INTERVIEW WITH THE CHAIRMAN OF THE RP, MR. SABRI GODO, GIVEN TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEWSPAPER «REPUBLIKA», MR. YLLI RAKIPI - Question: Mr. Godo, tomorrow the RP begins the proceedings of its first congress. What personal impressions has its creation and activity left you with? Answer: The Republican Party was created in difficult times. And that period was so full of events that there was no time to consider one’s own impressions. Creating a party is an experience incomparable with any other work. An individual can take on any kind of work, with consequences for himself, his family, or a group of people. But in the case of a political party that seeks to overthrow a government and create a different society, the responsibility is much greater—not only because of the goal it pursues, but also because you are dealing with thousands of fellow travelers. In the early days, when the program was drafted and the creation of the party announced, nothing seemed stable and all kinds of threats had to be faced; but the prevailing feeling was one of anxiety and anticipation: would the Party be created, or would it prove a failure? Politics was put to the test very quickly! I said it well. But how could it happen otherwise? People had kept silent for 50 years, or murmured to themselves. Now everyone is speaking. There is no one who does not get involved in politics, for lack of anything else to do. And each person is convinced that they are defending the best and most just policy. This does not tire me; on the contrary, it makes me happy and keeps my curiosity alive, although sometimes it gets in my way. All of this is like a fever of the times, which will begin to subside once people return to work. Question: The struggle against communism seems to have pushed into the background the social strata that parties are meant to represent; what do you think the RP should correct on this point? Answer: Every party will now seek its own footing. Strategies and tactics are shifting from purely political struggle to the economic and social arena. We too will develop our positions, but I can say that we do not feel the need to make fundamental corrections to our program. Question: What should its true profile be from now on? Answer: We are a party of the right, strongly supporting free initiative in all fields, and whose constituency includes small and medium-sized property owners, as well as the large property owners of the future, whose status will be determined precisely by the laws that the future will establish. At the same time, we are firmly trying to counter political extremism. Question: A good number of intellectuals seem to keep somewhat aloof from the parties... or are the parties themselves keeping their distance from them? Answer: A party should not wait for an intellectual to knock loudly on its door. Every progressive movement in history has had intellectuals as its backbone. In our party, too, there is a tendency to examine the “file” of the uncommitted intellectual. “Where have you been until now, what have you done for democracy?” But the struggle for democracy did not begin yesterday, nor will it end tomorrow. Democrats who are older than us should at least be recognized as such... ...to do good and thousands of fellow citizens. Party be created, or would the aspiration fail? It was soon proved that the Party was welcomed in various towns and villages, and then the real work began. The creation and development of the Republican Party gave a new direction to all of us. The finest feeling one can experience is to be a friend and fellow traveler to thousands of people who were strangers until yesterday, and to be convinced that together with them you are doing something great for your country. Joys, as well as disillusionments, follow you at every step, but that sense of the heavy responsibility I mentioned above teaches you patience and develops qualities you did not previously know you possessed. All our shared work is its justification. The Republican Party has become a party the country needs, today and in the future. Question: The RP’s contribution to the struggle against communism is well known. Do you think this struggle can now be considered over? Answer: This struggle can by no means be considered over, even though communism has been defeated; the day when it can be called eradicated is still far off. It will try to survive in open forms or under other labels. The RP will not underestimate this fact. Question: A time full of events and tensions: a lot of politics, a lot of politicians. Does this tire you? Answer: A lot of politics, a lot...

On Friday, 29.5.1992, the 2nd Conference of the Tirana Branch was held. The report on behalf of the Steering Committee was delivered by the branch chairman, Mr. Maksim Haviari. The report mainly discussed the branch’s work, the obstacles and organizational weaknesses, the activities undertaken during the campaign, the establishment of new sections, and links with the leadership. In reviewing the branch’s activity since the previous conference and presenting their views, many speakers took the floor, as the RP activists in Tirana had expected. In his opening remarks, Mr. Eduart Ypi, a delegate from the Steering Committee, stressed that the Tirana Branch could neither boast nor congratulate itself, but needed freshening up, renewal, and a clear position and profile. Next, Vehbi Haka from the Bërxull section spoke, calling for an inter-branch organization to be established in several villages. Mr. Dhimitër Çiko proposed that, with his help and that of the Republican sections in the villages, connections with foreigners be established for business. Mr. Isuf Sulaj raised the issue of further activating the RP in the country’s politics, as well as the issue of local government. Mr. Miranda Gaqe spoke about women’s issues and the creation of a Republican women’s organization. Mr. Sh. Severi criticized the Tirana Branch for organizational weaknesses. Mr. Hamlet Daka spoke about the poor election result and the newspaper «Republika». Mr. Bahri Lahi called for the RP to take a fairer position toward those who had been expropriated, expressing this in its program; he also said that it had taken a very negative position toward the Valias trade union. Mr. Arsen Proku spoke of the weak campaigning during the elections and the role of intellectuals within the party. Mr. Ylli Pustina called for capable people to be put forward in the local elections and for the RP to do more for sport. Mr. Haxhi Çiku, an activist in Prezë, called for more work to be done with the villages. Mr. Bujar Kule criticized the party for failing to support Youth Formation. Mr. Pirro Kostallari discussed the need for more complete and accurate information, meetings with the sections, identifying the RP electorate, taking a critical stance toward the government, and highlighting well-known figures in order to attract interest in the local elections. Mr. Selim Kacorrt spoke about the elections, in which they had not received support in the form of resources, and about the new sections he had established. Mr. Lirim Drini stressed that mistakes made so far must not be repeated in the local elections. Mr. Elevent Hito spoke about the payment of dues, membership, and the real reason for P. Dhimitri’s departure. Mr. Nikolla Gjergji said the report had not adequately presented the work of those who helped during the campaign. Mr. Tahir Halili said that in the Kraba area, which has 10 sections, apart from M. Havlari, no one else from the Steering Committee had come. Mr. Çef Mingomataj spoke about the Party’s Steering Committee, saying that it had worked badly, with the exception of S. Godo. The Foreign Secretary had not done a good job. The Tirana Branch had not worked well. He also called for the statute to be reviewed. Mr. Viron Koka said: «I think the weaknesses of the Tirana Branch are reflected in the Steering Committee as well. We must have a position... (Continued on page 3)» ...a good analysis with the directors’ conferences, work, and will also be submitted to the congress councils; all of this was accompanied by a restructuring and a change of leaders in almost half of the branches. The Congress will hold its own elections, and immediately afterwards the Party’s first governing body will be elected, so that the leadership apparatus is as streamlined as possible and capable of establishing a new working style for the entire party. Question: Do you feel a certain dullness in PR, especially after March 22? Answer: A certain sluggishness was noticeable in the first weeks. Now the situation is changing positively and rapidly. This was especially evident at the branch conferences held from May 15 to June 3. We are a party capable of seeing reality and changing. Question: Before the election campaign, you stated that Albania’s recovery would be achieved in 10–15 years. Do you think this statement influenced the election results? Answer: The Republican Party has always told the truth and has avoided claims it cannot fulfill. It is true that at every conference or rally I said that Albania needs 10 years to begin to resemble Europe. If we lost votes during the campaign because of this statement, those votes should come to us now, because this is the reality: we must work hard on our path toward Europe. Question: Do you have any objections to today’s politicians? What would you say to the young politicians who are coming? Answer: Today’s politicians (Continued on page 2)

The nearly fifty-year communist regime severed our country from its natural economic and social development and placed it under one of the harshest dictatorships history has ever seen. One of this regime’s most drastic and inhumane “reforms” was the expropriation of all Albanians who owned property, whether large, medium-sized, or small. The expropriations, which continued throughout the communist regime, were intended to strip Albanians of their individuality, devalue them as social beings with their own personalities and turn them into merely biological beings, who even to obtain food had to look to the party, as well as to make a privileged caste the owners. The historical development of human society has been conditioned by changes in people’s ownership of property, understanding this change as its growth and development and the improvement of its quality, its transfer into the ownership of one person or another through inheritance, buying and selling, barter, competition, etc. So closely is a person bound to property that their personality is meaningless without a minimum amount of property to live on. It is precisely this connection (between personality and property) that underlies the axiom “private property is sa- that of Paris, etc. This follows from the fact that one of the basic criteria for judging whether a government is humane or not, democratic or dictatorial, is its attitude toward private property. Humane and democratic governments recognize and respect it and create conditions (through laws) for its development, whereas dictatorial ones recognize private property only partially and create conditions to hinder its development. The communist government that ruled our country was a typically dictatorial government. But what kind of government will the current government, which emerged from the elections of 22 March, be? In form, it is democratic, since the majority in the legislative, executive, and judicial branches consists of representatives of the Democratic Party and the other parties in the coalition, whose programs recognize private property. But if we consider the proceedings of the People’s Assembly over the past two months, we observe that, apart from the resolution of several necessary matters, such as the election of the President of the Republic, the vote of confidence in the Government, and a few others, the other issues considered have not been the most fundamental ones concerning Albanian society today, but peripheral ones. Today ...through the same or similar means of inheritance, sale and purchase, exchange in kind, competition, etc. A person is so closely bound to property that their personality has no meaning the axiom “private property is sacred and inviolable,” presented by the Bible, the Koran, and every other religion. The 1793 Declaration of the Rights of Man, the Helsinki Charter on Human Rights...

- The «VOLVO» KYA 3285 is being sought — “refugees” in Greece. - A crime spanning three countries. - In just one night, 160 meters of thick copper cable are stolen at N. N. Korçë. - Incompetent or corrupt customs officers and border police? - Greek cars disappear as in «CERTANI-FILM»... - The Albanian border: an “inn with two doors”... - And yet, where are the roots of corruption? The sight of Korçë’s factories and plants is painful. They have been closed for a long time. A silent “strike” continues. It goes on... Until when? Raw materials are lacking. This has paralyzed the economy. But even if this long-awaited and eagerly sought-after material, discussed all the way to the Albanian Parliament, were urgently secured, would these plants and factories be able to resume work? Unlikely. Extremely unlikely. Many of them have been reduced to ruins, as if after a bombardment. The dark hand of theft is wreaking havoc on them. In just one night, 160 meters of thick copper cable were stolen at N. N. Korçë. Electric motors are stolen. Telephone line wires... And all of this is simply labeled “copper scrap,” so much in demand in Greece today. Some suspicious characters, like the gold prospectors in Jack London’s stories, rush greedily upon the poor “mine” of the Albanian economy. And where could smugglers find a cheaper market than here? In Greece, a kilogram of copper scrap costs 1.8 dollars, whereas in Albania it costs only 20 lekë. This has led to quite a few Greek cars entering Albania without visas, “incognito.” So far, the criminal police and financial police in Korçë have seized eight truck-type vehicles carrying 50 tons of copper scrap, which they sent to Rubik. Telephone calls from various sources are alarming. Who is protecting the smugglers? Where are the roots of corruption? There are rumors that the threads lead all the way to officials. But we will not deal in speculation. One thing concerns us: why are these vehicles not being registered at the customs point, as the law requires? Do we have incompetent or corrupt customs officers and police? These are questions that demand answers. But let us pause over the latest incident at the Kapshticë customs crossing in Korçë. Tuesday, 9 May 1992. 12:30 p.m. During an inspection by the financial police, it was discovered that at the Greek customs post there was a «VOLVO» car with license plate KYA 3285, loaded with copper scrap. The Greek driver was caught “red-handed,” but, strangely, at that moment he had disappeared. Niko Rapi, head of the Korçë financial police, called the head of the Kapshticë customs post, Roland Paloka, and the State Audit inspector, Dalip Hysa, who was at the customs post that day conducting an inspection. They established that the Greek vehicle KYA 3285 had been loaded with around 15 tons of copper scrap, worth 18,000 dollars. That was enough. The financial police were now faced with a shocking fact. It had fallen into the hands of...

To Mr. Sabri Godo CHAIRMAN OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TIRANA Dear Sir, I received your letter inviting me to attend the proceedings of the First Congress of the Albanian Republican Party, which will be held on 6 and 7 June in Tirana. I would like to congratulate you on your efforts... ...a valuable one, also on behalf of the economic operators of Brindisi, for the new Albanian democracy, to which you and the Party you lead have made a great and decisive contribution with great dignity. I therefore ask you to convey my congratulations to your Republicans for the trust they have... in the continuation of their efforts for democracy and development...