ONCE AND FOR ALL, GOODBYE COMMUNISM … democracy. With admirable persistence, in a relatively short time, they spread throughout the country, although they could not be compared with the PS in terms of the conditions and resources available for intensive political activity. In this election the people gave their confidence to the DP, the strongest opposition party, contrary to what the Socialists claimed. The DP, as the leading and foremost opposition force, was at the forefront of the struggle for democracy. Through massive, energetic organization, it knocked on doors from village to village and city to city, awakening and raising the awareness of thousands of people that another future belonged to them, not a poor life like the one we are living now. And we Albanians ourselves will bring about this change through our work and with the swift help of the countries of the West and the USA. The voice of the PR, too, was strongly heard in these long efforts and struggles. Today, on this day, it welcomes the magnificent victory of democracy and wishes the Albanian people to preserve and

For a long time, the Albanian people had eagerly awaited the March 22 elections for two fundamental reasons. First, because for the first time in their lives they would vote completely freely, without fear of anyone; and second, because the arduous life of a slave for more than two decades had to be changed once and for all. But they would do this not with bullets, but through arduous efforts for democracy, with their free vote. The March 22 elections, with the resounding victory of the DP and the Albanian opposition as a whole over the PS, showed how strong this desire of our people was. In particular, the path taken toward establishing democracy up to March 22 had not been easy; on the contrary, it had been arduous and painful. For half a century, the brutal communist regime had instilled in almost every Albanian a state of fear and terror. And, naturally, it is clear that this state of mind was not broken in a single day. The previous elections on March 31 showed this. Another year of persistent struggle, from March to March, was needed for the Albanian people to cast off the enslaving dogma of communism, and for Albanian peasants finally to rid themselves of the specter of bread shortages instilled by the PS. It took a year for the people finally to understand the truth, to understand what the PS’s false propaganda was—and in this election campaign, too, it did not fail to slander the DP, PR and the other opposition parties. The opposition parties became the inspirers and leaders of the people in this struggle to establish true democracy. With admirable persistence, in a short time, they strengthened it more and more. The PR, one of the first opposition parties, has made its contribution to achieving this final victory. Its contribution was felt from the first days of the party’s creation, in those difficult days when civil war threatened the country like a shroud. The PR’s clear, wise and honest positions have been appreciated and have won the support of the whole people, who regard the PR as one of the country’s most serious political forces. For 14 months, the PR has spoken to the people and explained clearly and honestly how it views the affairs of this country, which seeks to enter definitively onto the path of democracy and a free life. In these elections, as in those of March 31 last year, the PR did not receive what was due to it as a political force with a valuable contribution to its credit. A party’s influence on the life of the country does not always correspond to its election result. There are reasons for this, but, in any case, by giving their votes to the DP, the people voted for democracy and to uproot communism, which was the main objective of the entire opposition. And this objective was achieved. The PR has consistently supported the DP with sincerity and honesty. Therefore, the DP’s victory is a victory for the opposition as a whole, a victory for all the Albanian people, and therefore ours as well. It makes us happy, and we welcome it wholeheartedly. A new era now begins for the Albanian people: the era of democracy. No one can now trample on our rights. Every citizen, in the cities or in the villages, is master of their own life. Everyone will now freely express their mental and physical energies for their own good and for the good of the country. The rule of law will be the surest guarantee of this. The PR will continue, as it has done until now, to take a constructive stance in the country’s political and economic life. By fighting for the implementation of its program, it will always be an important factor in its stabilization. Now more than ever, Albania needs calm to return and work to begin, as two factors in the revival of life. With the complete victory of democracy, this is now entirely possible, in the cities as well as in the countryside. Regardless of the result the PR managed to secure in these elections, it undoubtedly believes that it will occupy an honored place in parliament. It will achieve this through its stance and its work, in the interests of the entire Albanian nation. … another blow. I think the disintegrated socialists will join the PR, PSD and PD. These three are the alternatives for the future. C. One is the hardest number to find. If it is found, the others follow easily. First comes the government… • • • ZEF BUSHATI (Deputy Chairman of the PR): «... decided on a change of system...» A. March 22 was a nationwide referendum to decide which system would guide the future development of this economically and morally devastated country: the socialist communist system or the democratic capitalist one. This popular referendum decided precisely to change the system from communist to democratic. The socialist communist system lost and the PD won. We Republicans are proud to have made our contribution, and we are convinced that our members and supporters also took part in this referendum to seal the PD’s victory. B. I believed that this would happen, and that we Republicans would also have our parliamentary group in the democratic, pluralist parliament. I believe this was also the wish of many others who have followed the Republicans’ opposition stance throughout the more-than-one-year period since the PR was founded. We should have had more representatives in parliament. We have only one deputy. We are proud that he is a doctor of science, an intellectual who will convey the Republican voice forcefully, even though he is alone among the Democrats, Socialists and Social Democrats. C. The government, the constitution, the rule of law, the economic order, (Continued on page 2)

Our editors Ylli Rakipi and Luffi Dervishi collected the following opinions the day after the elections A. WHAT IS YOUR OPINION OF THE ELECTION RESULTS? B. DO YOU THINK THE PR SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPRESENTED AS A PARLIAMENTARY GROUP? C. WHAT SHOULD WE DO FIRST? SALI BERISHA (Chairman of the PD) «... They are like us and we are like them.» A. I think these were the results the Albanian people deserved. They deserved even better, but this is a weakness of the opposition and the PD, which failed to free our brothers completely from communist ideology. I want to say on this occasion that the Albanian workers and peasants who did not vote for the opposition have nothing in common with communism; they are its victims. It is our work that has been insufficient, but our efforts will continue so that they join us, because if we look more deeply at their ideals, their spirit and their suffering, they are identical to ours. They are few; that is not a problem. Such a great victory places great obligations on you. I think the PD must now have clear programs, good organization and governance, and conduct a major election campaign so that a stable local government can be established. Without stable local government, the country is governed with great difficulty. B. I am sympathetic to the PR and its program, but this time it could not be represented in parliament (I have always held this view) for one reason. The electorate in Albania is polarized and would vote for the Socialists and Democrats. Next time the PR could be a good electoral alternative, because I think the PS will weaken. It will no longer be polarized...» A. I was convinced the PD would win, because it did highly skilled work, especially since the PD is a party built on diversity of opinion. It became a party of the whole people. It was the first opposition party. I also want to emphasize something else: the PD’s victory was clearly influenced by organization in the districts and by the climate established in the districts and at the center. law, the economic order, … anything not that our work to ours. They are like us and we are like them. B. I think the PR should be represented in parliament, in view of the struggle and efforts it has made, but I want to emphasize in particular the major contribution the newspaper «Republika» has made to this democratic process. Regardless of the result awarded to the PR and the newspaper «Republika», it will be assessed by the democratic forces in Albania. C. We must convene the assembly, form the government, and restore order and calm. We must address the issue of reform and help the Albanian peasantry so that they can sow this spring; we must find raw materials so that work can begin in the enterprises. B. I think PR should be represented in parliament, given its struggle and efforts, but I want to emphasize in particular the great contribution that the result awarded to PR and the newspaper «Republika» First, an appeal must be made for public calm and confidence in the new government, in this vote that the people have cast. Second, the government will build all its own mechanisms, such as the constitution and the organization of local elections, as well as many other structures that are just as important, such as public order and information, which have been traumatized by the processes that took place. A. We had a great merit in the struggle to defeat communism. We should have entered parliament, and this would have been good for parliament and the country. C. I think our program contains very good ideas and views that open clear paths out of the current situation. • • • SKËNDER GJINUSHI (Chairman of PSD) «... 8 to 2 would be good...» A. It is worth emphasizing that our result has been among the most sensational and most positive in the whole of the East. When I am • • • SABRI GODO (Chairman of PRSH) «... a free life is beginning...» A. The victory of democracy in Albania can be called complete. Communist rule has finally collapsed. For the first time in our history, our people are beginning a free life. This is a victory for the entire people, for the opposition, and especially for PD, which carried the main burden. B. PR has of the current situation. • • • SKËNDER GJINUSHI (Chairman of PSD) «... I am

With the victory of democracy, political discussions may perhaps quiet down, but the old problems connected with the communist regime’s 50-year activity will come to the fore with greater force. I think this will happen because from now on we will live in a democratic, transparent country that will strive to raise the people’s standard of living. And resolving these problems may be a positive stimulus. One of these problems, which has sparked a nationwide debate, is the question of the Gold. After extensive discussion in the press and in the previous parliament, where a special commission was also established, the matter was dropped without a solution—why? The question of the gold was once again thrown into the hot pan by the Swiss man Megou. This time, it seems, things became complicated, forcing even Mr. President to deal with the matter. He was also assigned other tasks to pursue the issue, and finally, at his press conference before the elections, he gave a thematic lecture of the first order on the state reserves, in Zogu’s package. We all understand clearly that this is the question of the gold—it is not about the gold the bank had before Liberation (for which more accurate documents exist than for the gold after Liberation), but rather the gold taken from the people in all sorts of ways. Therefore, the President is expected to provide valuable testimony, since he was one of the senior representatives of the regime’s nomenklatura. Let us hope that perhaps one day, under different circumstances, he will be compelled to give us this testimony. But will anyone now testify about the gold, without being afraid? Will anyone testify among those who received the gold or those who said who had it, or even people themselves involved in this matter who have spoken out of fear? I will present some testimonies without mentioning names, leaving it to time to resolve this complicated issue. How was the gold collected? There was a list, compiled through informers, on which everything that was found was registered during the war, for which it was found that (Continued on page 3)

TO THE ALBANIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY Tirana, 25.3.1992 The Albanian Republican Party sincerely congratulates the Democratic Party on its resounding victory over the communist-socialist system. With the victory of the Democratic Party, our country has begun a new life. We Republicans wish the Democratic Party success in its work to rebuild and structure the life of our country in the interests of the Albanian nation. THE REPUBLICAN PARTY