Following the announcement of a 20% pay rise The Socialists requested a 20% pay rise seven months ago Following the announcement of a 20% pay rise The government opened its “purse” on the eve of the election campaign The Socialists requested a 20% pay rise seven months ago Gentlemen of the government, We agree that wages and pensions should be increased not by 10 percent, but by 20 percent. While the government would need 675 million lekë for a 10 percent pay rise, the Socialists submitted a proposal to Parliament to increase them by 20 percent, based on calculations totaling one billion and 350 million lekë. The sources to cover this amount are: you have already found 300 million lekë by saving on operating expenses; 100 million should be cut from ARN’s investment budget; around 250 million lekë from the Ministry of Transport for overdue payments to the PTs; 270 million lekë should be cut from operating expenses; spending on the police and SHIK should be reduced, as should several investment items, by not holding tenders over these three months to buy cars for the central government departments, since I believe the ones they already have are sufficient and quite luxurious. These options are available. All that is needed is the willingness and the desire. Speech in Parliament by MP Anastas Angjeli on behalf of the SP. Published in “Zëri i popullit” on 5.10.1995 Page 7

The PS’s social support base consists of the new property owners (the future capitalists), the peasant whom PD propaganda ironically calls a farmer, the unemployed—those who deserve to become property owners and find jobs—the majority of intellectuals who have been trampled underfoot, and all the other pensioners and young people abandoned by the pseudo-reforms of the right. Page 3

The Secretary-General of the Socialist Party, Gramoz Ruçi, is received by Greece’s Foreign Minister, Mr. Theodoros Pangallos Page 2

At the European Shooting Championship II I III Page 13

UILLJAM PERRI decorated with the “Skënderbej” Order - The U.S. Secretary of Defense concluded his two-day visit to Albania and meetings with the defense ministers of the Southern Balkan countries. Mr. Perri met with Albania’s President, Sali Berisha. He was awarded the “Skënderbej” Order, the highest medal given to a foreigner, for the assistance he has provided to Albania in healing the wounds of dictatorship and the [?]. Albanian officials credit Mr. Perri personally with leading an important military assistance program for Albania. This assistance includes military training and joint exercises, a field hospital, clothing for soldiers, and vehicles of the kind used by the U.S. Army.

At the Congress of the Hungarian Socialist Party At the invitation of the Hungarian Socialist Party, a delegation of the Socialist Party of Albania, headed by Assoc. Prof. Ermelinda Meksi, attended the party’s Congress from March 29 to 31. “One and a half years in power” was the theme of the Congress of the Hungarian Socialists. During its stay in Hungary, the Albanian delegation held meetings with the Secretary of the Hungarian Socialist Party, Gyula Horn, and prominent figures of the European left, including the Secretary of the PES, Jean François Walle, M. Martinez, and a representative of the European Forum “For Freedom and Democracy.” The discussions between the Albanian delegation and the European figures focused on the pre-election situation in Albania, the unfavorable conditions for the opposition resulting from the unconstitutionality of the “Genocide Law,” and the issue of Nano, the imprisoned leader of the opposition. The Albanian delegation also held productive and interesting talks with representatives of the Italian PDS, PASOK, SYNASPISMOS, as well as their Belgian, Dutch, Swedish, and other counterparts. What was predominant in these meetings was the interest and support that European Socialists and Social Democrats are giving to a victory for the left in Albania.

We will govern with dignity Page 2 Rustem Gjata signed the next farce Page 2 Culture is neither right-wing nor left-wing; it is national Page 11 Do you sincerely promise that you will look into some decorations, Mr. Berisha?... Page 2 Tirana: The Municipality denies the right to privatization Page 8 At the European Shooting Championship Albania third in Europe II I III Page 13