- The newspaper “The People’s Voice” is surrounded by large police forces - The Prosecutor’s Office arrests former “The People’s Voice” editor-in-chief and Socialist Party General Governing Committee member Përparim Xhixha - The Socialist Party and “The People’s Voice” will emerge victorious from the latest battle with the corrupt Democratic Party authorities Yesterday, the newspaper “The People’s Voice” woke to find itself surrounded by large numbers of police officers. Numerous police officers remained in front of the newspaper’s building for almost the whole day, while officers carrying radios inspected the corridors and editorial offices. This police operation ended with the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office ordering the former editor-in-chief of “The People’s Voice” and member of the Socialist Party’s General Governing Committee, Përparim Xhixha, to be placed under house arrest. The authorities’ latest actions against “The People’s Voice,” the newspaper of the main opposition party, follow the pattern of the Berisha regime’s actions against the opposition in general, against the free press, and particularly against “The People’s Voice” as the leading opposition newspaper. The authorities’ latest attack on “The People’s Voice” is based on so-called accusations of misusing funds allocated years ago for the purchase of a printing press. Launched weeks ago as a high-profile case intended to implicate the leading figures of the Socialist Party, it is now degenerating into a banal examination of invoices for the purchase of paper and other everyday journalistic transactions. This is a newspaper case like the marathon trials staged two years ago against the independent newspaper “Koha jonë,” which ended in disgrace for the authorities. It is clear to everyone who reads newspapers that the party most interested in ensuring that the printing-press funds were not misused has been, and remains, “The People’s Voice” itself. The newspaper’s distribution system today is further proof of this. Public opinion can see the falsity of the authorities’ accusations against this newspaper, just as the falsity of their other accusations and attacks against the Socialist Party and its structures—including “The People’s Voice”—has also been exposed. The current propaganda uproar staged by the Democratic Party authorities against the Socialist Party and “The People’s Voice” is intended to divert public attention from financial scandals, rampant corruption and the theft of national wealth by people in positions of power. For more than three years, these authorities have been unable to explain to the public the millions of dollars lost and stolen in scandals such as the Arsid affair, the scandal involving tractors purchased with the Greek loan, the Hotel Tirana scandal, the “Sotirios” ship scandal, fuel smuggling and the violation of the UN embargo against the former Yugoslavia, etc. Millions of dollars have been stolen and misappropriated in these cases, and one day these authorities will have to answer to the people for them. Ridiculous accusations and police terror against “The People’s Voice” cannot save the authorities from this responsibility. They only heighten political and social tensions in the country, creating confrontational situations from which the Socialist Party and “The People’s Voice” will emerge victorious over the authorities. … of the invoices for the purchase of paper and of other operations involving the use of the newspaper, similar to the marathon trials organized ended in disgrace for those in power. party interested in withholding the printing house’s funds has been and remains the newspaper “Zëri i popullit” itself. This is also demonstrated by the outdated technology with which this newspaper is printed today, while all the other newspapers are printed in a printing house equipped with new technologies. Under these circumstances, it is laughable to think that Blerim Çela and the prosecutor’s office need the printing house more than the newspaper does. The economic activity of “Zëri i popullit” has been and remains entirely lawful. This activity is documented, and the newspaper will make it known to the public at the appropriate time. Then it will become entirely clear in …

Socialist Party parliamentary group chairman Namik Dokle met with Mr. Klaus Francke, a member of the foreign policy group of Germany’s Bundestag Yesterday, the chairman of the Socialist Party parliamentary group, Namik Dokle, met with Mr. Klaus Francke, a member of the foreign policy group of Germany’s Bundestag, who has come to visit our country. During the meeting, views were exchanged on the situation in the country and the region; the evident progress in Albanian-German relations and the possibility of translating them into the most effective programs were noted. The guest from Germany also asked about the Socialist Party’s views and positions on a number of issues concerning Albania’s political and economic integration into Europe. “The Socialist Party’s orientation is based on Albania’s Euro-Atlantic integration, and every concrete step in this direction has had and will continue to have its support. This was also confirmed recently at the meetings in Brussels between the Socialist Party delegation and senior representatives of the European Union,” Namik Dokle said. The meeting also addressed the situation in Kosovo and Albania’s relations with its neighbours. Socialist Party Press Spokesperson

As has been reported, the Albanian-Greek mixed commission has been working in Athens for the past two days. The two delegations are headed by Albania’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Arjan Starova, and the secretary-general of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Gjergji. As has been reported, the range of issues to be discussed is quite broad, from the legalization of Albanian economic migrants working … According to the Albanian deputy foreign minister, the bilateral talks agreed that the process of legalizing Albanian emigrants who have been living and working in Greece for some time would begin. He gave no figures, but Greek press sources report that around 80,000–100,000 Albanian economic migrants could obtain this status. According to Mr. Starova, the Greek side showed goodwill and determination in the talks. According to Mr. Starova … in Athens. The two delegations are headed by the Albanian Deputy Foreign Minister, Arjan Starova, and the Secretary General of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Gjeorgji. As has been made known, from the legalization of Albanian economic refugees working in Greece, the question of the respective property of Albanian citizens in Greece and vice versa, and the expansion of economic cooperation between the two countries, to the rights of the Greek minority in Albania and its schools, the preparation of a treaty of friendship between the two countries proposed by Albanian President Sali Berisha during his meeting with Greek Foreign Minister Papulias, and the opening of a branch of the National Bank of Greece in Tirana, etc. … the status of for a long time. He gives no figures, but Greek press reports indicate a figure of around 80–100 thousand Albanian economic migrants who may qualify for not only can the issue of Albanian emigrants in Greece be resolved, but an agreement can also be reached on employing seasonal workers in Greece. “The Greek side expressed without hesitation its support for legalizing Albanian emigrants in Greece,” Mr. Starova told the BBC. He added that for now he is optimistic and full of hope, and that he was pleased to be giving them this message for the first time … (Continued on page 4)

The Socialist Party’s coming to power is unquestionable, because the many social and economic factors point to its alternative as the solution. Madrid once again appealed to the Albanian authorities to review from the beginning the trial and conviction of FATOS NANO, chairman of the largest opposition party, the Socialist Party. In Delvinë, as throughout the country, poverty and unemployment have become incurable wounds in the Albanian economy during the transition period we are going through. Around 62 percent of this town’s population is unemployed today, with only minimal social assistance, while the country’s wealth has become concentrated in the hands of a small handful of families, certainly among the most loyal to the Democratic Party. Yxhata ri rëmosas e minoritari me atë pak prodhim që ka is far from sufficient to make progress along the path of a market economy and is without hope. This situation, created by the Meksi government itself, is driving Delvinë’s electorate even more to seek, support and place its trust in the alternative set out in the Socialist Party’s program. - It is part of the practice of every socialist party. (Continued on page 2)

At yesterday’s session of the People’s Assembly, members discussed and approved several amendments to laws. An amendment was made to the law “On Notaries,” which stipulated that the number of notaries should be limited by a set quota. Members of parliament from various parliamentary groups spoke against this amendment and called for it not to be approved. MPs Kopliku, Caka, etc., spoke against it. The amendment was approved in the version presented, by a vote. Several amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure were then considered, as well as several amendments to the Code of Civil Procedure of the Republic of Albania. The final amendment concerned the “Law on Copyright,” extending the term of copyright protection. The work of the People’s Assembly will continue today in a plenary session, with the adoption of laws. Correspondent of “The People’s Voice”

The Democratic Party cancels the tender; the local authorities bear responsibility… The reason for this article was a report broadcast on television a few days ago in the programme “Në të cilës” [as printed], which raised concerns about delays in the construction work on the Ersekë town water supply system. Throughout this report, our words seemed to leave the blame at the end with the local authorities. The purpose of this television station no longer needs comment: those bombastic crescendos of state propaganda are meant to create in ordinary people the impression that where local government is run by Socialists, things do not go as they should; that they are incapable of governing, misuse even the funds allocated to them, and … But what is the truth, and how far does the local authority’s responsibility extend in this matter? - It is a well-known fact that, in this town as in other towns in Albania, a shortage of drinking water is felt throughout most of the town. The district council has repeatedly brought this fact to the attention of the government, and it was as a result of these persistent requests that, in 1994, the Ministry of Construction approved the project in its investment programme, appointing the Institute for the Study and Construction of Water Supply Systems as the procuring authority. The latter organized a tender in June of that year and announced … (Continued on page 4)

The trial of the Montenegrin citizen Beqir Leshoviq and the Guard’s maneuverer, Mehmet Logu, did not take place yesterday, as had been planned. The former is accused, among other things, of espionage in the service of Yugoslav intelligence, while the latter is accused of treason against the homeland. The court postponed the trial until May 3. It gave as its reason the fact that the police had not brought Mehmet Logu to the hearing, and that witnesses were also absent.

The activities of organized groups threatening small business owners in the city of Durrës are increasingly being felt. They force them to accept their “protection” in exchange for a certain sum, and if they refuse, the owners fall victim to these “protectors.” During the past week alone, there were victims of this kind: a kiosk was burned down, and two brothers, owners of a bar, were injured with crowbars.

The government is apparently satisfied with the state of the road network, and the Director General of Roads at the Ministry of Construction, in letter No. 391-1 dated 15.3.95, has ordered that 101 employees at the road maintenance enterprise in Vlorë be laid off. It is truly paradoxical to lay off employees of this enterprise. The condition of Vlorë’s road network makes this decision foreseeable.

The school in Griqan, in the commune of Labinot, has become inadequate even for holding classes. According to information from the commune, most of the pupils have dropped out of school and now attend lessons in stables. Given the condition the school is in, it is impossible to say that it no longer exists in Griqan.

We inform readers that, due to a shortage of paper supplies for reasons related to the paper market, today’s issue of “Zëri i Popullit” has been published in a reduced print run.