I would never wish to address the leader of a party with this epithet, but... your television interview this Monday compels me to step outside myself. Because you lie openly and unscrupulously when you declare: — That the Socialist Party is the country’s most serious political force. You would like to be, sir, but you are very far from that dream. A political force cannot be the most serious in the least developed country in Europe when it continues under the name PPSH and calls itself the PS, as though it had shed communist ideals like a holy spirit at the very second its name changed, trumpeting that it is a party of European socialist left-wing ideals. — That you yourself, Mr. Nano, were there, when you did not rise to observe a minute of silence for the martyrs of the 2 April massacre in Shkodër, while the Democrats and «Omonia» paid their respects. And it was you, too, in contrast to what the world has given in examples. — That you organize constructive political activities for the benefit of national unity. Yes, that is how it should be. The fire ZP starts with attacks and insults, calling genuine opposition parties fascist, supposedly helps unity, according to you, when in fact it sows division. We might accept this claim for the sake of election propaganda, but when you say that you are characterized by the maturity to detach people from the party-state system, while also calling on other parties to do so, you become a liar who is causing Albania incalculable harm. As for the party-state system, you were a fervent trumpeter, an eager and servile scholar of Mrs. Nexhmije Hoxha’s cabinet. Even today, while pretending that you are not in charge, you uphold the principles of the party-state, because it is you, as a party, who are destabilizing the country. The power is in your hands, and destruction takes place in broad daylight, yet no culprits are found?! How is that possible? Why do you have cameras and film? You do not order them to be put into operation, because it serves your interests to frighten people and accuse the Democrats, so that you can get more votes. You can polish something up for the electorate, but casting a shadow over Albania in order to preserve the party-state as the ruling force—that is treason. We can find no other name for it. Time will prove it, and history will condemn it. — That you are a party fighting to protect national values. Quite clear. Which values do you mean? The works of Enver Hoxha or those of Ramiz Alia? Your mother party, from which you inherited your blood and genes, destroyed the rare national values when it condemned democratic intellectuals and writers, when it took a pickaxe to churches and mosques, icons, frescoes and every relic of the past history, which was judged solely according to Enver Hoxha’s principles. So Noli, Skënderbeu, Ismail Qemali—the whole of history—should have sensed that one day an Enver would be born, and therefore should have acted then according to the teachings that would later arise in his head. You will say that I am not responsible for the past. I know; but not only personally—you and your family, too, held membership cards of that party, and you even held high-ranking positions... PETRO DHIMITRI (Continued on page 2) — along with your comrades, former PPSH members and all the PS deputies, who changed colour like chameleons; and not only did you go to visit their homes, but you also offered «congratulations» when they were declared martyrs. I will not go on about your demand for «land as state property», which was in your program, and your 180-degree turn to «land as private property», because this was the opposition’s demand. Could these few facts I have listed from among the many reversals by the PS, including the issue of granting amnesty to prisoners of conscience and the one involving Kumbaro, possibly demonstrate political seriousness? If this is what seriousness means, the scholars of the world must revise their dictionaries, because you deserve the credit for assigning this word a completely different meaning from its ideal... European socialist left-wing ideals. A liar who causes because you, as a party, and destruction takes place in broad daylight, yet the culprits are nowhere to be history will condemn it. It is completely illogical, like so many other actions of the state currently under your direction, to leave the village without television broadcasts as well, as happened last year.

— DESPERATELY, MR. PRESIDENT! TEAR UP YOUR SPEECH! «...COMRADE R. ALIA’S SPEECH WAS OFTEN INTERRUPTED BY LOUD APPLAUSE FOR THE PARTY OF LABOUR, BY CHANTS OF «PARTY—ENVER...» (FROM THE CHRONICLES — MARCH 1991) Will there be a presidential speech before the new elections? Do presidents give speeches on such occasions? We mean the Albanian presidency. Albania has not had many presidents. First secretaries, yes, it has had. Or half-secretaries and half-presidents. In any case, will there be a speech two days before 22 March? 22 March is the day of the spring equinox. Geography teachers tire themselves out with pupils in the lower grades, trying to teach them that after this equinox the days begin to grow longer and warmer. Will our (old) politicians remember their teachers and this geography lesson once again? In other words, will they accept 22 March as the day of the SPRING EQUINOX, or will they again say that Albania lies outside the laws of the Universe? More precisely, it seems to be outside the laws and to have understood that the equinoxes must be asked, since they have understood the wishes of the old men, their speeches and wishes? So, on 22 March... Again in March, as in March a year ago... It seemed as if everything were repeating itself. The small TV screen, just as last March, fills with identical announcements from the Ministry of Public Order, and here and there «deshpe...». Shrit Xhullani, Krest Kongresi, or perhaps... The anthologies and tributes are missing, and there are only a few days left before 31 March. But something else is missing, too. Disperatamente, Mr. President... we have forgotten you... Will there be a presidential speech two days before the elections? A year ago there was such a speech. On 29 March. Just two days before the elections, the Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly (Head of State) (President) of Albania, Ramiz Alia, «summoned» the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the PPSH to deliver the speech of the occasion. And the president-secretary told the Albanians: «Vote for the Party of Labour, because this party brought you out of misery and ignorance, out of exploitation and destitution; it placed you among civilized countries...»(?) Our secretary-president told the people «that the Party of Labour is a party with deep roots among the people»(?), that «the Party of Labour is the only political force»(?). He said that «the Party of Labour took the people’s fate into its hands», but did not tell them that this party had thrown the fate of this people into the river. He told the people that the PPSH had brought material progress to every corner of the country, when it is known that it had brought poverty and misery to every corner of the country. We, he told them, ALBERT RAKIPI (Continued on page 4)

Gjergj Jorgaqi (soloist), Dritan Xheladini (guitar), Altin Nagllari (bass guitar), Bruno Qerimi (synthesizer), Roland Fusha (drums), Eduard Hysenl (manager): They are six young men who for the past 15 months have been giving concerts in an organized way (despite the difficulties we know about) throughout Albania. Their group’s name is that of a bird of the southern seas. They told us that politics does not help us in music—quite the opposite—but, like everyone else, we cannot remain indifferent to everything that is happening. We will vote for the Republican Party, because we find its program of action essential and excellent.

VOTE FOR THE CANDIDATES OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY! OUR PARTY’S PROGRAM CONTAINS ALL YOUR ASPIRATIONS FOR FREEDOM, DEMOCRACY AND DEVELOPMENT. BY VOTING FOR THE REPUBLICANS, YOU WILL ENSURE THAT OUR PARLIAMENT NO LONGER HAS ONLY TWO PARTIES. THE ALTAR OF OUR LEGISLATION NEEDS, AS MUCH AS A HUMAN BEING NEEDS AIR, THE PARTICIPATION OF DEPUTIES FROM SEVERAL PARTIES.

Zone No. Name, Surname District Profession Berat 1. Feim Xhamo — doctor 2. Mehdi Bejko — economist 3. Luftar Ziraj — economist 4. Adnan Shehu — teacher 5. Edmond Konomi — teacher Dibër 6. Seit Paci — engineer 7. Petrit Allushi — agronomist 8. Renzi Cela — engineer 9. Lutfi Bruci — doctor Durrës 10. Arben Babameto. Teacher of Merit — physicist 11. Agim Shehi — physicist 12. Luigi Aleksi — engineer 13. Haki Baci — teacher 14. Tasim Besho — mathematician Elbasan 15. Coalition 16. Ibrahim Sejdini — teacher Zone No. Name, Surname District Profession Librazhd 52. Qemal Reci — doctor 53. Murat Kryemadhi — teacher Lushnjë 54. Gëzim Hajdari — teacher 55. Dalip Greca — journalist 56. Thanas Mërkuri — engineer 57. Arian Babo — associate professor of agronomy Mat 58. Xhelal Dozhgiu — doctor 59. Sefer Elezi — veterinarian Mirditë 60. Simon Prendi — teacher 61. Marenglen Gjonaj, Associate Professor — pedagogical engineer, University of Tirana Përmet 62. Fredi Babani — veterinarian Pogradec 63. Genc Starova — engineer 64. Kreshnik Zgjani — engineer 9. [text cut off] 10. Arben Babameto. Merited Teacher, physicist 11. Agim Shehi physicist 12. Luigj Elbasan 15. Coalition 16. Ibrahim Sejdini teacher 17. Dhimitër Doka lecturer at UT 18. Coalition 19. Mehmet Bezati teacher 20. Telat Mehmeti engineer 21. Mehmet Çeliku Doctor of Science, lecturer at UT Fier 22. Leandër Pana engineer 23. Vangjel Prifti engineer 24. Anesti Dhima engineer 25. Fatmir Mediu engineer 26. Elfatun Shtino B. V: SH. 27. Rapi Hysaj engineer 28. Hasan Basha doctor 29. Xhemil Meçaj Chairman of the Prisoners’ Association Gramsh 30. Agim Doku teacher Gjirokastër 31. Teodor Kareco Doctor of Economic Sciences, economist 32. Theodhor Rafti doctor Kavaja 33. Coalition 34. Feim Kazazi doctor 35. Muhamet Çeka doctor Kolonjë 36. Ilo Mele Candidate of Sciences, lecturer at UT Korçë 37. Fatos Bitinca engineer 38. Vangjush Dishnica teacher 39. Vladimir Shehaj engineer 40. Gjergji Lluka chemist 41. Alfred Karamuç lawyer 42. Arben Burda engineer 43. Abdyl Darbo engineer Krujë 44. Pashk Mjeshtri doctor 45. Engjëll Kalaj teacher 46. Gjok Hasi pharmacist Kukës 47. Hamit Noga engineer 48. Xhafer Spahiu agronomist 49. Coalition Lezhë 50. Pal Pali agronomist 51. Qazim Dushku Candidate of Sciences, teacher 60. Simon Prendi teacher 61. Marenglen Gjonaj Associate Professor, engineering lecturer at UT 64. Kreshnik Zgjani engineer Pukë 65. Dodë Suta doctor 66. Qamil Furriku doctor Saranda 67. Eduard Mehmeti teacher 68. Abaz Arapi teacher 69. [name missing] Skrapar 70. Engjëll Xhaferi engineer 71. Qazim Metani doctor Shkodra 72. Namik Kamberi doctor 73. Fatbardh Kuçi engineer 74. Mentor Quku biochemist 75. Xhevat Repishti Doctor of Science, historian 76. Albin Miluku agronomist 77. Balto Laçini teacher 78. Ndue Kolaj economist 79. Ilir Bisha pharmacist Tepelenë 80. Sabri Godo writer 81. Servet Boni engineer Tiranë 82. Ylvi Pustina Merited Master of Sport, veterinarian 83. Genc Çelo engineer 84. Agim Zeka journalist 85. Aleksandër Çina Associate Professor, engineer 86. Petro Dhimitri journalist 87. Maksim Begeja engineer 88. Eduard Ypi economist 89. Lluka Heqimi Candidate of Sciences, doctor 90. Maksim Haviari engineer 91. Gani Leka journalist 92. Agim Maluka engineer 93. Ismail Male agronomist Tropojë 94. Shemshedin Memia teacher Vlorë 95. Fatos Arapi writer 96. Rahmi Telushi teacher 97. Hysni Alimerko Chairman of the Prisoners’ Association 98. Qendro Meminaj agronomist 99. Kajtaz Alikaj engineer 100. Bujar Asqeriu Merited Artist, actor