The historic victory of the Albanian nation this March opened the long-awaited way for our country to begin a new life. The Republican Party, as a party with firmly established anti-communist characteristics, has made a considerable contribution to the great achievement of 22 March; it had a visible place throughout the painful odyssey, full of blood and violence, that the people endured before arriving at today’s hopeful reality. And now that democracy is tentatively beginning its path toward the future, after many state structures at different levels have taken shape, the Republican Party too sees this as the right moment to take stock of its work, its achievements and losses, the urgent need for a comprehensive restructuring, and to define precisely its future course. It stands on the threshold of its First Congress, which will be held on 8–9 June, a major event that determines—and will determine—the weight and prospects of this party. The first PR Congress will focus its attention on the country’s post-dictatorial stage of development. It will define the party’s strategy and tactics in all their aspects, without wavering in its support for democracy and in close cooperation with the PD and PSD and other forces of an anti-communist character, on the basis of the fundamental principles of republicanism: recognition of property, respect for the dignity and abilities of each individual, broad application of the market economy and support for individual initiative, the firm demand that the government protect individual freedom, justice and equal opportunities for all, safeguarding the nation and ensuring citizens’ security on the basis of law and the constitution, friendship and peace with all other peoples. These are objectives that we will always keep among the party’s priorities. The Republican Party has supported and will continue to support independent trade unions, associations of prisoners of conscience, as well as all organizations that support the democratic state and the principles of democracy. During this preparatory period, the party held conferences in the districts, based on party elections from the smallest units up to the center. These reviews examined many organizational, political and economic issues; the governing bodies were re-elected with a strong sense of responsibility, and our Congress will proceed in the same way. A constructive spirit, debate and diversity of thought will remain essential features of the Republican Party. What will remain unchanged after this Congress, too, is the fact that the Republican Party will exist and grow stronger as a party that expresses and unwaveringly defends specific interests, and remains firmly on its path toward entering Western society unequivocally, as soon as possible and forever.

The Prime Minister of Turkey, Mr. Sulejman Demirel, made a two-day visit to Albania. He held meetings with the President of the Republic, Mr. Sali Berisha, the Prime Minister, Mr. Aleksandër Meksi, the Foreign Minister, Mr. Alfred Serreqi, and others. At the conclusion of his meetings, the Turkish Prime Minister and the Albanian President held a press conference for local and foreign journalists. President Berisha described the talks as very successful from the outset and emphasized that the Turkish Prime Minister had committed to encouraging Turkish investment in Albania and strongly supporting Albanian policy in all international institutions. Turkey granted our country 30 million dollars in aid. Within the week, an aid shipment will arrive; an agreement will be signed to eliminate taxes between the two countries. The Albanian government will waive visas for Turkish citizens coming to Albania. Both President Berisha and Turkish Prime Minister Demirel, in ... (Continued on page 2)

- PP(S) HAS STARTED ELECTION CAMPAIGN NO...( ) - - DR. KASTRIOT ISLAMI, INDEPENDENT, THREATENS: «WE ARE “CONDEMNED” TO UNDERSTAND ONE ANOTHER, OTHERWISE...» - K. ISLAMI, ZP, 31. 5. 1992 - - THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC, SALI BERISHA, SUMMONED THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PS, MR. NANO, TO A MEETING AND ASKED HIM FOR A COALITION...( ) FATOS NANO AGREES, ON CONDITION THAT THESE POINTS ARE MET: 1. FIND THE CULPRITS IN SHKODËR, 2. PUNISH THE Bllokmen, 3. ESTABLISH WHETHER FORMER MINISTER RUÇI IS (NOT) GUILTY, 4. FIND THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR 2 JULY.... - HEAD-TO-HEAD WITH THE COMMUNISTS, BY RISEDA[?] KOKE. Little time has passed since 22 March, and the impatient social-communists have launched a frontal attack. At first their attack was somewhat unclear and hazy, but then it gradually crystallized to such an extent that you could be left speechless: Now they want power..?! Don’t believe it? Read Dr. Kastriot Islami’s article in ZP dated 31.5.1992 and you will be convinced. However, a great deal of systematic work, in the familiar style of the party-state, was needed to get as far as the physicist’s article—a kind of work they have mastered and know how to do only communists. Let us be more specific: In record time (as if they had all the information media at their disposal), a rumor was spread that President Berisha had summoned Chairman Nano to a meeting and had «pressed» him to make his party accept a government «coalition» (SIC). The truth is that this story is so banal that it is not even worth laughing at, but... the fact is that for the social-communists this method has not only been the favorite, but also the most effective. It was precisely this banal and laughable method that secured the communists’ victory on 31 March. And they continue to play on the exhaustion and poverty of this people. That was all that had been said: Nano had [met] and the President had remained silent. In some newspapers, the words «the President had remained silent» were replaced by «the President had no way out». In short, the communists want power, and after that they will ask forgiveness and call for PATIENCE! (What irony: asking forgiveness, those who still haven’t said a word about the great half-century-long crime! Calling for patience, those people who for 50 years built nothing but bunkers and cemeteries. And the iro-[?]ny continues. The party cadre must have power?!! Because they cannot understand what for. Power was their only means of liv[elihood]. And now that they have it, they feel even more wretched than they are. «Just wait and see on 15 June,» a colleague of ours, a ZP journalist, tells us (the words he says are simply the directives issued by his party). «What will happen on the 15th?» we asked him. «Just wait and see...,» he continues. «We need a coalition government. And after that, we should ask the people to forgive us... and call for patience...» So everything is clear. So- YLLI RAKIPI ...te, the investments are Turkish in ... we who have got the hang of it and kno... to do it only communist. Let us speak more concretely: In record time (as if all the news media had been in on it), word meeting and had “persuaded” him to have his party accept once again a... COALITION GOVERNMENT. ...this method was not only more ... but also with results... It was precisely this banal and ridiculous method that guaran... the communists their victory on March 31. And they continue to play on this people’s exhaustion and poverty. They continue to play with their ... So everything is clear. The social communists are asking again ... those who still ... are asking forgiveness have not said a single word about the great half-century-long crime! Those who call for patience are the very people who, for 50 years in a row, built nothing but bunkers and graveyards. And Ir...nia continues. The cadre must ... YLLI RAKIPI (Continued on page 2)

Our hope and future, as the Albanian people, is to build a strong Albanian democratic state on the basis of those principles of law recognized and applied by Europe and the world. But to do this, we must all work as Albanian patriots—as individuals and families, as political parties and social associations. Human beings and social life are such that they place before each age better, fuller and ever-increasing demands. So, here in our society too, after winning many of the things we lacked, we now seek living standards and wages that meet life’s needs to one degree or another, and there is also a tendency to compare them with those in neighboring countries. Others take flight, adopting a mistaken and damaging view that: «...we are in a democracy and, as free people, we have the right to do as we please»; many are worried about the removal of the 80 percent, because the governments of Cari, Nanos and Bufti imposed themselves on the private, family, social and state life of our people and brought democratic victories down to different levels, to the point that some are completely disillusioned. It is our duty, all of us, to help the state and democracy survive, and to make it more ... Today, everyone is called upon to contribute ... according to their ability and place ... in this society. But the government and the President must also improve their work, because the most ... important problems are those closely connected with social and family life: wages ... and purchasing power ... and agriculture, ... and public order, all of which affect the entire life of city and village, giving breath to or taking it away from the democracy we have only just won. (Continued on page 3) JOSIF ZEGALI

The Saranda PR branch held its conference on May 24, 1992. Both the report and the discussions offered an in-depth analysis of the work ... an analysis ... of the work ... since the party was founded, the good work done was emphasized. At the same time, however, the party’s shortcomings and weaknesses were criticized, and the negative factors that led to the poor results in the elections for deputies to the People’s Assembly were identified. Nevertheless, it was reiterated that the party has every opportunity to grow stronger and to become a political force whose voice is heard in the district. The tasks of strengthening the party ranks, especially in terms of quality, were given greater weight and expanded, particularly as we are in the phase of contests for local government elections. The problems and relations with supporters were also addressed carefully, with insistence that ties with them be established ... On May 28, 1992, the second PR conference in Mat was held. The report was presented on this occasion, and the delegates’ discussions ... ... of documents, international [documents] on human rights. The view was expressed that, in establishing a pluralist executive committee, the Council of Ministers’ formula should be applied, taking into account the percentage of votes each party received in the last elections. The view was supported that the Saranda PR should also take part in local governing bodies, despite its unsatisfactory election results. Dr. Teodor Kareco also attended the conference as a delegate of the PR Steering Committee. The party’s district governing bodies were also elected. The conference was also addressed by the delegate of the PR Steering Committee, Dr. Teodor Kareco, who focused on the tasks ahead up to the PR’s first Congress and on the need for maximum mobilization to win the upcoming local government elections. The conference elected the governing bodies. Mr. Ibrahim Islami was elected chairman of the Steering Committee. The problems concerning relations with the party, associations, and trade unions were addressed carefully and with a sense of responsibility. The conference also discussed numerous issues relating to economic reform, implementation of the land law, and other concerns of the people of Mat.

At the cordial and completely open meeting on 31 May, the Prime Minister of the Turkish Republic, Mr. Sulejman Demirel, expressed fraternal feelings toward the Albanian people, saying that he would help Albania in the economic and military fields with every means available. At the cordial and completely open meeting on 31 May, expressed fraternal feelings toward the Albanian people, saying that he would help Albania in the economic and military fields with every means available. He said that democratic pluralism is the only just system of government. This system was overthrown in Turkey three times, but the people restored it each time through their will. Mr. Godo said that he mentioned the term «brother» in his statement, and that this summed everything up. The Republican Party has declared that Turkey holds a leading place among the states that can be called Albania’s natural allies. Distinguished economists believe that Turkey, with its vast human and material resources, will become a great power at the beginning of the coming century. But this is not the only reason why we seek Turkey’s friendship. The spiritual ties between the two peoples are a powerful factor in developing this friendship. Regarding the situation in the former Yugoslavia and in the Balkans, Prime Minister Demirel and Mr. Godo expressed the same assessments. Peace is at risk in this region of Europe. The Prime Minister said that in every circumstance Turkey would stand by Albania and would not allow its integrity to be violated. The conversation turned to the many ties the two countries have had and continue to have, and to the figure of Ataturk, founder of modern Turkey and one of humanity’s great heroes. «Republika» Correspondent

At this difficult time, when the inherited economic situation is extremely strained, we Republicans of Durrës believe that capable people, free from party interests, should be put in charge. The current situation requires this to be the basic criterion in appointing the officials who are to run the government. Unfortunately, we are observing that the personnel policy ... is being pursued by the ... authorities, but by the Durrës branch of the Democratic Party. The 15–10 decision ... of the executive committee concerning ... is being given another form. If ... the Durrës PD branch has ... been carried out by the ... authorities, it has appointed capable representatives, ... has recognized capable representatives, ... to be placed in positions of power ... . ... and nomenklatura. Let us remember: the votes cast for democracy must not be abused. Power must not be misused by rewarding party activists (loyal and incompetent) with good jobs. People cast their votes in the hope that their problems would be solved. The Durrës branch of the Republican Party declares that it considers the personnel policy pursued by the PD in Durrës to be mistaken. This policy has provoked opposition among our members and supporters and divided us from our fellow citizens. This concerns us, because every mistake made in this critical situation harms democracy. We will ... that a government ... and ... . We do not seek to denigrate this government, as the Socialist Party is attempting to do; rather, we take a stand against its mistakes. By rejecting this partisan personnel policy, we help the government put people’s interests above party interests. We have also expressed these views at meetings with representatives of the PD. The proper position taken by the Republicans of Durrës toward the local authorities and the PD branch serves democracy and is an expression of ... We believe that the problems of today’s ... can be resolved through ... and by ensuring a clear separation between ... parties that aspire to democracy...