A CONSTRUCTIVE SPIRIT, DEBATE AND DIVERSITY OF OPINION WILL BE FUNDAMENTAL TRAITS OF PR The historic victory of the Albanian nation this March opened the way for the country to begin a new life. The Republican Party, as a party with clearly anti-communist features, has made no small contribution to the great achievement of 22 March; it occupies a visible place in the whole painful odyssey, full of blood and violence, through which the people passed in order to reach today’s hopeful reality. And now that democracy is clearly setting out on the road toward the future, after many state structures at different levels have taken shape, the Republican Party sees itself at the right moment to take stock of its work, achievements and losses, the urgent need for a full restructuring, and to define its further path. It stands on the eve of its First Congress, which will be held on 8–9 June, a major act that will define—and is meant to define—the weight of this party’s future. The First Congress of PR will focus its attention on the post-dictatorial stage of the country’s development; it will determine the party’s strategy and tactics in all their aspects, but as a step in support of democracy and in close cooperation with PD and PSD and others of an anti-communist character and supportive of the basic principles of republicanism, which are the recognition of property, respect for everyone’s dignity and abilities, the application of a market-based economic assessment and support for individual initiative, the government’s unceasing duty to defend individual freedom, justice and equal opportunities for all, the preservation of the nation and the security of citizens based on law and the constitution, peace with all peoples—objectives that we will always keep as priority issues of the party. The Republican Party has supported and will support independent trade unions, associations of prisoners of conscience, as well as all the most important democratic state bodies and the principles of democracy. During this long period, the party held conferences in the districts, based on preliminary elections from the smallest units up to the branches. These analyses examined situations in organizational, political and economic matters, the leading bodies were elected with a spirit of high responsibility, and our Congress will proceed in the same way. A constructive spirit, debate and diversity of opinion will remain fundamental traits of the Republican Party. It will remain unchanged even after this Congress that the Republican Party will exist and strengthen as a central party, firmly defending certain interests without wavering, and will stand determined on its path to enter powerfully and actively into the new society, as before and forever.

MEETING BETWEEN THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ALBANIAN REPUBLICAN PARTY, MR. SABRI GODO, AND THE PRIME MINISTER OF THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY, MR. SULEJMAN DEMIREL At the warm and very open meeting of 31 May, the President of the Republic of Turkey, Mr. Sulejman Demirel, expressed his friendly views toward the Albanian people, saying that he would help free Albania economically and militarily with all possible means. He said that democratic pluralism is the only correct system of government. This system has been interrupted three times in Turkey, but the people, through their own will, have restored it again. Mr. Godo said that his Excellency uses the term brotherly and The Republican Party for everyone. The Republican Party has declared that Turkey holds a key place among the allies that can help the natural state of Albania. Prominent economists believe that Turkey, with its large human and material resources, will become a major power at the beginning of the coming century. But this is not the only reason we seek Turkey’s friendship. The spiritual ties between the two peoples are a powerful advantage for the development of this friendship. Regarding the situation in the former Yugoslavia and in the Balkans, Prime Minister Demirel and Mr. Godo made the same assessments. As for the developments in this region of Europe, the Prime Minister said that in any case Turkey will stand close to Albania and will not allow its integrity to be violated. The conversation turned to the many ties that the two peoples have had and continue to have, and to the figure of Ataturk, founder of modern Turkey and a man with broad horizons for humanity. “Republika” correspondent

It is up to all of us to help democracy Our hope and our future, as the only alternative, is to strongly support the Albanian democratic state on the basis of those principles of law that Europe and the world recognize and apply. But for this, all Albanian patriots must work: as individuals, families, political parties and social associations. Human beings and social life are such that better, fuller, and ever-growing demands are placed before time. So, here too in our society, after gaining much of what we lacked, we now seek living standards and wages that meet life’s needs in a different way, but there is also no shortage of the tendency to compare them with those of neighboring countries. Others go so far as to argue, in a mistaken and harmful sense, that “we are in a democracy and, as free people, we have the right to do as we please”; many people are delighted by the removal of any restraint, because the governments of Carocani, Nano, and Bufi gave the opportunity to be paid without working, both in our economic sector and on criminal and abusive scales, because paid labor without work at the lower levels damaged relations with[?] work, incomes, machinery, material bases, etc. Others, bold speculators over the course of other people’s lives, fulfill and continue to fulfill their unbridled appetites, even to the point of degrading civic life, and today they in some way have an extremely negative impact on the life of the country. These and similar things are nothing in step with democracy; they are not at all to the credit of Albania and the Albanian nation, especially when these actions are not concealed or propagated by our treasury, but by those who keep themselves in power. These problems and shortcomings are not really solved in our new state of democracy, and they weigh on the private and family life, social life and state life of our people and on the strong democratic institutions at various levels, to the point that some are far from being resolved. It is our duty that everyone helps the state and democracy along the right and specific paths. Today the contribution of everyone is required according to the possibilities and the place each person holds in this society. But the government and the President must also focus their work on the biggest and most acute problems, which are most closely linked to the life of the people and not on side issues and peripheral precedents. Problems such as low wages for the free workforce, luxury and agriculture, public order and civic peace, which affect the entire urban and rural life, are choking, or threatening to choke, the democracy we have just won. (Continues on page 3) JOSIF ZEGALI

Successful visit to Albania by the Prime Minister of Turkey, Mr. Sulejman Demirel Turkey’s Prime Minister, Mr. Sulejman Demirel, paid 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, etc. At the end of his meetings, the Turkish prime minister and the Albanian president held a press conference for local and foreign journalists. President Berisha, at the beginning of his remarks, described the visit as successful and emphasized that the Turkish prime minister committed himself to encourage Turkish investments in Albania and to strongly support Albanian policy in all international forums. Turkey granted our country 100 million dollars in aid. By Wednesday within the week, emergency aid will be sent to Albania. President Berisha said that relations in the field of telecommunications would be expanded; an air line between the two countries would be opened, and an agreement would be signed to eliminate taxes from both countries. The Albanian government will lift visas for Turkish citizens coming to Albania. Both President Berisha and Turkish Prime Minister Demirel, in (Continues on page 2)

What are the social-communists demanding now?!! PP(S) STARTED THE ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN NO...[?] DR. KASTRIOT ISLAMI (INDEPENDENT) STATES:[?] «WE ARE CONDEMNED, LET US UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER, OTHERWISE...» - K. ISLAMI, ZP, 31.5.1992 THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC, SALI BERISHA, CALLED PS CHAIRMAN MR. NANO TO A MEETING AND ASKED FOR A COALITION. (FATOS NANO AGREES, ON CONDITION THAT THESE POINTS ARE FULFILLED: 1. FIND THE RESPONSIBLE PARTIES OF SHKODRA, 2. PUNISH THE BLOC LEADERS, 3. ESTABLISH THE (NON-)GUILT OF FORMER MINISTER RUÇI, 4. FIND THE CULPRITS OF 2 JULY,... FROM THE HEAD-TO-HEAD TALK OF THE COMMUNISTS. A little time has passed since 22 March, and the impatient social-communists have launched a frontal attack. At first their tone was somewhat unclear and vague, but later it became crystallized to such a degree that it could leave you speechless. Now they have come out publicly!! In good faith, read Dr. Kastriot Islami’s article in ZP dated 31.5.1992 and you will be stunned. In any case, to get to the doctor’s article, a huge systematic effort in the well-known style of the party-state was needed, a hard job that put into motion all the means of information, telling them that President Berisha had called Chairman Nano to a meeting and had asked him to have his party accept the creation of a COALITION GOVERNMENT. Chairman Nano, after long reflection (as he is said to reflect, but later had said: “All right, but with these conditions. Find the guilty parties of Shkodra, 2. Punish the bloc leaders. 3. Establish the (non-)guilt of former minister Ruçi, 4. Find old enemies”...) That is all Mr. Nano had said and the President had remained silent. In some cities, thanks to the “president,” this version had circulated with the “breaking of ties” from bloc relations.[?] The truth is that this “story” is so banal that it does not even deserve a laugh, but... the fact is that for the social-communists this ridiculous method that secured the communists’ victory on 31 March is still being used to play with this people’s exhaustion and poverty. They continue to play with themselves too... So everything is clear. The social-communists want power again?!! Because they cannot understand life without it. Power was their only boast. And now that they do not have it, they feel smaller than they are. “You will see on 15 June,” a journalist colleague of ours from ZP tells us (the words he says are simply the directives issued by his party). “What will happen on the 15th?” we ask him. “You’ll see...” he continues. A coalition government is needed. And after that we will apologize to the people... and call for patience.”(!) In short, the communists want power and after that they will ask for forgiveness and call for PATIENCE! What irony! Asking forgiveness, they who have still said nothing about the great half-century-long crime! Calling for patience, they who for 50 straight years built only bunkers and graves. And the speech continues. The cadres must be non-[?] LUL RAKIPI (Continues on page 2)

Statement by the Republican Party branch, Durrës In these difficult moments, when the inherited economic situation is extremely heavy, we Republicans of Durrës believe that the most capable people should be placed at the head of affairs and that party interests should be replaced. The current situation requires that the key basic points in cadre policy be handled by those in power. We categorically promise that public appointments are not being made by the government, but by the Durrës branch of the Democratic Party. 15(?) decisions of the executive committee are being sought in a formal body. If the PD branch in Durrës is convinced that the district leadership has appointed capable representatives, it must act according to a law that must be respected. I would remind everyone that the votes given by democracy must not be abused. Yes, they must not be wasted by rewarding partisan comrades (often incapable) with good jobs. People cast their votes in the hope of solving their own problems. The Republican Party branch in Durrës declares that it considers the cadre policy pursued by the PD in Durrës to be wrong. This policy has aroused opposition among our members and sympathizers and among other fellow citizens. This fact worries us, because any mistake made in these critical days would harm democracy. We will make you accountable with conscious responsibility and will issue a word against the denigration of this power, as the Socialist Party assures, but we stand against its mistakes. By not accepting this party-based cadre policy, we are genuinely helping to safeguard the interests of the PD. We have also expressed these views in the meeting with PD representatives. The correct positioning of the Republicans of Durrës toward local development and the PD branch serves democracy and increases hope in it. We believe that today’s serious problems can be overcome through sincere cooperation among parties and respect for true democracy.

FROM THE PR BRANCH CONFERENCES The PR branch in Sarandë held its conference on 24 May 1992. Both in the report and in the discussions, a deep analysis was made of the awareness created by the founding of the party; the good work done was emphasized, but at the same time the shortcomings and weaknesses of the party were criticized, and the negative factors that led to poor results in the elections of deputies to the People’s Assembly were identified. Nevertheless, it was reiterated that the party has every opportunity to strengthen further and to become a political force that sends the message into the district. A major task was set: the qualitative reforming of the party’s structures, especially since we are in the phase of preparations for local government elections. The problems in relations with membership were also handled carefully, insisting that the PR program and all the requirements of its documents should be implemented in this regard, while at the same time aligning it with the new elements, especially intellectuals. Special attention was paid to the issue of the quality of Republican Party members. The problems of relations with parties, associations and trade unions were also addressed carefully and responsibly. The conference also discussed many issues related to economic reforms, the implementation of the land law and other concerns of the population of Mat. At the conference of the Republican Party branch of Mat, the report on the basis of activity in implementing the party’s tasks was read. The need to preserve order was approved, and the view was supported that PR Sarandë, despite unsatisfactory election results, should take part in the organs of local government. Dr. Teodor Keko also took part in the conference as a delegate of the PR Steering Committee. The branch’s party leadership bodies were also elected. On 28 May 1991, the second PR conference of Mat was held in Tirana; the report was delivered by r. Mali Mema and the discussions addressed the issues of further strengthening the party and broadening its ranks with new elements, especially intellectuals. Special attention was paid to the issue of the quality of Republican Party members. The conference also discussed issues of order and economic problems, the implementation of the land law and other concerns of the population of Mat. At the PR branch conference, Dr. Teodor Keko as delegate of the PR Steering Committee, Dr. Teodor Kareco,[?], was supported by all those present at the first PR Congress and on the need for maximum mobilization to win the local government elections that will be held in June. The conference elected the leadership bodies. Mr. Lorandi Islami was elected chairman of the Steering Committee.