There once was an arrogant and dictatorial king, whose people gathered one day beneath his palace, hungry and shouting, “We want bread, we want bread.” He went to the royal court and asked his men what the people wanted. They replied that the people wanted bread. Bread, the king exclaimed in surprise. They want to eat bread?! Why don’t they eat biscuits?

—Interview with lawyer Nafis Bezhani Pages 8–9

“Teuta”–TSK Turku 3–0 Page 14 The joy of victory. Photo: L.Lika, Reute[r?]

56 Albanians from Macedonia protest “The fifth police officer stopped me in Bulqizë. He asked me for my documents, to switch on the right and left indicators, front and rear lights, spare bulbs, the tire, the tow rope, the first-aid kit... and when he saw that I had everything in order, he still did not give my documents back, asking me: ‘But why do you have everything in order? Hmm, something isn’t right here?!...’ Page 12

A look at the day For several days, the newspaper of the party in power, Rilindja Demokratike, has been conducting a veritable campaign to keep aloft a political and propagandistic symbol of the years of dictatorship—anti-Americanism. At a time when one of the [United States?] for the profound political changes that took place in Eastern Europe, and therefore in Albania as well, keeping this spirit alive is both ingratitude toward this great ally of Albania and contrary to the interests of the democracy we are building. Although the authors of this incomprehensible campaign are making efforts to present a segment of Albanian society, a part of its political spectrum, as its target—that is, as the target of the anti-American spirit—this new stance, whatever propagandistic guise it may appear in, can in no way be justified. It is noteworthy that anti-Americanism is being kept alive by the newspaper of the party in power just a few days before the official visit to the United States by the President of the Republic, Mr. Sali Berisha. In this context, the display of the anti-American card, supposedly aimed at the country’s largest opposition party, is carried out largely for external consumption. The aim is to portray the situation as though the Democratic Party were pro-US, while the other political forces—first and foremost the country’s largest opposition party, the Socialist Party—were anti-American. Such insinuations are like traps set for magpies. In a democracy, politics—and consequently allies and alliances—cannot be built according to communist thinking: my friend must necessarily be the enemy of my enemy. That is why this Albanian “lesson,” with “enemies” that cannot be made out in Albania, cannot be deciphered in Washington. The civilized world has not spoken this language for a long time. Nor does it recognize the cynical delight in portraying Albanians as divided over matters whose features are clear.

THE PEOPLE’S VOICE The printing press on which the first issue of “The People’s Voice” was printed during the struggle against fascism Starting today, “The People’s Voice” enters the 54th year of its life. It is the oldest newspaper in the country and, at the same time, the largest. By now, “The Voice...” is not simply a newspaper’s name. It belongs as much to the present as to the past, as much to history as to tradition. “The Voice...” belongs to ordinary people, working people, honest people. “The People’s Voice” began its life as an organ of the Albanian people’s national liberation antifascist struggle. At the same time, it was a partisan, an agitator, a reporter and a historian. At the same time, “The Voice...” also became the first great school of Albanian journalism. It established a school and a tradition. The overwhelming majority of the country’s journalists have come from the ranks of “The People’s Voice.” The founders of the independent and opposition press in Albania in the 1990s also came from its ranks. “The Voice...” has often been anathematized, and it has often been tolerant and democratic. It has accepted debate with them in its entirety. It has shed from itself the bad part of the past of those who held power. It has elevated the work of ordinary, everyday people. And it is precisely for this reason that readers have liked it. It is precisely for this reason that it has stayed ahead of other newspapers in circulation and readership. This year finds “The Voice...” transformed in form and content. It has four times as many pages as the traditional “Voice...”; it is printed using new technology and has a new outlook. It is increasingly returning to information and usefulness. It is increasingly moving away from the old patterns of excessive politicization, and is increasingly becoming more responsible about its weight and role in Albanian public opinion. Therefore, the celebration of “The Voice...” is not simply a celebration of the collective of journalists who work at this newspaper. First and foremost, it is the celebration of its readers, of everyone—its collaborators, correspondents and all its readers.

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