It pains us that you left Albania in a way we would never have wished: with the wounds of a political crime on your body and your wife’s, leaving behind two Albanian colleagues, Qemal Sakajeva and Mehmet Elezi, and the driver Astrit Alimemeti, wounded, but—welcome back alive, as witnesses to that crime. But I do not want to dwell on this. I only want [the text is unclear] and in this land of eagles there can be no return to communist dogma, to a power of violence and crime. Therefore, I wish you good health, so that with your abilities, with your voice so familiar to us all, you may continue the great efforts you have made and that we expect you to make in the future, so that we may see Albania as soon as possible joining the free and democratic countries among civilized peoples. Thus— …[?]… that compelled us to do … … continuing, Mr. Godo, while presenting … … facts and arguments, officially emphasized to the official the difficulties that … the provision of special assistance that democratic Europe gives to the opposition and the democratic spirit of the peo… … to lay bare the effects of a political crime on your body and that of your wife, with two Albanian colleagues, Qemal Sakajeven and Mehmet Elezin, and the driver Astrit Alimemeti, wounded but—fortunately—alive as a result of it. I merely want to wish you good health and a speedy recovery, because every democrat, every Albanian who understands where what is good for Albania comes from, holds dear the voice you bring to those brilliant broadcasts of “Voice of America”—in practice, today, the voice of truth. We are with you, and you are with us in joy and sorrow. However hard any anti-democratic force, in power or independent of it, may try, it cannot separate us. For even if our lives are sacrificed, other democrats will …

On 18 September, the chairman of the PRSH, Mr. Sabri Godo, met Republican members and supporters in the Lezhë district. His first meeting was with members of the PR section in the village of Balldren. The opening remarks were delivered by Mr. Nik Geraj, chairman of the Republican section, who, after reviewing the section’s activities, gave the floor to Mr. Godo. After the customary thanks, Mr. Godo held an interesting and open discussion with those present. After giving an overview of the state of democracy in our country since January, he stressed that communism remains untouched, which means that it is the Communists who continue to run the affairs of this country. An example of this is a series of wrongful actions they have organized and continue to organize (the authors of the exodus, resistance to the renewal of the Sigurimi and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, etc.). Mr. Godo then addressed the issue of the elections. Before we go to them, the speaker stressed, we must clear the ground and not repeat the mistakes of March. We are convinced that the opposition will win the elections, but we must work so that the Socialists receive as few votes as possible. This was the reason that compelled us to form an alliance with the other opposition parties. Mr. Godo then explained the ties that have been established between the PRSH and the Republican Parties of Western countries, as well as with specialized institutes in Europe and the USA. Maintaining and strengthening these ties, he said, is mutually beneficial, which favors us as a party and serves to strengthen democracy in the country. At the end, those present asked many interesting questions, which Mr. Godo answered, greatly enlivening the audience. That same day, Mr. Sabri Godo held an expanded meeting at the cultural palace in the city of Lezhë with PR members and supporters from the city and surrounding villages. The meeting was opened by Mr. Pal Pali, chairman of the PR branch in the district, who, among other things, spoke about the branch’s formation and activities, [the text repeats and is interrupted] other things, spoke about the branch’s formation, its activities, coordination of work among village sections, and tasks for the future. Mr. Sabri Godo then took the floor and spoke at length about the efforts being made to consolidate democracy in our country, freedom of speech, and the PR’s achievements in this country. But, he emphasized, we are convinced that we have not yet established democracy as we and the people would wish. Many things are not going as they should; we have seen how the PP is running and controlling television, we have seen and felt how (Continued on page 4) 2nd) … to bring … forward. In … are … of the … riven… ovit after … is multiplied … and the … …kes …aves Bash… Sovereign Party …s basic Propos… … the … clear … for …racy. VE…

On 19 September, at the PRSH headquarters, Mr. Sabri Godo received and held a working meeting with the CSCE fact-finding delegation, led by Dr. Zhak Zetkuliç, deputy director of the CSCE Office for Free Elections. Mr. Godo, after expressing his pleasure at meeting with the delegation of the CSCE fact-finding mission, briefed Mr. Zetkuliç and the members of the delegation he led on the PRSH program and the Party’s current activities to further consolidate itself, as well as the role the PRSH plays in the country’s political life. Then, presenting facts and arguments, Mr. Godo pointed out to the official the difficulties facing democracy in our country, which will never be complete without removing the obstacles placed in its way at every step. As he said, he mentioned to the honored guests the existence of the infamous weapon of the Sigurimi, and the monopolization of official propaganda, which continues to be an instrument of the Punisto-Socialists. In the delicate circumstances through which Albanian democracy is passing, Mr. Godo told the CSCE officials, your visit to learn about this reality firsthand and gather facts about the complicated problems is an expression of the to the democratic spirit of our people. For his part, Mr. Zhak Zetkuliç, after briefly outlining the purpose of the mission he leads, was particularly interested in the implementation of the promises made when Albania was admitted to the CSCE, which will serve in preparing a report to be submitted to the CSCE Council of Ministers, and in the extent to which the general principles of the CSCE have been adopted in Albania. Also present at this meeting were deputy chairmen Vangjush Gambeta and Zef Bushati of the PRSH, as well as Mr. Çerçiz Mingomataj, head of the foreign affairs sector. Correspondent of «Republika»

Let us strip the Peza Conference and history of slogans and glorification… [headline/body text begins mid-sentence] well known in nationalist circles, precisely because they had held many meetings with them. The paper “On the domestic and foreign situation” was delivered by Dr. Ymer Dishnica. The conference entrusted the chairing of the meeting in all its sessions to Ndoc Coba, a renowned patriot, former delegate to the Congress of Lushnjë and member of the government that emerged from that congress. In the General National Liberation Council, which was unanimously elected, Kamber Qafëmolla became chairman, Mustafa Gjinishi secretary, and the members were: Ndoc Coba, Abaz Kupi, Myslim Peza, Mustafa Xhani, Ymer Dishnica and Enver Hoxha. Enver Hoxha spoke at this Conference about the role of the national liberation councils as organs of struggle and power. It is often said that Enver Hoxha also drafted the Resolution, although it bears the “signature” of the General National Liberation Council and, as a draft, was prepared by Ymer Dishnica, Nako Spiru, Koco Tashko and Enver Hoxha in consultation with several prominent nationalists from Tirana. — Let us return to the commemorative meeting of 15 September. We also published an account of the many reactions to your paper. Why did these reactions occur? — Challenging myths always causes a stir. The overthrow of idols is unsettling. The audience consisted of a group of veterans, former members of the 22nd Assault Brigade, and Front activists. Some of those who reacted were not shaken by the assessment of the war, the Conference or the 22nd Brigade, which was also marking its anniversary. They were shaken by the new perspective on the Conference, the place given to documentation, the absence of quotations, and the departure from traditional assessments of Enver Hoxha. Above all, they were shaken by the critical examination and objective analysis of the facts, and by the mention of the contributions of the nationalist participants and of several former senior leaders of the Albanian Communist Party whom Enver Hoxha later eliminated. These people, indoctrinated by “the teachings of Enver Hoxha,” unfamiliar with the documentation and… (Continued on page …) … National Liberation Front. Unanimously and with great enthusiasm, it was decided that, after liberation, the people themselves would determine the political regime. «A free, united, independent and democratic Albania». I have dwelt on emphasizing these issues because they constitute the essence of the Conference’s platform. At the commemorative meeting, my aim was not simply to list a few familiar things in the service of an anniversary commemoration. What has always concerned me is the position adopted later toward this platform. The National Liberation Councils did not preserve the features and character defined by the Conference. Over time, from bodies mobilizing the people for war as partners in power, they turned into organs of dictatorship. These actions were carried out abusively, violating pluralist principles and departing from the antifascist, national-liberation character of the war. The violation of the fundamental idea of unity «… regardless of religion, region, class and political tendency…» caused a large section of the people to leave the Front, especially in the countryside, regarding it as a mask for the PKSH; it intensified the class struggle by dividing the country’s political and social forces into two hostile groups: the National Liberation Front at war with «Balli Kombëtar» and «Legaliteti». In substance and form, this struggle was also turning into a civil war, into division and fratricide, as became openly evident with the breakdown of the Mukje Agreement. Distortions of the Conference’s fundamental issues—the worst matter—have been perpetuated by our post-liberation historiography. Under the dictatorial rule of the party, … and with Enver Hoxha invested with absolute authority, the Conference was never given an analysis … real. Even the basic documentation itself, such as the Resolution, the appeal or the minutes of the Conference, was published in mutilated form, with entire pages, paragraphs, ideas and even the names of participants removed. Of the Resolution’s ten pages, only six were published. The names of Dr. Ymer Dishnica, Mustafa Gjinishi, Koco Tashko and Nako Spiru, and of the participating nationalists Ndoc Coba, Kamber Qafëmolla, Ismail Petrela, Fetah Butka, Abaz Kupi, Hysni Lepenica, Ramazan Jerani, Halim Begeja, etc., who played a hugely important role, are unknown to the younger generation. — These distortions and others make it necessary to rewrite history. Its foundation must be documents, the truth. We cannot become democratic through slogans, dogmas, quotations and undeserved glorification. — Since we are talking about glorification, what role did Enver Hoxha play at this important conference? — The Peza Conference was not Enver Hoxha’s work, as our historiography, literature and press have trumpeted. Enver Hoxha was one of the six delegates of the Albanian Communist Party and one of the Conference’s 18 delegates. In all official texts, studies, commemorative meetings and, in particular, Enver Hoxha’s own works, Enver Hoxha himself is presented as the inspiration, organizer, ideologue and leader of the Conference. In reality, the Party Central Committee leadership had assigned Dr. Ymer Dishnica to the sector responsible for work with the nationalists. The district committee also had specific members in charge of the sector dealing with the nationalists. Ymer Dishnica, Koco Tashko, Mustafa Gjinishi, Nako Spiru and many others, who were …, were involved in organizing the Conference.

As the most important element of human activity, work has determined and continues to determine an individual’s position in society; its results, embodied in property, express that individual’s personality. Even today, the triad—human being, work, property—stands out clearly; under the concrete conditions prevailing in our country today, on the eve of the introduction of a market economy, these relationships assume particular priority and importance. Only a thorough and objective analysis of this triad will avert certain paradoxes that our workers have noted with no small concern. At present, our country has state property (predominant) and negligible private property. But there is also private property that was arbitrarily nationalized. This property is precisely one paradox in the law, now approved, on transferring state property into private ownership. Under this law, every natural or legal person who wishes to own private property, as soon as they secure the private property…? It is known that immediately after liberation, that is, around… in the years 1950 and 1967, by a decision taken by bodies represented by people who perhaps owned no property themselves, without any criteria and by treating the matter in an entirely arbitrary way, houses, shops, etc. were nationalized… Mot… … main … for state needs. Now, under the conditions of privatization of the economy, the State has no reason to need them. Therefore, after unjustly taking them free of charge for decades, it has decided to sell them. By what right? The State’s budget is «riddled with holes». In other words, it badly needs money. How would a similar decision today—to confiscate citizens’ deposits—be received? Undoubtedly, it would be considered insane, and also impossible, since today it is extremely difficult to trample on human rights. Back then, in those years, citizens were deprived not only of property but also of their dignity. Let us not forget that the failure to return immovable property, besides its social aspect, is a root of doubt about the future of property—a doubt that everyone carries within themselves, with the anxiety that one day it will burst and blow everything up. Confidence in the law guaranteeing private property can be gained only if the property that was stolen is returned to citizens. Otherwise, the question, «Could the arbitrariness of the years 1950 and 1967 be repeated in the future?» remains an extremely troubling obsession. We have a majority of poor people, a small middle class, and red and black rich people. Wealth,

INTERVIEW WITH THE HISTORIAN, MR. MYSLIM ISLAMI, BY EDITOR GJERGJ PILIKA — A few days ago, the 49th anniversary of the Peza Conference was commemorated. A special meeting was held for this purpose in the hall of the National Museum. You delivered the paper. What were the motives that led you to speak? — The Peza Conference is a major event in the history of our people. It was the first national-level national liberation assembly. As is known, it was a conference pluralistic in its composition. Representatives of Albanian Nationalism, the Albanian Communist Party, the Albanian Communist Youth, the Nationalist Youth, the Communist Youth, and the Albanian popular women’s youth took part. It was pluralistic in the ideas put forward and in the conclusions reached, which were set out in the Resolution of this Conference. Given the atmosphere of war at the time and everyone’s interest in casting off subjugation, the Conference put forward the great idea of uniting the people in the struggle for liberation. Another important issue that gave it broad scope was that: “At the Conference the delegates expressed their full desire and will for a sound organization of all true Albanians, without distinction of religion, region, idea, class or political tendency.” The national liberation councils were adopted as a form of organization, as organs of struggle and popular power, with many duties in liberated and unliberated areas alike. The number-one task was to prepare the people for the armed General Uprising. Unity would have been meaningless if viewed separately from the war. “Its brotherhood (that of the people, M.I.) must be achieved not with words, but with blood, because only the struggle against the enemy sanctifies unity,” says the first appeal of the General Anti-

STATEMENT OF THE ALBANIAN REPUBLICAN PARTY Albanian Republicans protest with deep indignation against the dark and cruel act, organized by a barbaric fascist hand whose aim is to strike at the democratic processes that are rapidly intensifying in Albania. The terrorist and gangster-like act by anti-democratic mafiosi against Messrs. Elez Biberaj, Qemal Sakajeva, Mehmet Elezi, outrages the entire Albanian people. These dark forces tried to assassinate sound Albanian-American relations. The Albanian Republican Party declares that it will be a determined fighter, compelling the Albanian government to uncover and eliminate this hand that sheds blood, burns and destroys, thus making every effort to sow insecurity and fear and to force the people to judge democracy wrongly. Albanian Republicans are convinced that American and European democracy have confidence in Albanian democracy and in true Albanian democrats, and in the people’s determination to achieve full democracy in Albania as soon as possible. As Republicans, we call on the Ministry of Public Order to act decisively, presenting us with convincing evidence as to the truth of the event, and uncovering and eliminating this black spider.