1991 - 10 January - 1994 Dr. ÇERÇIZ MINGOMATAJ Secretary General of PRSH The founding of PRSH on 10 January 1991 was another expression of the great desire to oppose the former PK in every respect, right up to its complete elimination from the life of our country. To achieve this major objective and in support of our people’s democratic movement, PRSH presented a clear, modern political and economic platform, based on the republican traditions of our great Renaissance figures. The republican vision aimed at a Western capitalist society in which the privatization of the excessively centralized economy and the sanctity of private property on the one hand, and freedom of speech, the press and belief on the other, protected by legal institutions, would give full shape to the new democratic society and rule of law in our country. Although the electorate mainly supported PD—and it could hardly have happened otherwise in a post-dictatorial society—it also recognized PRSH and its maximum contribution through constructive ideas in every aspect of the beginning and development of a new life in Albania. Today PRSH feels the appreciation of Albanian public opinion and its support for the issues it has put forward for resolution. PRSH’s electorate is not only a physical electorate, but also its thinking on strengthening the democratic rule of law, respecting Property, broadly recognizing old and new legitimate owners, and its determination to create a new Albanian capitalist and favor that person throughout their economic activity. PRSH stands by its views on property and its unrelenting struggle for the national cause, because it is certain these elements will shape the present and future of the country. These elements will guarantee the true eradication of communist ideas, mentality and class. It is PRSH’s duty to continue tirelessly seeking to strengthen the new capitalist class in Albania. At the same time, state policy today must be directed toward traditional allied countries, whose investments will only help the country progress. PRSH considers the issue of property to be the cornerstone of post-communist society. Our commitments have now been announced and can be summed up as follows: Resolution of the national question Respect for property Strong support for Albanian property owners. Creation of democratic legislation and the rule of law. In its foreign policy, PRSH considers the constant strengthening of its deeply national stance vital, while respecting the institutions of legality (continued on page 2)

As we await 10 January, when NATO will consider the possibility of Eastern European countries joining the organization, the “independent” newspaper (independent from whom?!) “Koha jonë” describes Albania’s possible admission to it more as a “political victory for Berisha” than as a victory for Albania’s integrity and stability! Now it remains for “their” Koha to explain why Albania’s admission is not also a victory for them (that is, for the publishers of this independent newspaper!), when they have still subjugated Albanian statehood!

After a period of two years: Toward the end of this month, in New York, the President of the Republic of Kosovo, Ibrahim Rugova, will meet with the leadership of the Albanian American Civic League, known as the Albanian Lobby. President Rugova and Masar Krasniqi, a member of the League’s leadership, reached this understanding. The meeting will take place after two years of “freezing” cooperation between the Lobby and the leadership of the Repu[?]blic of Kosovo. During that period, cooperation was cool and resulted in several spectacular resolutions by the US Senate and Congress. The meeting will address reviving the successful cooperation of the period before those two years. This meeting follows several public invitations from Dioguardi, the Lobby’s chairman, to President Rugova to continue their succe[?]ssful cooperation.

. American singer Barbara Hendriks, who performed for New Year in the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo, called on US President Bill Klinton and UN chief Butros Butros Ghalit to visit the besieged city. Bosnia. “You cannot prepare yourself for the reality of everyday life here,” she wrote in a letter. “You have to see it for yourself, with your own eyes. I ask you to come to Sarajevo yourselves.” Hendriks, who lives in Switzerland, emphasized that copies of her letter had been sent… Sarajevo yourselves.” Hendricks, had been sent to the heads of state of the European Union and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council. ATSH

“...The contradiction you point out, I can say, is our eighty-year-old failing in politics. Political alliances are not like the alliances states make in wartime. We still don’t know this. Political struggle is something else, especially in a democracy.” “...The contradiction you point out, I can say, is our eighty-year-old failing in politics. Political alliances are not like the alliances states make in wartime. We still don’t know this. Political struggle is something else, especially in a democracy. The absurd contradictions that an analysis in a free press can catch you in drive you out of politics. Before making your political moves in the public arena, you must always present yourself with weight and measure. I think Professor Qosjen and AD are connected, if they really have joined forces, more by their attitude toward President Berisha than by the idea of the struggle the Albanian people are waging today. As far as I know, AD fully agrees with the policy the government is pursuing on the national question: the rest is self-evident...” Freedom and Capitalism Read on page 3

Photo: Muharrem Mjeku

Sarajeva of the Orthodox Church in Albania

The words were given to her by others YLLI RAKIPI Today I cannot remember a single line from Vaçe Zela’s songs. I cannot remember the composers’ names either. Many insignificant things are swallowed up by oblivion, as though they had never existed at all. But no passage of time can swallow up Vaçe Zela’s voice. That voice never leaves your memory. It never leaves because, even without the lyrics, the composer, or the instruments, that voice was a song. Others attached themselves to this voice more to take from it than to give to it, because Vaçe’s voice rescued even a weak composer and made even a bad verse beautiful. It was only this voice that did not let the song of… … at the end of the Festival — “No,” they murmured, and their faces darkened. “It isn’t only for Vaçe; it is for you too… It is for all Albanian artists,” I insisted. “No,” their gaze said. So they too did not want the song for Vaçe. They were not young; they were 50 years old. To tell the truth, I was frightened by them. But I was even more frightened by the words of the 27-year-old composer… Over these last three years I have seen the spite, jealousy, selfishness, immorality of many people involved in political power … from this song? Let it go, this voice was the song. Others drew inspiration from and made even a bad verse beautiful. It was this alone that did not let the song of that time die. I believe that is enough for her colleagues to write a song for her too. More precisely, a song for the song. The artists who lived alongside her did not do such a thing. The singers from Kosovo did. They brought a song for Vaçe to the latest Song Festival on Radio-Television. Perhaps they had more reason to do such a thing. They brought it, but… “Still on about Vaçe? Vaçe was Enver Hoxha’s bianamie,” said a composer. He did not want the song for Vaçe. And he was the only one, just 27 years old. “A beautiful song,” some other composers said, having seen it performed on stage. … More words from the 27-year-old composer… Over these past three years I have seen the spite, jealousy, selfishness and immorality of many people involved in political power. I have justified this phenomenon and have never admitted to being afraid of it! But that jealousy and spite toward Vaçe’s song frightened me terribly. It frightened me because I still cannot believe we could have sunk this low. “Still on about Vaçe? Vaçe was Enver Hoxha’s bianamie…” Vaçe was only the bianamie of her own voice, you wretch! It was only to that voice that she could be devoted. That others. They were given to her by friends and by order, under compulsion, just as they were given to all of us. nor the composers or lyricists. I remember only her voice…

Existing military airfields in several Albanian cities will be used for commercial purposes. Përparim Zuna, the director responsible for this matter at the Civil Aviation Department of the Ministry of Transport, told ATSH that the first domestic flights in Albania are expected to begin in March ’94. “For now,” he continued, “we are in the process of preparing the necessary documentation, which we will complete shortly. The airports of Vlorë, Kukës, Gjirokastër and Tirana will serve to provide air connections to some of the country’s regions.” ATSH

Seven reasons “for” and one reason “against” PRSH’s prospects The first reason PRSH has clear prospects for becoming stronger is the fact that this party is the most right-wing of all the active parties in Albania. Since the West is interested in Albania positioning itself as far to the right as possible, the external factor works in its favor. The domestic factor is even more favorable. As time passes, Albanians will move further and further away from the communist mindset. This fact compels Albanians to position themselves further to the right, or at least makes them more right-wing than they were before. The second reason is that, as in every country, small parties in Albania will disappear for financial reasons. Their membership will naturally gravitate not toward the party in power, but toward the party with prospects. The third reason is that some intellectuals who until now have remained uncommitted to political parties, avoiding the discrediting that usually comes with the transition phase, will now, as political outlines become clearer, be interested in joining the party with the best prospects. All the more so because PR feels their absence to a considerable extent. The fourth reason is that PR is not in power (because it is in coalition with PD). This means that people who join this party need not feel guilty that they are currying favor with those in power, while at the same time they are free from the fear of becoming enemies of the government. The fifth reason is that the Socialist Party will grow increasingly weaker, down to its most militant core. Thus, some members of PS, especially once its criminality and leadership have been exposed, will leave it and seek refuge in a party as far to the right as possible. Those interested in the return of property will, in particular, inevitably turn to PR. The sixth reason is that a large number of associations—the associations of property owners, political prisoners, patriotic associations, etc.—will feel the need to become more significant political actors by supporting a particular party. According to their programs, it makes sense for them to turn to PR. The seventh reason is that, while waging its main struggle against PS, PD is likely to avoid moving away from the right in order to demonstrate that it is “pro” in this political struggle. As a result, the right wing of PD may break away, just as a larger part of it did (the Democratic Alliance) when PD intensified its struggle against PS. Thus, there is a chance that, when PD’s struggle against PS eases, its right wing will split off. The chances that this wing will lean toward PR are small, but not negligible. And finally, the eighth reason why PRSH may not have good prospects could be the possible failure of its leadership to broaden its membership. That is, if this party’s leadership is satisfied with its position in today’s Albanian political constellation and does not work to expand its membership, it will be seriously harmed. This would happen only if the party leadership fears competition from the cadres who will flood into the party. If this happens, PR will not only fail to preserve its current political position but will also be swept away by the pace of events. The national question and the question of property will not tolerate remaining on the margins of Albanian politics for long. If PR does not strive forward, these issues will inevitably move forward and abandon PR (that is, PR will not stand out as the party carrying these causes). Time will show how things unfold in the future. Whether PR will be ready to take on these events and circumstances will depend entirely on whether it can create for itself the image of a party with prospects or the image of a party standing still. The first brings power; the second, destruction. To become a party with prospects, it needs, starting now, to shape the image of the Albanian President of the first decade of the 21st century, of the Prime Minister, of the ministers, and so on. NEXHMEDIN SPAHIU

The historical importance of the decisions of the Bujan Conference, as well as their continuing relevance to this day for the aspiration of the people of Kosovo and the entire Albanian people toward national unification, was the subject of a scholarly session organized on the morning of January 7 by the Institutes of History of Prishtina and Tirana to commemorate the 50th anniversary of this historic event. In addition to dozens of guests and relatives present, the session was also attended by the Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Pjetër Arbnori, the Secretary General of the Presidency, Kolec Topalli, members of parliament, members of the Government, and others. In place of the director of the Institute of History of Prishtina, Dr. Seit Lipa, the session was declared open by his counterpart in Tirana, Kasem Biçoku. ATSH

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“You always expect me to say important things,” said the madwoman N of the capital on Saturday morning, in her favorite spot, beneath the steps of the State Bank. Today I have decided to talk only about ordinary things, the kinds people face every day and no longer find surprising. Before I begin, here is some advice for newspapers and journalists. If you don’t have enough to fill all those pages, then write open letters of more than ten lines to the President of the Republic. If you run out of of the Republic. If you run out of of the Republic. If you run out of of the Republic. “Koha Jonë.” Do you know who the poorest people in Albania are? Financial Police officers and customs officers. They are so poor that the owners will go on strike if they don’t build the places with them. The Miss Politics contest for 1993 is won by the president of the General Presidency of PAD, who managed to bring Belgrade and Athens to heel in 1993. Namik Hoti could have won too, but he had no friends on the jury. The newspaper Koha Jonë has become a daily, and on this occasion it will leave two pages a day at the disposal of the Ecological Party and Mr. Namik personally. Musa Uqin is appointed the Socialist Party’s duty chairman for January. For February, a socialist from a neighboring country will be scheduled. Who can guess which Socialist MP has a foreign and a domestic file? KRONIKANI