Extraordinary meeting of the presidium of the Socialist Party and the presidium of the newspaper «Zëri i Popullit» Yesterday at noon, an extraordinary meeting of the presidium of the Socialist Party of Albania (PSSH) and the presidium of the newspaper «Zëri i Popullit» was held at the Socialist Party headquarters. The meeting reviewed the situation, which has sharply deteriorated recently as a result of attacks, repression and police persecution directed at the editorial staff of the largest newspaper in Albania and the QBE «Progresi». The recent attacks, accompanied by the imprisonment and prosecution of «Zëri i Popullit» journalists and employees of QBE «Progresi», it was stressed at the meeting, are neither accidental nor unexpected. They once again show the true face of today’s authorities and who the real instigators and perpetrators are of the scenarios designed to heighten political tensions in the country and to divide Albanians and set them against one another. The presidium of the Socialist Party of Albania commended «Zëri i Popullit» for the honest and courageous fight it has waged and continues to wage against the political and economic corruption of today’s authorities, stressing the need to intensify it further without adopting a defensive posture. The authorities, who apparently sense that their end is very near, have nothing else to do but use the last weapons at their disposal, thereby demonstrating their ultimate degradation. At the conclusion, the meeting decided: 1. To approve a statement concerning recent developments. 2. To reinforce the newspaper «Zëri i Popullit» with the MPs: Dritëro Agolli, Xhevat Lloshi, Ibrahim Baçi, Mojkom Zeqo and Halil Lalaj. 3. To establish a special working group of lawyers, economists and intellectuals to submit the relevant complaints to the prosecutor’s office concerning corruption among Democratic Party officials. 4. To inform all international institutions and forums about the recent attacks against «Zëri i Popullit» and the Socialist Party. Press and Information Office of the PSSH.

— The authorities will leave us outside the Council of Europe — It may seem paradoxical, but it is essentially true: through the absurd actions of the current authorities in Albania, while loudly proclaiming that they have long since found the road that will lead the Albanian country to the secure shores of Europe, they are in fact doing the opposite. Isn’t the recent attempt to strip two judges of the Court of Cassation of their immunity—a power belonging to Parliament—a bolt from the blue? The sole reason is that these two judges, like the president of this court, Mr. Brozi, are seeking through their rulings to assert the independence that should characterize the judiciary in Albania. Mr. Arbnori postponed the parliamentary discussion of this matter through negotiations, leaving the European observers waiting outside the door. They are scandalized by the stance of our authorities, but that does not mean that in Strasbourg, where European policy and its position toward Albania are shaped, no one is taking note. In a brief interview yesterday, Mr. Brozi rightly and with evident concern emphasized that the Council of Europe is questioning Albania’s admission to this organization. (Continued on page 3)

Law approving the deployment of troops to Puglia. Sources in Rome report that the Italian Parliament approved by a majority vote the Italian government’s decree to send a designated contingent of 700 troops to Italy’s southeastern regions, on the shores of Puglia, to assist the local police in dealing with the large influx of undocumented migrants from the Albanian coast. The result was decidedly unexpected, given that just a few days ago the parliamentary committee on constitutional affairs rejected this government decree. Various Italian political forces had likewise said they would vote against the bill when it came before Parliament. (Continued on page 4)

At yesterday’s plenary session of the People’s Assembly, MPs considered the draft law “On Emigration,” but at their request referred it back to the committees for review. In their view, the draft law first requires consideration by the Committee on Foreign Policy and the Committee on Defence, Public Order and SHIK. “Next, the draft law “On the Regulation of Construction” was considered. According to the MPs, adopting such a law would restrict unauthorized construction by making those responsible answerable under the law. They raised with great concern the problem of unauthorized buildings, which lack proper urban planning and seriously undermine the prospects for various projects that might be implemented in the future. “They called for greater commitment from the state bodies responsible for its implementation. Finally, the MPs considered the draft law “On Amendments to Customs Tariffs” for approval. Correspondent of «Zëri i Popullit»

democracy, who want to kill free speech, and who want to defend the corrupt regime by every undemocratic means. The aggression against «Zëri i Popullit» is an illegal, vulgar and feudal attack and blow against political pluralism and against the largest opposition party, the Socialist Party of Albania. Following the state leader’s irresponsible declarations about weapons and a socialist black veil, following the oaths made before PD fanatics to increase the use of violence against the Socialist Party, following the full disclosure of the plan to divide the Socialist Party and set generations within its ranks against one another, and following the hysterical and defamatory attacks on the Socialist Party’s principal leaders, the servile foot soldiers Çela, Dervishi and Qeleshi have been set in motion to carry out other scenarios prepared in the dark kitchens. President Berisha, who stands at the head of those who inspire and carry out these perverse and ominous scenarios, guided by anti-Albanian and anti-national interests and ideas, while presenting himself as a shepherd protecting democracy in Albania, is implementing a strategy of tension and a class war rooted in tribal and feudal-bey mentalities. The serious failures in economic reform, especially in the privatization process; the immoral corruption that has affected the heart and the central pyramid of the state and the PD, as well as other parts of it; the scandals that have deeply shaken public opinion; the bluffs, dangerous flirtations and irreparable failures concerning our national brethren, especially our brothers in Kosovo, Macedonia and Montenegro; the grave crisis and political bankruptcy of the PD, which have led President Berisha to usurp its de facto leadership; the responsibilities weighing on him; the humiliation and pain caused by the medal ribbon to him; and SP among the electorate, demonstrated by the latest poll data—all have made him nervous and alarmed and are driving the Berisha regime toward complete disorientation and disintegration. The illness of the Berisha regime seriously threatens democracy and its institutions, freedom of speech and political pluralism, the stability, security and unity of the Albanians, and Albania’s future. The PSSH has publicly exposed the falsity of the accusation and the slander directed at the SP and its newspaper «Zëri i Popullit» concerning 400,000 dollars for the purchase of a printing press in Canada. But, in order to shield themselves from the grave scandals and cancerous corruption of the authorities and their associates, the Berisha regime has recently been waging genuine psychological terror against public opinion and engaging in malicious speculation and interpretation. A truly dizzying din erupted from the Berisha regime over the alleged theft of 400,000 dollars. Not much time passed before this artificially inflated balloon burst, but the regime’s servile lackeys continue to speculate in the press, while certain sections of the judiciary have begun speaking only of direct embezzlement and have set about terrorizing the leadership and all the staff of the newspaper «Zëri i Popullit». While maintaining complete silence about the scandals reported in the press and Parliament involving many government officials and PD MPs, the prosecutor’s offices are being ordered to make arrests and bring charges against the newspaper’s leaders and «Zëri i Popullit», up to and including the detention of its Editor-in-Chief, Thoma Gëllçi. The presidium of the PSSH declares once again publicly that neither the Socialist Party nor the newspaper «Zëri i Popullit» has engaged in any illegal activity. As legal entities conducting their own independent economic activity, they have acted and continue to act within the framework of the law in force. Their economic activity is open and legal; only those who deliberately want to attack and strike the Socialist Party and block its propaganda and economic activity refuse to see this. and its leaders, and to stop, before it is too late, the dangerous adventure he has prepared against the Socialist Party. We call on him to calculate carefully and bear in mind the grave consequences of continuing such a strategy of heightening tensions and focusing the Berisha regime’s efforts on the Socialist Party as its principal enemy. The Albanian electorate, disappointed and tired of demagoguery, exhausted and shaken by systematic violence and deception, is being provoked by every nefarious means, generating tension, division and hostility among Albanians. With a profound sense of responsibility, we call on the President: do not provoke the electorate, do not tamper with its democracy and pluralism, do not further oppress and anger it. We will continue to explain clearly to the electorate both the adventure, its dangers and consequences, and our determination to help stop and prevent any further escalation of this ominous strategy. The SP calls on progressive political forces not to remain indifferent to this dangerous escalation of the situation, because such an attitude only emboldens its oppressor and various adventurers, whether individuals such as Kurt Kola or others, who have recently made extremely irresponsible and dangerous statements about democracy and Albania’s future. Stop this dangerous adventure before it is too late. The Socialist Party will know how to use its authority and the trust it enjoys among the Albanian electorate properly and responsibly; it will know how to discharge its duties toward democracy and Albania’s future. PRESIDIUM OF THE SOCIALIST PARTY OF ALBANIA Tirana, 18. 5. 1995

“The demands of the teachers in their strike were [??],” says the government. But in this amount the government has included the 8 percent inflation index, electricity compensation and hardship pay, says Smaili. The teachers’ union demands in their independent union’s strike during talks with the government were also confirmed by the chairman of the Shkodër district trade union confederation, Mr. Fatmir Smajli. He stressed that the education trade union federation had supported the independent union’s strike on condition that salaries in this sector, as well as in telecommunications and healthcare, be increased by 35–40 percent. In reality, however, after the strike the government announced a salary increase only for teachers. So how much is this increase? “25–31 percent,” pay, says Smaili. It is precisely the inclusion of these indicators in the calculations that unionists denounce as the underhanded method the government has followed in this case. “The inflation index should not be counted as a salary increase, because it began to be applied last year on the basis of the agreement signed between the government and the Unio—

of the presidium of the Socialist Party of Albania The aggression launched against the newspaper «Zëri i Popullit» is a dangerous escalation of the strategy of heightening tensions, devised and carried out by the Berisha regime, which the Socialist Party has denounced for some time. This aggression constitutes a dangerous adventure, prepared by hotheads who want to suffocate Albanian democracy— the ribbon of the medal as large as a [unclear] of Arsdit, the difficulties and sorrows caused him by the stews he has swallowed, or perhaps the closing of doors that had previously been opened to him, as well as the substantial increase in the role and authority of the SP among the electorate, demonstrated by the latest poll data, have made him nervous and alarmed and are driving him toward disorientation and disintegration. The presidium of the Socialist Party of Albania calls on President Berisha to put an end as soon as possible to the persecution he is carrying out against the Socialist Party and its structures, to the psychological terror and the pressure on the employees of the newspaper «Zëri i Popullit» and its leaders…

on (Continued on page 2)