Editorial Who is afraid of the “boys” and the “puppets”? President Berisha, in words and poses of a darkening mind, set up as if in a counter-farce against the Socialists, and against the Socialist Party, the great reform of the people, the country, the ideas of today. We are publishing some fragments from his speech of two days ago from the ranks of his own party. Rhetoric, cynicism, mocking irony, offensive assertions against the Socialist Party, but more confused than in all the counter-moves of this force’s entire mandate. He has come from a provincial town, with banalities, hatred and hysteria against the new Albanian opposition. Instead of responding to the concerns of public opinion and avoiding the rigid positions of his own parliamentary majority in relation to the constitutional institutions and the opposition, Berisha treated the problem as a personal matter. Obsessed with labeling the Socialists as “puppets,” “boys” and a “factional group,” he mixes street slang with propagandistic confusion in a peasant-like way. We do not understand his daily words, where he has put such slanders into circulation. We are not afraid and have no reason to be silent. On the contrary, we are determined to defend our right to oppose his policies with arguments and dignity. Berisha calls the PS “boys,” but he himself is remembered for unbridled pressure, hateful language and his arrogance. Reformed Albanian socialism is not afraid of such rhetoric. (Continues on page 5)

Sabri Godo: This law is the heaviest blow to our new democracy Page 4

The fate of Selami, the fate of the PD, the fate of the intellectual Page 3

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Abandoned military personnel turn to Berisha They are former active military personnel, reserve military personnel and discharged personnel. Besides being retired because of military age, they were also removed in 1992 in the year in which they were entitled to a pension. They oppose the law on the classification of military personnel by differences in financial income Page 6

Out of 14 prices compared with a year earlier, 10 are found to have risen Page 7

Labour in Great Britain: Page 12 (Continues on page 5)

The President decrees the dismissal, PD television issues a statement The PD branch in Vlorë decides to dismiss the Chairman of the Municipality of Selenicë... The President decrees the dismissal, the PD television issues a co- mmunication Page 8

Mira Meksi reserves a surprise for the distinguished writer On 17 April Ernesto Sabato in Tirana Mira Meksi reserves a surprise for the distinguished writer Page 9

Starting tomorrow, the first of the Candidates for the general secondary school: 1. History of C.[?] 2. Language and literature V.[?] 3. [?[?]] foreign language 4. Physics [?[?]] 5. Mathematics 6. Chemistry 7. Biology 8. [?[?]] 9. French 10. Italian [?] Persons who wish to register for general secondary studies “Zëri i popullit”, on Saturday 12.02.1996, at 8:00 a.m.