Greeting The Republican Party and the editorial board of the newspaper “Republika” wish all Muslim believers a happy and blessed Eid holiday for many years to come. At the ceremony organized on this occasion, greetings were extended by the PR Chairman Mr. Sabri Godo and the Vice Chairman Mr. Zef Bushati.

What do we ask of the new government? The word government is an abstract thing, but concretely, in our understanding, it makes you work or not work, be well-off or hungry, laugh or cry, be happy or suffer. So a government can bring you good or cause you harm. Naturally, no one would want harm, because we have already swallowed it in all its forms. But for a government to be good, it must certainly meet certain conditions. First: it must establish governance. This means that every honest, hardworking, orderly citizen should feel secure, know that no one will touch life or property, being convinced that the state stands behind him, helping and supporting him, and in return the citizen should help and support the state. At the same time, the government should feel bad and insecure so that a new conviction is created; in this way the government also works better when it feels secure. Second, it must be capable. As far as can be seen, this is not easy, and there is no need for all those who are appointed to run the state to have studied how socialism can be built, and now they are asked to establish capitalism. That is like taking a schoolteacher and sending her to preach in church. Third, it must create con- FERITAT GRUSA (to be continued on page 4)

THE ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MADE A VISIT TO ALBANIA This morning, Italy’s Foreign Minister Xhani de Mikelis paid a short visit to our country. He was welcomed at Rinas Airport by Albanian Foreign Minister Ilir Bocka and Acting Minister of Defense Y. Çabiri. From Rinas, Mr. De Mikelis went to Durrës, and at the EC headquarters, opposite the encircled network, held a meeting with the PD delegation headed by prof. dr. Sali Berisha. At 12:00, de Mikelis held a joint press conference with Mr. Berisha on the talks that had taken place and on the future of Albanian-Italian relations, as well as on the continuation of Italian aid to Albania. In response to a journalist’s question about relations between the two countries, de Mikelis said: “Problems should not be created when they do not exist.” On 12 June, when I came to Albania, I was received in a completely normal manner, and later Baker came, who was received with great honors. There is no room here for jealousy. After the press conference, Mr. de Mikelis, accompanied by the Italian ambassador in Tirana, visited the Italian fleet unit and the “Pelikan” operation center. There, de Mikelis held a meeting with the military and civilian personnel taking part in Operation Pelikan. He thanked the Italian military for the work carried out over 6 months and General Kurtanen, who led this operation, which constitutes a unique example in Europe of delivering the necessary food to its final destination. Correspondent of “Republika”

The Autonomous Republic of Iliriada of the Albanians in Macedonia is proclaimed Radio Kroacia reports that the Autonomous Republic of Iliriada of ethnic Albanians in Macedonia has been proclaimed. The Assembly for the political-territorial autonomy of Albanians in Macedonia, based in Tetovo, proclaimed the Autonomous Republic of Iliriada. The territory of the Autonomous Republic of Iliriada includes the municipalities of Kumanovo, part of Skopje, Tetovo, Gostivar, Kërçova, Dibër, Struga, and the settlements of the Albanian population from other municipalities which, with regard to the ethnogeographic element and according to the demographic criteria of Hasan Pasha, will be included in the territory of this Republic. This is stated in the rationale of the Assembly for territorial and political autonomy signed by the chairman of the Assembly, Xhelal Fejzullahu. In line with this act, the Assembly also proposed amending the constitution of the Republic of Macedonia. Article 3 of the Macedonian constitution should define that there is a new unit, which will establish that within the Republic of Macedonia there is the Autonomous Republic of Iliriada. Meanwhile, in the second part of the Macedonian constitution, point 4 proposes incorporating a provision guaranteeing the survival of the Autonomous Republic of Iliriada in economic-financial governance, in the organization of banks, in spatial planning, as well as in the disposal of natural wealth and cultural and other assets in the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Iliriada. At the end of the proposal to amend the constitution of Macedonia, it is stated that if the Assembly of this Republic does not approve the proposal to amend the Constitution of Macedonia and does not define and guarantee the demands for political-territorial autonomy of Albanians in Macedonia, we will be forced to advance our political position in accordance with the ethnic and historical natural right of the Albanian people to self-determination.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC REQUESTED TO RESIGN Through a statement broadcast by Television and ATSH on 3.4.1992, the President of the Republic, Mr. Ramiz Alia, has decided to resign from the office of President of the Republic. He will submit this request officially in writing to the People’s Assembly.

The rule-of-law state - the governance of free people Democracy and the rule-of-law state have been brought about by historical evolution, the great efforts of the people for a better life, and the struggle against tyranny. European philosophical and political thought has offered several legal and democratic postulates since ancient times. The Greek philosopher of Stagira said that politics is “the art of governing free people,” but like any art, this naturally presupposes talent and responsibility. The state will never go out of fashion, because human beings remain forever, as Aristotle said, “zoon politikon” (political beings). Cervantes was right when he said that people, as soon as they come out of their mother’s womb, are subject to governance. The rule-of-law state today is the most democratic and progressive state in human society, born of historical evolution and observation, of the accumulation of social experience, of the disillusionment of generations with dictatorships and totalitarianisms, as well as of the failure of ideologies. The new modern society does not tolerate the situation in which, as Raymond Aron says, “The totalitarian state declares unlawful facts that do not fit the official scheme.” The profound human nature of society, both in its positive and negative aspects, the victory of pluralist democracy over ideologies and authoritarian rule, and the abandonment of failed utopias bring about the birth of the rule-of-law state as the product of a free and open democratic society. The rule-of-law state is the state of people who do not live in illusory dreams, who see the world as it is and regard things through the category of the impossible. It abandons the dirigisme of authoritarian states and, for the first time, takes on an active role in securing “human freedoms and rights and progressive social evolution.” It takes the autonomous individual as its basis, advances against totalitarianism before political society, but naturally not the selfish individual who sees his freedom in the extreme at the expense of others. The supreme value in the open democratic society is not the state, but the human being, who is the measure of all things. The state is obliged to take into account all human dimensions and possibilities. Politics protects the real human being, allowing him to stand upright and flourish. Aristotle said that politics is at the service of man. He did not agree with Plato, who considered politics a science for organizing the world or, better said, a utopia. In good politics, the individual’s freedom is limited. The polemic between them marked for the first time in history the dichotomy between autocracy and the rule-of-law state. The rule-of-law state is the state of the free will of citizens against the bureaucratic state that intervenes in all spheres and paralyzes human activity. The dictatorship of the proletariat was the classic example of the perversion of politics. In the rule-of-law state, the image of the common good does not come from a project, but is realized as the sum of individual interests. The state supports diverse activity and can soften or eliminate social conflicts without violating people’s legitimate interests. The rule-of-law state aims to increase human capital, a guarantee of individual and social prosperity. The French philosopher Zhil. Marten said that only such a state can ensure the material comfort of all people. VIRON KOKA (to be continued on pages 3-4)

THE REPUBLICAN ALTERNATIVE MADE ITS CONTRIBUTION TO THE VICTORY OF DEMOCRACY ZEF BUSHATI The defeat of a system, of an era, of an ideology. The communists lost political power. They were defeated by the spiritual movement, whose people are part of the elements of historical development and have entered the climate and currents of democratic processes in Europe. The Albanian state, led by a dictatorial communist minority, by the bureaucratic caste that emerged from within it, went through painful periods. These dictatorial communists struck at the spirit of this people, from whom they had come and from whom they had broken away. Their time has passed. Albanian life changed system, one that did not correspond to the change in the people’s ideas and spiritual aspirations and to the communist ideal, which remained outdated, completely outside the nation’s “ideal” sensibility. Detached from the roots and from the politics of modern life, the republican, democratic, social-democratic alternative, etc., emerged. The crisis of the communist “ideal” led to a state, political and economic crisis and made the rapid collapse, the overthrow, of its own essential content, ideological, theoretical and practical, a necessity. Even a part of the “renewed” communists who “understood” this began their “attacks” on the conservative communist forces by turning toward socialism. The victory of democracy corresponds to the deep needs of the nation, which cannot be politically perpetuated without spiritually renewing Albania and bringing about its political rebirth. Now it will take a step toward a democratic society by adhering to justice and traditions and by moving along the most ideal paths of the civilized world. The economic difficulties are great because the country is unprepared for this new life. Today we are economically ruined. This is the legacy left to us by the communist politicians who maintained this condition for 50 years. This is the fruit of visibly immature work. (to be continued on page 4)

“I feel the heavy responsibility this parliament bears...” On the occasion of the beginning of parliament’s work, we took this interview with PR deputy Dr. Mehmet Çeliku. Republika: Doctor, you are not very well known in the field of politics. What will you tell readers on the first day of Parliament? I come to this parliament as the deputy for zone no. 21 in the district of Elbasan, as a representative of the Republican Party. The elections of 22 March 1992 have been rightly defined as a popular referendum and, as in any referendum, our people answered yes to democracy and no to communism, without alternatives or nostalgia. The Democratic Party, as the strongest opposition party in our country, rightly enjoys the support of the people, because in the elections of 22 March it emerged as the main representative of democracy in Albania. Our people understood and correctly resolved the fundamental issue posed by the elections of 22 March: the rejection of communism; meanwhile, the other issues concerning the representation of parties with different programs and alternatives in Parliament, which are also a fundamental issue in elections in every country with consolidated democracy, take a secondary role. Under such specific conditions in the elections of 22 March, it was the right of the political parties to ensure, through legal channels, the most authentic parliamentary opposition representation in Parliament. This was not achieved as it should have been. I take this opportunity to express my regret that the Republican Party is represented in this Parliament by only one deputy, directly elected by the people, and that it failed to overcome the conventional four-percent barrier in order to also be represented by deputies from the proportional list, although it is recognized by the people as a genuine, clearly constituted opposition force. The Republican Party is among the first opposition parties, and it has made its contribution to this great victory. PR has cleared the way alongside the Democratic Party at the most delicate moments of democracy in Albania. The emergence of the Republican Party on the political scene assured our people and the world democratic opinion that political pluralism in Albania has before it the Democratic Party, which was formed on the front line of the popular resistance against dictatorship, facing a party in the public arena. The formation of the Republican Party was entirely political, and alongside the Democratic Party it was a great support given to the latter at the right time. Here PR opened the second front in the struggle against dictatorship in Albania. It was also PR that, with the official and public declaration of its ministers in the Government of Stability and with its firm stance, took the first step out of the trap of cooperation with the socialists. Republika: You are the only deputy representing PR. As a deputy in Parliament, I will try to convey clearly the political thinking of PR, to transmit the ideas and solutions that this party offers for the various problems of the country’s development, and I will also defend the interests of the voters in my constituency, while also expressing my personal judgments and opinions as an intellectual on problems that will concern everyone. Authentic right-wing opposition forces should strive, alongside speaking with one voice on the principled problems of the country’s development, to ensure constructive debate between the ideas and solutions offered by their programs. Although I am the sole deputy representing the thinking of a party, I assure you that the Republican Party will sincerely and without reservations give its support to help the country out of this deep crisis. I feel the heavy responsibility that this Parliament has. Interviewed by: LUTFI DERVISHI