31 March is dawning. It is the first dawn in the history of the Albanian people when we will decide our own future. It is the first time that each person will be at the polling station, guided only by their own convictions, without dictates, without pressure, without fear, without deafening drums, without an accordion that knows only one tune, without a flute that plays through only one hole. Pluralism has been established irreversibly, against the wishes of the incorrigible monists, through the will and exhausting efforts of the entire people. The standard-bearer is the youth, to whom the future belongs, and who will build and enjoy it themselves. Let us rejoice in the triumph of their democratic aspirations. The figure of 99.99 percent reminds us of the painful wounds of the past. But today, on the eve of 31 March, it has become the most ridiculous figure of our century. At the polling station, only one thought should prevail in everyone’s mind and only one desire in their heart: the true will of the people must be represented in the new People’s Assembly. If you act in this way, if you are guided by this thought and desire, dear voter, you are a true democrat. But you are not a democrat at all if, in your activity during the election campaign, you are driven by aims that fall outside pluralism, if you are tempted by the desire to keep or seize a seat in the pyramid of power. You are truly a democrat if, while choosing and making use of the benefits of pluralism to secure the victory of your democratic ideas and aims, you acknowledge and respect these rights for others as well. Otherwise, you are an incorrigible monist, regardless of which political party you belong to. The vote for democrats will be the vote truly inspired by democratic aims. This is the viewpoint of the Albanian Republican Party. We are fully convinced of this, and we will fight resolutely for it, without being diverted by petty tactical aims, today and tomorrow, throughout our lives. We are aware that in this election campaign we have neither the means nor the resources to promote our party’s program, ideas, aims and composition on an equal footing with the ruling monist parties. But we are fully convinced that the results on 31 March will not reflect that disparity. A party program drawn up with sincerity and honesty, without propagandistic prejudices; attentive listening to the people’s criticisms of it; a heartfelt conversation, with tears in our eyes, with the parents of our sons and daughters who are abandoning their homeland; and a determination to fight only for truth, only for the people’s interests, only for justice—we believe these are worth a hundred times more than the electioneering drumbeats and din. And 31 March will prove this. Therefore, we cannot help being astonished when someone starts doing arithmetic: if this party gets this many percent and that party gets that many, then… Then, we say with conviction, these are shopkeeper’s calculations. In the conditions of an unequal election campaign, in a country where genuine publicity and transparency have «only just come out of prison», it is impossible to predict the election results. Such «predictions» can come only from fixed calculations over coffee, not from sound judgment. Why should we worry about that when only a few days separate us from 31 March? We also find somewhat ridiculous the thinking of someone who reasons: “I belong to this party, but for the sake of democracy I will vote for that party.” Whether a republican, democrat or communist, whoever acts on the basis of this «reasoning» is doing nothing but bluffing democracy. This is not a political conviction, much less political honesty. It is merely political charlatanism, which often harms the representation of the people’s true will. The Albanian Republican Party is in opposition for the sole reason that it knows the Party of Labour well—its history, activity and the results of its half-century of rule. The Republican Party is fully convinced that such a party, even if it sincerely wished to, cannot be «reformed» by interference and pressure, by decree or by speeches, in the conditions of an election campaign full of turmoil and anxiety and amid events that have shaken the country. The force of inertia is particularly formidable in leadership activity. This has been best demonstrated by the PPSH’s own work in recent times, when a plenum, decisions and reforms have gone round in «circulation» before the ink of the signatures on them had even dried. It is in the interests of the people and the homeland that the PPSH be «reformed» not by «rushing» for fear that someone else will overtake it, because it is terribly tired and confused and needs a long time to recover.

VOTE FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY YOUR VOTE STRENGTHENS THE ARM OF DEMOCRACY! LIKE REHOVA

“It is not the Republican Party’s fault if it does not win this election,” many citizens say. “The fault lies with the timing. The time allowed for the elections was short, and the moment when it was founded was unsuitable.” Nevertheless, a great deal of work is being done to help it succeed. In the Lezhë district, people are working for this party in many ways. The intellectual community has taken the lead, and quite a few supporters are bringing others along. A single notice in the village newspaper is enough for dozens to gather. They are all good people, but until now they have hesitated to join political parties. It seems they have found their place here. “This is my party,” says a 45-year-old when the section of this Party was established at N.B Rrile. Although with difficulty, everyone has become familiar with the party’s program. A realistic, feasible and serious program. And likewise, a serious Party. This is the opinion most often heard from the citizens. Making its program known and explaining it is now, more than ever, the foremost task of this Party’s organizers. Throughout the district, the initiators Pal Pali, Agron Meta, Pal Marku and others are working. These days, candidates for deputies were put forward in all 5 constituencies in the district. Now they are presenting themselves to their electorate without «propaganda bombs». None of them will boast before them today only to face derisive whistles tomorrow. So far, all 5 candidates—Agim Zeka, Agron Meta, Eshtenë Rama, Prek Preka and Anastas Buneci—have made an unblemished tour of the constituencies where they were nominated. PJETËR JAKU

The peasantry represents the largest section of our population (65 percent). It has always been freedom-loving and patriotic, and inclined to ally itself with the most progressive side of our society. Without its support, freedom and the National Liberation War could not have been won. Today, too, it will decide the fate of democracy on 31 March. The PPSH has always claimed to have provided a just, complete and final solution to the agrarian problem. It continues to insist on this even today, although the inevitable collapse of socialist agriculture, as throughout Eastern Europe, has also taken place here. The countryside may be considered the monist system’s last refuge. The Party of Labour has pinned all its hopes of survival on it and, in every way, still seeks to keep it isolated from information and the opposition press. With articles lacking analysis, sentimental statements, and by exploiting the inadequate level of information available to some officials (through no fault of their own), the PPSH tries to argue that agricultural cooperatives must be preserved as organizational forms that still conceal reserves for increasing production. The peasantry is rightly demanding to know the truth. Based on the PR program, we will be able to help address the matter as it is and offer our alternative as well. Let us now take things in order. The cooperative and the peasant. Before the peasantry had enjoyed the agrarian reform for even a year, it was «put» on the road to collectivization. All the well-off peasants, or so-called «progressive farmers», who represented the new, lost their standing and influence in the village: the cooperative was established by uprooting them and putting them under pressure, or they were fought in various ways until they were completely destroyed because of their independent-mindedness. The whole peasantry later suffered the same fate. Why? The cooperative, which we borrowed from the USSR, was an organizational form born in Russia. It inherited a form of exploitation originating in the bourgeoisie (a social formation unknown to us), was based on Marxist-Leninist theory, and did not fit our tradition and psycholo-

—FROM THE CONVERSATION WITH MR IMRE SZOKAJ— At the request of Hungary’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Imre Szokaj, who is in our country, a meeting took place yesterday at the Hungarian Embassy between him and representatives of the PRSH: S. Godo, chairman of the Initiating Commission, and Vangjush Gambeta, a member of that Commission. At the meeting, the parties informed one another about the situation in their respective countries. The PRSH representatives expressed their interest in learning in detail about the processes of democratization and economic restructuring in Hungary. Mr Imre Szokaj said that the Hungarian government had followed developments in Albania with interest and was willing to help through all possible avenues of bilateral cooperation. He, the processes of integration in Europe and the world. At this meeting, Mr Imre Szokaj said, for partnership relations. The PRSH representatives also emphasized the value of partnership and relations between the two countries. They expressed the view that Hungary, like the other European countries, could help Albania by examining its economic producers and their orientation, with reasonable terms and long-term loans. The PRSH is also very interested in learning about political life and the progress of economic reforms in Hungary. The meeting was characterized by mutual understanding and a warm, friendly discussion of all the issues. Correspondent of «Republika»

Vlorë, 14.3.1991. The first PR conference for the Vlorë district was held at the city’s Palace of Culture on the occasion of the establishment of the branch and the 31 March election campaign. The conference was addressed by the chairman of the initiating group, Petraq Papajori, Nasz Zhara and Pano Buta. Hysen Cobani, a member of the PR Initiating Commission, delivered greetings to the conference. Afterwards, there were several discussions and questions from those present. Kukës, 14.3.1991. The Tirana branch organized a meeting to announce the parliamentary candidates for the Kukës district and present an outline of the PR program. The meeting was chaired by the branch chairman, Maks Havilari, and Agim Zeka, a member of the PR Initiating Commission, delivered greetings. Dibër, 15.3.1991. The first PR conference for the Dibër district was held at the «a» cinema in the city of Peshkopi, on the occasion of the establishment of the PR branch and the 31 March election campaign. The conference was chaired by the chairman of the initiating group, Durim Shehu, and reports were delivered by Skënder Çalli, Dilaver Meco and others. Hysen Çobani delivered greetings to the conference. (continued on page 3)

Constituency Name Surname LEZHË 128 Esher Rama 129 Agim Zeka 130 Agron Meto 131 Anastas Buneci 132 Prek Preka LUSHNJË 140 Zenun Dedej RRESHEN 155 Gjokë Bec 156 Gjini Naku 157 Gjekë Gjoka 158 Bardhok Ruci TIRANA 205 Ylli Pustina 206 Tamara Luarasi 207 Ilo Mele 208 Dritan Spahiu 209 Eduard Laze 210 Kujtim Hashorva 211 Thanas Qerama 212 Viron Koka 213 Aleksander Çina 214 Abdulla Kulajzi 215 Fedor Kallajxhi 216 Genci Çela 217 Luka Hegjimi 218 Hilmi Vuthi 219 Aleksander Gollma 220 Ruzhdi Karapeli 221 Qerçiz Mingomataj 222 Maksim Beqja 223 Thanas Papajsi 224 Imir Kambo 225 Ismail Malaj 226 Hajredin Rudi 227 Agim Maluka 228 Petro Dhimitri 229 Xhemal Piska 230 Sejfulla Pera 231 Petro Billi 232 Gani Lleka 233 Hysen Çobani NOTE We are listing, at random, the professions of these candidates for deputies from Fier: LIRIM ÇUÇI, Geophysical engineer ARTUR MAHMUTAJ, Geophysical engineer MEDI ZEQAJ, doctor PERIKLI DORO, zootechnician

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