While talks and efforts to form the new government dragged on for too long, Parliament approved the laws on strikes, departisanization and depoliticization. On the whole, there was a spirit of understanding, but there was no shortage of a certain naivety. We mean that part of the law on strikes which says that when a strike is directed at an enterprise or its owner, the unions or the strike committee must also submit the names of the strikers, even with their signatures?! We do not know in which European or world legislation this law exists, but lawyers and specialists threw up their hands at this proposal and its approval. Yes, approval, because when the Party of Labour wants, through the mechanism of voting, it makes any law however it pleases. Nevertheless, it is to be commended that it is not repeating this mistake with every law, because after a year most of these absurdities will have to be reconsidered. Among the successful sessions marked by mutual understanding, we note yesterday’s session, when both sides, or all three parliamentary groups, unanimously agreed to departisanize and depoliticize the army, law-enforcement bodies, ministries, ATSH and RTSH, and other specified institutions. It was rightly proposed that education and healthcare also be included in departisanization. The proposal was approved by a majority vote, as was the proposal by Labour Party deputy and serviceman Baki Shehu, who called for the banning of the party press in the army. The view was supported by deputy Gramoz Ruçi and the military specialists who were deputies, as well as by several others. Thus, only military newspapers and magazines and official publications will be allowed into our military units and public-order forces. In this way, the departisanization and depoliticization of these ministries will be complete, notwithstanding that no serviceman can be prevented from reading and studying at home whatever literature he wishes. As a further expression of this spirit of cooperation between the opposition and the Party of Labour, there was also the appearance made by Mr Neritan Ceka at yesterday morning’s session. He said that the deputies of the Party of Labour and the Democratic Party from the Elbasan district had jointly decided to take part in the harvest and threshing campaign, to secure bread for the people. It would be an unforgivable mistake to think that others will secure our bread for us. First and foremost, we must sweat ourselves; only then can we hope for help from others, who may give us symbolic assistance. For however great it may be (if indeed there is any), the basis of the work remains our own sweat. Thus, while we await the presentation of the new government, yesterday in particular was productive and of good quality, unlike the day before yesterday and certain other days, which were prolonged by discussions and yielded little. Correspondent of “Republika”

A HISTORIC ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE “NEW YORK TIMES” NEWSPAPER At a time when Albania awaits the announcement of the new government of stability and social peace, which will govern until new elections in a year’s time and include ministers from the country’s political parties, the news reaching us from Washington about the upcoming visit of the U.S. Secretary of State, Mr James Baker, is a joyful announcement. It is a ray of light after half a century of communist martyrdom, like a drop of water on the cracked earth of the Sahara, because it signifies life. Along with life, and what Albania needs most today, it revives hope and lost faith—that faith which the satanic regime of Enver Hoxha and his lackeys seemed to tear from our hearts, even though Albanians had not lost faith during centuries of the harshest oppression. Communism not only ruined the country, but also destroyed the Albanian’s spirit, making him rejoice even over a few clothes donated through European generosity. It made him—I say this with a heavy heart—wander the world, and some, the weakest, hold out their hands like beggars. Who, then? The representative of a brave, proud and hardworking people! We are grateful to you, Mr Bush, as president of the most powerful and most democratic country in the world, and, together with you, to Mr Baker, for finding room amid your many concerns to give attention to the Albanian question, in order to help this unbowed people, this people with a democratic spirit, who wish to rejoin the world after 50 years. But how, and in what way, when we are on the brink of hunger, when the people have lost patience after Enverian martyrdom and the monstrous abuses by his family and other party leaders? Which country will show itself ready to cooperate with us, to invest capital in this beautiful country, rich in natural resources and underground wealth? Who would still dare come to Albania before communism has completely left the stage? Europe? We may hope for it too, but Germany itself, the colossus of our continent, is reaching out to you for cooperation... And, dear and honoured sir, in Albania you will find conditions for cooperation, because this is what the heart of a people desires. And when peoples want something, no force, however dark, can stop them from following the path of progress. It will be the people who rebuild Albania with American assistance and cooperation, which, beyond its economic aspect, will also contribute to cementing democracy in our country. And the people will work wonders. They have already done so while being paid little, or merely pretending to be paid; all the more so when they are offered humane treatment, when they see with their own eyes the benefits of development and comprehensive cooperation with you. The news of Your visit next month is an extraordinary encouragement for all democratic forces, for the Democratic Party, the strongest opposition party, and especially for the Republican Party of Albania, because one of the most prominent members and leaders of its sister party, the American Republican Party, will be its guest of honour. This is concrete assistance, an encouragement for our party and its supporters, and it will contribute not only to strengthening the party further, but also to increasing its ranks with new members and supporters. Therefore, our gratitude is more legitimate than that of any other political force in our country; it is entirely natural. For this reason, we send you our warmest fraternal greetings and await you as Albanians traditionally do, with bread, salt and heart. This is the greatest honour bestowed on a guest in our country. We are certain that during the days you spend among us, among our people, you will indeed understand the difference between us and America and other developed countries in terms of the modernity of our surroundings, but you will feel at home, because we will surround you with love and respect. I am not referring to officials and party members of every rank. Perhaps they may be a little reserved, but the hearts of the people will burst into ...patience with Enverian madness cooperation. Then, just as things appear in our most beautiful dreams, you come, honoured and highly respected Mr Baker, to build the bridge of American-Albanian friendship. This means new hope, national salvation for a people, especially for its wonderful youth. It was that youth which, ahead of the short-sighted party members and sensing the future, threw itself en masse into studying English; it was that youth which brought pluralism. It was pluralism that led us to this new government of all the parties, and it is this new government that is bringing Mr Baker to Albania. “Wellcoming in our dear country” (welcome to our beloved homeland)! He has arrived, bringing light, as our people say of true friends and their good and noble intentions. Today Albania is suffering, but it is not the Albania of 1945. Communism, especially during these last 15 years, has indeed left us behind contemporary development, but today we have a patriotic intelligentsia, a working class that loves work, and a peasantry that has awakened and is showing that it is turning away from belief in the supposedly renewed lies of communism. Today, taken as a whole, we have a much higher level of awareness and development than half a century ago. Therefore, great friend, more than ever... You can be certain that during the days you are reserved, but the hearts of the people will accompany you wherever you go; they will cheer for the United States of America, for President George Bush and for you, because the people love and respect you. In the consciousness of the people, among true democrats, nothing remains of Enverian demonization and accusations against the U.S. On the contrary, it is this people, whom they wished to deceive, who today shout at various demonstrations: “Down with communism!” and “Enver-Hitler!” As for the United States of America, the people will send the doves of peace soaring into the sky. The days until next month, when you arrive, will seem long to us, because our hearts long for you to come as soon as possible. Enough of pseudo-democracy, enough of monstrous Marxist-Leninist, Stalinist and Enverian deceptions! It is the time of democracy, it is the time of progress. It is time for America and the Albanians to clasp hands firmly, as comrades, as friends, as brothers, because over there we have many people of our blood. The hour is coming. May it bring good fortune to all Arbëria, and to our spirits, which have managed to preserve their love for their friend and brother. So, welcome, honoured gentlemen Baker and Lawrence Eagleburger! PETRO DHIMITRI

The year is 1948. At the First Congress, Enver Hoxha said, among other things: “...our people, who fought heroically for the liberation of the country and for their popular democratic power... were certain that they were working for themselves and not for others, working for and helping the Party and their power, which would lead them with the greatest certainty along the road to prosperity, along the road to socialism.” At the Second Congress, in 1952, the same promise was made again: “During the period between the two congresses, the development and strengthening of our economy has moved forward, thanks to the correct policy of our Party, the heroism of the working class and all the working masses of the country, who, knowing that they are working for their better lives, for socialism, have spared nothing of themselves in accomplishing the considerable achievements that have been attained.” In 1956, at the Third Congress, this same leader declared that “Albania has been transformed from a backward agrarian country into an agrarian-industrial country.” Five years later, Enver Hoxha solemnly declared that “...our country is now entering a new stage, the stage of the complete construction of socialist society, the stage of transforming our country from an agricultural-industrial country into an industrial-agricultural country.” These resounding successes continued, and in 1966 the dictator whose declaration was it? said: “The Albania of the past, deeply agrarian and backward, without technical forces or skilled workers, a source of raw materials and a seller to imperialist monopolies, today exploits many of its own resources and those of its subsoil...” And, since the people were not being convinced by talk of prosperity, he spread the spectre of class struggle, saying: “The class struggle is directed not only against internal and external enemies, but is also waged within the working people, against every foreign manifestation observed in the consciousness, mind, behaviour and attitudes of every person.” And this was a signpost toward the most savage road that would come later, as the harbinger of the decisions of the Fifth Congress. For Enver, the Sixth Congress in 1971, “...like the other Party congresses, will mark a new stage in our victorious march, another, higher step in the ascent and all-round progress of our socialist society.” Five years later, at the Seventh Congress, Zeus declared: “The people and the Party continue into this Congress full of vitality and dynamism, proud of the successes achieved and with unshakable faith in the future.” The same refrain at the Eighth Congress in 1981: “The Party and all our people come to this Congress with great successes and recorded victories. Socialist Albania has climbed to a higher level in its economic and cultural development, taken a new step forward in raising the standard of living of the masses and in strengthening the defence of the Fatherland.” With these recorded victories, Enver Hoxha departed from us, and his comrades-in-arms continued along the road. Thus, at the Ninth Congress in 1986, the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the PLA, Ramiz Alia, rose and said: “...we have arrived with heads held high and with honour intact, because the tasks set by the Eighth Congress, the line laid down by our great comrade Enver Hoxha, were successfully carried out. Then our dear leader rose to a higher stage in the complete construction of socialist society, the people’s life became more prosperous, and the country progressed and grew stronger and stronger.” So, during the nine congresses, after fighting heroically; after developing and strengthening the economy and turning the country into an agrarian-industrial one; after entering the stage of building socialist society in its entirety; after directing the class struggle against every foreign manifestation in the consciousness of every person, we marked a new stage in our victorious march. All this was accomplished in six congresses. Then the Seventh was the Congress full of vitality and dynamism. We went to the Eighth with great successes and recorded victories. Finally, at the Ninth, stronger. Now, at the Tenth, the conclusion of the nine will be drawn. The goal has been achieved: the people have nothing to eat; the country has reached catastrophe. What a socialist miracle!

Father Artur Liolin, Chancellor of the Albanian Orthodox Archdiocese in America and successor to Noli, has arrived in our country. He is accompanied by Father Dionis Schutte, General Secretary of the Diocese at the leadership of St. George’s in Boston. At Rinas, they were welcomed by representatives of the Committee for Relations with the Outside World, the Orthodox Church, the Muslim, Catholic and Bektashi communities, and the Federal Commission of the Democratic Party. Mr Vangjush Gambeta, secretary of the founding commission of the ARP, was also present. The friends from America will take part in a series of religious ceremonies and services in our country. Correspondent of “Republika”

...patience with Enverian madness and the monstrous misap...