- Berisha’s “love” is suffocating the DP itself - What is Berisha: President of Albania or chairman of the Democratic Party? This is a question that could have been put to him at his latest press conference. Not because people do not know the answer, but to see how aware Berisha himself is of his position. Although the question was not asked, the answer was given: “We are, and will remain, determined to win the ’96 elections,” Sali Berisha declared on behalf of the DP at a press conference held in his capacity as president. Why is Berisha taking such an open position? It seems to us that Berisha’s stance stems from an analysis he has made of the political situation in general and that in the Democratic Party in particular, after weighing up many interests. Judging from the information available to him, he must have concluded that the DP cannot win the next elections. Nevertheless, the president’s term has another year to run. And then? Here he faces a dilemma: on the one hand, remain president for another year regardless of the party’s fate, and then join the DP as Tritan’s subordinate, or withdraw from political life altogether. He chose the second option. Between the office of president, as a symbol of national unity, and that of chairman of the Democratic Party, he prefers to be DP chairman. The presidency is temporary, whereas party posts last longer. His statements that the DP will certainly win the elections, that this or that success has been achieved, his fierce attacks on the opposition, etc., are above all attempts to preserve his image as leader of the DP intact, rather than expressions of the reality in Albania. In essence, Berisha’s main efforts at present are directed more towards winning the electoral campaign within his own party. Almost all of Berisha’s moves are made with this in mind. It was in pursuit of these efforts that Eduard Selami was burned as a dangerous rival for the DP chairmanship. In this context, the DP is now being left without an elected chairman. Unwilling to burn his own political career, Berisha is gravely harming not only Albania, but also the Democratic Party itself. Loving it so much, Berisha is choking the DP, suffocating it. He is bringing the DP to such a state that tomorrow it may have no need for a chairman at all. Through the positions he adopts in his nominal capacity as President of Albania, Berisha is creating a highly damaging precedent that could have negative consequences for the country’s future. …the next one, the PD cannot win. Nevertheless, the president has a mandate for another year. What to and then join the PD as Tritan’s subordinate or withdraw from political life altogether. On the other hand, to come out openly as chairman of the PD now, and remain so until the president’s term expires, and then go there with an office as chairman of this party. Guided by his personal interests and perhaps thinking that this is in the PD’s interests, he has

- Commenting on a foreign saying: “Distant waters do not put out the fire” - When R. Alia once stressed that Albania is not the East, this phrase muddled the minds of many people who, in their commentaries seeking its essence, became hopelessly entangled in politics and geography, history and diplomacy. Without setting out to unravel the meaning of that phrase, which became the “apple of discord” throughout all these years of transition, it must be stressed that people’s eyes are now open enough to understand that it is neither their duty nor their desire, nor a propagandistic slogan of party leaders, to drift eastward or line up with the West. The East means the communist regime, in which one moved along two tracks: trampling on human freedoms and centralising the economy. Communism in this form has now come to an end throughout the East. But that does not mean those countries immediately became the West. The possible path of transition—if the economy is to produce rapid results, and the situation in the field of laws can be overturned within a legislative term—will perhaps take a human generation when it comes to ways of thinking. The point is to uproot the “ideological poison” of the former system. This is very difficult. That is why even authorities in the fields of politics and philosophy, economics and jurisprudence have now fallen into a whirlpool of disappointment. But we are not facing an inevitability. In this sense, the political alternation now being seen in the East—where, after the fall of the Berlin Wall in October ’89, there was an offensive by the right, while today the right is being replaced by the left, as the right is now being replaced by the left, because of the poor administration of the transition—is a perfectly natural process. It is true that the waters of the East are murky. That the East is not a single colour. That every country has its own particularities. These elementary facts are things the leaders of our governing party do not want to learn: the right-wing force that, on 22 March ’92, proudly—and with a certain justification—proclaimed itself the champion in the fight against communism in Eastern Europe. It had achieved a spectacular victory. But even in politics, the pear has its stem at the back. The propaganda of the DP and of today’s entire right-wing government, the governing party’s sole weapon for preventing a possible change of power, exploits certain truths about what happened in the East. Subjected to even the simplest analysis, these show how little some of today’s fathers of the nation understand about politics. For example, television loudly announces that the socialists (in power) in Bulgaria are going to bring back agricultural cooperatives. Yesterday’s RD publishes a story from Poland with (had) a full 4 million US dollars, with no document whatsoever, which is fully proven not to have come from the state budget but from external sources, not through their slogans but through physical deposits fi- [continues beyond the frame] (Continued on page 3)

- Publicly proves that the Solidarity Fund was not “fed” by the State Budget - After the filming and broadcast on RTSH of tractors that are not the property of QBE “Progresi”; after the “closure” of branches in Devoll, Kavajë Tirana, Pograd ec, Fier and Korçë; after the making of a copy signed by former Finance Minister A. Verli in 1965, which said that former Deputy Prime Minister H. Toska in 1967, where the sums for the account of the former Central Committee of the PPSH are specified, title, only those can prove the capital of the respective sums that you display from the budget account into that of solidarity; only in this way can they prove state ownership (had) a full 4 million US dollars without any document, which are fully proven not to be from the state budget but from external sources, not with slogans and in the election fi-

After the filming and broadcast on RTSH of tractors that are not the property of QBE “Progresi”; after the “closure” of branches in Devoll, Kavajë Tirana, Pogradec, Fier and Korçë; after E. Paloka bought a “Peugot” for L. Çuko (what a number this parody-maker does on the opposition) in “RD” — on 27 May an “interpretation” by Z. Çela was published, based on information obtained from expert Kau, about the “Solidarity Fund”. of branches in Devoll, Kavajë Tirana, Pogradec, Fier and Korçë; after E. Paloka bought a “Peugot” for L. Çuko (what a number this parody-maker does on the opposition) in “RD” — on 27 May an “interpretation” by Z. Çela was published, based on information obtained from expert Kau, about the “Solidarity Fund”. It includes facsimiles of two letters signed by former Finance Minister A. Verli in 1965 and former Deputy Prime Minister H. Toska in 1967, specifying of the PPSH. Eureka! Mr Çela cries, saying he has supposedly found two administrative letters which may be anything, but certainly cannot be equivalent, as he thinks, to bank confirmations. Mr Çela, take the trouble to find the bank documents that verify the facts for yourself, precisely at the bank, which is also the treasury for implementing the State Budget; only those can prove the transfer of the respective sums that you show from the budget account to the solidarity account. Only in this way can you prove state or party ownership of these funds. Long live the rule of law when the chief inspector and the state prosecutor “swallow without chewing” the “conclusions” of expert Kau. But what also strikes one in the published table is the fact that over just 8 years (1969–1976), a full 4 million US dollars were deposited—not on paper, but in fact—without any documents. This fully proves that they did not through slogans but through physical deposits in banks. Let the contrary to this truth be proved with documents and public publications. Let the accusers ask themselves, and answer the public: why, then, did it not continue to (Continued on page 2)

“THE NANO CASE” ON THE AGENDA Tomorrow in Strasbourg, the Legal Affairs Committee of the CoE will meet to consider, as well, Albania’s request for the country’s official admission to the CoE. The conclusion reached, following the widely publicised report on the important decision of the Political Committee, reserved similar publicity for the forthcoming meeting of the Legal Affairs Committee. The reason was that this committee will tomorrow carry out an expert review of Albanian legislation, particularly that relating to human rights (the Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure, the Civil Code). But an examination of the “Nano case” has also been announced. Mr Gulomberg—the committee’s rapporteur—has devoted attention and concern in his report tomorrow to the case of the imprisoned socialist leader. Indeed, as was made public last weekend, he also recommends options for resolving this case: “Review of the trial, a presidential pardon without preventing Mr Nano from engaging in political activity, review by the official authorities in Tirana of the ratification of the European Convention on human rights and freedoms, an international investigation by the European Court of Human Rights.” Which option will the official authorities in Tirana choose? Meanwhile, here in Tirana, many have been asking for some time: When will Mr Nano be released? How many days of his prison sentence does he still have left? “You ask when Fatos Nano will get out of prison? I don’t count the days and months… neither those that have passed in prison nor those that still remain… I don’t count them; I truly live…,” says Mrs Reshqina Nano. She continues:

Yesterday was the ninth day of the hunger strike in Kam, Tropojë. The health of those in the sit-in is becoming increasingly precarious. This is also shown by the fact that three of them have been admitted to hospital. Nevertheless, the strikers, who are confined in the former offices of the mine directorate, are determined to continue until their demands, which are purely economic, are met. Speaking by telephone yesterday with the strike’s chairman, Qazim Sinani, he told us that on May 8 they sent a telegram to the Prime Minister and on May 19 a telegram to the President, but received no response. On May 20 they sent telegrams to the parliamentary groups of the People’s Assembly. “And we also sent telegrams to MPs A. Hajdari, L. Përpali and Sh. Memishi, asking them to take an interest and intervene to resolve our demands. The representatives of the authorities in the district and prefecture also continue to remain silent and give no reply.” Qazim Sinani continues: “On May 25, Prefect Agolli gave an interview to ‘Voice of America’, in which he said that the demands of those confined in the hunger strike had been resolved, or that the strike was politicized. We tell the prefect,” says Qazimi, “that none of our demands has been resolved and that they have specified deadlines. As for politicization, we tell him that the political forces in Bytyç have decided, without your permission, to support the strike and our demands, which are purely economic in nature. We also call on the authorities in the district and at the centre to act as soon as possible to resolve the demands of the strikers in Kam, since they are determined not to leave the sit-in until the situation we are in now has been put right.” Correspondent of ‘Zëri i popullit’

A proposal to increase taxes had also been placed in the files of the members of the Elbasan district council for its next meeting. It concerned an increase in the tax on building permits, a tax that falls under the authority of local government. At first, this tax increase, which was brought forward for approval and a vote by the councillors, was justified by the state’s need to secure revenue. According to the draft submitted to the council, even obtaining a permit to build a retaining wall or a boundary wall would require paying a higher tax than before! What was even more surprising was that the proposal in question did not explain what the previous rate of this tax had been or by what percentage it was now being increased. It was precisely on this point that the debates in the district council arose. Councillors from all political forces, but especially the Socialists, opposed the relentless increase in taxes or, in other words, the “progressive skinning of citizens.” In the end, after a lengthy debate, the proposal was not approved and was sent back. One of the councillors, mocking the state’s insistence on raising taxes, said: “Perhaps one day here in the district council they’ll propose that we impose a tax for getting a permit to… grow a moustache.” S. CEKANI

— THE CONGRESS IS ALSO GREETED BY PPSH DEPUTY CHAIRMAN MR LUAN HAJDARAGA — Yesterday, the Congress of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the second-largest Albanian party in Macedonia in terms of reach and membership, began its proceedings in Tetovë, Macedonia. A number of Albanian parties from Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia and Montenegro were also taking part in the congress as guests. A delegation from the Socialist Party of Albania, headed by its deputy chairman, Mr Luan Hajdaraga, also took part in the congress. The congress, held in one of the halls of the city’s House of Culture, was opened by the city choir with the Ode to the Flag Anthem. The report was delivered by the party’s chairman, Injaz Haliti. The report sought to provide a detailed analysis of the four-year period from the party’s founding to the present. “Our activity,” Haliti said, among other things, “has not had and does not have the aim of harming anyone’s interests, least of all those of the Macedonians. On this path, our party is determined to fight to the end, to fully realize the demands for the rights of the Albanian population in Macedonia.” After the discussions, the economic, social, educational and cultural programme was approved. Several amendments were also made to the statute. The congress continues its work today. The first PDP Congress was also greeted by Mr Hajdaraga, deputy chairman of the PPSH, who said, among other things: “Our parties, wherever they are—in the Republic of Albania, in Kosovo, in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and in Montenegro—are Albanian parties and share the enduring national cause. This unites us and must unite us even more strongly.” The delegates approved the congress resolution and then proceeded to elect the party chairman, its secretary and its deputy chairmen. F. S.

- Pjetër Arbnori on the four qualities of a DP member - 1. If you make the mistake of appointing him to a position first, he is no longer seen around the DP offices. 2. If you meet him in the street, he says, “Where have I seen you before?” 3. If you go to his office, he makes you wait to show that he is greater than you. 4. If you recommend that he implement the DP programme within the law, he tells you that the people elected him and he takes orders from no one. (RD, 24 May 1995)

Problems in Albania will not be solved as long as the state devises schemes to eliminate the opposition

In the report concerning the request for the criminal prosecution of Blerim Arben Qeleshi and Shqyri Kaut, from the Socialist Party, relating to the initiation of the complainant’s criminal proceedings against several employees and the directorate of QBE “Progresi,” the newspaper “Zëri i popullit” inadvertently omitted the name of Velezi Havari because of a technical error. Criminal proceedings have been unjustly initiated against him.