On 8 and 9 June, the 1st Congress of the PR held its proceedings THE REPUBLICAN PARTY SEEKS AS THE ONLY WAY OUT OF THE CRISIS AND FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THE FULL FREEDOM OF INDIVIDUAL INITIATIVE AND PRIVATE PROPERTY

REPORT OF THE FIRST CONGRESS OF PR DELIVERED BY ITS CHAIRMAN MR. SABRI GODO On 22 March communism was defeated and political reconstruction was established in Albania. This victory, which will go down in the country’s history as one of the greatest events, was achieved through the people’s revolution, as well as through armed uprising, although the weapons of painful bloodshed were also fully used. On 22 March a 50-year regime was overthrown and the path was opened to freedom and the reality of the time. The historical turning point in Albania was preceded by the mass protests in Kavaja, Vlorë, Shkodër and elsewhere, and by the exodus of July 1990. But the genuine turning point began with the student movement of November. Here too the idea of creating our party took shape, because it was the student movement that forced Ramiz Alia’s communist regime to accept pluralism and to retreat in the face of the strengthening of political parties, without which the transition from dictatorship to the present order could not have been made. This entire period has been marked by intensities and tensions unknown in Albanian political life, affecting the whole country down to its most remote corners. These realities, as well as certain other factors, must be borne in mind in order to make fair political judgments about what we have achieved and what we want to achieve. THE REPUBLICAN PARTY FROM JANUARY 1991 TO MARCH 1992 Without doubt, the main protagonist and the one bearing the greatest burden in the struggle to bring down the Enverist dictatorship was the Democratic Party. But alongside it, the Republican Party appeared on the political scene, making a contribution that certainly cannot be denied or underestimated. It had its own share in overturning one of the most tragic social-political-economic orders in the history of humankind. To assess the role of PR in this period, we must take at least the following factors into account: - PR, like PD, was not created under conditions of calm and normal political life. It had to take part in addressing the serious issues of the day from the moment it was still in embryo, with an initiatory committee and under severe time constraints, before the structures of a party had even been formed. The entire complex process of creating the Party, its program, statute, press, documentation, and the central and local leadership bodies, had to be carried out under conditions of fierce opposition and struggle. Maximum speed was required. Naturally, in such extraordinary circumstances, mistakes would also be made. - Opposed to us was the Stalinist-Enverist party and state, which possessed a large bureaucratic apparatus with all the necessary tools to defend and strike. The conditions in which we were creating it also included a complete lack of means and experience with organized opposition. - The existence of PD unquestionably made the creation of PR necessary, though this factor also constituted an obstacle. Around PD, our main ally, there gathered at first the urban masses and partly the rural ones, like a very large and determined political army. Only a few weeks had passed from the creation of PD to the creation of PR, but under the stormy conditions that emerged after the decisive wave, our party was to experience slow growth. From the outset, our population naturally entered with enthusiasm, and to earn applause and maturity we had to rely as strongly as possible on PD; the belief that support from any other opposition party would weaken the anti-communist struggle was not a correct one. True, but it was created and took root and permeated the entire political process, which hindered growth in the two electoral campaigns, March 1991 and March 1992. PR was viewed with sympathy, but always as a reserve force for the future, after the main issue had been resolved, namely the establishment of democracy. These objective factors must be taken into account. But this must in no way prevent us from strongly uncovering a series of subjective factors as well, our shortcomings as a whole and especially in the leadership of the Party. Every genuine political party has a correct, clear and consistent strategy and tactic, whereas we had quite a bit of tactical ambiguity. - The strategic priority defined from the very creation of the party was the overthrow of communism, establishing a constitutional and effective political order. Here all our efforts were concentrated on discrediting the PPSH (PS) as the executor of the communist system, the source of all evils and of the tragedy of the entire people. Our firm determination did not deviate from this objective, also in order to be resolute, but also restrained, avoiding armed punishment and the civil war sought by the PPSH through its continued adventurous provocations. From the beginning, PR positioned itself as an active opposition force, without hesitation but also by increasing its stature as a party that insisted strongly and at the same time pushed for the best choices in a complicated situation. Political life and this stance were correct and effective. - Another strategic objective of the party was that the monist state of the dictatorship of the proletariat be fully replaced by a Western-type democratic republican order. On this front too, we never had even the slightest doubt. - Another objective of this society is the social system’s alignment with the economy and development through the market economy, in which free individual initiative and private property should be brought in. This was the main point. Through the program, the press and later propaganda, we worked hard for this idea to be embraced by the Party and to make its way into the people’s minds as the only way out of the catastrophic situation. Our strategy was also correct in choosing allies in the long and bitter struggle. As an ally, we first chose PD, the vanguard force of the opposition. Cooperation later extended to PSD as well. We gave priority to relations with the independent trade unions and the association of former politically persecuted persons, taking part in rallies and attending strikes. Likewise, to the extent of our means, we assisted emigrants and the victims of the communist system with humanity in every case. We avoided any cooperation with recently proclaimed opposition parties with a [unclear] stance. We acted as a consolidating force that homogenizes the opposition front. At the same time, we avoided rapprochement with those anti-communist groups and parties that had anti-republican aims. Up to 22 March, this strategy of choosing allies was correct and honest, in the interest of the party and the nation. In July, in parliament, our strategy consisted in choosing Albania’s main allies and taking concrete steps toward party links with these countries. A political issue abroad has been and remains the problem of Albanians living on their own lands in Yugoslavia and the Cham issue. Our party has had and has a clear national stance and has acted actively in this direction. It is enough to mention the petition from last October, signed by half a million people, and the visit of the activist of UÇ?a [?]. These strategic objectives have been correct. Therefore, we do not need to change anything from these objectives and orientations, except if the fodder of their (Continued on page 4)

Congratulations The Republican Party and the editorial staff of the newspaper “Republika” wish all Muslim believers a happy Kurban Bajram! * * * The delegation of the Republican Party of Kosovo, led by Mr. Isuf Kuka, celebrated the Kurban Bajram holiday together with Muslim believers and Albanian brothers in the Great Mosque of Tirana!

SEE YOU AT OTHER CONGRESSES Delegates from Malësia e Shkodrës are leaving happily from their first republican congress, which proved the work, as well as the will and importance, of a truly living congress. We thank all the delegates who joined in the opinion and desire to take part in the leadership of the party, the delegates Iselimi and Mr. Sabri Godo, chairman of the Albanian Republican Party. On behalf of the delegates of Malësia e Shkodrës. NDOC ?[?]

IN THE ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLICANS On Monday, 8 June, at 9:00 a.m., in the hall of the Academy of Fine Arts in Tirana, the first Congress of PRSH convened, a very important event for this party, for today and for the future. The Republicans came to this congress to take stock of their work and to guide the Party’s political line as well as possible for the future. They came to this congress after 17 months of struggle and efforts to bring down the dictatorship and establish democracy in Albania. A very short time for a political party, yet it has already been consolidated with a clear profile. It has proved itself through its wisdom and judgment before the people and the nation as a whole. The congress was declared open by Mr. Zef Bushati. To lead the congress, a presidium of 11 members was elected. The first Republican Congress was honored by the presence of a delegation of the Italian Republican Party led by Mr. Tavio Lavaxho, a delegation of the Republican Party of Kosovo led by vice-president Mr. Isuf Kuka, a delegation of the People's Democratic Party based in Tetovo, Macedonia, led by Mr. Iljaz Halimi, a delegation of the Democratic League of Kosovo led by its vice-president Mr. Anton Kola, and the representative of the Republic of Kosovo accredited in our country, Mr. Ali Aliu. The congress was also honored by the presence of representatives of the Democratic Party, the Social Democratic Party, the Labour Party, the People's League Party, as well as guests from various associations such as those of prisoners, political persecuted persons, etc. The congress was also honored by the presence of ambassadors and representatives of diplomatic missions accredited in our country, as well as many other guests. The report on behalf of the Republican Party leadership was delivered by Mr. Sabri Godo. * * * Afterwards, the delegations taking part in the congress greeted the proceedings. The vice-president of the Democratic League of Kosovo, Mr. Anton Kola, was given 3 minutes to speak and said: Ladies and gentlemen, I have the great pleasure today to greet this congress of the Albanian Republican Party here. On behalf of the Democratic League of Kosovo and President Rugova, your invitation to take part in this congress has honored us. I thank the leadership of PR and its esteemed chairman, Mr. Sabri Godo, for this invitation. Your party is one of the important actors in political life in Albania. Its great role and contribution lie in initiating democratic processes together with the Democratic Party and in dismantling the total communist system in Albania. With the beginning of the dismantling of this imposed communist system, a new and very important stage begins for Albanians in general. We are firmly convinced that your party, its members and sympathizers will be committed to deepening democratic processes in Albania. This will also be a major contribution to Kosovo and to all Albanians in our ethnic lands. Thank you! Vice-president of the delegation of the Republican Party of Kosovo, Mr. Isuf Kuka: Dear sisters and brothers! Dear friends, I come from martyr Kosovo and here I bring you the warm brotherly greetings of all the members of our sister party from Kosovo, based in Peja and throughout our country. The Congress of the Republican Party of Albania, which opens its proceedings today in Tirana, is a notable event in life and in comprehensive work under the new conditions and circumstances of a new Balkan and European order. We Albanians, too, greeted its beginning without hesitation. After the dark 50-year night full of struggles and turmoil, after the persistent work of an entire army of enlightened activists, and after 60 years of brutal division of the terri- (Continued on page 4)

Telegrams TO MR. SABRI GODO The representatives of the PR delegation from Mitrovica in Albania congratulate you on your election as chairman of PRSH, for the good of this party and of the entire Albanian people. * * * The editorial staff of the newspaper “Republika” congratulates Mr. Sabri Godo on his election as chairman of the Republican Party

IMPRESSIONS The voice of a delegate mother After all those delegates’ discussions, a woman delegate from Duka-gjini i Ri of Kruja took the podium at the Congress. A mother of three children, three sons, named PRENDA LAPI. It is the first time she has climbed the steps of honor of a Congress. After all those persecutions and inhumanities, internments, the escape of loved ones, leaving behind all the pain she suffered since her own NDUE PLEPI, perhaps Prenda too, had this beautiful democracy not come, would have lain in some Nazi prison [?] where from us jondënjoma internment camp for 3 years and more of the relatives. And her voice has the warmth of a mother, her compassion, her revolt, but also the strength of the mountains and the roots. Strangely, in the eyes of the elderly delegate, the respected teacher Lutfim Lakra from Berat, a tear slips down. Perhaps in others too, though the intensity did not show it in their eyes at that moment, a tear quietly welled up. In her voice was the pain awakened by burned lands, silent wires... of the telephone, the petty thefts of students, children who suffer and die for neighborhood, people who stretch out their hands toward cars to go along with them and meanwhile the police drive them away—those who want the republic against the tears of the Motherland. Her republican thought, pure and honest, like that of most members of PR, truly makes the face beautiful for a moment, wiping away the flaws, the narrowness, the leadership and organizational incapacity, those pretensions, those justifications that every error would be about to paralyze and distance thought without weighing that truth and honesty first make and must make a fire in your heart, in your republican ideals. Prenda speaks. Time for discussion is running out. But the hall rises and does not allow this sincere voice to be closed off. A sincerity and a fairness that must not be hidden by any member, and so that we do not hide behind party facades in order to cling to posts, chairs and drawings. The discussion ended. Prenda comes down amid a wave of applause, congratulations. The delegate from Çerik cannot hold herself back—Well done, sister, a flower as a republican, but also as a mother. And together with her we too congratulate you—Well done, republican Prenda! Let us turn your words into a message, into a mirror of courage and wisdom, for which we need and will need even more— NAMIK SELMANI