Editorial : Politics in the Public Square Politics can no longer hide its head like an ostrich. The time has come for it to speak out. Albanian politics has been called upon to come out into the public square. After a silence of almost six months following the rigged elections of May 26, it is waking from its sleep and trying to have its say on how to address the situation created by the collapse of the Albanian economy. It has been called upon to play the role that belongs to it in society, and this is a great victory of these days. For months, Albanian politics had all but died. In Albania, the only thing heard was propaganda about the “magnificent victories” of the Albanian people under the leadership of a single party, which “in last year’s elections had broken once and for all with the past,” which “had embraced democracy by 90 percent,” which “had determined its destiny in the West,” and so on. Behind this rhetoric lay the real death: the death of politics in a pluralist society, where all voices must be heard, like a many-voiced ... choir, and which cannot be understood through a single voice. The head of the Albanian state also tried to usher in this year’s politics with this rhetoric of death, in his speech delivered on Saturday at the National Council of his own party. But as a weekend speech, it lasted only as long as Saturday itself. Because on Sunday, the people of the capital and of all Albania tore up this rhetoric of death and called for the revival of true politics. It is tragic to think that Albanian politics is now being roused from its sleep by the misfortune of hundreds of thousands of Albanians who lost their sweat and blood through the collapse of the phantom companies and foundations. It would have been far better if this politics had been awake and had spoken in time, so that this tragedy would not have happened. But it has happened, and we cannot but accept it as an unavoidable fatality within the fatality of all Albanian history. On the other hand, however, it is also a consoling fact that, at last, politics is waking up and seeking to have its say on society’s important problems, so that other tragedies and such fatal outcomes do not occur. Because, after all, politics was created by humanity precisely to take responsibility for these problems. The development of Albanian politics was first set in motion by the government, (Continued on page 2).

The Ministry of the Interior takes charge of the usury schemes: 50 employees of two foundations arrested Their fate will be decided today at the Tirana court Page 5

Statement by the Presidium of the PSSH Yesterday, the Tirana prosecution authorities summoned the Secretary General of the PSSH, Prof. Dr. Rexhep Mejdani, and other leaders ...

Urgent opposition meeting following the police refusal The police have not granted permission for the rally planned by the opposition for Friday afternoon at 16:00. The pretext: a football match!... Following this announcement, representatives of the PS, PSD and PAD immediately met. After analyzing the latest developments and the police’s position, they decided that the rally would be held at the same location—that is, in the annex of the “Selman Stërmasi” stadium (Dinamo)—on Sunday, January 26, 1997, at 11:00.

Today in Durrës: Peaceful Protest Rally. At 16:30, in the square in front of the “Aleksandër Moisiu” Palace of Culture.

Yesterday, the Secretary-General, Rexhep Mejdani, and the Secretary for Foreign Relations, Maqo Lakrori, received the Deputy Chairman of the Democratic League of Kosovo, Idajet Hyseni, at the PSSH headquarters. During the fraternal conversation, the PSSH leaders and the LDK leader exchanged views on developments in the region and, in particular, the extremely grave situation in Kosovo. Mejdani and Lakrori condemned the escalating violence perpetrated by the Millosheviç regime and reaffirmed the PSSH’s position in support of a just solution for Kosovo. PSSH Spokesperson

Today, January 23, 1997, at 12:00, a press conference will be held at the PSSH headquarters on the violence perpetrated in “Skënderbej” Square during the peaceful rally, the terror and detentions during the following night, and the pressure exerted on opposition leaders through summonses to the investigative authorities. Journalists and representatives of the Diplomatic Corps accredited in Tirana are invited to attend.

prosecution authorities summoned the Secretary-General of the Socialist Party. This comes after the peaceful popular protest in Skënderbej Square, whose participants demanded the return of their money, now stolen through the pyramid schemes by the state itself. Berisha’s regime has plunged the country into political and economic collapse. It is unable to withstand the peaceful protest of people gathered because of the state’s complicity in the pyramid firms, and it cannot respond by returning their money. People are rapidly becoming aware that those who stole the votes are also thieves of money and national wealth, created through the many years of hard work of the entire people. This regime can no longer withstand the ever-growing protest. Dishonesty in its actions and inability to solve problems cannot be concealed through court proceedings such as the one held against more than 54 participants in the protest of January 19, much less by criminalizing the leaders of the PSSH. Political parties, including the PSSH, have obligations to the people, and their activities must serve their interests. Berisha cannot intimidate either the PSSH or its leaders. Tirana, 22.01.1997