The coup d’état in the Soviet Union, carried out by the conservative wing of the Communists, the secret police and the upper military caste, represents a serious blow to the democratic forces in the Soviet Union. It is at the same time a serious blow to the aspirations and ideals of the democrats of Europe and all humanity. This act may lead to a return to the use of force, to the Cold War, to confrontations and bloodshed, and to a flagrant violation of the principles agreed upon in Paris for a new Europe. This is the most serious attack against the principles of Helsinki... Gorbachev is the initiator of peaceful processes to replace the harsh communist dictatorship. His overthrow is also a clear signal to the other countries of Eastern Europe that are going through this process. The message is clear. There can be no middle way between dictatorship and democracy! This shocking event in today’s world political life may have serious consequences for the democratic process in the tense region of the Balkans and in Albania. It may inspire and set in motion Enverist, communist, neocommunist and conservative elements, the traditional forces of dictatorship and the violation of human rights, and anti-national elements and groups inside and outside the country. The Democratic Party, the Republican Party and the Social Democratic Party call on the Albanian people, all democratic forces, and their members and supporters to follow with particular attention and care the new political situation created in the world, in order to confront any possible anti-democratic excess. They are convinced that the way to avoid reversals is to coordinate all forces and deepen the course of reforms. The Democratic Party, the Republican Party and the Social Democrats call on the democratic forces of the West to increase their interest and direct commitment to helping the democratic opposition forces in Albania. They demand this as an indispensable way for the Albanian democratic forces to continue to participate effectively in the democratizing processes defined by the spirit of Helsinki. DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF ALBANIA ALBANIAN REPUBLICAN PARTY SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF ALBANIA

The news that spread from Moscow on Monday was so shocking that President George Bush cut short his vacation in Maine and immediately returned to the White House in Washington to consult with Baker and the new American ambassador in Moscow, Robert Strauss. The respected presidents of Germany and France, Kohl and Mitterrand, also cut short their vacations. We are not mentioning here Genscher, the foreign minister, who also returned to his post, nor the television interviews given by British leaders and even Gianni de Michelis. The event was truly surprising, all the more so because Europe and the world were celebrating the end of the Cold War period. But the Communists of the most conservative wing, known as the hardliners, did not share this view. They could not accept the democratic transformations in the Soviet Union, the fall or dissolution of their country’s Communist Party and the transition to a market economy—that is, to capitalism—which Lenin, Stalin, Brezhnev and company had “destroyed” by fighting it in theory. And they acted, as Communists are not ashamed to act, with a coup, even though we are nearing the end of the century. They found it easy, because coups are well known in dictatorial practice—not only for overthrowing a leader, but also for elbowing aside a rival in any position. All the more so because they could not forget how they themselves had ousted Khrushchev, the first great reformer after the death of the inhuman Stalin. In this respect, history repeats itself. But while Khrushchev was then accused of having lowered the prestige of the Soviet Union’s leader, and even of having nearly been ready to fire a gun because he did not observe even the most elementary rules of etiquette, concrete acts by Gorbachev, so balanced, so measured and an exceptional democrat, were said to have ruined the economy and destabilized the country. That is why Genadi Yanayev, the new president by coup, and therefore illegitimate under his country’s constitution, chose the Russian parliament with tanks and in their protection. The same applies to many others, including Albanian President Ramiz Alia, who confirms the negative course this coup will take, not only in the Soviet Union but also in international relations. And he is quite right. The United States and Britain reacted immediately, and even Spain moved to suspend economic aid and loans to the Soviet Union. The European Committee began an unscheduled meeting. NATO has once again been reactivated to examine the situation. Such a coup, a communist dictatorial military caste in the world’s second superpower, even if it is in economic crisis, is militarily prepared and poses a great danger to Europe and the world. The question arises: how will the Soviet people react to the authors of this unconstitutional act: Baklanov, First Deputy Chairman of the Defense Council; Kryuchkov, head of the KGB; Pavlov, Prime Minister of the USSR; Pugo, Minister of the Interior; Starodubtsev, chairman of the Farmers’ Union; Tizyakov, chairman of an association of state enterprises in several sectors; Yazov, Minister of Defense of the USSR; and Yanayev, former vice president? This is the State Committee for the State of Emergency, in which it is clear that the active core is the KGB, the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Defense. In other words, a classic military coup, which, for the sake of control, has also included several civilian ministers who are “under orders.” The people reacted immediately against these usurpers with powerful protests in the streets of Moscow, filled with tanks, as well as in other cities. Boris Yeltsin, standing on a tank, called for international assistance, for Gorbachev to be reinstated in his post, and for a general strike. He appealed to the republic’s military and ordered the tanks to defend the democratic institution. President Gorbachev chose the parliament and, if it were up to him ... ...forced to do it sooner or later, but if they do so through pressure from outside or because time compels them, then the government and parliament will be put to the test by the Albanian people in Kosovo. They should have accepted this in time. I stress that PRSH and the Albanian people in our motherland will compel them, obliging the government to act more effectively regarding the Kosovo issue. The resolution of the Albanian question cannot be approached piecemeal. — In these difficult conditions, how do you conduct your party's propaganda? More specifically, by what means? — in spirit and heart, and not merely in name. — realistically...

— INTERVIEW WITH THE CHAIRMAN OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF KOSOVO, RESHAT NUR...JA, GIVEN TO JOURNALIST GANI LEKA, SECRETARY OF THE EDITORIAL BOARD OF THE NEWSPAPER «REPUBL... — You came here at the invitation of the Republican Party? — We came here at the invitation of the Republican Party for a working meeting. We are very pleased, first of all, with the reception we were given here and with the discussions held so far. In Kosovo, preparations are under way, and it is ready to respond in the same way. — What is the situation in Kosovo today? At present, the situation in Kosovo is very serious, and it will worsen each day. I emphasize that the PRSH and ... During these meetings I confirmed that the Albanian Republican Party will fully and successfully fulfill its obligations and the duties imposed on it by the times. We are convinced that the PRSH will emerge from this with honor. — We wanted to know something about the formation and reach of your party. — The Republican Party was formed in June 1990. Its founding assembly was held on 27 June 1990. So far, 23 branches have been formed in 23 municipalities of Kosovo, as well as many other branches in Germany, Switzerland, etc. Our Republican Party has about 100,000 members inside and outside Kosovo, as well as many supporters. The reasons that drove us to form the Republican Party were the situation in Kosovo, the terror of the Serbian chauvinist forces, and the interests and demands of the Albanian people in Kosovo to bring their millennia-old path, paved with the blood of the sons and daughters of this people, to its culmination and realization through the independence and democratization of Albanian lands in Yugoslavia. The Republican Party of Kosovo supports Kosovo as a republic within the Yugoslav Confederation. Regarding the new arrangement of Yugoslavia, we think we should accept all discussions and that the Republic of Kosovo should be within the Federation. — How is your party working to realize the rights of the Albanian people there? — Regarding the secure achievement of national rights and the advancement of the Albanian people, the PR of Kosovo is in discussions with these three achievements through political means, in a contemporary and civilized manner, through democratic dialogue. As for all those forces that think this cannot be achieved through democratic dialogue, but through a strong dialogue, the PR... Kosovo is making preparations and is ready to respond in the same way. — situation in Kosovo is very serious and, unfortunately, there is not only no hope of improvement today, but it is worsening day by day; if this deterioration continues, it will soon explode. The consequences of this explosion will be felt not only by Yugoslavia but by all of Europe. The language the Albanian people in Yugoslavia are using to resolve the Kosovo problem—the contemporary democratic language, the language of Europe—is, unfortunately, not only unknown to the Serbian chauvinists, who do not accept it, but they are not even predisposed to learn it. It is Europe that must teach them this democratic language. — Under these difficult conditions, how do you carry out your party’s propaganda? More specifically, by what means? — At present, we have no party organ of any kind in Kosovo. We conduct our propaganda through several other newspapers that still exist in Kosovo, and through the only voice that informs the wider public about the situation in Kosovo: the Albanian-language program of Radio Zagreb, which lasts a few minutes and includes the day’s events and activities in Kosovo. We hope and ask that, in this regard, the media in the mother country—Radio-Television, newspapers and various magazines published there—will help us. We, the Republican Party of Kosovo, are deeply convinced that our sister party here will help us unreservedly in this regard as well. — How do you assess the Republican Party’s initiative concerning the nationwide petition in support of Kosovo as a Republic? — I am pleased that the Republican Party took the initiative, but the Republic of Kosovo must be recognized by the Albanian Parliament and Government. They have both a duty and a moral obligation to do so. I am fully aware that this duty will be easy to carry out. — nationwide petition in support of Kosovo as a Republic? — that this duty will be easy to carry out. — nationwide petition in support of Kosovo as a Republic? — that this duty will be easy to carry out. — Who can be a member of your party? — The only criterion is that they be a true Albanian, in spirit and heart, and not merely in name. — You met with the president...? We discussed the situation in Albania and the Balkans, and especially the current alarming situation in Kosovo, as well as possible obsessions with resolving this problem once and for all. I think the president was quite sincere and presented the economic situation in Albania quite realistically, without embellishing it, but with optimism that in the very near future, with the help of all responsible actors and, first and foremost, the Albanian people themselves, this unfavorable situation will be overcome. — This is your first time in Albania. What impression has this visit made on you? — I did very well to come to Albania, because some citizens from Kosovo who have come here try to portray the situation as hopeless. But from the conversations we had here, including with ordinary citizens, I saw that all the conditions exist for a fairly swift solution. Here we have in mind the country's intellectual potential and its natural resources. What is needed here is an organization of all forces so that the colossal energy possessed by the Albanian people can be channeled toward stabilizing the situation and not destabilizing it. How long such a situation will continue depends first and foremost on ... (Continued on page 4) — Who can be a member of your party? — in spirit and heart, and not merely in name. — situation will be overcome. — this visit made on you? — and foremost on ... (Continued on page 4) ...the leader of the Soviet Union, who had come close to striking with even his shoe, because he respected not even the most elementary rules of etiquette; about Gorbachev, so balanced, so measured and an extraordinary democrat in concrete deeds, they said that the economy had been destroyed and the country was being destabilized. Therefore Genadi Janajev, the new president by coup—thus, supposedly legitimate and according to the constitution—swore that he would fight for communism. The excuse of an imaginary illness was also fabricated, while Gorbachev, hale and hearty, was resting in Crimea. Compared with Stalin's crimes, the killings and mass deportations, the Gulags and the most inhuman tortures, this action by these communists may seem natural, even though it is unconstitutional and anti-democratic, and for this it confirms the whole... Boris Jelcin, atop restored to his post, and for a general strike. He called on the armies of the Russian republic to obey only his orders and surrounded the Russian parliament with tanks in defense of this democratic institution. President Gorbachev was elected by parliament and, if he was to be removed, it should have been done democratically, through a vote, with the next candidate taking over, rather than resorting to shameful anti-democratic violence. Will the Russian people have the strength not to submit to this State Committee for the State of Emergency, and to establish democracy? This depends on several PETRO DHIMITRI (Continued on page 4)

Now that the results of the competition between the two systems have demonstrated worldwide the indisputable superiority of private property and the market economy, and for this reason the transition to this economic and social system has been definitively decided, the fundamental issue is the choice of the optimal paths—as good and effective as possible—for this grand transformation across the entire economy. This problem is also one of the greatest concerns for political parties, the pluralist parliament, the stabilization government, the state administration and the entire people, on whose shoulders it rests. The problem of privatizing the economy involves many dilemmas and difficult knots, around which opinions are continually debated: — What will the pace be: gradual, with measured steps, or with “shock therapy,” and in either case, how long will this transformation of the form of ownership take? — Who will become the owners? What responsibilities will the state undertake during the transitional period with regard to meeting the needs of the population? Will there be differences in the conditions for developing private ownership of enterprises and premises that are foreign-owned, jointly owned, or owned by local proprietors? NESAHAT MERSINI (Continued on page 2)

On 16 August, a meeting was held at the headquarters of the Republican Party between Mr Yu Fengzhi, scientist and member of the leadership of China’s Association for International Cooperation, Ms Usug Duzhi, a member of the governing council, and Mr Vang, secretary of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, as well as the chairman of the Republican Party, and its deputy chairmen Vangush Gamberi and Zef Bushati, and Qerqiz Mingomata, head of the foreign affairs department. During the long and friendly conversation, various issues concerning the economic situation in Albania and ways of emerging from this difficult situation were discussed, as well as achievements... (Continued on page 4)

Kosovo is making preparations and is ready to respond in the same way.

— Who can be a member of your party?

...forced to do it sooner or later, but if they do so through pressure from outside or because time compels them, then the government and parliament will be put to the test by the Albanian people in Kosovo.

...if they do so through pressure from outside or because time compels them, then the government and parliament will be put to the test by the Albanian people in Kosovo.

Of the «Kosova» Patriotic Association, LUSHNJE Branch. After reading the lead article in the newspaper Kosova, “For ethnic Albania I would rise even from the grave,” an interview with Leka Zogu given to the magazine «Republika» of Ljubljana, an interview with the self-proclaimed king of Albania that seemed both absurd and ridiculous to us, we make the following declaration: This interview published in this newspaper does not represent Albanians in any way, especially the Kosovars. The Kosovars do not recognize Leka Zogu as king of the Albanians. Only one or several particular individuals could do so, and they cannot represent Kosovo or Albania. For it was his father, Ahmet Zogu, who abandoned Kosovo and sold other Albanian territories; who abandoned Albania on the eve of the fascist war, locking the weapons depots, perhaps after he had already put them out of action by removing the firing pins from all the rifles; who stole the gold and fled Albania like a thief, turning his back on his nation in its most difficult situation. Ahmet Zogu was also an agent of the Serbs, their friend and loyal supporter. With Serbia’s backing, he established the democratic government of Noli and, as a reward, not only guaranteed them Kosovo and other Albanian territories, but also gave them other parts of Albania’s body: part of Vermosh and Shën Naun. (Continued on page 4)