— Remarks by Mr. SABRI GODO, given on television — I agree with those who consider the local elections an event of historic importance. These elections will not only sever us once and for all from the hated communist forms of local government, but will also lay the strong foundations of democracy. The first condition for achieving this goal is that no local authority be under the control or influence of the social-communists. Otherwise, it would amount to a reversal, which would take time to put right, and this people, living through its most difficult days, cannot afford to lose any more time. The second condition is for local government to be pluralist. In recent days, calls have been heard for local government to match the central government, otherwise democracy would not be completed and reform would not succeed. This is somewhat surprising. If today we were to demand that local government match the central government in political complexion, tomorrow we would demand that the central government match local government, and so on, forever. This would halt the development of democracy, which can in no way function without genuine pluralism. Reform also cannot overcome its many difficulties without the participation of all democratic forces. One can hardly imagine a situation in which a single party establishes a monopoly at the center and at the grassroots, while everyone else stands by and watches what this all-powerful party does. There is another path: sharing power through cooperation, and it is the only path accepted by democracy. We must pay close attention to this point, because if today we build our new democracy on a slant, tomorrow we will struggle to set it straight. The Republican Party regards pluralism as a vital necessity and considers that any denial of pluralism runs counter to democracy. If we are afraid of pluralism in local government, we must instead seek it. Because this will bring about a broader distribution of heavy responsibilities. Local government will act according to the rights granted to it by law, within the framework of national laws. That is the kind of alignment that is sought and that is necessary. If a party seeks complete political power, the people can in no way grant it such power, because that would mean a dangerous destruction of democracy. In many communes and municipalities, the Republican Party has put forward better candidates. They must win. If they do not, it will be a loss for local government, because they are good people, capable of making good laws and implementing them with justice and integrity. Wherever Republicans win, they will implement their program in accordance with the general laws of the state. Republicans will act swiftly, basing themselves on the core of their economic thinking: privatization, which creates property, the only way out of the crisis and toward uninterrupted economic development. In many cases, the current situation seems hopeless. But things can change for the better, and faster progress can be made through pragmatism. There is so much work that can be done that one is truly astonished it has been left undone. Albania is a decision and has been decided for a long time; in the economy, as in the whole life of the country, communism is disorganization, organization is what is good. The Republican Party was the first to say that we must uproot communism. If the Party of Labour had undergone a political trial, our situation would now be easier, because many of the people responsible for the damage would have become better acquainted with its dreadful labyrinths. (Continued on page 2)

— PSSH does not deserve to win, even if it were a pure socialist party of the «Craxi» or «Mitterrand» kind — Everyone now knows Pal Vata’s joke about bricks. “We can’t start building the second floor of the apartment block,” the bricklayers told Pal Vata, “because we have no bricks.” Pal Vata’s reply to this news would become proverbial: “We have no bricks for the second floor? Then start on the third floor...” The socialists’ declaration that they will win 50 percent in the local elections conveys the same message. Let us explain. After the socialists and «ZP» spent 50 years shouting themselves hoarse about the “socialist order—the most advanced order in the world,” about the “rottenness, degeneration and misery of capitalism,” and so on, today they are shouting until their throats give out: “Long live capitalism, which will bring Albania out of backwardness,” “Forward to new victories!”; capitalists!!! There is nothing you can do about it; apparently Marxist-Leninist dialectics includes this “radical transformation.” “Bearer of the most positive and best experience of PPSH” (is there, by chance, any capable man in the world who could find even a tiny good thing in PP?), this is an indisputable guarantee that Albania will be successfully led into capitalism. Rejoice, people!! That we are building capitalism is now apparent even through Fatos Nano’s thick-lensed glasses. That capitalism means private property, decentralization and a diminished role for the state; abandoning nationalizations— even a bear understands that. That leftist parties tend toward nationalization, meaning that they nationalize what has been privatized, is known to every political science doctrine. So why do the socialists want power? For a moment, let us imagine the unimaginable. Let us suppose that PS is a purely socialist party of the «Craxi» or «Mitterrand» kind. (We apologize for our wild imagination.) Let us suppose... right-wing parties. This has its own explanation. Capitalist structures are precisely suited to right-wing parties, and one cannot call for an increased role for the state, for the creation of a “welfare state,” as it is called, when that state has nothing in its pockets. It is decentralization, economic liberalism and pure capitalism that make citizens—and indirectly the state—wealthy. The state does not get its money from the sky, but from its own citizens. A LITTLE COMMENT How can you use the state, as PS has in its program, to care for underprivileged groups, when the state itself currently needs care in Albania?! We know where we are on the graph: below zero... Where will the socialists find the money? 2) One more thing. If we look at the history of socialist parties coming to power in Europe, we would conclude that they have all, without exception, ultimately come to power through ... [text unclear/corrupt]. We preach privatization and decentralization every day as the only salvation, as the only ray of light on the dark horizon of Albania’s bankrupt economy; meanwhile PS seeks power, that is, it seeks to carry out nationalizations. (Nationalization is inherent in the policies of socialist parties; it is the essence of their economic program.) Or will PS distance itself—from PP, as it has already done, and also from the Socialist International, which it has been trailing after like a prostitute? In short, a socialist program for capitalist Albania (or, more accurately, Albania aspiring to become capitalist) is far too premature for the country. We could list many other arguments, but we think these alone suffice to underline that at this profound crisis Albania is in, only a Right-Wing Program—in other words, right-wing parties in central and local government—is the only solu- Do you know every political doctrine? Then why do unimaginable. Let us suppose that the SP is a pure socialist party of the «Craxi» or «Mitterrand» type. (We apologize for our unbridled imagination.) Allow us to undertake a few historical and political reflections. 1) If we look closely at the history of Europe’s various parties, it turns out that socialist parties are relatively new compared with traditional parties, such as those of «Ardhëzimin», and nationalism, of capitalist origin, etc.; today they shout as they tear up the roads and each other’s throats: «Long live capitalism, which will get Albania out of backwardness…» «Forward to new victories!»; capitalist!!! dialectics contains this «radical transformation». But there is just one thing that spoils their plans: how are they going to build capitalism? In this field, they have only the experience of the PPSH, which demonstrated through its actions what a pathological love it had for the capitalist order... And the SP, as its «legal successor» and as a caretaker?! It is well known that on every chart we are a thin line; we are at parties coming to power in Europe, we will conclude that they came to power, all of them, during the second half of the 20th century—that is, when the capitalist system and structures had already been around for centuries. And this is no coincidence. How many years has capitalism existed in Albania? The answer is clear. We could list many other arguments, too, but we think these alone are enough to underline that, in the profound crisis Albania finds itself in, only a Right-Wing Program—that is, right-wing parties in central and local government—is the only effective remedy. To bring these lines to a close, we would say that anyone who votes for the SP is a Pal Vatê. And Albania has no need of Pal Vats...» KRISTAQ ÇOKA

Yesterday morning, the President of the Republic, Mr. Sali Berisha, on the occasion of the conclusion of his visit to the G-24, held a press conference for local and foreign journalists. Representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in our country were also present. Mr. Berisha expressed his satisfaction with the G-24 meetings in Albania. In response to journalists’ questions, Mr. Berisha expressed the hope that pluralism and a high political culture would be established and developed. At the end, the President answered the many questions from local and foreign journalists. «Republika» correspondent

Yesterday morning, the chairman of PR, Mr. Sabri Godo, held a meeting with the Institute’s esteemed friends: Mr. Shek Bigner, director of the Republican Institute; Ms. Meri Ketrin, the Institute’s representative for Albania; and Mr. Janosh Bugajski, director of the Center for Studies and Strategy for Eastern Europe. During the meeting, Mr. Godo gave his guests a broad overview of the general situation in the country, and in particular of the issues concerning the 26 July elections. The American guests praised the positions taken by the Republican Party during this difficult period of transition. They also sought to learn what PR’s positions were regarding neighboring countries, and especially the situation in the former Yugoslavia. «REPUBLIKA» correspondent

— To the Steering Committee of the Socialist Party, — To the Steering Committee of War Veterans, — To the leaders of the former State Security service and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, — To those who know, “I want to know at least where he was buried. Do you understand? He is my father, and I must at least know where his grave is...” The man who said these words was over 55 years old. He knocked on the editorial office’s door—not because he hoped to find his father’s grave there, or expected the journalists to find it for him. People have now begun to regard the press as an altar to free speech and the uncovering of truths. Newspapers have long denounced those who held power for all these 45 years: those who wielded the dictatorship’s violence, the State Security service, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs; those who set up trials “in the name of the people” and sentenced people to firing squads, people whose ribs were covered with the bones of the people. Those... They have mouths and [unclear], they have families and descendants of their own, to whom they wish, tooth and nail, to pass on power. The Communist Party has changed its name three times, but the traces of its crimes are hard to erase. These traces hurt and pierce when They reach out their hands, even now in democracy, toward power. Where are the graves? Who knows? Why don’t they reveal them??? RENO ARAZA

DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM KOM. LIKE REHOVA

BY VOTING FOR PR YOU VOTE FOR YOUR ASPIRATION — PROPERTY — PEACE — WELL-BEING VOTER YOUR VOTES FOR PR ARE VOTES FOR HONESTY; THEY ARE VOTES AGAINST CORRUPTION.

As on 22 March, the socialists are declaring that they are entering the elections to win (and you can feel that the socialists always have a winning streak). If the socialists need to be refuted when they ask why they seek victory in the local elections, it is because creating the necessary balance is essential during this difficult period of transition. But when you ask them for arguments and how this balance will be achieved, they answer: “By taking power ourselves.” On 22 July, at 9:00 p.m., PS’s election program was broadcast. This time, to its misfortune, PS was boycotted even by its allies, the Italian Socialist Party. RAI DUE was showing a film with Bad Spencer at the same time. Between Fatos Nano and Bad Spencer, people preferred the latter. A senior PS official, who did not wish to be identified, confirmed that PS’s KDI had considered retaliating by showing Kraka this time, with No. 3.