also honoured by local dignitaries, the event was commemorated, an artistic programme was presented, and a reception was held. Police operations The many police operations in Korçë, led by their chief Pellumb Korfuzaj, are called “fine operations” by residents. In recent days, the residents of Maliq have been at the centre of these operations. Law-enforcement officers inspect various public venues, such as clubs and discos, and ask everyone they find there for their identification papers. Anyone without them ends up at the police station. They may be released after 10–12 hours, once they have paid the fine. «Aristonë» robbed again The shop of the powerful «A-1» company in Korçë has been targeted for a second time within a short period, causing it serious losses. The owner is distressed and expresses astonishment at how such a thing could happen, especially since their shop is in the city centre, where police patrols are constantly on the move. Such attacks on the shops of various companies have been becoming increasingly frequent in Korçë lately. Electricity cut off Since Saturday, the electricity police of the city of Berat have cut off the electricity to 54 families in the village of Dyshnik. This happened because the residents had not paid for the electricity they had consumed. The residents of Dyshnik, who have no income, no social support and no land, which has been forcibly taken from them by the blachëvanët of the city of Berat, said that they have no money to pay the state.