Meeting with Mr. SABRI GODO in Ballsh Ballsh is a meeting point between the South and the rest of the country. From here, the voice is heard especially well. They told me there are people here who want to meet with me. To me, this means that people are interested in hearing explanations from the Republican Party, at a time when it seems they are fed up with words and politics. Your large turnout proves this, and I thank you. Mr. Cinna explained everything that the road can mean. The law on land currently in force and the draft law our party has presented to Parliament. This issue, which directly concerns all three [unclear] Albanians and is connected with the country’s economic development, must be resolved quickly and wisely. I urged you to listen to Mr. Cinna when he said that no democratic parliament should change the principle it accepts: what belongs to the lawful owner must be returned to them. Another thing has now become clear: this is not about beys and aghas, as communist propaganda tries to portray it. The Socialists also seek to sow discord on another front by creating conflict between former and new owners. They find fertile ground here because the laws and regulations of the last three years have caused confusion in many matters. In addition, corruption and bureaucracy are preventing the return of property even in cities, where we have a law recognizing ownership. Which of you here in Ballsh has become the owner of your own property? If we prove capable of implementing the law on the return of property in cities, every dispute between former and new owners will disappear, and in Albania we will have only the lawful owner, for all time. I also want to express my opinion on another issue: the political tensions of recent days. The lowest kinds of slander and insults are being used. Why should we call one another “filthy” and “vile”? These things fuel tensions and lead to tragic killings, as happened in Shkodër. That city is a great cradle of patriotism, having made an invaluable contribution to the country’s culture and arts. It is also a great cradle of democracy. It is said that someone shouted that Shkodër belongs only to the Democratic Party. But can what a single person says in the street be attributed to an entire party? You cannot seize on such incidents to build an entire political strategy. The killing in Shkodër must be investigated quickly, and the truth must come out, leaving no room for manipulation. Parties must think carefully about what they say and do today. Above all, let us bear in mind that we are citizens and must respect the law in every circumstance. It is said that the Socialists want to hold unauthorized rallies, but the police do not give them permission. Perhaps the police do not want to grant permission even when it is their turn. Do you have the right to complain and demonstrate until the police get tired? But if, out of impatience, you shout without a permit, then you will have the law against you and will violate it. The state, for its part, must collect unlicensed weapons and take full responsibility for public order. In a democracy, only constructive dialogue should prevail. The issue of property was also discussed by the Chairman of the “Property with Justice” Association, Arbao Hajrredin Danushi. Afterwards, Mr. Godo answered numerous questions in an open discussion, which was followed with goodwill and attention.

Two days ago, slogans were scrawled at many locations around the town of Pogradec: “Long live the AD! Down with Kosovo!” The above slogan is nothing other than fresh proof of the intoxicated followers of the Democratic Alliance Party. The cries of “Either war or death!” and the provocation of incidents in Shkodër show that this party’s blindness has gone beyond all bounds. The representatives of this party cannot give an accurate explanation for the use of the slogan “Long live the AD! Down with Kosovo!” Without trying to connect the facts, it is simply necessary to clarify this tension and the actions of the Democratic Alliance Party, which has been active since its return from Belgrade. It should also be stressed that the PAD labels the innocent victims killed in the northeast by the Serbian army as “durian smugglers.” Lord Owen, the Raven, leaves the political stage much too late ELIDA BUÇPAPAJ At last, the European Parliament voted to dismiss the “peace negotiator,” Lord David Owen. At last, the European Parliament discovered that until now the “dove of peace” had apparently been more like Edgar Allan Poe’s Raven. Because, astonishingly, 22 months filled with nothing but death had not been enough. The harbinger and omen of doom, instead of peace, has—after the burial of children, it would seem—finally, after 22 months of efforts to divide and completely organize BH, along with its entire population, left the political stage. The European Parliament did not consider these 22 months of negotiations a resolution, and at last called the peace process a failure and its goal unattainable, as though it were a children’s equation. There is still time, gentlemen; the year has only just begun. Oh, the fact that you have proved so effective already, after 22 months, in getting rid of Lord Owen is not to be ignored. How long will it take you now to find another Lord who is [unclear], seductive, fair and accurate? Do not rush, gentlemen! It is a great impossibility, so paradoxical, that you should so quickly reach agreement among such discordant parties as the UN, NATO, the Russian Federation, the British-French Federation, and others—especially since the British themselves have been so occupied with obstructing and preventing peace. “Operation Iran” and the Hague tribunal for crimes committed in the territories of the former Yugoslavia. Gentlemen at the center, how much longer is this whole shameful story going to last, every tragic second of which is your fault, you envoys whom we appointed? The [unclear] of this modern Europe, its theater and responsibility for all this painful tragedy that is unfolding—and which may be repeated and grow to the dimensions of that time—are things Europe cannot imagine, because historically the Balkans have remained a bad omen for it.

It is said that Parliament is the place of Words. It is also said that MPs, both those elected directly by the electorate and those chosen from party lists, are not held responsible for what they say. But that does not mean their responsibility should be beyond scrutiny. The first session of this season gives us arguments that undermine the dignity of MPs. An assembly is an assembly, and therefore wisdom should govern it. But you can display wisdom only if you possess it. Indeed, only in cases where you have also had the right to wisdom itself. Parliament stood up for the dead of Shkodër, without any pause, and nobody thought that anything wrong had been done. But after the reasonable intervention of MP Mr. Shumelali, everyone realized that this gesture could have been discussed beforehand. Many killings and crimes are currently taking place in Albania; several dozen people have been killed while on duty along its borders, and some police officers have been killed while on duty, yet our Parliament is not capable of standing up for [text breaks off] (continued on page 4)

WE WANT BREAD The PS supporter at the rally Ruke

— A financial audit was conducted at the Republican Party a short while ago. What was the purpose of this audit? — In fact, two audits have recently been carried out at the Republican Party. The first was conducted three months ago by the State Audit Office, pursuant to Law 7569, dated 31.08.1992, on the State Audit Office. Because of a discrepancy between this law and the law on the financing of political parties regarding who should audit these parties, it was decided that political parties would be audited by Parliament. Thus, the second financial audit at the Republican Party was a parliamentary audit, carried out by a group of experts appointed by the People’s Assembly. — What were the results of the audit? — In practice, the results of the latest audit were the same as those of the audit conducted by the State Audit Office. The Republican Party has no economic activity, and apart from a few ordinary financial shortcomings, such as problems with filing records and telephone bills, no other violations or misappropriations were found. The matter of the “Shpresa” Company was singled out as important. Three people had been appointed to administer it, and it had been registered under their names. The party’s leaders were asked to register this company as a direct activity of the Republican Party, changing the associates’ documents to bring them into compliance with the law. Interview by: Gjergji Pilika

Note on the article: “What Should Be Changed in Our National Education” BYRON In the previous issue of the newspaper “Republika,” an article entitled “What Should Be Changed in Our National Education” was published under the name of Nexhmiedin Spahiu. After reviewing the issue, the editorial staff of the newspaper “Republika” spent considerable time considering this article and concluded: In an effort to illustrate the idea that the Albanian nation needs a genuine national education, the author has tried to present a series of fabricated, naive and, in some respects, dubious examples. Above all, the examples presented are claimed to have been taken from a so-called English journalist, a familiar formula used by some foreigners who seek to portray Albanians as people without identity and without a nation. “When you see the police, run away, leave them, leave the livestock and run. When we were little, too, when we saw the gendarmes, we ran,” says the Englishwoman, and the author of this article puts these words in the mouth of an old man. So this is supposedly the Albanian’s testament, a testament passed down from generation to generation: When you see the enemy, run—just run?! How false and wretched the staging by this foreign woman and the author of the article seems, when set against the verses of the great Englishman Byron. “Are the sons of the Eagle so easily made to turn their backs to the enemy?” Who endures the hardship of battle as they do? So Byron is not telling the truth?! This is what the English journalist says, and the author, through the Englishwoman’s words. But unlike the foreigner, he says it about himself. It is painful and shameful to honor such a testament, a fabrication born of a sick imagination, at the expense of your father and your brother, but above all yourself. Throughout their history, Albanians, like all peoples, have [unclear] and done things, sometimes with deliberate originality. In real history, Albanians are often at fault; and, we believe, education [unclear]—he invents nonexistent phenomena, or takes an isolated case and, in the context of the article, gives it anti-Albanian general significance. The entire moral of this article is summed up in its final lines: “So the reason they have kept Albania and the Albanian people under their rule for centuries ... lies in the deficiency of national education”—which means, as the author concludes in the article, running away from the enemy and annihilating this people. The editorial staff of the newspaper “Republika” apologizes to its readers for publishing this article, which is completely contrary to its character. It was published through carelessness, from the archive, for which the editorial staff is responsible. YLLI RAKIPI Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper “REPUBLIKA”

Through the pages of Greek newspapers p. 3 Who were the first to be executed by firing squad? Faruk MYRTAJ p. 2 With Transport Minister Fatos Bitincka p. 2 The first American president in post-Cold War Europe Gavrosh LEVONJA p. 4

Albania in Group 7 with Germany and... “England, Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldova. This was the lineup resulting from the draw held yesterday at midday in Manchester (England) for the qualifying rounds of the European Football Championship, the finals of which will be held in England in 1996. As for Germany, this will be the fifth group in which it faces our team. Apart from the 0–0 draw achieved in Tirana in 1967—which led to Germany’s elimination from Europe in 1968—the Germans have won all seven of the other matches.

Over the last two days, a woman identified as [unclear] has been moving around the capital, drawing people together with a loud voice and uttering the strangest insults. During various pauses, she would say: “We will fight for life or death. We haven’t slept; only this or death. After the war, only I and Arbeni Imam will be left in Albania.” On Saturday, the woman identified as [unclear] was [unclear] with a sign? A political killing took place. Was this a shock? What can you do? I don’t want political killings. I want to die like everyone else. Those who rant about life and death never die. They live to a very old age. And on the day they die, they have [unclear]. I am a member of the Democratic Alliance Party. Our numbers are small, and to raise our hopes even a little, the members surround me with all the victims of the last three years. What about the old ones? America, we added to our lists all the victims caused by the terror of [unclear]. If you want, we will also register the victims of the two world wars. I don’t want anything from Nexhmia’s country. Everything has already been demanded. Only Lenka Çuko doesn’t want to see Albanians die so that she can [unclear] with Lenka Çuko?! she keeps shouting. “We don’t call on the Bureau to bring us [unclear]. The Socialist Party’s morning will come on the 24th.” THE CHRONICLER